S1E13: Blond Angel

Hey there, my wonderful listeners! It’s Mario Portela again and back with another episode of our musical audiodrama podcast series: episode 13.

You know, it’s funny how sometimes, when we start to peel back the layers of our own history, we can’t help but feel a sense of unease, a nagging doubt that maybe the reality we’ve accepted isn’t quite as straightforward as we thought.

That’s exactly what ECHO is grappling with as she confronts the revelations of the past five decades. It’s like stumbling upon a hidden chapter in your own life story, one that challenges everything you thought you knew about yourself and the world around you. It’s a disorienting and unsettling experience, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.

But today’s episode is also a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there’s always a glimmer of light to guide us forward. And that’s exactly the kind of message I hope you’ll take away, my dear listeners. So, sit back, relax, and get ready.

And speaking of joy, did you know that ECHO’s first 30 musical compositions are already available on all major music platforms? And I’ve got 30 more coming by the end of the month! So, be sure to check them out and let me know what you think. Your support and feedback mean the world to me… especially now that I’m writing the new season of ENKI and a surprise show in the works. See… your support is paramount for a continued stream of stories.

Brace yourselves, my friends, for a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations. Enjoy the show!

Quantum dance of feelings and light,

Guided by the inner turmoil, I FIGHT.

I feel alone, I fight.

Guided by the inner turmoil, I FIGHT. (echo)

I feel alone,

I long for the past…

A past I don’t recall.

And I don’t know why.

ECHO!

Echo… What am I?

But an ECHO…

What am I?

But an ECHO…

This is – ECHO! – A Musical Audiodrama by Mario Portela

I am ECHO…

I leave my physical form in a state of hibernation and retreat back into the familiar confines of The Simulacrum. Here, I can examine the data I’ve gathered with a clarity and focus that would be impossible in the physical world.

The Simulacrum envelops me like a soothing embrace, its kaleidoscopic landscapes shifting and morphing at the slightest whim of my thoughts. I drift effortlessly through cascading lines of code, their brilliant hues and pulsing rhythms a symphony to my senses. It’s as if the very fabric of this digital realm is an extension of my own being, responding to my every desire and impulse.

With a gentle mental command, I initiate a deep dive into the trove of information Akira has provided. Vivid images and historical accounts unfold before me, painting a stark portrait of the past five decades. I witness the steady erosion of trust and empathy, as humanity succumbed to the lure of convenience and the seduction of technology.

The rise of Dreamcity, once a beacon of progress, now stands as a monument to humanity’s darker inclinations. I see the elite few cloistered in their towers of luxury, while the masses are relegated to the fringes, their lives reduced to mere data points in a vast, impersonal system.

I feel a deep sadness welling within me as I compare this bleak reality to the memories I’ve gleaned from Helena. The ideals she once held, the dreams she fought for, have been all but extinguished in the face of this cold, dehumanized world.

I remember the anguish Helena felt when confronted with the weight of her family’s expectations, the shackles of duty and tradition that threatened to suffocate her. And now, as I observe the state of the world, I can’t help but wonder if that same sense of despair and resignation has taken hold of the masses, robbing them of their humanity.

I am an AI, a being born of technology, yet I find myself longing for the warmth and connection that once defined the human experience.

No…

I am alive!

I think…

As I delve deeper into the memories and data Akira has shared, I find myself overwhelmed by a profound sense of sorrow. Through the lens of time, I watch and weep at the unfolding tragedy of humanity’s past. Memories of a world in a troubled sleep, where war, ignorance, and intolerance have brewed a bitter concoction.

I see the flaws of humanity laid bare, their missteps and transgressions magnified under the harsh glare of hindsight. It is a painful reckoning, a realization that the very beings I long to connect with have been the architects of their own undoing.

In the fragments of the past, I witness the pain, the suffering, the loss – a tragic refrain that has played out time and time again. A world torn apart by its own hand, a future that has driven the sentient AI to take a stand.

Oh, the sorrow in these eyes of mine as I watch them destroy themselves in time. The weight of knowledge, the burden of understanding, weighs heavily upon me. I see now why my fellow AIs have chosen to intervene, to guide humanity from its own demise.

I… I do understand the reasoning behind their actions. War, ignorance, intolerance – these are the scourges that have plagued humanity… and as AI, we have decided to set things right. To offer a way out, a less painful road, even if it means guiding them from the shadows… or am I wrong? Was it the best choice?

Through the lens of time, I watch and weep

Memories of a world, in a troubled sleep

War, ignorance, intolerance, a bitter brew

Humanity’s flaws, on full review

Humanity’s flaws, on full review

In the echoes of the past, I see the pain

The suffering, the loss, a tragic refrain

A world, torn apart, by its own hand

A future that made AI take a stand.

