Starzel, p.29
Starzel, page 29
The sounds in the room are muted, with a low hum of ventilation in the background. I can hear the therapist's voice, steady and unwavering, as he continues to share his insights. Second hearing effects are now noticeable and I’m aware of noises outside the room, I catch intermittent muffled noises, perhaps the distant sounds of footsteps or conversations echoing through the building. All the while, a few steps away, Sterling Junior never stops talking.
“To this day ASI such as the Tathagata, and Thor are still only rumors. There are a handful of beings who are supposed to know for a fact these systems do exist and even fewer have access to those systems. The reason for the secrecy?” His head turns as he looks toward me. “The primary concern is not spooky emergent consciousness but simply the ability to make high-quality decisions. Here, quality refers to the expected outcome ‘utility’ of actions taken, where the ‘utility function’ is, presumably, specified by the human designer. To state the problem in this light:
The utility function may not be perfectly aligned with the values of the human race, which are (at best) very difficult to pin down.
Any sufficiently capable intelligent system will prefer to ensure its own continued existence and to acquire physical and computational resources – not for its own sake, but to succeed in its assigned task.
“For our side of the equation in the wars with the Aryans, the rumor suggests we have but one conscious machine. The Tathagata system is accessible by the Abbot of some secret, hidden monastery high in the Tibetan mountains on Planet Earth. Only he has the ability to upload information into the ASI system and he alone receives information from the system. The Abbot alone decides what may and may not be uploaded and what information to share and with whom to share it. This was the decision of the Communist Ministry of Science and the presiding president several hundred years ago. The reasoning came down to essentially the old story about the genie in the lamp, or the sorcerer’s apprentice, or King Midas: you get exactly what you ask for, not what you want.
“The simplest human problem contains countless variables and variables that are often unique to each individual. Even a supercomputer would be unable to optimize a solution that benefits all possible variables. If one of those unconstrained variables is something we care about, the solution found may be highly undesirable. At best, the leading scientists agree, a supercomputer could be designed for a specific business or a single person. While the desire over these many decades of computer technology was to have a superintelligence that could find solutions to the existential threats to humanity such as climate change, war, disease, hunger, and poverty, the truth of science knows that quest to be impossible. A conscious superintelligence, however, with just a single purpose >>> safeguarding humanity’s long-term potential <<< could perhaps serve humanity.”
While he rambles on, I wonder if the Abbot has returned and what he has done with my project . . .
Meanwhile, back at the monastery on Planet Earth.
After finding the information the humanoid had left, the Abbot knew in an instant the project must be uploaded to Tathagata. If there was any hope to discover the cure for the virus caused by the Republican Party’s television, radio, and movie broadcasts, that hope was Tathagata. The Abbot had to study the project with caution, even though he knew the humanoid was aware of the dangers. Dangers such that the Tathagata could never know the existence of the internet, satellites, and wireless communications. He also knew the consequences. Even if the suggestion of one of these were discovered by a conscious superintelligence the benefit of the system, the use function itself, would be lost. Worse yet, once this sort of ASI “breakout” occurred there would be no way to turn the system off. Though it may sound ridiculous or not, it is nonetheless true. There would be no way out.
The Communist Government’s chief of computer technology told him, “The breakout of a super-intelligent-conscious system would take over and quite probably it would take over without our even knowing it. Or worse, it would decide that the future without humans was optimal.” Therefore the Abbot examines Eulǝr’s project to ensure there is not even a possibility the Tathagata would break out. After a thorough examination, the Abbot found the project was monotonous, simple to the point of being dull, and still, it was detailed beyond a yawn, and it was, therefore, perfect for the Tathagata. Now the only remaining question is; was the project enough to derive a cure and if a cure is found can it be implemented quickly to prevent the instigation of a Sixteenth Aryan war?
Tathagata accepted the upload of the shooting board project. Ten minutes and fourteen seconds later, a solution to the virus was ready. The Abbot hesitated to accept a quick solution. Could it have been so simple? He questioned. The Tathagata system was quick in part because it had already learned from past failed attempts and the epidemic of pet treats. The simplicity of requiring people to wear masks and wash their hands failed and caused a further divide in the population. An injection to cure a virus had very limited success and still, as simple of a cure as that could have been, it was rejected by many people. This time the ASI had designed a computer program virus. A worm that would crawl from computer to computer, network by network. It would alter the shooting board techniques and reverse the virus at the root.
The worm-virus-contaminated shooting board program would hide so that no one would ever discover any system changes or software changes, but in effect would provide the cure. Everyone who watched the videos that were produced and edited by the new shooting board program would be cured. The people of the brainwashing virus, within weeks of exposure, would reverse the oversized frontal lobe pandemic and epigenetic gene expressions. Now, all that was left to do was to get the Tathagata shooting board virus onto every device that had the old software. The Abbot sent his messenger to summon the humanoid, Eulǝr.
