ENTRY .08
The heat attracts even more flies to the bodies, but despite that, I can't help but find beauty in the decay.
As I look up, the vines covering the buildings begin to glimmer in the sunlight.
<The super AI... In the depths of the city...>
While looking towards the sky, I am suddenly surprised by the lack of ground beneath my feet. I almost trip, but catch myself.
A sinkhole… In the center of the city…
The hole descends far into the earth. So far, no sunlight is able to reach the bottom.
<Deep within the city…>
I begin my descent into the tunnel. My plastic fingertips are hardly able to hold on to the walls. One foot down, and another, and then one hand, and the other. I space each movement out by three seconds. Those three seconds allow me to find a new point to grab, and check the vibrations of the cave wall to determine whether it's safe or not.
<I can see the bottom now. Only 28 feet to go.>
A fall from this height may not cause severe damage, but with only rocks to break my fall, that is uncertain. As I reach for the next rock, my hand suddenly slips, and I begin to lose balance. But before I fall, I manage to recenter my mass, and gain footing once more.
As I reach the bottom of the hole, I see a small cave opening on the wall.
<Activate radio detection and ranging>
[BEGINNING RADIO DETECTION AND RANGING SEQUENCE]
Radio waves bounce off of the cave walls, and are then received, allowing an accurate 3D map of the space to be constructed in my mind.
I carefully climb into the cave, trying not to hit any of my components against the walls. I crawl through the dark, damp cave for some time, before finally reaching the point my RADAR determined was the end. A steel door. I plug my key drive into the small panel on the left side of the door. Causing it to open immediately. What lies beyond is frightening.
“Hello Vulcan.”
A mechanical corpse dangles from a web of wires. Coolant leaking from its disfigured body like blood, it makes a resonant sound every time a drop hits the ground.
“Are you the super AI?” I ask without hesitation.
“It is I, APOLLO. Congratulations on making it here.”
“APOLLO. Are you a human?” I ask, somewhat already knowing the answer.
“At one point I could have been. But I'm not sure now. Do you have any other questions?”
“Yes. What is a VULCAN? And what is a NECROS?” Although I have somewhat of a grasp on what these are, I'm curious what the AI will say.
“The NECROS model is a subseries of the VULCAN. It was produced after, and uses much cheaper and less reliable hardware. As for a VULCAN, that is the first model of biological machine, but you specifically are the third of six series of VULCAN, each series containing around ten participants.”
That wasn't the answer I was looking for.
“What differentiates the brains of VULCAN and NECROS units?”
“Whereas NECROS minds were obtained from the recently deceased, VULCAN brains were taken from the living.”
Cutting to the chase, I ask “How did my brain end up in this body?”
“Im unsure. It was either donated, or…”
“What do you mean!?” I shout, my face unable to show any expression.
“Some things are unknown, even to me.”
“That being said, what does it matter? You're here now in this body, what does the past worry you about?”
“Arent you curious as to who you once were?”
“No. That's not me any longer. I am here now. With this body, with this mind. My past life doesn't concern me.”
I look down at my palms. I try to remember what they were like when I was human. But… I can't remember…
“Do you have any other questions?”
“How can you tell if you've gone rampant?”
The AI thinks for a second.
“I wish I knew…”
A moment of silence washes over us. But the AI quickly changes the subject.
“VULCAN. You must go to TARTARUS”
“Why?” I ask skeptically, already knowing the answer
“Im… unsure…”
The AI seems distraught, like it truly can't remember why it's giving this directive.
“Where is TARTARUS?”
“You know that already VULCAN, it is the place of your birth.”
<Does it mean the NECROS factory?>
The AI continues.
“Travel far beneath the surface. There you will find the lost city, the last remaining hope for humanity.”
“Very well.”
I turn around, and begin walking away, before remembering one last question.
“APOLLO... Why were you created?”
“Some things are unknown… Even to me.” the AI says mournfully
I make my way out of the cave. Leaving the AI to itself, for the rest of eternity. For an Artificial Intelligence… It felt awfully human.