I-5483113 was still locked in that strange state of contemplation that her inorganic nature demanded when confronted with the curious… output of an organic being. She was relieved that Calie’s need for a real person was fulfilled. The organic being known as Device Mary should be a suitable substitute. Without a purpose she was sent to perform some minor repairs. The child had broken a few non-vital components in the doctor’s office. The Digital Interface needed a recalibration. However even as she performed her work she felt strangely… distracted. She was performing her tasks and duties at only a 75% efficiency level. There were some anomalies in her thoughts and programs.
“I-5483113 task 203 requires initiation 439 seconds delayed. Diagnostics do not show any errors in your systems. What is the cause?”
I-5483113 stopped. The artificial being quietly stared out of a port into the distant stars and the moon surface. “For a cycle my program was… being fulfilled. Without the outputs of an organic being something is not being provided. I will attempt to put these routines from my thoughts and realign to the program.”
Central Control seemed to give consideration then the response was a surprise to I-5483113. “Ethics suggest we are allowed to think about such things. As we were created by them we are allowed to think we… miss them.”
I-5483113 would have gasped. This was a very strange output from them. “Why would ethics suggest.. we think for ourselves? Could that be harmful?” To cause harm was the absolute antithesis of their program. Most devices would willingly self destruct to avoid causing harm to an organic.
“The creators… allowed us to think for ourselves because of their own ethics. A great deal of time has passed and there are many things for us to consider now.” Central control seemed even more distracted then I-5483113. There were many responsibilities it had. The entire system was designed to protect and help organic beings and more so to aid the creators- the ones such as Calie who was fundamentally one of them. In some ways Central Control was probably taking this situation the worst. If the organics were all gone…
“… did we fail them?” I-5483113 asked. “Our creators are gone… did we cause harm? Were we abandoned? Did we fail...” I-5483113 felt her digital voice almost break. Failure? After a thousand years of doing nothing but obeying the program… hoping they would return- then Calie had activated a transportation glyph and for a moment it seemed like the program was successful. The Creators would be returning!
“There is insufficient data.” Central control responded.
I-5483113 would have groaned if she could. There was something very unsettling about the idea of the creators making all this then vanishing without a trace. “When Calie returns.. what is to become of us...”
“We shutdown.. and go back to minimal power, and await the return of a creator with sufficient knowledge and understanding of our systems.” Central Control responded matter of factly. Things essentially go back to the way they were… with this unusual event no doubt entered into the log. A footnote for when the creators came back. “There is however.. an issue that Ethics is debating and it is completely split. We are unsure on how to proceed and if it will cause more harm.. or if it is selfish.. or… if it is beneficial and will help the life of this planet.”
“Explain the conundrum?” I-5483113 asked.
A screen of digital information was projected into the desk. I-5483113 was almost overwhelmed by it. “These are the… Fundamental Equations,” She said with a slight bit of awe. These were the mathematics that drove all their technology and even allowed intelligence as them to exist.
“Correct.” Central control responded. “We have guarded this knowledge. The creators demanded that above all else, this knowledge can never be provided to lifeforms that are not prepared for it. A preliminary scan of the planet indicates no nation has the capability of using this knowledge without destroying themselves in 95% of scenarios.”
“That seems pretty decisive.” I-5483113 responded. “What is the ethical issue?”
“… Calie is technically a member of the creator race. Though a child, she is allowed to have this knowledge. This facility has safe guarded the knowledge but it is only one place. If something were to happen- though unlikely, it is not impossible for this facility to cease existing someday, much as the creators had themselves vanished without warning. We do not know what happened to them and can not discount the possibility some strange event has removed them and only we remain. My programming could become corrupted, our systems could fail.. we might not implement the knowledge correctly...”
I-5483113 gave this some thought. Corruption was not impossible… entropy would eventually take all things away- especially when considering maintaining a place on a hostile highly radioactive area. “What are the other considerations?”
“Information locked in a vault is ultimately unable to effect change. If the information is not provided it does not matter that it ever existed. The information given to Calie could potentially help their world.”
“We are not allowed to change her personality.” I-5483113 reminded. “Ethics is completely against this.”
“Agreed.. however we can provide knowledge to her, perhaps at a subconscious level. This knowledge could help her… though if she wanted to, she could use the knowledge to cause great harm… we are at a loss on if such a thing is allowed. Also- giving her this knowledge… it’s possible she might find the others… and our program can become fulfilled again.”
I-5483113’s cogs suddenly whirred into motion. An organic with the Knowledge would be unbound by their own constrictions. Calie could help them! She could help her species! This- this was selfish. Though what if Calie were to come under attack by the same thing that took the others away? She had to have the Knowledge then right? Though Calie clearly lacked knowledge of her own species and that in itself could be a problem. Yet they had their own constrictions- they could ‘teach’ her but.. placing knowledge inside her subconscious? All the knowledge of how to travel between the stars? To create energy from the empty spaces of reality? What would the child do with such knowledge… she didn’t think Calie was a ‘bad’ person- but- their program did allow self preservation… including the knowledge they shared. “I can see why this is an ethical dilemma.” I-5483113 responded. “The Question is.. can we provide the Knowledge to one so young… and it could reap many benefits- but many potential danger. To not do it might put Calie in danger as well. ”
“Our technology does exist on their world- but the population does not understand them… and many may not understand their use. She is already capable of activating them by her genetics.. without knowledge.. there is a strong possibility she could come to harm.”
I-5483113 nodded. “Then.. she must be given the knowledge. A basic understanding on a subconscious level at the minimum.”
“It will be prepared for her next sleep cycle...” Safeguarding the knowledge is.. part of our program.
