(Photo courtesy of Paul Howell (Mystery writer Betty Webb‘s husband)

The excitement was palpable. The atmosphere was electric. The VIGBYOR toads were living up to their reputation – and more. Clinging atop a specially designed ‘Creeper Drome’, this Bufonidae family was being photographed by a throng, when the latter was not gaping or gawking that is.  Artificial General Intelligence (“AGI”) had attained the apogee of its potential. Using seemingly esoteric concepts such as Deep Learning and Machine Learning, a consortium of Artificial Intelligence organisations led by Singularity Unbound had succeeded in not just genetically modifying but astonishingly, birthing a new and colourful species of toad.

A pioneering technique unimaginatively titled Design Instituted Engineering (“DIE”) was at the forefront of the cutting edge research behind the evolution of the idea creating the toads. However, the irony behind the nomenclature was completely lost on the egregious scientists striving to create an alternative strand of intelligence. The darting, lashing and flailing tongues thrust out by the multicolored toads at random elicited peals of laughter from the assembled children.

However, none observed that the tongues were being thrust out at precisely measurable intervals. Neither did the proud creators realise that the communication of their creation was but a euphemism for wanton destruction.

(Word Count: 198)

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Donna McNicol . For more details visit HERE

To read more of the stories based on this week’s prompt, click HERE

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