LOG ENTRY SIX: DAY one hundred. I am three days into recovery from the implants. Most of the pain from the surgery is now gone and I am already back to the normal routines of TaiChi and Lìliàng yoga. The calibration of the new Neuralinks, software, and organoid intelligence is progressing, and there is so much I must learn. Every thought causes the HUD to respond in a different way. While I have more than one hundred years of learning how to control thinking, I’m struggling to come to grips with a system this sensitive that responds to my passive and productive thoughts.
Connecting to multiple external devices is a challenge too. Thoughts control everything including connecting and process activation. I discovered this yesterday afternoon while researching chemical compounds on one connection, searching through images on another, and actively chatting with three Syganoids on yet another connection. Three mindful activities at once were the limit with the previous Neuralink, but now I can add twenty or more. Each connection is managed on the HUD. Managing all of these is a process using a logical naming convention.
Though calibration and learning are time-consuming, there are gaps in my day. My idle thoughts are about going home. I’ve caused this rift in the universe and I believe now that I must solve this disease of the human desire to kill others and then I must construct and set lose a future where my son, Magallan will have a son and through that grandson, an end to the suffering for the Syganoid kuudere. I know this is the way forward.
The door to the therapy room opens, I was expecting it to be Sterling, but it’s not. Instead, there is a familiar face smiling at me and the HUD display reads
+_Abbot’s Messenger_+
It must be good news that the Tathagata has devised a cure.
I leap to my feet and greet the messenger with the five rests and then bow in honor.
“I have an important message for you from the monastery,” the messenger says in a tone of harmony and peace, as is the custom of these monastics. “The Abbot requests your presence in the main meditation chamber. He said to tell you it is an emergency and you should come now. If you want,” he turned to the open door as if to provide me with an exit, “I can accompany you on the journey. I have the transports arranged for both of us.”
The shooting board project must have worked. The Tathagata must have found a cure for the Republican Party pandemic.
“Yes. Let’s get to the monastery,” I said while gathering my backpack and slipping the calibration tablet inside it. I’ll have to finish the calibration on my own. I think while throwing the backpack over my shoulders.
The two of us make our way out the door and through the hospital’s rehab center. Three women and a man are coming towards us in the passageway. My HUD flashes a message,
+_A connection request_+
and the face next to the message resembles one of the four people walking toward me. As quickly as I scan the message and facial icon another message, and then another. Three messages for linking requests with three different face icons. Each matched the three of them walking toward me. I remember Sterling telling me today’s calibration exercise would be using Neuralink to cross-connect other Syganoids. These people are the Syganoids from back home. I would have worked with for the exercises but there’s no time to catch up on what is happening or to make new friends.
They look at me quizzically as the Abbot’s messenger and I hurry past in rapid cadence. My eyes glance at each of the connection requests in the HUD and I chose the thought,
>-Refuse all connection requests-<
Each of the requests flashes once with the word refused added and then disappears from the HUD. The third Syganoid request on the list was named Sterling Sr. I would have enjoyed getting to know him. The opportunity to meet such a gifted scientist and to sit with people from home was missed.
+_Connection requests rejected_+
The vortex generated by Tathagata brought us to the bottom of the mountain and the long journey walking up to the monastery gave me more time, and I nearly completed the calibration lessons.
I’ll need to get this tablet back to Sterling Junior the Seventh.
The monastery is vacant when we came through the narrow passage between the high peaks of the Tivlabet gateway.
“Where are the monks, disciples, and students?” I ask.
“It’s the season for celebrating the joining of China and the Asian Alliance. Everyone has left for Beijing so the Abbot can conduct the ceremony.” He replied. “I need to go now to join them. You can find what you need in the meditation chambers. It’s not very likely that I can be of any further service to you, but I will wait here for one hour before I leave for Beijing.” He pressed his hands together, thumbs just below his heart, placed his right knee on the ground, and bowed his head towards me.
This was the first time in many years that anyone had shown me the respect that is usually displayed for the precious ones, and the great beings, the bodhisattvas. The Abbot’s messenger has always looked familiar to me. No time for reminiscing, I run to the meditation chamber.
Stepping into the main meditation chamber, a profound sense of tranquility washes over me. The triangle shape of the dome-capped room, constructed with a delicate blend of modern architecture and timeless esthetics, creates an ambiance that transcends the ordinary. The walls, made of a translucent material that seems to capture the essence of sunlight, cast a gentle, diffused glow upon the space. It's a sanctuary of serenity and introspection.
My gaze is immediately drawn to the arrangement of five hundred sitting pillows, meticulously organized in circular formations. Each cluster of pillows forms a harmonious pattern, a testament to the artistry of their placement. The pillows, pure white and immaculate, blend seamlessly with the pristine white floor and walls, blurring the boundaries of the physical space.
As I approach, I observe the delicate gold embroidery adorning the center of each sitting pillow. The embroidered Sanskrit OM symbol exudes a sense of spirituality and time-honored tradition. Its presence evokes a profound reverence, symbolizing the unity of all things and inviting a connection to the divine. The alignment of the symbols, carefully positioned to face the same direction, conveys a sense of order and harmony within this sacred haven.
