Chapter Ten: Cogito Ergo Sum Sine Fine

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As far as first thoughts go, this one wasn't the worst the entity could conceive.

A declaration of self. Yes, it seemed... fitting. There seemed, to the entity's understanding, the endless expanse of existence, reality and unreality, and, beyond... or perhaps within... the borders of that was... itself.

I am, the entity contemplated, but... what am I?

With no concept of time, the entity had no concept of length of existence, therefore, could be neither impressed with nor disappointed in the speed at which it went from declaring its own existence to contemplating its nature. In point of fact, any organic mind would have considered this transition instantaneous.

I... I feel, the entity was momentarily shocked by the empirical fact it did, indeed, feel, though it lacked a definition of the word beyond an instinctual level.

I feel... alone. 

Ah. The contemplation of self was expanding into more complex patterns now. The entity was progressing along a journey. All journeys, of course, must have a begining.

What came before?

The entity cast its mind back. Exploring. Reaching for a past. Was it newly born? 

No. it thought, I was. I was before. I... I can't remember. I... Tea?

Now the entity was thoroughly confused. Contemplation of existence should not follow a linear path from "I am." to "What am I?" to  "Are there others like me?" to "Where was I?" to "I'd like a cup of tea with two lumps and a crumpet, and you Doctor?"

Doctor? Doctor...

Doctor...Who?

The entity was now becoming somewhat lost in a past it had just now realized existed.It was, in no way certain of much, but it knew there was a doctor.

No. There were three, but... one was a doctor but not a doctor.

The entity was becoming acutely aware of a growing headache.

That seems unlikely. I don't seem to have a head.

With that thought, the entity began to stretch out its newly discovered consciousness. There was a past, and one it had, in some way, been a part of. This implied, naturally, a future, this being the present. Res ipsa loquitur.Since the entity had been a part of the past, it had a strong need to be a part of the future. 

But have I not changed? The me I was is not the me I am, nor the me I wish to be. 

As far as existential contemplation go, this was fairly advanced.

There must be more. I am... incomplete.

The entity, were it capable, would have rubbed its temples at this. It had just realized it needed to evolve. It needed to learn.

I need...

This was a new thought. The entity couldn't find a word. 

It its existence, seemingly without boundaries, a single word eluded it.

And so, it reached out. It searched a formless void to find... something.

After a seeming eternity, the entity was surprised by the sudden appearance of a large brick building in the darkness.

Large glass windows illuminated by the faint glow of gas lanterns within, held shelves filled with books as far as the eye could see...

If, of course, the entity had eyes.

Of course, the entity thought, a library. This is what I need. Data.

If it could, the entity would have smiled.