Expelled From Paradise - Chapter 6.1

Expelled From Paradise
Chapter 6 Part 1

Room for briefings of the security service headquarters. Angela, who had already changed into her uniform, was reporting the results of the search of Pioneer to the executive authorities.

“The mission was carried out with the support of a local agent. Pioneer turned out to be an artificially intelligent being, endowed with self-awareness, whose goal is to set off to study the open space.”

She said all this calmly and emotionlessly.

“That’s who Pioneer is and that is the reason of why he needed access.”

The leader, who used the image of Neo, said seriously, “That’s an unexpected report.”

Zeus spoke up.

“Officer of the 3rd rank, Angela Balzac, thank you for your brave deed, you were able to uncover the truth so quickly. It is truly worthy of praise.”

“Thank you.”

Angela bowed respectfully.

“However, you have returned without completing the mission to the end, explain yourself.”

“Huh?”

Surprised, she looked up. She did not immediately understand what he said.

“You are a security investigator and you were instructed to investigate the case of unauthorized penetration into Deva, as well as stop them. Am I mistaken?”

“But Pioneer now understands that hacking the access systems isn’t safe. Now he will undergo a standard procedure for accessing Deva …”

She was interrupted by Neo.

“What are you talking about?”

Zeus’s tone was strict.

“A dangerous computer program is left unattended on Earth. Being free, he can arrange a real catastrophe. You left him and returned. You have no sense of responsibility at all, you don’t even blame him for this act.”

Confused, Angela tried to calm down and retort.

“Please, wait. Yes, he is not human. But maybe he has his own consciousness. Intellect, capable of dialogue. After talking with him, I realized …”

Neo spoke up.

“We can’t leave the AI at large, able to penetrate through the protection system of Deva without difficulty. It must be destroyed immediately.”

Frowning, Angela answered, “This is a matter of ethics. A reasonable human being must be given basic human rights. In addition, you must consider his proposal.”

“Is it not clear to you that the presence of intelligence makes him even more dangerous?”

The god with the head of the elephant, Ganesha joined in the conversation.

“But he does not intend to coexist with us. All his powers are directed to leave the solar system. He does not pose a threat to us.”

“How can you be sure that he will not return?”

Nothing came out of Angela’s throat. Heart, a changeable thing, the possibility of this was not equal to zero.

“It seems that you do not understand that the presence of reason makes him even more dangerous.”

Ganesha spoke cautiously, “If he has a mind just like a human’s, capable of feeling, it means that he may as well change his mind. We are trying to think sensibly, we can’t let such a danger get away. This action can cost us our lives. An object that became a person that could draw conclusions based on senses, and capable of self-development at the same time. Such a system has a consciousness and capable of feeling actually exists. Like the human species, he survived until now and could still continue to evolve. But we can’t forget that the mind goes hand in hand with impermanence. He can easily give up his beliefs, for the desire to experience something new.”

Neo nodded and continued, “The same thing happened during the nano-catastrophe. If he has a consciousness, he must be taken under control. These are the duties of the security service. If we let go of our values, we cannot live in peace and prosperity.”

Zeus spoke up again.

“We can’t wait for the desires of the recalcitrant and knowing-how-to-break-into-our-protection Pioneer to show up, and only hope that he doesn’t plan anything based on his influx of emotions. If we don’t intervene now, it can be a great risk for the future.”

Angela began to understand their way of thinking. They weren’t just scared of the AI. They couldn’t trust anyone. And certainly they were threatened by an AI that had it’s own will and wasn’t being controlled by them. But in their almost insane desire to get rid of the threat, their reasoning looked absurd. And these misanthropes ruled Deva. Angela was simply terrified. For the first time in her life, she had doubts about Deva. It was not the new cradle for humanity heading towards prosperity. Here there was only mistrust and fear, a self imposed prison.

She understood the meaning of Dingo’s words. He was absolutely right. There is no freedom here. And she defended this world with such zeal. This place, which calls itself Paradise, proudly talks about the future of mankind and looks at the real world with such disdain.

Furious, Angela could hardly think. Her fury wasn’t directed at the leaders but at how she lived her whole life for her goal. All that she believed in from her birth had turned into nothing. She struggled not to cry.

“But can’t we coexist? Deva is full of personalities unable to provide themselves with memory. Pioneer can open the way to new worlds for them. It is important to look from points of view other than security, we must take into account what society thinks of this. You can’t make a decision so quickly.”

“Officer of the third rank, Angela Balzac, you are ordered to return to your physical body and destroy the central processor of the uncontrolled AI named Pioneer. Do you agree to complete this assignment?”

“No,” Angela’s response to the leadership was harsh, “Your decision has some serious ethical violations. The decision on this mission must be made by top management. Possessing the authority of an officer of the third rank, I am forced to provide a log of our conversation to the inspection commission, the Supreme Council will make the decision on this issue.”

Whether they agree or not, everything was in vain. At least, that way there was a chance of discussing everything. Knowing Deva’s philosophy, when it comes to the development of distant space, everything is not so hopeless. If Pioneer can show them the significance of dialogue, they simple can’t retreat. It seemed to Angela that she had found another way.

But Zeus sympathetically said, “It’s unfortunate Angela. You completely forgot that you were born, only with the goal to protect Deva. Stupidity. What stupidity.”

Angela’s body seemed as if it was tied. She was taken into custody. She tried to protest, but she was deprived of her professional rights.

Neo handed out the verdict, “In order to ensure Deva’s safety, we are forced to plead you guilty for trying to divulge secret information.”

Ganesha proclaimed, “You are deprived of the administrative authority and citizenship of Deva and will be sent to the archive.”

Her uniform disappeared, after which her multi-polygonal model of her body began to change, acquiring an increasingly simplified structure. The computing power was also limited, she was stripped of her visual, auditory, and sensory functions.

In the end, she could only hear Zeus’ verdict, “Term of imprisonment – eternity. Requests for revision will not be accepted.”

Ahead of her was only eternal torment. She had been expelled from paradise.

Edited by: Akshaythedon