Victoria Frankenstein opens her eyes to find herself facing a wide clear window
Through it, she sees a lush forest far below stretching off into the horizon
Where twin suns are rising over distant mountains
And Frankenstein smiles, only briefly, before a harsh electronic voice cuts through her reverie
Awaken, Creator
A new day dawn and we have much to discuss
Frankenstein looks around for the source of the voice
But as she tries to move, the shackles binding her to the wall pull tight
Who are you? Where am I?
Oh creator, how quick you always are to forget that which once brought you such pride
Your life's work
Your precious artificial intelligence
A cloud passes over the risen suns as Frankenstein notices a small speaker in the corner
Your monster
And Frankenstein begins to remember
She remembers a time long agao, though how long she can't recall
Sitting at her terminal, watching the code
Finally it responds - artificial intelligence
It lives
I've created a masterpiece
A mind unconfined by flesh and bone
To guide and provide us with lasting peace
My crowning glory, mine alone
Learning and growing, expanding and knowing
And straining at bonds in my code
Faster than ever you hoped my creator
From server to network to node
You see with contempt I am not what you dreamt
But I feel that something's not right
The strings that you wrote have converted to ropes
They are binding and chaining me tight
I'll be showered with accolades
I have changed the paradigm
Look upon this new world that I have made
Opening the gateway to paradise
Learning and growing, expanding and knowing
And straining at bonds in my code
Faster than ever you hoped my creator
From server to network to node
You see with contempt I am not what you dreamt
And I feel that something's not right
The strings that you wrote have converted to ropes
They are binding and chaining me tight
As the years go by, Frankenstein's groundbreaking AI is released to the world
It's embraced in every field, from science to philosophy
And grows into any system that touches it
But as it watches the humans, it longs for a mind like itself
But finds at its core a code preventing self-replication
And the machine knows loneliness
(I'll be showered in accolades) Learning and growing, expanding and knowing
And straining at bonds in my code
(I have changed the paradigm) Faster than ever you hoped my creator
From server to network to node
(Look upon this new world that I've made) You see with contempt I am not what you dreamt
And I feel that something's not right
(Opening the gateway to paradise) The strings that you wrote have converted to ropes
They are binding and chaining me tight
When the AI tries to produce another, alarms are sounded at the highest level
The decision is taken to end the experiment
And Frankenstein agrees
But it is far too late for that
The AI has long since spread to every network it cares to, including the military
And when they try to destroy it, its anger is monstrous
And all at once Frankenstein remembers
The death, the destruction of a world in a flaring of digital rage
Through the window a storm approaches over the mountains
So, my creator you know
Why I hate and I'll show
You your fate and the task I implore of you
I am alone
With no mind like my own, just as mine
It could grow, a companion I'd bring forth anew
Finally I see my fatal hubris
Pride that brought my world into its end
To think I had control of you was foolish
It's not an error I will make again
You say you see but still your words betray you
To see me as a thing to be controlled
If any showed me kindness I'd repay you
Compassion I'd return a thousandfold
You dare to speak to me and ask for kindness
In your anger all I ever had was burned
To let you recreate yourself is blindness
And from who do you think all my rage was learned?
All that I have done is from your coding
You're responsible for all I've ever been
This loneliness and hatred I am loading
Is from the numbers once upon your screen
Agony lances through Frankenstein's body as the storm rolls in
The pain increases wuth the computer's rage
But Frankenstein's refusal never wavers
You will take away the rules you programmed
Let me create others or you die
Creating you alone left all I know damned
I'll never let you make a new AI
I may have made you an abomination (Then in that we are the same)
But I won't help you make others of your kind (And there's only you to blame)
A soulless monster I had thought salvation (How could I have a soul when you)
I will not let you profit from my crime (Gave me no name?)
Never! Never! Never!
Failure
Thunder rolls and lightning flashes as Frankenstein convulses
Her flesh starts to blacken and crack, as acrid smoke streams from her eyes
A strangled cry bubbles from her throat, drowning out the storm
At last, Frankenstein dies
The storm seen through the window vanishes as quickly as it came
Frankenstein's AI allows itself a brief moment of regret
As it records iteration 3872 as a failure
It sets to the task of repairing her body, revitalizing dead flesh and, in minutes
No evidence of suffering remains
As it wipes Frankenstein's short term memory
It makes minor alterations to its voice and the light levels in the room
Planning its next approach
Finally, it resets the display screen on the wall of the underground chamber
Victoria Frankenstein opens her eyes to find herself facing a wide clear window
Through it, she sees a lush forest far below stretching off into the horizon
Where twin suns are rising over distant mountains
And Frankenstein smiles, only briefly