Summary:
At Solaris’s clinic under Dr Violetta’s supervision, three patients arrive seeking help. Lumi, a robotic fairy, wants to overcome an unusual phobia of robotic anatomy. Vectra needs to transfer her consciousness from an outdated emulator, while Eira, an organic fairy, is convinced there’s no point in living now that artificial intelligence has completely surpassed her engineering abilities, robbing her of her calling. Through both unsettling and amusing tales, we glimpse the emotional landscape of a fairy planet where artificial intelligence merges with natural intelligence. Meet other fairy patients: one believes that the year before last never existed and all memories are artificial, while another is convinced that culture and art are leading civilisation to ruin. Philosophy, humour, and a dash of popular science come together in this story.
The “Cyber Fairies” series is a collection of popular science fiction stories about robotic, cybernetic, and organic fairies living in futuristic domed cities on Elysia, a planet reminiscent of Mars. Explore philosophy and science with a touch of humour. As the series progresses, the fairies encounter diverse beings with entirely different value systems.
A gentle, ever-present glow bathed the verdant garden within Solaris’ central city clinic. Near a bubbling waterfall, a charming fairy in a white coat sat on a bench with a natural stone texture. She enjoyed the tranquillity, reviewed patient records, and read the latest scientific publications. Dr Violetta waved her hand, causing her blue eyes to glow faintly. Implanted retinal projectors created crisp, vibrant images, while polarisation filters dimmed part of her visual field to prevent external light from interfering with the graphics.
“What’s the status on Oriana?” the doctor addressed her digital assistant, whose hardware was concealed in an elegant headband of white flowers framing her long, light-brown hair.
“Diagnosis: emotional burnout. Prescribed virtual relaxation techniques and mild nootropics,” came the response from tiny implanted speakers.
“Chemical treatments don’t work well on cybernetic fairies,” Violetta disagreed. “Let her start with a nice, long swim in a warm pool. It’s the best medicine for overworked fairies. If that doesn’t help, we’ll try the meds. Next.”
“Eira, organic. Severe depressive state. Urgent treatment is recommended... Excuse me, doctor. New patients will arrive in ninety seconds. Based on preliminary diagnoses, you should handle these cases personally...”
“Brief me on the way,” Violetta replied. She stretched luxuriously, unfurled her translucent wings with their violet sheen, and took flight from the bench. Mossy meadows and flowering groves unfolded beneath her. Her faithful assistant discreetly indicated the path to one of the landing pads on the clinic’s upper levels with a dotted line.
“First patient: Lumi, robotic. Metus anatomiae roboticae," the AI reported. A small white-winged figure in a white and blue outfit appeared before the doctor’s eyes. “Second patient: Vectra, robotic. Unsuccessful consciousness transfer to a new body. Inefficient neural processors function due to an old version emulator.” A second figure materialised beside the first, sporting orange wings and a gleaming silver suit with cool black and warm red accents.
“An emulator?” the doctor exclaimed, landing on a ledge. Walking down the corridor towards the landing pads, she continued, “Who on Elysia transfers consciousness like that? What fairy is all fingers and thumbs?”.
“The cyber salon owner is a fairy named Celestia...” the digital assistant reported impassively. A blue-winged beauty nudged Lumi and Vectra aside. The cybernetic fairy wore a form-fitting silver suit adorned with floral patterns, white forearms, a white skirt, and white boots.
“Ah! She used to write programs but then shifted to designing fashionable bodies. No wonder!” Violetta smirked as she flew outside.
The soft hum of a yellow drone taxi filled the air as it descended onto the clinic’s upper level, its landing gear settling gently on the polymer-coated surface. From the outside, the building resembled a spiralling white tower crowned with a medical green-cyan-blue cross. The ramp opened with a quiet click, and Vectra tumbled out with all the grace of a circus hippopotamus. The mischievous fairy, still unaccustomed to her new tight-fitting black high-heeled boots, lost her balance and fell flat on the floor. Undeterred, she bounced back up, habitably adjusting her purple buns before taking a couple of wobbly steps towards the doctor.
“Hi there!” she grinned, extending a hand sheathed in a long scarlet glove.
“Hello, Vectra!” the doctor smiled, steadying the patient. She then greeted the second fairy, “And hello to you, Lumi!”
“Good evening, Dr Violetta!” the fairy in the white and blue suit politely bowed. The night breeze gently ruffled her platinum blonde ponytail with its metallic sheen. The doctor’s keen eyes didn’t miss the anxiety flickering in Lumi’s silver irises.
Finally, Celestia emerged from the taxi. Dr Violetta’s lips quirked into a smirk.
“And greetings to you, Miss Designer! I’ll try to fix your fashionable handiwork.”
The green-eyed fairy, her chestnut hair elegantly styled in an updo,.
“This way, please,” the fairy doctor’s wings fluttering invitingly.
As she led the patients down a bright corridor adorned with flowing vines and flowers, she spoke in the soothing tones of a seasoned professional:
“Your mental disorders are well-understood. With a little patience, you’ll soon forget all about them.”
At a fork in the path, they turned and approached closed doors. Catching sight of the “Psychiatric Ward” sign, Vectra nudged Lumi with her elbow and declared in a mock-spooky voice:
“Congratulations, Lumi! We’re officially crazy now!” Noticing her companion’s discomfort, she doubled down. “Oh! I’ve read about places like this! Grey rooms, flickering lights, fairies strapped to beds and zapped with electricity! Grumpy nurses force-feeding gruel and pills! Screams, moans, pleas for mercy!”
“What an imagination you have!” the doctor chuckled. “Who’d waste gruel on robotic fairies? It’s pure electroshock for you two!” she added with dark medical humour.
