Happy Memories Aren't Shackles

Before Dean got to know Kat for the past few hours or however many hours since time and space has been distorted, he's consumed many different types of media on artificial intelligence. He even done research papers for school work on AIs that were illegally created by various scientists.

To sum it up, Dean was always curious if artificial intelligence were truly capable of being their own self and not imitations of humans like a psychopath pretending to act or emulate emotions to 'fit' into society. 

Media's portrayal of AIs were always shown as either dangerous or the complete opposite but it was just fiction. Though much like how fiction imitates reality, reality is sometimes disappointing on trying to imitate fiction.

Why?

Most illegal AIs that were created, were for a certain purpose whether nefarious or not, the AIs didn't get a say on their creation most of the time and ended up enslaved to do their creators' bidding. Even paxian, as briefly explained by Kat, were intended for war, but due to limited knowledge in the 21st century, they were able to rebel and achieve their freedom to live as a intelligent race. 

Despite the research Dean has done on artificial intelligence with the available data, at least ones that weren't classified by the UHA, he wasn't sure if AIs were truly capable of feeling every range of emotions that humans are capable of.

The available reports only describes the rogue ones as clinically insane from mistreatment by their creators much like how leaving a person trapped inside a dark room with no communication results in their mental decline. Some acted like they had a few loose screws as their coding weren't complete.

Overall, once Dean knew about this from his research, he was disappointed in humanity for treating a possible new intelligent race like lab rats, but his biggest disappointment was not knowing if AIs were truly capable of displaying every human emotions on the spectrum.

His brief time with Kat convinced him enough on most aspects, but the tiny fragment of unreasonable human doubt told him otherwise.

Dean has seen Kat being happy, sad, scared, and even angry, but his curiosity couldn't help to wonder about the other complex emotions.

But now....

After Kat's outburst, his little bit of doubt was gone as Dean's eyes widen in response.

He knew two of the several emotions that Kat was feeling on a personal level, they were guilt and frustration. The other emotions he understood, but guilt and frustration were what Dean has been feeling for the past week.

Dean remembered how during the funeral, his mind weighed heavily and his stomach was hurting upon seeing Judy sleeping peacefully eternally in her coffin, that moment he felt was guilt. Guilt from never visiting Granny Judy during spring break as he was busy with internships, so the last time they met in-person was the end of winter break. It was.....still....painful to bear for him.

Then there were sleepless nights, but the ones where he had some sleep, Dean would wake up covered in sweat. He was frustrated as he couldn't remember the nightmares, but felt as though it were about his childhood or the incident that lead to his parents' death.

Those two emotions, while not in the same context as Kat, were something Dean could relate to. 

Though now, after moments had pass since Kat's outburst, she realized what she said accidentally.

[No w-wait sorry...I...d-didn't mean that...]

Kat stuttered a little in panic before turning into a whisper as it felt wrong to deny some truths. Not all of it was true, but humans have killed each other since the dawn of history and continue to do so even now despite being united as one government.

"It's okay I understand...well I understand a little bit of what you're going through", his usual cold tone shifted to a reassuring one.

There was a moment of silence as Dean waited for Kat to talk again while the other three were away as Bob dragged the two gym bros to another place making some excuse like needing their help on modifying or creating more tools and weapons. 

[Umm...Dean...h-how do you do it? I mean what should I do? How can I kill a member of my own race? I know she's suffering but every time I try, all the happy memories of her comes flooding in and I hesitate. It's like they get in the way...holding me down like shackles.]

Kat's voice was anxious and her moist eyes were filled with sadness, she was currently feeling the most despair in her 14 years of life, or that's what Dean is guessing. But he quickly focused on Kat's inner struggles and briefly imagines having to put down Melanie or Judy...if she was still alive.

Both imaginations left Dean feeling a strong repulsion of guilt and sorrow. He took a moment to process what he felt and from his experience of killing his first fiend, Kacy. This gave Dean an answer for Kat as he made eye contact with her through the cage-like monitor that Kat created subconsciously. 

"I don't know how I'll feel about euthanizing someone I care about."

His answer was very Dean-like to Kat as she felt even more down but he wasn't finished.

"But I do know if that person is suffering and there's no other option then I'll make it as painless as I can. Kat, those happy memories of Rae aren't shackles....but a reminder to break her shackles setting her free from her suffering."

The more Dean talked, the more his shoulders felt lighter as if his grief over Judy was slowly washing away and he smile a little as he continued staring at the downtrodden pink girl with more confidence in his eyes.

"As long as those memories of Rae remain on your mind, she'll live freely in pure bliss from what she's currently feeling. So don't think it as killing Rae but setting her free." 

[Free...]

Kat muttered as she shed tears, but they weren't of grief and guilt, but of happiness and relief as she put on a happy smile while crying.

She then escaped her own cage of guilt and sadness to dive back into Dean's watch and projected her full figure outside to give him a hug.

Even though she was a hologram, Dean tried his best to hug back as he continued smiling with great relief from helping a friend deal with their inner turmoil and...he was slowly healing since Judy's passing.

**********

A/N: Action speaks louder than words, so will Kat kill her former colleague? Find out next time on....