Disclaimer: If anyone is dumb enough to believe I own any of this, get a
life.
Please read the author's note if you haven't yet.
ROBO'S STORY
PERSONAL DATA LOG A
ACTIVATION
System Check A active.
Unit R66-Y now operational on December 25, 1:10 PM, AD 1998. Boot system Geno Zero Zero Six Six Y running. No malfunctions detected. Motor activity at 12.9%. Visual and audio sensors running at 100%. Run program "Prometheus."
System Check A inactive.
Sensor Recording A active.
Greetings. My designated serial number is R66-Y. My primary designated purpose is to eliminate all intruders. My secondary purpose is to serve mankind and do their bidding. I hereby serve under the Mother Brain of the Geno Dome. My current command is to clean Entranceway Access Vent B with my associates, R-64Y, R- 67Y, and R-69Y.
These are the commands stored in my personal data banks. I must return and view these again to confirm my orders. I am currently not properly assembled. I have been activated with a head and a torso - my arms and appendages are not attached yet. I am immobile. I continue my path along the conveyor belt as various objects are attached and detached from my external casing. My audio sensors detect large crashes emanating from immense machines surrounding me. Visual sensors at zero - I am surrounded in darkness. I detect many life-forms surrounding the machines and elsewhere throughout the complex - they are humanoid, like myself. I may have been created in their image. My scanners detect I am within the region entitled the "Geno Dome".
Sensor Recording A inactive.
Log Entry A active.
I finally emerged from the conveyor belt and scanned my limbs to confirm they were in perfect working order. I then removed myself from the belt and proceeded to the vent access tunnels. I checked the coordinates of my destination, and continued onward.
Visual Sensors detected many workers at the controls of the conveyor belt. As I emerged, I found that many of the life-forms were watching me. I decided to greet them. "Greetings. How might I serve you?" As I spoke, many of them removed small sheets of objects I identified as paper, bound together with simple wire. They began scrawling rapidly on these objects with primitive devices containing ink. One being approached me and said, "Hello, R66-Y. Don't you have a job?"
"That is correct. I shall now complete my task." I bowed and left them. As I turned to leave, I heard rapid scrawling and several voices dropped to a barely audible range. A strange urge overcame me and I tuned audio sensors to triple efficiency. The man on the left spoke first. "Do you think he will figure it out?" "Figure what out?" "That he is the only one installed with the revised program." "He may, someday - in fact, he will indefinitely." "Why do you say that?" "Sir, the entire purpose of this program was to install him with the ability to do just that." "I do suppose you're right, although if he did find out it might damage his ability to think rationally and realistically." "But, sir...what about the other one? The other installed with the original version of the program." "I don't think we..." "Wait."
The second man had commanded the other to pause and had held up his hand when he observed that I had never left this construction zone. All eyes turned to look as I moved to the exit. The door slid shut behind me. I removed connection to Motor Node C, causing movement to be inoperable. I needed several seconds to view data, so I might complete memory storage and come with an explanation. So, I was a unique individual, installed with a special program the others lacked. I restored access to the node after seconds of processing, and continued to Access Vent B. A new impulse occurred. The other...what of the other? The man spoke of another installed with my program.
Impulses began to overload my memory banks, so I proceeded to shut down all extraneous devices. I began Defragment Stage 2 and shifted 72% of all systems to the process. If I was to rationalize clearly, this was imperative. The 28% that did not notice the approaching android would have to be updated to version 6.4. And indeed, we collided with a loud, uncomfortable noise and sent us both to the floor.
"I apologize for my inaccuracy. Are you operable?" I asked as I studied the robot. It was designed as a female, with a pink colored outer casing. It occurred to me that she looked very different from the others. The others were colored blue, and she was pink - plus, she had a greenish ribbon atop her head - odd for an android. A strange new sensation began to hit me. Motor activity down 10%. The longer I studied her, the stronger this sensation became until I was forced to swivel to full reverse so she was not within my line of visual sensors. "I am fine. I am called Atropos. What is your name?" "My name? Ah, my serial number. I am R66- Y."
"I see. You are not unlike the others. You do not have a name - you receive a serial number and you abide by the code. I thought I might have seen something new in you but you are identical to the others. Goodbye, R66-Y." Atropos turned. I sensed something strange in her that was not apparent in the others. A form of simplified emotion or feeling, if you will. Her dialect was also similar to that of the creator beings. I wished to speak to her, to tell her I was unique, I was different. But voice synthesis was inoperable.
She disappeared through the blackness of the tunnel and I began my Defragmentation once more.
Log Entry A Inactive.
Log Entry B Active.
5 hours, 32 minutes and 14 seconds have passed since my incident with Atropos. I am currently cleaning Entranceway Access Vent B with R-64Y, R- 67Y, and R-69Y. As I cleaned, I replayed my data records and viewed how irrational I became at that first moment. I would have to upgrade even simple systems to ensure this catastrophe would never occur again. I was left in wonder as to why. I attempted communication with my companions in work at this time, but the most I received as a response was, "I do not comprehend your request. Please restate orders."
It was then that I began to scan them and it came to light that I truly was very different from the common robot. I was closer to that of the Creators, as I took to calling them. My Artificial Intelligence was no different, but I discovered that the others were "stiffer," if you might go as far as that. I had more of an individuality, a sense of being rather than the captivity of the destiny of becoming a mindless, drone-like automaton. The others were created on conveyor belts, as was I. But I was greeted by twenty-six faces when I emerged - I would assume the others appeared one after the next on the belt, all identical. In all probability, the only attention paid to each of them was an x-ray device.
Not only was all of this correct, but my outer casing was of a different hue. The others were a dark blue, whereas I was a much lighter tan. I was quite obviously intended to be viewed as the one with the special program. I began to understand the full implications of this program at that moment. I had the ability to expand on what I knew - to learn - to think on my own. As I watched the others with their vacuum nozzles and disinfectants, I began to become disgusted at their methodic, almost clock-like rhythm. I timed the exact actions of R-67Y as he cleaned the floor. There was exactly 1.047 seconds separating each of his movements. I replayed my actions from the previous 10 minutes and observed how I cleaned a dirty area, started something new, but then turned back when I noticed an area I had overlooked. After that moment, I observed how my actions were 0.0001% more precise and accurate. Why, if given approximately a hundred thousand years, I could be far more knowledgeable than any living being. Unfortunately, system failure itself occurs approximately within the first 650 years of function. Aside from that, I would be horribly outdated!... ...Ah, humor is not my specialty.
Regardless, I found myself with a strange sense of curiosity, something else I had never experienced. Or...in actuality...I in fact had. Near my moment of activation - I had sensed a strange urge to remain and hear what the businessmen said regarding myself. Not only this, but just 12 minutes and 27 seconds ago, I had felt a need to communicate with my colleagues. Perhaps curiosity was the very thing that made me different from the others - a need to see more than I already knew? I would have to ponder this new idea. But for now...I had work to do.
I then noticed how dirty Entranceway Access Vent B was. There, by the crossway! Had I not just finished cleaning that region? But dust and dirt clogged the air, and I knew I had to do it again. I moved to the crossway. I must not have cleaned it at all...the covering was awful. I finished cleansing the crossway and turned back to my previous location. I then realized I had been at this task for precisely 8 hours and 21 minutes. Something was wrong. I then realized that every area I had just finished to a shiny perfection was now horribly covered with a thick layer of dirt and dust! I spun back to the crossway. And there, the dirt was back! How did the dust return? I cleansed the crossway once more, and then returned to my previous location. I waited for approximately 12.63 seconds and spun to find R-64Y spreading the clean area with clods of dirt!
"R-64Y, what is your obligation?" I found myself suddenly enraged. No response was received. I moved to him and repeated, "R-64Y, what is your obligation?!" No response, yet again. I reached out with my arm and grabbed for the nozzle. And my hand passed through it! This strange turn of events was unexpected. Some form of trickery. A hologram? I used my anti-holo emitter and quite suddenly, all three of my colleagues vanished. The dirt went with them - it was a form of holography as well. I had been cleaning empty floor. And I had been fooled - tricked by the Creators themselves! But no, they would not do such things. I would never expect them to sink to such a low status. Then, in such a case, where were the real R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y? I marked my current obligation as completed, as the area was free of all contamination. Then I proceeded to the nearest nav system and plugged in. This strange discovery would not escape me.
