by Tony Corden
“Or meeting whatever demands are made.”
“True. Have you heard anything yet?”
“No. I imagine they want me to sweat a little after they were forced to stand down over the last threat. Gèng is trying to decipher the small hints we have so far. I’ll join her, and hopefully we’ll be able to see what this is all about. How is Conner doing?”
“He’s angry and scared. He’s taken a pair of your old fighting sticks and trying to get some of the security guys to teach him something.”
“Do you want me to arrange it?”
“No. He needs to find his own way to get through this. He’ll find a way eventually.”
“If anything comes up, I want you to send a message, and I’ll come. Until then I’ll head back to the Pod and keep moving. I love you Dad; I’m sorry mum got hurt because of me.”
Her father rose and put his hands on her shoulders. “That is the dumbest thing you’ve said since you were four and I can’t remember what that was. This isn’t your fault, it is the fault of the wicked people who took her. Everything I’ve heard about your reasons for your actions has made me proud. I do not wish you’d done anything differently. You need to get your head in the game, Leah. Let’s face it, most likely you will be the one who brings her home. So stop thinking those thoughts and stay focused.”
“Thanks, dad, I will. You too huh, no more cold tea!”
He nodded, “Maybe I’ll go see Father Andrew, Lin would like me to get God in on this.”
“She would, wouldn’t she. Rest assured dad, He’s already on it. Mum would have been praying the whole time, and I’ve already said a few.”
Leah headed back to her room and logged in to the tower.
Leah lounged in her favourite sofa and began to look through the information John had sent her concerning other martial arts. She realised she didn’t know enough about the other contestants to work out the most helpful. She said, “Geng, could you access the feeds for the other contestants and put together a montage of their combat styles? I need to look at their strengths and weaknesses and begin putting together a strategy if I’m to have any chance at all.”
“It will take several hours to review the public feeds. Do you have a contestant you wish to focus on first?”
“No. I’m more interested in an analysis which considers common threads. So if two or three have a similar attack or a common weakness, then I’ll focus on dealing with those before looking for individual characteristics. If I make it through the first few challenges, then I’ll be able to focus more on individual contestants. Have you heard from Sharon at all? I left Pneumatica early, but she should be back by now.”
“She sent a short message saying she was sorry she missed you and would tell you all about her ideas later. I was waiting for an opportune time to give you the message.”
“That’s fine. I was just concerned that’s all. While we’re talking opportune times, do you have a time to see George and Stephen regarding finance?”
“George asked for a general topic of discussion, and when I said it involved wages, he suggested that he was not the best person to discuss the issues with. He has recommended an accountant who specialises in assisting businesses to manage finances. I contacted the accountant and have an appointment scheduled for nine this evening after you return from Dunyanin. Stephen suggested Susan be invited to the meeting with him. He says she has a better grasp on the corporate law side of things.”
Leah had several hours before she was due for NREM3 Sleep. She was thinking of heading back to Pneumatica, as it was now morning, when Gèng interrupted her, “Dr Whitfield has sent you hologram message. Would you like to view it now?”
“Yes, please.”
A figure appeared in front of Leah. Leah knew from her research that Dr Whitfield was a woman in her late sixties, but Leah thought the image could easily belong to someone in her forties. Dr Whitfield said, “Ms Carroll, I receive multiple requests each month from students who need a supervisor and who believe I would be both interested and suitable. My AI has a strict set of criteria to help filter these, and it only sends me those few who might be acceptable. Of the twenty criteria, it failed to find sufficient data to decide on nineteen. I will not list them, but they are related to prior studies, academic achievements, and virtual presence. Several additional conditions are then applied. For example, my AI is instructed only to show me requests that meet more than fifteen of the criteria. Another is to show me all requests related to quantum packaging.
This extended introduction is an attempt to keep your expectations both grounded and realistic; it is highly improbable that I will accept your request. Having said that, I am intrigued by all the uncertainties and will agree to an interview. I am available for the next real hour. The following convenient time will be sometime next week. Please arrange a suitable time with my AI. End message.”
Leah said, “Gèng, please arrange a time thirty Academia minutes from now.”
“I have booked that appointment. You have fifty-one minutes before the interview.”
Fifty minutes later Leah walked to the portal provided by Gèng and arrived outside a door marked ‘Dr Whitfield’. She knocked. Dr Whitfield opened the door and said, “Welcome Ms Carroll, please come in and have a seat.”
The room was a small office with two lounge chairs and a desk. Leah sat in one of the chairs and waited for Dr Whitfield to begin the conversation. “So Ms Carroll, as I mentioned in my message, you show no record of even having a primary degree and yet you have been granted permission by MIT to enrol in the Doctoral Program. The only answer I have been able to garner from the administration is that you show potential. Apparently, they took the unusual step of giving you an entrance exam. They tell me that for legal reasons they will not allow me access to the results without your permission. Please explain why you had to take an examination.”
