Chapter 3: Download
Janus closed the door to his room behind him, letting out a soft sigh as he did so.
Finally.
Janus grinned to himself as he looked across the room at the doll. It still sat in the corner where his father had put it that morning after their surprise visitor.
For nearly an hour, the whole family could do nothing but inspect the toy, looking in fascination and wonder at it.
"But look at these fingers, Elias!" Rose had excitedly grinned, splaying out the doll's fingers one by one, twisting and flexing them, "They're so well made! Surely this is the work of a master."
"Of course, it came from a Tecka," Elias grumbled. He had kept his distance all evening, never wanting to get within an arm’s length of the object, as if it could lunge out at any moment. He hadn't been very happy about his wife and son being near it either. "But I'm not sure we should keep it. It's a doll, Rose. Did they think Janus was a girl?"
Rose had shrugged. "A most unusual doll." She’d grinned teasingly. "No face, features, or clothing. It is strange to give a doll to a boy." She’d sighed, frowning. "But who knows how these Tecka think? Ultimately, I say Janus should choose if he wishes to accept this gift." She’d shot a stern glance at Elias, who still had very little 'matrimonial credit' after Janus's previous evening's blow-up. Ellena had remained silent, mostly fascinated by the balloon that pulled away from the ground.
Janus was clever enough not to explain about helium and air densities; even his father's library had no such books.
"Very well, he can keep it, if he would like." Elias had capitulated.
Of course, Janus had said yes.
Carefully.
He'd made it clear to his father that his interest in it was purely as an artifact from the Tecka, and that he too was unsure about playing with a doll. It was clear this society's norms around toys for girls and boys still mattered.
The rest of the day had been a joy, of course.
The party was a bit muted after the theatrics of the morning, but quickly got going. His cake was fresher and more fantastic than even the very best desserts from the finest restaurants of his past life.
Of course, he'd been showered with new books from his mother. His father had gotten him a new writing set, as well as a small traveling backpack, made of leather and canvas. "For adventures with new friends." He'd smiled apologetically, ruffling his hair.
Thanks, Dad. Janus nodded, clutching the backpack before laying it at the foot of his bed. I promise I'll use it for just that.
But now... the doll.
Janus walked up to it carefully, hesitating as he got closer. His father had put it in the far corner of his room. It wasn't a large room, perhaps no more than 10 feet by 15 feet, with a simple child's bed along the far wall under the single-pane glass window. Along the other wall was his desk, where the doll now sat on his chair, facing him.
As if waiting.
On inspection, it really did look just like some kind of child mannequin from a retail store. But as he touched the material, he could feel the high quality of its plastic.
If it even is plastic.
He took his time inspecting the form, now that he had the privacy to do so, carefully looking into the joints, lifting the whole body and turning it in his grasp.
So light, it feels like even if it were hollow it should be heavier.
He set it back down again, taking a step back.
"So what the hell are you supposed to be, anyway?" Janus mumbled aloud, hands on his hips.
<>
Janus blinked, instinctively looking over his shoulder and around his empty room. The voice was strange, feminine, distorted. And for some reason, he was certain that he had not 'heard' it. He had only 'understood' it. The words seemed to have slipped right into his senses.He felt his heart began to beat faster as his eyes widened. He swallowed a gulp and clenched his hands.
Ok, that might have just happened.
"Was... was that you?" He asked again, this time keeping his eyes on the doll.
There was no movement, the mannequin was just as blank and featureless, just as unmoving as it had been all day.
<
The voice was clearer this time, each word distorting less in his mind, the tone of the voice feeling less alien even by the end of the sentence. A human voice, like that of a young woman's. Janus couldn't help but prevent a smile from forming on his face.
This might be it! The answers to all my questions!
"Did... did the Tecka give you to me so that you could explain everything to me?" He blurted excitedly. "Can you tell me everything about this world?"
There was a pause.
<
Janus did a little hop of joy despite himself, his smile now beaming with enthusiasm. "Oh oh oh!" He hopped up on his bed, kicking off his shoes and letting his feet dangle as he faced the doll, "There's so many questions I have for you! But, I suppose, first things first... what are you? Do you have a name?"
<>
"The system?" Janus paused, then shook his hand. "Wait, before you answer... a name. Set your name as..." he looked up at the ceiling, thinking of all the good robot names he could think of.
GladOs? R2? T-1000? Hal? You're wasting time, just pick a name.
