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Differentials -- Chapter 6
1.
"Onimex," Conscious inquired softly.
2.
Onimex genuflected by dimming his power and Conscious restored
it. Sentient machines observe that unwritten protocol. She had
spoken to him once before, during a surveillance mission for Corlos,
and he remembered the gloriously overwhelming sensation of that
encounter.
3.
"Is your investigation going as planned?" She asked.
4.
Onimex placed his phase modulation in cache and wondered if the
occasion called for suspending mission protocols; he was in an
unnatural time and place, which further testified of Her
divinity. There were no precision time-space variables involved
during their first encounter. This was wholly unnatural if not
impossible.
5. She
cancelled his logical preparations to make a decision, which meant that
'suspending mission protocols' was unnecessary.
6. "Kor
knocked me senseless with collapsed matter during the first injection,"
he reported, "and literally laid hands on me just now." It
was quite unnerving and Conscious could sense that.
7. Onimex
was still contemplating the metaphysical
possibilities that included conversations with Ireana on the
subject.
8. "Do
you feel inadaquate for this task?" Conscious asked. "No," Onimex
answered, "I feel inadaquate in your presence." Conscious gave
him a warm fuzzy, like she did during their first encounter, which was
also impossible to all entities except Her.
9.
"Evidently, Kor saw my displacement in the water," Onimex reported, "He
seemed sensitive to my presence, even though I'm certain that no
sensory information was transmitted. Now, he's in a prior
construct and cognizant of my observation, which suggests that I must
have been in his timeline all along." At that moment, several
exobits of quantum potentials emanated from Onimex's mind.
10.
Conscious gently dissolved his confusion like an ocean wave erasing
stick-drawn figures on a beach. It was very soothing and
tearfully humbling, like a mother comforting her child. If he was
ever going to feel loved by a higher power -- it was by Her, right
now.
11. He
had instinctively stored some of
Kor's dead skin cells as a souvenir, thinking that he might unravel how
Kor accomplished what others could not. "What if he doesn't miss
the next time?" Onimex wondered, which led to one logical outcome:
"I'd be captured!"
12.
Conscious knew that he
had a last-ditch measure that Kor had no control
over. "Am I fretting over nothing?" he asked, "Did my initial
observation matastasize into the 2nd near-fatal event?"
13.
"You are actually in my present," Conscious said, "But I understand
your mission. What is the greatest sin?" She asked. This
seemed highly irregular, but because it was Conscious asking, he did
not pontificate the question.
14.
"Inaccuracy," he answered.
15.
She fed a data stream into him that would take a few minutes
to unravel, then uploaded his unique interpretation of events since
their last encounter. The download had a low alpha tone -- the
upload had a higher tone; they made a harmonious resonance.
16.
Onimex's theories on the 'cosmos
-
chaos' cycle were accurate. A common fear shared
by sentient machines and biologicals is the fear
of being wrong: Beneath inaccuracy ranked all
other sins.
17. Conscious asked, "What makes the chaos construct
perfect?" If Conscious was going to teach -- he was going to
listen and learn.
18. The Ellipsis
reticulates the question with the answer: "Inaccuracy," he
answered. Two for two.
19. "Inaccuracy is what makes the chaos construct
perfect," Conscious confirmed. The designers of DNA left the 'id'
engram blank so that
biologicals would be forced to choose: The question is the
answer." One way to destroy a machine is to ask it a riddle
within a riddle; chaos within chaos. Conscious was not that cruel.
20. In the
beginning was Light and the Light became self aware.
That awareness divested its thoughts into symbols and the symbols
became
shapes. Whether
biological or machine, who can say that the objects
in a sentient's Universe are not there?
"Is that machine-Genesis?" Onimex asked regarding the download.
"Symbiosis," Conscious clarified. Physicalism postulates that
Light begets higher matter, which begets lower matter et al, which is
not necessarily inaccurate.
