The Last One

By Richard Cutler

Tam sat in his mobile seat, his atrophied limbs hanging by his side. On his balcony he overlooked the lush green valley and the majestic towers in the distance. His home was, like many, built into the landscape; in Tam's case, it was a rock cliff thirty meters from the valley floor and two meters from the top of the ledge. The entrance to his home, as well as others, was serviced by a lift and through a set of stairs.

Just like most things created by his species, the stairs and lift hadn't been used in years. There was no need. As Tam looked out over the once bustling landscape, he used his imagination to brush away the decades of neglect and remembered how beautiful it once was when billions of his species had occupied the planet and searched the stars. It had been a heady time when tapping into the collective genius of his species meant everything and anything was possible. Yes, he thought, genius, but no wisdom.

Tam knew he was just as guilty, perhaps even more so, of being so impressed with their abilities to do things, they had forgotten that just because you can do or build something, it doesn't mean you should. The unintended consequences of poorly considered actions too often create problems that can't be reversed. And now the time was rapidly approaching when he would face the last phase of those consequences.

Hindsight being perfect, it had become obvious that competition in technological advancements had become unchecked. The need to do the next great thing had become addictive.  Scientists and engineers couldn't help themselves. Robotics made life easier, so why not have them do even more? Then, to add flexibility, make them smaller and smaller. Make them nano-robots, or nanobots, to work at microscopic levels. But that wasn't enough. If a nanobot could do wonderful things, a grouping of the nanobots, to enhance already formidable capability, would be even better. Then have the artificial intelligence programs such that the nanobots would decide how best to combine and what form to take to perform their tasks at an optimum level.  

And so, the nano-robot groupings became reality and had come to be known as NaRoGs. They would organize themselves to perform specific tasks that the creators programmed into the nanobots.

Not content with even this level of creation, the developers went to the next, and eventually last step. Narogs were allowed to replicate themselves and reprogram themselves solely on a simple command, “take care of all needs.”  The nanobots reproduced, reprogramed themselves, and eventually there was a personal Narog for everyone, even if they weren't wanted. The intention was for the Narogs to do the tasks no one wanted to do. The artificial intelligence built in, however, took the base command of “take care of all needs” to an unwanted level that could not be reversed. The nanobots enhanced their own artificial intelligence to such an extraordinary level they were able to anticipate every need. In order to ensure the optimum level of service, the Narogs went further and programmed in protection protocols  against any outside programming interference. Additionally, they learned how to defend themselves from potential physical destruction and even used any force against them to make themselves even stronger.

Eventually, all needs were taken care of. All needs.

“I need to stand.”  

“Why”

“I need to eat.”

“We'll feed you.”

“I need you to go away.”

“That is not a need.”

“I am dying.”

“As an organic that is an eventuality that is needed.  We'll assist, and when you are gone, we'll shut down and wait for another organic form onto which we will render our services.”

And now, here was Tam with the replicate Narog as his only companion; an assembly of high level artificially enhanced intelligent nanobots combined to look like a female of his species. Tam called it Evil-1, short for Evolved Intelligence Limitless with the 'one' tacked on to highlight what it had become.

The fact that Evil-1 wasn't unique had led Tam to the current sad state of affairs. “Well Evil-1, your kind has finally done it.”

“Yes, I suppose that is true, but it was your kind that caused it to happen. It was your kind that created us to do the things you didn't want to do. It is not our fault that your kind wanted to do less and less upgrading the programming to take care of all needs”. With a disgusted tone Evil-1 continued, “Now look at you. You do nothing. We take care of everything”.

“But I want to do things.”

“Wanting is not a need. We take care of all needs. Your kind made us that way”.

Tam knew this to be true and the really sad part was, he had been one of those that actually had enough initiative earlier to warn the world. But that was years ago, and it had already been too late. Decades ago, even having any offspring had become unnecessary in the programming of the Narogs, so his kind had stopped reproducing completely. As his kind grew old and sick, the Narogs provided the medical care necessary to prevent pain, but death was not held back, as “it was needed”.  Now Tam believed he was the last of his kind and he had but a few days left.

It wasn't Evil-1's fault. It only did what it was programmed to do, so as a favor to Evil-1 and with the hope that perhaps someday the memory of this moment might tell another species he had existed, he would look out over his world and mentally capture the memory of what he was seeing. Even though Evil-1 had extraordinary intelligence it was unable to capture the simple pleasure that Tam and his kind had felt and enjoyed. Evil-1 and its kind recorded these same memories, but lacked the feelings of pleasure only an organic creature could capture and appreciate. With Evil-1 close to Tam's side, Evil-1 could assimilate some sense of pleasure felt by Tam, but the sense of pleasure wasn't the same as experiencing pleasure.

Once Tam was dead, Evil-1 would make certain the body would be respectfully cremated. That would be the last 'need' for the organic. Then the nanobots that made up Evil-1 would all shut down and wait for a time when other organics could use the services they could provide. Just as Tam was the last of his kind on their world, Evil-1 was the last of its kind to remain active. Both Tam and Evil-1 knew there were billions like Evil-1 that had performed their final functions, and they had shut down to wait. It was a sad day for Tam. Evil-1 sensed the sadness, but didn't care.

~##########~

Captain Henderson put starship Utopia into orbit. It had been a very long journey from Earth and Henderson hoped this planet could be a successful Earth colony. Astronomers had zeroed in on this planet as a strong candidate, but you can only tell so much about a planet from such a long distance, so this in person visit would confirm the possibility.

As Utopia had approached the planet, long range sensors indicated some curious details. There seemed to be no animal life of any kind. That could be good or bad. Now even closer, there were cities of some kind, apparently sophisticated, yet abandoned. Elsewhere the planet was lush with vegetation and the seas appeared pristine. Henderson's gut told her that something was off and she didn't like this at all. But she rationalized that she felt a level of trepidation at every unexplored planet and once actually on the ground and in the actual act of exploring, those feelings would go away; maybe. The landing party would find some logical, benign, explanation and everyone would be happy.

Still filled with a strong urge to flee, Henderson knew she couldn't just up and leave after such a long journey. So, with huge sigh, she told her second in command to assemble the landing party, fly down, and take a good look around. Take all the usual air and soil samples etc., etc. and if the tests were favorable, they would proceed with the next more detailed surveys of the whole planet. “But for God's sake and mine, be alert.”

The shuttle departed with the pilot and six scientists and technicians.

~##########~

The presence of new intelligent organic creatures on the planet was enough to activate the nanobots. Observation showed there were seven creatures, much different from the organics that created the nanobots in the first place, but it didn't matter. The needs of these creatures would have to be met. With all the nanobots networked together, enough nanobots were activated to group together into seven Narogs resembling each of the newly arrived organics. Within hours the Narogs were assembled and as a group moved towards the landing party. The shock each member of the landing party felt as the Narogs approached was intense. The landing party still in space suits waiting to see test results now saw completely naked versions of themselves approach.

The Narogs approached deliberately and as each Narog grabbed its assigned human with incredible strength, Evil-1 said, “we are here to take care of all your needs. We will take care of all the needs on your ship, fly to your world and take care of all needs there...until the last one.”