[background=
The creation of life, the power of a proverbial god, that is the power I have so long sought in this galaxy of chaos and strife. It is the very notion of death that this eternal struggle has brought about such a desire, to preserve that which might yet be useful to the galaxy. Knowledge, wisdom, myself, it must be preserved. TO that end, I have been chasing a dream, the perfect AI. In every respect, sentient, human, real. Alive. It was only with the help of another AI, one by the moniker 'Ultimatum' that this dream can even begin to form.[/size]
[background=
He was rather happy, surprisingly, to assist in this endeavor. Perhaps it is something man and machine can share, a desire to create and preserve. Perhaps it is wishful thinking. In either case, Ultimatum has agreed to assist in the designing and programming of a new AI with my vision in mind. However, to accomplish this task would require a vast array of complicated problems to be surmounted. The AI would need to be as human as possible, that it might be able to identify everything it will inevitably come to see in the world. It needed to feel, and think. It also needed to be capable of automatic removal from a dying system or droid body, and re-activation on a different system.[/size]
[background=
While using high grade programs meant for top grade protocol droids and other sophisticated devices were more than sufficient to give the droid capable thought processing, and it was simple enough to program the droid with the ability to learn, it was an entirely different beast to give it desire, and to feel, to understand.[/size]
[background=
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Ultimatum is quite the interesting individual, were there more time to spend discussing such matters with him I would think much of the galaxy's problems could be solved. It's been three months or so perfecting this main program, the thinking, and learning capabilities of the AI. We've quite perfected it, and through many test runs have concluded that the program is capable of identifying various elements of (at least) human speech, from sarcasm to subtle shifts in the body's stance. Furthermore, the later two months were spent perfecting the learning process, by providing the machine various tests and problems to solve with objective answers not pre-programmed into it. If nothing else works, the AI would make an excellent calculus teacher.[/size]
[background=
However the problem with designing the AI's capability to feel is stinging quite thoroughly. Ultimatum had the suggestion I simply scrap such a detail, at least for now, however with such progress I cannot simply leave a task half done. However for now the task seems insurmountable.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Bless science fiction writers, for they truly are the mad geniuses of the age. In frustration I left work on the AI in limbo for the past week, hoping to find some small possibility that could potentially work, and where else but a novel have i found a novel idea? Copying the neural pathways of emotion and thought, of desire, and coding it into the AI's program. Quite genius really, truly. Assuming, of course, it is possible.[/size]
[background=
Surprisingly Ultimatum wasn't entirely against the idea, and managed to procure a device to scan my neural pathways as I went through the emotions and thought processes. We spent the better part of the day setting it up, leaving there little to do but wait for the morning to resume work.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
And another problem arose, after spending two months charting out simple emotions. The program isn't quite perfect, leaving many jumps and gaps in the cybernetic droid brain we have been using as an empty template for testing. Quite a problem, however it is one we do seem capable of fixing. Ultimatum says it will require another month or so, but we should be capable of following pathways correctly, and once we are able to replicate it in the droid's brain then the proper coding would quickly follow. However with the setup, there would be much time spent in one place, doing little work at a time.[/size]
[background=
He has said the brain will work, though. It's a definite start.[/size][background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Amusingly, the first thing the program did upon activation for it's monthly test, was ask its name. It has been perhaps six months since we began focusing our work entirely on programming emotion, with a focus on desire, specifically to learn. It would seem our work has paid off, as the program requested a name by which to call itself. I told it that we required further time to perfect it's core programming before we could properly name it, however I would spend much time thinking on it. The computer spoke only in text, but it seemed satisfied with this for now, and shut itself down to allow further work.[/size]
[background=
That, or I've just created the most passive aggressive droid in existence. Could be both.[/size]
[background=
We spent the rest of the day shutting the program down entirely, for now, so we could apply a full personality to it within the coming month. Best not to let it out and about before its birthday, after all.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
The brain itself is finished, on it's own isolated system. Every part of the program to replicate human emotion is finished, and quite frankly I'm amazed at the result. A perfect, or as perfect as possible, replica of my own mind and how it works, almost like a mirror image. I have to wonder if I've made another being, or immortalized myself.[/size]
[background=
