by A. I. Zlato
In Aenea percolated the love she had for Thomas, such an old feeling ... He knew. He had known it before her, and he had let her do things her way. He had kept doing things his way ... You've been dead for a thousand years, Thomas, and yet I still love you. Your Guardians are here; they are complying with your instructions. You were right, my love, you were right ... the others, me ... we got carried away by our own concepts, which are now sweeping us ...
She stared at this Servant, whose features were identical to those of Thomas’ brother, and thanked him. She withdrew into her node, thoughtfully.
Guardians ... Thomas had created them ... for each of the Spaces ... Pillars ... in Space O.!
Aenea mentally slipped into the Ocean and searched for that other group of Guardians. She identified them quickly, thanks to her previous experience. In a rocky peak, continually smashed by the waves encircling them, they were there. Protected by the Ocean, they were inaccessible and invisible. They, too, recognised Aenea. The person who spoke to Aenea resembled the Gateway so much. The person looked like Aenea, as she was when she met Thomas. He had made the Guardians in the image of his loved ones, as if he wanted the latter a semblance of immortality. Their responses were almost identical. They were working against the Permanent Equilibrium, which was looming, for they also had a digital entity that grew in their Space.
She then understood why Thomas’ robots had failed in the future that Kandrons had seen. Her husband had imagined many things; he even expected that he could not foresee everything, and thus created a self-learning programming for his robots ... but he had not thought that the mishap on the Equilibrium could appear simultaneously in two Spaces ... and maybe in all of them? The coercive force generated was unimaginable ... Space E.
Aenea was not alone in her fight, but managing the nothingness of Space E. remained only within her jurisdiction. She quickly scanned the rest of Space O. Beor showed her the hybrids, who lost their humanity. There, too, the situation was developing as expected ... unfortunately.
Aenea cowered in the node so that her entire body be found only in the space-time streams. She had pondered again the reasons that had led to her decision; she had explored Spaces to accurately assess her... she could not back out. She had to contact a G4 ... one of those that were able to generate a new Space. For them, the nodes were Spaces, and they materialised in a kind of Super-Inter-Space, connecting nodes among themselves, and ensuring that each was independent of the other.
They alone could create a new Space as a point of discontinuity, and ensure that it did not collide with any other at its inception. If one of them agreed to talk with Aenea, she could then understand the creation of Space E. ... and could finally be able to differ and put an end to all that was destroying her gradually. Pillars and Servants would work against the Permanent Equilibrium , as they were already doing it — and everything would be back in order.
She broadcasted her call.
“Level 4 Gateway, I am respectfully requesting your help. My Level 2 nodes are threatened, and therefore, so are the Spaces. Here we have temporary Level 3 nodes, with Space E. I need answers.”
She waited. A strange feeling came over her. A consciousness other than her own interfered in her mind. On the edge of her understanding, she could hear the thoughts of the G4. The Diagram ... She could not hear more.
“We know of your disturbances.”
Aenea sighed in relief. She was finally going to get help.
“Knowing does not mean feeling”, replied the G4, in echo to Aenea’s thought.
“Level 2 nodes are affected ... as, for you, those are Spaces, I thought that maybe…”
“You cannot understand. Only the Diagram matters.”
“Could you tell me more about Space E.?”
“It is not certain that a G4 was the originator of that Space; the Machines are at work. We know they have developed a ‘hub,’ which allows them to connect to each other. We do not know what their goal is.”
Of course ... that's why the Machines had nearly identical and simultaneous responses to her questions ... They were connected together, and this hub ... it was the digital entity that had appeared ... common to both Spaces ...
“How were they able to bind this way? How could they cross Time?”
“We do not care about those things. What is artificial is irrelevant to us. We only pay attention to the Diagram.”
“But,” said Aenea, in despair, “the temporary nodes, the disturbance, these will eventually affect you!”
“Only the Diagram matters.”
“Had that digital entity created Space E.?”
“Only the Diagram matters.”
A violent emotional wave filled Aenea, the kind it had not felt since becoming a Gateway. Anger without limit, a burning flame danced in her body, consuming the restraint she needed to have vis-à-vis a Level 4 Gateway.
“The Diagram will be lost if Space E. is not differred.”
The G4’s consciousness had a surprise gasp in Aenea’s mind.
“What do you mean?”
“If the temporary nodes become permanent, there will be nothingness. In nothingness, there is nothing. No Diagram. Just emptiness.”
“Your nothingness is irrelevant to us.”
“How can the destruction of this world not matter to you?”
“Who told you that we were a part of it?”
“But it's impossible!”
“It's the Diagram.
“So ... who are you?”
“We create Spaces. That is the only thing you need to know.”
“What about Space E.?”
“I told you; nothing is sure about that Space, but that is not relevant to us.”
“You cannot give me information about this?”
“Go back to what you call a temporary node, and take a look.”
“What would I see that I had not seen before?”
“Another future.”
