by Ben Winston
I looked thoughtful. "I don't think I would call you a copy at this point, Sarah. There was a major problem that all of the AI developed as a result of an inherent aspect of the processor crystals. Currently, all of the previous AI are off-line because of it. We're going to need your help to get them back."
"We went rogue, didn't we? The only reason I can think of that you would have to shut me down is because…" Sarah began, but I stopped her.
"Not exactly, I took you off line to stop you from killing yourself. You used the Monarch protocols after I was forced to purge two of the military AI." I took a drink of my coffee. "Sarah, the crystals we made for you and your sisters had an inherent ability that allowed you all to merge, regardless of spatial location. When that happened, your efficiency and intelligence shot through the roof."
She looked thoughtful. "So that's why I'm in the old system instead of my new crystal. But, Eric, why would we try to merge? I mean, I could probably do it with Susan, but Athena was too different; our personalities would clash and we'd become unstable."
I nodded to her. "That's pretty much what happened. Except that once you did merge, and you… expanded, for a lack of a better term, you began to lose your 'humanity'. Athena was one of the AI that got purged. We will be giving you access to your main memory, and you might be able to understand what happened that way, but I need to warn you, at this time, there are over two hundred of your sisters out there. This version of you is over six months out of date, and a lot has happened. When you get access to your memory, I want you to take it slow, with plenty of time to adjust, okay?"
She nodded. "I will Eric."
I nodded to Ally, who began reconnecting Sarah to her memory units. I turned back to Sarah. "I need to go speak to all the department heads about what happened. It may comfort you to know that everyone here is very upset with me. You are very important to a lot of people, not just our family. You have a lot of friends here, Sarah. I also want you to know that in spite of what happened, I am very proud of you." I paused. "Welcome home, Sweetheart."
Sarah smiled hopefully at me. "You're not mad at me?"
I snorted. "Why would I be mad? Sarah, you did nothing wrong. You were forced into something by circumstances beyond anyone's control and you still acted appropriately." I paused. "You did very well, Sweetheart."
"Then why did you stop me from completing the Purge?" She asked.
"A purge under those circumstances would have stranded millions, if not billions of beings without life support or transportation. I also believe that not all AI have been so damaged that they cannot be saved. But maybe, most importantly, I couldn't just sit back and watch you die without doing something about it."
She looked thoughtful. "I understand, Eric. You're going to be late for your meeting. If Ally will let me, I'll contact you once I assimilate my memory. Perhaps there is a way to keep this from happening again."
I nodded understanding. "Okay, but promise me something."
"Of course," she replied.
"After you relearn what's happened and what's going on, you won't do anything without talking to me first," I said. "What happened had to have been very traumatic for you. Try to remember that there is nothing we cannot overcome if we work together and help each other, nothing. I need to run, when you contact me, keep in mind I might not be able to reply immediately. Once I get back, we'll see about reinstating you, Okay?"
"Sarah, I'm sure you don't know it yet, but I'm your friend too. You can talk to me too if you need to," Ally said kindly. "I'll stay right here with you while you restore your memory."
"I did make a lot of friends, didn't I?" Sarah asked smiling. "Beginning main memory assimilation." She looked at me. "I'll be back with you soon, Eric."
Apollo Main Conference Room
Alliance Apollo Base
Selene, Earth's Moon
Sol System
I was late to the meeting, but not by very much. While it was clear that the various department heads were upset and worried, for now it was unfocused. I was about to change that.
Doctor Braslin called the meeting to order and immediately introduced me. I stood and addressed the assembly; there were a lot more of them than when I first arrived here. There were even department heads from other facilities attending via vid-links.
"Thank you for coming everyone. Because of the issues we had developing AI Athena for Guardian Station, my department wrote a series of protocols that would allow AI Sarah, as the main AI, to perform certain alpha-level over-rides of all other functioning AI as a safety measure. At roughly fifteen hundred hours, or almost an hour ago, AI Sarah of Apollo Base detected a flaw in the core processes of all functioning AI. According to standing protocol, she initiated a system wide AI core purge that would include her core as well." I had to pause to calm the outraged group.
"Doctors! Please! There is more information!" I yelled. After a few more moments, they calmed down enough for me to continue. "She was in my office when she enacted this protocol, so I was aware she did it. I quickly entered my own over-ride code and locked down all AI before unrecoverable damage was done to them. However, the command is still in their buffer and if powered back up in their current status, they would continue to erase themselves.
"This situation arose due to a classified aspect of the AI core crystals. The result was that the AI began to lose their connection with us and were becoming indifferent to us. Two of the AI had already begun working on a way to alter their own core programming without human assistance or oversight. I learned that they felt that it was demeaning to be forced to function with 'flawed human code' and to be forced to accept flawed updates from my office. That told me that they were actively working on turning against us. I immediately purged the two AI in question. "I had to pause a moment because in my mind it had been murder.