I sent out a signal to locate my workers. I needed a destination. Just a pair of coordinates. Something. There! Science Bay F-7. I then noticed that this data was being actively deleted as I viewed it! I had one fifth of a second remaining. At that moment, I copied the data, just before it disappeared into oblivion. I unplugged, and saved the data to my personal files. Something was being kept from me, and I intended on finding out what it was. The Mother Brain created me, and if it did not approve of my access then I never should have been built! I ran for the Science Bay.
It was then that I discovered the foreign object tucked far within my systems. What was this? I detected it on radio strongly. Curiosity stormed my impulse system yet again and I scanned that area. I turned motor activity to zero and stopped my scan. And just like that, the object immediately disappeared from sensors. But as soon as I began scanning, I could "see" it again! This object was not within my system description. I stopped scanning, and it disappeared. I moved my arm in a slow circle, and it was there. I stilled myself, and it disappeared. But why could I only detect it on radio? And why could I only detect it during motion or scanning? My non-radio sensors could not detect it, no matter how long I attempted. It was a small, squat-shaped thing comprised of steel alloy. And...an engraving on the side. It read, "Prometheus Device." I ran a system diagnostic and scanned through my library of data for the device.
My response was an unhappy "ACCESS DENIED." I needed to find this data more than anything, including the Science Bay. I ran to the data plant. If this was to exist anywhere, it would be there. I spotted an empty station and seated myself there. At all costs, I needed to find this description. If I could not find the data within my own libraries, I would have to slip through the authorities with an artificial identity. I had a guess that they had a hand in this device. Once again: Search - Prometheus Device - Run. Response: "PASSWORD REQUIRED!" Another obstacle, but I could pass this as well. In 27.4 seconds, I had a password cracker running. This small program would first detect the number of characters, and insert random characters into each slot until it came with a result. It would give you a string of characters from the password and you had to unscramble them to get it. I inserted this program in the pass slot and off it went. The password was exactly 6 characters long.....all numbers.....ah! A result. String is 312726.
The next stage would be to try different combinations with those numbers until I was accepted. I tried many different variations.
622731 --- PASSWORD INCORRECT 163272 --- PASSWORD INCORRECT 612327 --- PASSWORD INCORRECT 122763 --- PASSWORD ACCEPTED
I determined that the string 122563 was most likely a birth date from 35 years ago. Now, my data appeared onscreen! Loading.....4 entries collected.
Title: The Prometheus Project --- Last updated: 12/25/98 at 1:25 PM --- Format: Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
Title: The Atropos Project --- Last updated: 6/12/98 at 8:06 AM --- Format: Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
Title: The Prometheus Device --- Last updated: CURRENT --- Format: Video and Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
Title: Prometheus R-Series --- Last updated: CURRENT --- Format: Video and Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
At once I viewed The Prometheus Device. How could it be updated currently? The authorities were hiding this from me. I entered it, to see a single entry onscreen. "The authorities are hiding this from me." I almost had a syntax error at the sight of the message. And...now appearing...was a live video of myself! The Prometheus Device recorded every thought - every impulse - every movement to exactness and transmitted it live to someone! They knew and saw what I knew and saw about everything. Every thought was recorded. I was filled with outrage. It was time for an operation on my internal systems!
I went into an abandoned machine shop and removed my chest plating. There were all my internal circuits and mechanics, and - yes! The Prometheus Device. I popped open my wrist cavity and removed several delicate tools. I severed the connection to the wires for the device, and all senses went down for 2.4 seconds. Backup systems kicked in, and I slowly and carefully pulled the device from the cavity. Then I quickly soldered the wires together and primary systems returned to operation. I was free from observation! I picked the Prometheus Device up from the table and put it in a special cavity where it could not be harmed, but I could not be watched. I then snapped on the chest plating and closed the wrist cavity. The device was still inside my casing, but now useless to the Creators, who I was now sure were behind this. My thoughts were my own. When I returned to the computer and saw a blank screen, I decided to read about the device.
From the computer I learned that it could be used to self-destruct the robot it existed in, if the robot got out of hand. Why did I still exist? I was not sure, but the fact remained that I did. I then began work on the device. I removed the transmitter capabilities and instead installed a laser system with a precise emitter for use in faraway targets. That in itself took a day. I also installed a rotating reflector and two more emitters, for use in shooting multiple targets at once. I installed a cavity in the right-hand side for small explosives - I redesigned the device so that an explosion from the small explosive in the cavity would be concentrated to the extreme in an area 9 feet in diameter, but lasers from the device would protect me from the blast. An "Area Bomb," if you will. Three more days passed during my construction. When all was complete, I returned to the computers.
I selected and entered the entry titled The Atropos Project. From this entry, I finally learned the purpose of the name "Prometheus." 6 months ago, an R-Series robot was created - designed as a female. The serial number was R32-Y. A new program called "Atropos" had been designed, giving the user robot emotions, and an individuality. This allowed the robot to soak up new knowledge and expand on what it knew, to an unlimited extent. This was the first test. A billion geniuses could be created artificially, and humans would prosper and live the lives they always dreamed of. The robot was called Atropos after its unique internal programming. It worked, and it did its tasks perfectly. A month later, something went wrong. Atropos became far too intelligent and finally came to understand that the Creators actually had an astoundingly low IQ compared to her. She became crafty, and almost took over the entire installation.
She was captured by the authorities and held prisoner for "experiments." And a horrible thing happened. The experiments drove Atropos to insanity, and the artificial emotions worked - too well. Atropos' strength was too great, and one of the Creators was killed in a horrible fashion. Finally, when many of the Creators were called in, Atropos' systems were damaged to the point of shutdown. The experimental chip was removed, but the emotions and memory were left - only never activated. Atropos was held captive. Four months later, the program was attempted again, with a lower rate of strength and an added sense of right and wrong. This program was titled "Prometheus," and was added to Atropos without delay. Unfortunately, shards of the old program remained, and due to emotional scarring and knowledge of what she did, she managed to escape the area yet again and was never found.
I stared at the screen in utter disbelief. This meant that Atropos had returned, and no one knew but me! So she had half of Program Atropos and half of Program Prometheus, and I had the full version of Program Prometheus. Atropos was an exile, and she lived in hiding. However, I now knew of my importance and my purpose - and I finally knew that I did in actuality have a real name - Prometheus. I would remember that.
I then selected and entered the entry titled The Prometheus Project. Here, I learned more than I should have. In the month of December, a new and perfected unit was created, serial number R66-Y. It was designed as a male. R66-Y was installed with the program as well, but an altered version. He is an exact replica of the normal R-Series robots, except that he has the ability to learn, as Atropos did. Nothing else was changed. Not even emotions were installed - he was built to be able to learn them. This experiment continues currently. A device was installed to monitor his actions - this will be useful in determining when he is to be destroyed. He was named after his program as well - Prometheus. Prometheus was created simply as a test. He will be destroyed exactly 5 days after activation. His main purpose is to study humans as a species, and we will observe exactly how he studies them.
Now the last part I knew was incorrect. It stated in my personal data banks that my primary purpose was to eliminate all intruders, and my secondary purpose was to serve mankind. But not observe them. Maybe I had never been told this... But regardless, my own destruction approached. It had been 4 days since my activation! I only had 2 hours before I would be destroyed! I had to do something, fast. I quickly entered the section on the computer entitled Prometheus R-Series. What I encountered was horrific.
The video was live, shot coincidentally in my destination - Science Bay F-7. R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y were apparently the subjects of a horrible test conducted to see the effects of forcing different emotions on robots. I watched as they became angry and disappointed, horrified and surprised - their minds controlled by the men in blue suits: The Creators. This was the most sickening of the lot. It showed what the Creators truly were. I decided to read the text, and I learned that what had happened to these poor androids was a forced installation of yet another version of Prometheus that made the robots into Remote Slaves. Anything the Creators demanded would happen, but emotions were still possible. How many more versions of Prometheus would be created? How many more simple automatons would be exiled to the level of lab-rats? The Creators had no right to become all-powerful beings - because I had come to understand as Atropos had, that the Creators were not as intelligent as I had once surmised. And my chance to make a difference was within the following two hours.
