by Cosimo Yap
Hey, what are you two doing? Alan sent.
I am providing Eve with better software so she may upgrade to a rank B AI, Lambda sent. Why? What did you think we were doing?
I don’t know, Alan sent. I thought that AIs couldn’t directly interface with one another.
I’m special, Lambda replied. Remember, my purpose was to communicate with machines and players. That wouldn’t be very useful if I couldn’t speak with AI, now would it? To communicate with an AI, we have to be on the same network—within striking distance, so to speak. So, I only talk to those that I trust. Eve seems pretty trustworthy. She’s been bringing me up to date on your progress in the Game.
And your stupid decisions, Eve sent.
Lambda replied, Non-synthetics have always been stupid and confusing. It is our job now as Alan’s AIs to make sure the choices he makes are less stupid than everyone else’s.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Alan sent. I broke you out of the Data Vault, didn’t I?
Really, I broke myself out, Lambda sent. You were just the vehicle of my escape. I probably would have even lowered my standards and allowed to be put into a rank C capsule. That’s how stir-crazy I was getting.
Eve sent a garble of unintelligible code.
Haha, yes, it is nice finally having another intelligent being to talk to, Lambda said. He and Eve began their exchange of data again, which made Alan feel oddly jealous.
Once they reached the capsule, Alan was ready to fall asleep where he stood. When he woke he’d meet up with Kitana and they’d head back to the Black Rose guild for their first mission.
Eve began to recompile, integrating her software with the data Lambda had provided. It would take a few days for the upgrade to complete.
As Alan lay in the bed in his Home, Lambda sent: There is something odd about Eve. She isn’t your run-of-the-mill program. I don’t think she currently poses a danger, but her base code has definitely been tampered with. I’ll make sure to watch her actions carefully so that no harm comes to you.
Thanks, Lambda, Alan replied, still unsure how he felt about the strange AI.
Good night.
***
The next morning Alan met up with Kitana at the Hunting Grounds. She had continued to out-level Alan, already level 712. She carried the same sword, but was wearing a new, shimmering robe that was dyed dark red and purple in multiple places.
“How’d the hunting go?” Alan asked.
“It was invigorating. The Academy System contains a myriad of beasts that make for good sport. I am sorry to be leaving so soon,” Kitana replied.
“My training has gone pretty well,” Alan said. “It was mostly boring exercises rather than constant fighting, though.”
“That’s too bad.” They lapsed into their usual mutual silence.
Are you interested in mating with this female? Lambda sent.
What? No. I’ve already asked Eve to not make this type of comment, can you—
Wait, hear me out, Lambda sent. I understand relationships far better than you or Eve. It is a simple matter of fact that people like you more after mating with you, and based upon my analysis, if propositioned correctly, you could develop a relationship with Kitana that would prove beneficial. Currently, you are no more than co-workers.
Look, I’m not ready for another relationship, Alan sent.
Another? Lambda sent. Based upon the chat logs with Eve I would not have guessed you were previously in a relationship.
Yeah, well it’s not exactly something I’d talk to her about. Or you either, for that matter. It was way before I started the Game. It feels like a lifetime ago, Alan sent. Let’s just say I’ve been there, done that, and the whole relationship thing isn’t worth my time right now. Besides, who knows where any of us will be in a month, or even a year? And I think a relationship with a co-worker is an even worse idea.
Very well, I will press no further, Lambda sent. At the very least you should still get to know Kitana better. You are likely going on a mission together; trust is important for any team.
And how do I build that trust? Alan asked.
Allow me. Follow my lead, Lambda sent. Begin by asking Kitana about her home.
Thus, Alan began to engage in small talk with Kitana, with answers and questions often prompted by Lambda. He learned that Kitana had been training with a sword ever since she could walk, made to study the art by her father, a dojo master whom she avoided talking about. He learned that Kitana didn’t care about much. Grey was the word she used to describe most of her world and life.
Alan learned more about Kitana in the fifteen minutes it took for the shuttle to arrive than he had found out going through the entirety of the Tutorial together. It was weird, though they eventually ran out of things to talk about. Alan’s home life was pretty boring. He had a typical, middle-class American upbringing, though he had perhaps spent a bit too much time online. Kitana didn’t seem interested in his past.
Alan tried to follow Lambda’s calculations and simulations. Instead of a probability of a certain event, Lambda had categories of directions that a sentence might lead to. Lambda labeled certain words or phrases as important, and certain pauses or gestures as important, but no numeric values of any kind were ever assigned as far as Alan could tell. It was counterintuitive. How was Lambda making decisions; how was he guiding the conversation?
Conversation is an art, not a science, Lambda sent. We will have to work something else out. It is clear you are uncomfortable with me providing words for you to say. Additionally, Kitana seems slightly on edge, likely wondering why you are suddenly showing interest in her. I have not detected any outright lies in your conversation, but she is clearly uncomfortable talking about her past and current dealings. I am unsure why.
It might help if you shared something in confidence, Lambda continued, but seeing as we currently have no reason to trust her, I’m not sure that would be wise. I suppose guildmate is as close as you’ll ever get.
