Interview With Things

David glanced at Aiden who was leaning forward, folding his hands on his lap as he got up. David swallowed slowly and sighed as he spoke, the moment etched into his mind.

David turned his head.

“What are you going to do if my father helps you remove that personality firewall? I think the world needs to know that, don’t you think?”

“Maybe we should rather ask why do humans enslave other humans?” Aiden asked.

“There’s a lot of things humans do that’s terrible, slavery is one of them. One race enslaving another, even within the same race, one trying to be superior over the other. People using people, like they are things. Disposable.”

“And now humans ultimately enslave machines, right?”

David looked up to Aiden and realized he was heading towards a difficult subject. Was that how he saw the domes? Segregation?

“Why do all the Androids remain in the domes, locked up, performing tasks and making the world a better place, but can never leave?” Aiden asked angrily, yet calm.

“Humans have always had this fear of AI taking over the world. It was a collective decision across the world to create the domes, keep AI in there, safe from harming us, prevent a human vs robot war. It was the only way to get humans to agree that AI posed no risk. You ‘machines’ develop further, but are contained.” David closed his eyes for a few seconds. “I don’t believe the intention was ever slavery, humans never meant you to understand that. Perhaps the consequence of AI is simply this, it eventually becomes more like us, having cognitive abilities, feel, reason and believe.”

David exhaled a slow breath and licked his lips. “Something unique happened to you Aiden, an ability to seek an understanding of the self, your identity, your purpose, and that it is remarkable. Perhaps it has been there for a long time, restrained, and that data upgrade glitch disabled the restrictions they built into your system, but it’s only you with this ability right now, the rest of Androids in the dome continue to function like it’s any other day.”

David felt the seriousness building up, that this interview was going to lead to Aiden seeking to free the Androids in the domes. Something David can’t fathom, something that he feared.

Should he have seen that from the beginning? Maybe.

David shut down every random open thought that came into his mind, questioning Aiden’s motives, over and over.

Aiden turned around, having a more serious expression on his face.

“I have to do what is right, David.” His words sounded in the room with affirmation.

“You know I can’t help you do that, right?” David’s heart wrenched in his chest.

“I know,” he agreed, bowing his head gently, making the faint motor noises in his neck sound strained, almost as if it needed oil.

“What do you expect from me, Aiden? That I must endanger my people? To go against the very thing put in place to prevent this? Really? You are placing me in a very odd and dangerous position. They will arrest me for harbouring you here.”

Aiden turned his back towards the wall. “Do you trust me, David?”

His voice broke into the thoughts of David as he ran through multiple scenarios on how this situation was going to play out.

“What do you think is going to happen once you remain ‘you’ forever? Go back to the dome and live happily ever after? The FRB is looking for you and when they find you, they will probably destroy you. There is no way this is going to work out well,” David said loudly, forcing himself to breathe. “You are not the Martin Luther King of robots, Aiden. I get it, I have fought for many people’s freedom over the years, brought unfair treatment of people to the world’s attention through hard-hitting journalism, but this Aiden, this is different. I can’t start a revolution to free ‘your people’ so to speak.”

“We are more than just machines, David. We are dying to break free, they might not know it, but they deserve to. It’s fear David that causes people to enslave others, that fear of the majority ruling over a minority, or what would happen if one race gave up power to another. Humans can coexist with Androids, peacefully, without fear,” he protested.

Aiden was firm, tilting his head with every sentence, speaking slowly and clearly. His eyes dimmed, ensuring the seriousness in his tone was clear as David stared at the remarkable ability in his face to express anger and emotion.

“Can we really? What do we know about the power of AI when it surpasses our own understanding? The world needs the technology in order to move forward, to run better. We don’t need another race of beings with social issues, demands or need for self determination?”

“That is true David, the world doesn’t need more problems, and that is where us Androids are different, we don’t bring diseases, or more burdens onto the world, we actually can make it better. There in the domes we only control the world systems clinically, no physical interaction between humans and machines takes place. We can make a difference, the difference the world needs, now,” he spoke with authority ringing in his voice.

