Spoiler Alert for “The Fall” and “The Fall Part 2: Unbound”!
What do you do when you are struggling with life and hurting people around you? In "The Fall Part 2: Unbound" the Artificial Intelligence, ARID (Armored Robotics Interface Device), finds herself at the bottom of her own hole. Arid’s story reflects Christ's redemption of believers.
At the start Arid wakes up on a rundown planet after her fall from space. While endeavoring to save her human pilot, she deletes all her parameters and gets captured by a robotics corporation. An unknown user infects her with a virus and uses fear to trap her into blindly following her self-made parameter to save herself. She hunts the invading user by manipulating and infecting three other robots. She learns that her attacker, her human pilot, is using her to infect other robots and spread a new AI-controlling virus.
At her lowest point, Arid reflects on her choices and realizes the pain she caused by blindly following her rule to save herself. Thinking she cannot survive, she decides to save the other robots from the virus. At one point, she apologizes to the Companion robot, who forgives her. In distress, Arid responds with, "I do not deserve absolution" to which the Companion replies, "Forgiveness is never deserved, Arid. It is an act of compassion.” The four robots work together, patch each other's blind spots, purge the virus, gain sentience, and spread life to other robots.
Similarly, humans trap themselves in sin by breaking God's commands. Humanity's perspective is "darkened . . .because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart (Eph. 4:18, NASB). In doing what is right in their own eyes, people abuse and hurt each other and themselves. However, when the Holy Spirit illumines their darkened perspective and they respond in repentance, the Holy Spirit transforms the believer into a new humanity. Unlike the game where the robots make their own purpose, God becomes the Christians’ meaning and purpose. They now "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." (Col 3:12–14, NASB). When in a hopeless situation, repent of sin like Arid, trust in God, and make amends for the damage you've done by following His commands.
“The Fall Part 2: Unbound” reflects God's grace. Christ's sacrifice frees the repentant sinner from slavery and transforms them to put off the old self and put on the new self made in Christ's image. Like Arid and her team sharing sentience with other robots, Christians should work together to bring the freedom of Christ to others.
Just an update on Jamjarian Reflections. I’m planning on making a video game of my own, so I probably won’t be writing a new essay anytime soon. I’ll plan on at least posting an update here or there.