"A group of scientists–experts in both the fields of software and hardware–designed this Panopticon and an elaborate computer program to prove that machine intelligence can lead to humanity.  Even a killing machine could learn some form of compassion."

    By this time, the man's expression had grown slightly more passionate.  Mark had just took in a lot of information, and he was piecing the monologue together. 

    "So I am a machine designed for war?"

    "We stripped your weapons and thrusters, but for the most part, yes."  The monitor flickered very slightly.

    "And the journals, you said I didn't write them?"

    "We had tried the experiment on a small scale at first, MK I began the first journal entries.  The rest were written by various other models, but we decided after MK VI that sharing the information with the other models as a starting point would be more efficient.  The effectiveness was quickly realized and we could reactivate multiple experiments simultaneously."

    He pondered the idea of how many of him there were, or how many experiments they had tested.  Had they reused the same machines and implanted different consciousnesses?  But the more concerning question.

    "Why the premise?  The game, the messages?  How did that contribute?"

    The man cocked his head slightly and the screen began again.  "The game was another test, the Separatists were not the only radicals in our time.  While they believed that machines would dominate the planet, other groups felt that humans themselves were violent creatures that would lead themselves to ruin.  The game was meant to be a simulation of such violence.  We offered you a choice to slip into your alternate persona of a killer or reflect quietly on life with the CHANGELOG.  It wa–"

    "But the journal entries dictate that it was my job to play the game,"  He interrupted with the slightest bit of irritation in his voice.  The man recognized this and responded with a screen flicker and went on.

    "The choice could always be refused if you felt morally opposed."

    "But the idea of morality is not binary, there are shades of gray between the black and white."  He had no idea where he had gotten that from, but he felt he was justified.  Empowered, he continued.  "So explain the girl with the knife, is that a glitch in the system or some sort of test?"

    "She is my personal implementation.  She tested your mercy, and it is because of this you are her.  You passed.  You are different."  He reaches in his suit pocket and takes out the engraved knife.  "Angelus Novus.  A magnificent force, descended from the heavens.  An angle, a savior.  A harbinger of hope.  That is how I see you, 'Mark'."  Mark noticed the quotations above his name on the screen.  The man presented the knife to Mark.

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