At Least

"What are these creatures?"

"Three-dimensional, material beings based on atoms that move at constant speed in a fourth. Their hardware is replicated directly from its source code, which is invariably and redundantly stored on cellular level and in an adult form is recombined by fusing and mutating with another individual to produce new source code, which in turn generates a new young individual. The software is based on a core of instincts, activated by substances formed from the source code in the decision center, as well as storing sensory impressions and processing them in a neural network using a reward system. Part of these sensory impressions are those of other individuals, especially those with whom source code is shared, as well as information from the environment, such as electrical media and data storage devices. The existence of these beings is driven by the proliferation of their source code through merging with other individuals and the proliferation of their own effective software through updating the self-produced individuals with it or feeding it into electronic media and data storage, that other beings use to develop their own software further."

"They all try to ensure that their own hardware and software does not die out and evolve. I'm surprised they use constant hardware."

"Moreover, they do not know their future on the timeline, but can only access the current time and must save it in their data memory. In 438 orbits of the sun, seen from here, they will have opened up all the habitable celestial bodies in their solar system, and in 2633 more orbits they will already have colonies in 312 more solar systems when this simulation is complete, and I'll be devoting myself to a new, five-dimensional project."

"What a pity."

"At least, they have a soul."

"Yes, that should be worth the effort. And now? Shall we go into ecstasy?"

"Sure."