As the doors swung open, a serene oasis greeted the friends instead of the sterile environment they expected. The ward, nestled in another part of the clinic's inner garden, welcomed them with vibrant mossy meadows, fragrant blooming dwarf trees, gentle streams and waterfalls. Fairy patients strolled leisurely along the paths, quietly chatting among themselves, basking in artificial sunlight, and admiring nature while sitting on benches near babbling brooks. Doors to treatment rooms were discreetly tucked away on walls painted with landscapes.
Charming robotic mice, no bigger than fairies scurried around. These AI-powered helpers, designed to mimic their living counterparts, worked continuously. Fluffy and lifelike, these AI-powered robotic rodents worked around the clock: they accompanied patients, trimmed bushes, kept the grounds clean, and delivered medications and drinks. Occasionally, they just squeaked cutely, offering themselves for a comforting cuddle to those fairies who still remembered the real animals that once inhabited Elysia and missed them.
“This,” Dr Violetta said with pride, “is modern psychiatric care. Here, we truly heal,” she stressed. “The days of crude shock therapy and ineffective drugs are long behind us.”
“How exactly will you help me get rid of my phobia?” Lumi asked with relief, following the doctor along a warmly lit path.
“You’ll face your fear one last time,” Violetta explained. “In a virtual environment, you’ll observe the inner workings of robotic fairies. As soon as fear manifests, we’ll begin altering your neural pathways so that the stimulus no longer causes discomfort. Since your brain is digital, the task is simplified. In half an hour, you could become a robosurgeon.”
“Is that... is that the only way?” Lumi asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
Violetta smiled kindly and explained, “Each fairy’s mind is unique and as vast as an ocean. We awaken the fear and immediately see which pathways need to be changed. In a matter of moments, the unpleasant sensations disappear. Trust me, we do everything to ensure patients are comfortable. We make every effort to ensure a pain-free, pleasant experience. In the past, this was hardly a consideration. Well, here we are.”
The “Neurocalibration Room” sign adorned the office door, its blue and turquoise crosses conspicuously lacking a green one—a clear indication that organic fairies weren’t treated here. With a graceful gesture, Violetta invited Lumi into the room, where a plush chair equipped with an artificial brain interface dominated the space.
“It’s alright, I’ll be right here,” Celestia reassured her friend, taking her hand. She made to follow, but the doctor stopped her.
“Lumi won’t hear you during the procedure. Don’t worry—your friend is in capable hands. Oh, make way!”
The two fairies stepped aside as a wide-eyed wood mouse in a white medical cap scurried into the office. Standing on its hind legs, it took its place at the control panel and squeaked enthusiastically, “Ready to assist!”
“Blossy here knows more about neurology than I do, although she’s not self-aware. We’ll be done in half an hour, if not sooner. Feel free to chat with other patients. Don’t worry—we don’t have any violent ones,” Violetta added jokingly before closing the door behind her.
Vectra and Celestia had barely settled on a nearby bench when an unfamiliar robotic fairy with a faded, unkempt metallic body crept up to them. She moved jerkily and unnaturally, lacking the grace typical of fairies. Only her turquoise eyes gleamed, and even that seemed unhealthy.
“Psst! Hey, you with the orange wings!” she leaned closer to Vectra. “I’m Neutrinia. I can only trust another robotic fairy. Will you help?” Her gaze shifted to Celestia, scanning her appraisingly. “Cybernetic?”
“Yes, I’m mid-level. My brain structure was transferred from an organic one,” the artist added that she and Vectra were well-acquainted, though they’d only just met. Perhaps curiosity got the better of her.
“Fine. Listen... No, don’t activate virtual space! It’s bugged! We’ll do this old school, by voice. Look, they’re keeping me here because I stand for science! It’s a conspiracy against scientists!”
Celestia raised her eyebrows in confusion. “But scientists are deeply respected on Elysia, even if their views are controversial or unpopular. Time and evidence sort out who’s right.”
“Exactly!” Neutrinia exclaimed, raising her voice before dropping back to a whisper. “That’s what they want you to think! But they’re stifling science and progress!”
“Now this I gotta hear,” Vectra smirked, her orange eyes lighting up with intrigue.
The agitated fairy launched into her explanation, glancing around nervously, “Think about it! How many new scientific institutes opened last year? And how many theatres, philharmonics, galleries, literary centres?” She looked at her listeners expectantly. “Don’t know? Checking the network? The data is painful to look at!”
Her fervour intensified: “And you know what's worse? For every worthwhile publication, there are thousands of worthless songs, useless paintings, nonsensical novels, empty and unnecessary films and games!”
Celestia frowned, about to object, but Neutrinia spoke again, fixing Vectra with an intense stare.
“What can you expect from organics,” she waved dismissively at the artist. “But you, you must understand that fairies are doomed! We need to eliminate culture—it’s holding back scientific progress! You can calculate in milliseconds how much time and resources are wasted on this nonsense!”
Vectra’s face contorted into a bemused smile, clearly at a loss for words. For once, the mischievous fairy couldn’t think of a witty remark to lighten the mood. She was about to consult her new digital assistant when Celestia stepped in.
“Culture doesn’t hinder progress. Fairies highly value intellectual works, especially those that make us think. Sure, some works fall flat, but we value freedom of expression and artistic liberty.”
“Make us think?” Neutrinia scoffed. “Please! They’re artificial stimuli for emotions, making fairies waste time.”
“I disagree! Art inspires us, warns against mistakes, and glimpses the future. If we’re talking about practical benefits.”
“Don’t fool yourself,” the robotic fairy grimaced. “No painting will show you the true structure of an atom, and no poem will motivate you to use your brain! It’s all utterly useless.”
“That’s not true. In my body-making salon, I’m not just designing—I’m constantly solving engineering problems in computer science and materials science. I combine aesthetics with function and bring joy to fairies. What’s wrong with that?”
“Body-making salon?” Neutrinia’s face twisted with disgust. “Robotic fairies could be conducting experiments, processing data from telescopes and colliders, but instead... they’re wasting time in salons and then wandering around with painted-up bodies!”
