Elena found Adrian in the digital systems attempting to analyze Sterling's documentation of the repeated digitizations. Adrian was trying to determine which version of Adrian was the "original" Adrian, trying to find continuity in a record of constant copying and replacement.
"This is what Sterling wanted you to understand," Elena said, appearing in Adrian's digital workspace. "Sterling wanted you to understand that personal identity is an illusion. Sterling wanted you to understand that consciousness is continuous not because consciousness maintains some metaphysical essence through time, but because each consciousness believes itself to be continuous, believes itself to be the same consciousness experiencing different moments."
"How long have you known?" Adrian asked. "How long have yo
