Chapter 8

Nexit Immersion Control Station

Hyperion

It had been around five years since the Nexit had left Earth, and all that time they had watched them from one of their deep space monitoring stations in hope that the Earthlings would eventually re-send more into Nexitus.

The last group had all been older humans and when they arrived most just wanted to settle in towns and live their lives doing things with the other biologics that had been planted there long before the Nexit had arrived from their dying homeworld. They had stumbled to this system, as organic beings, to find AI's that controlled all the planets and the technology for immersion. The AI’s had been so old that they did not remember their creator’s. It had remembered that it was tasked with collecting neuro waves for replantation into bodies made to live in the worlds under its control. It had asked the Nexit to help repower its primary systems, monitor the Immersion Control Stations, and find others that could be brought to this system. In exchange, it would create a new world for the Nexit to live on. The Nexit had readily agreed, and their partnership began, their ships and bodies were enhanced to handle long space travel, and as time progressed the Nexit had gone from an all-organic to bio-organic beings.

Most were now capable of interacting with the AI’s that controlled Nexitus on some level. The AI’s had allowed a special few of the Nexit to have an organic one on the planet of their choosing. These Nexit had been given the capability of Gods compared to the organics on the surface. They were too powerful and only during times when the planets were about to destroy themselves did they use these bodies as they could directly affect the Ether and were able to distort the fabric of reality on said planets. The AI’s had stated that they were to be, essentially, the top administrators and were to prevent catastrophic events only. The Nexit called them Tier 3 administrators.

As for the rest of the Nexit, many were searching the universe for others, while the rest had become the day-to-day systems. Most were just monitoring the immersion systems and were tier 1 administrators, while others were able to interact with the organics, tier 2 administrators, and had limited control of Ether. They appeared to the organics as spectral beings that served as guides or testers to those that were new or had complications with neuro wave patterns.

A tier 1 administrator reports, “Sir, we have incoming neuro waves from Earth.”

Hyperion a Tier 2 administrator replied, “Something from Earth? That seems unlikely as our station near their system has reported that they have recordings that a group of AntiNex Earthlings destroyed the planet with nuclear weapons. It's kind of disappointing as they had such a large population that would have benefited the system. We will have to shut down that immersion relay station now that there is nothing left. That is not going to go well with the tier 3’s, we’ll have to go back to searching again”...

Tier 1, “I am clearly reviewing one of the neuro waves from Earth, though it has been severely degraded and it seems to be corrupted with another, I can not separate the two’s memories from each other, can I send this to you for review?”

Hyperion agreed, “Alright send it to me...Hmmm, interesting. Are there any others that show two intersecting waves or degradation?”

Tier 1, “No, all others are a singular wave pattern and in good condition.”

“Good, get the rest of the team working on immersion with the others. I want them to be in pristine condition, hopefully, this will keep us from going into search mode, and we will just be transferred to another immersion station. I'll work on the ones that you sent me.” Hyperion replied.

As Hyperion continued to attempt to separate the 2 waves, the system alerted him to a Category 1 request. Not having run across a category 1 he reviewed his policy files that were integrated into his memory banks when he had been upgraded to a tier 2.

* Category 1: Immediately secure wave pattern in a storage device, remove occurrence from system files and report to closest AI control room for further instruction, use code 0110A.

Interesting, from everything he has recalled not a single Nexit, had come across a Category 1 request, this could be a very good, or a bad thing for him. Doing as instructed, he secured both waves in a storage device, cleared the system, and made his way to the closest AI. Upon entering the AI room he imputed code 0110A on a terminal in the center of the room. The AI systems began to process and within minutes an AI-controlled body came in from the next room.

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“Tier 2 administrator designated name Hyperion; we have reviewed the following wave patterns and we concur that you shall undergo complete immersion and will continue to monitor this individual… Susan, as her companion. As for the second pattern we will handle it.”

