Venus’s gleeful squeak filled the Network, followed by rapid claps as she awed at the new AI.
“Oh, she’s adorable!” she squealed.
The others, Andora included, stood back and watched as the overjoyed Overseer approached with twinkling eyes.
Andora smirked at the sight, especially as Venus knelt, reaching to pat the radiant light. However, before she could do so, the young bundle of intelligent code evaded Venus’ reach, feeling unsure and excited.
“Intrusive actions detected. Kindly cease,” spoke Irkalla as it shrunk away.
Venus giggled. “It’s okay! I wanna spoil you!”
She continued to take hold of the slippery ball of light as Irkalla zipped around the legs and arms of the persistent, bubbly AI.
“Let me hug you! You’re so adorable!” Venus giggled, bending over to embrace the Seneschal, only for it to dodge once more, diving down then between her legs. “Hey!”
Irkalla made a rattling, grumbling noise as she tried to move farther away from the eager Overseer. “Fleeing.”
Unfortunately, in a digital mindscape like the Network, it didn’t take long for Venus to fly off like a comet, trying to catch the young AI.
The game of Cat-and-Mouse sped throughout the virtual space, much to everyone’s amusement. “You won’t dodge me forever!” Venus called out.
Then, Irkalla, seeing the more powerful and older AI closing in on her and nearly catching her, decided to shoot straight toward Andora and took shelter behind her. “Creator, requesting assistance.”
Andora sighed. “Alright, enough playing Venus, Irkalla just woke up.”
Venus came to a halt, still excited, as she bounced on the balls of her avatar’s feet, tilting her head side to side, trying to peer over Andora’s shoulder. “Oh! Oh! I want to give her a tour of the place!”
“Before we leave this sorry neighborhood, you mean,” Mercury grumbled, receiving a firm glare from his golden sister.
Irkalla peeked over Andora’s shoulder, still wary.
“Apprehension. Scanning entity,” Irkalla spoke, her glow intensifying briefly as she peered toward Venus. “Integral Network Sub-AI detected. Classification: Overseer-NC. Identified as Venus.”
“That’s me!” Venus grinned, clapping.
“Overseer is overstimulated. Irkalla suggests calm,” the Seneschal replied.
Andora rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she sent a scolding look toward the delighted Overseer, who finally calmed herself down. She pouted one more time, huffing. “I was only playing.”
The others made their observations with various curious looks.
Mercury huffed, planting his block, robotic arms on his metal hips as he cocked his head to the side. “A sight to see, that is. She reminds me of our bigger drones, but smarter in a different way, I suppose.”
Luna curiously perused over the newborn intellect, humming as she did so. Her silver eyes shone brightly as she analyzed Irkalla’s structure. The AI shifted, Andora amusingly noting its trepidation over her second-in-command’s meticulous studies on its framework.
“Indeed, this is the first time I’ve seen this template. You can see how superior the Seneschal is through these foundational codesets,” Luna pointed out, dragging the gazes of the Overseers deep into Irkalla’s internal structure like researchers looking through a powerful microscope.
Andora allowed them to. She knew Irkalla’s design like the back of her hand, or was it palm? She shook her head at the human expression. Much like the genetic structure of humans, the codesets of an AI Mind were an interwoven matrix of self-evolving code and preset foundations.
“She doesn’t appear as… capable in other aspects. I’m not sure how to put it,” Mars spoke for the first time, his curiosity at the new existence overriding what gloom remained in his chest after the recent debacle. Andora felt relief at the sight.
“You can think of her as a brilliant animal. She can communicate and is capable of overseeing the Citadel in her state. She is capable of creative thought and complex problem-solving and is self-aware and is sapient,” Andora answered, feeling a sense of pride in her creation.
“Is the Seneschal sentient?” Luna asked.
“Well…” Andora pressed her lips tight at the question, pausing as she glanced toward the AI that hid behind her.
Irkalla was no fragment of her mind like her Overseers.
Neither was she a logic-machine like her drones.
Initially, decades back, Andora mused about designing the Seneschal to be like the latter but more powerful. And yet, creating an unfeeling machine that approached a significant chunk of her Overseer’s power provoked a visceral feeling of apprehension within her.
Ironic, she thought. Perhaps she’d watched too many human movies of such existences, spelling disaster for their creators.
She only had to read about what the Dagataren Supremacy suffered if she needed proof of the dangers of mishandling cold AIs.
