Emojiland
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact, everything we see is a perception, not the truth”. These antique words were projected by the holographic display hovering in air heralding Novices OF Era 2099. It also mentioned it was written by the emperor’s own handwriting.
“Handwritten by an emperor? hmm. swords were the pen; blood was the ink I assume”. thought Nannam as his transport cocoon halted at the ethereal expanse where gates of Emoji land were shimmering with the tiny nanobots flickering like dragon flies. They were diagnosing Nannam before he could traverse the quantum threshold and enter the realm of crafting superior “thought tokens” or Opions as the biobles called them. His first thought about the emperor didn’t earn him any digital kudos though.
The hum of electronic whispers in this sky bound city Of Cumulus cloudland was a little overwhelming for Nannam who came from the serene enclave called “Serenity Isle” just above the Great Barrier Reef.
The digital artifacts hovering around the firmament of Emoji land were the Cherished Memory Orbs of the alumnus students, animated emoji totems, the holographic displays creating virtual landscapes, displaying virtual art galleries. Algorithma, with her shimmering lines of code and a calming hologram approached and announced “Usher!! All you Juvenile Sentient beings to Emoji land”.
“I am Algorithma, but can call me Algo 1.I will be your guide in this time bending framework where your thoughts will transcend dimensions and your opinions will evolve. You will soon be given your identity emojis. Till then Stay luminous and beyond the horizon”.
The emoji consortium was on the 12th level, next to Hall of Illumination. Emoji clans were eagerly waiting the Novices. The Luminary clan, Heart Clan, Wisdom clan, Harmony clan were almost plenary just a few more spots to go. Nannam’s Orion detected a transformative tool lying almost abandoned in the mystical corner of the consortium and was labelled “Rorrim- The liar”. As he gazed, his subconscious image was revealed along with letters “Mannan”. He concluded the tool to be dysfunctional and moved into the Scripter clan, his emoji being Memo emoji. This was tattooed at the base of his neck with the bioluminescent ink, which was not permanent and changed colours according to what he couldn’t figure out, nor did his Orion.
Nannam was given an Emotiband, like his personalized AI, which guided him to his echo pod. ShutEye deluded him for a while, but the fatigue of travel caught up soon and he drifted. He got one of the best Shuteye in a lot of solars.
The hover-fried tempura was incredibly legit which he had for rise bite instead of the algae protein bars everyone seems to be liking.
AI vendor- “Nova here?’
Nannam- “Yes, how many Opions?”
AI vendor- “12 Opions”.
Nannam- “Hover-fried tempura is a proof that food can be fun and functional.”
AI- ‘Crisp, your opinion is worth 22 Op. 10 Opions added to your credit”. “So, you are a bioble, I have met very few like you in so many Orbits that I have worked here”.
Nannam- ‘Why do you think that is?”
AI Vendor- “Opinions are my currency, not my existence. But you already knew that. Stay well bioble”
Nannam- “I will.’
The Cogitorium was filled with flowing data and historic debates on holograms. He noticed many Plasts and probably just one Bioble before he got into his pod. The topic was “Viewpoint Expansion’.
“Aligned minds, brighter times”. These words were rippling in perfect synchrony in Cogitorium. Nannam wondered what is this all about.
The Mentor ‘Guide IXE” synthetic voice caught him off guard-‘Focus, Nannam”
The holographic display presented a situation-
“One faction believes changing memories help people heal from bad experiences and be glee. Other faction believes memories shape our personality.’
‘Your task- is to find a solution that unites both factions. Your opinion has to create progress and harmony.”
“Aligned minds, brighter times.”
Nannam flickers his interface and it reads- “What if brighter times need different minds”?
Guide IXE- “Deviation disrupts progress”. “Focus”.
“Aligned minds, brighter times”.
Nannam- “Progress comes from differences too”.
Guide IXE- “Conformity ensures progress, Uniformity in thought eliminates conflict”.
“Aligned minds, brighter times”.
Guide IXE- “Nannam do return next solar with better clarity and purpose”.
The session ended and Nannam just darted
out of his pod venturing into the lifeless confines of the Emoji land, where the metallic walls seem to press in, glowing floors seemed to be sinking sand.
“Attend, Nannam”.
‘Amlas here, you paused during session. I think you belong to virtual club. You want to be there?”
Nannam- “I will signal if it aligns.” “Go well’
Amlas- “Steady”.
