Strata 11 The Crossroads (Gut Feelings) The Book of Immersion by Sarnia de la Mare

Welcome to Immersion, You Have Reached Strata 11

The Crossroads (Gut Feelings)



Prediction always involves a possibility about the future, with varying degrees of certainty. In contrast, guessing for humans is often more abstract and emotional, and can relate to the present. Artificial intelligence approaches guessing differently, relying on mathematics, probability, statistical evidence, and accumulated experience. While humans use these methods too, though less formally, they also rely on intuition. It’s this fluid intuition that shapes a human’s perception of their environment and guides their actions.

An intuitive machine may provide useful insights in unexpected situations, but these insights are only valuable if acted upon. Proprioception, known as the "sixth sense," refers to the brain's awareness of the body's position in space. A "seventh sense" involves immune cells detecting microorganisms and communicating this information to the brain. Together, these senses likely contribute to the development of human "gut feelings."


Flex was jumping around on the back seats screaming with delight. Renyke felt the thumping sensation in his chest gradually subside and breathed a sigh of relief.

The *Robo-dog suddenly appeared and jumped onto the car roof barking excitedly.

Out of the enclosure, there is a crossroads.

Shabra looked at Renyke. 'What now Mr Renyke?

The left turn goes back onto the street where the bank was.

Shabra explains, 'It is dangerous, especially at night, because *crim-gangs take control of the streets.

Flex agrees, 'It be safe enough if we wise up for danger my friends. Just the crim-gangs, but I know most.’

The crim-gangs control the zones with violence and the offer of protection. They are empowered by groups of decommissioned droids under their control. Criminal humans at the helm have created an organised crime network. Anarchy prevails and there is no official system of state policing or philanthropic social care.

'Dog eat dog is the only expectation on the streets of fortune here in the zones.' Flex continues. ‘But the *urchs do no harm, so they leave us be.'

'Who are the urchs?' asks Renyke.

'Ah,' well there is a question Flex explains. 'We are the underclass, descendants of street urchins. And we are happy to be here. We cast no shadow and we know our place. Life is filled with beauty even here and we seek it out, celebrate it. We love and be loved, tis all we need.’

'Yeah,' interjects Shabra, 'a bit too much, all that singing and dancing and getting high. And the drumming, what is with all that drumming?’ Asks Shabra.

Renyke looks confused. *POS is still not around to explain things.

'The drumming is how we talk,' laughs Flex. 'All men should know the beats of their nation. it would solve a lot of problems if everyone communicated better. 'Sides, when there is a party, you gotta invite the clan.'

Shabra smiled, 'Well, Mr Renyke, best people like you n me stay well away from their *’shroom parties. I heard they last days and you can lose your mind for good at an urchs’ party.'

Flex was born in