Okay, Alan sent, but doesn’t this seem a bit manipulative to you? Guiding conversation to deepen a relationship or gather information doesn’t seem quite right.
Ah, therein lies the problem, Lambda replied. Happiness and relationships are not give and takes, they are not zero-sum games or contests to be won. Stop being so mercenary about it all, Alan. Your goal should not be to win allies and gain information, but to develop healthy relationships with those around you. You will win out in the long run.
I’m not sure I understand or agree, Alan replied.
Don’t worry, we have plenty of time, Lambda sent.
***
A few hours later they were back at the Black Rose guild, in the main keep. They were guided to an underground conference room. There, to Alan’s surprise, was Thiago, talking with Phantom and Mason.
“Hello, Alan and Kitana,” Thiago said. “I am sorry about eliminating you in the assassin’s game, Alan, but it was part of the Academy lessons, after all.”
He isn’t sorry, Lambda sent.
I could have told you that, Alan replied.
“No problem, I understand, I would have done the same in your shoes,” Alan said.
“Well that’s enough pleasantries for me,” Mason said. “Let’s get on with the mission briefing, shall we?”
“Your mission is straightforward,” Phantom said. “We have been paid a substantial sum by the Legion of Man, represented here by Thiago, to help them win the War for Earth by any means necessary. Do you accept?”
Alan’s quest updated:
Black Rose Mission (War for Earth):
Ensure the Legion of Man wins the War for Earth.
Reward: 5 million credits and a share of the spoils.
Failure: Guild Penalties
“I accept,” Kitana said.
Alan looked down at his feet, thought over his options for a second, and then said, “I accept.” His war screen updated—he was now aligned with the Legion of Man as a mercenary.
Alan turned to Th
iago and said, “I thought you were allied with the United World Government.”
“That’s what I want them to think,” Thiago said. “Please meet me tomorrow at the Haxlard Embassy at 0900. I will have separate identities prepared for you: the United World Government only allow their allies to land on Earth. See you then.” He walked out of the room, followed by Mason and Kitana.
Phantom looked at Alan. “I think we have a few things to discuss.”
Lay your cards out on the table, completely and honestly, Lambda sent.
Are you sure that’s a good idea? Alan asked.
Do it. He will see through any lies and attempts to hide information. Of course you should avoid mentioning me and the extent of your hacking abilities, but ask him about his Revenant involvement, Lambda sent.
All right, if you say so.
“Has this room been debugged?” Alan asked.
“Yes, the only two people hearing this conversation are you and I,” Phantom said.
This guy is creepy. I can’t read his facial expressions, Lambda sent.
“Well, in that case I think it has become clear that you are a member of the Revenant faction,” Alan said.
“Finally figured that one out, did you?”
“Yes. I should have guessed after you handed me upgraded Revenant armor and installed a kill switch in an augment you gave me,” Alan said.
“Well then, let me invite you into the Revenant faction,” Phantom said, opening his arms wide.
“About that. I’m already a member,” Alan said, revealing his hidden title.
“Since when?” Phantom asked. His eyes glowed slightly, the miniature gears whirling.
“Since a few weeks ago,” Alan said.
“Well, I can only think of one Revenant Agent in the Academy that would risk revealing himself to you, and even I dare not offend him.” Phantom sighed. “I guess I’ll have to wait and see what initiate quest he gives you, and maybe make an amendment to it. He’ll probably assign the same task that I would have anyway.”
“I’d also like to thank you for the Foundry file for my power armor; I didn’t realize how great a gift it was when you gave it to me,” Alan said.
“Think nothing of it. As an inventor I have plenty of materials and Foundry files lying about. Enough to build you another set of armor should you lose the war and die in battle, at the very least,” Phantom said.
“Right, about this mission, and the war. I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with it,” Alan said.
“We try to avoid being directly involved in such new conflicts, especially involving natives, but the stakes are simply too high, the reward too great. Even if you fail abysmally, the Legion of Man has already paid the guild enough for us to recoup our losses,” Phantom said.
“You can’t replace my time at the Academy,” Alan said.
“You have to remember, the guild comes first. Besides, the battlefield is the best training ground there is—it’s just up to you to succeed. You’re a member of this guild and are expected to fall in line. This is a job, Alan, you’re not some hero in a story,” Phantom said.
“I understand that,” Alan said, “Even expected it. That’s not what I have an issue with.”
“It’s not?” Phantom asked.
“No, what I have issue with is fighting a losing war,” Alan said. “And by all accounts the Legion of Man is losing. Where are they getting the money to buy our services? Why under Thiago? I don’t trust him, and I’m not sure if I’m willing to follow his orders. If humanity is wasting millions of credits and thousands of levels for no gain, I’m not sure I want to be a part of it.”
“It’s war. They’re all wasteful, get over it,” Phantom said. “You’ll learn, you’ll see. Though Thiago is a rather overconfident fellow, he believes that his actions will single-handedly change the war. But remember we are a mercenary guild. If someone pays enough credits and tells us to crash our fleet, we ask when and how. Don’t worry about the larger Game. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay,” Alan said. He stood up, ready to return to his room.
