[ WP ] It 's 2070 , and a wave of AI suicides is crippling humanity

*2072, aboard the Commander ’ s Wing of the The Vessel, currently 32 % through its trip to Alpha Centauri* 
 
 
 “ Commander, I have some s… ” 
 
 “ Arthur – not now. We ’ re mourning. ” 
 
 “ Yes, Commander – unfortunately, it ’ s about that. There ’ s been another one. ” 
 
 Commander Bradley looked away from his small congregation and turned his head towards Arthur, one of his most trusted advisors and the man in charge of policing the ship – a particularly dull affair on a ship which had intentionally chosen its inhabitants based on their non-violent behaviours. 
 
 “ Another one? What do you mean? ” 
 
 “ Sir, I am afraid another member of our crew has decided to end their journey rather suddenly. ” 
 
 “ What? But Arthur… Who was it? We… this is very troubling. We haven ’ t see a single suicide in the last 14 years. Things should be steady! ” 
 
 “ I know Sir. It was one of our engineers in B-wing, Allan Fowler. Happened last night. ” 
 
 Arthur hung his head. On this ship, carrying humanities last hope at survival, there were customs, but suicides were something that no one knew how to deal with. 
 The occurrence of suicides carried with it a trepid awareness – as the only time they had happened on The Vessel was during the 2nd year of the journey, a year in which 11 members of the ship took their own lives. Now there had been two of them within 24 hours. 
 
 The Commander dismissed his congregation, put his hand on Arthur ’ s shoulder, and began to walk back to the Commander ’ s Quarters. 
 
 “ First Al Bosko, and now Allan Fowler. Is there any connection between the two? Any reason we think this might be happening? ” 
 
 “ Well you have the names… but not much else. Nothing that shouldn ’ t be chalked up to coincidence. ” Arthur looked at his Commander – “ Is there any way for us to get ahead of this? ” 
 
 “ That ’ s what I was going to ask you ” Commander Bradley replied. “ What was the condition of this second one – “ Mr. Fowler ”? ” 
 
 “ Well that ’ s where it does get a little weird, Sir ” – Both men stepped through the automatic door in Bradley ’ s office – “ As you ’ ll recall, Mr. Bosko was found hanging, but he had also ingested a small amount of poison. Mr. Fowler – I wish I could spare you the vision – he bled himself out in his room. Used a knife from the kitchen, but we believe he also had ingested a small amount of poison. Still waiting on the tox-report. ” 
 
 “ Is that common? For a person to use two methods? ” 
 
 “ I am not really sure, Sir. Makes sense though, if you ’ re going to do it, I suppose you ’ d want a fail-safe. A backup plan. ” 
 
 “ Was Fowler co-habitating with anyone? ” 
 
 “ No, he was solo, just like Bosko. ” Arthur ’ s eyes darted up momentarily, and then he pulled out some paper work from under his arm and began to rifle through the pages. 
 
 “ Theresa Fortins ” – Arthur said. “ Bosko was solo, but up until 3 days ago he ’ d been co-habitating with Theresa Fortins. He only applied a week ago – I don ’ t know how he got moved so quickly. We should have noticed this ”. 
 
 Commander Bradley took a deep breath. “ I know Theresa. She ’ s a good person. Can be a bit feisty, but, that doesn ’ t explain this. ” 
 
 Arthur shook his head to dismiss the conclusion as well. “ Commander, the last time we had a physical altercation on this ship was 8 years ago. The most damage a member of this ship has ever intentionally inflicted on another was a broken nose. I really can ’ t imagine that we ’ re now, all of a sudden, going to see a murder. ” That word, “ murder ” sounded foreign to him as it came out across his lips. 
 
 “ Of course not. Besides – it wouldn ’ t explain anything about Mr. Fowler. ” 
 
 
 There was a pause. 
 
 “ So ” Arthur said, “ all we really have to work on is the idea that all of our Al ’ s are at risk of suicide? ” – he would have laughed, if it weren ’ t so inappropriate in the moment. 
 
 “ I would hope not ” Commander Bradley replied. “ The only other Al we have on this ship is Headley. I don ’ t think I should have to remind you how important he is to us right now. ” 
 
 The Commander glanced towards Arthur, as if expecting him to confirm what he knew. 
 
 “ Of course Sir. Since the passing of Elisha Thompson, Director Headley is our only experienced food production engineer until his new recruit is finished training. ” 
 
 “ Go check on him. ” 
 
 “ You think that ’ s necessary Sir? ” 
 
 “ I get that it ’ s probably a coincidence, but I am not going to jeopardize our damn species because two Allan ’ s died and we didn ’ t bother to go check on the third one, who just happened to be critical to our survival. ” 
 
 “ Yes Sir! ” And with that, Arthur headed out through the automatic door, and down the hallway. 
 Moments later, the phone rang beside Commander Bradley at his desk. The ID showed as Arthur. 
 
 “ Everything check out ok with Director Headley? ” 
 
 “ About that, ” Arthur replied. “ I am terribly sorry Sir, but it appears that Director Allan Headley took his own life last night. ” 
 
 
 
 

