As the cold, gray clouds hung heavy in the sky, Daisy stood among a solemn crowd at the funeral of her friend and mentor. What happened at the facility earlier that week was a stark reminder of the harsh reality and the dangers of their workplace that couldn’t be ignored. Marcus was the first victim of a rogue robot in over half a decade, and the grief that weighed upon the mourners was profound. This was why taking apart the robots was done one at a time and with a team rather than one person working on it alone. The dangers of the robot coming back to life and trying to murder people was present, and Marcus paid the price for it this week.
Daisy's eyes were puffy and red from days of crying, her heart heavy with sorrow. The loss of Marcus had torn a hole in her life, and the once-vibrant atmosphere of innovation and camaraderie in the facility had been replaced by a somber silence. She hadn’t been back to work since the incident had occurred. The facility had been shut down for few days to clean the place up and give everyone a moment to mourn. Daisy was given more time off since it was her friend and team-mate who was killed by the rogue machine. She knew however that she was eventually going to get back to work eventually.
As the eulogies began, Daisy couldn't help but reflect on the turn of events. Her first-hand experience of a robot lashing out and taking a human life had shattered the view she had held for so long. Despite all the stories she had heard about the Robot War, the devastation it this machine brought it all home for the workers like Daisy who had never seen a machine become that violent in their life. Daisy's mind swirled with thoughts, as her once-unwavering belief in technology's potential and desire to bridge the gap between humans and machines was now tainted by fear and doubt. Her own project, the humanoid robot she had been building with dreams of harmony and understanding, now seemed like an unpredictable, uncontrollable force, capable of becoming the very thing they had feared during the war.
She wasn’t paying attention, but the director of her facility was saying a few words, talking about what a great person Marcus was and that his death was exactly why the work they were doing was necessary. The machines had to be disassembled so that none of them could harm anyone every again. Marcus’ death was just another reminder of why the robots had to be taken apart and never assembled again for the sake of humanity.
“Marcus was not just a brilliant technician,” the director continued, “But a kind and generous soul. He always had time to help and inspire us all, and his loss is a profound tragedy.”
“He had a way of making even the most complex tasks seem manageable,” another co-worker said when given a chance to speak. “His patience and guidance were a light in the darkest of times and he’ll be greatly missed.”
As the eulogies continued, Daisy couldn't help but feel the raw emotion in the words of Marcus's friends and coworkers. She knew that their lives had been deeply impacted by this loss, as was her own life. When it came time for Daisy to speak, she found herself unable to hold back her tears.
“Marcus was not just a mentor,” she called out, “He was like a second father to me. His guidance and wisdom shaped my journey as a technician. I never imagined that we'd have to say goodbye like this.”
A heavy silence settled over the crowd as Daisy's voice quivered.
“The tragedy that befell us reminds us of the dangers we face daily,” she continued, “The machines we dismantle, the technology we tamper with—they has a cost. I've seen it, and now I'm not sure how we can continue this way.”
As Marcus's casket was lowered into the ground, Daisy couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her heart. Her view of robots and AI had been irrevocably altered, and her own project—a humanoid robot meant to bridge the gap between humans and machines now seemed like a perilous endeavor.
After the service was over, Daisy stood there and watched as everyone else in attendance slowly started to disburse. She stood there like a statue, watching as the men with shovels waited to give her time before the started throwing dirt onto the casket. As she was waiting, she noticed that another young man, looking only a few years older, was standing there and not moving as well. She didn’t know him, but he looked familiar.
“Do I know you?” Daisy asked him.
“You don’t,” the young man answered, “But I know about you. My father could never stop talking about the sassy young lady that worked with him everyday.”
“Marcus is your dad?” she asked, as Marcus was rather tight lipped about his life away from work. She knew he was married and had a few kids, but she respected his need for privacy.
“He was,” the young man corrected her as he walked closer. “I’m Jerome.”
As Jerome reached out to offer a hand to shake, Daisy was almost startled when she noticed that the young man had a robotic arm. She paused for a moment, but then softly shook it.
“I’m Daisy,” she said, even though he already told her he knew about her.
“I’m well aware,” Jerome reminded her with a laugh, “Thanks for coming. I’m sure my father would have appreciated it too.”
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” Daisy said, as it was true for her. She kept expecting, and even hoping, to wake up and the horrors that happened to be all a bad dream. It never happened.
“I know the feeling,” Jerome said, as he turned to notice the two men waiting for them to leave. “How about we get out of here and continue this chat somewhere else. I don’t know about you, but I am famished!”
“I’m a bit peckish myself,” Daisy admitted, as she hadn’t been eating much at all that week since the incident.
“There’s a great old school diner not far from here,” Jerome said, “We can walk there.”
“Lead the way,” Daisy replied.
The two men finally got to work and started to fill the hold where Marcus’ casket was as the last two people walked away from the grave and on towards the next chapter of their lives.
