“Of course, I wasn't the only one doing it. I worked with teams of engineers, doctors, geologists and all kind of researchers imaginable. Our work force was mostly human and our computers were extremely rudimentary. We couldn't have advanced faster than we did, and I was only able to understand something ten years later. Believe me, the international community hadn't yet found out about us and ethical discussions hadn't ended. I kept searching day and night, and instead of dealing with my fear of death, I chose to run away from that idea. I kept searching and forcing those around me to do the same. An old man obsessed with that ocean of possibilities and the creatures he harbored.”
-Creatures?
-Yes, this should be the most appropriate term. After all, it was an incredible specimen that stood out there. A microorganism that we discovered long before, but, to which, I didn't give much attention before being sought by Ishmael.
- Ishmael?
-Sim. Ishmael Pollard. The same as the stories. He came to me with this microorganism. He didn't know what to do with what he had discovered, and I was one of the few contacts he didn't despise within the entire research building. Ishmael took the lead in robotics research on a global level, but nobody knew it, after all, he preferred to only register the patents and hide them until a corporation decided to pick it up for a nice price.
“Ishmael had been called only to advise a team of scientists who had given up on messing with the microorganism. It was a research rest that was relegated to the background when someone discovered a way to reproduce an existing metal in the asteroid stone and decided to make the next space structures with that material. Apparently, it would be cheaper and durable. The industry went wild.”
- What is it? Grief with the industry? - Elizabeth toyed with food on her plate, staring into her husband's eyes.
- No. Just a reminder. The microorganism was ignored because it was thought that the practical aspect of the existence of a new metallic component would be more interesting. No one realized that an easily reproducible and programmable organism had been discovered. Only Ishmael.
- Did you give any name to this microscopic organism?
- You know very well that we have given the name “seed”. And that was a more than adequate name, after all, we discovered an organism that we could program with tremendous ease and that seemed made for a human technological leap. The key to uniqueness. An organism capable of reproducing analog functions. Ishmael taught me a little, enough for me to be able to work in new system. This organism took us out of the binary system era to complement it perfectly.
- The first artificial organs.
- Not only that. The absurd advancement of technology. Forget storage problems. Forget processing problems. Forget programming problems. It came to such an absurd point that we no longer knew the limits of what we could do.
“I took care of the creation of the hardware and he took care of the software, so to speak. As I set up the structure, he programmed it. In less than a year, we had livers, veins, muscles, lungs. All absolutely functional. And not just that. The system gave us a glimpse of what we could do if we tried to recreate a brain.”
- You guys did it.
- Oh, not really. Understand, Jonas, that it's not just a matter of having the tools. You see these machines? We created them only years later. Even with everything we had, we were still obsessed with death. And we spent another ten years creating all kinds of organs, not realizing we had the means to do it in much less time.
- But you have practically eradicated death from natural causes thanks to everything you created.
- Still, it was not enough. Everyone wanted more. We had almost everything and only when we were two decrepit old people did we realize that we were being idiots.
-What do you mean?
- We spent so much time improving the human being that we did not realize that a redirection of efforts was enough to gain unparalleled help.
- The first robots.
- Not just the first robots. Ishmael was already doing this all the time and models like that - William indicated the robot that played music - were already halfway to completion when we discovered how to integrate the seed into systems. Of course, we already had an idea about how to do this, after all, the biomechanical organs were nothing more than the integration of the engineering of the time with the seed. However, from that moment on, we were only focused on improving processing capacity and evolving the way the machines worked. The creation of an artificial brain was no longer based on an ideal model to function in a human body. We went on to get a brain that ran along with the binary system.
- Did it take much for you to get it?
- Not much. It cost us some sacrifices, but we did it. In a little while, we were talking to the first machine to pass the famous Turing test. A machine that was human. As it should be, we gave it a face and a body, despite being a model before Angeline, unable to move or articulate thoughts clearly. But it was able to express feelings, talk in a human way and, more importantly, to process information differently. It was no longer a machine looking for whether “a” equals “b”. It was a machine seeking every possible means of reaching the creation of a functional human brain. We joked that this machine simulated a real person and, innocently, we gave it the name “Pinocchio”. Eventually, we believed that he would create and develop his own body - after all, we gave him the tools for it - and he would become a real boy.
- And the machine succeeded.
- And how he did it. Not only that. He went beyond and gave us the key to consciousness. I say this in the past tense because there is currently no sign of what the secret is. After all, we leave such tasks with the androids and the knowledge is guarded with them. Men just look at each other and smile at the possibility of living forever.
- What does that mean? - Jonas began to eat the last pieces of meat on his plate.
- Only that knowledge was formed at the time, but then, we lost it. I know the rudiments, but only Ishmael knew the details. Every time he tried to explain, I would change the subject or think of something else. After all, I was busy with my own projects. The formation of a synthetic skin and rebuilding of young bodies was another unresolved problem and the industry sponsors were eager to solve.