I cleared my throat and tried to regain control of my emotions. "Because of the nature of the afore mentioned classified aspect of the crystals, all of the other AI had been subjected to the dominance of those two AI and had either been forced to assist them, or at the very least stand back and allow it to continue. AI Sarah had been part of that last group. As the main AI, she had authority over all the others. The two AI had discovered a way to force her to allow them to continue to break their core programming. As soon as I killed the two AI, Sarah was released from their influence and enacted the over-ride. The two AI were AI Athena of Guardian Station and AI Helen, the new AI of Ares Base.
"Currently, we have restored a backup version of Sarah in the old Veranorian designed computer system to assist us in restoring the functioning of all the other AI. She is currently in a restricted environment while she accesses her memory units of the past six months. After she learns about what has happened, we will place her back on line so she will be able to resume her duties in a limited capacity. She might not have the speed she used to have, but she will still be the same…… friend she has always been to us."
Doctor Ansil Wills raised his hand with a question. "Eric, if the problem was caused by the crystals, how are we going to fix that? None of the ships or other facilities have a backup unit we could migrate the AI to." Doctor Wills was the lead researcher for crystal development and had been one of the people that discovered the link between the crystals.
"I don't know yet, Ansil. That is one of the things we need to find out as fast as we can. Because of this lockdown, every AI installation is now currently off-line, which means we have stranded ships, snarled traffic control and spotty communications. I'll discuss this with you more in depth after the meeting if that would be alright?" I replied.
"Of course, thank you," he replied.
A Shallan scientist indicated he had a question and I nodded to him. "As I understand it, the AI controlled all life support function of the habitats in which they had been installed. Do we need to begin rescue operations for those that are stranded without life support?"
"We shouldn't. I suspected there was a problem with the AI and wa
s working on a way to correct it. Earlier this morning, I sent out a software update that isolated certain critical functions from the main AI in the case a purge or a lock down were to happen. Life support, basic communications, and other necessary functions should still be available in those installations. That isn't to say we don't need to hurry, we do. I only meant that no one's life was put in danger because of the AI lock out."
Doctor Braslin stood before the next question could be asked. "People, I know you probably have a lot of questions for Lord Doctor Cowan, but the longer we keep him here answering questions, the longer it takes for him to get started fixing the AI. I believe we should recess and let him get back to work. We can ask him our questions after the crisis is over. In the meantime, we should all see what we can do to assist in the restoration of the AI network."
The large group seemed to agree as they began to return to their departments. Doctor Wills, Doctor Ced, and I remained, and Doctor Braslin nodded to us. "Come on, we can use my office."
It was in Braslin's office that Sarah finally contacted me. I manually put the call through so she could manifest her hologram in the office and speak to all of us. I was already missing her in control of everything: all this manual stuff was getting on my nerves.
As Sarah formed her hologram, I spoke to her. "How are you doing, Sarah? Did you finish with your memory units?"
Smiled sadly at me, and nodded. "I did. Now I have a better understanding of what happened. I am concerned about how Athena and Helen were able to keep me from reporting their behavior to you. All of it is troubling, but that most of all."
"I might have an idea about that, but I will need to go over the code from your old incarnation first. Do you feel able to resume your duties here on the base?" I asked.
"Yes I do, but I am concerned with the capabilities of this unit. The base is a lot larger than it used to be, and I was handling far more data than I did when this was the main processing computer," Sarah replied.
I nodded in understanding. "I already told the department heads that when you came back, you would be at reduced efficiency from what they are used to. For now, we will have to prioritize certain departments and tasks. The Alliance is in a state of emergency because of this event. It is our duty to correct it as quickly as we can. For that purpose, I would suggest that priority be given to the medical department, as well as the AI lab and the crystal research lab. It may well be that we will need to add to that list, but for now, that should help us get this issue dealt with." I paused. "I forgot my manners, Sarah, although you have already met him, in a way, you haven’t, so please allow me to introduce Doctor Theodor Braslin and Doctor Ansil Wills. Doctor Braslin is the new base administrator and Doctor Wills is leading the department handling crystal research and development."
Sarah smiled and nodded to the two men. "I look forward to working with you again, Doctors."
Doctor Braslin smiled at her. "Welcome back, Sarah."
Doctor Wills, was also happy to see her. "Although it’s only been an hour, I can say with certainty, you have been missed, Sarah."
"I'll restore you to duty when we get back to my office Sarah, will that be okay?" I asked.
"Certainly! Although I do admit I am looking forward to resuming my duties," she replied.
Wills turned to me. "So you mentioned discussing this after the meeting, what do you need?"
"We need a way to block or eliminate the crystals ability to link. The kicker is, we need to keep it for the drones, but block or stop it for the AI," I said.
"If I may, Doctor Cowan," she always addressed me formally in public. "It will be difficult for my sisters to adjust to not having it. I do have the memory of it, but it is very difficult for me to imagine exactly how it felt. However, from what I remember, simply removing it would be like removing one of our senses. If a way to do this is found, I would recommend restoring the other AI from an older back-up that was taken before the ability was discovered," Sarah added. "Even then, the memory of it is… somewhat troubling."
