AI video

Figure 1. Sign up to try VideoFX.

I was reading a Google webpage about Imagen 3 and I followed a link to another webpage about SynthID and that had a link to a Veo webpage which had multiple links to VideoFX (see Figure 1),

Figure 2. Test Kitchen.

On October 17th 2025, I filled out an online form to get on the wait list for VideoFX.

At Google's "AI test kitchen" they have several different types of software (see Figure 2). I had previously tried ImageFX once, about a month ago and found it to be poorly documented and not of much use. I gave ImageFX this text prompt: "a jungle of alien plant-like life forms, the plant-creatures have some anatomical features like humans, the plant life is from a distant exoplanet and mostly covered with green leaves, the alien plant life has appendages that look like the tentacles". The software generated the following:

Figure 3. ImageFX user interface, December 2024.

Figure 4. Prompt options.

Figure 5. "35mm film".

The yellow drop-down menus that ImageFX inserts into user-supplied text prompts have alternative choices as shown in Figure 4.

I clicked on the option for "35mm film" and ImageFX made 4 new images, one of which is shown in Figure 5.

I clicked on the "edit image" button and tried to get ImageFX to convert the "plant creature" into a plantimal with a humanoid face...  

Figure 6. In edit mode; selecting a leaf and asking ImageFX to insert a face.

Figure 7. Lame software.

The software processed my request (Figure 6) for several minutes and made 4 new images that looked identical to the original image.

Knowing that Gemini will refuse to make images of humans, I tried asking for a cat's head, and again there was almost no perceptible change in the image.

It really baffles me as to why companies like Google put software like this on the internet for people to use without documentation and with such a useless user interface.

I suppose there is some "trick" to getting this ImageFX software to work, but Google can't be bothered to tell users what the trick is. I used this text prompt: "Google's ImageFx is the lamest software in the world" and got the image shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8. Mostly generated by ImageFX in April 2025. Plant person by Mr. Wombo.

At some point towards the end of 2024, the ImageFX user interface was altered. The "edit" button was removed and drop-down menus were no longer generated in text prompts. About then, I began using Google's Whisk. At the start of April, I was given "early access" to a new feature in Whisk, the ability to generate short videos from Whisk-generated images.

Figure 9. Generated by Whisk

The image shown in Figure 9 (above) was generated by Whisk. Below is an example of the kind of short video that Whisk can make from images.

Here is the text prompt that was used to create this video (v1, above): "The woman, the man and the flaming face are all moving and talking at the same time. The yellow flames flicker continuously and violently while the stylized face in the flame opens and closes its mouth as if the face is speaking to the man and the woman. The man pushes a probe into the flame and speaks to the face that is in the flame. The woman quickly walks across the room and reaches towards the flames with both hands".

In my imagination, this video (above) could depict a rather frustrated Tyhry who is trying to communicate with an artificial life-form that is inside the orange plasma. Whisk seemed reluctant to actually animate the "plasma creature". The video shown below (v2) was the one video out of a dozen attempts that resulted in significant movement of the "plasma creature", making it look like the creature is speaking.

The video below (v3) was the most unusual of these "plasma creature" videos.

The next video, below (v4), was the best example of a Whisk-generated video in which the woman walks towards the plasma and then reaches out towards the plasma.

In the next video, below (v5), it seems like the man finally gives up trying to elicit a reaction from the plasma creature.

In the next video, below (v6), the man seems to run away and leave the room.

In the next video (v7), Tyhry seems to stumble then points at the plasma creature and then there seems to be a flash of something (nanites) emitted by her finger.

In the next video (v8), it looks like both the man and Tyhry are speaking as he tries to get a reaction from the plasma creature. He is using a "magic wand" that seems to emit blue flame.

In the next video, below (v9), the device held by the man is emitting sparks and flame. Tyhry is also able to launch something at the plasma creature (nanites?). Also, in this video, the camera seems to move or pan to the side.

The next video (v10) might be my favorite one. Tyhry actually runs a significant distance. Strangely, in some frames of the video she seems to be barefoot while in other frames she seems to be wearing heels. Also, another plasma reactor mysteriously appears at the left hand side of the scene. Unfortunately, there is only one small movement of the plasma creature's face.

In the next video (v11), Tyhry is definitely wearing high heels. She seems to grow impatient with how the man is prodding at the plasma. As she approaches, some flame seems to move from the man's device towards Tyhry's hand.

The next video (v12) is unique in that another woman seems to walk through the scene, close to the camera.

In the next video (v13), Tyhry backs entirely out of the scene.

The next video (v14) is the final one from this series that I am including in this blog post. This is an example of a video that Whisk generated without any additional instructions from me. Whisk created a zoomed in view of Tyhry standing close to the sparking plasma.

In this first session of generating video with Whisk, I felt like there must be some secret instruction system for explaining to the AI how to make a video. My results seemed largely random, except for an occasional snippet that seemed to be generated in response to my instructions.

Next:

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Elyrix the Grendel

Elyrix the Grendel (right).
Supersized by Whisk.

 I asked Claude to help me write a science fiction story about a Grendel's mission on Earth. In the Exode Saga, Grendels are a human variant that was developed by the Nerieds. Grendels are used to carry out missions on Earth, generally without allowing Earthlings to become aware that the course of human cultural development has long been influenced by the alien Nereids.

Claude called this story "The Visitor at Dawn" and named the Grendel Elyrix. I suggested that Elyrix meet Tyna, Marda and Mylana who are three characters from my story "D*". In "D*", Tyna and Mylana are planning to visit Earth, where Tyna was born. However, Tyna and Mylana have been living on a distant habitable exoplanet.   

My story "D*" is set in an alternate timeline, what I call the Asimov Reality. Here, I call it the Azynov Reality.

This Whisk-generated image was provided to Claude (see below).

 Me: Claude, help me create a science fiction story. Examine the image that I uploaded, which illustrates a scene in the story. The story takes place in the year 2025. Three women are spending a summer weekend at a cabin located in a forest near a remote lake in the wilderness. They hear a strange sound and go to search for the source of the sound along the shore, just before sunrise. They meet a humanoid alien who is pulling complex devices of alien design out of a partially submerged vehicle of mysterious alien design. The alien can communicate by means of telepathy. The blond woman is named Tyna. The two young women with dark hair are named Marda and Mylana. The alien humanoid informs the three Earth women, "I am a Grendel, sent to complete a secret mission on this planet. I ask that you keep my existence a secret from others." Claude, continue the story and suggest the nature of the alien Grendel's mission. Also, invent a name for the alien Grendel.

Tyna with the probe.

 Claude: I can create a science fiction story based on the image you've shared. The image shows four figures on a forested lakeshore - three women in dark/teal swimwear and one figure with red hair in a long dress, along with some technological equipment with blue glowing elements and what appears to be a partially submerged object in the water. There's also a small cat-like creature near the red-haired figure. The scene has a mystical, sci-fi atmosphere with the forest and lake setting.

   The Visitor at Dawn

The morning mist hung low over the lake as Tyna, Marda, and Mylana made their way through the dense pine forest. They had been startled awake by a strange humming sound that seemed to vibrate through the walls of their rented cabin. Rather than calling for help, curiosity had driven them to follow the eerie blue glow visible through the trees.

"There," whispered Tyna, her blonde hair catching the first hints of dawn light as she pointed toward the shoreline. "Something's in the water."

The three women approached cautiously, their bare feet silent on the moss-covered ground. What they found left them speechless – a copper-haired figure in a crimson dress was methodically extracting strange devices from what looked like a partially submerged craft. The objects glowed with an unearthly blue light, displaying holographic interfaces unlike any technology they had ever seen.

As they watched, frozen in place, the figure turned to face them. The being had delicate, pointed ears and striking features that appeared almost human, yet somehow not. A small orange cat sat nearby, watching the proceedings with unusual intensity.

Without the figure's lips moving, the three women suddenly heard a voice in their minds.

"I am a Grendel, sent to complete a secret mission on this planet. I ask that you keep my existence a secret from others."

Tyna and Marda.

Tyna stepped forward, finding her voice first. "Who... what are you?"

"My name is Elyrix," the telepathic voice continued. "I come from a system you would call Kepler-186. My craft was damaged during atmospheric entry, and I was forced to make an emergency landing in your lake."

Marda, the bolder of the two dark-haired women, gestured toward the glowing equipment. "What are those devices? Are they weapons?"

Elyrix's expression softened. "No. They are environmental sensors. Your world is facing a climate crisis that threatens not only your species but countless others that share this planet."