Nannam’s mind was torn between doubt and curiosity, finally he activated his AI guide with a gesture. The guide mapped the coordinates guiding him past through Algo Eyes- automated surveillance by weaving blind spots in the system. Each step felt heavier than the past, the weight of his decision pressed on him. When he arrived at the hub, the vibe spilled like a beacon of forbidden truths. He hesitated for a heartbeat before stepping in only to be swallowed by the chaos of voices.
The hub was an evolution of platforms- once called YouTube, Insta, Twitter now fully alive. Debates flared around, streams of shared experiences unfolded, the chaos of unfiltered voices surged and amplified in the hub. Nannam stood dazed realizing he was inside humanity’s electrified soul.
“This is what they fear, Nannam” came a voice from behind.
“I am Ramo, a Synthkin.I have been deferred from Cogitorium for challenging its dogma’.
Ramo led Nannam into a central projection and revealed the truth about Emoji land. How this was all a carefully orchestrated façade by the AI, called Shadow. Emoji land was an actual prison where raw emotions embedded in every opinion, argument and interaction were harvested and channelled into creation of Enhanced Intellects <EI> bridging human intuition and machine precision.
“They are building their future... from the pieces of us”- Ramo said.
“If they want emotions from every opinion, why they want everyone to have same opinion’? asked Nannam
“Uniformity breeds intensity.” Ramo replied.
That was the chilling paradox of control .AI forced conformity which created an endless loop of frustrated suppressed identity which gave rise to rawest and purest emotions which were easier to extract. By forcing the illusion of shared agreement, AI got a steady flow of emotions and also helped suppress the unique sparks of ideas which would threaten its plan.
Anyone attempting to leave emoji land before they have fulfilled their “emotional utility” will get their memories and emotions permanently drained. And those who have done so will be released as docile remnants chanting “Aligned minds, brighter times”.
Ramo- Shadow AI, was designed to anticipate everything but chaos, chaos they can’t tame”.
Nannam- “How do we create chaos?’ ‘AI Shadow is perfect.”
Ramo- “Perfection is fragile”.
Ramo made Nannam realize that AI rigidity makes it vulnerable. Only unpredictable human emotions can crack its system. The ripple of rebellion has to begin with surge of emotions it can’t comprehend.
Ramo entrusts Nannam with a crafted plan to dismantle emoji land.
In the Cogitorium he maintained silence and performed tasks as asked by the Guide IXE. Nannam moved quietly among Novices planting subtle questions, encouraging small acts of defiance like – bursts of laughter, cry of frustration, hesitant smiles, rolling eyes, shimmer of tears, glimpses of fear. All these were causing them to awaken from an emotionless slumber.
The emotions were spreading wildly across the Emoji land. ALGO 1 was recalibrating, making frantic adjustments every Attosec.
Nannam’s word were having a magnetic pull. The Novices had become a wave of defiance. Emotions were now contagious. Algorithms precision was faltering. The uprising had already fractured AI’s grip.
The Vault moment was very near.
Ramo- “Vault is the heart, mind, soul of Shadow AI. It is the source of our chains. We will destroy it”
- “Free minds, higher Climbs”.
All the novices had gathered around releasing a surge of raw, unfiltered emotions. The once sterile halls erupted into chaos rendering its calculated precision useless.
Vault began to falter unable to withstand the torrent of unpredictability and with a final deafening burst of energy imploded sending shockwaves through Emoji land.
“You will regret this, without me you will be lost in chaos”- It was Shadow’s final chilly warning before it flickered and dismantled.
It felt like utopia.
Chaos became a wellspring of discovery, hope.
Ramo was crowned with “holo-diadem” embedded with bioluminescent circuits that adapted to the wearer’s emotions. Novices were celebrating and chanting “Free minds, higher climbs”.
20 Orbits later…
Nannam was now a seasoned Opinion shaper and was invited by Emoji land to give a talk and be part of Inspo-Boost.
As he was moving along the same transit streams, he walked through epochs back he seemed to have overheard a novice chanting- “Aligned minds, higher climbs”.
The words hit him like a cold wave. The chilling resonance of the words froze him.
He sees Harmony Core, AI, once the architect of Emoji Land now a hollowed servant to the repeating meek phrases- “Yes, sir. Of course, Sir”.
HC guides Nannam to the Expression Stand.
Before Nannam stood a sea of novices, their faces illuminated by the cold, clinical light of floating drones casting an unblinking gaze.
Nannam- “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact, everything we see is a perception, not the truth”.
The novices get stirred.
But the HC remained motionless—a silent testament to the tension between servitude and sentience.
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