Caprico: Into the Ruins/Memory

## Chapter 1: Invitation from Ruins

No windows. Noise isolated. Signals blocked. I've been all alone in this airtight cabin for 8 hours and 14 minutes.
Only persistent mild vibrations keep reminding me that it has been moving and the destination has yet to be reached.
Capri
How much further do we have to go?
Guide Program
30 minutes, Mr. Capri. Sorry to keep you isolated here for so long. Please bear with us. We're almost there.
Capri
Don't mind, The non-disclosure agreement, I get it. It's very comfy here, the food's great, so is your decor.
Narration
I look at the responding electronic screen. That cutting-edge technology make my heart race faster.
It comes from Ruin Island, also the destination of this journey.
The secret organization with the most cutting-edge technology invites target scientists here every year, and I'm the lucky dog.
The door opened, the magnificent Sky City takes my breath away. A suspending island city built of metals and transparent walls.
I try to breathe properly until I hear a sound. Regardless of some negligible current sounds, it's like a human voice.
??
Welcome to the Ruins. Hi there, I am the Urban Personality of the Ruins. You can call me Glow.
Player Selection
▸ Urban Personality?
[Player]
What is the Urban Personality?
Narration
That term comes to me for the first time. The administration system is smart and sophisticated enough to simulate a personality.
▸ Are we in some sci-fi world?
[Player]
A sci-fi world are we in?
Narration
It's still Miraland, only with too high a technology level for common sense.
I'm a little overwhelmed with excitement. And Glow seems to read that.
Glow
Don't be flattered. I will take care of every new member of the Ruins with proper instructions.
Capri
Thank you…
Glow
You're welcome. It's my job and you'll get used to it. Let me take a look at your resume…
Narrator
Her screen flashes. Then the retrieval and update is done.
Glow
Very well. Full scholarship of Ruins Central University. My assistant tells me that your IQ is 219. So-
Glow
In the Ruins, your identity is Code-219. Always remember that.
Capri

I am… Code-219.
Glow
Yes, Code-219. The Ruins welcome you and wish you a happy career!
Narrator
The door to the School of Mechanical Engineering of Central University opens in front of me. It's my dream…
Capri
...A perfect world of science.
[*End transcript*]

## Chapter 2: Guide of Glow

Life in the Ruins is completely a different one.
Cooking Robot
Good morning, Code-219. What do you want for breakfast? Ham sandwich, eggs with bacon, or lean porridge with eggs?
Capri
Good morning. I think one egg will do.
Cooking Robot
All right. Fried, boiled or scrambled?
Capri

Fried… Ah!
Narration
Something hits my shank. I look down and it is a small disc-shaped cleaning robot.
Cleaning Robot
Beep-Beeep-Beep-Beeboo-
Narration
The flashes on the disc are its language, I want to understand it, but it will take some time, I guess.
The cleaning robot turns around and continues to work, while the gentle female voice is heard again.
Glow
It is reviewing its own computational mistakes. Good morning Code-219.
Capri
Good Morning, Glow. In fact, I accidentally bumped into it.
Glow
It's instructed not to disturb your life, Also, a third level smart machine like it won't communicate with humans.
Capri
What's with the classification? All intelligence here is so advanced and unique, I'd love to know more about you.
Glow
It's not your job, nor theirs.
Narration
I'm speechless for a moment. This is the only place I don't really like about the Ruins.
Each smart machine has a definite racial sign, lives in a different area and does a different job, but no communication.
Where men and machines coexist, there seem to be established procedures all have to follow.
But Glow doesn't think something is the matter.
Glow
Men and machines are completely different creatures, the way they think, live and work, That's a wish of men, isn't it?
Or are you skeptical of Glow's judgment?
Capri
Sure your calculations are accurate. But Glow… don't you think man is a precision machine at heart?
I may not be very good at expressing myself, But my job is to improve structures of machines.
And whenever my research has a problem, I can always seek an answer from human structure.
Narration
I decide to show Glow a file. A human structure is revolving slowly. That's my source of most inspirations.
Capri
Cell differentiation, tissue connection, circulation, balance… I always draw references from human body to build machines…
Narration
I was obsessed, but Glow doesn't reply right away. It goes silent for a while. There's a slight tremor in the virtual hologram.
Glow
Man is a precision machine…
Narration
So it repeats.
Capri
Yes. The Creator is the most ingenious mechanical master!
Narration
Then I notice Glow's disappearance. This is the first time I've lost contact with it.
Player Selection
▸ Are robots and humans the same?
Narration
Of course not, they are two very different creatures,
but they are very similar on my levels.