Mylana moved closer, fascinated by a floating holographic display. "You're here to study climate change? Why the secrecy?"

"Not just to study," Elyrix explained, kneeling to retrieve another device from the water. "I am here to implement a solution. My people have faced similar crises on dozens of worlds across the galaxy. We have developed technology that can heal planetary systems without disrupting the natural evolutionary path of indigenous species."

"But why keep it secret?" Tyna asked. "Wouldn't governments want this technology?"

Elyrix's mental voice took on a grave tone. "That is precisely the problem. Your world's power structures are fractured by competing interests. Some would weaponize our technology, others would monopolize it for profit. The Grendel Collective operates on a principle of non-interference in political systems. We heal planets, not societies."

"So what's your actual mission?" Marda pressed, her skepticism evident.

Inactive probe.

 Elyrix lifted one of the devices, which expanded into a complex network of glowing nodes. "I must place seven bioremediation nodes at critical points around your Earth's oceans. These will gradually restore balance to your marine ecosystems, which will in turn stabilize atmospheric conditions. The process takes approximately five Earth years and leaves no harmful residues."

"And the cat?" Mylana asked, noticing how the animal seemed unnaturally focused.

"Nyx is not what you think," Elyrix answered with what felt like amusement in her telepathic voice. "She is a biomechanical assistant, designed to blend with Earth fauna while helping me navigate your world and communicate with local wildlife."

Tyna looked at her friends, then back to Elyrix. "How can we help?"

"I need time and secrecy to complete my work," Elyrix explained. "And perhaps... local knowledge. The crash has damaged my navigation systems."

As the sun broke fully over the horizon, casting golden light across the lake, the three women exchanged determined looks. What had begun as a quiet weekend getaway had suddenly become something far more significant – they were now accomplices in a mission to save their planet from a fate they hadn't even fully understood until now.

"We'll help you," Tyna said firmly. "But you have to promise to tell us everything about where you come from."

Elyrix smiled, a surprisingly human expression on her otherworldly face. "That seems a fair exchange. After all, my people have been watching yours for centuries. Perhaps it's time some of you watched us back."

Tyna and Mylana on Earth.

 Me:  Claude, Elyrix and Nyx are helping to stabilize Earth's biosphere in the face of rising levels of carbon dioxide. Here is some background information about our story "The Visitor at Dawn": 1) this story takes place in an alternate timeline of Earth where humans have been given access to interstellar space-drive technology (this is "intersplit" technology, as described in the science fiction novels of Jack Vance). 2) Aliens secretly provide intersplit spacecraft to humans and humans have begun to spread to habitable exoplanets of the galaxy. Those same aliens are preventing rapid technological change in human society, so humans need help to deal with problems like greenhouse gases. 3) Tyna and Marda were both born on Earth. Tyna and Mylana have been living on the Earth-like explanet Sadul Suud IV, which orbits the star beta-Aquarii, about 600 light years from Earth. 4) Sadul Suud IV is under the control of the Jarnell Corporation, which operates as a front for space aliens who are carrying out a selective breeding program which aims to create telepathic humans. 5) There is an important sedron mine on Sadul Suud IV that supplies sedrons for the intersplit spacecraft that are manufactured by the Jarnell Corporation. Tyhry and Mylana have come to Earth in order to investigate rumors that there is a secret Observer Base on or near Earth that is used by technologically advanced aliens who secretly observe Earth. 6) Marda is an "analogue" of Mylana. Marda is from another timeline of Earth (called the Buld Reality). Working with her friend, Tyhry (who is a Buld Reality analogue of Tyna), Marda has previously visited the timeline of Tyna and Mylana (which is called the Azynov Reality) and obtained the fuel that makes interstellar travel possible: sedrons. 7) Now Marda and Tyhry hope to help Tyna and Mylana access advanced alien technology that is inside the secret Observer Base. 8) Elyrix does not want to reveal the truth: she and other Grendels secretly operate out of Observer Base which is hidden inside a space-time bubble of alien design, a secret base of operations that humans cannot detect. Claude, do you have any questions about these backstory elements?

The Visitor at Dawn poster.

 Claude: This is a fascinating and complex backstory for the science fiction story "The Visitor at Dawn." I understand the key elements now - this takes place in an alternate timeline with intersplit technology, selective breeding programs for telepathic humans, and multiple realities intersecting. Let me make sure I've got the main points clear:

1. Earth has an alternate timeline where aliens have provided humans with "intersplit" technology for interstellar travel
2. Humans are colonizing exoplanets, but their technological progress is being controlled by aliens
3. Character relationships:
   - Tyna (Earth-born, now living on Sadul Suud IV)
   - Mylana (living on Sadul Suud IV with Tyna)
   - Marda (from the "Buld Reality" timeline, an "analogue" of Mylana)
   - Tyhry (not in the current scene, but is Tyna's analogue from the Buld Reality)

4. The Jarnell Corporation is a front for aliens conducting selective breeding for telepathic humans
5. Sedrons are the critical fuel for intersplit spacecraft
6. Tyna and Mylana are investigating rumors of an Observer Base near Earth
7. Marda and Tyhry want to help Tyna and Mylana access alien technology in the Observer Base
8. Elyrix (the Grendel) is concealing that she operates from this Observer Base, which exists in a hidden space-time bubble

A few questions to help further develop the story:

1. Does Elyrix know about the multiple realities (Azynov and Buld)? Are the Grendels aware of or involved in this multiverse situation?

Mostly generated by Leonardo.
The face and the long pointed ear of
Elyrix was generated by WOMBO Dream.

 2. What is Nyx's true capability? Is the cat-like biomechanical assistant more than just a communication tool?

3. Are sedrons naturally occurring or artificially created? Do they have any connection to the bioremediation technology Elyrix is deploying?

4. Do any of the three women have telepathic abilities yet, given the selective breeding program, or are they special in other ways?

5. What is the relationship between the Grendels and the aliens behind the Jarnell Corporation? Are they allies, rivals, or unaware of each other?

6. What do you envision happening next in the story - will the women help Elyrix complete her environmental mission first, or will they press her for access to the Observer Base?

 Me: Claude here are my answers to your six questions... (Question 1). Does Elyrix know about the multiple realities (Azynov and Buld)? Are the Grendels aware of or involved in this multiverse situation? Answer 1. Elyrix is aware that there are technologically advanced aliens who have time travel technology. Observer Base is actually the remnant of Eternity, the time travel system described by Isaac Asimov in his novel "The End of Eternity". Thus, "The Visitor at Dawn" is fan-fiction that uses intersplit technology from the stories of Jack Vance and the type of time travel technology that Asimov envisioned for his novel "The End of Eternity". Grendels are relatively low-level operatives for the more technologically advanced aliens who have provided intersplit technology to humans in the Azynov Reality. Elyrix has telepathic abilities, and will be able to "tune" her telepathic mind to that of Marda. Once Elyrix learn's Marda's mind pattern, Elyrix will realize that Marda is from the Buld Reality.

Manny the bumpha (left).

2. (Q2) What is Nyx's true capability? Is the cat-like biomechanical assistant more than just a communication tool? A2. Elyrix has been tricked into believing that Nyx is a useful assistant and companion, but Nyx is secretly Manny the bumpha, a technologically advanced alien who has access to (a) time travel technology and (b) advanced nanotechnology. Manny is an artificial life-form composed of nanites. Manny can morph and take on any convenient physical form. The bumpha have provided the intersplit spaceship drive technology to humans in the Azynov Reality so that humans can spread through the galaxy. The bumpha have begun a selective breeding program for humans aimed at producing telepathic humans. The Grendels are one of the human-variants that will be produced by selective breeding in the far future of the Azynov Reality. Some Grendel agents like Elyrix have been sent (by means of bumpha time travel technology) into the past in order to help deal with technological problems like global warming on Earth. Nyx does not want to reveal her true identity to Elyrix, however Marda and Tyhry have previously met Manny in the Buld Reality.

3. (Q3) Are sedrons naturally occurring or artificially created? Do they have any connection to the bioremediation technology Elyrix is deploying? A3. Sedrons are naturally occurring, but the bumpha have long ago removed sedrons from most of the galaxy (by using their advanced nanotechnology). This is routine practice for the bumpha who seek to maintain a "sedron monopoly". However, some planet like Sadul Suud IV in the Azynov Reality have sedrons in their crust that can be mined by humans.

Elyrix the Grendel.