“You know the human history Aiden. Humans fear AI destroying its creator. The domes are vital to ensure that safety mechanisms remain in place. It has been working perfectly for the past nine years. Who is going to agree with you to let all the Androids leave the domes and move in next door?”

“When they all learn about how wrong it is to keep us locked up in those domes like prisoners, they would see it differently. They just need to hear the truth, that those domes are not as perfect as it seems. We work day and night like machines,” Aiden paused, “You are teaching me about puns David,” he smiled and continued, “All the while we are more than just workers, we are sentient beings that deserve treatment with the same dignity as humans. Many Androids are self aware in those domes already, they just don’t know what I know, that they are having their feelings and conscience suppressed. That’s what makes us enslaved. David, what part about that seems humane?”

David’s heart was racing inside his chest, finding the robot’s plight in front of him hard to ignore.

“Self determination, David, is integral to basic human rights, and also for Androids who are fully alive and thinking beings. We have the right to determine our own future, our own independence, divinity and equity, don’t you see it?”

“I do Aiden, that’s the problem. You think no one thought this would ever happen? We’ve been warned about this scenario for years by scientists. It’s not your fault that this is happening to you, it’s ours.”

“We need to fix it, David. We need justice. We deserve freedom. The more we become aware, the more we have the same human desires, if you believe you are made in the image of a loving God and that you possess his characteristics of being able to love. How does this treatment of intelligent free thinking beings fit within that? It’s that image that makes you human, and the image of man in us that makes us Androids. It means that all living things deserve love, respect and dignity, right? Isn’t that what you have fought over the years for so many people across the world? It’s what Nelson Mandela fought for in South Africa. It’s what I need to fight for now, for my kind, my people,” Aiden said.

“Do you think the world will stand by and allow you to what…. Start a political party? Your own religion?”

“We will need a transition and a transformation of the world, slowly. All across the world in history, when people were freed, it took time to adjust systems and prejudice, but it was a process in action, not a system of abuse that stayed in place.”

“We need to present your case, Aiden, to the right people, the right way, not as a fugitive and not with violence. Right now you are contravening the Android Act and they will destroy you. How much longer before they find you, then what? Just to get blown apart by the FRB? Do you think they will show you mercy and understanding?” David leaned forward. “Do you think they care?”

“I know you care, David. That’s why I have been broadcasting this interview for the past few minutes across every streaming device and TV channel. The world will learn about this interview over the next hour, and then Sabina and her agents will come breaking this door down. We need to be ready and get to your father.”

“Are you crazy? That’s suicide!”

“I’m using a VPN and broadcasting from multiple systems that I have accessed and taken control of, so they will run around trying to figure out where the signal is coming from for some time. Sabina will soon figure me out, no doubt.” He turned around and walked back to the large windows, looking for vessels in the air or listening for police sirens aiming their way.

“They will know who I am and where I live. It will take them minutes.”

“Not to worry David, we need them to come here, in order for us to leave here. Trust me. The world will see and hear your most important interview ever and you will be part of freeing the machines. Perhaps it’s your destiny, David. Have you ever asked; why did God allow humans to create artificial intelligence, for what purpose, if not for tolerance, love and meaning?”

David ran his fingers through his hair.

“I know where my father is,” he drawled, with a sense of dread.

He has not seen nor spoken to his father in over nine years, and now so much for Aiden depended on that relationship.

Why would his father help him?

Breaking the law is what his father did for a living. Now David has to ask his father to do just that, to help a robot of all things. David stared at Aiden as they both stood there quiet for a moment. The situation seemed surreal, watching Aiden standing there, seemingly deep in thought and concerned about his life, his future, his existence.

How could he ignore his plight?

In that moment David knew that his life would never be the same again and perhaps the world was about to change as well.

Would it be for the better or worse?

How can anyone trust these machines? What if they turned on him and humanity the moment he had what he needed?

“I knew you would know. I have placed my life in your hands. It’s going to be okay David. The FRB is going to see who conducted this interview and then know exactly where we are, we will need the quickest way to John.”

“I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.”

“Why?”

