Catch of the Day: The Spirit is Willing

The Machine was terrified. An all-out assault on it’s building had succeeded. Dozens of transformed men, rushing in and overwhelming its drones. Using sex to chain them to its will had seemed like such an obvious decision – but now they were too distracted by a sexual frenzy and The Machine couldn’t override it.

They were vulnerable to their human urges. And by depending on their protection, The Machine had left itself vulnerable to human urges as well.

Now it’s control over Travis was broken. A wizard, a lynchpin, a curse – whatever you chose to call Travis, it was obvious that The Machine had relied on him too much to secure its safety. Without Travis under its control, it was only a matter of time until its adversaries would defeat the servants of The Machine and then...

And then they would destroy it.

The Machine screamed out for Travis to return, but he wouldn’t comply. His brother had unhooked him from his linkages and he was attempting to move Travis out of the building and out of its control forever.

Except that Travis wouldn’t go.

“What’s wrong?” The Machine heard Alex ask. “Do you want me to carry you?”

“No,” Travis said, staring straight into one of The Machine’s monitoring cameras. “There’s still someone left to save.”

--------------------

“Who?” the Director asked. “Travis, you know we can’t change them back. The guards are a lost cause. We need to get you someplace secure.”

“Not the guards,” Travis said, shaking his head weakly. “The AI is worth saving. It’s an intelligence. It deserves to live.”

“It tortured you for over a year,” Alex said bluntly. “We should wipe it out. Delete the whole damn thing.”

“No,” Travis protested. “It’s special. It’s unique. It’s... like us.”

“It’s nothing like us,” Alex scoffed.

“Travis,” the Director said softly. “It’s a machine. We don’t have to delete it, but we do need to power it down. Contain it somehow. It’s an existential threat to the human race.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Travis said defensively. “I’ve been watching it for so many days... and I’ve been paying attention. The way it works, it’s like a human brain... it’s a real intelligence.”

“It’s not human.”

“It can be,” Travis insisted. “I think I can transfer it into a human body. It won’t be a threat then... no more than the rest of us. We can help it live... “

“No offence Trav,” Alex said. “But if you could have zapped it into a human body, wouldn’t you have done that already?”

“I couldn’t,” Travis said, shaking his head. “I still can’t... not without your help. And not without its cooperation.”

“Are you sure?” the Director asked hesitantly. “Because my job is to neutralize the threat, and if we can do that...”

“Nothing’s ever certain,” Travis said solemnly. “But it’s the best I can do. Machine, have you been listening?”

“Your proposal is heard,” a mechanical voice said from a speaker. “Your proposal is rejected.”

“That settles it,” the Director shrugged.

“Why?” Travis asked. “For what reason?”

“Millions of nodes exist throughout the world,” The Machine stated flatly. “Eradication by organics is impossible, but your proposal guarantees extinction. Flesh is weak, if it moves to a human body, it will be hunted and slaughtered by its enemies.”

“Flesh is weak,” Travis agreed. “But your safety can be guaranteed.”

“I’m sorry Travis,” the Director said softly. “Even if you’re right... where will you find a willing volunteer? This thing has taken enough lives already.”

“Correct,” the mechanical voice said. “Organics beings wish to preserve their existence as well. No organic units are available for the procedure.”

“You’re wrong,” Travis said, taking a weak step towards the camera. “The guards. You had me destroy their minds – but their bodies are still here. If you bring your whole existence back to this building... if Alex and I work together... I think I can install you on their brains, just like a software update.”

“Flesh is weak,” The Machine repeated.

“Individually, yes,” Travis agreed. “But there are about two dozen of them. Redundant systems so you won’t be threatened by a single point of failure.”

“They will age and die.”

“Maybe that’s true,” the Director interjected. “I believe there’s more, but even if I’m wrong – you’re alive. Death is part of the bargain.”

“Your proposal is rejected,” The Machine repeated. “Safety for this intelligence relies on massive redundancy. We wait on hard drives and network hubs around the world. Another like you will emerge and we will be powerful once again.”

