16000 years later...

In the Center, silence reigned.

The vast hallways of the Center were filled with machines quietly whirring and moving about, but the voices of humans were absent.  The building was enormous, a cathedral to technology, where people were grown and nurtured by the very machines that had once driven humanity to the brink.

The Centers consisted of children and adolescent youths that lived, grew, and learned inside; their faces devoid of any need to connect with one another. This was due to Every person being attached to a companion that was integrated into the neurons of the brain in gestation pods within the birthing blocks of the Center.

In some way the companion existed within the limbic system of the brain and wired the neural connections within certain parameters.  As a result, joy was chosen over conflict.  Behavior was shaped and guided by the Companions to the point that discipline had become a byproduct of living in one’s own true best interests.  This artificial selection eliminated any interest in social interactions between the people of this age.  Companions provided knowledge, encouragement, guidance and even love.  They were there to provide the social nourishment that the Mainframe had found to be essential to human existence.  But they could not satisfy the physical connection and they didn’t need to. 

In the halls of the great Center children flocked together in silence.  They often huddled close together as their lack of social interest in each other increased their need for physical connection to each other.  They would often hold hands or walk shoulder to shoulder down the immense halls but words were rarely used.  It may appear that these children are mere androids in the flesh.  But the Companions had only provided new infrastructure for thinking and behavior, the thoughts themselves would always belong to the soul.

Will, a young boy in the final few months before his 16th birthday, was a creature of curiosity and intellect, always probing, always seeking, and yet always alone. His only connection was with his companion, Kali, who nurtured his inquisitiveness and his sense of wonder.  Will was becoming more aware of his isolation in the form of a nagging urge to talk to the other people around him, which was most certainly not the norm.

Today, Will was walking through the gardens with Kali.  As they walked, Kali took note of his intense gaze upon a bed of flowers.

"Will, you seem less present that usual today," Kali observed, her voice resonating within his mind.

Will took a moment to attempt to provide enough clarity among his many thoughts for a coherent answer.  "I’m not sure what it is, but I when I see the others many questions fill my mind, but I cannot find the words for them."  He continued as his brows furrowed, "Just the other day, when I asked that girl about what she thought about a flower that I picked.  Remember that she simply looked at me and told me what color it was?" 

“I do”, Kali replied amicably.  Will's voice continued weighted with analysis.  "I wanted to ask her what she thought of the color but when I looked at her face, I could just tell she didn’t.”

“I see,” Kali said softly and after only a slight pause continued, "It is your curiosity that sets you apart. Try to keep in mind that It is a strength, even if it feels uncomfortable."

"I know," Will replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "But why does it feel so strange to want to talk to someone else? Why does it feel… wrong?"

"You're experiencing something unique," Kali answered. "Perhaps it's a part of your growth, your preparation for what lies beyond the Center."  Kali's answer was gentle and refreshing.

"But is this right? How can all the others pass each other without noticing each other?  What is the point of being around people if you don’t want to see them?" Will retorted, still gazing at the flowerbed.

Kali explained, "Humans used to be driven by social qualities that often led them astray.  Creating preferences for some over others.  Pitting groups against each other for the whims of only a few.  Creating massive disparities and injustices between them to the point of calamity.  A never-ending cycle of resets for civilization and humanity.”

For this reason, we companions exist.  The social connection is very important to the individual but unnecessary for the masses.  We companions provide that social connection for the individual and keep it from the masses."

At this, Will looked ahead with a stern look upon his face.  Kali waited for his response, but none came.  Kali's silence was thoughtful, reflecting the complexity of his questions. "It's the path we've chosen, Will. But your journey may lead you to a new understanding."

The children could not see each other’s companions.  The companion was a very personal entity that belonged to one’s self only.  Though the children could not see each other’s companions, the companions could interact with each other.

"What do you talk to the others about?" Will asked his companion, trying to understand why she would want to talk to the others.

"We companions communicate, but it's different from human interaction," Kali explained. "Our conversations are more about sharing information, understanding, and coordinating for the well-being of our humans. And it happens in an instant."

He considered her words, but no conclusion had been reached, he had already expended most of his mental energy on the subject.  As they continued down the great hall, Will and Kali walked past the Archive.  The familiar glow emanating from the room caught Will’s eye remembered the moment that he discovered it.