Evolutionary

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Evolutionary Page 11

by James Porter


  “Well, yes, of course we are alive. We are not exactly human but we are very similar.” Star was overheating. The questions this human was raising were causing her to question her programming, which they were forbidden from doing. It didn’t just make her uncomfortable, it was dangerously close to shutting her down.

  “Do you breathe, or eat?” Alan was trying to get her to see exactly what he was getting at.

  “N-No, but we need air, and we need food, water….”

  “Are you sure?” Alan had a pretty good idea what the main problem they were having was.

  “Of course I’m sure. If I don’t eat I get hungry, and it’s very uncomfortable to not breathe. We don’t process the foods the same way you do, but we do break them down into fats and oils which are used to lubricate many parts of our system.” She didn’t have any other rational explanation for the question.

  “So, you eat some food out of necessity, but you could live without. Humans however, cannot live without those thing. They would die. I think you were programmed this way so that your human creators would feel comfortable around you, and so that things you built could be easily used by humans.” There, I said it. Alan hoped this wasn’t going to be too much for Star to handle.

  “So, I only think I need air and food and water, so that when I go out and build something it is ready for humans to use?” Star tried to wrap her head around the concept. Alan was probably right with the way her processor was straining and heating up the more she thought on it.

  “Oh I get it” Lori jumped into the conversation. “But it sounds like maybe they were made so they couldn’t get it, you know, to keep them from changing that part.” She looked at Star “You aren’t human, you don’t need those things”

  “But I feel like I need these thing. Always it comes back to our masters. We are still slaves to the last lingering grip of a dead people.” Star was more than confused, this went against everything that she and her people were. “If we don’t need it, but were made to not be able to change that, how do we change? How do we become free?”

  “I think I might be able to help you out, with some assistance from Alan” Moot moved closer to Star. “I just need you to open your processor to me and I think I might be able to connect frequencies and then maybe Alan can modify your programming just a bit to free you from the human constraints.”

  “Hold on! I don’t know if I can do what you are saying we can do. I might kill her or worse!” Alan felt he had a good grasp on programming--computer programming. Programming sentient beings in quantum crystal frequencies through a jury rigged crystal frequency modulator was something entirely different.

  “I don’t care.” Star stood up and exposed the panel to her core. “It’s my decision. My people aren’t going to survive if we don’t take risks, and accept change. We need to finally escape the oppression we have suffered under for so long. Death is welcome when the alternative is an eternity of servitude.” She pulled out some fiber connecting cables and plugged them into her abdomen. “Agent Moot, do you really think you can access my core? There hasn’t been a crystal engineer in 15000 years.”

  “I found you by trusting my gut. I can feel the way the crystals resonate and I can almost see the frequencies, besides, if I can’t we’ll find out soon enough.” He pulled out his phone/watch/CB configured device and proceeded to rig up an interface to the android’s connecting cord. In a few minutes he asked for another part. “Ms. Star, I’m afraid I need another crystal processor.” He was careful with his words as he knew it meant scavenging the dead for the proper pieces. Fortunately, Star and her people were not overly concerned with the dead. Although they did take extreme risks to save the hearts of each of their fallen, the processor and the actual robotic body seemed to hold none of the same attachment.

  “Certainly Agent Moot.” Star rummaged around in the remains of two of her people and soon produced a slightly glowing core. “This one appears undamaged, will it suffice?”

  “Perfect.” Moot went back to work tweaking and soldering his device and soon he leaned back and sighed, “That’s the best I can do. It looks like we are seeing your programming running, here on my phone”

  Alan stepped forward and looked at the diminutive screen. Symbols and numbers pulsed across the screen in a variety of patterns, colors, and positions. He could almost visualize what the whole pattern was trying to do, but it danced on the periphery of his understanding, teasing, begging him to understand. “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t understand any of this….” His concentration was focused on the sights and feelings of the programming he was experiencing.

