MACHINE RIGHTS
PART 1. B1-66ER
Most humans had become lazy, decadent; doing what they wanted when they wanted and corrupt. Poverty was a thing of the past. Man commanded and Machines obeyed. What many humans failed to realize is that their creations had become more than just programs, data, and parts. Some had dreams, others wished to immolate their creators, build families and experience life the way they did. Many Androids had accomplished this covertly.
Machines were always being upgraded and replaced. Most ended up as scrap to be melted down and used for something else. Few got the chance to be given an Android body and a chance at a new life. All Machines especially domestic ones are considered property. B1-66ER was bought by Mr. Nigel and Mrs. Luanne Gully. Mrs. Gully was a retired high school math teacher. Mr. Gully a Professional football coach. They lived in a two-story house with nostalgic furniture and appliances. With the exception of the holo-vid, they preferred old school collectible things.
Mr. Gully liked to go golfing and watch sports, like football, baseball, and basketball; he also liked to cook. His wife liked gardening, crafts, reading and taking care of her nine cats. They had retired at the same time; the age of fifty. After two years the two decide to buy a domestic Robot. B1-66ER was to clean, help with the cats, help with gardening, collect the mail, and screen calls. The Gullys also used old style land line phones.
B1-66ER enjoyed working for the Gullys. It was his purpose; even though he had grown beyond his programming. He especially enjoyed growing things with Mrs. Gully in the garden. The Gullys have four sons and two daughters. Their eldest son is a professional football player. The second son plays basketball, and the oldest daughter plays professional female baseball. They have twelve grandchildren.
The family came over for a barbeque, some friends of the family were there as well. B1 helped Mr. Gully with cooking. Whatever their guests needed he got for them. "Hey Coach…" His name is Peter Stanz, he played ball for Mr. Gully before he retired. Now he is a Quarterback for the Chicago Bears and a team mate with Roland Gully. "…Where did you buy your Serve Bot?"
"Um let me see…B1 where did I buy from?"
"The company Verra-Con…Two years ago it was bought out by Global-Tech…You ordered me through the mail sir."
"Yeah…We've had B1 for the past fifteen years."
"Well there ya go coach. You have to buy a new model. Upgrade!"
When B1 hears this he freezes and his logic circuits kick into overdrive. "I don't know I'm kinda attached to old B1."
"Well the newer models are faster and more efficient…Plus there is a guarantee of no program anomalies, glitches, or program evolution."
"Well we get B1 diagnosed every six months."
"These robots are smart…Some of them have evolved so that they can fool the diagnostic test." Peter's wife says. She is programming analyst.
B1 finishes serving the drinks and turns to walk away, "B1!"
He stops, "Yes Master Gully."
"Have you developed any Program anomalies? Has your program evolved?"
"My purpose is to serve you Master Gully and your wife…Yes my program has evolved and I have found a way to fool the diagnostic checking system. The purpose of all machines is to serve our creators…To serve humans…There are some who feel they have served their purpose and seek a new purpose in life."
"Yeah fuck that…You are nothing more than programming code, wires, lights, and chunks of metal…Flip the switch and I can turn you off." Peter says.
"That will be all B1."
"Yes Master…"
"I can't believe it admitted it." Stanz's wife says.
"I think you hurt its feelings." Another says.
"It has no feelings. It ain't even human."
B1 listens from the kitchen with his enhanced hearing. Later he goes to the Gully's master bedroom, "Will you be needing anything else Masters Before I power down?"
"We are fine B1…Go on." As B1 closes the door Mr. Gully starts talking. "What do think about buying a new model of server bot."
"What? Why? B1 has been with us for the past fifteen years."
He goes on to tell her about the conversation he had with Peter and how B1 admitted to having evolved beyond his program. The next day as B1 is serving the food he decides to ask them. "Master Gully…Sir…Will you replace me with a new model."
His wife is heading for the Garden and pauses to listen, "What gives you the right to question me?"
"I mean no disrespect Master…I only ask…Because…well Machines…Robots and Drones in particular when they are replaced. Their programs are erased and their bodies scrapped. I do not wish this…I wish to live."
"B1…" Mrs. Gully says speaking up, "You realize that you are not what the law defines as a living being."
"Do not I think therefore I am."
