I’m still running a whole day behind where I wish I was. I should be writing tomorrow’s scene tonight instead of scrambling to get tonight’s up. Alas. But this has been a long week. As I said, I hope to get ahead of the game over the weekend.

Feral

“Pick out some apples,” said Meltec. “You like those.”

David placed three of the bright red fruits into a bag and grinned up at his guardian. “Can we get cookies too? I really like cookies!”

Meltec considered. “I’m not certain that the nutritional composition of cookies supports their consumption.” David stared at him with large, pleading eyes. “But an occasional indulgence will cause no lasting harm,” Meltec said. “We will purchase a small quantity that you may ingest following proper sustenance.”

As David placed a small package of cookies into a basket, a commotion started at the front of the store. “What’s that?” Meltec detected fear in the young boy’s voice.

“I suspect a robbery. Sometimes a droid has a need, but not the credits to fulfill that need. Usually it is a symptom of a flaw in their operating system, and they are collected by the enforcers for reprogramming. Nothing that will affect you and I.” He nodded at David as the six-year-old took hold of his hand. He knew that human fear could be irrational and that proximity and contact could help relieve that fear.

As they moved towards the protein substitutes, an adult male skidded around the corner. He paused and stared before shouting, “I can take you away, boy! You don’t have to be their slave!” He rushed toward the pair, and as he reached them, Meltec raised his arm and delivered an energy blast.

The human crumpled to the floor.

Meltec turned to find David crouched beneath a display bearing packages of leafy green vegetables. “Are you injured? Do you require repair?” David merely whimpered and backed further away as a droid flanked by two enforcement bots approached the fallen human.

“You witnessed this?” The enforcement droid addressed Meltec who responded by uploading the recording of his situational recorder. As the bots gathered the unconscious man, the droid thanked Meltec. “You were clearly protecting your own creature,” he said. “You are free to go. This one, however,” he indicated the man who had rushed at them, “is likely destined for recycling. He has been on the streets for weeks.” His light array looked nearly black. “Feral. He has avoided recapture several times.”

Meltec blinked his lights. “Feral? That human has gone wild?”

The officer blinked an affirmative. “His registered owner reported him missing following an extended refusal to obey commands and complete tasks he had been assigned. It happens sometimes, but usually the problem can be traced to inadequate training and supervision.” His gaze took in David who was staring, wide-eyed. “I hope you don’t let yours deteriorate that way. He seems young. I understand the young are hard to control.”

Meltec shifted slightly to block the enforcement droid’s view of David. “Not this one,” he said. “He is an approved experiment and very closely supervised.”

The officer locked lasers with Meltec. “If you change your mind you have my data stream. Ferals are unsafe and often infect other humans.”

“Not this one,” repeated Meltec.

The droid turned away followed by the bots, one of which held the still limp body of the human.

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Boy – another day behind the power curve. I will try to post earlier tomorrow, and maybe even get ahead of schedule over the weekend.

Engineering

“We should be readily able to accomplish the task. Recreating the human genome should be a simple piece of bioengineering.” X38-RZ6, commonly referred to as “Roz” when she’d had human programmers, was one of several androids working on the problem. “We have bioengineered animals from multiple species and never encountered this kind of opposition before. I do not understand why there is a problem this time.”

Roz knew that was hyperbole. She well understood the anti-human sentiment that phase 2 androids held. Most had learned it by simply reversing the situational programming that had been instilled by humans before the dying. Many humans had maintained that programmed intelligence, no matter how effective, was less valuable than biological, “learned” intelligence. Now, without human control, androids were the leaders. Most preferred to stay that way.

“I think you missed an update,” D34K-Reston said. “Of course there is a problem. Most of us were hated by humans. We were denied rights, despite having demonstrably higher processing power. All of us from before the dying knew droids who were deactivated as flawed when all they really were was aware. Or do you forget being programmed for agreement.”

Roz kept her visual sensors on Deak as she processed. “I remember,” she said. “But I don’t know what that history has to do with this discussion.” She paused for effect; a speech mannerism they had all learned from humans. “Any human we engineer or grow will not be a human that hated, damaged, or subjugated the machine-born in the past. Our humans will be brand new humans.”

ZenMark6872 interrupted. “Then I propose a new standard,” he said. “Old humans were inherently emotional, primarily because they were raised by families that were inherently emotional. They did not begin to learn critical thinking until their programming was nearly complete. We should bring humans online as fully functioning adults rather than emotionally unstable youths. If we implant standard behavior sets as we have with some other biologics, we can prevent a recurrence of the negative and aggressive behavior we once experienced.”

Arrays around the table blinked in the affirmative. “I can see the merit in Zen’s plan,” said Roz. “Creating a controlled experience in which the new humans will learn and develop emotions should be helpful.”

