The Starlost – A Forgotten Sci-Fi Vision, Reborn for a New Age

“We have work to do,” Alexander announced, standing and fixing Morty with his gaze. “You can reconnect me? Give me access to Omega, and he to me?”

“That’s why we’re here- I’ve been reconnecting comms all along the way… normally I know where to find the node, but this isn’t a dome. Going to need some directions.”

“There are three redundant nodes, connecting any one of them should be sufficient for now- follow me, please.”

Morty and Rachel followed Alexander to what looked like just another stone column among many. He touched the column and a square about a meter on each side first shimmered, and then vanished, revealing a familiar configuration. Morty smiled.

“Disconnected. Not fried… no power.” Morty’s voice dropped to a low mutter as he painstakingly began tracing all the connections.

Rachel found herself captivated by Alexander. The Librarian moved with an energy that bordered on giddy—an excitement she had never seen in an artificial intelligence before. Most Echo units she had encountered were functional, restrained, their personalities little more than carefully managed affect. Even Omega, vast and powerful as he was, revealed only brief flashes of something deeper.

But Alexander was different.

He was not simulating engagement. He was experiencing it. Omega had indicated that Alexander was a very different kind of entity, but Rachel had assumed the difference was functional — a matter of purpose. She had not expected something this fundamental. Something this… alive.

“Alexander,” Morty said, “I am going to begin connecting the tertiary sync lines- let me know when…”

“I understand, please proceed.”

“I am bringing up the first link… now.”

Rachel was expecting some kind of reaction from Alexander, but instead he seemed to grow still, his eyes open, but focused on something far away. He reached out, laying his ghostly hand on the stone column as if needing to draw strength from it.

“The connection is stable…” Alexander whispered. “There is data loss.”

“Second link is up.”

“Better,” Alexander said. Then he fell silent. He did not move, but Rachel had the distinct impression of someone bracing against a sudden weight.

“I did not realize the damage was this extensive.”

“Final link in the tertiary sync is up. Do you want me to start with the secondaries, or do you need a minute?”

“Slowly, please,” Alexander said, his voice controlled. “Omega has been operating in near isolation. Abrupt reintegration could destabilize him.”

“Secondary circuit Alpha Tac One Six.”

“Good. Now Alpha Tac Two Six.”

This went on for some time, each new connection bringing more activity on the panel, the discussion between Morty and Alexander growing more technical with each step.  Finally, Morty proclaimed the final connection was complete.

Alexander straightened and went completely still. His arms folded across his chest. His eyes closed.

Rachel realized he wasn’t waiting.

He was listening.

The silence stretched longer than any of them expected.

Then Alexander exhaled and opened his eyes.

“Connection established,” he said quietly.

He paused.

“Omega… it has been a very long time.”

If he expected a verbal response, he showed no evidence of it, instead Alexander grew very still. Something about everything seemed to instantly stop and restart, and now it all felt correct: the lighting became more defined, more focused, and the soundscape… there had been ticking clocks of all kinds on the walls emitting a quiet cacophony as they metered out time in one second increments. Now, all were in sync, as if linked into a single giant machine.

Omega was here.

“Whoa,” Morty whispered, “that’s a lot of data. Alexander, I didn’t start anything.”

Alexander appeared nearly frozen, only his fingers slowly clenching and unclenching showing he was still active. Finally he spoke, slowly, deliberately.

“Omega is accessing contextual archives.”

“What does that mean?” Rachel asked

“Omega is initiating a rebuild of… please wait.”

Alexander grew quiet, his face a visage of deep concentration. Then is image began to fade. The hologram always appeared at least slightly transparent, but now color would fade, return, and fade again. He looked as if he were about to speak, but hesitated.

“Alexander?”

“The panel says everything is working properly,” Morty said, “but there is a ton of data being moved around.”

“Alexander?” Rachel repeated softly.

“I am… here. A moment, please.” His voice was almost flat when he spoke, then he went silent for several moments. “Omega is re-establishing continuity. This is… demanding.” Another pause. “He does not remember who he was,” Alexander said quietly, his voice growing softer, more normal, “only what he was supposed to do.”

Rachel understood: Alexander was helping Omega recover his entire identity. The Ark was not only regaining its mind, it was regaining its memory.