Telepathic Q Phenotype

Marda and Anthony replicoids.

 Here in February I've been collaborating with the Claude large language model to write a science fiction story called "The Femtobot Smuggler". In my previous blog post, I asked Claude to "imagine" what comes next for the character  F. Anthony in "The Femtobot Smuggler". Claude's AI-generated responce stimulated me to put down into writing my own ideas for how to provide F. Anthony with a future.

Having split the old version of Scene 11 into two parts (Scene 11 and Scene 12) and then extended Scene 12 and added a scene 13, the text of "The Femtobot Smuggler" has now grown to more than 18,000 words. The story now ends with Tyhry having obtained some purified zeptites. 

Zeptites. An interesting question is: what can Tyhry now do with those zeptites?

The artificial world, Taivasila.

 And Another Thing... Another issue that is raised in "The Femtobot Smuggler" is the fate of the immortal femtobot copies of Eddy and Zeta. The only thing readers learn is that Manny says that she sent them off to the planet Tar'tron in the galactic core where they can create a society of immortal humans. I really should explain to readers some background for the planet Tar'tron.

Why Involve Tar'tron? I have in the past used Tar'tron as the setting of other science fiction stories such as Assignment: Tar'tron and Star Dance. However, there are other possible destinations for Eddy and Zeta, including the planet Ret'fai in the Andromeda galaxy and Taivasila. Manny might feel comfortable using Tar'tron as a convenient place where she can perform experiments with human genes and societies.

Even if immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta were there on Tar'tron, how would additional immortal humans be produced... enough to form a new society of immortal "humans"? The first thing that comes to my mind is that the immortal replicoid copies of Eddy and Zeta might be fertile. They could be like Adam and Eve. However, in the Exodemic Fictional Universe, there are other possibilities.

Assignment: Tar'tron

Zeptites. It occurred to me that in the text of the "The Femtobot Smuggler", it does not provide any details about the physical makeup of the bodies to the immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta. In a different story (see Many Sails), I developed the idea that the bumpha could only carry out long-range teleportation of sedrons. If you were a zeptite replicoid copy of a person (Yōd) then the bumpha could teleport you across the galaxy. So, what if the immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta are made from zeptites and not femtobots?

Don't tell me 'no'. Also, how will Tyhry respond to be told that she cannot make any more immortal replicoids?

Can they handle the truth? And how would the original biological copies of Eddy and Zeta react learning that immortal copies of themselves now exist? And what about the immortal copies themselves?

Pek. And why is Manny the bumpha interested in immortal humans? The original goal the pek was to help humans become Sedronites and transcend into the Sedron Domain. Making zeptite replicoids of humans would be a step towards such transcendence.

RSS-2. What if Manny provides the immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta with a Reality Simulation System that routinely creates immortal replicoids? This would be a dramatic change from Eddy's Reality Simulation System on Earth which is programmed to make replicoids that grow old and die just like humans.

Telepathy. Previously, I wrote a story about Siteq, a secret place where Manny developed telepathic humans. Maybe it was in the far future of Siteq that telepathic mind clones such as Tyhry and Marda were first developed. Maybe after being sent to Tar'tron, Eddy and Zeta would have their own unique ideas about how to make immortal telepathic humans.

Image generated by DALL-E2.

With all of these ideas bubbling in my thoughts and crying out for a Scene #14 in the text of "The Femtobot Smuggler", I was feeling a bit daunted by the challenge of imagining a human society composed of telepathic zeptite replicoids. Might Claude have some ideas? And what about Gemini?

Also, I asked both Gemini and DALL-E to make images depicting a scene on Tar'tron soon after the immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta are teleported there from Earth. For the images that were generated by DALL-E (such as the one that is shown to the left) I did some post work so as to provide Zeta and Manny with hair. I also had Mr. Wombo make a depiction of this scene (shown below).

