"Let me explain. About 200 years ago fifty of the greatest minds of humanity agreed to take part in an experiment which would make use of the latest technologies available to them. The group included scientists, philosophers, artists, poets, writers, and engineers amongst others. They wanted to find out if linking their brain power together through an interface could result in an ultimate computer, more complex and complete than any before or since.
"In this they succeeded beyond their expectations. They set up a research post on this very planet and built the Interface. Thirty of their number along with their families were to be the subjects and therefore linked themselves to the Interface on a daily basis for a period of one year. The inclusion of their families was seen important to test, amongst other things, whether a genius mind was required to feed the computer or if ordinary minds would work equally as well given time. The other twenty observed and analysed the results. Those watching maintained the Interface, adjusting it and nurturing its processes so that the computer would focus on answering specific questions set to it. That effort, in turn, guided what the subjects imagined in their virtual worlds and what information they desired to download and process.
"Artists, philosophers and historians sought ideas and abstract knowledge, scientists and engineers looked at the application of these ideas whilst mathematicians worked on the underlying math. Together their minds interconnected within the computer producing amazing results and developing our knowledge by decades.
"The experiment was seen as a complete success but when the time came for the test subjects to end their connection to the Interface they refused. The Interface had provided for them an ideal existence; one freed of the burdens of life and provided with pleasure of instantaneous knowledge and entertainment. It was to be their Eden, they said, and they would not leave."
Kril paused in her story for a moment and took a sip of water from her glass. Laurena sat still but attentive. Her mind was racing. She was trying to process this alternative version of their history at a speed that she was entirely unaccustomed. Her head hurt from the concentration. Nevertheless this pause seemed to last an eternity and she eventually begged the Learner to continue. Kril smiled gently and continued as requested.
"Much debate ensued within the council chambers of the Great Alliance, and amongst the overseers of the experiment. Eventually they agreed to forcibly remove the subjects from the Interface believing, not unfairly, that they had become addicted to the effects of the machine, and thus were not to be seen as thinking clearly.
"But when the day came to shut down the Interface, the test subjects billed a legal claim to the High Courts that they be allowed to continue in their chosen existence for their sake, for their children's sake, and for future generations both on Beta Pictoris V and for the greater good of the Great Alliance in its entirety. They argued that their chosen lifestyle was to be seen as no different as that of other human civilisations that formed the diverse backbone of the Great Alliance. They also argued that their continued link to the Interface provided not only a greater good for humanity in terms of rapid progress and discovery but was to be seen as their duty and if ceased, a crime against humanity. Being amongst the greatest minds of their time, their legal position was found to be flawless and no means of rejection could be discovered or maintained.
"And so, without any means to refuse their desires, the test subjects were allowed to continue their life as it had been for the last year. Only two provisos were agreed and amended on the legal bill. One: that a minimum of twelve hours per day should be spent disconnected from the Interface and spent in the social hubs or houses. This rule was specified to make sure that they would continue to feed themselves and act as human beings should. Two: that the overseers were to be allowed to continue to maintain the machine as during the experiment. Those, as you may have by now guessed, became known to the descendants of the original thirty and their families, as Learners.
"And that is how it has remained ever since. Beta Pictoris V has become one giant computer system fuelled by the descendants of the original test subjects. By law we are bound not to interfere unless necessary for the protection of the population or for the Interface. Occasionally we may nurture individuals away from the Interface to join us in the Citadel, but this is rarely done or found to be achievable."
And there Kril Volc ended her story. Once done she went silent and sat still. It seemed that she recognised the need for Laurena to process the story in its entirety. This Laurena was doing at as fast a speed as her limited cognitive processes allowed. One fact was related to another, then digested, analysed and considered. Over and over Laurena worked through the information appraising the tale from as many angles as she could think up. Included in her equations was the possibility that the Learner was lying - but this prospect didn't seem highly probable. What did the lie gain the Learners? Not much she concluded. Then Laurena moved on to wider ramifications of the story.
"If what you say is true then humanity isn't enslaved to the Interface is it?" Laurena asked.
"No it is not." Kril replied clearly and directly "only the people of Beta Pictoris V are connected to the Interface. This planet is known throughout the Great Alliance as the home of an advanced computer, although few realise what that actually means. As a species we almost went down that route. Two hundred years ago the experiment was just one of many looking at more and more ways to join human beings with machines. There are still some populations who have opted for similar unions. They are hybrids, part human and part machine. But the events on this very planet changed all of that. Humanity moved back from the precipice and now, for the most part, we have found a safe union with computers that still allow us to act as free and intelligent beings whilst using the machines for our own betterment."
Laurena considered this response carefully and eventually asked: "so what happens to me next?"
Kril considered that for a moment answering at first only that it was a pertinent question but one that she didn’t have an answer to give, at least not yet anyway. After further consideration Kril requested time to consider and discuss the matter with her fellow Learners. She explained that such discussions required deliberation amongst many experts. The legal aspect needed clarification as did the medical ramifications for Laurena. The physiologists and philosophers needed notification as did the Social Providers who could work out a sensible future for one who knew very little of the real world.
With that Kril suggested that Laurena stay in NuMort for a while, whilst the Learners worked out a way forward. At once afraid Laurena stated quite clearly her desire not to be reconnected with the Interface. Kril immediately agreed, noting that there was no need for her to return again to that life.