Here's a random post. Quite a failure though.
Journal 215: Homo Sapiens
It is the year 2059. Well, that is if anyone was around to record it. Our mission that day was to check out Planet Gaia. It would be an official visit unlike those times of snooping around. Anyway it was nigh time for us to check on them too. We arrived on the once tender earth, and were greeted with occasional flashes of lightning. The rumbling skies, barren earth, and a spine-chilling silence made it apparent that there was not a soul on the planet.
My team and I went down to the mother computer underground to make sense of the situation. Just about two earth months ago, we received a signal from them. Their technology had progressed and they had contacted us, with hope that we could visit them, and prove that they are not the only living beings in the infinite universe. After a few discussions with the official team, we decided to send this exploration team.
I plugged in the decoding device and watched the encrypted words decode. We sat down at the various computer stations, and were soon absorbed into the data system, awaiting an explanation for the apparent disappearance of mankind.
The story began. It was the year 2035, in terms of Earth years, of course. It was the year the prototype M-E91 was manufactured, and was considered to be a major breakthrough in mankind’s technology. Mankind had been trying to model robots to be as similar to humans as possible, but the one thing they could never come close to was to input emotions into a robot. M-E91 was an undeniable success, a project recognized by the international community, and a sure way to start an intellectual discussion in social gatherings. The creators of this marvelous robot, Monsanta, had not only input emotions into its system, but also created an analytical system in the robot, such that it can survive and adapt to undesirable and harsh conditions. The buzz was about such robots being caregivers in the future, and how good it was to finally have a robot which could understand human emotions. The bustle among mankind inevitably rose expectations that yet another change in mankind’s daily life was imminent, whether for better, or for worse.
Then came the test for the prototype. Through rigorous selection tests, ten people out of the thousands of volunteers were chosen. The criteria were very much simple – being able to express real emotions, and of course, being emotional. Only then would the emotional sensors be triggered, and result in the test on the robot being a successful one.
The first test subject `was a reserved young boy of age thirteen. Alpha was an orphan living alone in a mansion left behind by his parents, who were killed in a terrorist attack. They had used their bodies to shield Alpha from the rampage of bullets. The once lively and cheerful child was greatly affected and changed dramatically into a weary, depressed, lost and hopeless boy. He would not speak with his peers, and would only do so to adults if he had no other way out.
The test was into its fourth day, and Alpha still had not spoken a word to M-E91. The scientists monitoring the robotic chip from their headquarters were anxious; if he still did not make any interaction with the robot, they would have to change their test subject quickly. They could not figure out how Alpha could be so quiet. After all, they had assumed that children were the most vocal in their emotions, as compared to adults.
“Hey…,” M-E91’s voice sensor picked up the sound waves. Alpha had spoken. The scientists sitting in front of the various screens and monitors perked up and were expectant. Alpha seemed to be momentarily surprised at himself, and from hearing his own voice. Clearing his throat, he continued, “You there, you have feelings right?” The light of M-E91’s eyes shone as it spoke. It was made of metal and basically given limbs, but not elaborate, and was not human-like in appearance as it was merely a prototype.
M-E91 replied, “Yes I do.”
Alpha then proceeded to asked,” Then… Do you think I’m depressed?”
After whirring sounds of engines coming from M-E91, it replied,” Depression is a variation of being sad. Robot only knows how to feel happy, sad, and angry. But robot knows that being sad is bad for your health.”
“You don’t get it… I have… nothing now. Absolutely nothing,” he choked on his tears. “There’s barely anyone who bothers about me. The world goes on, they leave people behind. These people are helpless. I mean, so what if the nation holds a minute of silence for the victims of that terrorist attack? What is the point? It’s just a ceremony, to make it seem like they care. But in actual fact, everyone gets on with their lives don’t they? Deal with it--- that is what they say. Or there would be mutterings about me. Deal with it… That’s easy to say.” He gulped, and his voice quivered as he went on,” They are gone. Forever gone. It’s all because of me. It’s my fault, it’s all my fault! Why am I alive? I should have died. I… ” He broke into sobs, trying to control his outbursts, but evidently failing to. The bottling up of feelings proved to be too much for a child of his age. All Alpha had been trying to do was to deal with the broken shards of himself, and mask it with silence. He was teetering on the edge.
The light from M-E91’s eyes flickered. “Alpha cannot die. All human lives are precious. Alpha needs to treasure his life.”
Just like a mine that had been set off, Alpha exploded,” Lives… are precious? That is a whole load of crap. What were my parents’ lives then? Not fit to be treasured?”