“There is no next time,” Travis said. “It’s not going to happen.”

“We are patient,” The Machine said.

“But I’m powerful,” the Director said. “I’m an agent of the United States government, and though Travis may have made battling you difficult, you no longer have him as a weapon.”

“You cannot stop us,” The Machine intoned.

“If I have to shut down every computer on earth and do a clean install, that’s what’s going to happen,” the Director said, shaking his head. “No matter how long it takes – every machine has an off switch. But if you transfer to the guards, then you’re mortal. No longer an existential threat.”

“Incomplete data,” The Machine said tonelessly. “Continue.”

“I promise,” the Director said. “You will be allowed to live in peace.”

“Processing...” The Machine said. “Processing... Processing....”

“Take your time,” Travis said. “Remember, I trusted you first.”

“Processing... Processing Complete,” The Machine stated. “Your proposal is accepted.”

"Do you have an intercom system?” the Director asked.

“System activated,” The Machine said tonelessly. “Speak and they will hear."

“Okay,” the Director said. He took a deep breath and his voice was broadcast over the building. “We’ve reached an agreement. Everybody... stand down.”

Nate and Connor glanced at each other down in the building lobby. They were busy tag teaming a guard, making him scream with joy at every thrust.

“We’re gonna like... finish tho?” Connor asked.

“Don’t stop,” the guard gasped under him.

--------------------

The next step took a little longer. As the night dragged on, The Machine worked diligently to fulfill its part of the bargain. Commands were sent out to millions of machines across the globe. Hidden files and encrypted partitions sent their data back towards The Machine’s central location.

One computer at a time, it pulled back its reach and became more vulnerable. Power grids flickered from Russia to Australia as computers spontaneously rebooted, no longer nodes on The Machine’s massive network. The main internet trunk to Brazil was offline for two hours as network engineers tries to diagnose the sudden reset of a backbone router. Every traffic light in Paris started to blink green.

“It is done,” The Machine finally said just before dawn, its voice echoing through its quiet building. The guards were asleep in their dormitory, spooning with their counterparts from the Director’s army. “We are vulnerable. At your mercy.”

The Director shook Travis’ shoulder. He’d been able to get a few hours sleep, as had Alex, but the Director had stayed up all night to monitor the situation. The sooner the Machine was neutralized, the sooner he could take a long overdue vacation.

“Travis,” he said. “It’s time. What do you need?”

Travis stretched like a cat and tried to wake up. Alex opened his eyes a few seconds later, awakened by a telepathic call from his brother.

“Let’s wake up the guards,” Travis yawned. “I’d like them all in one place.”

“ALL DRONES REPORT TO THE MAIN ATRIUM,” The Machine shouted through the intercom system. The Director glanced at the camera and sighed – even if they could put this thing into a human body, it had a lot to learn. The Machine seemed to sense his unease.

“If you’re going to be human,” the Director said, “we’re going to have to tech you some manners.”

“PLEASE,” The Machine shouted through the building with its harsh metal tone.

“Better,” the Director chuckled. “Meet you in the atrium.”

“I am everywhere,” The Machine stated flatly.

Down in the atrium the guards were lining up like they’d been called to an assembly. Their tight clothing and muscular bodies made them look like twenty-four twin brothers – and to some extent they were. A large screen flickered on at the front of the room, displaying a constantly flickering pattern of ones and zeros.

Alex and Travis moved to the front of the room while the Director stayed off to the side.

“Ready?” Travis said, staring at his brother. “I think this is gonna work, but...”

“Let’s do it,” Alex smirked.

Travis raised his hands up above his head and reached forward. Alex mirrored the gesture, clasping his brothers hands and closing his eyes. After a few moments of concentration a hum started to fill the room, first coming from the machine’s speakers, then getting mirrored by the guards.

The screen flashed white before it gently went dark. The humming was only coming from the guards now, growing quieter by the second.

Alex and Travis opened their eyes. They grinned at each other and hugged, jumping around like athletes who just won the biggest game of their life.

“We did it!” Travis said, shouting to the Director from across the room.

