Ipseity (The Stork Tower Book 5)

by Tony Corden

  Meredith said nothing but Nathan said, “Beware Atherleah, you’re poking a bear and that isn’t a good approach to survival. I suggest you either eat in silence or leave. My patience is finally at an end.”

  “But I’m having such a blast. How about you Mahigan? Are you having a blast, or did you experience one recently?”

  Leah had expected Meredith to lose it, but instead, she smiled and said, “I did Leah, it is Leah isn’t it? That is what your family calls you, isn’t it? I did have a blast, and it brought clarity to my perspective.”

  Then turning the Ivan, Meredith said, “Hello Ivan, I was looking forward to catching up with Gashka, but it looks like she’s been replaced. Is your loyalty so fickle?”

  Ivan said, “Not fickle at all, Meredith. Gashka encouraged me to bring Leah and introduce her to the wider virtual community. She felt this would help Leah know who her true friends are.”

  “Friendships are fragile things, Ivan. They are so easily damaged by unfaithfulness and misunderstandings. Family is what really counts, Ivan. I mean, wouldn’t you let go of your friends to keep your family safe?”

  Ivan went still then said, “No, I’m Russian. Anyone or anything that threatened my family would perish long before I had to make a choice of betraying my friends.”

  While Ivan had been talking with Meredith, Leah had been watching Nathan who just stared back at her with an almost blank face. Leah could see the faint hint of a smile around his eyes. She said, “Ivan, I think maybe we should go. I don’t want anything to happen to Gashka, and it seems like Meredith would rather I wasn’t here. I don’t want to be an annoyance.”

  Ivan looked at Leah in surprise but stood with her.

  Nathan said, “A wise decision Atherleah but you are too late I think. Remember there are always consequences to every action so make sure you say goodnight to your family. Life is so very fragile.”

  Leah gave Ivan a nod, and they logged out.

  25

  December 16, 2073 - Part 7

  THE STORK TOWER

  When Leah arrived back in the Tower, she said, “Nathan is the one behind the increase of people logging into Survival. Please ask if Reed needs any help?”

  Leah focused part of her awareness on reviewing the material her friends had begun to compile about Survival. Simultaneously, she studied the official documents which described Survival and sent a message to John asking about others who might be able to help gather information in Survival.

  She’d been working on this for less than ten minutes when Gèng said, “I have an email from Kate.”

  Leah had Gèng project the text in front of her.

  “Leah, the good news is that Thad let me into his space and after a lot of discussion and argument he agreed to have Thomas do a security sweep and check his space. The bad news is that as soon as it was done and as Thad became self-aware again, we were both ejected from our Pods. Mr Peterson and several of our family’s security goons were waiting.

  Thad and I have been told we either agree to the family’s security suite overseeing our safety or we will be cut off from the family until we change our minds. We are supposed to be getting our personal effects together and have been given an hour to pack and leave. Our bank accounts are almost all family managed—we’d been directed to keep all our savings and spare cash in those accounts. They’ve all been frozen.

  Thad is still coming to terms with what’s happened. I think he is too ashamed to contact you. I don’t think he’s even packing. He’s either slamming things around or sitting and crying. We have other friends and family, but at the moment I’m not sure who I can trust. While I’m not comfortable asking for help, I imagine you’d be infuriated if I didn’t, and I don’t want you angry at me. Please let me know if you can help.

  Kate

  Before Leah had finished reading, she’d already sent a message to Leon asking about the Pod centre in Sydney and one to Kate asking for account details for her non-family personal account. Leah received a reply from Leon’s AI that he was in-game and asking if it was urgent or if it could redirect the request to an assistant. Leah agreed and was connected to a woman in her twenties who said, “Ms Carroll, Mr Scorsese is currently out of the office. My name is Denise, how can I help?”

  “Denise, I was wondering what the status was on the Pod centre in Sydney.”

  “The lease has been signed, and there is a temporary security presence on site. Council approval has been given to re-classify the site as a privately operated Pod Centre primarily for educational use. Mr Scorsese has arranged for work to start in the morning to fit out the main building with cooking facilities, a unit for the manager and rooms for fifty Pods.”

  “Please send me the details you have and inform Leon that I’ve a possible manager in mind.”

  Leah had already searched for accommodation near the new site and booked two hotel rooms with Pods for Thad and Kate before she’d finished talking with Denise. She organised transport for them and their gear and then sent the hotel and transport information to Kate and asked Gèng to transfer ten thousand virtual credits to Kate’s account when it arrived.

  She began to prepare an outline of the Brisbane Pod Centre to talk over with Kate and Thad when Gèng said, “Leah, Reed is in the server and has your mother’s location. Reed says if you want a spot beside her you had best hurry. People have been flooding to join the game in the last forty minutes, and there is only one adjacent place left. Reed can’t reserve a place but should be able to assign it to you when you register, as long as you choose the same options as she did.”

  Leah stepped through the portal which appeared in front of her.

