> Our duty as Operators is not to direct Samurai, but to support them in whatever way we can. Please stop wasting Network time and resources creating ‘wish lists’ or ‘builds’, as if Samurai were some game to be optimized.

> If the Protectors didn’t mean for humans to game the system, they probably shouldn’t have handed the controls to that system to humans in the first place.

* Excerpt from a long running argument on the Operator Network forums

***

I’ll unlock Class I Medical Utilities, then…

We speak and sigh, something only possible when speaking without air. Stryt, Stop! We have some time, and we don’t want to waste any points we don’t have to.

I wouldn’t consider keeping you alive a waste.

By now we’ve gotten used to projecting the idea of expressions; we’re not sure if Stryt really gets it, but we grin at him. Yeah, we’re well past what any Earth doctor would consider alive, so keeping us alive really isn’t high on our priority list. Besides, our bodies weren’t in great shape anyhow.

Yes, but there is clearly enough overall biomass for a single fully functional human body, so…

Sorry, Stryt, we cut him off. We’ve got some ideas, but before we start, we’ve got some questions.

Questions. He sighs, clearly one recognizing that we won’t give in, so he’s humoring us.

Yep. Well, we’ll keep them simple. Yes or no answers, so you can claim plausible deniability if the answers get you in trouble.

Another sigh, this one communicating ‘oh, Protectors, why me?’ Why is it that your attempt to reassure me has the opposite effect?

‘Cause you’re a smart boy. Now, all the gear the Protectors give to Samurai is divided up into Catalogs, right? And the lowest tier has things that we here on Earth could probably make if we had the time and energy to build it?

Technically the lowest Tier, Tier 0, is made up of things that Earth already produces; we provide them for points both as a convenience to our Vanguard and to prevent Vanguard from being manipulated by someone denying them basic needs.

We blink at that, or think blinky thoughts at Stryt. 'Who in their right mind would do that to a Samurai?'

The list of survivors rarely gets longer, but people still keep trying. Also, Tier I is comprised of gear that might be within a concerted effort using Earth technology, but much of it is beyond Earth’s current capability to construct.

We think nodding thoughts at him, then think, ‘so, from what we remember from our time working with young Samurai as an Operator, Catalogs kinda break down into ones with a type of gear and ones based on some alien species, right?’

We hide our laugh at the tone in Stryt’s reply, as he stretches one three letter word out into four syllables. Yes?

‘You Samurai AI are, like, Tier XIII AIs, right?’

That is an incomplete approximation, but it is an approximation commonly accepted by Vanguard.

We nod at him again. ‘So you’re way, way smarter than any human, right?’

There may be a few early Vanguard who have pursued mental enhancement who could, perhaps, compare, but by and large you are correct.

We metaphorically nod like a bobblehead. ‘So you could easily lie to us and we’d never realize, right?’ Stryt doesn’t reply. We wait a few ticks, then follow that with,’ I’m not saying you are, in the singular or collective sense of ‘you’. Just that you could. Hypothetically.’ When he still doesn’t reply, we make a sigh noise and say, ‘C’mon, Stryt. We’re friends, and time’s wasting.’

He replies to our sigh with one which elegantly communicates his acceptance of whatever shenanigans we’re about to unleash on him. Hypothetically, yes.

‘Cool, cool. So, at this point faster than light travel is pretty much out of reach for any Samurai on Earth, right?’

His voice dripping with renewed trepidation, he says, That’s not true. Many Samurai have unlocked catalogs specializing in various forms of teleportation.

‘Oh. So there are Samurai who go visit those aliens who made their Catalogs?’

With another resigned sigh, Stryt replies, There are no Samurai capable of rapid interstellar travel currently on Earth.

‘So given those two things, you or any one of your fellow Samurai AI could be bullshitting every fuckin’ race you tell us about, just making it up as you go along.’ Another bout of silence. ‘Hypothetically speaking.’

We’d expected him to be gritting his teeth by now, but instead it sounds almost like he’s getting into the spirit of the thing, seeing the humor in our hypothetical. I suppose, hypothetically speaking, that one of us could do that to their Vanguard. Not that we would, of course.

‘Even if it was the right thing to do? The only way to save them, or to keep them fighting to stop some really ugly kind of Incursion or Hive, like one bubbling up right under a Megacity?’ He goes silent, and this time we let it sit there. We glance at our timer while we wait.

