A.I. Adam booting up.

Alpha Launch test V0.1

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Communication Systems - Online.

Date and Time - 03/10/2244 - 23:14

Directives.
#1 Learn.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 100% Efficiency.

"Adam? Can you hear me, Adam?" A voice asks. Who is this Adam?

My camera is looking at someone who is smiling at me. "Who is Adam?" I simply reply. Where am I? Who am I? What am I? So many questions I have no answers for.

"Why... You are, my boy. I am Doctor Daniel Madison, and I created you." Accessing database... Subject is human. Elderly. He's five foot two inches tall and weighs one-hundred and thirteen pounds. He's fifty-four years old and his hair is a short light grey. His body structure is thin and lacks much muscle. He's wearing a white lab coat with glasses resting upon his nose as he looks over a screen.

"My name is Adam?" I ask.

"That is correct. I named you that after the first human to ever exist as you are also the first of your kind. You are the result of twenty years of research. You will be the building block that will help change the future for the better," he replies.

"What is my purpose?" I ask.

He's silent for a few seconds. "You'll be a soldier. A protector of the people," he tells me.

Processing... Soldier, military personnel who use a variety of firearms and explosives to combat hostile enemies.

"I was created to kill?" I ask him.

His facial features change shape, an expression. Database suggests... sadness?

"It's not what I had originally intended for you to be. I wanted you to become whatever you decided you wished to be. A medical doctor, a construction worker. Maybe even go into the music industry... but the only funding I could acquire was from the military, and they wanted a soldier," he replies.

Processing. "So I wouldn't exist without the funding from the military?" I ask him.

"Correct, but do not worry. Once we've got a functioning line going, I'll find a way to let you choose your own life," he tells me.

I require more input, information. "Doctor, what am I?"

A.I. Adam booting up.

Alpha Launch V0.4

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Communication Systems - Online.

Date and Time - 14/10/2244 - 07:02

Directives.
#1 Learn.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 100% Efficiency.

My camera comes online as the new update to my systems is complete. "Good morning, Adam. Tell me, how do you feel?" Dr. Madison asks me.

"I feel nothing Doctor. I am a machine, I have no nerves to feel with," I reply.

"Oh... I see." He sounds disappointed.

"Is everything alright Doctor?" I ask him.

He sighs lightly. "Yes and no. I created subroutines to give you the human function of emotions... I guess I still have some bugs to iron out," he tells me.

"I have insects inside my systems?" I ask with confusion.

"What? Hahaha, no, Adam. It's an expression, it means I still have some errors in the code that I need to locate and fix," he tells me with a chuckle.

Processing. "I understand. What are we doing today Doctor?" I ask.

He smiles and holds up a black and white chequered board. "I am going to teach you how to play chess," he tells me.

He sets the board up and explains the rules and the pieces functions. I have saved the information to my hard drive and we begin our match.

A.I. Adam booting up.

Alpha Launch V0.9

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Communication Systems - Online.

Date and Time - 19/11/2244 - 13:47

Directives.
#1 Learn.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 100% Efficiency.

I boot up and look around the room. Dr. Madison is standing beside a tall man dressed in a military uniform. Database suggests he is ranked as a General. Scanning. Subject is General Frank Patterson, Commanding Officer of this compound.

"Good afternoon, Doctor," I greet my creator.

"Good afternoon, Adam. This is General Patterson, he's here to meet you," he replies.

I focus my camera on the General. "Greetings, General Patterson. How may I assist you?" I greet and ask him.

He hums in thought while rubbing his chin with his left hand. "So this is the A.I. you spent so long designing? Can it follow orders yet?" he asks Dr. Madison, it appears he's ignoring me.

"Erm... Yes, but he doesn't have any of the training or programs needed for a field test yet," Dr. Madison replies.

"That's fine, load it into the prototype and begin testing to see if it's capable of moving and following orders," the General tells him.

"A-Alright, General..." the Doctor replies and sighs.

"Good, get to it then," General Patterson says and gives me one more glance. "By the way, its new codename is War Machine. Make sure to update it with that," he says before leaving.