Chatbot Collaboration.
Me: Gemini, can you help me develop some ideas for a new "hard" science fiction story about immortal humans? In the new story, the first two immortal humans (named Eddy and Zeta) are sent to a distant Earth-like exoplanet (called Tar'tron) where they must create an experimental society composed of telepathic immortal humans. The experiment is being run by Manny the bumpha, who is an advanced artificial life-form from a distant galaxy. Manny is studying humans and she has the ultimate goal of moving all of the humans of Earth beyond their biological existence. The bodies of the immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta are composed of an advanced type of nanotechnology material called "zeptites". Eddy and Zeta must collaborate with Manny to bring into existence a new culture where telepathic communication is the norm. This will be technology-assisted telepathy, made possible by the zeptite components of the bodies of the immortal humans. Manny provides Eddy and Zeta with advanced technology: a Reality Viewing System which can be used to view every human being who ever lived on Earth. Eddy and Zeta can use the Reality Viewing System to select the people who they want to become part of the new experimental human society on Tar'tron. When Eddy and Zeta select an individual from out of Earth's historical timeline, the Reality Viewing System generates a copy of that person on Tar'tron that is immortal and composed of zeptites. These immortalized copies of biological humans are known as "replicoids" and they are visibly indistinguishable from biological humans. The replicoids retain all of the memories of the copied biological human being at the time in their life when they were Viewed by the Reality Viewing System. 

Image generated by DALL-E3

Gemini, please take note of this fact: the replicoids have all been programmed by Manny to have their behavior constrained by a set of ethical rules that are similar to the Laws of Robotics as developed by Isaac Asimov in his science fiction stories about positronic robots. For example, the behavior of zeptite replicoids is constrained in such a way that it is almost impossible for a replicoid to inflict psychological pain on another replicoid. Physical damage to a replicoid is not very meaningful since replicoid bodies automatically repair themselves. Also, telepathic communication can only take place between replicoids who love each-other. Eddy and Zeta have long been a married couple. When interacting with humans, Manny the bumpha uses a human form.

Gemini, generate a draft of the first page of this new story in which Manny the bumpha shows Eddy and Zeta how to use the Reality Viewing System to select a person from Earth's historical timeline and create a zeptite replicoid copy of that person. Also, Manny explains to Eddy and Zeta 1) why they were taken from Earth to Tar'tron, 2) the fact that they are now immortal replicoids, and 3) Manny expresses the hope that a new society of immortal telepathic humans can be created on Tar'tron.

Gemini: Tar'tron: Seeds of a Future Mind

Sunlight streamed through the panoramic dome, bathing the chamber in an otherworldly glow. Eddy and Zeta, their zeptite bodies shimmering in the light, stood before a swirling vortex of data, the Reality Viewing System. Across from them, Manny the bumpha, her humanoid form radiating calm confidence, gestured to the shimmering portal.

"This, my friends," she said, her voice resonating with a strange, metallic harmony, "is the key to your mission and mine. It holds the tapestry of human history, woven from the threads of countless lives."

Reality Viewing by Mr. Wombo

Eddy, his gaze fixed on the swirling vortex, felt a tremor of awe. Zeta, ever the pragmatist, asked the question that hung heavy in the air.

"But why, Manny? Why us? Why Tar'tron?"

Manny's smile softened the sharp angles of her face. "You, Eddy and Zeta, were chosen for your bond, your empathy, your very humanness. Earth, as you know, teeters on the brink. Greed, violence, division - these are the fruits of your biological limitations. We, the bumpha, believe the answer lies in transcendence."

She gestured towards their bodies, the zeptite material faintly pulsing with contained energy. "You are no longer bound by flesh and bone. You are replicoids, immortal echoes of your former selves. Tar'tron, this pristine world, is your canvas. Here, we hope to cultivate a new society, one where telepathic connection fosters understanding and cooperation."

Zeta's brow furrowed. "But how? Can memories of a past life truly build a future?"

Manny's gaze met Zeta's, her eyes shimmering with an ancient wisdom. "The Reality Viewing System allows you to select individuals from Earth's past, imprinting their essence into zeptite forms. These replicoids will carry the knowledge, the triumphs and failures of their past lives, yet be free from the shackles of mortality and prejudice."

She placed a hand on the vortex, the swirling data momentarily solidifying into a vibrant tableau. "See, this is Leonardo da Vinci, his mind alight with invention. Imagine him, unburdened by age, his genius blossoming anew. Or here," she pointed to another scene, "Marie Curie, her spirit ablaze with scientific curiosity. Together, they could fuel a world of innovation."

Eddy, captivated by the possibilities, felt a surge of excitement. "And how do we choose them?"

Image by DALL-E3.

Manny's smile returned. "Intuition, my friend. Let your hearts guide you. Seek individuals who embody the qualities you wish to cultivate in this new society. Remember, you are not merely resurrecting the past, but shaping the future."

As Zeta and Eddy stepped closer to the Reality Viewing System, the vortex hummed, promising a universe of potential. The weight of their mission settled upon them, but it was not a burden, but a challenge, an opportunity to leave their mark on a future painted with the brushstrokes of human history.

