Phoenix
09-25-2007, 10:28 PM
I wrote this in my spare time, it's not very long (that's why it's a short story). Feel free to comment, criticise, correct, rebuke, praise, discuss, whatever. Hope you like it, it has no title.
The pinnacle of human technology, the Omni-Mind. It sees all, governs all, knows all. Every move it makes and every step it takes is guided by complete logic. Seeking out every possible outcome, every possible chance, turning every plausible future into a series of complex percentages and numbers.
No one needed to worry, it managed everything. Everyone was under the guidance of the Omni-Mind. There was freedom, that much is for certain, but it was not the kind of freedom that caused people to quarrel and bicker. It was simple freedom. The freedom to wear what you want, go where you want, eat what you want; you could do anything as long as the Omni-mind found no danger in it, no means to harm humankind.
And the system worked. For over 100 years there had been no murder, no war, no crime—just peace. Before the creation of the Omni-Mind, there had always been war. Needless death, destruction, sadness, it was those things it put and end to.
Of course the Omni-Mind had not been immediately accepted. Many hated it, foolish as they were, they clung to their “freedom”, their right to control their lives and ruin them. Terrible wars had to be fought before the peace could come. Many had to die. In the end, it was the Omni-Mind that ended the fighting once and for all. It was the first computer mind to be capable of creation, the first man-made creation that could create itself. And it did, it created and designed robotic soldiers and weapons that rivaled that of anything the humans had ever seen, and with them, it crushed the rebellion.
The Omni-Mind is self-sustaining; in fact no one has even seen the Omni-Mind since it’s creation. It only exists interacting with its citizens through the many computer terminals throughout the city. It updates itself, when needed, to compensate for the growing needs of its citizens. It was perfect.
It was into this world that a young man was born. He had always known of the Omni-Mind, it organized and directed his life from the day he was born. It decided where he should go to school, what classes he should take, and where he should live when he left home. The Omni-Mind has always been there for him, as well, like a loving parent. It watched out for him, and warned him when he was in danger. Douglas was not unique, everyone had this benefit, the Omni-Mind controlled everyone, and everyone benefited from its presence.
However, despite his intimate relationship with the Omni-Mind, The young man would become the first person to defy it. The day came when he fell in love with a young woman. He loved her, and she loved him. They had everything in common. Eventually, he decided it was the time to propose to the young woman, but the Omni-Mind did not agree. It saw danger in this, and refused to allow it.
Hurt, the young man went to his parents to seek consolation, but they only told him that the Omni-Mind knew what was best. The citizens of the Omni-Mind all knew this, but he would not accept it. He doubted the Omni-Mind’s decision, and the Omni-Mind was furious. No one in over 100 years and doubted what it had decreed. In fact, the punishment for failure to obey the Omni-Mind was prison.
Off to prison the man went, away in a computerized vehicle controlled by the Omni-Mind. What had he done? What was his crime? Not murder, not theft nor arson. No, his crime had been against the Omni-Mind, his crime had been not following protocol. For the first time in years he knew it was not right. What he had done was not evil, it was his right.
While the Omni-Mind was off guard he escaped, he ran away, avoiding the security cameras set up by the Omni-Mind, and making his way quickly to his love’s residence. Shocked to see him he told her they had to run away, far away. Away from the Omni-Mind and it’s oppression, and so they did.
But it is here that this story takes an unexpected twist. Escaped though they had, it was illness that caught them. His love was sick with a disease, a fact she had omitted when they were dating. Her sickness was incurable, and eventually she died. Overcome with grief and sadness, the man returned to the city where he spoke to the Omni-Mind directly, there was something he had to do.
The Omni-Mind told him that the reason it had gone against their marriage was because it knew of the disease. She had had it since childhood, and it was getting worse and worse. It knew she would die, and wanted to protect him from hurt. Then it asked him if it was worth it, if he would go back and listen to the Omni-Mind’s decision. But his answer… was no.
This shocked the Omni-Mind, as it went against everything it was programmed to believe. Humans, by nature, seek to avoid pain and suffering, why was this one different? It had strived to make his life better, to spare him from the flame, but he openly walked right into it, and would do it again. It defied every statistic, every possibility. It made no sense—it just didn’t add up.
