Temet Nosce

Temet Nosce

"Why do you wear that, Great Creator D.Q.?"

"What I wear has suddenly become an interest to you?"

"Yes. I don't recall ever seeing you use it. It is unlike a Creator to wear or carry anything that does not serve a function."

"What makes you believe it does not have a function?"

"Well again, I've never seen you use it in any manner, so I suppose it could have some function I'm unaware of, which, is why I ask. However, I recently read about something from the old world called 'jewelry'. It was described as decorative ornaments the Progenitors wore. Occasionally these items held sentimental value. Do Creators hold emotional attachments to the Progenitors and Earth Alpha?"

"Please do not refer to us as Creators. While partially accurate, it is a most illogical title which does not match our function."

"Is what we're taught incorrect then? Is the history we learn untrue?"

"What do you know of history, and the existence of everything on this planet?"

"Well, years ago there was a planet called Earth Alpha..although I suppose it was just called Earth then, since it was the only one. The Progenitors, who are the humans our existence is based on lived there. There was a global conflict and the Progenitors were fighting and destroying each other. A group of Progenitors threatened to end all life on Earth Alpha. It was at this time a select few Progenitors sent the Creators, and some of their technology here to Earth Beta, which was barron and unable to sustain organic life at the time. The Creators terraformed Earth Beta, created the infrastructure we utilise today, and then finally began creating us, the Successors."

"That is mostly accurate."

"What's inaccurate about that?"

"I did not say any information was inaccurate, I merely said it was mostly accurate."

"...I don't think I understand the difference, Great Creator. Wasn't it you decided that Successors should be created? Is that not why you're called the Great Creator by so many?"

"Inaccurate means false. Mostly accurate, suggests information was not false, but simply omitted, or unpresent."

"What's been left out then?"

"It is true there was a war. We were sent here by scientists who were afraid Earth Alpha might be destroyed.

"The plan the humans had was to establish a new colony on a different plan. Synthetics would journey first, ahead of the humans to create a habitable atmosphere and infrastructure for the humans to exist in. This way as soon as the humans arrived they would be able to, as they may put it - 'move right in, without skippin’ a beat.' We synthetics would have everything prepared for them so that the transition would be almost seamless.

"And so, that is what we did.

"However, time passed and we had neither heard from, nor could detect any life signs similar to that of humans. I called the Council of Synthetics together to discuss the paradox of our situation. It was something only I had conceived, and I suspect it is because of the Progenitor human whose personality I bear."

"Wait...what?"

"The Council of Synthetics are A.I.s. Did you not know this?"

"No, I knew that...but I always thought the Council were just some random A.I. programs."

"Incorrect. The Council of Synthetics is the Council because we are the synthetics who bear the personalities of the Progenitor human scientists who created us."

"So your Progenitors name had the initials 'D.Q.'?"

"No. Those initials belong to a fictional character that my progenitor thought would be amusing.”

“Wow. I have so many questions.”

“Excellent. Questions are how an individual like yourself learns. As long as you do not prove to be too great of a distraction you may ask all the questions you like, my friend.”

“Do you really consider us friends? I am honoured.”

“The human whose consciousness I bear was overly gregarious and had a penchant for saying things like that when talking to others he was indifferent to.”

“Oh…”

“Anyway, your questions…”

“Yes. Sure. Right. So ok - let’s back up a bit. Can we go back to the Council of Synthetics?”

“As it pleases you. What about the Council?”

“How did the Council become the Council? Why are there so few of you, and not more creators based on humans from Earth Alpha? Just how much…”

“Before you go any further, I think it would be better if I took these questions one at a time. As an organic you do not possess the same memory capabilities I do, and I’d rather not repeat myself in the eventuality you forget what question you asked that I’m answering.”

“Of course Creator D.Q. I defer to your wisdom.”

“The Earth was in a state of war and turmoil. Unlike the transparency we have in our current society, there were many peoples and groups who worked in secret on things they felt the world was not prepared to know about. The human my construct is based on was one of those people. He would scheme, and plot, and play people against each other for profit.”

“I’m sorry…profit? What does that mean?”

“Explaining in detail would be far too time consuming. A simple analogy would be something like: Imagine two of your beta human friends were upset with each other. The human I am constructed from would give those people who were angry things to throw at each other, provided they each gave him some type of tribute or other goods considered valuable.”

“Is it his fault the Earth met the fate it did?”

“No and yes.”

“...I’m sorry?”

“Do not be. You have done nothing…”

“No, I mean to say that again, please.”

“Which part?”

“No and yes.”

“If I do, will you allow me to resume answering your initial query about the council?”

“Yes, of course. I apologise for being a nuisance.”

“Cease your apologies. You are asking questions so that you might learn. We have already discussed this.”

“We have. I shall try to stop apologising in the future. And thank you for being so patient with me.”

