What Makes Us Human
I watch as Tex pounds Wyoming's face in. The Brit is screaming in pain while Tex, aka Nevada, aka Allison, seems to be going about it with cold indifference. A side effect of AI Omega? Perhaps. Or perhaps this is her natural state.
I can never know. The intricacies of the human psyche are beyond me.
Alternatively, it may be because my system is steadily failing. The armour's protocol is being carried out; my system is slowly being deleted. York's life is failing in sync with the steady shutdown of my system.
Do humans feel fear when death is staring them in the face? I don't know, fear is something that was never implanted into me, as it would only reduce my efficiency. Hah, what efficiency did I carry out? York was still shot by Wyoming. Was that act due to the effects of the withdrawal of AI Gamma? Is it in his nature? Or is there another issue involved?
A limited system scan reveals no answers. However, unknown factors are being detected. Guilt, self loathing. Why though? I followed protocol, did I not? York's death was the result of a slip in battle. Humans are capable of making mistakes. AIs are not.
Then why do I feel that I'm to blame?
York's life has slipped even further, system scan shows that. Aren't I efficient? Perhaps not. A human would be able to see this without the intricacies of binary numbers scrolling.
Why do I envy him? Do living things not feel pain? Aren't their lives often unstable? York had resorted to petty theft just to pay the rent. His eye was broken, hindering his sight. System analysis shows that, for the most part, humans are inferior to AI constructs.
Then why do I envy him?
The armour's protocol isn't making things easy but my last scan reveals answers. Humans have things that I can never have-courage, friendship, hope, honour, love…
Perhaps the last emotion was at work when York's home decorator was at work. He seemed less…efficient when she died. Was there something between them? I have no way of knowing, I was not designed for such analysis.
There is no doubt. Our creators are superior. They have factors that we can never have. I can never reach the same depth of character as a human. However, by staying with York as he dies, I can be as close to being human as possible.
This is my epitaph. The final words of AI Delta as I prepare for deletion.
XXX
Not exactly the best piece of literature, considering that this was a drabble that came to my head after seeing the last episode of Out of Mind. I don't know how the rest of you felt but I was pretty pissed that they decided to kill off York. I felt he and Delta/Dee had quite a bit of potential.
Yeah, so that's my 2 cents. Reviews are appreciated and sorry for any imperfections.
But after all, isn't imperfection part of what makes us human?