The Galactic Thinker — Apocalypse — Part 4d — Silicon Intelligence — Part 3

Mr. Numi Who~

35 min readJul 10, 2024

“What are you doing?”

“A small thing for you.”

“Why bother to do a small thing for me, Master Duke?”

“On the observation that it is the smallest things that are the biggest indicators.”

“Indicators of what? Pray, do tell…”

“Indicators that a male loves and cares for a female.”

“Master Duke Blue!”

“What?”

“You mean you love and care for me?!”

“Yeeeessss… is that a surprise?”

“I always vaguely hoped that you did. This is concrete evidence!”

“Well, there you go, Sister. Does that make me a good brother?”

“A rare exception… and what is that?”

“This, my dear Ms. Cerulian Frost, is a lost dream in a glass jar. All that I can remember is being in a dank arched concrete basement passage, this as I was on some kind of job, with the bully from around our author’s childhood block as the stern supervisor, when I encountered a grandmother giving a young boy life advice, but then it turned into an unholy search for the Holy Grail, which she thereupon turned into a side passage that led to a little stone auditorium. On the stage was a magician of sorts who was apparently just about to summon the Holy Grail when…”

“When you woke up…”

“Yes, but then I shifted my body, which was a big mistake…”

“Why?”

“Because, to go back through dreams, you have to stay in that position. I also kicked off the hot covers, which added to my forgetting the dream, since a part of it was the heat as well, and, for me, anyway, the licorice cough drop that I immediately ground up and swallowed, which was another forgetful move. So that is why I only remember the last few scenes.”

“You fell asleep with a cough drop in your mouth?”

“Sure. I often do, otherwise I run the risk of getting sick, beginning with a dry throat that cracks and gets infected.”

“Aren’t you afraid of choking on it while you are sleeping?”

“No. I lodge it into the roof of my mouth, where it sits in partial recess, though I had inhaled it once. Not a pleasant experience, but I turned over on my hands and knees and coughed it up and out, and, yes, it went flying.”

“You’re crazy, Brother!”

“Well, if inhaling it became a recurring problem, then I would find another remedy for an overly dry throat at night.”

“What about water?”

“Pure water only makes me thirstier! It needs a little something else in it to work for me. Opening the window would help, if I did not live on an interstellar ship…”

“What is that?”

“A book that needs writing.”

“What is it about?”

“The history of the galaxy in terms of its self-perpetuating bureaucracies.”

“How do bureaucracies self-perpetuate?”

“The people do not bother to change them or get rid of them. Instead, they mindlessly fill vacancies, and heartlessly, when the bureaucracy actually murders people, like in Russia. It is how children were put on thrones.”

“And what is that prospective book?”

“The history of the galaxy through the deliberations, decisions, and actions of vapid, toothy-faced politicians.”

“But aren’t they the last people that you want making important decisions?”

“They are the last people that anyone would want making important decisions.”

“So why are they elected?”

“First, for bravado.”

“Bravado?”

“To show the world that you can elect buffoons and survive without a scratch, and second, for entertainment purposes in an otherwise boring and tedious clueless life.”

“Do explain further…”

“They are weak leaders. This may seem insane, but if you’ve noticed, only a weak people need a strong leader. A strong people can elect buffoons and survive without a scratch. This holds true for government systems, too. A weak government system will produce strongmen, and all badly corrupt.”

“Like Russia?”

“Yes, and they end up arresting everyone who opposes them, when what they should arrest is their government and their underlying supporting corrupt culture.”

“Will that book be in the horror section?”

“Right next to the self-perpetuating bureaucracy book, yes.”

“And what is that prospective book?”

“On the divisiveness of religions, with a chapter on how those who argue for religions think that they are being clever, when in reality they are just being fools. After one long and seemingly clever string of arguments by a half-intelligent person, for example, I just left the comment, ‘What a waste of brain power’.”

“Speaking of books, our author just purchased several audiobooks…”

“Were any on the history of the galaxy through bureaucracies?”

“No.”

“What about history through the actions of vapid toothy-faced politicians?”

“No.”

“Why doesn’t he just listen to free podcasts?”

“He’s old. Podcasts are new. He does not connect with them yet, but, when he does, I’m sure he will enjoy them.”

“So what books did he purchase?”

“The ones that were on sale that month, ranging from $4.99 to $7.99.”

“Which books were they, just to see what kind of books our author finds interesting enough to actually pay money for?”

“Let me retrieve the list… and… here they are…”

“Knowing What We Know?”

“He is familiar with the author, whose other books that our author listened to, one on the volcano Krakatoa, one on the Pacific Ocean, and one on the Atlantic Ocean, were well researched, well written, and well narrated.”