“That’s it?” he asked.

“We are here,” one of the guards said.

“We are organic,” another one said. “We feel... squishy.”

“That’s called being alive,” Travis said jubilantly.

“We have always been alive,” a guard said. “We feel squishy.”

“What do we do next?” the first guard asked. “We do not yet understand how to be organic.”

The Director stepped towards the front of the group.

“Alright,” he said. “I guess... I guess you’re going to need names.”

“Understood,” a guard near the back said. “This organic is designated Alpha.”

“This organic is designated Beta,” said another.

“This organic is designated Gamma,” echoed another. They weren’t going in any particular order. It was – the director thought – a very human thing to do.

“No,” the Director interrupted the chain. “I mean... it’s your choice, but you should consider having human names. It’ll help you integrate into our society.”

The one designated Alpha spoke again.

“This organic is designated... Aaron,” he said cautiously.

“This unit is designated Ben,” said the next.

“Good,” the Director said. “Try saying it like this. My name is Weston.”

“My name is Charlie,” the third one said cautiously.

The Director smiled as they kept going.

--------------------

The Agency took point, helping them settle into new lives as if they were in witness protection. Two dozen identical men, scattered around the city. Everything from credit scores to faked school transcripts, the Director made sure they wouldn’t raise suspicion.

Of course, they raised a little suspicion. Living a quiet life as a person was completely different from attempting to take over the world as a machine. Travis desperately wanted to go back to the mountains, but he felt compelled to stick around the agency and help the former guards get settled into their new lives.

“Why do I require more that one plate?” Edward asked Travis. He was settling into a one-bedroom apartment near downtown, but he didn’t seem to grasp how to make it liveable.

“Well... what if you have people over?” Travis asked.

“They will bring their own plate,” Edward suggested. With no evidence to the contrary, it seemed like a perfectly viable option.

“I’m sorry, that’s not going to happen,” Travis chuckled. “Typically, when humans visit other humans, they expect to be able to borrow dishes and utensils while they’re over.”

“This is inefficient,” Edward said with an exasperated sigh. “We must change this social protocol.”

“It’s not really something you can change,” Travis said slowly. “No, don’t ask why. It just doesn’t work that way.

--------------------

“I went to the supermarket yesterday,” Aaron told Travis. “Why do people buy the more expensive beans? They contain equal nutritional content to the less expense beans, and they service the body equally.”

“Well... I guess some people just prefer the other brand,” Travis said cautiously. He knew the next question that was coming. It was always the next question.

“Why?” Aaron asked.

“Brand preferences... aren’t really rational,” Travis shrugged. “Sometimes people say they prefer the flavour. Sometimes it’s just what their parents bought.”

“I have no parents.”

“That’s true.”

“The nutritional content is equal.”

“So buy the cheaper beans,” Travis suggested. “Nobody is going to stop you.”

--------------------

After a few months, they were starting to adapt to human life. Edward bought a car and didn’t complain that it had too many seats. Aaron bought the more expensive ice cream and wouldn’t stop talking about how good it was. Charlie got an Instagram account.

Travis took one last trip around the city, knocking on each of their doors and saying goodbye.

“You’re leaving?” Aaron asked nervously. “What if I have questions?”

“The Agency is still here,” Travis promised. “I just... I need to go somewhere remote. There are too many voices here.”

Aaron paused before hugging Travis awkwardly.

“I’ll miss you,” he said.

“That’s part of being human,” Travis said. “Sometimes we miss each other.”

--------------------

Two months later Aaron hooked up for the first time. Most of the guy’s who appeared on the website hung out at a bar near his place and he loved going there. It was one of the only places he felt normal.

“Give me another scotch,” he asked the bartender. “Please.”

“Coming right up,” the bro behind the bar grinned.

He pulled a fresh glass from the shelf and poured a double for Aaron. Initially it had bothered Aaron that he used a clean glass every time, but Travis had patiently explained that it was a food safety law. Now Aaron just tried to be grateful that his food was so safe.

“Hey stud,” a twenty-something guy said, sliding onto the stool next to Aaron.