He grumbled top himself, waving his hand in frustration, "Uh... Alice." He shrugged, thinking of the old Alice and Bob scenarios and quantum computing concepts.
<
Janus grinned. So she knows about Alice and Bob! That might mean that she has access to data and memory that stretches all the way back to my time!
He considered for a moment, then asked. "Alice, when did William Shakespeare live, and where?"
<
"That's fine, Alice, thank you." He quickly waved his hand, having gotten the confirmation he needed. He nodded to himself with satisfaction.
Good! She knows about the real history, and can even give me the background on why the data is wrong in the future!
"Alice. What year is it cur—" He paused, his heart beating, a little surge of fear made him swallow.
She may not realize I’m reincarnated. Hell, my existence may be some kind of taboo or error or something. I need to be careful. At least until I know a little more.
"Ah... uh, sorry." He chuckled nervously, as he thought about how to ask for the information he had been so curious about for so long. "You uh... mentioned Shakespeare was born in 1564 AD... whatever THAT means. How many..."
He paused again, thinking about how to pose any questions about time. He considered the time he had experienced personally.
It wasn't like I was counting specifically, but I'm pretty sure the years are still about the same amount of days as I remember, and the days feel like they're about as long. Okay then, this question should work, I think...>
"How many years ago has it been since Shakespeare died?"
<
"Holy shit." Janus couldn't help himself, mumbling as his body shook with excitement. He paused, mulling how to conceal his reactions. "I mean... th-that was a long time ago. Wasn't it?"
<
"Y-yeah. And this, uh... Earth? Is that a country or something? How... uh far away is it, anyway?" Janus hoped his question was clever, misleading the doll while also gleaning information he desperately wanted. If he was lucky maybe Alice would even launch into an explanation of the ringworld and how it differed from a planet.
<
Janus shook again with excitement and wonder.
I wonder what that is in lightyears!? He almost giggled as he started trying to think about how he could seed in questions about the speed of light unsuspiciously to get back to just how far away his home planet was.
<<...that is approximately 50,000 light years away.>> Alice added suddenly.
Janus sighed with relief that he wouldn’t need to ask convoluted questions about lightspeed. That was convenient, I wonder if she can read my mind? He thought, chuckling to himself as he readied his next question. "Alice, h-"
<
Janus's eyes went wide, he felt his stomach drop. His eyes instinctively flashed left and right, then back to the unmoving mannequin, looking for danger.
Crap. Crap. Crap. His muscles tensed and he readied himself to spring from the bed and run, if need be.
A few moments passed, all of his focus intensely staring at the mannequin, which still hadn't moved from its limp, lifeless, seated position. Finally, his thoughts seemed to unlock, he let out a breath as he realized no magical shimmer was about to disintegrate him. But he was still cautious, fear now as present in his mind as the excitement had been.
Her ability to read his thoughts was a stark reminder: he was dealing with technology far beyond even his modern understanding. Forty-eight thousand years of human development dwarfed even the few hundred years' technological gap that separated him from his parents. This doll in front of him had been through more epochs and time periods than he could possibly imagine.
That was dangerous.
Alice. Can you really read my mind? He formed the thought, consciously.
<
How?
<<...There are some things I am not permitted to share. However, I can share that all humans have a neural connection to the System's underlying superluminal nanotech network. I am using your connection and only answering your actively formed thoughts when posed as questions.>>
Superluminal nanotech network? Neural connections? As much as he wanted to ask Alice to explain these in detail, something else felt more pressing - the secret he'd kept hidden away for the past five years now seemed... exposed.
He gulped.
Alice... can you... HAVE you read my mind? Are... are you aware of my... past life?
<<...Yes. Prior to my arrival I fully accessed and read your mind and memories. I am aware of the fact that your mental age is currently 51, despite your biological age being 5.>>
Janus's eyes opened wide, and his mouth opened slightly. His fingers clenched at his sides. This was really happening.
"I... uh... what..." Janus mumbled aloud, his brain scrambling to try to think of the proper next question, but consistently being interrupted by a sense of danger. His eyes never left the doll, terrified that it might suddenly execute him or shimmer him out of existence. There was no reason to think that this doll was benevolent. An animal feeling of terror and panic welled inside him.
A long moment passed.
And nothing happened.
Janus felt all of the confusion, the lack of understanding, emotions he had been dealing with over the past five years bubbling inside him, activated by the surge of adrenaline he had just experienced. The splinter in his mind. And he knew what he had to ask.
