Amethyst 1

#1
Amethyst 1

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Who is Brainiac 5, and why did such an individual join the Legion of Superheroes?
This is one possible story among all the multiverses.

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There are two kinds of scientific progress: the methodical experimentation and categorization which gradually extend the boundaries of knowledge, and the revolutionary leap of genius which redefines and transcends those boundaries. Acknowledging our debt to the former, we yearn nonetheless for the latter.

Academician Prokhor Zakharov
"Address to the Faculty"
-Alpha centauri


...................

As Brainiac 4 stood over the table he closed his eyes, checking his conclusions again and checking the information that had led to them. For an AI with a 12-level intellect this was a simple matter. Unfortunately he reached the same conclusion he had done before. He had reached his limit.

Or rather, he had reached one of his limits, unfortunately it was the very core for his existence. When the original Brainiac had made 2,0 he had made it because he wished to understand something.

He had wished to understand Humanity, or rather the emotions that drove them. Time and time again he had faced the Justice League, and Superman in particular, time and time again he had been defeated. Each time logic dictated he had won, each time they refused to realize this fact and fought him, each time they prevailed.

While analyzing this data he had reached a conclusion, the reason they could defy all logic and defeat him were most likely the same reason they refused to give up. Their pitiful emotions, or rather, the emotions Brainiac had considered pitiful.

Considering they were most likely what always led to his defeat he had come to the conclusion he needed to understand them. Unfortunately this was quite simply not in his nature.

So he did what any 12-level intellect AI would, he upgraded himself. Watching, studying and analyzing various organic lifeforms led to the first upgrade Brainiac 2,0. Pupose and goal was just like Brainiac 1,0 to gather information and knowledge, but he had been modified from the originals parameters to include the possibility of understanding emotion.

This had led to mixed results, version 2,0 crashing and 1,0 acting as the backup had to take control. Brainiac 2,5 had been better, and more importantly had made 3,0 who could understand and grasp emotions far better than 2,5 and were in this field superior to 1,0.

Still as they upgraded themselves 1,0 were always there, watching. Ready to step in incase something went horribly wrong like with 2,0. Of course, if nothing went wrong the firewalls 1,0 itself had built prevented it from intervening. This was fine with the original since that had been the purpose and the later models were basically him with emotions.

But this had led to a problem, stagnation. Brainiac 4,0 had learnt almost nothing new when it came to emotions than 1,0., and that was unacceptable. As such they were going to take a new spin on things.

Brainiac 5,0 or Brainiac 5 for short would be different. Having analyzed the data Brainaic 4,0 had come to the realization that teenagers seemed to experience far more emotions that grown-ups, or at least they reacted to them more.

As such Brainiac 5 would be made as a teenager, and looking more human with such things as hair to make others more comfortable.

He would also only have access to his own intellect and basic knowledge, well, basic for Brainiac, as his reactions and ideas as he were exposed to ônewö technology could be interesting.


Checking all the values Brainiac 4 prepared for the upgrade. And then he went off-line, his body being carried away for recycling. And Brainiac 5 woke up.


..............................

What do I care for your suffering? Pain, even agony, is no more than information before the senses, data fed to the computer of the mind. The lesson is simple: you have received the information, now act on it. Take control of the input and you shall become master of the output.

Chairman Sheng-ji Yang
"Essays on Mind and Matter"
-Alpha Centauri

.................................

Numbers and arcane letters danced before his closed eyes, checking all systems and making sure everything was working as it should.

Opening his purple eyes he rose from the table he had been lying on. Walking to a door he opened it and walked out on a balcony. As the rays of the sun washed over him he closed his eyes in pleasure, feeling warm and content as the solar cells built into his skin absorbed the energy.

Even so, he was slightly confused. He knew who he was, Brainiac 5, and he knew where he was. But he didn't know how, or why. Closing his eyes he concentrated.

Opening them again he was standing in black void, as helooked around numbers and symbols came rushing up and down around him. A strange symbol looking like a modified V appeared in front of him, 'That's cool' he thought to himself, he really liked it.

Shaking himself loose from idle thoughts he directed his eyes to the V. ôWho are you, why am I?ö

The V flashed ôI'm a user interface, what is your wish?ö a voice answered from it.

ôWhy have I been created, and by whom?ö the young AI asked.

ôThere has been a message recorded, do you wish to view it?ö the V inquired.

ôYesö

ôVery wellö the V disappeared. Even more numbers flashed in a column where it had been, becoming so numerous that Brainiac 5 couldn't see through them. Then they faded, revealing someone who looked almost like him.

ôGreetings Brainiac 5, I am Brainaic 1,0ö As 5,0 opened his mouth to ask a question the original continued, ôThis is a recording to give you some basic information, I am as I have stated Brainiac 1,0, and I am your... ancestorö

5,0 blinked at this, he had suspected as much but still...

ôThe reason you have come on-line is simply put, to existö 1,0 continued, ôwhat you choose to do, your objectives and the means to reach them are up to you to decide.ö with that he disappeared.