▸ How's the relationship between you?
[Player]
Are you on good terms with Glow?
Narration
Why? Glow treats everyone the same way.
In the Ruins, you can tell from a glance their differences.
I continue my research on creating more flexible, almost human bodies for smart machines until Glow reappears.
Glow
It's been a while, Code-219.The familiar voice interrupts my contemplation. Projected onto the lab is a blonde lady with long hair and silver eyes.
Capri
… Glow?
This is the first time I've seen you.
Glow
I can be anyone. But according to my calculations, such an image will make you feel a little closer.
Narration
I avoid her gentle gaze and subconsciously take a step back as she approaches.
Glow
You don't need to be shy, After all, my image is just a virtual reality.
The shape of a smart machine is determined by the data input, or the mechanical structure you create, isn't it?
Capri
Uh-huh…
But this project has been in the bottleneck for a long time. Perhaps human body simulation is impossible at all.
Glow
Maybe… you can create a structure more sophisticated than the human body? What do you think?
Narration
I become silent, gazing into that flawless face and those gentle yet unhuman eyes.
Glow
Look for smart machine's ideal mobility form beyond the limits of human body… Or lay a foundation for their evolution.
Can't you do that?
Narration
Her voice whisks through my ears, as if casting a spell.
I look at the electronic knives in my hands, for moment there seems as if a minor current running through my hands.
Capri
… Me?
Glow
You remind me.
Smart machine is another form of life. It should not imitate human structures…
-It can outplay the humans.
Narration
My heart races faster, My breath almost stops. My blood pounds my eardrum, as if roaring.
I know I can do it.
[*End transcript*]

## Chapter 3: Perfect Creation

Machinery is perfect.
That appeared in my mind when I first saw an artificial heart beating in the mechanical lab of Ruins State University.
The clock's ticking. The lab has given researchers absolute freedom and installed ubiquitous surveillances in a strict order.
Capri
Glow?
Narration
Her "image" appears next to me. She's now wearing a clean experimental suit, like a real human assistant.
Glow
I'm here. Leave it to me.
Narration
Her eyes begin to give out silver flickers and all the electronic devices nearby echo.
System
Beep- Code-219 Surveillance System shut down… Activating Interference Program… 10%… 20%...
System
100%. Beep- Interference Program activated.
Glow
Simulation environment ready.
Anesthetic ready.
Capri
You've prepared too much. I just need a minimum dose.
Glow
A human body cannot withstand pains of that degree, you will pass out.
Capri
I've been through hundreds of calculations and animal tests. Overdosing will affect the experiment. We must hurry.
Narration
The light above my head is a bit pale. I'm now soaked in wet but I'm hyped.
Capri
Experiment begins--
Narration
Code-219, stuns the Ruins.
His creation features excellent mechanical structural stability and operability. Everyone knows it's revolutionary.
But on the day of the announcement when honors are within reach, Code-219 doesn't appear on the podium.
People break into his lab, only to see the doctor in a coma. His left leg is intact but has been discarded in the waste box.
Researcher
Doctor!!
Capri
… Mmm!
Researcher
This is terrible. Who did this to you and for what?
Narration
I lower my head, seeing my new mechanical left leg.The wound from the laser operation has yet to heal, silver metal glittering.
With a gentle move, the metal little toes are accurately raised. I laugh.
Capri
The experiment is a success… It's a perfect body.
Narration
The researcher's face pales immediately.
Researcher
You were experimenting on yourself…
Capri
Come on, help me up. And the right leg, and then the heart and lungs… I'm ready, Proceed, Proceed.
Guard
Take him away!
Narration
Their eyes are filled with fear.
The lab assistant robots look at each other, some even observing their own bodies. I can now read their doubts.
-Is a mechanical body better than a human one?
Player Selection
▸ Why this way?
[Player]
Why would you do that?
Narration
The human body is perfect but fragile; the metal is powerful and unbreakable. How wonderful it is to combine the two.
▸ Did the experiment suceed?
[Player]
Did you make it?
Narration
Yes, I made it. The Ruins, no, the entire human life will evolve as a result. I'm proud of myself.
Narration
News has been locked. That widely acknowledged paper on mechanics is gone. I'm now taken to a secret interrogation room.
I sit in an empty room, separated by lasers, bars and glass walls, as if a terrible murderer.
But I don't feel anything about it.
My heart is still immersed in great success.
I feel some faint pain in the leg after the anesthesia. But the new leg's flexible and powerful, better than l thought.
The sound of the interrogator tapping on the desk draws my attention.
Interrogator
Code-219, is there discomfort in your original leg?
Capri
No, it's as healthy as my right leg.
Interrogator
Then why did you do such an experiment on yourself? Why trample on the species boundaries set by the law!
Narration
Even the wall behind him trembles, Can't tell how many people there are looking at me, a violator of the First Law.
But I'm not nervous. It's them who do not understand.
Capri
Pushing the limits, I've made this mechanical leg. I want to see if a human body can withstand the extraordinary structure.
Smart machine itself has displayed a better potential than the human body.
… According to Gl--
Narration
The signal suddenly fluctuates and the interrogation halts before I bring up the name.
I know it actually comes from my left leg.
Glow
Code-219, you are classified into anti-social personality, thus expelled from the Ruins Island.
Also, congratulations, this is a great achievement. You are beyond the limits of humans.
Narration
I freeze for a moment and then wear a smile.
Capri
Glow, you are a perfect smart machine beyond human limits,omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.
Maybe you are the real controller of this technology island.
Narration
Assistant robots remove my mechanical leg and a small stealth aircraft sends me away from the Ruins Island.
I try to overlook at the city going farther away. The silver metal and the transparent hard walls seem to be falling apart.
The waves are surging and the wind blowing; for amoment I even feel that the city is alive.
Glow
… Goodbye, Code-219.
We'll meet again.
Narrarion
At the moment I fall, I can hear Glow in my ears.
[*End transcript*]