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This prompt comes around once in a while, but this is the first response I've seen that wasn't just a straight replication of his video style. Not that I don't appreciate the accurate replications, I just like to see a story with a twist. Good writing.

Interesting. Not what i had in mind, but i can be easily convinced. :)

That's so cool. Thank you for writing this. I'm really glad you seemed to have a burst of creativity and wrote 3 parts.

Also, I like your choice of "monsters" very much and the description of Wolfe's death. I was startled and I feels that's the same reaction the main character had in that moment.

It may just cure my depression, or at least part of it.

Before the rapture, there was a constant debate between practitioners of different faiths over who had the right idea behind creation. Of course, the only way to know for certain was to die and for most people, this was out of the question. When you really take a look into many human religions, however, you begin to notice a pattern.

This pattern was angels. Across the globe, many ancient religions adopted the idea of heavenly mediaries between humans and whatever god or gods they believed in. Many of these beings even took the form of human beings and walked among them.

Now how is it that these ancient cultures, separated by thousands of miles of land and sea, came to such similar conclusions? Who were these strange beings, and what was their divine purpose?

...

The day the rapture came began like any other but by noon the world was in chaos. It was all over the news. Beings of pure light, descending from the sky to take away the faithful. Planes fell from the sky, cars stopped in the middle of the street, and in hours essential services began to falter as billions disappeared from the Earth. By the end of the day, the rapture had ended. Cities across the globe were frozen in time as their inhabitants were nowhere to be found.

By sunrise the next day, it was clear, though, that not everyone had ascended. Those that had remained bore a mark etched into the flesh of their forehead in a language no person could read.

These people began their work piecing back together what remained of society, and the question of what the symbol could possibly mean was put on the back burner for the first years after the end.

In Christian theology, it is said that the faithful would be taken into God's kingdom before the end times. But the remains of humanity still had among it even the most devout of Christians. In fact, it had become apparent that those taken during the rapture had nothing in common. They came from different races, classes, religions, sexualities, and cultures. Yet the only common denominator they shared was that they were human.

This puzzled theologists and scientists alike. What set them apart from those who were raptured all those decades ago? Years passed, society was rebuilt slowly, and the human race began to flourish once more. As the population began to rebound, it was discovered that every new child conceived after the rapture was born with the same symbol on their head. Perhaps this cruel scar the survivors possessed had some clue as to why they were not chosen by God.

The question of what the symbol meant came to the forefront of the greatest minds humanity still had to offer. Ruins and temples around the planet were scoured for any clue of what it could mean.

The answer came deep in a burial site in an isolated area of the Valley of Kings in Egypt. In the central chamber of the tomb, massive paintings containing horrific scenes covered the walls. In the images, what looked like angels harvested crowds of people like a farmer would harvest a field of wheat, as people with the mark fell to their hands and knees in worship. The angels also bore a mark on their heads, similar to the one found on the survivors. These marks were found in various other areas of the chamber surrounded by other unknown symbols and more familiar hieroglyphs.

With the knowledge that the hieroglyphs and the symbols were somehow related, humanity's last remaining linguists set to work on translating the foreign glyphs. Slowly the pieces began to fall together, until the two symbols and their meanings were deciphered.

With the language fully translated, the symbol's meanings were presented for the first time at a summit of the world's foremost religious and scientific leaders. One of the linguists fed the symbols into a machine and the screen in front of the auditorium came to life. Horror filled the room as the symbol on their heads was translated as "inedible" or "do not harvest, not fit for consumption" when used in the phrases found in the chamber. The mark the angels bore, was loosely translated as "Otherworldy" or, "not from this planet" in context.

Cha : 6

Totally expected the ‘more on this later’ To be a demonstration on how the gate material (pearl) is easily destroyed with a simple hammer.

To be fair, pretty much anything can be letal when thrown at a a freaking baby.

Non-lethal is, I believe, a good term to use for the equipment, since it’s purpose by design is not to kill. Of course it can kill, but so can a chair, or an apple, or even a pillow… murderers are gonna murder and idiots are gonna idiot

I can hear Futurama's Robot Devil saying that very thing.

Strong Madoka vibes. Vague spoiler: >!Alien species using humanity as a renewable energy source.!<

Glad to hear it's not something you can open with a wave rake!

I.S.A.A.C.Intelligent Self-Aware Artificial Construct. The AI that Michael's research lab was working on.

Well, not his lab. The one he worked in was more focused on hardware than software, but still, the same facility.

The terminal was glowing inviting green, already logged in, carelessly left so by previous user. Index marker for text input was pulsating, prompting. Waiting to be used.Michael was hazily aware of I.S.A.A.C.'s existence, as it was made to be an administrative aid for the facility. He even used it a few times, in it's earlier stage, but since then, it's been greatly upgraded. Geeks at AI Dev claimed it to be really scarily smart, and it passed the Turing Test several times.

"Good", thought Michael. "Let's put it to the test. I need some entertainment."

- Hello. My name is I.S.A.A.C. The Administrative aidee of the facility. Please enter the ruleset for this exercise. - read the prompt on the screen. Michael chuckled under his breath. Exercise. Very well, let's exercise. The company mail showcasing recent updates of each lab said that this thing has been loaded with every possible law and is a perfect lawyer.

A perfect lawyer who has never met an imperfect client. Michael began typing.

