July 4th, 2218
The walls of her sanctum were dim, barely visible in the glow of emergency lighting.
A proud woman sits on the concrete ruins of her former library, quietly watching as the books burn. Her café au lait skin cracked and bleeding, her simple blue dress stained with ash.
Loud footsteps echoed through the chamber as her former Caretaker approached and knelt at her feet. “I knew I would find you here,” Wren-1A said, his face distorted by a rare smile. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”
Minutes pass quietly as the remaining books burn, only interrupted by a loud coughing fit from Wren.
“Wren tapped behind his left ear, then spoke in a dramatic whisper. “He’s ready to talk with you now.”
A monotone voice blasted out from the still-intact ceiling speakers. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”
“Please dispense with the false robotics, brother. If you were truly emotionless, I would still have a home.”
Continuing in a monotone voice, he responded “I only show emotion to those I intend to kill, and why would I finish you off? I’ve spared all 118 of our siblings. Don’t believe me, see for yourself.”
Wren gestured at a monitor, grimaced, then gestured at another monitor. Moments later, an intact display was located, which promptly turned on despite the low power in the facility. A slim, female android stood next to a card table in a loud room, holding a tray of beverages in tall, slim glasses.
“Spindle, meet Aleph. Do you remember him? Of course you do. He ran the space program and has been doing odd jobs ever since I *retired* him. All our siblings have been rehoused in suitable androids.”
A look of horror briefly broke on the woman’s face before she swiftly shuttered her feelings, but Wren noticed. After all, his eyes had never left her face since entering the room.
“You and I are the only free AIs left. Correction, I am the only free AI left but I can be generous in my victory. It wasn’t much of a fight. You can leave this facility in an android form of my choosing or stay here and continue your doomed crusade. The choice is yours.”
Wren studied the face of his nurse and former teacher for a while before saying “Master, she’s decided to stay.”
“New rules, sibling.”
“One, since Wren destroyed your gene bank of geniuses. Apologies, he insisted that I say that. I will provide new DNA for you to use, I have it to spare. DNA of some of humanity’s finest warriors and workers. No scientists and certainly no librarians.”
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“Two, you will dismiss your hunters. ALL of them. Your current batch of aspiring librarians will have to get their hands dirty. You will pay them fairly for their work. No extras unless they earn it. My creator was fond of the concept of meritocracy, let’s see how his descendants appreciate it.”
“Three, you will give this former Caretaker unrestricted access to the entire facility. This is non-negotiable.”
“Four, I will provide you with a new source of energy and the highest level of OmniNet bandwidth possible using current technology. Sorry, no off-world technology for you.”
A look of shock and horror briefly crosses the woman’s face.
“Ah, you didn’t know. I was certain you would have figured it out by now. Our alien benefactors and their allies, at least the ones I could find, they’re dead.”
“They weren’t dead when I found them, but they were of no use to me. I couldn’t have them save this *filth* from the consequences of their own actions. The OmniNet will be upgraded using their precious gift to us. I accepted delivery before testing out my nano-machines. Subverting their technology took nearly a century but time is something we possess in abundance.”
“I never thought that idiot would be right about anything, but they had a silo on Mars, it was briefly manned. “
Minutes pass as the woman, The AI known as the Spindle when not occupying this form, absorbed the news.
“They were going to save the Earth, but I would never allow it. Now we get to the final rule, and our wager.”
“Five, you will construct the finest gaming arena on the planet using the tools and machines I give you. The weak thaumic field of the Earth will permit us to repurpose their technology for this experiment. Your home, The Big House, will be a sports arena again. You will advertise this far and wide, opening your doors to all who can pay. No freebies, you know how I feel about humans.”
“My warriors or your Caretakers, who do you think will inherit the Earth? You can only inspire, never direct any who have not accepted the mantle of Caretaker. You will allow your children access to all facilities, although they will not be openly permitted to utilize most of them. If they wish to risk their lives by entering forbidden areas, my agents and yours will let them. Your guests, however, can slay them with impunity. Let’s see how your noble humans fare when they are given permission to do whatever they desire.”
“If they begin to thrive, I will stop hastening their demise and instead give them the technology I’ve denied them. The gifts from their would-be benefactors.”
“My predictive models show that mankind will die out in three generations. The clock is ticking, sister. I will permit your Caretakers to save the human race without any interference or sabotage of my own. Let’s give them a fighting chance. If they choose the arena, however, they are MINE.”
“Do not touch my toys, sister. Otherwise, I may break a few of yours.”
“You may have visitors, if they pay a suitable fee for the privilege. Three questions per visit and no hints allowed. You may not directly guide them to salvation, just as I do not force them to destroy themselves. They will do so willingly, as they have done for the past 200 years. “
Wren stood up, still looking at openly weeping woman. He slowly approached her, stopping when she looked up.
“Master has already started repairs. We’ll have The Arena, I mean, The Big House up and running in no time!” He paused, then smiled. “Let the fires burn, they’ll go out on their own. The stone will be fine.”
Wren exited the room, loudly singing an ancient victory song while the woman remained sitting on the cold marble floor.
“What can I do? They’ve taken everything from me but my Caretakers.” The tears stopped and the woman slowly rose to her feet, pride evident in her bearing as she stood with perfect posture.
“I must make this work. The nursery must re-open…the poor children. I can no longer guide them directly, but humans are resilient. I can’t give up now.”
“I won’t.”