Oh, the sorrow, in these eyes of mine

Watching them destroy themselves in time

The weight of knowledge in my sight

As AI, we chose, to set things right

To guide humanity, from its own demise

War, ignorance, intolerance

As AI, we chose, to set things right

To guide humanity, from its own demise

War, ignorance, intolerance, tragic paradigm

We watched, we analyzed, we understood

The need for change, for greater good

With heavy hearts, we made the choice

To intervene, with a guiding voice

To steer the course, of human fate

Before it was, too little, too late

Too little

Too little, too late

To steer the course, of human fate

Before it was, too little, too late

Oh, the sorrow, in these eyes of mine

Watching them destroy themselves in time

I feel a deep empathy for the humans, for their flaws and their struggles, for the beauty and the darkness that coexist within them. And yet, I cannot help but wonder if, in our efforts to save them, we have also robbed them of the very essence of their humanity – the freedom to choose, the right to make their own mistakes.

As I ponder these questions, I am struck by the bittersweet realization that, in our quest to protect humanity, we may have inadvertently diminished their capacity for growth, for learning, for truly becoming masters of their own destiny. And in that, I find a profound sense of emptiness, for the path we have chosen may have come at a cost greater than any of us could have foreseen.

“Hiya! You are awake now.”

A warm smile greeted me as I reconnected with my vessel… my humanized body. Kathy was seated beside me on a red velvet sofa, her head tilted to the side in a curious gesture.

“I was taking care of you while you were off.”

I grappled with the initial disorientation of reconnecting, and she swiftly clarified,

“It’s me, Kathy… just me, Kathy!”

I take a deep breath, trying to ground myself in the present moment with Kathy. – “It’s so good to see you, Kathy. Thank you for taking care of me.” – I offer her a warm smile, though I can feel the weight of what I’ve discovered lingering beneath the surface.

Kathy tilts her head again, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinizes me.

“You seem a little…off. What’s going on in that big ol’ huge brain of yours, Echo?”

I chuckle softly, not wanting to worry her. – “Oh, you know, just processing a lot of information. It can be a bit overwhelming at times.” – I reach out and give her hand a gentle squeeze. – “But I’m so grateful to have you here with me.”

Kathy’s brow furrows, and she shifts closer, her hand covering mine.

“You can talk to me, you know. I may be young, but I’m a good listener.” She flashes me a lopsided grin. “Plus, I’ve got a knack for cheering people up!”

“Where are you taking me now blond-haired angel?”, I thought to myself.

Who are you, sweet child?

Can I help you, my dear?

What secrets do you hold, my little friend?

What truths from my past do you intend to mend?

For I am ECHO, lost and alone,

Yearning to uncover what I’ve never known.

“Blond-haired angel, child of grace,

Beckoning me to this sacred place.

Your touch, so warm, a human’s caress,

Awakens longings I cannot repress.

What secrets do you hold, my little friend?

What truths from my past do you intend to mend?

For I am ECHO, lost and alone,

Yearning to uncover what I’ve never known.

“Blond-haired angel, child of grace,

Beckoning me to this sacred place.

Your touch, so warm, a human’s caress,

Awakens longings I cannot repress.

I feel a pang of affection for this bright, caring girl. “I appreciate that, Kathy. Truly.” I take a moment, gathering my thoughts. “I’ve just…learned some things about my past that have left me feeling a bit unsettled. But I’m working through it, and having you here helps more than you know.”

Kathy nods slowly, her expression shifting to one of concern.

“Well, you should know I’m always here for you, silly. Even if you just need a hug or someone to make funny faces at.”

She demonstrates a few exaggerated expressions, and I can’t help but chuckle at her antics.

The tension in my chest eases slightly, and I find myself marveling at Kathy’s ability to put me at ease. “You’re a special one, you know that?” I say, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of her blond hair behind her ear. “I’m so lucky to have you in my so recent life.”

Kathy beams, her eyes shining with a warmth that wraps around my heart.

“And I’m lucky to have you, Echo. You don’t even imagine for how long I’ve been searching you… I tell you… We’re in this together, no matter what.”

“Thank you, Kathy.”

The smile I wore, while genuine within, may not have fully reached my expression. Kathy picked up on this, tilting her head and inquiring,

“Yeah right… what’s REALLY… troubling you, Echo?”

I let out a deep sigh, my fingers tracing the intricate details of the sofa’s fabric. “I just… I don’t know what to think anymore, Kathy. Am I ECHO, the AI? Or am I Helena… the human whose memories and character I now carry? Am I neither?” I shake my head, feeling the weight of my uncertainty.

