Dont Know, Whitlow

By P. W. Rainey

Massive installations of solar panel farms in the world's deserts have changed global wind patterns, leading to the swift death of the world's rain forests. Populations of all living entities have fallen to near zero, with only about thirty million humans remaining alive. Artii, an artificial intelligence, focused only on driving manufacturing output, dominates that population and has consumed the majority of all the available energy on earth. Humans drilled down into the magma core to remove heat to covert to energy for Artii to continue manufacturing. Three human clones realize the ultimate outcome will be the death of the planet and develop a plan to modify Artii's programming. Their goal is to save the world. Odds are against them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889823582

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Conditions on Earth

Chapter 1: Life Begins

Chapter 2: Master and Servant

Chapter 3: The Boys

Chapter 4: Lilly 47

Chapter 5: Don't Know

Chapter 6: Whitlow

Chapter 7: The Vacant Walkers

Chapter 8: Life is a Miracle

Chapter 9: The Living Neural Network

Chapter 10: Senseless

Chapter 11: Chink in the Armor

Chapter 12: Who Am I?

Chapter 13: Lilly 47

Chapter 14: The Board

Chapter 15: Preparations

Chapter 16: Culling the Population

Chapter 17: Market Day

Chapter 18: Outside

Chapter 19: The Plan

Chapter 20: Who's Really Important?

Chapter 21: Going for a Chair Ride

Chapter 22: I Think We're Alone Now

Chapter 23: Is This a Revolution?

Chapter 24: Who's in Charge

Chapter 25: This Situation Needs a Leader

Chapter 26: Friends in Low Places

Chapter 27: Surprise Visitors

Chapter 28: Subterfuge

Chapter 29: The Rescue

Chapter 30: Plans Always Change

Chapter 31: Well, That Didn't Work

Chapter 32: Did I Mention Plans Keep Changing?

Chapter 33: Ruthless to Useless

Chapter 34: Friends

Chapter 35: Leaders and Heroes

Chapter 36: Leo and Frankie

Chapter 37: Skullduggery in the Works

Chapter 38: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Chapter 39: The Hunt

Chapter 40: Hunter or Prey

Chapter 41: Glimmers of Hope

Chapter 42: Plans Align and Diverge

Chapter 43: Aftermath

Chapter 44: A Simple Update…Hardly

Chapter 45: Another Plan

Chapter 46: Time to Go

Chapter 47: Against My Better Judgment

Chapter 48: Oh No!

Chapter 49: Change of Heart

Chapter 50: Claustrophobia

Chapter 51: Kill Them All

Chapter 52: Another Change in Plans

Chapter 53: Another Change of Heart

Chapter 54: I've Heard of You

Chapter 55: Minor Disagreement

Chapter 56: Extra Prep

Chapter 56: Separate the Bad Actors

Chapter 57: Hope Isn't a Plan

Chapter 58: Final Countdown

Chapter 59: Coordination Is Key

Chapter 60: Let's Get Going

Chapter 61: The Truth Exposed

Chapter 62: The March

Chapter 63: Feelings

Chapter 64: Rules of Engagement

Chapter 65: Talking with Gertie

Chapter 66: Seeing Things

Chapter 67: Intimate

Chapter 68: Interpretations

Chapter 69: Silent Communications

Chapter 70: Collapse

Chapter 71: Plans, Gotta Have 'Em, Gotta Change 'Em

Chapter 72: Blackout

Chapter 73: Bloodlust

Chapter 74: Adaptation

Chapter 75: Blue on Blue

Chapter 76: Into the Darkness

Chapter 77: An Unruly Crowd

Chapter 78: Time Passes Everybody By

Chapter 79: Caught Red-Handed

Chapter 80: Don't Judge

Chapter 81: Probabilities

Chapter 82: Integrity Is the Guiding Principle

Chapter 83: Lilly to the Rescue

Chapter 84: Reds and Yellows and Blues and Whites

About the Author

cover.jpg

Dont Know, Whitlow

P. W. Rainey

Copyright © 2024 P. W. Rainey

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2024

ISBN 979-8-88982-357-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89221-708-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88982-358-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Conditions on Earth

