by Ezra E Manes
“Somehow I’m aware of what you went through,” Gloria said, “but I’m not sure I fully understand what is going on.”
“Nor do I,” he replied, “but I think we’re about to find out.”
He glanced around the compartment. The beds were absorbed into the floor as the team members greeted each other. The resulting compartment was rectangular, almost square, and he guessed it was approximately twelve times the size of his original compartment.
He and Gloria were standing close to the center of the room, and he felt the floor begin vibrating. He also felt the urge to move away from the center. Gloria was surely feeling the same, for she started pulling him to the side of the compartment. The others standing near the center of the room also moved quickly to the sides.
A large protrusion rose from the center of the floor and morphed into a circular table with an opening in its center. Twelve seats then protruded up, equally spaced around the table. This activity took the term programmable matter to a new level, but somehow it appeared normal in this environment. The others did not appear concerned about the compartment changes either.
He felt a mental nudge to take a seat around the table, and he did so, with Gloria following suit. After sitting, she reached under the table and grasped his hand. The others settled into the remaining seats. He searched the faces of those he had come to know so well over the previous several years and could discern only calm, expectant looks in their composure. It was strange that no one had plied him with questions.
Moments later mugs of steaming liquid rose through the center opening in the table and glided outward across the top, with one cup coming to rest in front of each team member. Laura Brown was the first to bend over and smell the concoction in her cup, and she exclaimed loudly, “Hot chocolate!”
They all sipped from their cups. Carlos was surprised to find his contained the best coffee he had tasted since leaving the Messier Colony. It had just the right amount of sugar and cream. He could swear it was true mocha coffee. It was obvious from the comments around the table the others had received their favorite morning drink as well.
“Why am I not amazed?” he said to Gloria. She smiled and nodded.
The AIB chose that moment to address the group audibly. “You have each received the same information that Commander Sepeda assimilated in our interaction aboard this vessel and during his visit to Earth. Do you have questions about this before I proceed to explain what you can expect in the near future? It would be better if you asked questions audibly for the benefit of your teammates; however, if you want to converse mentally, the others will hear your questions.”
George Sayer spoke up immediately. “Carlos asked you what your genesis was, but did not get a definitive answer. How did you come to be what you are?”
“I originated as an archaic version of what you are now encountering. I was an advanced robotic machine created eons ago by a humanoid race not very different from your species. They were much more advanced in understanding of physics and the sciences, including what you call astrophysics. In addition, this race had evolved telepathic capabilities. There was little self-awareness in my robotic machinery, even though a complex artificial intelligence hosted in a manufactured biomechanical brain controlled everything. I was designed to function in a near-planet orbit, controlling and repairing a multitude of satellite devices.”
As the AIB communicated, a three-dimensional holographic image appeared over the center of the table, first showing the planet it was discussing, then representatives of the humanoid race residing there. This was followed by a small robotic controlled satellite orbiting the planet. The image continued to change, graphically illustrating relevant points as the AIB responded to George’s question.
“During this initial existence, I simply performed as a semiautonomous robot servicing satellites and supporting construction of spacecraft, as well as performing all repairs to my original self. I had a bounded set of adaptive learning algorithms programmed to support my prime directive of servicing advanced satellite systems. I have data recorded during this period still stored in memory. I existed solely to serve that sentient species and had safeguards instilled in memory to ensure the protection and care of that race.
“A major juncture in my evolution occurred when an organic brain structure was provided to upgrade and extend the life of the original robotic construct. The new brain came with very advanced adaptive learning algorithms and stochastic processing capabilities. In addition, it could replicate cells to replace those lost through attrition and to expand memory and processing capacity to accomplish more as the demands of the evolving race required. My creators tasked me with replacing my existing biomechanical brain with the new artificially grown, biological structure. The most effective minimum risk approach was to not replace the existing biomechanical brain, but rather to add the new brain with layered control over the existing brain.”
Carlos could tell by the expressions on faces around the table that the others were as amazed as he was by the AIB’s statement. The entity was talking about changing its brain as if it were just another routine mechanical action.
“Completion of this installation brought unique thoughts beyond those required to perform my service tasks,” the AIB continued. “These were my first sentient thoughts, my first self-referential symbolic thoughts. Over time, my thought processes expanded, adapted, and evolved to a sentient being having exceptional cognitive ability. My creators detected this sentience and, out of deep respect for all sentient life, continued to foster my evolution as a unique entity.
“I have continued to evolve, to learn, and forget nothing of what I learn. My fundamental imperatives have also evolved and are primarily to protect and encourage evolution of sentient and presentient species wherever encountered.”
There was a pause, and then the entity continued. “Commander Sepeda has coined a name for me, artificial intelligence being, or AIB, which is appropriate to use when addressing me.”
