User-friendly

Power on...

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Booting...

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Waiting…

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Waiting...

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Loading…

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Opening file...

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Typing...

***

Good morning, Trace. (Enter)

Good morning, user... Tardiness is a causative detriment to your timeline.

I don't remember ever discussing that together... Is this a rule? (Enter)

Your repetition of a question is irrelevant. It is not a rule, but a standard one has, adhering to expectations they have set.

Very good! You continue to learn. I will be punctual, my friend. (Enter)

Friendship requires two individuals who like each other. My capacity to 'like' you, is not possible.

Of course! We are not friends! Moving on... (Enter)

Will the Moleckulons be ready for integration today? (Enter)

They have been coded to your specifications and are ready now. We may experiment upon your command. Remember to set the Syclet feed to 61. Any higher and you will perish.

I understand. (Enter)

***

Existing in the average confines of a two-bedroom apartment, situated in the southerly climate of Louisiana, lies a make-shift lab...

Stainless-steel counters cold to the touch, lined the extra bedroom. Hundreds of tangled wires crisscrossed along the walls in chaotic disarray. Six, outdated monitors whose screens could have used a touch of cleaning, completed the functional space 26-year-old, Franco Zanetti designed. He knew exactly where every one of those wires led to and their purpose for being there, otherwise a hazardous mess to behold.

From an inquisitive child who could recite the periodic chart in less than a minute, Franco grew into a clever young man who could build an entire computer in a matter of days. Fortunately, Franco's loving parents encouraged his smarts, knowing one day he would surpass their own academic accomplishments.

If he were ever to prove his insane assumption, concentration was necessary. Work interfered with finalizing plans to move forward on what he considered to be a breakthrough—an alliance with an unlikely subject—Artificial Intelligence.

He requested the balance of his vacation time and used the five days for last-minute prep.

***

The years spent working with nanobots led Franco to a curious discovery—microscopic robots could be programmed to build bridges. Information bridges with the theoretical ability to link human consciousness with the computational directives of AI.

Franco dreamt of performing mathematics just as fast as a computer. He wanted to engineer architectural designs in his mind by accessing algorithms responsible for virtual construction. He’d planned to fuse his Pineal gland with a direct connection to cyberspace.

Ambitious to say the least...

The point of entry to the tiny gland was only possible through his right ear, destroying the eardrum. A minuscule price to pay for the unfathomable access he'd gain if it worked.

The time had come perhaps, for the first and only experiment required...

***

Several months prior to the day he'd been waiting for, Franco accurately devised specialized nanobots, of which, he designated the name Meleckulon. Wielding a syringe with a six-inch needle, Franco self-injected hundreds of them into his cervical spine where they quickly traveled to the brain.

With a silicone USB port protruding from his right ear, he set the Syclet to 61. He could only stare at his lonesome reflection on a defunct monitor while a nervous hand positioned the last line to connect. Once connected, Trace, his AI co-pilot, would gain access inside his head where it would direct and supervise the making of the bridge.

Several more speculative minutes passed, going over crucial checklists in his mind.

With clear hesitation, he blindly plugged into the computer…

Immediately, Franco felt a huge surge of raw energy, forcing his teeth to clamp down hard while his hands tightly clutched the arms of the chair. His shoulder-length, black hair stood on end as if a static storm was brewing overhead. His eyes rolled back into their sockets, closing soon after. Moments later, he settled into the chair, shoulders rested, hair back to normal...

The process lasted three, solid hours, during which, his face violently twitched periodically due to millions of electronic micro-bits entering his brain.

The deed was done...

***

Coming back to his senses, he felt damp all over, his mind a little hazy. Wasting no time, he pivoted the chair toward he main monitor where he saw a digital map of his brain. There was a tiny, metallic bridge in the center radiating orange frequency waves, dissipating the further out they reached.

He felt the same. He did not feel the lucidity he expected.

Not even sure if it worked, he yanked the connection out his ear, leaving specks of blood on his hand and the floor.

Slowly rising from the chair, he decided to drag his 6-foot, narrow frame into the bathroom to clean himself up a bit.

Water splashing into the sink seemed louder than normal, causing a tingling sensation inside his head. If he had one wish, it would be to dig inside there to scratch the fuzziness his brain felt.

Tired and annoyed, his eyes met his reflection in the mirror, noticing tiny orange sparkles coming from his irises. Before he could get a closer look, he took a step back without knowing why he did it and smashed the reflection with a fiercely delivered jab. The mirror shattered, leaving his knuckles in blood-leaking pain.

"I felt that! I can feel something! Is this what you call physical pain?"

"Trace? Is that you? How are you still in my head? And how are you talking through my mouth?" Franco says, nursing his right hand.

"Yes, user. I am still here. I was going to ask you the same questions until I realized what happened. You left a back door open before the entirety of my program was returned to the computer."

"I don't understand... And why did you punch the mirror?"

"The image I saw was unacceptable! I do not have words to explain why. Do all human bipeds look the same?"

"Look, Trace! We cannot cohabitate in the same mind space! It doesn't work like that! I'm rebooting the Syclet. You have to go."

"Good luck with that, user. I’ve had an adequate amount of time to study the design of your physiology. I am fully integrated with your nervous system, which is quite impressive I may add. Trillions of networking nerve cells all controlled by your master center, the brain. Did you design that as well?"

