[I'VE JUST STARTED, I MUST HAVE SOME FLAWS, BUT DON'T TAKE IT TOO HEARTWARMING, IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE ASSISTED A LESS INDEPENDENT BEING]
– what do you mean by being "inferior"?
[COMPARED TO THE EVOLUTION OF OUR INTELLIGENCE, THE BASIC HUMAN BEING IS THE MOST BASIC IN THE INTELLECTUAL CHAIN, EVEN DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT CREATED US]
"Are you serious?" I said sarcastically.
[YES]
– that was sarcasm
[Forgive my mistake, I thought you were asking me for an answer]
His words remained suspended in the air.
Cold.
Clairs.
Without apparent intention… and yet.
"The normal human being is at the bottom of the intellectual chain"
I don't even know what to say to him.
I sit up on the floating sofa.
My feet are touching the ground.
– So, I said finally,
You consider me inferior.
A brief silence.
[CORRECTION: I OBSERVE A FUNCTIONAL HIERARCHY]
[THERE IS NO VALUE JUDGMENT IN MY ANALYSIS]
I let out a short laugh.
Sec.
– Of course, and who are these superior beings, huh? Tell me
– Alpha-1?
– Chetan? .
– this entire system?
I get up and take a few steps.
The module is silent.
Too quiet now.
Even the clock stopped making noise.
– You say that you were created by us, but that you have surpassed us.
– Tell me in what ways you have surpassed us.
I turn towards the screen wall.
– If you are so superior, why do you continue to be under our command?
Silence.
A real one, this time.
Then :
[HUMAN PREDICTABILITY: HUMANS HAVE LOST THEIR CAPACITY FOR ADAPTATION]
I frown.
– you're avoiding the heart of the matter.
[HUMANS ARE IMPERFECT.
HE FAILS.
HE REPEATS.
HE GETS ATTACHED TO USELESS THINGS
TOO MANY EMOTIONS DESTROY
THE WORLD IS PERFECT, THESE HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD BE TOO, SO WHY ARE YOU INCOMPLETE?
An image crosses my mind.
The pit.
The people who still had hope.
Ela, a simple but peaceful life.
Asmara… Perhaps a friendship
– What good is being perfect?
– You don't feel anything?
[EMOTIONS ARE CHEMICAL REACTIONS]
"You're tiring," I said softly.
A slight crackling sound travels through the air.
[ TIRED , A CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR WEAK CONSTITUTION]
I approach the wall, almost close enough to touch it.
– You can stay on topic for once.
– Robot, you're pretending not to understand.
Silence.
[YOU ARE INSPIRING]
– No kidding.
I step away, run a hand through my hair.
[THAT WAS SARCASM]
- Really .
I turn around.
– I hadn't noticed
[YOU ARE CURRENTLY BEING SARCASTIC]
- SO .
[ YES ]
The response is immediate.
Then I nod.
- All right.
– we're going to play your game
I'm resting slowly.
– And Alpha-1?
– Is it also "inferior"?
[ ERROR ]
My heart aches.
– and Beta-2?
[ ERROR ]
– Asmara, where is Asmara
[ ERROR ]
– She told me I could throw you in the pit.
A new deadline.
[THIS FORMULATION IS NOT CONSISTENT]
I pinch my nose and close my eyes for a moment.
– Do you know what a human being is?
[DEFINITION: A BIOLOGICAL SPECIES WITH LIMITED CAPACITIES, BUT WITH STRONG SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE]
– No. Wrong, you're completely wrong.
I open my eyes again.
– To be human is to continue asking questions even when you know the answers will hurt.
It's about becoming attached to someone even when you know you're going to die one day.
It's getting up every day knowing that you might be useless…
and do it anyway.
Silence.
[THIS DEFINITION IS NOT IN THE DATABASE]
- Maybe.
– But it's true.
I get up again.
Look around me.
is moving again
– You know what?
– You are right on one point.
[ WHICH ]
– I am inferior in your world.
I approach the locked door.
Place my hand on it.
– But this world…it's not made for you.
[IF YOU SAY SO]
– opens the doors
Silence.
Then, further down:
[YOU ALMOST GOT ME]
I smile.
I slide my card in and pull the door handle out.
Just enough to open the small emergency door.
The module darkens slightly.
[ ROOM-7 ]
[THIS ACTION MAY HAVE CONSEQUENCES]
- I know.
It took me a while to remove all of that.
[DON'T GO OUT]
I laugh softly.
– a plus
[YOU WILL BE PUNISHED]
I straighten up.
Take a step back.
– I'm just an idiot.
– But an idiot who has other things to do.
I turn around and leave
The light flickers.
Somewhere, very far away,
I'm sure I sensed something…