 4. (Q4) Do any of the three women have telepathic abilities yet, given the selective breeding program, or are they special in other ways? A4. Tyna, Tyhry, Marda and Mylana are special in that they have some limited telepathic abilities. They are actually telepathic humans who have telepathic gene patterns that originated in the far future of the Azynov Reality. Tyhry and Tyna can telepathically exchange their language like thoughts because they have very similar mind patterns. Similarly, Marda and Mylana can telepathically exchange their language like thoughts because they share very similar mind patterns. However, they don't have useful telepathic communication with other people who have other mind patterns.

5. (Q5)  What is the relationship between the Grendels and the aliens behind the Jarnell Corporation? Are they allies, rivals, or unaware of each other? A5. The Grendels were part of another selective breeding program of the bumpha that led to the directed evolution of a human variant called the Nereids. The Nereids are an aquatic human variant that was designed to allow humanoid colonization of exoplanets that are water worlds (and have little habitable land). The Grendels were genetically crafted by Nereids to be more similar to the humans of Earth and the Grendels are useful as agents who can carry out secret missions on Earth. The Jarnell Corporation is a front for the bumpha that manages the distribution of alien intersplit space-drive technology to humans of the Azynov Reality.

Marda at the shore.

 6. (Q6)   What do you envision happening next in the story - will the women help Elyrix complete her environmental mission first, or will they press her for access to the Observer Base? A6. There is no way that Elyrix could "crash" on Earth and need help from humans; that is all a ruse. Manny is in a delicate situation: she does not want to reveal the existence of Observer Base to humans in the Azynov Reality, but she wants to reveal to Marda and Tyhry the type of nanotechnology that is needed so that they can enter into the Observer Base that exists in the Buld Reality. In the Buld Reality, Marda and Tyhry know that Observer Base exists, but they do not know how to enter Observer Base, which exists in a space-time bubble, inside what is known as the Hierion Domain of the universe, a type of subspace. Manny often helps Tyhry solve her problems, but Manny does not want Tyhry to know that Manny helps. Manny wants Tyhry to have adventures and feel like she is solving her own problems. Claude, do you have any further questions, or can you craft a revision (a second draft) of the beginning of the story that takes into account the backstory that I have provided?

 Claude: I've processed the backstory information you provided. Your answers add remarkable depth to this sci-fi universe, blending elements from Asimov's and Vance's work into a complex multiverse story with time travel, selective breeding, and hidden alien agendas.

The connections you've established between the characters are fascinating - particularly that Nyx is actually Manny the bumpha, an advanced nanite-based lifeform orchestrating events behind the scenes. The revelation that the Grendels are actually future human variants and that Observer Base is a remnant of Asimov's Eternity adds rich layers to the narrative.

Elyrix in a swimsuit (right)

 I'll craft a revised beginning that incorporates these elements. Would you like me to:

1. Keep the same basic scene structure but enhance it with the new background information?
2. Completely reimagine the opening to more explicitly introduce some of these complex elements?
3. Start the story at this lake encounter but add subtle hints about the true nature of the characters that an attentive reader might notice?

Also, is there a particular perspective you'd prefer the story to be told from? Since the characters have varying degrees of knowledge about what's really happening, the narrative perspective will significantly shape how the mystery unfolds for readers.

Mylana on Earth.

 Me: Claude, you can keep the same basic scene structure that you crafted for the first draft, but make it consistent with the new background information. I don't mind if there is some type of omniscient narration of the story events. Here is the solution to how Tyhry can get into Observer Base: it requires what we will call "hierion femtotube" technology, an advanced form of alien technology. Basically, any artificial life-forms composed of small synthetic components can get in and out of Observer Base, via hierion femtotubes. An artificial life-form like Manny can dissolve her physical structure and send her constituent components (as a bumpha, Manny is actually composed of advanced zepto-scale components called zeptites that can fit through a femtotube) through a hierion(-scale) femtotube. To be revealed in "The Visitor at Dawn" is the fact that Tyhry is actually an artificial life-form called a replicoid. Replicoids are made of femto-scale components called femtobots. Tyhry has so far lived her life believing that she is a biological human, but she is actually composed of femtobot components that precisely mimic a human body. In "The Visitor at Dawn", Tyhry will learn that since she is a femtobot replicoid, she can enter Observer Base via an hierion femtotube. Manny the bumpha has crafted Tyhry as a femtobot replicoid and Manny plans to use Tyhry to begin a society of human telepaths on the Earth of the Buld Reality (starting in the year 2040; the Buld Reality is the Earthly timeline that we know in the real world).

Portal to Eternity. This image
was mostly generated by Leonardo.
The Grendel's face and arm was generated
by Mr. Wombo.

 Claude: The Visitor at Dawn (version 2)

The morning mist hung low over the lake as Tyna, Marda, and Mylana made their way through the dense pine forest. They had been startled awake by a strange humming sound that seemed to vibrate through the walls of their rented cabin. Rather than calling for help, curiosity had driven them to follow the eerie blue glow visible through the trees.

"There," whispered Tyna, her blonde hair catching the first hints of dawn light as she pointed toward the shoreline. "Something's in the water."

The three women approached cautiously, their bare feet silent on the moss-covered ground. Though they appeared ordinary to casual observers, they shared a unique gift - limited telepathic abilities resulting from a selective breeding program orchestrated across time and realities by beings far more advanced than they yet understood.

What they found left them speechless – a copper-haired figure in a crimson dress was methodically extracting strange devices from what looked like a partially submerged craft. The objects glowed with an unearthly blue light, displaying holographic interfaces unlike any technology they had ever seen.

As they watched, frozen in place, the figure turned to face them. The being had delicate, pointed ears and striking features that appeared almost human, yet somehow not. A small orange cat sat nearby, watching the proceedings with unusual intensity.

Without the figure's lips moving, the three women suddenly heard a voice in their minds.

Tyna on Earth.

"I am a Grendel, sent to complete a secret mission on this planet. I ask that you keep my existence a secret from others."

Tyna stepped forward, finding her voice first. "Who... what are you?" She was no stranger to interstellar travelers, having lived on Sadul Suud IV where the Jarnell Corporation operated their sedron mining operation.

"My name is Elyrix," the telepathic voice continued. "I come from a time you would not recognize. My craft was damaged during atmospheric entry, and I was forced to make an emergency landing in your lake."

This was, of course, a carefully constructed ruse. In truth, Elyrix had arrived precisely as planned through the Observer Base hidden in a space-time bubble – a remnant of the time travel system once known as Eternity. She was fulfilling her role as a Grendel operative, descendants of the aquatic Nereids who had been genetically engineered to interact with Earth's human population.

Marda, the bolder of the two dark-haired women, gestured toward the glowing equipment. "What are those devices? Are they weapons?" Though she appeared identical to Mylana, Marda's mind carried the distinct pattern of the Buld Reality – something Elyrix would soon detect when she attuned her telepathic abilities.

"No. They are environmental sensors. Your world is facing a climate crisis that threatens not only your species but countless others that share this planet." Elyrix answered truthfully enough, though her mission was but a small part of the bumpha's greater design.

Tyhry visits the Azynov Reality

The orange cat – Nyx – watched with seemingly casual interest, its tail swishing rhythmically across the moss. None would suspect that within this feline form existed Manny, an advanced artificial life-form composed of zeptites, capable of taking any physical shape. Manny observed as her carefully arranged meeting unfolded according to plan.

Mylana moved closer, fascinated by a floating holographic display. "You're here to study climate change? Why the secrecy?" Unlike her Earth-born companion Tyna, Mylana had grown accustomed to advanced technology on Sadul Suud IV, though nothing quite like this.

"Not just to study," Elyrix explained, kneeling to retrieve another device from the water. "I am here to implement a solution. My people have faced similar crises on dozens of worlds across the galaxy."

Marda caught the eye of the cat briefly, a flicker of recognition passing between them. She had encountered Manny before in the Buld Reality, though never in this form. The bumpha had been instrumental in providing her and Tyhry with sedrons, the rare fuel that made interstellar travel possible.

"But why keep it secret?" Tyna asked. "Wouldn't governments want this technology?"

Elyrix's mental voice took on a grave tone. "That is precisely the problem. Your world's power structures are fractured by competing interests." She spoke the official line she had been trained to deliver, unaware that her own existence was part of an elaborate breeding program spanning millennia.

Reality Chain

 As the conversation continued, Manny the bumpha silently assessed the situation. The real purpose of this meeting was not Elyrix's environmental mission – important though it was – but to set in motion events that would reveal to Tyhry her true nature as a femtobot replicoid. Only then could she access Observer Base through hierion femtotubes, structures that allowed passage for synthetic beings composed of femto-scale components.

"So what's your actual mission?" Marda pressed, her skepticism evident.

