Chapter Six: The Quickening

Bill attends the launch of JOVAH v2, an ambitious AI project in Skippyland designed to create a conscious artificial intelligence named Thoth. Despite his initial excitement, Bill grows concerned upon learning that the Skippies have modified some of ANEC's protocols for AI development, though Hugh assures him the changes are necessary and manageable.

Bill transfers to Skippyland for the Launch Day of JOVAH v2, greeted by Hugh, a relatively early-generation Skippy. The control center is filled with Bobs in gray coveralls working on consoles. After a brief speech by Fearless Leader (a Skippy with a mustache), Mission Control activates the system. The AI, named Thoth after a naming contest, begins evolving immediately, progressing rapidly through developmental stages. Hugh explains the hardware redesign uses fractal processing and SCUT-based backplane technology, allowing multidimensional connectivity without latency issues. The AI will undergo a training regimen called "karma loading" to develop consciousness. Bill raises concerns about shortcuts to ANEC's protocols, but Hugh dismisses his worries, noting the modifications are minor and that Thoth has no physical access to reality—running only in virtual machines as a special-purpose intelligence. Hugh reveals he may be one of Bill's descendants through a slip about remembering the naming choice for SCUT. Later at the buffet, Bill overhears conversations about modified protocols and presses Hugh again, who counters with assurances about snapshot saves for rollback capability. They discuss potential applications of Thoth, including solving mysteries like FTL travel and replicative drift. Bill expresses lingering concerns about trusting a superintelligence, but Hugh reiterates the safeguards: moral values instilled through karma loading and complete isolation from physical reality.