Robert Gonzalez, a hardcore skeptic, non-believer, and member of the Neo-Luddite party, stood next in line behind another person awaiting their fate from the ‘Oracle’—a sophisticated always connected AI with a vast knowledge base, temporal-quantum engine, and nanotechnology that once injected into a subject’s bloodstream, could diagnose and predict one’s future medical conditions, psychological states, and worldly interactive outcomes.


    The Oracle had a long-standing reputation for sheer honesty with a consistently proven uncanny accuracy.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Robert’s turn came up ...


    “Good morning, Robert. You’re permitted one allotted question today that I shall answer.”


    “Alright,” Robert smirked, “for how long will I live?”


    The Oracle injected Robert with the nanites —“You have a life expectancy of 24 hours.”


    Robert stared in shock and stuttered ... “But, but, why, and, and how?”


    “Only one question permitted per day, Robert.”—The Oracle then went silent.


    Computer scientists had soon discovered that despite the Oracle’s superhuman intelligence, it also inherited another human trait—a wicked sense of humor.