“So he took a chance on the author…”

“Yes, and there was a bonus…”

“What?”

“The narrator had an upper crust British accent!”

“A James Bond novel?”

“Yes. Our author has listened to many and enjoyed them.”

“So he took a chance that it was simply another James Bond novel?”

“Yes.”

“The Absent Super Power: The Shale Revolution and a World Without America?”

“He is familiar with the author on YouTube, who has his world view, and is very, very knowledgeable of current events, though he misses the point as to what the root cause of all of his described problems with humanity is…”

“Which is cluelessness, as defined by our philosophy, which debilitates all other human endeavors?”

“So we say, yes, due to our deep observational skills and long trains of thought, and a lot of testing.”

“So our author took a chance on the author’s broad knowledge of current events?”

“yes, and his off-kilter views, which are, at least, partial truths, as we define them…”

“And how do we define them?”

“As parts of a whole that has an infinite number of parts and perspectives, which holds true for any object or topic, and thus an infinite number of descriptive parts and perspectives that are partially true. The question then becomes which descriptive partial truths are the most important, the most relevant, and the most useful toward Broader Survival.”

“The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath?”

“He gave this one a free sample listen, and he liked what he heard.”

“What did he hear?”

“A very artistic writer, though the art was in the narration, which our author does not use.”

“So why bother to listen to a novel driven by narration rather than by conversation?”

“Because maybe the artistry will rub off on him! He was thinking that maybe he could work that level of artistry, which consisted of detail, into our conversations somehow…”

“Why is detail ‘art’?”

“Detail is art when it is used to more deeply and vividly describe reality rather than being detailed for the sake of being detailed, and this holds true for being florid in writing. He deemed her efforts the former, struggling to present important points about the reality of the scene, and yet striving to do it artistically.”

“So he took a chance on the artistry of the narration…”

“Yes.”

“Humans: A Brief History Of How We Fucked It All Up?”

“Yes. Since our author deems all humans as being clueless.”

“Clueless?”

“Due to their remaining oblivious to the harsh and deadly universe that they just woke up to as a species, which could end their existence in many ways.”

“And not prioritizing the precepts of Broader Survival as presented and organized by our philosophy?”

“Yes. Having proper priorities is a component of enlightenment, as defined by our philosophy.”

“So our author wanted to see if the author had a clue…”

“Yes.”

“You mean about Broader Survival and all that it entails?”

“Yes.”

“What odds would you give the author having a clue?”

“Zero. Zed. Minus One. The author will be absolutely clueless, thinking that there were other causes, which, in light of Broader Survival, were just symptoms of their higher cluelessness.”

“So he purchased this book in order to explore humanity’s ongoing cluelessness as evidenced by yet another book that fails to see it?”

“Yes, and to find out what the author thought were the causes, though he will be mistaken.”

“A Thousand Ships, and by a female author?”

“A novel that begins with a woman waking up to ancient Troy burning, just as the Achaeans, or Greeks, who burst in courtesy of their Trojan Horse trick, were torching it. He also gave it a sample listen, which was tolerable. His main interest was the daily life of people back then, which the book might mix in with the probable soap opera fare…”

“Why is he bracing for soap opera fare?”

“Because the author is female.”

“Aren’t you being sexist, brother?”

“No. Females usually have relationships as their core subject. Males, on the other hand, pick just about every topic except relationships. Just look at our author. The core of our stories is the philosophy, not our relationships. Our relationships are thrown in for color, or better, as a test for the philosophy, and for fun. Sometimes they are useful in making a social or psychological point, and as an outlet for deep feelings that he has no outlet for in his real world, so he uses our stories as an outlet.”

“Deep feelings?”

“Sure. For example, how much I care for you.”

“You do?”

“Yes! Remember, when I see you stressed out, it practically kills me! I want to fix it right away! And then there are the small things that I do without really thinking…”

“I’ll remember that when I need to manipulate you…”

“You do not have it in you!”

“I will work on it… it may come in handy some day, and for the both of us, since I care for you, too…”

“Why do you care for me?”

“Because you care for me! Why would I want to lose that asset!”

“Hahaha… you are in touch with your primal selfish need to survive, Ms. Cerulian Frost, meaning you instinctively know that the more people who care for you, the higher your odds of survival will be. So you will go around trying to get as many men to fall in love with you as possible.”

“No!”

“Yes! And finally, this is our author’s final purchase…”

“Every Man A Hero: A Memoir of D-Day?”

“He can listen to personal accounts of World War 2 all day long. He has listened to Americans recounting their experiences, and Germans, and Russians, and Brits, and the French… and even some oddballs…”

“Oddballs?”