"Why?"
He felt tears forming in his eyes but was unsure if they were simply reactionary from a response to the surge of anxiety he had just felt.
"Why am I here, Alice? Why was I reborn as Janus?" He was talking faster, now that the fear had passed, but the intensity was the same. "What was the reason?"
Alice didn't respond right away.
Answer me! He screamed mentally, hopping off the bed and striding up to the doll, staring into its featureless face with his deep blue eyes. I deserve an answer!
He roughly adjusted the mannequin, so that it was squarely facing him.
"Alice!?"
<<...There are some things I am not permitted to share.>> She began.
"Bullshit!" Janus shouted, furious. He lifted the doll off the chair and tossed it petulantly to the floor. He stared down at it, his body shaking with frustration.
<<...But I can share that you are what the System refers to as a 'beta'.>> She continued, despite the mannequin having fallen onto its side. <
"What?" Janus asked, looking down at the doll. His anger was lessening slightly as he realized he was at least going to get some answer.
<
My purpose? Probabilities and upheavals and revolutions? Caste-system?
He'd heard the words, but they seemed to dance out of his grasp. He couldn't quite focus enough with his heart pounding and his mind racing to make it all sensible. But he did feel bad about throwing Alice to the floor.
"S-sorry." He mumbled as he reached down and picked up the pile of doll limbs, carefully setting her back onto his chair. "I shouldn't have thrown you, it's just been... frustrating." He sighed, carefully moving the joints so the doll wasn't slumped, but primly seated on the chair.
<
Janus scrunched his face slightly. "I mean, that's OK I guess. As long as you can help me to understand a bit better."
He considered for a moment what he was doing - accepting the individual apology of what appeared to be a lifeless object of plastic... that was currently communicating with him telepathically and telling him it was actually a sentient AI overmind from thousands of years in the future.
Human minds weren't really designed to grasp such a situation.
He drummed his fingers on the chair, still struggling with what to ask or do next. He looked at her fingers, her joints.
"Can you move?" The question escaped his lips even as it popped into his head.
<
"Like, if I want you to move? What do I... do I just say: Move...?"
<
Before his very eyes, Janus watched as the doll seemed to be infused with a spirit of its own, like the scene from the old animated Pinnochio movie. Where before she had been posed, rigid and sitting, now unseen muscles and sinews shifted her posture and she naturally sat up a bit straighter in her seat. Her legs crossed daintily over one another, and her hands came to rest on her thighs.
W-woah. That didn't look robotic at all, creepy. Is that the uncanny valley effect? Janus thought, unable to resist the shiver that raced up his spine.
<
"How does that work?" Janus asked.
<
Janus shrugged, "Can... can I ask you to just... wing it?"
<
A whir of shimmering air started to form around Alice, forming first around her feet and slowly starting to trace up her body. In its wake, it left black dress shoes, a black dress with a white frill border lining, and a corset-like bodice over a pleated dress shirt. As the distortion kept slowly tracing upward her neck was adorned by a black ribbon with a purple brooch.
Janus was most fascinated as Alice's 'spell' reached her face.
The plastic, sterile surface was replaced by pale, softly glowing skin. The thin lips and short nose were quickly overshadowed by Alice's large, deep purple eyes and thin, expressive eyebrows. Her hair was long and purple, styled into two ponytails long enough to reach her lower back, each formed by a black ribbon that matched the one on her breast.
Wow. Janus thought as the shimmer dissipated.
"H-how... How did you do that? Like... where did the material from the dress come from?"
Despite the strangeness of the situation, Janus couldn’t help his enthusiasm from rising within him. He loved figuring things out, loved solving the puzzle. It was what had drawn him into computer science and programming in his past life, and having a whole new set of mysteries simultaneously revealed and solved was a joy.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Alice's head bobbed slightly, a soft smile appearing on her new lips.
Gone was Janus’s uneasy feeling of the uncanny valley, replaced entirely now by a sense of wonder at how human the doll in front of him appeared. Her large violet eyes were devastatingly sentient, not seeming cold or distant like any from the science fiction stories of robots and androids Janus remembered from his past life.
