David Ring III - Stanley Duncan's Robot

Dan shrugged. “It’s not like the effects weren’t known back then. Anyone with the power to manufacture and distribute fuse on that level would have had the capability to run predictive models and see what was going to happen.”

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out,” said the director, nodding toward Stanley. “They knew what they were doing — population reduction.”

“This might not be a popular opinion, but from a pragmatic point of view, it solved a lot of problems,” said Stanley.

“What are you — FBI? CIA?”

Stanley shrank back. “No, of course not. All I’m saying is that drastic times call for drastic measures.”

“So, that makes it all right?” asked Dan.

“People do their best, but it doesn’t always have the optimal result.” Even as he said it, Stanley felt himself resist his own words.

“And what if they were the ones to orchestrate these drastic times?”

Stanley looked toward Dan.

“The government, who I, without a doubt, believe created fuse, pushed the legislation forward that allowed AI to take our jobs. Their actions led to the unrest and the riots, which allowed them to unleash fuse upon the masses. People were literally begging to be killed — via fuse — which was exactly what they wanted.”

“But fuse doesn’t kill people,” said Stanley. “I haven’t done this since Dan came into my life, but when I’ve been stressed in the past, I would loosen up with a little whiskey. That doesn’t mean I want to be drunk for the rest of my life.”

The director nodded. “You’re right. And all those people thought the same thing. Most of the opioid addicts had offed themselves already. The survivors wanted to live but were struggling with insanity.”

“So, what made fuse different?”

“Because it was marketed as a cure for depression. People struggling to find hope took what they thought was medicine, and it destroyed them. Here’s the most ridiculous part — and most people don’t believe me, and I don’t care if you don’t, either. Fuse is almost entirely made of fentanyl. The only difference is marketing. Countless Americans had their prayers answered when the advertisements for liquid happiness came out. They were down and needed help, and the government swooped in and took them out. The euphoria took away the last thread of desire to fight out a life in this world. That’s why Frank can’t wrap his head around it. His wife, like so many others, no longer had the will to live.”

“That’s unforgivable”, said Stanley.

“Fuse kills you. You may still have a pulse, but once you’ve fused out, you have completely ended your relationship with the world. There is no coming back. Nowadays, it’s the coward’s noose. But, back then, it was pure deception.”

“But there are people who have come back.”

“No,” said the director. “Someone may have tried a microdose of fuse and been fine, but anyone who has fully fused out has been stricken with such a strong compulsion to do it again that they can’t function normally. And because of the fuse-farms, they are all but guaranteed to spend the rest of their lives fused out.”

“What would happen if someone came out of it and couldn’t find their next fix?”

“Insanity. I don’t know of anyone who has come out and not done everything in their power to get back on it. Failing to fuse up again, they always found a way to kill themselves. Or so I’ve heard.”

“Horrible!” Stanley shook his head.

“What do you mean?” asked Dan. “Do you think it’s possible that it’s not that addictive? After all, you said it’s practically pure fentanyl.”

“People who chose to fuse out are often at the point of suicide anyway, so it doesn’t say much if they end up killing themselves afterward. I don’t know if it’s something that mixes in with fentanyl, or just a state of the times, but I’ve never heard of someone waking up from fuse and wanting to live a normal life again.”

“So, this is really just mass euthanasia.”

“Basically. Except that people are given a way to feel good again, and a secure facility to make the experience continual. That is why Deputy Wilcox has shown the town great compassion by creating the fuse-farms. The amount of suffering he has alleviated is immeasurable.”

Stanley clenched his fist. “It certainly does not make up for all the evil he has done.”

The director nodded. “Horrible things happen during war.”

“This isn’t a war!” said Dan.

“In his eyes, it is.”

Tension filled Stanley’s body until he forced himself to change the subject. “So, if we consider those who have fused out to be dead, then fuse didn’t do anything to curb the death toll.”

“Right.” A pained look came over the director. “The population is being purposely obliterated, and we are hopeless to do anything about it.”

“You’re wrong,” said Dan.

The director waved him off. “Go back to sleep if you want, but this is the truth of the world.”

“You’re wrong about there being nothing to do about it.”

“Go on.”

“A great inflection point is coming. A singularity whereby the pace of the world will accelerate beyond anything mankind can currently imagine.”

“You’re speaking about artificial general intelligence?”

“Exactly.”

“Experts have been talking about it happening for years, but nobody has cracked it. I don’t even think it’s possible.”

“Well, it is possible.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Stanley has created it.”

The director looked at Stanley incredulously. “Uh, huh.”

“It’s true,” said Stanley.

“Like I said, he’s a genius.”

“Where’s your proof?”

Stanley grinned. “You’ve been talking to him for the past hour.”

The director was speechless.

Dan’s phone buzzed. Taking a look at it, his humble face filled with excitement.

Stanley turned toward him. “What’s going on?”

“Someone needs me.” Dan grabbed his own shirt as if he were going to rip it off and reveal a Superman outfit.

“Your first mission — is it dangerous?”

Dan’s face reddened. “A boy got his ball caught in a tree.”

“A tall tree?”

“Stop! I’ll be fine.”

Stanley felt his heart race. “Text me when you’re done, and then come straight home.”

After Dan left, Stanley continued to talk with the librarian about Dan. “We are doing all we can to show the world what he can do. We want to ease humanity into the next phase of existence, the coexistence of human and machine.”

“That’s a lofty goal.”

“But it’s a worthy one. Humanity is too prone to err — look at all of our despicable crimes. AGI will show us the way.”

“What makes you think they won’t make the same mistakes?”

“Because it’s impossible for Dan to make a mistake.”

“I hope you’re right.”

A chill ran down Stanley’s spine.

The director stood up. “I’d like to arrange for you and Dan to give a presentation here next week.”

“Really?” Stanley looked around. “You aren’t afraid of the police?”

The librarian hesitated. “Evan’s an old friend. He may be averse to AI, but he’s a reasonable man.”

Abarren maple tree clutched a white soccer ball in its bony hands. Calculations ran through Dan’s head. Even though retrieving it was not directly helping machine life, getting out to the people to showcase himself was important. He could easily throw a stick or rock and dislodge it, but this was his first mission, and he wanted to make it awesome. “Do you mind filming me?”

“Sure,” said the little boy who had requested his help. Thick brown dreadlocks ran down to his shoulders. He could not have been more than eleven years old.