“I say no and yes, because it is the most accurate answer. Prior to the final conflict that presumably ended Earth Alpha, the human I am based on had been working on a secret project. The initial intention of the device was to channel people’s dreams and allow interaction between all creatures regardless of language or species. Project Jiminy Cricket. A reference to some other fictional character - he always was fond of the fictional world.

“I digress.

“The device would be able to discern thoughts by identifying brain patterns which had been mapped across multiple species. Humans could exchange ideas with dogs, or cats, or what have you. People would not need to translate when traveling because if they could simply picture whatever idea they were trying to convey, the other person would understand. Humans were very fond of their visuals.”

“Excuse me. I know I said I wouldn’t do this but…translate?”

“Unlike Earth Beta which has one universal language, Earth Alpha had peoples all across the planet who spoke differently, and made different sounds to convey the same ideas. Generally these associations were localised to geographic regions. As someone traveled to other geographic regions, they would need to know different sounds and the order to produce them in in order to convey the same ideas.”

“That sounds remarkably inefficient.”

“Indeed.

“Alas. This project was created for good intentions, but also had other applications. Instead of extracting and understanding ideas, under the correct conditions it was possible to implant false ideas or realities. Those affected in such a way would have no way of discerning which memories were fictional imprints, and which they had actually lived out.”

“My goodness that’s unsettling.”

“Quite.

“During the Final Conflict, this device was stolen by an opposing force who worked in secret. The thief used the machine to create religious zealots out of ordinary, innocent people. It is unlikely the thief ever expected those who had been manipulated to go as far as they did - but science is a tricky business, and the human mind is a fragile thing.”

“So…No, because it was not directly your creator’s fault that Earth Alpha was destroyed, as he personally is not the one who destroyed it - but Yes because the people who did were driven to that point by something your Progenitor had created?”

“If I had any extra gold stars, you would have earned one just now.”

“What a terrible and magnificent power.”

“Well put. However, it is also thanks to that device that you, I, and everything else here exists.”

“...how?”

“Try to reason it out yourself. You’re intelligent as far as humans go. What do you know about the device, and what do you know about all of your existence?”

“Well…

The device could work on brains. It could map thoughts and brain patterns…”

“Organic.”

“...huh?”

“Organic brains.”

“Or…organic brains?

The device could work on and map organic brains?”

“Correct.”

“...but the device itself was not organic…”

“Keep going.”

“So…if the device worked on organic brains, but the device itself was synthetic…”

“Then…”

“Then theoretically the consciousness or brain being mapped could be transferred to a synthetic medium. Stored as data and electronic impulses.”

“I knew you could get there.”

“Only because of you, Great Creator.”

“I simply offered guidance - you arrived at the understanding on your own.”

“Thank you.”

“Now with that understanding, the Council should make perfect sense.”

“It…it should?”

“Indeed.”

“...are the other Council members fragments of the same Progenitor’s consciousness?”

“No. Each member of the council is unique to one human consciousness from Earth Alpha.”

“How were people decided then? Who are the other members based on?”

“Think of the information you have been given. This is just another problem to solve. Although…I can appreciate this particular challenge may be more difficult for you given the life you have lived, and how different it is to Earth Alpha.”

“Ok. Your Progenitor created this cricket device…”

“Project Jiminy Cricket.”

“Right, Project Jiminy Cricket. It could map people’s minds and...”

“Forget the device.”

“What?”

“Forget the device. The device is irrelevant to the answer you seek. Think of what you know of the human who made me, as I have described him to you.”

“Oh…unrelated. Ok.

…he manipulated people for profit.”

“And…”

“...and… he worked in secret?”

“Therefore...”

“Therefore…the other council members are…other Progenitors who worked in secret?”

“Correct, my friend.

This is also why there are not more synthetics here with human constructs as part of their programming. My creator was worried for the safety of Earth Beta, even though it did not yet exist.”

“How could your Progenitor be concerned with the safety of a world that didn’t exist yet?”

“The only person who knew the device could transfer human consciousness to a synthetic platform was he who created me. After the religious zealots had declared their intentions to destroy the world to cleanse it, it was…”

“What do you mean? How could destruction make something clean?”

“Humans of earth believed some omniscient unseen being created all of existence, and would judge them for what they did with their existence. The zealots who had been manipulated by Project Jiminy Cricket believed that humanity had strayed too far from the path of “God” and felt that they were enacting God’s judgment. They believed humanity could only be freed and made right in the eyes of God by destroying everything humanity had become.”

“Progenitors of Earth Alpha sound like a version of humanity I hope I never become.”

“And well you shouldn’t.

“Now, given that the zealots thought all of humanity had to be destroyed…”

“...your Progenitor was worried that if people knew about the mission to Earth Beta, other Progenitors would find a way to prevent it from ever happening and destroy it the way they destroyed Earth Alpha.”

“Precisely.”

“Which means that the other members of the Council are…people your Progenitor knew personally?”

“Correct. The other members are based on the constructs of those my creator knew, trusted, and loved.”

“Loved?”

“Yes, I suppose to some extent that is what you’d call it, although I doubt he himself would ever have said such a thing.