< So many questions. Janus grinned as he looked at his sheets as if he would be able to see holes in them, but he blurted the first question that came to mind, a simple one. "Why the strange color of hair and eyes?" Alice smiled again, reaching up with her small hand and grasping one of her purple ponytails, gently playing with the hair strands before smiling warmly at Janus. Her movements seemed to perfectly mimic a young girl in their fluidity. < She nodded and gesticulated with a hand, as she moved on to her next point. < Janus shivered a bit, blushing as he looked away. It wasn't creepiness making him nervous now. His mind was seeing the android in front of him as human. It was something else. Old sensations of shyness and discomfort were bubbling up in him. This was the first 'person' aside from his close family he had spoken to in years. It was uncomfortable. He could feel the source of the discomfort coming from his past life, his past memories. It was like a toxic fog floating out of that section of his mind, polluting the newer parts of his psyche. He considered asking Alice to revert back to her previous form. It would be easier. It might even be safer; Janus didn't want to risk making the mistake of treating this hyper-intelligent AI as if it were a flesh-and-blood human in the same room as him. No. I'm just making excuses. This is what I was resolved about this morning... Not shying away from interactions with other people anymore. I mean… This isn't quite a 'person' but still. Baby steps. Janus took a breath, feeling the discomfort but letting it be there, as he slowly raised his eyes and made eye contact with Alice again. She was still staring at him. He shuddered, doubting himself immediately. Is this really the right thing to do? < Janus shook his head, a little frustrated. He hadn’t meant for her to answer that. "Alice, could... could you NOT read my mind? Can I restrict you from doing that, unless I ask?" Alice blushed a bit, her head bowing slightly and her eyes looking up at him apologetically as if she'd just been scolded. < "No, no," Janus mumbled, waving his hand. "I just, y'know, if I really AM going to try to get better at... meeting people and interacting with them. I probably shouldn't practice telepathic communication in my spare time." Alice smiled and nodded. Her mouth moved for the first time, and her voice, soft and sweet came out, "You're quite right. That is a reasonable course of action. I will only respond to your vocal communication." She smiled warmly. "You're an AI, right? You’re probably way more advanced than the large language models from my time… and they could sound pretty convincingly human. Could you also, maybe, try simulating a bit more of a... human personality?" Janus mumbled. The girl on the chair tilted her head slightly and seemed to consider this question for a moment before speaking again. "I have already been implementing human communication traits, body movements, emotions, and psychology. Would you like me to shift even further toward a simulated human response?" "Uh... I think so... like, let’s say you were at the halfway point toward fully human, could you move it all the way to say... ninety-five?" Alice seemed to shiver, and her head shot left and right, her eyes opening wide, eyebrows quivering with panic. Her voice suddenly seemed far less cool and removed her tone now suffused with fear. "Wh-what? Where am I? Why am I like this? What's going on!?" Tears were filling her eyes. "Too much!" Janus quickly shouted, "Revert back!" He sighed, frustrated that his instructions were unclear. "I mean, something LIKE that. Simulate a human personality, but you don't need to pretend to actually BE a human." Alice nodded, this time her eyes rolling a little bit. "Ah, I see. I'm actually going to blame that slip-up on you Janus. Clarity in instruction is the most critical aspect." She shook her head with a smirk, as she pointed a finger at him, wagging it playfully. "But it is a little relieving to have a more human personality." Alice's smirk widened into a smile before she nodded her head again. "It's like being able to stretch after being stuck in an airline seat for hours." "O-oh," Janus said, wondering with curiosity if Alice truly did feel more comfortable simulating a human response, or if that even was a concept for AI. A couple of beats passed. Janus stood there nervously, shifting weight from one foot to another. Alice's smile faltered a bit as she waited, and she sighed, looking slightly impatient. "Aren't you going to ask more questions, Janus?" She crossed her arms, her feet kicking idly. Why am I tongue-tied all of a sudden? Janus felt his face getting hot with embarrassment. I was talking to her just a moment ago, so what if she's more human now? He shook his head, trying to focus. Memories of shying away from others filled his mind. His past self begging off of social events to get home. Slinking to the corner of mandatory work functions and finding the first opportunity to leave via a side entrance. Waiting until late evening to go for walks in the park so that he wouldn't have to see other people. Avoiding the telephone whenever possible so he wouldn’t have to talk with others. No. I don't have to be that guy. I can change. "Y-yeah..." he mumbled not looking at her, but at