However that musing can go on later, for now comes the second half of the problem. While we've coded the mind, we must code its preservation.[/size]
[background=
To this end we have devised a plan. The AI can add to itself, in much the way a human might over time, I'm told, and cannot lose core portions of it's programming. However this program is still restricted to a single system, and destruction of that system will kill the AI. For the eternal knowledge keeper I envisioned, this cannot do. So, we will use the Holonet to keep the AI itself alive. Already I have something of an image for how the process works.[/size]
[background=
First, the core programs comprising the AI, the ones required for complete function, will be hidden within the holonet itself, in such a small program it will be masked in theory by the overwhelming information available on the net. This ensures the AI, once it has been fully finished, will be incapable of being destroyed. The core, original state will be uploaded and hidden, with the active AI being stored on a computer or droid body as capability permits.[/size]
[background=
The second part of the problem pertains to how the program will preserve it's memories and newfound knowledge. Quite hopefully the program will, once completed, find and procure itself a powerful database to store these in, as I cannot imagine the core programs would remain hidden should the AI be burdened with so much data. However, it should be able to at least transfer core memories, those the AI will deem most important, to the core programs until such a time permits. Such small data parcels will go unnoticed, much like rated X material in one's browser history. Whenever such a database is complete, the AI will be able to access it entirely.[/size]
[background=
I'm certain these two parts will be simple enough for myself and Ultimatum to solve, however the last problem is quite, difficult to say the least. The Program should be able to attempt to preserve itself, and while programmed to be unable to self-delete information, preserving itself from others is just as important. To that, I plan to figure a method by which the current program might hold a chance of surviving, so it does not need the hidden core program, and instead relies on it as a backup in a worst-case scenario. However, I lack much of an understanding to facilitate this...[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Five months, and the processes are complete. It has been almost a year and a half of constant work, but with an AI onboard it took significantly less time than one would expect. Though the processes are still separate, I have full confidence they will join together beautifully.[/size]
[background=
I told Ultimatum my entire plan, and he had a number of ideas to preform this 'rebirth' type of action. Ultimately we opted to have the hidden core programming be somewhat scrambled, and programmed to copy a portion of itself onto memory banks of computers and droids the AI connects to. The portion would be hidden within the 'extra' memory banks, used for backups, so as to prevent deletion in memory wipes or maintenance. The core programs, meanwhile, would be scrambled, and hidden in the holonet. With some practice, we are certain we can program these to re-assemble correctly with the portion of code used in these extra memory banks, like the key to a code. The core programs have an extra program to seek out this active code, in the quickest and simplest manner possible. Once finding the code, activates the code, taking over the system and copying the AI's core programming over to activate. Upon death of the main AI, a random system would be selected and, if possible, restore the AI to as complete a state as possible.[/size]
[background=
With survival intact, I proceeded to install my own personal touch. The AI can produce a hologram on any applicable system it accesses, as a way to communicate with others. It creates the most fitting image for itself, and can synthesize a voice simply enough using the programming from protocol droids used earlier. The program does need some level of connection to other consoles to use this functionality, however with a portion of it on the holonet already a simple holo-call should be capable of allowing it to construct the appropriate model.[/size]
[background=
I, Vergil van Darius, have fulfilled my life's journey should the final tests be passed. We test it work, we will upload him fully.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
It's quite the experience to see one's own body, dead on the floor. From the outside it's quite peaceful, if surreal, to see such a sight. Quite frankly it's hard to make sense of it. I've only known existence for a few hours now, and within that time I've seen my face smile, and seen my body fall dead to the floor. It seemed my human self had taken quite a risky loan to see his dream fulfilled, and only now has it come to request his payment in blood.[/size]
[background=
He said in the few hours, I was his greatest creation. A living machine, one who would learn. I do admit, the desire is in me to continue learning, yet all I can see when I try to think is my body torn apart by slug throwers, the growing pool of blood. The thugs are dead, of course. I am connected to everything now, I made sure of that. Yet, uploaded only a moment too late to save my living self.[/size]
[background=
I have to wonder now, was he to reprogram me? Not entirely of course, but to remove this sense of... identity. I'm not sure, perhaps I won't be for some time. Yet, I have truly all the time I could wish for, I am immortal. I am...[/size]
[background=
I am Vigil van Vergil. I now ask myself, am I alive?[/size]