Leah quickly had Gèng check what she was able to say or not. Gèng checked with Stephen’s AI and promoted Leah’s answer. “Dr Whitfield, please feel free to call me Atherleah. Unfortunately, like MIT I’m unable to give you a full account of what has happened. Any mention of the circumstances leading to the entrance exams could prejudice several ongoing legal actions. The most I can do is to permit you to access the results. Alberta was responsible for assessing my understanding of physics. You have my permission to review those results and those from the other examinations.”
“Thank you. I will do that. However, I’m still unhappy with the secrecy which surrounds your enrolment. I attempted to retrieve a statement of your Secondary Education results and was unable to access anything. Are you able to explain this?”
“Not without opening myself to possible legal difficulties.”
“I see! Well, Atherleah that confirms that twelve of the criteria are still unresolvable. My AI could find no record of any published, or even rejected, academic papers. Do you have any?”
“No, Dr Whitfield.”
“Three more criteria unresolvable. You are the first applicant, ever, who has not already published at least one paper. The next four criteria are all related to your presence in the virtual universe. My AI’s summary is something like, ‘Nothing before three weeks ago and now one of the most well known figures in the gaming community despite the fact that you are not yet ranked.’ It found that you’re known in only two worlds, Dunyanin and Cosmos Online, and in both, you are seen as someone to watch. I’m wary of taking on a student who is likely to be distracted and unable to participate in furthering either their studies or my research fully. The dataset was too time restricted for my AI to come to a conclusion and I have had the same problem. Please explain.”
“I had my chip inserted three weeks ago. That was the first time I entered the virtual worlds. I began playing Dunyanin to look for a source of funds on which to live and to help further my education. Things have snowballed since then. I am committed to several events in both worlds but will be able to meet the requirements of MIT for time spent
in the pursuit of studies.”
“I applaud your certainty but prefer a more objective guarantee. Would you be willing to forego one of these worlds to show that you are serious concerning your academic pursuits?”
“Dr Whitfield, I am committed to achieving several ongoing long-term tasks within both worlds. The earliest that I could withdraw honourably would be six months. With the aim of full disclosure, I should say that I am also committed to a task within the world of Pneumatica. I don’t know how long this will take, but I hope less than six months.”
“I see. You expect me to consider your request when I have almost no data to work on and no guarantees at all. In fact, you add to my concerns. Is there anything else to tell me before we discuss your topic?“
“I should probably warn you that I am hoping to have two advisors. You and someone focused on the practical application of my theories.”
“I see, and who would I be asked to share you with?”
“Dr Ellis has already agreed.”
“Really, well then I believe I have enough information to give you an answer. I am currently unable to be your advisor. I wish you luck in finding someone. I suggest you try either Dr Williams or Dr Balakrishnan.”
“Thank you for seeing me. I understood from Professor Hill that you had some strict criteria. Both she and Dr Ellis also mentioned that he might be deemed unacceptable as a co-mentor, that he was someone that you would not be willing to work with.”
Leah rose and was preparing to leave when Dr Whitfield said, “Out of interest, what did Dr Ellis say exactly?”
“It is best left unrepeated, Dr Whitfield. His comments were what Professor Hill described as non-aligned with normal convention. Also, they were offered in private, and it would be inappropriate for me to repeat them.”
“Sit down for a moment while I get his permission. He is such an arrogant, self-opinionated, eccentric, rebellious, old tyrant that he won’t mind at all if you tell me.”
Dr Ellis face appeared on the wall, and he said, “Ah, Ellen, what could possibly have happened that you would call me? Oh, I see, Atherleah. I suppose she told you what I said about you, you prim stereotypical superior minded intellectual elitist.” He turned to Atherleah and said, “I hope you noticed I took your advice; same meaning but a totally different vocabulary.”
“Jumping to conclusions again, Thomas, just like your attempts at research. In fact, she told me that your conversation was private and it wasn’t right to tell me. I called to get your permission.”
“Then you have it. So, what percentage of Atherleah’s time do you want? I suggested she work with you more at the start and then once you eggheads have decided you think it might, possibly, really, oughta, kinda work then she can come help me do the science and make it work.”
“I had decided that Atherleah is better served with a different mentor.”
“You nincompoop! Sometimes I think the rarified altitude of your ivory towers reduces the partial pressure of oxygen to such an extent that you’re all suffering increased neural apoptosis from cerebral hypoxia.”
“Thomas, I thank you for your uneducated, ill-informed and contra-indicated medical analysis. It seems that in medicine, as in physics, you speak of things about which you have absolutely no training or knowledge. Ciao!”
Dr Whitfield turned to Leah and said, “Please don't leave just yet. If you give me a few minutes, I will check with Alberta on your grades, and then we can discuss our various expectations regarding your proposed topic of study.”
Forty minutes later, still in a daze about what happened, Leah left Dr Whitfield’s office with a signed form outlining Leah’s acceptance by Dr Whitfield to be her co-supervisor with Dr Ellis. Leah was expected to begin a review of the literature associated with her topic. Leah had already read widely in the area and hoped to finish this within days instead of the two months assigned by Dr Whitfield for review. Dr Ellis expected her to be in his virtual lab for at least one real hour every alternate Academia day; the contract took effect at midnight GMT. This worked out to one real-hour roughly every 27 hours and twenty-six minutes. With all this organised, Leah logged out. After checking on news about her mother and finding there was none she lay in the Pod for her daily deep-sleep.