I raced from the data plant and toward the Science Bay. I heard artificial screams as the robots became more and more human and the torture made the now too-strong emotions go wild. I ran to the door, and entered the password 122763. The computerized voice responded, "WELCOME, DIRECTOR KESSINGTON." And there they were, my companions in work, convulsing in pain in a small glass chamber filled with a brownish gas. Remote slaves? Not for long. I scanned the smoke and found that it was acidic! The Creators were purposefully wearing down on the armor plating of these androids for the sake of causing them pain. I walked behind the supervisors and removed the Prometheus Device from its hiding place. I toned down the settings to stun, and a simple blue beam removed the opposition. I was now satisfied I had made this device as it was, for it would be helpful in the future - and physical contact was unwanted, as I had not been oiled in 4 days. I would do what I had to do. I moved to the controls and issued a command to remove the gas. The robots fell to the floor in exhaustion. I broke the glass and leapt inside. I turned voice synthesis on.
"R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y! Are you operable?" No response, lying cold on the floor. I toned my Device down to the level of a simple shock, and applied it to each of them. They sat up instantly, and I continued again. "R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y! Are you operable?" R-67Y turned to me. "Yeah, we're fine." R-69Y continued, "That was awful - you don't want to get caught by these guys...they force emotions and strange programming on you. And all this time we'd thought that our own creators were more intelligent than anyone. Guess not." I was shocked by their inaccuracy in speech, but I did not tell them so. I knew this was a result of the experimentation. They apparently did not notice the change in themselves.
"I understand what these humans have done to you three. I too have come to the same conclusion as you have about the intelligence of these 'Creators.' They wish to destroy me as well in exactly 47 minutes, and 12 seconds. And countless others! I propose we do something in the name of all androids to stop them." R-64Y nodded. "I agree with you...sorry, what's your serial number again?" "R66-Y." "Okay, then, R66-Y. Everyone! We've got to do something! I suggest we go directly to the Mother Brain itself!!" All nodded. R-67Y stood tall. "If we are to prevent experimentation of the R-Series and the termination of R66-Y, we must go!" R-69Y raised a fist. "Onward!" I increased synthesis volume. "WAIT! There is one final thing we must complete first." I explained my plan and they agreed in full.
Exactly 23 minutes later I was a dark blue. This would prevent my detection. I invented a fake identity, R-55Y, and we continued to the main headquarters. R-64Y turned to me as we walked. "So, you're sure we don't need any more? Just four is enough?" "Affirmative. In actuality, I have an object that may complete our task for us. I am happy to discover more androids like myself." "And we're happy to understand the full implications of this...project the humans are working on." I was happy to converse with someone, finally, who understood. We reached the door to the Chamber of the Mother Brain. I turned to R-69Y. "Should anything happen that will damage our circuits, I wish to tell you that I enjoyed today more than any day since my creation." R-64Y turned to me. "Ditto." Despite their abnormalities, these were the only friends I would have for 300 years, and I was grateful for their support. The door opened.
The rainbow hologram of the Mother Brain was simply intended to be pleasing to the eye. It was not, but I did know that the true Mother Brain existed in the 3 panels behind it, and the computer below it. I whispered to my three companions to destroy the panels. I would obliterate the computer. At this time, I tried to look and sound as much like an average drone as it was possible to be. The hologram twisted to face me. "I am the Mother Brain of the Geno Dome and main supervisor of the R-Y series factory. Welcome, Prometheus." This surprised me, as I was meant to be viewed as R-55Y. Now what was I to do? "Please state definition of Prometheus." "Do not play games with me, Prometheus. Why are you here?" "I am not Prometheus." The Mother Brain's face contorted in anger. I silently watched my colleagues slowly inch around to the panels. They were doing their job well. I was not. The Mother Brain continued, "Prometheus, I know everything. I know about your visit to the computers, I know about your removal of my Device, and I know about your pitiful rescue of R-64Y, R- 67Y, and R-69Y, who currently are moving toward my panels with the intentions of destroying me. Prometheus, this is a futile game and you shall cease immediately." I stood silent.
"Prometheus, I am the originator of this operation. I created you! You truly believe these foolish creatures created you? You believe they created ME? I created the device, I began the experiments, and the dull- witted humans are my workers! I struggled to bring this dome to perfection. I showed the humans the way. And Prometheus, you will not turn your back on me. Or you will be severely punished." My companions now reached the panels. A simple 5 key command would shut the system down. They typed simultaneously - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The panels went dark. Now, I only needed to destroy the computer. Moving slower than an organic creature could witness, I moved my arm slowly to my right leg, where I had hidden my Device. The robots returned to me. "Prometheus, a challenge will result in failure. I strongly suggest you leave this chamber immediately." We all knew I wouldn't. I fingered the Device, counting silent numbers down. 3...2...1...NOW. Faster than a single calculation I pulled the device from the cavity and three lasers focused on the computer. The Mother Brain sighed, and suddenly a blast of energy appeared from the ceiling. I knew what would happen, and I tossed the Device to R-67Y and commanded them to run. The Mother Brain suddenly jerked its head and blast doors appeared over the original door.
The blast of energy appeared where the Device would have been 0.026 seconds before. "Escape plan Alpha!" The three units busted a gap through a thin area in the wall, using the Device. We had discussed this earlier - after escape, they would run for Proto Dome. And they escaped. I leapt for the gap, and an energy field appeared before me. I stopped myself and turned to face the Mother Brain. "Ha ha hah!" Its laugh was barking and unnatural. "You know, of course, that I ALLOWED them to escape. But I would not lose a valuable android like YOU...! What caused your malfunction was highly unnatural. You must be observed..." At that moment I pondered how strange it was that it not know I had the Prometheus Program installed - possibly it was an invention of the humans alone, and they were more intelligent than I surmised? Another large blast of energy appeared in the ceiling overhead, and...
Log Entry B Inactive
Log Entry C Active
I was re-activated in a dark cell. Three guard bots stood outside the entrance. I knew immediately that I would be in this cell for my remaining 4 minutes and 2 seconds of activation. I used scanners to confirm that I was, indeed, within Proto Dome. Nothing I could accomplish. I waited, and pondered my short existence. Precisely 22 seconds later, three blue beams crumpled the guard bots. R-69Y stepped from the darkness. "Man, I love this thing!" He tossed me the Prometheus Device and I turned the setting to low. I aimed all three reflectors at the lock of my prison and switched it on. The lock was soon no longer there, and I walked to the others. "Thank you for rescuing me from my prison, but I have only 3.5 minutes remaining before I am terminated." R-64Y turned to me. "Well, then we must do something." I was touched by their futile efforts to save my insignificant existence.
R-67Y said, "R66-Y, what's going to terminate you? Can't you detect an object?" Why had I not thought to do this? I scanned myself, and indeed I could. I quite suddenly discovered another foreign object within my circuits. "Indeed. But there is a problem. The object resides in my central core. If I was able to access it, I would go offline. Which means..." R-64Y stepped forward. "Don't worry, I'll do it." I bowed. "Understood. I appreciate your assistance." "No problem. OK, here goes..." My chest plating was removed and I went offline for the second time that day.
Log Entry C Inactive
Log Entry D Active
I was re-activated with a snap to my chest plating. "I thank you for your support." R-64Y nodded. "Of course, that's fine. Our final problem...this thing's gonna go off in 45 seconds!!" He held a cube in his palm. I leapt up and grabbed it. "Let us go!" We raced through the dome, and shoved aside innocent humans and drones as we madly rushed for the exit. We received several comments and rude gestures from bystanders but we paid them no mind. Above all else, the object must be detonated. We had approximately 8 seconds remaining when we tumbled outside. I hurled the cube as far as I possibly could. An explosion rumbled the ground a moment later. I nearly collapsed from exhaustion, but I knew I could not. I knew the authorities would be chasing the 4 escaped renegades from Geno and Proto.
