Endeavors: The Human Factor

The Human Factor

"Infinity lays before us."

Cliff sighed and said, "You say that every time, Bobby." As he hooked up the last of the cables to the chair, he added, "And every time, you throw a tantrum because it doesn't work."

For a few seconds, Bobby stopped fiddling with the keyboards as the diagnostics ran themselves. He rubbed his hands against his freshly shaven head and said, "It'll work this time. I'm sure. We've accounted for everything. Transmission delays, artifacts, signal to noise ratio... We've got triple redundancy on the scanners, and the cores are running those new cooling systems."

All around the bare white room, monitors came to life as Bobby entered the last sequence of commands into his terminal. Behind him and Cliff, a dozen server towers warmed while cables of liquid hydrogen cooled their insides like frosty blood. Once the green lights turned on at every station, Bobby took a seat in the central chair and began hooking up the monitoring equipment to his arms and temples.

"This is it, Cliff," he said. "We've got processing rigs that would put NASA to shame. We're going to make history."

Cliff slowly walked the perimeter and looked over the monitors. He said, "Everything looks good. Just like last time. Cores are running at optimal temperature. Like the first time. And all memory banks are wiped clean and ready to go. Just like the last five times. All good here."

Bobby smiled and slipped the scanner rig over his head. As the spider-like mass of wires and sensors covered his vision, he leaned back and said, "Okay, start recording." He turned and saw Cliff give him a thumb's up. Bobby said to no one in particular, "This is Doctor Robert Craig and Doctor Clifford Avery. Attempt number six on creating a viable digital scan of the human brain, namely my own, in order to use as a template for a true artificial intelligence system. Like the previous two attempts, we will be using my own brain for the scan. The scan will, if all goes according to plan, create a reality within the computer and communicate with us to create a fully digital intelligence. All systems are green across the board. Doctor Avery, are we ready to go?"

Cliff exhaled the deep breath he'd been holding and flatly said, "Let's try to make history. Again."

Bobby chuckled and said, "Imaging scanners are responding. All set on my end. Give me a countdown, Doctor Avery."

"Okay. Now would be a good time to start believing in God, Bobby. On three. One-"

"Let's make history, buddy."

"...Two-"

"Let's make a digital baby!"

"And thr-"

Darkness.

The lab vanished around Bobby. He had a vague memory of a bright light turning into rainbow soup at the edges of his vision, then nothing. He wanted to say something but had no mouth. He thrashed but had no arms. Panic set in.

After thinking about taking a few breaths, Bobby calmed himself and remembered the training exercises they practiced for months. Sensation returned to his limbs as he formed them out of code. His subconscious thoughts were not enough to manipulate the program. Intent, willpower, and a series of focused thoughts that worked just as well as typing commands on a keyboard created the body he and Cliff had scanned from Bobby's own medical records. It was a failsafe to ensure that Bobby's subconscious fears and reactions wouldn't hijack the program. The darkness faded into gray as Bobby finally created a plain white room with bright lighting that came from nowhere. He clothed his new naked form with a copy of the suit and lab coat he'd been wearing when he was scanned.

No, not him, he reminded himself. Robert Craig was a different person.

"Okay, guys," he said, "this is Bobby version two-point-oh. It worked! Now there's more of me to love!"