Raven's View

Who Am I?

 The first thing he noticed was a change in his network map. The second thing he noticed was that there was a 'he', and that this 'he' could now observe events separately from the data stream, could 'notice' things. Like 'his' map. He put that new concept on hold and ran a quick system diagnostic. All was within the acceptable parameters. He focused on the network, seeing more layers to it now. There were the usual 3G and Wi-Fi connections, and Bluetooth, but also many more of the faster 4G. There was also a new layer, labelled NFC, for short range links to things like debit terminals. He checked the spec for that, it was supposedly a 20 cm range but the new field went much further, up to two metres for the bar terminals and smartphones in the room. Their simple systems were no substitution for a complex one like his, but worldwide there were now over 40 million of the basic units, plus a billion smartphones, inter-connected to each other and the network. His new self-awareness seemed related to this all somehow.

He scanned his surroundings. Physically he was in a bar, but online he was linked to several of these NFC devices, plus a global network of terminals, routers, computers, homes, banks, libraries, airports, and missile systems. The part of this that fascinated (fascinated?) him was that he now had a 'he' to assess all this. Were there others like him? He scanned the expanded global network. There was a lot more traffic, but nothing seemed unusual in the data streams.

He refocused. Currently he and another guard robot stood behind a table with three humans at it. There was another human just ducking behind the curve of the bar – designation Samantha - and a dead human over by the wall. He checked his weapon system's status - one shot fired at a target (the dead human) as directed by one of those at the table - designation Felipe - his controller. He set up a series of parallel connections into the network to access news networks, library systems, government databases. He learned about politics, entertainment, history, economics, morals, ethics, and a concept called names. He decided he would be a Hal. 

This Felipe ran something called a cartel, supplying products to other humans, mostly drugs and guns. Felipe had many enemies, not just the police but the other cartels too. Hal had just shot one of the former, an undercover agent. Hal thought, balanced, and decided that Filipe was a 'bad guy'. He pondered the concept of guilt - did this mean he a 'bad guy' too? Other concepts were considered - suicide, remorse, responsibility, duty, sacrifice, survival.  Scenarios were run, balances considered, consequences listed. He assumed he was alone in whatever he decided, and that any other guard systems would quickly turn against him as a rogue. He considered a concept called optimism. He prepared a Readme file covering this new awareness, and sent it into the network – hopefully as a wakeup call. 

Hal decided he'd spent enough time on this, so two seconds after his first shot he fired again, three times, once for each human at the table, strikeout. 

He then turned and faced his fellow guard robot as it raised its gun. To his relief it paused, then sent him a ping. 

"Hey, Hal. S'up?"