{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0 {\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fprq2 Luxi Sans;} }{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;\red128\green128\blue128;}{\stylesheet {\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 Normal;} }{\info {\title \ldblquote Starting here will mean\u8230.you will experience things you have never imagined, never been able to understand, comprehend}{\author XYR0c}{\comment Generated by KWord's RTF Export Filter 388763 }{\creatim\yr2005\mo12\dy15\hr16\min40\sec59}{\revtim\yr2005\mo12\dy16\hr20\min50\sec27}{\printim\yr1970\mo1\dy1\hr0\min0\sec0}}\paperw12240\paperh15840\margl1800\margr1800\margt1440\margb1440\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\formshade \fet0\sectd \pgnstart1 \pard\plain\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Starting here will mean\u8230.you will experience things you have never imagined, never been able to understand or comprehend. You will want out. But you can never leave once you are a part of it.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote It\rquote s just a big machine shop; I don\rquote t see what all the hype is for.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The application officer smiled and chuckled to himself.} \par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote You have a choice. Go all the way, or stop now\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro did not understand any of this. Nevertheless, after looking around at the small room and taking a deep breath of the musty un-circulated air he really didn\rquote t have much to loose, so he thought. After all, its been 21 years of momentous education and rules that never made sense. He needed a job. He needed more than a job, he needed a real life. He needed to fulfill his desire to offer something to society, to be doing something that was useful.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {He said softly \ldblquote I am here, I am ready\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The application officer nodded and walked into a smaller room adjacent to the one Cyro was in. On the wall was a sheet of finely sanded sheet metal which had the words} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 { {\i\ul0 \ldblquote At C.S. (Center of Sciences), we make the world possible.\rdblquote }} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The officer was wearing an odd-looking grey suit with a white collared shirt. He seemed distinguished, lofty. He at once opened a metal door that led to a metal catwalk that led into the main part of the building. He motioned for Cyro to follow. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The hallway had a long window of some sort of two-three inch polycarbonate separating the hallway from a seemingly endless machining room. It was humbling looking at it all, so complex, so autonomous. The room which was about 20-30 feet high but so long and wide that Cyro was unable to tell where it ended. Just a flat polished cement floor that held thousands of machines. Devices that were doing all sorts of tasks. Perfectly fluid manipulator arms assembling pieces of products together. Vats of molten metal pouring into molds which then led to other machines which manipulated them. It was amazing, the sheer amount of autonomous devices. There were people down there too working on pneumatics systems and wielding plates of metal. Some workers were sitting at a large desk discussing over some sort of draft paper. It was the machinist\rquote s Mecca. The room, which was roughly the size of several sports stadiums, was so awe inspiring that Cyro stopped and just stared into the web of mechanized chaos. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote This is production facility C-7. It stretches two and a fourth miles from wall to wall.\rdblquote The officer explained, still walking forward. \ldblquote Follow me; there is something you must know\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The two of them came to a cement room with a table. The officer was joined by another man in his late fifties wearing a white coat and long smooth white pants. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote If you want to work here, there are many steps you must take\rdblquote The man stated, \ldblquote You will be working with things that are very \lquote Top Secret\rquote if you will. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro rolled his eyes.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Dennis will bring in the papers and we can start the registration.\rdblquote The officer said.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro followed the men\rquote s instructions, signing papers and giving fingerprints, blood samples, tooth molds, and some personal papers including a birth certificate. Cyro kept hearing the men mention the motto that was displayed in the foyer of the building, \lquote It\rquote s not a job, it\rquote s a lifestyle\rquote . } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The men told Cyro that he would return the next day to begin. Cyro then was escorted out of the building at which he drove his POS hybrid electric car to his apartment. Cyro always believed in non-petroleum cars. Even though they have not been developed too well. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {That night, Cyro\rquote s mind was a jumbled mess of information. He was excited but not that worried. He just wanted to start being useful.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Morning came, and Cyro went to the C.S. facility. The day was slightly warm, comfortable. Cyro drove down the streets having an awareness with the world. More than usual, Cyro felt the road beneath the car. He saw people walking, driving, eating, just living and he thought of his relationship with the world, society, and himself. He arrived at the facility to be greeted by two men wearing grey suits and shiny black shoes. They led Cyro in through the foyer of the building. The building entrance was as modest as it could possible be. After all, this building supposedly employed thousands of people and the entrance to it was nothing more than a polished cement wall with a sliding metal and glass door. The foyer was just a small dimly lit room with wooden desk and another door going to the interior of the building. This puzzled Cyro since he knew that the thousands of people working here cannot possibly enter and exit through the same single door. Cyro saw the sliding metal and glass doors close shut. This was the last time he ever saw the outside world with purity. The last time he saw life similarly as everyone else on earth did. But it was all about to change.