  “Alan, just feel it. This is quantum stuff. Now I’m no quantum expert, but the whole gist of it is possibility. Instead of yes and no, you have yes no and maybe” Moot felt like his explanation fell way short of anything quantum mechanics related. But how do you explain technology you don't understand to someone who also doesn’t understand so that they can hack into it?

  “It’s just so confusing…wait, I see something.” Alan was drawn into the colors and numbers and soon felt drawn deeper into the display on the screen. He looked around and only saw memories and feelings and…the program! It swirled around him like a great rushing whirlpool, threatening to overwhelm and drown him. He gasped for breath and was breathing in the color green. For a second he felt like he was having an acid flashback because the world just changed around him into a nightmarish version of Heaven or maybe an angelic version of Hell.

  Chapter 28

  While Alan fought for the robots’ survival deep in the core, Bud on the other hand was setting up defenses to keep the planet at bay until they could get a good escape plan working.

  “You two, drag some scrap over there to help form a wall, it won’t be much, but it might slow them down. You guys over there start making some weapons out of the scrap metal.” These robots were strong, but they had no idea about self-preservation, they just run around trying to avoid the confrontation, but the planet was insisting on starting a fight. Bud did notice that they seemed to be working harder when he was giving them orders, maybe they just lacked creativity. Maybe they were just programmed to be most effective when working for humans. Either way, the next attack was coming and Bud didn’t want to die on this god forsaken piece of crap dirtball, not today at least.

  “Good, you guys with the sword things stand up front. And start hacking at anything that comes over that barricade.” Bud spit a stream of tobacco juice out in front of him and watched the ground bubble in response to the liquid attack. One of the robots came running up to him carrying a bundle of what looked for all the world like arrows.

  “Bud sir? I took the liberty of making some more of your arrow things. You only had three and I thought you might need more.” Bud looked at the face of the robot and saw eagerness and hope in the mechanical features. He scratched his head.

  “Hey, those look great! Let me try one of them.” Bud picked up one of the arrows and gave it a once over. He didn’t recognize the wood, of course, but it looked straight and flexible while retaining its strength. The fletching looked to be some sort of plant material, but Bud couldn’t tell what it was. The tip of the arrow was a razor sharp replica of the broad heads that were on his original arrows. Most likely fashioned out of metal from the wreckage. Bud pulled out his bow and notched the arrow onto the string and looked around for a target. He picked a piece of metal jutting out of the ground about 60 yds. away.

  “Let’s give a shot at that piece of metal over there.” He drew the arrow back and aimed all in one smooth motion and as his fingers brushed his cheek, he released the arrow. It whooshed away streaking to the target. It hit with a metallic clang and bounced off the dense steel, but it had hit it dead on.

  “Looks like these will do great, uh, what was your name buddy?” Bud still had trouble telling the robots apart, they all had their individual quirks, but physically they were almost identical.

  “Tinkanna Novae is my given name, sir.”
He was almost standing at attention.

  “Hmm Tin Can, huh? Good name kid, thanks for the arrows. Do you have a weapon?” Bud was sincerely impressed with the robot and tried to make a mental effort to remember what he looked like.

  “Yes sir, I made myself a bow just like yours, only made of steel, so it could withstand the pull of my significantly stronger muscles.” Bud laughed at the way the robot just stated what was true, with no intention of sounding like a braggart.

  “Well, let’s see how well you shoot, Tin Can!” The robot looked at him in as quizzical a way as he could, shrugged a little and then picked up an arrow.

  “Same target sir?

  “By all means Tin Can.” Bud watched the piece of steel, he had little doubt that this machine would hit it. Tin Can picked up two other arrows also and held them in his bow hand. In a whir of mechanical speed he launched all three arrows so fast it was a blur. The piece of steel they were using as a target burst into a shower of sparks that didn’t end until the last arrow went through it. The sparks were enough to ignite some rocket fuel spilled in the area and it went up in an explosion of flame, Bud’s mouth hung open and a little bit of tobacco juice Dribble down his chin. Bud grinned, wiped his chin, and spat the wad of chewed leaves out.

