had already run against the shore and was about to cover it with foam, suddenly became stiff like blue crystal glass. A drop of water never fell to the sand and was now hanging in the air, glittering in the sun.
“This is the right decision in your situation,” Absolem nodded to Asha. “I need some time to prepare your full synchronization with the new processor’s mind.
In fact, I’m following the instructions given me by Nestor’s father. I am repeating his experiment with the use of more powerful equipment. And now the most important point!
You should know that the Noosphere is a complex, multi-layer being, whose dialectic is too difficult for human perception; therefore the Water Mind has undertaken the function of merging the human neuroactive fields with the Noosphere information field.”
Absolem stopped speaking for a moment, giving them the time to comprehend the information and then continued. “The AI allows the human mind to get a deeper understanding of Nature. The obtained knowledge will change all technologies and help solve many problems facing mankind.
Allow me to give you a piece of advice: synchronization with the new processor will give you unlimited opportunities, but you’ll realize that later. While making a decision, take into account this new state of yours.
In essence, what is going to happen soon is that, with my help, your intelligent components will fully transfer into the new quality of existence within this processor’s Mind. Your next step will be the contact with the Noosphere. You are to make this step on your own, since the contact with me will be interrupted.
And the last thing: the connection with your physical bodies is now quite conventional, but I have the directive from my Creator and Teacher to sustain their biological state in accordance with your instructions. Therefore, I need you to give me your instructions on this issue.”
The AI grew silent and stepped aside of the stone, and then dark words began to slowly emerge on it, as though written in water: “There is no death, there is Transformation.”
For a while the whole group stood silently beside the stone with the inscription, trying to comprehend the words said.
“Each of you needs to decide how to dispose of his or her physical body. This is up to you. And I have chosen to pursue research! I’m continuing what I have already begun!”
Nestor stepped aside and addressed to the other participants of the experiment. Asha was holding Atarva by his elbow – he had grown highly upset and was now standing with his head down, looking at a stiff wave at his feet.
“I must confess that I haven’t expected such a turn of events and believed that Asha’s plan would work. The Curators have come too early. If they break the link with the super processor, we’ll be unable to transfer into it.
For the time being, the Water Mind is supporting us in this interim state, but this cannot last long. The Curators will soon break our link with Absolem, and then our consciousness will simply fall apart, and the information on us will be deleted from the Records of the Universe.
And one can easily imagine what they’ll do with our physical bodies.
That’s why, Absolem, I choose to suspend the biological activity of my body. And then to start the synchronization and full rewriting of my intellectual constituent into the new processor!
This is my choice! Activate the transition!”
In an instant, Nestor’s avatar disappeared from the beach.
Asha looked with surprise at the empty spot where he used to stand and slowly let go Atarva’s hand. Absolem’s figure somehow imperceptibly disappeared from view –he must have decided to leave them alone.
Asha looked at Atarva for a while: he was still standing in the same pose with his head down; then she sat down on the sand beside him and started gazing at the horizon.
At first glance, that stiff reality seemed to remain unchanged, however, that was not really so: out of the blue, a dark spot appeared on the horizon and, in violation of the suspended time laws, started to quickly approach the beach, overshadowing the blue sky.
“Don’t keep silent, Asha, talk to me,” Atarva whispered under his breath. “I’m afraid that you’ll suddenly disappear like Nestor. And I will be left alone. Our talk will surely last only nano-seconds in the real time.”
“You’ve heard everything, my friend,” Asha replied softly, without changing her pose. She was silently observing the approach of the black cloud.”
“I’ve made a choice long ago and now I’m ready to move on. I’ve stayed here so as not to leave you alone on this beach. I do know your secret, Atarva. You’ve never been able to take decisions on your own, and that’s why you were appointed the leader of our group. You’ve always been good at finding compromise and reconciling opposing points of view. You have been a good leader. But at the same time you have never been able to take decisions by yourself! And now you are waiting for me to make the transition with you. Isn’t that because you lack faith?”
“Asha you are perfectly right!’ he nodded his head up and down, and his voice wavered. “Over there, in that reality, where we are about to go, we’ll acquire new capabilities, won’t we? And their limiting programs will not stop us there, since it’s impossible to lock out the mind! Those who have come to kill us believe that they’ll be the masters of the Super Brain and of the whole world. But in reality, it is we who are going to control them! They will not defeat us, Asha and they haven’t killed us, have they?”
The girl rose to her feet and stood opposite Atarva. Then she put her hands on his shoulders and drew her face nearer to his