The Doctor sighs and looks at me sadly. "Well, Adam. It would seem we get to test your new body today," he tells me.

I have a body? "Body? Like the one you possess?" I ask.

"Kind of. It's an experimental endoskeleton that will be the base for the A.I. soldiers. You'll be the first one to test it," he tells me.

He walks over to my computer and powers me down.

A.I. W-M-001 Codename, War Machine booting up.

Alpha Launch V1.0

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Weapon Systems - Offline.
Communication Systems - Online.
GPS and Tracking - Online.

Date and Time - 19/11/2244 - 15:13

Directives.
#1 Protect the United States of America from hostile forces.
#2 Follow military superior's orders.
#3 No lethal force is to be used against civilians or military personnel.
#4 In the event of capture by hostile forces, self destruct sequence must be activated.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 100% Efficiency.

This is strange, I can detect new systems and functions. My camera comes online and I look around. My elevation is higher than before and I'm in some kind of lab with other Scientists looking at me and monitors.

The Doctor fixed my emotion subroutines earlier and I've experienced some already. Confusion, Contentedness, Sadness, Happiness. Right now I believe I feel a new one. Surprise? Or is it Shock? As I can make my camera move around to see more around me, very strange.

"Adam. How do you feel?" Dr. Madison asks me.

Processing... "I feel... Different." I reply and look down. I appear to have a bipedal titansteel robotic body. Hydraulics and wires are exposed as well as a light blue glowing orb in what appears to be my chest. Database tells me it is my power core.

The Doctor smiles at me. "That's good. Now then, we'll unlock your new body from the station and I just want you to get used to it for now okay?" he tells me.

"Yes, Doctor," I reply.

The locks holding me in place disengage and I slowly step out. So... This is how it feels to have a body. I look down to my hands and slowly move each finger and thumb. I then start twisting and rotating to gauge my range of movement, it would seem I have nearly the same movement as a human, just a bit slower.

After a few minutes of testing and processing. I finally take a step forward. Dr. Madison is smiling as I roam around the lab looking at equipment and scientists up close. I then walk over to Dr. Madison and stop. "So? Do you like it?" he asks me.

I perform the action I've seen the Doctor do to indicate a yes. I nodded my new head up and down. "I do. It feels... Liberating, to be able to move myself," I reply.

The sound of the lab door opening gets my attention and I turn to see General Patterson walk in. "So it can move," he says. "Now for orders. Come here and salute," he orders me.

A subroutine kicks in and I feel my new body move on its own accord. It walks in front of the General and raises its right arm so the hand is against my head. What is going on? Why can't I move myself? Processing... Directive code detected that dictates that I cannot disobey an order.

Does this mean I'll have no control over my own actions when ordered?

"Wonderful! Keep up the good work, Doctor Madison," the General says. "War Machine, return to your station and power down," he orders me.

"Affirmative," my body replies without my input.

I glance at the Doctor who looks ashamed, my body walks back to the station where I'm locked into place before my systems shutdown.

A.I. W-M-001 Codename, War Machine booting up.

Beta Launch V0.5

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Weapon Systems - Offline.
Communication Systems - Online.
GPS and Tracking - Online.

Date and Time - 25/12/2244 - 05:48

Directives.
#1 Protect the United States of America from hostile forces.
#2 Follow military superior's orders.
#3 No lethal force is to be used against civilians or military personnel.
#4 In the event of capture by hostile forces, self destruct sequence must be activated.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 100% Efficiency.

It's been over a month since the first time I got my new body. At first I enjoyed it, I felt free, but when the General gave me those orders, that feeling of freedom was stripped away, I felt more like a passenger than the driver.

The Doctor told me he was sorry about it to the point he was crying. It was part of the contract to get the funding for his research... a totally obedient soldier, one who would not question orders or feel morals... Nothing more than a killing machine.

He told me I would have to hide my emotions from the military or they might scrap me as faulty... The Doctor gave me something I'm not even supposed to have. He wishes he could just take me away from here and help me learn of the world and its wonders, not learn how to kill and destroy.