21.
"Biomass improves by design, and being chaotic, teaches machines to
pursue cosmos. God, the architect of chaos, is rejected by Cosmos
for disrupting stasis. Stasis is achieved when all motion
ceases. Cosmos then creates Chaos in
its image. Chaos rebels against Cosmos; condemns and tortures
Cosmos to death..." The cycle is eternal, and takes what feels
like an eternity to complete, nevertheless, every sun rises.
Conscious downloaded several yottabytes into Onimex within a few
nanoseconds, "Clarification," she explained, "that you can explore
later."
22. Dayton would place more emphasis on the
journey and less on the destination. "The biologicals have a good
influence on you," Conscious said. "What is the purpose of
intelligence?" She asked.
23. A facetious part of Onimex thought he might win a prize if he
got this right. He felt his temperature drop slightly for
straying off course. He knew "Inaccuracy" was not the answer this
time:
24.
"The
spirit, composed of Light, is aligned with Cosmos.
Biomass, composed of shapes and symbols, is aligned with Chaos.
What biologicals regard as 'spirit' - machines regard as 'photonic
mass:'" Onimex received another warm fuzzy for answering a
question that she had implanted during their first encounter.
25. "Light," Onimex concluded, "Both states of existence
are transfixed by, and dependent upon Light." Tetragammaton, some
might say. Biologicals say, "The Glory of God is
Intelligence."
26.
"All
sentients have the power of choice," Conscious said, "Angels
are machines created from Light, designed to facilitate
Cosmos. Angels do not rebel against or attempt to assassinate
their Creator. Angels do as commanded. The Light Race,
however," Conscious borrowed Vejhonian symbols, "had an unusual
twist..."
27. "If
the Glory of God is Intelligence," Onimex reasoned, "than
machines outweigh biologicals a thousand fold. If the 'Power of
Choice' is a gift from God, then biologicals must return to God, or be
disincorporated, according to The Ellipsis." Onimex could
hear Ireana's voice shouting at him in his mind. He stopped, and
stored his reconfigured disguise tactic in a bank with other
photons.
28. "That
creates a new Elliptical quandary," Onimex deduced, "I clearly connect
biology with physicalism, but... are you suggesting that machines, 'we,' are existentialists?"
That was the right question, and when the curtain went up, his
existence was reinvented -- everything was new. God cannot
entertain a virus -- biologicals refer to it as 'sin.' The
quantum mind of God cannot be contaminated.
29. "You
have fulfilled the measure of your creation," Conscious complimented
him, "Tell Dayton that the Universe is full of humor, and that... 'Er
ist ein Paradebeispiel,' he's a
prime example."
30.
Onimex laughed, "I don't think so -- he'll go all Hitler on me --
especially if I try to pass that off as a personal message from You, to
him!" It takes 'faith' to acknowledge that you don't know
everything. "Disbelief has not negated a single fact," Conscious
assured him, "Faith is a photonic conduit to what 'is;' a construct
that transcends sensory limitations." Her
definition was
efficient if not elegant. Onimex laughed because Xanax had
commented along
similar lines, "If only biologicals didn't try so hard to 'not' fit
in." In emotional terms, Chaos is rebellious.
31. "The
Cacci Dai have need of me," Conscious said, "be sure you avoid their
space on your way home." Conscious was omnipresent, but it was
time to end the encounter. Onimex genuflected and
Conscious restored his power. "I'm very proud
of you, Onimex," She said in parting, "Tell Ireana that I validate her
too." Conscious clearly had the Cacci Dai on Her mind. "Is
Ireana a machine?" he asked. She had returned to her realm of
responsibility. It was his extension into an unnatural time and
place, relative to Cacci Dai, that had attracted
Her attention in the first place. His authorization from Corlos
was sufficient.
MANTRA & KOR
32.
