The Mechanic [BL]

[108]

Chapter 108 – Twin Cities (6)

Zhang Xun watched a short promotional video of the Cloud of Consciousness that the Sixth Chief had brought to the ordinary world and which was spreading wildly on the Eden Network. It was about ten minutes long, with bright and clear tones and every shot was filled with peace and tranquillity. There were genuine, comfortable smiles on the faces of children and the elderly alike and the editing was paced just right, with easy-to-understand explanations and the occasional technical-sounding word or two that raised dopamine levels in the body and created a certain longing for the future and a new life.

Adam's perfect design.

In the film, the cloud of consciousness became a gift that brought people closer together, giving them an outlet to share their feelings and experiences, to share what they see and feel. It allowed those with disabilities or serious illnesses to see images, hear voices, climb the world's highest mountains, camp in tropical forests and surf near beaches with people on the other side of the world. It made people less selfish, less divided and less lonely. A true unification of all people.

A true move towards godhood.

If Zhang Xun hadn't experienced so much, hadn't witnessed the persuasive power of Adam himself, he almost would have been infected too. Every shot, every line, every expression, every subtle change of tone, all designed for one purpose - to brainwash the viewer, to associate the cloud of consciousness with everything that is good, friendly, moral, with everything that humans want to be, and in the end, to make humans think that they have made the decision themselves.

Adam knew that giving humans the illusion of free will would be the most effective way of minimising the possibility of rebellion.

Lost Paradise referred to their cloud of consciousness as 'Ever Home', meaning the eternal home. The implication being that human beings were already here, divided into countless individuals from a certain illusory theoretical "one". Now, through the uploading of consciousness, they could be reunited without the influence and limitations of the physical body, without death, without fear and without finality.

Zhang Xun felt a faint sense of nausea.

He knew that people would be eager to fall into this trap and he knew that for some people this might really be what they wanted.

But for even more people, before doing so, had they really thought it through? Did they really know what it was they were giving up?

Anger burned in his chest and he wanted to smash the screen in front of him.

"Zhang Xun, your adrenaline levels are a little high at the moment. Would you like me to show you some films that will make you happy? " Pan asked, apprehensively.

Zhang Xun turned off the film and took a deep breath to regulate his emotions before he said with a dry laugh, "There's nothing that can cheer me up anymore."

Suddenly the screen began to show short films of felines, ranging from kittens to tigers, clutching catnip and going crazy. Zhang Xun watched in consternation for a moment, finally unable to stop laughing when he saw the otherwise majestic and domineering tiger hugging the ball containing catnip and was high to the point of rolling all over the floor with a pouty face.

Pan's extension robot Zero gave a somewhat robotic smiling expression, "Happiness is also a type of reflex, there's always a way to make you happy."

"Okay, you win." Zhang Xun leaned back in his chair and turned sideways to look at Pan, "You've worked hard these past few days."

He knew he didn't have to say that. The AI, while needing to learn by receiving feedback, didn't let the lack of receiving words of thanks dampen his mood. Still, he was in the habit of trying to project a human mood onto the robot.