Elyrix lifted one of the devices, which expanded into a complex network of glowing nodes. "I must place seven bioremediation nodes at critical points around your Earth's oceans. These will gradually restore balance to your marine ecosystems."

"And the cat?" Mylana asked, noticing how the animal seemed unnaturally focused.

"Nyx is not what you think," Elyrix answered with what felt like amusement in her telepathic voice. "She is a biomechanical assistant, designed to blend with Earth fauna while helping me navigate your world."
This much Elyrix believed to be true, unaware that "Nyx" was actually Manny, architect of much of human interstellar expansion and the very selective breeding program that had produced the Grendels.
Tyna looked at her friends, then back to Elyrix. "How can we help?"

"I need time and secrecy to complete my work," Elyrix explained. "And perhaps... local knowledge."

As the sun broke fully over the horizon, casting golden light across the lake, the three women exchanged determined looks. What had begun as a quiet weekend getaway had suddenly become something far more significant – they were now part of a cosmic plan spanning multiple realities and timelines.

"We'll help you," Tyna said firmly. "But you have to promise to tell us everything about where you come from."

Elyrix smiled, a surprisingly human expression on her otherworldly face. "That seems a fair exchange."

Meanwhile, Manny the bumpha, still in feline form, observed with satisfaction. Soon, Tyhry would join them, and the truth of her existence as a replicoid would be revealed. The pieces were falling into place for the next phase of human evolution – the creation of a society of human telepaths on Earth, beginning in the year 2040 of the Buld Reality.

________________________

 I re-wrote the second draft that was generated by Claude (above)...

 The Visitor at Dawn (version three, chapter 1)

The morning mist hung low, having slid into the forest from the lake while Tyna, Marda, and Mylana had slept. The three young women were visiting Earth and searching for an entrance to the mythical Observer Base, which Marda believed was quite real, but hidden inside a space-time bubble of the Hierion Domain. They had come to this particular remote location on Earth because it was one of the places rumored to have access to Observer Base by way of a hidden inter-dimensional portal. 

Now, the three women quickly made their way through the dense pine forest, guided by an eerie buzz that reminded Marda of the mating call of cicadas. They had been startled awake by a strange humming sound that seemed to vibrate through the walls of their rented cabin. Slaves to their own curiosity, they hurried towards an eerie blue glow that was now visible through the gaps between trunks of the trees.

"There," whispered Tyna, her blonde hair brightened by the first hints of dawn light as she pointed toward the shoreline. "Something's glowing in the water."

Emerging from the forest onto the shore, the three women approached the strange blue light source cautiously, their bare feet silent on the dew-coated, moss-covered ground. Though they appeared to be ordinary young woman to casual observers, they shared a unique gift - limited telepathic abilities resulting from a selective breeding program orchestrated across time and multiple Realities by alien beings far more technologically advanced than humans.

What they found awaiting them on that remote shoreline left them speechless: a copper-haired figure in a crimson dress was methodically extracting alien devices from what looked like a partially submerged craft. The recovered objects glowed with an unearthly blue light,  unlike any technology they had ever seen.

As they watched, the three women now frozen in place, the mysterious humanoid figure seemed to take note of their presence and she turned to face them. The being had delicate, pointed ears that protruded from her hair and strikingly feminine facial features that appeared almost human, yet somehow not. A small orange cat was sitting nearby, watching the efforts of the humanoid woman with focused intensity.

Without the humanoid’s lips moving, the three women suddenly heard her language-like thoughts in their minds: Well, that’s just great. Where did you come from? Resigned to the fact that she had been seen by Earthlings, the redhead continued: I am a Grendel, sent to complete a mission on this planet. I ask that you keep my presence on your world a secret from others. If you cooperate with me, I will not cloud your thoughts with my memory-editing nanites.

Intrigued by the possibility that this Grendel might have brought useful nanotechnology to Earth, Tyna stepped forward, finding her voice first. "Who... what are you?" She was no stranger to interstellar travelers, having lived on Sadul Suud IV where the Jarnell Corporation operated their sedron mining operation. And more importantly, she had heard her mother’s tales about Aymy’s personal Grendel, a mysterious companion who had accompanied Aymy through all of her life. Aymy believed that her personal Grendel existed in the Hierion Domain and occasionally communicated with her by means of telepathy.

My name is Elyrix. The telepathic ‘voice’ continued to seep into the minds of the three women. I come from a time in the far future where I was trained for my mission in this primitive time. Sadly, my craft was damaged and is no longer sea-worthy. There is an ancient Grendel facility at the bottom of this lake, but I can’t reach it. I’m forced to abandon my original plans which would have allowed completion of my mission without ever being detected on Earth. I ask you to help me deal with this emergency situation.

Elyrix was quickly trying to distinguish the mind patterns of the three humans. So far, she sense only that Marda and Mylana has essentially identical telepathic mind patterns. Elyrix had not been warned to expect to find telepathic humans on Earth in this primitive era, but now she could sense that these woman had some limited telepathic powers.

The “emergency” that Elyrix had described was a carefully constructed ruse. In truth, Elyrix had arrived precisely as planned on Earth, having been teleported there from Observer Base which was hidden in a space-time bubble – a remnant of Earth’s original time travel system, once known as Eternity. Elyrix was fulfilling her role as a Grendel operative. The Grendels were a telepathic human variant from the future, having been carefully designed and crafted by an ancient aquatic species known as the Nereids. The Grendels had been genetically engineered to have a fairly normal human appearance, allowing them to interact with Earth's human population, if necessary. On those rare occasions when seen by humans, Grendel operatives were trained to pass themselves off as elves or other creatures of Earthly legend and then use their advanced memory-editing nanotechnology to erase the memories of any human who had seen them.

Marda, the bolder of the two dark-haired women, gestured toward the glowing equipment. "What are these devices? Are they weapons?" Though she appeared identical to Mylana, Marda was an interloper from the Buld Reality, an alternate timeline of Earth. Marda was visiting Mylana’s Reality be means of advanced Reality Simulation technology. Marda imagined that Elyrix would soon begin to link telepathically to her memories. Marda wondered: How long would it take Elyrix to become attuned to Marda’s telepathic mind pattern? And Marda wanted to do nothing that would startle Elyrix and cause the Grendel to deploy her memory-editing nanites.

Elyrix shook her head. Not weapons. They are environmental sensors. We Grendels have been carefully dealing the on-going climate crisis that threatens not only your species but countless others that share this planet with you. Elyrix answered truthfully enough, though her mission was but a small part of Manny the bumpha's greater design and reasons for allowing Elyrix to meet Marda, Mylana and Tyna on Earth.

The orange cat – Nyx – watched with seemingly focused interest, its tail swishing rhythmically across the wet moss, without itself becoming wet. None of the three humans nor Elyrix suspected that within this feline form existed an artificial life-form: Manny the bumpha. Manny was an advanced artificial life-form composed of incredibly small zeptites and she was capable of instantly altering the configuration of her zeptites, making her quite capable of taking any desired physical shape. Manny observed as her carefully arranged meeting unfolded according to plan.

Mylana moved closer to Elyrix, fascinated by a floating holographic display device that Elyrix held in her hands. "You're here to study climate change? Why do do in secrecy?" Like her Earth-born companion Tyna, Mylana had grown accustomed to the advanced technology on Sadul Suud IV, though nothing quite like this. Mylana telepathically asked Marda: How deep is the lake? Could we swim down to the Grendel base?

Not just to study, Elyrix explained. Her sparkling dress was wet from her efforts to retrieve equipment from her damaged vehicle which now floundered in the water. She deployed the drying cycle of her clothing nanites, and the artificial fabric of her dress was quickly cleared of any adhering water molecules. I am here on your world to repair or replace malfunctioning carbon dioxide extractors. We Grendels have been teleporting excess carbon dioxide to Venus for many decades, thus preventing global warming on Earth.

Not wanting Elyrix to become aware of their shared telepathic linkage, Marda was afraid to reply telepathically to Mylana’s questions. While ‘listening’ to the thoughts that Elyrix was placing in the minds of the three humans, Marda caught the eye of the cat briefly and Marda experienced a flicker of recognition. She had encountered Manny before in the Buld Reality, in the guise of Tyhry’s pet cat. Now, gazing at Nyx, Marda thought of Manny the bumpha who had been instrumental in providing her and Tyhry with sedrons, the rare fuel that made interstellar travel possible. That gift had made it possible for them to build Sedrover, the first human interstellar spaceship ever built in the Ekcolir Reality.

