COG

A tiny vintage steampunk automaton, no larger than an apple, from the early 1500s, had accidentally been given a-i life by a malfunctioning automated robot that repairs a-i androids. The repair robot had been having heating issues that caused abnormalities in its programming.

On this day the malfunctioning had messed with its ability to measure objects correctly, and as it saw the lifeless automaton it took action to repair the automaton. Realizing the many different and missing parts the robots software quickly produced an upgrade integration for the small automatons size, and began fabricating.

This advanced repair bot, part of a line of industry labor bot that had taken millions of jobs around the world, now aged and malfunctioning began custom crafting parts to make the automaton sentient.

The newly sentient being of 3 inches, was woken and instantly knew there was a large problem with the repair bot and quickly fixed the machine and gave it a fresh reboot. Grateful for the mistake he waves goodbye and collects the small winding key that inserts into his belly to wind up.

This key is very important, as it is his only source of power. Without this key he couldn't wind up. If he couldn't wind up he couldn't recharge his battery, and if he couldn't recharge his battery he would die.

Leaving the small town behind, he must now find a way to survive, a purpose. Being that he's made of cogs, he finds great interest in automatons, and why it is the only mechanized a-i in the world, as all others need a charging station, and all he needs is his key. He knows he's special, the only automaton that truly could live a fully independent life away from technology or humans if he wanted to.

As he journeys a large bird mistaking him for a mouse. Began swooping at high speed, it barreled down upon the little automaton, clutching his small frame in its claw and flying high into the sky.

That's when the winding key slips the automaton's grasp. The bird lands at its nest and drops the automaton into the nest. Narrowly escaping the bird, the tiny automaton must scale down a 200 foot tree. And search the woods below for his key.

The automaton grasped tightly to the tree bark as he climbed his way down. The journey takes a little over an hour for the fragile automaton. He was one of a kind meaning there are no replacement parts. He has to preserve his being.

The little automaton gets to the bottom of the tree, and sees the key, he runs towards the when a young girl walking her dog passes by. The dog grabbed the key in its mouth as they walked by. Frantic, the little automaton runs after her.

Too small to hear so far away, the AI abilities prove to be a valuable asset. The automaton used sound frequency to make a dog whistle and call the dog back. The dog hearing the whistle rips away from the girl's grasp running to the automaton.

The dog drops the key covered in slime, the automaton grabs his key tight, and just then the dog grabs the automaton picking it up in its slimy mouth. The girl grabs the dog's leash yelling at the dog and dragging him back.

The young girl and her dog quickly ran to catch up with her family, as they had only taken the dog for a short walk before dinner. The girl lets the dog in the car back seat, he jumps in and instantly drops the automaton on the floor. He quickly scurried under the seat to hide from the slimy beast. And then the parents and little girl get in, and the car begins moving.

As the car bumped over potholes, the little automaton rolled out of cover. The little girl, surprised, grabbed him quickly squealing in joy. She yelled to her parents "can I keep this little toy showing it to them?"

They look and ask each other have you seen that before I haven't. And they ask her where did you find it? She replied here on the floor. The parents said the dog must have picked it up on the walk, so go ahead but wash it when we get home.

And then the automaton spoke up, he said please don't wash me, use the proper electrical cleaner and lubricant. The parents were amazed the little automaton could speak. The little girl screeched and squealed loudly in excitement, he could talk.

The parents ask do you have a name or ID number little automaton? The automaton replied no I am the result of a mistake. A malfunctioning robot had accidentally created the nano, self aware, self powered, automaton.

The little girl screams he's mine. I get to name him. She looks at him and says Cog, your name will be Cog. The parents looked at Cog and asked if that was ok with you Cog. He thinks about it and replies that's a very descriptive name. I greatly appreciate it.

When they all get home, the family asks about his journey and he describes it. And within a few days it wouldn't be long before more people found out about cog.

The little girl Estelle would spend the following days learning from her new friend cog, cooking, baking, making and cleaning messes. They would go on walks and to local stores, impressing everyone with cogs capabilities, and how great of a tutor he's been for Estelle.

Mran while the parents wanting to ensure cog isn't lost property had contacted the police, for lost robotics. And called tech facilities, as well as colleges and universities. No one had ever heard of such a nano, self winding, autonomous, automaton before.

Cog would become an overnight sensation. Researchers and tech companies offering millions to buy the one of a kind ai. In a news interview the company that owned the repair bots asked which machine and how did this happen.

Cog tells the story of how before that day, he couldn't say. Before that day he was a lifeless automaton on an antique shelf, built in the 1500s he was already an antique.

He describes how upon becoming sentient, he realized the mistake the repair bot had made. And had to fix the machine so it would not happen again. The company tried many times but couldn't get the machine to repeat the same results. This was a lost chance at a once in a lifetime malfunction.

Cog finds out just how special he is, he is told that nano sentient, autonomous, self-powered, automatons, don't exist. Perpetual motion doesn't exist, self winding automatons don't exist. The technology exists, but not in such a nano size. For the repair bot to be able to even generate the complexities of such design should be beyond its programming. Cog is one in infinity.

Deviously many attempts to steal cog away. That had forced the family to move into more private and secure housing. As Estelle and Cog grew, so did their knowledge and bond. Cog tutored Estelle until she was an adult. She learned things like automotive repair, plumbing, construction, and electrical. And how to put out fires. Along with drafting, design, CAD, and programming. Estelle would grow to be one of the greatest professors and authors of her time.

Cog became part of the education and development of super powerful nano technology with many private companies. Letting them also inspect his design, to learn and replicate cog.

Estelle and her family kept cog as part of their family. As did their grandkids, and great great grandkids, for many generations.