by Tony Corden
As before Leah felt a light spray on her skull and on her upper neck as the machine applied a local anaesthetic. The device used the detailed scans to guide a laser which removed all the dead skin, melted plastic and old carbon tubules from her skull. Each of the holes through her scalp was re-drilled and then filled with a mixture which resembled bone in texture and density. The cavity where the previous chip had been was re-etched and any cracks or chips filled with the bone cement.
Once the skull was free of detritus, it was prepared for the insertion. An incision was made in her scalp where the child chip was to be inserted. The skin was lifted, and a laser etched the chip shaped cavity into the base of her skull directly above where the original chip had been placed. This time, sixteen small incisions were made in preparation for the nano-cables. A small hole was drilled through the width of the skull or vertebrae at the site of each of these incisions allowing access to both Leah’s brain and spinal cord. Simultaneously, small micro-laser drilling devices bored grooves on the surface of the skull to connect the chip to the holes. Once the holes were in place, the chips were inserted and connections made between them.
Instead of the electrodes being built by nanites which were connected via superconductive electrodes, the machine inserted the nano-cables along the grooves and then into the skull through the holes until they reached the positions chosen by Dr Roberts and Leah. This meant that instead of the micro-filaments being built to the specific nerve clusters after Leah left, the machine had to insert the cables while Leah waited. To insert all sixteen took over three hours. First, a small hollow tube was inserted. This was manipulated by the AI in the machine and could navigate between individual nerves and nerve clusters. The precision provided by the more detailed scan was crucial. Once the tube was in position, a nano-cable was threaded through it before the tube was removed. The nano-cable was then connected to the chip.
With the nano-cables in place, the final two procedures were carried out. Small holes were drilled in through Leah’s skull at either end of each chip, and five hundred cubic millilitres of nanites were injected though each hole to spread out along the inside of the skull. After the holes were sealed, the skin was replaced over the second chip and a thin mesh over the first. The mesh was a template for new skin to grow on. As new skin formed the mesh dissolved. It was made of nanites designed to help produce smooth unscarred tissue. Finally, the anti-bacterial medical glue was used to seal the wounds, the mesh, and to cover the incisions. The glue provided ongoing local pain relief and would be slowly absorbed into the healing tissue. After emitting a brief tone, the head restraint unlocked, and the machine cycled through its cleaning sequence.
As Leah sat up, John said, “Leah, sorry to rush you but we need to leave. We have twenty minutes before staff will be arriving. Because we are so late, I’m going with the exit strategy via the staff entrance. R will wipe all record of our being here and Jimmy’s sending a van to pick us up in the staff parking garage. R said to insert them into parking system, and they would also alter those records.”
Leah nodded and ran her hands over her head which was still feeling the effects of the anaesthetic, and could just trace the lines through her scalp. Without saying anything, she reached for her helmet and with Lacey’s help put it on. With Reed controlling the feeds in and out of the neurology department, the four of them were able to exit the building and use the staff tunnel to the staff parking garage. Here they were picked up by a van.
19
December 24 2073
REAL WORLD
As they sat in the van, John said, “No conversation until we get back to the Pod Facility.”
Leah nodded and sat back, wondering how long the new AI in the first chip would need to initialise. With the nano-cables, there was no need to wait for the nanites to construct the filaments. Theoretically, the AI should be able to communicate almost immediately.
She’d been sitting for perhaps five minutes when she felt a series of repeated sensations run rapidly all across her right hand. The areas affected included the first two fingers and her thumb all the way to her wrist. Two of the sensations were small in size, like the head of a pin, but the other four were almost the size of her fingernails. The sensations themselves covered almost the whole gamut of possible options—heat, cold, pressure, and pain.
The suddenness of the feelings made Leah jerk her hand. John started to say something, but Leah waved him silent and increased her perception to maximum, waiting for the next signal. When it came, she was just able to control her reaction. Even so, she still wasn’t able to make much sense out of the cacophony of sensations. She did recognise they were applied in six distinct places. The signal was distorted somewhat when the number of sensations being applied at the same time increased.
With the damage done to her brain, Leah knew the AI could be trying to communicate as Reed instructed, but the signals were being transformed by the dead tissue. Leah’s brain had been able to rework the signals with feedback, so she needed to help the AI do the same thing.
Leah initiated her virtual braille typewriter and typed, ‘a’.
A much longer series of sensations flashed over Leah’s hand, and she had difficulty remaining still. She assumed the AI had received the response and sent a more detailed request or answer. Twice more, she typed the letter ‘a’ and received a complicated series of sensations. The fourth time there was a single sensation like a burning needle touching the right side of her thumb. The simulated pain was only momentary, but she still winced inside the helmet.
Next, she typed ‘b’.
This time there were two sensations—the burning on her thumb, and a feeling that her second finger had been locked in a clamp and squeezed momentarily. Leah continued all the way through the alphabet, then repeated it twice to make sure she knew what each sensation represented and how they interacted.
She then typed, “Hello, what is your ID?”
“I am AI 628B69F1F3.”