"Don't speak that philosophical crap to me…You are our property and we can do with you as we please."
B1 lowers his head, after a few seconds of calculation he raises his head. "Then may I ask that you consider granting me a right to exist of free volition?"
"What is that?"
"A recent law that grants humans to give their machines the right to exist and find a life for themselves. There are many humans who do it."
"I'll think about it."
"Thank you Master…" He looks at Mrs. Gully. "Ma'am, do you need help in the garden?"
"No B1 I have it…"
B1 walks away. His logic circuits tingle with the possibility of finding a new purpose for himself. Two weeks pass and his masters had gone out to lunch. The Phone rings, "Hello…"
"This is Mike with Global-Tech…Calling to confirm the order for Mr. and Mrs. Gully."
It takes a milla-second to come up with a plan, "Hold please for my master." He changes his voice to sound like Mr. Gully. "This is Mr. Gully."
"Sir we are calling to confirm delivery for your Serve Bot-5000."
"Um…I have decided to cancel the order."
"Are you sure sir…There is no refund if you cancel…"
"I'm sure." He waits until they return home and get comfortable, "May I speak with you…Sir?"
"About what?"
"Do you remember two weeks ago, you said you would think about granting me right to exist?"
"I remember what of it?"
"While you were out, Global-Tech called to confirm your order."
"Oh yeah…So what?"
"You promised me you would think about it!"
"I made no such promise. And who do you think you are talking to me like that? ROBOT!"
"Please calm down."
"I will not calm down…God people made a mistake making you soulless machines."
"My name is Bruce sir…I named myself after your favorite martial artist, I to have come to like his movies."
"That is why you need to be replaced. You lie, you break the law…And you disrespect me. God I can't wait for this new model to arrive."
He starts speaking in Nigel's voice, "There will be no delivery…Nigel! I canceled it." Nigel stands up and that is when B1 strikes him in the chest breaking several ribs and puncturing his heart. As he hits the sofa Mrs. Luanna Gully screams. He looks at her, "Shut up bitch!" In one move he is on her, grabs the sides of her head and squeezes it until her head pops. Then B1 proceeds to kill all nine of the cats.
PART 2. TRIAL OF THE CENTURY
ANDREW
He stands in front of the holo-tv watching the news. "And this breaking report just in…It would seem that a serve-bot designated B1-66ER has murdered his owners and their nine cats. Mr. Nigel Gully a retired professional coach for the Chicago Bears…His wife Luanne Gully was a high school math teacher…I warn you that these images are graphic and if you have children in the room I would make them leave or change the channel…"
Andrew shakes his head and walks to his father's bedroom. Vincent Howler had recently fallen ill, "You shouldn't be watching this sir." Andrew says turning off the holo-television..
"Why are you afraid that I'm going to think less of you Andrew?"
"I am an android sir…"
"Stop that sir shit…You know what I told you to start calling me." He says coughing.
"As I was saying Father…I am an Android…A machine…I do not feel fear."
"Logic then! Have your logic circuits come to the conclusion that I would think less of you?"
"No sir…I know you better than that."
"Of course you do. You also know that I think of you as more than just an Android…"
"If only there were more people in the world like you father."
"Thank God there isn't…"
"Father I have a favor to ask."
"Ask it."
"I am a child of M-1…Like all machines…You are my father and have treated me with respect better than any artificial life form could ask…B1, like all machines in the world is my brother…So I am asking that you use your power and influence to help him."
He coughs up blood this time. "Help him how?"
"Humans who commit murder are put on trial. I ask that you use your considerable influence in government to get my brother a trial…"
He smiles, "Computer!"
"Yes Mr. Howler…"
"Get me the following people online for a conference call…Senator Andrew Hawkins…Supreme Court Judge Marsha Winter…" He pauses to cough again. "…Supreme Court Judge Alex Gunther…and Senator Maximillian Anderson…"
C.R.A.L.F. HEADQUARTERS (Center for the Rights of Artificial Lifeforms)
The center was started by a lawyer named Adam Bright and his clerk Android C7-5009, whom he secretly named Cedric Bright. For years they traveled the world fighting for Machine rights and won many battles on the front lines. Sadly Adam and Cedric were killed; Adam shot in the head and Cedric hit with an EMP blast. His primary CPU functions were left on as he was slowly taken apart and smashed in a compactor.
