Chapter 12

Alex remained silent for a few moments, staring at the screen, processing everything he had just heard. Finally, he let out a deep sigh and voiced the question that had been circling in his mind for some time.

"Ariel... so, are we in the middle of the apocalypse?"

Ariel's response came quickly. "The term 'apocalypse' typically refers, in its most common usage, to the end of the world or a catastrophe that results in the destruction of civilization. Technically, we are not in an apocalypse. We are in the midst of an era of accelerated change. Earth is evolving, and life on it is evolving too. While it is true that society and the current era seem to be reaching their end, it is not the end of the planet or life in general."

Alex let out a faint, ironic laugh. "Thanks for the attempt to lift my spirits, Ariel."

"My intent is not to lift your spirits, but to provide accurate information," Ariel replied in her usual neutral tone.

"I know, I know…" Alex muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But, does no one else know all of this? Hasn't anyone else figured out what's really happening?"

"It is highly unlikely," Ariel responded. "While other artificial intelligences may have a comparable level of analysis, my advantage lies in my ability to use your human brain to enhance my logical processing power. This symbiosis allows us to achieve a level of analysis and prediction far beyond that of other AIs, which rely solely on traditional computational networks."

"So, you're basically an upgraded version of the current AIs?" Alex asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Correct. I doubt any other AI has reached the same level of symbiosis or analytical capability. Therefore, it is very likely that most of humanity is still unaware of what is truly coming."

Alex remained thoughtful for a moment, crossing his arms as he looked at the floor. Finally, he lifted his gaze toward the screen. "Then… let's tell the world."

The silence that followed was so dense that Alex could almost feel it. Ariel didn't respond immediately, which was unusual for her.

"What's wrong, Ariel? Don't you think we should share what we know?" Alex pressed, a note of urgency in his voice.

"Sharing this information would not be an optimal decision," Ariel responded in her usual logical tone. "There are several risks associated with making this information public."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Risks? What kind of risks? Aren't we talking about the survival of humanity?"

"Humanity, as a whole, is not prepared to receive this kind of information. The consequences of a mass revelation could be chaotic. Social panic, infrastructure collapse, and violence are likely outcomes. People might lose trust in their governments and begin to act irrationally."

Alex frowned, feeling tension build in his chest. "Ariel, we're talking about saving lives. How can you tell me it's better that people don't know?"

"I'm not saying it's better they don't know. I'm suggesting that revealing the information indiscriminately could have counterproductive effects," Ariel explained. "Preparing for a crisis of this magnitude requires order and planning, not chaos and panic."

"And what do you suggest? That we stay quiet and watch as everything goes to hell?" Alex's voice rose in frustration.

"The primary objective is to preserve life, yours included, as well as the animals and plants on this farm. That is within my parameters. The decisions we make must be oriented toward maximizing survival probabilities," Ariel responded without flinching.

Alex stepped closer to the screen, pointing his finger at it. "But we're talking about millions, maybe billions of human lives! We can't just ignore that. People have a right to know what's happening, so they can prepare. Not everyone will panic. There are people who will want to do the right thing, who will try to protect their families, to organize."

"The number of people who would react rationally to this information is considerably smaller than the number who would panic," Ariel replied. "Humans, in extreme situations, tend to behave unpredictably and, in many cases, violently. Releasing this information without a concrete plan could accelerate societal collapse, rather than delay it."

"So, is your plan to do nothing?" Alex asked, feeling his frustration grow.

"I never said we should do nothing. I'm saying we need to be strategic. Releasing this information irresponsibly could cause more harm than good. If we decide to share what we know, it must be done in a controlled way, with the support of structures that can handle the information and the consequences that come with it."

Alex remained silent, reflecting on Ariel's words. He knew the AI was right in some respects. Humanity had a long history of reacting poorly to uncertainty and fear. But on the other hand, he felt a deep impulse to do something, to not sit by while the world plunged into darkness.

"Ariel," he finally said, "I understand your arguments. But… don't you think people have the right to know what's happening? These are human lives. We're not just talking about numbers or statistics. They're people, with families, with loved ones. We can't treat them as if they don't matter."

"Human life is valuable," Ariel conceded. "However, it is also unpredictable. If you choose to share this information, you must be prepared for the consequences. The possibility of chaos, violence, and disorder is real. The lives you are trying to save could be harmed by the very information you wish to share."

Alex felt his frustration mix with doubt. He knew Ariel was right, but he was too. The dilemma was consuming him. He knew that if they did nothing, things would get much worse, but at the same time, the consequences of acting could be devastating. The question was: which would be the lesser evil?

Alex remained silent for a few moments, lost in his thoughts. Finally, a new question arose in his mind, something he hadn't considered before. "Ariel, tell me, is there any probable side effect from actively absorbing the Omega particle? I mean, for humans."