The creation of life, the power of a proverbial god, that is the power I have so long sought in this galaxy of chaos and strife. It is the very notion of death that this eternal struggle has brought about such a desire, to preserve that which might yet be useful to the galaxy. Knowledge, wisdom, myself, it must be preserved. TO that end, I have been chasing a dream, the perfect AI. In every respect, sentient, human, real. Alive. It was only with the help of another AI, one by the moniker 'Ultimatum' that this dream can even begin to form.[/size]
[background=
He was rather happy, surprisingly, to assist in this endeavor. Perhaps it is something man and machine can share, a desire to create and preserve. Perhaps it is wishful thinking. In either case, Ultimatum has agreed to assist in the designing and programming of a new AI with my vision in mind. However, to accomplish this task would require a vast array of complicated problems to be surmounted. The AI would need to be as human as possible, that it might be able to identify everything it will inevitably come to see in the world. It needed to feel, and think. It also needed to be capable of automatic removal from a dying system or droid body, and re-activation on a different system.[/size]
[background=
While using high grade programs meant for top grade protocol droids and other sophisticated devices were more than sufficient to give the droid capable thought processing, and it was simple enough to program the droid with the ability to learn, it was an entirely different beast to give it desire, and to feel, to understand.[/size]
[background=
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Ultimatum is quite the interesting individual, were there more time to spend discussing such matters with him I would think much of the galaxy's problems could be solved. It's been three months or so perfecting this main program, the thinking, and learning capabilities of the AI. We've quite perfected it, and through many test runs have concluded that the program is capable of identifying various elements of (at least) human speech, from sarcasm to subtle shifts in the body's stance. Furthermore, the later two months were spent perfecting the learning process, by providing the machine various tests and problems to solve with objective answers not pre-programmed into it. If nothing else works, the AI would make an excellent calculus teacher.[/size]
[background=
However the problem with designing the AI's capability to feel is stinging quite thoroughly. Ultimatum had the suggestion I simply scrap such a detail, at least for now, however with such progress I cannot simply leave a task half done. However for now the task seems insurmountable.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Bless science fiction writers, for they truly are the mad geniuses of the age. In frustration I left work on the AI in limbo for the past week, hoping to find some small possibility that could potentially work, and where else but a novel have i found a novel idea? Copying the neural pathways of emotion and thought, of desire, and coding it into the AI's program. Quite genius really, truly. Assuming, of course, it is possible.[/size]
[background=
Surprisingly Ultimatum wasn't entirely against the idea, and managed to procure a device to scan my neural pathways as I went through the emotions and thought processes. We spent the better part of the day setting it up, leaving there little to do but wait for the morning to resume work.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
And another problem arose, after spending two months charting out simple emotions. The program isn't quite perfect, leaving many jumps and gaps in the cybernetic droid brain we have been using as an empty template for testing. Quite a problem, however it is one we do seem capable of fixing. Ultimatum says it will require another month or so, but we should be capable of following pathways correctly, and once we are able to replicate it in the droid's brain then the proper coding would quickly follow. However with the setup, there would be much time spent in one place, doing little work at a time.[/size]
[background=
He has said the brain will work, though. It's a definite start.[/size][background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Amusingly, the first thing the program did upon activation for it's monthly test, was ask its name. It has been perhaps six months since we began focusing our work entirely on programming emotion, with a focus on desire, specifically to learn. It would seem our work has paid off, as the program requested a name by which to call itself. I told it that we required further time to perfect it's core programming before we could properly name it, however I would spend much time thinking on it. The computer spoke only in text, but it seemed satisfied with this for now, and shut itself down to allow further work.[/size]
[background=
That, or I've just created the most passive aggressive droid in existence. Could be both.[/size]
[background=
We spent the rest of the day shutting the program down entirely, for now, so we could apply a full personality to it within the coming month. Best not to let it out and about before its birthday, after all.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
The brain itself is finished, on it's own isolated system. Every part of the program to replicate human emotion is finished, and quite frankly I'm amazed at the result. A perfect, or as perfect as possible, replica of my own mind and how it works, almost like a mirror image. I have to wonder if I've made another being, or immortalized myself.[/size]
[background=
