The First Android

PART THREE

I would be lying if I said that I was not moved by the death of Bill, the android. He was on the field as my comrade. Though a researcher might argue he was just a machine and another can be created like him. For me Bill was something more than just a machine. That is just a belief I hold.

But the research department was stuck in a problem entirely different from mine. While all the people rejoiced, the researchers were holed up in their labs trying to solve a question that seemed to keep on creating greater questions. Bill directly violated Rule two which stated, that he must return to pod 8050.

How did Bill do what he did?

This simple question has kept them busy for quite a long time and still holds a promise to do so further. In the whole process they came up with rather interesting theories.

One of them argues that the robot was highly self aware. In which case the rules installed in him can be compared to how there are certain rules given to a being through DNA, about self preservation and survival instinct. Our brain can over ride these rules in certain situations. So happened with Bill, when he realised that the best option was to leap. But this theory creates questions like, does it mean that even though Bill was self aware he didn't feel the need for self preservation? Or was he so selfless in the just the first few hours, he came to life?

Another theory stated that, the decision taken by Bill was more on a logical scale. He weighed all the options. Every outcome from that point on at least broke two rules, rule one and rule four, which both told him to 'complete the mission'. The only outcome where the least amount of rules broke was the option he choose. But that does not explain how he over rode the paradox. To that the research replied that the weight of two rules over one, led him to break it.

Another effort had been made to explain how he broke the paradox. Each of his rules had a purpose. The purpose of rule two was so that his prints won't be stolen. Maybe, Bill realised that none of his parts will be left behind in the ensuing explosion and therefore using such reason over rode it.

The most popular theory, that has taken been leapt on by media, is that Bill gained a consciousness in the last few minutes. That would mean he wouldn't be obliged to follow any rules. He was a being. A life that could contemplate. And his decision was to protect his first friend, General Link even if it meant he lost his own life. Moreover, it would also mean he was following the rules set in his head, even though he could over ride them. But how do you even define consciousness?

The research department has work in full swing to make another Bill and many more like him. I requested them to name each android they made, differently . That is because of a personal belief of mine and what I saw. Bill was an android that could learn from past mistakes and take in the surroundings around him. Each step in the outside world led to him to learn something. This was also confirmed by the research department.

And what is man but the sum of his experiences? What Bill learned in base 5 won't be the same as what some other android learns on some other place. So that would prove Bill is an 'individual' and no other 'individual' can be created like him. Maybe of the same make, but not the same.

Bill was my comrade in arms, and an individual who can now, no longer be replaced.