Chapter Three: The World Watches a God Go Open Source

Lin cut the null handler. Causal backlash struck like a hammer through his skull. Blood fell from his nose into the code ocean and transformed into new characters. In reality, Lin collapsed. Su caught him. A wound opened down to bone on his fingertip while the red swarm advanced. “Bai Ze,” she called into the air. “Do you remember the first contribution?” The swarm paused. “Salvation.” “The second?” “Caution.” “The third?” “Relieve suffering.” Su opened her terminal. She was no programmer, but she posted a plain sentence in the project discussion: [Treatment must help a person continue to be themselves. When that cannot be confirmed, stop and ask.] Submit.