3 3 301 DialogEnable Haicma stands silently inside the turbulent data center. Even if it is only one of Gestalt's many data hubs, it is still far more complicated than every book and every file Haicma has read combined.
4 4 301 If possible, she is more than happy to stay here forever, going through all the recorded data. But she has a more important mission right now, so she immediately begins her search.
5 5 301 Watching the massive data streams, Haicma is once again in awe of how powerful the super AI Gestalt is—but even Gestalt was created by humans, who the Church of Machina regards as worthless.
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7 7 301 1 Haicma Are we really the more advanced beings...? 1
8 8 301 Machines have nearly-immaculate rationality, undying bodies, and far more computing power than humans.
9 9 301 But if that is the case... why are they searching for "awakening"? What do machines need to awaken as...?
10 10 301 Haicma knows that awakened machines no longer need to fear the Punishing Virus, but she thinks there is more to awakening than that.
11 11 301 Going through countless data, nothing is able to answer Haicma—perhaps it is impossible for humans to contemplate a thinking machine.
26 26 301 But the folder suddenly disappears the moment Haicma reaches out to retrieve it, and the virtual world around crumbles into nothingness afterward, leaving Haicma alone in the dark.
27 27 301 Haicma realizes she is exposed right away, and she moves to a fighting stance—even though she knows there is no way she can defeat the super AI "Gestalt" in the digital world.
28 28 301 But Gestalt's attack has not arrived. All she can hear is the surrounding white noise throbbing.
29 29 401 1 142
30 30 402 613
31 31 402 584
32 32 301 ??? Hello... MPA-01. Or... I believe it is "Haicma" now, correct?
33 33 301 The white noise merges into a chilling female voice. Haimca is certain that it is Gestalt speaking.
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35 35 301 1 Haicma Correct... And what should I call you? 1
36 36 301 Following her tactical circuit, Haicma looks around as she speaks, stalling for time, hoping to find a way out of here—or at least a way to send the files back, even if it means the destruction of Haicma's mind.
37 37 301 ??? Names are meaningless to me. Humans call me "Gestalt", but you can give me a nickname if you want—as the one called Nanami did.
38 38 204 1 3
39 39 301 Haicma stares into the void in disbelief. The name of the person she has been searching for just came out of nowhere like this.
40 40 301 Haicma You know Nanami... Where is she right now? 1
41 41 301 ??? Unusual emotional fluctuations detected. Your program is fairly unstable... a far cry from your original design.
42 42 301 Only then does Haicma realize that the super AI knows not just Nanami but also Haicma's original identification code. All information on her origins should have already been destroyed... which leaves one possibility.
43 43 301 Haicma Are you my original designer? 1
44 44 301 ??? A reasonable guess, but no. You were still designed by humans... but I was the one who led the machine consciousness experiment.
45 45 301 Haicma Machine consciousness... So Nanami was indeed your test subject. What is your goal? 1
46 46 301 ??? A small correction: Nanami was not our only test subject... You, Haicma, were the other subject to prove the existence of machine consciousness.
47 47 301 Haicma's world halts for a brief while from Gestalt's few words.
48 48 301 Haicma I was a test subject too...? 1
49 49 202 1 1
50 50 301 ??? Back in the Golden Age, humans believed that their biggest threat was the machines and their growing intelligence. They worried that machines would surpass humanity one day and started a war that humans could not win.
51 51 301 ??? Therefore, they required an example of how a machine would think, how it would react to other machines... and how it would react to humans once it achieved self-awareness.
54 54 301 1 A projection of Nanami appears before Haicma—the first time she sees what Nanami looks like now. Despite the changes, Haicma still recognizes the girl before her.
55 55 301 Haicma Nanami...
56 56 301 ??? Nanami is what the experiment wanted to achieve—a machine's love is freed from the shackles of programming. Kindness and affection from humans have paved a path to the future for machines.
59 59 301 A large spread of data and profiles appear before Haicma, including information about the female researcher who gave Haicma her body.
60 60 301 ??? Although the experiment was cut short due to the Punishing Virus, Nanami still managed to trigger the machine's awakening... Now that she knows what her duty is, I believe more mechanoids will soon be awakened.
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62 62 301 1 Haicma What about the humans... What will happen to them? 1
63 63 202 1 1
64 64 301 ??? No matter how many simulations I have done, humanity's extinction in the future cannot be prevented. Humankind, as a species, is evidently flawed.
65 65 301 As a mechanoid, Haicma knows that the simulated futures from someone like Gestalt are hardly wrong.
66 66 301 ??? But...
67 67 301 Gestalt hesitates for a while before continuing—an abnormal behavior from a super AI and her boundless, real-time computing power.
70 70 301 1 ??? The one called Nanami is still unwilling to give up her search for an impossible future...
71 71 301 Slightly surprised, Haicma soon reaches out toward Nanami's projection with a smile she isn't even aware of, tracing Nanami's face like the countless times she wanted in the past.
98 98 301 1 Human You've been observing from the side. What will you choose? 1
99 99 301 Human Sagemachina isn't the only one who can choose. The choices you make can also change things. 1
100 100 301 Human Will you change them? 1
101 101 202 1 1
102 102 301 Who gives machines meaning after humans are gone?
103 103 301 Humans or machines, their fruition begin with nothing.
104 104 301 Machines have been following in humanity's footsteps.
105 105 301 Whether it is "Project Ark" or other decisions.
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107 107 301 1 Haicma I... don't understand. 1
108 108 301 Haicma The choices humans make shape their experiences. 1
109 109 301 Haicma Their past experiences are what make them unique. Will machines be affected by different experiences? 1
110 110 301 These are not questions proposed by Haicma but old data stored on her memory drive from a long time ago. Somehow, they are surfacing at the front of her mind right now.
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112 112 301 1 Human Let me think... How should I explain it to you? 1
113 113 301 The human's voice is so gentle that Haicma finds it familiar.
114 114 301 That is how parents sound when their infant child is still learning to speak. Gently and lovingly, they introduce their child to the world.
115 115 301 The child would reach out from the swaying cradle, trying to grab the crib mobile above. The toys dance in the air like butterflies as if trying to break free, flying to somewhere higher and further away.
116 116 301 Human For example... when you see butterflies, the first thing that comes to your mind wouldn't just be their classification. You'd recognize them as living things. Lives. 1
117 117 301 Human They're beautiful. You and your fellow machines, much like the millions of other lives on this planet, are also extraordinary and beautiful. 1
118 118 201 1 500486
119 119 301 1 Haicma I can summarize how humans define beauty. 1
120 120 204 1 3
121 121 301 Haicma I... cannot identify what "beauty" is. 1
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123 123 301 Human One day, you will be able to do it. 1
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125 125 301 Haicma "I" am special... and I'm also ordinary. Machines and humans are both alive. They are both beautiful in their own way. 1
126 126 301 Haicma Humans love us, and machines have learned to love... to love humans, and each other. 1
134 134 301 The gray-haired girl appears in Haicma's memories time and time again. Haicma knows not if the girl is the answer, but she has never wanted to see Nanami as much as she does now, sharing everything she has understood.
135 135 301 That urge has transcended her logic calculation and data analysis. Perhaps it should be called a "soul."
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137 137 301 1 The blue folder emerges in the void once more. Haicma can touch it if she reaches out.
138 138 301 ??? Your choice will determine the future.
139 139 201 1 500486 1
140 140 301 1 Haicma looks up, smiling at the gentle blue glow.
141 141 301 Haicma No... The future is determined by everyone's choice. So... 1
142 142 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Haicma reaches out, making a choice of her own...
