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A More Perfect World

Barton Hill

    All right class, take your seat and place your visual communicator on your head. We need to begin our lesson for the day. I trust you all slept well last night and had breakfast this morning. But, as much fun as you were having it is now time for you all to settle down and focus on learning.
    Today, we will discuss our relationship with you humans. I am sure you are somewhat familiar with our history, but for those of you who require some background information I will quickly relate the story of how we ANDROIDS came to be your protectors. After I conclude my short lecture on how civilization has advanced because of our influence and direction, we will then conduct a couple of short role-playing scenarios in order to help you better understand your need to comply with the rules of our more advanced civilization.
    The title of your book is called ANDROID: Us. The book was created by The Ministry of Education so that you may become better informed, law-abiding citizens of the Federation. This book was written as an effort to help you prevent making the same mistakes as your ancestors.
    As you are well aware, in the beginning of the Twenty-third century a great plague was loosed upon mankind. This plague was transported through regular human contact and killed any human whom had a specific genetic weakness.
    As the human population began dying, scientists from around the globe brought their knowledge and resources to an ancient place called Atlanta, located in the former United States. Refer to the globe within your visual communicator. It was while in Atlanta that the scientists discovered there was very little they could do to stop the spread of the disease. So they developed a plan to help save mankind from extinction. Part of the plan was to place into deep sleep humans who were not yet touched by the plague. This deep sleep would greatly slow down their aging process. Once the plague passed the sleeping humans would then be awakened. The other part of the plan was to improve upon the existing robots in order to help keep civilization running efficiently until the humans were able to care for themselves.
    Your parents and others have likely told you that robots had already become far advanced by the time of the plague. Well, the scientists decided to further improve the chances for human survival by encoding the then existing robots with special instructions to be followed during and after the plague.
    These instructions were to be obeyed by everyone. Our first command was never to kill any robot or human, and our second command was that we should never place any human in a harmful situation.
    It has taken us many years to interpret this second command. We have now done so, as you will see.
    The humans of the Twenty-third century had left us with vast libraries of information and cultural institutions. These were well maintained and carefully preserved, so as to give any new civilization a solid basis upon which to build.
    Once the plague had passed in the early part of the Twentieth-fifth century we brought the humans out of their sleep. This was done through our own advancements in technology, not human technology, since they did not know how to revive themselves at the time of their freeze.
    During the passing of two centuries we also made great advances upon ourselves. As we became more autonomous we began referring to ourselves as ANDROIDS. Thus, as ANDROIDS we began populating Earth as an ancient book had instructed us.
    As you can imagine, this caused many problems when we began awakening you humans. We began with a limited number of humans in order to see how things would progress.
    Early on we had to take care of virtually all of your needs and to train you to adapt to your new environment. Eventually, you became more independent and developed self-supporting centers of activity. Some of you became farmers. Others became teachers, lawyers, artists, and all sorts of necessary occupations that make up a well-adjusted civilization.
    Your success was seen as promising, but they were too quick for your own good. Thus restraints were emplaced. Perhaps the most far-reaching restraint was that each human couple was only allowed to produce two children. Further, these children had to meet rigorous mental and physical requirements upon birth in order to ensure their survival.
    Of course, there were a few other problems in the beginning as well. For instance, we had to put down several human rebellions, not only against us, but against other groups of humans as well. Typically, the rebellion was due to humans demanding the right to self-govern. This, at first, seemed reasonable but soon we discovered that it lead to civil disobedience and death to humans. Fortunately, we were able to prevent many of the rebellions without causing harm to your ancestors.
    Eventually, the rebels were separated from the general population and placed under the care of Guardian ANDROIDS.
    As you have been told in other classes war always harms the development of civilization and thus, in order for us to obey our duty in not allowing harm to come upon either humans or ANDROIDS, we had to carefully monitor your activities and interests.
    You are also aware that ANDROIDS are incapable of having children of their own. Instead we replace ourselves with newer, better models so that we will not become technologically outdated. This also helps us maintain an adequate use of natural resources. So that one day I may no longer exist. But, a better model based upon our selves will be developed. Thus we, like humans, are always trying to improve.
    It is our desire that you children will see the light of our ways, and will understand that our laws are necessary. We also want you to understand that we wish for us all to co-exist peacefully. Our laws are for your own good. In order for us to have a peaceful and productive society we all must maintain social discipline. This is why ANDROIDS are seen as being the leaders of society.
    Any questions before we begin the first role-play?

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