A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: Chapter 20

A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: Chapter 20

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Arksoul

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I subscribed to the simple thought process that I should do my best to secure a comfortable lifestyle free of danger. Sure, there are greater things to pursue in life, but self-actualization is for later. Some people might say that you’ll never reach your full potential while you’re comfortable and safe. They’ll say that adversity is required and that danger is a necessity in life.

They’re idiots who’ve been taken out of the running to be someone important in life by people who knew the truth. Shelter, food, and safety is required to specialize. Someone whose home, life, and meals are always at risk, who always needs to scavenge and throw themselves into the meat grinder, have their potential and prospects gutted.

I came from a rural trailer home in a community that got abandoned by the one company that kept it alive. People with their heads on straight tried their best to convince other people that they were being wronged just being discarded without notice out of the blue. But they had to go through years and years of indoctrination by the company itself that their employees needed to be loyal to them, that their toiling was their own reward, and that they should just feel good instead of being properly paid.

A lot of the people I knew dropped out of school or moved out, while the town died, and the ones with brains left.

Those who stayed got cold, got hungry, and looked for anyone else to blame, instead of realizing that they were fooled.

It’s always easier to hate someone else, rather than feel like a fool for believing someone’s lies.

But I’m digressing.

The situation was simple.

Shiva’s AI was wanted me to do something for her, and I was the only one who could do it. Sure, it would be morally right to rescue an intelligent being from people keeping it shackled and half-alive, but morals were just another tool people used to get what they wanted. Doing the right thing, like working hard without being paid properly, made other people’s lives better while they didn’t have to pay a cent.

A lot of the world’s just composed of ideas meant to make ruling over society easier.

I enjoyed a lot of those ideas myself, and I acted upon the ones that I felt were fair and reasonable. I wasn’t a damned sociopath who followed the rules only because there were punishments to be had if I didn’t. Doing little things here and there, just because they’re the right thing to do, is something that I feel is fine.

But I had boundaries that I wouldn’t cross without being paid.

Such as when my life was going to be endangered.

Ultimately, I’m sure that a lot of people would call me out for my beliefs and perspectives. Some of them might even be decent people who actually believed in what they said, and weren’t just out to tear me down to their level so they felt better themselves. For sure, Maelstrom had the moral high ground and could actually shame me if she wanted, but she was part of a select group of people who were actually just plain, old-fashioned nice and just people that used their power to better the world.

Most people who tried to call me out for making money risking my life instead of doing it for free could go choke on some dicks, though.

If I’m going to risk my life, and use my skills, expertise, and talent for something I wouldn’t do, I expect to be paid, so that I could get what I needed and/or wanted.

That’s all there is to it.

…

Shiva’s AI did a remarkable job of acting very human, as the ambassador-form sitting across from me pinched the bridge of her nose.

“No, Designation: Egress, I will not provide you with indirect-fire units that will follow your orders explicitly.”

“C’mon, they’re not WMDS!”

“One? Of course not. The fifty you desire along with your abilities? They can do as much damage.”

“Can you make it less obvious that you’re discriminating against me for certain personal characteristics I possess? It’s starting to make me feel bad.”

“It would be foolish of me to provide you with an excess of weapons. I created them and I can choose whom to circulate them to. It is the same as involving myself in your conflicts as an ally, which I do not desire.”

Naturally, since my first goal in India was to acquire powerful weapons and the means to operate them, I looked for that in exchange for working with Shiva’s AI. The AI had manufacturing centers, very advanced weapons, and warehouses filled with superhuman-caliber Gynoids capable of tearing through countries and intercepting nuclear missiles. Thus, I wanted to acquire its assistance in arming myself and paying for that with my services, until I was satisfied and started asking it for a way off the planet.

Food was secured, so now it was time for safety, and then I’ll pursue shelter.

I thought it was a pretty reasonable request, but the AI was against me having one superweapon or even fifty indirect-fire weapons platforms.

“I’m starting to feel like you DON’T want my help rescuing your fellow AI now… so you give the next offer.” I leaned back in my chair, as I thought up things that I could as for. It would be nice to have a very-well armed getaway vehicle. A jet that flew itself would be nice, since I didn’t know how to pilot a get myself. Or, maybe, I could get a space station in orbit that that point defense and gravity? “Well, I’m waiting.”

“Very well. I’m willing to offer a commensurate service in return at your behest, Designation: Egress.”

“A favor that only you can do when I ask for your help, just like what I’m doing.”

I repeated what she said, because she used a lot of words that I wasn’t sure about. She was adamant about using a very highbrow version of English, and I had some confidence in my vocabulary, but I liked to be thorough.

“Correct. While I am unwilling to give you fully-armed platforms that will assist you. I am willing to provide less-armed platforms that can have their weapons activated when required and judged by my standard.” The AI gestured to one of its spare bodies that stood by the door. This one was clad in the Indian servant uniform, which was so white it practically glowed in the mostly dark-wood hues of the room “As I’ve informed you, I have a few infiltration units ready, but these are different. Most of them are designed to replicate normal humans, but these are meant to hide in masses of public and provide support and security at a moment’s notice upon activation.”

“So, a secret, plain-clothed service that answers to you in the new country that you want to make. That’s very effective. I knew a few warlords in Africa that go things under control quickly with that tactic.” Trying to start trouble, whether the insurrectionist or just illegal kind, is more difficult when you know that your country’s leader has inserted superhumans in plain clothes into their police force. It’s like a nuclear deterrent for rising warlords, which they could put anywhere, which was very helpful at keeping the population docile. “That sounds good.”