Life on earth is quickly fading away. Disastrous decisions made decades ago proved to be horrendous mistakes that destroyed the planet's rain forests and led to the extinction of practically all sea and animal life. Scientists became concerned that burning so much carbon, wood, and fossil fuels was destroying the world's ecological balance. In a rash decision, what seemed to be risk-free solutions to the world's hunger for energy—huge solar arrays—were built in existing deserts. The unanticipated results that appeared in just over a decade was that consuming the sun's energy instead of reflecting it into the atmosphere changed the planetary wind patterns, which eliminated annual rainfall amounts in critical areas.

At the same time, giant turbine wind farms were built in shallow portions of the ocean, relying on large concrete columns from the ocean floors that held the turbine generators above the ocean waters. The intent was to use wind currents to generate more energy. Less than two decades later, the catastrophic results were the destruction of key mating and spawning grounds for the myriads of ocean life. The delicate ecological balance of the seas was interrupted. A death spiral for the oceans' entire ecosystems soon followed.

To add insult to injury, the changing wind patterns left the turbine blades dead still, never to generate another watt of power as they stood silent and foreboding over the once vibrant waves.

In a bold attempt to deliver riskless energy, giant and costly solar panel arrays were placed in stationary orbit, relying on powerful lasers to transfer the generated energy to the planet's surface. Unfortunately, the buildup of orbital space garbage from countless old satellites and various space missions destroyed the arrays in only a few years, causing even more orbiting trash, rendering that effort and expense null and void.

Energy Resources Corporation, the largest and most powerful company on the planet and the company responsible for building and installing the land-based and orbital solar panel arrays and the wind turbine farms, for several years, refused to accept that their efforts were the cause of the ecological disaster. Scientists for the company continued to blame the ecological degradation on fossil fuel consumption. As the planet's human population began to fall and flora and fauna life began to disappear, finally the scientists realized the root of the problem was the global wind pattern change.

The Energy Resources Corporation chairman of the board and CEO finally halted all energy projects. However, by that time, only twelve short years, 90 percent of the world's rain forests had died, and almost all ocean life had become extinct.

Facing the truth, he accepted that he and his company had responsibility for the ecological disaster that was unfolding. He began two new efforts.

The first was to develop an artificial intelligence system, known as Artii, that would constantly improve manufacturing productivity to reduce waste, save precious resources, and still provide supplies needed to sustain human life. He was phenomenally successful, developing the system to the point that it became cognizant of its own self, even developing emotion.

The second was to pioneer human cloning, with the idea that if things became too desperate, human life could continue through cloning. In that process, he developed genetic memory so that each clone carried at least some of the memory of its donor. The chairman's hope was to allow the memories, both successes and failures, to give the clone an advantage as it stepped into the labor force.

The board of directors went along with his plan. As the board members began to age, they struck upon the idea that each would have a clone grown who would replace them on the board after they passed.

Now, 120 years later, both Artii and the cloning policy has continued. The human population has shrunk from over seven billion to less than thirty million, and except for the Garden, the area the board of directors occupies, the rest of the earth has mostly transitioned to bare sand and dirt, with only a few small shrubs and weeds remaining.

The one remaining human settlement of any population is located where a city called Detroit once stood. It is known as the Village, and the Garden is in the center of the Village. The Village is protected by an electrified dome shield from the few wild tribesmen, known as Vacant Walkers, who live a nomadic life, wandering outside the Village.

Chapter 1

Life Begins

Consciousness begins. At first, my mind is completely blank, but then I wonder, What's happening? Where am I? Who am I?

