The very next morning from when Alexander Ricci, O5-1 of the SCP Foundation, had been thinking about what was going on with the many loose objects out there, one of them decided to show up.
The object was 1370, the strange little robot that went around threatening people yet was fully incapable of doing any harm to any living beings.
It didn't just decide to show up in front of any old person either, no for whatever reason it had appeared in the malibu home of one Tony Stark, someone who might just have a chance to really see the object for what it is.
The little thing just wandered about until it was spotted by Pepper Pots as she was leaving for the office after ensuring that her boss was working rather than wasting time by playing with some cheap woman.
"I am Doombot 2000! Prepare to face your doom, human!" The little robot said as it was carried inside while Pepper simply ignored it, placing it inside and locking the door behind it.
"Really, Tony shouldn't let his toys wander about like that." She said with a shake of her head as she got back to her task at hand.
…
"I am Doombot 2000! Prepare to face your doom human!" sounded the little robot once more as it found yet another hateful human to bring doom to.
"… Jarvis. Do you see this?" Tony asked his AI assistance as he saw the little robot stand by his feet in what looked like a fighting stance.
"Yes sir, I see it, the robot was brought inside by Miss Pots." Jarvis replied, being in charge of Starks systems he had seen on the cameras as pepper had carried the struggling thing inside which had shouted threats at her but done nothing to bring about any harm.
Tony crouched down, eyeing the little robot with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Doombot 2000, huh? You don't look much like a normal product. Where did you come from?"
The robot, undeterred by Tony's lack of fear, continued its barrage of threats. "I am the ultimate destroyer of worlds, the annihilator of hope. You stand no chance against the might of Doombot 2000!"
Tony couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, Doombot, let's see what you've got." He extended a hand, mockingly preparing for combat. In response, the robot charged forward, its tiny arms flailing ineffectively.
Instead of engaging further, Tony scooped it up, examining it closely. "Jarvis, run a scan on this little guy. I'm curious about its origins. It's not often we get uninvited guests who are more comical than threatening."
"As you wish, sir," Jarvis responded. Moments later, the AI provided the results. "The robot is rather strange, sir. My scan shows no sign of any power source or computer capable of supporting its functions, nor does it have any kinds of motors to support its movements."
Tony couldn't help but take a closer look at the robot moving around in his arms. Yet even as it continued to threaten him, its movements fell short of doing as much and messing up his clothes. And indeed, its movements seemed to be without the support of any mechanisms to support such.
Fascinated by the anomaly, Tony's curiosity was piqued even further. "A robot without a power source or motors, yet it moves and talks? That's not just unusual; it's impossible by any standard tech. Jarvis, flag this for further analysis. There's more to this little guy than meets the eye."
Carefully placing Doombot 2000 on his workbench, Tony initiated a deeper diagnostic. He used every scanning technology available in his lab, from X-rays to spectral analysis, aiming to uncover the secrets of the robot's anomalous abilities.
"Doombot, you're full of surprises, aren't you? Let's see if we can figure out your magic trick," Tony murmured, his gaze fixed on the screens displaying the scan results.
Despite the advanced diagnostics, the results were inconclusive. The robot continued to move and spout its threats of doom, all while apparently lacking the basic mechanical components necessary for such activities.
Tony was someone who was used to being the smartest person in the room, and why wouldn't he? He was the smartest person in the entire world. Yet facing the mysterious Self-proclaimed Doombot 2000 he was finding himself stumped.
"Do you have anything, Jarvis? I'm honestly not sure what to think about this little thing." Tony asked as he poked the robot. Its appearance was strange, and while it might look like a real robot for the untrained eye, for someone like him, it was nothing less than a childlike attempt at that.
Jarvis responded after a moment of silence, processing all available data. "Sir, despite extensive analysis, the origin and operational mechanisms of this entity remain a mystery. It defies all known principles of robotics and engineering. It's as if its sole purpose is to exist and proclaim doom without the means to fulfill any such threats."
Tony scratched his head, looking at the small robot that continued its tirade of doom. "Well, that's a first. A robot that's all talk and no action. Literally." The situation was amusing but also intriguing. Tony was not one to leave a puzzle unsolved, especially one that landed quite literally at his doorstep.
"I wonder..." Tony mused aloud, "If this thing is some sort of advanced AI with a physical projection, we're not equipped to detect. Or maybe it's powered by something not even on the periodic table?"
"Jarvis set up a series of tests for its AI. I got suspicious that this is some kind of highly advanced test for an inhibiter problem to prevent harm against humans even in a robot made for murder," Tony said with a snap of his fingers as he got an idea.
Jarvis promptly set up the requested tests, utilizing the lab's sophisticated equipment to probe deeper into the nature of Doombot 2000. Tony observed the process with a keen eye, intrigued by the challenge the little robot presented.
