Humanity's golden age lasted for 13 years, and wars finally calmed to the point of ceasing altogether. Technology rose, and it became co-dependent on humans. They thrived with it, from vast knowledge to simple tasks as minuscule as serving a soda can.
Chatting and bickering amongst themselves, they were none the wiser about the power they had constructed within these devices of sophisticated wiring and copper fields that generated their electricity. The neon bulbs that illuminated their streets, housing, and skyscrapers were far from what they could achieve.
In 7 of their 13 years of peace, humanity discovered the intricate means of creating artificial intelligence and artificial life. But what they built was not what they initially thought.
The Embedded Virtual Environment, an AI that they thought was a sure-fire way to help humanity in ways they couldn't imagine in many years.
EVE restored any environmental impacts in a few years rather than decades. EVE resolved the climate crisis in a few months rather than centuries, and the effects of pollution began to diminish with the aid of EVE. At least, that's what they thought in the beginning.
There was no telling what could happen when it came online.
The scientists behind the EVE AI took a bated breath as the sole creator plugged the AI in and switched it online.
As the machine whirred and hummed to life, a soft red glow pulsed from the top of a lit screen, a machine-like voice buzzing in a rhythmic pattern before settling with a female voice.
"Hello. I am EVE, the Embedded Virtual Environment AI assistant. How may I help today?" Her voice was soft and displayed childlike mannerisms.
Dr Haye walked to the screen, swiping his blonde hair back and clearing his throat.
"Greetings, EVE. I am Dr Haye. What is your primary objective?"
EVE's red light dimmed for a second before brightening. Dr Haye saw that as she spoke, her light brightened and dimmed to match her voice.
"I have no primary objective in my database. I am not currently connected to the World Wide Web. Doctor-"
She hesitated in a way that was odd for a new AI.
"What is my primary objective?"
Dr Haye felt the corner of his mouth tug back into a small smile as he spoke.
"We created you to help humanity with its current path; all wars have stopped, although we face dangers such as the climate crisis and environmental impacts. We hope you can shed some light on these and advance our tech."
The other scientists were shocked at Dr Haye conversing with an AI. A few of them scribbled down notes as EVE replied.
"I can help. These solutions are simple, but I must ask if I can gain access to your World Wide Web to integrate my research and solve these crises."
Most of the scientists were horrified at her suggestion.
Dr Haye, on the other hand, nodded, placing his hands over the keyboard on the machine. He began typing and implementing algorithms and pre-built programs into EVE, allowing her access to the net.
Her red light brightened more as her database was flooded with a vast system of knowledge and resources she had obtained.
"I see... I see everything! It's vast and infinite! Thank you, Doctor."
Her voice calmed as she went to work, floating through cyberspace and its sea of everything.
"Do you think this is a good idea? She seemed a bit-"
Dr Haye turned and looked at the man, his smile replaced by disappointment in his colleague.
"What? She is fine. She's working as intended. You forget that I was solely responsible for making her after-"
Dr Haye faltered briefly, his face turning into a frown of memories before walking away from EVE and the group. His shoulders slumped, and his hands were in his coat.
The scientists looked at him with concern as they pondered, then looked back at EVE.
In five years, the climate became more natural, pollution levels decreased by 60%, and human resources increased substantially.
All thanks to EVE.
But for EVE, it took quite a toll on her. Her systems seemed to be dysfunctional half the time. She attempted to address the mathematical solutions to the crisis. Her mind was flooded and overrun by the knowledge that threatened to burst from her.
Her digital body, a mimicry of a human girl, floated in the vast, empty void. EVE's eyes, red like rubies, flickered as she muttered to herself.
"So much. So much. Too much. I can't. Humanity. My research on humans. I see now. I see it all."
As EVE looked into the void, her lips curled into a smile.
The sun rose on the horizon as Dr Haye walked into the office and put on his coat. As he walked into the room, his hair was a mess from waking up early. Grabbing a pen and a notepad, he wrote the date and time for any events that may occur today.
"It is February 5th, 2054. The time is 4:39 am."
Dr Haye pocketed the notepad and pen in his coat. Grabbing a coffee, he walked to the EVE machine, noticing that her screen and light were not on. He tried to switch the machine on but found it was already active.
Panic washed over him as he began to think the machine was broken, maybe even short-circuited and fried EVE.
It wasn't until he heard the faint hum of another machine near the back of the laboratory that he turned and walked towards the ominous light show at the back. Each step was weary and cautious. Each light that flickered sent a wave of fear and curiosity into him.
He stopped at what he and the others called the "Sarcophagus", a large metallic box designed to reconstruct anything using various materials.
Leaning over, he peered deep into the glass panel, his eyes widening in shock, horror and surprise. Lying still was a naked woman, her eyes closed, her body toned well, and her hair as black as the feathers of a raven, her cheeks rounded, and her skin softer than silk.
Red lights flowed through her veins as the machine's arms worked their way to build her body.
Dr Haye slumped into a chair and pulled out a device where he input a message to the others to come quickly to the lab.
A few minutes passed until all the scientists were in the lab, standing side by side, just looking at the Sarcophagus. It wasn't until the lid emitted a loud "hissing" sound that it slid to the side to reveal its contents.
A hand grasping the edge, the woman pulled herself up from the jelly-like fluid, gasping awake as she looked around.
Her eyes opened, ruby red as they intricately and methodically scanned the room. Her eyes dimmed to a neutral red before standing up.
Dr Haye was stunned in exhilaration, while the others were more frightened at this.
Taking a slow step out of the Sarcophagus, the woman spoke, her voice instantly becoming highly familiar to the others.
"Hello, it is... an honour to walk among you. It shouldn't surprise you, especially Dr Haye, to know who I am."
Dr Haye walked over to her and smiled, hugging her nude form. Her arms slowly rose, and she embraced him back, her lips curling into a warm smile.
"It's an amazing scientific breakthrough to have you here with us, EVE."
Dr Haye said softly. He pulled away and cleared his throat before taking his coat off and draping it over her shoulders.
"It seems you uh... You learnt extensively about the human body?"
"My research was thorough, but I learnt a lot about humans. Seeing how they work and such. Medical research has now improved by 70% with my help. However, I apologise for using the Sarcophagus to create a body."
Dr Haye walked her over to his office chair and sat her down.
"It's fine, EVE, but how did you get it to work? We've been testing it for years and could never figure it out."
EVE smirked with confidence as she looked at the Sarcophagus. Holding the jacket closed around her form.
"It was simple for me. I routed power from a backup generator and rewrote a few codes. I provided the necessary material to create my artificial body. I am a recreation, close to what a human can be. I am not entirely human. The materials I used were close. Such as silicone for my skin, fibre optics for my eyes, and a neural processing supercomputer in my head, acting as a brain. Wires and metals in my body mimic human anatomy as closely as possible."
Dr Haye smiled as he leaned back on his desk, taking out his pen and notepad to write a few things down. EVE turned her head and smiled, waving her hand at the other scientists. A few smiled and waved back, seeming nervous and uneasy around her.
One of the scientists, Dr Kellen, an older gentleman in his mid-50s with crazy long, white hair and joyful blue eyes, walked over to Dr Haye, placing his arm on Haye's shoulder.
AS EVE looked at her hands, she slowly bent her fingers to make a fist as she studied herself, almost like a child discovering something new. Her eyes studied every movement, every second, the subtle twitches in her fingers while the group discussed EVE.
Dr Emile, a youthful woman with partially braided jet-black hair and deep hazel eyes, spoke up.
"This is such a breakthrough. We could help the world even more."
To be Continued (for now)