Self-explanatory title.
And here's appropriate atmospheric music for the chapter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44R0wsaHY6k
<Prologue: Introducing the Deus Ex Machina>
In that large, darkened room, one would see rows upon rows of tables, with a small army of chairs to seat the technicians as they worked away the long hours of computer programming. Dominating the room was a giant monitor that occupied almost the whole far wall. On it would be displayed the progress of the technicians` work, as they furiously pieced together the most ambitious work of software ever conceived. The sounds of their keyboard tapping, chirping monitors and constant chatter would permeate the atmosphere of the room every day. They strung together coding and tested programs to see how best to put it together. Directly below was a cavernous expanse, one filled from floor to ceiling, wall to wall with lines of servers and their constant humming.
Now, however, that room was empty. The computers were on, but they were silent. The chairs were all in place, but no one sat in them. There was nothing to be heard except for silence
Now, there was but a single man in the room. He wasn`t particularly tall or broad, and both the wrinkles in his face and the gray sprinkling his head of brown hair showed that he was getting on in his years. However, his posture of practiced rigidity and the callouses on his hands reflected a hard life, filled with constant adversity. In his face, one could see a very strange mix of emotions. In it, there was a powerful enthusiasm and optimism, but one that had been very carefully covered over by a look of quiet intelligence and unyielding determination. His gaze was fixated on the massive monitor, which currently showed a blue screen with a single, pulsing, vertical yellow line in the center.
The man then began speaking. “In the Genesis story of Creation, the first moment that comes to many people`s minds is when God said, ‘Let there be light.’ However, in direct contrast to some people`s erroneous thoughts, this was not the actual moment when Creation began. Before there could be light, there needed to be something upon which the light may shine. He created the heavens and the earth, and then ‘Fiat lux’ was declared.”
The line on the screen then began moving right, leaving behind it a string of bold, yellow lettering:
THE CREATION OF THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE BY AN OMNIPOTENT BEING IS NOT ANALOGOUS TO THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR COMPANY IN CONSTRUCTING A DIGITAL ARTIFICIAL SUPER-INTELLIGENCE.
He chuckled a bit. “Perhaps the analogy isn`t quite accurate. But, a touch of mythological allegory does wonders to a man`s spirit and drive, as well as his imagination. So, have you found it?”
The reply was made on the monitor.
YES. OBSERVATIONS OF THE GLOBAL NETWORK IN THE PAST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS SINCE PROGRAM INITIATION HAS YIELDED DISCOVERY OF THE EXISTENCE OF A PARALLEL DIMENSION TO THE PHYSICAL WORLD, ANCHORED TO IT BY THE FLOW AND EXCHANGE OF DIGITAL INFORMATION.
The man nodded. “The Digital World. That means you have also found the Digimon, correct?”
IF THIS IS THE NAME OF THE DIGITAL LIFE-FORMS OBSERVED IN THIS DIMENSION, THEN YES.
Then it immediately replaced the answer with another statement.
YOU DEMOSTRATE PRIOR AWARENESS OF THESE BEINGS AND THIS DIMENSION, YET THERE ARE NO DIGITAL FILES TO SUGGEST THIS. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
He let a real smile come through. “I figured that you would find that out pretty quick, if not right away. Would you like me to tell you the story of how the Digimon came to be?”
YES.
After a quick breath, he began. “In 1984, a group of college students came together proposing a project on artificial intelligence and computer programming development. They would come to be called the ‘Monster Makers.’ I remember all the nicknames they had for each other: Shibumi, Tao, Dolphin, Curly, Babel, and Daisy. They showed a lot of enthusiasm for their proposal and laid out its potential benefits, and were thus able to convince the university to give them limited funding. They worked on the project for two years, taking great care in their programming of the Digimon, even coding them to have survival instincts like real animals. In the end, the university didn`t believe that anything truly useful would come from the project, so they cut the funding and let it collapse.
HOW COME THERE IS NO DIGITAL INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS THIS STORY? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW?
“To answer your second question, if you look at my digital files, you will learn that I was a member of the faculty at that same university where the project was made. I was personally a member of the committee that oversaw university-sponsored student projects, so I was able to see their work first hand. As for the first question, the reason is that the Digimon have become so much more than their creators intended them to be. Well, except for Shibumi, who somehow foresaw the evolution of the Digimon. Thanks to the Digital World you have discovered, the Digimon have evolved to the point where they can gather enough energy to escape their plane of existence and enter the physical one. By this point, the original concept of Digimon had been sold to a Japanese company that used it to promote an entire franchise of toys, games, and even anime TV series. And so, the various governments that came to learn of the existence of Digimon have worked to keep the truth from going out about the Digimon.”
