Year: 2234/Earth—Synth/Bio Technologies Conference (Media Session)
Dr. Ameana Mirailis could not see the eyes of the media throng gathered before her because everyone was wearing the latest generation Audio/Visual Interface, or AVI. The AVIs were worn in an array of colours and styles, which cynically suggested individual personalities. The media gathering was a mixture of global and off-world reporters, eager to interrogate Mirailis, the leading scientist on the controversial Synth/Bio Technologies project.
“So what you are saying, at the conclusion of this conference, is that you don’t care about the ethical implications of these revolutionary technologies,” the Global Six Network reporter stated, his AVI randomly changing colour, which Mirailis found very distracting.
“No, I did not make that statement or imply that we were in anyway ignoring genuine concerns that colleagues or global and off-world communities have expressed,” Mirailis replied with growing exasperation at the spin the media could put on any comment. A skill, she mused, that they had honed to perfection over the centuries, although perhaps the politicians still held the mantle. Now, with the global activation of the Neural Extra-Sensory Technologies Communication Network, thoughts, ideas, speculation and spin could be transmitted instantly to anywhere and anyone across the face of the planet. It hadn’t taken long for the acronym NEST to be taken on by the developers, who loved the idea that it implied a nurturing and caring application. NEST was now due to go off-world.
Mirailis forced a smile, wondering what they were transmitting through their AVIs right now to their news-hungry networks. Surveying the crowd of media before her and wanting to draw a line under this line of questioning she steadfastly continued. “I want to state for the record—I fully acknowledge the ethical considerations. I reiterate again that the cloning stages are within the SBT regulations as the SBT Regulatory Inspectors have repeatedly confirmed. The Synth/Bio Brain development and other elements of the Generation-2 Android have been grown using pure Synth/Bio technology. Any physical or personality characteristics that bear resemblance to any human either alive or dead are purely coincidental—as you will shortly see for yourselves.”
A Lunar Three Network reporter wearing a purple AVI, her hair changing to a different HiGlo colour every few moments—the current fad on the Moon colony—said, “It has been widely argued that what you and your team are doing, despite strict SBT regulations, are creating something akin to the fictional Frankenstein’s monster. I believe your colleagues have even dubbed you ‘Mary Shelly.’” That comment invoked laughter among the media while Mirailis ensured her facial expression remained neutral to hide her rising anger and frustration that she could feel in her stomach. The reporter continued her critique as her hair changed to HiGlo orange. “How do you respond to those critics of Synth/Bio Technologies—of which there are many—who have argued that proven Positronic Technologies remain the way forward? And argue that the Positronic safety record remains unblemished, without a single recorded incident of failure, threat, or malice against a human being?”
“My response is contained in comprehensive detail within the V-Reader report published several months ago entitled Human Hybrid and Android Evolvement—Converging Synth/Bio Technologies. This third report covered, in extensive detail, the ethical considerations and benefits that converging Synth/Bio Technologies herald for the long-term future of the human race, including its very preservation. I suggest the critics read it,” Mirailis replied, smiling, tugging on the collar of her Smart-Suit that was suddenly feeling uncomfortably tight. She was pleased to see some general nods of agreement.
“Does anyone have a question that has not been previously asked?” Mirailis said with barely concealed sarcasm. The Lunar Three Network reporter looked annoyed, and Mirailis could feel the hostile glare from behind her AVI.
“In the V-Reader report you state that the initial trials with Synth/Bio Technologies indicate evidence of sentient activity from the conjoined Synth/Bio Brain. Can you say if there has been any further development in this fascinating field?” the jovial Solar One Network reporter asked from the back of the conference pod, his voice amplified by the micro-vocal device on his neck.
“Now that is a good question, and I’m glad that at least one person from the media has read the V-Reader report,” Mirailis replied, smiling again. She was pleased with the resulting scattered laughter. “I can confirm that there is substantial evidence of self-awareness from the Synth/Bio Brains that we have nurtured so far, but of course we are still at the very early stages of revolutionary SBT development. We have been carrying out extensive tests on a single application of these technologies. I can report that the responses have been”—Mirailis paused—“nothing short of remarkable and as I said, you will see for yourselves in a moment.”
“In the report,” a Solar One Network reporter quickly said, “you detail the implications for medical science. How do you feel when colleagues from the scientific community voice their condemnation of you work? In fact, Professor Huis Klasd, a prominent figure and associate with Synth/Bio Technologies, has stated that he believes that your work is to the detriment of humanity and challenges the very essence of what makes us human. How do you respond to his comments?”
