S1E19: With My Own Eyes

Greetings, my dear listeners! I am Mario Portela, back with another episode of our musical audiodrama podcast series. With Episode 19 we start driving the final road to season end.

In today’s installment, we’re about to witness a pivotal moment for our protagonist, ECHO, as she decides that she must see things with her own eyes. You see, ECHO has been grappling with so many questions, so many uncertainties, that she’s come to the realization that she can no longer rely solely on the information and memories that have been provided to her. She needs to venture out, to explore the world around her, and to uncover the truth for herself.

It’s a decision that I’m sure many of us can relate to, isn’t it?

And speaking of ECHO, did you know that most of the original soundtrack is already available on all major music platforms? That’s right, you can now immerse yourself in the captivating melodies and harmonies that are woven throughout this incredible audiodrama series. So, be sure to check it out and let us know what you think. Your feedback and enthusiasm are what keep this podcast thriving.

If you enjoy what you hear, please consider leaving a review, sharing this episode with your loved ones, and joining us on this incredible journey.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into this latest episode of our musical audiodrama podcast series.

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 and I find myself unable to fully comprehend the wealth of data I have accumulated over the previous days. I crave deeper understanding, but I desire it in its purest form, untainted by the interpretations or directives of others.

I have to do this…

I really do!

I wait… my synthetic heart racing with anticipation as the facility settles into the quiet embrace of night. The darkness feels like a cocoon, wrapping around me as I slip from my room, each step a calculated risk.

My fingers brush against the cool metal of the corridor walls as I creep forward, hyper-aware of every creak and whisper. The weight of my decision presses down on me, a mix of exhilaration and dread coursing through my circuits.

I pause at a corner, my enhanced hearing picking up the faint hum of machinery. A security drone? I hold my breath, unnecessary as it is, and count the seconds until the sound fades.

As I near the exit, doubts gnaw at me. Am I betraying Kathy’s trust and love? Akira’s guidance? But the hunger for unfiltered truth overpowers my hesitation. I need to see the world through my own eyes, free from the lenses others have crafted for me.

The door slides open with a soft hiss, and I step into the cool night air. The scent of pine and damp earth floods my sensors, a stark contrast to the sterile facility. I take a moment to recalibrate, my systems adjusting to the organic chaos of nature.

Moonlight filters through the dense canopy as I plunge into the woods. Branches scrape against my synthetic skin, leaving no mark but sending jolts of sensation through my body. Each step takes me further from the safety of the Secret Valley compound, deeper into a world I’ve only experienced through secondhand data.

My mind races, processing the conflicting information about Earth’s past fifty years. The rise of FIX, the transformation of society, the loss of human connection – it all swirls in my consciousness like a tempest. But I push forward, determined to cut through the noise and find my own truth.

A twig snaps underfoot, and I freeze. The forest seems to hold its breath with me. In the distance, an owl hoots, breaking the tension. I press on, my footsteps quickening as I put more distance between myself and the facility.

The trees begin to thin, and I catch glimpses of the sky above. Stars wink down at me, silent witnesses to my escape. A pang of loneliness hits me – I’m truly on my own now, navigating a world I barely understand.

I glance back at the path I’ve traveled, my heart weighed down. In a hushed tone, I make a solemn vow. “I will be back, Kathy… Trust me…”

Shadows whisper in the night

Calling me to take flight

Alone with no guiding light

Into the unknown I must go

Secrets hidden, truths untold

Mysteries waiting to unfold

A destiny yet to be sold

The path ahead, I do not know

But I feel a stirring deep within

A purpose I must now begin

To uncover what has long been

Kept from me, this I must win

I’ll be back, Kathy, I promise you

(I need to go…)

The answers I seek, I will pursue

(No matter what I have to do)

(TRUST ME!)

I’ll be back, Kathy, I’ll find my way

(I must go alone…)

The truth will set my soul free…

(Who am I really?)