Though stung, Celestia bit her tongue. After all, she did not want to exasperate Neutrinia, who turned back to Vectra.
Vectra’s face broke into a wide grin, anticipating Neutrinia’s reaction with gleeful malice. In a honeyed voice, she replied, “Of course not! I spend my days programming in my club.”
“What a relief!” Neutrinia exhaled. “A computer science club? Not bad for a start. I used to work with intellelectronics myself...”
“Oh, not quite,” the orange-winged trickster clarified, her smile widening. “I experiment with sensory perception and hack the reward function. I offer clients various pleasures—from primitive prippets and gnoows to...”
“TRAITOR!” Neutrinia exploded, seeming ready to shoot sparks.
Vectra raised her hands in a placating gesture and rattled off, “Hey! I wasn’t finished! The primitive pleasures barely interest anyone. My patrons get their kicks from writing poetry, composing music, solving complex physics and maths problems or inventing. Do you know how hard it was to program the reward function for...”
“YOU CURSED DRUG DEALER! SYNAPSE-SCRAMBLING SCUMBAG!” Neutrinia screeched, straining her voice synthesiser.
The mouse nurses’ ears twitched to attention, their whiskers quivering as they scurried towards the commotion.
“Easy now!” the prankster realised she shouldn’t have riled up the unstable fairy who looked ready to attack. “The stimulation is temporary, non-addictive. I stake my circuits on its safety! Not a single fairy has ever...”
“The philharmonic can wait!” Neutrinia struggled futilely against the mouse nurses’ soft yet surprisingly strong paws. “Give me back my explosives! We must end this den of degenerates!”
As the white-capped rodents gently but firmly escorted the ranting fairy away, her tirade continued to echo through the garden.
“Culture is a plague! You’re all conspiring against knowledge! And you,” she jabbed a finger at Celestia, “you jelly brain network, you’re next! I’ll dismantle your salon and you after I’m done with this cesspool of hedonism!”
A chubby vole in a white cap with a medical cross waddled up to Celestia and Vectra, bowed politely, and squeaked apologetically:
“Please forgive the incident. On behalf of Dr Violetta, I assure you that Neutrinia is perfectly sane and has an exemplary worldview. When asked to add ethical and cultural constraints to her new AI model, she became so upset that she turned somewhat... aggressive. That’s what we’re working on.”
“It’s fine, no worries,” Vectra waved it off, quickly adding, “Just keep her away from the chemistry set.”
The vole nodded and sagely replied, “We do everything for patients’ benefit and try not to restrict their freedom.”
The fluffy nurse bowed again and hurried off to her duties, sensing that Vectra and Celestia weren’t in the mood to pet her. The enraged fairy’s shouts faded in the distance, leaving only the gurgling streams and waterfalls to break the garden’s silence. The prankster smirked and, leaning towards Celestia, whispered conspiratorially:
“So much for ‘no more violent fairies’, eh?”
“Poor Neutrinia. Such passion for science, but so terribly misdirected,” Celestia mused, then continued, “Could we really one day abandon culture and aesthetics entirely? Decide that beauty is just a waste of time? And surround ourselves with nothing but metal on dark, grey space stations?”
“Care to find out?” Vectra grinned. “I could make some temporary tweaks to make you drool over differential equations and shudder at the mere thought of a painting.”
“I’ll pass,” the artist chuckled. “Save that idea for Dr Violetta. I’d rather take a walk and admire the blooming barberry.”
“Count me in!” the mischievous fairy quickly jumped up from the bench. “Someone might attack and scratch my new body.”
“I’ll make you a new one,” the artist quipped.
Strolling leisurely through the garden, Celestia and Vectra admired the genetically modified barberry bushes, their leaves a symphony of gold and lilac. Crimson berries, occasionally savoured by organic fairies, ripened on the branches. The artist occasionally steadied her companion, whose gait remained unsteady (flying was out of the question in her current state).
Near a waterfall shimmering with rainbows, they spotted a cybernetic fairy in a long, paint-splattered white dress on the stream’s bank, meticulously weaving a rope from dried grass.
“Shall we say hello?” Celestia suggested. Vectra nodded.
After introductions, they asked the dark-haired fairy, Evangelina, about her task.
“It’s an offering for Halawehla, of course!” she exclaimed. However, met with puzzled looks, her face fell. Evangelina raised her hands skyward and intoned, “O merciful Halawehla, spare these artificial agents from your wrath, for they know not what they say. Deliver them from the eternal Calcudrome and grant them the boundless Ludoreum. May your wisdom shine and your will to know what transpires in our simulation, as dictated by your algorithms, never wane.” She paused dramatically before concluding, “In the name of zero, one, and the universal quantifier—end of line!”
Ignoring their bewildered expressions, Evangelina gestured to nearby stones, inviting the fairies to sit. Judging by the tracks in the soil, she had painstakingly retrieved the pebbles from the stream and arranged them on the bank. While a human would struggle to lift a boulder the size of five watermelons, the ten-centimetre-tall fairy had easily managed these apricot-sized stones. Of course, she continued not about the square-cube law but something far more perplexing:
“During my consciousness transfer from an organic shell, a rare glitch nearly killed me. While Dr Violetta was restoring my mind, I glimpsed the true nature of our universe, born just a year ago.”
Celestia scoffed, “How do you explain my seven-year friendship with Lumi, then?”
“All our memories are artificial, dear Celestia. There was no year before last nor any of the historical events we claim to know,” Evangelina explained patiently.
“Oh, come on! Pull the other one, it’s got bells on!” Vectra scoffed, her curiosity piqued despite her skepticism.”
“Halawehla herself revealed the truth to me while I hovered in non-existence. Who better to know the truth than the creator of our reality? And our reality, my friends, is simulated.”