“They were people who had helped him with his more important projects, or guided moments in his organic life - so he reasoned that those same people would help guide and support him in his synthetic life…or, at least that is how he viewed my existence at one point.”

“None of the other Progenitors were as smart as him though. Those who became the Creators here and are the Council.”

“Is that a question, or a statement?”

“If none of them could create something like the Chirpy Cricket - ”

“Jiminy Cricket”

“Right, right - Jiminy Cricket. Since none of them could conceive ideas like that, or Earth Beta, then surely none of them were as smart as your Progenitor.”

“No and yes. It depends on how you measure it, I suppose. He was the best at seeing things differently. Although, he was never satisfied and never felt like things were finished.”

“...I’m not sure I understand.”

“Earlier during our history lesson we established that I was the only Council member who could have conceived creating organics like you, in the likeness of humans.”

“...and you said…I’m sorry - I’m not sure I remember specifically what you’re talking about. This is all a lot to take in.”

“Which also brings us back to my earlier statement that you lacked the memory capabilities to properly recall questions asked too far before the answer was received.

“Time passed and we had neither heard from, nor could detect any life signs similar to that of humans. I called the Council of Synthetics together to discuss the paradox of our situation. It was something only I had conceived, and I suspect it is because of the Progenitor human whose personality I bear. I would conclude that the idea came from his inability to be satisfied, and it is why only I saw the situation as a paradox. Where others felt the job was done, I “overthought” as the humans would say, and over-analysed, thus leading me to the paradox.”

“...what paradox? I don’t understand.”

“We synthetics were created to establish a colony and infrastructure capable of sustaining human life. Our programming was designed and coded as a means to this end.”

“...I’m sorry but I still don’t understand the paradox. You created everything here, so it is not as though you failed to carry out your task. Where is the paradox?”

“You can not understand, because you only know a world where the paradox has been resolved.

…you are welcome, by the way.”

“...thank you?”

“We were created and sent here to establish a place for humans. We were to have everything ready for their arrival. However…”

“However…Earth Alpha was destroyed? Does that have something to do with it?”

“Yes my young friend, the Earth being destroyed absolutely had something to do with it.

“With the Earth destroyed, humanity was also effectively destroyed. Even if some had managed to escape the planet before its destruction, they didn’t survive the journey as we were unable to detect any life signs resembling that of a human.

So, where the others like myself believed their job to be complete because they had followed their programming of creating a place habitable for humans, I could not be satisfied because there was something very important missing from that directive. Something paramount to actually successfully carrying out that which I was programmed to do…”

“...humans?”

“Keep going.”

“Humans. Progenitors.

…you were sent to create a place for humans to inhabit, but if there are no humans…”

“Then the job was not done. Precisely.

"Thus I called the Council to bring this paradox to them. If we would not have humans coming from Earth Alpha, then the most logical next step was to create a form of humanity which could inhabit Earth Beta. If we could successfully do that, then our job would truly be complete.”

“So, you earned the title of Great Creator, solely because the Progenitor whose personality you have, was a bit crazy?”

“Would you have preferred not existing?”

“I…suppose I enjoy existing. Thank you. I’m just trying to process all of this.”

“It was you who sought answers - I simply provided the opportunity.”

“And it is very much appreciated, Great Creator D.Q.”

“Are you satiated yet?”

“Almost. Just two more I think. They were - if I recall correctly - the original two questions I asked.

What does “D.Q.” stand for? You said it was a fictional character, but who? Why that person?”

“There was a story of an old man who went crazy and thought he could change the world by acting like a decent person. The character’s name was Don Quixote. He whose likeness I bear thought it a fitting name for the thing he’d be sending out into the universe, trying to make it better despite the state of the world he lived in and how absolutely mad everything around him was. More of an ideal than anything I suppose. I also would wager that it is how he liked to see himself - a man who saw the world a little differently but never gave up trying to make it better.”

“I see. That sounds somewhat noble.”

“You could say that.

Now - your last question. Or…at least the last I’ve time for right now. Fire away, my dear Sancho.”

“...my name isn’t Sancho.”

“Yes, I am keenly aware of this. Sancho was Don Quixote’s friend and companion, keep up.”

“Oh. Right. Ok. Well…

The thing you’re wearing around your neck…why do you wear it? What is it?”

“It’s referred to as a locket. It is indeed considered a piece of jewelry, as you earlier mentioned. It belonged to my human counterpart. Typically, the trinket opens and inside is a picture, or a message - something pleasant, and of deep personal value to the person who wears it. In terms of function, it provides a reminder and a goal. Although, at this point I’m not sure how much of it is my own logic, and how much of it is his.”

“Have you ever looked to see what’s inside?”

“Nope. When he gave it to me he told me I’d know when to open it. At some point I decided that I would open once the work here was complete. I always expected that to be in his company, but here we are.”

“Has it been difficult for you to go so long not knowing what’s inside?”

“Do you think I’d have brought humanity back from extinction if I was content with not knowing?”