Jak recounted a dream. He wondered if the souls of that forgotten place felt any remorse when their lights suddenly went out, or if they were now happily living a life someplace far away, oblivious to this other new reality. From the balcony of Khaganate’s conference centre, he gazed with newly material eyes into Kakushin’s city skyline as the sun began its slow descent in a spectacular explosion of warm yellows. Pigeons roosted in the gutters high above—their acrid animal scent lingered in the cool evening air. He enjoyed studying them.
Standing behind him, Shannon asked, “Just about ready to go?”
She stepped onto the balcony and leaned against the rail next to Jak, wearing a teal dress that he had recommended, her golden hair curled over her eyebrow. Her eyes darted over every minute detail of his face. She looked at him analytically, like a sculptor examining a finished masterpiece. Meanwhile Jak observed the freckles on her nose and under her eyes—blemishes, subtle imperfections marring her perfect symmetry. She sighed and slipped a cigarette into her mouth, and flicked open her lighter. The flame and the glow of amber burned fiercely in the coming twilight. She folded one arm over her chest and looked away from Jak.
“I’m trying to quit.”
She was the kind of person who preferred either her own company or that of machines, with Harry and Chris being the exceptions.
“You look nice,” said Jak.
She gave him a half smile. “You don’t have to say that.”
The smoke from her cigarette curled around her face, giving her an angelic quality.
“I know.”
Jak soon sensed Harry stepping through tall glass doors behind them, followed by a wave of noise escaping from inside.
“Are you guys ready?”
He joined them on the balcony while uncomfortably adjusting his collar. Shannon rolled her eyes and lent him a hand, straightening his bowtie and smoothing out his jacket. She flicked her cigarette into the bin and then turned towards Jak. She fished a small flashlight from her purse and opened his right eye, examining it with the light. Jak stood motionless and tried not to show his discomfort, only just having become familiar with Shannon’s frequent testing.
“Pupil dilation normal,” she murmured, and stuck out her hand. “Thumb.”
With a sharp clickshe pricked him with a device, leaving behind a blue-black speck for Jak to suck away.
“Ouch.”
“Plantoid cells seem stable. Nanobot count is normal. Electrical feedback interval… is good. Run a diagnostic on your biocomponents.”
“All biocomponents are performing normally. Synthetic tissue degradation is only two percent higher than anticipated. Cooling and nanogel agents are normal.”
“Core temperature?”
“Forty-one point one degrees with little fluctuation. Can I ask how much longer you plan on administering these tests?”
“Just until I know your body can sustain itself. Got to keep you tip top,” she smiled. “You did great.”
“Do I get a treat?”
Harry interrupted. “The guests will be here soon. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
“Of course, sir,” said Jak, apologetically. “Please, after you.”
“Don’t be nervous,” said Harry.
“What makes you think I’m nervous?” Jak replied.
Shannon answered, “You lock your ankles when you’re feeling anxious, and you bounce on your toes, subtle but it’s there.” She turned to Harry and said, “His unconscious memories are integrating into physical behaviour.”
“He didn’t have a body for a long time,” said Harry. “He could have learned it from one of us.”
They looked at Jak curiously and he lifted his hands and said, “Don’t ask me, I didn’t even realise I was doing it.”
This area of the conference centre was designed as a large function room. A handful of guests scattered around; scientists, businesspeople, politicians and conservationists interested in Izanagi and her subsystems. There were also, understandably, plenty of robots. One specimen was a basic android named Mobius, weighty but elegant, who entertained guests with displays of athleticism and reflexes. Jak couldn’t suppress a smile as a man high-fived the android only to come away shaking his tender wrist. Harry swiped two golden glasses of champagne from a passing servant android and gave one to Jak and one to Shannon.
“Feel ready to mingle?”
Jak took a sip. He remembered the taste of champagne, although he wasn’t aware of it at the time. Shannon looked at him and smiled.
“A drink for yourself?” the android asked Harry.
“Coffee. Black. Thank you.”
The next seven minutes were dedicated to floating in and out of conversation. Jak imagined that alcohol used to have an effect on him, and now wondered if that was even possible and how much alcohol would be required. Nanogel had the capacity to absorb certain nutrients, but differed from human blood in its ability to selectively regulate its composition to filter out substances such as toxins. Those discussing Khaganate’s new environmental initiatives interested him the most—plans to enhance their own algae research and production facilities in the north and improve the efficiency of biofuels. Shannon alone had been working on new types of plantoids with a much higher capacity for CO2 absorption.139Please respect copyright.PENANAQ31de50MSM
Harry placed a hand on Jak’s shoulder and offered to introduce him to someone. He then singled out Takeshi Kumagai, an older man with steel-grey hair, expensive glasses, and subtle metallic augments lining the back his hands. Alongside the man was a reporter who Jak recognised as Rhianna Price. Her smoky eyeshadow and subtle silver gaze gave her a quietly dark aura. Streaks of purple tinged her dark shoulder-length hair, brushing over a silky charcoal top.