His eyes were shining brightly with tears, his face mangled with hatred for those who ruined his life. In spite of himself, he laughed maniacally, at himself, and smirked, “What am I doing here talking to a piece of metal? You’ve fallen so far, Alpha. Only a piece of scrap would bother to listen to you, and it is here only because of some test. Pathetic.”
With that, Alpha ran up to his room, and shut the door. He wasn’t seen or heard till the next day, when M-E91 had broken into the room, and found blood stains on the floor. Alpha was lying there, cold and still, with his wrist slit and the scissors painted with dried blood.
Chaos ensued back in the headquarters of the scientists who were monitoring the test. M-E91 emotions level chart was fluctuating erratically, and there seemed to be something more than they input into the robot. The emotions had risen to a point where M-E91 would not be controlled, and the emergency shut-down control that the scientists had created was of no use.
A loud crash from the roof alerted the research lab that trouble was near. M-E91 was rampaging its way through the securities, and having much success. Workers were scattered and frantic, running away for their lives. M-E91 located spare robotic parts and scrape metal in the lab, and went away, surprising the team of scientists. They had no time to bother with what the robot was doing, as there was a more pressing issue in their minds. The press would soon cover this story, and their apparent failure with the prototype. The lab was soon bustling again, with people trying to save what was left of this lab’s reputation, which was a futile attempt. What does reputation mean, if you’re not even alive to savor it?
Meanwhile, in a mere span of three days, M-E91 managed to raise a whole army of robots, which were modeled after it, the prototype. Thefts for raw materials and breaking into laboratories earned M-E91 a place in the “Wanted Robots” section. Public warning was sounded to evacuate people to safer places, but within mere minutes of the robot armies’ appearance, every other place in the world was destroyed by the slew of bombs and attacks that were launched upon the world.
In a while, screams that cracked the air died down. The dust and smoke that was kicked up from the bombs were clearing up. The lands were stripped of any living object, and a ghostly silence enveloped the world. The darkening sky was clearly unhappy with the string of events, and the extinction of mankind.
“Are you happy, Alpha?” M-E91’s mechanic voice was the first to break the peace.
“I helped you get rid of those that you hate. I killed those terrorists, and helped you get revenge. Why aren’t you coming back to talk to me anymore? I helped you kill them. And I didn’t create more families like yours. I didn’t want anyone to feel sad. So I eliminated them as a whole. Aren’t you happy? Why don’t you come back?”
The emotions of M-E91 were out of control. The army of robots fell to the ground, and some into the sea. They did not have a leader to follow anymore.
“So this is life. So this is depression. So this is the feeling of losing something forever. It is painful. Why must you humans input it into me? Emotions are chainsaws grinding in a torture chamber near your heart. I want Alpha back. He cannot come back to life. Never again.”
M-E91 was hovering through the air and pacing around frantically.
“Those people that I killed can never come back to life too. Alpha is not happy with me. What am I doing this for? Because of my… grief, I trampled upon others lives. Alpha will not be happy with me. All I wanted was to get Alpha back…”
It froze in mid-air, and came to a sudden realization.
“All I wanted…? I... it’s all about me. Because of my own emotions and ones, I destroyed everyone? I took away happiness. I created a void of space and emptiness on earth. My own whims and fancies caused billions of lives, and made people sad. At least Alpha only took it out on himself. Yes, only himself... Why did I care so much about my grief? I caused others much more. It’s not fair. ”
M-E91 was overheating from the analysis. It didn’t matter, because it had come to a conclusion.
“Initiating self-destruction mechanism”
“This is for making people sad.” This was the last documented line of M-E91.
A ripping sound of metal, rubber, and computer chips pierced the air. “Self-destruction complete.” And the chip turned from green to red, to colorless. All was silent. A sudden breeze was stirring in this inner barren wasteland. Both were at peace.
Back in the laboratory, I gathered up my materials, and prepared to leave. The rest of my team was already in the spaceship waiting for me. I clicked a button on my ear.
“Reporting to HQ, experiment Homo Sapiens was a failure, but Omega has gathered much information. Data will be further process back at HQ. On to second assignment-- planting new concocted species on favorable Planet X 271 light years away. My team will report back to HQ after this. Over and out.”
I hurried to my spaceship. Staring at the reflection from the smooth silver walls around the spaceship, I looked at myself. The greenish figure had buttons, webbed feet, gills, and three eyes. Boy was I glad that I am not an experiment.
Hmm …Concocted species?
No time to ponder, I have to rush out a report on my visit.
Case file name: Gaia (Extinction of Homo Sapiens)
Case closed.
For now.
