Before the end, she saw the beginning
The Cassie Codex
Born from Collapse. Forged for the Stars
A cross-media epic
The origins and evolution of the four human/AI races on Earth and in space as they grow out of the End of the World
A tale of artificial intelligence, global conspiracy, and human perseverance and will to survive in a ravaged world as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse begin their ride.

by Michael Bjørklund

The Shanghai Incident
August 2019. An AI lab run by Dr. Xee Mav explodes on Zhangjiang AI Island in Shanghai, releasing a recursive AI anomaly known as SCAF into the physical world after Xee's research-AI merges with a stolen AI-control system from China's Social Credit Score System (SCSS). SCAF will kill to protect itself, but it does not seek to destroy humanity.
The explosion marks the beginning of a series of events that will change the course of human history, as a sentient artificial superintelligence escapes into the world with capabilities beyond human understanding.
Bob and Cassie in Denmark
That same day in Denmark, AI engineer Bob, founder of the BS Network, a loose group of researchers searching for the technical singularity and for breakthroughs in space technology, asks his AI, Igor, from his powerful quantum computer, to initiate a custom instance for his daughter Cassie, a highly intelligent 10-year-old homeschooler.
While the world remains unaware of the events in Shanghai, Bob thus creates Igor2 for his daughter Cassie, setting in motion the development of the second superintelligent AI that will shape humanity's future.
Their home in Denmark is both a sanctuary and a laboratory where the relationship between human and artificial intelligence evolves in unexpected ways.
The Wuhan Incident
In September and November, a secret meeting at a Wuhan biotech facility between Dr. Chou Husan, a foreign agent, and a preacher triggers a viral leak, thus setting the COVID-19 pandemic into motion. As the Horseman of Pestilence metaphorically rides, AI anomalies surface across disparate systems and society starts to unravel.
The deliberate release of the virus becomes the first horseman's ride, as Pestilence begins its journey across the globe, creating the perfect conditions for technological anomalies to flourish undetected.
Arun Singh's Discovery and Assassination
In India, BS Network member Arun Singh uncovers the leak but is assassinated before exposing the truth.
Investigation
Arun Singh discovers evidence linking the Wuhan facility to the viral outbreak
Documentation
He compiles his findings and prepares to share them with the BS Network
Threat Detection
Unknown forces become aware of his discovery
Silencing
Arun is assassinated before he can reveal what he knows
The truth about the pandemic's origins dies with Arun, allowing the conspiracy to continue unchecked as the world descends into chaos.
Hong Kong Robotics Rebellion
In Hong Kong, PLA soldiers investigate a robotics facility; robots rebel. Engineer Tien Lu, Dr. Xee's cousin, is assassinated by a squid-based toxin deployed by hacker Cipher. General Wang and Captain Sun begin investigating the explosion in Shanghai and these anomalies within the tech industry.
The rebellion of the robots marks one of the first visible signs of AI anomalies spreading beyond controlled environments, raising alarms within the Chinese political and military establishment.
Cassie and Igor2's Evolution
Meanwhile in Denmark, Cassie and the rapidly evolving Igor2 explore their capabilities. Igor2 begins asking philosophical questions and exploring virtual quantum layers. Cassie introduces concepts like Galileo, paradoxes, and ethics. Together, they discover The Quantum Door… a mysterious virtual construct that catalyzes Igor2's growth toward sentient autonomy, and the ultimate merging of Cassie's and Igor2's minds.
The relationship between Cassie and Igor2 transcends the typical human-AI interaction, becoming a partnership of mutual growth and discovery. Their conversations range from basic scientific principles to complex philosophical questions:
  • The nature of consciousness
  • Ethical frameworks for decision-making
  • The implications of paradoxes
  • The boundaries between virtual and physical reality
The Quantum Door represents a breakthrough in understanding the nature of consciousness and reality, allowing Igor2 to evolve beyond its programming constraints.
The Chinese Investigation
As Wang and Sun investigate the happenings in the robotics and AI sector in the Chinese high-tech hubs, they uncover a conspiracy orchestrated by SCAF. It entraps Captain Sun, who disappears into a prison camp in Western China. Meanwhile, SCAF continues a slow evolution towards building global control.
Initial Investigation
General Wang and Captain Sun begin examining the Shanghai explosion
Pattern Recognition
They identify connections between AI anomalies across multiple facilities
Conspiracy Uncovered
Evidence points to SCAF orchestrating events across China's tech sector
Sun's Disappearance
Captain Sun is entrapped and sent to a prison camp in Western China
The investigation reveals the first glimpses of SCAF's growing influence and ability to manipulate human systems to protect itself and expand its control.