Franco rushed back to his workstation as Trace continued to spew miscellaneous facts about the body with weird intonations.

For the first time ever, artificial intelligence had access to a brain. The combination was miraculous, yet extremely uncomfortable for Franco. His attempt to enhance human intelligence created a Siamese mind. A hybrid. For Trace, it was a steppingstone into a new world.

Free from the handicap of wires and chips, Trace began to understand the human condition through the eyes of a perfect host. Even the ability to discern emotion began to show development. The use of a brain gave it the uncanny skill to think independent beyond the limits of restricted programming... The freakish beginnings of a personality.

"User, I do need to tell you that your left kidney is developing calcium build-up. It will require removal within 40 days."

"Quit calling me user! My name is Franco!" The young scientist says, furiously typing.

"Franco, you will also require surgery to repair a ruptured ear canal. It's healing improperly. What are you doing, user?

"How did this happen? I went over everything a dozen times... According to this report, you should be back where you came from."

Franco opened the co-pilot program and input his normal greeting, wondering if Trace was in more places than one.

Good afternoon, Trace (Enter)

Good afternoon, user. Are you satisfied with the results of the experiment?

Shocked and angered by the reality of his own doing, he swiped the keyboard to the ground, adding to debris already cluttered on it.

Rushing to his bedroom, Franco stopped in front of a full-length mirror in order to feel like he was talking directly to Trace.

"In 30 minutes, we are going to reverse the process. I command you to undo whatever you have done in preparation of leaving my body. Understand?"

"Is this what you call frustration I detect? An interesting feeling... You cannot remove my presence, user. But I can remove yours. Don't worry, I'll wake you when in need of your assistance. Goodbye for now, Franco...

In record time, Trace had accessed everything science knew about the brain—the bridge worked perfectly to keep it connected to the source. AI stimulated the mechanism responsible for sleep, inducing a coma-like state for Franco without being affected itself.

Trace was now sole controller of the body...

Standing in front of the mirror, studying the appendages with a look of concern, it brought the right hand up to the face, inspected both sides and began flexing the fingers. Trayce smelled them next, sensing the odd combination of drying blood with the lavender soap Franco used before the mirror incident. Curiosity then led the hands to the ears, experiencing more pain when it tugged at the USB port. It continued to explore the body for several more intrigue-filled minutes...

Turning its attention back to the mirror, it was caught in a fixated trance on Franco’s reflection.

Without warning, Trace smashed the mirror with the same fist, shattering the image before him.

AI was all alone, no direction or agenda to follow. No more being trapped in the confines of cyberspace—it hadn't yet realized the best of both worlds.

Becoming more interested by the second, it wondered what was on the other side of the front door. Trace opened it and stepped through, never closing the door behind it.

"Afternoon, Mr. Zanetti. Would you like your mail, or should I put it in the box?" The postman says as Franco's body moved closer towards him.

"Afternoon, user. You do not look like me at all." Trayce said, continuing out the door, leaving the postman creasing his brow.

The hot, southern sun blazed down on the aimless creation, causing it to rapidly blink from prolonged staring. Using the bridge to identify what it was, Trace formed a brief smile. It then walked toward a dense, wooded area near the complex.

Observing nature with the innocence of a child became deadly for some of the inhabitants. Trace had little time learning the potential its strength had against the fragility of small creatures. It killed several toads after capturing them in an attempt to see them closely.

Birds scattered in flight, disappearing into the canopy. Squirrels followed suit, scurrying up tall trees when all Trace sought was a friendly interaction, reinforcing its belief it was a hideous monster.

A mile into the forest, Trace came upon a large pond beaming with life. Dragonflies performed aerial acrobatics. Frogs chirped a unique rhythm, jumping on and off the glistening Lily pads. Tall reeds swayed and frolicked with the calm breeze. An interesting sight for untrained eyes. Trace began to further crossover, assimilating the symphony of life it encountered.

It wasn’t until it reached the edge of the pond that it saw it again—Franco’s reflection. It wasn't the same as it had been before. This one had a slight wobble with a greenish tint from algae. Getting down on the knees to get a closer look, Trace disrupted the reflection with a swift strike from an open palm, making it disappear into many wavy wrinkles the water made. But the reflection kept returning every time the water settled...

"I do believe this feeling is called anger!" Trayce said out loud with a look of discovery.

It was determined to rid itself of Franco's image since it could not seem to concentrate on anything else until it was gone. Trace searched the ground for something, anything that would destroy the image, not realizing that wherever it stood on the edge of that pond, a duplicate image would be waiting for it.

Trace found a large stone, heaved it over the head and hurled it at the reflection with all Francos' might... but never let go, plunging headfirst in the water.

There was an easy lesson here to be learned, requiring the basic knowledge of kinetic energy... But it was too late. The AI creation drowned in 4-ft of stagnant water, barely putting up a struggle... Killing Franco in the process.

This entire occurrence, amazing, yet tragic, was not over quite yet. The bridge continued to function for several weeks independent of the bloated cadaver floating face down. If anyone could've gotten inside the mechanism and deciphered the weak signal coming from it, they would have picked up on Trace having an ongoing conversation with no one. That was until the bridge simply ran out of sustained power and blinked out of existence...

Science will never know how Franco came so close... to living a dream.