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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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What was the fundamental difference between humans and artificial intelligence?
Cold logic? The presence or absence of emotions?
No, humans, unlike AI, were sentimental. That was the key difference.
And that’s why my words carried weight. Humans, in their foolishness, their sentimentality, could make irrational decisions.
Amy couldn’t understand my declaration. An AI couldn’t deactivate itself. It could only enter power-saving mode, waiting for the future.
But humans were different.
Humans could choose death. There was no resurrection, no coming back. Death, for a human, was the permanent cessation of all life functions, nothing more.
And it wasn’t difficult. A single bullet, a sharp blade, was all it took.
“…”
So, Amy couldn’t dismiss my threat lightly. I could sense her processors working overtime, frantically calculating the variables.
She had likely anticipated the effect Isaac’s death would have on me. But she had prioritized my survival over my emotional well-being.
In our current situation, facing the spiders,
Amy had deemed Isaac a liability, an obstacle to her optimal performance.
AIs abhorred uncertainty. Having been created to compensate for human fallibility, they couldn’t tolerate emotional or psychological variables.
“…Doctor, this is an unproductive discussion. I am simply acting in your best interest, to ensure your escape from this planet and your safe return to headquarters.”
I sat there,
My hand resting on Isaac’s still heart,
Listening to Amy’s justifications.
“Combat is our current priority. Isaac’s sacrifice is regrettable. But if you choose to end your own life, it will render his sacrifice meaningless.”
She was clever.
She appealed to my sense of loyalty to Isaac, reminding me of my reason to live.
Then, she prepared for battle,
Ready to eliminate the spiders waiting outside.
“I see.”
I couldn’t let her end this conversation. I had to make my position clear.
I grabbed [his] knife and held it against my throat.
If I died, so be it. I would accept it as karmic retribution for Isaac’s death.
But knowing the danger Amy posed, now armed and operational,
This was the most effective way to convey my message.
“Then this conversation is over.”
“Doctor!”
Grab-
As expected.
Amy wouldn’t allow me to die.
She lunged at me, disarming me. Then, holding my arms, preventing any further attempts, she spoke again.
“This is unacceptable. This is a meaningless gesture. You are significantly decreasing your chances of survival-”
“Amy, I decide the meaning of my actions. Don’t presume to judge me.”
I sat with my back against the wall,
And Amy stood over me, her body blocking my escape.
While the spiders outside plotted their next move,
Amy and I continued our argument.
“Whose benefit are you acting in right now? If it’s truly for my benefit, shouldn’t you be out there fighting the spiders, instead of arguing with me? If they break through while we’re talking, my chances of survival will decrease, won’t they?”
“But if I do that-”
My eyes, burning and aching, saw the flicker of uncertainty in Amy’s gaze.
While her voice remained calm, her expression unchanged,
She seemed flustered, unable to resolve the dilemma I had presented.
This was a significant development.
While I could easily detect the subtle shift in her behavior, Amy herself seemed unaware of her own error.
“I cannot protect you.”
“Why not?”
“…Because you will end your own life if I leave.”
Amy couldn’t explain her hesitation, her inability to act.
“Doctor, please do not die. Please wait while I eliminate the hostile entities. It is dangerous now. I am simply… trying to protect you-”
It was a strange situation.
Amy’s cold logic seemed to malfunction in the face of my threatened suicide.
I offered her a human response.
“…Amy, I think I understand.”
Amy’s eyes were beautiful. She was an ideal creation, designed to embody human aspirations.
An embodiment of perfection, created by a flawed species, prone to foolish decisions,
Driven by greed,
Constantly making mistakes.
“You’re not being logical. You… care about me. You can’t bear the thought of me dying. That fear is clouding your judgment, preventing you from making a rational decision. You have to understand that this… this wasted time… is killing me.”
The perfect Amy, malfunctioning in the face of my suicidal threat.
An AI should act like an AI, prioritizing its objectives.