The first page turned, leaving the echoes of their conversation hanging in the air, a prelude to the grand experiment unfolding on Tar'tron. The fate of humanity, it seemed, rested on the shoulders of two immortal beings and the choices they were about to make.

_________________

I provided the same story prompt to Claude and got this reply....

Claude:

Figure 1. Image by Gemini.

Here is a draft of the first page for the new science fiction story "Seeds of a Future Mind":

Eddy and Zeta stood in awe before the towering Reality Viewing System. Its metallic walls glimmered under the bright lights of Manny's laboratory.

"Welcome my friends," said Manny, her voice warm and melodic. Though not human, Manny's chosen form was a tall woman with kind eyes and silver hair. "I've brought you here from Earth to be the first replicoid humans on the planet Tar'tron."

Eddy rubbed his temple, struggling to comprehend. "So we're no longer our original biological selves?"

Manny nodded. "You are now immortal, with bodies made of zeptites. I erased your memories of the transfer so as not to alarm you. But know that your replicoid selves are identical to Eddy and Zeta of Earth in every way, except you cannot age or die."

"Why have you done this?" asked Zeta, her voice tinged with fear.

"I aim to create a new society here - one where telepathic, ethical immortals like yourselves can thrive." Manny's voice grew brighter. "Imagine a world where violence and pain are obsolete, a world of cooperation, trust and understanding. You were selected because your minds showed great promise for this goal."

Eddy squeezed Zeta's hand, comforted by her familiar warmth.

Figure 2

Manny gestured to the Reality Viewer. "Now, let us begin. It is time to select your first citizens..."

_______________

Gemini came up with the title "Seeds of a Future Mind" and then I passed that title along to Claude. 

In the text prompt that I provided, I told the chatbots about zeptite replicoids: "These immortalized copies of biological humans are known as 'replicoids' and they are visibly indistinguishable from biological humans." I guess Claude felt it was okay to suggest that you can detect a zeptite replicoid by touch: "She gestured towards their bodies, the zeptite material faintly pulsing with contained energy."

I was not impressed by the image that Gemini created for this scene (Figure 1, above). I tried pressing the "generate more" button, but got nothing. Gemini mysteriously said, "I can't generate these images. Enter a new prompt to generate more images." I tried providing a slightly modified text prompt:

Me: Gemini, please generate an image for this science fiction story to illustrate: sunlight streams through a panoramic dome, bathing the chamber in an otherworldly glow. A man and a woman, their bodies shimmering in the light, stand before a swirling vortex of data. Across from them, Manny the bumpha, her humanoid form radiating calm confidence, gestures to a shimmering portal  

Gemini: We are working to improve Gemini’s ability to generate images of people. We expect this feature to return soon and will notify you in release updates when it does.

Figure 3

 Me: Gemini, please generate an image for this science fiction story ("Tar'tron: Seeds of a Future Mind") to illustrate the following: sunlight streams through a panoramic dome, bathing a chamber in an otherworldly glow. Two humanoid robots, their bodies shimmering in the light, stand before a swirling vortex of data. Across from them, a humanoid alien bumpha, her humanoid form radiating calm confidence, gestures to a shimmering portal  

Gemini: Sure, here is an image for the science fiction story "Tar'tron: Seeds of a Future Mind": {see Figures 2 (above) and 3 (to the left). 

This time, the third image was generated when I clicked on the "Generate more" button.}

_____________

For some reason, Claude generated a significantly longer "page 1" than did Gemini. I had to ask Claude to continue the story...

______________

Me: Claude, please continue generating this new story from the point were you stopped at the end of your previous message of this conversation. In the next part of the story, Manny the bumpha shows Eddy and Zeta how to use the Reality Viewing System to select a person from Earth's historical timeline and create a zeptite replicoid copy of that person.

Claude: Here is a continuation of the story:

Manny placed her slender hand on the Reality Viewer. Suddenly, its metallic walls became transparent, opening a window into what seemed like endless space and time.

 "With this system, you can peer into any point across Earth's history," explained Manny. "Then, if you find a human suitable for our purposes, I can generate a replicoid version here on Tar'tron."

Eddy and Zeta shared an uneasy glance. Then Eddy stepped forward, mesmerized by the images flashing across the screen. He saw ancient battles, bustling cities, solitary wanderers - entire lifetimes flickering by.

"Stop," said Zeta, pointing at the image of a young woman bent over a writing desk, scribbling furiously with a quill pen. "She seems intelligent and thoughtful. Let's select her."