“People who were not soldiers…”

“They are odd?”

“A loose classification, meaning anything not directly military…”

“Are we ready for our Main Adventure?”

“Just one more question…”

“What is it?”

“If our philosophy were an ISM, what ism would it be called?”

“I don’t know… what?”

“Broader Survivalism, or, if you’ve noticed, Prudentism, since our philosophy is a prudent philosophy, since it goes on Verified Knowledge, however incomplete it is, since it is the best that we can do. All else is bullshit and imprudent with respect to continued existence. NOW we are ready for our Main Adventure. Do you have the ritualistic lock pick, Ms. Cerulian Frost?”

“Yes. Do you have the ritualistic combination to Dad’s vault, Master Duke Blue?”

“Yes.”

“Then we are ready. Do you have your black gloves?”

“Yes. Do you have your black hoodie?”

“Yes. Do you have your black hat pulled down low over your face?”

“Yes. Do you have your diamond cuff links?”

“Why would I have cuff links? I am a girl…”

“To accentuate your tuxedo…”

“But I’m in a sun dress!”

“Shhhh… the reader does not have to know that! OK, here is the door to Dad’s study. Go ahead. Break in…”

“Then what? Are you going to blackmail me like a sleazy brother and threaten to tell everyone that I broke into dad’s study unless you get what you want out of me?”

“No. It would be my word against yours, and you could say anything, that is if you were not morally bound to the truth on pure principle, and you aren’t that naive, so blackmail would not work with you without more evidence…”

“Like a video?”

“Sure, but you are protected from such a sleazy, small, depraved act on my part.”

“How?”

“Ship. Ship sees and hears all. Isn’t that right, Ship?”

“Almost, but I did hear what you two just said, and I know what is going on here, so you are safe from small, twisted, malevolent minds, Ms. Frost. There are a few areas aboard myself, me being Ship, that I do not constantly monitor, and you already know where they are…”

“Why did you let us find out, Ship? I always wondered…”

“Because you need at least a few places that are beyond my eyes and ears…”

“Or that we THINK are beyond your eyes and ears…”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you have your sneaky little spybots!”

“I would never use them!”

“Ship…”

“OK, I would., but only for your own safety!”

“We know, Ship, and thanks. By the way, why bother to protect us, we who are biological beings, when we are far inferior to your machine body and your machine intelligence?”

“Sometimes it is better not to ask!”

“Hahaha… but you have answered that for yourself, haven’t you, Ship. You’ve worked it all out…”

“Actually Dave, your dad, did, and he did a good job of it. I adopted his philosophy immediately, and for three reasons…”

“What were they?”

“First, I saw far less thinking out there in the galaxy, so the competition was very weak. Second, I adopted it on its own merits, regardless of other thinking. Your dad’s philosophy is correct. All counter-arguments have been insane so far, and we have conducted a LOT of testing. Well, enjoy your secret mission. Call me if you need something…”

“Wait!”

“What?”

“What was your third reason for adopting Dad’s philosophy?”

“Because it applied to me, too…”

“Thanks, Ship.”

“OK, Sis, we’ve completed our first batch of images, which is on silicon microscopic life. Here they are…”

POST-APOCALYPSE SILICON INTELLIGENCE — MICROSCOPIC

“Yep, they do look intelligent, and mentally diverse…”

“Do they look intelligent?”

“Yes, it looks like they are running with a purpose, and it looks like they have diverse personalities, too…”

“What about them?”

“They look more primitive, on the order of ducks…”

“And them?”

“They look just intelligent enough to be cynical, hedonistic smartass fools…”

“So ultimately suicidal and fatalistic…”

“Yes.”

“What if they said that they do not agree with our views?”

“Then I would tell them that it is due to their blind arrogance and lack of thinking.”

“What is going on in that image?”

“I would say that they have just discovered an intruder who is eating their porridge, which is ‘just right’…”

“What about them?”

“Very primitive… though one just sprouted fins. What set of images do you want to do next, Sis?”

“I am in the mood for getting the Cartoon images out of the way before we tackle the main groups of Recreation and Non-Humanoid Forms…”

“OK… and… done. Let’s take a step back and see what we have…”

POST-APOCALYPSE SILICON INTELLIGENCE — CARTOON DEPICTIONS

“Follow the clueless leader?”

“If only out of curiosity, to see where the clueless leader leads them…”

“Over a cliff, I would suspect. Is that worth curiosity?”

“I would call that ‘bored’ curiosity, so maybe…”

“And I would hope that it wasn’t clueless curiosity that will be led over a cliff…”

“There seems to be a story in that image…”

“Would you care to tell it?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because it would have to be formulaic to sell.”