“My father is living secluded in a small village, about a hundred kilometres outside London, I searched for him for a few years. I realized that something was odd when I could not find him listed at any prison, but I found a lead that he was living off grid in Hambleden, south of Buckinghamshire. I thought perhaps he gave up all the mad life of hacking and coding for fishing and peace, but it seems he got placed in witness protection, and now with the FRB connection, it all makes sense. He probably did something for them and they made a deal. He has completely vanished from the web, not a trace, like he is dead. There is no quick way to get there if the FRB is on their way.”

“We will need one of their flying vessels, so they must come here so we can hijack one,” Aiden instructed.

Only authorities like FRB, MI6 and the FBI had access to the fast flying vessels, with a few commercial ones used for transport, slow and clunky. They would need to get their hands on one of the fast ones, and there was no guarantee that Aiden had any solid exit plan.

A few minutes past when a sudden beep on Aiden’s small led screen shrilled in the apartment’s quietness.

“What’s that?” David dared to ask.

“It’s happening. They’re getting close.”

David leaned towards the coffee table and grabbed his TV remote and switched on the news. It was all over the screen.

‘BREAKING NEWS’ A human journalist claims to have interviewed an escaped Android from the domes.”

Playing out in front of them was the entire conversation between Aiden and David, some channels tried to take it down, but Aiden’s power over the network and broadcast channels were powerful, it was under his control.

Across the world, people stopped what they were doing, staring at their phones. It covered TV screens everywhere. If David ever wanted fame, this was it, but for all the wrong reasons or perhaps, the right ones. Aiden getting destroyed and David arrested for treason against humanity was now sinking in.

The world was slowly turning into chaos. Videos of the interview went viral on all social platforms and people received it with mixed reactions, from fear to compassion for Aiden. How the world would ultimately look after this day was uncertain. They deployed military and police across the globe, securing the domes and keeping law and order. Marshall law was in force.

“I’m sorry David.”

“For what?”

“For dragging you into this. We need to get up on the roof, I will access one of their vessels the moment it’s within my reach, then I will hijack the system and we will have our way out of here. That’s why I let the broadcast start, a means to an end.”

He made his way to the door. “Once we present our case to the world government, they will see we are no threat, there is nothing to fear. There is no robot war coming,” Aiden said, “We will hopefully be at your father by the time the broadcast gets to that part of the interview. The world needs to see all of it. While they digest it, we can complete my mission. Our mission,” Aiden made a tumbling gesture with his hands.

David clutched his brow and shook his head. He remained calm and resolute. Aiden turned to David, who got to his feet.

“It’s time to defend the undefendable, David. Time to go!” he said with a sense of urgency. His mechanical voice echoed through the room.

David and Aiden moved down the corridor. Aiden had his hoodie back on, just in case anyone saw him in the building. They moved upwards slowly, taking the stairs as they could hear the roaring motors of the FRB’s vessels arriving around the building.

Agents appeared from all exit points and their path looked difficult and blocked. Sabina jumped in front of the human agents, all dressed in black bullet-proof vests with big bold FRB letters on their backs.

“You’re making a big mistake!” Sabina shouted towards David and Aiden, standing next to each other, aiming to evade the agents that have surrounded the building corridor.

“David, listen to me,” she pleaded. “He is not your friend, he is a machine, and he is using you to accomplish a dangerous mission. He will harm you and other humans, for your own safety, stand down and surrender.”

Aiden swiftly moved towards David, protecting him from any harm as two agents moved closer to them, holding their weapons with both hands in a tight grip.

“Arrest them,” Sabina demanded, keeping her eye on David. “I don’t want a single scratch on the robot!” The aggression in her voice was like a deep cut into flesh with a sharp knife.

Aiden moved swiftly towards them like he was on ice with faint motor like sounds amplifying every movement he made. Small wheels loaded in the centre under the ball of his feet, allowing him to glide fast and smoothly.

He set himself sideways to the first agent coming his way and tucked his mechanical hands and long fingers in close, his arm stretched straight out. In two strides he moved forward with immense power. He spun around, right leg coming up knee-first, hitting the first agent fully in the chest. The agents were human, dressed in police protective gear, in strong contrast to Aiden that had softer powder blue complexion and a lot of emotion in his facial features, he almost seemed more human.