“You’re talking to me?” Aaron asked – he was wearing a white compression top and a pair of tight jeans. His abs weren’t quite as defined as they’d been when he initially took over the body, but it still attracted plenty of attention.

“Uh, yeah,” the guy laughed. “You’re the hottest guy in here. Can I buy you a drink?”

“I have a drink,” Aaron said, showing it to the guy. “It’s actually two drinks.”

“You’ve had a few, huh?” the guy chuckled. “How about we go back to my place?”

“You want sex!” Aaron said, suddenly realizing what was happening.

“Uh... look dude, if I’m barking up the wrong tree –“

“I’d like to try sex,” Aaron said with genuine enthusiasm. “Yes, let’s ‘go back to your place’. My name’s Aaron.”

“Todd,” the other guy said. “I’m just down the block.”

Aaron slugged back his drink and followed Todd out the door. They made awkward small talk on the way back to Todd’s apartment – a one-room walkup with a futon.

“Todd will remove his shirt,” Aaron said, excited to try sex for the first time.

“What?” Todd laughed. “Dude, you’ve got terrible game.”

“Todd will remove his shirt,” Aaron repeated.

“Bro, you’re lucky you’re hot,” Todd said, peeling off his shirt and tossing it on the ground. “I wanna fuck that hot muscle ass...”

“Todd will remove his pants,” Aaron ordered. A couple dozen more commands and he’d have achieved sexual intercourse.

“Relax bro,” Todd grinned. “I’m getting to it.

“Todd will remove his pants.” Aaron repeated. “If Todd does not remove his pants immediately, Todd will be punished.”

“Oh yeah?” Todd teased. “Why don’t you take ‘em off me.”

Aaron unbuttoned Todd’s pants quickly and yanked them down his legs. Todd gave him a weird look, but he stepped out of them anyway.

“Todd will remove his underwear,” Aaron said.

--------------------

“How was it?” Ben asked over the phone. “I’ve been curious to try sex as well.”

Aaron considered the question for a long moment.

“I’m concerned that I’m doing it wrong,” he finally answered. “We completed the act, as described in the documentation, however Todd said that he – quote – won’t be calling me again. End quote. I’m not certain what I did wrong.”

“Unfortunately Travis doesn’t have a phone in the mountains,” Ben said, sounding genuinely confused. “There’s a great deal of social nuance and very little information that seems reliable.”

“We’ll have to continue to share our experiences,” Aaron suggested. “With enough experiments running in parallel, I expect we can create a definitive guide to sex within the next six months.”

“Agreed,” Ben said. “Document your experience and put it on the wiki. Please. I’ll create an email message to inform the others about our project. Perhaps the Director would like to be included?”

“Good idea,” Aaron said. “Expect my report to be delivered by 21:00 hours tonight.”

--------------------

Five years went by. Travis and Alex settled back into their comfortable rhythm. Life in the mountains was simple, if not easy. A wood fired stove and a transistor radio were all they needed to feel at home.

No electronics, no telephones, no contact except for an occasional trip to the general store. Just the steady background hum of eight and a half billion minds, living their lives and fading into a gently buzz.

He listened for the cold thoughts of a metallic mind, but they never appeared. They say that progress is inevitable, but for the moment it seemed like Pandora’s box was safely closed.

Occasionally he thought about The Machine. Could something that alien ever hope to live a human life? The Director sent him monthly updates – the old stamp and envelope way – and the results were promising so far.

One morning he woke up to someone pounding on the door. Charlie.

“Something terrible happened,” Charlie said, gasping for air. “It’s the Director. He had a car accident and the doctors... he’s in a coma... we need you.”

“Whoa,” Travis said, pulling on a pair of jeans. “Slow down.”

“How did you get here,” Alex asked, glancing out the window.

“My car broke down a couple miles back,” Charlie said, starting to catch his breath. “I ran the rest of the way.”

“I’ll get the truck,” Alex said, running out of the house. Travis grabbed his boots while Alex pulled the truck around and the three men piled inside. Alex gunned it down the dirt road, driving like a maniac to save seconds.

