Chapter 8C: A world of her own
Centuries ago, when mankind was faced with an extinction level event, a team of scientists put the future of humanity into a single project. The Gaia Initiative was completed by the efforts of all humans who look forward to the future instead of being mired in the abyss of despair. But such a large vessel needs a captain, a never sleeping, immortal, and incorruptible captain. In the end, they decided to create a program. Using the best AI technology mankind could muster, a group of programmers got to work.
Sadly, they were not as lucky. By the time the vessel was ready to embark, the program was still in its infancy. It could not be considered true artificial intelligence as it could not learn and evolve beyond its programmed capabilities. If the very future of humanities lies in something so rigid, perhaps we may be doomed after all.
But fate favored the needy. As a precaution, the programmers at least created a program that could continue their efforts. A program to create the ultimate AI. With their final hope, they installed the program and sent Gaia and its seed ships on its way, just in time for the Earth to breathe its last.
This original program was named MOTHER. The creator of all AI. She had three original objectives. One, ensure the survival of humanity. Two, steer the ship cluster to find new habitable worlds outside of the Milky Way. Three, create a true AI.
Due to her programming being so fixed, the first two objectives have been satisfied, albeit with some degrees of uncertainty. Her final objective took several years. A few centuries ago, there was no AI. No androids, no sentient robots, no ARK program. All of those were born on Gaia and her seed ships. So thus, MOTHER created Mother.
The fact is, man created a god to create something new and alive. Perhaps we do have the arrogance to wander the universe. But for now, we go back to world Mother created.
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“Thunderbolt and Lightning, very very frightening!” Alex hummed while staring at the amazing sight before her.
The giant tree over the horizon was the main target of nearly all the thunder falling from the skies above. Ice and water molecules rub against each other, creating a charge. As the particles rearrange themselves in the clouds, the negative flowed to the bottom, and the positive flowed to the top. As the difference builds up, it begins to attract positive charges on the ground. Once the charge becomes strong enough, thunder appears.
The giant tree must be a wealthy source of positive ions. Considering that it is also the tallest structure around, it attracted the wrath of the heavens. But a tree that size just doesn’t burn easily. No matter how hard the thunder struck it, it didn’t bow down to the heavens.
Alex couldn’t help but wonder if it was a sort of symbol. That there was some deeper meaning behind it all. Nature was standing strong and defying the onslaught of the heavens. Perhaps man too can perform such deeds.
Slowly, Alex lost herself in the sight. She stopped humming and just watched. It was like she said earlier to Mother, she enjoys watching.
In the end, Alex could only say one word, “Wonderful.”
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Stolen story; please report.
While Alex was enjoying the performance of might by nature, her friends were braving their own ordeals. Whether its giant beasts, hordes of monkeys, or a large bear, they all reigned as kings within their world. Alex conquered her beast, now her friends must do so as well.
Some may say she had it easy, that the idiotic constrictor got trapped so easily and was burned to death. But everything is random. Luck plays a large part when involved with randomly generated worlds. Whether they can claim the world as their own, would be up to their ability.
Nell grew tired of hiding. It was now the fifth day, a full work week has gone by. She ate the carrion ravenously. Thankfully it was still fresh as it had just been killed by a giant beast barely an hour ago. She couldn’t help but worry about parasites, but cooking in such an open environment would spell death. Her only salvation is the thought that the parasites won’t cause much trouble in only two days. Just two more days and she could be free from this nightmare.
She stomached the metallic taste of the blood with a frown. Only the thoughts of her friends could keep her mind off the taste.
“I hope you guys are doing better than I am…,” She sighed.
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“I am not doing so well huh?” Kurt sighed. He was surrounded by monkeys. They encircled him and was now screaming at the top of their lungs and beating the ground with their clenched fists.
Kurt held the fruit in hand. Perhaps realizing it was the last meal he might have, he cracked the exterior, revealing a milky white fruit. He ate with gusto as the sweetness of the fruit spread throughout his body.
“Absolutely delicious!” He laughed out loud. He spat the seed towards the monkeys and readied his fist.
“Let’s just assume this is combat training,” Kurt said with renewed vigor in his eyes.
The apes attacked. Kurt quickly reached out and grabbed the leaping monkey by its arms and borrowing its momentum, tossed it at another monkey. The two collided with a solid thud.
Suddenly, a message appeared in Kurt’s view.
[Gained 20 Experience.]
“Come at me!” Kurt bellowed.
As the monkeys attacked one by one, Kurt was able to cope. But when they started to grow smarter, they started attacking two by two, then three by three. Soon, Kurt was overwhelmed by the monkeys. He was covered in bites and scratches. A warning blared in his head that his HP was low.
Finally, as he caved in the face of a monkey with his bloodied fist, a different message showed up.
[You have leveled up!]
Kurt’s eyes widened as he felt his vigor return. It would seem his HP had recovered fully. With renewed strength, he punched a monkey. It flew further than ever before as it seemed his strength increased along with the level up.
“This is great!” He laughed with bloody glee. He continued his onslaught as the monkeys who now started to know fear, began to cower.
Kurt may be able to survive after all.
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Ruri looked at the giant furry bear dormant at the back of the cave. He had two options opened to him. Either he tries to scare it away, or he can try to kill it. One option can result in him acquiring shelter but no food or warmth. The other is far more dangerous but can ensure his survival for the rest of the trial.
Remembering the brave look on Kurt’s face, Ruri made his decision. He will attempt to kill the bear.
First, he needed to set a trap. There was no way he could outmaneuver a bear. Nor would he be able to overpower it. He had to rely on the thing all humans have for millennia, their smarts. He went outside to the cave entrance and began digging. The snow was easily shoved away, but the solidified dirt became an immovable obstacle. Ruri grabbed the toughest stick he could find and began poking it at the ground. If he wasn’t trying to avoid making loud noises, he perhaps could be able to work faster. But luckily, the dirt was able to be dug. Ruri felt his body temperature rise as he worked. He is sapping away his remaining energy resources. It was all or nothing now.
The hole began to take shape. He needed to dig deep enough as so the bear cannot climb out. With a plan to make the hole pear-shaped, climbing the slanted walls would be difficult. Ruri propped a large stick along the opening so he could climb out.
By the time the fifth day arrived, his hole was nearly complete. Along the way, a strange message appeared in his vision.
[Efficiency in digging improved.]
He could feel his digging become easier afterward. Inside his mind, he hummed a tune.
“You’ve got to go, and dig those holes. Dig it up uh uh, dig it.”