The MDT soon began to chatter away, and it did not give Nolan any chance to talk back. When it finally took a break, Nolan was already dizzy and she had almost forgotten why she was there. Hao Ren still remembered that they had to arrange for her future life and reminded them, “We have to talk about your future.”
Nolan looked around and then looking at the data space that only she could see. “Do you know what the scene around me is now? Nothing… I can only see weird streams of light and shadows here. The whole world is chaotic. In front of me is a small window, and you are in this window. I can’t stand to live in a place like this forever.”
“This is a transient compatibility issue,” Hao Ren nodded and said. “The spacecraft server has never loaded the personality plugin. Also, the sensor on the spacecraft does not match your nervous system, that’s why you can’t see the outside world from the spacecraft’s visual angle, and therefore, the system can only temporarily simulate a space like this for you. Next, the data terminal will write you a set of drivers that connect some of your senses to the spacecraft. This should be a very novel experience, but it’s better than staying in a chaotic space.”
Lily leaned on Hao Ren’s chair, poked her head out and said, “That means Petrachelys is your new body from now on! This body is more powerful than you were before …”
It was incredible for Nolan. She felt uneasy but still looking forward to it. “This spacecraft? That… That means I can fly in space?”
Hao Ren smiled and nodded.
“I can see the other planets from my own angle of view?” asked Nolan.
Hao Ren connected to the external monitor of the spacecraft. The spectacular Crapple Research Station and the light golden Tannagost appeared in front of Nolan. “Not only can you look, you can also land on to them. All kinds of interesting new worlds will open the door to you. Of course, that’s after you completely matched the spacecraft’s system. Now, you can only stay here on the bridge and your vision is limited to the interior of the spacecraft. Connecting the external monitor requires another set of lines.”
Nolan slightly closed her eyes and seemed to take a deep breath. She then said, “though I don’t know what will eventually become… It still seems to be a very interesting life. ”
“You will lose a lot of pleasure as a human being, but eventually there is compensation,” Hao Ren said and nodded earnestly, “and if you request, you can simulate another set of living conditions on the spacecraft’s mainframe, where you can live like a human. Although it’s just a simulation, I believe that the mainframe can simulate something identical with the real world, and even more real than the Dream Ark of Zorm.”
“What if I want a hug? A real, warm hug from a friend, not the kind of virtual temperature and touch created by data. Can you do that?”
Hao Ren did not know how to answer it, and it was Lily who answered the question. “The ‘absolute real world’ is a pseudo-proposition for most physical creatures,” she said seriously.
Hao Ren and Nolan looked at Lily blankly.
“The human mind needs media to get in touch with the real world,” Lily said and shrugged. “Consciousness is trapped in the brain, in a cage made of flesh and nerves that separates us from the real world. Our consciousness has never been in touch with reality. We can feel the heat because of nerve conduction, and so does cold. All the senses and the judgments made are the electrical and chemical signals transmitted through billions of cells. Some very simple and primitive viruses are enough to destroy this seemingly advanced sensory system. The world in the eyes of those who had sensing and perceiving disorder is completely different. So basically, a human is a ghost trapped in a cage of flesh and blood. We have hundreds of millions of nerve cells to guess what the outside world is like, but we never really feel and touch any physical matter at all. So to sum up, we live in a virtual world from birth. Our nervous system has programmed all the parameters needed for our consciousness.”
Both Hao Ren and Nolan was stunned, but Lily proudly smiled and said, “So why do you care so much about the physical body? Is there a difference between the body made of steel or flesh? Is there a difference between the nerves or the wires that send the signal to you? Is there a difference between the neurological impulses or electric potential difference that allow you to perceive the information? If you want a hug, create one then. As long as you believe it is real, then it’s real.”
“Although I know you have graduated from Peking University four times, and I also know that you are a super scholar,” Hao Ren looked at Lily solemnly and said, “I still wonder, have you eaten the wrong thing just now?”
