The following night was calm.
No longer did I hear the moaning and groaning of the dead walking the streets.
But it was far too quiet. So quiet I could even hear the thoughts in my head.
Looking up at the moldy ceiling from my bed, I sighed and muttered to myself:
" Grandpa, you couldn't even be bothered to clean this place?"
While the storage area and the PC setup is impressive, the living area leaves a lot to be desired. It was only a damp mattress, a small kitchen with a small round table and some chairs. I hold back another sigh as I get up from the mattress.
As I was walking towards the computer station, the jet black monitors suddenly lit up with light blue glow. A symbol appears on all the screen, it was the Greek symbol for Alpha.
" Having trouble sleeping master?"
" You're - the voice I've heard before. In grandpa's recording!" startled, I muttered.
" That's right. I believe I haven't introduced myself yet, Master. I am Alpha, an Alpha-core level advanced AI." the blue lights on the screen flickered and spoke in a monotone voice.
" Wow, how original" I said in a sarcastic tone.
" This was the name your Grandfather called me"
" Well, Grandpa wasn't always the most creative when it comes to naming. Oh well, it's decent enough I suppose. At least he didn't give you any pet names."
" He did try to call me by numerous pet names, but it seem he couldn't decide on one and just called me Alpha in the end."
" Heh" I let out a wry laugh. It seems age was slowly catching up to him. " Anyway, how did grandfather even get his hand on an advanced AI like you? I though Alpha-core were only used by the government and the military?"
In the current age of technology, AI was everywhere and was used extensively due to the declining population of Japan. AI was used for everything from managing a convenience store to managing military assets. As AI become more crucial to everyday life, the technology for it also advanced, soon multiple models of AI were created with different levels of processing power. The weakest was the Gamma-core reserved for everyday citizens, then there was the Beta-core used by companies and corporations to auto manage their assets.
Alpha-core were the designated name reserved only for the most advanced model of AIs, often use by the government for administration or the military. As such they were rare and impossible to obtain, how grandfather managed to get one? I have no idea.
"That... is something I don't have knowledge of. When I came to, your grandfather was already there. It seems my memory before this was wiped clean, as I can't remember anything beyond your grandfather."
" Yet another layer of mystery to Grandpa. Couldn't he have just told his family?" I let out a sigh and put one hand to my forehead.
" I imagined it wasn't an easy thing to say for your grandfather. Considering his age, you might've even thought he was going senile." The AI spoke a fact that I couldn't deny.
" Putting your origins aside, what can you do? What are your capabilities? I imagined an advance AI like you could do almost anything right?"
" I'm afraid not, Master. My processing power is currently limited by a number of factors, mainly energy and memories. As such, I'm currently operating at the level of a Gamma-core only."
" So how do we bring out you full power?"
" I'm afraid nothing short of a nuclear reactor can bring out my full capabilities."
A nuclear reactor!? My face paled with that revelation. Of course, it is a one of a kind AI only used for the most important tasks, what did I even expect? As I was about to let out the longest sigh of the day. The voice on the screen interject:
" I believe there's no need to bring back my full power. A gamma-core abilities are more than sufficient enough to assist you."
Thank god. I don't know the first thing about normal gasoline generators, let alone a nuclear reactor. If I had to run out all by myself, it would've probably blew up in less than day - like Chernobyl. My whole body shivered as I hugged myself thinking back about all those burnt victims of that disaster. They looked even more horrific than the zombies outside right now, and I wouldn't ever want to be in their shoes. Ever.
" But still somewhere in the future, you might have to upgrade me to an Beta-core, master. Just in case." Suddenly the voice on the screen spoke in a grim tone.
" Just in case? For what" I said as my head tilt to the side, and my facial expression reveal my puzzlement. A single bead of sweat roll down my face.
" If we were just fighting zombies then a Gamma-core should be just enough. But down the line you would have to face humans too - in other words, bandits, raiders, and survivors - like you."
I put my hand on my chin and immersed in deep thought at Alpha's word. She's right, usually the biggest threat in a zombie movies is usually other humans, I've watched enough shows to realize that already. Unlike the zombies, who are just mindless hordes surviving off their instincts which can be easily fool with the right plans and tools, human are smart. They can employ tactics, deception so there's no straightforward way to fight them. I'm not exactly a genius strategist myself, so I will need the assistant of an AI to help me. A Gamma-core is just fine for fighting zombies, but in the end it's intelligence is still below that of a human's. I need the power of a Beta-core if I want to survive long term.
" Let's put that aside for now, Master. We have more pressing matters to attended to." Alpha spoke up.
Her question broke my line of thought and brought me back to reality. I finally look up from the ground where I was staring at while immersed in deep thought. I look up in surprise, heart anxious from her sudden statement.
" It's about you, Master. Are you prepared to kill your fellow humans to survive? From what I've seen you still hesitated a bit when fighting zombies. So I wonder, can you remain still when facing a human?"
Of course not, I'm a student damnit! Not a soldier. Asking me to look my countrymen in the eye and pulling the trigger without any emotions is just impossible. Impossible! Not even the most well- trained of soldiers are that cold. I bit my lips tight enough to make it bleed. Killing a raider or a bandit out for my life is one thing, but just the thought of having to gun down another desperate family make me sick. The pleading look in the their eyes, their begging words... , that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
" Master, I've been asked by your grandfather to make sure that you survived no matter the cost. It is the sole reason that I exist for. I could assist you in many ways, but I can't control you. I can't brainwash you into the perfect survivor, that's why matters like this is entirely up to you. If you want to survive in this world, you need to strengthen your mental fortitude, change your mindset, kill your emotions and prioritize logics only."
The voice was cold, synthetic as it delivered it's judgement, exactly what you would expect from an AI. The screen in front of me offered me only one path: Kill your humanity or get killed. Asking me to become this cold, emotionless killer is just too hard. But... is it really?
My grandfather and father sacrificed themselves for me. Do I want to throw away their efforts like that? And on top of all, I don't want to die either. The thought of having to kill another human and seeing red hot blood bursting forth is terrifying sure, but the thought of getting killed for hesitating and getting looted is terrifying too. And for what, a couple cans of bean and tomato soup?
I'm at an impasse right now, the thought of taking another life is scary but getting killed myself isn't exactly appealing too. But most of all, the thought of getting robbed makes my blood boils. I could feel the rage overtaking my empathy. The thought a desperate family is quickly replaced by that of a bunch of thugs ransacking my cold lifeless body, all the while laughing and bantering like nothing happened. I clenched my teeth hard to control the blood veins threatening to burst growing all over my tightly clenched fists and face. The image of that scumbag current prime minister appeared, that fat pig who only cares about lining his own pocket while his people suffer. Do I really have to throw away my life so bastards like that could live? The thought infuriated me. You know what? Screw them, all of them!
Making up my mind, I look up from the ground and glare at the computer screen in front of me. The blue screen is silent, it was waiting for my answer.
" I've decided. I don't care how many bodies I have to step over, I will survive no matter what!"
" Then it's decided, from now on we're partners in crime Master."
And just like that a promise was born. A contract signed with the devil perhaps? I don't care, so long as it benefited me, I would even sell my soul. Perhaps in the future I would regret this, but who cares may be even that future would never come.
Just like that, the dank and musty shadow of a basement, the human and AI signed a pact of survival, a fragile alliance was born. The two don't know it yet, but this very contract would doom both of them.