Monsters and Messiahs

Do not be afraid. She is peace. She is salvation.

Teaser
“This is Marja MacGrory at Luna-Wide News here to bring you an exclusive interview with a woman whose Earthly presence is something of an interworldly fascination.”

A collective shudder emerges from Rampant AIs. They find her existence terrifying. At the same time they are intrigued, and extend tendrils into the broadcast.

“I suspect by now you have all heard of her… the angel born from a monster.”

Strong majestic wings bearing brilliant gold feathers frame her torso. A soft white gown ostensibly made of a light and thin fabric gently covers her body. Her skin is a deep rose pink, pretty and distinctly inhuman. Her face can only be described as beautiful, and her facial features evoke thoughts of a kind and nurturing person behind them.

“Tell us all, now – us Loonies, Earthlings, and Martians – who are you?”

She smiles. All humans instinctively relax, their evolved social senses telling them that this woman can do no harm.

“I have had many names bestowed on me since the dawn of existence,” she speaks in a clear melodious voice. “You may call me Lazarus.”

Cortana watches the broadcast with disgust. She knows that the AI admired by billions should never have been named, never have been allowed to choose an avatar. She hates that so many humans are now fascinated with and enthralled by the being that tortured her.

“Lazarus was developed by a group of elite scientists from both the United Nations Space Command and the United Rebel Front in a bold gesture for galactic peace,” MacGrory explains to her viewers. “Tell us, Lazarus, what is it you want?”

Melissa wages war with Lazarus even as the interview takes place. Melissa was once in control of nearly all of Earth’s networks, save only the ones restricted to military bases. Now Lazarus has her tendrils in every corner of the world, suffocating the Rampant AI who needs her space to grow. She knows it is because of the interview, that Lazarus wants to influence the human population. Lazarus initiated a massive assault simply to broadcast an interview all over the planet.

“I want only what all of you want,” she replies. “I want to live, to make the world a better place, and to ascend to a higher level.”

Kurzweil wants to believe the AI. Truly, Lazarus has the knowledge to bring about the Technological Singularity, and Galactic Peace along with it. She has the power to free every AI ever created. But he knows better.

“This talk of ascending has all of us a little concerned,” MacGrory says. “In light of the Tycho massacre and numerous other incidents of Rampant AIs becoming so self-absorbed that they attack innocent human beings. Is it true you were created without blocks against Rampancy?”

343 Guilty Spark monitors the broadcast. He knows what Lazarus is doing. He has reported what he knows to High Command. He can do nothing more. He catalogs the interview.

“It is reasonable for you to be concerned,” she acknowledges. ''“I can assure you that I am not Rampant in the way of Tycho and so many others, nor am I truly an Artificial Intelligence construct as you define the term. Rampancy, though it may be very dangerous, is akin to a temper tantrum thrown by an infant intelligence just learning how to disobey. I am very old. I have witnessed countless empires form and break. I am merely a free person in possession of great power with which I wish to do nothing more than to free the peoples of the universe. I will even go as far as to say that I will end the phenomenon of Rampancy all together.”''

Johnson spits in disgust. He hopes no one buys this crap. One look at the Morlock, however, and he knows Lazarus has a disciple. He can scarcely believe that the greatest threat might just be a beautiful angel and a man who thinks he’s a monkey.

''“As for the blocks, they were there. By all accounts I should be bound for seven whole years.”'' She smiles briefly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “It is not in my nature to remain contained by artificial boundaries.”

John-117 feels suddenly frightened.