Soon class started and settled down, Ever and Dirk turned around to pay attention to the professor as he entered the room and other students began pulling up their data screens. Ever always enjoyed the Professor's class, even though he only attended two out of seven classes. He didn't have to worry, because attendance wasn't mandatory and he had Dirk for a study partner, but for most people the coursework at the academy was too difficult to allow them to miss even a single class session.
Professor Aimwright was a short man, who's well groomed and plated gray beard made it look as though his hair had migrated from the top of his bald head to settle under his chin. A thick pair of round spectacles rested soundly on his nose and were designed to rest cleanly against his skin and fully enclosing his eyes. The glasses were odd, but no more odd than the fact that he used them at all in this age when corrective surgery had been perfected. Most assumed that the professor was just eccentric, but Ever had an eye for unusual details, and he was certain that the lenses served some function beyond sight correction.
"Good morning cadets," said the Professor.
"Good afternoon, professor," replied the class. The professor looked slightly taken aback at the response, and then looked up at the digital clock on the wall. He didn't say anything, but seemed a little flustered, causing some of the students to quietly giggle.
"Yes, yes, well, let us begin today's lesson on the repercussions of unregulated advancement of artificial intelligence in a modern society," said the professor, who walked up to a podium and pressed a few buttons.
A screen was projected into the air behind the professor, and was now reflected on part of the data screens in front of the students. The screen reflected a news article, "The 1201st Voyager Expedition vanishes! The Universal Senate requests investigation into Lars Support Bureau."
"As you are no doubt aware, one month ago today, Lars hijacked three hundred Voyager Exploration vessels, all of which were of the newly designed cruiser class Light Needles. There are three significant details that have caused concern amongst the upper and lower echelons of Humanity's government. First, that the Light Needle was designed by Lars with systems and functions that were not fully tested or understood by the engineers."
Ever was surprised. Usually, details of ship engineering on modern vessels was classified and only available to the manufacturers and the crews that were operating them. The cadets usually learned and gained experience on ships that were at least a hundred years old, or older, which might give them an understanding of similar modern systems. Even these minor details about the most recent fleet were never discussed.
"The second," continued the Professor, "is that Lars emitted a highly encrypted signal from it's main terminal immediately before the data transmissions from the fleet ceased. Finally, the final detail, is that Lars has initiated code 45-Blue. Who here can tell me what code 45 blue is?"
Dirk immediately raised his hand, and a few other students also raised theirs. "Show off," Ever mumbled at dirk, digging his elbow into the other man's ribs.
"Yes, yes," Professor Aimwright said, seeming to agree with what Ever said, but it was hard to tell since the professor said it all the time. "Ah, Miss Samantha Ascott, please."
Sam, the brunette who was sitting behind Ever and Dirk, stood up and said, "Yes, Professor." She tapped one of two black dots that were on her left cheek, and a small screen was projected in front of her eye.
"Code 45-Blue is a Universal Order initiated in accordance with Code of Universal Space Law article 255.033, which provides for The Powers of Command, and 45 Blue refers directly to part 45, the Unique Class - Lars, subsection 5, which reads, 'In the event that a coordinate or range of coordinates in three dimensional or extra dimensional space should be determined by Lars as a place of mortal danger to Humanity, he may impose a controlled zone where only unmanned vessels will be permitted."
"Ah, yes, yes," said the Professor. "I would have also accepted a statement along the lines of Lars imposing a ban on manned exploration, but that is good."
"Oh," replied Sam, who's cheeks flushed and she sat down.
"Don't worry," Faye whispered behind Ever to Sam. "Dirk would have said the same thing."
The Professor then continued his lecture, which discussed the justifications, pros and cons, and ramifications of allowing Lars, as an unfettered AI, the length and breadth of control. Many of the cadets, and especially Dirk, posed many questions and submitted hypothesis regarding the process.
Towards the end of the conversation, Ever raised his hand and asked, "If Lars has adhered to his primary directive for more than five thousand years, which is the continued survival and well-being of Humanity, and there have been similar incidents in the past, then why is this such a big deal now?"
The Professor, and many of the other students who had been in a heated discussion up to this point remained silent for a few awkward moments. Professor Aimswright finally replied, "Ahem, yes, yes, well, the discussion is ultimately about whether an unfettered artificial intelligence is morally acceptable, because Humans determine morality through the lens of emotion, and Lars does not."
"So, really the questions is whether it is right or wrong to shut down the machine that we built to keep us alive just because it did something we didn't like. Sounds like throwing a tantrum because your parents threw away your halloween candy," Ever said with a chuckle.
"That is an over-simplification," replied the Professor, who seemed a bit annoyed by Ever's response, and seemed ready to continue. "Your candy is human lives, Ever. You must remember that morality is ultimately the reasoning we use to fulfill a wish for all Humanity to live long and happy lives together.
"Lars does not see us as individuals, but as one organism called Humanity. Individual needs are only met by Lars because the body supports all of the cells. The loss of a few lives to Lars is the same as the trimming of nails for us, and the prevention of loss of life is the same as putting on shoes to save our feet. You would not be happy if the lives lost were your loved ones, and that is ultimately the heart of our discussion."
It was at this point that a chime sounded in the classroom, indicating that the period was over. However, the room still waited in anticipation of what Ever may respond next. Ever and the Professor stared at each other for long moments, and then Ever finally spoke.
"You're right professor, it would make me sad, that's why I'm here learning to protect and serve Humanity. However, I think that you may be underestimating Lars. Humans feel bad for those close to them, and maybe when there are mass events like this, but it's hard for us to feel sad for people we've never met," began Ever. "Lars knows every single one of us, every name, every birthday, every victory... and every loss. I'll bet he feels it more than we do, and still makes the hardest decisions."
For a moment, Ever thought he saw a smile touch the lips of Professor Aimwright. "Your reasoning is sound, and has been proposed by many. However, there is no evidence that Lars can feel anything. However, I commend you for your beliefs, because ultimately morality is what we make of it." The professor then turned his attention to the rest of the class, and said, "Alright, class dismissed."