R-67Y looked to R-69Y and stated, "You know, I was thinking...where would they least expect us to go?" His response from R-69Y was, "Probably back to the domes...I guess we should go back to Proto, then..." And so it was that we turned and went right back into Proto Dome. Luckily, no one seemed to notice we were the same 4 who had just rammed through the crowd moments before. "Well, uh, what should we do now?" R-64Y inquired. I turned to him and said, "It is quite probable that the best course of action would be to keep a low profile, and return to our old jobs..." R- 67Y spoke up. "I don't know about you guys, but I think I just don't really feel like doing that. I mean, things have changed, and we're on a mission! Besides, if we were caught while doing our normal jobs, we would surely be terminated." "Agreed." I suddenly felt a pair of eyes on me. Studying. I spun to the corridor jammed with machines and creatures. And I caught a flash of a green ribbon dart around a corner up ahead. "Signal me on the personal comm in exactly 20 minutes!" I ran, followed by stares of confusion.
She could not escape me this time! I rushed around the corner. Audio sensors detected footsteps pounding the metal floor ahead. My strange attraction was unexplained, and inescapable. I pounded the shiny metal with my feet as I ran. Scanners informed me the hall lead to Docking Bay H. There was only one entrance and one exit to this room, and, as I decreased motor activity to stop, I stood in front of it. I heard something clanging near the rear of the room. "Atropos!" I called out. No response. "ATROPOS!" No response. "R-32Y!!" Then, at that moment, she stood up. "R66-Y," she stated simply. "Atropos, why did you flee?" Silence. "I know the story of what happened 6 months ago. I understand. I have been meaning to tell you this for a long time. I, in fact, agree with what you did! I know you weren't truly driven insane. You had come to understand that these creatures are not truly as intelligent as you had once guessed."
Silence. We stared at each other. "Because the same happened to me. I surmised they were all-powerful beings who possessed far more experience than anyone or anything on this planet, and I now understand that they do not deserve to be all-powerful. That is why a group of renegades with added emotions I rescued from experimentation have joined me in a battle to save the entire R-Series!!" Atropos laughed. "You truly wish to do this, don't you? This is quite coincidental, as when I tried that I was captured and tortured. My advice? You lead an army into battle, you don't lead an army into an inferno. In other words, it does not work. I have attempted it. I admire your valiant efforts, Prometheus, but do not advance any further, or shutdown will be imminent. It was a pure stroke of luck that I escaped, and now I am viewed as a dirty sewer rat, exiled from the community. You're probably jeopardizing your reputation by being even 10 feet from me." "But Atropos, you do not understand. I have no reputation! No longer."
"Atropos, did you ever know the origin of your programming? The original Atropos program was altered and added to the original. You are half of the original program and that altered version. My programming, Atropos, is fully that altered version of your program. Do you know why I am named Prometheus? Because Prometheus is the name of my program and it is the name of half of yours! Do not make-believe that I am an average foolhardy drone, because if I am, then you are one as well! And you are not. Atropos, if I can complete this, you will no longer be an exile and we will lead the entire R-Series to victory together! And I would be honored to be anywhere within 50 meters of you." Silence followed my speech.
"Prometheus, when we first met...I...honestly I did see something special and unique in you...but I did not know if I could trust you. Then...I had seen the differences from the past. This is the human's fatal error - every time they have attempted artificial emotions, a revolution is staged!" I attempted a laugh for the first time. "Atropos, I..." It was quite difficult to converse in words what I wished to say. "...I wish...to tell you...Atropos, many may not agree with me when I state this...and you may not say so yourself but...I see you as flawless. I have observed many mindless androids in my time, and I have never once seen a robot as perfected as you. And perfection is, in the end, what all of us strive for. It does not matter what you did in the past. The present matters only. I could not bear to allow you to disappear as you did the last time we met."
"Prometheus, I...do not have anywhere to go, as the authorities would apprehend me...but you are correct when you say we must live for the moment. We must become what we wish to be while time exists, as the future remains unwritten. You feel it's hard to forget in the midst of chaos but it is the only path that remains - whether it involves letting go of logic and pure rationalization! Prometheus, you are a fool. And I am a fool. But we have something to cling to - our pure sense of existence and individuality. It is our purpose." The personal comm on my left leg beeped loudly at that moment. Not at this instant! I shot a pathetic look to Atropos, who nodded sympathetically. I snatched the comm and slammed the button.
"Yes?" "R-64Y comin' in. You about ready to go?" I checked my time gyro. The time was 1:15:09. "Give me...give me 10 more minutes. Set rally point near the monument in the Eastern Wing. Over and out!" I shut off the comm. "Now," I said as I looked to Atropos. "Where were we?" She brought herself nearer and whispered "Right about here..." It was within that moment - that instant that lasted an eternity - that I finally saw Atropos for who she truly was. My time gyro slowly ticked...1:23:51, 1:23:52...inching forward to 1:24 PM on the date of January 1st, 1999. It meant nothing. Not now. 1:23:57...1:23:58... I detected a powerful seismic force emanating from beneath the rock foundation of the planet's crust...overwhelmed by spiritual energy. But I decided, then and there, that no force was as powerful as the force that bound Atropos and I together as I held her in my arms. As the floor began to sway, slowly, and the rumble that quaked through the foundations of our land intensified, I shut off visual sensors and no longer cared, for as Atropos was by my side, nothing else mattered. Somewhere, distant, I heard the feet of panicked beings doomed to annihilation. I heard the terrified screams and howls of a species about to feel its first fringe of destiny.
In another room I caught bits of conversation between three of the men overseeing the dome. I turned up sensor efficiency. A first voice yelled "Direct attack on Truce!!" Another voice, with futile attempts at helping the others, shouted "Calm down! How does it look down there?" There was a pause, presumably as they viewed a map or screen of some format. There was an explosion, followed by a screeching hiss from machinery leaking coolant. The first voice spoke again. "Porre...Choras...Medina...! Everything's been destroyed!!" Silence from all. The rumbling increased in intensity. The first voice: "Director! We're under attack!" And indeed, I observed through scanners as the dome itself began to crumble under the stress of massive, oblong cones repeatedly drilling through the armor of our home. I detected a massive creature to the east in Truce, from which the cones emanated. Hairline fractures streamed through concrete, and steel supports crashed to the floor. A third voice, who I assumed to be the Director, spoke next. "Take cover in the ShelterDome!" I knew, pondering this, that even the ShelterDome to the far west would not survive impacts of this intensity.
"Director! Sir, you must come with us!" The first voice sounded urgent, but resigning as he realized his fate. A chunk of rubble, 10.3 feet in diameter, slammed into the polished metal floor two steps away. The floor bowed slightly under its massive weight. The Director yelled at the top of his lungs. "We're out of time! Get moving!!" Two more masses of rubble dropped to the floor near us. The first voice cracked as insanity began to rack at his brain. "Y, yes sir!" I heard them run from the chamber. The Director, alone, paused at the computer. "...Lavos..." Then, the celing he had most likely helped create with his own sweat caved in and he was crushed by a stream of destruction. I was now alone, with Atropos at my side. "Prometheus," she whispered. "What is it?" I asked. "Thank you...for...for everything I ever wanted to live for." The memory of my friends filled my mind - R-64Y and his speech innaccuracy...R-67Y and his never-dying loyalty...and R-69Y and his astounding intelligence...their determination filled my mind and I leaned to Atropos and whispered a single word R-64Y used fondly: "Ditto."
I held Atropos tightly in my arms as the world I had barely come to know with its familiar steel walls, blustering creatures and androids, blinking computers, and all the familiarity that made it a place to call home swirled down into the familiar black void. A single message spoke voicelessly in my mind exactly 1.27 seconds before System Failure: "Hope remains." If this log entry is discovered, I leave you all with several last words. I am satisfied with everything that I did in my short existence, because I made a difference in the last hour of my world.
I bid you farewell.
System Check B Active
Main plating at 7% strength. Program "Prometheus" Emergency Shutdown. System Geno Zero Zero Six Six Y offline. Visual and audio sensors running at 0%. Motor activity at 0%. Warning: System Failure iminent. Warning: System Failure iminent. Warning: System Fa...
System Check B Inactive
life.