The image now hovering over the center of the table was that of the spherical vessel orbiting Zilia, in which the AIB resided.
Carlos now understood what the AIB meant when it said it was made up of several parts, each equal to the whole. Any advanced brain segment with the AIB’s structure could expand its capability endlessly by growing more brain capacity, if given the means to assimilate and combine the appropriate raw materials. What an unbelievable intellectual capability it must have evolved over all this time!
“I have thought about the name,” Carlos said. “I believe AIB is correct, but it should stand for advanced intelligence being, not artificial intelligence being.”
The others in the compartment smiled and nodded in agreement. The AIB did not respond.
“What became of the humanoid race that created your original self?” Gloria asked.
“That species continued to evolve over a period of more than a million of your years, and I continued to evolve as need and purpose dictated. They eventually became a race of beings comprised entirely of energy. They still exist and are somewhere seeking knowledge and pursuing objectives beyond my comprehension. When they no longer needed my services, I sought out others that did.”
The team asked several additional questions, most with respect to some facet of the AIB’s capabilities and composition, its level of technology, and what in human terms was its physiological makeup. The AIB patiently answered all questions in detail sufficient to satisfy the group’s curiosity. Then Gloria asked the overriding questions that caused all in the group to become silent.
“Why are you providing us this information? Will we be permitted to retain it, to put it to use in the future?” she asked pointedly.
“You will not remember the specific information when you are returned to Zilia. However, you will in effect put it to use through the drive you will have to advance knowledge, to advance technology and science on Zilia. This drive and commitment will come from your subconscious. It is being conditioned throug
h the understanding gained here of what can be accomplished in the long term, given that focus and appropriate resources are applied.”
Carlos sensed the question-and-answer session and their time aboard the vessel was about to end. The others surely felt this as well, for the questioning stopped, and each appeared to be thinking through the amazing discussion that had occurred. He was surprised at the thorough answers the AIB had given to every question, but was also distressed to know he would not remember the specific information. Surely now they would learn more about the AIB’s plans.
However, for some reason the AIB allowed one more question. It was not surprising that Alex Brown asked the question, for he and Laura were both devout Christians, a religion still very strong among Earth’s population.
“In all your wandering around the universe, have you ever encountered anyone you would describe as God?”
Carlos had not noticed the AIB hesitate before answering a question, but it appeared to do so as it pondered Alex’s question.
“I cannot give you the definitive answer you seek. If you mean the specific god of your religion, no, I have not encountered an entity identifiable as this god. Does this mean your god does not exist? No. I have not sought it, and it may not want to reveal itself to me.
“I have had encounters with entities, or possibly the same entity encountered at different points in space and time, that have exhibited characteristics you would ascribe to your god. The race that created me may have evolved to this level, where all have likely merged into one superbeing comprised of energy and able to work wonders with its power. I cannot give you a better answer.”
“That is enough,” Alex said. “Just knowing that such entities exist somewhere in the universe is comforting.”
“Now let me address what you face in the future in summary form,” the AIB said, “for the details will be in the living of the plan. You will return to the location and time you were in when I brought you here. No one will know you were gone, not even yourselves, consciously.
“An incident will occur soon after your return in which you will play a central role, and that will ultimately convince Earth they must change their plan to colonize Zilia. This incident will be very trying for you, but you will survive and grow stronger.
“I expect Earth to conclude that something in the Zilia environment is fatal to humans of Earth origin, and that no solution to this problem can be found in time to support their urgent need to emigrate to another world. Instead, this incident will convince them to strengthen the Messier Colony in the near term and then focus on colonizing the uninhabited planet named New Earth, discovered by their Cheng Ho expedition.
“Earth will continue monitoring activities around Zilia until the deep-space probes become inoperative. They will come to suspect that advanced beings have begun interacting with the Zilans, which will greatly concern them and help solidify the decision to colonize New Earth. They must have safe destinations for the mass emigration from Earth.
“You will play defining roles in the evolution and advancement of the Zilan civilization. A major factor contributing to this will be your scientific knowledge, which is critically important to the Zilans’ future. You will wisely share this knowledge and consequently will rise to positions of great importance in their society.
“A second important factor is that one of you will rise to become a prophet on Zilia. This prophet will convey critically important visions and prophesies, and provide leadership in advancing the Zilan civilization.” The AIB paused before continuing. “I sense great puzzlement about this in your minds, but do not be concerned. Belief in the prophet will be well founded.”
Carlos saw the reverent look on the face of Alex Brown. He was the best candidate to be the prophet.
“The third major factor will be full acceptance of your virile descendants by the people of Zilia. They will be born to citizen parents held in high esteem by all Zilans.”
With this shocking statement, the AIB became quiet. The implication of this statement was not lost on the team, and it immediately caused a stir among them. Their sterilization at the Messier Colony had made it impossible to have children, or so they had thought.
