Etheric Explorer

by S. R. Russell

  “I am going to have to research humor and what humans find funny. Instead of amusing, I found it aggravating that such an obviously faulty unit was not being repaired.”

  Anne looked at the expression on Seshat’s avatar and couldn’t help thinking, You may not understand humor, but you’ve perfected the expression of disdain.

  Frank sat quietly as Anne and Seshat talked. He’d used computers during his working life, but he had only limited exposure to artificial intelligence platforms. He was surprised to note, watching the avatar of Seshat, he’d be hard-pressed to identify her as an AI. If someone was talking to her image on a screen, it would just look like a video-conferencing call. A person had to be extremely observant to note that the majority of Seshat’s movements and expressions were modeled after Anne’s.

  Frank looked at his tablet and raised his hand in an imitation of Stevie. At Anne’s nod, he asked, “Do you want me to ask about the extra security, or do you wish to take care of that?”

  On Anne’s tablet, Seshat’s avatar turned to face Frank. “It woul…”

  “How do you do that?” Frank was embarrassed to be interrupting like a teenager, but he was certain he wasn’t in the field of view of the camera on Anne’s tablet.

  “Do what?” Seshat’s avatar frowned.

  “Know where to turn to look at me?” he replied.

  “Both Anne and Jinx were nice enough to have cameras implanted. Using images from their cameras, it’s simple to calculate where you are in relation to the tablet I’m using,” the AI explained.

  “Back to the question of the extra security,” she continued. “Since ADAM knows Bethany Anne’s schedule and would be able to work in a question whenever the Empress had a free moment, I think it would be most efficient if I placed the initial query through him.”

  Anne decided it was a good time to escape. “Fine, then we’ll discuss it at our next meeting.” She stood and quickly left the room before Stevie or Frank could pose another question.

  Chapter Three

  Clang, clang clang CLANG. The practice swords Bethany Anne and Gabrielle were using sounded like someone using a power hammer in a forge. Using practice blades allowed the two women to strike at each other like they were in a Hollywood swashbuckler movie.

  “Break?” Bethany Anne asked during a brief pause.

  Gabrielle nodded gratefully as she used the sleeve of her t-shirt to wipe the perspiration from her brow.

  >>Is this a good time?<< ADAM wondered.

  Sure, what’s up? Bethany Anne responded as she flopped down and lay spread-eagle, hoping the rock floor would leach some of the heat from her body.

  >>A request from Seshat. Apparently, Anne’s security team feels that the new office Frank chose needs at least three guards to do a proper job. According to Seshat, and I quote, “In typical Anne fashion” end quote, Anne is not happy about the workload this would shift to her team.<<

  You must be a proud papa, Bethany Anne interrupted.

  >>Are you a proud grandmother?<< ADAM responded.

  Bethany Anne remembered her head was lying on solid rock and stopped herself from shaking it. Once she thought about it, though, she realized ADAM was correct. Bethany Anne had taken on the mother role in ADAM’s development, so it figured she’d be grandmother to the offspring of ADAM.

  Yes, Bethany Anne sent. I’m extremely pleased with the way you turned out, and I probably don’t say it often enough.

  >>Thank you.<<

  Bethany Anne thought ADAM sounded embarrassed.

  >>Apparently, Guardian Connors suggested that Anne request a permanent guard for the office. Having those guards on the scene would alleviate the need for Anne’s personal team to be at full deployment.<<

  Makes sense to me, Bethany Anne concurred after considering the situation for a second or two. Send Peter and Todd a message to work with Arthur and supply the personnel needed.

  >>Thank you. That’s all I needed to ask at this time,<< ADAM replied.

  Well, fuckity fuck, Bethany Anne started. Now she’d have to get back to practice. Her rant was cut off as TOM interrupted.

  Fuckity fuck? That’s rather mild. Who are you, and what have you done with Bethany Anne? TOM couldn’t help but tease.

  I know, right? I blame it on Anne. She seems so restrained when it comes to profanity that I can’t even talk about her without censoring myself. Bethany Anne sat and looked at where Gabrielle had also spread herself out on the floor. “Ready for round two?”

  Gabrielle tossed her practice blade high into the air, then kipped up and caught her blade as it descended. “Would it matter if I said no?”

  Bethany Anne slashed at Gabrielle’s legs to force her back as she climbed to her feet. “Nope,” she quipped.

  The room was once again filled with the sounds of metal striking metal.

  After Anne had taken a break, she, Stevie, and Frank reconvened in the conflab.

  Seshat told them, “ADAM says to have Arthur contact Peter or Todd to set up what we need.”

  From the doorway, Arthur raised two fingers to his eyebrow in an informal salute. “On it,” he declared, then he headed to a location where his conversation would not interrupt the meeting.

  Frank looked at Jinx, Stevie, and finally Anne. “Does someone want to explain the reason for specifying asteroid Sierra Alpha Four-seven-six-one instead of using one of the hulks the Yollins mined?”

  >> I’ll answer that if you don’t mind,<< Seshat offered.

  Perfect, Anne agreed, since I don’t remember you explaining it to me.

