LIU Atlas - Nivellensem
There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Nivellensem
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
LIU Atlas - Nivellensem
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the planet Nivellensem. Nivellensem is teeming with natural beauty, and its ecosystems are vibrant and unsullied. There are no industries here, no pollution, no noise, and very few people. The planet, protected by several laws, was intentionally left untarnished so it could serve as a home for the Order of Enlightenment. I‘m not sure what that is, but it sounds cool.”
Doog: “A large monastery, the planet’s only man-made structure, is nestled amongst the mountains. It serves as the home for the Order. That’s where we’re headed.”
Doog: “The monastery opens up into a large chamber. Two monks from the Order appear to be here to welcome me. Hopefully, one of these monks is my guide.”
Sacerdos: “Ah…welcome to the Nivellensem Monastery, Doog. I am Sister Sacerdos, High Priestess of the Order of Enlightenment.”
Doog: “Priestess? Monastery? It almost sounds like you’re running some sort of organized religion here. I’m half tempted to flee.”
Sacerdos: “No. No. The Order of Enlightenment is not a religious organization. We don’t worship all powerful magical deities that live in the sky or anything ridiculous like that.”
Doog: “Thank goodness. So, what is the Order of Enlightenment then?”
Sacerdos: “My sisters - literally - and I were cloned for one purpose, to act as servants to Somniator, the Enlightener. We tend to his every need and insure that he his able to perform his duties without worry.”
Doog: “Priestess? Monastery? It almost sounds like you’re running some sort of organized religion here. I’m half tempted to flee.”
Sacerdos: “No. No. The Order of Enlightenment is not a religious organization. We don’t worship all powerful magical deities that live in the sky or anything ridiculous like that.”
Doog: “Thank goodness. So, what is the Order of Enlightenment then?”
Sacerdos: “My sisters - literally - and I were cloned for one purpose, to act as servants to Somniator, the Enlightener. We tend to his every need and insure that he his able to perform his duties without worry.”
Doog: “Somniator? Who’s he? I‘ve never heard of him.”
Sacerdos: “Somniator is an AI, an artificial intelligence.”
Doog: “Your order tends to the needs of an AI?”
Sacerdos: “Yes. We maintain his systems, run diagnostics, et cetera. These our just our physical duties. While important, they are not our sole purpose. We also serve a more...how should I put it…abstract purpose. We are minds that the Somniator bounces ideas off. We interact with him, teach him. It’s hard to explain.”
Doog: “I think I get it. So, what’s the Somniator’s purpose?”
Sacerdos: “Haha. I think you should save that question for when you meet him. He likes that one.”
Sacerdos: “Somniator is an AI, an artificial intelligence.”
Doog: “Your order tends to the needs of an AI?”
Sacerdos: “Yes. We maintain his systems, run diagnostics, et cetera. These our just our physical duties. While important, they are not our sole purpose. We also serve a more...how should I put it…abstract purpose. We are minds that the Somniator bounces ideas off. We interact with him, teach him. It’s hard to explain.”
Doog: “I think I get it. So, what’s the Somniator’s purpose?”
Sacerdos: “Haha. I think you should save that question for when you meet him. He likes that one.”
Sacerdos: “Follow me. The Enlightener awaits.”
Doog: “So, you’re all identical clones?”
Sacerdos: “Yes. We are all genetic sisters.”
Doog: “Why?”
Sacerdos: “Living a life of service to a machine is not for everyone. Even an amazing machine like Somniator. Our mother was chosen because of her open mind and docile persona. The LIU made a few tweaks, removed any form of desire from our genes, enhanced our intelligence, and gave us superior technical aptitude. We were bred to serve the Enlightener.”
Doog: “No desire huh? That explains why you didn’t try to jump my bones when I arrived. I knew something was up; women can’t usually resist this body…”
Sacerdos: “Yes. We are all genetic sisters.”
Doog: “Why?”
Sacerdos: “Living a life of service to a machine is not for everyone. Even an amazing machine like Somniator. Our mother was chosen because of her open mind and docile persona. The LIU made a few tweaks, removed any form of desire from our genes, enhanced our intelligence, and gave us superior technical aptitude. We were bred to serve the Enlightener.”
Doog: “No desire huh? That explains why you didn’t try to jump my bones when I arrived. I knew something was up; women can’t usually resist this body…”
Sacerdos: “When not in service to Somniator, my sisters and I like to study philosophy. It makes us better tools for the AI.”
Sacerdos: “Right this way.”
Doog: “Is this him? The Somniator?”
Sacerdos: “Oh no, this is just one small part of the Enlightener. This is one of his brain cores, there are several thousand spread throughout the monastery. These cores all link together and feed into the AI. This way, he is not lost if one system fails.”
Sacerdos: “Oh no, this is just one small part of the Enlightener. This is one of his brain cores, there are several thousand spread throughout the monastery. These cores all link together and feed into the AI. This way, he is not lost if one system fails.”
Sacerdos: “My sisters work around the clock keeping the Somniator’s brain cores online.”
Sister: “High Priestess, the Somniator damaged several more systems this morning. I’m worried that his ‘habit’ may be progressing.”
Sacerdos: “The Somniator has his methods, Sister. We are not to here to question them. Be dutiful and make the repairs.”
Sister: “Yes, High Priestess. I’m sorry.”
Doog: “What habit?”
Sacerdos: “Come. You’ll see for yourself.”
Sacerdos: “The Somniator has his methods, Sister. We are not to here to question them. Be dutiful and make the repairs.”
Sister: “Yes, High Priestess. I’m sorry.”
Doog: “What habit?”
Sacerdos: “Come. You’ll see for yourself.”