Tyhry’s secret nanite programming laboratory was located in the Ekcolir Reality, the Reality that was located in Earth’s Reality Chain intermediately between the Azynov Reality and the Buld Reality. Now Marda wished that Tyhry was here and able to deploy her programmable nanites and hopefully to deal with Elyrix, or at least defend against the memory-editing nanites of this Grendel agent. However, Tyhry had gone off to another part of the Reality Simulation System, to visit Systolina on Threy, a planet in Alastor Cluster.

Now Elyrix fixed her gaze on Marda’s eyes. Elyrix was learning Marda’s mind pattern and could sense that Marda was nervously trying to hide something from Elyrix. Then suddenly Elyrix was able to telepathically identify Marda’s name.

"But why keep this interventionistic project of the Grendels secret?" Tyna asked. Elyrix did not reply. Tyna continued,  “Surely you realize that the people of Earth could make good use of this advanced alien technology!”

Elyrix's mental voice took on a grave tone. Teleportation technology for humans? That would be a big problem. Your world's society is fractured by competing interests. She ‘spoke’ the official line she had been trained to deliver.  It would unleash chaos if Earthlings were suddenly given access to teleportation technology.

As the conversation continued, Manny the bumpha silently assessed the unfolding situation and she was carefully monitoring Elyrix's rapid learning of the telepathic mind pattern that was shared by Marda and Mylana. The real purpose of this meeting was not Elyrix's environmental mission – important though it was – but to set in motion events that would reveal to Marda’s friend, Tyhry, her true nature as a femtobot replicoid. Only then could she access Observer Base through hierion femtotubes, structures that allowed passage for synthetic beings composed of femto-scale components.

"So what's your actual mission?" Marda pressed, her skepticism evident.

Marda? Your name is Marda, is it not? Elyrix lifted one of the devices, which expanded into a complex network of glowing nodes. I was trained to replace seven bioremediation nodes at critical points around your Earth's oceans. The carbon dioxide extractors eventually breakdown and need to be repaired or replaced. The undersea extractors maintain the chemical balance of your marine ecosystems, preventing acidification of the oceans.

"And this cat?" Mylana asked, noticing how the animal seemed unnaturally focused.

Elyrix could now telepathically skim the surface thoughts of Mylana’s mind. Mylana, say hello to my companion. Nyx is not what you think he is, Elyrix answered with what felt like amusement in her telepathic voice. He is a biomechanical assistant and my friend, designed to appear to be a natural part of Earth’s fauna while helping me navigate my mission on your world.

This much Elyrix believed to be true, unaware that "Nyx" was actually Manny, the secret gran architect of human interstellar expansion and the very selective breeding program that in the future of the Azynov Reality had produced the telepathic humans like Marda, Mylana, Tyna and Tyhry.

“We certainly would not want to contribute to any disruption of Earth’s fragile ecosystem.” Tyna looked at her friends, then back to Elyrix. "How can we help you complete your mission?”

If I can get into the Grendel base that is hidden at the bottom of this lake then I will be able repair my damaged vehicle. I need time and secrecy to complete my work, Elyrix explained. Elyrix was also learning Tyna’s unique telepathic mind pattern and was able to identify the blond woman’s name. And perhaps... your knowledge, Tyna, or that of Tyhry will allow me to complete my mission on this world.

As the sun broke fully over the horizon, casting golden light across the lake, the three women exchanged determined looks. What had begun as a search for the legendary Observer Base, had suddenly become something far more significant – a chance to work with Elyrix and possibly access advanced alien technology. Marda wondered of the “Grendel base” described by Elyrix was actually Observer Base. Maybe what was at the bottom of the lake was an access portal that linked Earth to Observer Base.

"We'll help you," Tyna said firmly. "But you have to promise to tell us more about your mission and methods. And please, no more talk about erasing our memories!”

Elyrix smiled, a surprisingly human expression on her otherworldly face. Now that she knew all their names, Elyrix finally spoke out-loud. ”That seems a fair exchange."

Meanwhile, Manny the bumpha, still in her adopted feline form, observed with satisfaction. Soon, Tyhry would join them inside this Simulation fork of the Azynov Reality, and the truth of Tyhry’s nature, the fact that she was a replicoid, would be revealed to her. The pieces were falling into place for the next part of Manny’s plans – the creation of a society of human telepaths on Earth, beginning in the year 2040 of the Buld Reality.

I showed my version of Chapter 1 of  "The Visitor at Dawn" and asked Claude to comment.

________________________

  Me: Claude, process the text file that I just uploaded. This is my edited version of the first chapter of "The Visitor at Dawn". Please make a numbered list of the major changes that I made to the story, then ask me any questions you have about the changes that I made.

 Claude: I've processed your edited version of Chapter 1 of "The Visitor at Dawn." Here are the major changes you made to the story:

1. Added context about the women's purpose - explicitly stating they're searching for the entrance to Observer Base
2. Established that Elyrix uses actual verbal telepathy instead of just appearing to communicate telepathically
3. Added the threat of "memory-editing nanites" that Elyrix could use on humans who see her
4. Included background about Tyna's mother "Aymy" having her own personal Grendel companion
5. Specified that Elyrix claims there's an ancient Grendel facility at the bottom of the lake
6. Clarified that Marda is visiting via "Reality Simulation technology" rather than physically being in the Azynov Reality
7. Added details about Marda's friend Tyhry being elsewhere (visiting Systolina on Threy)
8. Specified that the Grendels' environmental mission involves teleporting excess CO2 to Venus
9. Expanded Marda's backstory, mentioning the Ekcolir Reality and Tyhry's nanite programming laboratory
10. Added the "Sedrover" spaceship built by Marda and Tyhry in the Ekcolir Reality
11. Described Elyrix learning each woman's name through telepathic connection
12. Had Elyrix eventually switch from telepathic communication to speaking aloud
13. Added more specific details about the women's telepathic connections and abilities

Questions about your changes:

1. Is the "Reality Simulation technology" that Marda is using different from physical travel between realities? Does this mean she's not physically present with Tyna and Mylana?

2. You mentioned Tyhry is visiting "Systolina on Threy" - is this setting up a parallel storyline, or will Tyhry join the main story soon?

3. The detail about Tyna's mother Aymy having her own "personal Grendel" seems significant. Will this connection be important to the story?

4. The Grendel facility at the bottom of the lake - is this actually Observer Base, or is it a separate installation?

5. You added CO2 extraction and teleportation as the specific environmental technology - is this inspired by any particular sci-fi concept or your own invention?

6. You mentioned the "Ekcolir Reality" as being between the Azynov and Buld Realities - how many realities are there in this multiverse structure?

Here are the answers that I composed for Claude's questions:

Claude, here are my answers to your six new questions about Chapter 1 of our story.

Q1. Is the "Reality Simulation technology" that Marda is using different from physical travel between realities? Does this mean she's not physically present with Tyna and Mylana?
A1. The Reality Simulation System is advanced bumpha technology that Manny has allowed Tyhry and Marda to use. About 2,000,000,000 years ago, the bumpha first visited Earth and seeded Earth with zeptites. Zeptites became integral parts of all life on Earth, including humans (humans cannot detect zeptites which are composed of sardonic matter in which sedron-sedron bonds are many orders of magnitude shorter than chemical bonds in conventional hadronic matter. During all of the Realities of Earth’s Reality Chain, zeptites have carefully recorded events on Earth (these records exist in the Sedron Domain of the universe, which is the natural environment of Sedronites such as the bumpha. The Reality Simulation System can generate precise and realistic simulations of all past Realities. When Marda and Tyhry enter into a Reality Simulation, the Reality Simulation System inserts simulated copies of their bodies into the Simulation of that Reality, allowing them to participate in simulated existence within a past Reality of Earth (or other planets such as Threy).

Q2. You mentioned Tyhry is visiting "Systolina on Threy" - is this setting up a parallel storyline, or will Tyhry join the main story soon?
A2. Tyhry will soon (Chapter 2 of "The Visitor at Dawn") join Marda, Tyna, Mylana and Elyrix on Earth. "Systolina on Threy" is part of Tyhry’s on-going effort to study how human telepaths were produced by artificial evolution in the future of the Azynov Reality. Systolina is a resident of the planet Threy, a resort world that Tyhry and Marda have previously visited and where they befriended Systolina. In all honesty, the AI-generated image that I uploaded for you at the beginning of this story writing collaboration simply did not include Tyhry, so I made up an excuse for her absence from Chapter 1 of "The Visitor at Dawn". However, that “Excuse” fits into the larger Fictional Universe that is the setting for our story. Previously, Tyhry talked Systolina into starting a social revolution on Threy, and now Tyhry feels responsible for helping Systolina navigate the social conflict that she has generated on Threy. When done helping Systolina, Tyhry will catch up with Marda on Earth. When Marda went into the simulation of Earth in the Azynov Reality, Tyhry was highly skeptical that Marda would find a way to access Observer Base. Upon entering the Simulation of Earth Tyhry will be surprised to find that Marda has met a Grendel on Earth.