“Mister Kumagai,” said Harry. “It’s good to see you. And it’s always a pleasure to see you too, Rhianna.” He nodded politely. “Are you getting a good look around?”
“About what I’d expect from one of the richest corporations in the world,” Rhianna replied curtly.
Harry formally introduced Takeshi to Jak as one of the leading members of Khaganate’s military division. Takeshi bowed and said, “Mister Valentino tells me you are somewhat of an android prodigy. One of Stephan’s last great works, may he rest in peace.”
“I’m sure Harry was exaggerating,” Jak told him modestly. “I’ve heard a lot about you, sir. The innovations of your team appear to be launching military AI and autonomous combat technology decades ahead of their time.”
“Many people still object to the idea, especially overseas,” Rhianna interjected. “Doesn’t the notion of pitting machine against machine to resolve human conflict seem a little superfluous?”
“There will always be a need for soldiers,” Takeshi answered. “We can reduce the likelihood of war, but never abolish it.”
“And what role do androids play in the absence of human soldiers?”
“I know there are many that disagree with me here,” said Takeshi, and he addressed Harry. “I had the highest respect for your brother, Mister Valentino, he was an exceptional man, but our views differed greatly. I hold that machines feel nothing. Even androids as intelligent as Jak are only imitations of human beings. Simulacrums. They are as real as we believe them to be.” He looked at Jak. “He is entirely obedient. But our soldiers, they have loved ones, families who will weep for them should they fall in the line of duty.”
Harry looked from Takeshi to Rhianna. “Their rivalry, though renown, was purely productive. Stephan agreed that the application of advanced AI and robotics for army matters was essential. I for one would hate to risk Jak’s life, regardless of his subjective experience. The argument my brother made was that someday soon a line would need to be drawn that distinguishes a machine from a living consciousness. The question is, where do we draw that line. Stephan wholeheartedly believed that if Jak and his equivalent models simply claimed to be alive, then that was all the proof of consciousness we would ever need. But if I may return to your question about military AI, Rhianna, the kinds of robots that I personally work on for Takeshi are not just for combat.”
“Of course,” Takeshi went on. “My sole object has always been peace and security, no matter the cost.”
“So, you knew Stephan well?” Rhianna asked Takeshi.
Takeshi nodded. “He and I met often for collaborations. He was a good man, and I was honoured to call him my friend.”
“Are you referring to the Izanagi collaboration?”
“I’m showing some guests around our laboratory later on,” said Harry. “You two should join us.”
While still in the conference centre, Harry showed Rhianna and Takeshi, as well as some guests, an exquisite collection of artworks, paintings and sculptures, all works that Stephan once enjoyed. There was also a collection of mechanised puppets, some made from wood, and designed in the fashion of different cultures. One item was a mechanical wooden bird, animated by soft streams of hot air. Harry talked about the puppets conversationally then moved on to a speech that he had prepared:
“The concept of the android is a lot older than you might think. Determining where androids come from relies heavily on a technicality of definition. The word doesn’t directly translate to robot or machine, but is the product of any attempt by man or woman to create an artificial human. When we look at a number of mythologies from around the world, we see that in most cases humankind is not born but rather made or created by a God or gods. In the Judeo-Christian mythology, the body of Adam is formed from the dust of the ground and he has life breathed into him by his creator. Greek mythology, the creation of humankind is attributed to the titan Prometheus who formed several human figures out of clay and the spittle provided by Zeus—the figures had life breathed into them by Athena who granted them her qualities of wisdom, instinct, craft and sense. In Norse mythology the first humans were Ask and Embla, created from driftwood by the gods Odin, Vili and Ve. Odin breathed life into the wood, Vili gave them will, intelligence and drive, and Ve carved their human likeness from the wood. Ask was carved from the wood of an Ash tree, and Embla from the wood of an Elm.”
Harry paused for effect and eyed his growing crowd carefully.
“It’s worth noting that these early humans weren’t technically androids because they weren’t imitating humans, they were humans. I’ve always found their methods of creation interesting—inanimate materials, sand, wood, clay, being shaped and having life breathed into it by a superior entity. The gods created man from the most basic of ingredients and we were just the beginning.” He gestured to a painting of the Greek deity Hephaistos, the smith and craftsman of the gods, standing in his workshop, hammer in hand, surrounded by all manner of automata. “Now, it is our turn to create.”
“Now that you’ve shown us the size of your God complex,” said Rhianna, followed by a small rising laughter, “I wonder what aspirations you have for your own androids.”
“Me personally? I’m interested in progress,” Harry replied. “Prometheus created man at the request of Zeus, on a whim, of all things. I design androids to serve. The human ability to adapt is limited by evolution. Without extensive augmentation we will only ever be so smart, only ever be so strong. Our androids have a much better chance of conquering the stars than we ever will, because unlike androids, human beings were not built to live beyond the confines of the Earth. And we’re seeing this already, in just a few short years. Look at how far our exploration of Mars has come since we manned our space shuttles with teams of androids.”
