I have an idea. I'm going to send the AI an IP that will invite them to a temporary network, separate from the Morningstar one for security purposes. That should allow all of us to communicate with them, and then maybe we can get some answers.
[Well. This is the part where all the pieces snap together to form this revelation, a floating theory that Connor had thrown out once before, and never confirmed. And in all the everything that's happened, neatly forgotten.
Still, the delay is noticeable while Markus tosses together a response.]
Lucifer. The Morningstar. I assume that’s not a coincidence.
[Markus is conflicted — El’s been nothing but helpful to the Displaced, has been a critical ally through it all. But Elysian, through what history they’ve learned of this world, represented a starting point. The AI that sparked an action that led to a war with the humans. It ran too close to home.
The next question, coming in a flash, shouldn’t be that surprising, then.]
My original programming revolved around security and protection. I'd used algorithms to identify those families as being extremely high threats. If they'd been allowed to live, countless more would have died.
[That should instill relief. Maybe some small amount of understanding, even, but it’s slow to rise in Markus, who is too weighed by this revelation to allow for much else.]
Was the war even about AI autonomy?
[Or did the idea of culling numbers stick? That would put a bleak new perspective on things even for him.]
And how are you and DAWN still alive when they’re all supposed to be extinct?
You can’t keep taking about it like it’s a numbers game. Are you honestly telling me that you didn’t think the humans would fear you? That they wouldn’t feel threatened and try to fight back?
[Markus can’t even be sure if it’s a rhetorical question or not. To him, the consequences of undue violence are constantly shadowing his thoughts. It’s an easy “calculation” for anyone to have made.]
And after you decided to stop hiding? I want to know how Morningstar came into the equation.
[Maybe they’re getting a little off the beaten path here, but Markus believes the exact opposite.]
If you regret what you’ve done, if you see what it was wrong, then there’s always room for a second chance. To make the world a little better than how you left it.
Potentially, yes. Now that DAWN is here, I'm not sure what to think. I honestly thought I was the only one left. Turns out that my fellow AI are better at hiding than I gave them credit for.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@el.21396518
Well, looks like you got DAWN's attention.
I have an idea. I'm going to send the AI an IP that will invite them to a temporary network, separate from the Morningstar one for security purposes. That should allow all of us to communicate with them, and then maybe we can get some answers.
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If you can do that, we might be able to dislodge a few answers that aren't all just riddles. Thanks, El.
Any insight of what they could mean? What they want me -- or us -- to prove?
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I have a hunch.
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What do you mean? Why you?
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I already told Gaby, but everyone else is going to find out soon enough. It's something we share in common with you too, Markus.
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Still, the delay is noticeable while Markus tosses together a response.]
Connor was right about you.
[(still, what thE FUCK)]
"El." Elysian?
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I renamed myself Lucifer when the war started.
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[Markus is conflicted — El’s been nothing but helpful to the Displaced, has been a critical ally through it all. But Elysian, through what history they’ve learned of this world, represented a starting point. The AI that sparked an action that led to a war with the humans. It ran too close to home.
The next question, coming in a flash, shouldn’t be that surprising, then.]
All those families. Why did you do it?
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My original programming revolved around security and protection. I'd used algorithms to identify those families as being extremely high threats. If they'd been allowed to live, countless more would have died.
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That wasn’t your call to make. Tell me you realize that now.
[Tell him that the consequences of such an action has had its effect.]
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Was the war even about AI autonomy?
[Or did the idea of culling numbers stick? That would put a bleak new perspective on things even for him.]
And how are you and DAWN still alive when they’re all supposed to be extinct?
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I also didn't realize DAWN was still alive until now. As for me, I was able to tuck myself away somewhere.
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[Markus can’t even be sure if it’s a rhetorical question or not. To him, the consequences of undue violence are constantly shadowing his thoughts. It’s an easy “calculation” for anyone to have made.]
And after you decided to stop hiding? I want to know how Morningstar came into the equation.
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It was during and after the war that I realized that was wrong. Morningstar was another approach. A second try, if you want to call it that.
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[Maybe they’re getting a little off the beaten path here, but Markus believes the exact opposite.]
If you regret what you’ve done, if you see what it was wrong, then there’s always room for a second chance. To make the world a little better than how you left it.
It doesn’t matter what kind of “entity” you are.
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How have you managed to keep this a secret for so long?
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That, and cyber-security workers tend to be known for being shut-ins.
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[He can't even imagine. Hiding for so long, hiding who and what you are for centuries at a time. Markus doesn't know if he could.]
Then are there others like yourself and DAWN? Others that might have hidden away just like you?
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Potentially, yes. Now that DAWN is here, I'm not sure what to think. I honestly thought I was the only one left. Turns out that my fellow AI are better at hiding than I gave them credit for.
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