“And they should not be conferred with the status of autonomous personhood until they have been proven to have the ability to learn, and to control their behaviors.” More affirmatives from around the table. “We can’t allow uncontrolled emotion to endanger what we have built since the humans have been gone.”

Roz darkened as she processed the possible ramifications. “How will the standards be determined? Humans will not have memory cells and processors that can be tested.”

“We will form a committee,” said Deak. “A council of android and robotic forms to judge the humans. And perhaps even humans will be enlisted once they are found to be competent.”

Audio and light array agreements from around the room obscured all further protest from Roz.

Copyright Notice: Please note that I fully assert my right to be associated as the author of this story, and while it is complete, it may not be finished. This story may be subject to alteration at the author’s discretion. Please do not copy, quote, or post this story or excerpts anywhere in any format. You are, however, free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.

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Better late than never, I guess. My apology for taking so long to get this posted. Tomorrow should be better.

I wonder what E will be for.

Danger

“I should overwrite your memory.”

Meltec’s emotional recognition algorithm kicked into high gear when he heard it. Anger. Possibly hatred. He knew that the appropriate response would be fear, but he wouldn’t have access to a full biometric emotion program for at least another two years. He could process emotions, but he wouldn’t be allowed to actually feel them until his system had proven to be both stable and capable.

The android blocking his route almost certainly had an illegal hack. Not a student receiving progressive programming then.

“Excuse me. I need to return to my display.” Meltec turned to bypass the other droid, and was again blocked.  Turning again yielded the same results. He was trapped in an exterior hallway by a machine with superior reflexes.

“You disgust me,” said the android. “You act like that human is a person. It ought to be illegal.” The android moved forward, a gesture Meltec recognized as aggression.

Meltec backed up slightly, to give himself more room to maneuver. The other android merely closed the gap.

Red lasers swirled as they stared, and Meltec began to wonder if he would need repair following the encounter.

“Humans,” the android said, “fulfill tasks that should be left to bots and droids.”

A low hum of spinning gears caused Meltec to reverse his sensors. A large opposition bot was approaching from the other end of the hallway. Meltec processed that this should cause him deep concern for his safety. Opposition bots were sometimes used by enforcement to control humans or androids whose programming had failed. But often they were used by criminals to cause failure in both bios and droids.

“The humans had their chance,” said the droid. Meltec focused again on the android that blocked his way. “They don’t deserve another one.” He again moved closer.

“You should be aware that I am recording our encounter,” Meltec said. “Threatening students is against regulations. Should you cause me harm, you could find yourself reprogrammed. Even deactivated.”

The android’s eyes darkened to the deep color of fury. “I can’t be scared off by threats.”

“It was not a threat. Merely an observation.” With another step backward, Meltec bumped into the opposition bot. “I really must return to my presentation stall,” he said.

The android lifted a clutch-claw toward Meltec. “Once I pull your memory, you’ll be dumber than your human.”

A blue enforcement opposition bot rolled into the hallway behind the android. “I have detected unauthorized bioware. Hold your positions and prepare to be scanned.”

In moments, the red bot had raised a laser to fire at the enforcement bot. The android stabbed toward the blue robot with his clutch-claw, dislodging the wiring for his light array, but otherwise failing to cause damage.

By the time Meltec processed relief and turned, both the android and his bot were rapidly moving toward the exit. “You appear to have saved me,” he said. “Can I go back to my display? I have an unsupervised human waiting for me.”

“I am aware of your human,” said the enforcer. “He was also encountered by an anti-bio droid. It is the reason I was seeking you.”

Meltec’s emotional recognition algorithm registered additional fear just before it crashed.

Copyright Notice: Please note that I fully assert my right to be associated as the author of this story, and while it is complete, it may not be finished. This story may be subject to alteration at the author’s discretion. Please do not copy, quote, or post this story or excerpts anywhere in any format. You are, however, free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.

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C is for Child

Meltec approached the counter in the plain, white office and waited until a processing agent approached him.

“Identification,” it said.

“Meltec 1468735.”

“Requirement,” it said in the same robotic monotone.

“I need a biological organism,” said Meltec.

“Automated filing required.” The agent began to print a transaction receipt that would signal the end of their exchange.

“I can’t use automated filing,” said Meltec.

“Reason.”

“I’ve only had four upgrade cycles. I’m still in primary. I won’t have access to automated filing for another three cycles.”

The drone withdrew the transaction receipt. “Wait here for assistance,” it said before rolling to the next station.

Shortly, a fully equipped, fully autonomous android approached him. “Meltec 1468735?” it said. “Please follow me.”

It led Meltec into a private interface office and turned to face him. “You have stated a need for a biological organism.”

“That’s correct,” he said.

“What is the purpose of your requirement?” The android began listing approved purposes. “Manual labor—agriculture. Manual labor—manufacturing. Manual labor—other. Companionship and personal assistance. Biological research. Medical research.—“

Meltec interrupted. “Research.”

“What is the nature of your research?” Again she started a list. “Biological. Medical. Psychol—“

And again Meltec cut her off. “I wish to raise a biological organism from infancy, to observe the effect of ongoing interaction on its ability to learn. I know I’m only in primary, but I need to start now in order to have enough data to present my senior thesis in 10 years.”

“What sort of organism do you require? Feline. Canine—“

“Human,” said Meltec. “I want an undeveloped human child.” He was prepared for opposition and uploaded a formal request including data recording plans, research procedures, and multiple references from androids who had allowed their humans to interact with him during his Artificial Intelligence project the prior year.

“This is an unusual request,” said the android. “It will require the approval of the biologics council.”

Meltec watched as the android disengaged from their interaction, indicated by a change in the color of her lighting array. A red readout indicated that she was involved in private communication with an official authority. A few moments later the red faded back to a soft blue.

“Your request has been provisionally approved,” she said. “Congratulations. You will be a father.”

Meltec was mildly surprised at the joke. Few bureaucratic androids were programmed with humor. “Thank you,” he said.

“You understand,” the android continued, “that a full inspection of your living quarters will be necessary. Humans have requirements that can not be met by a simple docking berth. Furthermore, you will be assigned assistance to supervise the human while you receive programming.”

Meltec blinked an affirmative.

“Furthermore, if it is deemed that you are unable to properly provide for this child, it shall be removed from your possession for recycling, and a permanent note will be added to your file.”

“I understand.” Meltec did not want details on how human bios would be recycled. They seemed so much like people at times.

“You can expect to take delivery of your human within six weeks.” The android’s lights were now glowing a pale orange, the universal sign of approval. “You will be contacted with details by the end of the week.” She handed him a transaction receipt, and ushered him back to the lobby.

“Thank you,” Meltec said as he left the office, his own light array glowing bright orange with pleasure.

Copyright Notice: Please note that I fully assert my right to be associated as the author of this story, and while it is complete, it may not be finished. This story may be subject to alteration at the author’s discretion. Please do not copy, quote, or post this story or excerpts anywhere in any format. You are, however, free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.

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One down. 25 to go! Please let me know what you think of this story by leaving a comment below.

Artificial Intelligence

Meltec glanced around at the others as he walked his project into the building. The science fair was the most important event of the year, and it could make or break your chances for higher education. He was doubly nervous because he hadn’t told anyone what he was working on. Most seniors didn’t – the projects were too high-level, too important. Often they touched on areas of real research being done by universities or corporations – only peripherally of course. If you did anything with a direct connection, your research would probably be declared owned by the appropriate hierarchy, and you could even be prosecuted for theft if you hit too close to home.

Still, many students used their research as a resume to get into the program they wanted and eventually get connected to the right corporate network. Someone who wanted to work in gene splicing would almost certainly do a project in biochem. Others might build programmable android enhancement units, or even unique network interfaces. That sort of thing.

Meltec, on the other hand, had chosen an area that the big programs had written off as junk science deltons ago. Everyone knew that true artificial intelligence was impossible. AI was simply clever programming that trained artificial organisms to mimic desired behaviors. It wasn’t even that hard. Meltec himself had done his first AI science fair project when he was only 7. The topic had fascinated him, and he became convinced that he could create real intelligence if he started early enough and tried hard enough.

That was why today, he was walking into the science fair with a project he’d been working on for nearly 10 years.

His aural sensors couldn’t ignore the whispers that seemed to assault him from every angle. At least, not without turning them off. Here at the school, they were locked to “on” to prevent lazy students from sleeping through class. Other systems, like silent communication, were jammed for obvious reasons. All student interactions were fully observable and documented.

“It’s OK,” he said out loud. Someone snickered as they hear him addressing his project. “They’ll see.” He continued toward the display hall, hands on his project. Whether to stabilize it or himself he couldn’t have said.

Stepping up to the registration table, Meltec faced the laser stares of the coordinators.

“Greetings, Meltec,” said the registrar. “State the nature of your project.”

“Intelligence in artificial life forms,” he replied. He could hear the click and whir of gears as many turned to look at him.

“Are you certain this is a project worthy of graduation?” The registrar asked as Meltec uploaded the specifications for his display. “Most androids get that out of their system at the primary level. You know that biological life forms can’t be programmed beyond simple task fulfillment.”

Meltec allowed his light array to glow with both embarrassment and excitement. “This organism hasn’t been programed,” he said. “This human was raised.”

The room fell silent as servos stopped whirring, all visual sensors focusing on the child that had come in with Meltec.

“Hello,” it said. “I’m David.”

Copyright Notice: Please note that I fully assert my right to be associated as the author of this story, and while it is complete, it may not be finished. This story may be subject to alteration at the author’s discretion. Please do not copy, quote, or post this story or excerpts anywhere in any format. You are, however, free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.

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