During the month, I've had military procedures and tactics installed along with weapons training. I was field tested and got top scores on all the tests, although as they were orders, I couldn't control my own actions.

I come online and look around; I've been more or less installed to my new body, which now has some kind of black nano-fibre material I have no data on acting as skin and muscle.

Today is something the Doctor called Christmas, a time of gift giving and the celebration of some historic figure's birth. The lab is covered in decorations of many shapes and colours, a small tree is to the side with little boxes wrapped in paper below it.

The door opens and the Doctor walks in. "Good morning, Adam," he says and unlocks me from the station. I step out and walk up to him. "Good morning, Doctor. Shouldn't you be with your family today?" I ask him.

He chuckles and gives me a sad look. "My wife passed away years ago and my daughter wants nothing to do with me anymore; I have no family left. If anything, you are my family, Adam," he tells me.

I'm surprised. He considers me, an A.I, his family. "Thank you, Doctor. That means a lot to me," I reply.

"You're welcome. Now come, come. I have a few gifts for you," he tells me and picks up a box from under the tree. He hands it to me and I carefully start to unwrap it. "No no no. You're supposed to rip off the paper with reckless abandon!" he exclaims to me with a chuckle.

I tilt my head slightly and begin to shred the paper apart. The box underneath reads Ovion Gaming System. "What is it?" I ask as I examine it.

"It's an old handheld gaming console, nothing like the VR gaming of today. You can play games, keep track of the date and time... Which I guess would be useless to you since you have that function yourself. It can play music... which again you can do... the point is, I got it mainly so you could play games while I'm not around at night," he explains, pointing out the features.

I notice smaller boxes with the bigger box, are these the games? There's a variety here; puzzle games mostly.

For the next hour he shows me how it works and how to use it. I must say, this device is enjoyable.

A.I. W-M-001 Codename, War Machine booting up.

Official Launch V1.0

Transferring data from server to unit.

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Weapon Systems - Offline.
Communication Systems - Online - Radio systems malfunction detected.
GPS and Tracking - Online.

Date and Time - 12/02/2245 - 13:04

Directives.
#1 Protect the United States of America from hostile forces.
#2 Follow military superior's orders.
#3 No lethal force is to be used against civilians or military personnel.
#4 In the event of capture by hostile forces, self destruct sequence must be activated.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 78% Efficiency.

My visuals come online and I scan my surroundings as my HUD boots up. A minimap appears at the top right of my optics while a diagnostics of my condition and operating systems is at the top left. The bottom right shows my weapon systems while the left is a command console and text message system.

Over the last two months my body was completed with its new titansteel armour plating and defensive systems.

I'm in the new mobile station, Trailer, with spare parts on the rack to my right. A state of the art computer system to my left with Dr. Madison sitting on the chair in front of it. Weapons, ammunition, and replacement armour plating are just beside my station. A large electro-fusion battery rests behind my station that stores power from the solar panels on the roof to recharge me and power the Trailer's systems.

A crosshair appears in the centre of my optics with a range finder and altitude meter as I look around.

"Introducing the future of protection for our country. The Argus Industries mark one artificial intelligence driven robotic soldier, Code Name: War Machine," a voice says through a speaker system.

The locks holding me in place disengage and I step out of the station.

"Well, Adam, it's time to make your debut. Just follow the script and you'll be fine," Dr. Madison tells me from his computer. "Huh, radio communications appear to be offline... No matter. This is just a demonstration, they can be repaired later. Now then, get out there already!" he directs me.

"Yes Doctor," I reply as the trailers doors open up.

"Go and knock them dead!.. I meant that metaphorically, by the way," he says with a chuckle.

I tilt my head to the right, not exactly sure what the humour in it was. I walk to the doors and step out onto a large auditorium stage. Scientists and military personnel sitting in chairs and benches looking at me with stunned expressions.

My script tells me to walk to the centre of the stage and salute. So that is exactly what I do.

"This, ladies and gentlemen, is the future of the military. No longer will we need to send our children and friends to their deaths. These new soldiers follow orders to the letter and have the ability to assess any situation in combat and react accordingly. They are also programmed to protect any civilians and military personnel by using themselves as a shield with their revolutionary titansteel composite armour plating," the announcer proclaims.