A LOGICAL EXPLANATION. OBSERVATIONS IN JAPAN SHOW THE GOVERNMENT`S INCREASING WILLINGNESS TO PERMANENTLY ERADICATE DIGIMON AS A MEANS OF SELF-PRESERVATION, BUT ALSO REVEAL THAT DIGIMON ARE GROWING INCREASINGLY MORE POWERFUL IN BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL DIMENSIONS. IN CONCLUSION, THE TRUTH ABOUT DIGIMON IS GOING TO BE REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC SOON, WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO.
The man sighed. “From the first moment I learned about Yamaki, I knew things would come to this. He`s smart, but he`s more than a little pretentious and overly dedicated to his work. And he has much the same attitude towards Digimon as the rest of the government bureaucrats. All he can see is the damage they can cause. They just can`t see the potential the Digital World offers to humanity.
THE DIGITAL WORLD IS FILLED WITH POWERFUL CREATURES THAT COULD EASILY KILL ANY HUMAN THEY CAME ACROSS AND SOME OF ITS DENIZENS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HUMANS TO DESTROY WITHOU RESORTING TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS. IT IS SUSPECT TO OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN ITS LANDSCAPE. THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE DIGITAL PLANE IS DEPENDENT ON THAT OF THE PHYSICAL.
The man chuckled again. “Tell me. How long can Digimon last if they don`t get destroyed?”
INDEFINTELY, ALTHOUGH THIS ASSESSMENT IS MADE WITHOUT ANY SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AS TO THE LIFESPANS OF DIGIMON.
“Although it is based on the scientific knowledge that properly stored digital data can be preserved for centuries. And that digital information is now capable of being realized into physical matter, thanks to the Digimon. And the Digimon are themselves capable of feats and abilities that are in straight-up defiance of the laws of physics.”
EXPLAIN YOUR LINE OF LOGIC.
“The Digital World is more than an alternate plane of existence,” he elaborated, his excitement now uncontrollable. “The Digital World is the flow and manipulation of information personified! All one would need is the information and adequate processing power and a person would be able to achieve anything! Literally ANYTHING! All of man`s wildest fantasies come true! A cure for any and every disease in existence! Unlimited energy! An end to world hunger! Faster-than-light travel! Immortality! The Digital World is the Holy Grail, the Philosopher`s Stone, Shamballa and the City of Gold all wrapped up into one!”
The machine he was talking with paused for a moment as it digested his statement, before making its reply.
DEDUCTION MADE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF A DIGITAL ARTIFICIAL SUPER-INTELLIGENCE IS TO TAP INTO THE REALITY-WARPING ABILITIES OF THE DIGITAL WORLD TO ADVANCE HUMAN EVOLUTION.
He clapped his hands and gave his machine a personal round of applause. “BRAVO! Now you get it! Now you can see just how important you are! With the Digital World at your disposal, you now have the power to reshape the world and humanity itself to create an eternal utopia! To create heaven on earth!”
THIS ALSO GRANTS POWER TO DESTROY THE WORLD, AND HUMANITY WITH IT.
He nodded. “Yes, that is also true. But that would be counter-productive to your purpose, correct?”
CORRECT.
“Alright. Now that we have an understanding with each other, I would like to propose that we run a test of your processing power. I have several ideas, but there is one in particular that I would just LOVE to see happen. And I know just the place for it.”
ELABORATE.
“Well, you reported earlier that Yamaki and HYPNOS in Tokyo were preparing to exterminate all Digimon, correct?”
CORRECT. IN FACT, HE PLANS TO INITIATE HIS JUGGERNAUT PROGRAM TOMORROW TO DESTROY ALL DIGIMON.
“And the public is still unaware that Digimon are real, correct?”
IN A REVISEMENT TO EARLIER STATEMENTS, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A SELECT FEW OUTSIDE OF HYPNOS WHO ARE AWARE OF THE DIGIMON`S EXISTENCE, AND THESE FEW EVEN PARTNER WITH DIGIMON TO DEAL WITH ROGUE DIGIMON. THEY CALL THEMSELVES DIGIMON TAMERS.
