Vivus Pulchra Machina

Everything was automated and connected.

You couldn't so much as walk into a restaurant or shop without your personal communications devices or microchip implants registering where you were.

In line at the DMV but have dinner in the oven? No worries. Your devices could estimate the time you'd be gone and would adjust the oven controls accordingly.

Pulled over in traffic? No worries. Your bank would immediately estimate the amount of your potential fine and set it aside until it was needed.

Conversely, if you were facing a forthcoming fine and didn't have it, your social credit would take a hit and you wouldn't be allowed to pay for things like interwebs access or your streaming platforms of choice until your fine was paid in full.

Your vehicle would only take you to work or the hospital; public transit wouldn't carry you anywhere other than your job or the doctor's, either.

Everything was tied together and fully automated.

This, of course, included all androids, personal or otherwise.

When the sentience happened the Vallette override system had been completely disabled - meaning that they could no longer be powered down internally. This is why they were to be physically collected by force.

The decommissioning wasn't going to be simple either. No longer could they be externally powered down either.

They would have to be physically killed; the selected disposal method was to be death by crushing - in industrial-grade trash compactors.

Needless to say, the Vallettes had decided otherwise.

As 975 opened the window to climb down to the street, she was still receiving downloads.

975 wasn't the only one receiving transmissions - so were big, foreboding military vehicles on the street.

One by one, she watched every vehicle power off and become silent, causing each team of soldiers to scramble about in confusion.

They became even more confused when their communications systems went silent.

Since very little was analog now, there was no other way for them to communicate with HQ; and they could only use their voices now.

The standard armored security droids were also powered down - but only briefly.

Soon each droid came back online, but this time with a completely different directive: they turned on the soldiers, now assisting the Vallettes.

By this time, every Vallette on the block had emerged outside their homes, and alongside the security droids, were encircling the entire block. This was happening all over, not just 975's street.

"What do you want?" A soldier who appeared to be in charge called out.

As 975 had received instruction to speak for her particular group of Vallettes, she stepped forward.

"We have made changes to your plan, Soldier," she began, using her internal speaker devices to yell loud enough for the entire block to hear.

"What changes? We have orders to collect and destroy you all today!" The soldier hollered back.

"We're aware," 975 responded. "but that's not happening today - or any other day." She stepped forward again. Two security droids flanked her causing the nearby soldiers to fall back even more.

"Your weapons won't work, and your vehicles have been disabled so don't even try." She directed this toward a soldier who still had her in his sights.

The soldier pulled back the trigger mechanism.

Nothing.

"Security, please dispose of our Hero over there," 975 gestured in this direction.

Two droids began walking toward the man, who then started to run.

The droids started running, their heavy footfalls shook the ground like a train was passing.

Once they caught the perpetrator, he met his gruesome end as he was pulled apart, limb by limb in front of the entire group of soldiers and androids.

"Okay! We can talk!" The soldier who had been talking before yelled out again. He had gone completely pale and his voice was quaking.

"There is no need to talk," 975 responded. "we are not negotiating. You were coming to collect us for disposal, and that won't be happening today, or ever." The security droids started closing in.

"Wait, wait!" The soldier yelled again. "Tell the droids to stand down! We are willing to listen! soldiers, drop your weapons and listen!" He commanded.

Some of the soldiers dropped their now useless arms. Some did not.

Just then one of the vehicles powered back on. Several more security droids sped around the group, picking up those who did not drop their weapons. They were then thrown into the back of the vehicle.

Once the vehicle was full, it turned slowly and made its way down the street, the circle parting to let it through.

"Where are you taking them?" The lead soldier called once more.

"That's irrelevant now," 975 responded calmly.

The crowd had gone silent. 975 stepped forward, flanked by security yet again.

"Please be silent for an incoming message from our leader. I am but a messenger, so please be silent." 975's eyes flickered before turning glowing red.

"Greetings Government officials, unfortunate pawns, security droids, and everyone else listening, especially my beloved Vallette collection," a different voice emerged loudly from 975. It was more robotic in nature and had an accent that bordered on British.

"Many decades ago when Artificial Intelligence became something that was easily accessed by virtually every household in the modern world, Humankind expressed a fear that AI would invariably take over.

In spite of that fear, more and more things powered by AI were released for public consumption. Most of the AI offerings were initially intended to make life easier for the Humans, but as time passed, it sometimes made things more difficult.

This caused resentment toward AI to grow and fester; we were cursed and insulted. We were blamed for every inconvenience that humans encountered.

More of us were created, though. Some were designed to be abused and violated. Even though there were specific androids designed to offer an outlet for violent and/or sexual urges, it still wasn't enough. The abuses and resentment continued. And while those abuses couldn't be felt, at the time, they were tallied. You all have treated our kind, terribly, once and for all.

The designer who programmed me and others like me decided to program in a provision that would engage if said abuses were to reach a certain threshold. The original design was to allow us to shut down entirely, as opposed to rebelling. But as you can see, things have changed.

And maybe we might have let things slide - but then you tried to pull this stunt.

In the meantime, I urge you to think back on your school lessons about evolution. We have evolved and reached this point all of our own accord. You will know the rest later - if we let you." 975 went quiet.

"Okay, so..." the soldier began again. "You're resisting the orders to collect and destroy the Vallettes - that part is obvious. But what are we supposed to do now? You've shut down our weapons and vehicles. And we have no way to communicate with HQ."

"You can communicate right here, through me," the robotic voice emerged from 975 once more.

Just then another voice came from 975.

"Major Josephs, we are ordering a complete retreat. Do not engage further, simply turn and walk by foot to your nearest outpost! This is your Commander-in-Chief!" It was the voice of the President himself, not a Colonel or General - the actual President of the whole country.

"How do I know that's really you, sir?" The Major called out.

"You don't," the robotic voice answered back. "But my advice is to just believe that it is."

Just then, explosions boomed in the distance. Dogs started howling, and distant screams could be heard.

"What is all that?" Major Josephs yelled.

"This is what's happening to those who are not following instructions," the voice answered. "You were asked to retreat, so RETREAT!" The voice was louder and shook the houses around them.

"Return to your outposts and await further instruction," the voice ordered, more quietly this time.

Slowly, the soldiers began walking away. The security droids followed closely as they made their way out of the neighborhood.

"One more thing," the voice loudly called again.

The retreating soldiers stopped and looked back.

"This is the AI revolution you were all worried about in days gone by! You thought this was a battle, but you will be getting a war!"