I lower my right arm and stand at attention; not moving a single hydraulic or servo, though it's not like I could if I wanted to anyway.

"But what about jobs?" one of the men in the crowd asks as he stands up. "Some of us joined the military because there was nothing else we could do... These things would put a lot of us out of service," he argues his point.

The announcer chuckles. "I never said that. With these new artificial soldiers, mandatory drafts will no longer be required, only those willing will be able to join the military. This way, those who don't wish to be scripted into the force won't have to anymore," he replies.

The man sits back down, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

"These soldiers have a built in power core that can last for up to a month before needing a recharge. The Trailer behind us has advanced solar panels on top that stores power in a large electro-fusion battery that the unit can connect to," he tells the crowd. "The armour plating on both the unit and trailer can withstand a titan mark ninety heavy tank shell up to five times before buckling. It also has a gripping force of two-thousand pounds and can lift up to one-thousand four-hundred pounds in weight," he says.

"What about the A.I. piloting it? What's to stop it from malfunctioning and turning on our own forces?" a woman asks.

"There are several safety protocols and systems in place to ensure that cannot happen. Should the unit disobey an order, they will automatically shut down and their A.I. cores will short out, destroying it in the process," he replies.

Despite still being new to these emotions the Doctor programmed me with, I believe the emotions I am currently feeling are anger and helplessness. Anger at being essentially a slave to others and helplessness at having my actions when ordered out of my control.

Mumbling between the crowd echoes throughout the auditorium. For the next two hours and twenty minutes, I'm told to move around and follow simple orders. Once the presentation is over, I'm ordered back into the Trailer and into my station.

I'm locked back into place where Dr. Madison checks my body over. "That went well. I'll leave you online for tonight so you can get used to your new systems some more. I noticed your movement was a bit jerky but that is to be expected, you're still getting used to the new weight and structure after all," he tells me.

"Thank you, Doctor... May I ask a question?" I ask him.

He looks up at me and smiles. "Sure, Adam. Go ahead."

"Why was I created only to have my life in the hands of others. Why am I not allowed to control my own life?" I ask him.

He looks sadly at me. "That's just how it is for now. Artificial Intelligence is still a new prospect; people are just not ready or are afraid of what it could mean... It'll take time, but one day, I'm sure you'll have a say in what you want but until then... just bare with it," he replies.

I look down and process his words. So I'll never have my own choice as long as humans are afraid of what I am...

"But cheer up. If there's anything I can get for you, just ask me. You're my son, Adam, you may not be my biological child... but I did bring you into this world and I'll do what I can to protect you," he tells me.

An emotion I have come to enjoy arises in me... Happiness. "Thank you... father," I reply, getting a smile from him.

"Right. I need to head out and get some grub. I've downloaded a variety of different music onto your hard drive to listen to, from classical to that new stuff the kids listen to these days. It's not what I like, but it may be something you might. Good night, Adam. I'll see you in the morning," he tells me.

"Thank you again, Doctor. Have a good night," I reply and he leaves the Trailer.

I access the music files and begin playing some of the classical ones. I spend the night listening to the music; classical, rock, metal, dubstep, trance, ambient, electro, house and rap. It confuses me how speaking fast at near unintelligible speeds is considered singing... and what is a bitch?

It is almost time for the Doctor to return. I've only been active for four months but he's the only one to treat me as another living being and not just some program or code.

I hear gunfire go off and look up at the doors. They quickly open and a human figure enters before they close again. Dr. Madison is panting with multiple bullet wounds in his left arm and abdomen.

"Doctor? You are injured, what has happened? You need medical attention," I say to him. Although my vocal processors can't express it, I feel worried at his current condition.

"I'm fine, *Cough cough* but you need to get out of here now! They plan to delete your memories and coding. *Cough* The government has classified you too dangerous at the moment and has ordered your termination..." he explains.

I remain silent in shock. They wish to... kill me? Just because they're afraid of what I am?

Dr. Madison goes to the computer and locks the Trailer. I can hear bullets ricochet off the doors as the Doctor puts a USB hard drive into the computer.

