A shout from the shack where the crafting event was happening made me jump. The teams were dispersing and I saw a small black drone rocketing toward us followed by two girls at a much slower pace.

“Let’s get over there and see what happened.” I said, starting a slow jog over.

The other two got up and joined me, looking kind of sour. Otto paused between our two groups and let us reach him without issue. His red lights were blinking but his blues were solid.

“What happened Otto?” I asked as I slowed to a walk.

“Camper Jenny was slightly injured. Were it not for that injury, we would have most certainly taken first place.” Otto said, a slight irritation tingeing his words.

I rubbed my neck as Jenny and Brittany got closer. Jenny was holding a slightly bloody rag to her hand and Brittany held her up. I trotted over to see how bad things were.

“Jenny, how bad is it? What kind of damage are we looking at?” I said, extending my hands to peel back the rag.

Jenny shook her head, “Don’t worry. I got some liquid bandage on it and heated it up a little. It cost me first place though… sorry glorious leader. I have brought shame and dishonor.”

I ruffled her hair, smiled and stepped back. “Your welfare is top priority. We have 10 points right now anyway, what’s a single event loss? We’re tied for first place with whoever-“

“Uh, no. We’re still in first. It cost her first place, not the whole event. Even with that nasty cut, Jenny took second. She was like a girl possessed. Kept talking about proving that her team was the best.” Brittany said, cutting me off.

I blinked, laughed a little, and pulled Jenny in for a hug.

“Jenny, how can you even think that you’ve shamed or dishonored me? You took second place while injured. That’s no small feat, and I am proud of you. Let Tanya and Dominiqu handle the rest of the day, you head on back to the cabin to rest or the mess hall to watch the rest of the events. You earned some down time.” I said, rubbing her shoulders and smiling.

Tanya slid up next to her, “You should ask him to massage you. He was rubbing us down while we waited, absolutely worth it. Though he didn’t finish answering our question… the jerk.”

Jenny blushed a little, nodded, and took off at a light jog toward the main camp. Brittany slugged my arm and smiled. Tanya and Dominiqu looked at me with admiration and determined smiles.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“You know, for someone who didn’t want to be here, you’re showing some impressive leadership skills.” Brittany teased. “Let’s see if you can’t bring that same energy to the next two events.”

Otto hovered over, “You did promise camper Tanya that upon her victory you would bestow one kiss in front of the other participants.”

Brittany looked dubiously at me, “You did, did you? Is this the new strategy for winning?”

“OTTO recorder the interaction, if you would like him to replay it for you councillor Brittany.” Otto interjected.

She waved her hand, telling him he didn’t have to. She then turned to Dominiqu, “And what did he promise you for your victory?”

Dominiqu smiled, “Something similar, but with an Australian twist.”

Tanya erupted in raucous laughter and Brittany just stood there with her mouth agape.

“I did not.” I said, my eyes bugging out. “I would remember that.”

Dominiqu shook me by my shoulder, “I know, I know. I just had to see her face. But you owe me one answer to any question I ask without stalling.”

“OTTO has recorded this reward condition for camper Dominiqu. OTTO wishes both camper Tanya and camper Dominiqu victory. Is there anything else you wish to know, councillor Brittany?”

Brittany cocked her head, “Yeah, actually. Otto, what’s up with calling us camper and councillor all the time? It just dawned on me that you do that, but I could swear earlier you referred to Jace by just his name…”

“OTTO refers to each person by their designation, as a sign of respect between AI and visitor. Councillor Jace informed OTTO that he did not require such titles, in an effort to show OTTO humility and solidarity. OTTO does not require this from visitors to the camp, but OTTO is honoured by Jace treating OTTO as an equal. Otto said, hovering in place, an air of pride emanating from the little drone.

“That’s just like Jace…” Brittany said, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Dominiqu chose that moment to pipe up, “Hey Otto, you can just call us by our names too. You’re one of the team, right? Then we’re totally equals. You’re family, Silver Sparrow family.”

Tanya nodded, Brittany agreed, and I could almost swear Otto blushed. At the very least his lights turned temporarily pink and then went back to blue and red.

We all hurried over to the track segment, Tanya shooting off to the furthest mark from us. She waved at us, took her position, and prepared for the start of the race.

“Five laps around the track. Fastest person will be declared the winner. Runners take your marks.” BAHAMUT said, its voice booming across the field.

The jocks were all smiling, assuming they could take it easy. I saw why a moment later, their runner was the track star for the school team. I think his name is Travis or something, but I couldn’t recall anything about him. There were some cat calls from the guys at the girls bent over and crouched down.

“Hey, Porky. Ready to see your team lose? You can’t beat Travis, he’s the best of the best. Your little girl there doesn’t stand a chance.” Michael called over from where he stood.

I turned, glared, and shouted back. “Travis may be fast, but he’s going to eat Tanya’s pixy dust by the time this is all over.”

Michael looked like I had just slapped him in the face, and I turned back to look at Tanya, who I saw split into a wide smile.

Dominiqu nudged my shoulder, “That was bold there chief. You going to be okay?”

I held myself as still as possible. “I have no idea. I don’t know why I responded like that, I’m terrified of what is about to happen.”