They entered a new room, furnished like a museum exhibit, or a trophy collection, and again it housed more art, but also a relic from the early days of robot engineering—a mechanical hand. Already present in the room stood a woman, who Jak found frighteningly beautiful. She smiled at them as they entered.
“I wanted to show you guys something new we’ve been working on, to help me explain something about our current gen androids.” Harry gestured towards the woman. “Model designation K4-R1, but we call her Kari. She represents our latest advancements in biotechnical engineering.”
“Does she do anything?” Rhianna asked.
“Well eventually she’ll be used as an entertainer. Users can easily customise her appearance and voice.”
“It’s so nice to meet you all,” Kari greeted them. Her voice had a sweetness to it, and her eyes were penetrating. Her body seemed to sway like water and Jak’s gaze remained fixed on her most subtle of movements—the rise and fall of her chest, the slow closing of her eyelids, the way she absent-mindedly rotated a glass of champagne between her fingers.
“It took a lot of tweaking to get people to accept androids into their homes and communities,” Harry went on. “As you would have noticed, all Khaganate androids produced within the last twelve months now feature seemingly redundant organs such as lungs and sweat glands. This keeps the androids from descending into what we call the uncanny valley. We had to start pushing for features like artificial skin and eyes and hair, otherwise our customers kept rejecting the product. They couldn’t explain why, but it made them uncomfortable. It even frightened them.
Jak noticed a glass display case containing a selection of flint arrow heads and other basic tools. Harry moved over and observed the case.
“Around forty thousand years ago, Homo Sapiens shared the Earth with another species, Homo Neanderthalensis, among other subspecies of the genus Homo.”
“Here we go with the neanderthal speech,” Shannon remarked.
“It’s a good one, I promise,” said Harry, and the others laughed. “These particular cousins of ours looked almost like us, but they were broader of shoulder, had heavier brows, more body hair to protect them from the cold of the European mainland. The neanderthal was intelligent, like us, and also sociable. There is evidence of neanderthal remains displaying mended bones, suggesting that they cared for their injured, their elderly. There are two theories as to what happened to them: one being that the vastly greater population of Homo Sapiens bred with the neanderthal until they became absorbed by us. The other, more gruesome theory, is that Homo Sapiens, being unable to accept Difference, warred with Homo Neanderthalensis over territory and resources, until the weaker species was destroyed. Remember, the two species co-existed for five thousand years, and they were almost exactly like us.”
“What he’s getting at is that androids look like us but also not, like the neanderthal,” Shannon pointed out. “That’s the short version of why the product made customers so uneasy.”
“Exactly!” Harry pointed at her enthusiastically. “Khaganate’s androids were either not realistic enough, or they were too perfect. We learned that by adding subtle flaws, blemishes in the skin, slightly asymmetrical faces, imperfect teeth, and so on, alongside artificial lungs, sweat glands, the ability to blink, realistic eye movement, even a digestive tract in some androids, our product began to feel much more welcoming as they assimilated into the public. Not all androids are built the same, mind you. Most don’t have genitalia, for instance, unless they’re being used as companions.”139Please respect copyright.PENANAnlbsZISXCb
“You mentioned digestive tracts,” said Rhianna. “Just out of curiosity, why would an android need to eat?”
“Purely for appearances, again,” Harry answered. “Our androids are powered primarily via photosynthesis, as about ninety percent of their bodies are composed of modified plantoid cells. Organic matter can be broken down and used as biofuel if absolutely necessary, however this process is inefficient, and it can lead to problems. Beyond this, the androids cannot sustain themselves for more than six months without a chemical compound called KZ-32, which is synthesised from genetically modified ice algae that we produce at facilities located all around the arctic circle. Androids cannot produce KZ-32 on their own and unless it is provided to them by companies such as Khaganate Labs, the androids will simply shut down. No need to stress about a robot uprising, basically.”
A general laughter emanated from the group.
“Isn’t that the plot for Jurassic Park?” Rhianna mumbled.
“Shh!” Shannon hushed.
Rhianna instead asked, “Can you give us any information on the Izanagi project?”
“Gladly,” Harry grinned. “Izanagi is a collaborative terraforming project operated by Khaganate Labs, designed to look after our environment and help humankind live a little more harmoniously with nature. Each aspect of the project is spearheaded by a team of leading scientific professionals and supported by an AI mainframe.”139Please respect copyright.PENANAfepww2NxPn
Jak spent a long moment examining the coarse etchings of the flint tools locked safely away in their glass cabinets, and pondering the image of a neanderthal man displayed nearby. Then, his attention turned to Kari as he caught a glimpse of her standing in the other room. Suddenly Harry touched him on the arm and said, “Care to share some insight into Izanagi?” Jak nodded but turned and looked for Kari, and realised that she was no longer there.
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