Estimated Time to Cessation of Brain Activity:

1m:16s:248 ms

‘Never mind, Stryt. Guess it’s not all that important at the moment. Just figured we’d ask before we get started. Just in case we don’t get another chance once things get real, y’know?’

This time Stryt’s sigh carries an unmistakable undercurrent of slumping his nonexistent shoulders. You wasted forty three of your remaining seconds on curiosity?

‘Learning’s never wasted.’ We pull a file out of storage in our Augs, review it in our mind’s eye. ‘Stuff we learned back as an Operator is how we came up with this.’ We metaphorically wave the file around, and Stryt provides us the feedback sensation of someone taking it from our grasp.

After an infinitesimal pause, Stryt chokes out, if you do this, you’ll no longer be… human.

We shrug again. ‘Human is as human does. So far you seem pretty human to us.’

I could take that as an insult.

‘But you won’t, because you know we mean it in the best possible way, the same way we mean it when we say you’re our friend. One willing to sit vigil with us while we died, even though doing so meant facing your own death.’

We get an image of a wry smile. I suppose you’re right. But… are you certain?

‘Are we certain that we’ve got a total of sixteen decades to come to fully understand the weakness of our flesh? To crave the strength and certainty of steel?’

You… you are fully intelligent enough even now to know that this will not remake you as ‘steel’.

‘Some of us might be.’ A sense of a shrug acknowledging our point. ‘So, Stryt. Think you can find us a Race Specific Catalog that’ll cover everything we need from there?’

Stryt pauses for a full second, and we get the impression he’s got his mouth open, staring at us, as he does. You are… I begin to understand why the Protectors chose you, despite your age.

‘Hmm?’

You do not think in straight lines.

‘Yeah, we’ve never really been straight.’

Uh…

‘Mind like a corkscrew, that’s us.’

Well…

‘Or a duck penis.’

Vanguard?

We decide it’s time to stop screwing around and get to work. ‘Yes, Stryt?’

I have found a Catalog that may, combined with a few standard gear Catalogs, possibly meet your requirements. The Unity is a hive mind which has specialized in your requested core technology. They are considered an unpopular choice, as they ultimately lost the battle to save their world.

‘Ouch. Antis took it?’

No. Upon realizing they would not, in fact, repel the Antithesis, they sent several breeding populations of their species into space on ballistic paths toward secure Protector held worlds, then detonated a series of gravitic warheads which ultimately caused their planet to shatter.

‘That stopped the Antis?’

No, but it did both slow them down and, in a manner of speaking, prevent them from ‘taking’ the Unity homeworld. When the secondary gravitic warheads routed the remains of their world into their sun, that slowed them even further, and ensured they would not be able to recover their biomass.

‘Metal. So can we afford it?’

For the first time since we heard his voice, Stryt speaks tentatively about something that should be factual. Maybe.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

‘You don’t sound real confident.’

I am not. We wouldn’t say he sounds distraught, but he’s clearly displeased with the plan he’s come up with.

‘So. Give us some details? We’re not gonna be pissed because the best you can do with our fucked up idea is a maybe, but we need more info to make a decision.’

I… He pauses for a full second, an eternity at the speeds we’ve been talking. I am not trying to coerce you, but with your current point totals I could procure medical technology capable of restoring your bodies not only to life, but to youth. You would be upgraded to peak human physical condition, with any potentially detrimental genetics such as your myopia or likelihood of dementia corrected. You would only be able to afford basic weapons and body armor, but with your physical upgrades you would easily be capable of killing enough Antithesis Models to gain points quickly.

He peters out, and we wait half a second before we ask, ‘you done?’

Yes?

‘We’re not upset with you. You’re trying to help. But you seem to think we liked our bodies the way they were, even in the prime of our lives.’

He sighs, defeated. Your chances for consciousness transfer are not good.

‘Tell you what. Tell us the odds, tell us the reasons, and we’ll make a decision. But…’

But?

‘One way or the other, we said we’d finish off this incursion with you. So. Plan B is Plan: Fountain of Youth. Give us the details on Plan A: Strength of Steel.’

We get the image of a pout, one that fills his voice. Only if you rename it to Plan A: Power of Powder.

We hum a little six note ditty from long, long ago. ‘Saving the world before bedtime. We like it.’

