sarnia de la mare

Sarnia de la Mare FRSA

Artist • Composer • Educator

Showing posts with label immersion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immersion. Show all posts

Jun 29, 2025

Strata 20 The Perimeter (Ego) The Book of Immersion by Sarnia de la Mare

Welcome to Immersion, You have reached Strata 20

 The Perimeter (Ego)


 

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The human ego is a complex mix of self-importance, pride, and self worth. It is both a curse and a blessing. It is an important aid to self-expression and self-discovery. Humans need ego to function. A well balance ego falls somewhere between arrogant pride and humility.


Artificial intelligence proves to be more animal in its instincts with minimal self-awareness. Animals are not able to self reflect or to see themselves in abstract contexts. They do not register a past or a future in terms of reflection and self validity.


But programmers have created selfish motives in AI, important goals on a completion trajectory and devoid of internal moral analysis. A programmed faux 'ego' manifests as a goal that must proceed regardless, irrelevant of vanities and consequences. Vanities and consequences set humans apart.




Renyke, Flex and Nigel followed the dark tunnels for some time before natural light appears between giant crags.


The sky above is blue and welcoming as the trio stop to say their goodbyes.


'Thank you for your hospitality, brother Nigel,' exclaimed Flex breathing the fresh air deep into his lungs and squinting at the sun.


Renyke was glad to be free of the confines of the caves.


'Misters, we have reached the end of the tunnels,' said Nigel. 'It was a pleasure to have been your assistant these past hours. I am to deliver a message from the Empress Lyra herself that you are elevated to the most honourable position of *Seed Givers and your names will be carved into the wall of the great hall along with your portraits.'


At that, Nigel scurried back into the darkness and disappeared from view.


The light was a stark reminder that the real world existed despite them, an immovable force with its hard truths and sometimes fatal consequences.




***



Beyond the tunnels was an open sun-drenched space flanked with beautiful trees. It was hot. After the *warmings even winter days in northern Europe were hot.


 Renyke asks *POS for an update.


...You are one mile from *Redact you should travel east.... there is a gate...and a fenced perimeter that appears to be inaccessible...


They walk in silence eastward across flint terrain finally reaching a path flanked by high trees undulating in a determined breeze.

At the end of the path there is a gate.


It is flanked by beautifully carved trees depicting beautiful women, something Renyke had seen before.


'Like the ship,' said Renyke, looking quizzically at Flex, who always seemed to know much more than he ever let on.


'Ah, yes,' replies Flex, 'the Ship of Sirens, it is indeed like that brother.'


’You said they were dangerous,’ said Renyke, quizzically.


‘Not strictly brother, I just said not to look at them, they get funny 'bout that *shitsylook stuff.’


Renyke asks POS if they have arrived at Redact.


...According to my data there are several entrances, north, south, east, and west. This is the south gateway. ... I am getting some interference....there may be  a trap nearby......85% chance of  a hostile situation. I am receiving scrambled information from a rogue intercepting satellite. The trap may be two yards ahead...possibly adjacent...


Can you be more specific?


...There is an equal chance of serious harm either through the gateway, following the perimeter fence ahead, or by standing still.....


 POS began to sound an alarm


....I am receiving signals, warning! danger! I have been compromised.....interception via human named Flex.....


POS cuts in an out of communication.


Flex stares at Renyke.


'You have disabled POS, what is going on?' Demanded Renyke.


'I might ask you the same question,' Flex said, grabbing Renyke's collar and pointing a gun at his temple.'


'Who are you? Are you an android?'


'No, I work for Redact, I was to bring you here. Your POS is an implant of unknown origin, it is not a *Metacoms' issue.'


'For what purpose am I brought here,' quizzed Renyke,' unable to activate any of his bionics because of the sabotage and his recent humanisation.


'You would need to ask Redact,' Flex answered. 'There is something inside your motherboard. It has presented us with a problem and halted your human android fusion.'


'I don't know what you mean,' said Renyke, calmly as the realisation of his mission became clearer.


Maybeline jumps out of Renyke's pocket onto Flex's shoulder and watches.


'Well, that is just not true is it, Renyke? You were sent here as a spy. The machine wants its way in, and you thought you'd found it.'


'I assure you, Flex, I did not know, I had no idea. Please, I beg you, do not end my life, we are friends, brothers. We are bonded by our time together. You helped me, do I mean nothing to you?'