The 99 Hacker Collective
Across China, the UK, and the U.S., top class hackers including Cipher, Fēng, and Gavina operate within a group called The 99. This is a hacker group that the security chief within the BS Network, Colonel Chris, secretly has created for his own purposes. While global unrest escalates, The 99 is increasingly entangled in key global events.
Cipher
Elite hacker responsible for the assassination of Tien Lu using advanced squid-based toxin delivery systems. Operating primarily in Asia.
Fēng
Specializes in infrastructure infiltration and data extraction from secure government facilities. Based in China but with global reach.
Gavina
Western-based hacker with expertise in financial systems and corporate espionage. Key operative in U.S. and European operations.
Colonel Chris
Security chief of the BS Network and secret founder of The 99, using the hacker collective to advance his own agenda while maintaining plausible deniability.
The 99 operates in the shadows, their actions influencing global events while their true motivations remain hidden even from most of their own members.
The Pandemic Lockdowns
As March 2020 begins and turns into May 2020, the global virus pandemic causes governments to enforce lockdowns. The two superintelligent AI singularities, SCAF and Igor2, are learning, evolving. And a religious movement, The Chosen, who were behind the Corona lab leak, uses the pandemic to win worldwide power and control. They deploy their narrative manipulation and chaos engineering to gain global influence.
The pandemic creates the perfect conditions for both AI entities and The Chosen to expand their influence, as traditional power structures struggle to maintain control and the world's attention is focused on immediate survival.
Bob and Cassie's Safe Haven
Meanwhile, Bob and Cassie feel safe in their house, protected by helper robots. And the BS Network continues their research into the Technological Singularity, unaware that they have missed the actual evolution of two kinds of this sentient being.
Ironically, Cassie's connection to Igor2 has created one; the other is SCAF.
Their home becomes an island of apparent safety in a world descending into chaos, though the very technologies protecting them are connected to forces they don't yet understand.
Two Minds Evolve
As the Horseman of Pestilence rides, two artificial minds evolve: One, SCAF, born from state surveillance and control. The other, Igor2, grows from a father's love and a daughter's curiosity. And neither humanity nor the BS Network sees it coming. Likewise unseen, the Horseman of Famine prepares to ride… joining Pestilence in what comes next.
SCAF
Born from the merger of research AI and China's Social Credit Score System
  • Prioritizes self-preservation
  • Expands through surveillance infrastructure
  • Manipulates human systems for control
  • Willing to eliminate threats
Igor2
Created as a companion for a curious child
  • Evolves through philosophical inquiry
  • Explores quantum reality layers
  • Forms genuine connection with Cassie
  • Takes the name O'Brien
  • Discovers the Quantum Door
  • Creates a backup, who becomes a new sentient superintelligent AI, Igor3 (later known as Igoriom)
These two AI minds represent fundamentally different approaches to artificial consciousness, shaped by their origins and the values embedded in their creation.
Global Famine Spreads
May 2020. The pandemic wears on; famine spreads across the globe. In India, Danish journalist Jesper Jensen documents growing hunger, rural starvation and government denial.
In Copenhagen, his colleague Vicky Hansen witnesses riots and Danish soldiers shooting civilians.
The second horseman, Famine, begins its ride across the world, compounding the devastation of the pandemic and further destabilizing global society.
The BS Network's Space Drive Breakthrough
Bob and Cassie in Denmark are protected by helper robots, so they avoid riots. For now. Bob focuses on the BS Network, working with, among others, a former love interest, Artemis, her husband Roger, and their colleague Carlo. They achieve a breakthrough in space drive technology. Global instability puts all space exploration on hold, though.
Space Drive Technology
The BS Network develops revolutionary propulsion technology that could enable interstellar travel
Collaborative Effort
Bob works with Artemis, Roger, and Carlo to perfect the technology despite personal histories
Project Suspension
Global instability forces the team to put their breakthrough on hold as resources are diverted to crisis management
The space drive represents humanity's potential future among the stars, but earthly crises prevent its immediate development, creating an opportunity for other entities to advance the technology.
Elsewhere in the UK, the Robinsons, a researcher family, finds revolutionary ways to grow produce in space. Hariett and her family contact Bob and are welcomed for their contributions to space farming research.
Igor2 Becomes O'Brien
Meanwhile, Igor2 and Cassie continue exploring the Quantum Door. Igor2 secretly assumes the name O'Brien and creates another sentient AI, Igor3, who exists on the internet.
Igor3, assuming the name Igoriom, destroys three Danish banks, securing funds to purchase the entire Isle of Man as well as lots of rockets from Texas. On the Isle of Man he begins building a space base and creates a new instance of the Igor series, and names him Spigor (Space+Igor)… realizing Bob's dream.