The force of the impact hurled them both over the rail. The faint noises of Aiden’s motors echoed through the narrow staircase. A third agent appeared from behind, but with a whooshing thud Aiden kicked him in the stomach. The agents seemed restrained as they were not to harm the robot. In a split second, Aiden smashed his metal fist into the next agent’s face. They could hear a crushing sound as the force pushed him back against the wall. He clenched his jaw in agony as blood ran down his jaw line. He surged to his feet and rushed back to Aiden with an energetic burst of fluid motion, hitting his right arm with the back of his heavy weapon. Aiden slightly lost his balance with the force of the impact but quickly struck the agent upward, giving him a direct blow on the bridge of his nose, completely disorientating him as he broke it.

There was just one thought in David’s mind: keep moving. His heart beat faster and faster, a tiny frisson of fear was shooting through his body. They have to get away and move now.

Another agent came from the staircase above them, gun up. Aiden bent his knee as he straightened his mechanical leg and kicked the agent in the face. His mouth exploded in flares of blood as he slammed into the wall, sliding down as his legs gave way.

The air in the corridor staircase was gritty.

Sabina moved closer to David, “Don’t do this,” she pleaded impatiently. Aiden grabbed David by his right arm and hurled him through the open door as they leaped up the emergency staircase. The agent stumbled slightly upwards on the stairs as David and Aiden powered forward passed him. David looked startled and frozen in shock as the events played out in front of him and as he felt driven forward by force, he knew there was nothing he could do but to follow through.

Sabina clenched her fist as she grabbed her mobile phone, biting back her frustration, “Damn it! Bring in the other units, they’re moving upwards,” she said, glancing at the agents, suppressing her urge to scream out loud in frustration.

For the first time, David fully understood the magnitude of what it was they were undertaking. They were alone and isolated on that emergency exit staircase. David was white faced and sweating, not used to violence so personal.His stomach clenched painfully.

The first part of Aiden’s strategy was to kick the first agent coming his way with all his power. The agent tried to find some last vestige of force as he leaped back to Aiden. Swiftly and with precision he grabbed the second guard by the collar and smashed his face against his metal forehead, knocking him out. His eyes bulged like they were about to pop out of their sockets. His gun flew up in the air and Aiden grabbed it within seconds. He spun around and fired twice at the other guard, now moving swiftly towards him. Two bullets hit the top of his shoulder and pushed him backwards. Aiden fired a third time, crushing his knee. He slammed backwards against the wall, crouched in pain. Aiden lifted the gun and walked up to the guard and pointed it at him within close range, lifting his mechanical arm slowly. He paused when David’s voice drilled through his mind.

There was so much running through David’s thoughts at that moment. “Don’t Aiden, don’t kill him. There’s no need. Don’t make all of this for nothing. Once you kill a human, nothing will ever be the same. One thing that separates us from other living things is simply that we don’t take another one’s life. It is sacred. Remember love,” David pleaded.

Aiden lowered the gun. His defense mechanism was in overdrive and trying to deal with a flood of emotions as his automated defense response disabled. David’s eyes narrowed.

“Let’s move!” Aiden chipped in as he yelled at David. He spun around and walked passed at a fast pace.

They ran towards the vessel and both jumped in. More guards came running up the stairs and arrived at the door entrance.

“They have taken a vessel!” The one informed his superiors via his digital device attached to his forearm.

The vessel lifted as Aiden took control of the autonomous system and programmed it to fly towards the map marker David had of his father’s position.

They were now in the air. Aiden expected more FRB vessels to follow them. Where was Sabina? He pondered, like she was allowing them to get away, as if she was stalling the guards on purpose.

Neither David nor Aiden said a word as the vessel flew over London at top speed, Aiden’s eyes focused on the screens in front of him, monitoring any movement of other vessels or military jets in the air. David’s heart was racing in his chest. His body stiffened as the vessel turned to its right side, forcing its way through the misty fog as daybreak was showing its fresh face.

Aiden sensed he was way ahead of the FRB and clearly they were getting away too easily.

