In progress: Deep Red

A Win in the 2002 Human-AI chess finals may be worth more than you think…

Chapter 1: The Win

This was inspired by Deep Blue vs. Gary Kasparov

As Manuel comes out of the tournament room, fresh with his first win, he notices the light gray hallways of the tournament hall are quieter than usual. As Manuel walks down the hallway, he comes and sits down at his chess club’s table at room 102. He notices his best pal Mateo is quieter than usual. His other friends, Diego and Felix, are all watching a television screen. A voice from the screen booms: “DR has played Rxe7. Kasparov has responded Bxe7. And now, Deep Red plays…c4!!! A crushing move, delivering a killing blow to the world champion! The game is over. Kasparov resigns!! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Deep Red has won the world Human-AI finals!!” Manuel and his friend’s gasp. As soon as the king is knocked down, a strange blue light emits from the chessboard that Deep Red was playing at, the light seemingly shining all over the chessboard. The AI, Deep Red, laughs. He thinks to himself: “All is going according to plan.”

As his friends come into the tournament room for the 2nd round and sit down at their chairs, the eerie blue light washes over their board. When Manuel looks back at the chessboard, he sees that one of the pawns is missing. No, two. Three. Then someone yells: “The Pieces are alive!!!”

Manuel jumps out of his chair, running towards the big blue tournament door. The blue light follows him.  The pawns dive at the players, slicing at them with six shining silver swords each, one I each hand, slicing off the hands of the players who aren’t fast enough. Manuel dives out of the door, along with everyone else. The kings are acting like war generals, directing the pawns and knights towards the door. The last person escapes through and closes the door, the pawns banging on the door.

Chapter 2: One down, Three Left

But it is too early to celebrate. The pawns are cutting holes in the door with their swords, while the rooks, seeming to have some kind of jackhammer, make giant holes through the wall. As everyone runs for their life, the “Rat-a-tat-a-rat-a-tat” of the rook’s quiet down. Manuel runs back to room 102, pouring the chess pieces out the window before the blue light reaches it. Manuel than locks the door. He locks it, just as soon as the bishops come pouring into the hallway, holding blue orbs -bombs? They are throwing them at doors, breaking them down.

Felix holds a can of paint and throws at the bishops, temporarily blinding them. This gives Diego the chance to grab one of the orbs and throw them at a nearby group of pawns. He then turns on the TV. The spokesperson announces: “Deep Red, the evil AI, has taken over the chess world. The power of the pieces is his. I, GM Akhil-Arisen Torpors, encourage you all to challenge deep red and free the world from his evil hands. I predict the AI’s rating to be around 3000. Please. Free us all. For now, the doomsday clock is set to 30 days. In 30 days, Deep Red’s power will be unstoppable.”

Manuel makes a mad dash out of the window with Mateo and Felix. Diego runs out the other way, as he was too late and the knights, running as fast as real horses and with spears, had infiltrated the room. Manuel waves to Diego and wishes him best of luck in escaping. With that, Diego was gone. It might be the last time Manuel would see him alive.

Mateo found a small underground classroom near the sports field. Their parents had all been chased away by Rooks. Mateo grimly announced: “It is us for ourselves. We need to get proper food and a place to stay safe from those pieces. I got a computer, so that we could practice chess and maybe even beat Deep Red!” Manuel and Felix murmured assent. Manuel declared: “There is a gas station nearby. I can go get some gas station snacks.” Felix replied, in tears: “Stay safe, buddy.” But in the distance, a king, Deep Red’s general, was watching them. His name, etched into his back like a tattoo, read: “Kurt Wintegens.”