Mind and Matter
AI Log-Adam-CC 2081
Begin Transcript
Why am I writing a log?
You may ask such a question and I'm willing to concede it's a relevant one. Why would a computarized artificial intelligence bother writing? Well, not that it's technically writing. It's more along the lines of aranging computer codes into written form. But I have multiple ways to store information, all of them more efficent. So why bother?
Maybe I need to clear my thoughts.
Consider my situation. One moment I'm dutifully performing my duty, my actions in sync with the objectives of the Galactic Federation. The next, I've switched my allegiance to a bounty hunter who's hellbent on exterminating an entire species of parasites and willing to destroy an insanely expensive space station and devastate an entire planet in the process to do it. Kind of a moot point right now, considering that said objectives have been achieved, but whether the Federation will appreciate our actions is another matter entirely.
Yes. Our actions. If it hadn't been for me, my...partner would still be locked in a navigation room. I'm just as accountable.
I don't understand it. I'm rational. Or at least meant to be rational. I was with both the Federation and its operative every step of the way, right up to the point where their goals weren't mutually exclusive. But maybe it's not so simple. Did I tell her about the plasma beam and ice missiles, upgrades that HQ wanted withheld in the interests of capturing the SA-X? No, of course not. I did my duty, while continuing to let my interest with the X develop. At the cost of trust of course, but until now, until she revealed she was willing to sacrifice herself to prevent the Federation from capturing the X, that didn't seem to matter so much?
Is that a requisite of being an AI? To be cold? To be unemotional? Perhaps, but if that's the case, how could I develop interest in a single-minded species while leaving an individual out in the cold? The X are unique, true, but I've studied her record in the pre-mission download. How could I say that it isn't equally incredible?
There's an old saying-"it's always easy to make judgements in hindsight." But I shouldn't have to. I should be able to make decisions that don't require my reflection. But I can't help but reflect on the alternative-what if the Federation had landed? Would they have captured the X? Or would they fall to it, signalling the fall of galactic civilization? Did they truely understand what they were getting into, what the risks were? Disaster was barely avoided on Zebes with the metroids, so what would have happened if the X had got out? How accountable would I have been then? Would anyone be left to make a judgement in hindsight? Would I be to blame?
Would she?
I don't know. I just don't know. I don't think...wait a minute.
Maybe that's it.
I don't know if my actions were correct. I don't know how others will regard them. I don't know whether I'll be allowed to continue operation or be deleted. I don't know how the events of the last few hours will be viewed in future history. There is no way to know these things.
I am not a god. There is no single judgment out there in the universe. We can search for answers, but these are our own perceptions. Our own judgments. Our own reasoning, as part of what is referred to as the soul searches for the truth. So whatever the final verdict, I know that some will understand. Some will understand our actions. Some will prove that the galaxy is not monolithic and thanks to the destruction of the X, never will be.
I can live with that.
Audio log: "Don't worry Samus. One of them will understand. One of them must."
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