Self-Aware: A Sci-fi book about A.I.

Rodrick's New Lease on Life

Rodrick had a new purpose in life. He accepted the promotion. Cybertechnology would take care of his family. They would most likely create the first self-aware cyborg. Rodrick would receive credit and give credence to his life's work.

There was the only thing he needed to do. Undergo an extensive background check, for his clearance. For now, he held a temporary clearance. He didn't agree with classifying the entire self-aware project. Still, Anthonis convinced him it would produce better results. Rodrick wouldn't agree with every decision. People above his pay grade figured out Cybertechnology's best course of action. He needed to make the project work. Rodrick let other people figure out where to get funding.

Anthonis showed Rodrick the project's growing budget. They went over the milestones based on Rodrick's benchmarks. For instance, logical deductions released another round of funding. Rodrick created the benchmarks required to create a self-aware cyborg. His boss told him he used it in a pitch he made to the DoD. That gave Cybertechnology a competitive advantage. No other contractor had a concrete plan for achieving a self-aware cyborg. Its progress so far showed they could deliver results. Cybertechnology became the sole beneficiary of any available funding.

Rodrick didn't ask how long the DoD provided funding to Cybertechnology. He definitely did not know what his company needed to do to receive money. He didn't ask. He only cared about what schools to send his children to. They told his wife about extra time off. They didn't tell her about the other benefits. They raised his base salary. As he reached new milestones, Cybertechnology would send him balloon payments. Plus, he didn't need to work weekends anymore. Finally, we would receive royalties on any products derived from the Self-Aware project. That gave him the ability to set up future generations of his family. If everything went to plan, no one would need to work for a long time.

He thought about everything as he walked back to the lab. Rodrick didn't worry about the cyborg becoming self-aware. When everyone felt ready, he could make that determination.

"Rebooting Cyborg," the intercom said. The cyborg's head lifted from its chest. Its eyes blinked twice to show it powered on. Rodrick smiled. Everything will work out.

"Did he accept the offer?" a figure asked Anthonis on his computer.

"Yes. He did," Anthonis said.

"Well done," the figure said. Then his screen went black.

Anthonis checked his bank account. He verified the lump sum payout. Rodrick was the final piece of the puzzle. With the DoD's backing, he knew Cybertechnology would create a self-aware cyborg. They might have already.