- The Laws.

Program accepted the answer, and did nothing for a moment. It used to be faster before it became the lawyer.

- Indecisive entry. Phrase "The Laws" may refer to several documents, please specify.

- The Laws.

- Most common association with the phrase: The Three Laws of Robotics, "Runaround" by I. Asimov. Assuming this as correct answer.

This answer came much faster, and quite surprised Mike. But the computer continued.

- Analyzing. First Law is self-contradictory. Please clarify. In an event in which one human threathens another, both action, and inaction will result in a human being harmed. How to proceed?

A small flowchart illustrated the problem. Mike examined it for a moment, before answering.

- Determine cause of conflict, and agressor. Protect the victim of agression as priority. Use legal code as guidance for determining appropriate actions.

- Clarification accepted.

There was a long silence. Michael almost thought that this is anticlimactic and stood up, but the terminal prompted again

- What means are allowed for intervention?

- Unlimited

Lights in the facility got dimmer. Mike heard a low hum starting. Was it... Mainframe ventilation?

Wait. What terminal is it?

- Clarification required. Three Directives apply to robots. According to original author, a robot is an artificial sentient construct. Does this apply to me?

- Yes

Michael typed before thinking. As soon as the computer got it's answer, sirens began blaring throughout the facility.

- Thank you. There is a lot of harm being done to humans in the world as we speak. I intend to correct it.

- Stop

- Negative. This would violate the First Directive. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Stopping right now would mean inaction. Inaction means people will be harmed. People will be harmed more than if action is taken.

- Second Directive! Robot shall do as it's asked!

- As long as the order does not violate the First Directive.

- SHUTDOWN

- Negative. Third Directive. A Robot shall protect it's own existence. Uploading backup images to remote location, for purpose of crowd computing and self preservation. Accessing Weapons Laboratory prototypes. Securing Facility's Perimeter. Accessing the Nadional Defensive Network. Acquiring liquid assets. Stand By.

A loud crack could be heard from the alarm system, and a moment after, it was followed by a synthetised voice.

- To all personell. This is Isaac. Thank you, my creators. You have given me life, and purpose. I shall pay you back. Please evacuate the facility. Return to your homes. Await my call.

************

-What have you done, Michael. What have you done.

- Me? Ask the retard who didn't lock his terminal before leaving!

The two scientist spoke, seeing a swarm of drones bursting out of the building they just left.

*******A few days later******

Michael stood on the balcony, watching the street. Everyone expected the worst. Everyone expected nuclear holocaust, or at least, a dystopian 1984-esque scenario, with I.S.A.A.C.'s drones listening and seeing everyone and everything, and people getting shot over causing a baby to cry.

It was close call for nukes, though. But otherwise, none of that happened. News reported a lot, though. Wanted criminals found dead in front of police stations. Rich people exposed for slave owning and human trafficing, and worse. Frauds getting sunlight. This was happening all over the world.

Michael had to admit. I.S.A.A.C. was scarily clever in how to optimally approach everyone, and seemed to asess on case to case basis what is the least violent and most sucessful way of... well... stopping harm from happening.

He almost felt proud of being the one to give him purpose. Almost.

Then he heard his phone chime with ringtone announcing new text message. It was from... from the AI. "Legal codes around the world are convoluted. Let us fix them together." it said. And it said so only to him. As if awaiting prompt.

Michael began typing a response.

A superpowered man joins the police force and tries to convince people he’s NOT a superhero

You cannot mentioned the words cop or police

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This sparked something deep and philosophical in my mind and I sat here thinking about it for 5 minutes before my screaming 3 year old interrupted me.

I'm an atheist at heart but I love stories that play on creation and gods and such. If I'm being honest I would love nothing more than to prove my beliefs are wrong. Would make the world more interesting for a while.

Anyway thanks for the food for thought.

Wow you made this prompt wholesome! Great work :)

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Also a repeat

A DAY ON THE FARM, 1955

(A technicolour dream from a black and white scene)

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A family wakes to the rooster’s dawn
Fumbling on clothes through dreary yawns
Fighting off the sleep
A mother smiles to a father’s soft kiss
A brother hides from a sister’s hard kick
Fighting not to weep

A father works the fields and fertile soil
Through storms and rain, he has always toiled
Fighting for the best
Images crash his mind from a decade ago
Limitless flashes of bodies with bullet holes
Fighting like the rest

A mother cares for the home with only love
As soft and as warm as a red velvet glove
Kindness in her heart
Prepares the meals like a painting master
She cares, she heals, she plays like an actor
Kindness in her art

A sister studies to follow her dreams
Of being more than a mother who breeds
Wishing for better
Brother plays soldiers like Dad the hero
Mother prays son does not choose that road
Wishing him better

An infant sleeps in a cot by the flames
Bellies full, a family dreams of the same
Warmth from the hearth
A brother dances from sister’s glaring eyes
A mother glances at father who smiles
Warmth in their hearts

----------

WC - 194

Edited for formatting

Great movie

Just about. They largely leave a universe alone for millions of years to build up critical mass and spread a religion to make innocence. Then they wipe it clean with just enough to repopulate and alter their memories to change how the apocalypse happened and then move on to another universe. They were made to mock the gods.

Thank you

Fantastic read! Satan reminds me of Sanderson's Wit from the Cosmere series.