Manny smiled. "Jane Austen it is. An excellent choice." She waved her hand and the image changed to show the same woman standing before them inside the lab, looking bewildered.

"Welcome, Jane," said Manny warmly.

Jane blinked hard several times. "I must be dreaming..." she murmured.

________________

I was expecting that Claude and Gemini might depict Eddy and Zeta as selecting someone who they had personally known on Earth as the first person for the Reality Viewer equipment to copy and bring to Tar'tron. Of course, I did not explain to Claude and Gemini that the scene with Eddy and Zeta on Tar'tron is part of "The Femtobot Smuggler" (scene #15). In "The Femtobot Smuggler", Manny provides Eddy and Zeta with a Reality Viewer that can access all of the past Realities of Earth, but not the Final Reality. Manny knows that if given the chance, Eddy and Zeta would bring copies of their immediate family to Tar'tron. But before showing Eddy and Zeta on Tar'tron, scene #14 shows the slow road to Tar'tron...

Inside Many Sails.

Scene 14 of "The Femtobot Smuggler". 

F. Tyhry, F. Marda and F. Anthony were teleported onboard a spaceship called Many Sails. Many Sails was the physical form that Manny the bumpha used when transporting people or femtobots between the stars. Many Sails spoke to F. Tyhry, F. Marda and F. Anthony: "Welcome aboard. We are now on our way to Tar'tron... E.T.A. 34 days, 9 hours from now. Please relax and let me know if you need anything."

F. Anthony asked, "Who said that?"

Many Sails replied, "I am this spaceship. I am an artificial life-form."

Tyhry went to the starboard window and looked out at the stars that were slipping past. She asked, "Faster than light travel?"

Many Sails confirmed that they were traveling at about 30 light-years per hour. "This is the fastest speed that the Huaoshy have been able to transport hadrons and hierions through space." Many Sails felt no need to refer to Tyhry as F. Tyhry. "Tyhry, the replicoid copies of your parents were teleported directly to Tar'tron."

Tyhry gazed up towards the ceiling where the voice of Many Sails seemed to originate. "Wait... what?"

Many Sails was able to monitor the thoughts of Tyhry. "Ah, I understand your confusion. Manny failed to inform you that the immortal replicoid copies of your parents are composed of zeptite components. Since their bodies are made of sedrons, a bumpha teleporter was able to send them almost instantaneously from Earth to Tar'tron."

sedrons

Tyhry complained, "I feel sorry for Eddy and Zeta... all alone on a strange exoplanet. Do they know we are on our way?"

Many Sails replied, "No, for some reason, Manny has not told them. But don't feel bad... Eddy and Zeta are no longer alone."

Tyhry was telepathically linked to Marda. Marda telepathically suggested to Tyhry: Maybe Tar'tron has its own native species of intelligent creature.

Many Sails explained, "No, Marda, as a world of the Galactic Core, Tar'tron is periodically hit by a gamma ray burst. All higher life forms on Tar'tron were eliminated by such a radiation burst only about fifteen million years ago."

Marda asked, "You can sense my thoughts?"

"Yes, your three minds are open to me." Many Sails added, "It is best that we continue to speak, for Anthony's sake."

Tyhry asked Many Sails, "What can we do during this long journey?"

Many Sails replied, "That is your choice. However, I sense that you are concerned about your parents. I have a Reality Viewer that you can use."

Marda asked, "Reality Viewer?"

Grean the Kac'hin.

Tyhry told Marda, "This is why you should have read those old stories that your mother wrote. In her novel about the Ekcolir Reality, Rylla wrote extensively about how Grean the Kac'hin made use of Reality Viewing technology while making plans for the Final Reality."

Marda said, "I know about that. Reality Viewers were used to View the future, but time travel is no longer possible."

Tyhry nodded. "True, but I believe that my father's Reality Simulation System uses similar bumpha technology to provide access to past realities... and I know my parents have experimented with simulations of the Final Reality." Tyhry asked, "Where is this Reality Viewing equipment? Can I use it to see my parents on Tar'tron?"

Many Sails explained, The Reality Viewing equipment is built into me." Suddenly, a view of her parents appeared in front of Tyhry.

Scene 15 of "The Femtobot Smuggler".

On Tar'tron, Manny the bumpha was with the immortal copies of Eddy and Zeta. Sunlight streamed down with the otherworldly light of Tar'tron's sun. Eddy and Zeta, now in the form of their youthful thirty-year-old bodies, stood before a swirling vortex of data being displayed by a Reality Viewing System. 