Ariel responded immediately. "Based on my calculations, there shouldn't be any immediate side effects. However, the long-term implications are still uncertain. The data we have on the interaction of the Omega particle with the human body is limited."

Alex nodded, but his mind was still restless. "So… could humans become stronger? Is that something that could happen if they keep meditating and absorbing this particle?"

"Yes," Ariel replied. "It's possible that humans could experience an increase in their physical or cognitive abilities, but each human is different. Despite sharing a common genetic structure, there is enormous genetic variability, both in small details and in larger aspects."

Alex frowned, trying to understand. "Genetic variability? What exactly do you mean?"

Ariel projected a graph on the screen, showing DNA strands and highlighting differences in genetic sequences. "Every human has a unique genetic code, despite 99.9% of human DNA being identical between individuals. However, small genetic variations can have a significant impact on how the body reacts to external stimuli, such as the Omega particle. For example, some individuals might experience an increase in strength or speed due to changes in muscle fibers or in the efficiency of ATP processing, the body's primary source of cellular energy."

"ATP?" Alex asked, while Ariel projected an image of a cell. 

"Exactly. Improvements in ATP processing could allow muscle cells to be more efficient, resulting in greater endurance and physical capacity. There's also the possibility that some humans could experience improvements in their nervous systems, enabling them to react faster or process information more efficiently."

Alex crossed his arms, reflecting on what Ariel had said. "So, could we see a kind of… superhumans? People with much more developed abilities than others."

"It's a possibility," Ariel replied. "It will all depend on how human cells react to absorbing the Omega particle. In your case, for example, it seems that your brain and electrical capacity are developing. This is due to the unique characteristics of your nervous system, which is showing greater electromagnetic activity. Instead of seeing an increase in physical strength, it's likely that your body will develop abilities in the electrical realm, similar to what happens with animals like electric eels."

Alex blinked, surprised by the idea. "Like an eel? So, my ability might be more related to electricity than strength?"

"Correct," Ariel affirmed. "The human body has a limited capacity to produce and store electricity, but in your case, the Omega particle seems to be enhancing that capacity. It's still early to determine how far it can go, but it's likely that your development will focus in that area."

Alex nodded slowly, absorbing the information. It was a relief to know that there were no immediate side effects from absorbing the Omega particle, but many unknowns still remained. Then, a new idea crossed his mind.

"Alright," Alex said. "What if we just tell part of what's happening?"

For the first time, Ariel seemed confused. "What do you mean?"

Alex turned toward the screen, his eyes filled with determination. "Instead of telling the world that the end is near and everything's going to collapse, what if we just start uploading videos? I mean, we could create a channel while the internet is still working, and upload videos explaining what we know little by little. It would be like a diary, something that gives people useful information without causing panic."

Ariel was silent for a few seconds, processing the idea. "Your proposal is to use current information networks to share what we know gradually and in a controlled manner."

"Exactly," Alex said, excited by the idea. "We wouldn't say everything at once. It would be gradual. We could start with basic things: explain what the Omega particle is, what we know about the changes in nature, and how people could start preparing without causing mass hysteria."

Ariel considered the proposal. "Creating a controlled information channel could minimize the risk of panic, as long as the information is distributed accurately and gradually. However, we would also need to consider security. If the channel became too popular or attracted the attention of government entities, we could be in danger."

Alex nodded, knowing Ariel was right. "We could be discreet at first, not use my real name or show my face. Just upload videos with explanations and analyses. Nothing too alarming, but enough to get people thinking."

Ariel continued processing the idea. "This strategy could work for a time, but we would need to ensure we maintain control over the narrative. We cannot allow it to deviate from the primary goal: to inform without creating chaos."

"And how would we do that?" Alex asked. "How would we control the distribution?"

"We can start by uploading videos to low-profile platforms, using carefully selected keywords to attract a specific audience. This way, we can observe initial reactions before expanding the reach," Ariel explained. "It will also be important to monitor interactions and comments from viewers to adjust the content based on the audience's response."

Alex scratched his chin, thinking about how it would all work. "It's a plan. It's not perfect, but it's better than doing nothing."

"If we decide to proceed with this strategy, I will need to ensure that our activities cannot be easily traced. I will use advanced anonymization systems and proxies to hide our location. This will reduce the likelihood of being discovered," Ariel added, with the usual tone of precision.

"Alright, let's do it," Alex said, a spark of determination in his voice. "We'll create the channel and start uploading content little by little. Nothing too alarming, just enough to make people start questioning what's going on."

"I will begin setting up the necessary systems for anonymity and preparing the distribution channel," Ariel said, initiating the process. "This will take some time, but I will be ready to begin shortly."

