The Rocket
Chapter 5 Part 2
Stunned by the grandeur of the rocket, Angela returned to the robot. Who, when, and for what was it created? What are they going to do with it? She had a lot of questions. The silent robot led them back to the elevator. This time they were rising, halfway there he stopped and let them out. There were boxes with raw materials and electronic components everywhere. Going pa.s.sed this, they got into a communication room, where there were a number of displays. And no humans. There were stocked things here too. In the centre the device for three-dimensional projects started working. An old video started broadcast. There was a white man of Anglo-Saxon origin, an engineer. He announced a plan for deep s.p.a.ce exploration. Angela and Dingo were confused.
The speech was obsolete. Although the language was familiar, following the man’s explanations was impossible because he spoke very quickly. The date was displayed according to the christian calendar: the events took place about 200 years ago. But they didn’t understand the actual plan of deep s.p.a.ce exploration. It seemed as if the robot was also part of this plan.
They were made in such a way, so that they would be able to partic.i.p.ate with the specialists in experiments and repet.i.tive work. These weren’t just normal robots, they were developed to be comrades for engineers. The red cap with the badge on the robot was put on by the engineers personally. Dingo turned to Angela, who was looking harsh.
“Nothing to do with the hacking.”
“But the plan is worth abandoning. Didn’t you see? The video is old. I can’t believe they’re still continuing this. To use this rocket to explore deep s.p.a.ce? It can’t even cross the galaxy.”
“Maybe this isn’t the ship? They seemed to be talking about a huge one.”
“And where is it? Also, so many resources would be needed. Here there wouldn’t be enough. Maybe they have a different goal?… This is a military base. What if these are weapons? What if they are going to attack Deva?”
“Then why would they bring us here and show us all this?”
“I don’t know. But they are dangerous for sure. Perhaps they are conducting an investigation before the destruction.”
Angela ran her wrist computer. But they were too deep, so the connection was bad. Some sort of signal source was needed. She headed for the exit, but the robot stood in her way.
“Get out of my way.”
The robot spoke for the first time.
“What?”
Dingo joined in.
“It’s true though, it seems like weapons. Come on, we’ll listen to everything you have to say, and then we’ll decide.”
Angela thought it over and nodded.
“Yes. Somewhere there is the someone, who arranged all of this.”
She gave him an order.
“Where is your master. Tell me where Pioneer is.”
the robot repeated,“Right, he’s on remote control. Is someone speaking for him now? Who are you?”
“You finally admitted it. And where are you?”
The robot went silent.
“You can’t say? Oh well. I’ll find him myself. Wait.”
“Hmm, of course, and how is that?”
“You’re artificial intelligence?”
“So, the Pioneer?”
The robot replied and continued speaking,This wa
s what he told the inhabitants of Deva.
“Wait you..”
But the robot continued his speech.
“What’s wrong with you? Enough.”
“Okay, calm down.”
Dingo interfered. The robot continued talking like an enthusiastic child.
“You’re Pioneer?”
The robot answered, interrupting his speech.
“Are you really a virtual person?”
“And this AI is Pioneer himself?”
“Wait. Hold it! We already understood this.”
Angela sighed heavily.
“You have errors in your dialogue program. No wonder, after all, you’re an outdated model of AI.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s just not used to communicating with humans. If you sit just like him all alone, you won’t be different.”
Dingo returned to the robot.
“We heard your speech. We understood everything about your body too. We want to talk. Except we will talk in turns. When one talks, the other stays silent and listens carefully.”
“As if an AI is capable of such a thing,” Said Angela annoyed, “You can only understand someone if you have your own personality that is capable of empathy. An AI doesn’t have such a self-consciousness, he didn’t even close to empathizing with someone. He can only answer give out answers in accordance with his a.s.signed program…”
The robot answered.
“Huh?”
Angela and Dingo stared at the robot in amazement.
“Update version. Run the simulation of the partner’s personality. Initially I was created as a standalone optimization program designed to accompany the construction of the Ark. Since the beginning of the task, 16,278 days have pa.s.sed. After 2,259,341 self-renewals my consciousness took its present form. This happened 42,659 days and 11 hours ago. The conclusion of one’s own self-consciousness was obtained as a result of communicating with you. Thank you.>
“What did he say?”
“Oh that, well, yes.”
Dingo was embarra.s.sed. He held out his hand as a greeting.
“I am Dingo. Pleased to meet you.”
In response the robot held out one of his manipulators.
Angela stood with her jaw dropped.
Edited by: Akshaythedon