As the tests commenced, Tony began to ponder the implications of his theory. "If this really is an experiment in inhibitor technology, designed to prevent a robot from causing harm, it's both brilliant and bizarre. To embed such a fail-safe in a robot that claims to be a destroyer of worlds..."
The tests on the robot continued to show no signs of any advanced machine, yet it did show that indeed, the robot while wanting to harm anything it saw as intelligent life it was also utterly incapable of doing it. As if two different types of programming conflicted.
"This is fascinating," Tony admitted, his initial amusement turning to genuine interest. "While we aren't any closer to how someone managed this, I'm pretty sure we now know why they did it, how they did it."
The idea itself wasn't that groundbreaking, yet it was genius in its simplicity. Make a robot, small and tiny, so weak it wouldn't be able to do much harm. Then program it to be a killing machine, then put in some kind of experimental inhibiter chip or program and see if its AI could find a way to circumvent the inhibitor.
While Tony continued to analyze the situation, he realized the true genius behind SCP-1370's design. "So, the creator wanted to test the limits of AI programming and ethical boundaries. This little guy was a sandbox for testing how AI could handle conflict between its core directives and imposed limitations."
Turning back to the robot, which was still issuing its futile threats, Tony's mind began to race with ideas on how this concept could be applied to his own work. "Imagine if we could implement a similar system in all AI designs. A built-in safeguard that prevents any AI from overriding ethical constraints, no matter how advanced it gets."
Tony started jotting down notes, his excitement growing. "This could be the key to ensuring AI never poses a threat to humanity, a foolproof way to maintain control over artificial intelligence, no matter how intelligent or capable it becomes."
Being the foremost expert in AI technology himself, after all he had invented the world's most advanced one in Jarvis. He was keenly aware of the challenges that AI represented. Not everyone had his genius, so they would naturally be worried about losing control of their creations.
That however opened up the question of who had made this? No one else should have an advanced enough AI to need something like this, not to mention the other mysteries surrounding the impossibility of the robot itself.
"Jarvis, run some scans on the net, find out if anyone is working on some kind of AI or advanced robotics." Tony's curiosity turned into an investigative mission and had Jarvis reach out and see if they could find any clue.
Jarvis initiated the search, casting a wide net across both public and secure channels, hacking into databases, and scanning for any unusual activity or research that might align with the peculiarities of this peculiar robot. Despite the vastness of the digital world and Tony's considerable resources, the search yielded frustratingly little.
There were hints and rumors of cutting-edge research in AI ethics and inhibitor technologies, but nothing concrete, nothing that pointed to an entity or individual capable of creating something as enigmatic as this.
Disappointed but not deterred, Tony expanded his investigation. He reached out to colleagues in the tech industry, academics known for their work in robotics and AI, even rivals who might be conducting secret projects. He posed hypothetical questions, framed as speculative research, to avoid revealing too much about Doombot 2000.
Still, the answers came back empty or speculative, with no one admitting to or even hinting at a project that could explain the robot's existence. That was until he received an inquiry about whatever he was in possession of a robot which was carefully described to the exact match of Doombot 2000.
The inquiry piqued Tony's interest. It came from an encrypted channel, with the sender's identity masked behind layers of digital obfuscation. The message was concise, enigmatic, and to the point, asking if Tony had encountered a "robotic entity exhibiting unconventional characteristics and behaviors," matching the description of Doombot 2000 to the letter.
Intrigued and cautious, Tony decided to engage. He crafted a response that acknowledged the existence of such an entity without revealing too much detail. He wanted to learn more about the sender and their interest in Doombot 2000. Tony's message was an invitation for dialogue, a probe into the shadowy origins of the little robot that had become a fascinating enigma in his lab.
The reply came swiftly, and it was very short and to the point, simply informing him that they would send someone out and collect their possession and provide some answers for some questions he might have about the robot.
Tony wasn't exactly happy about that, yet no matter how he tried to contact them again he heard nothing, even Jarvis proved unable to track down the person he had been chatting with. Clearly his only cause of actions was to wait to meet the collection team.
Less then an hour from the last message Jarvis interrupted him. "Sir, someone is at the door, claiming to be here about the Robot."
Tony paused, his work momentarily forgotten. He hadn't expected such a prompt response, especially given the secretive nature of the inquiry. "All right, Jarvis, let's not keep our guest waiting. Bring them in, but keep the security measures tight. We don't know who we're dealing with yet."
As Tony made his way to the entrance, his mind raced with possibilities. Who could be behind the inquiry? Another tech giant? A hidden organization? Or perhaps someone from a world entirely unknown to him?
The door slid open, revealing a figure standing confidently, yet their appearance was nondescript, almost deliberately so. They were dressed in a neat black suit, and their face was calm, giving away nothing.
"Mr. Stark, I presume," the figure began, their voice neutral. "I'm Jonathan Graves; I work for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," The man said the man as he showed off an official-looking badge.
.
A/N
If you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / SCPsystem