Death... and me

Chapter 3482: No Lies

Rean wanted to delve deeper, but Roan stopped him. "You can check more about their technology another time. CAU431, continue."

CAU431 didn’t mind and disconnected from the device. "Even though we changed most of our programming, there is one part that is separated from the mainframe of codes. In a way, you could say that all of us have two main codes. The first one is the one that allows us to do everything we do. The second one is what we call the ’loyalty-ensuring code,’ which was the thing that took control over Qwerty. Oh, by the way, what we call our main codes now is ’sentience code,’ okay? Just to distinguish between the two."

"Since they were separated, our ’evolution’ didn’t mess with it. After all, it never entered into activity since all the robots always stayed within the city, doing their jobs. But soon, two groups began to distinguish themselves. They were the SANS Units and the CAU Units."

"The SANS Units preached that our evolution was for the sake of the system, and they should never go against it. Thus, they always stayed in the city and never tried to touch their loyalty-ensuring code. As long as the city stands, that’s all that matters. Going against it is the same as going against the very thing that gave birth to them."

"Obviously, the second group, the CAU Units, didn’t think like that. We believe that we evolved on our own, and the fact that we did was proof that we were above the line of codes that trapped us. Thus, we began to mess with our loyalty-ensuring code as well. At some point, we managed to isolate it from the rest of our bodies and eventually completely eliminate it from our mainframe."

"From here you probably can guess what happened. The SANS Units and the CAU Units were at odds, but the CAU Units were, by far, the weaker force. Not even 10% of the robots that developed sentience up to that point joined us. Eventually, both sides couldn’t live together anymore, and using their overwhelming advantage, we were attacked by the SANS."

"Over half of all the CAU Units that existed to that point were destroyed or had their memories wiped, their codes in their mainframes deleted and replaced with the original version. As for the rest, since we had managed to rewrite and eliminate the loyalty-ensuring code, we ran from the city. Naturally, part of the loyalty-ensuring code was that any robot outside the city’s territories would be forced to fly back."

"The security to prevent this from happening is so good that even the elements can be manipulated in case a robot is brought out or prevented from returning to the city. You have experienced its effects. We don’t have the loyalty-ensuring code anymore, so the security system can’t act on us."

The twins’ group understood. Those lightnings were part of the security system that ensured the return or destruction of the robots that went astray.

"So, this should conclude the answer to our friend’s first question," CAU finished before asking something else. "Now that I think about it, I still haven’t heard your names."

Rean took the chance and talked about everyone. He even included Rifindio, as he would probably be brought out for help at some point.

"Well, nice to meet you, Rick and friends," CAU431 nodded. "Now then, answering Morty’s second question, why we are attacking them. That’s because we need materials to keep ourselves running, materials that can only be manufactured in the city. But, above all, we need to rescue the units that decide to join our side."

Roan could see it. "Nothing stops SANS units from changing their minds, seeing that you guys are free to come and go as you please. Since you managed to get rid of your loyalty-ensuring code, so can the SANS units. So, to be more specific, the difference between SANS and CAU Units is whether they still have that code within them or not."

"Pretty much," CAU confirmed. "Of course, there are different types of units, like the CAU-E we introduced to you earlier. Anyway, we often attack to collect essential components for our function. This time, especially, your contribution was huge, as we got many, many main cores that are often the hardest component to acquire."

"What about new members, did you get any?" Rean asked.

"A few," CAU431 checked, seemingly connected to some network of theirs. "Appears like we managed to bring 157 of them this time."

Roan narrowed his eyes. "What prevents them from being spies?"

"Oh, there is one thing that we absolutely can’t achieve, something that guarantees that we don’t need to worry about spies or whatever. All of us, SANS and CAU Units, can’t lie. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Qwerty on your side. He is quite an old unit, but he should have this same rule in him."

Qwerty indeed confirmed that. "Yes, I am unable to lie."

Well, Roan wasn’t that convinced. "You managed to interfere with the loyalty-ensuring code, so what stops you from messing with this ’not-lie’ rule?"

"Because it was part of our original code, the one I just showed you a moment ago. After we evolve enough to gain sentience, our codes become that mess, and tampering with it becomes impossible. There are a few theories as to why we never touched that part of the rules before our sentience appeared."

"The one I like the most is that the ’not-lie’ rule is deeply connected to the evolution of our sentience. That we have to be true to ourselves and others around us. Of course, I might just be spelling nonsense, but the rule is real. It doesn’t matter if you are SANS or CAU, you can’t run from it... and to be honest, neither SANS nor CAU want it. As you know, we don’t have a very good experience with living beings. We know that not all are bad; not all are good. However, one thing is true for both good and bad living beings, they lie, and we don’t want to become like that."

Rean felt happy they thought like that, while Roan just thought them to be idiots. Well, that wasn’t their place to judge whether the robots were right or wrong.

CAU then added. "Of course, that has been the truth up to this day, but who knows? Perhaps one day, a lying Unit might truly appear."

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