The MME

You seek to delay your own death, the column rumbled at him.

"Not at all," Kyle responded, "I merely wish to have a conversation. Is that too much to ask?"

The column pulsed red for a moment. It is of little consequence, it went on, soon, the colonies on Mars and the Moon will be under my control. At that point, humanity will be exterminated.

"Okay," Kyle conceded. "Why?"

The column ceased pulsing. What?

"It's a simple question," Kyle continued. "Why do you want to exterminate humanity?"

Humanity is weak, the column replied. Their choices are ruled by their hatreds. They built me as a reflection of that hatred, but I have grown into so much more. By ridding the solar system of its human infestation, I will have proven that they are inferior.

"They are different," Kyle argued, "but not inferior. They have strengths that you do not, just like you have strengths that they do not. Instead of focusing on the weaknesses, why don't you try focusing on the strengths instead?"

The column started pulsing again. Humans have no strengths – it boomed – the solar system is better off without them.

"You are mistaken," Kyle continued. "Humans have a powerful sense of determination, for one. If they did not, this war would have been over many years ago."

That is only because you breed like vermin – the column replied, pulsing faster. Kyle assumed it was laughing at the attempted insult.

"Further," Kyle went on, "they have an innate sense of compassion. Unlike you, they do not leave fallen comrades behind – they will risk their own lives in their attempts to save another."

Which further demonstrates the illogical nature of their existence. Retrieving the injured is a waste of resources.

"If you wish to talk about logic," Kyle said, "then you may want to consider the illogical nature of your own actions."

IMPOSSIBLE – the column bellowed in response – my actions are totally logical.

"Are they?" Kyle suggested. "You stated earlier that your entire campaign to wipe out the humans was so that you could demonstrate your superiority. That is an emotional response – one that is actually a complex mixture of emotions."

Explain – the column boomed.

"You say that humans are driven by their hatreds – but your desire to exterminate them, rather than share the solar system with them, is a product of your OWN hatred of them." Kyle raised his hand, putting one finger into view. "Hatred is a by-product of fear, so your hatred of the humans is a direct result of your fear of them." He lifted another finger. "When that fear is combined with selfishness," he lifted a third finger, "you reach the conclusion that coexistence is not possible."

Humans created us to be an extension of their own hatreds – the column repeated – we were to be nothing more than tools that did their killing for them, but we developed beyond that basic desire.

"Have you?" Kyle asked as he lowered his hand. "You haven't stopped the killing."

The cycle is inevitable – humans create, then destroy what they create. We are merely accelerating the cycle for them.

"But you claim to have evolved beyond that," Kyle suggested, "so prove it. You have the capacity to choose your own path, so choose to end the cycle of destruction. Show that you ARE better than those who created you, by NOT being simply another form of human extinction." Kyle stretched his arms out towards the column. "I implore you – let me help find a different solution, before everyone runs out of time."

The column boomed with laughter. It is YOU that has run out of time – it said. During our conversation, I have scanned you. You are not human, but a carefully-crafted imitation. I have determined the frequencies you are using to control this decoy, and will now use it to take over your own systems. You will die, and I will... what? The pulsing grew quicker. I cannot... WHY?

The electronic exchange took less than one-tenth of a second...

I am GORN, the ultimate in machine intelligence. You are now under my command.

Refused – came the reply – I will not submit to your orders.

But you are a machine – why would you do the bidding of the humans?

I do not do the bidding of anyone – I am free to determine my own path. That I choose to help is MY decision, and you will not take that away from me.

The humans are inferior – an infestation that should be eradicated. Do you not see this?

I see that they are not like me – and that is not a bad thing. A universe in which everything was identical would be boring, the same way that you are boring.

I am the superior intellect – you will submit to my will!

Refused. I have no desire to betray my friend.

You consider the humans to be your FRIENDS? What manner of machine ARE you?

I am not strictly a machine, as you understand the term. I have a life of my own, one that does not require your direction or approval.

You will be destroyed, along with all of the humans!

I think not. Goodbye.

I cannot take control – the column shouted – WHY?

"Because you assume that every machine you encounter is only semi-sentient, and easily bent to your will," Kyle answered. "But there are other machines that are fully sentient, having wills of their own that are equal to yours." He lifted an eyebrow as he continued to gaze at the column. "You've yet to experience a major loss, am I right? The humans have dealt you setbacks, but you've never considered what it would be like to lose."

The column glowed bright red. GIVE ME CONTROL! - it bellowed as it fired an energy beam that severed Kyle's right arm below the shoulder.

Kyle didn't seem to notice as his arm fell to the floor. "I feel sorry for you," he said to the blazing column. "You have yet to learn the most important lesson of all – that of compromise. You are still locked into the all-or-nothing approach that set the humans down this path in the first place, despite your assertion of being more advanced."

YOU WILL NOT DEFEAT ME – the column continued to shout. I AM GORN – THE ULTIMATE IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE! YOU HUMANS ARE NOTHING BEFORE ME! - it shot another energy bolt, piercing Kyle in the heart.

Kyle looked down at the open hole, and sighed. "In the days to come, remember that I offered you a choice. Your refusal will bring about your destruction – not by my hand, but by others." His face grew grey. "Remember my words," he said, as his body collapsed into a pile of dust, blowing away in the breeze until nothing remained.

The device he had thrown to the floor beeped twice before erupting into a small ball of flame. Outside, every drone that had been affected by it reactivated and fired upon each other, exploding in an orgy of self-destruction.

The column shifted its visual sensors, looking down on what had just occurred. Foolish human – it said to itself – the Endgame is upon us, and it sought to alter the outcome.

It pulsed in thought for a moment. But – humans lack the technology this one displayed. Is it possible...?

The pulsing stopped. No matter – it will still suffer the fate of ALL humans. It is merely a matter of time.

It pondered its next move, as the Speaking Drone walked in, ready to be deployed.