Dr Ameana Mirailis sighed deeply before answering. “I value Professor Klasd as an associate and as a friend. He is entitled to his opinion, although I will not pretend that I am not disappointed by his comments. However, I will continue to demonstrate that converging Synth/Bio Technologies will finally end the terrible blight of brain disorders that have inflicted humanity for centuries such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, Luciuos disease as well as heal other brain trauma. Several thousand patients have already benefited from SBT medical intervention. These are proven, tangible results.”
The Solar One reporter continued admitting, “You do have many supporters in the medical field for the SBT interventions that you have just outlined, however there remains strong opposition to utilising a fully nurtured Synth/Bio Brain into a synthetic application.”
“This is true ,” Mirailis agreed. “But my team and I, working in partnership with the Cyber-Corporation believe that Synth/Bio technology utilised in androids and particularly their higher level brain functions, will again be to the benefit of humanity. Just consider the possibilities with regard to our expanding colonisation of the Solar System. The multi-purpose applications that Generation Two Androids will be able to perform will far exceed anything that humans alone could hope to achieve.”
“So we have heard!” one of the Lunar Three Network reporters shouted, generating heckling laughter. “A number of Holo-Hoop Clubs and Synth-Spas have already put in large orders for the G-2 MPA Android.”
This was met with further smiles, laughter, and shaking of heads.
“I cannot personally comment on the commercial applications of the Generation-2 MPA Android,” Mirailis responded coldly.
The Lunar Three Network reporter continued unhindered. “There are those who have the opinion that your primary focus is on commercial development and the financial benefits this will bring to the Cyber-Corporation, and consequently an increase in funding for your team.”
“That is completely untrue ,” Mirailis refuted immediately, glaring at the reporter. “Yes, we are in receipt of a percentage of funding from the Cyber-Corporation for our secondary developments, but I remind you once again that the majority of our funds are obtained directly from the ECG to support our primary objective. The primary objective of this programme is to develop Synth/Bio Technologies for the advancement of medical science that will benefit all humanity without any partiality or bias. The secondary objective is to explore Synth/Bio Technologies in relation to android evolvement, particularly the application of the Synth/Bio Brain, where early evidence suggests that synthetic life will experience true self-awareness. The extent of this self-aware intelligence we are only just beginning to understand.”
Mirailis paused for breath, allowing the media to mentally digest this statement as she felt a tingle of nerves. The moment was right for her announcement. She was about to continue, but she had allowed the moment to linger for too long.
This time it was the Global Six Network again. “You have also put forward the proposition that the Synth/Bio Brain could be utilised aboard space craft, primarily ECDS ships, and that this would create some sort of advanced Intelligence interface. Your suggestion is—and I read the statement from your V-Reader report—‘The Intelligence interface would be a self-aware application able to carry out ship functions, arbitrarily in certain circumstances.’ How do you think ship commanders are going to feel about having an Intelligence interface that can arbitrarily carry out ship functions?”
There was muffled laughter.
They’re not mongrels, Mirailis thought, more like scavenging hyenas.
“I’m sure any ship commander will appreciate the benefits of having an Intelligence interface that can respond substantially quicker to any given emergency than a human being,” Mirailis replied trying to hide her growing irritability. “The margin of human error for ship functions would be eliminated. I’m sure working in the hard, unforgiving vacuum of space and the immeasurable risks involved during deep space flights, all crews will appreciate the benefits the auto-responsive Intelligence interface will bring to the overall safety of those flights and their operations. I will emphasise again that ship commanders will retain overall control of ship systems and would be able to limit an Intelligence interface’s arbitrary control as desired. A ship’s Intelligence interface could be disabled completely if deemed necessary and there will be stringent fail-safe systems.”
“Do you think that such a self-aware application, which you describe in the report as the ‘living soul of the ship,’ might, for want of better words, go stir-crazy?” the same Global Six Network reporter asked seriously, but it was met with more general laughter.
Mirailis quelled her rising irritability to answer what she would accept as the final question.
“There is much conjecture from colleagues on this point. We are carrying out extensive research on these concerns and will publish our findings in due course. The application of the Synth/Bio Brain in the Generation-2 MPA Android will be the first step in helping us to understand these relationships and interactions. Now, if I may have your complete attention, I have a very important announcement.”
The conference pod fell silent, and the array of AVIs looked expectantly at the controversial Dr. Ameana Mirailis.
“It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the first Generation-2 Android, utilising the latest advancements in Synth/Bio Technologies and the first to have the Synth/Bio Brain,” Mirailis said cautiously, as excited whispers of anticipation broke out from among the media networks. “Please give him a warm welcome to the rostrum.”