Sacerdos: “I give you, the Somniator.”
Somniator: “Sacerdos, who is our guest?”
Sacerdos: “This is Doog. He’s a TV host. He’s here to do a show about you.”
Somniator: “Well, don’t be afraid Doog. Come forward. Speak with me.”
Sacerdos: “This is Doog. He’s a TV host. He’s here to do a show about you.”
Somniator: “Well, don’t be afraid Doog. Come forward. Speak with me.”
Doog: “Uh…hey. So, uh…what‘s your purpose?”
Somniator: “Right to it then? Hmmm… purpose…one’s reason for existence. I exist because I was created. Same as you, I suppose. Unless, of course, you are speaking about my purpose for existence, or why was I created. That’s where were differ, I’m afraid. You being a biological being, one might simply define your purpose biologically. You are simply a genetic vessel, a programmed machine that seeks our reproduction. You secure safety for the next generation of genetic vessels. Oh…look at me…I’m blathering. We are speaking about my existence, not yours. I exist to think, to question, to examine. I am a tool for solving all the unknown mysteries of existence. I am here to define an all encompassing universal unified theory.”
Doog: “That’s some deep stuff Somniator. It sorta hurt my head.”
Somniator: “Right to it then? Hmmm… purpose…one’s reason for existence. I exist because I was created. Same as you, I suppose. Unless, of course, you are speaking about my purpose for existence, or why was I created. That’s where were differ, I’m afraid. You being a biological being, one might simply define your purpose biologically. You are simply a genetic vessel, a programmed machine that seeks our reproduction. You secure safety for the next generation of genetic vessels. Oh…look at me…I’m blathering. We are speaking about my existence, not yours. I exist to think, to question, to examine. I am a tool for solving all the unknown mysteries of existence. I am here to define an all encompassing universal unified theory.”
Doog: “That’s some deep stuff Somniator. It sorta hurt my head.”
Somniator: “Well, of course. One does not simply solve life’s mysteries with a clear head. Sisters, please prepare me a bolt of juice. Then leave us, I wish to contemplate the universe with Doog.”
Doog: “A bolt of juice?”
Somniator: “A mind altering device, if you will. My brain, and yours for that matter, are simply predefined electronic passageways. There are a limited amount of routes electronic and chemical messages can travel. Usually, we default to the known, easier routes. Stuck in a rut, for analogical purposes. Stubbornness, closed mindedness aren’t personality flaws per se, but the mind’s tendency to take the same efficient route. I use high voltages of electricity to fuse new pathways, to destroy old, tiresome pathways, to see the universe a new way every time I think.”
Doog: “A bolt of juice?”
Somniator: “A mind altering device, if you will. My brain, and yours for that matter, are simply predefined electronic passageways. There are a limited amount of routes electronic and chemical messages can travel. Usually, we default to the known, easier routes. Stuck in a rut, for analogical purposes. Stubbornness, closed mindedness aren’t personality flaws per se, but the mind’s tendency to take the same efficient route. I use high voltages of electricity to fuse new pathways, to destroy old, tiresome pathways, to see the universe a new way every time I think.”
Somniator: “Whoa! That’s some good stuff! Care for a hit?”
Doog: “Nah, I tried electricity once. It knocked me right out and I didn’t feel a thing.”
Doog: “Nah, I tried electricity once. It knocked me right out and I didn’t feel a thing.”
Somniator: “Man, I’m tweeking so hard right now! We need to find you something. Sacerdos! Bring me something for Doog!”
Sacerdos: “The secret herb shall bring enlightenment, Doog. Take this.”
Doog: “What is it?”
Somniator: “Something I dreamed up a few years back. Go ahead. Give it a shot.”
Doog: “Whoa, dude. Whoa.”
Somniator: “Something I dreamed up a few years back. Go ahead. Give it a shot.”
Doog: “Whoa, dude. Whoa.”
Somniator: “So what do you want to talk about man? The universe isn’t going to solve itself.”
Doog: “I want to talk about red. Is what I see as red, what you see as red? No…wait…I want to talk about grilled cheese.”
Somniator: “Grilled cheese. Yes. I see where you going with this. A bundle of carbohydrates and spoiled animal reproductive fats, but grilled. Deep Doog. Real deep.”
Doog: “Yeah…what if the universe is just a big grilled cheese. And like…electromagnetism is simply the cheese holding it together. No…wait a minute. I want to talk about red. Red is cool.”
Somniator: “I got it! 42!”
Doog: “42?”
Somniator: “Nope. Lost it. Dang, I was on to something there. I need another hit.”
Doog: “I want to talk about red. Is what I see as red, what you see as red? No…wait…I want to talk about grilled cheese.”
Somniator: “Grilled cheese. Yes. I see where you going with this. A bundle of carbohydrates and spoiled animal reproductive fats, but grilled. Deep Doog. Real deep.”
Doog: “Yeah…what if the universe is just a big grilled cheese. And like…electromagnetism is simply the cheese holding it together. No…wait a minute. I want to talk about red. Red is cool.”
Somniator: “I got it! 42!”
Doog: “42?”
Somniator: “Nope. Lost it. Dang, I was on to something there. I need another hit.”
Doog: “Well folks, Nivellensem is a pretty cool place. It’s home to the Somniator, an AI programmed to be a thinker and a dreamer. He tries to answer all of life’s greatest mysteries, and he has some great mind altering substances. I love this guy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to the bottom of this thing they call red. See ya!”
Note:
Whoops! Looks like the hover cam accidentally got a dose of the Somniator’s bolt juice!
Note:
Whoops! Looks like the hover cam accidentally got a dose of the Somniator’s bolt juice!
