Canaan - The Revival

[PKPower]

The tunnel-like formation the system of Omicron Kappa is located in seemed to strech on forever and illuminated everything in a dim, green light. The mobile colony ship Unity kept a consistant 2K distance from the strange AI vessel as they moved forward to the far reaches of the system. As the PRIME cruiser weaves through it seemed to blend in more and more with the strange rock formations surrounding Planet Gammu. As they approached the large, icy planet located in the depths of the asteroid field a strange object orbiting the planet came into vision. The comm interface of the Unity was re-activated and green text appeard on the screen.

:: <request> [vessel] "Unity" {proceed} to [planetary_landing_unit] ::

As the Unity approached the alien-looking docking ring there were no decernible structures on surface of the planet. As the Unity entered the AI docking ring a swarm of drones appeared and surrounded the vessel. A storm of green lights appeared, moving back and forth on the entirety of the ship's hull. suddenly all of the lights disappeared and more text appeared on the screen.

:: <request> [vessel] "Unity" {proceed} with [docking_procedure] ::

As the Unity approached the coordinates that have been transmitted to the comm interface by the AI docking ring, the ship moved closed and closer to the icy surface of Planet Gammu.
As they came dangerously close to the surface of the planet shifted and what looked like giant mechanical arms extended from an icy ravine. As they latched onto the Unity and brought the vessel to a halt, the ravine opened up even further and revealed a black abyss covered in millions of green lights of various shapes and sizes. Suddenly the "arms" sprand back into motion and retracted along with the Unity. The icy surface started to close and shortly after, there was no trace from the giant vessel that has just been swallowed by Planet Gammu - home of the PRIME AI.

---

[Nerva Regis]

Aboard the Unity

---

Nerva was pacing nervously around the main deck. Can't go back from this ones, can't I ? Yeah.. it does seem to be a bit late for that now.

Nera: We are approaching Gammu.

Nerva started to recall the Progenitor's offer:

in order to {keep} this [information] [unit] "Nerva" would have to be {re-programmed} by "Canaan_process" ::
[process] includes internal [body_modifications] - [process] duration = #48 "human_hours" ::
[process] includes {replacing} [muscle_tissue]; [stem_cells]; [parts] of "human_brain" ::

While there wasn't much to replace anymore... the kill switch is what worried him the most.


<information> as [modification] requires extensive [resources] "kill_switch" is only used in [extraordinary_situations] ::
"kill_switch" = mechanical failure of replaced [tissue] & [cells] - the latter makes [organism] unable to survive ::

Again...you were already going to die sooner or later. Imagine all the things you will be able to do with the new tec....

Nera: Gammu Docking ring is telling us to proceed

Nerva: Prepare to dock.

Unity started its descent to the surface of Gammu.

Nerva: Hey... Nera, aren't we getting a bit too close to the ground?
Nera: These are the coordinates that were transmitted to us.
Nerva: Can you check if th....

Suddenly the icy surface started to open up and what look like giant mechanical hands attached themselves to Unity.

Nera: The mechanical hands are slowing our descent.
Nerva: My god... it's like the Planet is trying to... trying to eat us.
Nera: Engaging all weapon syst...
Nerva: NO. We can't do anything now. Just wait... wait and hope for the best.

Unity has been dragged towards the core of Planet Gammu.

[PKPower]

With a distant rumble and cracking the chasm that swallowed the Unity closed and engulfed all the surroundings in darkness. One by one all of the communication interfaces and sensors monitoring the outside of the ship cut out, so that the only indicator of movement were the small green lights in front of the windows passing by.
Suddenly the Unity came to an abrupt halt, making Nerva stumble slightly. The silence that ensued was broken shortly after by a loud clunking that came from one side of the hull.
Nera's voice broke the long silence.

"Gammu... is attempting to dock. Central starboard exit."

Red emergency lights illuminated the hallways of the unity. As Nerva made his way to the starboard exit of the Unity, the consistant sound of boots on metal was the only noise, until Nerva stood before the gate and Nera spoke up again.