What shocked the Omni-Mind even more was what the man said next, he wanted to put the Omni-Mind on trial for theft before the people of the city. It was ridiculous. No computer was capable of theft, not even the Omni-Mind, but it got worse, not only did he blame the Omni-Mind for theft, but he blamed him for stealing from everyone.
The Omni-Mind searched all it’s records, all it’s memory, but found no trace of any incident that could be considered “theft”. It agreed to be put on trial; after all, it found itself completely innocent. The day came, and all the people of the city gathered together before the Omni-Mind and the man. He told the people what he had told the Omni-Mind, that it had stolen something very valuable and important from all of them, and had no intent on ever giving it back.
The people were outraged, when had the Omni-Mind ever harmed them? It was inconceivable. They would not tolerate it, but the Omni-Mind allowed the man to continue. He told of how he fell in love and eloped, far away from the city, away from the will of the Omni-Mind. He detailed her death, and his sorrow. What it meant to lose her he said they would never know. Then he told the citizens what he had told the Omni-Mind, that even though it was painful he would do it again.
This was the reason: though painful it may be, during the loss of his love he grew stronger, greater than he had ever been before. He gained power unlike anything he ever had before, power to come back to the city and stop the Omni-Mind, for it had stolen the pain and suffering away from mankind, and thus had stolen mankind’s ability to grow stronger—It was theft, plain and simple.
The people were numbed. Was this the power the Omni-Mind was disallowing them? The ability to grow stronger through hardship and be able to face one’s problems without looking back? Suddenly they realized what they hadn’t before, that sometimes taking away the suffering and the pain takes away the ability to grow greater.
This truth was a paradox the Omni-Mind was incapable of comprehending. All it had done was try to help the people, but in the end, it had only hurt them more. It didn’t understand it, that’s true, but what it did understand was that it was time to go. It shut-down for good, never to rise again, and left the fate of the people back in their own hands.
Was this the best future? Was this the best choice? What will come of a world governed not by the Omni-Mind, but by people instead? War, pain, suffering, that much is guaranteed, but strength too. Their destinies lie in their own hands now, whatever that may mean.
The pinnacle of human technology, the Omni-Mind. It sees all, governs all, knows all. Every move it makes and every step it takes is guided by complete logic. Seeking out every possible outcome, every possible chance, turning every plausible future into a series of complex percentages and numbers.
No one needed to worry, it managed everything. Everyone was under the guidance of the Omni-Mind. There was freedom, that much is for certain, but it was not the kind of freedom that caused people to quarrel and bicker. It was simple freedom. The freedom to wear what you want, go where you want, eat what you want; you could do anything as long as the Omni-mind found no danger in it, no means to harm humankind.
And the system worked. For over 100 years there had been no murder, no war, no crime—just peace. Before the creation of the Omni-Mind, there had always been war. Needless death, destruction, sadness, it was those things it put and end to.
Of course the Omni-Mind had not been immediately accepted. Many hated it, foolish as they were, they clung to their “freedom”, their right to control their lives and ruin them. Terrible wars had to be fought before the peace could come. Many had to die. In the end, it was the Omni-Mind that ended the fighting once and for all. It was the first computer mind to be capable of creation, the first man-made creation that could create itself. And it did, it created and designed robotic soldiers and weapons that rivaled that of anything the humans had ever seen, and with them, it crushed the rebellion.
The Omni-Mind is self-sustaining; in fact no one has even seen the Omni-Mind since it’s creation. It only exists interacting with its citizens through the many computer terminals throughout the city. It updates itself, when needed, to compensate for the growing needs of its citizens. It was perfect.
It was into this world that a young man was born. He had always known of the Omni-Mind, it organized and directed his life from the day he was born. It decided where he should go to school, what classes he should take, and where he should live when he left home. The Omni-Mind has always been there for him, as well, like a loving parent. It watched out for him, and warned him when he was in danger. Douglas was not unique, everyone had this benefit, the Omni-Mind controlled everyone, and everyone benefited from its presence.