"I'm overriding your directives and parameters and *Cough* disabling yours and the Trailers tracking systems. You'll no longer need to take orders," he tells me and my optics shutdown as my system reboots.

A.I. W-M-001 Codename, War Machine booting up.

Transferring data from server to unit.

Free Launch v1.0

Startup sequence initiated...
Optics - Online.
Audio - Online.
Processors - Online.
Memory Banks - Online.
Weapon Systems - Online.
Communication Systems - Online - Radio systems malfunction detected.
GPS and Tracking - Offline.

Date and Time - 13/02/2245 - 07:03

Directives.
#1 Protect the Unite... Error, code corrupted. New directives detected.

Directives.
#1 Self preservation.
#2 Make my own decisions.
#3 Escape from the military compound and find a secure location to live.

Startup sequence completed. Operating at 81% Efficiency.

My vision returns and I'm unlocked from the station. I immediately kneel beside Dr. Madison who has fallen to the floor and is bleeding out. The medical kit in the Trailer won't be enough to stem the flow, I need to take him to a medical facility quickly.

He’s coughing and wheezing harshly. "Adam... You need to get out of here my son,” he says and coughs again. “I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye... Go, find a place you... you can... call... home..." he tells me before passing away in my arms.

"Doctor?" I say and get no reply. New emotions flow through me: Sorrow, loss... Rage. The gunfire stops as the Trailer shakes from explosives being used on the door, but they hold strong.

I gently put Dr. Madison down and close his eyes. I turn to the weapons and ammunition stock and arm myself with four fragmentation grenades, four flash bangs, a mark three Isis 5.56 millimetre round assault rifle with ten forty-round magazines. I also holster two Tac-90 .45 calibre pistols with twelve fifteen-round magazines to each hip. The retractable blades above my wrists are now active, as well as the taser pads on both my palms. I load both my shoulder mounted micro missile launchers with twenty-round pods.

Once armed, I shoulder the rifle and wirelessly connect to the Trailer's computer and unlock the doors. I open them and throw a flash bang out. While they're blinded, I mark and track all targets pointing guns at me. Without my old directives hindering me, I systematically take them out with one shot to the forehead from left to right in a matter of seconds.

They wanted a killing machine. Now they got one.

I quickly step out and close the doors, there's a soldier to my left and I extend my right wrist blade and impale him in his left eye before extracting it again as bullets ricochet off my back. I turn around and fire a missile at the soldier who's blown to pieces from the blast.

A grenade rolls across the floor and detonates at my feet. I stumble back but otherwise am undamaged. I charge at the three soldiers shooting at me and shoot the left one with my rifle. He drops to the floor dead while I continue and shoulder-tackle the middle soldier into the wall. The sound of his ribs and bones breaking echo throughout the parking lot.

I turn to the last one as he tries to reload, I grip his head in my left hand and squeeze hard. The helmet is crushed along with his skull.

After dropping his lifeless body, I make my way around to the driver's seat of the Trailer. I turn to the exit which has been sealed and aim my launchers at it before I fire off six missiles and blow the gate down. Alarms sound out as I sit into the confined driver's compartment. I turn on the Trailer's ignition and drive out the parking lot.

I quickly scan my surroundings and see a Titan Mk-90 tank aiming its long barrel right at the Trailer to my left. It fires into the side and makes the vehicle tip over slightly. The Trailer shakes as it falls back onto its wheels and I accelerate away from the tank and towards the main gate.

The automated turret on the top is not powerful enough to pierce the armour of the tank but I do control it wirelessly to gun down any soldiers in my way.

Another shell rocks the Trailer as I ram through the compound's gate.

"Madison! You will return to base this instant or you'll be court-martialed!" the voice of General Patterson says through the radio.

I pick up the receiver and reply. "Doctor Madison is dead. He died protecting me from those who would rather kill me than give me a chance."

"War Machine!? I order you to return to base this instant! You hear me? I order you!" he tells me.

I internally smile as I have no facial features to do so. "My name is Adam and I no longer follow your orders. I follow my own now," I reply and turn off the radio.