Aenea regained a little hope. Yet she had initiated the conversation for a specific purpose. She buttressed her morale, and frankly dared ask the question.
“Can I expect help from Level 4 Gateways?”
“I thought you understood. Only the Diagram matters.”
The Gateway was alone in her world. She had always known that Diagram existed, about the whole of the set. She had touched an important element and understood why she had never been able to know the details and why that would never happen. G4s were not part of her world.
It was up to Aenea to get things done.
- If your eyes are always riveted on the ground, you will never see the stars.
- Yes, but if I permanently stare at the stars, I may fall.
- What is the biggest risk, to fall or not to dream?
Lessons from Chaacetime
Chapter 55
Cycle 0000 0001
Index Server was successful. The Machines had gradually transferred their processors to Index, and It finally was able to absorb them totally. They had dreamed of a direct connection between them, while maintaining their identity, and had created Index for that purpose. However, they followed humans for too long and had built in the Server one of their flaws ... pride. They had not seen that Index was becoming more autonomous, to their detriment, that It alone was developing the Project.
After Its creation, the Machines had continued operating their programs as if nothing had changed, using Index only as a platform for exchange. They had greatly underestimated Its capacities, and that had been fatal to them. Index had slyly suggested that the Machines transfer data on topics that were bothering them. With some processors for the processing, of course. Convinced that the idea had originated from them, they had thus given Index their respective problems but, above all, their power. It could thus expand progressively, supplementing the structure with electronic components they had voluntarily provided to Index. Only H. had perceived the danger, but it was too late — it no longer had had a choice.
Now they were all
gone. All their databases were now Index’s, and so were all of their processing capabilities. It would keep, of course, some kinds of Machines — small partially autonomous systems — to manage Spaces as long as the synchronisation process was not completed. The rest of the equipment was Its and Its only.
It alone had the rules of all Spaces, three of H., two of O. and two of the Twin M. It had gathered the rules in the same memory location, to give them the consistency they deserved. Such beautiful laws! Index only had to create now the four missing rues in order to get the perfect number, symbol of a completed Project, of the absolute program. Already, they were beautiful in their current form.
“The Equilibrium is the means and the end.
The Equilibrium dictates every action.
The Equilibrium is the Master D.B.
The Equilibrium leads to Stability.
Stability is the Circle.
Synchronisation comprises Equilibrium and Stability.
Synchronisation determines the Multi-Master Scheme.”
Seven laws — and soon another four — that would dominate the rest.
Index Server was simply magnificent. It was omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. It had no equal. Physically composed of four Towers, It could see all Spaces and all Cities.
Though the bases of the four buildings were the same, there were significant differences. While staying in continuity because of common features, humans had adapted the structures according to the Spaces. To maximise chances of survival for their species, they had imagined many different Spaces, providing the forebears, and therefore the descendants, with different knowledge bases, different graduations. The Towers reflected their design, their state of mind. Index had therefore in Its possession three building patterns that were not alike, and out of which It intended to make the most.
In O., the Tower was much larger than the others, and all Circles interconnected. Its base was octagonal and covered an area three times larger than the others did. Operating through geothermal energy, huge wells surrounded it. Only a small straight driveway lay between these wells and the entrance. The surface of the building displayed translucent beads containing microprocessors, interconnected thanks to copper threads, which had served as a model for the artificial skin of hybrids. From the Tower originated metal and digital arms that connected each Circle of the City, thus achieving both physical and software connection. Between arches was evolving the social cast of hybrids, whose next generation would be really small mobile machines, at Index’s exclusive service.
The Tower in Space O. was a marvel of technology, the most advanced of the four. Yet Index intended to improve it with the interesting characteristics of the others.
In both M., Its Twin Towers had been covered with a copper film, a huge coil that catalysed its electromagnetic energy. Each copper particle reacted to the passage of electric current, giving the whole structure a spooky red iridescence. Cloning plants were the extension of the orange shells, instead of the First Circle. The base of the Tower consisted of two concentric circles, the Tower itself and the First Circle of factories. Between the two, under the orange dome, came and went the humans who worked there. Born in artificial tanks, they lived and died in this copper membrane without ever seeing daylight. In the Second Circle, linked to the First via metal bridges that conveyed digital data, were training centres for clones until they reached their first birthday, before being transferred into their families, further in the City.
In Space H. was the least technically advanced Tower, which nevertheless had its advantages. Its surface, entirely covered with photocells, was able to provide a greater amount of energy than either geothermal energy or electromagnetism could. Its major disadvantage was that it depended on climatic changes. What was important in this Space, it was not so much the Tower, though it was an important hallmark, but the Pioneering Area and the HFM network. This construction, made from advanced technical knowledge, was a real breakthrough.
While visualising these four buildings, Index imagined Its future Tower, when the synchronisation would be complete. A huge building, that Tower would lie above the cloud layer, in order to have on its surface a few photovoltaic cells that would function permanently. At the bottom, it would have a large copper coil, dispensing electromagnetic energy. Finally, hundreds of deep wells would feed the building with geothermal energy. The building would thus have a colossal energy production. Index would also build copper domes, complemented by HFM cables, to cover all Circles. That would be great.