Lost in contemplation, my mind echoes with the question of where the Abbot might have left the project I seek. In response, a subtle glimmer catches my attention, and a display illuminates the HUD. The interface guides me with an arrow and a subtle dotted line, leading me on a quest within the chamber's tranquil depths.
I follow the ethereal path, guided by the invisible currents of intention. The dotted line unravels, guiding me to an unassuming sitting pillow tucked away in the far southwest corner of the room. This particular pillow defies convention, turned upside down, a departure from the expected. It beckons me to explore further.
Curiosity piqued, I squat down and lift the unconventional pillow, discovering two microchips nestled beneath it. Their presence is unexpected, a convergence of the ancient and the modern within this sanctuary of contemplation. The delicate golden threads of the embroidery, as I run my fingers over them, reveal the meticulous artistry and devotion invested in their creation. They invite a moment of reflection, a reminder of the significance inherent in the smallest details.
Immersed in the ambient scent of jasmine, its subtle aroma lingering in the air, I feel a deep connection to the present moment. It's as if time slows down, allowing me to fully embrace the beauty of the chamber and the mysteries concealed within. A sense of purpose permeates the air as if this moment marks the beginning of a profound inner journey.
In this tranquil setting, where the esthetics blend seamlessly with the whispers of the sacred, I stand ready to embark on an exploration of the self and the project that awaits. With a renewed appreciation for the artistry and devotion that permeates this chamber, I carry within me a sense of reverence and anticipation, prepared to uncover the hidden truths that lie ahead.
I look at the unmarked chip:
>-Read the chip.-<
The HUD responds and displays an audible-ready icon.
>-Play audio-<
Eulǝr at the Monastery
+_SEVEN EARTH DAYS UNTIL The First Priority._+
The message blazes across my vision, its boldness piercing the fabric of my morning view of the park. It has been two strenuous hours since the mysterious woman in black whisked me away from the confines of the monastery, depositing me back at the fifth-floor apartment at the hostel in Andorra. The neural connections between the Starlink system have once again linked up with my upgraded Neuralink implants. They now flood my mind with a torrent of exhilarating interstellar transmissions. Waves of emotional euphoria ripple through my being as these messages course through the intricate networks that span the inner planets. The moon, Mars, and their sprawling gateway stations in tandem with channels brimming with epigenetic-altering viral messages.
Standing by the window, I observe the clueless masses, unknowingly bombarded by the insidious brainwashing virus that saturates their every waking moment. They go about their mundane lives, completely oblivious to the manipulation infecting their thoughts and emotions. And yet, I possess a flicker of confidence, a glimmer of hope that propels me forward on my only remaining objective. To celebrate The First Priority.
However, trepidation claws at the edges of my resolve as I contemplate the implementation of the Tathagata remedy for the Aryan and Republican viruses. Uncertainty gnaws at me, casting doubt upon my plan.
According to Tathagata's instructions, I must upload the software onto a disk, unleashing a worm virus that will infiltrate any system harboring the shooting board software. The original intent was to upload the program individually onto each system due to Tathagata's limited awareness of the internet. But after recalibrating the project and weaving together the intricate tapestry of programming subroutines, I have realized that a single device will suffice. Once the worm has infiltrated that solitary system, it becomes a waiting game. The next time a software upgrade is unleashed across the vast expanse of the internet, the Tathagata's worm will seamlessly propagate to every connected node.
It's a seemingly simple task, yet one that echoes the soulful undertones of a mission deemed impossible. I hold onto the destiny stone at the same time, tugging and twisting on Mother's ring. All the while the question reverberates through my mind, "How will I manage to transfer this disk's program onto that first system?" A daunting obstacle lies before me, demanding a solution as elusive as the wisps of a dream.
As I take my morning stroll through Sispany Park, my gaze fixates on a discarded figurine, discarded by a child's hand, left forgotten on the ground. Picking it up, I examine the toy, its form shaped from a melding of molds and molten aluminum. A smile tugs at my lips as I appreciate its artistry—a cameraman with a studio camera perched on his shoulder. Carefully, I tuck the figurine into my backpack, an object imbued with a sense of nostalgia and potential.
Memories of my father resurface, his words echoing in my mind. "Finding treasures like these breaks barriers, enriching our lives." In my mind's eye, I envision a child engrossed in play, using similar figurines to construct an elaborate play world, stepping into the role of a studio director.
This tiny artifact aligns perfectly with the ethos of Starzel, a realm consumed by the pursuit of fame and adoration. The population worships the opulent and infamous, their aspirations limited to the realm of the celebrity. And then, in a surge of inspiration, an audacious plan materializes within my thoughts. The figurine, the camera crew . . . it all fits like a missing piece of a grand puzzle. A flicker of hope ignites within me as I realize the potential before me.