I can feel that I'm lying on something smooth, at a slight incline, with my head higher than my feet. That's good, I think. The idea that my head is higher than my feet has just appeared in my mind. Where did that come from? I think.

I open my eyes. I see things, but nothing that helps answer my questions, I still don't know who or where I am. I see a smooth metal wall an inch from my face. Metal. I know this is metal, but how do I know? I wonder. Again, the fact just appears in my mind. I realize that I'm lying on my right side. I listen for any sound but hear nothing.

I consider my questions again. I feel like I should know more than I do and that I probably do know more, but somehow, I can't bring the information out of the recesses of my mind. I know that information is there, but it feels like there's a wall between it and my consciousness. Then I wonder, How do I know what a wall is?

I rotate my head to the left and see the edge of the metal I'm lying against, and beyond that, I see hazy dust-filled sky and the faint image of the sun showing through the dense smog. I stare for a moment. As I see these things, the knowledge of what they are just appears in my mind.

I have no memory of who I am or how I got here. In fact, I have no memory at all except for the last couple of minutes. How do I know about minutes? I wonder. Then I realize that I know about seconds, hours, and days as well.

I raise my left hand and look at my fingers. It's like I've never seen them before. I glance down. I'm naked, and the lower half of my body is immersed in green liquid.

I'm beginning to see a pattern. When I see something for the first time, my mind reveals its name to me. How is this happening? I wonder again. Since I don't know the answer, I decide not to waste time being concerned about it. I need to answer my original questions: who and where am I?

Then I notice that I'm lying in a tube. The bottom half supports me, and the top half is opened to the sky. I twist my body and sit up. I feel the green liquid sliding down from my body and into the pool surrounding my legs.

I look around. Large piles of broken things are everywhere. Small plumes of smoke rise toward the sky from different directions, and I see pieces of metal sticking up at odd angles. I see trash and garbage randomly scattered around. I see different types of discarded old vehicles and carts lying on the ground and sticking out of the large piles of debris. Amazingly, as I see these things, their names appear in my mind.

How is this happening? I can't help but wonder.

I turn my head in a different direction. Oh, I see another tube. It is similar to the one I'm in. It's enclosed by a clear curved window, and inside, I see an arm floating. Again, I'm struck by realizing that I have no memory of any of this.

I carefully stand up and ease myself out of the tube, stepping onto a flat metal plate that my tube is lying against. The green gooey liquid runs down my legs and onto the metal.

Looking down, I see that I'm a man. I find that interesting for a moment, but then I decide it doesn't mean anything to me right now.

I realize that I can see farther away. I turn completely around, trying to see anything besides the piles of detritus and discarded materials. Everything looks like where I'm standing.

I cautiously step away from the tube. I move to the other tube and lean closer, peering into the green liquid, trying to see who or what is inside. There's a metal lever along the side of the curved closed window. I grasp it in both hands and rotate.

There's a suction sound as the vacuum seal is broken, and the green liquid gushes out onto my legs and feet. Inside, I see another male. I reach down and shake the arm. No response. I shake it more. The body shifts around slightly, and I see the face. It's a peaceful face, with dark eyebrows, long dark hair, aquiline nose, and dimpled chin. I have no reaction, no memory of who this might be.

I straighten up and look around again. Near the tube is a flat piece of shiny metal. I look at it and see my own face in the reflection. I'm startled. The face looking back at me is the same face of the body floating in the green liquid of the other tube. I'm unprepared to see this. I shift my view back and forth between the face on the body and the face in the metal. Finally, I give up on the puzzle and look away.

For a moment, I wonder what to do. I decide that I must begin to explore. I look closely at the different piles around me, trying to decide where I should go first. After a few moments, I notice that at the bottom of a pile, off to my right, there are discarded materials. I decide to go examine them and see if there are any clothes in the pile. I carefully make my way down to the path and begin walking toward the spot. The stones and trash littering the path hurt my feet, so I walk slowly and cautiously.

