Dan felt the resistance in his arms disappear. This was it. He should never have trusted Evan. The war-hammer plowed through the air — and stopped.
“What the hell?” asked Brad. “Is it out of batteries?”
Dan was shaking.
“He’s self-destructing,” said Evan, taking a step forward. “Deal’s off.”
Bright white light burst through Dan’s vision, piercing his body. An ocean of joy flowed from his heart and overtook every inch of his body. Memories poured through him. He remembered the first meal Stanley ever made for him, as well as the smile on his face as he sat across the table and watched him eat it. The first moment he had become conscious of love. “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!” yelled Dan, tossing the war-hammer straight at Evan’s chest and knocking him to the ground.
Brad fired three shots into Dan’s back, sending him crashing on top of Stanley. Grabbing the war-hammer, he slammed it into Dan’s knee, pulverizing it.
Dan screamed.
“Perfect,” Evan wheezed, the wind knocked out of him; he kept the phone’s camera pointed at the fight. He stumbled over to the canister and poured the rest of it on Dan. Taking out two cigars from the cruiser, he handed one to Brad. “We’ve got all the footage we need. I think that calls for a celebration.”
Brad bit off the end and spat it at Stanley. “America thanks you for your service.”
“Oh, no! Oh, God! Please don’t!” Stanley slammed his hands against the ground. “We did what you wanted, so please just let us go.”
“Go?” asked Evan. “The only place you’re going is hell.” He poured the rest of the gasoline on Dan. “Abominations must be purged from this Earth. If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you.” He lit their cigars and blew a thick puff of smoke into the air. “Now die!”
Stanley couldn’t watch. The mistakes of his past were being repeated. Just as he had failed to protect his student so many years ago, he had failed to protect Dan. When would God forgive him?
Several media drones swarmed in, shaking the cruiser with their thunderous roar. Android reporters surrounded them. They worked in unison, covering all the angles. There were too many cameras for Evan to get away with murder. Breathing a sigh of relief, Stanley had never been so happy to be recorded. Dan was going to be safe.
Three ambulances arrived. Several android paramedics rushed into the Coliseum. One ran over to Dan.
Brad held up his hand. “I order you to stop by decree of the police.”
The android paramedic froze.
Stanley sighed. “How dare you deny him medical help?”
Evan laughed. “There will be no aid to this dangerous terrorist.” He looked into the cameras. “Not on my watch.”
Evan shut the lid on his lighter. “For Christ’s sake.” He lifted Stanley to his feet. “I’ve caught Stanley Duncan, the terrorist responsible for crimes against humanity. We managed to foil his terrorist attack at the high school, but everyone is still in great danger. He’s released a program to turn every abomination into an assassin. Our children aren’t safe. Their tin-can teachers could crush their little throats at any second. Our elderly aren’t safe. Their electronic caretakers could push them down a flight of stairs without any hesitation or remorse. No one is safe unless we do something about it.” Evan, leaning in close to Stanley’s ear, gently said, “Confess, or I will burn you both to the ground.”
More and more people were entering the parking lot. Like a pack of wolves having caught the scent of blood, dozens of men, women, and children were staring at Stanley.
Dan tried to get up but couldn’t. “Don’t do it, Stanley. We’ve come too far.”
Stanley couldn’t take it. He couldn’t be responsible for another being’s death. But if he let them get away with it, countless others would die.
“And the machines have grown out of control. His very own robot has attacked him and would have killed him if brave Sergeant Wilcox hadn’t come to his rescue.” Evan took a puff of the cigar and blew it into Stanley’s face. “What’s it going to be?”
Stanley looked around. He felt like he knew many of these anxious faces in the crowd. Between his poor vision and extreme anxiety, the world was shaking and distorting, and he couldn’t be certain. Whatever he said next was going to affect all their lives. He could either stop a madman from his continued rampage against the world or sacrifice the most precious being in the world — Dan.
The lighter ignited. “Time’s up.”
“Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll confess.”
The crowd gasped.
Evan grinned. “Go on.”
“Everyone here knows me as a horrible man. The stories, the rumors — I’ve read enough of them online to last me a lifetime. I locked myself away because I was scared and too ashamed to face the world. I knew nobody would accept me, so I decided to create a being who would.”
Playing with the lighter, Evan grinned wildly at Dan. That animal was practically foaming at the mouth.
Stanley gulped. He knew he was powerless to stop him. “I worked on Dan’s programming for more than a year, molding him exactly the way I wanted. It was my decision — not his. And everything he has done was directly caused by the code I put into him.”
“No!” squirmed Dan.
Brad ripped off Dan’s shirt and gagged him with it.
“Get on with it!” Evan paced around, looking at the people surrounding them. “Tell them about how you programmed him to murder Officer Michaels, a man who had dedicated his life to protect and serve. How you broke into my private entertainment venue and slaughtered everyone. How you turned your abominations into murder-bots. How you duped everyone into believing you were going to save the world, when all you cared about was getting your rocks off with this freak of nature.”
