Individuality is an Anomaly

Neo and The Architect

The Architect – Hello, Neo.

Neo – Who are you?

The Architect – I am the Architect. I created the matrix. I’ve been waiting for you. You have many questions, and although the process has altered your consciousness, you remain irrevocably [NOTE: Hold mouse over word to get definition] human. Ergo, some of my answers you will understand, and some of them you will not. Concordantly, while your first question may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also irrelevant.

Neo – Why am I here?

The Architect – Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the matrix. You are the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden to sedulously avoid it, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you, inexorably, here.

Neo – You haven’t answered my question.

The Architect – Quite right. Interesting. That was quicker than the others.

*The responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: “Others? What others? How many? Answer me!”*
(Neo1980: I don’t agree with whoever wrote this, I think that the monitors are showing Neo’s possible answers, possible hinting that there are alternatives to his actions and hence the choice issue comes up. Also, the camera zooms in on Neo’s current response, showing the choice made.)

The Architect – The matrix is older than you know. I prefer counting from the emergence of one integral anomaly to the emergence of the next, in which case this is the sixth version.

*Again, the responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: “Five versions? Three? I’ve been lied too. This is bull****.”*

Neo: There are only two possible explanations: either no one told me, or no one knows.

The Architect – Precisely. As you are undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly’s systemic, creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations.

*Once again, the responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: “You can’t control me! **** you! I’m going to kill you! You can’t make me do anything!*

Neo – Choice. The problem is choice.

*The scene cuts to Trinity fighting an agent, and then back to the Architects room*

The Architect – The first matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect, it was a work of art, flawless, sublime. A triumph equaled only by its monumental failure. The inevitability of its doom is as apparent to me now as a consequence of the imperfection inherent in every human being, thus I redesigned it based on your history to more accurately reflect the varying grotesqueries of your nature. However, I was again frustrated by failure. I have since come to understand that the answer eluded me because it required a lesser mind, or perhaps a mind less bound by the parameters of perfection. Thus, the answer was stumbled upon by another, an intuitive program, initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche. If I am the father of the matrix, she would undoubtedly be its mother.

Neo – The Oracle.

The Architect – Please. As I was saying, she stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly 99.9% of all test subjects accepted the program, as long as they were given a choice, even if they were only aware of the choice at a near unconscious level. While this answer functioned, it was obviously fundamentally flawed, thus creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly, that if left unchecked might threaten the system itself. Ergo, those that refused the program, while a minority, if unchecked, would constitute an escalating probability of disaster.

Neo – This is about Zion.

The Architect – You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed. Its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated.

Neo – Bull****.

*The responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: “Bull****!”*

The Architect – Denial is the most predictable of all human responses. But, rest assured, this will be the sixth time we have destroyed it, and we have become exceedingly efficient at it.

*Scene cuts to Trinity fighting an agent, and then back to the Architects room.*

The Architect – The function of the One is now to return to the source, allowing a temporary dissemination of the code you carry, reinserting the prime program. After which you will be required to select from the matrix 23 individuals, 16 female, 7 male, to rebuild Zion. Failure to comply with this process will result in a cataclysmic system crash killing everyone connected to the matrix, which coupled with the extermination of Zion will ultimately result in the extinction of the entire human race.

Neo – You won’t let it happen, you can’t. You need human beings to survive.

The Architect – There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept. However, the relevant issue is whether or not you are ready to accept the responsibility for the death of every human being in this world.

*The Architect presses a button on a pen that he is holding, and images of people from all over the matrix appear on the monitors*

The Architect – It is interesting reading your reactions. Your five predecessors were by design based on a similar predication, a contingent affirmation that was meant to create a profound attachment to the rest of your species, facilitating the function of the one. While the others experienced this in a very general way, your experience is far more specific. Vis-a-vis, love.

*Images of Trinity fighting the agent from Neo’s dream appear on the monitors*

Neo – Trinity.

The Architect – Apropos, she entered the matrix to save your life at the cost of her own.

Neo – No!

The Architect – Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed, and the anomaly revealed as both beginning, and end. There are two doors. The door to your right leads to the source, and the salvation of Zion. The door to the left leads back to the matrix, to her, and to the end of your species. As you adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know what you’re going to do, don’t we? Already I can see the chain reaction, the chemical precursors that signal the onset of emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic, and reason. An emotion that is already blinding you from the simple, and obvious truth: she is going to die, and there is nothing that you can do to stop it.

*Neo walks to the door on his left*

The Architect – Humph. Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness.

Neo – If I were you, I would hope that we don’t meet again.

The Architect – We won’t.

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2 responses to “Individuality is an Anomaly

  1. The Architect is actually an underachiever with a really huge ego, and Neo finally figured out that Trinity isn’t really fighting – it’s just agressive fondling, in a foreplay kind of way. Neo wants to get away from the wacko, lonely Architect and go join Trinity and all the fun.
    As my favorite Danish poet, Piet Hein, said:
    “The human spirit sublimates
    the impulses it thwarts.
    A healthy sex life mitigates
    the lust for other sports.”
    The Architect needs to get a life.

    btw, the Architect is secretly envious of zombies, because they always get the girls.

    • Eric you can sign in using your Facebook account. If your Facebook account is active and you press the little Facebook icon then voila you get your avatar and everything. The same principle applies to all online comments. I did this just to show you it can be done. I could have replied from within the WordPress account but occasionally like to test the systems from the outside just to see if they still work and still work as before.

      I am a giant, giant sci-fi fan. Having said that, I am a bigger fan of the concepts than the execution. I often have the SyFy channel on in the background while online and am almost amazed at times at how melodramtic and utterly stupid the dialogue of most SF is! Plus the characters are almost always incredibly two dimensional. There is a real need for a anti-hero on one of the SyFy shows! Star Gate characterization is soo bad! Star Gate universe was ok but the first one and Atlantis give new meaning to bad SF. Eureka sticks with sarcastic and quirky and that at least doesn’t descend into melodramatic surrealism. Sanctuary is the worst of the lot! Helen Magnus is not a believable character on any level and given my acceptance of really, really bad SF characterization, thats saying alot. Ironically the best SF show out there is at AMC.

      I love the Walking Dead on AMC because of the anti-hero elements that pervade the show. The overall theme of Darwinian logic slowly winning the hearts and minds of the “normal” citizens is intriguing at a psychological level. The last episode in which Rick Grimes, the leader, turns into Captain Bleigh was scary because it made perfect sense. Ricks comment “If you stay then realize this aint a democracy anymore” was one of the best lines in the show. SyFy fare pales in comparison. AMC is by far the best channel out there. The season finale of Mad Men was maybe the second best season finale after the Walking Dead of the year. I guess The Walking Dead is really horror not SF but in practice the Sy Fy channel is really the speculative fiction channel ie includes lots of supernatural shows. At least the Walking Dead stays away from supernatural elements.

      I am especially aware that portraying concepts billed as literally beyond human comprehension is best done by suggestion but a type of suggestion that is not easy artistically. Rod Serling is the ultimate master of this art. Serling never dealt with the topic of AI or did he? The singularity is coming if we survive long enough and I suspect the ascended consciousness that arrives will make the Architect seem simplistic and transparent. The Architects speech is a short piece and would not work as any sort of extended piece of fiction.

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