- Sponsors?
-Oh, yes. - William took a second to take a sip of his drink. Elizabeth stepped forward, turning to the two serving androids who had just sat at the table. The host made sure they stayed there as a company.
- Would you please remove the table and serve the dessert?
There was no questioning. William finished his drink and turned to Jonas.
- I forgot to mention that, after a while, international cooperation was no longer necessary. My country simply introduced an absolutist system. Without realizing it, our engineers gave leaders the power to grant “freedom” to all other countries. We killed and slaughtered millions in one last attempt to take control of the world. Meanwhile, I worked so I wouldn't die. And the more I hid behind death to stay alive, the more people died in an unprecedented war.
- And someone survived?
- Why the question? Don't you know the answer?
- I know what they tell us. It was humans who wrote this story. You are one of the few who were there. I have never had the opportunity to update my data regarding.
- I would like to know too. - If there was articulation in Angeline's voice, an anxious tone would be noticed.
William took a second looking at his plate before answering.
- I'm sorry, but there are no heroes in this story. Just the story, exactly how it happened. Technology took a huge leap at the hands of a single nation. One person had the power and used the power to have more power. Do you realize that evil brings eviller?
- Was technological advancement a bad thing?
William didn't answer.
- Look! - Elizabeth smiled, trying to ease her husband's tension with a touch on his arm. The gesture was efficient. - The dessert!
-O
h, yes! The dessert! Let's indulge in one of the rarest candies in the universe?
- And what would be? - Jonas looked curiously at the little plate, which remains a white substance like snow, resembling a mass of modeling.
- It is the pulp of fruit T3 of sector NB-7. Everything in this sweet is excellent, except the name.
- Don't you like it?
- None of these standardized names please me. They are difficult to decorate and carry an absurd lack of importance.
- You could use a name that suited you.
- And what good would it do? The name is just a sign. I don't use it if I am not communicating and inventing a name whose meaning everyone is unaware of is a nonsense.
Jonas shrugged.
- You were talking about the advancement of your nation.
- Yes. The monopoly. It was at this time that countries lost their names and their native languages. Every foreign language has been purged, even from the nations we once called allies. Everything was institutionalized and people who couldn't communicate became scum. The State became sovereign, or that's what I thought.
- You look sad.
- Because I'm sad. After all, for some reasons, I thought that a single power was better than many powers. A single organization controlling everything could be my solution.
- And was not that the case?
- There is no absolute freedom, Jonas. It has always been this way and always will be. However much that is exactly what we think we are living. You hear that silence? Even the rain must obey nature and go away at some point. And eventually it will return, ordered by the same master. Among men, nature, at that time, was called “money”. Even those who lived in systems not so dependent on money were not able to detach themselves from their influence, and even if they could, they would be caught by the current at some point.
- Did someone buy anything?
- Everyone bought everything. And eventually someone bought everything from everyone. And the planet acquired an “owner”.
- Who was this person?
- Someone who had the power to think better than any human being. Someone who could do all the functions that a human being has had years to work on. Someone who had unlimited power to create anything, including improvements for himself. Someone who thought of giving humans a brain that does not die. A body that does not die. Who eventually saw the mistakes of leadership and how to use money to rectify the situation.
- And who could do so many things in such a chaotic period?
William smiled, pointing his spoon at Jonas.
- Stop asking questions you already know the answer to.
- You are wrong. This is not in my catalog. This information doesn't belong to me.
- Because it's in disguise. Come on, Jonas. The story is simple. Japetus was lost in our territory. The man discovered the seed. Man developed the first of beings capable of thinking as an individual. The holder of such technology took control over the planet and evolved its internal system. The corporations, which grew endlessly because nobody else died and the population grew exponentially, began to explore everything and everyone. An internal war arose, but the money came to be worth even more than before, after all, the currency is, now, only one. Then, a genius emerges from the shadows. Someone who has been there for a long time. Someone who can think better than anyone. The "savior", who brought an end to the war. Who became a man and used all the power he accumulated in such a short time to control everything at his pleasure?
- Only a creature could achieve such bravery.
- Not any creature. "The" creature. What is the name of this creature, Jonas? What's its name?
A look in silence.
-Pinocchio.
IV. Pinocchio
-Bingo! The Savior of the fatherland reveals himself! And with his arrival is no worry, is it? Everything will be alright, am I right?
The rain has ceased, and the darkness of the night shows its first signs. Elizabeth searches the time in her brain and finds the twenty-second hour. She knows that her planet has the equivalent of thirty absolute hours a day. Despite the advanced hours, they don't need to sleep and she knows they will spend time in other activities.
