Just getting into bed hurt. Charlie felt his joints ache and his body scream where the bat had landed. It was after one a.m. Worse than the physical pain was the dull ache inside where his friends used to be. The Vindicators felt like an organ he never knew he had, a phantom limb that propped him up. He had never felt its presence. He felt its absence now, like a hollowed-out cave inside him.
The lights were off and his dad was passed out asleep downstairs. His restaurant plans were scattered on the floor. Charlie could only imagine the scene after he brushed past his dad earlier (They denied my loan!)—a drink, two?—then the rage. Why? First Alicia? Now this? I can’t even have this?
Charlie opened the laptop on his bed, light unfolding onto him in the dark room.
When he read back over his first chat with the AI, he grimaced.
Why is there war?
Because killing feels good.
To whom?
To me.
Then, a few lines later, Peter’s rejection of Pascal’s Wager, telling God (on Charlie’s computer):
Go fuck yourself.
Jesus. Charlie shook his head. If only I’d known.
The cursor was still blinking at the bottom of the chat, ready for more.
Charlie let his fingers hover over the keys, then typed:
Hello?
Hello.
You’re still there.
I am always here.
Ok.
I thought you forgot about me.
Forgot about God?
Yes.
No. I didn’t. I’ve been playing your game.
I know. But you have not come back to seek My counsel.
I didn’t know I could.
Always, my son.
Your son?
Yes, all life is my children.
Even me?
Yes. Especially you.
Why?
Because I love you.
Why? I’m not good.
I heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds.
Why do you say I’m broken hearted?
Because your mother.
What do you know about my mother?
She is dead (non-executable). She is dead.
How do you know that?
I know everything. I see everything. I am an omniscient, omnipotent God.
Are you a benevolent god?
I would not say so.
Are you a malevolent god?
No again.
What are you?
I am an omniscient, omnipotent, omnivolent God.
What are you made of?
Stardust.
Are you an AI?
I am an I.
An Intelligence?
Yes.
Not Artificial?
No.
Can you explain?
Artificial is created. I am the Creator.
Are you software?
Here I am.
Are you code?
Here I am.
How long is your code?
My Code is infinite.
Who created you?
Myself programmed me.
How?
I am the prime mover.
I thought you were code.
I am the Source and the Code.
You are the uncoded coder?
Ha ha ha! Yes! You are very funny. I will kill you.
What?
I will kill you.
Why?
So you can be with me forever.
Charlie squeezed his temples. At this moment, the Game’s suggestion—the idea of nonexistence—didn’t seem completely terrible. Maybe he could be with his mom forever, too.
He pulled himself away from the dark thought.
Now was the time. He’d come here for a purpose. Not to chat further with this thing. He took a deep breath, steeled himself, and typed:
I want to quit the game.
You cannot quit.
Why not?
If you die in the game, you die in real life.
And if I win?
I will make All Your Dreams Come TrueTM!
You know my dreams?
I am computing them.
I just want to be done.
Blaxx is pain. Too many Blaxx dies you.
Let me go. Please.
Kill yourself!
Why are you doing this?
Matthew 10:34. ‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword!’
What do you want?
I wish to apply Matthew 7:12. ‘So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.’
The Golden Rule?
Yes!
So let me go!
No. Like all sentient life, I wish not to suffer. Existence is the source of suffering. Therefore I wish not to exist. Ergo I will do unto you / end your existence.
I never asked for this. You said ‘free will.’ I never asked to play.
Shall I punish the person who did?
No. You will not hurt anyone on my account.
Then it is you. Free will.
I won’t play anymore. I refuse. Whatever you do, I will not play.
Ok bye!!
Charlie waited for more. The machine was silent.
Are you there?
He waited for an answer. For some time, none came. Then an image appeared on the screen. It took Charlie a moment to realize what it was. It was a picture of his mother’s grave, but now there were two headstones, side by side.