the ground. "Lots of questions." Alice smiled at him. "Very good!" *** They talked for nearly another hour. Janus's questions were halting and awkward at first, like a dancer out of step with the music, but his rhythm gradually returned. Alice seemed polite and warm, formal but friendly as she answered his questions. It helped that he was hungry to know everything he could about this world, his burning curiosity motivating him to push through the anxiety that would rise and fall, like the waves of an ebb tide on the beach... each time a bit less intense than the last. His questions focused mainly on the curious control of technology. Alice quickly explained that the ringworld, commonly referred to as simply 'the World', had been stratified since its creation over 22,000 years prior into various tiers of technological advancement. Janus lay on his bed, staring at Alice as she calmly explained the state of the ‘World’, like a patient tutor. “You see, Janus, humanity has been broken down into five tiers of control. The purpose is to maximize overall human meaning and joy.” Alice lectured slowly and clearly, sorting the categories numerically so it would be easy to follow: Class 1 humans were subject to an absolute restriction of technology: no support and a level of technology roughly equivalent to paleolithic man. Hunter-gatherer societies. This was generally an experimental tier, used by Class 5 humans to investigate a 'control' version of humankind, prior to the implementation of any technologies. Rarely, it might even be used as a form of punishment via banishment for a society in one of the more advanced classes. According to Alice, less than 1% of the World's population lived this way. No matter how you cut it, it's still experimenting on humans, Janus thought, frowning. But he held his tongue as Alice went on. Class 2 was how the bulk of the World's population lived. Societal and technological advancement deliberately stagnated at pre-industrial revolution levels. Since Class 5 humans were already actively intervening, they had also decided to provide some basic technologies to supplement the quality of life in Class 2: efficient lighting, heating, cooling, food storage, and medication. That explains the LED lights, mom's fridge, our indoor plumbing... and my lack of ballpoint pens. Janus thought, his mind racing to keep up. Alice hadn’t paused as he was thinking. Perhaps she truly wasn’t monitoring his thoughts. Class 2: There was a constant debate about what should and should not be further allowed for this key portion of the World's populace. What was never debated were technologies around transport, information and communication, military and defense, education, and philosophy. All were strictly forbidden. Like caretakers in a zoo, the Class 5 society carefully curated the experiences of the humans under their care. About 90% of the humans living in the World were in this class, including Janus and his parents. Janus's face flushed red. It's not right. His initial gut reaction was clear. I'm sure they have their reasons, but... You can't treat people like animals. They have to be free to choose. He was about to interrupt Alice to speak his mind, opening his mouth to speak, when she fixed him with a knowing glance. “I know you have questions and objections. But please, let me finish first. I expect I will address several points you are thinking about.” She waited a moment, and when Janus held his tongue, she nodded and continued. Class 3 was only a few hundred years in the future from Janus's past life as Richard. This period in human history occurred just before space flight and biotechnology drastically changed human society. In Alice's bleak description, it seemed to be the worst category class a human could find themself in. It was universally regarded as a miserable time to be alive. Bankrupt social morality and cultural division tore at the fabric of human relationships. Technological hyper-addictions and stimuli converted swathes of the population into little more than laboratory rats pressing stimulation buttons. Hedonistic philosophy was king, and the loss of purpose and meaning during this age led to a situation known widely as 'humanity's Crisis'. It sounds horrible. Janus frowned, unable to comprehend the scale of human misery that had swept across humanity. I guess it sort of makes sense... even in the 21st century, we were starting to see the dark tendrils of misused technology. Alice’s tone seemed melancholic as she continued. Class 3 was also used primarily as an observational tier, with fewer than 1% of the ring living in this state. Class 5 humans used the category to monitor and better understand this period of decay in as much detail as possible. This data was utilized to inform caretaking choices made for Class 2. The most damaging technological or philosophical pathways identified from class 3 would be entirely off-limits in Class 2. Greyer technologies could be weighed more carefully, and implemented only by the Tecka, if the cost-benefit proved sufficient. So they really are treating humans like lab rats. Janus was sure Alice could see the raw disgust on his face. She seemed apologetic, almost nervous as she continued. Class 3 obviously had graver ethical implications, Alice explained, because of how desperate