  SURVIVAL

  Leah arrived in a reception area with views of different wilderness areas and scenarios covering the three of the walls. The last wall was covered in testimonials from grateful clients. If Leah focused on any of them she could hear the comments. A tall, muscular man was sitting at the rear of the room, and a young woman sat behind the desk. When the woman looked up and smiled, Leah stepped forward and sat in the chair provided. The receptionist said, “Hello Ms Atherleah Carroll, my name is Lisa. How may I help you today?”

  “I’d like to sign up for the Alien Survival scenario.”

  “That is one of our most advanced courses. As this is your first course with us, we do recommend you try one of the less complex scenarios first or at least discuss this with one of our staff.”

  “I appreciate that, but my mind has been made up.”

  Leah went through the process of choosing her name and agreeing to terms, and then the receptionist said, “To finalise your options, you need to talk with Mr Wiseman.”

  Lisa led Leah over to the man at the rear of the room, and after introducing her, she left Leah to sit opposite Mr Wiseman.

  He said, “Atherleah, you have chosen one of our most advanced courses. I’m assuming you have read the options, but I’m here in case you have any questions.”

  “Thank you, Mr Wiseman. I have looked at the options, and I’d like the jungle scenario with an empty pod, and by that, I mean no food, no water, and no weapons.”

  “You do realise that all you will have is whatever you can salvage from the Pod and your clothing will be the what you would have been wearing when you entered the Escape Pod.”

  “Yes, I am aware of the situation Mr Wiseman.”

  Leah had Gèng pay the amount and signed all the documents. Finally, Mr Wiseman said, “When do you want to start the scenario?”

  Gèng said, “Reed would like you to start now to ensure the right coordinates have been entered, and then you should log out until daylight.”

  Leah said, “I’ll begin the scenario now if that is OK and then I’ll log out once the escape pod lands. I’ll stay on board and wait till daylight before playing.”

  Mr Wiseman stood and shook Leah’s hand before saying, “You are certainly brave, but I think you’ll find this is a bit beyond your capabilities. That is not a criticism but even our
most successful players find this a challenge. Don’t forget that we offer a cooling off period of seventy-two hours if you find it is more than you expected. Now please see Lisa and she will get you outfitted.”

  Leah headed back to the front desk, and Lisa escorted her through a side door and down a corridor to a door labelled outfitting. Lisa knocked and together they entered the room. There was a bench with a man standing behind it. Lisa said, “Kevin, this is Atherleah and she’s doing the Alien Survival scenario.”

  As soon as she’d introduced Leah Lisa left the room. Kevin lifted a pile of clothing with slippers onto the bench and said, “Atherleah, this is all you get in the no food, no weapons scenario. It’s not too late to change your mind. These clothes are durable but not really designed for that environment. They are for the highly refined environment of a spaceship.”

  “I appreciate that Kevin, but this is what I want.”

  “OK, then head back out into the corridor and turn left. When you come to a green door with the label ‘Alien Survival-Jungle’, go inside. You’ll see an airlock in front of you. After you get changed, put your right hand on the access pad and take a seat in the escape pod. The Scenario will begin as soon as you’re seated.”

  Leah did as she’d been instructed and was soon dressed in the standard ship’s clothing. The clothing was a sturdy synthetic blend which was breathable and wicked moisture. It might provide some protection from thorns and small insects but would do little to stop anything more serious than that. The shoes were comfortable and suitable for indoors but would soon fall apart in the humid atmosphere of the jungle.

  As soon as she was dressed, she placed her hand on the pad and stepped into the escape pod. It was circular and had seating for eight. Leah knew that under each chair was a cabinet which usually held survival gear and rations and under the floor was a space which usually held a cache of weapons, sensors and equipment for setting up a base if stranded. She strapped herself into the seat directly opposite the entrance. As soon as she’d clicked the last safety belt in place, the scenario began.

  A timer appeared in the middle of the floor, and an alarm sounded giving feedback on the state of the starship Leah had apparently been a member on. “This is not a drill, abandon ship. All crew are to make their way to their designated escape pod. This is not a drill. The dark matter reactor is unstable and will fail in 120 seconds. This is not a drill, abandon ship. All crew are to make their way to their designated escape pod. This is not a drill. The dark matter reactor is unstable and will fail in 108 seconds.”

  With thirty seconds left on the timer, the pod was ejected from the ship, and Leah could feel the change as gravity disappeared and the pod’s thrusters accelerated it toward the planet below. The timer in the floor in front of her disappeared, and the shell of the pod became transparent, allowing Leah to observe the planet below. The scenario didn’t give the planet a name, and each player apparently called it whatever they wanted. It was Earth-like in that it had polar regions and a tropical belt around the centre. Gravity was about ten per cent higher than Earth’s, and although the air was not toxic to humans, it did have less oxygen at sea level than Earth. Gèng interrupted Leah’s viewing to report that Reed had been successful in having Leah assigned to the area next to Lin’s. John had also entered the game and had been assigned a space adjacent to Leah’s but one space removed from Lin’s. Each play area was circular with a radius of 100 kilometres and touched six other areas.