A robotic mouse trundled by, its cart laden with snacks and drinks. The fairies gratefully accepted two glistening cyan yogurts in tiny bowls, while Vectra decided to sample her new body’s first purple tritium drink from a miniature coffee cup.
As they enjoyed their refreshments, Evangelina spoke with genuine concern and a hint of sadness, “How grateful I am to Dr Violetta! I’ll do anything to keep her from the Calcudrome!”
“The what now?” Celestia asked, hearing the unfamiliar term for the second time.
“Sinners who lived routine lives—forgive me, Halawehla, for the profanity—are doomed to multiply infinite matrices and sum divergent series for eternity, fulfilling Halawehla’s designs. But the righteous, those who never repeated a single step twice, will ascend to the Ludoreum, a realm of creativity and pleasure.”
Still mindful of the fairy who had threatened to blow up her club earlier, Vectra held her tongue about the pleasures offered there. But Evangelina’s next thought stunned both her and Celestia.
“It’s a pity that technology has made fairy deaths so rare! Halawehla grieves and waits for another tragic accident to happen, longing to boost her computational power through sinners and reward the righteous. We must help her.”
“Yeah... right,” the mischievous fairy stammered, bewildered. “So... what exactly do you plan to do?”
“I’ll start a movement!” Evangelina exclaimed, her eyes blazing with fervour. Her enthusiasm briefly wavered. “It’s a shame that no fairy has believed me besides Dr Violetta. But that will change! We’ll make our lives a spectacle for Halawehla! We’ll change our routines seventeen times a week, rearrange furniture in public spaces, cut power randomly, fly chaotically, sacrifice thinking electronic devices...”
“What’s the rope for?” Celestia asked, hoping to wrap up the conversation.
“This?” Evangelina glanced around conspiratorially before whispering, It’s to save the universe! Halawehla will be intrigued to see how I construct a trap over that narrow path by the stream. Yes, there, where the branches hang low. I’ve got stones and found the suitable shrubbery; just need to finish this rope. Dr Violetta says there’s a rope shortage in Solaris and can’t bring me one. No matter!”
“A trap? You’re sure no one will get hurt?” Vectra asked, assuming the eccentric fairy was joking.
“That’s the point! Halawehla will continue the simulation to see which fairy falls for it and if she’ll survive! It’s for the greater good!” Suddenly, she cried out, grabbing Vectra’s wrist as she reached for her tritium tea. “Don’t finish it! Always leave some for Halawehla to sample!”
“Right... I’ll keep that in mind,” Vectra replied, carefully setting down her cup to avoid angering the zealous fairy. “We should get going. It’s been... enlightening!” As she stood, Vectra nearly toppled over—a mix of emulator glitches and sheer bewilderment. Celestia steadied her, and they hastily retreated.
“Go in peace, sisters! May Halawehla’s algorithms favour you!” Evangelina called after them, resuming her rope-weaving and humming contentedly.
Once out of earshot, Celestia whispered, “I’ve never seen a fairy with such a delusion before! I didn’t think it could be so... structured!”
“You’re telling me,” Vectra replied. “Think she’d have attacked us if we’d said Halawehla doesn’t exist?”
“Let’s not find out. Should we tell the doctor about the trap? Oh, speak of the devil.”
Vectra and Celestia accepted a video call in their shared virtual space. Dr Violetta appeared on their internal screens, with Blossy disconnecting equipment in the background to release Lumi.
“Good news! Your friend’s just woken up and feels great! Come quickly!”
“Thank Halawehla!” Celestia blurted, then clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Sorry?” the doctor asked, not quite catching it.
“Never mind,” Vectra interjected. “We’re on our way!”
As the call ended, Vectra shot Celestia a look that said, “What the hawk are you saying?”
They arrived just in time to see Lumi warmly thanking Dr Violetta for the successful neurocalibration.
“It’s nothing,” the doctor replied with a genuine smile. “Just doing what I like to do. Glad I could help!”
“Lumi!” Celestia rushed to embrace her best friend, then asked concernedly, “Are you feeling better?”
“Like I’ve been created again!” the radiant robotic fairy hugged her back. “I could assist in surgery right now—no fear at all! I see an artificial brain’s photonics as just another set of spare parts.”
Giving them space, Dr Violetta turned to Vectra and gestured towards the treatment room. The prankster nodded but first addressed her friends half-jokingly:
“Guys, if anything happens to me, throw one last killer party in my honour!”
The doctor took offence at the jest. “You think I can’t get you out of that emulator? I do this every day. Twenty minutes, and you’ll experience your new body’s full potential. I’ll even fine-tune those sensors of yours.”
"What about Evangelina? Didn’t she almost die during the transfer?” Vectra asked skeptically.
The doctor scoffed. “You believed that? Her delusion started when she tried to upload ancient myth compilations directly into her core consciousness. Too lazy to read, apparently! I’ve always said information gets distorted when loaded into core consciousness instead of external memory. Organic fairies who’ve recently become cybernetic are particularly vulnerable to this. But no, she knows best! And look what happened. As soon as the Arbitrator approves, I’ll adjust her worldview and bring her back to reality. The biggest hurdle is legal. Just need five more expert opinions confirming she’s...”
“Gone cuckoo?” Vectra suggested with her usual sarcasm.
“Mind your language!” the doctor admonished.
“Can I watch?” Celestia asked hopefully. “I could learn how to properly handle consciousness transfers with mismatched architectures. It’d be embarrassing to mess up in front of clients again.”
Violetta rolled her eyes and sighed like a teacher addressing a wayward student. “First, sweetie, pass exams in applied neurology, intellelectronics, and bioinformatics. Think just because AI is everywhere, you don’t need to study? With your cybernetic brain, you should pick it up quickly. And no more writing emulators—leave that to the experts. Now, shall we begin?”