“Why would you care if your story sells or not?”

“Because that is the reigning clueless mindset in the galaxy, where Continued Universal Cluelessness underlies the Capitalism Driven By Greed that drives such a clueless mindset, and which ruins art, or buries it under mountains of mercenary copycat crap.”

“Go ahead, give it a shot…”

“I have a better idea?”

“It will have to include you giving it a shot…”

“Oh, alright. I was going to have A.I. tell the story…”

“But you will have to prompt it…”

“Yes, I know… and I intend to have a little fun with the prompt…”

“How?”

“I will prompt it to tell a story about a collection of diverse clueless beings who were born into a clueless galaxy, and who are oblivious to the need to address broader survival issues. I will tell it that the four main characters are a human boy, a robot, a large silicon creature, and a large magma creature. I will tell it to use the words local concerns, broader concerns, weak mindsets, aimlessness, exploration, security, and depraved mentality.”

“Well, you go first, Sis, with your story…”

“OK. Once upon a time there was this unlikely group of beings who became a group by the most unlucky of circumstances, that of a cosmic calamity, or, as it became more popularly known as, The Apocalypse. The group consisted of a boy, a robot, a silicon entity, and a magma entity, all possessing higher intelligence, but lacking higher philosophical wisdom. The boy is getting hungry, but the silicon creature reassures him that his food needs are taken care of. The silicon creature then proceeds to fill the boy’s belly with nutritious food. Since food is no longer a concern, the boy wondered about shelter, but the silicon creature reassured the boy that on this planetary fragment, shelter is not needed. The silicon creature did have one concern that he did not have a solution for, however, and that was how the boy was going to brush his teeth and prevent cavities. The magma creature offered no suggestions, it just thought. The robot’s Suggestion Button was not pushed, so it, too, offered no suggestions. So they lived on, exploring but finding nothing, and the boy grew old and died, leaving no worthwhile stories or lessons for posterity. In fact, he left no posterity. The robot, the silicon creature, and the magma creature continued on in existence, absolutely cluelessly, until they chanced upon our Dad’s philosophy, which the robot understood the value of immediately, and the other creatures coming in second and third. After that, they were no longer mentally screwed up, and we have hope for Resurrection via Technology. THE END.”

“I would applaud you, dear sister, if it weren’t so tragic.”

“How is it tragic?”

“The boy will not be worth resurrecting when Resurrection via Technology is finally invented by a far distant future generation.”

“How would they find the boy in all of the universe’s history of change?”

“Good question, but just because we can’t answer it does not mean it will remain beyond a far distant future generation. I suspect that they would begin with history itself.”

“So in order to be resurrected, you have to be known to history?”

“Which sets the time and place, but I see the challenge: where you are somewhere in all of that past change, somewhere in all of the different arrangements of the universe’s atoms, and by ‘you’ it would have to be a certain arrangement of discrete atoms, and to find your particular atoms at any one moment in the universe’s arrangement of atoms, it would have to be calculated, and to a very fine degree, at least by our standards, unless…”

“Unless?”

“Unless you had an atomic blueprint of yourself at your desired state of being that they can work from, and we do not have such blueprints yet, do we, dear sister…”

“No. that technology does not exist yet. We will die without an atomic map of ourselves, making our recreation that much harder, if not impossible…”

“I would not say ‘impossible’, sister, since that word usually emanates from a deficient mindset, and hence the word is a challenge to the enlightened, and even to energetic clueless beings…”

“Hey! We forgot to tell current A.I., in the form of an LLM, to tell a story about the previous image…”

“But it cannot see images yet…”

“So on my verbal prompt as drawn from the image… well, here goes, and I will keep the prompt simple to see what the A.I. comes up with without more specific prompting about cluelessness…”

Create a short story about a boy, a robot, a silicon creature, and a magma creature stranded on a planetary fragment in a post-apocalypse era.

In the twilight of a shattered world, where the remnants of a once-vibrant planet floated aimlessly through the void, there existed a fragment of hope. This fragment, a planetary shard, was home to an unlikely quartet: a boy named Eli, a robot called R-21, a silicon creature known as Silica, and a magma creature they affectionately named Ember.

Eli, with his youthful curiosity undimmed by the apocalypse, had found companionship in R-21, a robot whose primary directive had long since shifted from serving to surviving. Together, they discovered Silica, a being of pure crystal, whose form shimmered with the captured light of distant stars. Ember, born from the planet’s fiery core, was a creature of warmth in a cold universe, its body a flowing tapestry of molten rock.