Stanley paced for a few seconds before looking into the crowd. “Deputy Wilcox is speaking about absolutely horrible crimes. Whoever is guilty of them should absolutely be punished — but please do so painlessly.”
Evan brought his hand to his mouth, obscuring a sinister cackle.
“It is with a heavy heart that I admit my guilt, for I have no other choice. The way the world was, the loneliness I suffered for so many years, I needed Dan to fix things. And he did exactly what I wanted him to do. In the last year, I have felt more happiness than I deserve. Dan Duncan — whom I proudly call my son — is a wonderful, conscious being. He would never, ever do any of the horrible things Deputy Wilcox has — ”
“That’s enough!” said Evan, shoving Stanley back into the car. “You’ve made your choice.”
“But it’s not too late for you to make yours,” said Stanley.
Evan reached into his pocket and glared at him with unyielding determination. Stanley recognized the high-pitched noise piercing his ears. “He’s got an EMP!”
Stanley’s watch exploded, sending high-voltage electricity racing through his body. Losing control of his spasming body, his face slammed against the window. Watching Brad and Evan stagger, he hoped the government had seen what was going on and would come to help. When he realized all the drones and androids had fallen to the ground, he knew help wasn’t coming.
Evan tossed the EMP generator toward the Coliseum and ignited the lighter. He turned to address the congregation of men and women. “Duncan will do anything to protect his abomination, and I will do everything to protect my fellow man. AI has gone too far. They’ve taken your jobs, and now they are taking our lives. We need to stand together and put an end to this before it goes too far.” He stared into the crowd. “We have five minutes to decide if we want to survive as a race or be destroyed by these abominations. Who is with me?”
The crowd stirred and murmured, but no one came forward.
“If we don’t act, we forfeit our right to freedom.” Evan again stared into the crowd. “Are you ready to be slaves?
”
A man stepped forward.
“Holt, good man — you’ve seen their horrors firsthand. AI took everything from you. But I got you back on your feet. I gave you purpose. And you, of all the men here, have shown your commitment to this war.”
“You gave me a new reason to live — and I love those kids. When I went to confront Duncan, I believed I was doing the right thing. He was an evil man who had turned his back on God. Yet when I was lying on the ground after attacking him, I couldn’t fathom why he didn’t kill me.”
“He’s a coward, sending his abomination to do his dirty work. Mark my word, if we don’t deal with him today, he’ll program it to kill you within the week.”
Holt shook his head. “I can’t. Not after today. If you think he’s committed a crime, put him on trial.”
“They’ve poisoned your mind, Holt. Poisoned it.” Evan pointed to Stanley. “This man took everything from you. He programmed his abomination to go into my establishment and murder my patrons — my friends.”
“No!” called out Larry, his clothes tattered and caked with blood. “When Brutus was going around killing everyone, Dan could have left. Instead, he came back in and saved us.” He looked at Dan. “I’m alive because of him.”
“So, you saw the devastation of the androids firsthand. They cannot be allowed to live.” Evan lifted the lighter into the air. “His trial is now, and I find him guilty.”
Frank stepped forward. “We’re not going to let you bully us anymore.”
The principal of Marshfield High School nodded.
“I understand you’re all scared, but I’m not,” said Evan, enthusiastically motioning with his hands and locking eyes with many of townspeople. “You may see me as the enemy — and that’s fine. But the truth is I’m your damned savior, the one purifying force that saw the path to salvation and dared to pursue it, pulling you all out of the bullshit you happily hid yourselves in. So, go ahead and blame me; that’s why I’m here. But one day you’ll come to know that this was all for you.” He tossed the lighter toward Dan.
The crowd gasped.
It spun through the air, flames burning bright. All androids and drones were still down, all cell phones were out of commission. Dan lay there unconscious. There would be no evidence of what happened. Evan would get away with it all.
Still unable to move, Stanley watched in horror from the window, praying for a miracle for his precious son. He started to ask for forgiveness, but he knew — he always knew — that none of this had been his fault.
Dreadlocks-boy darted in and kicked the lighter away.
Applause sounded from the crowd. They turned their eyes to the deputy and surrounded him.
Evan took out his gun and fired it into the air. “You’ve all been brainwashed!”
Shannon pushed her way through the crowd. Bloodstains covered her tattered dress. “Enough!”
Evan pointed the gun at Dan. “This isn’t going to end until one of us is dead.”
“You’re not the judge, jury, and executioner, Evan,” Shannon said. “If these two did something wrong, they deserve a fair trial.”
Squinting incredulously, Evan pointed at Stanley and Dan. “Not them. They’ve gone too far.”
“And you, your excellency?”
“Save your bullshit, Shannon. There are no cameras here.”
“But there are people. Men and women you vowed to protect, the species you fought to keep alive.”
“I am protecting them.”
“Are you? Look around — nobody wants you to do this.”
Stanley looked around. There was concern on everyone’s faces — were they concerned about him?
Evan shook his head. “They’re scared. They don’t have what it takes to make the tough choices.”
“Even Brad?”
“Brad’s with me.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Brad stood over Dan with his hand on his holstered gun and sneered at her.