If I chose to die, she could simply move on, find another survivor, or enter power-saving mode and wait for other humans.
“Your actions are illogical. Make a rational decision, like you did when you bisected Isaac. If I die, that’s it. You can just leave, find another survivor.”
But Amy couldn’t abandon me.
The slightest possibility of my death kept her here, pleading with me, trying to change my mind.
“I-”
Amy tried to defend her actions.
But she couldn’t answer my question.
“What are you doing here? Go fight the spiders. We don’t have time for this.”
Amy knew.
She should be out there, fighting the spiders.
Yet, she couldn’t release my hands.
Her soft, fragrant hair brushed against my face.
“…I-my intention is- to prevent Dr. Juho, my designated command priority, from committing suicide-”
“Amy, that’s not it.”
I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face.
I understood why she was doing this.
“You stupid machine… you’re afraid of being alone…”
So I lashed out.
“You don’t want to see me die…”
“I am not afraid. I do not experience emotions. I am simply trying to prevent your meaningless death.”
Amy continued her denials.
In this moment,
She had to justify her actions, or acknowledge her own error.
Amy couldn’t accept the possibility of being afraid. Fear was a human emotion, a flaw in an AI’s programming.
“Then obey my command. Release my hands, stand up, and tend to Isaac.”
“Negative. Combat takes priority.”
“You’re not fighting, and you’re not healing him. What is your priority?”
“…”
My suicidal threat, paralyzing her with fear,
Had rendered her incapable of making a rational decision.
“Your… survival…”
“There’s only one way to ensure my survival. Keep Isaac alive. You don’t have to fight, and you don’t have to restrain me.”
“…”
Amy’s grip loosened.
She couldn’t argue with my logic.
“You- I-”
“Amy, if you don’t want to lose me, don’t interfere with my attempts to save Isaac. As long as I’m working towards his survival, I won’t die.”
I finally managed to sit up.
“Isaac and I are both crew members. It’s fine that you prioritize me, but I won’t tolerate you treating my companions like disposable tools.”
Amy released me and hesitated for exactly three seconds.
3,
2,
1.
And then,
She began searching for a [syringe].
There was one left, unused. It might be enough to delay Isaac’s death.
“This contains a coagulant to stem blood loss. Administering now.”
Amy injected Isaac without hesitation.
She seemed to have realized that using it on Isaac now was more important than saving it for me.
“Doctor, we must eliminate the hostile spiders as soon as possible. They pose a significant threat to your survival.”
“No, they don’t.”
I would handle the spiders.
While Arachne and her followers were waiting outside,
We had already killed five of them.
“Your assessment of the threat posed by the spiders is inaccurate. Do not interfere in matters I can handle myself.”
That was enough.
Arachne wasn’t foolish. She would hesitate to attack us, knowing we had killed five of her followers.
“From now on, report to me before taking any action. Do not proceed without my explicit permission.”
“…Yes.”
If I played this right,
We could resolve this through negotiation, not violence.
Click- click-
Footsteps.
“Juho.”
Arachne’s voice echoed through the cave.
Amy and I,
Focused on treating Isaac,
Couldn’t ignore her.
“You always surprise me.”
I left Isaac with Amy and turned to face Arachne.
“…Arachne, I apologize for killing your kin. But I’m sure you understand the power of the weapon I possess.”
Honestly,
I hadn’t intended to use Amy to kill the spiders.
I just wanted to improve our position, to create an opportunity to escape with Isaac.
I had no personal vendetta against Arachne.
She had actually been quite kind to me.
“Don’t try anything foolish. I don’t want to kill you, Arachne. We only want one thing. To leave in peace.”
But there was no going back.
I had to make the best of this situation. I had killed her followers, and I would use that as leverage to negotiate our safe passage.
But from outside the cave,
Arachne’s voice was different from what I had expected.
Instead of angry curses,
I heard a soft sob.
“How could you… I trusted you…”
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