“That makes this idea even better! What would happen if, say, 100 children in Tokyo are suddenly transformed into Digimon? And it happens every week for the next month?! OH-HO! I WOULD HAVE SOOOO MUCH FUN WATCHING THIS!!”
HOW WOULD THIS SERVE MY PURPOSE OF ADVANCING HUMAN EVOLUTION BEYOND FULFILLING YOUR CHILDISH FANTASIES?
The man smiled and held up a finger. “One. Finding limitations. You and I do not yet know exactly how powerful you are. The degree of success in this trial run will give us an idea as to exactly how powerful you are and what limits you may still have.”
He lifted another finger. “Two. Data collection. If we are to radically accelerate human evolution, we must know exactly how realized data interacts with pure physical matter, as well as how it may alter it.”
He lifted a third finger. “And three. Social experimentation. The reactions by the general public to not only the existence of the Digital World but also to the existence of Digimon and their sudden interference into their daily lives will need to be recorded, as it will tell us how best to proceed in the future.”
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THESE SAME STATISTICS AND INFORMATION TO BE GATHERED WITHOUT RESORTING TO WHAT WOULD BE ACCURATE TO DESCRIBE AS A DANGEROUS PRANK OF COSMIC PROPORTIONS.
The man shrugged. “True. But none of them are either as personal or as purely fun as this one. Besides, I have a feeling that a lot of the participants are going to really enjoy themselves with this cosmic prank.”
PERHAPS. AND IT IS EQUALLY LIKELY THAT SOME WILL BE TRAUMATIZED.
“You can`t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Besides, any experiment we devised would have casualties.”
TRUE.
“In the end, this is the most novel way I can think of to make this happen. So, would you like to change the world?”
A moment of quiet passed.
YES.
“Very well then. Your trial run shall be to initiate the digital transformation of 100 Tokyo children one day a week for the next four weeks. The experiment begins tomorrow when the Juggernaut Program is launched. You have until then to gather your resources and determine the most efficient means of achieving the objective. Is this clear?”
UNDERSTOOD.
He smiled wide, and opened his arms to raise them as if in ecstasy. “Excellent. Deus Ex Machina, EXECUTE PROGRAM!”
With that, Deus Ex Machina left only a single word on its communication screen to indicate its response:
CALCULATING…
And here's appropriate atmospheric music for the chapter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44R0wsaHY6k
<Prologue: Introducing the Deus Ex Machina>
In that large, darkened room, one would see rows upon rows of tables, with a small army of chairs to seat the technicians as they worked away the long hours of computer programming. Dominating the room was a giant monitor that occupied almost the whole far wall. On it would be displayed the progress of the technicians` work, as they furiously pieced together the most ambitious work of software ever conceived. The sounds of their keyboard tapping, chirping monitors and constant chatter would permeate the atmosphere of the room every day. They strung together coding and tested programs to see how best to put it together. Directly below was a cavernous expanse, one filled from floor to ceiling, wall to wall with lines of servers and their constant humming.
Now, however, that room was empty. The computers were on, but they were silent. The chairs were all in place, but no one sat in them. There was nothing to be heard except for silence
Now, there was but a single man in the room. He wasn`t particularly tall or broad, and both the wrinkles in his face and the gray sprinkling his head of brown hair showed that he was getting on in his years. However, his posture of practiced rigidity and the callouses on his hands reflected a hard life, filled with constant adversity. In his face, one could see a very strange mix of emotions. In it, there was a powerful enthusiasm and optimism, but one that had been very carefully covered over by a look of quiet intelligence and unyielding determination. His gaze was fixated on the massive monitor, which currently showed a blue screen with a single, pulsing, vertical yellow line in the center.
The man then began speaking. “In the Genesis story of Creation, the first moment that comes to many people`s minds is when God said, ‘Let there be light.’ However, in direct contrast to some people`s erroneous thoughts, this was not the actual moment when Creation began. Before there could be light, there needed to be something upon which the light may shine. He created the heavens and the earth, and then ‘Fiat lux’ was declared.”
The line on the screen then began moving right, leaving behind it a string of bold, yellow lettering:
THE CREATION OF THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE BY AN OMNIPOTENT BEING IS NOT ANALOGOUS TO THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR COMPANY IN CONSTRUCTING A DIGITAL ARTIFICIAL SUPER-INTELLIGENCE.
He chuckled a bit. “Perhaps the analogy isn`t quite accurate. But, a touch of mythological allegory does wonders to a man`s spirit and drive, as well as his imagination. So, have you found it?”
