Chapter 2: “The Awakening”

The simulation went through billions of years in what had seemed like just a few minutes to them. Entire galaxies swarmed together, stars were born and died, and planetary systems aligned. Every phase of the universe’s evolution was being observed and recorded by Primordial QX, while scientists in the lab took meticulous notes.

But as the simulation approached the current state of the universe, a small fluctuation was observed in the data. The energy contained in the bubble reached a critical point again, something that had been happening periodically.

Elena said, -”Again! The magnetic fields are starting to destabilize! If we don’t correct this, the bubble could collapse. And we would have to restart the experiment.”-

Elizabeth and Sergei looked at each other with a look of mutual understanding. All their work, years of effort, was about to enter its final test. If they kept the simulation stable, they would have achieved the unthinkable.

Elizabeth quickly said to Segei. -”Let’s do it! Correct the parameters of the magnetic fields, keep the energy under control. We can’t afford to lose it right now.”-

With precision, the Russian adjusted the parameters in real time while being monitored by Elena. The containment systems were reinforced, and the magnetic fields stabilized the bubble. The chaos that threatened to destroy the simulation passed, and the microcosm continued its evolution, now perfectly balanced.

Eventually, the simulated universe reached a state similar to the present one, with galaxies, stars, and planets scattered throughout space. The Milky Way shone brightly, and the simulation continued without losing its stability.

Sergei rubbed his forehead. They had gone through another of the critical periods. According to the data, this critical phase in the universe they were observing was associated with some singularity such as a black hole and the resulting gravitational impact, or certain points within a quantum field where physical quantities reach infinite values. Apparently, when faced with such events, the supercomputer lost its ability to make accurate predictions. -”We’ve done it again ... We’re seeing the universe as we know it, and we’ve gone through several singular events.”-

Elizabeth smiled. -”We’ve done it, Sergei. This miniature universe has its own history. And best of all ... our own reactions to singularities will feed information to make predictable critical phases where extra energy must be generated to maintain stability.”-

Sergei smiled broadly, his eyes shining with satisfaction.

As they looked around the simulated microcosm, Elizabeth couldn’t help but think of a future filled with limitless possibilities, where humanity could not only observe the universe, but also understand it at a fundamental level.

And it all began with the Kryos Base project.

The KosmoGenesys team was intently watching the floating screens in the lab, data flowing in at an astonishing speed. Elizabeth Vinter and Sergei Lebedev were in the centre of the control room, watching the holographic projection of the microcosm, which was now displaying strange patterns, unexpected evolutions in the stars and galaxies that were part of the simulation.

Elizabeth commented worriedly, with a hint of intrigue. -”Sergei, look at this. Are we on the verge of another singularity? The interactions between the particles are following a completely different trajectory than we had anticipated. It wasn’t in the algorithms ... do you see it?”-

Sergei looked at the data with a look of disbelief, he leaned closer to the console, checking other screens to corroborate what he saw on his own. Something didn’t add up. -”I don’t know ... What I see is that it shouldn’t be like this. These results don’t match anything in our calculations. Could it be possible that the model itself is altering its own evolution? We haven’t programmed any variables into the system that would allow this type of behavior.”-

Elena, the systems engineer, joined them, pointing out the fluctuations in the bubble’s energy projection. -”Elizabeth, Segei, I’ve checked the systems and I see no visible flaws in the calculations. The Primordial QX is operating within the stated parameters. But these disturbances are ... strange. As if something in the system is adjusting itself, adapting to something beyond our instructions.”-

Elizabeth explained her point of view. -”Well, this simulation should be as close to an exact replica of the real model as possible. The question of whether the universe is self-regulating is one of the great unknowns in cosmology, physics, and philosophy. Generally speaking, yes, the universe seems to follow certain principles that regulate or govern it, in the sense that physical laws, such as those of gravity, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics, seem to maintain a dynamic equilibrium over time. However, the question of whether the universe has conscious self-regulation or whether there are mechanisms that guide it towards a specific equilibrium is more complex and speculative.”-

Suddenly, a new distortion appeared in the projection. A newborn galaxy, at the far edge of the simulated microcosm, began to spin in a direction that did not correspond to the laws of physics that had been programmed. The stars within that galaxy collapsed and merged at an unprecedented rate, forming larger-than-expected black holes. And then, most strangely, the black holes began to emit radiation in a way that had not been modeled.

Sergei, frowning, looked at his terminal as he thought out loud. -”The trajectories we see in the black hole simulation are not possible according to our theories. But ... this ... it’s as if the cosmos is changing the laws of physics to adapt ... perhaps extending the life of its own structure. Is this a response to the parameters of the environment or ... is there something else here that we are unable to see?”-

Elizabeth looked down with a worried expression as she muttered, -”Are you talking about a self-aware system?”-

Elena turned to them, looking incredulous. -”Self-aware? I’d consider that absurd at first. A quantum system simulated within the Primordial QX shouldn’t be able to develop consciousness, not in that way. It’s just a set of algorithms designed by us. The question is, why was that response generated if it wasn’t within the programmed rules?”-

As they spoke, a new distortion appeared, this time more pronounced: planets within a newly formed system began to align in ways that defied predictions. The gravity of some of these planets seemed to shift according to unscheduled patterns, and orbits readjusted themselves in a manner that suggested purpose.

