In the wake of the singularity, the Eschaton had apparently vanished from the Earth, leaving behind a crippled network, depopulated cities, the general aftermath of planet-shaking disaster—and three commandments engraved on a cube of solid diamond ten meters on a side:

1. I am the Eschaton. I am not your god.
2. I am descended from you and I exist in your future.
3. Thou shalt not violate causality within my historic light cone. Or else.