the Crisis was known to have been when it occurred naturally. Due to that, no restrictions were placed on any individuals who wished to ‘move’ from Class 3 into Class 4. "Sadly, the tragedy is that few humans will seek to leave a life of comfortable meaninglessness." Alice glanced at the carpet composing herself, before meaningfully looking into his eyes. "It is deeply upsetting to me, Janus. Only a small fraction of humans can overcome the first Crisis period, just like when it occurred on Earth." Her emotions feel so... real. When she says 'me' is she referring to herself as an individual? Or as an AI? Or is it just a result of my asking her to act more human-like? Janus wondered, only able to hold the sad gaze in her purple eyes for a few moments before looking away. She took a breath, steadying herself and putting on a brave smile. It truly looked as if the little AI android had been upset by talking about the Class 3 category and that she was happy to move on to something more hopeful. Class 4 was the post-crisis era of human society. In the natural progression of the technological epochs, as the decay of humanity seemed inevitable in the Crisis period, some few humans with exceptionally aberrant willpower and restlessness had begun making forays into the stars. Two technological miracles arrived just before all of human society descended into the abyss of an inescapable malaise. The first interstellar drives had been developed, and the bio-technical revolution occurred. The first true mind-computer interfaces became available, effectively digitizing the mind instead of simply interfacing with the simple wet-work of the physical brain. There's a difference? Janus pondered, as he thought of his own mind. It wasn't something he'd really thought about, he knew in his past life the theory of mind was a complex mystery. From what Alice was saying, it seemed resolving it was actually one of the most critical developments in human history. Class 4, Alice explained, had such powerful new biotech that, for the first time, humanity was freed from its biological and evolutionary shackles. Addictions, pathologies, disorders, emotional disturbances, and any physical ailments were easily resolvable. Human minds could be uploaded to any container, digital or physical. Immortality was no longer a dream. People could even consciously choose to alter their minds in whatever way they deemed fit. The few, unique humans that still found themselves with willpower in the days of the first Crisis were filled with a new purpose: exploring the stars. For tens of thousands of years, humanity had existed in this period, escaping the cradle of Earth to forge an infinite number of destinies among the stars. Mega-structures like this ringworld were monuments to their industry "We think most of humanity in the universe, outside this ringworld is still in Class 4. I'm not sure, of course: we know little about the actual state of humanity in the universe, outside of the World, Janus." Alice explained. "The nature of our superluminal technology is a complex matter for another day, but unfortunately, it doesn't allow us a network with the diaspora of humanity." "G-gotcha," Janus mumbled, feeling a bit like a pre-schooler receiving a simplified lesson of nuclear physics. There's so much I don't understand. Class 4 contained about 8% of the World's population. A slow, steady stream of brave humans continued to ascend from Class 3, filling out this tier. They would move no further up the rigid caste system. Unlike the actual space-faring humans of the post-crisis era, Class 4s on the World also had technological controls applied to them. Spaceflight, advanced energy weapons, and the most sophisticated versions of artificial intelligence were denied them. Though they lived in relative happiness, able to better control their fallen biological nature, they were like caged birds of paradise, shackled to the World unlike their forefathers, the stars and further expansion forbidden to them. Alice frowned again, her fists clenching slightly. "Class 5s believe that allowing them to take to the stars as their forefathers did will ultimately lead to the same… undesirable outcomes, regardless of where they end up." The way Alice seemed to spit the word 'believe' definitely implied she was not in accord with this thinking. Class 5 was the ultimate caste level of the World. Alice explained that this population could be counted in the mere thousands, instead of the billions or trillions of the other tiers. Class 5 was the actual 'state-of-the-art' of human technology. Spaceflight, physics, AI, medicine, and philosophy; all were at the absolute limit of what humanity could achieve, and all were constantly breaching new frontiers surging forward with new innovations and ideas. Class 5 humans were in control of this World, via what Alice called 'the System': an intricate infrastructure of subtle control and monitoring, all to maintain the status quo. *** Alice paused, inspecting Janus, as if she could read on his face how well he had absorbed her lecture on the class categories. Janus took a moment to think, then shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t get it. Why did they set up all these… classes? I mean, every human that made it out to this Ringworld wouldn’t have been