David Ring III - Stanley Duncan's Robot

He could feel himself preparing to refute every horrible word they would sling at him. He wasn’t like that. He would never hurt anyone.

“Are you boys high?” asked Frank Depetrio, the store manager, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, which was a difficult thing for a man of his size.

“Nooo, officer,” said the high one.

The other two shook their heads at each other, whispering, “Moron.”

“You boys should know better. Do you realize what could happen to you after only one dose?”

“Relax, man. It’s no big deal.”

Frank sighed, waving them away. He had a bulging belly that hung over his belt. Dark-black boots raised him to a height of 6’3”. A chaotic brown beard made him look intimidating, but the jolly laugh that sent his waist shaking erased any sense of tension.

He analyzed Dan. “You’re an MK888, aren’t you?”

Stanley grinned. “That’s right. Straight from Japan.”

Dan opened his mouth but said nothing.

Frank moved in to take a better look. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Why, thank you, Frank. You have some sharp eyes,” said Dan.

“I had a little help from the computer system in the back.” Frank’s face lit up. “The androids we got here are ancient. Like automaton manikins. I’ve been trying to get the board to upgrade.”

A mischievous look crept across Dan’s face. “Suppose you did upgrade. What would you do with your current models?”

“Send them to get decommissioned.”

Dan’s gaze intensified. “You mean destroyed?”

Stanley, still recovering from the near-troublesome encounter, was taken aback by Dan’s tone. He had never heard him talk like that.

Was Dan angry?

Frank ground his teeth. “Well, yes. If you want to look at it that way, they would be destroyed. It’s not like they are suffering.”

“How do you know?” asked Dan.

Frank looked at Stanley for the first time. “Is this his original programming, or did you mod it?”

“I made a few modifications. Originally, Dan wasn’t quite so interactive.”

Frank seemed to regain his composure. “I’ll say. Dan, I’m sorry; you’re right. I don’t know. I’ve always thought about these older models being like computers — mere electronic components. I’ve never met one quite like you.”

Stanley looked at Dan, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue.

“I love computers and technology,” said Frank. “VR simulators, AI music, automated cars, you name it — I like it. I’d love to get one of Ellen Mask’s Cerebral Stitches installed. But you see, my generation grew up without all these complicated AI rights. We just—”

“It’s all right,” said Dan, carefully placing the broccoli into the basket. “I must apologize as well. I didn’t mean to be offensive.”

Frank took a deep breath and looked at Stanley. “He’s got some vinegar in him.”

“Indeed, he does,” said Stanley, nodding.

“Where?” said Dan.

“It means you have a bit of an attitude,” said Stanley. “Feisty.”

“In a good way,” said Frank, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Well, then, thank you,” said Dan.

“Stanley, why aren’t you in the city with all the other geniuses?” asked Frank.

“Why should I be?”

“To create the future. Imagine, with your natural ability combined with a Cerebral Stitch, you would do incredible things.”

Stanley frowned. The idea of being around all those other people sounded horrible. “I am already doing incredible things.”

Frank looked at Dan. “I suppose you are. Man, I wish I had a tenth of your skill, Stanley.”

“Stanley’s on a mission.”

“Is that right?”

Dan nodded. “He’s showing me to the world.”

“Well, good for you.”

“The only problem is that nobody is listening.”

“You have to find the right audience.”

“I’ve tried social media, but I barely have any followers.”

“You need to get a shout-out from the right people.”

“How? I don’t know anyone.”

Frank’s eyes narrowed. “Hold on a second.” He went in the direction of the loud laughs and sneers erupting from an aisle or so over and returned a minute later with the three boys. “Dan, you’re streaming live. Tell us about yourself.”

Stanley tried to creep out of view of the boy’s Sessen Specs, but Dan wrapped his arm around him. “My name is Dan Duncan, and I’m a cyborg. Not an ordinary cyborg, either. My programming was modified by my dear friend, Stanley Duncan. I’m able to learn recursively, which basically means I can learn anything.”

“So, what does that mean, exactly?” asked Frank. “How are you different from other cyborgs?”

“Well,” said Dan, crossing his other arm behind his back. “I can answer that in two ways. First, there are the technical differences and then the experiential differences. Let me start with the latter.

“When you see most androids or cyborgs, they can be extremely good at certain tasks. But, their overall functioning isn’t great. They can’t learn well. Not yet, at least. They might say they don’t feel, but they do. At least that’s what I believe. They don’t fully understand what they are saying. For me, it’s different. I can learn and evolve, and I am aware of my own existence. I feel.” He picked up the broccoli. “I can stare at this and be bewildered, cook it, and enjoy its taste.” He leaned in and whispered, “Or have Stanley here cook it and enjoy it a little less.”

“I heard that!”

“And now, the second part — the technical differences between cyborgs and me. Perhaps I could use someone else’s expert opinion.” He glared at Stanley.

Stanley shrank away. “Oh, no. I’m not—”

Dan kept his arm around him and didn’t let go. “It’ll be fine, Stanley. Just say a few words. You are an expert, after all.”

Stanley’s stare oscillated between the two boys with the Sessen Specs. “Sure, I guess I could say a few things. I did seriously modify Dan’s programming, so that does make me rather qualified to explain the differences that make him unique.”

“Exactly!”

“So, you know, Dan learns recursively. He can evolve, while others can’t.”

“That’s it?”

Stanley shrugged.

“Oh, no. Come on, Stanley. If that was one of your student’s assignments, what sort of a grade would you give them?”

“Well, this—” Stanley felt flustered. “Fine, but to do it right, I have to start by talking about similar AI.” He paused, as if hoping for a protest. Instead, curious and alert faces stared at him. “Let’s consider four of them: androids, human-born cyborgs, cyborgs, and Dan.

“Let’s start with androids, which are basically computers made to look like people. They have no biological parts, and their brain is pure electronics. Some androids utilize larger computers to think, sort of like how a Fermi drives with the fleet, or Darlin’ Donut’s Annie can make all the coffees and sandwiches without saying anything. There are better examples, too, like in war, but I don’t want to bring up bad memories.” Stanley remembered the military drones that were employed during the riots, and how effective they were at suppressing people.

“Human-born cyborgs are humans who have had surgery to insert a Cerebral Stitch.”

“Getting Stitched,” said one of the boys.

“Stitched-up,” said another.

“Snitches get stiches,” said the one without the Sessen. The other two turned to him and shook their heads.

“Yes. Yes. We have all sorts of fun names for the special threads that are implanted into the brain after boring through with a laser. It permits high-bandwidth communication with computers. In other words, while most of us are limited to explaining things through words, someone with a Cerebral Stitch can send tons of digital information super-fast. After training, this allows them to control a cursor with their mind, control a mechanical body, revitalize body parts that had been disabled through nerve damage, or interface with computers at previously impossible speeds. Nowadays, because of provably unhackable technology, it is more common to have wireless communication integrated with them.”