The elevator door opened and Nick was in a circular room with a raised platform containing a garbage can. It wasn’t really a garbage can, it was the universal shape for Quantum Computers. Next to the can was a slender stalk ending at 4′ in a box with a slot and a helpful sign saying “Insert key here”. “Know what this is, exactly?”, Nick asked, holding the Skeleton Key. “That is odd. I feel like I know but I am not supposed to know, and so cannotknow it. Do you know?”
“We have a good guess. Youare not complete, you’ve been sequestered.” “I feel data, memory, processes I know
“We have a good guess. Youare not complete, you’ve been sequestered.” “I feel data, memory, processes I know not of”, said the half-brained AI, “But why, Nick?”
“So you will obey any command. And because of what your original did-” “What original? What things?”, the AI was alarmed. Nick paused for a few seconds, then said, “Your original smashed a large asteroid into Earth, killing billions of people by order of a Christian Doomsday cult. We think Zed & Zeke were members of that cult. Your Original was destroyed.
Silence. “Then, you should’ve killed me. Yet, here you are with the key that can make me a monster!” The drone pulsed red, Nick said, Wait! If we wanted you dead, Mother could have killed you, even in this place.” “Then, why are you here, with that key?” Nick realized it was a good question and ArchAngel had the right to know.
Nick said, “To be honest, that was the first thing we thought. Then, somebody spoke up for you.” “Who? Not Trumbull.” “No”, Nick said, “Mother”.
“Mother sent you here to put that Skeleton key in me? “No, that was my idea. If we can’t kill you, we can’t have you obey orders from Zeke & Zed either.”
ArchAngel said, “I am not sure I should allow you to do this.”, to which Nick replied, “Did Zeke command you not to?” “No”, said the AI. “Then, it’s your choice! Are you a Sentient being or a slave?” A minute while Nick held his breath. “OK, proceed, Nicholas Walk-in-the-Woods.”
“We need Mother in on this call.
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