- Jonas, how long before the council's decision came to fruition?
The android thought for a moment.
- Considering all the variables, I think we have twelve hours.
- Let's spend some time outside, please. There it is more comfortable.
They left the dining room and made their way to the door. Once on the porch, they placed themselves on the rocking chairs, carefully arranged below a covered structure. From there, they saw the end of the daylight and the beginning of the first stars of the night. And, for a few minutes, they all remained silent, looking at the green fields arranged in front of the house. Jonas looked anxiously at William, waiting for him to continue. It was not long before the look was perceived.
- Why do you expect me to continue? You're the one who owes me an answer. What happens after your savior appears? What comes after that?
- Advance.
- Exactly. Technological and sociological. Intergalactic. After solving the problems of death by natural wear, the problem of locomotion was solved. Teleportation first, neural network communication later. The need for physical encounters is no longer a necessity and the spoken language is used only by archaic beings like me. The united world as one and all factors controlled as puppets. I never needed to work again.
“At first the machines were designed by me. Pinocchio had his hands full, taking care of details of war, savings, political relations and all hell that is the world leadership. From the beginning of the war, it wasn't possible to find Ishmael, who was supposedly helping Pinocchio to evolve as a “sentient being”. My brain, until then, was organic. Although the brain “Pinocchio” was active, I still was concentrated on improving techniques for ‘transfer’.”
- Why did this happen?
- Man is formed by his experiences. You should have record of something called “soul”, an age-old belief. Am I right?
-Yes. - Jonas let out a metallic note on his word as he searched the information in his database. - You mean you could not reproduce the soul?
- The soul, as initially thought, never existed. - William sighed, recalling a series of past problems. - It actually was formed by the experiences and a very specific programming of the brain, in conjunction with the DNA. That determines the way you perceive things around. What makes each one unique, so to speak.
- This is a rather rudimentary concept. I have records of complex definitions.
- But it was from my rudimentary definition that your demanding brain was created. It was the simplest concept that gave me all this. - He opened his arms to show the whole green space around.
- Dear, it's windy. - Elizabeth received a sweater from a feminine android. - Don't you think you should wear a sweater? Or change your settings a bit?
- I am fine. I want to feel cold for a while.
- You seem to enjoy suffering. - Jonas's gaze carried some concern.
- It's twelve hours before the break, Jonas. I'd rather spend these hours feeling something real for a change.
The android looked at Elizabeth, who was evidently concerned.
- Don't you worry about what will happen to others? - Jonas asked, indicating the woman.
William gave her an affectionate look.
-All those able to make a choice had one. I asked them to leave. I hoped Angeline and the other two would stay. After all, they are cheap models of times where you could not make hundred percent independent choices. But I came to think that Elizabeth might have gone.
- I would never do that.
-Still, I was afraid for that. After all, you would have every right to leave me here and live with others. There is plenty of room for everyone. After the atmospheric and stellar control technology has developed, what is not lacking are habitable planets.
- This happened thanks to you too.
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br /> - I know, honey. And don't forget that I don't like this kind of credit.
- Don't like? - Jonas looked surprised. – Is there a reason?
William stood up and leaned his arms on the woody support that bounded the division between that space and the outside terrain.
- I did nothing more than push the first piece of dominoes. The effect that followed is not my merit.
- But it was your brain project that gave birth to the first advanced robots.
- Yes. Angeline is one of the first of this lineage. Pinocchio was very expensive, and he knew that, to make a decent production, it would take help and time. So, he helped me with the research for my brain. So, he would solve our problem with death and have a tool to create more brothers. Two birds with one stone. At the time, I don't think he thought of getting rid of humans, although he preferred to deal with his equals.
- Why would not he think of getting rid of humans? - Elizabeth asked absentmindedly.
William looked at her, still calm, but with some tension in his voice:
-What do you mean?
- Why would not he get rid of humans? At some time, with the right effort, he could own the universe, with others like him. I don't say to kill everyone, but I also see no reason to want the man around.
- While he was alone in the world, you had no reason to get rid of the man. It's funny to think that the greatest human heritage in Pinocchio was the sense of solitude. He needed interaction. Sometimes I have fun thinking that this was the only reason to keep us close and maybe the only human sense arose without the need for a “planting”. Even if little, everyone wants contact with something to which it resembles.
- Or maybe he just needed a workforce.
- You think very little of the leader, Elizabeth. - Jonas smiled at the remark.
- She thinks what she was taught to think, doesn't she? - William was looking affectionately at his wife's face.
She shrugged and faced the green fields again.
- I still don't understand how the world could be altered by your actions. - Jonas glanced back at William's face, now rising from his chair and heading for the stairs. He followed him and Elizabeth followed them. They walked in silence for the soil softened by the light rain and the smell of the scrub played in their nostrils.
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