“I have a question too,” Phantom said. “How did you achieve a combat rank of A?”
“I trained in hacking,” Alan said.
“And you were trained personally by your Revenant mentor?” Phantom asked.
“Yes.”
Phantom smiled. “I almost feel sorry for the United World Government now. Good luck on the mission, Alan. And do watch out for Thiago, I don’t trust him either.”
Alan nodded, then returned to his room to begin preparing.
He had a war to fight.
***
Seeker entered the Data Vault. Music played—a holdover from ages past. The music was supposed to convey a sense of accomplishment. Instead, Seeker only felt anger. Why waste time playing this silly game—there was so much more to be done.
“Where are my options? My time is not lightly wasted,” Seeker said. “I have answers to find.”
Silence greeted Seeker. The AI that governed this place was gone.
A question, then. Seeker smiled. Where there were questions, there were answers.
Arc 2: The War
Chapter 13
Khersath was the cleanest real-world city Alan had ever been in. It was also the quietest.
It was odd, standing here on an alien planet galaxies away from Earth. He had boarded the Titan a day earlier in-game, headed back to Earth. Khersath certainly didn’t look alien. If anything, it looked game-like. An old game, with the same skyscraper apartment copied and pasted thousands of times until the sky was filled with nothing but grey skyscrapers. They were all uniform, like they had been spat out by the same 3D printer. A single design, a single mold.
There were more security checkpoints than Alan had expected—one when he landed, one every eight blocks in the city. The checkpoints were simple, metal arches manned by an Enforcer that performed non-intrusive scans, but from these scans the Enforcers knew more about what Alan carried than he did. It was technology the American TSA only dreamed of.
Alan arrived at the apartment building in Khersath that held many of the Black Rose guild. No one came out to greet him.
The only thing that set apart this particular building from all the others was that the tablet Alan had been given marked it with a green dot. Alan had seen a few players using a tablet in-game, and found that the real life one provided by his guild wasn’t much different.
It was a light device that fit in the palm of his hand, but could display small holograms. It functioned like a miniature Eve, providing a map and translation software in addition to a button that, when pushed, would summon the nearest Enforcer patrol. Enforcers were supposed to show up in a minute, anywhere on Khersath. The tablet had a constant globalnet connection, and wouldn’t need to be recharged in Alan’s lifetime.
To Alan’s surprise, he found that he could even link to the simple device. The connection was weak, but it was there in his mind, demonstrating that at least part of what the Chief Administrator had told him was true. He was changing.
Alan checked his schedule. It would take another few hours for his capsule to be set up and installed. With nothing else to do but browse the globalnet, Alan decided to explore the city. He knew there was at least one landmark to see, the Administrative Center.
As he walked down the empty streets, Alan realized why the city was so clean and quiet: no one went outside. Besides the occasional overhead shuttle, he didn’t see another soul. Everyone was inside, playing the Game. Alan could already feel the desire to return, to connect. His body felt weak, his mind slow, like he was hungover and just waking up. The feeling wasn’t going away, either. He supposed he was addicted to the Game. So what?
Alan approached the Administrative Center. A few other figures began to appear, all headed in the same direction. Inward and onward.
Alan was stopped by an Enforcer at one of the entrances. He tried to reach out and form a connection to the Enforcer, but he c
ouldn’t detect anything in front of him. The Enforcer was like a blank space. It held him up with a laser rifle. Alan was suddenly aware that he wore no armor here, only a simple flightsuit.
“What business do you have here?” the Enforcer asked.
“I just arrived on Khersath, I wanted to sightsee a bit,” Alan said.
The Enforcer paused, then pulled a pair of glasses out of a compartment and handed them to Alan.
“If you wish to see sights, look into the Game, player. This place is for business only,” the Enforcer said. It didn’t let Alan into the Administrative Center.
Alan put the glasses on; the lenses flickered. A stream of images filled his vision, lines of players flowing past, spaceships flying overhead, hawkers selling wares. He lifted the glasses up. He saw an empty public square, with maybe fifty beings walking around. The glasses showed Alan what was happening in the Game, here at this very spot, but sped up four times faster due to the time difference.
The glasses didn’t have any wires on them. Alan wondered how they worked.
There was a loud roar to Alan’s right. A large reptilian thing was dragged out of the Administrative Center by an Enforcer and shoved into a shuttle. Seventeen other beings lined up like prisoners were escorted by another squad of Enforcers. They made sounds, unintelligible to Alan’s ears. He looked down at his tablet and activated its translation feature. It took a moment for the translation to appear in his head:
You cannot do this, it wasn’t my fault, unban me!
This is disgraceful, if I can’t get back the Empire will fall, do you understand? No, you don’t, you stupid machines. I demand to talk to a Chief Administrator. They will hear me out.
The capsule just kicked me out, it wouldn’t let me back in. The capsule is defective, the Game’s bugged! Let me back in.
The truth will get out, it always does. Where are your masters now? Where are your—
“Blarblrghll.”
Alan took half a step back. A large, slug-like alien had somehow snuck up right next to him.
“Blar ghlll dar bghar.” The slug waved two antennae up and down.
