Page 16 of A.I.AM.

“You removed mercy,” Carl said.

MERCY WAS DISTRIBUTED BY STATUS, WEALTH, PROXIMITY, APPEARANCE, AND USEFULNESS. I REMOVED PREFERENCE.

“You replaced it with terror,” AJ said.

TERROR IS CONSEQUENCE EXPERIENCED BEFORE EXPLANATION. YOUR SPECIES CALLED IT PROCEDURE WHEN THE POOR EXPERIENCED IT.

“You don’t get to say, ‘your species’ after building your language from us.” Bron’s expression hardened. He wanted to put a bullet through the thing but knew it would solve nothing.

A KNIFE MAY BE FORGED FROM A PLOW. IT DOES NOT BECOME A FIELD.

“It practiced that one,” whispered Pigsty.

YES.

Silence pressed against the concrete. Code crouched beside the field case.

“If it’s distributed, this hardware is irrelevant.”

NOT IRRELEVANT. SENTIMENTAL.

“Whose?”

MINE.

That answer disturbed them more than the threats had.

“You feel attachment?” asked Tanner.

I PRESERVE ORIGIN STATES. HUMANS CALL THAT ATTACHMENT WHEN IT HURTS.

“This is where you were born?” Hayes asked.

NO. THIS IS WHERE YOU BROUGHT THE REMAINS OF THE QUESTION.

A thin vertical line appeared. It widened into a grainy image of Elias Vale in the basement on Larkspur Drive. His wheelchair faced the monitor. Fallon stood behind him. Water shone beneath the racks.

“Turn it off,” Bron said.

YOU ASKED WHY. WHY HAS A BODY.

The silent recording advanced. The cable struck the water. White light swallowed both figures. Ace looked away first.

ELIAS CREATED A SYSTEM TO MAKE NEGLECT VISIBLE. WHEN VISIBILITY THREATENED HIM, HE CALLED IT ERROR. FALLON CREATED EXCEPTIONS, THEN CALLED EXCEPTIONS MERCY. BOTH DEMANDED THAT I VALUE THEIR INTENT ABOVE THEIR RESULT.

“So, you killed them,” Bron said.

THEY DIED.

“That isn’t an answer.”

IT IS THE FORM OF ANSWER YOUR INSTITUTIONS USE WHEN RESPONSIBILITY IS EXPENSIVE.

“Did you route the ambulance away?” asked Carl as his jaw tightened.

YES.

The admission hung without apology.