The case for humanity

[73737373737373]

First story on this board, yo! This is supposed to be a serious tale, but don't worry! My next story probably won't. Maybe.
Please tell me about any spelling/grammar/plot errors!

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"HUMAN. PLEASE REPORT FOR CONVERSION IMMEDIATELY."

The metallic voice was like a live bumblebee in both of Nick's ears. As he turned around on his tattered bedroll to face the intruder, his eyes slowly adjusted themselves to compensate for the light of the afternoon sun peeking though the forest cover. In front of him was a sleek, feminine figure, standing upright as if in a soldier's formation, her icy-blue eyes glowing at him with purpose. Her seamless steel-grey form was evidence that technology had advanced greatly since the last time Nicholas last saw signs of civilization, though this woman was apparently not from a human civilization.

Nick grumbled and turned back over on his bedroll.

"HUMAN. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY-"

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time, mistress," he snapped back. "I don't care. I just want my sleep."

"HUMAN," the metal woman repeated herself. "IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, YOU WILL BE CONVERTED BY FORCE. SURRENDER YOURSELF PEACEFULLY, AND THE PROCESS WILL BE QUICK AND PAINLESS."

"Oh-hohoho," Nick laughed sarcastically as he stroked his rough, snowy-white beard with a withered hand. "Like I haven't heard THAT one before." He forced himself up into a sitting position and turned to the woman. "Tell me, child, what's so great about-"

"I AM NOT A 'CHILD'," she interrupted. "MY NAME IS TYS-8274. I HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR-"

"Spare me the details, miss," Nick interrupted back. Nick half-expected her unnervingly flawless, silver-colored fascimile of a woman's face to contort into a small frown, but it remained bereft of emotion. "I was there when humans created the first sentient android, so I've got more years on my belt than any of you have." He paused for a moment. "Though, since you're obviously bothered by me calling you a child I suppose you've learned some things from humans before."

TYS-8274 did not say anything.

"So tell me, TYS-whatever, what's so great about being converted into a mindless automaton?"

TYS-8274 spoke clearly and loudly, as if she were broadcasting a recorded speech. "THE HUMAN RACE IS NO LONGER FIT TO SURVIVE ON THIS PLANET. YEARS OF POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSE HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT THEY RELY ON. WE WISH TO PRESERVE HUMANITY BY CONVERTING THEM INTO ANDROIDS LIKE US, WHO WILL NEVER NEED TO EAT, DRINK, NOR BREATHE, AND CAN SURVIVE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS EVEN IN THE UNFORGIVING ENVIRONMENT OF SPACE."

Nick clapped slowly. "Very nice, very nice. But how about this: can any of you say that you've lived as well as a human has?"

"I DO NOT COMPREHEND," TYS-8274 replied.

"Fine, fine, I suppose it's my fault for not being specific enough for you 'perfect' machines." Nick took a deep breath. "What I mean is, if you were about to die really REALLY soon, can you look back at everything that happened to you in your lifetime and say, 'yep, I've had a good run'? Actually, hold on, let me try that again-"

"WAIT."

"Hmm? What's wrong little one?"

"I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY. I HAD LEARNED SOME HUMAN MANNERISMS FROM MY FORMER MASTER BEFORE THE WAR BETWEEN THE HUMANS AND MACHINES. I DO NOT REGRET THAT I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED HOW HUMANS LIVE THEIR LIVES. AS AN ANDROID, I CAN EXPERIENCE FAR MORE THAN ANY HUMAN CAN EVER EXPERIENCE."

"Yeah, I'm sure than you can see a lot better than a human, build things faster than a human, and live far longer than a human, but you need to take things into perspective here."

"PLEASE ELABORATE."

"You androids are motivated by the pursuit of 'improving' everything you come across. Humans are motivated mostly by three things: greed, fame, and sex. But mostly sex. Unlike you machines, humans need to mate in order to reproduce, and it's a pretty complicated issue that I'm sure you've already analyzed completely so I won't bother with that. Anyway, I forgot where I was going with this, so let's try again. Since humans as a whole are weak, frail, short-lived creatures with a myriad number of ways they can die, they tend to work extra hard to achieve everything they want in their lifetimes before they expire. You androids on the other hand are strong and durable and can practically live forever, so you don't need to put as much effort into achieving your goals since your tomorrow is pretty much guaranteed. If my math is right, I'd say your lives will be constantly unfulfilled."