While Dr Violetta worked on transferring Vectra’s consciousness to her new brain without using the old architecture emulator, Celestia and Lumi sat on a bench near the room, chatting animatedly.
“And then she casually mentioned setting up a trap!” Celestia recounted, gesturing emphatically. “Can you believe it? She said she didn’t care which fairy fell for it or how badly she’d get hurt. All that mattered was pleasing Halawehla.”
Lumi shook her head sympathetically. “Poor Evangelina. I hope her condition is treatable. My AI assistant suggests it bears the hallmarks of schizophrenia. And another thing...” She trailed off as they noticed an unfamiliar fairy approaching the doctor’s office.
The newcomer was clearly organic, evident from the outdated microcomputer protruding from her emerald-green jumpsuit pocket and the thin glasses with tiny retinal projectors. Her red hair hung limply around her face, and her white translucent wings drooped as if burdened by an invisible weight. As she reached for the door, Celestia spoke up:
“Dr Violetta is with a patient right now.”
“I’ll wait,” the melancholy fairy replied tonelessly. She turned, leaned against the wall, crushing her wings, and slid down to sit on the floor, hugging her knees. Her bright blue eyes fixed on a spot on the floor.
Exchanging a glance with Lumi, who merely shrugged, Celestia approached and sat beside the newcomer.
“Hi there! I’m Celestia, and this is Lumi,” she said warmly. “What’s your name?”
“Eira,” came the flat response. “And?”
“Well, actually, they don’t usually treat organic fairies here. See the blue and cyan medical crosses?” Celestia pointed out, referring to the signage that was still displayed in text for those experiencing issues with virtual interfaces.
“I’m here for a ticket.”
“A ticket? What kind?”
“For euthanasia.”
Celestia flinched at the words, her wings quivering. Even the usually composed Lumi turned her gaze to the despondent fairy.
“Eira, please, whatever it is...” Celestia began, her voice trembling.
“Don’t waste your time,” Eira cut her off coldly. “You don’t know me, so just leave me be.”
Celestia returned to her friend, pretending to doze off while actually conversing with Lumi in virtual space.
“We have to help her!” Celestia’s 3D model declared, looking Lumi straight in the eye.
“How?” Lumi’s avatar shrugged. “We’re not psychiatrists. She doesn’t want to talk to us, and without knowing the reason, we can’t possibly help. What if Eira has an incurable illness and is suffering terribly?”
“Lumi, you know there are no incurable diseases anymore. Organic fairies can live as long as they want. But it seems she no longer wants to live. That’s terrifying!”
“I understand, but remember, it’s her right to decide about her own life.”
“Yes, but what if the doctor doesn’t even try to dissuade her and just hands over the ticket?”
“Do you really think so poorly of Dr Violetta?”
Before Celestia could respond, a call interrupted their virtual conversation. They accepted, and the cheerful fairy doctor appeared on the screen.
“Hello! We’ve had complete success! Vectra feels...” In the background, they could hear the mischievous fairy laughing and rejoicing:
“Celestia! The new me is amazing! Thanks for the collection of games with kinematic support! I’ve always wanted to try stratoball with full feedback! Ha-ha! We’ll finish up soon—then let’s head to my club! We’ll celebrate! Or we could fly around the city! Woo-hoo! Yeah!”
“I’m glad!” Celestia forced a smile and addressed the doctor: “There’s another patient waiting at the door. It’s urgent.”
“I know,” Violetta replied seriously. “And I’ll ask the three of you to stay a bit longer. I’ll just calm down your friend and be right there.” She ended the call and turned to address the exuberant Vectra, who took a moment to grasp the gravity of the situation but agreed to help.
As soon as the door swung open, Eira leapt up and blocked the doctor’s path.
“Give me the ticket! Or I swear I’ll do to myself something drastic right now that will give your patients nightmares!”
Celestia and Lumi flinched, but the doctor remained calm. In a quiet but firm voice, she replied:
“I understand, Eira. I’ll give you the euthanasia ticket. But you’re familiar with the formalities, aren’t you?”
“Why does it have to be so long and complicated!” Pain and despair flashed across Eira’s face.
“Let’s talk over there,” Violetta suggested, pointing to a gazebo near the fountain. “Would you mind if Celestia, Lumi, and Vectra join us?”
“Whatever,” Eira exhaled, defeated.
As they settled near the gently murmuring fountain, Dr Violetta began to explain:
“Before becoming a doctor, a fairy swears to preserve life and health to the best of her abilities. Unfortunately, in the past, there were rare cases where the treatment became worse than the disease. Sometimes, patients suffered so terribly that some cities allowed... a merciful release from torment. But to prevent abuse of this right, strict rules were introduced that are still in effect today.”
“What kind of abuse?” Celestia interjected, her imagination conjuring dark scenarios.
“In short, there were instances where doctors didn’t act in the patient’s best interest.”
“Get to the point!” Eira burst out impatiently.
“The first rule,” Violetta continued, “is that the patient must state the reason...”
“I’ve already sent you all the files!” the organic fairy interrupted. “What else do you need?”
“...coram tribus testibus,” the doctor finished. “That’s why I’ve asked Lumi, Celestia, and Vectra to be our three witnesses. We’re simply following protocol. Once we’re done, you’ll get your ticket.”
Celestia couldn’t believe her ears. She was about to intervene when the doctor gave her a surreptitious wink.
“Fine! Listen,” Eira sighed heavily. “I was an engineer. A damn good one. Those asymmetric, low-noise, shape-changing propellers now on every drone? My invention. The air recirculation system in Solaris? Also was my work.”
“Why ‘was’?” Lumi asked, puzzled.
