(no subject)

[lifes_short_pop]

Dear Mun:

I've learned a lot since coming here. None of it has been good news, but I didn't expect it to be. I guess I'll have to be the 'idealist' in the party when you assemble that next adventure. Someone has to be. Someone has to fight for the Programs, to acknowledge that they are life equal to human. They are our partners, our children, maybe. But not our slaves.

I understand you have to hold off on writing more for me until you pass your real-life computer certification exam in a few weeks. Thinking of a motherboard as a city like it is in my universe is a pretty helpful tool, however. You also have that Jedi in your head wanting the next chapter of her story told. Truth is, I'm patient. I can wait.

Study hard and pass that test. I'll be here, and so will the Programs.

Comments

[cleanse_theworld]

Programs? [Dr. Xargin was new to all of this.]

[lifes_short_pop]

"Yes. Sentient artificial life forms that live inside computer systems in my universe."

[cleanse_theworld]

Oh, really? That sounds fascinating. How do they work?

[lifes_short_pop]

"No one knows enough to be sure. But we code up software on my side of the screen - ordinary stuff like banking software, game bots, word processors. On that other side, they're...people. The banking software goes to work every day and hangs out with friends at the bar after he's done with your spreadsheet. The word processor is literally a factory on the city outskirts, and the Games...? Well, what looks like fun on my end is gladiator matches to the death on theirs."

"The worst...or best...part is that no one on my side even intended it to be like that. We didn't set out to make a civilization. My godfather only discovered it when a rogue AI tried to kill him."