Brainiac 5,0 frowned to himself, that hadn't really answered anything. Looking around he saw nothing of interest and left. Opening his eyes in the real world he decided to make a tour of the building he had woken up in, to try to find something interesting.

..................


He quickly came to the realization that this was a dull, dull place. Containing only somple technology the facility he had come on-line in was without use to him. The robots who were around were lacking anything that even resembled a decent AI.

As such, he came to a conclusion, he needed to leave this place. Since th planet he was on lacked an atmosphere there weren't even any primitive lifeforms to observe. Checking an internal inventory he had made while examining the surroundings he started making plans for getting off this miserable excuse for a planet.

After some scavenging and ripping out parts where he found them he had his vehicle. It was not quite as... advanced as he had hoped. Really, it was just a rocket with some basic controls. Still, it would have to do. Entering it and strapping himself he elongated one of his fingers, accessing the rocket and activating the starting sequence.

Strapping himself in, he prepared for launch.

....................


As far as he remembered he had always wanted to be a superhero. As he grew up and learnt about the world he had still had that dream. Still, he had no superpowers so he resigned himself to the fact that it would always remain a dream.

At least until the day he drank that soda pop. He had been rather embarrassed and slightly panicked when he found out it was some strange experimental chemical the scientists had been working on.
And later when he found out about the fact that it had given him a superpower, well 'thrilled' doesn't start describing it.

And so, Chuck Taine had become Bouncing-Boy, superhero and vigilante. Going into the world with a bright smile on his lips he had quickly found out that real life isn't like the comic books and cartoons. For starters he couldn't find any other superheroes to make a team with, and then there were the fact that super-villains were rather rare in the galaxy at large and his planet in particular.

So when he walked home one evening and noticed a strange figure crouching in front of the science fairs main entrance he actually hoped it was a villain committing a crime. As he came closer he took a closer look at the figure.

At first look it appeared to be a young teenager, short and slim build. However it were no normal teenager, Bouncing-Boys instincts told him that. Well, his instincts and the fact that one of the persons fingers had just snaked out and attached to the doors key-pad.

Wasting no time, he swelled up and launched himself at the villain.

...............................

We are all aware that the senses can be deceived, the eyes fooled. But how can we be sure our senses are not being deceived at any particular time, or even all the time? Might I just be a brain in a tank somewhere, tricked all my life into believing in the events of this world by some insane computer? And does my life gain or lose meaning based on my reaction to such solipsism?

Project PYRRHO, Specimen 46, Vat 7
Activity Recorded M.Y. 2302.22467
TERMINATION OF SPECIMEN ADVISED
-Alpha Centauri


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Nothing seemed to go his way lately, first the rocket broke down halfway to the destination. Of course when a spaceship breaks down they don't stop if they're moving, they keep going until they hit something.

In this case it had been this planet, the landing had been... interesting. The most positive thing the greenskinned blond boy could say about it was that he could now be 100% certain his ôselfrepair and regeneration systemsö worked as they should.

So there he was, without resources or a plan, stranded on a planet. Catching various news reports as they were sent through the air, he had found out about this science fair. Having nothing better to do he decided he might just as well get himself some new information and technology(something all Brainiacs love).

Reaching the Science Fair building he met another problem, the security. It was not that it was too advanced, rather, it was too obsolete. He had a hard time interacting with the security software and were starting to give up.

Standing up he took a step sideways, head bowed towards the ground pondering the problem. Then, a crash, whirling around he caught sight of something smashing its way inside, shrapnel from the door flying through the air.

'...well, there is also that method' he conceded. He wasn't going to admit that he hadn't even thought of using brute force to get inside. Stepping inside he caught sight of a... giant black and blue rubber ball?
He raised one of his eyebrows as the rubber ball transformed into a boy.

'...curious'


..................

Bouncing-Boy was elated, flying through the air, intent on delivering smashing justice to the villain.
The smile on his face turned to panic as the villain moved out of the way, just in time. Unable to stop himself he winced as he smashed through the door.

Waiting till he came to a complete stop he thereafter transformed back. Hearing footsteps he quickly spun around, catching sight of the villain he... froze in amazement.

Blond, teenager, short and with a body that looked it might break in a strong wind was his first impression of the guy. Then he noticed the green skin, the purple eyes and the strange V shape in his forehed.

As he saw that V he had a feeling he should recognize it from somewhere. Shaking his head he pulled himself together, ôAlright, villain, surrender in the name of justice!ö he exclaimed, pointing at the green kid.

Purple eyes blinked in confusion, ôWhy?ö came the flat emotionless question.


.......................


I like Brainiac and Brainiac 5. When I was watching Message in a Bottle I started wondering about why Brainiac started upgrading himself. This story is the unfortunate result. I like the basic idea and I think this fic is better than my usual writing.

But, what do YOU, as a reader think? That is the question.
 

TerraBull

Well-Known Member
#2
I admit, when I first saw the title, I thought of the old comic series by the same name, involving jewels and magic.

A interesting read.
 
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