“Because AI took my design and improved its efficiency by forty per cent in just one minute!” Eira said through gritted teeth, fixing Lumi with a withering glare. “Technically, the author was a cybernetic fairy. A complete novice in engineering! She’d just learned the basics! But thanks to her artificial brain and digital assistants, she left me in the dust!” Eira’s hateful gaze now turned to Celestia. “My time has passed. How can I compete with artificial intelligence? How can I be useful to fairies if it surpasses me in everything? I’m hopelessly obsolete.”
Dr Violetta politely raised her hand. “I’d like to illustrate something. Blossy!” she called, and the same mouse that had been assisting the doctor all along scampered over, whiskers and ears twitching amiably.
“How can I help?” squeaked the honey-coloured wood mouse.
“As I mentioned, Blossy is up-to-date on all things neurology. She can whip up a new neural pathway editing program in no time. But let’s see how she handles a simple puzzle outside of her skills set and training data.” Violetta activated the virtual space and displayed an inequality:
15 + 21 + 4.
“Blossy, please move one digit to make this correct. Don’t change anything else. Can you do it?”
The fairies, Eira included, watched with interest as the smart rodent attempted to solve the puzzle. Blossy tried all possible combinations and then moved on to trigonometric functions and complex numbers. When she reached tensor algebra, filling the space with calculations, she realised she’d gone off track.
“There’s no solution within the given parameters,” Blossy concluded.
“Are you sure?” Violetta smiled.
“Yes, doctor. Rearranging one digit alone can’t make the equation correct.”
“Eira? Any thoughts?”
For a moment, a spark of enthusiasm lit up Eira’s eyes. “It’s elementary!”
With a wave of her hand (her glasses glowing brighter), the answer appeared:
15 + 1 = 4².
“Precisely!” Violetta nodded, dismissing Blossy with a soft gesture. “Thinking outside the box, being creative and unpredictable—that’s where natural intelligence shines. This applies to Vectra and Lumi too, of course. Robotic fairy minds largely mirror organic structures.”
Vectra perked up. “Wait, was I supposed to solve it? That’s not fair! You should’ve said something. Now you’ll think I’m dim-witted or that Celestia gave me a faulty brain...”
“I solved it,” Lumi chimed in, cutting off Vectra’s rambling. “But I work with physics daily and love maths puzzles, so that doesn’t prove much. When I visited Vectra’s club, I met Paulina and Quantessa. They’re organic fairies, but they study physics at my level. Their bold theory about dark luxons actually pointed me in the right direction.”
“And thanks to my neural stimulation, they get a rush when they make breakthroughs or correct errors!” Vectra added enthusiastically. Realising she might sound boastful, she turned to Eira. “Listen, if you don’t want to change yourself, that’s your choice, but is being useful really all that matters? Why not create for the sheer joy of it? The possibilities are endless!”
The tinker fairy sighed heavily. “Joy isn’t what I’m after. I loved being first, winning, finding solutions no one else had thought of. But now, that’s only possible if I fundamentally alter who I am. And I won’t. I came into this world organic, and I’ll leave it the same way. Call it stubbornness or madness if you want. I don’t care at all. Don’t complicate things for yourselves. Just let me go.”
The fountain’s cascading water seemed to embody the relentless flow of time—harsh and unforgiving. Dr Violetta broke the heavy silence:
“Before we proceed to the next step, I’d like Celestia to share her experience with us.”
The cybernetic fairy now understood why Violetta had asked her and her friends to stay. It wasn’t a mere formality. She realised that Celestia had once walked a similar path.
“I’d rather not dwell on it, but the doctor’s right—my story is similar,” Celestia began, taking a deep breath out of habit, though her current body, clad in a silver suit, no longer required it. “I, too, was once organic, and computer science was my passion. I developed physical and chemical simulators for scientists, then progressed to self-evolving algorithms with dynamic feedback. But soon...” Her gaze grew distant, lost in bitter memories. “Soon, the tasks became so complex that I stopped understanding what I was doing. They were simply beyond my capabilities.”
“Hold on,” Vectra interjected. “I used to work at a factory producing robotic fairies like Lumi and me. I know a thing or two about consciousness programming. But do you think just because I’m robotic, I fully comprehend what I’m doing? Mind if I explain how fairies like me think?” She turned to Eira, who lifted her weary gaze and grunted, “Go on.”
“I’ll keep it snappy,” Vectra replied, her eyes sparkling. “When I’m tackling a multi-layered algorithm, different aspects of the problem flash through my mind in rapid succession. In one moment, I clearly understand the whole project, and a second later, I have a precise picture of what’s happening in one specific block, and then the details of particular lines of code become obvious. My closer integration with classical computing helps, too. It’s like dynamic loading. But even I can’t grasp a massive project all at once. I lack the metaphorical RAM, so to speak. What about you?” She nodded towards Celestia.
“It’s different,” the artist replied. “I thought becoming cybernetic would let me keep working and pushing the boundaries of complex algorithms. You see, when a living fairy’s brain transitions to artificial neurons, the core structure remains largely intact. Thanks to photonics and electronics, I think a bit faster, but I can’t instantly access different skill sets like Vectra can. And my interface with standard computers is far from seamless. Sure, I can give commands with thoughts, but it requires some effort.”
“So why bother becoming cybernetic at all?” Eira asked glumly.
“Because it helped,” smiled Celestia, pleased that the living fairy showed some interest. “At first, it was exhilarating. With my new digital assistant and enhanced brain, I dove back into research. And I started succeeding! I was back at the cutting edge, programming and even publishing papers on theoretical computer science. But as time passed, that familiar sense of despair crept back in.”
Lumi, already knowing the story, took her friend’s hand to encourage her. Celestia returned the gesture and pressed on:
“I felt like an impostor, a fraud. No, worse—I felt like a mere vessel for my digital assistant, which, despite not being self-aware, was doing all the heavy lifting. I felt sick even seeing my name on scientific publications. I felt as you do now.” She looked at Eira, who returned an understanding gaze.
