"So in summary: The 'internet' is just a bunch of standardized protocols between a bunch of computers. That when followed allow for all systems involved to gather data faster and connect the users to each other?" [A crude summary. But yes that is correct.] Hwang was now finishing up his impromptu lecture with professors Zoe Padilla and RAFE the AI.
Hwang, despite being the son of Pyong-Ho Eoh the owner of Helios Astronautical Transportation, was not the sharpest tool in the shed. His accomplishments mostly stemmed around being clever, not being knowledgeable. Hwang had grown up with plenty of tools at his disposal, but he always managed to misuse said tools, no matter how hard the myriad of maids, teachers, or even parents lectured him.
Hwang considers his crowning achievement to be when he managed to send an entire shipment of prison rations to his high school to prove how even the prisons have better food. He was right.
[Let's begin our plan then. From Nezha's instructions we are supposed to gather faith in some way. I can already feel something like a thin thread connecting the three of us. It extends into the walls of this room and past it.] Hwang questioned. "Thread? Like an invisible taunt string of faith?"[Yes. Let's call it that: A thread of faith.] "Heh. Like a thread of fate."
Zoe came up with an idea. "Can you try tugging at the string? Like. Interacting with it in any way?" [Let me see. Brace yourself for any unexpected consequences.] Zoe and Hwang sat on the bed. After a moment of awkward anxiety Zoe felt something akin to static electricity arcing through her skull. *jolt*
"[Curious.]" Zoe/RAFE said. "Eh! What! Are you in my head now?!" Zoe exclaimed. "[That appears to be the case.]" "Augh! That feels so weird to have my mouth move without my consent!" [Is this better?] Zoe heard her own mental voice speaking to her, only this time in the dialect of RAFE. 'A little bit.' Zoe thought back. [Allow me to attempt a hypothesis.] 'Hmm?' *jolt*
"Argh! RAFE's here now!" "[Correct.]" After a moment of silence, presumably a communication between RAFE and Hwang, RAFE spoke again. "[The test showed an expected result. My 'transfer' into either of your minds is not a one step process, I have to return to the computer to then again travel to either of your minds.]" "That's good to know. Now please get out of my head." "[One moment please while attempt something else.]"
"Eh?" Hwang's eyes dilated. He felt something probing within his mind, calling up memories. He instinctively resisted. [That proves my hypothesis.] RAFE said to Hwang. 'Care to elaborate?' [Certainly. I am capable of experiencing all of your senses, including equilibrioception, thermoception, and other niche categories. I am also able to request memories from your mind, and you are capable of denying those requests.] *jolt*
[I thank you for allowing me to experience human senses, that was enlightening.] RAFE had returned to the computer. Zoe and Hwang took a moment to adjust to this new information. "So this is one advantage of gathering faith." Hwang broke the silence. "Hmm?" Zoe looked to him.
"We can assume that if our acknowledgment of RAFE is considered enough faith for it- him, sorry. So if other people can believe in RAFE's existence then it should qualify as faith. The faith that a truly sapient artificial intelligence can exist." Hwang concluded. "But that isn't faith towards RAFE-" "-But it does constitute faith within reason, more so according to Nezha's explanation." "Touché."
"Now back to experimenting..."
A new day arrives, well... Another twenty four hour cycle passes. On Mercury a day-night cycle lasts one hundred seventy six earth days. However, with all of humanity's technological advances, ignoring the solar cycle of sleep is quite easy. So maintaining the traditional twenty four hour day is still the norm.
The sun was hanging low in the sky over the Corvis University campus. Zoe and Hwang drove to the main gate and made their way inside of Weiber Hall the main technology course building. Computer science, Engineering, Applied energy, Applied quantum mechanics, and many other majors gathered in this building.
Zoe looked down at her phone. "Remind me again of the plan." [Once more. For the third time.] "No need to be crass." RAFE had been placed inside of Zoe's phone and was now being smuggled right into the heart of the college's technological center. Once Zoe managed to plug him into any computer with high enough access RAFE could begin scouring the files for information on the college's server room, if any data was available.
The hallways were lightly populated as people moved to their classes. Small clicks of friends gossiping and sharing snacks. "See you later." Hwang and Zoe went their separate ways. Zoe climbed the stairs to the third floor and entered a lecture hall. Glancing around, a person perked up upon noticing Zoe.
It was a young lady with wide brimmed glasses and a beanie on. She wore a long-sleeved shirt with plaid sleeves but solid color otherwise, her fashion wasn't quite meant for others. Meet Harriet Klein, another good friend of Zoe's.
"Miss Klein. Please pay attention to the lecture." Professor Ivan caught the two girls before they could start to talk. Zoe leaned towards Harriet and whispered. "You'd never believe what happened since last class." The professor noticed this but choose not to interject. "That's great and all, but tell me after class. I'm pretty sure Prof's gonna nag us plenty if we keep talking..."
Harriet turned to her laptop and began to read the paper the professor had sent to everyone. Zoe pulled out her phone and a cable. She plugged her phone into Harriet's laptop and smiled. "What are you doing?" Zoe gave a mischievous grin. "I. Am asking for you to give me your notes." "I can just send them to you online you know." "I know, but this is more direct." "Not really." Harriet unplugs the cable.
Zoe continues to smile, knowing that her acting was enough. It did feel a little strange for her to lie to someone's face like that though. More so to a friend. The lecture went on for another hour and a half.
"Ahh..." *Pop* "That was long." Zoe stretched from her seat, leaning towards Harriet. Her stretch ended up turning into a sly way to lay on Harriet's lap. Harriet looked down at her new lap warmer. "How about you get off my lap, we get a bite to eat, and you tell me about what happened."
"I would, but I promised Hwang to meet up after this class." Harriet gave a look of surprise. "You've been hanging out with Mr. Eoh a lot more recently, ever since the co-lab project about a month ago. Could it be you've more in common than you first thought?" It was Zoe's turn to surprised. "We click well is all. But now we're in deep water." Zoe had caught on to Harriet's teasing and decided to place a bit of bait.
"Well. I'm off. Make sure to contact me later if you have questions." Zoe took off for the door at a leisurely pace. "Questions? About?" Harriet called out. Zoe pretended not to hear.