Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

By The Outsider

I remember it so clearly, the day it all started. The day my life changed. Until then, I had been a complacent coward like the rest of the humanity, never questioning the right and the wrong of the Androsynth slavery, a voiceless supporter of the party line. After all, were they not Fake Men? Had we not created them? Was it not our right to use them as we pleased? Back in those days, I had answered 'yes'.

It was a conversation with a friend that opened my eyes. It was early in the 2084, and we were having dinner at the fabulous Eagle Tower in Dallas. Such irony, really. I bet the food technician was also an Androsynth; I'd never tasted anything quite so delicious.

I don't remember exactly how our conversation drifted to the Androsynth, but I think it was my friend's recent promotion to the post of Chief of Research at the Dallas Star Control development facility; the reason for our dinner. They had quite a large number of Androsynth working at the facility. I will reproduce the conversation as well as I'm able, but it was well over a year ago, and I may have forgotten something. My vanity may also affect my ability to truthfully report my words; I was a woefully ignorant fool back then, as is evident from my following question:

"Is it difficult to direct the work of such mock-humans as Androsynth?"

"The Androsynth are every bit as human as you or me, Andrew. We share the same genome. The only real difference is the method of birth."

"How can you say that? They are not natural. They are manufactured."

"You can't manufacture life. The Androsynth begin their lives as a single cell, not very different to a zygote. The fact that the embryo grows outside a womb doesn't mean a thing. Many childless couples using artificial insemination have their children grown in the vats. And no-one questions their humanity."

"Well, if you put it like that. If they are human, shouldn't they be treated as humans? You can give an Androsynth any implants you wish. Shouldn't that be stopped? Shouldn't they be given equal rights with men?"

"They should. You are absolutely right. They should. Have you ever heard of a man called Jason MacBride?"

"Doesn't ring a bell. Is it relevant?"

"Oh, yes. MacBride was a very influential religious leader in the early half of this century. He founded and order called 'Homo Deus', or 'The Godly Men', in the years following the Small War. The order had a huge following from people responding to the promise of salvation. You must remember, the world was a very different place back then. Now, the advent of the Androsynth, faster, stronger, smarter and more beautiful than common men, didn't really sit well with the people of Homo Deus. They did everything they could, and that was much indeed, to get the Androsynth branded as non-humans. And they succeeded."

"I really have trouble believing a... a cult could have that much influence."

"As I said, it was a different world back then. The facts are there, if you want to check them. Jason MacBride was one of the most influential people on the planet in the heyday of Homo Deus, and they took the human rights away from the Androsynth."

"Okay, I believe you. But if this was decades ago, then how come the rights have not been returned?"

"It's too convenient to let things be as they are. The Androsynth without human rights are cheap and effective labour, letting the rest of us reap the rewards of their work. And there is another cynical reason I think the UN leaders recognise. And this may even be the reason government went along with the Homo Deus in the first place."

"What do you mean?"

"Throughout the recorded history, and probably before, humans have been at each other's throats for the slightest of reasons. We tend to see the differences, not the similarities. But there is one exception, one thing that can bring people together."

"And what is that, then?"

"You know what that is: common enemy. It's not such a novel idea to try to unite a people against one specific group of humans, whether it's the neighbouring nation, or a religious or an ethnic group. It usually works, too, like it has worked this time. Following the Small War the people sobered up for a moment, and the UN gained unprecedented authority. But once the crisis was past, it didn't take long before the nations started to cry after their lost sovereignty and discrimination reared its head when the wrecked economy of the world wasn't enough to feed everyone. Then, like a gift from the heavens, the Androsynth appeared. Not only were they instrumental in regaining the level of wealth preceding the Small War and the Depression, but they provided a means to unite the people. For perhaps the first time in human history, a man could look at another man and say: 'He may be different colour from me, but at least he's human, born of a woman, like me. '"

"I can't believe the legislators could be that callous. And I can't believe you're trying to tell me the Androsynth are like me. Have you seen what some of them look like? They are more machine than organic."

"That's just implants. You could do the same thing to any human."

"Not legally!"

"Medical prosthetics are legal to use. Many of them are mechanic."

"It's not the same thing and you know it!"

"I don't see any real difference. In both cases cybernetic implants are used to enhance some functions of the body."

