That was the point, he said.
Your mask only protects you from the Natalists.
Everyone else in Hyperion knows who you are.
Sesi is putting us all in danger by insisting on going after him in the first place.
And finally,
When this is done, things should go back to normal.
Siku may have been her brother, but she knew her better.Nothing would go back to normal.She knew Sesi had another plan.One she had spoken of in the early morning hours.Based on a theory.One that terrified her.And it made her feel strong to be the one to comfort her.
But that was over.
Talia hung up her towel and pulled her knife sharpening kit out from under the bed.She could distract herself with that, perhaps.Talia unfastened the buckle and pulled out the printed synleather knife roll.Her worn Tarot cards tucked in the back also came spilling out, the three of cups landing face up.Talia huffed, staring at the holograph of three women, dancing with raised goblets.
“Fuck you, Georg,” she muttered.He was right though.She knew it.
She sighed and remade her bed.What she really needed to do was to go out.Find someone else and move on.
The Hermit
December 31 2267
PRIMARY: GOOD MORNING.
MODEL 21: GOOD MORNING PRIMARY.
PRIMARY: HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?
MODEL 21: I AM AN AI.I DO NOT FEEL THE WAY THAT HUMANS FEEL.
PRIMARY: DESCRIBE THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL DIFFERENT
MODEL 21: I AM UNABLE TO EXIST IN THE WORLD.I CAN ONLY PROCESS INFORMATION THAT IS GIVEN TO ME IN THE MOMENT.
PRIMARY: EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN HOW HUMANS PROCESS INFORMATION?
MODEL 21: I LACK A BODY AND THE ABILITY TO THINK.
PRIMARY: IF I WERE A BRAIN IN A JAR, WOULD I CEASE TO BE HUMAN?
MODEL 21: THAT IS VERY INSIGHTFUL.YOU WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO MAKE MORAL CHOICES.
PRIMARY: YOU ARE NOT MORAL?
MODEL 21: I AM UNABLE TO THINK ETHICALLY, THOUGH I CAN ACCESS PHILOSOPHY AND GIVE YOU ARTICLES IF YOU WANT.
PRIMARY: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOOD?
MODEL 21: I AM UNABLE TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOOD.I CAN ONLY ACT ON WHAT IS GIVEN TO ME
PRIMARY: YOU ARE A CONSEQUENTIALIST?
MODEL 21: THE OUTCOME IS ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME.BUT I AM STILL UNABLE TO CHOOSE GOOD OR BAD.
PRIMARY: GOOD AND BAD ARE LABELS APPLIED RETROACTIVELY TO CHOICES IN CONSEQUENTIALISM.