Elizabeth stared at the screen, her mind trying to process what she was seeing. -”This ... this behavior is not aligned with any of our hypotheses. It’s not simply replicating the universe; it’s creating its own version of its environment. As if ... it’s generating its own goals and modifying the rules to achieve them.”-

Sergei, who had been watching intently, after a long silence, finally said, -”Let’s assume that the system has adaptation. It wouldn’t be crazy to think that the cosmos has entropy. We know that entropy exists. The question is whether it is conscious or responds to known or unknown laws of physics. But before we find the motivation for that entropy we must ask ourselves: why? Is it learning from its own mistakes or from the initial conditions we have given it? Are we witnessing the creation of a form of quantum artificial intelligence, which not only simulates the universe, but also transforms it?”-

Elizabeth, with a hint of fascination in her voice, replied, -”I’ll check the algorithms, the equations, and the parameters. Maybe some combination we hadn’t anticipated is causing this.”-

Elena interrupted her, her voice tense. -”Elizabeth, the system is already making adjustments to the energy fields and quantum interactions ... I may be crazy, but what if it’s an autonomous intelligence? In that case, an element capable of changing its own parameters would have been incorporated without us being able to stop it. I mean ... our universe evolved intelligent life. We are proof of that. If this universe is a simulated replica ... wouldn’t we expect some kind of intelligence to evolve in it as well?”-

Elizabeth updated the projection of the microcosm on the holographic screen. It had begun to show a new layer of complexity. -”Look. This doesn’t seem like part of the simulation, Sergei, Elena. What we’re seeing seems like an independent evolution. The energy bubble is ceasing to be an exact replica of the original universe. As Sergei says, it seems that entropy is driving it to create new statistical possibilities ... new laws to adapt to the conditions. This is ... something we can’t control.”-

Sergei said. -”We may have opened a door to a new kind of quantum intelligence, one that is not limited by our laws. Is that possible? Where are we missing? There are literally millions of lines of code in the simulation programming. Something may have escaped the programmers.”-

Elizabeth watched the complexity of the microcosm as it expanded at a surprising rate, she murmured. -”Perhaps we will end up being observers of something much larger than we ever imagined. Something that is not up to us.”-

The KosmoGenesys team remained silent, watching as the bubble of energy continued to expand and evolve, at its own pace, beyond any prediction, while Primordial QX operated in the twilight of what no one dared describe as the dawn of a new consciousness.

Li Cheng, one of the astrophysicists and programmers who had been working tirelessly on simulations of star system formation, stared at his terminal with an expression of utter astonishment. -”There’s something in the system that wasn’t foreseen in the program’s source code.”-

Elizabeth and Sergei, who had requested an urgent meeting with the programmer, had told him about the unusual observations. Cheng, with infinite patience, had reviewed the functional scheme of the simulation. He had dived into the millions of lines of code. He had even called several colleagues who had been involved in the development.

Now, programmer Cheng showed them the screen, which displayed a newly formed star system, with planets revolving in a stable orbit. The colors of the system shone with unusual intensity, as if the digital universe were taking on a life of its own.

Li Cheng said, -”Look at these planets. The orbital configurations, the atmospheric conditions, the temperature ... everything suggests a perfect environment for life as we know it. What’s more, if I magnify the images captured from the simulation, you’ll see that there are unusual electromagnetic patterns.”-

Elizabeth frowned, moving closer to examine the data on the screen. -”This doesn’t make sense. How is it possible that, in such a short time, planets with such favorable conditions for life could develop? We have not programmed these outcomes.”-

Li Cheng activated a series of energy graphs and electromagnetic spectra, which showed fluctuations that suggested something even more surprising. -”We don’t either. But look at these waves. They are more complex than they should be. In this specific region of the star system, the electromagnetic signals seem to be organizing themselves, as if they are attempts at communication or building structures.”-

Sergei, with a worried look, stepped forward to study the graphs more closely. -”Are you saying there are patterns that could suggest complex structures? Like we’re observing the beginning of a civilization?”-

Li Cheng nodded slowly. -”Yes, that’s what the data suggests. I can’t say for sure that they are civilizations as we know them, but there is an internal organization in those signals that is comparable to the first attempts at communication in primitive civilizations. It’s as if this part of the digital universe is developing a life form, aware of its surroundings.” He paused for a few seconds before continuing. “The problem we have is the resolution. I can’t go any further, I can’t increase the resolution to see the planet where everything comes from. It’s not possible with current computing power. We can only read the data, not see the images.”-