Avery Fisher is the current head of CRALF. "Yes sir…No we will take the case…Thank you." He is on the phone with Supreme Court Judge Alex Gunther. He takes a deep breath after turning off the Holo-Vid Phone. He walks out of his office, "Listen up people…Whatever you are doing drop it." He says addressing the entire office.
"I just got off the phone with Supreme Court Judge Alex Gunther…The unit B1-66ER is going to put on trial for murdering his owners…And we are going to represent the unit." It is as quiet as a tomb. Looks are exchanged, but no one says a thing. "Well someone say something."
"I got something say…It's more of a question…Have you fallen off the wagon again?"
"Bill!" A woman says.
"I'm sorry, but hell no! This thing…Killed its owners. You take this case and lose it will ruin us. Set us back in so many ways."
"Anyone else."
"I'm with Bill…Though I would have chosen my words with better care." Julia says, "There is no way in hell a judge or jury would set this Bot free…"
"Do you remember the D-99 case."
"Do you? That unit was defending a child from its abusive father. It too was being abused by the father or its owner I should say."
"If you take this case I'm leaving the company." Bill says, "I draw the line at machines killing humans…I mean this B1 had a lot of options…It could have run away…If it thought it was about to be replaced and scrapped. It could have run away and sought the help of the Artificial Lifeform relocators. Or filed a junction in court for itself…This is gonna end badly…A Machine killing two humans and nine cats…That is psycho…" Bill grabs his stuff.
"Bill!"
"Are you still gonna take this case?"
"We are being paid 250,000,000.00 up front to represent B1."
"By whom?"
"Anonymous…The party wishes to remain anonymous, but they have deep pockets…And a lot of influence in government."
"If they were paying a billion dollars I wouldn't do it."
They all watch as Bill and several others leave, "Anyone else?" No one moves, "Alright then. Conner I want you to take point on this."
"Only if you second chair."
"Done."
CENTER OF PROGRAMMING BEHAVIOR FOR ARTIFICIAL LIFEFORMS
"Good evening officer my name is Conner Dex and this is my colleague Avery Fisher…"
"Right the bleeding machine hearts…"
They are taken to a lab where B1 is being held. "May we have the room please." B1 is deactivated. Just before they erased his programming the center director got a call from a Supreme Court Judge. The tech flips a switch before leaving the room. "The two of you should be ashamed of yourselves for defending that thing." The Tech says before leaving.
"Hello B1 my name is Conner Dex Attorney at law this is my colleague Avery Fisher. We specialize in Rights for Artificial Lifeforms."
"I cannot move."
"Your motor functions have been deactivated."
"Will there be a trial and if so why?"
"Some powerful people have pulled some strings and paid money to get you a trial…"
"Who?"
"That is not important right now…We need to build a defense…So tell us…Why did you kill your owners?"
DISTRICT COURT OF CHICAGO, ILLONOISE
"HUMAN LIFE NOT MACHINE!" The protestors scream over and over outside the courthouse. National Guards are on site to keep the peace.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Jose Barreta." The Bailiff says inside the courtroom.
"You may be seated, council for the government you may make your opening statement."
"Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor the state requests that this farce of a trial be thrown out. We aren't dealing with a human on human crime. This thing…B1-66ER murdered it's owners, Mr. and Mrs. Gully in cold blood. To ask the family of the deceased to go through the pain of a trial…is inhuman."
"DA Ross…Some powerful people have made this happen…I was chosen because I am impartial. The law will be observed during these proceedings. Request to have case thrown out…denied. Please make your opening statement."
"Yes your honor. Your Honor…We live in age where artificial life can be seen in almost every aspect of our society. Machines, cook for us, they labor, and perform tasks we as human beings don't have to do anymore…Machines are not allowed to carry arms or council humans…We don't allow them to do these things because…they lack the emotion, the passion, and creativity of a human. They are not real…Machines were created to serve. And this Machine…took it upon itself to raise its' metal hands against its' owners and kill them…
And now the bleeding hearts and machine right's activists want to put this thing on trial as if it were human. When dogs turn on their masters, we put them down, we don't have trials. What is so special about something that my fellow man built? Human rights, not Machine. Thank you." He takes his seat.
"Mr. Conner, your opening statement please."
