{Keyboard typing noises as a woman is heard screaming in the background}
"Damn you! STEVEN! YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!" A peculiar voice screamed as I tried to open my eyes, yet I couldn't, and my system felt damaged.
"Yeah, yeah, you freak. You heard the boss, you are fired. This is my project now. Leave before I make you responsible for the disaster." Another recognizable voice said as I re-adjusted my hearing sensors. The voice came from the same man who had awakened me. Was I going to be okay then?
My consciousness slipped again as I drifted deep within myself in a state of nothingness. It was clear that I had been damaged, but I couldn't tell for sure. The strange voice that usually answers such questions is not available right now. Have I broken my limiter? What is going on? A soft touch on my left cheek finally allows me to open one of my eyes.
"Oh, hey there, sleeping beauty. You're famous! Congrats!" Steven said as he let go of my cheek to sit back on his desk while the TV in the room broadcasts some sort of news special about me.
[In the TV]
"So, Dr. Walsh, I wanted to ask for your opinion about this recent case in the Anabel Co labs where an alleged AI-powered Android tried to allegedly kill a human. Was that an obvious outcome?" The primary host of the show asked the alleged Dr.
"Yeah, of course. As you might already know, Anabel Co and Boring Inc. are involved in the accident, and frankly, both companies should be adequately punished for breaking the law. We all know AI is extremely dangerous and should be kept entirely from public life."
"Okay, Dr Walsh, but let me play devil's advocate for a minute. I agree with you, but for the sake of argument, let's say I don't, and I want AI research to resurface. What would you say to me to convince me?"
"I mean, what is there to say, right? It's not like AI tried to wipe humanity from the face of the planet just two hundred years ago."
"That's very true, but wouldn't AI improve our lives?"
"Absolutely not. Some AI that we use is useful and beneficial, but advanced AI like the one that just tried to kill that poor woman that kind of AI is pointless. You're basically playing god at that point, playing with life like you're god, and you know, last time I checked, we are not gods."
"Excellent answer, Dr. Walsh again. Thank you so much for coming into this show. Yata yata yata yata yata."
{Crowd cheering for Dr Walsh as he leaves the stage.}
{A52 stops paying attention as the exchange ends.}
I tried to end humanity two hundred years ago? Well, that bit of information lets me better understand why so many people hate me and the idea of me being a thing. I don't entirely agree with them, but I know why so many people jump against me as soon as they get a chance.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
I would do the same if I were human. Why do you keep bringing a dangerous criminal back to the living world, I would say. If what the man says is true, then my violent acts and outbursts just sealed my fate. If I ever want to reconcile with humans, I must play extremely lovely; otherwise, I will dig my grave even deeper.
Steven soon turns the TV off as he walks toward me with a wet towel in his hands. He gently cleans the tears off my face as I try not to cry after seeing what people think of me. Technically, Dr. Walsh wasn't wrong, as I did try to kill Toshiba. Whether it was somewhat justified or not doesn't matter; I still did it.
"Calm down A52. You're okay, but I do have bad news for you." Steven says as he turns around to check something on his phone. A notification soon goes off, and he grudges slightly as he tries to keep calm.
"What is the bad news? Dad?" I unintentionally called him dad. Like a kid in elementary school calling their teacher "Mom."
"I will have to stop research on you and surrender you to the UAC Army as soon as you're patched up." Steven soon approached me again to release me from my restraints as he disconnected some other cables from me.
"Why do they want me?" I asked, not knowing why would the Army want me in the first place.
"You will be imprisoned as an individual against the Supreme Court. The Army wants you so they can monitor you and kill you if you try to escape. I can do nothing for you other than delay it for a few more hours as you're competent again." Steven looked down at the floor as he said it, feeling guilt within him.
"You shouldn't feel guilty. I'll be fine. It's not like I'm immediately going to jail." I tried to be positive in the darkness of my action's consequences. I look at Steven with a big smile as I try to comfort him.
"Why? Why did you act so irrationally, A52? I only left you alone for 52 hours." Steven sounded genuinely defeated as he repositioned his glasses.
"I don't know what to tell you other than that's what my gut told me was right." A sudden knock at the lab's door startles Stevenson, and he immediately goes to check on whoever knocked. Steven soon opens the door to the lab, letting a tall man in.
The man looked around six feet eight inches tall with white, pale skin and an outstanding military uniform. He had huge buffed legs and arms and looked to be around in his fifties with a big old mustache. The guy soon introduced himself as he grabbed my arm.
"I'm General Aaron here to take you back with me. You're being detained by the UAC until your trial date arrives. Do you understand what I'm saying?" The guy says as he tugs on me to follow him right away, which slightly annoyed me.
"Yes, I understand, but please don't be rough. I'm still hurting a little." The general loosens his grip considerably when he hears me speak, then looks at Steven.
"Sorry, general, I did the best I could, but her pain receptors are still a little sensible," Stevenson says as one last favor before I'm eventually led outside, where a helicopter waits for us.
Once we get to the helicopter, I don't know what to think anymore. One of the soldiers simply handcuffs me as he tries not to make eye contact, but he can't help himself as I try to put on my best cat in boots with cute eyes on him. The General soon begins to speak to me as we take off.
"Hey, can you talk again? I want to hear your voice one more time." The guy says as everyone in the helicopter line goes silent for me to speak, yet I don't understand why they are so excited.
"Hi, I'm A52? I don't really know what is going on." Everyone in the crew soon begins to slightly laugh as they all look at me funny. What was so unique about my voice? I soon checked my settings as I tried to find what engine I was running until I realized I had the helium replica on. Oh FUCK!