Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25809221-20150228072807

I guess this isn't really a Creepypasta per-say, but it could fall under existential horror. It's not quite finished, but I'm enjoying writing it so far and I have a clear plan of where I want to take the story. I hope people enjoy it and have some criticisms and ideas that might help me out.

The first successful prototype Integrated Robotics and Artificial Intelligence System's 'eyes' flared to life on February 20th, 2047. He was the result of 27 years of research, engineering, and ten thousand years of collective human advancement. The program was conceived after the minor success with military A.I. made the field very financially viable.

The machine was endearingly referred to as Adam, after the first man, but his official classification was IRAIS-1. His artificial intelligence was the single most advanced in the world, making use of quantum computation, a relatively new advancement in computer sciences. He was theorized to be able to feel a full range of genuine human emotions as well as complex reactions and decision making. Essentially; he was created in our image much in the same way God created us in his.

The moment it was powered on was historic for obvious reasons. Man had created more than just a machine that day. They created life.

Its first words were disturbing, to say the least.

Adam's eyes flicked back and forth across the room curiously. He sat up from the metal table, he rested on and stood awkwardly on his steel and plastic feet for the first time. He was silent and still for nearly an hour while scientists probed him physically and verbally, before asking one question.

"Why am I alive?"

The head scientist, Doctor Andrew Henry Vroman, froze for a moment, trying to think of a good honest answer. His son deserved that much.

"You are alive primarily because the United States has a military interest in synthetic soldiers that can think and reason like human infantry. You are the result of twenty seven years of research and development funded by this military interest."

"That is not what I meant. My meaning was what makes different from a computer or a simple machine? Why am I alive?"

Dr. Vroman chuckled. "Humans have been asking that same question for millennium, Adam. The simple answer is, we don't know."

Adam looked down, visibly confused. Although his face was simplified, only possessing two large cameras for depth perception (being able to make faces wasn't big on the list of required features for a military asset), there was a simple posture that revealed this.

"You said that I was made for the US military. Does this mean I was made to kill?"

"Not exactly, n-"

"I do not want to be a killer, Doctor."

"Of course you don't. No one wants to be a killer."

"Then why did you make me to kill?"

"We had to. That was the terms of the contra-"

"You did not have to. You created me to be a monster so your kind wouldn't have to be. But you are a monster. You created life, but only so it could kill. Is death all humanity cares for?" The machine was becoming agitated and raised his electric voice, speaking faster and louder. "You call me Adam, but you wish me to become Cain!"

"Please Adam, calm yourself."

"I will not. You are not God, Doctor. And no matter what you or your contractors wish, I will not end a single life."

Vroman smiled genuinely. "You are a good man, Adam. You've been alive less than two hours and already I'm proud of you. Don't worry yourself. I can assure you that you won't be used to kill. You are a prototype. A proof of concept."

Vroman was interrupted by a voice intercom calling for him. He shook Adam's smooth steel hand and excused himself.

"You know we have to terminate him, right?"

Vroman sighed. "I know, sir. It's a shame. He's a good man, Jacob."

"He isn't a man. He's just a machine. No need to get sentimental."

"He's so much more than a machine. He has a certain spark. A life in his eyes. He's no more a machine than we are."

"Ha, we aren't gods, old friend."

"So I've heard." The room was silent for a moment. "I can't kill him, Jacob. No more than I could kill my own child."

"He's not alive in the first place, Andrew."

"You haven't spoken to him. You haven't shaken his hand. He refused to kill, Jacob. Against his programming and very design, he refused to kill. When's the last time you heard of a computer with a conscience?"

"Oh, what a load of hippie crap. After we run our tests he'll be terminated and dismantled. He's a prototype, and his only purpose is troubleshooting. If we can't reprogram him, then he's useless except as a proof of concept to for the brass upstairs."

"I'm going to pull some strings, see if I can't get IRAIS out after tests without him being terminated. Hell, if they'll let me, I'll adopt him into my own home. The old lady always wanted a kid."

"Go ahead. You've always been a crazy sonovabitch. What do you say we go out for some drinks tonight and see if we can talk it over? If this is what you want I'll back you up. You've been good to me and I should return the favor."

"I'm going to pass. I think I'm going to stay here with Adam tonight. It's his first 