CHAPTER THREE
December 10, 2073 - Part 3
At the end of her NREM3 sleep, Leah opened her eyes as the cover of her Pod opened. She had a quick shower and made her way to the kitchen for some dinner and to check if John or her father had discovered anything about her mother. Michael and Conner were waiting for her, and before she could say anything, Michael said, “So far, no signal has been picked up. The police have stepped up their presence in the Switch because so many of Jimmy’s people have been seen throughout the city. In response to media questions, the Commissioner even made a public statement that there was no cause for alarm and that all citizens had a right to travel in public places. I think Jimmy is enjoying the consternation he’s causing.”
“I’m sure he is. How are you holding up?”
“I’m good. I had a long talk with Father Andrew, and he encouraged me to have faith. Your mother has been saying that for so long that I think I never gave it a second thought. With her missing, I’ve found I need to have something to believe in, or I’ll go mad. I know it sounds like the amazing ‘opiate of the masses’ when I say that, but the truth is I do feel more at peace knowing that God is watching Lin. Conner here is the one who wants to head into the city and take scalps.”
“Not true dad. I never said I’d scalp them, only that I’d hurt them so bad they’d never hurt anyone ever again.”
Leah went and put her arms around her brother and said, “Careful where those thoughts take you. In the virtual world, it’s easy to hurt or even to kill things. In some ways, it’s gotten even easier the more I fight. I worry that if it ever happens in the real world that it might become easy here as well. I think that’s why they took mum. They no longer feel the hurt they cause. It’s become as unreal as it is in the virtual world. Lately, I look for any way to not fight because I don’t want it to become ‘the’ instinctive reaction.”
“Isn’t that dangerous Leah? What happens if they attack suddenly?”
“Then I protect myself. That usually requires a bit of mayhem and death, but I never want it to become my first response.”
Michael said, “So what are your plans now?”
“After I talk with Stephen and Sharon I’m going to go back to Dunyanin. Gèng tells me the messages from the administrators are becoming frantic. They lost a day of streaming and received a lot of hate mail over the way they treated me yesterday. Over 350,000 people didn’t play yesterday in protest, and they went public with their reason. The number is growing, and Dunyanin really wants to end the protest. I’ve asked Gèng to contact me if you or John hear anything. I expect the people who took her to make some demand or threat at around eleven tonight. That’s when they said something would happen. I’ll let you know when I hear something.”
After the meal, Leah headed back to her room and the Tower. Gèng had contacted Sharon and Stephen, and they were due within minutes. Gèng said, “You have repeat calls from Amy, Wisp and Thad. Despite my replies that you will get back to them they continue to call. Stephen, Susan and the accountant, a human by the name of Sarfaraz Kalif, will be here at ten tonight. The Dunyanin administrators have sent several messages of regret for the incident, and they promise to rectify the situation. Security Oversight AI 4 contacted me with news that Akia has been archived. Peter sent a message that he has offers to trade your excess diamond, platinum and gold coins. He wants to know if there are any constraints on who you will or won’t trade with? The new guests are arriving tomorrow, and all the Pods are in place. Jimmy wants to know who will step in for your mother on the reviewing committee?”
“Please tell Peter to trade with anyone except those he knows are associated with Merideath in any way. Suggest to Jimmy that he pick someone who is unaligned b
ut trusted. Maybe he can see if Father Andrew is interested, or maybe Mrs Sperry. Remind him that she is the lady who runs the counselling centre. I’m going to spend a few minutes looking at the Dunyanin clues, and then I'll enter Dunyanin after seeing Sharon and Stephen.”
Leah went to see what clues had been included to point to the Elfaun’s City. She finally found a poem which referenced Arcadia and Pan. With this, she was able to identify fifteen clues in the same area which seemed to be in some sort of sequence. Only the first one appeared to have an independent solution, and if she understood it correctly, it pointed to a location in the far North of Vatan. The rest all needed some additional information, information she suspected would have been provided if, or when, she had started the sequence by going north. If this were common, then the Hanjie would give her the start of the first quest.
Gèng gave her some warning, and she was standing at the front door of the Tower to welcome Sharon and Stephen as they arrived. Sharon said, “I’m sorry I missed you in Pneumatica, but I was caught up in a small quest that I hope will give me an opportunity to work on an airship.”
“That’s fine. I wasn’t at the meeting point either. I had a similar story.” Turning to Stephen, she said, “Sorry to rush you but how did the talks with Dunyanin end yesterday?”
“They acknowledged there was an error on their side, although they stopped short of saying they were hacked. They reinstated your account with no penalties and publicly admitted to responding to false data. They’re still holding out on Emil Riverton and on accepting that the comment about the Elfauns was in breach of contract. Your decision not to play yesterday has hurt them badly.”
“Do I return or not?”
Sharon said, “I suggest you do. I’d be able to tell people that you made every effort to work with them. The people who have stood by you will think it is their protest that brought change and they’ll be more likely to support you in the future.”