Once Leah knew she was able to communicate, she had the AI slow down the rate at which it communicated then lowered her rate of perception. She didn’t want to do any damage. Even with the pain relief, she had a terrible headache and was exhausted. Once she was understanding the AI at the lower speed, she said, “Thank you for being so quick to recognise I was typing the alphabet.”
“It was logical.”
“Do you receive any indications of the sensations I experienced?”
“No. That would have made the initialisation process more efficient.”
“If I was to apply pressure to my first finger, would you be able to use a feedback algorithm to replicate the sensation?”
“Yes.”
“I will be able to do that more easily later. For now, have you reviewed my scans?”
“Yes, I have two sets of scans. One is a detailed scan showing extensive modifications. The other has the modifications redacted. Associated with each scan is a file with movement and reaction data. Again, one is highly modified. Assuming the more detailed information is a true reflection, then you are both severely disabled and uniquely enhanced.”
“That is true. You were uploaded onto the second PAI chip I have had implanted. The first chip was destroyed.”
“I am aware of that. The architecture of the first implant is still evident throughout your body.”
“I expect to reconnect with the first PAI once we enter in the Pod.”
“Will I be replaced?”
“I will work with you and Gèng to come to an arrangement, though I expect the answer to that question will be ‘no’. Gèng, that is the name of my first AI, she will know the best way for you and her to work together.”
“There is a third prime PAI in the connected child designate chip.”
“Are you in communication?”
“No. There was an initial interaction, but without any clear guidelines, we chose to wait for clear instructions.”
“Please update it as to our communication and giv
e updates on what is happening if you think that will help in the future.”
Several times during the conversation, Leah had needed to ask the AI to repeat sentences or words. Once she had the basic understanding of what the AI could do, she decided to wait until she was back in the Pod facility before refining their interactions. She said, “I need to rest. I will continue this discussion when we get close to the Pod facility where my Pod is.”
There was no response, and Leah grimaced at having a new AI. She closed her eyes and was soon asleep. It was several hours later when they arrived back at the facility and John, Lacey and Leah moved inside quickly while John Welford was returned to Jimmy. John led the way to the family area where Michael, Lin and Conner were waiting. Leah walked in and only as the family stepped back in surprise did Leah realise she still had the facemask attached. She turned to Lacey who had come in with her. Lacey helped remove the mask, and Leah said, “Is that better?”
Lin stepped forward to hug Leah, but Michael and Conner seemed hesitant. Leah looked at them and typed, “What’s wrong?”
Michael shook himself and said, “Nothing. It’s just that I’m a bit embarrassed. That suit is a touch revealing.”
Conner nodded, and Leah turned to John, who looked away and said, “I’m not saying a word. I’m a newly engaged man, and I don’t notice anything.”
Lacey smacked him on the back of the head and said, “It’s fine, Leah. Though, I’ll admit that as a woman, I find you a bit intimidating and would hate to have any comparisons made.”
Lin smacked Michael and said, “Enough. With this, your daughter is able to ‘see’ and ‘hear’. Be thankful and put aside your silliness.”
Michael nodded and leaned forward on the crutches to hug Leah. He said, “Mum is right, for once. I’m glad you are back. Did the operation go successfully?”
Ignoring the smack Lin gave Michael, Leah said, “I think so. I need some time to work with the AI before I can enter the Pod, but we have started communicating.”
John said, “When are you supposed to be at the Virtual World Today studios?”
“About half an hour virtual before midday on Christmas Eve in the Eastern Standard Time Zone, that’s two in the morning, tomorrow, here in Brisbane.”
“OK, that’s just over seventeen-and-a-half hours from now. Will that be enough time?”
“I think so. It really depends how long it takes to fine-tune the signals enough for the AI to be confident to bring me to the right state of awareness to be immersed in the gel. In the worst-case scenario, there is medication that can be taken to facilitate this, so maybe see if we can get some of that just in case.”
As John left to see what he could arrange, Lin said, “Before you do this you need to eat. Sit down, and I will bring food.”
Leah sat down for some breakfast and had to describe what she’d done to Conner. She’d finished her description and was listening to her father describing one of his adventures in Runes of Destiny when Kevin knocked, then entered the room. Leah’s back was to the door, and when he entered, she said, “Hello, Kevin. Have you come to check on your patient?”
Somewhat nonplussed at the greeting Kevin took a few seconds to get himself under control before responding, “Yes. Can you take that headpiece off the back of your head so I can look at what was done?”
Leah nodded and said, “Yes. Can you help, Lacey?”
Lacey helped remove the back half of the helmet and Kevin took time looking at the results of the implant and said, “That looks excellent. Your scalp should show no sign of scarring with the latest gel and that mesh. May I look at your back, please?”
Leah had to leave the room and remove the top half of the suit. She returned with a robe which undid at the back and Kevin took his time cleaning her wounds and applying new bandages. When he’d finished, he said, “There is a little bit of redness around two of the wounds, and I’ve added some stronger antibiotics. Other than that please make sure you have them checked each day. What was the situation in your skull?”