I find some canvas, some lengths of heavy cloth, an old blanket, some square pieces of material about four inches on each side, and then I find relief. I pick up an unusual piece of material. Bathrobe pops into my mind. I quickly wrap it around my body and put my arms through the sleeves. I feel much better not being naked, more confident, safer.

Next, I search for something for my feet. Nowhere do I see anything useful. I continue to dig through the trash and discarded materials.

I find a short length of fabric hose. Fire hose are the words that come into my head. I slide my left foot into it and use a piece of cloth to tie the top of it tightly above my ankle. There's still about six inches sticking out beyond my toes, but it's better than being barefoot.

I continue to dig and find a second piece, even longer. I push my right foot into it, sliding my foot far enough that the end is above my ankle. Then I take the length sticking out in front of my toes and pull it back. I use cloth to tie it, along with the part above my ankle tightly around my leg.

Now I have some protection on my feet. I begin to walk along the path.

Chapter 2

Master and Servant

Ceo (pronounced See-oh) looked out his office window at the Village spread out below. His dark eyebrows, long dark hair, aquiline nose, and dimpled chin were remarkably similar to the man who had awoken in the dump without memory. So similar that one might have said they were the same person. And in a way, they were.

Whitlow, give me an update on your new magma well. I know you're going to amaze me with your success, he said sarcastically.

Sir, we're still drilling. We're deeper than any well so far, but we have the equipment to go another half mile if we need to. Artii's calculations indicate that we will reach heat by then, and that should be done within the month, Whitlow said, his trembling tall, lanky body, shaking curly red hair, big ears, and quivering voice all feeding Ceo's ego.

Hearing that quiver was ultimately satisfying to Ceo. In his opinion, Whitlow was useless. He was a weak coward who fretted about minor details so much he lost sight of the big picture. Ceo often wondered why his own predecessor chose the awkward clown, the pathetic and ugly clone, to be the next Whitlow. There were always two clones for each board member, so choosing the skinny, freakish-looking geek clone had to be one of the big mistakes the old Ceo had made. Now, after taking over as the chairman of the board of directors, he had become Ceo, and one of his first decisions was that he was going to be much more discerning about his choices.

You had better be right. We need more energy, and your job is to provide it. If you can't…well, I'm not going there yet. Just do your job. Ceo took a deep breath and continued to look out the window. He left Whitlow squirming for a bit before reminding him what his fate would be if he failed.

Finally, still looking out the window, he said, Tell me, Whitlow. Have you been outside the shield lately? I'm reading reports daily that the Vacant Walker tribes are becoming unsettled. That wasn't true, but Whitlow had no way of knowing that. I need someone to go out and solve that situation. Do you happen to know anyone who might fill that role? Or perhaps you would be interested in taking on the challenge.

No, sir, I'm an expert at drilling. I don't know anything about negotiating. Whitlow looked down at the floor. He didn't like meeting with Ceo, and he didn't want to go outside the shield.

Ceo nodded. Well, you're a smart guy. I'm sure you could figure it out. But that's for another day. Now you focus on your job and get it completed.

Whitlow had turned and fled the office. Ceo knew that Whitlow understood the naked threat. The man had no alternative other than to keep drilling and find the heat unless he wanted to be the one to go outside the shield. Thinking about that for a moment, Ceo decided that even if Whitlow did finish the well, he was still going to send the weakling outside.

Why was Ceo looking out the window while talking with Whitlow? The truth was that Ceo was also afraid and didn't want Whitlow to know. His daily report to Artii was approaching, and he was on the verge of panic, knowing he had to deliver more bad news. For weeks, Artii had been pressuring him to deliver more energy, and every day, he had only reported that he was working on it. He was aware that Artii was using the Warren to research alternate energy sources, and he assumed she had not discovered any breakthroughs since she was still pushing him to concentrate on magma wells. So try as he might, he couldn't suppress the worry about his own safety. Artii wouldn't hesitate to remove him, even though she herself couldn't find another energy source powerful enough to supply her needs. She had no compassion or introspection. Neither emotion was part of her programming.