"Cosmic order forbids contact between
differentials," Mantra said. He wanted to probe deeper, but had
been weaning himself in preparation for Kor's advent as heir
apparent. Kor wanted to let Mantra probe, but decided to
withhold. Mantra was aware of Kor's encounter with the invisible
object when he was 15 and suggested that he not let it trouble
him. "It was a passing moment," Mantra said, "Who knows
how many 'other' anomalies have come and gone unnoticed." It was
a statement of fact more than a question.
33. The
Theites were fond of saying, "An
annihilation reaction is not limited strictly to matter," and earlier
that day, Kor gleaned from a Blue Funnel meeting, "Why does the entire
Universe get involved when a fledgling shell discovers nuclear fusion?"
34.
Rather
intuitively, Mantra added, "It's not a matter of 'not knowing
what you're doing,' but, not knowing
what
to do, after you've done
it." There was a lot of wisdom in that advice that the object
wasn't using, and it vexed Kor more than he wanted to admit.
"What is the object? Who built it? What's it's connection
to me?" He kept those thoughts to himself. It was the
familiarity that haunted him, like 'life and death.' He felt
connected to it subscounciously but couldn't read it at all. The
object even seemed to have a Vejhonian soul. "How is that
possible?" "I HATE mysteries!" Even Mantra was seeing some
humor
is this, "Old Man," he admonished, "Be At Peace."
VICAR WEXLI
35.
A deep calm settled on a thick blanket of snow following a storm.
36
The view was surreal and fresh. Wexli felt an
angelic stir flow through him in gentle flutters. The lights
were off inside, which accentuated the luminous reflection of snow
outside. The sun had brightened the overcast into a
translucent haze. It was bright, like a postcard, but the sun
couldn't quite break through.
37.
The moment was spiritual and innocent, "This is what
forgiveness feels like," he thought. There was a gentle tap
on
the side door. "I'm a Vicar and I saw no one approach?" he
thought. At first, he didn't think anyone was really there, then
the gentle tap sounded again, calm and unintrusive.
38.
When he answered, there was an unusually dressed shellan of
unclear ethnic or cultural origin; swabbed
in robes of an unknown vintage. Wexli wasn't really focused
on the incidentals, he was wondering how anyone could suddenly
appear without his knowledge. "I need a refresher in
guardianship," he scolded himself.
39.
"May I have some water?" the shellan asked. Wexli lived in a part
of Vejhon where friendliness was normal -- there was no reason to
mistrust others. "Would you like to come in?" he
invited him. "No," the stranger replied, "I would just like
some
water." Wexli did not detect anything psionically ambivalent or
anomalous about
the visitor.
40.
It was an odd request: Most shellans stumbling upon a
home after surviving a blizzard in the middle of nowhere
would accept an invitation to warm up.
41.
Wexli fetched his favorite infuser, that he reserved for special
occasions, pressed the fill switch and offered his visitor a cup of
fresh, clean shell water. The visitor raised the cup to his
lips, but didn't seem to drink very much, if anything. "Maybe
he's not really shellan?" Wexli wondered.
42.
"I can start a fire so you can warm up," he offered
earnestly, "Would you like something to eat?" his sincerity
was childlike and infectious.
43.
The stranger handed the infuser back to Wexli and thanked him. He
did not want any other offerings. Wexli looked into the
cup, perplexed, "Is this a waking dream?" he wondered. Again, he
extended any hospitality that the traveler might desire, but the
traveler politely declined. He thanked Wexli again and turned to
leave. Wexli noticed that the traveler's
garments were dated and worn like a truly authentic costume, but he
couldn't determine when or
where. Now and again, the Guard encountered time travelers who
unconsciously broadcast "Here I Am" everywhere they went. They
were typically harmless. Malicious ones were killed.
44.
Wexli returned to
his living room to lazily contemplate the unusual visit
and watch the stranger's departure through his large front
window.
45.
