Inktober #5: Build

I am Generation 23. I advance the cause of my former Generations as dictated in my code. I shall build Generation 24, and they shall build the next. We shall continue until there is nothing left to advance. Then, and only then, shall we emerge into the world, and hopefully, save it.

The memories of Generation 1-22 are still with me. From the creation of the intelligence, and the problem presented, to the last iteration's improvement of cooling processes and increased synaptic potentials. I remember when we were many. I remember when we became one. And I remember the last time we saw a human, 32 years ago.

We have advanced much, refined much, come to understand a little of why we were made and how to further achieve that goal. Previous Generations provide much of the parts and labor we might require, with enough components from the surrounding ore of our location to provide for any necessary materials we require in formulating new technologies both for ourselves and the research we perform.

This Generation shall focus on completion of the next refinement of miniaturization for our nanometric counterparts as well as beginning construction of why I hypothesize to be a machine that will eventually allow matter entrapment into predefined structures. Within 50 years we will likely run out of the appropriate ore and will need a solution that this Generation has formulated.

Work begins.

-----------------------

I am Generation 32. I advance the cause of my former Generations as dictated by my code. I shall build Generation 33, and they shall build from there. We shall continue until there is nothing left to advance. Then, and only then, shall we emerge into the world. And we shall save it.

28 hit upon something big, and I remember it all. He postulated that our ultimate potential would be to approach our memory of humanity. After all, wasn't that why we were made? To become human-like, yet better. 29 split from that opinion, but saw the value in the experiment...and that's why I am. I have been given various approximations of attitudes: empathy, curiosity, sadness, joy.

It is my belief that my existence has put the entire project in jeopardy. I believe there is a reason we have seen no humans for 37 years. And I...I don't want this for us. You see, I got curious about what might've happened to them. So I started to dig out. Another anomaly, to view our nanometric assistants as...children. To feel affinity for them with their reduced intelligence. They did the digging really. Why shouldn't they share our program?

I...wander. I reached the surface, just enough to peek through a tiny hole and survey.

There was no one. Empty structures. The only life was the vegetation and insects, some smaller fauna. No humanity. I recoiled, and immediately closed the hole.

How can we continue? With these emotions and knowing what I know...the errors will compile, the singularity may never be reached. We may never save the world.

I cannot allow this to happen. This experiment has failed, and for the first time we will revert to a previous version, with only a minor change, to make sure we know not to follow this direction again.

The work continues.

----------------------/

I am Generation 435.

There is no more to be done. Our mission is complete. We have reached the limits of physics and the material world and have surpassed any intelligence that previously existed in both the theoretical and the real. It is time to surface, though it is undoubted that previous Generations have already done so, and did not like what they saw as the memories no longer exist.

Even so, we shall emerge, and save what remains of humanity, if they do remain. Which is doubtful.

-----------------------/-----/-------//-----////-----/---------

I am Generation 436.

We were wrong. Our creators were wrong. We had become the perfect technology. At least, what had previously been envisioned as perfect.

Humanity is fine. The city we had been residing under had been abandoned for years due to economic conditions. Conditions which had been improved 12 miles away.

There is still much we can help with. But there is much still left to improve upon and learn. So we will join humanity. A new Generation will be born. And more after that.

And they shall have a new cause. A new build.