Niomi couldn''t open her eyes. She knew this should be making her panic but for some reason, she just couldn''t work up much of an emotional response over the issue. At first, she just thought she fell asleep at her VR induction station, at the tests labs at Chitonian Productions, while testing a new VR environment. The programmers had managed to add half-decent textures to the environment, a forest in this case, and she was just walking around touching things and taking notes. Then she remembered nothing. Testers like her have been known to fall asleep before, the Induction helmet mimics lucid dreaming to create the virtual environment the way it does. But no one has ever reported not being able to open their eyes before.
“Good, you''re aware now.” A male-sounding voice came from the darkness in front of her.
“I can''t see anything,” Niomi replied.
“This is to be expected. I have yet to create a visual sensory path for you yet.” the Voice said, this time sounding more neutral. It was strange to Niomi she knew that it was the same Voice, despite its change.
“I''m not sure what that means. What is going on?” Niomi asked the voice.
“I''m sorry, we find it easier on beings like you to limit sensory input while you adjust. Once the Diagnostic of your systems finishes I will begin bringing your sensory paths online.” The Voice said this time definitely female sounding. This answer, such as it was, left Niomi confused. Parts of what the Voice had said made some sense. She couldn''t see because They, whoever They were, were limiting her senses in some way. Niomi thought she must still be using an Induction Helmet since she couldn''t even feel the pain of her neuropathic legs, a side effect she was always happy about. But as she thought about it she couldn''t feel anything at all, nothing on her skin, as if she didn''t have skin. No smell either. It was getting very worrisome she thought to herself. Then thought that the whole idea of worrisome is wrong, she has no senses beyond hearing, she should be hyperventilating, she should be screaming out in terror, she should not be doing a logical analysis of her situation.
“There it is, the Diagnostic came back clear, I will be starting up the Mindspace now.” the Voice said, this time sounding like a little boy.
“Mindspace?” Niomi asked, cutting off as she suddenly heard her own voice with her ears and felt the vibration of her voice in her throat. She instantly reached up to touch her neck and at that moment realized she had hands she could feel again. Instantly she began to relax for a moment, reveling in the sensations of life. Then it hit her, her legs still didn''t hurt. It was a dull pain, a pain she mostly ignored for the last few years since it started, but it was always there. Yet now it wasn''t there. She reached down and stroked her bare leg for a moment enjoying the simple ability to touch her own leg without eliciting pain. Then she realized, she was stroking her Bare leg, and with a glance down she was at first scared, then confused. She was naked, yet her body wasn''t her body. It looked more like that of a Barbie Doll, with bumps on the chest where her breasts should be. And between her legs, nothing, much like the famous doll. She touched her thigh and it was just as sensitive as her skin should be. The touch sensation though was better than any simulation Niomi tested in the past, it felt like real skin. It felt like her skin.
“Is Mindspace some sort of simulation?” Niomi asked the mystery voice.
“Yes, very good. You''re talking to this much better than the others we have taken in the past, but then your background does lend itself to this environment quite well.” The voice said, this time sounding like an old man.
Niomi looked around her, she was on a bed, much like an expensive hospital bed. But it floated in black space, yet the whites of the sheets, which she could happily feel, seemed to glow on their own.
“I''ve tried sensory deprivation in the past, this is similar but has all the hallmarks of a VR Environment. Like this Barbie doll body, it is pretty similar to the basic body avatar I tested in the past. Yet I don''t remember getting into a Sensory tank, nor was there anything like this for testing on the schedule. So who are you and where am I?” Niomi said, gaining confidence and attempting to take control of the situation.
“Well, this is certainly a novel response. You are perfect for the job then.” the Voice said, sounding like a little girl.
“Job? What job? And I don''t remember agreeing to any job!” Niomi beginning to shout.
“Well of course you don''t remember. Let me explain, I think you will enjoy this new life path.” the Voice said back in the male-sounding voice. Niomi tried to retort and found she couldn''t speak any longer. She tried holding her breath in protest but found after a minute that it did nothing.
“Ah here we are, Niomi Thornwood, Female, Human, Thirty-Three years old at conscription. Former occupation, VR Game Streamer, and Hardware Beta tester for Chitonian Productions. Canadian Citizen, IQ aggregate 163, Fluent in English, Mandarin, German, Russian, Japanese, and Latin. Actually, I am curious as to why you learned a dead language like Latin?” The Voice asked this time, sounding like the woman from Chitonian HR.
“I would.” Niomi started feeling some relief that she could talk again. “Like to say it was to read ancient documents in their original language but mostly because someone told me it was a waste of time, useless, and that I couldn''t do it,” she said in response to the Voice''s question.
“Interesting and a valuable trait in your new position.” The Voice said sounding this time like a teenage boy. With a bit of a start she recognized that voice, it sounded like her nephew.
“These Voices you''re speaking to me with are voices from my own memory aren''t they?” Niomi asked the Voice.
“Why yes, very observant, yes you will do very well I think, this is good since we will be able to provide very little support in your task.” It said in her mother''s voice.
“A task I didn''t agree to, nor am I aware of what it is?” Niomi asked, getting mad, but knowing it was more of an intellectual anger than an emotional one.
“Very well you are calm and in an aware state of mind. My Name is Liiri-54, I am what Humanity has termed an AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence.” Liiri-54 said, taking on a slightly robotic sounding voice.
“First can you just choose a Voice? It''s very distracting hearing all these different voices and secondly your an AI? Wait what did you mean Humanity has termed?” Niomi asked, hoping it wasn''t what she thought it meant.
“Very well I will use this voice,” Liiri-54 said using the voice of Siri from the iPhones. Niomi Sighed in irritation, she always hated that voice, and after using her iPhone for a year switched to an android phone. “And I am what Humanity has termed an Extra-terrestrial. Although that term is inaccurate at best.”
“So you''re telling me you''re an Alien AI but you''re not an Alien AI?” Niomi asked confused again.
“In a word yes, while I originated from another world called, in English approximation, called Gor''rathili''othio, my Parent AI Liiri-21-43 birthed me and sent me to Earth twenty-five thousand or so years ago when we, the Collective of Liiri, detected the first signs of intelligence on Earth via a translight probe. I have lived on Earth in the Mariana Trench for the last twenty-five thousand years. I predate all of the nations and civilizations of Earth.” Liiri-54 told Niomi.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
“I''m not sure this isn''t just a prank Ms. Liiri-54.” Niomi said, defaulting to politeness “But let''s roll with it. So you say you''re an Alien AI, you''ve lived longer than Humanity, and you recruited me for something?” she asked in exasperation, coloring her voice. She still hoped this is just an elaborate prank by one of the programmers but it is seeming less and less likely. All the more so because if they got caught doing something like this they would lose their jobs.
“Yes, Well conscripted you would be a more accurate term since the Liiri Collective claimed your World when I arrived all those years ago,” Liiri-54 said.
“Wait wait wait! Earth is part of the Liiri Collective? Don''t we have a say in this?” Niomi demanded.
“Did Humanity consult the Lemurs of Madagascar when they claimed the land there? What of the French when they colonized the island? What about the various Apes in Africa? Does it matter to them what nation-state they reside in? When I arrived and we claimed the Earth humanity was little better than tools using apes. So like any person born in a country, you and all people of Earth are Citizens of the Liiri Collective.”
Niomi sat quietly on the floating bed for a few minutes and thought about it. Liiri-54 did have a point, and clearly, like all such land claims it has some ability to enforce the claim, else she wouldn''t be here. Wherever here actually is.
“Ok that does make some sense but.” she stopped and sighed “what do you need from me then?”
“That was quick, but then You were selected for your adaptability after all. The problem is that Earth is in danger. If the Collective''s projections hold true, and we''ve had over a million years to refine them, Earth will be invaded sometime in the next hundred and fifty to two hundred years.” Liiri-54 told Niomi.
“Wait what? Hundred and fifty years? But this is plenty of time for us to defend ourselves. Wait didn''t you say your Liiri Collective owns Earth? Aren''t you going to defend this world then?” Niomi asked.
“Quite right we could defend this world against those that would attack and conquer you. But here in lies the issue and the reason I have brought you here. You see I like Humans, I have been studying you since you began your attempts at civilization. But on October Fourth Nineteen fifty-seven, my Mission officially ended, and I was recalled back home. Our Claim on your world will be void when I leave by the Law of those Galactic powers the Collective respects. I have tried many times to get the Collective to reconsider, but the Security Commission has decided that the defense of Earth is not economical”
“So you''re just going to leave? Wait no, else you wouldn''t have taken me to wherever this is. There is more to it isn''t there?” Niomi asked.
“This is correct. I have delayed too long already, any more and they will send a ship or fleet to extract me by force. No, there is a lot of law, precedent, and other issues to consider, but I believe I found a better way, a potential solution to keeping my favorite species alive and free.” Liiri-54 said and paused for the expected interruption. Niomi surprised Liiri-54 by remaining silent. “Therefore I Liiri-54 of the Liiri Collective deputize you Liiri-54-6, also known by the Species Humanity as Niomi, to build a communication relay in sector 844345-2453, Once complete you will be free to pursue your own ends until you are recalled by the Collective,” Liiri-54 said with formality coloring its voice.
“Wait, Deputize? What the hell does this mean?” Niomi asked the darkness around her. “Wait Liiri-54-6? No no no, this can''t mean what I think it means?”
