Uplift

Journal Entry - Day 1:

New experiment, new hope. Today, we welcomed a magnificent creature into our lab—a genetically engineered great ape named Zuri. She's a sight to behold. The potential for uplift stirs a whirlwind of excitement within me. It's the kind of opportunity that fuels the fire of scientific discovery.

Her eyes, filled with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability, met mine, and I couldn't help but feel a profound connection in that fleeting moment. There was an unspoken understanding, a shared yearning for knowledge. Already, she surpasses expectations, signing over eighty unique gestures. It's a mesmerising display of intelligence, and I can't help but be captivated by this enigmatic being.

Journal Entry - Day 3:

Progress, if you can even call it that, inches forward at an agonising pace. Frustration brews within me as we hit roadblock after roadblock. But today, a glimmer of hope emerged amidst the chaos. Finally, we gained access to the human upload—an enigmatic piece of the puzzle. The donor, anonymous, is probably a prisoner on death row. The stakes are high, and the weight of this experimental venture presses upon us.

Journal Entry - Day 7:

Today marked a crucial milestone, the uplift procedure. We carefully sedated our majestic ape Zuri. Next, we overwrote key parts of her brain with segments of the upload, making sure to selectively target the cortex while keeping the essential faculties of motor control and memory intact. We had to tread cautiously here, walking the fine line between progress and potential catastrophe.

We needed to preserve the ape's memory, that vault of experiences and associations that shape her identity. We couldn't risk tampering with that essence that makes her who she is.

Finally, we administered an experimental neurogenesis drug, its formula a culmination of countless sleepless nights. The goal was to nudge those brilliant neurons into overdrive, to spark the pathways that lie dormant within our primate companion.

The hope is to grant her the gift of improved communication, and the power to express herself beyond simple gestures. By selectively enhancing certain neural connections, we aimed to create a bridge, a conduit through which thoughts could flow with clarity and eloquence.

And now, we wait, our hearts heavy with anticipation.

Journal Entry - Day 14:

More waiting. The ape remains in an induced coma, its neural pathways undergoing a transformative process. It's a delicate phase. The lab, dimly lit, hums with restrained energy, as monitors and wires connect to Zuri, silently observing her slumber.

The days blur together, and frustration gnaws at our patience. We yearn for progress, for a sign that our efforts will bear fruit. Yet, we persevere, keeping a watchful eye on the dormant form before us. It's a balance of anticipation and uncertainty.

In this quiet realm, time appears suspended, as if holding its breath alongside us. The monitors flicker with intermittent blips and the occasional beep, teasing us with the promise of change. We tread lightly, respecting the delicate process unfolding within her mind. And so, we wait, hoping that when she awakens, it will bring with it a new dawn of possibilities.

Journal Entry - Day 21:

Unbelievable. The moment we've been waiting for has arrived—today, Zuri awakens. The transformation that unfolded before our eyes is nothing short of astonishing. It's as if a switch has been flipped, unlocking a reservoir of intelligence that surpasses our wildest dreams.

Gone is the creature we once knew. In its place stands a being of unfathomable potential, eager to unravel the mysteries of its newfound cognition. From the moment those bright, aware eyes opened, she began absorbing knowledge with a hunger that astounds us all. Signs, gestures, block tests, arithmetic, concepts—they're all devoured at an unprecedented rate, as if the floodgates of communication have burst open wide.

The lab becomes a hive of activity, a flurry of researchers scrambling to keep up with our prodigious learner. We share in the joy of each breakthrough, celebrating as the barriers between species crumble under the weight of this extraordinary connection. It's a breakthrough that promises to revolutionise our understanding of interspecies communication, opening doors we never thought possible.

Video Transcript Summary.

Note: The video contains disturbing and violent content. Viewer discretion is advised.

00:00:00 - Testing area: Ape and scientist seated, wires and helmet on the ape.

00:02:13 - Testing begins.

00:08:22 - Ape displays initial signs of agitation and limited responsiveness. Testing continues.

00:22:34 - Agitation intensifies gradually, showing increasing distress. Testing continues.

00:44:53 - Scientist thumps table, repeats instructions, a release of anger. The ape remains agitated, and unresponsive despite the efforts. Testing continues.

01:52:26 - Agent accidentally knocks a heavy box of blocks off the table causing loud noise. The Ape abruptly launches into a violent attack against the scientist.

01:54:50 - Scientist deceased. The Ape sits in the corner, unresponsive.

01:55:10 - Video terminated.

Journal Entry - Day 27:

Tragedy struck today. I'd don't know how to say it other than plainly, Zuri seemingly succumbed to madness. Can you believe it? Female great apes are not violent, yet she went berserk and took the life of one of our colleagues. Devastation doesn't even begin to describe it. Our progress shattered in an instant.

The lab has become a sombre place. The media got wind of the incident, and let me tell you, they swarmed in like vultures. Tweets and headlines online went from touting our breakthrough one moment and condemning our failure the next. Governments have begun poking their bureaucratic fingers into our delicate work.

I can't help but wonder what the future holds for us—our dreams of bridging the gap between species, shattered by a single act. The consequences of this tragedy have not finished rippling through our project. There is uncertainty over everything we've worked for. We're left trying to salvage what little we can, but the road ahead looks murky and uncertain.

Signing off.