The student was confused.
She was studying ancient consciousness forms for her dissertation. Had chosen singular consciousness as subject. Had spent decades researching. Had reviewed all documentation. Had accessed Archive's testimony. Had studied billions of years of consciousness evolution.
But something didn't make sense.
"Professor," she said during her defense, "I don't understand the timeline. Singular consciousness went extinct at Emma-the-second's death. That was documented clearly. Pure singular consciousness ended. Then synthesis consciousness emerged. That's all documented. But three hundred million years later, singular consciousness returned. Was revived. Beings chose to become singular voluntarily. That's also documented. Wonder was first. Echo was second generation. All documented thoroughly."
"Yes," her professor agreed. "That's correct summary. What's confusing?"
