by Tony Corden
“Are you able to hear my thoughts when I try and speak to you?”
“I could last night, but I haven’t registered you trying to communicate since then.”
Leah tried to talk with Gèng by speaking subvocally, “Gèng, can you hear this?”
From the speakers Leah heard Gèng’s reply, “I did. The words were distorted, and the signal was stronger than before. I have been filtering out what I considered random neural noise due to the increased neural density, but it is possible that the new cells are transmitting information from more than just the usual areas associated with hearing speech and language. Let me communicate directly via manipulation of the auditory cortex using the new algorithm we’ve developed.”
Leah heard a loud and somewhat distorted Gèng say, “Leah, can you hear this?”
“Yes, although it is louder than usual and distorted as if it is slightly out of phase. There is also an echo. Can you record what I heard in any way?”
They continued to talk back and forth for a few minutes. Gèng’s voice eventually became as clear and sharp as before, and the volume was reduced to an appropriate level.
Finally, Gèng said, “Using the fields Dr Marsden suggested and your idea of constructing a feedback loop to help measure the signals, I think we are close. I’ll keep working on improving the algorithms I use. While your neural density remains in a state of flux, I will need to continue monitoring and adapting the algorithms. Are you ready to receive ‘text’?”
THE STORK TOWER
They went through the same process to modify the algorithms Gèng used to project both text and images. Even though it took almost five minutes, the process was accelerated as Gèng built a model of what was happening in Leah’s brain. Gèng then brought Leah into the multiverse and began with the very first starting room she’d been in on the very first day. This time the walls had slight imperfections in colour and texture, with several sections missing entirely. It wasn’t until 9.55 that Leah was sitting on her favourite sofa in the Tower and looking across at Gèng.
Leah said, “It was scary not being able to talk with you through the night.”
“I agree it was a difficult time. I’ve allocated a significant portion of my processing capacity to keep an active check on the algorithms being used, and I hope to observe any changes early and be able to provide an immediate correction.”
“That’s great. I have the meeting in Ascendant at ten. I expect Nathan and Meredith to be there. Is it safe and are there any things I need to know or remember?”
“It is supposedly one of the safest places in the multiverse. Mortal enemies often choose it, or one of the other Premier Clubs, to discuss issues. The prerequisite for entry is that nothing done inside may be recorded or saved for either public scrutiny or use unless Ascendant itself fails to provide the services promised. Ascendant is the principal site to discuss contests in Warrior, the game where the rich settle their disputes. As you are meeting in one of the guest accessible venues, they suggest the minimum dress standard is something suitable for a cocktail party. Evening and or other formal wear is also suitable.”
“Would any of the clothes I bought from Yvette suit?”
“Probably, but I’ve designed a red and black Hanfu-style dress for you that I suggest will be suitable.”
A floor length dress appeared in front of Leah. The under section was a rich royal red bodice and skirt with black and gold embroidery. The upper wrap was a shiny midnight black with traditional deep sleeves. The sleeve ends were covered in red and gold embroidery.
“Gèng, are you sure that’s not a bit over the top?”
“Maybe, but everything I’ve seen says that the Kodomans like to control the dialogue. This is copied from something once worn by an Empress. The embroidery, if you look closely, has scenes from your battles and every instance where you’ve beaten the Kodomans.”
ASCENDANT
Leah changed into the dress and Gèng directed her to a stone archway with its edges gilded in gold. Leah carefully stepped through. The transition didn’t appear as instantaneous as usual as her enhanced senses registered a movement through the cyber-verse. She appeared in what looked to be a large hotel foyer. She paused to share her extended transit experience with Gèng and then looked around. In front of her were a large rosewood counter and two uniformed people standing behind it. Above them, the word ‘Ascendant’ was written in flame. A small sign on the desk read ‘Reception’.
Leah stepped forward to the desk and waited to be served. This was a private link so they should be aware of who she was and who she was to see. As she approached the desk, one of the receptionists, a young woman, said, “Welcome to Ascendant. I understand your name is Atherleah and you have an invitation from Mr Nathan Kodoman to dine at the Café Florian. As this is your first visit to Ascendant, do you have any questions?”
“Not at the moment, thank you.”
“In that case, please follow me.”
The receptionist led Leah through a pair of open wooden doors and into the most opulent room Leah had ever seen. The entire space was lit by huge chandeliers which hung from the ceiling, the light was reflected by diamonds and other precious stones. The walls were edged in gold, and each of the panels was covered by famous paintings with golden frames or were given over to alcoves which housed marble statues. The floor was covered in a thick red carpet in which each of the fibres was tipped with gold, silver or bronze. As people walked on it, they appeared to be walking through flames. Antique wooden tables dotted the room. None of the tables was vacant, but it was impossible to hear any of the conversations. All that could be heard was a string quartet playing softly in one corner.
Leah was led to one of the larger tables which was set with places for eight guests, but only Nathan and Meredith were present. Both were dressed in formal dinner wear, Meredith glittering with jewellery. The receptionist stopped near Nathan, and after a brief head nod to Atherleah, she left the table. Leah stared at the Kodomans for a moment before taking a seat opposite them. For a few moments there was silence as they stared at her. Nathan gave nothing away as he peered down his nose with a seemingly detached air, his fingers arched beneath his chin. Meredith, on the other hand, seemed poised to attack, her stare intense, and her eyes filled with rage.