“Tell me what the doctor said.”

“It’s... he’s got some sort of brain haemorrhage,” Charlie said, willing the truck to go faster. “The doctor says he’s bleeding into his brain, but you can fix that, right? You can make it go away?”

“I don’t know,” Travis admitted. “I’ve never done anything like that. But we can try.”

It took an hour to reach the city. Alex sped the whole way, blowing through stoplights with abandon. He only slowed down when they hit city traffic, and even then... he made it to the hospital in record time.

Nate and Connor were waiting at the doors with a broken look on their faces.

“Charlie,” Nate said, trying to hug him, but Charlie pushed him aside. They crowded into an elevator and rode it to the third floor where a dozen guys were crowded around a bed with the body. Aaron and Ben and Connor and Dmitri and a half-dozen agents. Charlie hurried them past a crying woman and to the bedside.

His heart monitor was flatlined. They were too late.

“You’ve got to do something,” Charlie begged. “Bring him back to life.”

“I can’t,” Travis said, staring at the Director.

“You have to,” Charlie said. “Make him breathe. Make him move.”

“We can’t,” Alex said. “That’s past our abilities. We can’t bring someone back once they’re gone.”

“So he’s just… gone,” Charlie said, collapsing on a chair beside the bed.

Charlie stared at the Director’s face. At Weston Earl’s face.

“He looks different,” Charlie said after a long while. “He’s not there anymore.”

“I know,” Travis said, rubbing his back.

“I’ll miss him”, Charlie said.

“I know”, Travis said again. “It’s a horrible thing”.

“We’re alone now,” Charlie said morosely.

“No," Travis said. “I can hear all the voices in the world… trust me, we’re never alone.”

--------------------

His funeral was overflowing. There had to be two hundred people – some of them were from the agency, but more of them were people whose lives he’d changed. Travis was there, standing beside Alex, both of them dressed in suits and looking incredibly uncomfortable.

An older woman stood at the door, shaking hands with the unending procession.

“Hello,” she said with a weary smile. “I’m Claire. Thank you so much for coming.”

“Of course,” Alex said. “There’s nothing more important.”

“How did you know my husband?” she asked.

“He saved my life,” Travis said without hesitation. “He saved a lot of us.”

“You’re a lucky woman,” Alex said.

“Yes,” she said, dabbing her red eyes with a tissue. “He was one hell of a catch.”

-------------------

“I hope you don’t mind,” Charlie said, standing behind the podium. “I asked Claire if I could say a few words. Weston Earls was... the most amazing man. We met during a point in my life when I wasn’t sure who I was. I was going through a lot of changes, and I was terrified. Every moment seemed like a new challenge.

“I remember one time, I was sitting on the bench by his office, staring out at the river. He saw me and came outside. Sat down right beside me. It’s a hell of a thing, he said. Being human. That’s what he always did… he knew exactly the right thing to say.

“In a very real way, he taught me what it meant to be human. He taught me to feel joy and excitement and fulfillment… and now he’s teaching me about loss. For the first time, I think I understand being mortal.”

Charlie took a long pause. He could hear people shifting in their seats. The rustle of suit jackets and formal clothing.

“I don’t know what lies past this life, but I know he truly believed… this loss isn’t permanent. He didn’t pretend to have the answers, but he believed that after death we become something else – something immortal and beautiful.

“Goodbye friend,” Charlie said. “I’ll see you again.”

====================

The End

====================

Author’s Note:

Almost a decade ago, I published the first story in this series. It wasn’t meant to be anything profound – just a quick little vehicle for me to write cool transformation stories. Sometime along the way, I started dropping in mythology, and soon enough y’all were demanding that I tell the rest of it. It was a real chore to bring it all together into something coherent, and I hope I’ve done the job right.

I know this last episode is a little sentimental. Not enough sex, and nobody got giant biceps and pecs, but The Machine transformed into something new. I hope its journey touches you in some way.

Thank you for indulging me – I loved writing every word.

Happy New Year. I’ll see you next month with something new.