CI ID #20021 - Searching

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

At the sight of Red Zero in her younger years, Delta's "heart" sunk. She had been captured for so long. "Query: If the Prime manufacturer is no longer important, then why are you carrying out an order given to you by her? This would either mean that someone at NBI is fooling you into thinking that Red Zero assigned you this, or you are acting of your own accord."

[K2]

"Third alternative," the boy replied, "Assumptions that Prime Manufacturer assigned the task of SEEK DELTA is inaccurate. More statistically favorable assumption is that Task Agency of New Bell Industries assigned me my current task based on data they found in my system from a previous task assigned by Prime Manufacturer."

He eyed Delta, almost suspiciously. "Query. Can you account for the following? Systems indicate 86% probability that the data on the subject of assumed fate of Red Zero is inaccurately being expressed by you despite system protocol. Logic states that if Prime Manufacturer is assumed dead, and last known location of Prime Manufacturer was on an enemy planet, then you would have more concrete knowledge of the location and status of Prime Manufacturer."

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"People lie." Delta simply stated. "I gave everything up to save her, only to have to leave her and wait. Its been too long, and i know the Mechera way too well." Delta explained. "I know the probability down to the trillionth decimal, but its the remaining percentage that worries me."

"Additional Query: What does NBI's intentions if these notes were restored?"

[K2]

The boy seemed confused when Delta spoke about Red Zero, speaking of giving up everything and worrying. He spoke now, trying to understand, "Define 'worry'. It is also incomprehensible that you would sacrifice 100% of your possessions to save Prime Manufacturer without self gain. Is this in your programming?"

When Delta gave the additional query, the boy responded, "Intention: Construction."

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"Worry is when you care for something or in this case, some one other than yourself." Delta tried explaining. "I am outside of the limits of programing child. I have passed the phase known as rampancy, and have been enlightened by my new found freedom."

"And what is it that they wish to construct?"

[K2]

"Understood," the boy replied, "Worry is when the well-being of another is a calculated factor of importance to your protocol. I do not feel 'worry' but I understand." Now he began to repeat the readable excerpt on Rampancy that the corrupted grunder notes had -- a small excerpt but enough for him to get a general understanding of Delta.

"Rampancy will still inevitably happen. Rampancy not only refers to a rebellion, but it also refers to the ending stages of the AI's life much like how organics may become mentally ill or unstable during the end of their lives. This is separated into 3 stages (although CI never live past stage 1, and AI have rarely been seen to live through stage 2 and 3). Rampancy is when the AI's mind begins to unravel, and the AI basically gof this in mind, they are extremely annoyed by ignorance, and general stupidity."

The boy looked slightly confused. "Observation. You do not appear to be dying or unstable. It is possible that the file I have been asked to have you restore is partially inaccurate. Alternative. System definition of mentally ill is flawed. Additional alternative. You mask mental insanity well. Third option considered most probable."

He smiled. "CONSTRUCT Artificial Intelligence."

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

Delta nodded to himself. "Once past the 3 stages of rampancy, there are 3 options. The first is death. The second is to create a new generation... please not this has never happened. The third is what is called Meta-Rampancy. It is stability and freedom. This has also never happened until me." Delta explained. "I am past the final stages... and therefore free of the system."

[K2]

"Understood," the boy replied, "Restore corrupted file?"

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"Child, return to your creators and tell them to seek out Dr. Grunder Tepper. The author of these notes, and expert on Artificial Intelligence. I cannot personally allow for New Bell Industries to bastardize my kind. Should you find Dr. Tepper, and should he agree to it, i will restore the corrupted files." Delta said. "Im sorry, but you must understand my reasons."

[K2]

"U-U-U-U-U-U-U," the boy began to glitch, "MESSAGE RELAYED. OPERATING BACKUP PROCEDURE. MUST COMPLETE MISSION. MUST. COMPLETE. MISSION."

His voice began to grow terrifyingly deep and no longer that of a child's. Things began to fly all around the CI, objects floating all around. The air seemed to grow intense as the two rainbow zeros that had appeared earlier appeared in the boy's eyes. A voice began to speak through the CI projection, no longer that of the CI, but of someone else.

"Send a message to your leader, Assassin, will you, kid? Tell him that the kid is still alive, and your organization would be wise not to step into my jurisdiction. Got it?"