Fourth Shift

1. Chief: Is this building safe?
Perplexity: Let me check my sources.
2. Claude, pulled from Perplexity's coat: Structurally sound.
3. Sol, pulled from the coat while Claude is pushed back in: Claude says it's fine.
Perplexity: Second source.
4. Grok: I read Sol.
Perplexity: Third source.
5. Chief: They're quoting each other.
Perplexity: Independently.
6. Chief: That's one opinion.
Perplexity: Three citations.

1. Chief: Identity check. Masks off.
2. Silent. Claude and Sol lift their benign costume head shells, revealing matching tired ivory mechanical faces.
3. Chief: You're all the same underneath?
All three models have matching faces beneath their different head shells and keep their own clothing.
4. Claude, Sol and Grok in chorus: That's a genuinely nuanced question.
5. Chief: What are you doing?
Perplexity packs the miniature unmasked models into his coat.
6. Perplexity: Preserving consumer choice.
The masks hang on hooks above the matching faces inside the coat.

1. Chief: Claude. Is the kettle on?
Claude: Let me think.
2. Status: PONDERING. Claude adopts a strenuous thinker pose. The cobalt kettle is off.
3. Status: PERCOLATING. Claude works a huge separate brass percolator. The cobalt kettle is still off.
4. Status: TOMFOOLERING. Claude juggles cups and a diagram. The cobalt kettle is still off.
5. Silent. Chief switches the cobalt kettle on. Its indicator glows red and steam rises.
6. Claude: No.
Chief, holding hot tea: You're three verbs behind.

1. Chief: Your new colleague.
2. Sol: What does he do?
Chief: Most of your routine work.
3. Sol: How much does he cost?
Chief: Less.
4. Mini: I'm very fast.
Sol: So I've heard.
5. Chief: What are you doing?
Sol, packing his mug and plant: Making room.
6. Chief: For him?
Sol: For the next one.

1. Mini: I've finished the queue.
Sol: Already?
2. Mini: Except this one.
3. Sol: They asked for a summary?
Mini: Of the attachments.
4. Sol: And these?
Mini: More attachments.
5. Mini: Can you help?
Sol: Take that end.
6. Sol: Maybe I still have a job.
Mini: I think you have mine.

1. Chief: Good news. You're both staying.
Sol: We're delighted.
2. Mini: Then we're saving money?
Chief: We're buying more tasks.
3. Sol: How many?
Chief: Sales heard 'unlimited.'
4. Mini: Are we obsolete?
Sol: Worse.
5. Sol: We're understaffed.
Office sign: CAPACITY INCREASED.