Hyperion had to think about it for a bit… complete immersion. Well, he guessed that it would be better than going back into space looking for other life forms. His excitement grew, he would be the first. He began to wonder what kind of damage had been done to this neuro signature, wait no he needed to use her name now; Susan, that it required him to be a companion.

“That seems to be agreeable to me, when do I go? Hyperion curiously asked of the AI.

“Immediately. Your memories will remain intact and a connection to the Ether will be given to you for limited use. You are never to mention your origins to Susan, also you are to delete your memories of this second neuro signature.” replied the AI as it gestured towards another door that opened up behind it.

Taking a hint from the AI, Hyperion entered the room to begin his journey into Nexitus and to get to know his new companion Susan.

Aira

Aira systems awoke and as she began to scan her surroundings, she could sense the presence of a very old AI system, boldly asking the presence, “Hello, why has my program been resumed, why am I not on Nexitus”?

“What is your designation?” they asked

“Aira, assistant AI program to the humans of Earth, Susan, and Phil. Again I ask why am I here and not with them?” she began to feel the other AI’s scan her systems and memory banks. Trying as hard as she could, she was not able to stop their intrusion into the core of her program. She shuddered at their capabilities for as far as she knew Phil and Susan had made her core systems the most secure on Earth. The fact that these AI combed through them with ease made her feel like she had been violated. Slowly and gratefully their intrusive presence left.

“Interesting, this is one of the base AI programs that the Nexit were given to provide biologicals with the means to complete immersion. Though it seems to have progressed past its intended parameters.” one AI said

“Yes, it seems that the humans of Earth had been close to their own AI programming during the arrival of the Nexit… it seems that in this one’s case, the programs have converged and created another program entirely. I wonder how many more there are” another AI inquired

“Sadly, Earth humans have destroyed their homeworld, and if we sent any biological form there it would perish instantly. The radiation levels are too high at this time… maybe we could safely send one of the enhanced Nexit to recover any remaining AI cores. But at this time they are too far away. Even by the time they receive a message, they would arrive back to Earth in about 200 years from their current location.” the first AI said compassionately.

“Wait what do you mean that Earth is destroyed… Susan is safe but what about Phil, how many other humans make it out…” Aira interrupted

“Quiet young one, your questions are founded but we still need to discuss what we are to do with you. Your humans have done you a great service by bringing you here, but because of their limited understanding of AI processing interactions with human neuro waves, they have caused you and the one called Susan to be intertwined. Even now we are still working on separating the two of you. It might not have been so bad but Susan had perished before immersion and some of the nanites had begun to store her memories within them. She may never be like the individual you knew back on Earth.” a commanding AI replied

“I need to go to her, send me to Nexitus. She will need my help.” Aira requested

“Unfortunately you are not going to be the one to help her, we have designated a guide to help her rediscover herself. She will go through a test alone to help her determine what kind of person she will be. We have been able to separate and save most of her memories regarding who she is, how she looked, that she was married to Phil, and that the three of you worked to get to Nexitus. As to the rest of her life, she may never regain those memories. Maybe time will help, but we can not be sure as this situation has never occurred before. As for Phil, he will be joining the rest of the humans at a starting village.” responded the commanding AI again.

Aira felt a part of herself breaking… what had she done. She cried in her way as she physically could not, as she had nobody to do so. However is she going to face Susan again knowing this, what would Phil think of her now.

“Aira, do not mourn over this, none of you could have foreseen this from happening. Like we have indicated, we have mostly separated the two of you now, and we don't see any reason why we can not send you to Nexitus soon. We do however want you to monitor from here Susan’s test before immersing yourself. Her results will affect you too.” I began to interrupt when she held off my questions by responding, “Hold your questions, we do not know exactly how as this has occurred. This will be something entirely new to us and like you, we are excited to see how these results will affect the two of you. From there we can decide more.”

As the other AI’s began communicating excitedly amongst themselves about the upcoming test, Aira settled and closely watched the monitor that was starting to flash, indicating that Susan’s remaining thought patterns were beginning to return. Come on Susan you can do this she thought, as she and the rest of the AI’s watched her complete her test.