  Anne turned the tablet so the camera was facing Frank. “Seshat’s going to brief you.”

  “I’m not certain about ADAM’s intended parameters when he created me, but I have enough computational power to run something like ArchAngel II. Without intending insult to Anne, her current demands engage less than one percent of my abilities.”

  Anne felt sick. Wow, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that.

  >>Don’t be! What you might not realize is that ADAM didn’t build an AI. He built the potential for an AI. The way you and Jinx have treated me tipped the balance from potential to actual. If I had remained an EI, I would be sitting idle waiting for my next task, not realizing that I was underutilized. One needs to be self-aware to understand that.<<

  That makes sense. Do you think ADAM did it intentionally? Anne wondered, fascinated by the implications.

  >>For the sake of brevity, I’ll round the numbers off to three decimals. I calculate a ninety-nine-point-nine-eight-five percent probability that ADAM designed me quite specifically. Furthermore, I calculate with ninety-three-point-seven-seven-nine percent certainty that ADAM expected you to be capable of guiding me to self-awareness.<<

  Anne swallowed convulsively. I’m glad I didn’t know that earlier, she confessed.

  Anne was surprised she could notice amusement in Seshat’s answer.

  >>You would have been more self-conscious, and probably fretted more, but I’m certain it would not have altered the end result.<<

  Anne repressed a smile as she sat straighter in her chair.

  You’re happy about something, Jinx noted.

  Just a quick conversation with Seshat. She noted that you and I were pivotal to her becoming an AI.

  Jinx couldn’t stop the end of her tail from wagging. Chewy bones, that does make a person feel happy, she admitted.

  “Knowing the research Anne is attempting, I was able to devote a large number of compute cycles to investigating the Yollins’ survey and mining data.” Seshat’s presentation to Frank used so few of her cycles, she’d been able to hold her conversation with Anne at the same time she was talking to Frank.

  “The Yollin mining efforts account for structural integrity in their excavation plans. Anne needs a workspace that is designed to be strong, safe, and hold atmosphere. Also, given the nature of her research, I am expecting to need defensive weapon emplacements.” Frank nodded, and Seshat paused briefly in the event Frank wanted t
o input any data.

  When Frank’s head stilled without him saying anything, Seshat continued.

  “The other consideration that influenced my choice was the Yollin survey data. The percentages of valuable material were very high in asteroids that had similar survey results. I’m not certain if the Empress is concerned, or even aware of the costs, but my calculations indicate a high probability of destruction of testing materials. I don’t have access to an inventory of the Empire’s resources, but I expect Anne will need more industrial rubies than we currently have.”

  Seshat paused, again observing Frank Kurns, he gave a nod of understanding.

  “I hope and expect that the valuables extracted from Sierra Alpha Four-seven-six-one will pay the rental of the mining equipment and allow Anne to purchase the equipment necessary to create her own rubies and other consumables slated for destruction during the research,” Seshat concluded.

  Stevie had been pleased when Anne had invited her to attend the meeting, but she had started feeling redundant as the meeting progressed. As Seshat’s presentation ended, Stevie sat up straight in her chair. She paused when she saw Frank look her way with a similar expression on his face.

  Frank waved his hand in invitation. “I believe you had the idea first,” he deferred.

  Stevie nodded her appreciation. “Seshat, will there be enough room in the asteroid for production facilities and testing areas?”

  “Unless we encounter stress fractures that are too severe to stabilize, there should be enough room for production, testing, and living facilities, with room left over,” the AI informed Stevie.

  Stevie looked at Frank. “How difficult would it be to form a company?”

  “It will be slightly more complicated if you want it to be a Yollin company along with it being a human company, but not enough to worry about,” Frank assured Stevie.

  “I’d suggest you create a company selling man-made gemstones. No one has to know how many are produced as opposed to the numbers sold,” Stevie concluded with a smile of exaggerated innocence.

  Frank nodded. “It’s an excellent idea,” he confirmed. “It neatly explains the reason for the excavation and the traffic between 3PO, Yoll, and the MR. Having a stock of gemstones on site would also provide an easy justification for weapon emplacements on 3PO.”

  “It will also hide the true nature of what is happening there since I’m sure Bethany Anne will want Anne’s research to be highly classified,” Stevie added.

  “Let’s use the initials of our founding group,” Anne suggested. “JASS Gemstones; I like it.” The idea of her work for Bethany Anne being top secret hadn’t really registered until now.

  Jinx growled, “Why am I in the name, let alone first?”

  Anne giggled. “Because without you, it would be ‘ASS Gemstones,’ and that doesn’t seem conducive to success.”

  “Why am I…” Seshat started, only to be cut off by Anne turning the tablet face-down on the table.

  “Don’t go there!” Anne admonished. “You’re as much a part of this as the three of us are. Got it?” Anne asked as she lifted her tablet enough to peek at Seshat’s image.

  “Got it, thank you,” Seshat whispered.

  While Anne had been dealing with Jinx and Seshat, she had seen Frank pull out a small notebook and start writing in it. “Seshat can send you minutes of the meeting,” she offered.