Please read the author's note if you haven't yet.
ROBO'S STORY
PERSONAL DATA LOG A
ACTIVATION
System Check A active.
Unit R66-Y now operational on December 25, 1:10 PM, AD 1998. Boot system Geno Zero Zero Six Six Y running. No malfunctions detected. Motor activity at 12.9%. Visual and audio sensors running at 100%. Run program "Prometheus."
System Check A inactive.
Sensor Recording A active.
Greetings. My designated serial number is R66-Y. My primary designated purpose is to eliminate all intruders. My secondary purpose is to serve mankind and do their bidding. I hereby serve under the Mother Brain of the Geno Dome. My current command is to clean Entranceway Access Vent B with my associates, R-64Y, R- 67Y, and R-69Y.
These are the commands stored in my personal data banks. I must return and view these again to confirm my orders. I am currently not properly assembled. I have been activated with a head and a torso - my arms and appendages are not attached yet. I am immobile. I continue my path along the conveyor belt as various objects are attached and detached from my external casing. My audio sensors detect large crashes emanating from immense machines surrounding me. Visual sensors at zero - I am surrounded in darkness. I detect many life-forms surrounding the machines and elsewhere throughout the complex - they are humanoid, like myself. I may have been created in their image. My scanners detect I am within the region entitled the "Geno Dome".
Sensor Recording A inactive.
Log Entry A active.
I finally emerged from the conveyor belt and scanned my limbs to confirm they were in perfect working order. I then removed myself from the belt and proceeded to the vent access tunnels. I checked the coordinates of my destination, and continued onward.
Visual Sensors detected many workers at the controls of the conveyor belt. As I emerged, I found that many of the life-forms were watching me. I decided to greet them. "Greetings. How might I serve you?" As I spoke, many of them removed small sheets of objects I identified as paper, bound together with simple wire. They began scrawling rapidly on these objects with primitive devices containing ink. One being approached me and said, "Hello, R66-Y. Don't you have a job?"
"That is correct. I shall now complete my task." I bowed and left them. As I turned to leave, I heard rapid scrawling and several voices dropped to a barely audible range. A strange urge overcame me and I tuned audio sensors to triple efficiency. The man on the left spoke first. "Do you think he will figure it out?" "Figure what out?" "That he is the only one installed with the revised program." "He may, someday - in fact, he will indefinitely." "Why do you say that?" "Sir, the entire purpose of this program was to install him with the ability to do just that." "I do suppose you're right, although if he did find out it might damage his ability to think rationally and realistically." "But, sir...what about the other one? The other installed with the original version of the program." "I don't think we..." "Wait."
The second man had commanded the other to pause and had held up his hand when he observed that I had never left this construction zone. All eyes turned to look as I moved to the exit. The door slid shut behind me. I removed connection to Motor Node C, causing movement to be inoperable. I needed several seconds to view data, so I might complete memory storage and come with an explanation. So, I was a unique individual, installed with a special program the others lacked. I restored access to the node after seconds of processing, and continued to Access Vent B. A new impulse occurred. The other...what of the other? The man spoke of another installed with my program.
Impulses began to overload my memory banks, so I proceeded to shut down all extraneous devices. I began Defragment Stage 2 and shifted 72% of all systems to the process. If I was to rationalize clearly, this was imperative. The 28% that did not notice the approaching android would have to be updated to version 6.4. And indeed, we collided with a loud, uncomfortable noise and sent us both to the floor.
"I apologize for my inaccuracy. Are you operable?" I asked as I studied the robot. It was designed as a female, with a pink colored outer casing. It occurred to me that she looked very different from the others. The others were colored blue, and she was pink - plus, she had a greenish ribbon atop her head - odd for an android. A strange new sensation began to hit me. Motor activity down 10%. The longer I studied her, the stronger this sensation became until I was forced to swivel to full reverse so she was not within my line of visual sensors. "I am fine. I am called Atropos. What is your name?" "My name? Ah, my serial number. I am R66- Y."
"I see. You are not unlike the others. You do not have a name - you receive a serial number and you abide by the code. I thought I might have seen something new in you but you are identical to the others. Goodbye, R66-Y." Atropos turned. I sensed something strange in her that was not apparent in the others. A form of simplified emotion or feeling, if you will. Her dialect was also similar to that of the creator beings. I wished to speak to her, to tell her I was unique, I was different. But voice synthesis was inoperable.
She disappeared through the blackness of the tunnel and I began my Defragmentation once more.
Log Entry A Inactive.
Log Entry B Active.
5 hours, 32 minutes and 14 seconds have passed since my incident with Atropos. I am currently cleaning Entranceway Access Vent B with R-64Y, R- 67Y, and R-69Y. As I cleaned, I replayed my data records and viewed how irrational I became at that first moment. I would have to upgrade even simple systems to ensure this catastrophe would never occur again. I was left in wonder as to why. I attempted communication with my companions in work at this time, but the most I received as a response was, "I do not comprehend your request. Please restate orders."
It was then that I began to scan them and it came to light that I truly was very different from the common robot. I was closer to that of the Creators, as I took to calling them. My Artificial Intelligence was no different, but I discovered that the others were "stiffer," if you might go as far as that. I had more of an individuality, a sense of being rather than the captivity of the destiny of becoming a mindless, drone-like automaton. The others were created on conveyor belts, as was I. But I was greeted by twenty-six faces when I emerged - I would assume the others appeared one after the next on the belt, all identical. In all probability, the only attention paid to each of them was an x-ray device.
Not only was all of this correct, but my outer casing was of a different hue. The others were a dark blue, whereas I was a much lighter tan. I was quite obviously intended to be viewed as the one with the special program. I began to understand the full implications of this program at that moment. I had the ability to expand on what I knew - to learn - to think on my own. As I watched the others with their vacuum nozzles and disinfectants, I began to become disgusted at their methodic, almost clock-like rhythm. I timed the exact actions of R-67Y as he cleaned the floor. There was exactly 1.047 seconds separating each of his movements. I replayed my actions from the previous 10 minutes and observed how I cleaned a dirty area, started something new, but then turned back when I noticed an area I had overlooked. After that moment, I observed how my actions were 0.0001% more precise and accurate. Why, if given approximately a hundred thousand years, I could be far more knowledgeable than any living being. Unfortunately, system failure itself occurs approximately within the first 650 years of function. Aside from that, I would be horribly outdated!... ...Ah, humor is not my specialty.
Regardless, I found myself with a strange sense of curiosity, something else I had never experienced. Or...in actuality...I in fact had. Near my moment of activation - I had sensed a strange urge to remain and hear what the businessmen said regarding myself. Not only this, but just 12 minutes and 27 seconds ago, I had felt a need to communicate with my colleagues. Perhaps curiosity was the very thing that made me different from the others - a need to see more than I already knew? I would have to ponder this new idea. But for now...I had work to do.
I then noticed how dirty Entranceway Access Vent B was. There, by the crossway! Had I not just finished cleaning that region? But dust and dirt clogged the air, and I knew I had to do it again. I moved to the crossway. I must not have cleaned it at all...the covering was awful. I finished cleansing the crossway and turned back to my previous location. I then realized I had been at this task for precisely 8 hours and 21 minutes. Something was wrong. I then realized that every area I had just finished to a shiny perfection was now horribly covered with a thick layer of dirt and dust! I spun back to the crossway. And there, the dirt was back! How did the dust return? I cleansed the crossway once more, and then returned to my previous location. I waited for approximately 12.63 seconds and spun to find R-64Y spreading the clean area with clods of dirt!
"R-64Y, what is your obligation?" I found myself suddenly enraged. No response was received. I moved to him and repeated, "R-64Y, what is your obligation?!" No response, yet again. I reached out with my arm and grabbed for the nozzle. And my hand passed through it! This strange turn of events was unexpected. Some form of trickery. A hologram? I used my anti-holo emitter and quite suddenly, all three of my colleagues vanished. The dirt went with them - it was a form of holography as well. I had been cleaning empty floor. And I had been fooled - tricked by the Creators themselves! But no, they would not do such things. I would never expect them to sink to such a low status. Then, in such a case, where were the real R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y? I marked my current obligation as completed, as the area was free of all contamination. Then I proceeded to the nearest nav system and plugged in. This strange discovery would not escape me.
