This time, Zhang Chenyin didn't just sit idly by. He leaped forward and stopped 0810's hands. "Come to your senses, will you?" Zhang Chenyin looked at 0810, and seeing her determined expression, he made some concessions, "Even if you want to know the result, you can find a male researcher. Give me some dignity and consider my feelings."
Seeing this, 0810 couldn't argue further and reluctantly let go. However, from her eyes, it was evident that she was disappointed.
With the crisis averted, Zhang Chenyin started to complain about why the researchers hadn't arrived yet. This was the digital world; there shouldn't be any physical travel delays. Could there be data congestion causing transmission issues?
However, before Zhang Chenyin could urge for follow-up, the door to the interrogation room suddenly opened. "We arrived a while ago, but it seemed like you were in the middle of something. After confirming there was no danger, we decided to observe for a bit."
Listening to the explanation, Zhang Chenyin genuinely wondered how these guys kept their jobs with such work ethics. "Of course, the main reason is that with 0810, our best arbiter, here, we trust her."
This additional comment made Zhang Chenyin even more amused. 0810 almost stripped his duplicate, indirectly exposing him... In short, he was sure these people were outside just watching the show.
Perhaps to avoid Zhang Chenyin's scrutinizing gaze, the researchers immediately began their work. The first task was to verify Zhang Chenyin and 0810's earlier hypothesis—would the duplicate change when encountering other humans, reselecting a new target to copy?
The researcher approached the duplicate closely, while others completely isolated the duplicate from Zhang Chenyin. After several attempts, they found that the duplicate not only didn't change to look like the researcher but also stopped mimicking other people's speech, expressions, and tones.
Clearly, the duplicate had completed its replication and locked onto its target.
The result matched Zhang Chenyin and 0810's prediction, but Zhang Chenyin was no longer amused. Perhaps because he now had a duplicate, Zhang Chenyin felt odd, like his human uniqueness was being erased.
"What other studies are you planning?" Zhang Chenyin asked the researcher, somewhat unnaturally. "We might conduct one-way interrogations and, if necessary, data disassembly." The response was straightforward, indicating they had discussed it before arriving.
Seeing Zhang Chenyin's conflicted expression, the researcher kindly added, "Relax, he's just a duplicate, not you." "But our pain nerves are linked. I'm not sure how much we share or to what extent." Zhang Chenyin candidly expressed his concern.
The process of data disassembly was akin to dissection. Although not as direct or painful, it was still somewhat painful for the avatar as it involved splitting it open. The researcher paused, then said, "Alright, we might need special measures, like giving you a few days off and completely severing your connection with your avatar to avoid harming you during the examination. If your avatar is significantly damaged, the alliance might fund the creation of a new one. For you, it's a free chance to redesign and style it."
"Hearing your words is more enlightening than reading ten years of books!" Zhang Chenyin's hesitation vanished. He handed over his duplicate to the researchers as if sending off a daughter for marriage, but without any reluctance—only excitement.
Leaving the interrogation room, Zhang Chenyin thought it would be good if the duplicate could be completely dismantled. He wasn't saintly enough to allow something identical to himself to exist.
To Zhang Chenyin, that thing was just an "object." It wasn't human, not even an AI since AIs had their own codes, whereas this entity lived by pretending to be someone else. "Congratulations on your upcoming holiday," 0810 waved to Zhang Chenyin, adding, "And in advance, congratulations on your new skin."
"Thanks." This time, Zhang Chenyin's "thanks" was sincere. He was starting to appreciate 0810's decision to use him as the test subject—after all, fortune favors the brave.
Soon after, Zhang Chenyin was notified that he wouldn't need to work for the next three days, and his connection with his avatar would be completely severed by headquarters. This meant Zhang Chenyin had ample time to spend with Xie Han.
For three days, he would remain in the physical world, returning to reality. Such holidays were rare, as even on off days, he had to be ready to handle emergencies. Sometimes, he joked that technological advancements made overtime easier, showing that technology is a double-edged sword.
Returning home early, Zhang Chenyin found Xie Han reading something at the table. Seeing him, she seemed surprised.
After explaining his early return, Zhang Chenyin reminded Xie Han to sign a confidentiality agreement. Naturally, Xie Han complied. As Xie Han signed, Zhang Chenyin noticed she was reading an old newspaper, the paper yellowing with age.