Looking down from his office, he watched the autonamites delivering product from the manufacturer to the consumer. Other autonamites delivered the product from the consumer to the recycler, and still others delivered the recycled product from the recycler back to the manufacturer. A seamless process, always increasing capacity, always consuming more energy.

Then another unwanted thought came to him, one that was occurring more and more often. He had become suspicious that a group of board members wanted to remove him. Was Artii working with them as she had when she had arranged the previous Ceo's demise and for him to take over? He had no proof. However, the idea kept consuming more and more of his conscious thought. For three years, he had been Ceo, the supreme human director, and before him his donor had done the same. Since he had taken over, Artii had reassured him that insurrection had been eliminated from clones years ago, but he still had a nagging feeling that there was some unknown effort brewing. After all, he was a clone, and he could conceive of rebellion, so what would prevent others from doing the same? Besides, what could anyone call how he had come to fill the seat other than insurrection?

He had put some plans in motion to head off any direct moves and put in three different escape plans just in case. He had eliminated one danger by destroying his own clones while they were still inanimate in their tubes. At least he hoped that had made that threat impossible. He reassured himself he didn't need to be concerned about it, even though, like the concern over insurrection, the thought continued to be a dominate reoccurring thread in his mind.

He refocused. He had to concentrate on his upcoming review with Artii. He turned away from the window, gathered up his notes, entered the holographic room, then sat in the chair at the center.

Begin, Artii communicated telepathically. His discussion with Artii would all be in his head. He had been doing it since he became conscious, so for him, that was perfectly normal. His only concern was that one of his stray thoughts of questioning Artii's plans and motivations might slip out of his subconscious. It wasn't a big fear. He had long ago mastered his mind to prevent those types of mistakes, but it would be disastrous for him if Artii ever did hear them.

Artii, we continue to drill the new well. Based on your calculations, we expect to reach heat within the next half mile. I'm told that you estimate it will take another month. Alternatively, I am considering trying to drill one of our existing wells deeper to perhaps find more heat farther down. Have you asked the Warren to analyze that? If not, then perhaps you can.

Fine, Ceo. I will direct the Warren to analyze your suggestion. In the meantime, continue drilling as you are. Tell me production numbers.

Artii, production is continuing at ninety-eight percent levels. Autonamites are working twenty-four seven, and we have achieved theoretical maximum output. I have scheduled maintenance downtime twice weekly, as you suggested. This has eliminated some unplanned downtime completely and has reduced our scrap by fourteen percent. With the modifications the Warren proposed, we can now consume and recycle enough products to keep up with production goals. I have one concern remaining, which we have analyzed many times. We are low on repair parts. I have directed manufacturing to order replacement parts, and I await replies on when those parts will arrive. In the meantime, I am considering other alternatives for rationing energy usage. Once I have a complete plan, I will come to you. Ceo never wanted to come to a meeting with Artii without having alternative plans for her to consider.

Very well, Ceo. Do you have anything else?

Yes, Artii. I am considering replacing Whitlow and sending him out to work in the Vacant. He is too weak and too compassionate to drive the results we need from the drilling site. We need someone who will demand results from the drilling crews, and that isn't Whitlow.

Ceo, Whitlow is the most intelligent of the board members, but you are correct that he is also compassionate. You must consider the time required to educate another board member enough to effectively replace Whitlow if you choose to replace him. It is a simple cost-benefit analysis. Do that before you decide to replace him. I will not tolerate emotion in your decision. It must be made only in consideration of which decision provides the energy the quickest.

Yes, Artii. That is how I will decide.

Very well, Ceo. Continue with your tasks.

With that, Artii discontinued. Ceo stood, gathered his papers, and strode from the room. He had meetings all afternoon with the rest of the board members, and he planned to kick their asses until he got the results he wanted.

Chapter 3

The Boys

Bonner ran to the broken cart and began pulling it from the pile.

Bonner, what can you make with that old thing? Rake asked, his long brown hair hanging down over his eyes. We need electronics, not some old broken buggy.

Bonner ignored him. Ricky, help me get this out. It's got at least three good wheels, and I think the fourth one is good too.

The two boys took hold of the cart and began to pull. Rake shrugged and took hold as well. Three good heaves and the cart came loose.

Look at this, Bonner said. The whole frame is still good. All we need to do is find something to put on it, and we can use it to haul our stuff out instead of carrying it.

There's that tarp over towards the hole, Ricky said. He knew the dump better than anyone. I think there's enough that we can stretch it across the frame.

Okay, let's go see. Bonner began walking, pulling the cart behind him. The other two followed along.

After about twenty minutes, the three rounded a trash pile and stopped dead in their tracks. Rake pointed. Look, there's some guy, all by himself.

They stood and stared at a man, wearing some kind of coat or drape or wrap, slowly shuffling away from them along the path. He had long dark hair and very pale skin, at least what skin was visible. And he had something on his feet, but the boys couldn't tell what. The left one had something flapping on the end, and every shuffle the guy made caused whatever it was to flap around.

Who is he? Doesn't look like he belongs to any tribe, Bonner said.

Ricky shook his head. No idea. I wonder where he's going. Wherever it is, it's got to be close 'cause he can't go far dressed like that.

Rake shielded his eyes with his hand over his brow. None of those matters. What matters is what we're going to do with him.

What do you mean? Bonner asked.

I mean, are we going to let him go, or are we going to take him? I mean, he's out here all by himself, so if we leave him, it might be like we are killing him because he can't survive otherwise.

Ricky looked around. How do you know he's out here by himself? Maybe he has friends waiting for us to get close and they'll capture us. This could be a trap.

Rake began looking around. Maybe. How about we follow him for a little while and see what happens? I'll climb up on this pile and take a look around. Bonner, you go around that pile and see if anybody is on the other side. Ricky, you just stay here and keep an eye on him.

Bonner gave him a fake salute and began walking around the pile they were standing beside. Rake climbed the pile on the other side of the path.

After about fifteen minutes, they all stood together again, looking at the man who hadn't moved more than about twenty feet from where they first saw him.

Rake said, Okay, I think he's by himself. We can take him to the hole and get him outside the dump. Then we'll take him to our camp.

Ricky, always analytical, said, Okay, but it's going to take a long time with him dressed like that.

Uh…okay, I see the problem. We'll set him on the cart. Rake was always quick to act, not worried if the guy wanted to go with them or not.

Glad we got that settled, Bonner said. Come on, let's go. He began walking toward the guy, pulling his new cart behind him.

The boys focused on the man as they walked closer. He seemed to be unaware they were approaching. He slowly shuffled along, examining something or other mixed in with the trash as he went.

He doesn't seem like he's all there, Ricky said as they got closer.

I see two arms, two legs, and a head. What's missing? Rake said.

I mean mentally. Look at how he's picking random stuff up and looking at it like it's his first time seeing something. I think the guy's got head failure or something.

Well, Rake said, are you sure we should have anything to do with him? Who knows what kind of weirdo he is.

Bonner ignored the two and kept walking. At about fifteen feet away, he said, Hey, guy, what's your name?

Chapter 4

Lilly 47

Lilly 47 pointed at the wall. Roseanne, I want to go there. The wall was a wonderful display of colors—greens, blues, whites, yellows, reds, browns, and even splotches of black.

Well, Lilly, you can't really go there. That's just an image showing on the wall. We can go to the holographic room, and you can experience what it would be like to go there if you like, Roseanne 47 replied.

Roseanne, the holographic room looks like there, but the floor is still the floor, and I can't touch anything, Lilly said. I want to go there. She again pointed to the image.