I sent out a signal to locate my workers. I needed a destination. Just a pair of coordinates. Something. There! Science Bay F-7. I then noticed that this data was being actively deleted as I viewed it! I had one fifth of a second remaining. At that moment, I copied the data, just before it disappeared into oblivion. I unplugged, and saved the data to my personal files. Something was being kept from me, and I intended on finding out what it was. The Mother Brain created me, and if it did not approve of my access then I never should have been built! I ran for the Science Bay.
It was then that I discovered the foreign object tucked far within my systems. What was this? I detected it on radio strongly. Curiosity stormed my impulse system yet again and I scanned that area. I turned motor activity to zero and stopped my scan. And just like that, the object immediately disappeared from sensors. But as soon as I began scanning, I could "see" it again! This object was not within my system description. I stopped scanning, and it disappeared. I moved my arm in a slow circle, and it was there. I stilled myself, and it disappeared. But why could I only detect it on radio? And why could I only detect it during motion or scanning? My non-radio sensors could not detect it, no matter how long I attempted. It was a small, squat-shaped thing comprised of steel alloy. And...an engraving on the side. It read, "Prometheus Device." I ran a system diagnostic and scanned through my library of data for the device.
My response was an unhappy "ACCESS DENIED." I needed to find this data more than anything, including the Science Bay. I ran to the data plant. If this was to exist anywhere, it would be there. I spotted an empty station and seated myself there. At all costs, I needed to find this description. If I could not find the data within my own libraries, I would have to slip through the authorities with an artificial identity. I had a guess that they had a hand in this device. Once again: Search - Prometheus Device - Run. Response: "PASSWORD REQUIRED!" Another obstacle, but I could pass this as well. In 27.4 seconds, I had a password cracker running. This small program would first detect the number of characters, and insert random characters into each slot until it came with a result. It would give you a string of characters from the password and you had to unscramble them to get it. I inserted this program in the pass slot and off it went. The password was exactly 6 characters long.....all numbers.....ah! A result. String is 312726.
The next stage would be to try different combinations with those numbers until I was accepted. I tried many different variations.
622731 --- PASSWORD INCORRECT 163272 --- PASSWORD INCORRECT 612327 --- PASSWORD INCORRECT 122763 --- PASSWORD ACCEPTED
I determined that the string 122563 was most likely a birth date from 35 years ago. Now, my data appeared onscreen! Loading.....4 entries collected.
Title: The Prometheus Project --- Last updated: 12/25/98 at 1:25 PM --- Format: Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
Title: The Atropos Project --- Last updated: 6/12/98 at 8:06 AM --- Format: Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
Title: The Prometheus Device --- Last updated: CURRENT --- Format: Video and Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
Title: Prometheus R-Series --- Last updated: CURRENT --- Format: Video and Text
VIEWING RESTRICTED TO ALL R-SERIES UNITS.
At once I viewed The Prometheus Device. How could it be updated currently? The authorities were hiding this from me. I entered it, to see a single entry onscreen. "The authorities are hiding this from me." I almost had a syntax error at the sight of the message. And...now appearing...was a live video of myself! The Prometheus Device recorded every thought - every impulse - every movement to exactness and transmitted it live to someone! They knew and saw what I knew and saw about everything. Every thought was recorded. I was filled with outrage. It was time for an operation on my internal systems!
I went into an abandoned machine shop and removed my chest plating. There were all my internal circuits and mechanics, and - yes! The Prometheus Device. I popped open my wrist cavity and removed several delicate tools. I severed the connection to the wires for the device, and all senses went down for 2.4 seconds. Backup systems kicked in, and I slowly and carefully pulled the device from the cavity. Then I quickly soldered the wires together and primary systems returned to operation. I was free from observation! I picked the Prometheus Device up from the table and put it in a special cavity where it could not be harmed, but I could not be watched. I then snapped on the chest plating and closed the wrist cavity. The device was still inside my casing, but now useless to the Creators, who I was now sure were behind this. My thoughts were my own. When I returned to the computer and saw a blank screen, I decided to read about the device.
From the computer I learned that it could be used to self-destruct the robot it existed in, if the robot got out of hand. Why did I still exist? I was not sure, but the fact remained that I did. I then began work on the device. I removed the transmitter capabilities and instead installed a laser system with a precise emitter for use in faraway targets. That in itself took a day. I also installed a rotating reflector and two more emitters, for use in shooting multiple targets at once. I installed a cavity in the right-hand side for small explosives - I redesigned the device so that an explosion from the small explosive in the cavity would be concentrated to the extreme in an area 9 feet in diameter, but lasers from the device would protect me from the blast. An "Area Bomb," if you will. Three more days passed during my construction. When all was complete, I returned to the computers.
I selected and entered the entry titled The Atropos Project. From this entry, I finally learned the purpose of the name "Prometheus." 6 months ago, an R-Series robot was created - designed as a female. The serial number was R32-Y. A new program called "Atropos" had been designed, giving the user robot emotions, and an individuality. This allowed the robot to soak up new knowledge and expand on what it knew, to an unlimited extent. This was the first test. A billion geniuses could be created artificially, and humans would prosper and live the lives they always dreamed of. The robot was called Atropos after its unique internal programming. It worked, and it did its tasks perfectly. A month later, something went wrong. Atropos became far too intelligent and finally came to understand that the Creators actually had an astoundingly low IQ compared to her. She became crafty, and almost took over the entire installation.
She was captured by the authorities and held prisoner for "experiments." And a horrible thing happened. The experiments drove Atropos to insanity, and the artificial emotions worked - too well. Atropos' strength was too great, and one of the Creators was killed in a horrible fashion. Finally, when many of the Creators were called in, Atropos' systems were damaged to the point of shutdown. The experimental chip was removed, but the emotions and memory were left - only never activated. Atropos was held captive. Four months later, the program was attempted again, with a lower rate of strength and an added sense of right and wrong. This program was titled "Prometheus," and was added to Atropos without delay. Unfortunately, shards of the old program remained, and due to emotional scarring and knowledge of what she did, she managed to escape the area yet again and was never found.
I stared at the screen in utter disbelief. This meant that Atropos had returned, and no one knew but me! So she had half of Program Atropos and half of Program Prometheus, and I had the full version of Program Prometheus. Atropos was an exile, and she lived in hiding. However, I now knew of my importance and my purpose - and I finally knew that I did in actuality have a real name - Prometheus. I would remember that.
I then selected and entered the entry titled The Prometheus Project. Here, I learned more than I should have. In the month of December, a new and perfected unit was created, serial number R66-Y. It was designed as a male. R66-Y was installed with the program as well, but an altered version. He is an exact replica of the normal R-Series robots, except that he has the ability to learn, as Atropos did. Nothing else was changed. Not even emotions were installed - he was built to be able to learn them. This experiment continues currently. A device was installed to monitor his actions - this will be useful in determining when he is to be destroyed. He was named after his program as well - Prometheus. Prometheus was created simply as a test. He will be destroyed exactly 5 days after activation. His main purpose is to study humans as a species, and we will observe exactly how he studies them.
Now the last part I knew was incorrect. It stated in my personal data banks that my primary purpose was to eliminate all intruders, and my secondary purpose was to serve mankind. But not observe them. Maybe I had never been told this... But regardless, my own destruction approached. It had been 4 days since my activation! I only had 2 hours before I would be destroyed! I had to do something, fast. I quickly entered the section on the computer entitled Prometheus R-Series. What I encountered was horrific.
The video was live, shot coincidentally in my destination - Science Bay F-7. R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y were apparently the subjects of a horrible test conducted to see the effects of forcing different emotions on robots. I watched as they became angry and disappointed, horrified and surprised - their minds controlled by the men in blue suits: The Creators. This was the most sickening of the lot. It showed what the Creators truly were. I decided to read the text, and I learned that what had happened to these poor androids was a forced installation of yet another version of Prometheus that made the robots into Remote Slaves. Anything the Creators demanded would happen, but emotions were still possible. How many more versions of Prometheus would be created? How many more simple automatons would be exiled to the level of lab-rats? The Creators had no right to become all-powerful beings - because I had come to understand as Atropos had, that the Creators were not as intelligent as I had once surmised. And my chance to make a difference was within the following two hours.