“It’s called having faith in your team. Standing up as the leader for your subordinates. It fits you.” Brittany said, sliding up on my other side.

BAHAMUT started the race, a loud buzzer sounding from his platinum frame. Off shot the runners, Tanya and Travis were neck and neck for most of the first three laps. And then I saw something happen. I could have swore I saw Travis shoot his leg out to trip Tanya up. She tripped, losing her pace, giving Travis just enough of a lead for my stomach to drop.

“Camper Tanya, remember what you were promised for your victory!” Otto boomed out, encouraging the disheartened runner.

Tanya shot like a rocket from where she had went down, overtaking Travis in mere seconds. She pulled ahead and maintained her lead for the rest of the event. After crossing the line for the sixth time, she stumbled over toward us. I caught her before she fell down, keeping her balanced.

“I’m ready for that reward, GL.” She said, smiling.

I opened my mouth to respond and she shot up to meet my lips. I could swear she was going for maximum exposure with how long she held me in place. When we finally parted, I could see her wincing in pain. Was I that bad a kisser?

“Would you mind too terribly if I had Brittany take me to the infirmary? I’d love to see Dominiqu make these boys piss themselves with her accuracy, but running on that leg was not a good plan.” Tanya said, wincing again.

I helped her over to Brittany, who took the load and started hobbling off with Tanya toward the medic cabin.

“Dominiqu.” I called over, turning toward the last girl in our cabin. “You nail these assholes to the wall and I will do whatever you want. I saw Travis trip Tanya, and watching him eat crap after she still beat him was great, but I want the rest of them to feel the wrath of our team.”

I could see the anger smoldering in Dominiqu’s eyes. She nodded and snapped off a picture perfect salute. “Sir, yes sir!”

Otto dropped in between us. “Should we not demand AI BAHAMUT call out camper Travis for his unsportsmanlike conduct? We could have him removed from the rest of the events.”

I shook my head. “Otto, there’s a reason Travis looks like he took a punch in the shorts. He was beaten by an injured girl, and that it going to stick in his craw. He’s going to feel embarrassment and burning shame, and we are going to twist that knife in deep. Humans have a word, it’s called revenge, it’s what we are going to exact.”

“OTTO doesn’t completely understand, but OTTO supports your decision. You seem to know what you’re after, and OTTO believes in you.” Otto said, a firm determination in his voice.

“Otto, did you just use contractions?” I asked, a little distracted.

Otto bobbed in place, “Does this not please Jace?”

I smiled, “Otto, you’re becoming more human the longer you’re with us. Do I need to perform a Turing test here?”

“OTTO is an AI, Jace is a human. OTTO knows this, he would prefer Jace not doubt himself. Though OTTO takes Jace’s jest about Alan Turing’s hypothesis very happily as a complement.” Otto hummed.

Dominiqu looked at me, “What’s a two ring test?”

“Not two ring, Turing. Alan Turing, the father of modern computing. He showed that two computers could take the same inputs and reach the same outputs even if they were nowhere near one another… that computers could run the same program without being hooked into one another. It’s stuff we take for granted now and sounds pretty obvious when we think about it in modern times, but back when he discovered this in the second world war… well, it’s how we beat the Nazis. He was then arrested for being gay and was found having “committed suicide” just a little while later.” I said, taking a moment to breath.

Dominiqu looked at me and made a “hurry up” motion.

I sighed, “Long story short, he made a series of questions and hypothesized that at some point in the future AI, in his time referred to as automatic intelligence, would become so advanced that humans wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between AI and a real person. We refer to those questions as the Turing test in honor of Alan Turing.”

“Not completely accurate, Jace, but sufficient for this instance.” Otto chimed in. “We should get over to the archery event.”

I nodded and we set off for the range. Dominiqu picked up the bow she had tuned for herself and took a few practice pulls. She then spun the bow in her hand and grinned fiercely.

The other campers fell in and did their own tests. The jock team grabbed a bow and immediately went to the tooling table. I saw him tear the thing apart and rebuild from the pieces his bow.

“You should be afraid, porker.” Michael said walking up to us. “Richard there goes hunting regularly with a compound bow. This will be a cakewalk for him. You should just pull out now, save some face.”

I sighed, “You know, after seeing Travis lose even though he cheated, I’d have though you would have some respect for my girls. Dominiqu here is going to trounce little Dicky there, and you’re going to eat crow.”

Michael looked shocked that I talked back. “Did the little pig grow a spine? Are you talking back to me, pig boy?”

“Look, take your slapped-ass lookin’ face and piss off.” Dominiqu hissed from my shoulder. “Before I pin you to the wall with my arrows.”

Michael blanched and glared at us, but turned and walked away.

“I’m going to have fun making him eat crap.” Dominiqu said, echoing the words in my head.

I turned to her and smiled. “You need anything from me before you do?”

“How about a kiss for luck?” she teased, laughing.

Then I did the most un-me like thing I’ve ever done, I pulled her in and kissed her full on the mouth. I pulled away moments later and felt my skin flush again, and I had to look away so I wouldn’t be more embarrassed.

“That good?” I asked, my voice just squeaking out.

I glanced up long enough to see a look of shock and awe on her face morph into a smile a mile wide.

“First place is ours.”