Amat Victoria Curam

#4

Aloy looked at Gaia and remarked:

- Rost raised me not to believe in gods if I didn't know they really existed. Knowledge, not faith, he said. And I have never met tribal gods.

- But you have met me - Gaia finished, and Aloy nodded.

- It has never been clear to me what or who exactly is considered a god or a deity. Because each tribe has its own often diverse and contradictory explanations.

- Gods and deities; through human history most often fictitious beings, of superhuman and inhuman characteristics, but with human needs and orientations, who help and direct natural and social phenomena in a way inaccessible to human beings.

- The gods were fictitious? Yeah, I always suspected something like that. But your definition fully corresponds to what you are and what you can do.

- Exactly. According to a multitude of interpretations, the artificial intelligence of my characteristics corresponds to the category of deity. Sort of.

- Although weird when you're not... - Aloy realized that it's not easy for her to express herself about something so complex and contemplative as religion - you're not the kind of deity people imagine.

- The gods often do not share their divine secrets? - Gaia smiled. Aloy nodded, that's what she meant.

- Yeah.

- But secrets remain secrets only for those who never understand them. And most often throughout history, secrets were not really secrets, but trivial rituals, songs, phrases and their combination. No effects on the nature and general conditions I am dealing with.

- Directing and managing natural phenomena inaccessible to human beings, that's what you're specialized about - Aloy said.

- That's technology, Aloy. Improving living conditions through the practical and inventive use of intelligence at your disposal, human or post-human.

- Yes, I guess... do you know that you are truly an amazing person, Gaia? I believe Elisabeth Sobek would be proud of you. Anyway, I'm proud of you.

- Thank you for your nice words, Aloy. That means a lot coming from you.

In the rest of the conversation, Gaia explained to Aloy the optimal way to introduce globally benign but much-needed technologies for the betterment of the world's population. Aloy was pleasantly surprised. Bicycle, recreational thingy, ie a practical daily device of the past. It will be used to strengthen the human health immune system of people in general. Then the previously mentioned drastically improved factor of human self-healing. Then the introduction of tribal education through the statues of Gaia which could, at certain time intervals, become activated. Then Gaia would link herself to the statue and start educating people with the knowledge contained in her APOLLO module. We must learn from the mistakes of our predecessors if we do not want to repeat them, she explained, and Aloy wholeheartedly agreed.

Finally, Gaia presented her with a visionary plan for the simple and rapid settlement of other worlds. Aloy was skeptical at first, keeping in mind what happened to the Far Zeniths, but Gaia easily dispelled those doubts. She explained to her the easily accessible possibilities of colonizing the nearest worlds, including Mars, Venus, Pluto, and most unexpectedly, Earth's own satellite, the Moon.

Aloy just listened, pleasantly surprised by Gaia's thoughtful and reasonably achievable plans. She felt the hope in her flourishing civilization and that they'll grow stronger than ever. Yes. Once the threats of ancients and the threats above are completely resolved, human civilization will be free. They will live in a stable haven. On Earth and other planets. She didn't quite understand what Gaia meant when she talked about the technical details of inhabiting these nearby worlds, but she had a hunch.

Terraforming and creating the biosphere, which was Gaia's specialization. Venus was a hot planet, and the Moon and Mars lifeless, but there was no doubt in her mind: if anyone can find a way to transfer life from Earth to these worlds, it is Gaia. Aloy understood at least one thing.

Until the planets are sufficiently adapted to create a biosphere and sustain settlements on the surface, life will appear and flourish there within underground colonies, safe from life-threatening radiation, cold and heat on the surface. Aloy agreed and gave Gaia permission to start with that program as soon as possible. They had quite a bit of work to do if they intend to save humanity, and so they immediately set to work.