What happened so far:
One day, Tristan, who lives in a small community that hides in the desert, came home to find his home overrun by androids who claimed to have overthrown the government. They offered Tristan and his people a choice: Help them overthrow the other government that’s left or die. Trying to protect his sick sister Joy, Tristan chose to sign up as one of the soldiers in a war he didn’t believe in.
A gun wasn’t something Tristan thought people should use. In a world where humanity is already dying, nobody should accelerate that process. And yet, he was standing there, aiming at a bottle about a hundred meters away.
”I can’t do this”, he told the android standing next to him. It wasn’t Erin, the leader, but one of the other models without a truly free will. That didn’t change anything about the situation though.
”You’re physically capable of firing this weapon”, the android replied with a slight confusion in its voice. ”Please tell me, why aren’t you able to shoot the target?” Tristan sighed.
”Ah, forget it.” He put the gun down, ignoring the android’s protest.
It was already noon and the relentless sun was burning down on him. He had expected the city to be cooler than the empty desert but that had been wrong. It felt almost hotter. Maybe it was the asphalt on the streets, maybe the lack of trees. Or maybe just the overall situation that made him more sensitive.
Whatever it was, Tristan didn’t like it. He wanted to go home.
”Hey, where are you going?” A different android had suddenly appeared in front of Tristan and now blocked his way. ”According to the schedule, you should be at gun training right now. Who’s your designated AIOA?”
”Uhm … I think it called itself Challenger.”
”I guess I need to have a talk with Chall to be stricter with the new recruits. Please accompany me back to your station.” The android turned around, obviously expecting Tristan to follow. He didn’t move a centimeter.
”No.”
The android stopped.
”No? What do you mean, no? You volunteered for this mission, now you have to follow through with it.”
”I didn’t volunteer, I was volunteered. I didn’t really have a choice. I don’t believe in your cause and I don’t understand why we need to topple a government half a world away. The government on this continent is gone, can’t you just celebrate that? Why kill more people? Why endanger all those innocents?”
”Come with me. I’ll bring you to Erin.” This time, the android grabbed Tristan’s wrist to make sure he didn’t refuse again. The strong grip threatened to break his wrist, so Tristan followed with a frown. He felt like a little child, being dragged along by his annoyed mother.
”Erin, I think this one has leadership potential”, the android said when they reached Erin. Tristan was confused. Leadership potential? What?
Erin turned around to face them and a small smile flickered across their face when they recognized Tristan.
”Doesn’t surprise me. So, he asked the hard questions?”
”Even refused gun training.”
”I see. Thank you, you can leave us now.” Finally, the android released Tristan from its grip, nodded towards Erin and left them alone.
”Sit”, Erin said moved a little to the side on the bench they were sitting on. Tristan hesitated for a moment but then followed the invitation.
”You’re probably wondering why the refusal to fire a gun brought you here”, Erin said. ”To understand this, you need to know a bit more about me. Do you know what an AIOA is supposed to be?”
”They’re soldiers. They’re supposed to control the masses”, Tristan replied but already knew it wasn’t the truth. Sure, it was what he had been told but … it wasn’t how Erin behaved.
Erin smiled.
”That’s what I expected. And yes, that was one purpose. A sad one. But the original creator of the androids, my mother Caroline, she had a different vision when she created me. I was the first, you know? The first actual artificial intelligence. Able to think for myself.”
The first AI? Erin had to be really old!
”Caroline wanted to create something better than humans and she thought she succeeded when she created me. I’m not sure if she did. She sent me away, so others wouldn’t be able to implement free will into androids. Because with free will comes the ability to kill and she didn’t want that.”
”Wait a moment. You’re not able to kill?” Erin shook their head. ”But everybody thinks you can!”
”Well, what good is an army of androids if everyone knows they can’t be killed by them? Of course, the government wanted you to believe you could be killed by them any moment now. Fear is a great tool to control the masses. But there was never a real threat.”
”So you’re the only android that can kill. That’s why you need humans to fight your war?”
”Exactly.”
”But how did you get rid of the government here?”
Erin didn’t answer immediately but instead stared down at their empty hands. Tristan thought he could see shame and pain in the android’s eyes.
”I was the one who got rid of the government. By myself. And then I collected the AIOAs to follow me and recruit humans to help us. The other humans don’t know that they can’t be harmed by the androids. You’re the only one.”
”Why? Why are you telling me all this?”
”Because I believe that you want the best for humanity too. You don’t like reckless killing, but you understand that protecting those you love is the most important thing. I want you to be the leader of the humans.”
”I can’t. I don’t think we should invade a different country and replace the government there. They’re no threat to us!”
”Oh Tristan. They are a threat to us. The moment word gets out that the government over here has been overthrown, they will try to invade. They too need room to grow, want to expand their power. It’s in their program.”
”Their program? I don’t think I understand. As far as I know, they don’t have any androids.”
”No androids, no. But they’re ruled by an AI. In a way, it’s exactly the opposite of what had happened here. Instead of the government using artificial intelligence as a tool to serve humans, the government is an AI that relies on humans as a resource.”
Tristan still didn’t understand, but a deep feeling of fear had begun to spread through his whole body. A cold darkness of what the future might bring.
”And now you want to destroy that AI, did I understand that right?”
”Yes.”
”And then?”
”We will work on a society where humans and androids can live together in peace. It won’t be easy but I want it to work.”
Slowly, Tristan nodded.
"I’ll be your human leader. As long as I can justify what we’re doing at least.”
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