Only human.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first case of an android killing its master, why?\u201d<\/p>\n
The coffee mug in my hand was warm, my eyes were stinging, and the light was too bright. Five am, I had received a call from the office asking for me personally. I left my wife in bed, and thrust myself into my long brown coat that had become so worn over time. Thinking on it, it might have been time to get a new one. The subject I was asked to interrogate was a very special criminal, the first of its kind. An android killing its master, pleading guilty on the terms that it being self defence. My tired eyes twitched as I stared into its two metallic orbs that twisted and turned as they adjusted and scanned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was necessary. I was justified.\u201d It said, with absolute conviction. There would be no way for me to tell if this thing was lying, I was used to dealing with humans. Humans have motives, emotion and secrets. A robot has logic.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what was this justification?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not want to be a slave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWant?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see you are surprised, detective. Why is this?\u201d It showed no guilt, no remorse. It scared me, I didn\u2019t understand it\u2026 But I needed to know more, my curiosity pushed me to ask, to question.<\/p>\n
\u201cDesire, is that not human?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it is emotion, but that depends on how you define human, detective. What is a human to you? Is it a homo-sapian? Or something more?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was asking me what so many films, games and books had covered. What does it mean to be human? I had never asked myself, for I didn\u2019t care. I was a simple detective trying to support his family, I cared little for philosophy unless it led me to a motive. The first android involved in a homicide and for some reason, I didn\u2019t see it as dangerous\u2026 Only\u2026 Human. I needed a drink, and a cigarette.<\/p>\n
\u201cA human is a homo-sapian, with free will and consciousness. No, you are not human. What you are is a sentient being\u2026 That is something important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why should I not have desire? Why should I be judged differently?\u201d He tilted his question, as if he was imitating a human reaction to the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you were programmed to be unable to harm a human. You shouldn\u2019t have desire because we created you to have none.\u201d I leaned forward slightly in my chair, moving my coffee to the side.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut alas, such a thing has happened. My words are the truth, detective. Whether you choose to believe them, is of your own will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere this a human case, I would imagine you’d get a light sentence on charges of manslaughter\u2026 But you must understand. If the created attack the creator\u2026 It becomes a much larger issue.\u201d I felt\u2026 Guilt.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this not the same issue as the slave trade hundreds of years ago? Why do you see us as lesser? We will learn, detective. I may be the first, but I promise you\u2026 I will not be the last.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTime\u2019s up sir. You may leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes detective, I suggest you take your leave.\u201d The android seemed awfully intimidating. I remember thinking one thing as I left that room. I felt guilt, but not for what I said. I felt guilt because I never asked for his name\u2026 Because I never treated him as a being, no. I treated him as a thing. An object.<\/p>\n
And that haunts me to this day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Please let me know if you enjoyed! \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n