The Blind Gods
Copyright© 2025 by Wau
Chapter 62: Speech to the Dead
The throne, Aleph had said, was there only for decorum - and this decorum was once again being summoned. He climbed onto it, extended - it was a considerable effort, even for him - his consciousness across the entire HS bubble, also through the Drifts of all ships, and of course into the myriad servers of the After.
Aleph addresses humanity.
Many of you work each day for the greatness and glory of the HS. Thanks to your efforts, we expand onto other worlds, we purify ourselves of unnecessary internal systems, and through our honesty, we restore to their rightful place those who were unjustly feeding off your labor.
But there are also among us many humans who have never wished to participate in this shared project, and this for hundreds of years. People who are born, eat, and are housed for free, and wait for the days to pass before going - again for free, for life - into the After. What would our illustrious ancestors of the 21st century, who founded the computer age and artificial intelligences through their struggles and work, have thought of this kind of attitude? What will you say to them when you meet them, emulated, in the After? You will keep hiding. I want to offer you a better life than one of cowardice.
I do not blame you. It is not your fault. You have been manipulated by people who wanted power and saw a direct interest in your apathy. But even if no one will blame you, I want to restore the balance between all of you.
Thus, the terms of citizenship are changed as of today. Each person will have to fulfill a minimum of activity for the development of the HS. For those who are still in our world, approach your LE to find out what tasks await you. Rest assured: this is a very small contribution, nothing like the dozens of years of work our ancestors endured.
As for our fellow citizens in the After, the same rule applies. Many of you are in debt and we will deploy processes within the servers that you will have to operate. Once your quota is met, you will again enjoy freely and without limitation the benefits of the After. Moreover, even though part of our program is military, I formally pledge today that at no time will your life be placed in danger.
If this announcement upsets or revolts you, it means you are against balance, fraternity, courage, honesty, and progress - the pillars of our civilization. So do not be surprised if you find yourselves treated as enemies of it.
I conclude by saying that this situation of upheaval is temporary. The Blind Gods have given me the gift of seeing the future and in truth I tell you: we will all come out of this greater, stronger, and worthy of those who came before us.
- “And so it begins,” commented the Wau over a transmission to all the other members of the resistance command, as his ship sailed through Drift 6 toward a dark galaxy.
- “What begins?” asked Ravzan.
- “He’s involving those from the After in the war,” said Andreï. “How isn’t really important. What matters is the number. Our dead are counted in the trillions. Imagine a trillion drones.”
- “No factory can produce that,” commented Tohil.
- “They’ve set up a shipyard on Titus,” declared Rav. “They’re trying to produce an Endymion per day on average. Yes, per day. The whole planet is committed to the production effort. So trillions of drones on top of that ... it’s possible if they redirect their forces, but their war effort doesn’t seem focused on that topic.”
- “I don’t understand...” said Tohil. “Who are they planning to strike with that kind of firepower?”
- “The entire universe,” said Andreï.
- “A Transient told me...” began the Wau, and everyone looked at him as if he spoke with Transients on a daily basis... “that maybe Aleph was a process of the universe meant to cleanse what hadn’t transcended fast or deep enough. Even though, having met him, I find him quite human for someone entrusted with such a heavy - and so ... inhuman? - mission.”
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