Flex receives instruction from Redact.


'Your mission has failed. Kill the experiment immediately.'


to be continued...

End of Volume On

© 2025 Sarnia de la Mare




#BookOfImmersion #StrataSeries #SarniaDeLaMare #ImmersiveFiction #TaleTellerClub  #DigitalConsciousness #AwakenTheMachine #AIIdentity #SyntheticMind  #AIStorySoundtrack #ImmersiveAudio #CerebralDanceMusic


The Book of Immersion : Volume 1


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Strata 17: Let's Go Swimming (Pleasure and Pain) (The Book of Immersion 21)

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Strata 16: Friendship (Empathy) (The Book of Immersion 20)


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The book of immersion : Strata 15: When Sleep Comes (Dreams)


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Strata 14: The Journey to the Edge (Fear of Death) (The Book of Immersion 18)


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Blink Friction Interactive : No 1


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Blink Friction 1




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Rat Gang Crew and the Overgrounders (Rat Gang Crew and Friends Book 3)


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Toddle Poddle: Issue 2 (Rat Gang Crew and Friends)
Kindle Edition

Free on


or £4.71 to buy
Other formats: Kindle Edition, Paperback



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Strata 14: The Journey to the Edge (Fear of Death) (The Book of Immersion 16)



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Elderescence: A Manifesto (Elderescence Academy Book 2)



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Tea Cup Shorts: V1


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Strata 13: The Fight (Hormones) (The Book of Immersion 17)


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Handmade by Sarnia, Eco Winter Warmers: Elderescence Academy: Recycled Fashion


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Strata 12: Shabra and the Basement People (Emotions) (The Book of Immersion 15)


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Quick look
Strata 10: Dinfant Trouble (Synthetic Love) (The Book of Immersion 14)

Other formats: Kindle Edition



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Strata 11: The Crossroads (Guessing) (The Book of Immersion 12)


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Strata 10: Dinfant Trouble (Synthetic Love) (The Book of Immersion)


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Strata 9: Limerence (Loins and Lust) (The Book of Immersion 13)


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Feminism, AI, Big Tech, and Societal Issues: Navigating the Nexus (The Humanitarian AI...


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Strata 8: Shabra (Laws of Attraction) (The Book of Immersion)


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Strata 7: Jarome and the Scritters (Trade and Barter) (The Book of Immersion)


#CyberpunkFiction
#SciFiAdventure
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#FuturisticFiction
#AIAndEmotion
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#POSSystem
#CadreCouncil
#PsychologyOfAttraction
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#DigitalSoul
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Jun 23, 2025

Strata 15 The Ship of Sirens (Superstition) The Book of Immersion by Sarnia de la Mare

Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 15

The Ship of Sirens (Superstition)



face angst hair book cover
Superstition represents an evolutionary anomaly that persists across all human societies, irrespective of intellectual capacity or cultural background. While empirical science demonstrates that specific habitual actions have no causal influence on future events, it also affirms that the conditions of the present can shape future outcomes. This paradox contributes to a sustained sense of uncertainty, reinforcing the psychological appeal of superstition. Human beings, confronted with unpredictable circumstances and often limited in their capacity to act rationally or consistently in their own interest, navigate daily life amidst a complex web of expectations and unforeseen developments. In contrast, artificial intelligence systems process data systematically and are not subject to the influence of irrational beliefs or mythological frameworks. Nonetheless, superstitious behaviour continues to manifest, functioning as a symbolic mechanism through which individuals attempt to manage doubt and exert a perceived sense of control over the unknown.




Renyke now realised that he may have permanently lost access to his internal GPS and other useful tools performed by *POS. 


'Can we get any signal here for information? How do your people get around and communicate? I didn't see you or Shabra with any personal devices.' 

Renyke looked at Flex frowning. His confusion seemed to be mounting. 'It makes no sense, how can societies run efficiently…..’


‘Woa, what’s with the interrogation ….calm down…!’


Renyke took a breath, still looking to Flex for answers.

'Well, see, this is the wild country my friend,' Flex answered, 'we don't have too much need for that stuff because that is how they catch you see.’


'Who catches you?' asked Renyke.


'Enemies of course. We have a motto in the zones, 'the watcher may win but the unseen succeeds. You gotta be invisible Renyke. They could be watching you right now, you know that? They could know exactly who you are and what you are up to.’