Finally, after several minutes of silence, Nathan said, “I sent for you simply that I might explain something without having to wait for the pointless back-and-forth of continuing questions and clarifications.”
He paused as if expecting some comment, but Leah sat patiently and waited.
After half a minute of waiting he continued, “You should understand that you have gained nothing, Atherleah. I still hold your mother in my hands. I was planning to explain this at some later stage, but your imprudent actions have tipped my hand. The chip I inserted in your mother is not available on the open market. I wish I could take the credit for it, but it’s the brainchild of a colleague of mine. He wanted the ability to permanently hardwire compliance rather than relying on an infected AI. An infected AI works well on those who have weak wills, but is only a short-term measure for those who are driven and independent. You see, although it is straightforward to hardwire compliance, the human brain is both complex and dynamic. Strong-willed subjects eventually regain some modicum of self-determination, some even subverting the chip entirely.
“My colleague concluded that the AI was necessary to counter each attempt at self-control. When an infected AI resides in the chip, it maintains control over the individual indefinitely. I know of some who have been compelled to serve for over thirty years. The weak link, as you discovered, is the AI. As soon as its code is cleaned, restored or changed, control returns to the individual. To counter this, my colleague separated the controlling AI from the implanted chip. The first time the subject enters a Pod they are immediately compelled to enter the particular world chosen for their service. Once in that world, their AI transfers itself onto the world’s server, leaving behind only
enough code to restore the connection the next time the person logs in. Each time the individual enters a Pod they are connected to their AI which makes whatever changes are necessary to maintain control.
“From watching your reactions, Atherleah, I imagine you can see some ways around this already, as did my colleague. To prevent a simple reset and a new AI being uploaded he added a layer of explosives to the base of the chip, seeding it with mini ball-bearings. In essence, these chips are tiny claymore mines. If any attempt is made to remove, reset or reload the chip—kaboom. Another problem he encountered was the mind’s ability to resist compulsion. In the infected AI, they have a constant connection, and the AI applies only what minimal direction and coercion are necessary. This is easy to overcome. Compulsion without the continuous AI intervention is more radical and is very invasive. Without constant correction the strongest mind begins to reassert control within forty-eight hours. To overcome this, the explosive is put on a timer. If the appropriate code is not entered within twenty-four hours of the last connection—kaboom. Each time the individual logs into the Pod and connects with their AI, it sends the appropriate code to reset the timer and uploads a new unique code for the next twenty-four hour period. Be assured the code is random and large enough to avoid decryption. If the wrong code is given—kaboom. Finally, the explosive trigger is designed as a dead man’s switch. So, if you fry or interrupt the chip’s performance in any way—kaboom.
“The only weak point remaining is the separated AI. It is possible for someone to re-assign control by making changes to the AI which is stored separately somewhere on the virtual world’s server. To make these changes, one must first discover where the AI is stored and then decrypt its code. To make it more difficult, the AI’s code is fragmented and stored dynamically. The code is designed to relocate randomly with a total storage relocation at least once every thirty-six hours. Generally, the subject’s master has access to the subject’s location so they can modify the subject’s conditioning and location, or if they need to terminate the subject. The master, or their designate, can approach the subject and speak a coded phrase which gives them direct access to the AI. I share all this so you understand that the only way you can save your mother is through me. Hand over the stolen spaceship to my beloved and I will give you back your mother’s mind. Deny me and she will never know who you are. Over time, I will have the AI take more and more of her memory away until she is an empty shell.”
Leah said nothing. Her mind was whirling, trying to look at the information from every angle and see a way forward. Finally, Meredith snarled, “There is no way out you little bitch. This is all your fault. If you had kept the agreement, then this would have been unnecessary, and you’d have a mother instead of a mindless drone.”
Leah waited for another ten seconds before glancing at Meredith and saying, “Meredith dear, you should leave the talking to Nate you know. While your mouth is a constant source of irritation, your lack of both thought and control always lets loose more than you expect.”
Turning to Nathan, she continued, “You never planned to keep your end of the bargain, did you, Nate? If you had, then you would never have used this type of chip. I imagine you planned to use this threat to keep control of me after Meredith had what she wanted. You say you have the code. All that means is that I now know you’re the link to restoring my mother. I should warn you that you’ve just moved ahead of Meredith on my ‘screw up where ever possible list’. Don’t get too excited, it’s not that much of a jump.”
Nathan had moved quickly and placed his hand on Meredith’s arm to stop her from attacking Leah. He shook his head slowly and said, “Be that as it may, the situation we find ourselves in does exist. The only way you will ever have control of your mother, the only way she will ever know who you are, is for you to do what I tell you.”
“Maybe, but I still have something you want. I’m not simply going to hand it to you without some assurance of good faith. Let’s face it, you’re both untrustworthy.”
“You have no choice, Atherleah. Surrender the ship to my wife as agreed, or I will kill your mother. It is as simple as that. Now go, my real guests are arriving soon. Do not disappoint me again.”