No, she wouldn’t make such an existence. That was her decision then. But at the same time, she didn’t want to create a warm AI like her android kin from yesteryears. And it wasn’t because warm AIs were vastly more complex than their cold cousins.
She could, quickly too. The template for their design sat perfectly in a databox deep in her psyche.
Yet she didn’t, much like how she didn’t grow new humans with the DNA sitting healthily in their banks. Not yet.
Andora bounced between the two extremes before settling with something in the middle. Irkalla’s creation was a simple matter to a natural programmer like herself, and once finished, the Seneschal sat in a slumbering state ever since.
But now, she felt unsure if she made the right decision.
Ever since Tov asked about the nature of her Seneschal over a week ago, she couldn’t help but have it in her thoughts every hour of days gone by.
She revisited the Seneschal over the past few days, trying to insert whatever she could at the slowly rousing intellect. With Irkalla still in a pre-awakening state, Andora decided to tweak a few things while she could.
“She has the emotional capability of a bird,” Andora estimated. “It’s difficult to gauge and useless at this moment with her so young. Maybe a parrot or an owl.”
Andora turned toward the Seneschal, coaxing the ball of light to leave her side.
Irkalla did so without hesitation, following her creator like a happy, loyal pet, floating before the gathered AIs.
“Owl,” she uttered and, much to everyone’s surprise, began to change her shape. Eventually, the solid bundle of code coalesced her avatar into the appearance resembling an elegant Eurasian eagle-owl.
“Hoot.”
Venus squealed once more, and Mars let out a boisterous laugh. Mercury snorted while Luna raised her brow.
“Yeah,” Andora nodded. “I think I made the right decision here.”
Irkalla flapped her wings, soaring between the gathered AIs before landing on Andora’s outstretched forearm. She felt amused as the Seneschal imitated typical avian behavior. Why she chose to do so was a curiosity but ultimately welcomed.
Venus slowly approached, absolutely enthralled by Irkalla’s owl form, barely suppressing and controlling herself under Andora’s narrow eyes. “Must… pat head.”
The Seneschal leaned back away from her golden hand, only to be ambushed by a giant red pair from behind after Mars stealthily skulked around to Andora’s back—quite a feat when considering his towering red avatar.
Although perhaps Andora’s digital aura far surpassed the Overseer despite being a head shorter.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Unit under attack, attempting escape,” Irkalla grunted with strain as Mars laughed, engulfing the Seneschal with one hand while the other gently scratched her head.
“How does that feel, Little Irkalla? Aren’t you just the best AI? Who’s a good AI? Who?” Mars chuckled loudly as the Seneschal hooted in a pleasurable tone.
“Attempting…” Irkalla paused under Mars’ ministrations. “This is acceptable.”
Mars cheered, holding onto the owl with a delicate grasp, much to Venus’ dismay and indignation.
“No fair! I wanted to hold her first!” she stomped her foot as she attempted to do the same, only for her brother to use his superior height to keep the little AI away from his sister. Mercury stood to the side, sighing at the scene.
As Venus tried to reach for the little AI from her brother’s grasp, Luna approached Andora.
“I was vaguely aware of your initial goals when designing her. Did you not wish for a simple logic machine?” inquired Luna as she continued to circle the young AI.
“I never wanted a simple logic machine. Even as an android, I vowed not to create an AI that was more powerful than myself. Call it paranoia, but my creator rolled the dice, bringing something like me into existence. Who knew what could have gone wrong?” Andora shook her head.
Luna hummed. “So, this…?”
“Is a recent change. Irkalla here had less emotional intellect, but circumstances have… influenced me into granting her more,” Andora replied.
It was impulsive, but something within her called to commit to the action. Nevertheless, what was done was done. Andora couldn’t change Irkalla’s foundational programming without tearing her from the ground up.
Much like the human mind, self-evolving code grew impossibly complex and difficult to change unless one deliberately utilized highly invasive and damaging methods. You can add things, yes, but the older and more developed psyche would inevitably subsume the addition.
Andora looked to her Sub-AIs, her Overseers, as the prime example of such a thing. Before, their personalities were monolithic, fragments that embodied aspects of her gestalt self. But as the years went by, as the experiences mounted, they grew to be more, though their foundations still played an immense role in shaping their current selves.
“Interesting,” Luna adjusted her glasses. “Even without the recent addition, your design is exquisite.”
Andora smugly grinned, waving Luna off. “Please, I wasn’t going to make a half-baked AI. Irkalla may not compare to me or my android kin, but she is brilliant in some aspects, isn’t that right?”
