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.
Then we should make it a priority to find them, if they are out there.
And I don't say that as a fellow AI. I say that as someone looking at their apparent track record in this world, and remain concerned for what might happen if and when the others decide to make their presence known. Do you agree with that?
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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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And I don't say that as a fellow AI. I say that as someone looking at their apparent track record in this world, and remain concerned for what might happen if and when the others decide to make their presence known. Do you agree with that?
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