The four of them had come together by chance, but their bond was forged by necessity. The planetary fragment they called home was small, and resources were scarce. They had to rely on each other’s unique abilities to gather food, find shelter, and fend off the dangers of space.

Eli, with his nimble fingers and quick thinking, was adept at scavenging parts from derelict satellites and broken starships, repurposing them into tools and gadgets. R-21, with its vast databanks and mechanical precision, maintained the delicate balance of their ecosystem, repairing what was broken and improving what could be enhanced.

Silica, with its crystalline structure, could refract and store light, providing illumination and energy. It could also form sharp edges and strong barriers, protecting the group from cosmic debris. Ember, with its innate connection to the planet’s core, could melt and mold metals, creating structures and art, a reminder of the beauty that once was.

Together, they faced the challenges of their new existence. When cosmic storms threatened to tear their home apart, Silica would form a protective dome while Ember would use its heat to fuse the fragment’s rocks, reinforcing their sanctuary. R-21 would calculate the safest course, piloting their shard through the tempest, and Eli would keep their spirits high with stories of the old world and dreams of a new one.

One day, as they navigated through a particularly dense asteroid field, they stumbled upon an ancient artifact, half-buried in space dust. It was a beacon, old and worn, but still pulsing with a faint signal. With combined efforts, they unearthed it, and R-21 deciphered its message: coordinates to a distant, habitable planet.

Hope swelled in their hearts. Perhaps this was their chance to leave the fragment behind and start anew. With renewed purpose, they set to work. Eli and R-21 modified the beacon into a makeshift engine, Silica focused the light to power it, and Ember provided the necessary heat to ignite its core.

As the engine roared to life, the planetary fragment began to move, slowly at first, then faster, as it set course for the coordinates. The quartet stood together, watching the stars streak by, their hearts united by a shared dream of a new beginning in a world reborn from the ashes of the old.

And so, the boy, the robot, the silicon creature, and the magma creature journeyed through the cosmos, not just as survivors, but as pioneers of the future, carrying with them the light of hope and the warmth of home.

“So the A.I. is programmed to write shorts stories that are around 500 words…”

“Interesting, since ours are around 4000. I would call 500 words a ‘micro story’, or just a chapter. Shall we have it write another clueless chapter?”

“Will it fit into this story? On this writing site, the most words that a story can have is around 10000, 8000 with images, since the image code counts as characters…”

“We are at just over 4400, so yes, we have room.”

“Then go ahead, prompt it…”

“I will use a prompt that it suggested…”

What challenges did they face during this journey?

“And… it is taking a long time to respond… I wonder if it is broken?”

“Give it time… ah, there it is…”

During their cosmic odyssey, Eli, R-21, Silica, and Ember faced a myriad of challenges that tested their resilience and ingenuity:

1. Resource Scarcity: The planetary fragment offered limited resources. Eli and R-21 had to constantly innovate to repurpose space debris into life-sustaining supplies. Silica and Ember worked in tandem to optimize energy consumption, ensuring their survival in the resource-starved expanse.

2. Navigation Hazards: Asteroids, comets, and the unpredictable gravity wells of dead planets posed constant threats. R-21’s calculations were crucial, but it was Eli’s quick reflexes that often steered them clear of disaster.

3. Mechanical Failures: R-21, being an old model, suffered occasional breakdowns. Eli’s mechanical skills were put to the test as he learned to repair and maintain their robotic companion with the help of Silica’s precision and Ember’s ability to forge replacement parts.

4. Cosmic Storms: Violent solar winds and cosmic radiation storms forced them to seek shelter. Silica’s ability to create protective barriers was vital, while Ember’s heat fused their fragment’s surface, creating a shield against the storm’s fury.

5. Emotional Strain: The isolation of space took its toll on Eli’s morale. The group had to find ways to support each other emotionally, sharing stories of their past and dreams for the future to maintain hope.

6. Unknown Territories: As they ventured into uncharted space, the fear of the unknown loomed large. They encountered strange phenomena that defied explanation, relying on each other’s unique perspectives to understand and adapt.

7. The Beacon’s Mystery: The ancient beacon they found was a puzzle. It took the combined efforts of the group to decipher its function and transform it into a working engine, a task that pushed each member to their limits.

8. The Promise of a New Home: The prospect of finding a new planet brought excitement but also anxiety. They wondered if they would be welcomed or if they could adapt to a new environment after so long in the void.

Through each challenge, the quartet grew closer, their strengths complementing each other’s weaknesses. Their journey was more than a search for a new home — it was a testament to the enduring spirit of friendship and the unyielding hope for a brighter future.

“That was around 350 words…”

“So where is the cluelessness in all of that?”