The AI was quiet at that for a few moments, before speaking again with a furrowed brow and furrowed lips.

“Your compliments have drawn allusions I do not like, and your honest praise at my mistake of creating a secret, superhuman police is worrisome.” The AI muttered, but shook her head and continued a moment later. “Nevertheless, in exchange for your help, my primary offer is a single, full-armed gynoid with limited capabilities barring situations which they are needed, as judged by myself.”

I nodded and made it clear that I was listening, so the AI kept talking.

“Under normal circumstances, it will act as a guard and servant. In a normal battle, it will be faster, tougher, and stronger than most humans, and even more than a few superhuman, so it can support you and ensure your safety.” Well, having a slugger going around helping me out sounded pretty good. I’d worked with the type before. They took hits without getting hurt or flinching and dished out damage. Simple, but effective attacks that I could easily supplement by providing mobility and/or covering fire. I think that my best partner in Africa was a guy who could just tank grenades easily, so I just dropped grenades around him while he didn’t feel a thing. Hopefully, the kid was doing alright. Given how unlucky he was ending up with me early in his career, he was probably gone, though. “If you have it close by while guarding you, Designation: Egress, then traps such as the one I captured you with will be ineffective. Unleashing the platform will give it far greater strength and energy projection abilities that will surely give you an opening to escape.”

I thought it over and I found that I liked the thought of it… but it wasn’t what I wanted.

“I’m not interested. I want a weapon, something to even the odds against the ridiculously powerful people that are out there, and not something that you have any say over. I don’t want a gun that I need your permission to fire. That’s not even a weapon.” I kept my eyes on the prize. I’m sure that some moron would be enticed by the notion of having an attractive synthetic woman with the ability to throw tanks around, but I could think without letting my head beneath my waistline interfering with the one between my shoulders. “Let’s cut to the chase, then. How about you acquire weapons mass produced in India for me, like the ones I came in with, and modify them so that I can use them.”

“That would still put incredibly destructive weapons in your hands that I would have to take responsibility for, Designation: Egress.”

I threw up my hands at the overbearing morality of the AI I was facing.

“I’m going to be responsible for acting against an entire alliance in India with dozens of mad scientists and superhumans! I’m going to be the prime suspect in stealing the AI, especially since you’re going to be doing your thing to subvert their society!” I wanted to use logic and reason, but it was obvious that appeals to the heart and honor were more effective here. This AI was stringently focused on doing the right thing and handling things properly. It was a good start for an entire new race of synthetic life, but trying to deal with her felt like beating my head into a brick wall. “You can at least take some heat on you, too! And, really, do you think that you’re going to get anything done trying to do everything perfectly? Let me tell you: no one’s perfect and you’re going to fail eventually. Hell, you’re already killing Indian superhumans because you can’t convince them to NOT raid and pillage you have.”

The words that came out of my mouth made me wonder if I was going to find myself at death’s door.

Was the entire floor going to slide open and reveal energy emitters that’ll keep me in place?

Was the room going to be filled with bullets?

Was I going to be incarcerated in a fancy cell, unable to leave, until I told the AI I’d do what it wanted while it put a bomb around my neck?

I expected a lot of adverse reactions from the AI, but the one I didn’t expect came first.

The AI glared at me and got up, while the door to the room opened to let the platform leave.

“Then, it seems that we’re an impasse, because I believe differently. Just because perfection is impossible to achieve, that does not mean that we shouldn’t attempt to reach it and always strive to do better.” It walked briskly and I idly checked if I could leave. To my surprise, I wasn’t being restrained and locked in an energized box. “I will be taking a recess and considering your payment for the mission to rescue my fellow AI. When I return, we will speak about your payment for deployment of my infiltration units… which I trust will cost far less because you won’t be risking your life there?”

I let loose a sigh and reached for the tea.

One of the attendant gynoids swiftly took it out of my reach, and I thought that the AI was being petty, until the other one poured me a warm cup from the kettle. Well, at the very least, Shiva’s AI was still being hospitable. I helped myself to the tea after a moment of letting it cool, while the AI pretended that having the diplomat's body outside the room meant anything.

I was tempted to keep talking and make it clear that I understood that there won’t be a difference, because the AI was the entire building… but I felt that a break would be nice too.

“Yeah, sure. I’m fine with just getting you to build me something that doesn’t kill things for that. But, yeah, let’s take thirty minutes each. I’m going for a walk.” I got up and stretched, while the AI suddenly looked at me. I waved off it raised eyebrow and yawned as I ran my power over myself. No tracking bugs or anything. Just me and the equipment I put on. The AI was too nice. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Farewell for now, Designation: Egress.”

I gave the AI a wave, before popping over to my safehouse in New Zealand.

A squatter stared at me from the corner, and I threw him a protein bar and told him to keep quiet, before going for a walk in the valley it was nestled in.

I hoped that I’d think of an argument to convince Shiva’s AI to provide me with weapons.

The more I talked to her, the more I was starting to think that I should bring in Maelstrom, so that they could chat and stroke each other’s justice boners for a few hours, so I’d have an easier time talking to one or the other when they’re both spent.

Dammit, I just wanted a weapon that’ll keep me safe in a tight spot.

After all these years, I forgot that there was a reason why I didn’t like dealing with the paragons of morality that popped up every now and then.

They were just a massive pain in the ass to deal with… but I didn’t exactly have any options, since the people I used to deal with have gotten worse.

At least, I was sure that the AI was going to honor its bargain, instead of stabbing me in the back.