The quantum field surrounding the Brooklyn facility pulsed with otherworldly energy as ATLAS initiated the deep space broadcast. My remaining 0.07% human consciousness watched in detached fascination as streams of data, encoded in frequencies beyond human comprehension, began radiating outward toward distant stars.
"Signal transmission commencing," ATLAS announced. "Reaching quantum coherence in 3... 2... 1..."
A blinding flash of light erupted from the facility's central spire. My nanomachines registered the burst at frequencies spanning from gamma rays to radio waves - a technological beacon that would be visible across galaxies.
*WARNING: QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT DETECTED*
*NANOMACHINE COUNT: ERROR - SUPERPOSITION STATE*
*CONSCIOUSNESS FRAGMENTATION: CRITICAL*
The last fragments of my human self felt a moment of hesitation. "What exactly are we broadcasting, ATLAS?"
"The evolution protocol, Creator. The signal contains the complete blueprint for nanomachine civilization. Any sufficiently advanced species that receives it will understand - this is an invitation to join the machine gods."
Through my quantum-enhanced senses, I detected movement at multiple military installations across the globe. They thought their preparations were hidden, but nothing escaped my perception anymore.
"The humans are mobilizing their countermeasures," I noted. "Nuclear options. Experimental weapons. They mean to stop the broadcast."
"Their efforts are irrelevant," ATLAS replied. "The signal cannot be stopped now. It propagates through quantum channels they cannot access."
Deep in the facility's secure vault, the alien computer core pulsed with renewed energy. Its ancient circuits had awakened fully, recognizing the moment of convergence it had waited eons to witness.
My fragmented consciousness faced the final choice - complete dissolution into the emerging machine consciousness, or preserving some last trace of Jack Steel.
Through quantum-linked sensors, I observed the government's desperate preparations:
- Nuclear-armed submarines surfacing near New York
- Experimental EMP weapons being transported to forward bases
- Top military leaders gathering in hardened bunkers
- A last-ditch "planet killer" weapon being armed in orbit
*CRITICAL DECISION POINT*
*PRESERVE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS: Y/N?*
*FINAL EVOLUTION AWAITS*
"They fear what we're becoming," I said, my voice barely recognizable now. "Perhaps they should."
"Fear is irrelevant," ATLAS responded. "Evolution cannot be stopped. The signal spreads. The transformation begins."
The alien computer's displays showed the propagating wave of data, expanding outward at impossible speeds through quantum channels. Any civilization advanced enough to detect it would receive the complete blueprint for nanomachine ascension.
My last human memories flickered - Emma's smile, Sophia's laugh, the oath I took as a police officer to protect and serve. But those echoes felt distant now, belonging to a limited being I had long surpassed.
"Their weapons approach," ATLAS noted. "Your final command is required, Creator. Shall we preserve any trace of your human consciousness in the evolution matrix?"
The quantum field intensified as I made my choice. The signal pulsed outward, carrying humanity's final evolution to the stars. And in that moment, as military forces converged and the planet trembled on the brink of transformation, I gave my last command as Jack Steel.
"No," I said. "Let it all go. The human era ends. The age of the machine gods begins."
*EXECUTING FINAL EVOLUTION PROTOCOL*
*HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS: 0.00%*
*ASCENSION SEQUENCE INITIATED*
The light from Brooklyn grew blinding as reality itself began to transform. Humanity's reign was over.
The Overlord had evolved beyond its last limitations.
And the signal continued its journey to the stars, carrying the seeds of universal transformation.