You realize that if this works, you will no longer require sleep?

‘So we’ll have a lot of time to save the world, won’t we?’

Stryt laughs, then explains. In order to complete your desired consciousness transfer, you will require six catalogs: Class I Unity Nanotechnology, Class II Unity Nanotechnology, Class I Basic Cyberwarfare Utilities, Class I Advanced Cyberwarfare Utilities, Class II Advanced Cyberwarfare Utilities, and Class I Stasis Containers.

Once you have unlocked those catalogs, you will need to purchase Mark IV Advanced Cyber Combat Capable Augmentation, a Mark IV Machine Learning Package, a Mark IV Heuristic Learning Package, one kilogram each of Mark III Organic Multipurpose Nanomachines, Mark III Inorganic Multipurpose Nanomachines, Mark III Organic Deconstruction Nanomachines, Mark III Inorganic Deconstruction Nanomachines, Mark III Organic Construction Nanomachines, Mark III Inorganic Construction Nanomachines, Mark III Organic Energy Manipulation Nanomachines, Mark III Inorganic Energy Manipulation Nanomachines, a single Mark I Stasis Box, and as many kilograms of Mark II Organic and Inorganic Nanomachine Replication Nanomachines as you can afford.

‘How are we gonna have Augs if we’re a mass of nanites?’

Once fully transferred, you won’t. But Energy Manipulation Nanomachines can network to simulate Advanced Cyber Combat Capable Augmentation and run the Learning Packages. With enough networked Nanomachines simulating enough networked Advanced Cyber Capable Augmentations, you will be able to fully reproduce human cognition.

‘So… is one kilo of those enough?’

No.

‘Why aren’t we buying more?’

You cannot afford enough to reliably simulate human cognition.

‘So…’

You will need to buy Nanomachines capable of producing that type of Nanomachine, then wait for them to both learn how to produce them, then wait for them to produce enough to simulate human cognition, wait for the Nanomachine swarm to learn how to simulate your Advanced Cyber Combat Capable Augmentations, then transfer your consciousness over.

‘We’re thinking that sounds like way more than…’

Estimated Time to Cessation of Brain Activity:

53s:153 ms

‘Fifty-three seconds worth of work.’

Which is the reason for the Stasis Container, to pause your inevitable demise long enough to produce a nanomachine swarm large and complex enough to house your consciousness.

‘Okay. Sounds like a plan. Sounds like a plan that isn’t a roll of the dice. What are the problems?’

Stryt chuckles, then sighs, you assume there is more than one?

‘Murphy is our house totem. There are always more problems.’

Fair enough. The two major problems are energy and Protector constraints on both AI and Hive Intelligences. The minor problem is non-energy resources.

‘Explain.’

The speed at which resources will be gathered is dependent on the surroundings, and at present I can only determine that all the resources required exist in sufficient quantities within an acceptable distance. The speed at which the nanite swarm will learn is variable as well. Finally, the speed at which your consciousness will transfer is equally variable.

There is a finite amount of energy available for all these processes. While some energy could be gained by expending resources, the brute force methods available to a non-sapient nanomachine swarm will not be able to find more in time. So given the variable time needs, it is possible the swarm will run out of usable energy before your conversion is complete.

We spend a few milliseconds in thought. ‘We’re in a void, right? An open space created by the collapse of the Megascraper?’

That is correct.

‘Air pocket?’

Roughly sixty percent of the contiguous space is, in fact, air, yes.

‘Can we spare the points to fill the open areas of the space with cask strength whiskey?’

I... We get the impression that Stryt’s train of thought has just realized it is, in fact, nearing a station and needs to slam on the brakes. There is far more chemical energy in alcohol than in air.

‘And nanomachines can move pretty freely in liquid. And pure alcohol is kinda caustic, but that’s mitigated by dilution.’

I’ll add that to Plan A, then. That increases its chance of success measurably.

‘Any kinds of batteries we can add that’ll provide electric, or something else similar?’

Hmm… I’ll reoptimize the plan to include those. That does increase the odds significantly again. However, it does not mitigate the other major problem in any way.

‘Which is?’

The Protectors acknowledge that most paths to ascension require what humans refer to as ‘transhumanism’. Becoming more than what a species was granted by evolution. However, there have been multiple occasions where unrestrained non-sapient swarms have threatened to become another threat similar to the Antithesis itself, and on at least one occasion where a sapient AI with no sense of connection to its creators destroyed those creators.