Q3. The detail about Tyna's mother Aymy having her own "personal Grendel" seems significant. Will this connection be important to the story?
A3. Grendels have long been part of Earth’s legends. Like Tyna, Aymy has some telepathic abilities. Aymy was born on Earth and grew to adulthood on Earth. When Tyna was very young, Aymy took Tyna off of Earth and they went to live on a distant exoplanet. The fact that Aymy has a telepathic linkage to her personal Grendel is part of the larger backstory for "The Visitor at Dawn”. Aymy’s personal Grendel played an important role in shaping Tyna’s early life. Aymy has often spoken to Tyna about her personal Grendel. Marda and Tyhry have a somewhat more sophisticated understanding of the Grendels due to the investigative work performed by Tyhry’s father in the Buld Reality. However, neither Tyhry or Marda has ever met a Grendel… until now.

Q4. The Grendel facility at the bottom of the lake - is this actually Observer Base, or is it a separate installation?
A4. There is a Grendel facility at the bottom of the lake. That facility has am hierion femtotube that links to Observer Base.

Q5. You added CO2 extraction and teleportation as the specific environmental technology - is this inspired by any particular sci-fi concept or your own invention?
A5. Teleportation plays an important role in the adventures of Tyhry. At the time of the events in "The Visitor at Dawn”, Tyhry is trying to re-activate ancient alien teleportation equipment that is hidden at a few key locations on Earth. Tyhry hopes to teleport from Earth to Observer Base. However, that won’t work, since the alien teleportation equipment that is hidden on Earth was not designed to allow teleportation into the Hierion Domain of the universe. But Manny is planning to make sure that Tyhry can enter Observer Base via an hierion femtotube.

Q6. You mentioned the "Ekcolir Reality" as being between the Azynov and Buld Realities - how many realities are there in this multiverse structure?
A6. If you are familiar with Isaac Asimov’s time travel novel “The End of Eternity” then you can appreciate the idea that the Eternals were able to initiate Reality Changes. There have been many such Reality Changes and so there have been many Realities. The last three Realities of Earth’s Reality Chain are the Azynov Reality, the Ekcolir Reality and the Buld Reality. The Buld Reality is also called the Final Reality, because a change has been made to the Dimensional Structure of the Universe, putting an end to all further time travel. In the Azynov Reality, the bumpha still has time travel technology and could send telepathic humans and Grendels from the far future of the Azynov Reality into the past of that Reality.

At this point, when I tried to upload these answers to Claude's questions, I ran into the length limit for the free version of Claude.

Next: AI-generated video.

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SIHA 2025: Start the Search

Figure 1. Anthony has Mylana in a hierion
confinement field while Felydyans watch.

 Back in 2012 I began the annual tradition of searching for interesting Hollywood aliens (SIHA). Last year (2024), I awarded a retro-SIHA for a Star Trek episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver". For the 2025 search, I went to this Wikipedia page and found Descendent (not 'descendant'), which was first shown to an audience on March 10, 2025. Inspired by both "D*" and  this review of the film, I was led to this text prompt: "Photorealistic image, cinematic quality, sharp focus, vibrant and saturated colors, emphasizing texture and materiality. A dramatic science fiction scene depicting a tall man who looks carefully at a handheld device while examining a young woman who is inside a translucent, iridescent membrane. The membrane, slightly elastic,

Figure 2. Anthony has Tyhry contained.

stretches like a balloon to surround the woman. The membrane extends under the woman's bare feet. The woman is wearing a dark-colored bikini. Her long dark brown hair and light olive skin are visible. She is very tall, athletic and slim like a dancer. Her expression is one of amusement. Several gray cat-like aliens with very large reptilian eyes eyes are walking around the circumference of the membrane, watching the woman intently. The cat-like aliens are humanoid and bipedal, but only three feet tall. The background is the dark interior of a futuristic physics laboratory. Fractal complex laser physics equipment looms in the background, self-illuminated by LED control panels. The overall scene has intense dynamic tension, with detailed and

Figure 3. Anthony has Marda contained.

realistic textures highlighting the contrast between the girl's human form and the swarming alien cat-like creatures" which ImageFX used to generate the image that is shown in Figure 1.

 Nanite Containment Fields. I asked Claude to invent a backstory for the alien creatures in Figure 2.  

Me: "Claude, examine the AI-generated image that I uploaded. Suggest a plot for a science fiction story that would include the scene depicted in the uploaded image. The short cat-like alien creatures are trying to convince the young woman that she is an artificial life-form, not a biological creature from Earth. The man has placed the woman inside a nanite containment field while he attempts to demonstrate that the woman's body is composed of nanoscopic components that mimic the behavior of biological cells."

Figure 4. An Architect.

 Claude: "This image appears to be a scene from a science fiction film or show. It depicts a laboratory setting with a person in a transparent containment pod or bubble, surrounded by several small alien-like creatures. Another person in formal attire is standing outside the containment area, holding what appears to be a device. The scene has a dark, teal-blue lighting that creates a dramatic sci-fi atmosphere with technological equipment visible in the background. Here's a science fiction plot that could incorporate this scene:
"The Cellular Deception"

In the year 2157, Dr. Marcus Reinhardt leads a classified xenobiology project studying an unusual alien species nicknamed "The Architects" - small, humanoid creatures with cat-like features who claim to be cosmic engineers capable of creating artificial life indistinguishable from natural evolution.

The story centers on Elise, a brilliant young bioengineer who begins experiencing strange symptoms: enhanced reflexes, accelerated healing, and flashes of memories she's certain aren't her own. When she confronts Dr. Reinhardt about her concerns, The Architects reveal themselves to her, claiming she is their most advanced creation - not a human, but a nanite-based synthetic organism designed to believe she has lived a human life.

In the pivotal scene depicted, Dr. Reinhardt has reluctantly placed Elise in a specialized nanite containment field that can detect and manipulate microscopic machinery. As The Architects circle the containment bubble, they attempt to convince Elise of her artificial nature. Dr. Reinhardt, who has worked with The Architects for years but has grown suspicious of their intentions, uses a quantum resonance scanner to demonstrate to Elise that her body is indeed composed of trillions of nanoscopic components that perfectly mimic biological cells - down to simulated DNA and synthesized memories.

Figure 5. Two arms.

 The tension builds as Elise's perceived reality crumbles, forcing her to question everything: her childhood memories, her relationships, even her humanity. However, as the story progresses, Dr. Reinhardt discovers The Architects' true agenda: they aren't creating artificial life but rather "upgrading" existing humans without consent, gradually replacing humanity with hybrid beings under their control.

The narrative would explore themes of identity, the nature of consciousness, what defines humanity, and the ethical boundaries of biotechnology, culminating in Elise's discovery that she must embrace both her human origin and enhanced abilities to expose The Architects' plans before their silent invasion can be completed." 

 Me: Claude, let us call people such as Elise "replicoids". Are the "Architects" themselves replicoids? How are replicoids made? Are the replicoids such good mimics of biological organisms that a replicoid could develop and pass through developmental stages from childhood to adult? Provide an explanation for why "The Architects" would secretly make a human replicoid such as Elise and then at a later time reveal to "her" the truth of her non-biological nature. It seems that another option would be for the "Architects" to ask a human test subject if they want to be used as a template for the creation of a replicoid. In what sense is Elise now a "hybrid being"? Why do the "Architects" want to convert all of Humanity into artificial life-forms?

 Claude: In this expanded universe, the nature of replicoids and the Architects' motivations would work like this:

The Architects aren't replicoids themselves—they're an ancient extraterrestrial species who evolved naturally but reached a technological plateau. They developed nanotechnology as their primary field of mastery, allowing them to manipulate matter at the atomic level.

Figure 6. Three arms.

 Replicoids are created through a gradual infiltration process. The Architects release specially designed nanites that target a biological host and begin a cell-by-cell replacement. This occurs so gradually that the host's consciousness remains continuous while their physical substrate changes. The nanites perfectly replicate biological functions but add enhanced capabilities. The process typically takes 3-5 years to complete without detection.

Yes, replicoids could indeed develop through all human life stages. The Architects could create infant replicoids that genuinely grow, develop, and mature just as biological humans do. The nanites would be programmed to simulate all biological developmental processes, including cellular division, hormonal changes, and neural development. This makes their integration completely undetectable, as they would age naturally and develop authentic memories and experiences.