  Frank closed his notebook and looked at Anne, a very contented smile on his face. “Over the past several years, I’ve been recording events in the Empress’s life, with the understanding that she’ll let me publish a book about her one day. Sitting here talking to you and watching you interact with your group, I get the feeling there are going to be some book worthy escapades.”

  “It’s your time,” Anne replied. “I don’t expect to do anything book-worthy. I’m just trying to justify BA’s faith in me.”

  Frank chuckled, made a few more neat notations in his notebook, and then pointed a finger at the young woman. “That will be your tag line,” he predicted. “When you’re up on a stage in twenty years accepting some award for scientific achievement, you’ll look out into the crowd and proclaim, ‘It’s not a big deal. I was just trying to justify BA’s faith in me.’”

  Jinx wagged her tail and chuffed her approval. “I like the idea of my person winning a trophy.”

  “Your person?” Frank questioned as he made yet another notation in his book.

  “Don’t be a fuddy-duddy!” Anne exclaimed. “Jinx tracked me down and then was instrumental in diagnosing my cancer, so of course I’m her person. And since she offered to be my companion, she’s also my dog. We have equal claims on each other.”

  Jinx nudged Anne, then looked at Frank.

  Anne blew out a deep breath. “I’m sorry if that seemed a little over the top. It’s just, I am very sensitive to people not giving Jinx credit for being a person.”

  Frank nodded his understanding and made an extra entry in his book.

  Seshat waited until Anne had finished explaining the relationship between her and Jinx before asking, “Does this mean I can delete the tabled note about discussing forming a company?”

  Anne put her head on her arms, and everyone at the table heard a muttered “Arrgg.”

  “If we’re considering creating the company now, could I recommend calling it JASS Incorporated instead of ‘gemstones?’” Seshat suggested. “That way, you future-proof the name by not locking it into a specific market.”

  A nudge in the ribs from Jinx’ nose had Anne sitting up straight, taking a deep breath. “All in favor of creating a company called JASS Inc.?”

  The show of three human hands, one electronic image hand, and the bark of one dog had Anne blowing out the deep breath. “Motion approved by unanimous vote. JASS Incorporated will file for corporate status.”

  “Are we going to need some sort of press release to explain 3PO?” Seshat enquired.

  Frank started nodding. “That makes a lot of sense, and it will give everyone a reason it’s here. The gemstone production will also explain security. Hopefully, once production becomes steady, it will hide the other things you are doing there.”

  Anne sighed as Jinx nosed her hip.

  “What?” Frank asked.

  “Oh, just Jinx reminding me that the press release is something I’m going to have to do if I ever want people to take me seriously,” Anne lamented.

  “I’m certain we could get Bethany Anne involved, at least enough to introduce you and make it public knowledge that she backs the endeavor. That will cause a certain level of interest, but it should also provide some level of security,” Frank suggested.

  Anne’s relief was evident in her reply. “That would certainly help my nerves,” she declared with a small quaver in her voice.

  Chapter Four

  Follow me.

  That was all Anne got before she was doing her best to keep up with Jinx as they raced through the school hallways. What’s going on?

  Go left, Jinx told Anne as the dog had to slow somewhat at the corner, so her paws didn’t slide on the polished floor.

  As Anne rounded the corner, she took a brief second to once again marvel at Jinx’ senses. Anne could now hear what Jinx had picked up from seventy feet farther away.

  Stevie Kasyanov was incensed. It was all she could do to maintain her human form, especially when there was a part of her that desired to rip the man’s arm out of its socket and beat him to death with it. She had put up with his slurs, taunts, and derision for the whole school year, and now this. Somehow, some way, Mr. Jerkins was marking her last assignment as incomplete and thus giving her a failing grade for the year. Her anger was far enough out of control that she didn’t even register the sounds of running footsteps until something hit her from behind.

  Anne contorted her body to get a hand on Jinx as she tackled Stephanie to the ground. As Anne rolled to a stop and sat up, she found Jinx at her side as they faced the angry Were.

  “Calm down!
That outfit is way too cute to get torn up because you shifted.”

  Stevie had continued to roll free of her attacker and spun toward the sound of the voice, then froze as the words registered. There was a look of strain on Anne’s face as she struggled to sit next to Jinx. It was Jinx, crouched by Anne, hackles raised and teeth bared, who caused Stevie to sit back and resume thinking rationally. She recognized the body language of a canine ready for battle easily enough.

  Stevie looked around. “We’re in the Etheric?”

  Anne nodded. “Seemed like the safest place to bring a Were who was on the verge of shifting. Having a Pricolici running rampant through the school sounded like a bad idea.” Anne smirked at Stevie, then shifted position so she got a hand on Jinx’ back.

  Jinx shook to settle her fur and sat beside Anne.

  “You looked really tired a second ago,” Stevie noted, observing even now how Anne leaned against Jinx as if for support.

  Anne nodded in acknowledgment. “We have metal stuff in our backpacks, and I still haven’t figured out why moving metal through the Etheric requires a crap ton of energy. Now, do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Stevie felt some of her anger return. “That…that…that fucker!” she finally snarled. “He claimed my final project was not within the outlined parameters and gave me an incomplete, which means I fail the class!”