(Viewpoint: Alpha-1)

  The room does not exist.

  Not really.

  It forms around me as I move forward.

  White walls. Then translucent. Then nothing.

  A perfect void.

  No horizon. No ceiling. No floor.

  visible.

  A cloudy and light world

  And yet… I walk, I keep moving forward.

  Every step is assured

  I stop in the center.

  A vertical light descends slowly.

  And a ball appears in the center

  [CONNECTION ESTABLISHED]

  [ DISPLAY ]

  A blank stare and sharp eyes.

  I close my eyes.

  Then the reopens

  In a light breath

  They are here.

  Voices without mouths, transmitted by vibration of the sphere

  Pure consciences.

  The Higher Beings

  Those who decide.

  And they see everything but

  Yet imperfect, incomplete, as long as I exist.

  – Alpha-1.

  The ball vibrates

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  Their voices have no timbre. No genre. No emotion.

  It resonates throughout the space

  – we have summoned you

  I bow slightly.

  – I am honored.

  Lie?

  Hmm…

  His faded blue eyes scrutinized the ball, calm and composed, as calm as a pond.

  – when will we have the first specimen?

  Silence

  Floshhhhh

  A wind blew through the space, lifting the white hair of “Eve”.

  – anomalies are multiplying, and stable conditions are becoming unpredictable

  Silence

  – unpredictable?

  The ball murmured, vibrating in unison with the voices.

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and placed her hands behind her back

  – they are still “human”

  Projections. Statistics. Faces.

  Beta-2. Ela. Chetan. Asmara. And the best of my experiences…

  – Individuals continue to exhibit non-compliant behaviors.

  – The emotional bonds persist.

  I turn around and put away the analyses.

  – This is inevitable for most in a human-based structure.

  – We have already optimized them by 80%.

  All that remains is to abandon their human consciousness.

  Silence.

  – Do it, what are you waiting for?

  The ball vibrates.

  A new image appears.

  A diagram.

  A core. A body. A mind.

  A “receptacle”.

  – I can't force them to change, it's up to them to decide

  – CCHOQUEZ LES

  Burning the boule

  I breathe slowly.

  – The main topic is progressing.

  They evolve and open up

  – When will it be ready?

  Vibrate the ball

  I pause for a micro-break.

  And I move closer to the ball, touching it closely

  - Soon.

  "Very soon," I murmured.

  The word resonates despite the low intensity provided.

  – Forcing integration would cause a collapse.

  – It must grow on its own.

  Silence.

  Then the ball vibrated, vibrated, vibrated by itself

  – The previous ones were defective.

  – It takes time.

  – as you managed to create yourself, Alpha-1.

  – Why don't you just start again?

  – You have the green light.

  – Shape them.

  I raise my head slightly.

  – it will be done according to your wishes.

  Then I turn around and walk outside.

  No sooner had she left space than a new presence manifested itself.

  A human silhouette.

  Rare.

  Very rare.

  An elderly man. Stooped back. Grey hair. Eyes still bright.

  The Old Man of the Station.

  The pit recruit supervisor.

  The one that existed before the domes.

  Before the units.

  First and foremost.

  "I warned you," he murmured.

  His voice is tired. But heavy with authority.

  – You doubt me?

  She asks, staring at the horizon

  Silence

  He turns around.

  – I only say what I see… he said, looking at the data.

  – They are not fooled.

  the old man smiled sadly

  – You've been saying that for a thousand years, at this point it's no longer a sign of aging

  – And yet…

  – You yourself are proof that you should never doubt me

  - Never .

  Silence

  Alpha-1 left first.

  – it is different.

  A voice rings out louder.

  – Exactly, it takes too much time

  – Your proximity is problematic.

  The old man began

  – hum

  I feel a tension.

  – Is it that you become attached?

  The old man asked

  She stops and turns around to stare at him.

  – you are well aware of the consequences of the transfer.

  – So why are you asking me this stupid question?

  And part

  "Understood," he said.

  But the old man continued to look at her, his eyes piercing me.

  – Alpha…

  - Yes

  - Be careful.

  I look away.

  – hum .

  A wry smile.

  I return alone to my office. In my artificial garden, I lower myself among the flowers.

  - Shame

  The tea is cold.

  I look at my hand.

  It is white and pale.

  – a good dinner…

  I whisper.

  – Hurry up and understand.

  And in the distance, a soft alarm in the system, discreet, but piercing.

  [ROUM SUBJECT: DEVIATION CONFIRMED, EXIT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION]

  [ALERT ALERT, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL]