Written by Paul Gamlowski
A group test volunteer awoke lying on a bed beside a scientist, standing over and monitoring.
"Wow, that was intense!" said the volunteer.
"Did you enjoy it?" asked the scientist.
"Oh yeah, and I was in complete control, sort of. But it was a short lifetime versus our immortal state."
"Sort of?" The scientist held up a tablet while jotting down notes.
"Yes, well, while inhabiting that virtual body, I felt the constraints and power of its personality and physicality. I would think things, and they would manifest, but not always as I intended."
"Oh, right." The scientist paced back and forth. "That's because the simulacra avatars have unique AI-driven predispositions. Otherwise, you'd be omnipotent. This way, it's more of a challenge, which is the main purpose of the simulation."
"I see," the volunteer gazed at the ceiling, "but I did observe something strange later on …"
"Yes?"
"The other participants kept having these discussions over bizarre ideas they called free will, destiny, and soul … The ideas transformed their virtual societies, forming 'religions' as they called them. I mean, I know we don't remember our real life when we're there, but aren't we referring to ourselves in those contexts?"
"Indeed, you are that avatar's soul, destiny, or free will, as I've also seen them refer to them."
"That's weird. Because in our real world, I've never heard of those before."
"They're certainly a mystery." The scientist shrugged. "After all, we are who we are."
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