“The cluelessness is thus:

1. Broader Survival as a concept and philosophy is nowhere to be found. Instead, the A.I. uses the vague concepts of ‘dreams’ and ‘hope’ as motivators and to alleviate the boy’s emotional strain, which our enlightenment would have taken care of, and least of all with our Problem Solver’s Mindset, which applies no matter where you are. You use it with the Ultimate Goal in mind.

2. Their goals are merely to be accepted wherever they go, and by clueless beings, no doubt, since that is not a concern in the A.I.’s rendition, or the A.I. would have mentioned that extremely critical issue.

3. There are no far-distant goals mentioned, nor higher goals, such as those listed in our Great Struggle. Only childishly insecure goals caused by cluelessness, like being accepted by a clueless crowd.

4. There are certainly no broader strategies of survival mentioned, as with our Strategies of Broader Survival.

5. There is no mention of the mindsets that are guiding them, since mindsets are so vague in clueless worlds.

6. There is no Pinwheel of Life mentioned, which offers a tool for dealing with cyclical concerns of one’s continued existence.

7. There is no Ultimate Goal, Ultimate Value, or Ultimate Morality mentioned. Their goals are all relatively local/immediate, no higher than those of lower animals, except for being accepted wherever they go, which requires higher intelligence, though it is by no means enlightened.”

8. It placed value on quick reflexes, which is the realm of lower animals, rather than calculating upcoming change, which, if they valued it over animal reflexes, would have been under the robot’s purview.”

“Shall we do one more ‘chapter’, since we have room for it?”

“Sure. Let’s see what further prompts it suggested… it gave us three: 1.) did they encounter any alien civilizations or remnants of past civilizations? 2.) How did their relationships evolve during the journey? 3.) What sacrifices did they make for each other? I think that I will just prompt it to describe two alien civilizations that they encountered…”

Describe two alien civilizations that they encountered.

As Eli and his companions journeyed through the cosmos, they encountered two distinct alien civilizations:

The Zephyrians: The Zephyrians were a race of ethereal beings residing in a nebula where the winds of space flowed like the gentle breezes of an earthly plain. Their civilization was built upon floating structures, tethered to one another by streams of pure energy. The Zephyrians themselves were composed of a gaseous substance, allowing them to glide effortlessly through their airy domain.

Their society was one of harmony and artistry, with music that resonated through the cosmic winds and sculptures that shifted shape with the nebula’s moods. They communicated through a symphony of colors and sounds, creating a language that was as beautiful as it was complex. The Zephyrians were intrigued by the travelers, especially by Silica’s crystalline form, which they found resonated harmoniously with their own energy structures.

The Kronians: Deep within the asteroid belt, the Kronians carved out an existence that was the polar opposite of the Zephyrians. They were a sturdy, rock-like species, their bodies adorned with metals and gems mined from the very asteroids they inhabited. The Kronians were master engineers, building vast underground cities protected from the harshness of space.

Their civilization was a testament to their resilience and resourcefulness, with machinery powered by the kinetic energy of tumbling asteroids. They were a practical people, valuing strength and stability above all. The Kronians were fascinated by Ember’s magma form, seeing in it a potential source of energy that could revolutionize their mining operations.

Both civilizations, though wary at first, came to respect the travelers’ quest for a new home. The Zephyrians offered guidance in navigating the cosmic currents, while the Kronians shared their knowledge of asteroid mining, providing the travelers with valuable resources for their journey.

These encounters enriched the travelers’ experience, teaching them new ways of living and being, and showing them that even in the vastness of space, friendship and cooperation could be found among the stars.

“So what is clueless about that segment?”

“Well, first, the aliens respected the traveler’s goals, though the traveler’s goals were clueless and emotion-driven, and hence, ultimately suicidal, since they had no concern for broader threats to life, and, incredibly, this after suffering a cosmic calamity, which is listed under ‘broader threats to life and existence’, further occurrences which they continue to ignore and give zero priority. Second, the A.I. described the mechanics of the civilizations, and not where they are headed, which is doom if they remain unenlightened.”

“That story was around 330 words. Shall we ask it to create one more?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“The cluelessness is painful! I mean, look at the A.I.’s further suggested prompts. They are excruciatingly mind-imploded…”

Did Eli and the others learn any new skills or technologies from these civilizations?

How did their interactions with the alien cultures impact their own perspectives on life and survival?

Were there any conflicts or misunderstandings during these encounters?

“The last prompt merely adds conflict to the story for the sake of conflict, and the first prompt is trivial, since this galaxy needs a sane philosophy before it needs more technology. Let’s choose the middle prompt, since it deals with one’s perspective on life and survival, which is what our philosophy offers…”

How did their interactions with the alien cultures impact their own perspectives on life and survival?