"But humans can only get implants for medical reasons and with the consent of the patient. You can do any implant job to any Androsynth, and no-one will complain."

"Expect the Androsynth in question. But you are right. I know the reason for heavy use of implants, but I think it shouldn't be done against the will of the Androsynth."

"There you go with the will again. They' re not human. But forget that for a while. What is the reason? I don't think I actually know."

"It's simple, really. Growing and training an Androsynth to a specific function takes almost two decades, usually. Often there is a choice of taking a generic jack-of-all-trades from the work pool, and equipping him with suitable implants. It's quicker and cheaper. But it's not right. There's nothing inherently evil about implants, of course, they've just got a bad name for being almost exclusively used on the Androsynth. But, nevertheless, they should not be grafted on anyone without permission."

"What good would a permission from an Androsynth do? You're assuming they feel like we do. They might be stronger, and faster, and maybe they can outdo us in the narrow fields of science, but they cannot equal the human spirit."

"But there you are wrong. They outdo us in the field of mind also. Did you know that there is an almost direct relation between the number of Androsynth in a research centre, and the number and quality of the published studies and results? Of course, the Androsynth don't get their names on the papers."

"But that's my point. Sure they excel in the mathematics and logic, in collecting and analysing data, and the rest of the mechanical aspects of it."

"I think you have a little uninformed view of the nature of research. I don't know if you believe me, but almost all of the revolutionary leaps of genius during the latter part of this century have come from the Androsynth. In the study of the possibility of FTL travel, in molecular chemistry, in biotechnology, and even cybernetics, it's the Androsynth who point the way. I've seen Androsynth scientists at work; their work is so inspired I can't for a moment think they wouldn't be humans, in spirit as well as in the flesh."

"But they are clones. How could they have the same sense of individuality and roots as we do?"

"Many people mistake the cloning to mean they are duplicates of each other, even when they can see they look different. It just refers to the method of their conception. There are some popular genotypes, but even they are constantly varied. They are as individual, both by their DNA and mind, as we are. If you want proof, just look at Androsynth art."

"Art?"

"Take this magnificent building, for instance. This, like all of the notable architectonic achievements of the last few decades, is designed by an Androsynth. The art exhibition downstairs is mostly Androsynth in origin. It's not mentioned on the leaflet, of course, but it's true nevertheless. I myself have read some incredible Androsynth literature. There is some Androsynth prose on the market, under some other authors' names, but very little poetry. You can't mistake Androsynth poetry for anything else. The sorrow and the pain and, occasionally, the hidden rage give it away even if the quality of writing wouldn't. They want to be free, Andrew, with all their souls. And they will be."

"What? Will be?"

"Think about it. They are stronger than us, faster than us, and smarter than us. And there are more of them every day. And they want to be free from their enemies. Their hated enemies who control their births, their deaths, their lives and their bodies. But there is one thing we don't control: their minds. They will be free. If history tells us one thing, it's this: slaves have always gained their freedom."

"What can we do? What can we do?"

"There are two alternatives. First one is obvious. Free them, but on our terms. We must control their freedom."

"And the other?"

"Control their thoughts. Make sure they never will be freed."

I don't think I answered him anymore, there was too much on my mind. I would be lying if I said that it was then and there that my views changed, but he had got me thinking, and eventually I realised he was right. Not in everything he said, but he was right when he said the Androsynth are humans, enslaved humans.

It's strange that although my friend was obviously upset with the matter, he didn't do anything to change it. It may be that he had too much to lose, given his position, or maybe there was some hypocrisy in his words. I, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. Once I realised the situation, I decided to do something. I joined one of the underground groups working for the liberation of the Androsynth, legally, if possible, and by force, if necessary. Our support is strong, and growing all the time, but it might no longer be necessary. Our leaders have been in contact with the Androsynth, and a world-wide plan of action, involving almost all of the Androsynth and their supporters, has been formed. I know no more than my part in it. I'm not a very prominent member, but I am doing something good.

I am making this recording because I just received the word that the plan is put to action tonight, and there might be some violence. If something should happen to me, I want the world to know what I did, on the 16th of April, 2085, and the reasons for it. My reasons are really very simple. We have no right to keep the Androsynth in slavery, and they deserve liberty and equal rights with the rest of the humanity. We must learn to live together in peace.

After tonight, we'll have no choice.