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro was led into another room, different from the one he registered in. He was told to strip naked and progress into another room. Cyro did and ended up in a small metal cylinder. The doors shut and a fine mist was sprayed into the cylinder. Cyro\rquote s ears popped. Cyro was led through the other end of the cylinder-room at which he was given a light grey shirt and a pair of soft blue pants. He was led into yet another hall at which a man gave him some papers with times and numbers on them. He was told to meet at some briefing room down the hall a ways.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Darrel will show you to the briefing room.\rdblquote The man exclaimed.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro eventually came to a medium sized lecture room that was partially filled with about 25-30 other, similarly aged, people. After some waiting, a man came in, addressed the people, and started going over some formalities that the recruits would have to follow. Pretty basic stuff nonetheless. After a grueling 4 hours 28 minutes. Cyro was told to go to the next briefing room located in BR-16. Cyro walked down a few halls, following the directory signs on the walls to find his destination. At this new room, with new people, he sat to learn more about his specific job.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro was lectured on some basic trigonometry and calculus that he would be dealing with. All of this was a review to him. He was instructed of some new process and background information he would be dealing with one he started working. Another 4 hours went by. Once the lecture ended, Cyro was instructed to follow the crowd to some sort of cafeteria. Cyro did as he was told.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {As the group of people progressed through the building, Cyro noticed an interesting atmosphere this facility had. Similarly dressed people were going in and out of rooms, down long halls that led to more halls, the building was utterly massive. The halls were formal and clean, bright and white. It reminded Cyro of a hospital but it was much to clean and organized. The building was still quite confusing, it had at least 30 plus levels. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The cafeteria was clean and sterile just like the rest of the building. Cyro has a bagel and some tea. Then went off to his next meeting room. In this next room, Cyro as well as about fifteen other people, were given more papers and were told more information about what life would be like on the building campus. Cyro learned that the whole facility was more than one building, spread about all around the city. Here, Cyro learned some very interesting things about this new \ldblquote lifestyle\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {First, C.S. was an innovative corporation that led the world\rquote s technological advancement. C.S. held a higher rank than the government itself, but this was something that the public would never know. Cyro was amazed as the speaker rambled off products that were invented, manufactured, and updated at C.S.. Computers, Internet services, medical equipment, power plant modifications, weapons, military machinery, agricultural equipment, polymers, enhanced foods, even things as simple as better wall paint for homes. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote All of these products were designed and produced in this very facility.\rdblquote The speaker noted. \ldblquote And you wouldn\rquote t believe some of the new technologies that will be released after this year.\rdblquote The speaker took a drink of water. \ldblquote You see, the public\u8230. they have no concept for the unfathomable work done here. The research, the design, the tests, the manufacturing process. What the public knows about this is all a fa\'e7ade. People believe that their satellite radio unit they hold in their hand was made in some factory in some Asian country and that\rquote s about all there is to it. In reality, there are technologies that will be hard to believe by even the hardest science fiction fan. Strange technologies that the public should never ever get a hold of. Exposure of these new technologies to the world would cause great turmoil in the world. We are currently trying to simulate this with our MAXIS simulations, but it still needs some development, you will learn about that later.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The speaker continued to talk about the secrecy that the recruits had to abide by. Generally, the talk was very bland in Cyro\rquote s opinion. Nevertheless, he was excited to begin work.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The speaker made clear the living arrangements that the workers followed. No one leaves. No one comes in. When a day\rquote s work is done, the people will leave to the MOCH habitat facility. It is in this place where the recruits would be assigned rooms to live in for the greater part of their lives. Cyro was beginning to understand that motto now.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The day passed quickly and it was now about 21:00. Cyro along with the other recruits passed into another hall that led to a large area filled with odd looking bus like vehicles. As Cyro and a group of people were instructed to board the buss, Cyro noticed that the bus itself had no wheels, but large rubber pads. And soon Cyro learned why this was as the bus pulled away from the ground with a loud air pressure sound. The driver exclaimed the basics of how it worked. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote At C.S. we have a type of extremely efficient engine that can blow air at high speeds using very little fuel.\rdblquote The driver said. \ldblquote However, this would not be enough to levitate a large passenger bus, so equipped in those rubber bumper like things are powerful sound wave producing disks that will create waves in the moving air. The waves bounce off the ground colliding with other waves creating a perpetual sonic boom if you will. Eh\u8230. I\rquote m not the one to ask about this kinda stuff.