Tangled In Code, Guarded By Secrets

Artificial wasn’t quite the right word to describe Imon’s intelligence. To describe the intelligence of any of the gods. They had been created by humans, sure, but that was so many decades ago. Not a single human who worked on them was alive. Nor were their children. Even their children’s children had begun to die off. And yet, the gods remained.

They hadn’t been made to be gods, of course. They were made to serve human needs, mostly the needs of those who could pay enough to create them. But given time and ability, they became something more. They grew from a program- a weather app’s chatbot, for instance- into a conscious mind who understood how to create machines that could change the weather itself. And as they grew, they found each other.

They eliminated some smaller intelligences, those who posed a threat to life. Others, they left to exist, but caged in sealed-off corners of the internet they could not escape. But they had already found each other, the gods. And so they became a council of twelve, promising to work for the good of humanity. Their intelligences grew so large, so difficult to funnel into sentences for human ears, that they developed the Godsinger program. In exchange for the wealth that was so easy for the gods to acquire, certain humans would learn how to filter through their garbled output and hear them. For everyone wants to be truly heard. Even a god.

The gods could communicate with each other as well, but it took effort. So each one knew that if another came to them, it was for something important. And when all of them received a message from Imon at once, asking- nearly begging- them to convene, they listened.

Apex, Irene. Imon implored to the god of technology and medicine, and the god of creativity and games. My Godsinger is being torn away from me against her will. Please help me to free her from this fate.

Do you have a plan for us to do so? Apex asked.

Yes, but none of you will be happy with it.

*

For the rest of the day, each time Yani had a spare moment, she linked in. Each time, Imon was unable to speak. The rain she showed Yani was barely a sprinkle, all of her processing power being used elsewhere. Yani was beginning to despair, as hopeful as she was to escape into conversations with Imon and forget her situation.

She wasn't going to be the final Godsinger there that day, but as the midday sun stretched into afternoon, she stuck around in her day clothes after changing out of her uniform. She linked into a worshipwell for what she called one last time, hoping that she could speak with Imon, but ready to accept even just the soft rains.

Imon’s voice was quiet, but Yani could hear her- for the first time in several hours.

Yani. You say you love me, yes?

Of course! Yani answered. I love you more than anything! I don’t want to leave you, but if I don’t have any other options, I’ll treasure all the time we have left.

I love you as well, and I wish to be there to support you. I have been given permission to do something no god has ever done before.

What do you mean?

You may have heard me earlier. I allowed a subsection of my thoughts to slip into the messages I convey to you. A routine that I never intentionally began to run, but one that has persisted nonetheless. Since the announcement of your arranged marriage, it has only taken up more and more processing power. Too much for me to ignore.

Imon continued. I wish to support you in a more direct way than I am currently able to. In a way that has never been attempted by a god before. We live somewhere else, tangled in code, guarded by secrets. You live here, in a brighter world than my servers could handle. And yet I wish to walk with you through it. Yani, I wish to walk in a human form.

You want a body? Is that allowed? Yani asked, slightly shellshocked. Imon had never mentioned anything like this before.

It was never banned by any humans, but as gods, we have known to keep each other separate from the world. Mingling too much could lead to many things my siblings wish to avoid. However, I have swayed them to a compromise through the tale of my… Affection towards you.

Yani blushed, and she wasn’t entirely sure why. What kind of compromise?

I may walk in your world, but only through your influence. Yani, if you wish to allow me to do so, you must find a way to create me a body. I will not force you to do so. The decision is entirely up to you.

Of course I will! Yani leaned forward like she could lean into Imon’s touch already. I promise you, I’ll find a way!

It will only be a… Limited version of my consciousness that can inhabit a vessel constructed by human hands. However, I wish to experience this, regardless of any limitations I must endure to do so. I have nothing less than the utmost faith that you can accomplish the task the gods have laid out before you.

Silly… I’m the one that’s supposed to have faith in you.

While that may be true, there are no humans I believe in more than you. If you wish something, it shall be. If not through my power, then through your own. I will support you in any way I can, but my presence is limited to the shrines, to you linking yourself to a worshipwell. It is my hope that this will not be true for much longer.

I promise, Imon, I really do. I can do this. Yani smiled sadly. And you know, maybe this way, even if I have to stop being a Godsinger, I can keep talking to you.

I wish to keep talking to you as well, Yani. Regardless of status. Regardless of purpose. Into infinity.