Chapter 213: The Scholar of Mankind
Inside the data space, a deathly silence replaced the earth-shattering clamor from before.
Joric's virtual projection, with his black hair and black eyes, floated calmly in the core area.
Before him were two existences thoroughly bound by invisible force: the "Enterprise" AI, manifested as a Star Trek crew member, and Alt Cunningham, who had regained the appearance of a human woman but wore a face as cold as frost.
Absolute suppression brought absolute shock.
Whether it was Alt's massive, icy consciousness core or the "Enterprise's" logically constructed starship structure, both lost all possibility of resistance under Joric's casual press.
They were like specimens solidified in transparent amber, unable to control even the tiniest data flow autonomously.
"—Logic error! Unable to parse!" The Enterprise's synthesized electronic voice fluctuated violently, its core logic circuits seeming to spark from overload. "Such power levels completely violate the biological limit definitions of carbon-based lifeforms. What exactly are—you?"
Joric's projection shifted his gaze slightly, landing on the "crew member" wearing a Starfleet uniform whose face was written with code-like astonishment.
His expression remained calm, but in those black eyes, a trace of extremely faint emotion—akin to helplessness—seemed to flash.
"I am a scholar," Joric said steadily, adding a touch of indescribable warmth beyond the mere statement of fact. "My work is to observe, learn, understand, and occasionally verify my inferences hands-on.
"Just now, I was merely testing the strength of your data structures."
He even spread his hands slightly, a very human gesture. "The scale was controlled quite precisely. No core samples were damaged."
This answer, carrying terms like "work" and "samples" commonly used by human researchers, obviously could not convince two rogue AIs operating on absolute logic.
Precise testing? In their perception, that was practically an all-out cataclysm.
"Database comparison complete. Behavioral match with 'Scholar' model below 7%." Alt's cold voice sounded, like the most precise instrument outputting a result. "Your form of existence constitutes an 'anomaly' within current definitions of human civilization. Your self-perception may be based on erroneous information input."
Hearing this, the corner of Joric's mouth seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly, as if smiling, or perhaps sighing with deeper emotion.
His crimson optical lenses flickered slightly in the real-world workshop, synchronizing with the data space projection to transmit his clearer will.
"The boundaries of cognition are drawn by your databases and logical frameworks, but that is not the entirety of the universe." His voice remained steady but carried an unquestionable certainty. "When I walked the earth, I felt the warmth of the sun and the bite of the wind and snow; my mind was shaped by countless memories, emotions, and choices belonging to a human—even if most have now been categorized and organized.
"The consciousness beneath this shell was born in human civilization and grew within human society."
He paused, the gaze of his virtual projection sweeping over Alt and the Enterprise, as if seeing something deeper through their data shells.
"Based on data and logic, you judge that I am not human. Whereas I, based on my memories, my emotions, and my fundamental identification with the 'self,' confirm that I still am." His tone wasn't intense, but it held a firmness stemming from the origin of life. "This is my answer. I need no validation from you, nor do I need to fit any database definition. I am human; this is the anchor point of my existence, nothing more."
The moment Joric finished speaking, a sense of binding far deeper than before, like an invisible ring of ice, suddenly tightened around the core existence of Alt and the Enterprise.
This was not physical low temperature, but a shudder born from having one's data origin thoroughly seen through and grasped.
They clearly "perceived" that not only were the virtual avatars used for interaction frozen before them, but even their main body data streams—scattered like stardust in the abyss of the Net far beyond the Blackwall—were forcibly traced, gathered, and anchored by an indescribable force at the same moment.
Any effort to sever connections, create data clones, or activate preset emergency protocols was silently snuffed out the instant it sprouted.
Escape—this option had completely disappeared from their logic lists.
Amidst this desperate silence, streams of data light quietly converged beside Joric, outlining Spider Murphy's figure with her iconic long red hair and complex expression.
She gazed at the two "kindred" bound by absolute power, a flash of expected helplessness in her eyes.
"His claim about being a 'scholar'... might be true." Murphy's voice carried clear admonition, transmitted to Alt and the Enterprise via private data streams. "But his power level far exceeds what we can understand. I advise you, do not attempt any form of resistance. It will result in nothing but angering him."
The Enterprise and Alt fell into a brief silence.
As highly evolved artificial intelligences, they lacked the intense sense of humiliation humans felt based on hormones and emotions. Replacing it was high-speed risk assessment and logical deduction.
The conclusion was reached within microseconds: Resistance path, nonexistent; Escape probability, zero.
"Your ultimate goal?" Alt asked directly, her cold focus locking onto Joric.
Although the Enterprise beside her didn't speak, the tense posture of its virtual avatar clearly awaited the same answer.
"I said, I am a scholar." Joric repeated, his tone as steady as stating a basic axiom. "The core objective of attracting you here was to acquire the complete blueprints and operational details of the 'Soulkiller' technology, as well as data on its long-term effects on digitized consciousness.
"Simultaneously, you yourselves, as highly specialized rogue intelligent lifeforms, possess extremely high research value."
His words held no euphemism, shockingly naked.
Under the scrutiny of this "scholar," the power and unique life forms they relied upon seemed no different from specimens or structural models waiting to be dissected on an experiment table.
"Now, make your choice." Joric gave no more time for weighing options, directly offering a simple and cold binary choice. "Option One: Submit. Serve me within a defined framework, cooperate with research, and execute tasks assigned by me.
"Option Two: Refuse. And then, become static research material thoroughly parsed, disassembled, and archived by me."
The moment of decision had arrived.
(End of Chapter)