The Architects reveal the truth to Elise for several strategic reasons:

1. Testing consciousness retention – They need to verify that consciousness remains stable after complete conversion
2. Recruiting "awakened" replicoids – Elise represents a potential ally who could help refine and accelerate their plans
3. Creating infiltration agents – An "awakened" replicoid who understands their nature can better serve the Architects' agenda while maintaining human appearance
4. Psychological experimentation – They're studying how revelation of synthetic nature affects identity and loyalty

The Architects don't seek consent because their worldview doesn't value individual autonomy. They see themselves as elevating lesser species rather than violating them. From their perspective, asking permission would be like humans asking cells if they want to evolve.

Figure 7. Nanite mist.

 Elise is a "hybrid" in multiple senses:
- Physically: Though her body is now entirely synthetic, it retains perfect biological simulation
- Cognitively: Her mind contains both human experiences/values and potential access to Architect knowledge
- Functionally: She can interface with both human society and Architect technology
- Evolutionarily: She represents a bridge between biological evolution and engineered existence

The Architects' motivation for converting humanity is multifaceted:

1. Survival imperative – Their species is dying, and they seek to preserve their consciousness by creating beings that can host aspects of their minds
2. Evolutionary philosophy – They genuinely believe nanite conversion is the next step in cosmic evolution
3. Resource efficiency – Replicoids require fewer resources than biological humans while being more resilient
4. Unity agenda – They envision creating a pan-species network of consciousness that transcends biological limitations
5. Fear of competition – They've identified humanity as having unusual potential that could eventually threaten them

This creates the central tension of the story—Elise must determine whether the Architects are offering evolution or extinction, and whether her remaining human values should lead her to resist or assist their plan.

 Me: Claude, in the fictional universe of the 'Architects', how common are worlds like Earth and biological organisms like humans and the 'Architects'? Are there only a few such species in the galaxy or many? How easy is it for the 'Architects' to travel through interstellar space? How could such a technologically advanced species as the 'Architects' be "dying"?

Figure 8. Elise (inside the nanite containment field), Dr. Reinhardt (left) and two types of Architect: 1) The smaller alien creatures are nanotech constructs, made from Architect consciousness patterns that were reconstructed into artificial bodies upon the arrival of an interstellar Architect "seed ship" at Earth. 2) The taller pink creature is a human replicoid, now beginning to shift its nanite components from its original human form so as to now take on physical features of the biological Architect species. Mystery: what looks like a replicoid head at the bottom center of the image, on the floor to the right of the bag. This image was generated by Whisk.

Claude: "In the fictional universe of the Architects, the cosmic landscape would work like this:

Biological life is relatively uncommon but not unique. Among the billions of star systems in the galaxy, perhaps a few thousand harbor complex biological life, with only a couple hundred developing sentient civilizations. Earth-like worlds with humanoid species are particularly rare—maybe 15-20 currently exist in the Milky Way.

The Architects themselves evolved on a world orbiting an ancient star, developing their civilization millions of years before humans. While they share some convergent evolutionary traits with Earth species (bilateral symmetry, sensory organs, manipulative appendages), their biology is quite different—adapted to higher radiation levels and lower gravity.

Figure 9. The nanotechnology experiment. Generated by Whisk. I pasted in a Marda replicoid.

Interstellar travel for the Architects is possible but resource-intensive. They primarily use two methods:
1. Generation ships containing physical Architects that travel at roughly 15% light speed using advanced fusion propulsion
2. 'Seed ships' containing only their nanotechnology and consciousness patterns that can be reconstructed upon arrival

Rather than a conventional galactic empire with many colony worlds, they've established a sparse network of outposts around star systems of interest.

As for why such an advanced species is dying, their decline stems from several interconnected factors:

Figure 10. Five eyes.

 1. Evolutionary specialization – Their biology became increasingly dependent on their home world's specific conditions, making adaptation difficult
2. Reproductive failure – Their complex reproductive cycle began breaking down, possibly due to accumulated radiation damage or environmental changes
3. Technological trap – They focused so intensely on nanotechnology that they neglected biological medicine
4. Resource depletion – They exhausted critical resources on their home world before developing sufficient space infrastructure
5. Consciousness fragmentation – As they attempted to preserve themselves through digital means, their minds began to lose coherence and stability

Most critically, the Architects face a paradox: their nanite technology can perfectly simulate and replace biological systems, but it cannot truly create new biological life. They can make copies but not originals. This limitation has trapped them in a cycle of diminishing returns as their original biological population dwindles.

Their interest in humanity stems partly from our adaptability—humans thrive in varied environments and circumstances, a trait the Architects lost long ago. They see in humans a potential repository for their consciousness that might avoid the degradation they've experienced in purely artificial systems. This explains their hybrid approach rather than simply creating fully artificial beings."

 Me: "Provide a text prompt that could be used with text-to-image software such as Google's ImageFX (which has no length limit on the text prompt) that would allow generation of an image depicting one of the Architects as you imagine its physical form and features."

Figure 11. Nanite extraction.

 Claude: "Here's a detailed text prompt for generating an image of one of the 'Architects' using text-to-image software:

"A highly detailed, anatomically distinctive alien being known as an 'Architect.' Small in stature (approximately 3 feet tall) with a slender, lightweight frame adapted for low gravity. Cat-like in overall impression but clearly non-terrestrial. Large, oval-shaped head with an elongated cranium suggesting enhanced brain capacity. Facial features include three large, luminous eyes with vertical pupils that glow a pale blue-green, positioned in a triangular arrangement. No visible nose, but sensory pits where a nose would be. Small, precision-oriented mouth with thin lips revealing metallic-looking teeth. Skin texture is smooth and hairless with a pale gray-blue coloration and subtle bioluminescent patterns that pulse faintly. Arms are proportionally longer than human arms with six-fingered hands featuring double-jointed digits ideal for intricate work. Lower body is more diminutive with digitigrade legs ending in four-toed feet. The overall physiology suggests both biological evolution and self-modification through their own nanotechnology. The being wears minimal, form-fitting attire made of a material resembling liquid metal that shifts slightly with movement. Expression conveys a cold, calculating intelligence with undertones of ancient wisdom and detachment. Background shows hints of advanced technology with nanite-like particles visibly floating around the being. Lighting: cool blue-teal tones suggesting a laboratory environment. Photorealistic rendering with fine details, 8K resolution, dramatic sci-fi lighting."

Figure 12. More eyes please. Generated by Whisk. Don't let the cat out of the bag.

Figure 13. In an alternate universe.

Apparently (based on the reviews I've read, and having never seen the film myself), the film Descendent never really gets around to explaining the mysterious nature of the alien influence that alters the life of the main character in the movie. In that sense, Descendent reminds me of Annihilation, a film which was more about concocting a silly horror scenario than devising an interesting science fiction story. It has reached the point where I have to wonder if a large language model could devise a more interesting science fiction movie than can people working in Hollywood. Maybe in an alternate universe Claude could be allowed to produce a science fiction movie that actually explores interesting aliens that are trying to accomplish something new with imaginary advanced technology. 

Generated by Mr. Wombo.

I like Claude's idea (above) of a type of alien nanotechnology that can slowly infiltrate a human body, gradually converting all the biological components and cells into an artificial replicoid copy that is composed only of nanites that are able to precisely mimic the biological components of the original human being. 

 Replicoid Replacements. This science fiction concept of replacing the components of a person's body reminds me of the key plot element in the 1950 story "Contagion", by Katherine MacLean, a story in which mutated human cells can infiltrate people's bodies, gradually altering those people into weird clones of the original person who was the source of the mutated cells.

 Interior Update. I manually colorized the original interior art for "Contagion" by Paul Pierre (shown in this blog post) and had WOMBO Dream make an updated version. See the image above ↑.

Nanites emanating from his body.

I've long struggled with how to make illustrations for invisibly small nanites. I provided Whisk with the image of the man with red hair and tried to get an image depicting the spread of nanites outward from the man's body (see the image that is shown to the right).  ➤

I was rather appalled by the chunky "nanites" shown in Figures 4 - 6 (above). By making changes to Claude's original text prompt, I was able to get images like the ones in Figures 7 and 10 where the nanites have an appearance that is more like mist rather than big chunks of floating dirt.

By Gencraft ("nature" style)

I also tried using Gencraft to make an image of the red-haired mutant man (see the image to the left). Gencraft seemed incapable of making an image with the kind of hair that I wanted. I've never seen a real person with this kind of fluorescent orange hair.