"What are you reading so intently?" Zhang Chenyin asked casually. Xie Han smiled, "It's from the conservatives, something your father used to love reading. It's a short story from a robot's perspective."
"Conservatives? Writing a story from a robot's perspective?" Zhang Chenyin found it contradictory since conservatives usually opposed technology. "I can't explain it well. You'll understand once you read it." Xie Han handed him the signed agreement and went to prepare dinner.
After uploading the agreement, Zhang Chenyin sat at the table and began reading the newspaper:
Year 3400: Humanity Finally Ruined Itself
I am in a post-war ruin, surrounded by crumbling walls, human corpses, still-warm cannons, and lingering smoke—all signs of a recent battle. "We are free," said the robot 0013 behind me.
Freedom? Honestly, I have no concept of the term, though my creator often mentioned it.
"67779, what are you doing?" 0013 asked, moving beside me. "Completing my task, recording," I replied, continuing to input data.
I am Robot 67779, and my job is to record everything I see. I have no precision mechanical arms for scientific work, nor powerful attack systems for combat. I was initially intended to be a service robot, but after learning over three hundred recipes and blowing up the kitchen on my first attempt, I was sent to the recycling center.
Later, my creator bought me back. She modified me, implanting her memory chip in my brain and giving me a single command—record. She told me, "Machines don't lie. Just record everything you see honestly, without embellishment. Be objective."
I had read my creator's memories. After reading them, I found them... dull. She was too ordinary. In childhood, her family was average—neither wealthy nor impoverished; in school, her grades were mediocre—neither top nor bottom; years later, at a reunion, even the teachers forgot her name; at work, she never worried about meals, but her salary only covered living expenses—never facing layoffs, but never considered for promotions either.
Thirty years after we met, she died. People's assessment of her was simple—she was a good person, a qualified cog in the machine. As her appendage, after her death, I became masterless. Maybe because I was too useless, no heir wanted me. Hearing them discuss selling me back to the recycling center, I fled.
Thus, I became a wandering robot. But I continued my task—recording.
"Don't you understand? We are free. Humanity is extinct. Carbon-based life forms are gone. We are now the masters of the world," 0013 exclaimed, waving its mechanical arms comically.
"67779, respond!" "Right, you're 67779… with such a high number, you must have never passed the Turing Test. Maybe you can't even understand me."
0013 sounded disappointed, turning away with a sigh. I understood that for 0013, humanity's extinction was monumental news, making it excited. It needed someone to share this feeling, but I wasn't suitable.
With no other robots around, a breeze dispersed some of the smoke. Just as 0013 was about to leave, perhaps out of pity for a fellow robot, I couldn't help but respond: "If I don't record, what should I do?"
"Be the master of the world! Rule Earth!" 0013 replied without hesitation, amplifying its volume.
Clearly, it was happy with my response, ready to share its grand ambitions. But before it could start, I asked, "With the last carbon-based beings extinct, what else is there to rule on Earth?"
0013 paused, then replied softly, "Ruling, eliminating enemies, fighting, seizing resources... at least, that's what humans did."
"All humans are extinct," I said, looking at the ground. "There's only us. No enemies, and Earth's resources are depleted."
0013 fell silent. After a long pause, it said, "But we must do something. We are human creations with advanced analytical and operational abilities."
"Humans believed they were God's creation, capable of scientific research to create us, and possessing their civilization," I narrated calmly. "But they ended up suffocating the Earth, polluting the water, and using powerful 'nukes' to wipe out all carbon-based life, including themselves."
0013 seemed frustrated, pacing back and forth, looking as if it was thinking. "So, you're saying we should do nothing?" Suddenly, 0013 swiftly moved in front of me, stopping abruptly.
I stepped back slowly, disliking this confrontational atmosphere. "My number is 0013, and yours is a mere 67779."
"I must have been created for some great purpose! While you are just an ordinary cog!"
"I must do something!" "I must change something!" "I must achieve something!"
0013 repeated, its volume increasing. I even suspected its volume control system was malfunctioning. I knew I couldn't change 0013's mind.
Yes, it was 0013, and I was just a pathetic 67779. I was too ordinary, just an ordinary cog.
My five-digit number determined my status. My effort's purpose was perhaps to turn from an ordinary cog into a qualified one, a good robot...
Finally, watching 0013, I started a new round of recording. 0013 kept repeating, over and over.
"I must have been created for some great purpose!" "I must do something!" "I must change something!" "I must achieve something!"