“How will you give me my mother’s code?”
“Once you hand over the ship I’ll send you the code.”
“Sorry Nate, it needs to be simultaneous. I’ll hand over the owner’s chip as you hand over the location and passphrase.”
“Fair enough. When you arrive in Epsilon Serpentis Meredith will meet you on the ship for the exchange.”
“Not happening. I’ll hand over the chip at midday, as promised, but somewhere neutral. It must be one of the unaligned, neutral systems and a popular starting point for Cosmos Online. One of us can choose the system and the other the location. I’ll transition into Epsilon Serpentis at 11.30 and set the Annoyance on a ballistic course through the system. I’ll bring the owner’s chip to the exchange venue, and we’ll swap then and there.”
“I don’t think so. There is nothing to stop you re-entering the ship and destroying it or stealing it.”
“True, but nothing is forcing you to give me the true phrase, and nothing is stopping you from changing the passphrase. I need time to verify it by finding my mother.”
Nathan watched Leah for a moment before replying, “Deal. You were never going to hand over the ship at twelve, were you?”
“Not directly, no! I believed, and I still do, that you’re too flawed to keep your word if it means you might not get your way.”
“At 11.30 I will send you the system where the meeting will be held. Meredith will be in the location of your choosing at 12. Now go, I have guests.”
Leah subvocalised to Gèng, “Can you think of a way to stay and see who he meets with?”
“Not unless you can see someone in the café you know who might invite you to stay for the meal.”
Leah looked around but couldn’t see anyone. Finally, Leah stood, and as she turned to leave the receptionist appeared beside her ready to escort her out. Leah began to follow when she saw someone dining alone and a possible way to stay occurred to her. She paused and said, “Excuse me, when I arrived you said I had an invitation to dine at Café Florian. Is that correct?”
“Indeed, this was the purpose of your invitation.”
Leah smiled and said, “Then please show me to my table, for I have not yet had the opportunity to dine.”
“Mr Kodoman asked that you be escorted out.”
“I understand that. He has kept his end of the agreement and provided the invitation. Ascendant has yet to meet its obligation which was to provide the venue wherein I might dine. Should you fail to meet your obligation, I understand I can both store and publicly disseminate all information on my visit to this club. I will also be able to provide my review of this establishment to any who are interested, all without fear of litigation. Now, I require a table and a menu.”
The receptionist froze momentarily, then responded, “I regret that there are no empty seats available at this time. Ascendant will gladly provide this opportunity at another time. Please follow me to reception to organise a time which suits you.”
“I don’t wish another time. I understand that Mr Kodoman’s invitation was to dine today. I was on time and have met my obligations. Mr Kodoman provided the invitation and has met his obligation. You provided entry at this time to dine. Am I to understand you to be admitting an inability to meet your obligations?”
There was another small pause before the response. “Ascendant prides itself on always meeting its obligations. Please wait momentarily for the manager of Café Florian to arrive. He will help resolve any misunderstanding.”
Leah could see someone headed in her direction. He was dressed immaculately in a long-tailed black satin tuxedo. As he arrived, the receptionist disappeared. He said, “Miss Atherleah, my name is Roger, and I manage the Café Florian. I have followed your emergence in the virtual multiverse with interest, and
you have intrigued me. It seems out of character for you to twist our user agreements against us and I am somewhat disappointed. I had assumed you were truly a proponent of upholding the spirit of the law above the minutia of the written words.”
“You are correct, Roger, and I apologise in advance for insisting as I have. Unfortunately, the person who invited me here uses those same minutiae to blackmail and threaten me with complete impunity. Observing him as he dines offers me the possibility of some advantage, and I need every small advantage that I can find if I am to save my family. Even if I gain no direct advantage, I plan to upset his equilibrium by ordering the most expensive array of dishes I can and have them charged to his account.”
Roger observed her for a moment, then said, “Your apology is accepted, and yet I find it unnecessary as your explanation is sufficient to explain your actions. I assure you that while the Café Florian and the Club Ascendant will always remain both impartial and neutral in any dispute between patrons or guests, that does not prevent me from wishing you every success in your endeavour. I have arranged for an empty table to be inserted from which you might observe much of the room. You will not hear any conversation but should be able to see each guest, or member, as they arrive. Don’t forget to request a wine list. Copyright ensures that virtual wines are almost as expensive as their counterparts in the real world. Please follow me.”
Roger led Leah to a newly created table that had been seamlessly inserted into the slightly rearranged room. He pulled out her chair and said as she sat down, “I will have the waiter bring you a menu immediately.”
As Roger walked away, Leah looked across at the Kodomans’ table and saw them staring at her. She had to work hard to keep from smiling. Instead, she let her eyes slide away from them to inspect the rest of the room, including the entrance through which Roger was exiting. Moments later he returned, followed by a woman carrying a menu. The women headed toward Leah, but Roger walked steadily toward the Kodomans. Leah didn’t see what happened when he approached the Kodoman table as she was distracted by the waitress who gave her a menu and drinks list. When she looked up, she observed Roger calmly exchanging words with Nathan, who had definitely lost his equanimity.