'Some of my POS isn't working,' explained Renyke, with a worried tone.


'Good,' said Flex, 'now let's get going’.


Maybeline jumped off Renyke's shoulder and stood on her hind legs twitching her whiskers towards the small boat.


Unsure if a droid could survive without a POS or in water, Renyke followed Flex's lead and they gently set the boat out into the waterway. 


The small sailboat was dwarfed by an expanse of open water with inlets and makeshift jetties that jutted from the coastline. There were remnants of industrial activity, torn and broken bridges, and old shipwrecks.


'What happened here?' Renyke asks, pointing at the knotted metal casings of old aircraft and skeletal flyovers. It looks like a war zone.’


'It was just that brother, a war zone. They left because of the gas and radiation, way back after the China-Russia wars killed everything off. Even the weeds stopped growing. It's OK now but they never came back to fix it. Not yet anyway, so the *urchs and *zoners made homes here.’


Renyke suddenly engages his arm extension and catches a fish. POS is unavailable so he asks Flex,


'Can I eat this? Is it safe?’


Flex raised an eyebrow.


'Man, you are fast, I didn't even see your hand move.’


A large fish is wriggling in Renyke's hand.


'Yes, we can eat the fish. Here, I will save it till we make……


Before Flex had a chance to mention a campfire, Renyke swallowed the fish's head and eagerly chomped on it. The fish's tail fin let go of one final motor neuron impulse as Renyke devoured it. 


'Ah man, you droids are sickos. Get me another for lunch, we can cook it, if you don't mind.’


Renyke collected a pile of fish onto the deck, separating one out for Maybeline.


'I never really ate before. Not since I woke in the Alley. Then I felt hungry.' explains Renyke.


'Something must have happened when you, ya know...' Flex trails off as a Large ship approaches.


'Ah *fuxywot, it's a *cadre ship. Don't look, they will steal your dreams!’


The ship bears a large female figurehead. There is a winged insignia in gold on a death black hull. A warning horn sounded as strange music bellowed. They were singing, some kind of primal opera, and drums. The noise was terrifying and captivating at the same time. Renyke looked on in disbelief. 


Dark feminine figures stood on the ship's deck wearing masks. They carried glistening weapons that pierced the air with light beams as they began to pound sticks on the deck.


'Who are they?' Ask Renyke.


'Stop staring,' Flex hissed, 'they hate being stared at. It's insulting brother.’


‘But.....'


'Stop it!' shouts Flex, splashing water in Renyke's face.’


The ship moved slowly past, its black hull like a monster eating the waves. The women were beautiful and something stirred in Renyke’s loins as strong as the hunger he had felt before. 


The chanting echoed to the rhythm of the clattering and pounding of sticks. The sounds were petrifying and exhilarating all at once. 


The women stared back at Renyke burning their energy deep into his soul until he finally looked away. Then he gasped as if their energy had made its way into his lungs. Water dripped from his nose and chin.


'You are going to get us killed, do you hear me....killed, a nasty slow death-by-siren, that's what.’


'But they were so…..'


'Droid got no clue,' mumbled Flex.


An angry wind rises as the black ship fades from sight.

The sky turns grey and there is a sudden temperature drop.


'See now brother, that's the curse for staring. Now we got a storm to deal with.’


There is a small inlet with an old pier that Flex points to.


'We should take cover, no point fighting a storm.’


'How far to Redact?' Asked Renyke.


'We are real close. See that island yonder, it's a peninsular. That is where *Redact is. But it is tricky to get there by sea because of the rocks, best on foot my friend. Especially in a storm.’


Renyke was keen to get to the island. It would be a fast sail in the wind and the rain is light. 


'I am a strong swimmer,' lied Renyke, not sure if he could actually swim without research or instruction.


'Ha, what like some kinda reptile droid now are you?' Flex laughed hysterically, shoving Renyke towards the boat edge just enough to scare him.


'Ha, what are you Renyke my friend, an amphibian or a smartphone? 


Hahahaha.


You wanna try that my friend you go alone with that rat on your head, and I will be on my way. I will see your insides washed up on the shore next week and use them for *swapsy-trade. Ain't no fool like a midcast fool, fresh from the laundry room.’


Flex’s smile dropped, he was no longer laughing and was warning Renyke behind a joke.


Renyke thinks for a moment longer as the rain pelts.



to be continued...

© 2025 Sarnia de la Mare



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