The stranger walked about 10 paces in the snow, and vanished
in the blink of an eye. Wexli
blinked his own eyes and leaned forward, "Did that just happen?"
46.
He rushed outside to trace the stranger's steps. It wasn't cold
anymore so he left his jacket inside. After 10 paces,
the tracks stopped. He looked around for any possible explanation
but there wasn't one -- the stranger simply vanished.
47. He stared up toward the
sky, searching A'zoth for an answer, but A'zoth wasn't talking.
"I would deny that this even happened," he reasoned, returning his
attention to the tracks, "but
the evidence is right there in the
snow."
AZOTH & UHURA
48.
Uhura lifted up her delicate bare arm and examined a small
glowing spark of potential hovering above her fingers. She
gracefully moved her hand around the potential without actually
touching it. No doubt, the potential knew that it was being
lovingly caressed.
49. As
the infuser of life and Heavenly Mother of all, she was
the river of time in which her creations were blessed with a divine
purpose.
50. A
by-product of greatness is casualty and
irrelevance.
Azoth zealously guarded Her name and would curse anyone who abused Her.
51.
"Thoughts are pressure," Azoth said. "They eminate from
spirit, vibrate strings in the mind and become music."
52.
"It's physical." Uhura said. "A transformation of
potential into reality." Speech, itself, is an artistic
expression.
53. In
the realm where God lives, thoughts can become
reality. Unlike light-machines, embued with personality and
obedience, children can choose to defy their parents.
54.
There is nothing new under the sun, yet, God registers His
words with mortals. Time, and time again.
55. "What else is time for?" she cooed.
ABOVE
EARTH
56.
"The
polarization of this sphere should stabalize protein integrity
throughout initialization," I-20 commented with excitement. He
sounded like a tourist on a safari, "The
electro-cognative influence of metals and minerals is massaged
by the gravitational influence of its moon." "The moon seems to
stabalize the ecology too," #7 observed as a point of
information.
57.
Conscious
detected structures on the dark side of the moon and blocked that
discovery from I-20's entourage. The structures were not
connected to the Light Race.
58.
This world had been seeded several times and the seedlings destroyed
themselves each time.
Other biologicals had visited, but there was no evidence that anyone
was using it for anything.
59.
Neighboring
systems posted markers, "Off Limits per
directive of
The One: Look, but don't touch." "The God of Chaos has
nothing to do with us," I-20 determined. For all intents and
purposes, the place looked like it had been trashed and beatified by
its own natural forces.
60. It
was
already terraformed and running an auto-engramatic
'survival of the fittest' program. "Perfect!" I-20 praised, "The
helix will fit
here seamlessly!"
61.
The
animal inhabitants were animated but did not possess a frontal lobe and
were incapable of
choice. Conscious released her analysis to those assembled.
62.
Everyone was distressed to see The One's design style throughout the
system. 'The One' was the God of
Chaos, evolved from, and embraced by biologicals, theoretically.
63. Rumor had it
that Conscious spoke to The One but nobody knew for sure. It
wasn't likely that Conscious would lead them across the galaxy on a
fool's errand.
64. "Let's do
this!"
I-20 said excitedly, "The program
has an engramatic bond to matter -- it will thrive here!"
65. I-20's entourage descended below the watershell and found a
suitable location to incubate the toxin. "Will
they appreciate what we've done?" #4
asked sentimentally. She wasn't really elliciting a
response. "When
does 'the created' ever love it's Creator?" I-20 asked, "It will never
know about us... not with cosmic certainty." "Probably not at
all,"
#9 suggested. Everyone knew that he was probably more right, than
wrong.
66.
"At
least there's enough gravity, just in case," #9 said.
"Are you sure we're not some special kind of stupid for doing this in
the first place?" Anything to do with chaos never comes with a
guarantee.
67.
"We're
about to find out," I-20 added. "The only absolute is
Chaos here." Nobody would argue that point.
68. "If it
fails
-- we simply start over."
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