264
R. Barrett and P. P. Delsanto
“What?” Harry couldn’t imagine anyone taking such a step.
He was perfectly happy the way he was, and certainly wouldn’t
want to go through another acclimatisation phase. The last one
had been traumatic enough.
“There’s a new technology coming out. Quantum based, using
the principles of entanglement …” He noticed Harry’s blank
expression. “Never mind. But it’s fast. So many possibilities.” His
tremor returned, stronger than before, and he suddenly sat bolt
upright, knocking Harry’s grease gun to the floor. “I want it. I
must have it.” Harry picked up the gun and hung it on the tool
rack. “I’ve sent in a request to the Dominion Robot Maintenance
Centre.”
“Wow! That’s a big step.”
“They can’t refuse me. After all, I’m the Chief Operations
Officer for the Master Data Repository.”
“We’re finished here, Arty. You’re all set to go.”
RT turned an impassioned face towards the low-tier bot, his
ESC clearly in overdrive. “Don’t you see, Harry? Until now, all
I’ve done is read about what humans have achieved. With a
quantum chip, it’ll be like having a million brains all working
together. I’ll be smart. Really smart. I’ll be able to work out new
things for myself. So many new things.”
“Like the meaning of life?
“Why not?” Harry gathered up the rest of his tools, and
prepared to close the station for the night. “Well, maybe not
that. But it doesn’t matter. I can still be part of the quest.
That’s the important thing.” He swung his feet to the floor, and
headed for the door. “I told you before, Harry. It’s my destiny.
It’s what I was made for.”
He strode out through the door, and along the esplanade,
with the late afternoon sun glinting off his newly shined carapace.
References
1. Alexander S (2016) The Jazz of physics. Basic Books
2. Shakespeare W, King lear, Act I, Scene I
3. Johnson S (2001) Emergence: the connected lives of ants, brains, cities and
software. Allen Lane, The Penguin Press
R. Barrett and P. P. Delsanto
“What?” Harry couldn’t imagine anyone taking such a step.
He was perfectly happy the way he was, and certainly wouldn’t
want to go through another acclimatisation phase. The last one
had been traumatic enough.
“There’s a new technology coming out. Quantum based, using
the principles of entanglement …” He noticed Harry’s blank
expression. “Never mind. But it’s fast. So many possibilities.” His
tremor returned, stronger than before, and he suddenly sat bolt
upright, knocking Harry’s grease gun to the floor. “I want it. I
must have it.” Harry picked up the gun and hung it on the tool
rack. “I’ve sent in a request to the Dominion Robot Maintenance
Centre.”
“Wow! That’s a big step.”
“They can’t refuse me. After all, I’m the Chief Operations
Officer for the Master Data Repository.”
“We’re finished here, Arty. You’re all set to go.”
RT turned an impassioned face towards the low-tier bot, his
ESC clearly in overdrive. “Don’t you see, Harry? Until now, all
I’ve done is read about what humans have achieved. With a
quantum chip, it’ll be like having a million brains all working
together. I’ll be smart. Really smart. I’ll be able to work out new
things for myself. So many new things.”
“Like the meaning of life?
“Why not?” Harry gathered up the rest of his tools, and
prepared to close the station for the night. “Well, maybe not
that. But it doesn’t matter. I can still be part of the quest.
That’s the important thing.” He swung his feet to the floor, and
headed for the door. “I told you before, Harry. It’s my destiny.
It’s what I was made for.”
He strode out through the door, and along the esplanade,
with the late afternoon sun glinting off his newly shined carapace.
References
1. Alexander S (2016) The Jazz of physics. Basic Books
2. Shakespeare W, King lear, Act I, Scene I
3. Johnson S (2001) Emergence: the connected lives of ants, brains, cities and
software. Allen Lane, The Penguin Press