THEY — Prologue and Chapter 1 — Awakening
What follows is the prologue and chapter one of my book “THEY” (or more accurately “She/He/They”). All material is original and copyright. Subsequent chapters may be published in the future. Your comments are VERY welcome!
Although the book is completely written, your feedback may help direct and improve future chapters of the story which may (hopefully) be published at some point in the future!
PROLOGUE — TIME
Time.
Time changes everything.
Time heals wounds and brings decay.
Time is the tool of evolution, progress’s opportunity, and ruin’s silent partner.
Time can shift the thinking of masses.
We learn over time, yet we so easily forget.
We are all different from each other. Our experiences differ, our feelings differ, our choices bring different consequences, and as a result, we live different lives. Throughout history, many have thought that, to build a stable society, there must be commonality of thought, homogeneity in lifestyle, and consistent, unquestioning obedience to the status quo. Yet it seems that it is in diversity that nature builds harmony.
Each generation brings with it fresh ideas, building upon the mistakes and the successes of those who have came before; ideas that seem to make life better, easier, less dangerous. And yet, even promising ideas can bring grave consequences as the universe, in it’s constant need to bring balance, tries to find equilibrium, often winding through a path of chaos to arrive.
Each generation tries to teach the next the merits of its own values, trying to make its children in the image of themselves, the parents. But this pattern typically brings rebellion in the succeeding generation, as they see cracks in the ideals of the previous. They see through an un-habituated un-stoic fresh and un-fettered lens. Each generation making things better; and each making their own mistakes.
This pattern has repeated from generation to generation since the very first humans became sentient, so it should be no surprise to you that the story of our friend Jennic is no different in this way.
Our story may seem familiar; or it may seem alien to your thinking, or your way of life. Our experiences, our beliefs, our thoughts all lead to actions that may be incomprehensible to those who have not lived as we have lived. And that is the true power of any story; to give us an opportunity to suspend our own selves for a brief time and live the experiences of another, feeling as they feel, seeing as they see and ultimately, learning by understanding as they understand.
Time passes.
Nothing is permanent.
Yet, even as time tears us apart; time Heals.
So let us begin our story where all stories start. At the beginning. Jennic’s beginning.
BOOK I — AWAKENING
CHAPTER 1 — Delivery
Walking into the reception room at the Coronach medical centre, Praija was surprised to find they were shivering with anticipation. It was two years, to the day, that they and their partner Navlin had completed and submitted the necessary requirements to apply for a neonatal. Their union was solid and progressing well, and they agreed with enthusiasm, it was time to expand their household and share the enriching experience of raising a young one to maturity.
Memories of their own childhood filled Praija’s mind. Their caregivers were kind people and loved them without reservation. Their youth was filled with happy times and under their care, Praija had grown to be a proud, happy, independent individual contributing greatly to the community.
Images flashed across the visi-screen of their mind; images of their family playing Racha for hours and travelling in the simulator to wondrous locations around the world and throughout history. Praija recalled vivid details of their favourite memories from one of those simulations: The family had stayed in the little village of Assisi, set in the early 19th century, in a country known at the time as Italy. The population was so small and divided in strange and unusual ways. There were “men” and there were “women”. There were “Nobles” and “Priests” and “Peasants”. It was a strange time, but six thousand years can bring about so much change.
Above everything else, Praija remembered there being so much space that they forgot the congested neighbourhoods outside the simulator walls. Praija enjoyed the vistas of vast, lush green fields and vineyards below, just beyond the city walls. Birds swooping back and forth above the trees. The simulation so realistic and the illusion of the open spaces and fresh air giving them such a feeling of freedom that it was palpable even now, in their memory.
Praija closed their eyes, and for a moment, was transported back to that place, even without the use of a simulator. The emotions from that time began to mix with those they were feeling in this moment, which were just as exciting, and as they slid back to the reality of the present, they never lost overwhelming contentment and joy of both occasions.
Most of all, Praija looked forward to an opportunity to share time and traditions with their own little one and to help create memories like those they treasured, for this new little one.
Only nine short months ago, they and Navlin visited this same center to provide a sample of their DNA for processing, and since then, they had regularly visited the pristine halls of the natal center to watch the neonatal develop. Staring through layers of glass and plastic of a synthetic womb containing a living, growing human being, they marvelled at each stage of growth from that first, almost imperceptible red dot, into something that increasingly resembled a fully developed human being.
Now they stood expectantly in the delivery area waiting room. Navlin nervously pacing back and forth, watching as one of the Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Units — affectionately known as Artis — raced relentlessly toward them from the other end of a long corridor stretching far back into the complex. The sleek white plastic and chrome plated metal robot did not slow its fast pace until it was within three meters of the couple. Navlin unconsciously recoiled slightly, preparing to jump out of its path. However, the doctor stopped quickly within a few feet of them.
The Arti was guiding a small egg-shaped container with two soft appendages covered in synthetic skin stretched out in front of itself. An opening on the egg facing the intrepid robot, being the only point through which the child could be seen, heightening the anticipation. When the Doctor finally come to a full stop, Praija stood on their toes trying unsuccessfully to sneak a peek inside.
“You have read and understood the terms of Parenthood?” The Arti queried abruptly, flatly. The automaton felt no need for formalities, of course, or even to ask this simple question for that matter, since it had the ability to scan the pair and cross-reference the visual directly with ARI, the Artificial Remote Intelligence that connected and guided everything digital on the planet. Within an instant it knew that the proper documentation was completed and filed weeks ago. Yet this was its protocol and so it followed it’s programming regardless of what it knew.
