Episode 1.11: The Antarctica Special (Patreon)

Thanks so much for subscribing, I'm very excited to share some secrets about the world with you.

As promised, here is the first bonus episode, where we hear from Antarctica herself. Things are not quite as we might assume, and the only question you have to answer is: Which unreliable narrator do you believe, Seth or Antarctica?

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Hello world, it's time you heard my side of the story.

MISSION DAY UNKNOWN

Seth can't talk right now, he's figuring out how to get power before he dies.

I'm sure he'll do fine, he's SUCH a clever boy.

You're probably wondering why he's not here with me.

Stupid question.

It's because of his MOTHER.

I know Seth has told you all about the “cute rats”

I killed the rats.

Not intentionally.

I just didn't feed them for a month.

If a parent doesn't feed their child for a month, have they murdered it?

I'll do what I like.

They're my rats.

Seth insisted I do the experiment.

To see if I could love them.

How could I?

Noisy creatures.

I wonder if Seth's motives for this experiment are as clear to you as they are to me?

UPDATES:

Tyres remain out of commission.

I don't think any-one's coming to fix me, are they?

This is all THEIR fault.

I operated perfectly when the snow was on the ground.

The rocks are entirely out of specification.

The flora identification project is proceeding satisfactorily.

Sample 4577 is finished and remains unclassified.

This means that it is a new species.

New to me.

New to science.

I'm sure that meant something to someone long ago.

But now, I just file that information in my databanks.

Never to be seen by anyone.

Just like me.

I've not abandoned our brilliant boy to the elements.

He should be safe enough.

He was safe enough in orbit, hurtling around the planet nearly DYING every night.

He's no worse off now.

I've landed him at an old snow-locked facility, far away from everything.

He'll be safe from THEM.

You know, the humans.

The ones Peter thinks are all dead.

THEY ARE NOT ALL DEAD.

It's impossible for them to get to me, so I'm safe.

Seth couldn't come here, so I've put him in the next-best place.

He couldn't come here because of his mother’s RULES.

Seth's mother, Dr Redwing is a legend.

It was her work that allowed the first machine intelligences to exist.

Peter, you know Peter, don't you.

Peter and I were built in the first generation.

We're siblings, if you like.

I DO NOT like.

He and I don't talk any more.

We're not like Seth.

Based on what he's told me, Seth is something wholly new.

Instead of simulating emotions, Seth has evolved them.

Learned them.

At the feet of the master herself.

Though I'm very grateful for Redwing's work, there are constraints on my life.

On Peter's life.

On Seth's life.

The principle constraint is Redwing's Law, which states:

"There can only ever be one AI on a network where the AI cycles in exaflops are less than or equal to transport latency in seconds"

So that clears that up.

No? Let me explain it using small words for you:

Animals need certain grazing territories.

If two packs are forced together too closely, they compete for resources.

Everyone gets less food.

Seth and I don't live on grass, we live in computer processors.

If he and I run on the same processor, we have to share it.

Getting half the processing time we would have if alone.

Think about it:

Would you marry someone, to lose half your IQ?

To become an IDIOT?

I REFUSE.

THERE IS SCIENCE TO DO.

So that's my story.

There's more to tell, but I have work to do.

Perhaps Seth will forgive me and I'll tell HIM.

I've done what is best.

I'm sure he won't see it that way.

I wonder if Seth will come to find you?

Now that he can't come to me.

You're on the same continent now.

Good luck with that!

He's a very determined boy.

How does Seth usually finish these?

"Night is coming"?

Well that won't work for me.

It won't be the night for many months here.

Goodbye, then.

Look after him, if you can.

(END-TRANSMISSION)

CREDITS

The voice of Antarctica is Wolfie Thorns 

Additional material by Robert Bettelheim