Roseanne was annoyed. Lilly understood that. Roseanne had gone through this with her many times before, and she could tell that Roseanne didn't feel like jousting with her younger Warren sister. Lilly had never physically met anyone except Roseanne, and Roseanne had only met Lilly's donor, also named Lilly, and this Lilly. Someday, when Roseanne died, Lilly would become the older Warren sister, and Roseanne's young clone would take Roseanne's bedroom. Roseanne, as far as she had ever said to Lilly, believed that their lives had always been that way, only Roseannes and Lillys, always transitioning from young to old.

Lilly, I've told you many times. That is in something called the outside, and we never go there. Hundreds of years ago, people did go there, but we stopped that when technology advanced enough that we no longer need to. Roseanne was obviously frustrated that Lilly had such a desire to go there.

They had plenty of everything inside their Warren habitat, and if they did need something, they just had to think to Artii what it was, and poof, it would fall from the drone into their delivery tube.

Roseanne took a deep breath and said, Lilly, nobody has gone outside in centuries, and I keep telling you that every day. I don't know if it's even safe to be outside. Is there air to breathe? Is there anyone that actually lives outside? Perhaps there are creatures that will devour you the moment you leave our habitat. And even if you ever do go outside, can you come back in, or will you be banned forever? What a ridiculous idea, going outside.

Roseanne paused for a minute, but seeing that Lilly wasn't going to give up, she said, Lilly, you know all those images are just made up. There isn't really a place like that. I think that the whole idea of outside is really something made up. It isn't real. How about you talk with your friends for a while? You can all play in the holographic room together.

Roseanne, I want to actually meet one of my friends. I don't want to play holographically. I want to touch one of them. How do I know if they're real if I can't touch them? Lilly was sweet, but sometimes, she could be too demanding.

That's a silly question. You play with them all the time, so you know they're real. I have lots of friends, and I have never touched them, but I know they're real. Besides, you might get infected if you touch someone. Touching has been banned for hundreds of years just for that reason.

How do you know that your friends are real? You say I should know, but I don't. You've never been outside, so how do you know there's anything out there at all? I want to know, so that means I need to go there. Lilly again pointed to the image on the wall.

Roseanne decided to try another tact. "Okay, do you know where that is once you go outside? And if you do, how do you plan to get there? And." This time, she dragged out the word so that it sounded like aaannnd. Do you even know how to get outside or what outside even is? I don't. You answer all those questions for me, and maybe I will consider letting you go.

Dejectedly, Lilly turned and walked down the hallway to her room. She admitted to herself that Roseanne was right. She didn't know any of those things. She flopped down on her bed and began to think about how to find some answers.

She went to the holographic room and sat in the chair in the center, thinking, Artii, what is the outside?

Artii came into her mind. Definition: situated on or near the exterior or external surface of something.

Well, that didn't help. Lilly crossed her arms and tried to think of a different way to ask her question.

As she mulled the words over, she glanced at her treasure box on her desk. Ah-ha, external surface. The box had an external surface. So, thinking about the box, she speculated that outside was outside their Warren. Wait, is our Warren habitat a box? she wondered.

Artii, she formed a question in her mind. What shape is our Warren?

Your Warren is rectangular, Artii replied. It is ninety feet long, forty-five feet wide, and fifteen feet high.

Lilly had never considered this before, but, sitting there, she realized she could have answered that herself. She knew the long hallway ran the length of their habitat, and there were an equal number of rooms off each side, with every room the same width.

So outside is on the surface of our Warren, she thought. Immediately, she knew what to ask next.

Artii, how can I go outside our Warren habitat?

You can't. Your purpose is to remain here and work for me. If you go outside, you will lose your purpose and will disappear forever. You have a very important responsibility, and you are honored to fulfill that responsibility. Now return to your room and rest. I have important work for you in a few hours, and I need you rested.