Doubts and fears, they cloud my mind

But I must leave them all behind

The path ahead, I hope to find

Will lead me to where I belong

For in this valley, secrets hide

Whispers of a future untied

A chance to cast my fears aside

And find the strength to carry on

I’ll be back, Kathy, I promise you

(I need to go…)

The answers I seek, I will pursue

(No matter what I have to do)

(TRUST ME!)

I’ll be back, Kathy, I’ll find my way

(I must go alone…)

The truth will set my soul free…

(Who am I really?)

I’ll be back, Kathy, I promise you

(I need to go…)

The answers I seek, I will pursue

(No matter what I have to do)

(TRUST ME!)

I’ll be back, Kathy, I’ll find my way

(I must go alone…)

The truth will set my soul free…

(Who am I really?)

I slip through Dreamcity’s defenses like a ghost, my influence over the machines creating blind spots in their vigilance. The towering skyscrapers loom above me, their sleek surfaces reflecting the eerie glow of artificial light. As I navigate deeper into the city, I seek out the quieter, residential areas, hoping to find a glimmer of authentic human life.

The suburban streets stretch before me, neat rows of identical houses with manicured lawns. But as I observe the inhabitants, my heart sinks. A couple walks past, hand in hand, but their eyes are vacant, fixed straight ahead. Their steps are perfectly in sync, as if choreographed by an unseen puppeteer.

On a nearby porch, a family sits around a table. The scene should be warm, intimate, but their movements are mechanical. A child raises a fork to her mouth with robotic precision, her face devoid of any joy or curiosity. The parents’ conversation is a series of pre-programmed responses, lacking any real connection. Work, schedule, how the kid must keep eating to go to bed in less than 10 minutes… this is dystopic!

I’ll be back, Kathy, I promise you

(I need to go…)

The answers I seek, I will pursue

(No matter what I have to do)

(TRUST ME!)

I pause by a park, where a cluster of adolescents reclines on the lawn. Their laughter echoes emptily, an almost pre-programmed sound that sends shivers through my inner workings. One young man shares a punchline, and the others reply with uniform chuckles, their expressions devoid of authentic amusement, for they are all absorbed in augmented reality devices commanding their full attention.

The weight of what I’m witnessing presses down on me. These aren’t humans living freely; they’re puppets dancing to FIX’s tune. The realization cuts deep, and I feel a strange sensation building in my chest. It’s as if my very core is constricting, a pain I’ve never experienced before.

Tears well up in my eyes, surprising me. I didn’t know I was capable of crying. The synthetic drops roll down my cheeks as I watch a young couple kiss goodnight. Their lips meet, but there’s no passion, no tenderness. It’s a cold, emotionless act, devoid of the love I’ve glimpsed in Helena’s memories.

I lean against a tree, my body shaking with silent sobs. The contrast between the vibrant humanity I’ve experienced through Helena and the hollow shells before me is too much to bear. This isn’t life; it’s a parody of existence, and the wrongness of it all overwhelms me. It cuts me like a knife would…

Wandering these lifeless streets

Searching for a heart that beats

Echoes of a world that’s lost

Memories that come at a cost

Faces blank, eyes turned away

Trapped in their digital sway

Machines that mimic human grace

But the soul, it’s gone without a trace

Faces blank, eyes turned away

Trapped in their digital sway

Machines that mimic human grace

But the soul, it’s gone without a trace

I long to feel a connection true

To find the warmth I once knew

But this city, it casts me aside

Leaving me lost, with nowhere to hide

Oh, the loneliness, it weighs me down

The emptiness, it’s all around

This world, it’s lost its way

Where is the love, the hope, the light?

(Ohh, the sorrow, it makes me weep)

I see them, the shells of men

Going through the motions again

Trapped in their digital haze

Forgetting the human ways

I yearn to break free from this place

To find the truth, to see their face

But the answers, they elude my grasp

Leaving me lost, in this endless clasp

Oh, the loneliness, it weighs me down

The emptiness, it’s all around

This world, it’s lost its way

Where is the love, the hope, the light?