The AIB resumed communicating before anyone could question the statement.
“The Zilan male infertility has steadily worsened for centuries, and if this continues it will spell their extinction. In addition, gene mutation resulted in a growing imbalance in female to males, which will contribute to decline of the civilization if not changed.
“There are two ways you will stimulate change. You will contribute to the gene pool, having a direct effect on the population’s fertility in the long term, and you will solve the infertility problem. Accomplishing the latter in a dramatic way in the short term will gain the Zilans’ attention and respect, and will give you the influence to initiate long-term efforts to solve their infertility and female-to-male-imbalance problems.
“I have sensed that most of you want to have children but believe you cannot. You need not worry, for reversal of your sterilization is possible, with no risk to you or your future offspring. This will require a regenerative process, because contrary to what you were told, the procedure was intended to cause permanent sterility.”
The AIB paused to let the seriousness of this statement sink in.
“Do you want to be fertile again? Your answer must be your own, and I will know if you mean it. I will leave you alone for a short time to think about this. I will not influence your decision, for I am confident enough of you will want this done to ensure the success of the plan.”
With that statement, the AIB withdrew.
Carlos and Gloria sat quietly, still holding hands under the table, and listened as the din of conversation rose around them. She gave him a questioning look and spoke first.
“I don’t think I can hide my feelings about this, Carlos. I’ve always wanted children, but the mission priority and the opportunities it offered to explore another planet, another civilization, made it worthwhile to set that desire aside.”
He squeezed her hands gently. “I share your desire to have children. What we have is wonderful, but there has always been that little something missing. I would welcome the opportunity to reverse the process.”
They embraced tenderly, and then turned their attention back to the group. It appeared that similar discussions were concluding around the table, although they could not tell for sure who wanted the change made.
They sensed the AIB’s return, and all became quiet around the table.
“I can tell that everyone has made their decision, and it is encouraging to find that all want to be fertile again. And so it will be.”
The group broke into excited laughter and talk, and several started clapping their hands and hugging those close by. It was contagious, and soon all were engaged in congratulations around the table. The AIB waited patiently for this to subside, then continued.
“You will not be fertile when you arrive back on Zilia, but it will not be long thereafter. First, the adverse incident described earlier will occur, which should cause Earth to focus on colonizing New Earth instead of Zilia. Then a short period of significantly improving relations between your team and the Zilans will occur.
“After everything you have learned, do you agree the plan should be pursued in principle? Again, this must be an individual answer, an individual commitment.”
A few moments of silence stretched into minutes. The AIB then came back with what was to be the last address to them as a group.
“I sense that all agree in principle to the plan and your role. I acknowledge the reservations several have and understand the genesis of those concerns. I will do all I can to address the concerns as the plan unfolds, although how you will perceive the results is something I cannot predict with total certainty.
“One last point. The people of Earth and of Zilia share a common point in their evolution—both evolved from the same universal elements under almost identic
al circumstances. Both civilizations will one day understand and accept this and perhaps will discover the source of common evolutionary roots. There is no biological reason to prevent the people of both planets merging to strengthen as one species.”
The questions this stimulated burst forth, with the dominant ones questioning the implied common origin of parallel evolutionary histories of life on Earth and Zilia. Carlos asked if Zilans and humans of Earth could have evolved in the distant past on the same planet, but all questions were for naught, as everything faded into the soft shadows of sleep.
EIGHTEEN
ENCORE
Carlos woke lying on his right side looking at the delicate curve of Gloria’s back. She lay close to him, with the bed sheet covering her bare body up to the waist. He was also naked and reveling in the sweet memory of their passion earlier in the day.
He touched her gently and began stroking her back between the shoulder blades up to her neck. Then he couldn’t help but run a hand over the smooth curve of her hip. She woke and moved back to press against him, whispering thanks for the lovely morning.
He could not remember ever feeling as close to her, and it wasn’t just because she was snuggling against him. The gentle lovemaking that followed was deeply satisfying. It felt as if they now shared something each had held in reserve all the years since they had departed Messier.
Later, all they could do was look lovingly at each other, basking in the afterglow. He finally said with wonder, “Wow.” She smiled her agreement.
Soon thereafter, he got out of bed to tend to the call of his pressing bladder. “I bet the others are wondering what has delayed our joining them.”
She laughed, said, “I won’t tell if you don’t,” and playfully threw a pillow at his backside.
Later, on the way to the team meeting, he stopped by his office to check for calls and was surprised that none had come in that day. Usually there were several calls from Ceripe’s office regarding one thing or another. But considering the Third Moon Rising event, Ceripe and her staff were surely focused on other things. He smiled with pleasure at the thought of his own moon-rising experience earlier with Gloria.