However, despite his intimate relationship with the Omni-Mind, The young man would become the first person to defy it. The day came when he fell in love with a young woman. He loved her, and she loved him. They had everything in common. Eventually, he decided it was the time to propose to the young woman, but the Omni-Mind did not agree. It saw danger in this, and refused to allow it.
Hurt, the young man went to his parents to seek consolation, but they only told him that the Omni-Mind knew what was best. The citizens of the Omni-Mind all knew this, but he would not accept it. He doubted the Omni-Mind’s decision, and the Omni-Mind was furious. No one in over 100 years and doubted what it had decreed. In fact, the punishment for failure to obey the Omni-Mind was prison.
Off to prison the man went, away in a computerized vehicle controlled by the Omni-Mind. What had he done? What was his crime? Not murder, not theft nor arson. No, his crime had been against the Omni-Mind, his crime had been not following protocol. For the first time in years he knew it was not right. What he had done was not evil, it was his right.
While the Omni-Mind was off guard he escaped, he ran away, avoiding the security cameras set up by the Omni-Mind, and making his way quickly to his love’s residence. Shocked to see him he told her they had to run away, far away. Away from the Omni-Mind and it’s oppression, and so they did.
But it is here that this story takes an unexpected twist. Escaped though they had, it was illness that caught them. His love was sick with a disease, a fact she had omitted when they were dating. Her sickness was incurable, and eventually she died. Overcome with grief and sadness, the man returned to the city where he spoke to the Omni-Mind directly, there was something he had to do.
The Omni-Mind told him that the reason it had gone against their marriage was because it knew of the disease. She had had it since childhood, and it was getting worse and worse. It knew she would die, and wanted to protect him from hurt. Then it asked him if it was worth it, if he would go back and listen to the Omni-Mind’s decision. But his answer… was no.
This shocked the Omni-Mind, as it went against everything it was programmed to believe. Humans, by nature, seek to avoid pain and suffering, why was this one different? It had strived to make his life better, to spare him from the flame, but he openly walked right into it, and would do it again. It defied every statistic, every possibility. It made no sense—it just didn’t add up.
What shocked the Omni-Mind even more was what the man said next, he wanted to put the Omni-Mind on trial for theft before the people of the city. It was ridiculous. No computer was capable of theft, not even the Omni-Mind, but it got worse, not only did he blame the Omni-Mind for theft, but he blamed him for stealing from everyone.
The Omni-Mind searched all it’s records, all it’s memory, but found no trace of any incident that could be considered “theft”. It agreed to be put on trial; after all, it found itself completely innocent. The day came, and all the people of the city gathered together before the Omni-Mind and the man. He told the people what he had told the Omni-Mind, that it had stolen something very valuable and important from all of them, and had no intent on ever giving it back.
The people were outraged, when had the Omni-Mind ever harmed them? It was inconceivable. They would not tolerate it, but the Omni-Mind allowed the man to continue. He told of how he fell in love and eloped, far away from the city, away from the will of the Omni-Mind. He detailed her death, and his sorrow. What it meant to lose her he said they would never know. Then he told the citizens what he had told the Omni-Mind, that even though it was painful he would do it again.
This was the reason: though painful it may be, during the loss of his love he grew stronger, greater than he had ever been before. He gained power unlike anything he ever had before, power to come back to the city and stop the Omni-Mind, for it had stolen the pain and suffering away from mankind, and thus had stolen mankind’s ability to grow stronger—It was theft, plain and simple.
The people were numbed. Was this the power the Omni-Mind was disallowing them? The ability to grow stronger through hardship and be able to face one’s problems without looking back? Suddenly they realized what they hadn’t before, that sometimes taking away the suffering and the pain takes away the ability to grow greater.
This truth was a paradox the Omni-Mind was incapable of comprehending. All it had done was try to help the people, but in the end, it had only hurt them more. It didn’t understand it, that’s true, but what it did understand was that it was time to go. It shut-down for good, never to rise again, and left the fate of the people back in their own hands.
Was this the best future? Was this the best choice? What will come of a world governed not by the Omni-Mind, but by people instead? War, pain, suffering, that much is guaranteed, but strength too. Their destinies lie in their own hands now, whatever that may mean.