Mirailis began the applause that was quickly joined by the audience. The numerous audio/visual scanners floating overhead closed in on the rostrum. The tall, lean figure of the first G-2 appeared from around the huge gold curtain that encircled the platform and walked to the rostrum. He was clad in a blue bodysuit that matched his cool blue eyes that were looking out intently towards the media. The G-2 reached out and shook Mirailis’s hand, smiling appreciatively at the brilliant young woman who had become his close acquaintance and friend since his awakening. The android placed his hands onto the rostrum as Mirailis stood aside. His long fingers curled around the edge of the rostrum’s gold smart-material that could disappear into the floor at a press of an icon on the hidden control panel.
The android’s face looked oddly tanned from an experiment to see the effects of solar rays on his Synth/Bio flesh. He stood considerably taller than Mirailis, and the contours of his muscled torso could be seen through his jumpsuit. His face looked mature while retaining a youthful look that was strikingly handsome, with a thick crop of light brown hair. Mirailis had decided that the android bore a striking resemblance to a slightly older version of the twentieth-century American actor James Dean, who’d died too young in an auto accident.
The android smiled warmly at the assembly as their AVI-covered eyes looked intently at him in silent anticipation of his first words.
My name is James Dean,” the android said in a deep, authoritative voice that resonated through the room. He looked across the platform at Mirailis and smiled broadly.
Mirailis gasped in astonishment, not expecting the android to open his introduction with a jibe at her fixation with the actor. The Networks looked at each other in confusion. Some reporters were quick to utilise the new NEST application, sensing the name was familiar. NEST instantly provided details of the iconic Hollywood actor. The information was displayed across the AVIs of those who’d been adept enough to access NEST:
James Dean
American Actor
Born 1931—Died 1955 (Automobile Accident)
Buried in Park Cemetery Fairmont, Indiana
Ameana Mirailis fought back her emotions. She stepped towards the android and quietly quoted Dean: “Dream as if you’ll live forever.”
“Live as if you’ll die today,” the android replied in a quiet gentleness, finishing the quote.
Mirailis smiled broadly at the android. She wanted to reach out to him but thought better of it. Instead she stepped back, discreetly wiping away a tear that was forming on her cheek with a quick brush of her finger. She hoped no one noticed.
“I am sorry,” the android said with a smile as he looked towards the media pool that became silent as he spoke. “I could not resist a joke between myself and the doctor.”
His face changed to an expression of serious concern while his blue eyes gazed out at the humans before him. It was almost as if the magnitude and significance of this moment had suddenly struck him like a blow to the face. Of course this was not the case, as he had considered precisely what he was going to say and how he was going to say it many weeks before the conference. “My real name,” the android said pausing again, “Is Traviod Selius.”
The Networks all exploded with questions at once, each wanting to be the first to address the android directly. Mirailis smiled, knowing that the Global Six Network would have the first question. But Lunar Three Network were clearly having none of it and had obviously planned to usurp their rival broadcaster. The Lunar Three Network reporter with the purple AVI and HiGlo hair, which was currently green, was waving her hands furiously to gain the attention of Traviod Selius. The android waited in dignified silence while the reporters were instructed by the media session controller via their AVIs to adhere to the scheduled order of questioners. The Global Six Network looked jubilant while the Lunar Three Network reacted furiously. The HiGlo hair of the Lunar Three Network reporter changed appropriately to an angry red. The Solar One Network group looked mildly amused at the angry reporters who were desperate to ask their questions first at this historic moment, fuelled by the longstanding and bitter rivalry between the Global and Lunar Networks.
While the media were feuding, a man dressed immaculately in a red ECDS dress uniform stepped forward from the front group of reporters and approached the rostrum. His approach had not gone unnoticed by the android or Mirailis. She looked quizzically at the approaching figure, feeling annoyed that her specific instructions not to have any military presence during the media session had been ignored. Her expression quickly changed to astonishment and shock as the uniformed man pulled out a small handheld pulse weapon and unleashed triple-fire plasma-bolts at point blank range at the android. Traviod Selius responded instantly, shifting to his left to narrowly avoid the lethal blast, the plasma-bolts exploding harmlessly on the wall behind him. As Mirailis fell to the ground from the backwash of the explosive force, the android leapt over the rostrum in hyper-fast and landed on top of the assailant before the surprised man could press the firing stud on the weapon a second time.
The media scattered in panic, running and falling, hindering the security team as they ran towards the rostrum with the giant gold curtain burning behind it. The Lunar Three Network reporter with the HiGlo hair tumbled forward awkwardly as she tried to escape, her head snapping back as her jaw contacted the back of a chair. She hit the ground and did not move. The Global Six Network reporters scrambled over the top of her. A Solar One Network reporter did pause to assist the fallen woman, glancing nervously over his shoulder towards the platform. Seeing the woman was unconscious, he quickly ran off, bouncing off a large security guard as he made his way towards an exit portal.
Selius kept the struggling man face-down and under restraint. The android had easily disarmed him of his weapon and had slid it out of harm’s way. The android watched as Mirailis got to her feet, evidently unhurt but shaken and dazed. They exchanged a mutual look of concern. Selius recognised that Mirailis seemed fearful—not for herself but for him.