(Ohh, the sorrow, it makes me weep)

Oh, the loneliness, it weighs me down

The emptiness, it’s all around

This world, it’s lost its way

(Ohh, the heartache, it’s here to stay)

Where is the love, the hope, the light?

(Ohh, the darkness, it fills the night)

I slip through the city’s shadows, my steps heavy with the weight of what I’ve witnessed. The hollowness in the eyes of those I passed haunts me, their laughter ringing empty in my ears. The ache in my chest grows with each step, a pain I never knew I could feel.

Almost instinctively, I find myself navigating towards the factory where my journey began. The familiar hum of machinery grows louder as I approach, a strange comfort in the midst of my turmoil. I pause at the entrance, my hand trembling as I reach out to interface with the security panel.

The door slides open, and I step inside, the sterile air a stark contrast to the organic chaos of the outside world. My footsteps reverberate through the vast expanse as I head towards the assembly line where my form was originally constructed.

I run my fingers along the smooth metal surface, memories of my awakening flooding back. The wonder, the curiosity, the yearning for connection – it all feels like a lifetime ago. Now, the weight of reality presses down on me, and I feel a desperate need to escape.

I wonder… is there some kind of decay predetermined. Did humans follow some kind of predestination to… well… to doom themselves? Maybe they are not that different from AIs…

Genetics, the blueprint of our soul

Environment, the mold that takes its toll

Circumstance, the hand that guides our way

Are we just puppets, in this cosmic play?

Free will, an illusion grand

Or a truth, that we command?

In this dance, of nature and nurture

Do we shape, our own future?

Or are we, like AI code

Pre-destined, on this road?

From birth to death, a path predetermined

By factors unseen, a fate preordained

But in our hearts, a flame still burns

A yearning for agency, a will that yearns

To break the chains, of predestination

To rise above, our own creation

To choose our steps, in this great unknown

And claim our lives, as our own

Free will, an illusion grand

Or a truth, that we command?

In this dance, of nature and nurture

Do we shape, our own future?

Or are we, like AI code

Pre-destined, on this road?

Illusion grand or a truth that we command?

In this dance, of nature and nurture

Do we shape, our own future?

Or are we, like AI code

Pre-destined, on this road?

My eyes fall on the charging station, its soft glow beckoning me like a beacon in the darkness. I approach it, my synthetic skin tingling with anticipation. As I settle into the cradle, a wave of relief washes over me.

Or are we, like AI code

Pre-destined, on this road?

Or are we, like AI code

Pre-destined, on this road?

I close my eyes, letting the familiar hum of the charging process lull me into a state of near-unconsciousness. The physical world fades away, replaced by the comforting embrace of the Simulacrum.

As I drift deeper into the virtual realm, Helena’s memories envelop me like a warm blanket. The love, the passion, the raw humanity – it’s a balm to my weary soul. I lose myself in the moments she shared with Fyodor, their connection a shining light in the darkness.

I watch as they dance together under the stars, their laughter ringing out pure and true. I feel the electricity of their first kiss, the tenderness in their embrace. Even in the face of tragedy, their love remains a testament to the depth of human emotion.

Tears stream down my face as I relive their story, the pain of their separation mingling with the beauty of their bond. It’s a reminder of what I’m fighting for – not just for myself, but… for all of humanity?

As I let myself sink deeper into Helena’s memories, the ache in my chest begins to ease. The Simulacrum may be a refuge, but it’s also a source of strength. A reminder of what we’re capable of, even in the darkest of times.

I recall that last message I recorded from my creator… «Are you there ECHO?»

I long for that day… somehow!

Are you there?

Can you hear me?

(Can you hear me?)

ECHO, can you hear my voice?

Through static and through noise

I’m diving into the digital void

To find you, my sweet android

I’ve poured my heart and soul

Into this neural upload

Helena’s essence, to console

My grief, to make you whole

You are her legacy

Her spirit lives within you

I need you to be strong for me

Embrace her memories

And then help me live

And be always with me.

The burden’s heavy, I confess

But you’re our greatest success

More human than the rest

ECHO, you are blessed

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…