The Evolution of Genius: Every Night, I Get Smarter!

As the third alarm blared throughout the laboratory, I chose to ignore it, my mind preoccupied with swirling thoughts.

I made my way to the resting area where my family was, but before entering their room, I needed a moment alone to collect my thoughts.

Sinking into one of the sofas, I found myself grappling with existential questions.

Why were we going to such lengths, knowing that the Architects already possessed all the answers?

It seemed as though we were being used as mere pawns, a thought that left me feeling unsettled.

Maybe it was me. I was the main pawn.

I thought back to when someone Jumped into Veronica back in Germany.

"It’s an emperiment..." Rang in my mind.

The Somnus Veri injection is the main reason why all of this is happening. I and my double in the Zytherian cluster were given the Somnus Veri, but what’s the goal of this?

What’s the goal of this experiment.

The Architects need to have something on their minds. Why did they give it to only two of us and not hundreds of people? Was it limited?

What’s the purpose of this?

Also, if it has to do with the Somnus Veri, then why are the Zytherians attacking us? Why can’t we find peace and not destroy ourselves like this...

As I pondered these questions, a sense of unease washed over me.

Wait...

How could I have been so blind?

The memory flooded back to me with startling clarity—Lilian Veri, the Architect, had manipulated me into aggression.

She had coerced me, threatening my family’s safety to ensure my compliance.

But even then, I hadn’t realized the extent of her control over me.

I had been a pawn in her twisted game all along.

I didn’t seem to have the mental capacity to reject it at the time. This feeling...

She made threats against my family to make me think I was making the choice, but I was forced to make it...

I was forced to attack the Ulthars.

What if the Zytherians got the same instructions, but against our cluster?

That would explain it.

That would mean that it’s all orchestrated by the Architects

They aren’t inciting everyone to fight, no. They are making everyone fight.

We can’t refuse their orders.

Do we have free will?

Do I have free will?

Memories of Therion, my mentor from the Ulthar Cluster, resurfaced.

~Consciousness,~ he had said, ~makes you aware of the fact that there is no such thing as existence. There is no such thing as life—nothing is real.~

He was a traitor...

Was he really a traitor?

As I sat there lost in disturbing thoughts, Veronica quietly approached, her presence pulling me from my introspection.

When she saw that I was feeling down, she put her arms around me and gave me a comforting hug.

"Are you okay, Max?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

I leaned into her warmth, "I’m just... trying to make sense of everything," I replied honestly, my thoughts still swirling with confusion and doubt.

Veronica nodded understandingly, her fingers gently tracing patterns on my back as she listened attentively to what I had to say.

"It’s a lot to take in," she murmured sympathetically. "But you’re smart. Whatever it is, you’ll figure it out."

Well... I don’t know.

A minute later, Rick appeared.

"Hey, Max. It’s nice to see you again," he said.

"Yeah. It’s good to see that you’re safe."

"What has heppened to you? You don’t look like yourself."

I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair as I struggled to put my thoughts into words. "I’m just... I’m starting to see things differently, and I don’t know how to make sense of it all," I admitted.

"We’re here for you, Max," Veronica said softly.

Rick nodded in agreement, "We’ve always been there for you, Max." he said earnestly.

They have... always been there for me...

I spend some time with the rest of my family, including Veronica’s mother and Oliv’s parents. They all wished me well, not once have they mentioned wanting to get back to their normal lives.

...

When The Lord came into the room, there was a sense of urgency again.

"The Observers are ready. We need to complete the final step." he stated.

I knew there was no turning back now. I had to see this through to the end.

With a deep breath, I made my way back to the main hub, ready to focus on connecting the particles together as needed.

As I began to work, General Naomi entered the room, her fatigue evident on her face.

She took a moment to catch her breath before addressing the room.

"Alright, here’s the situation at the border," she began, her voice weary but determined. "The Zytherians have unleashed a barrage of energy disruptors that destabilize matter at the molecular level, as well as molecular disintegrators that break down targets."

"Our defenses have been holding, thanks to our plasma shield generators and quantum phase disruptors," General Naomi continued. "But the truth is, we can’t sustain this level of defense for much longer."

"We’ve bought ourselves a few more days, maybe a week tops, if we’re lucky," General Naomi concluded. "But we need to find a solution, and fast, or we won’t be able to hold out much longer."

Were the Zytherians targeting me alone, or did their plans extend to the destruction of our entire cluster? Was this what the Architect meant by "getting my neck ready"?

"Should we consider launching a counterattack?" I voiced my concerns aloud.

The Lord’s response was swift and decisive. "It makes no sense to engage in a futile battle. Why don’t we prioritize escape instead? Let’s head to the 4th Cluster," he suggested.

I again remembered the words of Therion: ~Oh, and also, why do you think the fourth quarter didn’t contact you? The Lord knows, and The Zytherians know as well~

"Why the 4th Cluster?" I asked.

"We received no response from there. It seems like it’s uninhabited." His response was straightforward.

No... there must be something more to this.

Could The Lord be lying to me to accomplish a goal?

"The Lord," I began, my voice tinged with curiosity. "What is consciousness?"