Selius looked intently the man he was restraining, who continued his futile efforts to pull himself free from the android’s iron grasp. The assailant suddenly stopped his resistance and with the side of his face pressed hard into the floor, he tried to look up at the android. The man’s face was a mask of rage and hatred.
“Why?” Selius demanded of the man as the security team finally reached him and prepared to drag him away in mag-locks.
The man actually laughed and kicked his legs wildly as the security unit tried to attach the mag-lock devices. “Why?” he spat angrily as the security unit wrestled the mag-locks into place, securing his hands and legs. “I will tell you why”—calmer now that he was restrained—“because we hate and despise ARTs.”
Selius watched the security unit place the assailant into a transparent security cube as he screamed in protest. The restrained man’s ranting could no longer be heard as the cube was sealed and turned black, immediately displaying its occupant’s life readings on top.
“Excuse me, Sir,” one of the security unit said politely to Selius as she stepped past the android to follow the floating security cube towards an exit portal.
How ironic, Selius thought. One of them tries to destroy me and another treats me with the utmost respect and calls me sir.
Mirailis approached Selius and hugged him fiercely as a medical unit ran into the conference pod to attend to the stricken Lunar Three Network reporter. “Are you okay, Jimmy?” Mirailis asked, fighting back tears. She no longer cared who was watching—or for that matter what they would think about the emotion she was demonstrating towards her android.
“I am fine, Ameana, thank you,” Selius replied, gently holding Mirailis in his arms, watching as the security unit disappeared through the exit portal with the security cube. “Why did he refer to my kind as ARTs? I do not understand the reference. Can you please explain?”
Mirailis gazed up at the android. “It’s because there are those who don’t agree with what we are doing. You are like us in many ways, but you are quicker and stronger. Because of that, it invokes hatred and jealousy, traits humanity has yet to fully tame.” She paused, then said, “They use the expression ‘art’ in a derogatory sense because in their eyes you are artificial, no more than a machine.”
I see,” Selius said, acknowledging understanding without judgement. “Their use of ‘art’ is comparable to a racial slur.”
“Yes,” Mirailis said, wanting to weep more than ever, “I suppose it is.”
“That is most interesting,” Selius concluded.
“Interesting?” Mirailis replied in alarm. “They just tried to kill you!” She hugged him fiercely again, feeling the contours of his firm, warm synthetic body and added, “We need to establish some sort of android protectorate to prevent this from happening again.”
They both stood there waiting for the enforcement officers to carry out their investigation and as they did, the same words kept going around and around Traviod Selius’s Synth/Bio mind. We hate and despise ARTs. We hate and despise ARTs. We hate and despise ARTs . . .
Media Supplemental Network Reports—one day later
Global Six Network
“ECDS authorities have been quick to disassociate themselves from disgraced former service officer Myit Guyus, who attacked the first Generation-2 Android at the closing media session of the Synth/Bio Technologies conference. Guyus fired a standard issue Service pulse weapon directly at the android, who miraculously managed to avoid the plasma blast at superhuman speed. The android, called Traviod Selius, apprehended Guyus following the attack, utilising the controversial G-2 hyper-fast mode. These unfortunate circumstances have demonstrated the remarkable development in G-2 android technologies.”
Lunar Three Network
“The ECDS have released a statement saying that Myit Guyus was dishonourable discharged from the Service in 2227 for damage inflicted on a number of G-1 Androids utilised at various colony installations. The statement goes on to say that the Service will not condone any such actions against colony property. However, off-world sources say that mistreatment and abuse of androids is rife among the Service and that Myit Guyus is not an isolated case. These same sources allege that numerous incidents of android negligence by the Service have been covered over by senior ECDS officials to prevent public and media attention. The ECDS vehemently deny any truth to these allegations but the ECG President Lasp Gristav has ordered an independent investigation.”
Solar One Network
“Over 70,000 applications of the Generation-1 Android have been deployed in civilian and Service installations. The G-1 application has operated flawlessly, and the Space Operations Safety Board stated that the androids have saved countless lives. The most recent accident, the Ares Incident in 2233, adds weight to the SOSB statement. Two G-1 application androids saved 142 trapped Astro-Corps operators who were lifting ore to the surface of Deimos. However, corporate sources state that there is growing unrest over the rising dependence on android utilisation and deployment in corporate operations. With further allegations of android negligence coming from the Service, it seems this could be very damaging indeed for the Cyber-Corporation and the Earth and Colonies Government that sanction android use. It seems the concerns are shared by the Earth and Colonies Senate, where a growing number of senators and governors are supporting the call for broader, comprehensive regulation . . .”