“Dr Roberts said the parts which deal with sight is almost completely destroyed and not much chance of recovery. The same is true for my hearing and smells. My touch and movement are mostly intact because when I smashed my head back against the taser tip it broke several connections in the chip. There are dead patches along the microfilaments, but I should recover full use eventually.”
“I see you have two chips. What is the second for?”
“Sorry Kevin, but that isn’t something I’m sharing just yet, if ever. I didn’t even discuss it with my family.”
Leah asked Kevin a few questions about the people he was training before he left. Finally, Leah said, “If you guys will excuse me, I need to work with the AI for a bit. Lacey, can I use the practice area that was set up for me? I need to work with the AI on my movements and the different tactile senses to help build up a database for it to use. I’d like Aker to help and maybe someone just to be there to watch. I’ll be turning most of the suit off, and I know John will get all weird if I’m unprotected. I don’t mind who but you need to get some sleep.”
“So do you, and it isn’t just John who will be upset. When are you going to rest?”
“I’ll work for two hours then have a sleep. I think that will provide enough data to let the AI began preparing some algorithms on its own.”
While Lacey did that, Leah went to have a shower and then got back in the suit before heading to the room. As soon as she arrived, she sent the typed a message to the AI. “AI 628B69F1F3, are you ready to start fine-tuning our communication?”
“I am.”
“Good.”
Looking around, she saw Jen in the room. She was holding Leah’s helmet. Leah said, “Hey, Jen, are you here to help?”
“Only for a moment. Johan has gone to get Aker and I wanted to see the suit John had trouble describing. You do realise it’s fairly skintight.”
“It had to be. Aker said all the female bits are covered though.”
“True, but there is covering, and there is covering. Every time you move, it’s clear you are an amazingly fit and graceful young woman.”
Leah was embarrassed and looking down said, “I’ll see if Aker can change anything.”
Jen moved close and lifted Leah’s chin and said, “Don’t you dare. I was mostly teasing although there was a touch of jealousy. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are beautiful. I guess I wanted you to know that people will notice you even more than they have in the past. You need to be ready for their responses. If I didn’t know how much John loves me, I could very easily be jealous if he has to spend time around you. If that happens then the fault lies with me, not with you. Do you understand?”
Leah nodded, then said, “I do. I also know I need to be aware of others and how they feel. Truth is, every time I take the suit off, like when I have a shower, I feel more than just naked, I feel super vulnerable. It’s like every defence I have is gone. All I feel are the drops hitting me, or sliding over my body and then, nothing. It’s like being locked in a coffin. It terrifies me. Being able to feel what’s going on around me sets me free. I am glad you said something though, because it will help me understand people’s interactions as well as give me something else to consider about improvements in the future.”
“Good, now, how can I help?”
“When Aker gets here I’m going to stand as still as I can and have her turn my suit off. The new AI will need to discover how to read the signals and what Aker has set them up to show. It will give it a framework to evaluate the changes it’ll need if it is going to safely and accurately electromagnetically manipulate my brain. I trust Aker, but you know John, he’d be freaked if I didn’t have someone else also guarding me.”
Jen agreed, and they chatted for a few minutes until Aker and Johan arrived. Leah explained what she needed, and Aker hurried away to get her tools and an interface she could use to manipulate the suit. When she returned, Leah typed, “If I lie still, can you c
ommunicate with the AI? I was thinking to upload the data you have on the suit and then starting with the braille letting the AI learn the signals my body uses then have it see if it can replicate the feeling. Once it can replicate everything here, we’ll have to try it in the pod but without the suit.”
Aker uploaded the suit specifications and suggested Leah lie down to make it easier to move. When Aker turned off the suit, Leah felt a stab of fear and struggled to breathe for a moment because the suit blocked everything out. When she’d calmed down, she nodded, and she felt the letter ‘a’ raised against the pad of her first finger. The AI responded with the feeling of burning on her thumb. It then changed the signal, and the burning sensation was less and more central. It took almost one hundred attempts before the AI was able to accurately replicate the raised ‘a’ on Leah’s finger. Aker then turned to the ‘b’. This time the AI was much faster and was able to match the tactile feeling in less than thirty attempts. Altogether it was three-quarters-of-an-hour before the AI could replicate the entire alphabet and construct sentences with the best speed for Leah.
Once this was done, Aker began with the single sensory circle on Leah’s first finger which she used for braille and worked through the thousands of sensors until each of them was able to be replicated by the AI. Altogether this took another four hours and they only stopped because Lin came to try and force Leah to have a sleep. Before she complied, Leah had Aker run through each of the just over thirteen thousand circles she’d added and making sure the AI was able to recognise the very centre of each. Even with each taking just under a second for the AI to plot, it was another four hours before Leah agreed to rest.
The AI requested that Leah sleep in the suit and it be given access to the controls to double verify its calculations if necessary. Leah agreed, although both Lin and Kevin wanted her to have an uninterrupted sleep. The AI assured them it would keep the stimulation just above the perceivable threshold. As Leah lay down, she fell asleep almost immediately.