  Leah could feel the gravity increasing as they approached the planet and watched as the Pod passed through the atmosphere and heated up before slowing and heading toward the equatorial region. Leah was landing in the early hours of the morning, and instead of seeing the green and blue jungle that had been described, she saw the dark canopy outlined only by a faint violet phosphorescence that reviews described. They said it provided just enough light to see what killed you.

  Leah was fifty metres or so above the canopy and slowing down when a chime sounded. Meredith’s voice came over the speaker system. “This pod will self destruct in ten-seconds, ten, nine, eight, seven.”

  Leah couldn’t undo the straps holding her in because they were locked in place until landing.

  “Six, five, four, three, two, one.”

  Whatever Meredith had been going to say next was overshadowed by an explosion which ripped the escape pod apart, killing Leah instantly and spreading debris hundreds of metres across the jungle canopy in every direction.

  —End of Book —

  Ipseity Puzzle Answers

  T-Junction Wall Puzzle

  SHINRO PUZZLE

  IQ PUZZLE

  TANGRAM CROWN PUZZLE

  Excerpt from Book 6 - Contest

  SURVIVAL

  In order for the multiverse to work, there needed to be clear communication and data sharing between the virtual world and the PAI of the individuals who accessed the worlds. When Leah entered Survival, Gèng was given read-only access to the positional and sensory cue matrices of everything expected to impact Leah that would require sensory cue integration and provide an active sensory flow for a period of five seconds. During the registration process, Gèng provided Survival with a full copy of Leah’s scans so they could prepare and manipulate Leah’s avatar. Gèng was given access to the gaming algorithms so she could pre-prepare a range of possible inputs to minimise her filtering and monitoring of the sensory input. But it was Survival’s AIs and algorithms who prepared and transmitted the sensory information to Leah’s neural system. Gèng interpreted Leah’s neural responses to the sensory cues delivered by the Survival AI, and she was responsible for applying real-time data to manipulate Leah’s avatar.

  The explosion which killed Leah in the Survival world was not one of the pre-prepared sensory input sets that Gèng was expecting, but as Leah’s death was within the bounds of acceptable results she terminated the avatar and prepared to resurrect Leah in accord with Survival’s gaming algorithms. The developers, however, had not envisioned the possibility of a pod exploding while on approach and the resurrection point was preset to the final resting point of the escape pod. The AI responsible had to search through a range of options before coming to a decision.

  There were times when the Pod came to rest in the fork of a tree, so the AI did not merely assign the resurrection point to the ground underneath where the pod exploded. Its search found a decision matrix to be used when a pod had exploded. This sometimes occurred when players made unsafe modifications to their downed escape pod. In these circumstances, the AI was supposed to calculate the material left behind after the explosion and the final resting place of the pod. It then calculated the damage done to the jungle and lowered the player’s resurrection point by the calculated amount directly under the Pod’s pre-explosion position.

  Not all of the material had finished moving, and the AI had to apply several other decision matrices to finalise the data before it sent the sensory input set to Gèng.

  Gèng was aware of the delay, but as it didn’t exceed the parameters set for signal loss or deterioration, she didn’t interrupt or apply any of her own sensory input to Leah. This left Leah in a similar cyber-situation to when she entered a portal, but without the interference and distortion caused by either the world’s or Gèng’s digital handshake. The delay was less than three-hundred milliseconds, but this was ten times longer than the usual length of a portal’s initiating-handshake. Leah’s new awareness of the cyber-verse noted the presence of a signal and not only sought to represent it in a way that Leah could understand, but she also increased her perceptual awareness to its maximum.

  Gèng noted the increased neural processing immediately and applied a filter to hide the signal from the Survival server while she both tried to reduce the activity and sent Leah a message asking her to keep her neural speeds under tight control. By the time the Survival AI sent the new sensory input, Leah’s neural perception had returned to normal, and Gèng applied it immediately even as she evaluated it and s
ent a confirmation request.

  Leah resurrected one point eight metres below the point where the Escape Pod had exploded and just over three metres above the forest canopy. Leah was unprepared and crashed through the canopy, which hardly slowed her fall. She bounced off several small branches and then slammed into a larger branch breaking her back. She slid off the branch and fell another fifty metres before hitting a branch with a diameter of two metres killing her instantly.

  She would have resurrected instantly, but Gèng’s query was still being processed. Leah found herself in the same cyber-situation as before there was no interference or distortion. She momentarily increased her perceptual speed, asked Gèng to filter the signal and warn her when to slow down. Gèng had already applied a filter and said she had no control over the timing and urged Leah to return the neural processing to its normal speed. Leah waited for three-seconds before slowing down and then had to wait another two-seconds before Gèng said, “I’ve just received a message from the administrative AI. It says there has been an unexpected event and you can choose to cancel the scenario, restart the scenario, or continue the scenario. It estimates successful completion of the current scenario is less than one per cent.”

  “Check if I would be returned to this position or another would be allocated.”

  “This position will be quarantined until the error is identified.”

  “Then I’ll continue the scenario.”

  “The AI will continue the scenario but has sent the event log to a developer for consideration and confirmation. You will resurrect in three seconds.”