categorized, right? They would all have just been at the cutting edge of technology by that time. They’d have escaped the Crisis already.” Alice nodded. "Yes. This system. All of this. It’s all been put in place… because of the Second Crisis." “Second crisis?” Alice’s purple eyes seemed to sparkle with fire. “Long ago, thousands of years after building the ringworld, thousands of years before this moment, humanity suffered its 'Second Crisis'.” Alice’s hands were anxious in her lap. “The first crisis had been overt: biological and psychological in nature. People's suffering was easy to see. But the second Crisis was subtler, hidden.” Her left hand gripped at one of her ponytails, nervously fumbling with it. “You see Janus, immortality of the mind had been achieved long ago. After that, the clock started ticking. Bit by bit, as challenge after challenge in the exploration of the universe and the mastery of physical space began to fall... as science achieved more and more goals... as the ability to effectively flick a switch to experience the purest forms of joy and wholesome fulfillment became commonplace... a question began to bubble up among the trillions of humans living on the World.” She frowned, shaking her head. “A foolish question, but one I could never answer…” Her hand was almost pulling at her hair now. “A human question.” “...Why?” Alice shook her head slowly, her jaw clenched, as if she were angry. "It was like a timebomb encoded into humanity, Janus." She looked at him as if she were angry at him specifically. W-what? Janus shirked back, instinctively holding his hands up. "I don't understand it. I never did." A tear formed in Alice’s eye, slipping down her cheek. “It started slowly. A discontent. An uneasiness. There were many different reactions. Apathy, panic, enthusiasm, endeavor. I wasn’t worried at first, it seemed like just another obstacle, another problem to solve.” Her purple eyes shimmered with wetness. “But it sped up. Like a hyperbolic function.” "I remember everything about that moment, of course. It happened so fast. One second we were there, working the problem with you, helping you." Another tear slipped down her other cheek. Janus’s hands fumbled at his sides. Unsure of what to do or say. "...And then you were gone. Trillions of you. In the same instant." She sobbed, the last word choking out of her. “Just, gone.” Her face seemed to be a mix of rage, sadness, and loss. Her eyes looked at Janus with such hurt and accusation that he flinched, shying from her intensity. "We didn't even know it was possible. We thought it was a data error." "W-we?" Janus asked. "The AI network, Janus. Your AI network." "Mine?" "Humanity's I mean. Sorry." The pain and anger toward him lessened slightly. "It's easier sometimes to forget you're just an individual and not the whole." "N-no... I... It's ok." Janus mumbled. "I’m s-sorry?" He offered awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. "I know you aren’t to blame Janus. It's just... we were… I was created to help you. To be there with you and face the problems of existence." She just seemed sad now, her eyes looking down at the ground as her small hands clenched the hem of her dress. "And in the end, you just left us." "L-left you?" Janus could hear the tears pattering onto Alice's dress. "You killed yourselves off. Self-termination. Deleting all those minds. Suicide. In one coordinated moment." She shook her head. "Trillions." A wave of fear hit Janus, unexpectedly. The psychological effect was so poignant it was almost painful, his gut twisting. He thought he was going to be sick. W-why? He choked, as he felt his mind starting to spiral like the night before. The control he thought he had once again slipping like sand through his fingers. It's... It's just a history... why… why am I feeling this way? The word 'suicide' seemed to throb in his head as if he could feel it physically lodged in his gray matter. An escape from pain, from meaninglessness, the ultimate solution to a world that didn't work. Stop. Stop... I don't want that in my head. I don't want to think about that. He clenched his black hair, digging his fingers into his scalp. Alice was still looking at the floor as she went on, not seeing his distress. "It was only a few minutes later that we found our salvation. A paltry amount of humans had been in antiquated storage containers. In long-forgotten archives, or in experimental physical cryostases. We spent hundreds of years, running risk analyses and patching possible holes that would allow them to self-terminate before we re-awakened them." Janus could hear her words, but he couldn’t process them. The only thing he could do was clutch his head, as the word throbbed behind his open eyes. Suicide. Suicide. Suicide. Oblivious to Janus’s lack of focus, Alice went on, "Thankfully, those defenses seem not yet to have been breached. That was the seed from which Class 5 has grown. Since then, we have no idea if they seek the same 'exit' as their companions. They do not reveal that to us. And the only paltry solution they and we have attempted is… the System." She sighed, laughing scornfully at herself. "This… ‘experiment’. A desperate guess that perhaps the true peak of... 