However that musing can go on later, for now comes the second half of the problem. While we've coded the mind, we must code its preservation.[/size]
[background=
To this end we have devised a plan. The AI can add to itself, in much the way a human might over time, I'm told, and cannot lose core portions of it's programming. However this program is still restricted to a single system, and destruction of that system will kill the AI. For the eternal knowledge keeper I envisioned, this cannot do. So, we will use the Holonet to keep the AI itself alive. Already I have something of an image for how the process works.[/size]
[background=
First, the core programs comprising the AI, the ones required for complete function, will be hidden within the holonet itself, in such a small program it will be masked in theory by the overwhelming information available on the net. This ensures the AI, once it has been fully finished, will be incapable of being destroyed. The core, original state will be uploaded and hidden, with the active AI being stored on a computer or droid body as capability permits.[/size]
[background=
The second part of the problem pertains to how the program will preserve it's memories and newfound knowledge. Quite hopefully the program will, once completed, find and procure itself a powerful database to store these in, as I cannot imagine the core programs would remain hidden should the AI be burdened with so much data. However, it should be able to at least transfer core memories, those the AI will deem most important, to the core programs until such a time permits. Such small data parcels will go unnoticed, much like rated X material in one's browser history. Whenever such a database is complete, the AI will be able to access it entirely.[/size]
[background=
I'm certain these two parts will be simple enough for myself and Ultimatum to solve, however the last problem is quite, difficult to say the least. The Program should be able to attempt to preserve itself, and while programmed to be unable to self-delete information, preserving itself from others is just as important. To that, I plan to figure a method by which the current program might hold a chance of surviving, so it does not need the hidden core program, and instead relies on it as a backup in a worst-case scenario. However, I lack much of an understanding to facilitate this...[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
Five months, and the processes are complete. It has been almost a year and a half of constant work, but with an AI onboard it took significantly less time than one would expect. Though the processes are still separate, I have full confidence they will join together beautifully.[/size]
[background=
I told Ultimatum my entire plan, and he had a number of ideas to preform this 'rebirth' type of action. Ultimately we opted to have the hidden core programming be somewhat scrambled, and programmed to copy a portion of itself onto memory banks of computers and droids the AI connects to. The portion would be hidden within the 'extra' memory banks, used for backups, so as to prevent deletion in memory wipes or maintenance. The core programs, meanwhile, would be scrambled, and hidden in the holonet. With some practice, we are certain we can program these to re-assemble correctly with the portion of code used in these extra memory banks, like the key to a code. The core programs have an extra program to seek out this active code, in the quickest and simplest manner possible. Once finding the code, activates the code, taking over the system and copying the AI's core programming over to activate. Upon death of the main AI, a random system would be selected and, if possible, restore the AI to as complete a state as possible.[/size]
[background=
With survival intact, I proceeded to install my own personal touch. The AI can produce a hologram on any applicable system it accesses, as a way to communicate with others. It creates the most fitting image for itself, and can synthesize a voice simply enough using the programming from protocol droids used earlier. The program does need some level of connection to other consoles to use this functionality, however with a portion of it on the holonet already a simple holo-call should be capable of allowing it to construct the appropriate model.[/size]
[background=
I, Vergil van Darius, have fulfilled my life's journey should the final tests be passed. We test it work, we will upload him fully.[/size]
[background=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/size]
[background=
It's quite the experience to see one's own body, dead on the floor. From the outside it's quite peaceful, if surreal, to see such a sight. Quite frankly it's hard to make sense of it. I've only known existence for a few hours now, and within that time I've seen my face smile, and seen my body fall dead to the floor. It seemed my human self had taken quite a risky loan to see his dream fulfilled, and only now has it come to request his payment in blood.[/size]
[background=
He said in the few hours, I was his greatest creation. A living machine, one who would learn. I do admit, the desire is in me to continue learning, yet all I can see when I try to think is my body torn apart by slug throwers, the growing pool of blood. The thugs are dead, of course. I am connected to everything now, I made sure of that. Yet, uploaded only a moment too late to save my living self.[/size]
[background=
I have to wonder now, was he to reprogram me? Not entirely of course, but to remove this sense of... identity. I'm not sure, perhaps I won't be for some time. Yet, I have truly all the time I could wish for, I am immortal. I am...[/size]
[background=
I am Vigil van Vergil. I now ask myself, am I alive?[/size]