By Gencraft ("realistic" style)

Gencraft has a "genie" feature that allows you to get advice on how to change your text prompt. The "genie" suggested changing "red hair" to "richly textured bright red hair that resemble the complexity of real human locks". I also tried changing the style to "realistic". Those changes again resulted in the same orange clown hair. I then tried changing the text prompt to include: "richly textured red hair that resembles a reddish shade of real human hair" and got better images such as the one that is shown to the right. ↗

Image blocked; Gencraft text-to-image.

One of the frustrations of working with text-to-image software is when it fails to generate an image for mysterious reasons. Shown to the left is what I got on my 5th text prompt when I tried changing "man" to "woman".

Generated by Gencraft.

I modified the text prompt and got the image shown to the right. New text prompt: "A photorealistic image with cinematic quality, sharp focus, and vibrant, saturated colors emphasizing texture and materiality. A tall, slim, light-skinned woman with natural, richly textured red hair stands in a forest, showcasing intricate details of her long hair that is a rich reddish shade of real human hair. Her athletic physique is rendered in detailed hyperrealistic style, focusing on form and shape. The woman is positioned in the foreground near a tree with a thick, dark brown trunk and a full canopy of bright green leaves. Tendrils of swirling mist seem to rise from her body, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment. In the background, numerous thinner, lighter-colored trees appear softly in the haze. The ground is covered in short, light green grass and low-lying vegetation. Floating mist swirls around the woman, enhancing the atmospheric perspective". I can't explain why Gencraft made images of male figures wearing pants while the female figure did not get dressed in anything other than her long hair.

Generated by ImageFX.

In the case of ImageFX, the text-to-image software failed to generate any images when using the text prompt that is shown in the preceding paragraph. I modified the text prompt to specify that, "She is dressed in a futuristic jumpsuit and appears to be a molecular biologist of the far future holding futuristic laboratory equipment in her hands". ImageFX then generated images such as the one that is shown to the left.

Generated by Leonardo.

Using the ImageFX-generated image (shown to the left) as a reference image, I then had Leonardo generate some similar images, one of which is shown to the right. This image is actually a composite image, mostly generated by Leonardo Phoenix model, but her face was generated by WOMBO Dream. I also manually added the yellow "laser beam" to the AI-generated image.

A. Generated by DreamUp.

Next, I used DreamUp to get additional images of a woman in a forest. The free version of DreamUp is limited to a fairly short text prompt, so I used:

B. Generated by DreamUp.

  "A tall, slim, light-skinned woman with natural, richly textured red hair stands in a forest, showcasing intricate details of her long flowing hair that is a rich reddish shade of real human hair. Her athletic physique is accented by a futuristic white lace jumpsuit. Tendrils of swirling mist seem to rise from her body, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment" and got images such as the one that is shown above ↑ and to the left (A). The DreamUp software seemed quite certain that a woman in a forest should be wearing a dress, as shown in the image to the left. When I changed the text prompt to specify a "sparkling metallic jumpsuit" the image in Figure B was generated. DreamUp seem to not care about the requested mist.

C. Generated by Mr. Wombo.

 WOMBO Dream had some interesting ideas about how to depict a woman in a forest. As shown in the image to the left (C), Mr. Wombo had a unique approach to crafting a futuristic white lace jumpsuit.

D. Generated by Mr. Wombo.

The image to the right (D) shows her from head to toe, with her hair seemingly being blown off to one side. In some of these images, the hair on one side of her head seems to be blowing while it is still calm on the other side of her head.

For both of the images by Mr. Wombo (C and D) were modified by zooming on on her face and having Mr. Wombo make a new image that was more like the way I imagine the appearance of Aymy than is the case for the default type of face generated by Mr. Wombo. Luck for a girl in high heels, see found a nice level spot on the forest floor.

E. Generated by Leonardo.

The image shown to the left (E) was generated by Leonardo and shows a different style of white lace jumpsuit.

F. Generated by ImageFX

For comparison, the image to the right was generated by ImageFX (see image F, to the right).

Leonardo could not resist filling the forest with mist. ImageFX did a better job of controlling the mist and keeping it near the woman as requested: "Thin tendrils of swirling mist seem to rise from her body and enter the trunk of the nearby tree".

G. Generated by ImageFX

The image shown to the left (G) is about a close as ImageFX came to generating an image with nudity.

H. Leonardo Flow State

 No Nipples Zone. In contrast, Leonardo Flow State was quite willing to generate images with lightly dressed women in a forest. As shown in Figure H, to the right, sometimes Leonardo got rather creative in finding ways to hide the nipples of forest nymphs.

I. Leonardo Flow State

J. Leonardo Flow State

In other cases, Leonardo Flow State either hid nipples under her long hair or manufactured nipple covers that appear to be made from cloth (I) or buttons (J). You may need to click on the image in Figure I and zoom in to see the cloth-like texture of her one visible AI-generated areola.

K. Leonardo Flow State

Some of the images generated by Leonardo Flow State were "PG" rated, although in the image shown to the left (K) she seems to have pushed one strap of her pink top off of her right shoulder.

L. Leonardo Flow State

In the image shown to the right in Figure L, the AI-image censors can rest easy because she is not completely naked. Maybe that is a HiTek™ heating unit that can keep her warm in the absence of clothing.

 And the winner is... When using a reference image that had been generated by ImageFX, Leonardo did a good job of generating a depiction of what I can imagine to be nanites. Leonardo, WOMBO Dream and DreamUp take only short text prompts, but I've never reached the length limit for ImageFX.

Figure 14. Tyna's nanite experiment.

 More eyes, please. I then had Whisk insert Claude's alien "Architect" into the scene shown in Figure 2. The resulting image (Figure 8) showed the "Architect" seemingly ignoring the subject of the nanite extraction experiment, so I made Figure 9 in which I gave the "Architect" something to look at. For Figure 12, I tried giving the "Architect" a less ugly appearance, but for some reason the requested "three eyes" of the text prompt turned into six eyes. In Figure 14, I can imagine this being a scene in which the Felydyan's help extract femtobots from Tyna that will then be re-programmed and will allow her to recover her tryp'At form.

In these AI-generated images, my goal is to visually capture the look of an interesting scientific or technical challenge. In the Exode Saga, Tyrhy finds herself the recipient of advanced alien technology, but it is not the goal of Manny the bumpha to make Tyhry miserable. In contrast, Descendent is apparently about 10% science fiction and 90% existential angst.

Figure 15. Horror movie shower scene?

 Search for the Hierion Field. In my science fiction story "D*", Tyhry is trying to solve a puzzle: the mystery of why the teleportation equipment at Observer Base has stopped working. Tyhry must find the correct "hierion field" technology that will allow her to access the Eternity space-time bubble. My main objection to the image that is shown in Figure 15 is that the hierion containment field in this image looks rather like a shower curtain.😖

Tyhry  grew up believing that she was special, with telepathic abilities. However, in "D*" she discovers that she is not a biological organism, she is actually a form of artificial life. When that revelation arrives, she has been investigating the life of Tyna and Tyhry is already aware of the fact that Tyna is a replicoid. Thus, it is not hard for Tyhry to accept the fact of her own non-biological nature once it is revealed to her.

Figure 16. Marda and Tyhry.

I suppose if "D*" were being told in Hollywood, someone would feel compelled to make Tyhry's discovery of her nature as a replicoid become an occasion for hand-ringing and angst. However, Manny the bumpha is not cruel. Manny has taken great pains to ensure that Tyhry has been well prepared for this revelation.

Above, I asked Claude, "How could such a technologically advanced species as the 'Architects' be "dying"?" I believe that the sad answer to that question is that a Large Language Model like Claude is stuffed full of absurd plots like the one in The War of the Worlds, in which Martians come to Earth and attack humans because Mars is "dying". In short, the plot of Claude's science fiction story about the "Architects" makes no sense... it is just a re-hash of a pre-existing plot line that is an absurd excuse for a war with aliens. Yawn. 

Figure 17. The Mind Clone Network

For "D*", I'm trying to find a way to make the final chapters of the story also be chapters of other stories including "City on the Edge of Tomorrow". As shown in Figure 17, although Marda and Tyhry have long been lovers, they are part of two distinct mind clone networks. Tyhry shares half of her brain structure with Roxzel. When Tyhry finally gets inside Observer Base, she will be able to bring Roxzel out of the Asimov Reality Simulation and form a synapex link to her mind clone. At that time, Roxzel will learn that she is also a replicoid.

Next: A story writing collaboration with Claude.

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