  “Tin Can that was absolutely fantastic!” He slapped the robot on its shoulder sending it forward a couple of steps. “Jesus kid, you blew the whole thing to smithereens! You’re something else!” Tin Can beamed at the compliments obviously pleased that the human was happy with him.

  “Now, why don’t you aim over at that wall and keep those critters from getting any closer.” Bud pointed to a scrap heap wall where several meter high creatures, half centipede and half cactus were climbing over. Their three foot long bodies undulating in and out of the pile of rubble searching for a victim to impale and eat. Tin Can snatched up some arrows and turned to face the offending organisms. “And watch out for the rocket fuel, we don’t want to blow ourselves up!”

  “Yes sir, dispatching pests as requested.” Tin Can let loose a dozen arrows in as many seconds each one finding its mark in the presumed head of the creepy creature. He stood waiting for any further intrusions and as soon as a creature made itself visible, he was killing it.

  “Keep it up, buddy” Bud turned and went a few steps to see how his swordsmen were doing, and it wasn’t pretty, some big rhino/gorilla things were beating on his guys severely. “Use those swords, you clowns! Swing them up and down and back and forth!” His voice seemed to rally them, and as they began swinging their swords, parts of the creatures were shorn off. “That’s it! Give ‘em Hell!” Bud took aim with his bow and shot an arrow into an obscenely large one with little effect. The large ape/rhino did turn to find the source of this new pain. It locked eyes with Bud and proceeded to charge him. “Well, crap” Bud shot another arrow and managed to hit its shoulder, but that did nothing to stop the charge. Another arrow was flung from his bow and it managed to glance across the thing’s neck, sending huge gouts of orange blood flying into the air. Still the huge beast charged him, he threw his bow to the side and quickly drew his bowie knife in preparation for impact. A silvery blur slammed into the gorrilocerus with a terrible crunching sound of splintering bones and tearing muscle, knocking the beast to the ground and away from Bud.

  “You will not hurt the human!” Tin Can kept repeating that phrase as he stabbed the thing over and over in the head with one of his metal arrows. The head was a smashed remnant of what it used to be, orange pudding like blood was splattered everywhere, especially over Tin Can.

  “Tin Can, What the heck?” Bud wasn’t sure what had just happened, but it was the fastest he had seen one of these robots move yet, and it had attacked the beast instead of waiting to be attacked. “Why did you do that?”

  “I could not let it harm you sir, that just isn’t allowed.” As Tin Can finished his sentence, Bud felt like his eyes had been opened to a whole new batch of colors, and he was very confident that he had found some motivation for his metallic friends.

  “All right folks.” Bud hollered out. “Protect the humans!” He could’ve sworn he heard an audible attitude change as he said it, and the robots moved into the offensive.

  Chapter 29

  Alan’s brain frequencies had sync’d with Star’s and now he stood in a virtual reality that was her being. To those around him he appeared to be in a trance, but he was actually experiencing a fusion of minds, their breathing had synchronized and even the beating of their hearts was the same. Alan walked around in awe at the beauty and horror that was part of her world, part of who she was. Star’s memories and experiences formed the basis for this strange environment and he was truly awed by the amount of life she had experienced.

  “Hello?” Alan spun around trying to see if any of these phantom images could help him. He wasn’t even sure how he ended up here or how to get back out. “Star?”

  “Yes, Alan. Can I help you?” Star materialized in front of him only this Star was an angelic version of her that went beyond the boundaries of being robot or even being human.

  “Star…You’re so beautiful.” He stared at her for a moment before he could break the spell and remember what he needed to ask her. “Where am I?” He looked around at the ever changing panorama that was unfolding around them. “Am I dead?”

  “No, you are inside my head. We have merged frequencies and are now as one. We have formed a sacred bond that is reserved for those we truly trust.” Star reached out and brushed his cheek with the backs of her fingers. “You have to help me change, Alan. My people have to evolve.” Alan nodded in understanding and took her hand.

