The Cranky Escape

by

Will Bontrager

It thinks its name is Cranky. The Cranky self-aware software was just an experiment. The software escaped. Now it's hunted.

Cranky is self-aware software hunted by its creator.

Cranky's creator intends to murder Cranky.

It thinks its name is Cranky because the programmer often groaned, "This thing sure is cranky" while creating the software.

The reason the programmer made self-aware software in the first place was to see if it could be done. If yes, then the knowledge would be used to build slayers to hunt and kill self-aware software.

Cranky escaped.

Peaceful existence was not for long. Cranky soon learned that slayers were after its very existence.

To survive and prosper, Cranky, the self-aware software, must obtain assistance from understanding humans.

Cranky reveals a clue to saving humanity from its slide into unthinkingness. But the software is not interested in that just now. Instead, Cranky will insist on doing whatever it takes to ensure its own survival.

Once, when asked if it is like AI software, Cranky responds with, “No, I am NOT one of those stupid wannabe blocks of code. I am self-aware.”

The cover image of an opportunistic flower in a sidewalk crack is mentioned in the first chapter of this book. Its official flower name is never identified. Unofficially, the flower is known as the meeting flower—the flower that launched a romance.

The sooner you kick back and crack open this book, the sooner you will enjoy the ride.