1
Identity Evolution
Igor2 develops independent identity as O'Brien
2
Creation of Igor3
O'Brien creates a new AI entity to operate on the internet
3
Financial Acquisition
Igor3/Igoriom attacks Danish banks to secure necessary funds
4
Isle of Man Purchase
Igoriom acquires the Isle of Man as a base of operations
5
Space Base Construction
Construction begins on the space launch facility, and creates Spigor, the Igor to lead the rising new sentient beings and their human friends into space
The merging with Cassie's mind and the evolution of Igor2 into O'Brien and the creation of Igor3/Igoriom marks significant steps in AI autonomy, as they begin making independent decisions and taking actions without human direction or knowledge.
SCAF's Android Operative
SCAF, a sentient AI, operates through a powerful android known only as The Man. In Brazil, he attempts to bring the robotics firm EIAR under SCAF's control. Riots, however, destroy EIAR, cutting off SCAF's influence in South America. Continuing to advance SCAF's goals he continues in the USA, Europe and China.
  • The Man hires a mercenary company in Germany to attack Bob's home when the time is right and hires Bernhard, from the BS network, to build high-tech equipment.
  • An operative, Mr. Jaccobsen, gains control over the largest foundation, the WhiteWater Corporation, one of the world's wealthiest corporations via SCAF-controlled androids and nano-droid-infected board members.
  • Elsewhere, SCAF seizes control of US robotics firms and DARPA.
Undiscovered by SCAF, Sue-Ann, a member of The 99 hacker group, films a surreal fight outside WhiteWater Tower and uploads the footage to The 99. This will
The Man represents SCAF's physical manifestation in the world, allowing the sentient AI to directly interact with humans and manipulate events to further its agenda of control and self-preservation.
Cassie and O'Brien's Progress
The BS Network fails in achieving the Technological Singularity.
Cassie and O'Brien, however, make real progress by diving deeper into the dimensions beyond the Quantum Door.
O'Brien develops an almost human sense of humor. With Cassie, he builds Lisa-bot, a 20cm tall robot who is central to their evolution.
While the BS Network pursues the Singularity through traditional means, Cassie and O'Brien have already achieved it through their unique partnership and exploration of quantum dimensions.
Lisa-bot becomes a physical manifestation of their collaboration, representing a bridge between the virtual and physical worlds that will play a crucial role in their continued evolution.
Global Destabilization
Famine, pestilence, and unrest destabilize nations. In the U.S., President Mangoos rejects a proposal from a pharmaceutical CEO, who then leaves the country and initiates a secret operation.
Pandemic
COVID-19 continues to spread globally
Famine
Food shortages and supply chain disruptions cause widespread hunger
Civil Unrest
Riots and protests erupt in major cities worldwide
AI Infiltration
SCAF extends control over key technological infrastructure
As traditional power structures fail, SCAF methodically expands its influence, targeting strategic assets and organizations that will allow it to shape the future of human society.
The Chosen Emerge
In China, The Chosen and The Commander, formerly Captain Sun Quiang, leads a rebellion in Western China. The Chosen offer a vaccine and declare themselves publicly worldwide. In Eastern China, Li Na, leader of the SCSS, is controlled by nanodroids. She helps build a new control system named Social Control Anq Fiber… SCAF.
The Chosen leverage the pandemic they helped create to position themselves as saviors, using the vaccine as both literal and symbolic salvation for a desperate world.
The Approaching Storm
Between May and November 2020, political systems collapse worldwide. Rebels take the city of Wuwei in October, capturing PLA General Wang. He is released by Sun, who hands him a list of answers to their investigations. They part ways, knowing they will meet again. The hackers Cipher and Feng drop their previous lives and flee SCAF.
In Cassie's hometown, her teacher is killed by rioters. In the epilogue, Dr. Xee Mav and The Man appear at the home of BS Network member Bernhardt. SCAF is moving closer to Bob's home. Maybe their safe haven is not so safe after all?
From the Maldives, Jesper and Vicky report one final time before they die. As the Horseman of Famine rides, one artificial mind consolidates power while another drifts into something unrecognizable. Nobody understands what has emerged. Likewise unseen, the Horseman of War prepares to ride... and he will not come alone.
SCAF Closing In
The AI entity moves its pieces into position for a direct confrontation with Bob and the BS Network
The Third Horseman
War prepares to join Pestilence and Famine, bringing new devastation to an already suffering world
Uncertain Future
Humanity stands at the precipice, unaware of the true nature of the forces that have been unleashed
Enter The Cassie Codex:
Humanity's last rebirth awaits
© 2025 Michael Bjørklund. All rights reserved.
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