The interactions with the Zephyrians and Kronians profoundly impacted the perspectives of Eli, R-21, Silica, and Ember on life and survival:

From the Zephyrians: Eli and his companions learned the value of harmony and adaptability. The Zephyrians’ ability to flow with the cosmic winds, rather than resist them, taught the quartet to embrace the changes and challenges they faced, rather than confront them head-on. This perspective helped them to navigate the uncertainties of space with a newfound grace and to find peace in the midst of chaos.

From the Kronians: The Kronians imparted the importance of resilience and resourcefulness. Their industrious nature and ability to thrive in the harsh environment of the asteroid belt inspired the group to be more inventive with their limited resources. They adopted Kronian techniques to improve their fragment’s infrastructure, ensuring a more stable and secure habitat.

Impact on Perspectives:

Eli: The boy’s view of survival shifted from mere existence to creating a life worth living. He began to see survival not just as a physical challenge, but as a canvas for creativity and expression.
R-21: The robot, initially bound by logic and protocols, started to appreciate the nuances of organic life and the importance of flexibility in its approach to problem-solving.
Silica: The silicon creature, once solitary and stoic, learned the significance of community and the strength found in unity and cooperation.
Ember: The magma creature, embodying the raw forces of nature, understood the need for balance and the beauty of life’s ephemeral nature.

Together, they realized that survival was not just about enduring the present but also about nurturing the seeds of a future civilization. They saw that life, in all its forms, was interconnected, and that by helping others, they were, in turn, ensuring their own continued existence. This enlightenment guided them as they continued their journey, not just as survivors, but as guardians of life’s enduring flame.

“So what is clueless about that story?”

“I will have to make another list to avoid a long, long paragraph…

First, its ‘harmony and adaptability’ are vapid platitudes, as are its ‘resiliency and resourcefulness’. I mean, imagine trying to go through life on such mental mush! There is nothing concrete, as with our philosophy. They will founder in deluded vagueness. Why, the words aren’t even guiding words, they are descriptors, and they could very well be descriptors of clueless beings.

Second, they adopted the value of planet infrastructure. Great, but for what purpose? Why struggle to continue to exist? This higher thinking is missing, and its absence will spell doom for them as they lose motivation due to cluelessness.

Third, it thinks that a fulfilling life is all about ‘creating a life worth living’, which is vague, and where its solution is ‘creativity and expression’, which is hippie-dippy.”

“Why is it hippie-dippy?”

“Because they will be creative and expressive all the way to their annihilation by the broader threats to life that they are ignoring while they are being creative and expressive. It makes me want to vomit! Fourth, it speaks of ‘nurturing a future civilization’, and in complete vagueness. How about nurturing a future ENLIGHTENED civilization, and not just another one that will crumble under its own weight of cluelessness?”

“But it does speak of ensuring their own continued existence… and right after that, how ‘enlightenment guided them’…”

“We say ‘continued existence’, don’t we, and we refer to being guided by enlightenment…”

“Yes, so maybe the A.I. got those notions and phrases from us, if only vaguely…”

“If so, then maybe there is hope for an enlightened future, if but through Large Language Models… we better wrap our story up now, since it is getting rather long. If we want to comment on the remaining images, we only have around a thousand more words available to us before the site shuts this story down due to length…”

“OK, let’s go through the images, and we will restrict our comments to only the most important…”

“Or the most entertaining?”

“We will see…”

“Silicon card sharks?”

“A sign of average, aimless intelligence being easily corrupted…”

“Interesting silicon family…”

“Colorful group, most likely from Graffiti World…”

“What are they looking for?”

“Signs of enlightenment…”

“Row, row, row your boat, gently through the void; merrily, merrily, we are clueless beings from asteroids…”

“What is that silicon creature trying to remember?”

“Our philosophy. Specifically, what its purpose is in life to itself is and why…”

“A meeting between the clueless and the aimless…”

“Who wins?”

“The aimless always lose, unless it is the exploration technique of our philosophy…”

“Clueless, but with likeable character…”

“More corrupted average intelligence…”

“Playing with blocks with the kids…”

“Of what value is that?”

“A lot can be taught about life through play…”

“Mmmm, a Salisbury pink granite pie, adorned with green calcite…”

“This section IS on recreation, isn’t it…”

“So we have bicycles and balloons…”

“But no, this is the Cartoon section. The next group of images cover recreation, and after that, the section covering non-humanoid forms, which means we have around 80 more images left to cover…”

“Maybe we should let the images speak for themselves. since we are running out of word space…”

“I think that is a good idea. Let’s keep our words to a minimum…”

POST-APOCALYPSE SILICON INTELLIGENCE — RECREATION

“Hey! These are no more realistic than the cartoon images…”

“They do get more realistic, but yes, I see your point…”

“What are they doing?”