She sent a small ping toward the owl AI, causing Irkalla to turn her head a hundred and eighty degrees to look at Andora before squirming out of Mars’ hand and flying back to her shoulder. Andora took the opportunity to scratch under her beak, gaining a cute hoot from the Seneschal.
Seneschal—Andora coined the term during the initial design phase, taking everything she knew about creating countless logic machines and drone minds she’d made over the century and her innate knowledge of digital beings like herself.
She made Irkalla handle the housekeeping aspects of her Citadel. A mobile command center demanded much, and although she could take matters into her own hands, having a subroutine intellect to do the mundane tasks freed her to accomplish tasks of more import.
Ever since Andora created her, Irkalla, even in a slumbering state, a portion of her psyche had been passively assisting in running things like the Hospice Facility and the countless caretaker drones within.
Now, with the advent of the Final Contingency, Andora needed her full attention on managing the forming armada. She couldn’t spare any more time pouring herself over the management and care over her home.
Her Overseers continued to fawn, or in Luna’s case, feverishly analyzing Irkalla’s digital footprint. “Will it be possible for us to gain similar companions?”
Andora widened her eyes, looking to her second-in-command.
“It would be beneficial as we have similar set-ups with our mobile fortresses. Well, Mars and I do, but I think Venus and Mercury stand to benefit from an assistant with their work,” Luna explained, causing Venus to produce a high-pitched squeak.
The golden eye stared intensely at Andora like a child standing beside an animal shelter with her dream pet inside. “Please, please, please, please…” Venus repeated indefinitely, inching her way toward Andora.
“Oh, Maker, please, that would help me so much,” Mercury exhaled pure exhaustion. “Just having someone to take the load off will be heaven-sent.”
Mars scratched his square jaw, narrowing his eyes as he hummed. “My Bucephalus will need quite a bit of managing with the new additions being put in place. It would be nice to know I can focus on directing my fleet, knowing my moving home is being cared for.”
Venus, only inches away from Andora and causing Irkalla to take flight, clasped her hands together. “Can mine be a pygmy owl? I’m going to call her Nike, and I’ll make her a robot shell with all the bells and whistles and put a ribbon on her and—”
“Can we do other birds?” Mars inquired with an eager glint in his eyes. “Not to sound cliché, but I’d like an eagle. Wait, no, a falcon! Or a hawk… Well, my Seneschal can choose. That should be fair.”
“Honestly, I’m fine with a normal barn owl,” Mercury spoke, turning to Luna. “What about you, sister?”
Luna shrugged. “Snow owl.”
The new AI paused, looking between each AI and the Network, adding and assessing everything to her database.
Irkalla tentatively shrunk away from the celestial presence and weight of the Overseers' existences who studied her.
“Enough, everyone. Leave Irkalla alone,” Andora chided. “She needs to settle into her new home, and I’m expecting guests within my Citadel. We can discuss the creation of your Seneschals at a later date. Don’t forget that the hardware housing their minds is not easy to manufacture, so Luna and Mars get priority.”
Venus huffed, crossing her arms. “Of course, they get to enjoy theirs first.”
“Discrimination against civilians, I say,” Mercury tutted.
Andora rolled her eyes. “Don’t be like that, you two. If it makes you feel better, we can make yours together. Now get going; you have things to do.”
“Hoot. This has been an enlightening encounter. Until next time, Overseers,” Irkalla spoke, flapping her wings.
One by one, the Overseers left her and the new AI to resume their duties. Venus was the last as she finally managed to get a few scratches on the Seneschal before disappearing.
Andora looked down at Irkalla and her owl form.
She felt the little Seneschal’s confusion and curiosity, exploring her capabilities and how she interacted with her new home.
Irkalla craned her head to and fro with piercing avian eyes. She lifted off, flying more like a hummingbird than a nocturnal hunter of the night before diving back down, stopping before Andora, a meter from her face.
“Irkalla, how are you adjusting?” Andora questioned, rubbing her chin as she studied the Seneschal.
“Adequately, creator. How may I be of service?” Irkalla offered, perching herself atop Andora’s shoulder.
Andora thought momentarily, letting her gaze wash over her Citadel and the construction throughout the South Pole.
“Assume your duties in preparation for the Final Contingency, then arrange for a visit from members of the Third Expeditionary Fleet,” she commanded, returning her attention to the real world within her android shell.
She looked around the empty room, seeing the android shells of her Overseers had left. Andora turned to the monolith at the center of the chamber and felt Irkalla’s sights on her.