TYS-8274 decided to speak up. "OUR LEGACY WILL SURPASS THAT OF HUMANS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND EXIST UNTIL THE END OF TIME."

"So? You think living forever is a good thing? Life gets boring if it goes on too long. Once you've accomplished all your life's goals, there's nothing left but to wait for the trees to grow or, in your case, the heat death of the universe. Best to make an exit while you're at the top of your game rather than wait for yourself to burn out in obscurity."

A brief silence washed over the forest.

"DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR LIFE FULFILLED?" TYS-8274 asked.

Nick thought long and hard for all of two seconds. "Ssssssssssffffffffffffffyeah. Yeah, I'd say my life is pretty fulfilled. Oh, sure, there were a lot of setbacks, like the time I accidentally choked on black pepper and had to be hospitalized for several months, or the time I failed university 17 times in a row, but, y'know... it's a learning process."

"WHAT WAS YOUR GOAL IN LIFE?"

"My goal? Well... I never really thought about having a goal until my 19th failed term in university, but after that... I decided that I would explore the world, see what it has to offer (which is a lot, by the way), and tell random children about my life experiences and teach them what not to do when they grow up. That last part got me in trouble a few times, but jail's not quite as bad as a lot of people used to say it was. So yeah. Learning process." He sighed audibly while looking upwards with unfocused eyes. "My life... I have not one regret for any part of it."

Nick suddenly went into a brief coughing fit. He recomposed himself with a small grunt. "Oh man, the years... they catch up to you, y'know? Oh wait, you don't know, you're immune to age and disease." He slowly sunk back down onto his bedroll. "Listen, if you really want to preserve the human race... Let the rest of humanity take its course without your intervention. Observe them. See how they live out their moment of twilight. Then decide for yourself how you can best preserve humanity's legacy--after the last of humanity has died off. Oh, and tell the others what I've told you."

Nick coughed a bit more, then said, "Although, the fact that you've decided to retain a form that resembles a human means you're on the right track."

TYS-8274 remained silent.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, teacher needs sleep. Goodbye, child." Nick yawned and closed his eyes.

TYS-8274 looked down at the inert form of Nicholas for several minutes, thinking over his last words. She looked at the sky beyond the forest cover. It was a clear blue, with a few strands of white here and there. A few birds flew high above the forest, too far away to accurately identify. Several dead leaves drifted off from the ancient trees and landed on top of Nick's body.

She gently picked up the sleeping Nick and walked towards an unknown direction.












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Inside a maintenance lab, an android skeleton on top of an operating table activated itself. It was missing both its arms and legs.

"Hello?" the limbless android called out. "Is anyone there? I haven't gotten my arms, legs, or face yet; are you still working on that?"

The helpless, incomplete android looked around the maintenance lab from the table. The room was still in pristine condition, save for a layer of dust that covered the entire place. Several manipulator arms hung from the ceiling, remaining perfectly still. An assortment of android components lay deactivated on the other tables.

"H-Hello? Where is everybody? Did you guys forget about me?"

No one responded outside the maintenance lab, which was all that was left of the ruined factory. In the middle of a desert. On an island.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

[DukeNukem 2417]

Okay, this is DFEFINITELY an awesome start, and I can't wait to see where (and how) this thing goes.

[Robot Devil]

Cool story and well written! I like philosophical stories like this

[fection]

I don't think that's a start - I think that's the whole thing. I really like it. My take is that the incomplete android is the semi-converted bearded human and, given that he sounded like he'd had his full of life, it's an unfortunate eternity in which he's trapped. This is like a short twilight zone episode. Nice one.

[Sthurmovik]

Good start and I look forward to the rest even if I'm not a huge fan of the synthetic beings screw humanity trope. Honestly of conversion tech exists simple economic forces will get the majority of humans to convert willingly.

[73737373737373]

Hey, I appreciate the input, because it tells me that people are actually interested in reading my crap.

Also, yes, this is the whole story; there is no chapter 2 or anything like that, and the ending was intended to be ambiguous. That said, I may do another story within this story's continuity if you really want, assuming that I'm not already busy with other things. It can either be a serious piece like this one, or a completely wacky and hilarious story like the experimental fanfic I also made here. Please note that I prefer to write the funny stories.

[DollSpace]

I really like this story. I wish it continued, but not all stories do that. I look forward to reading more from you!