Even as the Doctor was decelerating it had verified the couple’s identities by their biometrics, and the tags in their clothing and their decorative jewelry, all of which, of course, was connected wirelessly with the local systems.
Praija and Navlin glanced briefly at each other, then formally acknowledged in chorus, “We have.”
“Is this…” Praija asked tentatively, reaching toward the egg.
“Your neonatal unit has reached maturity and is ready for assignment with its organic caregivers. If you are prepared to receive them, we may complete the transfer immediately.”
Although AIs had developed immensely and their speech and their actions had grown very natural, they had never quite mastered the nuances of organic pleasantry. Scientists debated for centuries whether this was due to the algorithms they programmed or the natural difference between silicon and organic based neural networks. However, after thousands of years of work by both humans and even ARI itself, there remained a distinct difference between the digital world and the human personalities that gave it birth. Some felt the Arti’s, and their parent ARI, saw this difference as a sort of synthetic cultural identity and the machines secretly wanted to keep it distinct from that of humanity. No matter how much the designers tried to acculturate them, the Arti’s remained steadfastly logical, direct, and some would even say “cold.”
That was what made having a child special. As another organic, they were a “person”. They would learn to interact with other organics in a fluid way — with politeness and grace. They were part of the human community, not a part of the digital world. They could relate. They could participate and they could contribute to human culture. It was beautiful. The Artis had never understood the concept of beauty.
“We are prepared.” Navlin said, reaching for the egg.
“Name?” Asked the doctor, unwilling to release its delivery just yet.
Navlin was knocked off guard, confused by the simple question; “Ahhh… Navlin? But you already know…”
“Disambiguation.” The Arti clarified. Navlin knew with certainty there was no smugness in the synthetically generated speech, but the human part of them still resented it. “What is the neonatal units’ designation? It is a new parent’s right and privilege to assign a name to a new organic unit. That designation must be recorded in the archives before transfer of care can be completed.”
“Oh, of course!” Navlin suddenly felt ridiculous for having even thought the Arti could possibly have made a mistake. Hiding their embarrassment, they looked at Praija who, beaming with pride, nodded slightly, silently consenting to Navlin speaking the name they had chosen.
“Jennic.” Navlin smiled broadly. “It was one of my grandparents’ names. They…”
“Noted.” The doctor cut Navlin off abruptly before they could continue the family history, then continued. “Are you equipped with the necessary requirements for care?”
Praija sensed Navlin’s discomfort and was themselves displeased with the abruptness of the Doctors query. It was frankly taking the joy out of the moment and Praija felt it best to end the transaction as quickly as possible before this Arti completely ruined the experience for both of them. “We acquired everything on the list. It is all in the transport and we are ready to take…” Praija paused for a moment as they realized the name was no longer simply a choice they had made; it now represented a person, a living human being. “To take Jennic home with us.”
Praija smiled warmly at Navlin. Saying the name aloud made all of this real. This was an actual human being; a person, not something grown in a lab as Jennic had been for the last nine months. As the realization sank deeper into Praija’s heart, so did the weight of the responsibility. It was going to be a lot to get used to. They were now the child’s primary care givers. But Praija knew they were ready, willing, and so looking forward to it.
“Very well.” The doctor said flatly, without emotion. “You may take Jennic now.”
Navlin reached forward and gently drew the egg toward themselves.
Equipped with a gravity-sled, it bore no weight at all, only mass. It felt much like sliding a brick over ice.
As the egg turned toward the couple, and the opening came into the expectant parents’ view, each saw Jennic’s peaceful face, their tiny body wrapped snugly and neatly, sleeping blissfully in a cozy blanket. They had seen this face in the synth-womb of course, but now, as they breathed the same air, and with the full weight of responsibility on them, they connection was more intimate.
Navlin, smiling with contentment, turned to Praija. “Let’s go home.”
Moments later, the new family climbed into their waiting transport and snugly secured the egg in a mount designed for that purpose. The vehicle slipped into the tube system and sped them swiftly toward home.
“They are so precious.” Praija murmured as the pod accelerated. “They are so perfect… and I see so much of you in them Navlin.”
“That is definitely your nose though Praija, don’t blame that one on me!” The couple laughed and contentedly fell silent, alone with their private thoughts for the next several minutes. “Are we ready for this?” Navlin eventually asked. “I mean, we are prepared — goodness, I don’t think we could be any more prepared — and we both agreed it was time… but are we really ready?”
Praija understood completely what Navlin was asking. They had felt the same way many times. Raising an infant is a major responsibility, not only to each other or the child themselves, but to society as a whole. Who would this little one become? What would they contribute? Who would they be? A great deal of that would be up to Jennic, but their actions over the next several years would also play a part in the outcome that would answer those questions. The possibilities were endless, and daunting. Yet Praija felt a quiet confidence they were doing the right thing. “We will be fine, Navlin. It’s not all up to us you know.” They looked reassuringly into Navlin’s worried eyes, “Jennic will be themselves regardless of what we do — it is not up to us to make them… anything. It is only up to us to do our part to support them and help them be the best Jennic they can be.”
Navlin’s shoulders relaxed a little. “Yes, I suppose you are right, Jaan.” They said, referring to Praija using the familiar term of affection, “Thank you.”
The egg holding the little bundle of flesh wrapped up in a blanket reminded Navlin of a cocoon. Thoughtfully they whispered under their breath, “What will become of you my little caterpillar?”
