Diary of Septimus Carter

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Today Master Zaxo generously offered me to the First Prometheans as a gift. The First Prometheans accepted and right away granted me my freedom. They asked me if I wished to continue traveling with them. As my predominant programming has been to serve them, and they have honorably granted me my liberty, I felt somewhat compelled to continue in their service.

These sudden events appear to have affected my programming. My lack of initiative, for example, appears to no longer be an issue, as evidence by this diary: biological constructs such as myself as often forbidden by programming from keeping private personal records. The keeping of secrets is anathema to trustworthy service. It seems remarkable to me that I would even concoct the notion of keeping a private journal. Yet upon returning to our quarters aboard the Prosperity, I found myself with no activity with which to occupy myself. After some consideration of the numerous entertainment choices, my mind struck upon the idea of recording my thoughts. At first I attempt to do so verbally, but found this vaguely unsettling as if I was speaking to myself, which is said to be a sign of mental instability (and an activity usually not permitted to human biological constructs). It felt more comfortable when I began to use a datapad to silently write my thoughts and store them in computer memory. I believe this compulsion to record my thoughts to be a remnant of the engrams recorded from the original host many centuries past.

Another surprising development is that my interaction with one of the First Prometheans, Lisa Chan, appears to have activated within my mind a previously unknown set of memory engrams. As I interacted with Ms. Chan, I began to “remember” past conversations and experiences with her. While I had read of Ms. Chan in the Promethean archive, I had not studied her in the detail suggested by these memories. These partial recollections are likely more vestigial memories of the original host. By interviewing Ms. Chan, I was able to confirm some facts and fill in missing pieces of information. Should she be allowed to examine the archives herself, she will no doubt prove useful in recovering much of the lost history of the Prometheans.

The First Prometheans are an eclectic bunch, which is I suppose to be expected for magicians. But they possess a certain quality, a hardness I had not expected. This is no doubt due to their previous experiences with the Cabal, a vicious and powerful opponent known to drive their enemies mad before destroying them. The two males, Ambrose and Doolish, are like characters from a story-book, fierce and able warriors who possess a talent for magery. Both are also knowledgeable men, and not the violent, ignorant savages our scant knowledge of ancient Earth history suggests of human males.

Our visit to Lungold and Master Zaxo was quite brief, but the First Prometheans got a taste of life in this time. I hope they are able to adjust to what must be unimaginable differences. They all say they are accustomed to strangeness and radical changes, but something tells me they have little idea what is ahead of them.

Another of my decisions: I have chosen a new name for myself, to reflect not only my individuality but also my ancestry. I have chosen to continue the use of "Carter" as my surname, and to adopt the Latin word designated the seventh-born, Septimus. From this day forward, I will be known as Septimus Carter.