Losing Human

By Aaron Dennis

A man has a dream, a vision to see the world through eternal eyes. Dr. Heisler, roboticist, funds Project Human to advance the human race. After funding is diminished, he takes drastic measures and uploads a human awareness into a mobile robotic construct.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aaron Dennis
• Release date: Apr 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301538294

Aaron Dennis

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Losing Human

Copyright 2013 by Aaron Dennis

Published by www.storiesbydennis.com April 2013

Smashwords Edition April 2013

Newest edition November 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

It was supposed to be sad

I can’t believe that’s it. Growing up, granddad was always around….Guess I’ll just have to keep his memory alive, you know? Greta cried. Steven? Are you even listening to me?

Hm?

Doctor Steven Heisler and his girlfriend of the past seven months, Greta, stood outside the funeral home. Appropriately, it was a dreary day—cold and windy. Greta’s red, teary eyes twitched in fury. Heisler, as usual, was a million, emotional miles away.

I just lost my grandfather! What the Hell is wrong with you? You can’t even give me your attention?

Honey, I heard every word. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say here.

Gee, I don’t know, how about; it’ll be all right, I’m here for you. I love you, she huffed.

He just looked at her with a staid expression. Greta was a beautiful woman even in mourning with her smile lines and button nose.

Don’t you believe in God, he asked.

What? You know I do. So what? she accused. Is this your way of mocking my religious beliefs?

That isn’t it at all, he clarified. Your beliefs tell you this man has moved on to a better place, Heaven, and there, he rests in the glory of God. Why would you be sad about that?

Oh my God…I can’t even look at you right now, Steven. I mean, you really don’t get it, that I have a hole in my heart? My beloved grandfather, a man I, I, I can’t even comprehend a life without him. He’s gone. I’m sad, Steven, because I’m never going to see him again, she explained in disbelief.

Again he just looked at her. An old couple approached during their exchange.

Greta, honey, her father called. Why don’t you ride home with us?

Here, she yelled, throwing a set of keys at Heisler. Thanks, Dad.

He didn’t catch the keys. They bounced off his black coat and jingled on hitting the concrete. Greta’s father glared at him. Heisler didn’t mind. They’re just acting out based on emotions…everyone does that.

He bent over, snatched the keys then made his way to the Ford Expedition. He climbed in, but waited a few minutes for the crowds to disperse. All these people, all of them, they’re only acting like they feel these particular ways. So what if her grandfather is dead? She didn’t act like this when she got the call, no she was ‘in shock’ then, days later, miraculously, she’s sad. Ridiculous.

Most everyone left. He turned the key then started the drive home. His phone rang about a mile down the road. Using the hands free device, he answered.

Project Human

Dekker, what have you got, Heisler asked from behind the wheel of his Expedition.

Stevie, you won’t believe it! Come to the lab right away. It’s working. Can you believe it? It’s freaking working, Dekker cheered.

Heisler smiled. His colleague, Charles Dekker, knew better than to call him Stevie, but Dekker never cared, especially when he was excited. His partner was ecstatic about the work in progress—uploading intelligences into a digital system.

Alright, Dekker, I’m coming in. Keep your pants on, Heisler replied then disconnected.

He took the next exit on the interstate, turned around, and headed towards MIT. For months, the team of programmers, neuroscientists, and roboticists worked in unison to complete Project Human. The first step, after the completion of a Mobile Robotic Construct, or MRC, was uploading brain waves from a cat into a mainframe. The second step, which had just been successful, was uploading a digital copy from the mainframe into the MRC.

Heisler arrived late in the afternoon at the University. He parked, ran inside, scanned in then proceeded to the lab. Inside, he saw his compatriot.

Doctor Dekker, the chunky Irishman and programmer of the team, was all smiles. Heisler walked past the myriads of robotic components he himself had designed and approached the robotic feline.

Look! Dekker said with wide eyes.

I see it.

"Oh, that’s it, huh? You see it. Dead inside as always…at least you’re consistent," Dekker joked.

Heisler smiled. The cat walked around the room for a