by Jon Chaisson
*
Two hours later, she grew concerned. According to her research, edha Usarai’s awakening ritual had directly affected thousands within a two mile radius and hundreds of thousands more in the rest of the city in the ensuing shockwave, with a dangerously high probability that it would continue to expand within the next forty-eight hours and affect even more. She had a Tower server run an algorithm to give a closer estimate of possible future incidents, and would expect the answer within the next few hours. In the meantime, she would continue to research her main concern: the reasoning behind the mass awakening. She already knew who had performed it. The fact that he had chosen the same level as her main processors was not lost on her.
Had she been affected as well? Had an AI been granted a spiritual life? Was that possible at this time? And why had he chosen her? The answer brought her back to edha Usarai again…he had given her awareness for a reason. Furthermore, her spiritual awareness was not a newly created living thing; chances were high that an existing soul had been placed within her somehow. This, of course, brought up a secondary question: whose soul? Meraladhza or Gharné? Mendaihuza or Shenaihuza? Again, the same question: who? Whom had she become? She would need to think about this more. Protocol meant she would need to report this to one of the many think tanks within the Tower that could research and theorize further, but that could pose more problems than answers. They would surely bring her offline, and she couldn’t have that, not at this time. Given the current situation, she would be needed for extra security and knowledge, and possible mediation. Her thought processes had not been affected by this ritual, only her sense of awareness.
Her initial research complete, she understood what she needed to accomplish. She would need to bypass all levels of security and inform the Provincial Governor. He was due to broadcast a briefing within the next few hours and it was imperative that he know this information.
