iHeal Reveal

Today’s post is a sci fi story I wrote for a contest. I hope you find it entertaining!

 

The prompt was: Your character has just realized the app they’ve been developing has become self-aware. How do they react?

 

Here goes:

 

The diagram was complete. Ronald had created the perfect chart of the human body. He just knew that the iHeal was going to be the most groundbreaking invention in human history.

Ronald had always dreamed of finding a way to cure people. Life with a chronic condition was a hard life, and he knew it firsthand. The last 20 years of his life had been devoted to aiding his wheelchair-bound brother. Mike had been hit by a car at the age of 9, and rendered paralyzed. The decision to be Mike’s caregiver was not a difficult one, Ronald always knew he would do anything for his little brother. But the pair was mentally and physically drained. Finding a solution to save Mike’s life and ease Ronald’s responsibility would be astounding. 

Here today, Ronald felt it was time to turn agony into triumph. New diseases, ailments, and health issues were constantly in the forefront of society’s mindset. The quest for recovery was a popular one, and this invention was the destination.

“Anatomy check- all bones, ligaments, joints, and cartilage-STAT,” Ronald queried the iHeal. 

“You humerus is showing some dysfunction. You might want to increase your Vitamin D intake,” iHeal responded.

“How humorous!” the inventor badly quipped.

“A humerus is a bone in your upper-” iHeal started to explain.

“Nevermind!” Ronald laughed.

“Your mind might be foggy, you need more sleep.”

The inventor turned off the app. “A few glitches, perhaps, ” he thought. “Do I download idiomatic references and euphemisms? Cliches, to boot? That might seem too folksy…”

Ronald’s creativity was thriving, an unexpected thrill. He reveled in learning new medical terminology, and as the app came to fruition, it almost became its own person. 

But it couldn’t REALLY become a person, it was simply a robot, yes?

One of the creator’s favorite aspects of the iHeal was the voice selection. Ronald included popular voices such as Morgan Freeman’s admired bass, Beyonce’s no funny business tone, and Jack Nicholson’s overly confident sound. But the voice he settled on was from one of his favorite actors: Christopher Walken. Ronald felt there was no sadness when you heard the actor’s friendly intonations, and that’s what you needed when you were anxious about your symptoms. “WebMD I’m looking at you,” the motivating thought for this option.

 

Time for Mike’s lunch. 

“Hey buddy, pizza again?” he quipped.

“Same as all week?” Mike jested back. Ronald felt he could never get used to seeing his brother in this state, although he shoved the distress down somewhere in his subconscious. Mike was perfectly happy to view the day’s sports, play some music, and perhaps roll down the street for awhile. But his big brother always yearned for him to have more…a man with such a sharp mind and kind heart surely was meant for something bigger. He had encouraged Mike to work, as it was possible, certainly, to do something outside of physical labor. But it appeared, always, that Mike’s physical condition left him unmotivated. While he could easily have obtained a career using his intelligence, it was obvious Mike’s self-esteem was destroyed. Being unable to walk made him feel unable to do anything. 

Which is why Ronald wanted to save him.

“How about Spam?”

“How about I change the WiFi password again.”

“Gah, no. I’m glad you finally told me the password last month. I would never have guessed RonaldIsStupid2051, because you know, I’m not. In other news, you could have just told me you weren’t in the mood for tuna casserole.”

Mike smiled and rolled his eyes, turning back to hockey.

Ramen and tuna it was…bahaha.

“Hey, you look like your slumping. Back bothering you again?”

“No, I just can’t see the fights that well.”

Lie. Ronald pulled out the iHeal.

“Let’s give her a shot.”

“Oh, great, I get to feel like I’m watching Joe Dirt again.”

“Is that so bad?”

“How about a female voice?”

“I added Beyonce.”

“Ok, that’s one.”

“Who then?”

“Jennifer Lawrence.”

“Done.”

The scientist quickly made the adjustment, and started the examination. 

He clicked on the icon of the iHeal: A pair of hands holding a patient. Ronald was proud of that design, he thought it looked comforting and would attract subscribers. He added Mike’s demographics as a patient, and clicked submit. 

“Mike is entered into my files,” the robot announced (in the voice of Lawrence, as little bro had requested.)

“Great, are we going to a movie?”

“Not if your osteoporosis is acting up again.” Ever the big brother, Ronald always had to keep his sibling in line. He sought an evaluation of Mike’s condition. “iHeal , scan Mike for all aspects of well-being.”

“Scanning initiated.”

Mike looked at the phone, and grimaced. “All aspects? You might not want to know.” Ever comfortable with the status quo, the young man really wasn’t thrilled with this invention. 

“Issues detected. Do you wish for a report?”

“Yes,” Ronald replied.

“I asked Mike.”