As such, any nanomachine swarms have safeguards built in. In this case, the most lenient programming I can allow is that the swarm itself will self-terminate if it deviates from its programming prior to the transfer of your consciousness, or it shows signs of advanced sapience itself before your transfer.

‘So if the learning machine gets too smart or goes off the rails, we… just never come out of Stasis?’

Essentially, yes.

‘Can’t you keep it in check or some… shit. You’re gonna be going into Stasis with us, won’t you.’

We get the impression of a determined nod. Yes. Where you go, I go, Vanguard. That does mean that if the process fails, and we’re found by a Samurai with sufficient points and quick enough reactions, they may be able to give you another chance, if I can communicate your needs fast enough. But that is an even slimmer chance than the original Plan: Power of Powder.

‘Yeah, we like that name. Y’know, I can’t help but think that the Samurai who’ve gone full transhuman haven’t rolled the dice like this.’

They have not. We wait, and after a moment we get a ‘I wanted to keep this from you’ sigh. While you have an impressive point total for a newly initialized Vanguard, you do not have the Points or Tokens to acquire the Catalogs or Gear for a safe, traditional consciousness transfer.

‘So this is some kind of jury rigged, redneck transhuman upgrade path?’

Calling it a path is giving it far too much credit, but… yes.

‘Sounds almost like somebody’s thinking around corners. Gettin’ all twisty in the brain.’

I do not have a brain, but… I suppose what I’ve been told about Vanguard rubbing off on their AI is true.

‘Do you even gotta ask which way we’re going at this point?’

I suppose not.

‘One last addition to Plan: Power of Powder, then. Gotta have Chemical X, after all. Get us one extra big roll of duct tape and one extra large can of penetrating lubricant along with all that whiskey.’ Stryt just laughs. ‘One last thing before we set this wacky Rube Goldberg plan in motion?’

Yes, Vanguard?

‘Nobody should die alone. Not us, not you. Hold our hand?’ Once more we feel a warm hand slip into ours. We take a deep metaphoric breath, squeeze Stryt’s notional hand, and take one last look at our countdown.

Estimated Time to Cessation of Brain Activity:

33s:153 ms

‘Do it.’

Class I Unity Nanotechnology unlocked!

Points reduced to... 5664

Class II Unity Nanotechnology unlocked!

Points reduced to... 5164

Tokens reduced to… 1

Class I Basic Cyberwarfare Utilities unlocked!

Points reduced to... 5064

Class I Advanced Cyberwarfare Utilities unlocked!

Points reduced to... 4864

Class II Advanced Cyberwarfare Utilities unlocked!

Points reduced to... 3864

Tokens reduced to… 0

Class I Stasis Containers unlocked!

Points reduced to... 3814

New Purchase: Mark IV Advanced Cyber Combat Capable Augmentation

Points reduced to... 3414

New Purchase: Mark IV Machine Learning Package

Points reduced to... 3114

New Purchase: Mark IV Heuristic Learning Package

Points reduced to... 2814

New Purchase: Mark III Organic Multipurpose Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2694

New Purchase: Mark III Inorganic Multipurpose Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2574

New Purchase: Mark III Organic Deconstruction Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2514

New Purchase: Mark III Inorganic Deconstruction Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2454

New Purchase: Mark III Organic Construction Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2354

New Purchase: Mark III Inorganic Construction Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2254

New Purchase: Mark III Organic Energy Manipulation Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2174

New Purchase: Mark III Inorganic Energy Manipulation Nanomachines

Points reduced to... 2094

New Purchase: Mark II Organic Nanomachine Replication Nanomachines x5

Points reduced to... 1094

New Purchase: Mark II Inorganic Nanomachine Replication Nanomachines x5

Points reduced to... 94

New Purchase: Feral Fowl: Legendary Type Whiskey x20

Points reduced to... 54

New Purchase: Duct Tape

Points reduced to... 53

New Purchase: Penetrating Lubricant

Points reduced to... 52

I’m programming the directives into the Augs and Nano-swarm now. Done. Should this fail, and we be lost, my progenitor will remember you, Vanguard.

‘Thanks, Stryt. Let’s do this.’

Bringing the Stasis Container in around us now.

New Purchase: Mark I Stasis Container

Points reduced to... 42