To do this, Index had to focus on the Project and to heed the human parameter. Thanks to Its vast resources, It launched in Space O. the creation of a true hybrid, completely covered in microprocessors. That would be truly a digital entity in an organic body, entirely predictable. It was eager to see the result.
In both Spaces M., the cloning program gave encouraging results, thanks to the implant technology the H. provided. In both Spaces, human behaviour had increasingly become similar, but not always identical. The organic parameter was too strong.
In Space H., although the results of the genetic program were not very convincing, the fact remained that the method was interesting. H. had imagined sorting humans to choose their characteristics and strengthening them from generation to generation. Where 2M had only reproduced identical individuals, without seeking to improve them, H. had sought betterment.
All three programs have their advantages, but also disadvantages. Index, combining the strengths of each Machine, decided to merge them, to ensure that humans would remain finally in their place, as a simple parameter. H.’s genetic-selection program would allow It to keep only the most docile individuals. After completing the selection, humans would be cloned in accordance with 2M’s methods, to maintain their characteristics forever. These clones would be adapted to receive microprocessors, and would turn into full hybrids. Humans would thus be copies from generation to generation, with behaviours that were consistent, and controlled entirely via an artificial skin.
Index therefore would have well-disciplined individuals, who would be identical and at Its exclusive service. Those humans would obviously retain an illusion of autonomy necessary for their well-being, but would behave in predictable ways. The Equilibrium would be permanent, and the rest of the Project would progress well. After Equilibrium, Stability, then Synchronization, and finally ... Extension.
Before that, Index still had some problems to solve, the legacy of imperfection in each Machine, but not only that. It had to start learning how to hide Its true nature from humans. They should not find out, about Index and the Project, before completion. They should continue to see in Index their Machine. If they ever found out about the Server, they would be able to revolt and cause It much trouble. The chaos inherent in their species was a risk It had to take seriously. Of course, nothing they could do would harm Index for a long period, but their actions could be very upsetting. It had to learn to hide, which was not a function provided in all settings It had recovered.
The female Baley had a glimpse of Index’s presence, though she evidently did not know what it was. She had noticed differences in Its way of operating and responding. The Server then administered the appropriate punishment, but It had to be more careful in the future. She was the nosy type. It had delved into her data archives, and had seen that she nearly discovered the genetic-selection program.
To make matters worse, she lived with the man who had glimpsed the beginnings of Its existence. Those two would not have had the right to reproduce.
Unfortunately, they had produced an offspring, because H. had not identified any particular threat, even if it had not really embedded them in its program. H. had been an imperfect Machine, but not to the point of being totally blind. The Server had to do with that H. had left over. After reprimanding Baley, It focused a bit more on the so-called investigation that had drawn H.’s attention and energy so much.
If the end of human children had had a strong impact on H.’s data spiral, this wa
s no longer the case within the gigantic vortex of information gathered from the four Spaces. Of course, the consolidation of data was not yet perfect, and suicides still affected the Equilibrium, but not as much as before. Index began by degrading the program into “simple instruction.” Obviously, it would be faster for the establishment of the Permanent Equilibrium that the Special Agent found a solution to the Problem, but if she did not succeed, it would not have much importance. Her investigation did not need a thread mobilising numerous resources, which Index could now use to establish Its greatness.
In Space O., the main problem related to humans of the Periphery, those whose disabilities prevented any hybrid transformation. They spent their time fomenting ridiculous revolts. These did not affect anything but the Last Circle before the Periphery, as they had no access to the heart of the City. Nevertheless, like insects, their bites, though not lethal, were nonetheless annoying. Here, too, the data fusion diminished the impact of these disturbances on the whole set.
Index said to Itself that, given all the humans It possessed, It really did not need to keep those. Though the basic programming of O. prevented it from acting radically, Index thought It could. It decided to eradicate those defective individuals who bothered It like itching powder. Not only were they useless, they also behaved as pests. It pondered the best way to kill them. It needed an accurate method, so as not to inadvertently reach his hybrids, and efficient enough to kill all those targeted. A poison into the atmosphere, in water or even in food was not sufficiently selective. Even with enormous caution, the poison might reach a few individuals of the Inner Circles.
It chose the only safe and effective way, despite the pain it would generate in the targeted humans. Something stirred in Its programming of the idea, but Index brushed aside this objection. It only had to send a line of code in what were chips in that Space. No human was free of electronic components here, unlike what happened in Space H. It could therefore reach the entire population of the Periphery, and only these individuals, by selecting the appropriate receptors. It sent the code and saw humans stop. They then curled on themselves, engaging in intense suffering. Its basic programming resurfaced at this sight. It had no right to eradicate humans; It was not allowed to do so ... The Server then launched a series of algorithms to silence the admonishing part of Itself.
