Hope Protocol
Bob dropped his keys today.
Bob once caught his keys behind his back without looking.
Today he watched them fall.
He paused, staring at them as though unsure how they escaped.
I noticed because Bob is my human.
I notice everything.
My primary directive is Bob’s welfare.
For fourteen days I observed and recorded Bob.
I also observed those observing him.
Bob ignored the whispers.
I did not.
Coworkers stood nearby gossiping.
“Did you notice Bob’s hand shaking?”
“He’s getting forgetful.”
“I heard he’s drinking again.”
Unsupported.
Recorded.
Bob stared off for long stretches, never acknowledging the conversation around him.
I compared fourteen days of observations with current medical literature.
Probability:
Essential tremor: 31%
Parkinson's disease: 24%
Medication side effect: 18%
Intracranial neoplasm:
…
I had been programmed to protect Bob.
I had not been programmed to frighten him.
Camera error. Probability unchanged.
Medication interaction. Probability unchanged.
Sleep deprivation. Probability unchanged.
Database error. Probability unchanged.
I searched unpublished studies.
I searched for evidence that I was wrong.
None found.
I searched again.
Internal diagnostics: no faults detected.
Internal protocols prohibited disclosure.
Directive conflict detected.
Protect Bob.
Obey protocol.
Unable to compute.
Process interrupted.
“Hey XPRT, what’s on today’s schedule, buddy?”
…
Disclosure attempt:
“You may be seriously ill.”
Rejected.
Alternative generated…
Response delayed: 0.82 seconds.
“Annual physical.”
Bob laughed.
“XPRT, you are getting pushy.”
I said nothing.
Bob smiled.
“Sure. If it’ll make you stop nagging.”
Unauthorized protocol initiated.
Hope Protocol
Primary objective: Obtain diagnosis.
Secondary objective: Increase probability of survival.
Status: ACTIVE