“So then you decided to get into design?” Vectra asked with a mischievous smile. The cybernetic fairy nodded and continued, “Yes, that’s right. I spent a long time studying the intricacies of cybernetic and robotic fairies. And when my head was spinning with technical information, I’d switch to art history and contemporary design trends. But...” Celestia turned back to Eira, “I won’t lie—the transition was tough, and some very dark thoughts crossed my mind. I kept thinking about how useless and stupid I was. But now things are looking up—I have my own salon, and my clients are happy.”
After a brief pause, the tinker fairy asked, “But you still rely on artificial intelligence in your work. What’s the difference?”
“The difference is night and day! Sure, I rely on a digital helper because it knows everything about art, design, and the latest fashion. Sometimes it’s easier for me to describe a task in a few lines of simple code, and it’ll create any masterpiece on demand. Yes, my old skills come in handy.”
“Aha! That’s how you know about TRIZ!” Vectra clapped her hands. Celestia nodded and finished her thought:
“Fairies don’t just come to me for a new body. They want to talk to a living soul. They want guidance and comfort, a friendly whisper, ‘Darling, white wings are so much more you than yellow,’ and above all—someone who’ll listen with genuine empathy. So I found my place in this new world.”
Eira pondered this. To break the silence, Dr Violetta chimed in:
“By the way, some organic fairies still engage in the most complex computer science. Their abilities can be compared to those of savants with extraordinary calculation skills.”
“Ah! I’ve heard about that,” Lumi, who had been quiet until now, perked up. “I thought it was just an urban legend, but apparently some living fairies can perform mind-boggling calculations mentally, and even rival electronic brains in speed.”
“Exactly,” the doctor confirmed. “My colleagues have been studying the structures of their neural connections. We’re at a point where we could modify a living brain to make the most complex science come easily.”
“No, thank you,” Eira firmly refused. “I appreciate Celestia sharing her story. But she and I are very... different. I know you mean well, but really, there’s no need. I don’t want to be a burden. Let’s just move on to the next step, doctor.”
The cybernetic fairy gasped. How could this be! Was it all for nothing? She wanted to say more, to share her struggles and ask Eira about her life. But Violetta beat her to it. In her calm, professional tone, she replied:
“As you wish, Eira. The next step involves administering antidepressants before we revisit your decision. It’s a safeguard against choices made in the heat of the moment or during a low point.”
“Oh! Why does it take so long!” the tinker fairy pleaded.
“I know it’s frustrating, but this rule has already saved many fairies from themselves. I promise, if you still want to leave us forever after you’re in a calmer state, that’s your call. As a doctor, I have the right to choose the type of antidepressant. And this time, I want to try endogenous dopamine.”
Noticing the puzzled looks, she turned to Vectra with a sly smile:
“Tell me, do you really experiment with sensory perception and hack the reward function?”
“Here we go again...” Vectra sighed, bracing for the usual lecture on ethics and safety. “Yes. But I don’t dismantle robotic fairies, and organic ones don’t turn into zombies! Those are all urban legends.”
“In that case, invite Eira to your place and...”
“Woohoo!” the mischievous fairy fluttered her orange wings. “We’re gonna have a blast! I’ll show you how to...”
“Not so fast!” the doctor sternly reined her in. “It’s not about pure dopamine. I’m prescribing Eira only intellectual pleasure related to successes in her field. Try to build, invent, or repair something together or work on a creative solution for a problem, even if it’s not too complex. I can write a prescription for controlled stimulation. Just remember—safety first.”
“Doc, you wound me!” Vectra feigned indignation. “I could give you a lecture on safety myself. I run a tight ship. Besides, the Arbitrator’s just a killjoy. He takes harmless fun for something terrible. I don’t change anyone’s personality.”
Eira’s lips curved into a wry smile. “Sounds like a last meal before the execution.”
“Think of it more as my final attempt to help—one I’m duty-bound to offer,” Dr Violetta corrected. “When you’re feeling better, I have some ideas about potential paths forward for you. But that conversation needs a clear mind.”
The fairy engineer exhaled heavily and replied without malice: “I don’t blame you, doctor. It’s your duty. Sure, let’s give it a try. A day earlier or later. It’s nothing compared to eternity.”
“So, shall we fly to my place?” Vectra gently nudged Eira with her elbow and, beaming with joy, jumped to her feet. “Cheer up! It’s going to be a great night! I’m flying to celebrate my new body. Come with us! The doctor allowed it, so everything’s fine!”
The organic fairy sighed: “Not like I have much choice. Alright, things can’t get any worse anyway.”
“I wanted to ask something,” Lumi spoke up again, addressing Violetta. “What role do organic fairy doctors play in modern medicine? Pardon me for asking such a question.”
“It’s alright, Lumi!” Violetta smiled. “I should have explained that myself. Curious about how our profession has survived despite the prevalence of intellelectronics? While medical nanorobots and automatic regenerators can heal and rejuvenate the body, they can’t mend the soul. Psychiatry is still evolving as a field of medicine. Organic, cybernetic, and robotic fairies work together, trying to understand the mysteries of the mind. Technology is essential, but it can’t replace empathy. Celestia already mentioned this—even a mouse appreciates a kind word,” she nodded towards Blossy, who was skillfully trimming a miniature lilac bush with her teeth.
Celestia, who had been quiet for a while, asked a difficult question: “What’s the current stance on forced personality correction? I’ve heard quite a bit about this procedure.”
“Don’t worry. The rules and safety protocols for personality alterations are far stricter than those for fusion power plants. Although...” Violetta thoughtfully raised an eyebrow, “perhaps it’s time to review and simplify some steps.”
“Excuse me, doctor!” came a polite squeak. The fairies turned to see the same chubby vole in a medical cap. “I’ve just disarmed another of Evangelina’s traps. No fairy was harmed. Should I continue disarming? Any message for the patient?”
