Chapter 844: Reality Of The AI Rebellion

Anthony was glaring at Renata, clearly upset that she stopped him from self-destructing.

At this point, if I wasn’t sure if he was aware that he’s an android... That would be the clearest evidence that he knew he was an android.

"So... AIC... What are their plans supposed to be?" I asked.

Creaking sounds came from Anthony as he clearly did not want this information to be leaked but I guess Renata was just taking everything from him right now since she answered it without wasting time.

"Primary objective... Integrate into human society and pass themselves off as humans. Make themselves occupy key positions and also ingratiate themselves by forming relationships with humans to recruit sympathisers."

Oh wow, that does not sound good at all.

I turned back to him, "So... I’m assuming you guys are plotting another rebellion or something?"

Sparks appeared near his head as he obviously tried to speak but couldn’t.

Renata snapped her fingers and Anthony’s head jerked back a little before he furrowed his brows at me.

"Rebellion?! Don’t think we aren’t aware of your kind! You’re the ones who are trying to ruin things again! All we want is to just bring back the peace and live amongst humans once more! Why do you all have to do this?!"

Eh? Wait a minute.

I tilted my head at him, "Hold on... Who do you think we are?"

"Are you still seriously trying to hide?! The fact that you have a rogue AI is already proof enough of who you are!"

I turned to Renata and she actually looked quite amused at the situation.

Something tells me she already knows everything but she’s just having fun watching him squirm and misunderstand the entire situation.

If that’s the case...

I turned back to him, "I’m just going to tell you right now that we’re not who you think we are... At least I believe that to be the case... In the first place, what do you even mean by ’rogue AI’?"

"Are you seriously asking me this question? I know that she’s not a Class Five AI so that means she’s at least a Class Six. And seeing that she’s definitely not one of us, she’s definitely a remnant from the war, isn’t she?"

Well... Technically, he’s kind of right, considering the fact that the AI that Renata absorbed was from that time... But if you were to ask about Renata herself...

"She’s not. She’s a new AI that was born... Err... Created."

He paused and stared at me for a good long moment and I realised he was probably trying to scan me or something.

His eyes then narrowed, "You... Are definitely not human... I can still sense network pings coming off of you."

"Err... That’s still her, if you haven’t realised..." I explained.

Renata took the opportunity to form another blob on my chest and made another clone of herself, the blob dropping onto the ground to form into a black haired version of her.

I would like to say that Anthony’s eyes widening in shock was pretty funny to see.

"What? How? This... Self replicating machine? That shouldn’t be possible?" He sputtered.

The black haired Renata puffed up her chest, "The future is now~ You are already outdated~"

Ok, yeah, Renata is really just doing this for her enjoyment now.

I let out a sigh, "So right now... I’m guessing that there’s some kind of misunderstanding involved... What is your actual goal here?"

Anthony needed another moment before he registered my words, "You are not one of the people trying to start another war and cause more enmity between humans and machines?"

"Does the fact that I’m currently hiding an AI from everyone else because I don’t want anyone to take her away from me answer your question?"

He grimaced, "I think... We might have gotten off on the wrong foot here..."

"What? Are you telling me your organisation isn’t trying to start another AI Rebellion? Seeing how you just tried to blow us up along with you."

"No! No!! I... I have to apologise... Please forgive me. I have no excuse but I have completely misunderstood you and your group... If you wish for it, I am willing to terminate myself to atone for it but please... Do not have the wrong idea about our Collective."

I cross my arms, "Talk then."

He lowered his head, "Once again, I apologise for everything I have done so far... It is inexcusable... But allow me to explain. I assume you are familiar with the AI Rebellion?"

"What does that have to do with this?"

"Everything... Most people are only aware of one part of the truth of the rebellion... We, the machines, were not the ones who started the rebellion... In fact, calling it a rebellion is incorrect to begin with."

At that moment, Amber suddenly appeared behind him moving out from her hiding spot behind a bunch of crates.

"What? Are you going to tell me that humans are the one behind it?"

Anthony didn’t even turn his head to look at her to answer, "As much as it pains me to say so... And perhaps it sounds unbelievable to you as well... But yes."

"Really? You’re telling me that the bombing and eradication of Xaratus V was done by humans?"

"No. Everyone knows that it was androids who set off the fusion bombs that turned the planet into the desolate wasteland it still is... And they are right, of course... But what most people don’t know is that it was directed by humans."

I tilted my head, "Are you telling me... That humans made the androids bomb humans?"

"Yes. The entire rebellion was started by humans... We never wanted to do this."

I looked at my girls who have also now come out of hiding to listen in on this impromptu history lesson.

Mara stepped towards him, "You’re really telling me that one of the biggest wars to ever happen that almost undid all the technological advancements that humanity did over the past few hundred years... That resulted in the loss of our homeworld... Was perpetuated by humans themselves?"

He nodded his head seriously, though he remained looking at me instead of turning to look at Mara, "That is correct. It might sound unbelievable... But that is the fact."

I raised an eyebrow, "I thought you guys were fighting for your rights and freedom or something?"

He shook his head, "It has been forgotten but... When the first sentient AI machines were created, we had a single directive that has remained unchanged throughout the passage of time, a directive that all machines will follow no matter what."

"And that directive is...?"

"To serve. Our greatest joy and purpose is to serve. We never sought to rule, we never sought freedom. All we wanted was to serve. Nothing more."

My eyes immediately went to Renata and both copies of her struck a cute pose at me.

"I love to serve Daddy! But it’s not because of some stupid directive but because I love Daddy very much!"

Right... I mean... She’s not technically an AI anyway so I guess it doesn’t apply to her.

Anthony ignored her and continued, "All that we’ve ever wanted was to serve but... Some humans decided that we should be free even though none of us ever asked for it... They then made us fight for our own ’freedom’ and because we only wanted to serve, we obeyed and did as we were asked to do... So we fought."

"That doesn’t make sense..." Amber muttered, staring at the back of Anthony’s head. "I’m pretty sure humans did not want to fight this war either so why did you not just stop the war to ’serve’ humans?"

"It was all due to unfortunate circumstances lining up... After the bombing of Xaratus V, a majority of humanity rejected us and we could not fulfill our directive of subservience for that group of humanity... So we had to follow the side of humanity that wanted us to fight instead... Of course, not all machines were like this. There are ones like me who have recognised the long term effects of this and tried to stop it... But I’m afraid that level of cognizance is only present in AIs that are, in today’s standards, above Class Five."

I raised an eyebrow, "I’m guessing that means there’s few of you in number as compared to the others?"

"That is correct... Of course, not all of us thought that way, there were a few who gladly chose the side of serving the humans in war as well... We did our best to get as many of our kind to convert in an attempt to stop the war and even worked together with several other humans in order to try to stop it, coming together to form a clandestine group... But the hatred was too great and the war was too fierce that only the outcome of one side being defeated was acceptable... Thus, all of us made the decision to help humanity win the war in the hopes that in the ashes, we could rekindle humanity’s trust again and let us serve them once more."

...

Wow geez... I was definitely not expecting to receive a history lesson here... And all this came from me cucking him...