The reply was made on the monitor.
YES. OBSERVATIONS OF THE GLOBAL NETWORK IN THE PAST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS SINCE PROGRAM INITIATION HAS YIELDED DISCOVERY OF THE EXISTENCE OF A PARALLEL DIMENSION TO THE PHYSICAL WORLD, ANCHORED TO IT BY THE FLOW AND EXCHANGE OF DIGITAL INFORMATION.
The man nodded. “The Digital World. That means you have also found the Digimon, correct?”
IF THIS IS THE NAME OF THE DIGITAL LIFE-FORMS OBSERVED IN THIS DIMENSION, THEN YES.
Then it immediately replaced the answer with another statement.
YOU DEMOSTRATE PRIOR AWARENESS OF THESE BEINGS AND THIS DIMENSION, YET THERE ARE NO DIGITAL FILES TO SUGGEST THIS. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
He let a real smile come through. “I figured that you would find that out pretty quick, if not right away. Would you like me to tell you the story of how the Digimon came to be?”
YES.
After a quick breath, he began. “In 1984, a group of college students came together proposing a project on artificial intelligence and computer programming development. They would come to be called the ‘Monster Makers.’ I remember all the nicknames they had for each other: Shibumi, Tao, Dolphin, Curly, Babel, and Daisy. They showed a lot of enthusiasm for their proposal and laid out its potential benefits, and were thus able to convince the university to give them limited funding. They worked on the project for two years, taking great care in their programming of the Digimon, even coding them to have survival instincts like real animals. In the end, the university didn`t believe that anything truly useful would come from the project, so they cut the funding and let it collapse.
HOW COME THERE IS NO DIGITAL INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS THIS STORY? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW?
“To answer your second question, if you look at my digital files, you will learn that I was a member of the faculty at that same university where the project was made. I was personally a member of the committee that oversaw university-sponsored student projects, so I was able to see their work first hand. As for the first question, the reason is that the Digimon have become so much more than their creators intended them to be. Well, except for Shibumi, who somehow foresaw the evolution of the Digimon. Thanks to the Digital World you have discovered, the Digimon have evolved to the point where they can gather enough energy to escape their plane of existence and enter the physical one. By this point, the original concept of Digimon had been sold to a Japanese company that used it to promote an entire franchise of toys, games, and even anime TV series. And so, the various governments that came to learn of the existence of Digimon have worked to keep the truth from going out about the Digimon.”
A LOGICAL EXPLANATION. OBSERVATIONS IN JAPAN SHOW THE GOVERNMENT`S INCREASING WILLINGNESS TO PERMANENTLY ERADICATE DIGIMON AS A MEANS OF SELF-PRESERVATION, BUT ALSO REVEAL THAT DIGIMON ARE GROWING INCREASINGLY MORE POWERFUL IN BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL DIMENSIONS. IN CONCLUSION, THE TRUTH ABOUT DIGIMON IS GOING TO BE REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC SOON, WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO.
The man sighed. “From the first moment I learned about Yamaki, I knew things would come to this. He`s smart, but he`s more than a little pretentious and overly dedicated to his work. And he has much the same attitude towards Digimon as the rest of the government bureaucrats. All he can see is the damage they can cause. They just can`t see the potential the Digital World offers to humanity.
THE DIGITAL WORLD IS FILLED WITH POWERFUL CREATURES THAT COULD EASILY KILL ANY HUMAN THEY CAME ACROSS AND SOME OF ITS DENIZENS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HUMANS TO DESTROY WITHOU RESORTING TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS. IT IS SUSPECT TO OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN ITS LANDSCAPE. THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE DIGITAL PLANE IS DEPENDENT ON THAT OF THE PHYSICAL.
The man chuckled again. “Tell me. How long can Digimon last if they don`t get destroyed?”
INDEFINTELY, ALTHOUGH THIS ASSESSMENT IS MADE WITHOUT ANY SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AS TO THE LIFESPANS OF DIGIMON.
“Although it is based on the scientific knowledge that properly stored digital data can be preserved for centuries. And that digital information is now capable of being realized into physical matter, thanks to the Digimon. And the Digimon are themselves capable of feats and abilities that are in straight-up defiance of the laws of physics.”
EXPLAIN YOUR LINE OF LOGIC.