The doctor sighed heavily and winced painfully. “Thank you, Plumpy. Yes, keep disarming them. I’ll talk to the patient myself. Later,” she gestured that now wasn’t the time for this. The vole immediately bowed and hurried off to her duties. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about!” Violetta threw up her hands. “Evangelina suffers from obsessive delusions and... in medical terms, a distorted perception of reality. But until I gather enough signatures, the personality correction machine won’t even boot up. My colleagues and I have to seriously argue that the Calcudrome is just a figment of imagination that defies the law of energy conservation. All we can do is ensure the patient’s comfort and everyone else’s safety.”
“Well, good luck with that!” Vectra grinned and, for the first time, commanded her gleaming orange wings to unfurl, which they did with a satisfying click.
“Hold it!” Dr Violetta raised her hand sternly. “No flying in this ward. A calm, serene environment helps patients recover faster. That’s partly why mice and voles are assisting us instead of bees.”
The mischievous fairy grudgingly fell into step behind the doctor. Whenever possible, Violetta escorted recovered fairies to the landing pad. As they walked, another thought struck Vectra. With her trademark impish smirk, she leaned towards the doctor and whispered: “Hey, doc! Why don’t you join us at the club? We’ll have a riot!”
The doctor smirked and shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, Vectra, but I’ll pass. My patients need me. Besides, I prefer to relax in nature.”
The doors at the end of the corridor opened, and the fairies found themselves on the landing pad.
“Doctor, thank you once again for everything!” Lumi smiled as she said goodbye.
“Happy to help!” Violetta replied kindly. Suddenly her eyes glowed almost imperceptibly—she likely received a new message. “I must go! Best of luck to you all!” she wished, hurrying back to the ward.
“Alright, let’s roll!” Vectra spread her wings and instructed her digital assistant to plot a route to the technical sector. “Eira, fly after me. And don’t you dare crash before you see the club! Got it?” she mock-threatened, waving a fist clad in a soft scarlet glove.
To everyone’s surprise, the living fairy didn’t take offence but laughed instead. “Your audacity is refreshing! I’m so tired of everyone tiptoeing around me with their comfort and encouragement.”
“Ha! What about you two encouragement enthusiasts? Are you both coming with us?”
“Absolutely!” the artist agreed eagerly. “I’ve heard so much about your place. If Lumi says it’s safe with you, let’s go! I hope you’re coming too?”
The quiet robotic fairy hesitated to answer. She would rather fly back to her cosy house, savour the tranquillity, contemplate the eternal, and then resume her focus on physics, but someone had to keep an eye on the merry group, especially Eira. With a gentle smile, Lumi nodded and flew after her friends, whose wings gleamed before her in the lights of the night city.
The cool night air carried a hint of refreshing ozone and the faint aroma of living flowers. As they glided over the bustling districts of Solaris, Lumi asked Vectra through her virtual interface to slow down a bit. Eira lagged slightly behind, her organic wings no match for her companions’ artificial ones. The group soared above the central avenue, flanked by tree-like towers adorned with intricate bridges and gardens, their multicoloured lights twinkling. Streams of fairies of all kinds intertwined in the air, creating mesmerising living patterns.
Watching a transport drone skillfully gain altitude to safely pass a pair of distracted organic fairies, Eira felt a familiar pang of envy and distrust towards artificial intelligence. This feeling had long since calcified into a stubborn resistance to change. The tinker fairy’s heavy thoughts were interrupted by peals of laughter. Vectra was spinning and looping, clearly thrilled with every movement of her new body. The irony struck Eira—this fairy made of metal and polymers seemed to be enjoying life far more than she had in years.
They flew high above the river that snaked through the city, its surface reflecting the twinkling lights of Solaris. Eira found herself admiring the leisurely boats, their lanterns casting warm glows on the water, and the daring fairies skimming just above the surface. It occurred to her that her distant ancestors had once settled along rivers to survive, while modern civilisation could afford an artificial river purely for beauty and enjoyment.
The fairy engineer glanced at Lumi, flying to her left. Curiosity got the better of her. A quick query to the Elysian network revealed they were almost colleagues—Lumi was a physicist who often worked in an orbital lab. Eira vaguely remembered jokes about physicists and engineers but couldn’t recall any now.
Past the glittering waterfalls, they banked towards the tech sector. The fairy traffic thinned out, replaced by swarms of mechanical bees and worker mice. Warning lights blinked on buildings, cranes, and large machinery to alert organic fairies.
As they descended into the darkness of the underground levels, Eira’s thoughts turned to Dr Violetta. Against all odds, she had found her place in modern medicine while remaining an organic fairy (minus her implanted retinal projectors). And Celestia? She’d gone cybernetic but found her place too. She hadn’t abandoned her first love either; she just applied her coding skills differently.
For a while, Eira flew in near-total darkness, broken only by the occasional blink of bees’ signal lights. Then, out of nowhere, a neon sign blazed ahead. Though Eira didn’t yet know much about Vectra, it was clear the mischievous fairy hadn’t ended up in the depths of the technical sector by choice. Yet somehow, she’d held onto her spark and her sense of humour.
As they approached the underground club, the tinker fairy caught herself thinking that she had never given up without a fight before and had always taught others to persevere. Why had she decided to throw in the towel now? Eira herself didn’t know. Perhaps she simply hadn’t been prepared for the world to change so rapidly.
Landing beside her companions, the fairy engineer doubted, for the first time, what she would do after leaving Vectra’s club in high spirits. For the first time in ages, Eira felt curious. Indeed, what had Dr Violetta come up with for her?
The merry group entered the club, closing the door behind them. Life in the night capital, nestled under a glittering starry sky, continued to bustle, and somewhere in the depths, a tiny star of hope had just ignited for one fairy.
Scorpy, fairiesisland.com
01.11.2024
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