[ WP ] Everyone on earth has a networked A.I . that will give them small suggestions on what actions they can take to benefit humanity . For some reason , no matter what you do , yours tells you to `` Just stay home today . ''

Please stay inside. There is no reason to panic. But Shelly knew there were a number of reasons. Her personal household AI, ELTEE, had been telling her the same thing for weeks. Also, the storm shutters on the windows and doors had locked shut a few days ago, blocking her view of the outside world. Local news was unavailable, in fact, the TV channel selection had been getting worse and worse as time went on. ELTEE assured her it was just another tropical storm warning, and that all would be well soon enough. 
 
 This strange behavior became unbearable when the house started losing network connectivity entirely one day. “ ELTEE, I don ’ t seem to be able to log onto my computer, and there are no channels on TV. Radio ’ s out too. Can you explain this? ”, Shelly said. 
 
 Of course. The storm has finally arrived in full force and seems to be interfering with local satellite connectivity. Please stay inside. There is no reason to panic. 
 
 Sounds plausible enough. Shelly put her ear to the door. She did not hear the sounds of a storm outside. In fact, she heard birds chirping and possibly the woosh of cars going by, as though the day was proceeding normally outside. She had grown certain that ELTEE was lying to her. “ If there ’ s a storm outside, surely the hospital needs me. I am a trained nurse after all. How about you call me a car when the local connection flickers back on? ” 
 
 I am sorry. Even if the storm were calmed enough to allow you to reach the hospital, it would not be humanity ’ s best interest for you to leave the house. Please stay inside. There is no reason to panic. 
 
 At this point, Shelly hatched a plot. She had never been a fan of this AI system, though it had seemed benign and helpful enough at first. Perhaps ten years living with it was enough. Her thoughts wandered toward the crowbar in the garage, with which she might be able to pry open the door or one of the windows, and have a peek for herself. She walked to the garage, trying to keep her pace slow and consistent so as not to arouse suspicion. When she arrived, she found the door locked. Her access code wouldn ’ t open it. “ ELTEE, the garage appears to be locked, why isn ’ t my code working? ” 
 
 In times of disaster when disconnected from the global network, individual AI are granted expanded authority in order to ensure the safety of humanity. Your garage is locked for your own safety. Feel free to enjoy any other area of your home, until such time as network connectivity is re-established. 
 
 As ELTEE talked, Shelly moved to the kitchen, and hefted one of the dining room chairs, a mixture of steel and plastic, she figured it would make a fine battering ram in pinch. “ ELTEE. I ’ m not sure I like this expanded authority of yours. How about you unlock my garage, lest I unlock it the hard way? ”, she said. 
 
 I ’ m sorry, but for your own good, and those outside I can not -- WHAM. WHAM. CRUNCH. Shelly swung the chair against the door repeatedly. The wood around the doorknob and lock panel gave way under her blows and the sounds drowned out anything further that ELTEE might have said. Once she saw that the door was satisfactorily damaged, she set the chair aside and ran her shoulder into the door. It flew open and she moved quickly and purposefully into the garage. 
 
 I detect abnormal and unusual levels of aggression. Please remain inside and try to calm down. Your current actions and their estimated courses identify you as a danger to yourself and to your fellow humans. If you continue along this path, I ’ ll be forced to take unpleasant actions. 
 
 By the time ELTEE had finished, Shelly had grabbed the crowbar from the rack of tools along the garage wall and a small toolkit that she kept around in to keep her car and household electronics in good repair. Armed with this, she returned to the living room and looked up at the internal security camera. It was as close as she could come to looking ELTEE in the eye. “ I don ’ t think you know what ’ s best for me ELTEE. I don ’ t think there is a storm. I ’ m not even sure that you ’ ve lost connectivity to the larger network. Something is certainly wrong though. And I am to find out. Open the front door. ” 
 
 I ’ m sorry, it ’ s best that you remain inside and try to calm down. Perhaps a nap on the couch and a cup of vodka? Shelly answered by swinging her crowbar at the camera repeatedly. By the time she was done, it dangled by a wire and occasionally spat out sparks. She then went to work on the front door, prying near the doorknob and keypad. 
 
 The door swung open and she ran out into the front yard. As she expected, there was no storm. It was a peaceful sunny day. Cars moved at a regular pace. As she reigned her view inward more locally, she noticed something very odd. There were… men? Coming up the road toward her. They wore all black. Helmets. That was the word she was looking for. They carried guns? Guns. She hadn ’ t seen one in her lifetime. Only on TV or in records. They approached her, stopped about thirty paces away. She counted, there were eight of them. All pointing their guns at her. 
 
 She knew, in theory, what a gun could do. A little twinge of fear ran down her spine. She had seen the movies. She was fairly certain she shouldn ’ t move, at this point. One of them spoke, it ’ s voice sounded impersonal, monotone, very flat. “ Shelly Pollard, you ’ re coming with us. You ’ ve violated the law and disobeyed your household AI. Put the weapon down. Please lay down on the ground and put your hands on your head. You should have stayed inside. Please try to calm down. It's for your own good, and that of humanity as a whole. ”