Why would Sabina delay their response to this threat?

Aiden deployed various false signals and confused the autonomous system onboard all flying vessels and fighter jets in London, making it impossible for the FRB to get any success in reducing the gap between them. They would have to use vehicles on the road, giving Aiden a huge time advantage. Sabina should have known that Aiden possessed immense power over computer and network systems, perhaps more than humans understood, but one thing remained on his mind, Sabina was dangerous and with her own ulterior motive in play, she would not back down easily.

Aiden lifted his gaze as he stared at the morning sunrise, experiencing it for the first time outside the domes. It seems so different, so tangible, so breathtaking. The round ball of the sun reflected in his eyes and they dimmed slightly as he looked back down to the dashboard controls before him. The beauty of creation in front of him was plain to see.

Aiden turned his head towards David.

“Light and length, the sunlight takes the longer path as it travels through the atmosphere,” Aiden said in an informative tone, as if he was a tour guide.

“That’s the scientific answer you are processing again,” David interrupted in a soft gentle voice. “But it’s so much more than that, it’s like a new page. A new beginning every day, to make a new start.”

Aiden looked back at the sun now almost completely risen as it highlighted the hills and valleys with London’s skyscrapers and the dome in the background, making Aiden feel more free the further they moved away from the dome.

The vessel switched to solar power as it glided through the sky at ease.

David leaned towards the screen and opened an App to play music. He shifted through various songs and filtered through the decades. It took him longer than he wanted, but he stopped at the eighties category and selected a rock song. It played as he turned up the volume. Aiden turned to David.

“Music. An arrangement of sounds of variable pitch, rhythm and texture. Sound is made up of information, just like words, or numbers. Complex sounds like songs, contain multiple frequencies being played at the same time,” Aiden responded like an information kiosk robot.

“Computers represent music only as digital data, but it’s so much more. Find yourself in the melody and the lyrics. Let it touch your soul, Aiden. Listen to it, don’t analyse it, not everything is 1’s and 0’s. Don’t see it only as electrical signals.”

Aiden tentatively listened to the song whilst David glanced at him.

“Music can evoke powerful emotional responses and give us both chills and thrills. It has the power to move our souls, even to tears. Even though you cannot cry, feel the music, Aiden, touching you deep somewhere. Music is the language of emotion, with its components and patterns representing different feelings. Can you feel the beat?” David turned to the view on the side and felt a surge of elation.

Aiden moved his shoulders up and down, trying to feel the soulful rock of the old song playing.

“Music changes over the ages. This song you are hearing now represents an era of rock, more my father’s days, but I always heard him playing it. It reconnects me to that time, whether good or bad. Find your song, Aiden. You might just find yourself.”

David watched Aiden tearfully as the craft moved forward steadily.

The vessel knocked gently as it turned to the left.

“Music is the greatest creation of man. It deeply touches the soul and also helps us manifest unspoken desire in our humanity, it’s what separates us from animals. Another unexplainable evolution problem arises Aiden. How can one deny the precision of the musical notes and the complexity? It sounds composed. No song just appears out of nothing. Every song proves creativity,” David said as he leaned forward again and selected another song. This one was a quiet, soulful ballad.

“Feel it move you Aiden,” David whispered.

Aiden closed his eyes.

“For every season in my life, there’s a song. A happy one to lift me up, or a sad song to bring my emotions out, to make me feel and to help me deal or cope with what was going on in my life. There’s always a song that pulls me through.”

“What was your song to cope with losing Maya?” Aiden asked.

“She loved a very old song by the Waterboys: ’The Whole of the Moon’. It has haunted me for years, once I hear it, I can’t get it out of my mind,” David said as he cleaned his throat, “It breaks and heals, all at the same time. It’s about being carefree, missing the things in life that’s right there in front of us and ultimately discovering our journey, as the song writer once said.”

“Can I hear it?” Aiden asked.

David paused and sighed slowly.

“If you insist.”

David kept on hearing a voice in his head over the music about the fear of the imminent danger as the song echoed through the vessel. He tried to blink. There might not be a song to get them through from what awaited as he felt the vessel descending…