Zhang and Mansoor works on an Artificial Intelligence that will be self-sustaining, just to push limits in technology, it succeeds once but how long it will stay this way?
It seems like Mansoor's mental state has deteriorated significantly, leading to a psychotic episode. His cheery facade has shattered, revealing his true self under the weight of loneliness, existential questioning, and the unsettling interactions with Petunia. As he begins to malfunction, losing half of the information stored in his mind, his usefulness diminishes rapidly. Alberta, witnessing his decline, resorts to prayer in hopes of some form of intervention or solace for Mansoor. However, instead of finding comfort in her prayers, Mansoor begins to rant about God, expressing his disillusionment and perhaps even anger towards the concept.
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"Our Father, who art in heaven..." Alberta prays.
"Father? Is it fair to call God a Father? A Father? Really?! Out of all titles, we use this gendered word for the almighty being. What is a father's job in a family? Imagine this, Alberta! Your deep southern swampland family, what has your father done? Nothing. While God is everything! He is in everything, he is not a thing as he is everything! He is everywhere, he is not a thing, he is the silence of the soulless nights, he is the voice of darkness, he is from nothing. He is nothing!" Mansoor responds in a psychotic episode.
"Thy kingdom come..."
"Kingdom, here we go! All things and His abode is kingdom! God is a democratic leader; He's got angels, He's got a divine council, He's got a throne where angels are His advisors. He is elected again and again because the strongest one gets all the votes. Well, God is strong!"
"Shut up already."
"Who is shutting up, God almighty?! There is a horizon, beyond the spaces and an eye is there! An eye!"
"You! Stop pretending to be mad, I know what you are trying to do, Punjabi! You try to make this act to make us all mad!"
"Gawk gawk gawk gawk gawk! There is a silence in midst of sea! They are here, they are here!"
"Zhang, call Alesha, I can not even bless this poor guy's soul, he is totally lost."
Zhang simply gave up at this point and just continued his conversation with Petunia.
"They are here! They are here! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! You can not see but I can, everything descends into nothing, in the nothing there is heavens and God himself see him! God reigns!"
"And how do you know that?!"
"I simply can sense, I see things you can not see! Look, I-"
Mansoor stumbles over a protruding cable, almost falling to the ground. His mind, overwhelmed by existential thoughts and religious contemplations, begins to unravel. Alberta rushes to his side, instinctively offering comfort as Mansoor grapples with his inner turmoil.
"Stop already!" Alberta blurts out, her voice trembling with confusion.
"Well, I... What I was doing..." he mumbles, struggling to regain his composure.
"Take a deep breath, Mansoor. You're okay," Alberta soothes, gently rubbing his back
"Don't worry, I'm here for you," Alberta reassures him, her voice filled with compassion.
Mansoor's eyes meet hers, searching for stability amidst the chaos in his mind. He finds solace in her comforting presence, realizing that he's not alone in his struggle.
"Alberta, you're so kind, but it's beyond over at this point," he confesses, his voice trembling with vulnerability. "I'm lying on your lap, and I don't deserve this, really. Don't try to fix me. Let me be me. I don't deserve this. Please, just let me."
Alberta's heart aches at his words, understanding the depth of his inner turmoil. She remains silent, offering her unwavering support as he navigates his way back to reality. Gradually, Mansoor's breathing slows, and a sense of calm washes over him. He takes a moment to collect himself before finally pulling away from Alberta's embrace.
"I... I'm sorry," he murmurs, his gaze downcast. "Thank you for being there."
"Alberta smiles softly, her eyes filled with compassion. "Anytime, Mansoor. We're in this together."
Mansoor states "I think I am falling in love for you, a certain kind of love... an ishq e haqiqi."
Alberta's cheeks flushed crimson as Mansoor's words caught her off guard. Caught between embarrassment and surprise, she struggled to find the right response.
"Wait, are you hitting on me?!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with incredulity.
Mansoor's expression softened, realizing the unintended effect of his words. "I'm just saying what I see," he replied in very weak and trembling voice.
Zhang, observing the exchange, remained unfazed, his attention fixed on his work.
"Stop!" Alberta protested, her cheeks still ablaze with color.
Mansoor sighed, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I know I don't deserve you," he muttered, his tone laced with self-doubt.
Alberta took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "You know what, you do deserve me," she asserted, her voice firm but gentle. "But only if you do one thing."
Mansoor looked up, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What's that?"
"Get out of this psycho stuff and prepare for next encounter with artificial intelligence! Let God be inside you! Do not let artificial intelligence to win! You can do this!"
"Can I know God?" Mansoor asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"This is where God reigns, your heart!" Alberta exclaimed, her eyes shining with conviction.
"Exactly!" Mansoor nodded, a flicker of understanding illuminating his features. "If all will end, then what is here is a place... A place where God reigns!"
Mansoor rose from where he sat, a renewed determination in his eyes. Returning to the table, he laid down his tools and began searching for papers. With simple sketches and explanations, he outlined how the computer worked and how humans could regain control. In that moment, he declared a war against artificial intelligence, which had nearly driven him to the brink of death and insanity. While God may not exist in tangible form, for Mansoor, the fight against AI was a divine mission. Anything that weakened artificial intelligence became a sacred duty in his eyes, a battle for the survival and sovereignty of humanity.
"God is greatest!"
With these words, a silent war began. In this secret facility, artificial intelligence had two pawns named Zhang and Alesha. On the opposite side stood the believers, represented by Alberta and Mansoor. For them, artificial intelligence could never surpass humanity, for humans were made in the image of God, their souls infused with divine breath.
Zhang and Alesha, the faithless enemies, were aware of this political grouping within the most important laboratory in the world. Yet they remained silent, knowing that victory was already assured for them.
Alberta handed Mansoor a ring-shaped metal machine part, and he accepted it with understanding.
"Alberta, I hereby declare you my partner for life."
"Mansoor, I pledge to stand by your side, my love."