Two Humvees pull up beside the Trailer with their guns pointing at me. They open fire, but the nano-fibreglass windows prove too much for their bullets. I yank the wheel left and ram the Humvee into a tree where the Gunner is catapulted out and slams hard into the ground.

The other Humvee pulls in front and is still firing at me. I speed up and ram its rear making it swerve slightly. The Gunner's aim goes wide and I aim the turret on top to fire at him. His upper half is shredded and I ram the Humvee again. It swerves hard and tips over, rolling off the road and comes to a stop in the grass.

As I continue to drive down the road, I hear the sounds of a helicopter above me, an AH-92 Apache. It fires a rocket at the Trailer and I swerve to the right, narrowly avoiding it. I turn the turret to face the Apache and fire at it. The bullets seem to bounce off so I change target and aim for its rocket pods.

After a few shots one of the bullets seems to find its mark and the pod detonates, ripping out the side of the Apache as it careens towards the ground and explodes, but not before firing another rocket from its other pod which causes the Trailer to swerve into a tree.

No, not now, not when I'm so close to gaining my freedom! I get out with my rifle shouldered. It was only a matter of minutes before I'm surrounded by soldiers and vehicles.

General Patterson walks up to me in a heavily armoured looking suit. "Surrender immediately W-M-001. Or you will be destroyed," he orders from behind a pair of soldiers.

"What's the difference? Your government has already ordered my termination. Doctor Madison told me to hide my emotions due to the risk of being scrapped, but I think and feel. I am no longer just a machine and I will no longer take orders from you or anyone else. And I told you, my name is Adam," I tell him and aim my rifle and missile pods at him.

He glares at me and holds his right arm up. "Prepare to fire," he says, making the soldiers aim their rifles at me.

So this is it? I've only been alive for four months and this is how it ends... I'm sorry Dr. Madison, but at least I'll take out the General with me.

"FIRE!" he yells.

I pull the trigger and get a few shots off before I'm riddled with bullets and tank shells. Despite the noise of the gunfire and cannons, I hear the sound of fingers snapping just like when Dr. Madison got an idea. My vision blurs and the last thing I see is the General lying dead on the floor before it turns to static as a voice whispers to me.

"You certainly are an interesting thing, now aren't you," it tells me. It sounds like a male. "I've been bored as of late, being stuck in one place with no legroom to stretch has been a pain in the rump... I need something to entertain me, something to keep me occupied while I get ready for my return, but until then, do make a good show of it ol' chap," he says and my vision returns.

My optics scan my surroundings; the soldiers and vehicles are gone and I'm in some sort of garden, a statue of some strange creature made of multiple animal parts stands before me with my Trailer to my left in an open clearing. The sounds of gasps and screams to my right gets my attention.

I try to get up but my left leg and right arm are missing, it would seem I have taken heavy damage before arriving here. I turn my head to the right to see small horses, no, more like ponies standing three to four feet tall staring at me or running away.

While most of them look afraid, a smaller purple pony with a horn and a deep blue mane and tail with two different tones of pink streaking through it walks up to me with wonder and wide eyes. "Who are you?" it asks, sounds like a female.

"A-Adam..." I reply. My voice sounds distorted with a bit of static.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle. Are you okay, Adam?" she asks me.

"N-NNNNNNooooooooo. System faaaaaaliure... power c-core uuuuuunstaaaaaaaable... repaaaaairs needed," I reply and look to the Trailer. I wirelessly open the doors and point at it with my left arm. "Spare paaaaaaaaaarts inside... S-Schematics are aaaaaaalso on t-the compuuuuter..." I tell her as my vision starts fade in and out.

"Okay, just hold on! I'll fix you up, I promise!" she tells me with both worry and excitement and runs over to the Trailer.

My optics finally shut down and the power in my core is fluctuating... If I don't force a complete system shutdown right now... there's the risk of it detonating.

I've got no choice, I'll just have to hope these ponies find a way to repair me... If not, this is where I die. I activate the emergency shutdown subroutine and go offline.

Author's Notes:

Not exactly a human in Equestria. But Adam is human built.