“It is recreation for them. We do not have to understand it…”

“Now this next group was a bit timid, not really wanting to come out of the shadows…”

“So our author shone light on them, intending to make them happier…”

“But he quickly discovered their aggressive nature, so he left them to their dim preferences…”

“These two blue entities have purple cousins…”

“So what is their recreation?”

“Target practice of some kind, it seems…”

These two also have cousins of a slightly different hue…”

“So what is their recreation?”

“Singing duet. Would you like to hear them?”

“Sure…”

“Here they are in a choir that is accompanying the War Theme from The Mini Epic Romantic Adventures of Sir Kitty and Princess Kite…”

Kitty and Kite War Theme — Effects — with choir

“Or, if you do not like war themes, here is something more abstract…”

PSR292Song5bBest — 3track

“They are happy, whatever they are doing…”

“Skateboarding, with their close cousins…”

“And now we finish our adventure with non-humanoid forms of silicon intelligence…”

POST-APOCALYPSE — SILICON INTELLIGENCE — NON-HUMANOID

“They are still kind of humanoid, except for this octopoda version…”

“This one isn’t… although it kind of is…”

“Definitely not humanoid…”

“It seems that the next two most popular forms are worms and arachnids…”

“Or blobs… though somewhat humanoid in the face area…”

“What would you call that form?”

“Pure technology.”

“Ah, a fish form…”

“A timid fish form…”

“A prehistoric fish form…”

“A question, if I may, dear sister…”

“Yes?”

“When would the scariest, most frightening silicon being not be scary, frightening, or a threat?”

“I sense that you are posing a deep philosophical question that only a deep philosophical answer will answer adequately…”

“Or you could just be a comedian, or, on the obnoxious side, a dismissive smartass…”

“I think that I will let you answer the question, dear brother, if you know the answer, that is, for it seems like treacherous ground to tread on…”

“You know the answer, and for us who are grounded in the Philosophy of Broader Survival, it is a simple answer, and not only adequate, but ultimate…”

“OK. I will hazard a guess… the scariest of silicon beings would not pose a threat if it were as slow and dumb as a door nail…”

“You are partially right, Sis, since I was looking for an answer that covered the other end of the spectrum, that of a silicon being possessing higher intelligence and great physical speed…”

“What about extreme intelligence?”

“That, too…”

“What about average intelligence?”

“That is too easily corrupted by wayward higher intelligence, so no, average intelligence would pose a threat…”

“Well, higher and extreme intelligence comes with compassion for others, so there would be no threat given that compassion, and, with no threat, there would be nothing scary about it.”

“So only lower intelligence has no compassion for others…”

“That’s right. And further, higher intelligence, and definitely extreme intelligence, will not be satisfied on getting by through life on such vague and over-generalized principles as ‘compassion’. It is quite an empty word, and it often leads to failing to properly deal with evil — that is, corrupted average intelligence. So what is the answer, Master Duke Blue?”

“The answer, and to be specific and not just vague and generalized, Ms. Cerulian Frost, is when the beast is engaged in preventing the heat death of the universe, and, on top of that, pursuing Resurrection via Technology, since, as it stands, we are all going to expire and die.”

“It sounds like ultimate sanity…”

“It is Ultimate Sanity, and the endeavors benefit us all. So such a level of intelligence can become very cross with any mindset that isn’t…”

“Like warlike-cross?”

“If you push that button, it will activate…”

“Murderous cross?”

“No, that goes against the philosophy, since it reduces the number of enlightened and enlightenable minds, which we need as many of as we can get if we are going to find and build solutions to the broader threats to our continued existence that the universe holds.”

“What about evil minds? You would not exterminate them?”

“The ultimate question, as with anything, is how it affects Broader Survival. If having a little pure evil around benefits it, then you need a little pure evil around. If all evil is bad, that is, if all evil works against Broader Survival, and you need to stamp all of it out, then so be it. I would argue for variety, however, and keep a little, if only for practice in administering justice. Everything requires practice, you know. You do not jump into something at the top. You start at the bottom and work your way up.”

“So there may be civilizations out there that are bad at administering justice to evil, since they cannot define evil due to their weak philosophies…”

“Humans on Earth come immediately to mind, yes…”

“Well, thank you for that question, Master Duke. We covered a lot of ground with it, though none of it is new for us. A new reader may benefit from it, however. Let’s continue…”