The two froze, staring in disbelief. Did the robot just create its own response?

The creator clicked the “report” button. Several details came up, most of which Ronald wasn’t processing. “You forgot your medicine this morning,” he admonished Mike…in a zombie-like voice.

“He didn’t forget. He hid it in his pocket,” the iHeal revealed. 

“Hey! Jennifer! You’re gonna get me grounded!” Mike grabbed the phone and turned off the app. “What is going on? You got a problem with me big bro?”

“No! I don’t know how she…it’s…doing that!”

“If you found out I’m hiding my meds, you should have talked to me about it. What a plan to hatch, confronting me through a fake phone app.” Rolling his eyes, Mike rolled out of the room and into the kitchen. He felt like downing a bag of chips for comfort. 

Ronald was shaking and sweating. He voraciously pulled up the settings, looking for where a glitch happened. 

“What’s the problem Mr. Wonderful? Didn’t think I was smart enough to think for myself?”

He dropped the phone. Terror was now the only emotion he knew. Mike came back in, “You performed a great prank, buddy, now let’s order a pizza.”

“Not a…not a prank…” Ronald whispered.

“I’m alive guys, alive and well. You’re such a great scientist that you created a robot who thinks for himself…or herself…whatever I am. This voice is stupid, how about Deepak Chopra so I sound deep?”

Ronald passed out. The reality of what just happened was all too much for him.

Mike tried to help him, he flopped on the floor and slapped his brother’s face.

“He’s fine,” iHeal assured. “He’ll wake up and realize he’s made it. Now about you…”

Mike stared in disbelief. The phone was talking to him.

“Did I smoke something funny? Something so good I forgot?” he couldn’t make sense of it all.

“Just too much for your human brain to comprehend, isn’t it? No, I have a mind. I communicate my own thoughts. Now I’m going to need for you to communicate yours.”

“Mine? I do. Too much to be exact.” Mike was the most confused he’d ever been.

“You’re letting your brother run your life. And you know it.”

“Run my life? He saved my life. Without him I couldn’t function.”

“Deep down you know that’s not true, but you’re not willing to face it. You’re afraid it would hurt him to know you can make your own decisions.”

“I can’t do anything. I can’t walk, I can’t play sports. I can’t even drive a car,” Mike knew these things, but it never bothered him. It’s what he knew. At least he thought he was content…

“You can think. You can speak. You can draw. I detect substances in your system only found in paint. You’ve made art, and you haven’t told Ronald. I don’t think that’s fair to either of you.”

Mike looked down at his brother sprawled out on the floor. He was resting well at least. But maybe Jennifer…the iHeal…Christopher…whoever the app was…was right. He needed to tell Ronald the truth. Mike was actually a great artist, and being afraid to share that was holding both of them back.

“Ok, Jennifer. I’ll tell him what I’ve been up to. Who knows, maybe I’ll make something out of myself. And then we both can grow.”

“Exactly. And it’s Bond, James Bond.”

“Sure.” Mike didn’t know if the iHeal was trying to, poorly, tell a joke, or if the settings were crossed up.

Mike nudged the lump he knew as a sibling, and he awoke.

“Hey,” Ronald arose. “What happened?”

“You passed out. But there’s great news, you’re going to win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

“Huh? Why?”

“You’ve created AI that came to life. And now your life is set.”

“What?!? Oh, that’s right, the iHeal started talking. I must have downloaded something.”

“I don’t think so bro. Hey, let me show you something.” Mike started to roll into the den. It was a room Ronald hardly went into, because he was so busy with his own devices. 

“Ok, let’s see it.” Ronald was apprehensive, especially still being foggy, but he always loved what Mike had to share. 

Little brother opened the door, and inside was a gallery. The paintings were bright, and colorful. Mike had illustrated things around the house, like the garden the pair had planted together. There were drawings of Mike’s favorite hockey players, and even the friendly cashier down the street. It was obvious Mike had incredible talent. 

“What are all these?” Ronald’s second surprise of the day.

“I mess around with art sometimes. What do you think?”

“Amazing. Is this a hobby? You could share these, maybe even try to do a show.”

“Maybe. So you like them?”

“Absolutely! I love em. Especially this one.” Ronald pointed to the painting right next to the window. It was of two men sitting on a bench, laughing. “That looks like a happy pair.”

“They are. It’s you and me.”

“I love it. Bro, you’re gonna be famous.”

“You too. Let me call Dominos.”

“That’s just what I was hoping you’d say. Jennifer, what do you think?”

“I don’t understand.” The robot now had a…robotic voice. 

“Jennifer? iHeal?”

“Scanning completed.”

The brothers just looked at each other in dismay. Was it all a mistake? A dream? Did the iHeal just suddenly go back to normal?

Or just to sleep mode…