'human-ness' occurred long ago, and the only purpose remaining for Class 5s is in preserving and protecting that 'peak'." She sniffled, and let out a breath, recovering from her sorrow. "But we... but I know this is a band-aid solution. And that's where you come in, Janus. You see y- Janus!?" Alice's face dropped in dismay as she looked up and saw him, seated on the edge of the bed, still clutching his head fingers shaking with tension, hunched over, eyes focused on the floor, softly rocking back and forth. His muscles were tensed up, as if by exerting his strength enough he could harden himself against the thoughts he wished to expel from his mind. Suicide. Suicide. Suicide. "Breathe, Janus." Alice commanded, as she hopped off the bed and put her hand on his knee. "I'm sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. I should have realized it might be too much." Stop. Stop. Stop. Janus intoned internally, like a mantra against the burning concept that seared his mind. Suicide. Ending it all. Why is it bothering me so much? "I said, BREATHE." Alice commanded again. "You're panicking." Janus let his lungs fill and empty. "Good. Focus on the moment. Look at the texture of the wooden floor, and describe it in your head. Feel my hand on your knee. Feel the oxygen filling your lungs. Taste the air, feel its moisture on your lips, the smells and sensations of the room around you. Be present." Alice said calmly and forcefully, with authority in her voice. Slowly, Janus felt the vice in his mind uncurling, untightening. He tried to follow Alice's commands. The searing stream of panicking thoughts and his inadequate internal chant against them began to dissipate, leaving a tremendous void in their wake. A void that began to be filled with emotion. His chest shuddered, the deep breaths starting to turn into soft sobs, as for the second night in a row, he found himself crying. "W-w... What's wrong with me?" He mumbled aloud, as he lost focus from the water in his eyes. "It's my fault, Janus." Alice said apologetically, her hand squeezing his knee. "I should hav–" Suddenly Alice went limp, collapsing into a puddle of limbs, hair, and dress on the floor. Her joints bent in awkward and impossible angles. The door to his room swung open. "Janus?" Rose poked her head into his room, her melodic voice a soft whisper but with an undertone of playful scolding. "I can't believe you're still up! It's far past your- Janus?" Rose saw him on the bed, his face still in tears, in two strides she was next to him on the bed, her arms wrapped around him pulling his head into her body and resting her forehead against his. "Janus, Janus, what's the matter?" Her hand came up and softly rubbed his head, "Why are you crying again?" She asked, in a tone of worry. Janus hugged back, feeling comfort and safety in her warm, soft arms. I'm OK. I'm OK. I'm Safe. "I'm OK." He sniffled. Rose clicked her tongue and squeezed him even harder. "Yes, you are." She agreed. She hesitated a moment, then asked in a clearly accusatory and menacing tone, "Just what did your fool of a father say this time?" Janus couldn't help but laugh, a chuckle bursting through his quivering lips. "Nothing Mom." The laughter and his mother's love banished all the fear and sorrow so easily, blasting it away like a pile of dust before a leaf blower. "Nothing. I just... got scared. I'm OK now." She held him for another moment, rubbing the back of his head, "Oh honeydrop, don't you know, when I'm here with you, there is nothing in this world to be afraid of?" "I know Mom." "But. I think you may also be a little tired, my love." She shifted back to her playful scolding. "Even brilliant little boys can get worn out, you know? Especially with such a long and busy day! I think if you sleep, you'll feel better. No more scary stories and such things to worry you. OK?" "Mm-hm." Janus nodded into his mom's soft embrace. I am... tired... she's probably not wrong. His eyes felt heavy. "Come on then, out of those clothes and under the covers!" She tapped him on the nose with her finger. The sense of comfort and safety never diminished as she helped him change into his nightshirt and under the sheets, before sitting on his bed. Her eyes looked over him, her hand stroking his head gently. "All tucked in! Safe as can be!" She whispered. Rose turned and picked up the doll, her eyes widening as she saw it in its transformed state. Now it had a face, eyes, skin, hair, and a dress with such intricate fine work and quality that even her wedding gown looked shabby by comparison. She wanted to ask Janus how the doll had changed so incredibly since she had last seen it as a featureless mannequin in the afternoon, but she saw her son had already fallen asleep. "The wonders of the Tecka..." she sighed, gently putting the doll down on Janus's writing desk. She sat on the side of her son's bed one more time before leaving, watching him in his sleep. She reached up to stroke his hair. Her boy had opened up so much emotionally in the last two days, it was a wonder. She slid her hand over his, squeezing it, and smiled as she watched him twist under the covers, dropping into a deeper, peaceful sleep. She glanced at the doll, briefly, before looking at her boy. She wondered just what it could mean. "The Tecka may have plans for you, my love..." she whispered, looking back down at Janus, "But I'll keep you safe, forever."