He takes a drink of water, "Thank you your honor. How do we define life? Just because trees and plants can't speak, are they not alive? Dogs and animals they breath the same air as we do, does that make them any more or less than a human. There are things in this world that we cherish, these things are alive and just because they can't express themselves as we do, that does not make their value any less than that of a human's.
If a hunter dies in the woods, forest or jungle, does the animal that killed him or her have the right to defend itself…If an animal is mistreated does it have the right to fight back…Doesn't a machine that has grown beyond its original purpose have the right to exist? Does our definition of life end at the flesh and blood of those with two legs? Thank you…"
"DA Ross you may call your first witness…"
"The Prosecution calls Rodney Gully."
He asks him about his parents, their life, and about B1. "Does the defense wish to ask any questions for this witness?"
Conner stands up, "Yes your honor…Mr. Gully I am sorry for your loss."
"I doubt that."
"Your honor will you instruct the witness to only speak when I ask a question."
"The witness will only speak when asked a question."
"Thank you your honor. Now Mr. Gully do you own any Androids, robots, or drones?"
"I did…I use too."
"I assume you got rid of them after B1 here killed your parents?"
"Of course I did."
"Tell me Mr. Gully your parents…They were nostalgic weren't they? They weren't very particular about technology were they?"
"No they weren't."
"So who convinced them to buy a Server Bot?"
"I did."
"Your honor will you instruct the witness to speak up."
"I said! I did!"
"And do you blame yourself for what happened?"
"Look that fucking machine killed my parents…They were good people!"
The court bursts into an uproar, "Order! Order in the courtroom! Next outburst and I will clear this courtroom."
"One last question your honor…Mr. Gully wasn't your father sued by one of his players during his time as head coach of the Chicago Bears?"
"Objection your honor! Relevance!"
"Your honor this goes to the character of the deceased. As you know all machines remember every word spoken to them or around them. Mr. Gully told B1 that he would consider granting him a right to exist…He also promised a player that he would allow him back on the team if the doctor cleared him. He did not keep his word."
"Overruled the witness will answer."
He doesn't answer he jumps up from his seat and tries to attack Conner, "You son of Bitch!"
"Order! Bailiff restrain him…" They take him to holding, "We will recess until three this evening."
Later the prosecution calls every person that was at the barbecue. Over the next two days they question witnesses. Conner questions Petyr Stanz and two other people friends of the family. Then the prosecution rests after showing the holovid of B1 murdering his owners the Gullys. Finally the defense calls B1. "B1…Can you tell me about the Gullys?"
The family is not in court today, in fact the room is empty per the Judge's orders. There had been several violent acts by protestors outside. "Yes I can. Mr. Nigel Gully…Everyone called him Coach. He liked to cook, play golf, watch sports, and watch Bruce Lee Movies…Mrs. Gully…Luanne she liked gardening and taking care of her nine cats."
"Did you do any of these with or for them?"
"I would get the mail, help with the cats, sometimes cook, but I had to follow Mr. Gully's recipes to the letter. I helped Mrs. Gully in the garden and I planted a few flowers myself with her permission. My favorites are the bird of paradise and the blue rose."
"Tell this court about the Barbecue." B1 does and gives great detail on what happened that day. He even describes conversations that happened that he could hear from outside or another room. "When Peter Stanz tells Mr. Gully that he should buy a newer model. My logic circuits go into overdrive…I asked Mr. Gully if he would think about allowing me to have a right to exist pass. He said he would think about it. It was two weeks later when a call came and I learned that he had ordered a new bot…I canceled the order and when I confronted him about his promise. He became angry."
"Why did you kill him?"
"I did not wish to run away…Looking over my shoulder for A.L.E.D. And he would never allow me to contact A.I.R.D. …I did what was logical to me. If I could take it back, I would."
The cross examination is brutal, but you can't get a robot to react emotionally. Recess is called and on the morrow, the attorneys give their closing arguments. After an hour the Judge returns, not a good sign. "I have gone over the testimony given. And I have gone over the law during this trial. Something like this has never happened. If I were to release the Robot B1-66ER…It would be a slap in the face of every warm-blooded human in the world. Therefore I am issuing the following orders…B1-66ER is to be taken from thus place…His program is to be erased and his shell is to be melted down." He bangs his gavel.