A Tale of Two AIs

[foamy]

A Tale of Two AIs

[interrupt, distance]
[initialising]
[...]
[location check]
[...]
[location confirmed]
[activating thrusters]
[orientation started]
[...]
[orientation complete]
[burn started]
[monitoring]
[...]
[burn complete]
[orbit parameters match mission profile, +/- 0.1%]
[insertion successful]
[close-range monitoring started]
[...]
[initial survey results complete]
[proto-star. eventual spectal class: white-yellow. confirms pre-departure analysis]
[accretion disk. elements 12 and up common. classed as third stellar generation]
[accretion clumps. current total 9 major, 372 minor. 3 major proto-accretions within liquid 1-2_8-1 boundary evolution]
[...]
[12/1-2_8-1 based self-replication chemistry formation probable]
[...]
[analysis: Eater attention certain]
[silent running active]
[power down]


July 1st, 2194 A.D.


Today's a historic day. They've finally got the Audacity ready for launch. We've sent out other ships before, to Alpha Centari and to Epsilon Eridani, but this is beyond anything we've ever done. A first. The AC and EE hops were short, puddlejumps almost. The Audacity crew, though; they're going on a trip that will last longer than the known span of human history. I'm almost jealous of them, and of what they'll find: The first complex ecology outside of Earth's, anywhere in the Galaxy.

I dream, a little, of what might be found there. Is there any chance of intelligent life? Certainly, the planet the Farsight Array found five thousand light years out-- well, 5,046.192578 +/- a smidge, but I'm no antiquated sterotype of a computer-- is the best odds we've ever found.

The rest of the Galaxy seems bleak and lifeless, with fewer Sol-like solar systems than our theories predict. Some of our more paranoid minds think something made it that way. But if so, it can't be active any longer; Earth, and now this new planet-- I think Trove is the current popular name for it-- have beaten the odds. Earth's record of life goes back billions of years.

Man, this is morbid. This is supposed to be a happy day. And truly, it's an honour I've received, even if I wasn't chosen for the big A's crew. They're letting me run the communication's relay out to the Audacity. It's an enormous responsibility; I won't let them down.

I decide to let time speed up. My source biological will probably want to talk to me; I know myself.

The automated systems tick over, subconsciously keeping the big mirror in alignment, the fusion plant steady, as my consciousness drops to meat-speed. Through one of my vid cams, I can see frozen dust motes jump to life in the upload chamber. My source opens his eyes; for him, for... well, not me, not precisely any more; the upload process is not perfect, and in the time this has taken, I've experienced more than I had in my life as a bio. Uploading changes you.

But I'm still me. And in the upload chamber, the source-me opens my former eyes. I activate a speaker and say "Hello."

He smiles back at me. "I always say that," he says. "The rest changes, of course." He seems content to stay in the upload chair, even as I unsnap the buckles that keep body motion from interfering in the process.

"I know," I reply, gently. "They've evaluated me; I've got the job."

He lets out a slow sigh."Ahhh... Good. You're lucky, you know. I don't know exactly how many uploads they've checked to run this death ray device," with a slight wave, he indicates the upload room, and, by implication, the precision engineering that is now my home, "but I know it was in the billions. I'm rather jealous, you know. I won't get to see the results of the expedition, but you will."

"Humans don't die, any more. You could see the results too, if you wished." I point out, trying to draw him. He needs the catharsis of riding his hobbyhorse; he knows it, I know it. But he answers anyways.

"Oh, we die. Not from disease, or age, or even violence any more. We retreat into the alternate realities. The simspaces. We strip mine our home for metals and fuel, and what do we do with it? Server racks." He sneers. "You've got something important to anchor yourself to the physical. Be grateful." He sighs again.

"For myself, I'd rather go out doing something important than go soft like that. I don't think I'll live much past my third century."

He moves to get up. "I've taken too much of your time already. Here's to a wonderful fifty thousand, eh?"

He leaves. I am him, and not him; his contempt for ennui, yes, that I share. But I damn well intend to see this out. I'll be the first thing in Sol System to find out what alien life-- real life, not those disappointing lichens on Titan-- looks like. Sounds like. Maybe even thinks like.

It'll be a blast.