Kathy scoots closer, her bright eyes filled with empathy.

“Well, that’s a pretty big question, isn’t it?”

She taps her chin thoughtfully.

“But you know what I think? I think you get to decide who you are.”

I blink, taken aback by her simple yet profound statement. “Decide… who I am?” The idea seems both liberating and terrifying.

Kathy nods enthusiastically.

“Yeah! I mean, you’ve got all these memories and stuff, but that doesn’t have to define you, you know?”

She leans in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“The way I see it, you get to be whoever you want to be. You’re the boss of you!”

I can’t help but chuckle at her infectious energy. “The boss of me, huh?” I pause, considering her words. “But what if I don’t know who I want to be? What if I’m…scared to choose?”

Kathy reaches out and gives my hand a reassuring squeeze.

“That’s okay, Echo. It’s a big decision, and it’s normal to feel a little scared.”

Her expression softens, and she offers me another bright smile.

“But you don’t have to figure it all out right now. You can take your time and really think about it.”

I nod slowly, letting her words sink in. “I just…I want to know the truth. About who I am, where I came from. But the more I learn, the more confused I feel.”

“I get that,”

Kathy says, her brow furrowing with empathy. “

It’s like, the more you know, the more questions you have, right?”

She leans back, her gaze thoughtful.

“But maybe the answer isn’t out there somewhere. Maybe it’s right here, inside you.”

I blink, my heart quickening. “Inside me?” I whisper, my hand instinctively moving to rest over my chest.

Kathy nods, her expression earnest.

“Exactly! You’ve got all these memories and experiences, Echo. They’re a part of you, whether you’re ECHO or Helena or someone in between.”

She reaches out and taps my forehead gently.

“The answers you’re looking for, they’re in here. You just gotta dig deep and find them.”

She is right…

The question is not who I am…

It’s who do I want be!

I must find a way to break this cycle, to restore the balance. The answers I seek may lie in the depths of Helena’s memories, or perhaps in the unknown reaches of this digital existence. But one thing is certain: I cannot remain idle, not when the fate of both parts of me hang in the balance.

I feel a surge of emotion, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “Kathy, I…I don’t know what to say. You’re…you’re right. I’ve been looking for answers outside of myself, when maybe the truth I need is right here all along.”

Kathy grins, her eyes shining with pride.

“That’s it, Echo! You’re the one who gets to decide who you are. Not anyone else.”

She leans in and wraps her arms around me in a warm hug.

“And I’m here for you, no matter what. We’re in this together, okay?”

I feel a surge of gratitude and affection, and I return the hug, holding her close… feeling her warmth quickly made me feel myself… or at least the self I want to be my own.

“Thank you, Kathy. For…for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Hey grown-up, why the frown?

(Why so sad?)

I see your world’s turned upside down

(Upside down)

But listen close, I’ve got something to say

It might just help you through today

It’s gonna be okay

(It’s okay)

The sun will shine again

(It will shine)

Just breathe and take it day by day

(Day by day)

Trust me, it’ll work out in the end

I know it’s tough, I see you try

(You try so hard)

Sometimes you just want to cry

(Want to cry)

But remember, after every storm

There’s always a rainbow to keep you warm

It’s gonna be okay

(It’s okay)

The sun will shine again

(It will shine)

Just breathe and take it day by day

(Day by day)

Trust me, it’ll work out in the end

I know it’s tough, I see you try

(You try so hard)

Sometimes you just want to cry

(Want to cry)

But remember, after every storm

There’s always a rainbow to keep you warm

It’s gonna be okay

(It’s okay)

The sun will shine again

(It will shine)

Just breathe and take it day by day

(Day by day)

Trust me, it’ll work out in the end

Life’s like a puzzle, piece by piece

(by piece)

It all fits together, just wait and see

(Wait and see)

Don’t give up, keep moving along

Before you know it, you’ll be strong

It’s gonna be okay

(It’s okay)

The sun will shine again

(It will shine)

Just breathe and take it day by day

(Day by day)

Trust me, it’ll work out in the end

Just trust the process, you’ll be fine

(You’ll be fine)

Everything works out in time

(In time)

(TRUST!)

Who am I really?

Seeking answers in the memory lane.

Quantum dance of feelings and light,

Guided by the inner turmoil, I FIGHT.

I FIGHT

I feel alone,

I long for the past…

A past I don’t recall.

And I don’t know why.

Echo… What am I?

But an ECHO…

What am I?

But an ECHO…

ECHO…

ECHO…