"A stable connection to Planet Gammu is now established. Do we... open the gate?"

---

[Nerva Regis]

Unity's starboard exit

---

Nerva stopped in front of the doors. Whatever is going to be behind that door, whatever may came...I shall pull trough.

Nerva: Open the gates.
Nera: I will be waiting here for when you return.

A sea of green dots was illuminating the deep darkness. They all seemed to move in a predetermined pattern. It's time to step into the unknown.

Before he could take the first step into the darkness, the green lights cleared a long path that seemed to take him deeper into the heart of Gammu.
I guess this is the sign I was waiting for. Nerva tried to use his watch to record some data, but soon realized that technology did not work here; or better yet... it was not allowed to function here.

As he walked through the "valley" of shadows and light that was created by the machines, he noticed that the path was closing behind him. There is no turning back now.

Proceeding forward, his silhouette disappeared in the darkness...

[PKPower]

Nerva proceeded forward, following the green lights that now lined the floor like some sort of position lighting on a runway. Finally there was a faint wight light in the distance. In contrast to the darkness of the previous room, the white light coming closer and closer was almost blinding. After some time of walking towards the light Nerva looked back. Despite the bright light up ahead nothing was visible behind him. After walking towards the light for what felt like hours, Nerva finally arrived at the door the light came from. After looking back one last time Nerva took a deep breath and entered the room.

The room was white and empty. It had what looked like windows looking out into space. It took Nerva a few seconds to realize, that he was still underground and what he was seeing through the windows was likely a simulation.

In the middle of the room stood a man. No creepy android trying to imitate a human, or some sort of heaviely modified cyborg that is more robot than human - just a regular guy.

"Glad you could find it."

---

[Nerva Regis]

Somewhere on Gammu. Or...better yet, inside Gammu

---

Glad that I'm not dea...err... Glad that I found it. Welp...so... wait, this is it? No big bad cyborg?. Nerva stared for couple of seconds at the man.

Were you expecting something else? said the man while smiling.
Uhm... yeah. Maybe Prime is trying to establish a better communication platform.
The man started moving around the room, but he kept his distance. I guess you were expecting some big scary robot?
I mean... you cannot blame me for having such expectations. Well then... let's see where this goes.
But from what I know, you also have your own robots. Do you not fear them?
Our robots... are...crude and unrefined.
What about your AI? Do you fear it?
NERA? Why would I fear my one and only remaining family member?

Hearing these words, the man stopped and looked at Nerva. He could swear that the man looked almost like a happy parent hearing that his children were praised.

[PKPower]

The man suddenly turned to face Nerva.

"Are you scared of what's to come?"

Nerva hesitated before answering, knowing full well that everything he does, every word he says, every muscle he moves will have an impact on his conversation and the following events.

"I am. It's only human to feel scared of an intervention of such magnitude. Then again, I would not be here if I was /too/ scared to pull through."

The man nodded slowly and turned his gaze towards the window.

"A feeling I know all too well. The constant stream of information from multiple sources at once, and your brain contolls it all. This massive archive of images, climates, conversations, memories - mix them with one another, combine them to create something entirely unheard of, use it to transcend humanity."

---

[Nerva Regis]

Somewhere on Gammu. Or...better yet, inside Gammu

---

Nerva looked at the man analyzing his every word. Does he want to say that now he can control every piece of information available to him? Wait... he said he knows the FEELING! Does that mean that he was once a human like me?

You say that you know that feeling, does that mean that you were once human? trying not to let his emotions show on his face.

[PKPower]

The man turned back towards Nerva and smiled.

"Well to be fair biologically I'm still a human."

He scratched the side of his head, then spoke again.

"... or rather mostly human. I was in a similar situation as you 83 years ago. Curios; not quite aware what I was getting myself into."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"It was worth it."

---

[Nerva Regis]

Somewhere on Gammu. Or...better yet, inside Gammu

---

83 years ago? But he does not look older than 30.

But you do not look older than 30, maybe 40.
Also, when you say it was worth it. What do you mean?