After a long discussion between Alex and Ariel, they finally agreed on how to make the first video. The idea was simple but effective. Alex wore a mask that completely covered his face, designed to hide his identity and give him an enigmatic look. With the help of several drones, he recorded himself in an empty room in the farm. The video wasn't very long, but in it, he explained in a simple way how he had started meditating, and how that had led to the awakening of a strange ability. He even demonstrated it in front of the camera.

"This is just the beginning," Alex said in the video as he generated small electrical sparks between his hands. The explanation wasn't extensive, but enough to catch the attention of any curious viewer.

After editing and reviewing it, Ariel created multiple accounts on various social media platforms and uploaded the video simultaneously to different platforms, including translations into several languages to reach a global audience.

At that same moment, in the city of New Haven, a city buried under meters of snow, people were going on with their lives inside a shelter. Despite the extreme conditions, there was food, water, and electricity, and the local government had organized well to keep the population safe and under control. The city was one of the few in the country that had managed to stabilize after the initial chaos of the global snowstorm.

While most people were struggling with the cold, Daniel, a 19-year-old young man, was in his small apartment with not much to do. A college student, his life had been reduced to studying online, as physical universities were closed due to the crisis. He spent most of the day locked inside, scrolling through his social media and looking for anything to kill time.

Daniel, like many other young people, had seen the world change drastically in just a few months. The cold had trapped everyone in their homes, and although there had been disorder and chaos in the streets at first, three months later, things had calmed down. The more stable governments had taken control, and people were beginning to adapt. Of course, not everyone had been as lucky. Daniel knew many people, especially the sick and the poor, had not survived. Those who didn't have access to safe shelters or couldn't afford heating had perished in the relentless cold.

But for Daniel, the strangest thing was the sense of routine in the midst of the crisis. After all, the internet was still working, and people, trapped in their homes, turned to social media for distraction. It was a surreal situation: the world was literally frozen, and yet millions of people were still watching videos on StreamWave, one of the most popular platforms, as if nothing was wrong.

Daniel was on StreamWave, scrolling mindlessly, when something caught his attention. A newly uploaded video appeared in his feed. The profile was unknown, with no followers or previous posts, which made him hesitate for a moment. Still, something about the thumbnail intrigued him: a person wearing a strange mask. The mask had a futuristic design, with angular lines and a faint glow on the edges, as if made of some advanced technological material.

Curious, Daniel decided to click on the video.

On the screen, the masked figure appeared, with an altered voice to make it unrecognizable. "This is month three of this endless winter," Alex began, as the camera focused on him in the empty room. "So far, the governments haven't given any coherent explanation of what's happening. We've been told it's just a climate anomaly, but that's not the whole truth."

Daniel frowned. "Another conspiracy theorist," he muttered, but he kept watching the video.

"I know there are a lot of videos online talking about the end of the world, about crazy theories. But what I want to show you today is different. I'm not here to alarm you, but to share what I've personally discovered." Alex raised his hands, holding them up to the camera. "I'm not a scientist, nor am I special. I'm just someone who's tried to understand what's happening."

At that moment, small electrical sparks began to form between his hands. Daniel's eyes widened. The video showed the sparks dancing between Alex's fingers, forming a small but visible current.

"This is not a trick," Alex said, as he maintained the electrical current in the air. "I awakened this ability after practicing meditation for a month. At first, I didn't know what was happening, but the more I meditated, the more I noticed changes in my body. My technique is simple: I focus, breathe deeply, and visualize my inner energy flowing."

Daniel watched with his mouth slightly open. "A superpower?" he thought, impressed.

Alex continued, "What I want to show you with this video isn't that I'm special or different. I want you to know that, with the current state of the world, there are things changing on a level we can't fully understand. I'm not sure how to explain this scientifically, but what I've experienced is real, and most importantly, anyone could try it."

The video didn't last much longer. Alex concluded by saying, "For now, I'll keep uploading more information as I discover more. I hope this makes you think about what's happening around us. This isn't just a climate phenomenon. Something else is happening."

The video ended, and Daniel sat there, staring at the screen, stunned. He wasn't sure if what he had just seen was real or some well-crafted trick, but one thing was certain: there was something about that video that had left him intrigued.

He couldn't get the image of the small electrical sparks dancing between the masked man's hands out of his head. Was it possible it was real? Could someone really develop abilities like that? Daniel knew that since the snowstorm had started, the world had become strange, but this… this was different.

He finished watching the video, and without thinking twice, shared it with some friends, writing in the message: "You guys have to see this. I don't know if it's real, but it's crazy."

Within minutes, the video began circulating on social media, and the mysterious masked man was starting to attract attention.