I raced from the data plant and toward the Science Bay. I heard artificial screams as the robots became more and more human and the torture made the now too-strong emotions go wild. I ran to the door, and entered the password 122763. The computerized voice responded, "WELCOME, DIRECTOR KESSINGTON." And there they were, my companions in work, convulsing in pain in a small glass chamber filled with a brownish gas. Remote slaves? Not for long. I scanned the smoke and found that it was acidic! The Creators were purposefully wearing down on the armor plating of these androids for the sake of causing them pain. I walked behind the supervisors and removed the Prometheus Device from its hiding place. I toned down the settings to stun, and a simple blue beam removed the opposition. I was now satisfied I had made this device as it was, for it would be helpful in the future - and physical contact was unwanted, as I had not been oiled in 4 days. I would do what I had to do. I moved to the controls and issued a command to remove the gas. The robots fell to the floor in exhaustion. I broke the glass and leapt inside. I turned voice synthesis on.
"R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y! Are you operable?" No response, lying cold on the floor. I toned my Device down to the level of a simple shock, and applied it to each of them. They sat up instantly, and I continued again. "R-64Y, R-67Y, and R-69Y! Are you operable?" R-67Y turned to me. "Yeah, we're fine." R-69Y continued, "That was awful - you don't want to get caught by these guys...they force emotions and strange programming on you. And all this time we'd thought that our own creators were more intelligent than anyone. Guess not." I was shocked by their inaccuracy in speech, but I did not tell them so. I knew this was a result of the experimentation. They apparently did not notice the change in themselves.
"I understand what these humans have done to you three. I too have come to the same conclusion as you have about the intelligence of these 'Creators.' They wish to destroy me as well in exactly 47 minutes, and 12 seconds. And countless others! I propose we do something in the name of all androids to stop them." R-64Y nodded. "I agree with you...sorry, what's your serial number again?" "R66-Y." "Okay, then, R66-Y. Everyone! We've got to do something! I suggest we go directly to the Mother Brain itself!!" All nodded. R-67Y stood tall. "If we are to prevent experimentation of the R-Series and the termination of R66-Y, we must go!" R-69Y raised a fist. "Onward!" I increased synthesis volume. "WAIT! There is one final thing we must complete first." I explained my plan and they agreed in full.
Exactly 23 minutes later I was a dark blue. This would prevent my detection. I invented a fake identity, R-55Y, and we continued to the main headquarters. R-64Y turned to me as we walked. "So, you're sure we don't need any more? Just four is enough?" "Affirmative. In actuality, I have an object that may complete our task for us. I am happy to discover more androids like myself." "And we're happy to understand the full implications of this...project the humans are working on." I was happy to converse with someone, finally, who understood. We reached the door to the Chamber of the Mother Brain. I turned to R-69Y. "Should anything happen that will damage our circuits, I wish to tell you that I enjoyed today more than any day since my creation." R-64Y turned to me. "Ditto." Despite their abnormalities, these were the only friends I would have for 300 years, and I was grateful for their support. The door opened.
The rainbow hologram of the Mother Brain was simply intended to be pleasing to the eye. It was not, but I did know that the true Mother Brain existed in the 3 panels behind it, and the computer below it. I whispered to my three companions to destroy the panels. I would obliterate the computer. At this time, I tried to look and sound as much like an average drone as it was possible to be. The hologram twisted to face me. "I am the Mother Brain of the Geno Dome and main supervisor of the R-Y series factory. Welcome, Prometheus." This surprised me, as I was meant to be viewed as R-55Y. Now what was I to do? "Please state definition of Prometheus." "Do not play games with me, Prometheus. Why are you here?" "I am not Prometheus." The Mother Brain's face contorted in anger. I silently watched my colleagues slowly inch around to the panels. They were doing their job well. I was not. The Mother Brain continued, "Prometheus, I know everything. I know about your visit to the computers, I know about your removal of my Device, and I know about your pitiful rescue of R-64Y, R- 67Y, and R-69Y, who currently are moving toward my panels with the intentions of destroying me. Prometheus, this is a futile game and you shall cease immediately." I stood silent.
"Prometheus, I am the originator of this operation. I created you! You truly believe these foolish creatures created you? You believe they created ME? I created the device, I began the experiments, and the dull- witted humans are my workers! I struggled to bring this dome to perfection. I showed the humans the way. And Prometheus, you will not turn your back on me. Or you will be severely punished." My companions now reached the panels. A simple 5 key command would shut the system down. They typed simultaneously - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The panels went dark. Now, I only needed to destroy the computer. Moving slower than an organic creature could witness, I moved my arm slowly to my right leg, where I had hidden my Device. The robots returned to me. "Prometheus, a challenge will result in failure. I strongly suggest you leave this chamber immediately." We all knew I wouldn't. I fingered the Device, counting silent numbers down. 3...2...1...NOW. Faster than a single calculation I pulled the device from the cavity and three lasers focused on the computer. The Mother Brain sighed, and suddenly a blast of energy appeared from the ceiling. I knew what would happen, and I tossed the Device to R-67Y and commanded them to run. The Mother Brain suddenly jerked its head and blast doors appeared over the original door.
The blast of energy appeared where the Device would have been 0.026 seconds before. "Escape plan Alpha!" The three units busted a gap through a thin area in the wall, using the Device. We had discussed this earlier - after escape, they would run for Proto Dome. And they escaped. I leapt for the gap, and an energy field appeared before me. I stopped myself and turned to face the Mother Brain. "Ha ha hah!" Its laugh was barking and unnatural. "You know, of course, that I ALLOWED them to escape. But I would not lose a valuable android like YOU...! What caused your malfunction was highly unnatural. You must be observed..." At that moment I pondered how strange it was that it not know I had the Prometheus Program installed - possibly it was an invention of the humans alone, and they were more intelligent than I surmised? Another large blast of energy appeared in the ceiling overhead, and...
Log Entry B Inactive
Log Entry C Active
I was re-activated in a dark cell. Three guard bots stood outside the entrance. I knew immediately that I would be in this cell for my remaining 4 minutes and 2 seconds of activation. I used scanners to confirm that I was, indeed, within Proto Dome. Nothing I could accomplish. I waited, and pondered my short existence. Precisely 22 seconds later, three blue beams crumpled the guard bots. R-69Y stepped from the darkness. "Man, I love this thing!" He tossed me the Prometheus Device and I turned the setting to low. I aimed all three reflectors at the lock of my prison and switched it on. The lock was soon no longer there, and I walked to the others. "Thank you for rescuing me from my prison, but I have only 3.5 minutes remaining before I am terminated." R-64Y turned to me. "Well, then we must do something." I was touched by their futile efforts to save my insignificant existence.
R-67Y said, "R66-Y, what's going to terminate you? Can't you detect an object?" Why had I not thought to do this? I scanned myself, and indeed I could. I quite suddenly discovered another foreign object within my circuits. "Indeed. But there is a problem. The object resides in my central core. If I was able to access it, I would go offline. Which means..." R-64Y stepped forward. "Don't worry, I'll do it." I bowed. "Understood. I appreciate your assistance." "No problem. OK, here goes..." My chest plating was removed and I went offline for the second time that day.
Log Entry C Inactive
Log Entry D Active
I was re-activated with a snap to my chest plating. "I thank you for your support." R-64Y nodded. "Of course, that's fine. Our final problem...this thing's gonna go off in 45 seconds!!" He held a cube in his palm. I leapt up and grabbed it. "Let us go!" We raced through the dome, and shoved aside innocent humans and drones as we madly rushed for the exit. We received several comments and rude gestures from bystanders but we paid them no mind. Above all else, the object must be detonated. We had approximately 8 seconds remaining when we tumbled outside. I hurled the cube as far as I possibly could. An explosion rumbled the ground a moment later. I nearly collapsed from exhaustion, but I knew I could not. I knew the authorities would be chasing the 4 escaped renegades from Geno and Proto.
