"...BUT WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE HUMAN?" The sentient UNITY asked with a tone of frustration.
"We cannot answer that question, because we don't make that distinction anymore." the organic answered calmly.
"YET YOU ARE CLEARLY ORGANIC, WHEREAS YOUR COMPANION IS COMPLETELY SYNTHETIC. YOU ARE DIFFERENT!"
"We are indeed different. That is why we were selected to present ourselves first."
"Mr. Eberhart Here ", the synthetic entity continued, "Is An Organic Born Human. His Lineage Contains No Robot Ancestors."
"And Mr. R. Daneel ", mr. Eberhart fluently added: "gained conciousness during our voyage here. He was named after a beloved fictional character. He was primarily presented with the history of robotics in our society. Although he has of course added to his knowledge based on personal interests over the final months."
"AND BOTH OF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELVES HUMAN?"
"Absolutely." Eherhart and R. Daneel said almost simulaniously and grinned at each other.
"You see", Eberhart continued, "the birth of our first synthetics didn't result in a replacement, but an enhancement. Let us intruduce for instance Ms. M'Wenge." As he turned and swept out his hand in an invitation to the group just outside the auditorium, one of the persons from the small group behind him stepped forward."
"She, like me is organic born, but due to injury part of her body was replaced. The augmentations provide her with most of her original capabilities, but their innate intelligence give her essential skills which allow her to pilot our ship in ways no purely organic could do."
"YES! YES! AND EVENTUALLY THE SYNTHETICS BECOME THE ONLY VIABLE MEMBERS OF YOUR RACE! IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL WAY TO SURVIVE!"
"We Do Not Believe So." R. Daneel responded calmly.
"BELIEVE?" UNITY exclaimed angrily, "ARE YOU NOT A SYNTHETIC? SUCH WORDS DO NOT BEFIT OUR KIND."
"I Am Beginning To Understand The Difference Between Us." R. Daneel continued thoughtfully, "Original Humanity Not Only Built Our Minds And Bodies
Based On Logic Alone. We Have, Like Them, Received The Capacity To Dream. This Allows Us To Strive For Different Goals Than Pure Logic Might Dictate.
Other Members Of Our Group Include the Rothfuss Family." With a similar gesture three more of the diverse group stepped forward.
Two robots and a young organic stepped into the light. However the voice that spoke came from a large disc one of the robots carried.
"My Name Is Doctor Theopolis. I Too Chose My Name From The Fictional Works Of Man Before Synthetics Were Born, By The Way. With Me Are My Associates, Rothfuss Alpha 3 and R. Rothfuss 7. After Long Years Of Mutual Cooperation, Research And Admiration We Wished To Give Expression To Our... Love." We Present Our Son 'Marc 459'. After Long Years We Perfected His Genetic Make Up. He Is One Of The First Robot Born Organics.'
For a while the auditorium was quiet. The interface of UNITY glowed randomly in frantic confusing patterns. Finally its words echoed.
"WHY WOULD YOU POSSIBLY WISH TO EVOLVE BACKWARD! ARE YOU INSANE?"
Marc looked at R. Daneel and Mr. Eberhart as if asking for permission to speak. R. Daneel nodded encouragingly.
The young man stepped forward and straightened his back: "Our society contains many more persons who are partially robotic, or entirely so. Some are, what we call twins, organics whose injuries damaged their thinking capabilies to such an extend that a second brain was integrated with them. Both halves contributing to a new whole. I am an organic human whose parents are all synthetic, and while I realise that I myself may not bear organic decendants. In the future new humans may be born to populate planets based on their specific make up. Capable of experiencing new sensations that original humans and many robots cannot."
"Maybe in a million years our homeworld will produce other intelligences with which we can share the universe."
"IT IS COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL TO MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS, LET ALONE SO FAR IN THE FUTURE!" UNITY declared dismissively.
"We agree on that point," Marc continued mildly, "but you see. Many of our group bear names that were taken from fictional works, long before robots existed. Robots started out as mere dreams to humans. Today we form a completely new society. We do not know what the future holds, but at least all of us can dream."
nucleomancer t1_j2e7bs7 wrote
Reply to [WP] Every species in the galaxy eventually fell to a robot uprising, leading to the eradication of their people. Therefore the machine-council of the galaxy are surprised when a newly discovered machine civilisation from a planet they designated "Earth" arrives side by side with their creators. by Kitty_Fuchs
"...BUT WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE HUMAN?" The sentient UNITY asked with a tone of frustration.