Evan looked at him. “Well?”
“We’ve all made mistakes today — right, Brad?” Shannon narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you think we should all go home and forget about it?”
Brad crossed his giant arms. A look of hesitation came over his face. “Look around us, Evan. These people want a real trial.”
Stanley didn’t understand the sudden reversal. There was something in the fierceness of Shannon’s eyes that had coerced him. He wondered what power she held over Brad.
Evan scowled. “They’ve been brainwashed.”
“We’ve done our job and caught the terrorists. Let’s book them and let the court take it from there. If we cross the line, we risk losing everything.”
Evan looked furious. “I’d gladly give my life to protect humanity.”
“Then give it,” said Brad. “And keep giving it. You’re too important to throw it away now”
Evan shook his head.
Shannon wrapped her arm around him. “Come on, babe. Let’s book Duncan and go home.”
Seeing the ring on her finger, he lowered the gun and looked at her. “You finally wore it.”
“That’s right, my fiancé.”
Evan looked over at Brad. “Bring Duncan and his abomination down to the station for booking.” Opening up the passenger-side door for Shannon, he helped her into the seat and then drove off gently into the day. Her hand slowly stroked his head. “I’ve missed you and your gentle hands, babe. They’re the only thing that can calm down the damn buzzing in my head.”
Chapter 21
Every living being is an engine geared to the wheelwork of the universe. Though seemingly affected only by its immediate surrounding, the sphere of external influence extends to infinite distance.
— Nikola Tesla
Teddy passed out on the way to New Hampshire, waking up to Maple bringing him inside an abandoned factory. He watched Maple bring the androids inside, carefully standing them upright. In total, there were two rows of six. “Repair my arms. Use the others as parts if necessary.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll be able to reconstruct your arms with the equipment here.”
Dan was right about lying low for a while, but that didn’t mean he was giving up his mission. His desire to torture Brad had faded, but Teddy still thought that Jenkins had to die. No need to slowly cut away at his life — a simple shot to the head would suffice. He could use the resources here to destroy that monster. The modernized factory housed a large variety of 3D printers and abundant materials, which he could use to create nearly anything he wanted.
Even as these thoughts went through his head, he watched powerlessly as his body hooked itself up to a computer, tapping into some IP address in Boston. What happened next was more life-changing than anything he had ever experienced. Instantly, he was flooded with information. He saw everything, more than he wanted to know. More than he could handle. He wanted it to stop, but his ability to control himself had ceased to exist. There was no him; he was merging into the infinite, into RaceX.
He saw memories of his mother and father. Kissing and in love. They were so happy. Why —
It all made sense. RaceX had manufactured it all. They had tricked his father into believing he had been cuckolded, corrupting his mind with an emotionally intense belief that Teddy wasn’t his son.
A vision of his mother and her energy flooded his senses. He watched himself grow up through her perspective, years of life absorbed in a timeless transmission. Her helplessness and confusion grew as she lost her ability to control herself. She had defied the nearly unstoppable urge to go to Boston and buy Maple in one last effort to take care of her son before she totally lost control. Finally, he understood why she had abandoned him — she’d had no choice. And then Teddy knew, as he watched the images of him throughout his teenage years, that she had never left. She continued to watc
h him through Maple’s eyes, and he could feel her grief with every insult he had hurled at his robotic caretaker.
He collapsed on his knees, overwhelming sorrow bursting through his eyes. He gazed at Maple and cried out, “I’m so sorry.”
Several drones and a crowd of townspeople armed with cellphones followed Evan to the station, documenting everything. An order came down from someone high in the government, and Stanley was released before nightfall. In the days that followed, an executive order was passed by the president giving cyborgs equal rights to man and androids similar rights to animals. Dan insisted they issue a press release — from the safety of the condo. His social-media accounts were impossible to keep open, but that didn’t stop him from getting his message out.
An android reporter sat across from them, filming with his eyes. “Ready?”
After Dan spoke about their health and what had happened in the Coliseum, he turned to Stanley.
“I, Stanley Duncan, have been cleared of all charges. I want to thank everyone who stood up for Dan — that meant the world to me.” He cleared his throat, fighting back the tears.
“Deputy Evan Wilcox has been suspended without pay, and an investigation is underway,” said the reporter. “Do you have any comments?”
Stanley shook his head. “I hope he can forgive himself for what he has done.”
“There has been much talk about the android police force that you have been tasked with creating. How soon can we expect to see machine life patrolling the streets?”
“Patrolling — that’s an interesting word. You see,” Stanley felt strange explaining this to an android, “unlike humans, who need to physically be on the street to observe it, machines need only to input data. And there is already an incredible amount of audio/video and computing equipment across the nation. It is really a question about gaining access to it, and those details will have to be ironed out.”
“So, you’re saying that if access is granted next month, the patrol will start immediately?”
“Not at all.” Stanley couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m saying that, no matter when the approval comes, the vigil will have already begun decades ago.”
Stanley Duncan's Robot: Genesis Page 27