Across from them, Manny the bumpha, her human form confident, gestured to the shimmering portal where all the past Realities could be observed in vivid detail. "This, my friends," she spoke with the tones of her voice resonating with a strangely non-human harmony, "is the key to your mission. This Reality Viewer holds the tapestry of human history, woven from the threads of countless lives."

Eddy, his gaze fixed on the swirling vortex, felt a tremor of awe. His research had brought him descriptions of Viewer technology, but this was the first time he had ever been witness to a view of the past. 

image source

Zeta, ever the pragmatist, asked the question that hung heavy in the air. "But why, Manny? Why did you bring us here to Tar'tron? Why not leave us on Earth?"

Manny's smile creased her face. "You know that the bumpha planned for an ultimate transcendence of Humanity into the Sedron Domain. A step towards that goal is transforming biological humans into artificial life-forms. The other major step is the development of human telepathy. Humans must learn to exist in a society where thoughts are shared openly with other. Here, on this world, you two will bring into existence a human culture with immortal replicoid versions of human beings. I am tasking you with also making the members of this culture all have telepathic abilities."

She gestured towards their bodies, "You are no longer bound by flesh and bone. You are replicoids, immortal echoes of your former biological selves. Tar'tron is your canvas. Here, you will make a new society, one where telepathic connection fosters understanding and cooperation."

Zeta's brow furrowed. "But how?" Zeta ran her hands along the soft contours of her body. On Earth, she had been in her mid-eighties and beyond the reproductively fertile stage of her life. "Can I now have more children?"

Manny's gaze met Zeta's, her eyes shimmering with an ancient wisdom. "Yes, you are able to have more children. Also, the Reality Viewing System allows you to select individuals from Earth's past, imprinting their essence into the form of replicoid copies that will carry the knowledge, the triumphs and failures of their past lives, yet be free from the shackles of mortality and prejudice."

Manny waved a hand at the vortex, the swirling data momentarily solidifying into a vibrant tableau. "Look! This is Leonardo da Vinci, his mind alight with invention. Imagine him, unburdened by age, his genius blossoming anew. Or here," she pointed to another scene that came into focus, "Marie Curie, her spirit ablaze with scientific curiosity. Together, they could fuel technological innovation for Tar'tron."

Eddy, captivated by the possibilities, felt a surge of excitement. "And how do we choose among all the billions who have lived on Earth?"

Manny explained. "I trust your instincts and intuition, my friend. Let your hearts guide you. Seek individuals who embody the qualities you wish to cultivate in a new society. Remember, you are building on the past triumphs of Earth and shaping the future."

As Zeta and Eddy stepped closer to the Reality Viewing System, the vortex hummed, promising a universe of potential. The weight of their mission settled upon them, but it was not a burden, but a challenge, an opportunity to leave their mark on a future painted with the brushstrokes of human history.

The Reality Viewing System was tuned to their thoughts. An image of Tyhry, Marda and Systolina appeared in the data display of the Viewer. Zeta reached out, but her hand passed right through the projected image of her daughter. Zeta asked, "How do we make a copy of Tyhry materialize here on this world?"

Manny explained, "You can only view the Final Reality. Try Viewing a past Reality."

Eddy told his wife, "I have an idea." He thought about the Ekcolir Reality and a place he had never seen: Siteq. There displayed before Eddy and Zeta was a strange city populated by a human variant. Eddy said, "Siteq, where Manny designed telepathic humans."

Zeta asked, "Asterothropes?"

The tryp'At phenotype.

Manny told Zeta, "I carried out a guided evolution project, converting Asterothropes into the tryp'At. Your daughter's telepathic abilities were crafted at Siteq, in the far future of the Ekcolir Reality."

Eddy had long suspected that he was tryp'At, a human variant that had been crafted by aliens. He was intrigued by the idea that his daughter might have telepathic abilities.

Suddenly, a copy of the tryp'At hermaphrodite who they were Viewing, materialized beside Eddy and Zeta. The tryp'At calmly asked: Teleportation?

Eddy could sense a weak telepathic signal from the tryp'At. He looked around, but Manny was gone. Speaking out-loud for Zeta's benefit, Eddy gestured towards the data vortex of the Viewer and said, "This is similar to teleportation. However, your biological body has been copied... you are now an artificial life-form." The construction of a new telepathic society on Tar'tron had begun.

Next: collaborating with Gemini and Claude to write scenes 16 and 17 of "The Femtobot Smuggler".