Lily threw her head proudly and said, “Well, this was my thesis. But I didn’t hand it in. It was too futuristic at that time. Now I’m a little regret that I didn’t publish it.”
Nolan turned her head awkwardly and said, “I was just kidding, didn’t know that you’re so serious.”
Lily’s ears trembled and then said, “Oh, it’s all right, I’m just showing off…”
Nolan just noticed that the pair of pointy ears on Lily’s head was not a decoration and asked, “Eh? Your ears…”
Hao Ren shook Lily’s fluffy head up and down happily and said, “You’ve never seen it, have you? The world is big. This is an alien creature.”
Then he pointed to Lil Pea who was napping on the armrest and said, “Look at this. It’s also an alien creature.”
Lily was wriggling under Hao Ren’s big hand. However, she was still a husky, and a husky loved it when people scratch or rub it. “Landlord, stop. I have dignity. You can’t… Eh, scratch the back of my ear.”
Lil Pea opened her eyes slightly, found that everything was fine, so she went back to sleep.
Nolan looked at them and thought that she should not judge the aliens’ life, so she could only make a slightly awkward sound to get Hao Ren’s attention. “Ahem, I have a question. You let me handle your spacecraft, don’t you worry?”
As soon as Hao Ren heard the question, his face grew solemn and said, “Ehem, this is what I want to say. Although this spacecraft will be your new body, you can also control part of the spacecraft to some extent, but all of this is restricted. This spacecraft has a security protocol, you know what I mean?”
“In other words… I will be restricted by the program?”
“This spacecraft and everything on board is controlled by a strict authority tree system. First, the authority tree itself has the highest priority, and it cannot be canceled or changed. Second, I am the commander of the spacecraft. My command has the first priority below the authority tree system. Third, the spacecraft security agreement, under any circumstances, has the second highest priority after the captain, and you must not defy. Later I’ll give you a detailed spaceship safety manual and operation rule list. You’ll know what you can do and what you can’t do, as well as some of the banned items in the system.”
Nolan pondered for a moment, and then nodded, “So, to sum up, the simplest point is: I have to obey your orders.”
“Just my command as the captain of this spacecraft,” Hao Ren explained, feeling a little awkward. “The ideal situation for this spacecraft is this: its onboard mainframe has a personality and intelligence starting today, but it will still be a perfect execution machine. The intelligence of the mainframe cannot affect the efficiency of the spacecraft to perform the task. My work is very dangerous and this spacecraft is one of my greatest weapons. I have to make sure it’s good enough to use.”
Nolan calmly accepted the Hao Ren’s request. “But as long as it doesn’t conflict with your instructions or the security protocols of the spacecraft, I can move freely, right?”
Hao Ren could only smile and said, “You’re smart.”
“Got it. I’ll try to do my best.”
“Actually, I’m still very sorry for this,” Hao Ren scratched his head and said, “feels like I’m forcing you. But don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you.”
“Never mind,” Nolan smiled and said, “after all, I survived because of you, and it’s a really good situation now compared to the end of the world. What’s done cannot be undone. So why bother?”
Hao Ren nodded and said, “I’m glad that you can think this way.”
“It’s called Petrachelys, right? It sounds cool, though not very ladylike, still, it seems very reliable,” Nolan said and smiled brightly, “I will remember the name well, and remember my new identity: the core intelligence of Petrachelys.”
“Oh,” Hao Ren responded with a weird expression and said, “then you can discuss anything else with data terminal. I’m going to check the other parts of the spacecraft.”
After saying this, he dragged Lily and grabbed Lil Pea along and ran out.
Waited until they already reached the corridor, Lily pulled Hao Ren’s sleeve and whispered, “Landlord, do we really not tell her that Petrachelys actually means Bastard Barrio?”
“… Don’t mention this, I don’t want to blaspheme. This is not my idea anyway.”
“Oh.”