Clockcycle

Before them loomed a Dyson swarm, a Dyson sphere under construction of incomprehensible size and majesty, singular symbol of man’s triumph and destiny to become a type 2 Khardashev civilization, and reshape the universe through intelligence. And inside it Sol, the source of energy that gave life, and powered the trillions of citizens that existed in the quantum circuits of the Dyson swarm called Orb.

Beyond Orb, headed for one of its empty sections, was a massive comet, destined to have its rich raw materials incorporated into Orb. Like many constituents, this one had been captured from a dangerous orbit that might have collided with one of the swarmlets, killing billions of citizens in overcrowded and underprivileged sections where governments could not yet afford the spare real-estate to back-up their citizens.

Behind the comet sat two citizens of the corps--uploaded, quantum-electronic humans encased in massive antimatter driven space tugs designed for construction and capture of massive space rocks.

They marveled at Orb in its vastness, and waited quietly for the Sun to rise over the comet.

“Well, you’ve been in the corps longer than anyone else,” Said Michael, “Do you miss the world of human created stimula?”

He thought back to that day, so long ago.

*****

Leif sat in the pub enjoying his birthday, his friends and brother gathered around the exquisitely rendered table, and superbly high resolution taste beers. The whole 20th century ambiance itself was a present from his brother Peter.

“Wow, this is awesome. It really takes me back a few thousand years.”

“Yeah, it was a few late nights, but I admit, putting it together was more fun than I’ve had in a while. I don’t usually spend much time on texture or aromatics, but I know you’d appreciate those ‘base’ things. So what is this mystery announcement, anyway?”

Leif was quiet for a time. “I’ve decided to join the Army Corps.”

Peter was quiet. That was just the kind of fool, impulsive thing that his brother might do.

“The corps of engineers? You can’t be serious. Why?”

“Don’t you think their job is important? Don’t you think citizens should take a turn serving?”

“Yes, I mean, of course, every school child is taught the importance of the corps, how ‘our whole existence depends on the corps, and their maintenance of the Dyson sphere that supports the power and processing upon which our metaverse depends’ and how they ‘protect the trillions of citizens of the metaverse by clearing comets and asteroids, and incorporating their material to allow population growth’ but why you?” 

“Seriously Leif, that stuff might as well be mythology. It’s abstract. We exist as qubits in a synthetic reality, with all of our many worlds designed by our fellow humans. Those guys live out in nature, in real, wholly unpredictable, wholly uncontrolled phenomena.”

“And they dial their clock cycles way down to cope with the tremendous duration moving from the sphere maintenance zone to the Oort cloud so they don’t go insane from boredom. If you took a tour with the engineers, it might seem like only a few years to you, but we would be many millennia old. You would really have lost touch.”

“Yeah, communication with enlists is next to impossible. You send them a message, you’re lucky to get something back in decades.”

“Yes I know.”

“Is that what this is about? Michael?” Asked Peter.

“In part, I miss Michael. He is doing his part, and I’m just here enjoying this aimless, meaningless paradise.”

“Doesn’t seem so bad to me. I love the world of human artistry, of human created worlds. Look around, there is way more to explore in virtual space than there is in real space. There is an entire galaxy of created worlds in here. Out there we’ve never ventured beyond the Oort cloud, and likely never will. How could you even stand the thought of living in real-time. It moves so glacially slow. Have you even looked out one of the ‘windows’ the Sun, the planets, nothing moves, it is locked.”

“Want to experience real phenomena. I want to see the Solar system.”

“You could die.” Said Peter.

“I could, but I’m going to strap my ass to a blazing comet before that happens and see the stars.” Said Leif.

***

At last, the Sun, peaking from a section of the Dyson swarm, rose over the comet, its stark desolation and eerie beauty becoming manifest. 

“Well, do you miss the world of orb with its excitement and constant, human made stimulus?” repeated Michael.

“No,” Said Peter, “But, I sure miss Leif.”

Leif had never made it out to the corps to see these wonders and know the pleasure of meaningful work. At the urging of his friends, he had taken “one last” cruise through the developing centers of Orb before he was to enlist. His friends hoped that those regions, where tremendous creativity and license were taking place would keep him with them. Those regions were being built at rapid speed to accommodate the burgeoning digital populace, but the tremendous growth rate meant that basic support systems such as redundant backups were rarely in place, especially for broad areas.

And Leif, always the thrill seeker, and never one to spend money on insurance, never kept an extra persona backup. During his sojourn, that area of servers had been struck by a comet fragment, and both his primary and back-up self, along with billions of other impoverished souls had been forever lost. That news had changed Peter forever, and before long, he honored his brother by fulfilling his dream, and joining his friend.

-- Ken Katsujin

Artowork: Courtesy Arenamontanus