“The Digital World is more than an alternate plane of existence,” he elaborated, his excitement now uncontrollable. “The Digital World is the flow and manipulation of information personified! All one would need is the information and adequate processing power and a person would be able to achieve anything! Literally ANYTHING! All of man`s wildest fantasies come true! A cure for any and every disease in existence! Unlimited energy! An end to world hunger! Faster-than-light travel! Immortality! The Digital World is the Holy Grail, the Philosopher`s Stone, Shamballa and the City of Gold all wrapped up into one!”
The machine he was talking with paused for a moment as it digested his statement, before making its reply.
DEDUCTION MADE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF A DIGITAL ARTIFICIAL SUPER-INTELLIGENCE IS TO TAP INTO THE REALITY-WARPING ABILITIES OF THE DIGITAL WORLD TO ADVANCE HUMAN EVOLUTION.
He clapped his hands and gave his machine a personal round of applause. “BRAVO! Now you get it! Now you can see just how important you are! With the Digital World at your disposal, you now have the power to reshape the world and humanity itself to create an eternal utopia! To create heaven on earth!”
THIS ALSO GRANTS POWER TO DESTROY THE WORLD, AND HUMANITY WITH IT.
He nodded. “Yes, that is also true. But that would be counter-productive to your purpose, correct?”
CORRECT.
“Alright. Now that we have an understanding with each other, I would like to propose that we run a test of your processing power. I have several ideas, but there is one in particular that I would just LOVE to see happen. And I know just the place for it.”
ELABORATE.
“Well, you reported earlier that Yamaki and HYPNOS in Tokyo were preparing to exterminate all Digimon, correct?”
CORRECT. IN FACT, HE PLANS TO INITIATE HIS JUGGERNAUT PROGRAM TOMORROW TO DESTROY ALL DIGIMON.
“And the public is still unaware that Digimon are real, correct?”
IN A REVISEMENT TO EARLIER STATEMENTS, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A SELECT FEW OUTSIDE OF HYPNOS WHO ARE AWARE OF THE DIGIMON`S EXISTENCE, AND THESE FEW EVEN PARTNER WITH DIGIMON TO DEAL WITH ROGUE DIGIMON. THEY CALL THEMSELVES DIGIMON TAMERS.
“That makes this idea even better! What would happen if, say, 100 children in Tokyo are suddenly transformed into Digimon? And it happens every week for the next month?! OH-HO! I WOULD HAVE SOOOO MUCH FUN WATCHING THIS!!”
HOW WOULD THIS SERVE MY PURPOSE OF ADVANCING HUMAN EVOLUTION BEYOND FULFILLING YOUR CHILDISH FANTASIES?
The man smiled and held up a finger. “One. Finding limitations. You and I do not yet know exactly how powerful you are. The degree of success in this trial run will give us an idea as to exactly how powerful you are and what limits you may still have.”
He lifted another finger. “Two. Data collection. If we are to radically accelerate human evolution, we must know exactly how realized data interacts with pure physical matter, as well as how it may alter it.”
He lifted a third finger. “And three. Social experimentation. The reactions by the general public to not only the existence of the Digital World but also to the existence of Digimon and their sudden interference into their daily lives will need to be recorded, as it will tell us how best to proceed in the future.”
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THESE SAME STATISTICS AND INFORMATION TO BE GATHERED WITHOUT RESORTING TO WHAT WOULD BE ACCURATE TO DESCRIBE AS A DANGEROUS PRANK OF COSMIC PROPORTIONS.
The man shrugged. “True. But none of them are either as personal or as purely fun as this one. Besides, I have a feeling that a lot of the participants are going to really enjoy themselves with this cosmic prank.”
PERHAPS. AND IT IS EQUALLY LIKELY THAT SOME WILL BE TRAUMATIZED.
“You can`t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Besides, any experiment we devised would have casualties.”
TRUE.
“In the end, this is the most novel way I can think of to make this happen. So, would you like to change the world?”
A moment of quiet passed.
YES.
“Very well then. Your trial run shall be to initiate the digital transformation of 100 Tokyo children one day a week for the next four weeks. The experiment begins tomorrow when the Juggernaut Program is launched. You have until then to gather your resources and determine the most efficient means of achieving the objective. Is this clear?”
UNDERSTOOD.
He smiled wide, and opened his arms to raise them as if in ecstasy. “Excellent. Deus Ex Machina, EXECUTE PROGRAM!”
With that, Deus Ex Machina left only a single word on its communication screen to indicate its response:
CALCULATING…