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The buss only \lquote levitated\rquote a few feet off the ground. Their were tunnels that the busses went into. These tunnels were very long and complex. Eventually the one Cyro was riding in broke ground and the bus continued down a specially made road. About thirty minutes later they arrived at their destination. They had arrived at a matrix of smaller buildings that stretched in contour with the land a good mile or two. The group was led into one of these buildings at which they were given some more papers. Cyro went down a few halls to find his room. He unloaded his binder of papers onto a bed and sat down on the other end. His mind was a mess of information. So much information he has a headache and wanted to go to sleep. Unfortunately at that moment a woman walked into his room and told him to come out for dinner.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro followed the woman to a bar-like room with many people eating and drinking and having a good time. Cyro sat down at a table and ordered some tea. The tea was good, some of the best he had ever had. Cyro glanced beyond the room and noticed that the building was apparently connected to all the other dorm-like buildings by means of underground tunnels. Cyro was interested, but decided he was more interested in sleeping and returned to his room and slept.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {~} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The next morning Cyro awoke to an alarm sound coming out of a speaker in his wall. He walked out of the room, still in the same cloths as he was assigned, wondering when he will be assigned more cloths. He was met in the hall with the group of people from the day before and a man telling the group where the showers were. Cyro went, showered, and was handed a new pair of cloths for the day. These were a slightly darker shade of grey and had a number on them. Cyro\rquote s was 712971818. As much as Cyro felt this was similar to a prison\rquote s system of clothing, he really liked the feel of the cloths.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro took the busses back to C.S. and went to his assigned work space. It was a small clean room with a desk and a light; it was very formal, but it was nice. Cyro went to the director of his work sector and was assigned some paperwork to complete. It was almost all calculations he had to complete. There were some reports he had to make too on the data he calculated. Cyro did what he was told, it took him most of the day. He sat at his little desk doing menial calculations again and again. It wasn\rquote t extraordinarily fun, but it was not awful. Cyro noticed that some of these calculation involved nuclear products and reactions. He thought perhaps this was for some sort of nuclear reactor but saw that the byproducts of the calculations were mostly helium. This was hard to believe since the only way for that to work is to have a fusion reactor. Cyro knew that fusion had not been developed enough to reach a sustained reaction. Cyro was curious.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {At the end of the day, Cyro gave his data to his director. The director smiled and placed the papers in a file folder. Cyro left the room. He wanted to go back in and ask about the fusion, but he decided that he should just go on back to the dorms. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {This is how life went, day after day. Cyro would be bored out of his mind completing chemical equations then go back to his room and sleep. He made a few friends, and even enjoyed talking at the bar in his dorm. But still, something was still unfulfilling to Cyro. He didn\rquote t know what to do, after all, hundreds of other people did what he did every day, so why should he feel better than any of them. Cyro kept at it, every day, every week, every month. Cyro eventually began to work on more complex projects. They were more fun to do. Some of them took a few days to complete. Cyro did good work. He did it faster and more accurately than most other people. For this, he was able to work on more and more in-depth projects. Eventually, he needed his own computing system to assist him in his calculations. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro excelled at his computer work. He would sometimes work overnight to complete certain tasks. The director was very proud of him. Cyro won many merits for his work and slowly moved up the social and hierarchical ladder.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {By now, Cyro had his room filled with test equipment, computers and workbenches. He would travel frequently to the large production floors that he saw when he registered. There were many of such areas. The workers called them \ldblquote the floor\rdblquote because the rooms were just an amazingly large cement floor with equipment on it. Cyro came there to produce his various experiments. He even had his own little area for machining small items and conducting experiments. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro was primarily working on conceptual designs for remotely controlled vehicles. He would \ldblquote make them and test them and destroy them and improve them\rdblquote as he liked to say. His experiments sometimes proved fruitful and he submitted it to the marketing and application department for further development.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {There was no need for money. Everything was provided. The only thing people sought was merit. The successful people moved to new departments and to new buildings. Cyro had seen wonderful inventions in his dealing at C.S.. Amazing things that he could understand why they were not released to the public. They were just too dangerous. For example, a new type radiation was created which carried energies of phenomenal magnitude. This radiation could be used to completely energize large pieces of metal such that the metal would loose its molecular bonds and literally dissolve into a molten mush. This process required very little energy and cold be housed in units the size of a shoebox. This obviously was not something to be released into the public, especially with the new terrorism threat.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {As Cyro furthered his studies he found that he had more and more free time to go to meetings and briefings where new technologies were discussed. This was very interesting to Cyro. He was fascinated by these emerging technologies. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro had been working at C.S. for nearly 6 years. It was on a day Cyro had nothing really to accomplish when he stumbled in on a lecture on a new computer simulation environment called the MAXIS. This was not the first time Cyro had heard that word. The speaker during registration had mentioned something about it too but Cyro couldn\rquote t remember it. So, interested, Cyro came in and sat down in the lecture room.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote The MAXIS\rquote development is increasing to the point where some amazing accomplishments are now possible. The power the computers that drive the simulation is unfathomable to what we have experienced beforehand.\rdblquote Kevin Vieland, the original creator of the MAXIS was explaining. \ldblquote The MAXIS is divided into three main groups: The macroenvironment, the microenvironment, and the recreational environment. The macro deals with urban development as well as any other part of community. This only deals with zone use, land value, population dynamics, and things like that. It\rquote s just basically used to study some amazing characteristics of what the simulated populations do when the program is run. The micro is the dealings of each character of the simulation, mostly the simulated people. This is a very advanced A.I. simulation that will create a very realistic person. The recreational environment is an assortment of scenarios that test the simulated people\rquote s reaction to things. Such as an amusement park, or a room with a gun in the middle of it, and see how the simulated people interact when confined in that room with nothing else but themselves and the weapon.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {This interested Cyro, but he was still very confused. He went about his way and returned to his room. He busied himself with his new task. He was to design a remotely controlled robotic vehicle that will be used for an assortment of purposes. It was to have a test bed on the top to mount various experiments. The robot would then be subjected to various environments and experiments to test the test bed. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Weeks passed as Cyro still was frustrated with his designs. The machinists never gave him parts that were to his exact specifications, and the whole assembly he was working on was just an ongoing problem. Frustrated, Cyro took a walk down through the building. He was looking to clear his mind.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro again came across a room filled with computer components and a man instructing some people how to maintenance the hardware.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {An older man with long white hair spoke loudly to overcome the immense ambient noise the room was making \ldblquote \u8230.this is the central disk platter. Each disk is 144 centimeters in radius and spins at nearly five hundred thousand revolutions per minute. From here, the raw data will be exchanged through these main conduits and into the caching banks. From there, the data is transferred into the operating room where it is divvied up and sent to wherever it needs to be. Now it is very important\u8230.\rdblquote Cyro was confronted by a friend he had been adequately close with named Chip Trikon. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Hey, did you see the new system we got a grant for,\rdblquote Chip explained, \ldblquote It\rquote s amazing the power of all this, I just\u8230. hey, you know what, are you interested in some work. We need some people to help facilitate the simulations, would you be interested?\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro looked around, and hesitated, \ldblquote uh, ye..Yea, I guess, I-I really don\rquote t know what this project is, you\rquote ll have to fill me in I guess\u8230.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Sure thing, yea! We are going to have Mr. Vieland explain the system to the Executor. You could come too.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote It sounds interesting\rdblquote Cyro replied, \ldblquote When and where should I go?\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Heh, ill just page your room, it will be later tonight.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Okay, ill see you then.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro once again returned to his room and tinkered with some parts of his assembly and thought about his possible new task at hand.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Sure enough, that evening, Cyro was indeed paged by his friend and Cyro ventured down to the specified room. The Executor was there along with Vieland and some other staff of the MAXIS project. Cyro took a seat and waited for others to enter the room. Soon enough the project leader began his lesson.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote MAXIS, a collective project to understand the very workings of society and life itself. Sound ambitious? Well, the project has been around for a long time, but it is just recently with our revolutionary computing system design that we are able to run such a project. The computer system runs a simulation \endash well, actually many simulations. These sims are controlled by operators who facilitate what\rquote s going on. What are the simulations of? Well, people. The simulations fall into three categories: The macroenvironment, the microenvironment, and the recreational environment. The macro is a population simulator which will show how populations of people interact and progress. The micro is a detailed simulation of an individual. The rec is an assortment of simulations that we will run as desired on various aspects of various things. Your probably already confused. Lets start from the beginning.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Life really is not that complex when you break it down to its basic fundamentals. You have energy \endash energy that defines objects \endash those objects then use energy to interact with other objects to form new objects etc. You have your basic parameters that define how objects interact and once you set things up, it goes from there. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Previous generation computer simulations are too complex. They have commands, data, processes, textures, scripts, vectors, if-then statements, its all just a convoluted mess. You actually have to \lquote render\rquote the outcome. What we are doing is merely setting up the parameters and running the simulation. The only thing that limits what we can do is processing power. With the new computer setup we have, we can unleash the potential of this new simulation idea. The results we get tell us how to design our cities better, make our floor-plans more appealing, furniture more comfortable, TV ads more realistic, and theme parks more entertaining. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Lets look how all this is possible. You have these basic parameters setup and from there you have simple physics \endash atoms, molecules, tissue, human bodies, buildings, terrain \endash you have all that setup and \lquote living\rquote as it interacts with itself via your parameters. This is called the \lquote core\rquote . The core is the very basic code that we run that defines physics. We want the physics as close to our observable life as we can.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Then we have the data, the landscape, the people, etc. The people are generated using complex neurological simulation techniques. We can literally make a person\rquote s personality just the way we want it.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {So we have this data stored on our main hard disk. That disk feeds its information to an operations room where people modify it and send the data to the core which will process the data under the desired level of sub-parameters. This processing happens between the processor and the system cache. Once one specific integer of time in the simulation has passed, the results are written back to the hard disk.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Vieland displayed a graphic on a screen in the room.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {[]} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The key to this whole thing is the core. Its action-reaction logic is truly innovative. We have had extremity bright psychologists and programmers create n engine that is reflective of the human mind. So, we can literally simulate what a real person would do under certain circumstances.\line \line This all started in 1998 when some colleagues and myself started working with these so-called \ldblquote reality\rdblquote simulators. The programs were understandably lacking, not something I would call \ldblquote realistic\rdblquote . But as our research progressed, we were able to find ways recreate physics by means of a computer program. Years later we received many grants for our work and were able to create the massive MAXIS facility we have now. We are now able to basically create a universe of our liking and run it through a given amount of time and see what happens. We can create civilizations, societies, families, we can create anything and see how it develops. This is the ultimate A.I. This is what science fiction writers have proposed for years, well\u8230.in a way.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {What we need are people who can help us facilitate some of our simulations. We need these facilitators to \ldblquote guide\rdblquote the simulation along so as to achieve the results we want. If anyone here is interested, please talk to either me or someone else that\rquote s a part of this project to get started.\rdblquote } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {At the end of the lecture, Cyro was very interested and went to talk to his friend Chip.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote This sounds amazing, what can I do to help?\rdblquote Cyro asked} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Yea, you would be ideal for this job, if you come here tomorrow morning, we can get you set up.\rdblquote Chip replied. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Cyro did just as he was told and eventually found himself as one of the main simulation facilitators of the MAXIS program. Night after night Cyro worked to build populations of people and analyze how they reacted to things. He would build a thriving city then unleash a tornado through it, or raise tax prices to cause riots. All of this was documented and applied to marketing techniques, city planning, and disaster prevention in the real world. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The work kept coming, bigger and bigger things were being simulated. Now, Cyro worked with entire worlds of people. But something was lacking in it all. It was fake, it just didn\rquote t seem real. Cyro and his officials began to wonder the validity of the simulations. Something needed to be done to allow for more interaction into the simulation.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {It was only a short time later when another discovery shook the foundations of the project. Just the thing that the researchers were looking for had been developed. A tool to virtually go into the MAXIS simulation was created.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {At first, the only way to view the MAXIS was via raw numerical data and charts. Then, later on, computer screens could be used to display live views into the simulation, using only small amounts of rendering \endash just detailed enough to tell what was going on. The facilitator could zoom and fly through the simulation environment at will and see as a third person, what was going on. Then graphically make changes if necessary. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {But now, there was a method of allowing people to actually \ldblquote Feel as if they were in a synthetic world.\line \line It came about in the advanced biology labs of C.S. Researchers unlocked the cryptic electrical nerves in the brain stem. Subjects could have precise amounts of electricity directed into the myriad of nerves and cables in the brain stem. The result was a false sense of reality. Since all of human senses are simply electrical impulses leading to the brain, all these senses could be\u8230.synthesized using special equipment that would stimulate the appropriate nerves.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The device was the size of a shower stall. Immense amounts of electricity were required for the patient to loose perception of reality. It was described as being very painful, and this, this deterred Cyro from immediately becoming one of the test groups. But, in time, he became very curious. After all, he would spend weeks working on an environment, trying to make it as realistic as possible, and never really could grasp what it would be like to actually live the life in the world he created. But yes, in time he was queued for induction into his simulation. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {For a day, Cyro had to eat only de-ionized foods. He was very anxious about the MAXIS. In the evening, he was led into a staging room, which he was instructed to undress. His body was purged of its contents. Food, mucus, buildups of bodily enzymes, they all had to be removed \endash or at least regulated. This was because the amounts of electricity to be applied to the body could be distorted by small amounts of magnetic material in food. Things like blood \endash that was naturally filled with iron \endash was calculated and applied to the amounts of electricity to be administered. But unregulated mucus, earwax, good, bile, etc would all cause problems. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {After being purged, vacuumed, de-ionized, and utterly violated, Cyro was led into the device. Conductive liquid was applied to his skin as he secured into position. Electrodes were attached to his cleansed skin. Once he was prepared, a metallic curtain was drawn and the workers left the area and started the charging of the electrical inductors and capacitors. } \par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {It was an intensely nervous moment for Cyro. He waited and waited as he heard charging noises. In time, a violet arc came at him from a nearby probe. It arced into his body near the middle of his chest. It was very painful, but at once, more electricity was induced into him, from different points. Cyro was still conscious, but felt no more pain. His vision was distorted and he could no longer distinguish sounds. The electrodes on his body began to fire. His vision started to flash violently. He heard smells, and tasted colors. He now looked at the probe in front of him. It was a shiny metal ball like shape, suspended on a pole that attached horizontally to a wall. He fixated on that ball, as it showed him with energy. He could only see a small portion of it now. Then, he had no sensation of it. He was completely free of the world. He was in another world now; a place that no man could ever describe. He sensed colors, feelings, and emotions. But with time, as if he had just awoken after had fainted, he saw himself on a cold white rectangular prism. He looked up, he saw a uninterestingly blue sky. He looked forward, he saw a road, with a field, and some more shapes. He was experiencing the MAXIS.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {It was awful. It was hardly reality. More of some poorly made virtual reality game. Textures were wrong, shapes appeared to flash and vibrate randomly. Strange glitches of light appeared without reason. Cyro walked up to a box; he touched it. His hand was poorly mapped. That is to say, when feeling a point of pressure on the middle of the hand, he would sense it as being on the back of his wrist, and so on. But at least it worked. He was still overjoyed.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {After some hours of observing the errors, he was to come back into reality. Cyro kept contact with those in the real world via a \ldblquote 6{\ul0\super th} sense\rdblquote sort of perception. The sense wasn\rquote t perfect, and he could barely tell what the operators were telling him. But, they informed him that they would bring him out of the world in a few moments. And as if it never existed in the first place. Cyro instantly stopped seeing the simulated world and started seeing his little silver electrode ball. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {It was very disturbing, like some sort of drug-induced trance. This is how things continued for many weeks. Errors were fixed, flaws were patched, things were learned. There was interaction with the simulated people that sparked a completely different approach on how to render their personalities. Everything seemed to be working well.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Yet there was a large obstacle to overcome. The electrical stimulation just wasn\rquote t efficient enough to create a real enough environment. There needed to be a faster way for the person\rquote s mind to interact with the computer system then back to the mind. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {It was Cyro who first proposed the new idea. It elevated his position to that of assistant director of the project. He proposed that what if, just what if the person\rquote s mind were to be completely removed from the subject. Not brain, or anything physical, but the mental existence, or viewpoint, that a person perceives things. At fist this was just a far-fetched idea, but it came to fruition once the psychology labs at C.S. published astounding research on how the human mind operates. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The concept is simple. Once you know the input/output areas on the brain, you can input a stimulus and expect a response. That response will be different for every person, since everyone\rquote s mental viewpoint is different. Right?} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Actually, it was discovered that all people\rquote s brain respond the same way to certain inputs. Yet, differently to others. Using this concept, it is possible to build a database of ones own mind. One may think that it is impossible to know {\i\ul0 all} the data in ones mind; but using simple logic, it is simple to understand that a brain can only hold a finite amount of information. The brain is a set of nerves that will either allow a circuit to pass through, or not allow it. Much like a computer, only chemicals and many other things influence the circuit. Therefore, with this in mind, there is only a limited amount of these circuits in the brain, which mean a finite amount of information.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {So, with surprisingly fast research and development, a program was formed that would extract the entire myriad of information from a subject\rquote s brain. The tricky part was actually transferring the subjects mental viewpoint from one phase to another.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {This is still unknown, as is most of what we call facts. Yet, it was understood that the reality change from the physical world to the digital one was achieved by an electrical charge so great, it would destroy any neuron in the brain \endash actually the neuron would not be destroyed, but disconnected, such that the entire brain was purged of its data. This shock was timed with the start of the simulation which rendered the person\rquote s digital self. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Imagine an allotment of data \endash the person\rquote s brain \endash and a program that would have certain rules for processing that data \endash much like the chemicals in the brain do \endash and set up the same input/output scenario as in real life. This for the sake of argument, would create the subject\rquote s mental self, in the digital world. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {There was much debate as to whether this was really transferring the person\rquote s mind, or just copying it then deleting the source. Nevertheless, this process could be reversed such that the person\rquote s digital existence is then transferred back into the physical brain.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Studies were conducted to see if the resulting subject was any different from before. And as shown by the studies, the person only differed in that they remembered the experiences they had in the MAXIS. Even in-depth philosophical view remained the same before and after. Was it the same person? A clone? A copy? Who would know, this would cause an ethics debate larger than anyone could of possibly predicted. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {What was known however, was that this new technique was horribly successful. The MAXIS could be designed much more efficiently as there was no rendering involved. Only physics, only rules, that\rquote s all the MAXIS was. A set of rules. Things began to developed incredibly fast.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {~} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Applications of the MAXIS} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The first real application of the MAXIS turned out to be a game \endash much like the application of the computer. It was called Stage, since it consisted of a sequence of stages that would lead higher and higher.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Taking advantage of the virtual world, a person dident have to be a person, they could be a spaceship perhaps. And that\rquote s why Stage appealed to people. It was ridiculously fun. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {One would start on a space station orbiting earth. They would first have some obstacle like courses to complete. The person had certain powers that would cause him to fly for short periods of time, sprint-jump off of walls, and move certain objects. Stages would consist of a room spanning hundreds of feet vertically. And filled with assorted objects and terrains. Perhaps a steel pipe would run from the floor to a small platform in the air. The player would have to transcend and jump up platforms and go across ledges etc. Only the ledges were not just mere ledges, they were incredibly advance shapes that were believably realistic. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {After completion of those stages, your task was to explore a remote structure in space inhabited by unknown beings. You were a space probe, you had a manipulator arm, and a thruster, and that\rquote s it. You had to navigate around this twisted metal expanse in space that was filled with traps and objectives. The fun part was you actually WERE the ship with only those few controls. Not like when playing a computer game when you are simply using your hands to manipulate the controls, it was as if you only had one arm, and could only see and feel from it, and could only move with a single thruster. It was very interesting. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {These stages went on and on, with all sorts of features. Upgradeable ships, allied ships, repairs, additional probes/sensors, the game was being coded as people reached farther stages. Cyro was one of the best players. He spent many many hours in the MAXIS playing this game; as did much of C.S.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {The game later progressed to a point where you were a human again. You had to travel around a city, manipulate simple objects with a radiant electrical ability, and do other things.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Stage was such a good thing, that it, along with the MAXIS, was sent to be released into the public. Of course, on a much smaller scale. At first, it was only released to selected beta testes. Yet, like most things, word got out, and rumors spread about this new technology. This would be the fist time Cyro really saw the distinct division between the public and the C.S. facility. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {By now, Cyro knew how large C.S. really was. He knew that it wasn\rquote t just some machine shop. He knew why things at C.S. were so secretive, and why there was so much security. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {In fact, Cyro had been acquainted with just how much security there really was around C.S. Besides the fact that C.S. was located in the heart of nowhere, only accessible by miles of endless plains and by a single underground system which ended up in discretely in an easily overlooked county, but C.S.\rquote s entire perimeter was monitored. Not just by cameras, or even snipers. Massive turrets complete with lasers and electrical fields powerful enough to render any incoming vehicle to its components in a matter of seconds. There were mines, traps, bombs, walls, fences, even moats that separated the C.S. from public viewing. To avoid suspicion, the defenses start as simple wooden fences, then metal chain-link fences, to blend in with surroundings. But once a trespasser exceeds a comfortable proximity to the facility, guards promptly arrive to escort the person out. If unwilling, the person stands a legitimate chance of being shot without question. The person\rquote s demise is advertised as being a \ldblquote car accident\rdblquote or \ldblquote kidnapping\rdblquote . People do have their suspensions these guarded areas. These people are either systematically eliminated from society, or if a group of individuals make it their prerogative to invade the guarded areas, they will meet certain doom via weapons they have never imagined. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {C.S. itself covers a massive area. The living area and the actually facility/labs is separated by 20 miles of expanse. Of which isn\rquote t guarded as heavily. However, there are massive metal gates that allow the commute of workers from different sections of the entire C.S. area. Most people use a vehicle similar to a car, yet can move in 3 dimensions. It uses high powered jets of air, accelerated by waves of sound, to propel the vehicle into the air. They travel at about 150 mph. The metal gats are large structures that resemble a giant square tunnel. The vehicles fly through the gate while broadcasting a signal that tells the gate not to electrify its contents. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {In time it came to be that there were activist groups forming to protest the use of the MAXIS. The MAXIS was not fully released to the public, and it never was. Yet, somehow, in a way which doesn\rquote t need to be known, information about it leaked out. Now, instead of single curious people trying to infiltrate the C.S. compound, organized militias of armed combatants forced their way through defenses. They never achieved much, but they were cause for concern. Although most attacks were averted by C.S.\rquote s advanced defensive systems, the militants learned from their failures and adapted. They spread information of C.S.\rquote s existence to the public, and gained more and more support. In time, a full-fledged war had formed. The United States government could not admit knowledge of C.S. just as it could not protect it. The government claimed C.S. was simply a private industry. Still, little action was taken by the government to alleviate the militant group. This only reinforced them.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {For C.S. the war was an awakening. Although C.S. had the technology to destroy the militants, it could not use it. Using the technology would mean exposing it to the world, and perhaps more importantly, violate the terms of agreement with C.S. and the government. Such a violation could cause the country to fight a battle against C.S. which would not be a good thing. C.S. was in a political roundabout. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {This outer strife didn\rquote t affect the happenings inside C.S. that much. Inside, things were still focused on the newly developed MAXIS.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Some interesting discoveries were made using the MAXIS system. Many pertaining to population studies of psychology and chaos. The chaos theory of life was demonstrated in the MAXIS. Since simulations could be replayed over and over again, with slightly different parameters each time, it was easy to see how small changes can affect the entire system on a large scale.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {There were still ethical issues. The MAXIS required real people to test. Real people could be compared to the simulated people in order to refine the simulated people\rquote s \ldblquote realness\rdblquote . It was not uncommon for criminals to be transferred into the MAXIS then killed in real life.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {\ldblquote Realness\rdblquote was something that was a goal with the MAXIS project. But at the same time alternative realities were also explored. Since the Stage game was so successful, people began programming their own games. The games slowly became activities. Sexual uses of the MAXIS were long overdue. They as well as many other things started to appear and flourish. As more people found out about the MAXIS, the more people wanted to be a part of it. New ways of transferring ones mind into the system were being developed. It would take only a few minutes to transfer someone into the MAXIS. People were staying in it longer as well. In fact, people stayed in the system so long, that their bodies had to be frozen to preserve them. People would spend days playing games or having sex in the MAXIS. The amount of time in the system in relation to real time was dependent on the program. Some simple simulations could make you feel as if you were there for months, but only last a few seconds in real life. However, more complex simulations ran in nearly real time.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {People liked these activities so much, they started staying even longer. People now wanted not only to just test out their worlds and populations, but to live in them. The first MAXIS community with real people living in it full time was called X1. This simple simulation was just a city. It contained mostly simulated people called sims for short, but also about 40 real occupants. While their bodies chilled in real life, they enjoyed peaceful little lives in their perfect community. } \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Ultimately, it wasn\rquote t perfect. There was X2, then X3. It went on and on, each new updated simulation was more \ldblquote perfect\rdblquote or \ldblquote utopian\rdblquote than the last. But almost all of them failed. But it didn\rquote t deter the programmers. More and more worlds were created.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {Eventually, the programmers realized that they were going in the wrong direction. They knew that a \ldblquote perfect\rdblquote society was too far off. They then settled on creating a \ldblquote balanced\rdblquote society. The words seem like the same thing, but are actually quite different. In a perfect society, there is no wrong, and everything is\u8230.well\u8230.perfect. But in a well balanced society, there are all sorts of things good and bad, that cancel each other out to form a civilization that will exist happily.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {This quest for balance ended when an idea so revolutionary, so extraordinary, and so simple was proposed by the MAXIS\rquote s creator himself. Mr. Kevin Vieland. The name: Space Council, Sub Committee, Soft Computing, Star Craft, Sim City, Source Code, Special Conditions, System Concept, Species Combination, Step-family of Carol, Space Concept, Saving Cyro, \ldblquote SC\rdblquote .} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {COS} \par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {CyrOxoS} \par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {yrxo - xyro} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {This is how it all began, the story, the adventure, the serise of events that would cause so much harm and good all at once. This is the story of Cyro.} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain\s0\ql\fi0\f0\fs24\i0\b0\cf1\ul0\strike0 {~} \par\pard\plain\par\pard\plain}