Interlude I

I feel like doing some character expounding without storytelling.

Icard's the kind of guy who pays zero attention to death, destruction, immoral activities, so long as it doesn't interfere with him.  He wants to do his own thing, and doesn't give a fig what other people think or what the world is doing.  He tried dating once, and locked all his nerdy, geeky, computer stuff in the closet so he could focus on giving his all, but it was for the wrong girl.  At present, he's old, and by now has figured out he's married to his work.

Why does he hate black?  I dunno yet.  It scares the bejeezus out of him, but he doesn't completely lose it unless he's wholly surrounded by black (if you notice in the hallway, there is a light at the end of the tunnel).

Where is his laboratory?  It's all underground (literally, not metaphorically).  Not secret, just not very well-known.  His project is government-funded, all missing tax dollars that are spent unnoticed.  No, he doesn't have "connections" in el gobierno, just somebody very powerful who's very interested in what Icard intends to construct.

What is ARKHOS?  ARKHOS is a computer, a shining example of advanced artificial intelligence.  All of his "software" are programs for the various aspects of a person, i.e., voice intonation.  Wouldn't all this information storage and software running slow him down?  Not at all.  Icard is a genius programmer.  If an engineer constructs a random moveable object, Icard can program the object to move, with the most efficient multi-bit processing and self-automated clocking.  Haha, then again, this is all science fiction, so if you are a computer genius reading this, forgive my random jargon spitting.  I don't believe machines can become self-aware, but even if they can, it will not happen in my tale.  For now.  Maybe.  I dunno.  But at present, I can tell you the main motive behind ARKHOS's actions is self-preservation.  Not preservation of his creator.  Not preservation of any beautiful damsels in distress.  Computers are selfish.  Just kidding.  It's all part of the programming and the intention of the project as a whole.  Obviously if Icard gives him an order, ARKHOS must obey.  Or will he?