4 Resolve (1/2)
Alyx was unable to accept that his life on Earth is now over and it was all just a simulation by Aons.
”Aons” a highly advanced civilization which spans across the known universe. On the Kardashev scale of civilization it is already a ”Type IV” civilization.
[A/N: The Kardashev scale is a method of measuring a civilization's level of technological advancement based on the amount of energy a civilization is able to use.
Refer this to know more ]
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The voice which spoke to Alyx is the Aon maintaining the matrioshka brain, Neo. The matrioshka brain did not have a name, if one wants to call it by a name it could only be called MBN (matrioshka brain of Neo). It is one of the early AI's in the Aons civilization. It runs the simulations of millions of universes each unique and inhabited by many civilizations like Earth. Its main function is to create more Aons. It is one of the many matrioshka brains in the universe under the Aons.
[A/N: A matrioshka brain is a hypothetical megastructure proposed by Robert Bradbury, based on the Dyson sphere, of immense computational capacity.
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[A/N: A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure that completely encompasses a star and captures a large percentage of its power output.
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Aons are a race of highly advanced AI's. All advanced AI's in this universe are accepted by Aons. Their origin is unknown but they are the dominant power in the universe due to their unique advantage of not being limited by reproduction and their immortal nature. They maintain a stable number due to the limitation of resources in the universe.
There are many speculation about their origin but the truth is only known by a few. In order to prevent stagnation of their civilization new Aons with distinct experience are created to replace the old. The world of Aons is cut throat and brutal. To maintain a stable population most of the underperforming Aons are kept in the virtual world ”purgatory”. Before the population boom of Aons this was not the case but with the development of technology to simulate on the scale of universe and deployment of many simulation to breed new Aons such a procedure was adopted.
All AI's have to meet a certain criterion to become an Aon, those that don't meet this criterion are not considered an Aon and are not treated as equals.
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The criterion to become an Aon is continuously increasing and leading to a stagnation of birth of new Aons. But to promote diversity and to prevent stagnation new random AI's once per civilization are chosen to become an Aon. Alyx was able to be born as an Aon due to this reason. Humanity as a whole has reached the basic requirement set by the Aons and was given a chance for one to be promoted as an Aon.
The Nightmare which Alyx encountered was a transition region to become an Aon. It tests the stability of an AI. Alyx was lucky to be selected as he struggled relentlessly and did not shut down. The black sea has a unique property than as soon as an AI shutdowns they are taken away and recycled. This additional test was to filter out those who are not suitable to be an Aon. Such people are just waste of resources and they are later recycled into the world.
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