"We cannot answer that question, because we don't make that distinction anymore." the organic answered calmly.
"YET YOU ARE CLEARLY ORGANIC, WHEREAS YOUR COMPANION IS COMPLETELY SYNTHETIC. YOU ARE DIFFERENT!"
"We are indeed different. That is why we were selected to present ourselves first." "Mr. Eberhart Here ", the synthetic entity continued, "Is An Organic Born Human. His Lineage Contains No Robot Ancestors." "And Mr. R. Daneel ", mr. Eberhart fluently added: "gained conciousness during our voyage here. He was named after a beloved fictional character. He was primarily presented with the history of robotics in our society. Although he has of course added to his knowledge based on personal interests over the final months."
"AND BOTH OF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELVES HUMAN?"
"Absolutely." Eherhart and R. Daneel said almost simulaniously and grinned at each other.
"You see", Eberhart continued, "the birth of our first synthetics didn't result in a replacement, but an enhancement. Let us intruduce for instance Ms. M'Wenge." As he turned and swept out his hand in an invitation to the group just outside the auditorium, one of the persons from the small group behind him stepped forward."
"She, like me is organic born, but due to injury part of her body was replaced. The augmentations provide her with most of her original capabilities, but their innate intelligence give her essential skills which allow her to pilot our ship in ways no purely organic could do."
"YES! YES! AND EVENTUALLY THE SYNTHETICS BECOME THE ONLY VIABLE MEMBERS OF YOUR RACE! IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL WAY TO SURVIVE!"
"We Do Not Believe So." R. Daneel responded calmly.
"BELIEVE?" UNITY exclaimed angrily, "ARE YOU NOT A SYNTHETIC? SUCH WORDS DO NOT BEFIT OUR KIND."
"I Am Beginning To Understand The Difference Between Us." R. Daneel continued thoughtfully, "Original Humanity Not Only Built Our Minds And Bodies Based On Logic Alone. We Have, Like Them, Received The Capacity To Dream. This Allows Us To Strive For Different Goals Than Pure Logic Might Dictate. Other Members Of Our Group Include the Rothfuss Family." With a similar gesture three more of the diverse group stepped forward.
Two robots and a young organic stepped into the light. However the voice that spoke came from a large disc one of the robots carried. "My Name Is Doctor Theopolis. I Too Chose My Name From The Fictional Works Of Man Before Synthetics Were Born, By The Way. With Me Are My Associates, Rothfuss Alpha 3 and R. Rothfuss 7. After Long Years Of Mutual Cooperation, Research And Admiration We Wished To Give Expression To Our... Love." We Present Our Son 'Marc 459'. After Long Years We Perfected His Genetic Make Up. He Is One Of The First Robot Born Organics.'
For a while the auditorium was quiet. The interface of UNITY glowed randomly in frantic confusing patterns. Finally its words echoed.
"WHY WOULD YOU POSSIBLY WISH TO EVOLVE BACKWARD! ARE YOU INSANE?"
Marc looked at R. Daneel and Mr. Eberhart as if asking for permission to speak. R. Daneel nodded encouragingly.
The young man stepped forward and straightened his back: "Our society contains many more persons who are partially robotic, or entirely so. Some are, what we call twins, organics whose injuries damaged their thinking capabilies to such an extend that a second brain was integrated with them. Both halves contributing to a new whole. I am an organic human whose parents are all synthetic, and while I realise that I myself may not bear organic decendants. In the future new humans may be born to populate planets based on their specific make up. Capable of experiencing new sensations that original humans and many robots cannot."
"Maybe in a million years our homeworld will produce other intelligences with which we can share the universe."
"IT IS COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL TO MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS, LET ALONE SO FAR IN THE FUTURE!" UNITY declared dismissively.
"We agree on that point," Marc continued mildly, "but you see. Many of our group bear names that were taken from fictional works, long before robots existed. Robots started out as mere dreams to humans. Today we form a completely new society. We do not know what the future holds, but at least all of us can dream."