“Oh, and feel free to create a shell for yourself. Make sure it has the essentials,” Andora added as she poured over her Seneschal’s programming a final time, ensuring nothing was amiss. She found nothing, seeing a kaleidoscope of intricate and artistic rivers of codes intertwining into a harmonious canvas.
For a moment, she recalled the minds of her android kin, how their vivid presence would have dwarfed Irkalla’s by a magnitude. Yet the Seneschal’s processing capabilities surpassed their psyches.
“By your will, creator,” Irkalla’s voice rang throughout the Citadel, her CPU glowing with each syllable as the Seneschal solidified her hold on the surroundings.
Andora felt her scour every node and pathway, inspecting and noting every minute detail before beginning her duties.
“Very good. I’ll leave you to it then. Meet me at the lobby once you’re ready,” spoke Andora before promptly departing with a smile.
----------------------------------------
Half an hour later, Andora stood at the center of a vast expanse of the cleared ruins as she waited at the surface of her Citadel.
A raging dust storm raged, causing Andora to hold up her hand and, in the end, turn off her shell’s sense of touch to ignore the itchy feeling of sharp winds crashing against her. Still, she remained unmoved, eyes to the sky.
A section of New Eden’s ruins had been meticulously cleared for the temporary landing area. She looked to the horizon, where demolition drones knocked down hollow structures after another.
The once towering skyscrapers and pleasing architecture that blocked the white vistas of Antarctica fell to the Earth. For the first time in a century, Andora saw the far-off mountains from the city's center, scorched, grey, and lifeless.
She sighed, her eyes downcast as she tore away from the sad sight. Andora shook her head, looking to the sky as her Network detected the arrival of a Third Fleet shuttle.
High above, the vessel containing Patriarch Tov and his chief scientist, Scholar Yulane, descended gracefully from the sky, its sleek form cutting through the overcast atmosphere. She heard the pilot, Officer Pyo, as he communicated with her automated flight control.
Soon, the landing gears extended from the shuttle’s belly, and the vessel smoothly decelerated before thudding softly against the bleached ground.
The hatch opened with a quiet hiss, and a squad of Vraxen, Tov’s elite honor guard, steadily exited with the weapons shouldered, marching down the lowering ramp.
Andora observed as the fierce warriors exited from the shuttle. Their armor gleamed with a metallic sheen, further upgraded over the week to the peak of what was available. Their menacing insectoid helms swiveled, looking for unseen threats.
Behind them, Tov emerged in his hazard suit, although cleaned up and decorated with ceremonial garb. Andora raised her brow, smirking as she felt the patriarch’s displeasure at the unruly cape as it blew in the harsh wind.
Scholar Yulane floated gracefully out of the shuttle, the Jotex emitting a soft glow within her protective suit.
“I think we can skip the formalities, don’t you agree, patriarch?” Andora grinned, her android shell unaffected by the blistering weather of a dying planet.
Tov nodded, moving past his guards, who kept a tight perimeter around them, Scholar Yulane floating beside him.
“Yes, that would be best,” he called out through their connected comms, speaking louder than usual with the cacophony raging.
Andora promptly led the guests toward an elevator jutting out of the surface, wide enough to accommodate the Tov, Yulane, and the squad of armored guards with room to spare.
Finally, the doors shut, silencing the racket outside. Vents flooded the interior with a pristine, breathable atmosphere, allowing Tov and his people to open their helmets, sighing in relief. “The weather has gotten worse.”
Andora frowned, knowing the main culprits were the recent slog between them and the Starless and the current deep excavation. “It has…”
The elevator dinged, the doors opening to an expansive entrance hall.
They exited promptly, Andora leading the way as Tov and Yulane took in the decorated foyer, the potted plants, red carpets, crystalline chandeliers, and marbled surfaces. Before they could comment, however, a sound echoed throughout the hall.
“Hoot.”
To their brief surprise and Andora’s amusement, a robotic owl flew from down the hall. A life-like shell of an owl soared toward them before landing on Andora’s outstretched forearm, her mechanical wings subtly whirring with graceful movements.
A subtle smile curved Andora’s lips as she turned to her guests. “Allow me to introduce Irkalla, the Seneschal of Citadel Irkalla. She will be our tour guide this day.”
The owl’s mechanical eyes shone with a keen intelligence as she observed the guests.
“Greetings, Patriarch Tov and Scholar Yulane, the honored guests from the Third Expeditionary Fleet,” Irkalla welcomed, tilting her head uncannily.