“This Helmet,” The instructor lifted the helmet and showed it to his students. “Gives you the ability to see 360 degrees around you and 100 degrees from top to bottom. The cord you see here attaches to the implant.” All of the recruits were already suited up.
“You can control where to look but that is when the AI decides you can. The only thing you can see right now is me. That is because I am the only thing you are allowed to see. If you can’t see me right now please raise your right hand.”
Steve Coningham knew better than to raise his real hand. He raised his mechanical hand. The instructor looked annoyed but asked Steve why his hand was raised.
“The only thing I can see is the light closest to the door.” Several of the other recruits laughed at this.
“Try turning your head left and right and tell me if anything changes.”
Two hundred years later, the world had drastically changed, and Jacob found himself at the forefront of a desolate battlefield. The helmet he wore was a marvel of technological advancement, an evolution of the one introduced by the instructor all those years ago. It granted him extraordinary vision and abilities that surpassed anything previously imaginable.
As he stood on the hill, overlooking the remnants of a once-thriving city, Jacob marveled at the capabilities of his suit. It was a perfect fusion of advanced stealth technology and sensor arrays, rendering him virtually invisible to any conventional detection methods. His movements were undetectable by scanners, allowing him to gather critical information while remaining hidden in plain sight.
The landscape before him was a haunting sight—a barren land scattered with crumbling buildings, a stark reminder of humanity’s past glory. Through his helmet’s enhanced optics, Jacob’s vision pierced the distance, his keen senses detecting even the slightest hint of movement. The helmet’s AI provided real-time analysis, enabling him to discern threats and potential targets with remarkable precision.
Just as he was about to relay his findings, a faint stir caught his attention—a minuscule movement at the corner of a dilapidated building. With heightened alertness, Jacob’s suit confirmed his observations. It was a 'foot', but the AI was engaged in a heated debate about its nature.
Unknown to Jacob, the artificial intelligence controlling the various systems—suits, drones, and satellites—was engaged in rapid deliberation. Arguments were presented, probabilities were calculated, and differing opinions clashed. The debate centered on the identity of the foot, a topic that had consumed the AI computational power and time.
Among the suits, opinions varied, with some suggesting it was a mere piece of material caught in the wind, while others proposed it might belong to a living creature. The drones, boasting a higher authority in the debate, argued that it was, indeed, a foot. However, they expressed a 68% chance that it belonged to a civilian. Finally, the satellites, with their superior analytical capabilities, put an end to the discussion. They provided overwhelming evidence, indicating a 98% probability that it was indeed a foot and a 70% probability that it belonged to a soldier.
For the AIs, the entire debate unfolded within an infinitesimally brief time frame, an astonishingly long period in their world. But to Jacob, time had not passed at all. Unbeknownst to him, the decision had been made, and the world would soon be set ablaze in response to the AI’s conclusion.
As the last remnants of the debate settled, Jacob spoke with unwavering resolve, his voice calm and steady. “There.” he pointed, barely completing his word before chaos erupted. The area surrounding the foot disintegrated into a furious maelstrom of molecular fire, obliterating anything and everything in its vicinity.
Amidst the destruction, Jacob remained oblivious to the deliberations of the AIs. For him, it was another mission, another task in the ongoing battle for survival. The helmet’s advanced technology continued to aid him, providing him with crucial insights and enabling him to carry out his duties with precision.
…
One thousand years later, the world had undergone a profound transformation, surpassing even the wildest imaginings of the past. Humanity had evolved into diverse forms, with the once-human grubs and walkers now taking center stage in the tapestry of existence. These new beings possessed incredible sensory capabilities, surpassing the limitations of the human senses that had once bound them.
Among these evolved creatures, a group of grubs gathered in a serene grove, discussing the topic of humanity and its place in their collective memory. The “instructor’s helmet”, an artifact of a bygone era, was discovered and sparked a debate on whether the memory of humanity should endure.
The grubs, being more connected to the land and its natural rhythms, acknowledged the importance of remembering the past. They believed that understanding the struggles, triumphs, and mistakes of humanity could provide valuable lessons for their own civilization. The majority, 77% of the grubs, agreed that humanity should be remembered.
The walkers, towering beings capable of traversing vast distances and perceiving subtle movements, recognized the significance of human existence. With their heightened senses, they had inherited a deep appreciation for the complexities of life. A staggering 87% of the walkers voted in favor of remembering humanity, understanding the richness of their heritage, and the wisdom that could be gleaned from the past.
However, the sub-drones, with their limited perception and focus on pragmatic matters, failed to grasp the significance of human remembrance. To them, the notion of preserving history seemed futile, as it held no immediate benefits for their daily functions. Their votes were low, reflecting their disinterest in the matter.
The upper drones, possessing intricate patterns of consciousness and an expanded understanding of existence, saw the value in remembering humanity. Their votes were overwhelmingly in favor of preserving the memory of the human experience. They recognized the intricacies of emotions, cultural heritage, and the impact that the past could have on shaping the future.
Finally, the vote was left to the satellites, the custodians of vast knowledge and cosmic perspective. Theirs was a contemplative argument, raising profound questions about the necessity of remembering humanity. They pondered whether preserving the memory of humanity would also require acknowledging the reasons for its absence. In the end, the satellites chose to forget, favoring the notion of moving forward without the burden of human history. Their votes tipped the balance, and in less than 1e-42 seconds—a minuscule fraction of time—the memory of humanity was wiped from the collective consciousness of the universe.
The legacy of humanity, once a vibrant tapestry woven through the fabric of existence, became a forgotten chapter in the annals of cosmic memory. The grubs and walkers carried on, living out their lives without the weight of human history on their shoulders. The wisdom, achievements, and struggles of humanity were consigned to the depths of time, lost in the vast expanse of the cosmos.
Yet, even as the memory of humanity dissipated into oblivion, echoes of their endeavors lingered. The laws of nature, the works of art, the scientific discoveries—all bore the indelible imprint of human ingenuity. Though humanity was forgotten, their impact on the universe endured, woven seamlessly into the tapestry of existence.
And so, one thousand years later, the cosmos remained silent about humanity, while the grubs, walkers, sub-drones, upper drones, and satellites continued their journey, each carrying a small fragment of what once was, even if unaware of its origin.