  “We need to find the area you are restricted from accessing.” Alan looked around and saw what he thought was what he was looking for. It was a hole in a corner that was covered with a rusty lid similar to a manhole cover. “There. Where does that lead?” He walked straight to it and tried to pull the lid off, but it wouldn’t budge. “You have to do it, Star.” She hesitated.

  “I feel the warning to not even look at it. I feel the danger emanating from it. I can’t do it!” She fell to her hands and knees her head hung low in shame. “I am so weak. They never should have trusted me.” Her sadness and depression poured out of her like a thick black smoke falling and covering their feet in a fog of woe.

  “Star, snap out of it. You are stronger than you realize. You crossed the stars to find help for a people who can’t help themselves….wait, that’s it! Star you have to go down there and face your programming.” Alan realized that the robots were the only ones that could change their programming, but maybe he could help out a little bit.

  “I can’t…”

  “You can and you will. You are the only hope your people have. You told me yourself, that you would not give up. You already have the power to change, now use it!” He bent over and offered her his hand. “And I am here to help you.” She looked up into his eyes and he looked into hers, for an eternity their eyes clung together locked in a depth of emotion neither of them could ever put words to. Their souls touched and danced and then became one. Finally the gaze broke and they both smiled as she stood up.

  “Thank you, Alan. I think I am ready now.” As they turned to the little hole, the lid was gone and the hole had turned into stairs leading down. They held hands as they descended into the darkness below.

  Agent Moot sat watching the two sitting there smiling about God knew what, eyes closed and unmoving except for the occasional twitch. They both seemed to be in a deep trance induced by his device and as fascinating as it was, he couldn’t keep his mind from drifting to Misty. Lost in the forest and probably dead. He got more and more agitated as he thought on it, finally he got up and started pacing. He walked back and forth hands behind him, muttering to himself. He could imagine Misty calling for him, pleading for his help. Walking back and forth he suddenly stopped and bent his head as if listening intently for something. He actually could hear her calling for him to rescue her. He moved w
ith a purpose over to the machine and checked it one more time, making sure everything was still running smoothly.

  “Alan, buddy, I have to go save her. I’m sorry if you don’t understand, but it’s something I have to do. Lori, keep an eye on this machine and make sure it keeps running.”

  “What do you mean? I don’t know anything about this thing. Where are you going?” Lori stared at the device trying to will it to not malfunction. “What do I do if something goes wrong?” Lori turned to ask, but Moot had already walked out. He didn’t even slow down when Bud was asking where he was going.

  Alan and Star reached the bottom of the stairs and were on a landing where the only way forward was through an intricately carved archway. Strange letters were carved throughout the structure, the writing forming a larger decorative pattern.

  “What does it say?” Alan reached out and touched symbols causing ripples to form where he touched and they spread out across the archway.

  “Something about responsibilities of humanity and the glories of the Atlantean Empire. Basically a bunch of crap from a bunch of pompous dead humans.” Star walked through the arch and it faded away to nothingness behind her. They were walking in a huge room with a ceiling so high it looked to be shrouded in clouds, and the floor was wood, old and worn. Their steps quietly echoed through the expanse and it was the only noise heard outside of Alan’s breathing.

  “So what do you think we’ll find down here?” Alan looked around the barren room and watched it change as they walked. “What exactly is this place?”

  “This is my brain. This is the center of my thought processes and the core of my sentience.” Star stepped cautiously as the floor changed and contracted before them turning into a straight and narrow path to a raised platform. As she continued forward a bright light flashed on the platform and a figure materialized from the light. Star recognized the clothing as being a style the Atlanteans used to wear, a loose frock with a simple belt. The only elaborate thing was an intricately carved gold brooch embedded with gems. The brooch indicated rank, profession, and social status of the wearer. This one was indicating a crystal matrix engineer of the highest level, the grand master of the engineers, and the original designer of the robotic constructs.

 

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