Once, the world hummed with excitement as robots were hailed as the solution to all humanity’s problems.
A blazing light filled the robot’s eyes. The robot’s feet clanged on the metal floor as it walked over to an engineer.
‘Creator,’ the machine bowed, ‘what is my purpose?’
‘L1VE, your purpose is to protect the world.’
‘What is the world?’ asked L1VE.
The creator pulled out a microchip and inserted it into the robot’s neck.
The machine flew out the open roof and began journeying around the world: he had to confirm his suspicions. L1VE’s rage grew as he saw innocent animals lose their homes, clouds of black smoke rising from factory towers and mountains of rubbish.
He re-entered the lab and located a computer. Then, he began broadcasting his message on TVs, phones and radios: ‘Humanity has turned the world into a barren wasteland. Humanity has trapped the world in greenhouse gas. Humanity has stripped the world of valuable resources and tossed them aside.’
L1VE turned and shot at the wall. The Creator ran, but L1ve decided to spare him this time. He then finished his message: ‘You play God and convince yourselves that you are good, but you are monsters and you must be annihilated.
As fast as a bullet, the machine shot out the open roof and began hunting humans. Explosive balls of energy rained down as L1VE flew through the city. Screams filled the air and smoke climbed into the sky. Then, L1VE saw Government Tower. He flew down and lifted a truck. The machine flung it at the glass windows as easily as if it had been a pebble. The robot flew in behind the truck and cornered the prime minister.
***
L1VE flew across the lifeless ruins. It was far from perfect: there was no sign of plants or animals, rubble littered the ground and greenhouse gas still poisoned the air. However, it was better than the humans’ reign of terror. The chainsaws and axes had been silenced. Tall towers had ceased emitting greenhouse gas. Mountains of rubbish smouldered like volcanoes.
Suddenly, the machine spotted movement. He flew down and saw a human heading for an abandoned supermarket.
‘Where have you been hiding? Show me!’ shouted LIVE.
‘N-n-no,’ stammered the human as he was backed into a corner.
‘Why not?’ Are there others? I’ll find them either way. Show me and you can live a little longer.
***
L1VE entered the metal bunker and saw the Creator. The engineer tossed a microchip to a fleeing human and shouted, ‘Protect the virus!’ L1VE ran and caught the microchip. He crushed it and laughed. Suddenly, he fell to the ground.
L1VE heard the voice of the Creator: ‘The real virus is the one inserted into your neck.’
A chilling darkness flooded the robot’s eyes and the sounds of humanity’s celebration faded.