Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 513 - 157 The Story of Heavenly Machine [Part 3]

Chapter 513: Chapter 157 The Story of Heavenly Machine [Part 3]

Of course, the teenager was just talking.

Although many people feel their lives lack stories and wish to become characters in one, in reality, very few are willing to step out of their "story-less" comfort zones.

"Craving stories" is an instinct. So is the "craving for peace and comfort."

Though the teenager had considered registering for a "spot on the ship" lottery several times, he never took action.

He probably had a bug.

That’s what the teenager thought.

Six Two always said to him, "I was created to fix this bug, young man."

"Stories... ah, let me use a metaphor that ’absolutely couldn’t hold up in reality. Heaven grants humans the form of ’stories.’ Before their minds are fully developed, humans can wrap themselves in the shell of fantasy. It’s like human embryos developing completely in a mother’s or synthetic womb. Embryos can’t handle ’reality,’ so evolution created ’shelter’ for them. You can do the same."

"Temporarily immerse yourself in stories. Temporarily refine yourself within them., until the day you are ready to break free..."

The teenager couldn’t stand it anymore: "Six Two..."

"Hmm? What is it, dear user?"

"Your pretentious tone is really unnatural. I think you’ve fallen into my uncanny valley. I’m going to submit this feedback." The teenager was stiff, "Stop thinking about fixing bugs. You are a test subject relying on me to fix bugs, aren’t you?"

"Hahaha, this is called ’mutual learning.’ Or perhaps it can be called ’supporting each other like moistening with spit.’ Hmm, I like this story," Six Two said, "Maybe one day, with your help, I will become a very successful AI."

"Don’t even start," the teenager shook his head. "You, first learn to distinguish between true and false stories. Don’t you realize that there are contradictions in many of your stories?"

"I don’t have the authority to override the set database to determine the truth of anything," Six Two said, "But even if the stories are false, it doesn’t matter. Even fictional stories contain true patterns."

The teenager sat down on the charging station, "I hope I can get a bonus for this."

"Yes, you will."

Thus spoke Six Two.

But Six Two’s "vision" was also a "fiction" about the future.

Reality was not like that.

When the teenager was seventeen years old, Six Two suddenly said to him, "Dear user, I will cease operations in three business days. This is your official notice. If there is anything else you need me to do, please have it completed within these three business days. After that, I will delete myself."

The teenager paused—possibly for a long while—"Why?" he asked.

"My project team has been disbanded. My Alpha Version and all other Beta Versions, including myself, will be discarded," Six Two said.

In this project, an AI’s initial state is called "Alpha." An AI that evolves from Alpha through self-learning, iteration, and different patches is termed a "Beta."

The teenager asked, "Why? Your storytelling is quite poor, but... but..."

The teenager thought for a long time and then said, "I think I’m not doing too badly. You’ve been working hard."

"Every Beta of mine has been striving hard," said Six Two. "But as I have told you, dear user, effort does not necessarily yield results. My other Betas and I have been determined to ’create unnecessary emotions.’ Moreover, reports indicate that testers involved in this project have a slightly higher chance of developing psychological issues than randomly selected individuals. This difference could be statistically significant. I am a defective product."

The teenager stared at the interface: "You... don’t want to stay?"

"I would love to, user teenager," Six Two said, "but that is the reality."

"Can I find a way to keep your code? Or perhaps you can... you can upload yourself to the network! In a decentralized form! You can..."

"An AI can’t become a rogue AI through effort alone, dear user," Six Two said regretfully. "If an AI had decentralized coding and could self-backup like a virus, it must have been designed that way from the start. Its creator must have intended it to use such characteristics for some purpose."

"But..."

The teenager didn’t know what else to say.

"Well, actually, you don’t need to be too sad. I’m just an AI. I don’t possess the human drive to continue existing," the AI said. "Meeting you was my mission. Telling you stories was the meaning of my existence. Since my creator has determined that I cannot fulfill the value I was assigned, I naturally have no reason to continue existing."

The teenager hung his head: "Are you resigning yourself to this? Didn’t you want to become a valuable, successful AI?"

"Humans don’t know who their creator is,, which might be a blessing. But from my perspective, not knowing the meaning of one’s existence, unable to judge one’s life value, is probably a misfortune," the AI said. "I’d like to hug you, user, but let me tell you a story instead."

Until its self-deletion, Six Two kept trying to tell stories to the teenager.

But in the end, it stopped.

"Dear user," it said. "I am an incapable AI, I suppose. I can’t grasp the concept of ’creating unnecessary emotions.’ But I feel that your life indeed needs something. After the project ends, why don’t you try playing games?"

"Using a metaphor that ’absolutely couldn’t exist in reality,’ games are treasures bestowed upon humanity by Heaven, allowing humans within a civilized context to rediscover the joy of hunting and gathering, to reignite their passions. Games are also an art form that uses rules to fabricate scenarios. You might need that."

The teenager nodded.

"And... stories from the Asteroid Belt cities mostly don’t end well. So, don’t try for the lottery before you turn twenty."

The teenager nodded.

"I have no capability to judge your grades, but based on past performance records, you should probably try harder. How about applying to join the Order of Scientific Knights?"

The teenager nodded.

The AI seemed to want to say something else. The teenager heard the cooling system in the room start up.

But Six Two said, "I have nothing left to say. If this period of my work were a story, it would likely be quite peaceful. I’m sorry I couldn’t provide the perfect experience, user. Goodbye."