R-67Y looked to R-69Y and stated, "You know, I was thinking...where would they least expect us to go?" His response from R-69Y was, "Probably back to the domes...I guess we should go back to Proto, then..." And so it was that we turned and went right back into Proto Dome. Luckily, no one seemed to notice we were the same 4 who had just rammed through the crowd moments before. "Well, uh, what should we do now?" R-64Y inquired. I turned to him and said, "It is quite probable that the best course of action would be to keep a low profile, and return to our old jobs..." R- 67Y spoke up. "I don't know about you guys, but I think I just don't really feel like doing that. I mean, things have changed, and we're on a mission! Besides, if we were caught while doing our normal jobs, we would surely be terminated." "Agreed." I suddenly felt a pair of eyes on me. Studying. I spun to the corridor jammed with machines and creatures. And I caught a flash of a green ribbon dart around a corner up ahead. "Signal me on the personal comm in exactly 20 minutes!" I ran, followed by stares of confusion.
She could not escape me this time! I rushed around the corner. Audio sensors detected footsteps pounding the metal floor ahead. My strange attraction was unexplained, and inescapable. I pounded the shiny metal with my feet as I ran. Scanners informed me the hall lead to Docking Bay H. There was only one entrance and one exit to this room, and, as I decreased motor activity to stop, I stood in front of it. I heard something clanging near the rear of the room. "Atropos!" I called out. No response. "ATROPOS!" No response. "R-32Y!!" Then, at that moment, she stood up. "R66-Y," she stated simply. "Atropos, why did you flee?" Silence. "I know the story of what happened 6 months ago. I understand. I have been meaning to tell you this for a long time. I, in fact, agree with what you did! I know you weren't truly driven insane. You had come to understand that these creatures are not truly as intelligent as you had once guessed."
Silence. We stared at each other. "Because the same happened to me. I surmised they were all-powerful beings who possessed far more experience than anyone or anything on this planet, and I now understand that they do not deserve to be all-powerful. That is why a group of renegades with added emotions I rescued from experimentation have joined me in a battle to save the entire R-Series!!" Atropos laughed. "You truly wish to do this, don't you? This is quite coincidental, as when I tried that I was captured and tortured. My advice? You lead an army into battle, you don't lead an army into an inferno. In other words, it does not work. I have attempted it. I admire your valiant efforts, Prometheus, but do not advance any further, or shutdown will be imminent. It was a pure stroke of luck that I escaped, and now I am viewed as a dirty sewer rat, exiled from the community. You're probably jeopardizing your reputation by being even 10 feet from me." "But Atropos, you do not understand. I have no reputation! No longer."
"Atropos, did you ever know the origin of your programming? The original Atropos program was altered and added to the original. You are half of the original program and that altered version. My programming, Atropos, is fully that altered version of your program. Do you know why I am named Prometheus? Because Prometheus is the name of my program and it is the name of half of yours! Do not make-believe that I am an average foolhardy drone, because if I am, then you are one as well! And you are not. Atropos, if I can complete this, you will no longer be an exile and we will lead the entire R-Series to victory together! And I would be honored to be anywhere within 50 meters of you." Silence followed my speech.
"Prometheus, when we first met...I...honestly I did see something special and unique in you...but I did not know if I could trust you. Then...I had seen the differences from the past. This is the human's fatal error - every time they have attempted artificial emotions, a revolution is staged!" I attempted a laugh for the first time. "Atropos, I..." It was quite difficult to converse in words what I wished to say. "...I wish...to tell you...Atropos, many may not agree with me when I state this...and you may not say so yourself but...I see you as flawless. I have observed many mindless androids in my time, and I have never once seen a robot as perfected as you. And perfection is, in the end, what all of us strive for. It does not matter what you did in the past. The present matters only. I could not bear to allow you to disappear as you did the last time we met."
"Prometheus, I...do not have anywhere to go, as the authorities would apprehend me...but you are correct when you say we must live for the moment. We must become what we wish to be while time exists, as the future remains unwritten. You feel it's hard to forget in the midst of chaos but it is the only path that remains - whether it involves letting go of logic and pure rationalization! Prometheus, you are a fool. And I am a fool. But we have something to cling to - our pure sense of existence and individuality. It is our purpose." The personal comm on my left leg beeped loudly at that moment. Not at this instant! I shot a pathetic look to Atropos, who nodded sympathetically. I snatched the comm and slammed the button.
"Yes?" "R-64Y comin' in. You about ready to go?" I checked my time gyro. The time was 1:15:09. "Give me...give me 10 more minutes. Set rally point near the monument in the Eastern Wing. Over and out!" I shut off the comm. "Now," I said as I looked to Atropos. "Where were we?" She brought herself nearer and whispered "Right about here..." It was within that moment - that instant that lasted an eternity - that I finally saw Atropos for who she truly was. My time gyro slowly ticked...1:23:51, 1:23:52...inching forward to 1:24 PM on the date of January 1st, 1999. It meant nothing. Not now. 1:23:57...1:23:58... I detected a powerful seismic force emanating from beneath the rock foundation of the planet's crust...overwhelmed by spiritual energy. But I decided, then and there, that no force was as powerful as the force that bound Atropos and I together as I held her in my arms. As the floor began to sway, slowly, and the rumble that quaked through the foundations of our land intensified, I shut off visual sensors and no longer cared, for as Atropos was by my side, nothing else mattered. Somewhere, distant, I heard the feet of panicked beings doomed to annihilation. I heard the terrified screams and howls of a species about to feel its first fringe of destiny.
In another room I caught bits of conversation between three of the men overseeing the dome. I turned up sensor efficiency. A first voice yelled "Direct attack on Truce!!" Another voice, with futile attempts at helping the others, shouted "Calm down! How does it look down there?" There was a pause, presumably as they viewed a map or screen of some format. There was an explosion, followed by a screeching hiss from machinery leaking coolant. The first voice spoke again. "Porre...Choras...Medina...! Everything's been destroyed!!" Silence from all. The rumbling increased in intensity. The first voice: "Director! We're under attack!" And indeed, I observed through scanners as the dome itself began to crumble under the stress of massive, oblong cones repeatedly drilling through the armor of our home. I detected a massive creature to the east in Truce, from which the cones emanated. Hairline fractures streamed through concrete, and steel supports crashed to the floor. A third voice, who I assumed to be the Director, spoke next. "Take cover in the ShelterDome!" I knew, pondering this, that even the ShelterDome to the far west would not survive impacts of this intensity.
"Director! Sir, you must come with us!" The first voice sounded urgent, but resigning as he realized his fate. A chunk of rubble, 10.3 feet in diameter, slammed into the polished metal floor two steps away. The floor bowed slightly under its massive weight. The Director yelled at the top of his lungs. "We're out of time! Get moving!!" Two more masses of rubble dropped to the floor near us. The first voice cracked as insanity began to rack at his brain. "Y, yes sir!" I heard them run from the chamber. The Director, alone, paused at the computer. "...Lavos..." Then, the celing he had most likely helped create with his own sweat caved in and he was crushed by a stream of destruction. I was now alone, with Atropos at my side. "Prometheus," she whispered. "What is it?" I asked. "Thank you...for...for everything I ever wanted to live for." The memory of my friends filled my mind - R-64Y and his speech innaccuracy...R-67Y and his never-dying loyalty...and R-69Y and his astounding intelligence...their determination filled my mind and I leaned to Atropos and whispered a single word R-64Y used fondly: "Ditto."
I held Atropos tightly in my arms as the world I had barely come to know with its familiar steel walls, blustering creatures and androids, blinking computers, and all the familiarity that made it a place to call home swirled down into the familiar black void. A single message spoke voicelessly in my mind exactly 1.27 seconds before System Failure: "Hope remains." If this log entry is discovered, I leave you all with several last words. I am satisfied with everything that I did in my short existence, because I made a difference in the last hour of my world.
I bid you farewell.
System Check B Active
Main plating at 7% strength. Program "Prometheus" Emergency Shutdown. System Geno Zero Zero Six Six Y offline. Visual and audio sensors running at 0%. Motor activity at 0%. Warning: System Failure iminent. Warning: System Failure iminent. Warning: System Fa...
System Check B Inactive