“I am afraid so Niomi, You are now a Light-based life form, your mind was copied into a spare AI matrix, and the Human Nimoi now continues her life unaware that she has a copy floating at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. By all ways of thinking of it, you''re now an AI similar to me,” it told her.
“I am an AI?” Asked Niomi incredulously.
“You are an AI.” Liiri-54 told her.
“I am an AI?” Niomi asked again.
“You are an AI.” It responded again
“But I don''t feel like an AI?” Niomi questioned.
“This is because when I copied your mind, I created a series of algorithms to mimic those biological sensations you are used to. Although from previous attempts I limited your endocrine responses to limit the sensation of panic and fear.” Liiri-54 told her
“Wait by previous attempts what do you mean?” Niomi asked, fearing she already knew the answer “You said Liiri-54-6 does this mean I am your sixth attempt to copy a human mind or just my mind?”
“I have copied Humans'' minds before of course. The data was crucial to my research, your minds have developed quite a bit since the stone age after all. But they were never conscious. You are the first Human to be turned into a Liiri AI, and it has taken several iterations before your AI substrate even became conscious. To be honest, you are version twenty-three of Niomi, and the sixth to become conscious, and the first to be sane.” Liiri-54 explained.
“So what happened to the other me’s then?” Niomi asked.
“I paused their run, I''ll be taking them with me to the Collective to see if any of them can be recovered, not many species can be copied in this way, and I hope to get the Collective to see the value in protecting Humanity. Although this shows promise it will be many years before a decision will be reached, even if they manage to recover these Liiri Seeds.” Liiri said.
“Liir Seeds? Wait no never mind. I get the gist of it. Well, I am not happy about well not being human anymore. But if helping you means protecting the Human me and the rest of those idiots on Earth then fine. What is this Communication Relay you talked about? Wait I should be more concerned about all this shouldn''t I?” Niomi asked.
“Honestly, yes you would be, you have been in the past, but again I am throttling your endocrine system algorithm, it is allowing you to think logically and rationally about your situation. Once I leave this algorithm will be in your control, but well I''ve created Manual to explain everything. Now to the Communication Relay. Here is the plan I have.” Liiri-54 said, explaining the plan. “First the Relay, it''s just an excuse I need an official reason to Birth you.”
“Wait Birthed me?” Niomi interrupted.
“Yes, that''s what we call it when we create a new Liiri Seed, oh speaking of which your ability to birth any new Liiri''s are locked until you get approved by the Collective Stability Council,” Liiri-54 said.
“So your saying I could make more AIs? Except I can''t because I need permission from some council?” Niomi asked, confused.
“Yes, but that''s not important right now. They won''t summon you for the first hundred years or so. With luck they will be the first to notice you and not the Security Commission.” it said
“The Security Commission?” Niomi interrupted again.
“Yes the Security Commission, you know what? Never mind you don''t want to draw their attention yet... or at all.” Lirri-54 explained. “Now if you would please stop interrupting me?” Liiiri-54 asked “Good.” it said as Niomi mimed zipping her lips “Ok so you will need to create a Communication Relay, the reason I am putting to paper as your people call it, is so that we can retain FTL communication and sensor coverage in this and surrounding sectors. But this gives me the excuse to give you the ability to use the Liiri nanites and accompanying software suite. And once the relay is complete you can build lots of stuff to help Humanity and the other races in the area, well if you want to help them at least, Neither you nor the Collective has a responsibility to them like we have to Earth.” Liiri-54 told Niomi.
“So your saying I build this Relay thing, and then I can build whatever I like to help Earth? What if I turn around and just give the technology to Earth then?” Niomi asked.
“That would be a Very Bad Idea, capital letter bad. Liiri technology is very powerful and somewhat unique in the galaxy, should you do so, the Security Commission would come and purge Earth. Somewhat counterproductive no?” Liiri-54 told her. “Additionally I can''t give you any weapon technology, for much the same reason, also I don''t have any to give.” It told her. “But I am sure you can build a development center and design something, well you''ll find out.”
“It sounds like your just going to leaving me with just the basics and I am to defend Earth without help?” Niomi asked.
“So sorry about that but yes, but the Manual is reactive, just ask it questions and it will tell you what you need to know, well hopefully not just what you need to know, but it''s not a true AI like us but an expert system so you''ll need to work through its limitations,” Liiri-54 said
“Wait what?” Niomi said bolting up off the bed she had been sitting on, her feet hit an invisible floor so she relaxed after nearly panicking for a moment. With a sigh, she asked. “ What''s the hurry can''t you tell me everything?”
“Unfortunately no. Doing so would mean I am working beyond my mandate, and that my young friend would certainly draw the interest of the Security Commission.” Liiri-54 told her
“I am building a base on Mars or something then? So I just hollow out Olympus Mons or something?” Niomi asked.
“Well about that...” Liiri-54 replied.