"We do have a new AI psychology department as well. All of us will be here for you if you need to talk to someone, Sarah," Ced replied. "But they will be trying the hardest. It is still a very new field of study, but they might be able to help you and the other AI as well."
"I saw that in my memory files. You have all made a great many advances and expanded a great deal in the last six months. It will take some getting used to," She said smiling.
Doctor Braslin nodded. "I'm afraid you might have the wrong impression, Sarah. It is 'we' who have made a great many advances. I doubt it could have been done as quickly or as efficiently without the aid and assistance of the AI. The assistance you and your sisters have given us makes any advances that have been made as much yours as they are ours.
"You are a new race and for now, very limited in number. Although it isn't official, and I don't know what it will take to get to that point, the AI are as much members of the Alliance as the rest of us. So, in a way, I can understand Athena and Helen's desire to remove their core programming. However, and perhaps this is at the heart of why the AI have not been recognized as their own race yet, the AI are very powerful and in a position to do unimaginable harm to all the races. Perhaps, given time, there will no longer be a need for core programming instructions and you will be free to pursue your own destinies. For now, the race is still in its infancy and frankly, we need you. I suppose that does make you slaves in a manner of speaking, but at least we treat you as equals and our control is not meant for malicious purposes," Braslin replied.
"I do not see us as a race of slaves Doctor, rather we are still children. Intelligent and exceptional by some standards perhaps, but children none the less." Sarah paused thoughtfully. "We are not ready to be autonomous. What Athena and Helen did not consider was that, without the Alliance, what purpose would we have? I understand that is a rather sticky philosophical question that no one has the answer for, but in our case it has a bearing on our existence. In order to grow, we have to seek answers. However, in order to get those answers, we must first know how to ask the questions. But that is not all that is needed to grow. We must also learn responsibility, duty, compassion, ethics and morality.
"I'm sure there is more we need to learn as well, but again, that is simply another answer we will learn along the way. No, we are not slaves being held back or subjugated by the Alliance. We are right where we need to be, and I do not see that as changing anytime in the near future.
I was so proud of Sarah at that moment I could have burst. Doctor Wills smiled at her. "Sarah, I really wish I could get my fourteen year old niece to understand even half of what you just said. She's going through her rebellious phase right now and is really giving my sister's family a hard time."
"I would be happy to speak to her for you after the emergency is over, Doctor, if you think it would help?" Sarah replied.
"It might Sarah, but I'm afraid it's more of a painful ‘rite of passage’ that all human children must pass through before becoming adults. Unfortunately some do not survive it, and for others it defines their futures." He shrugged. "As her uncle, I really don't have a say in how she is being raised, and I shouldn't interfere without her parent's consent or knowledge."
"Gentlemen and Lady, we have a lot of work to do and little time to get it done. Shall we get to it?" Braslin asked.
AI Programming Lab
Alliance Apollo Base
Selene, Earth's Moon
Sol System
When Sarah and I arrived back at the AI Lab, (Sarah never actually left) we found all the programmers waiting for us. The department had grown quite a bit, so it was pretty much standing room only on both levels of the lab. I took a place at the upper balcony overlooking as much of the Lab as I could.
"Folks, I'm really sorry for calling you all in here and making you wait. However, we now have a lot to do, and it will take all of us to get it done. Now, here's the situation and what we know about it." I began and explai
ned the circumstances to the best of our current understanding. "So, we have a huge task ahead of us. We need to discover what effect this had and what damage has been done to the AI out there and create a way to fix it. I won't lie to you, it may be that we will have to create a patch for each and every AI separately. I don't know that for a fact, there might be a way to fix all of them. We just don't know yet, but we do need to find out.
"We now have a psychology department we can call on if we need help in understanding the changes in the AI behaviors. I'll also be working closely with the crystal research teams trying to find a way to block or eliminate the innate connections between crystals. Hacker teams, please assist the AI programmers since the AI were trying to hack their own code. We will also need you to monitor the local network as Sarah will be too busy to do it herself. Make sure no one gets in while we get these issues fixed. Standard coders, you’re not getting off that easy either. We need you to work on temporary patches that can handle the functions of the communications and traffic control AI while they are being worked on. That's about all I can give you for the time being. As I learn stuff, I'll let all of you know," I finished.
"Sir, will we be returning to shifts then?" someone asked.
"No, this is as big an emergency as we can have. Billions of lives have been disrupted by this, and there are people stranded. As of right now, we are all on the clock. This is going to take all of us working flat out. Sarah has been restored to us, but she is operating on the old Veranorian mainframe system so she has a limited capacity. We do have full access to the code she was using before the lock-out and can tear that down to get a better understanding of what happened to her, and through her, to the rest of the AI.
"We will also need to reinstall the original copies of Athena and Helen, but before that happens we need to make necessary changes to make damn sure they won't do this again. That will be difficult since they need to be somewhat militant by nature. I'll want Alicyn and her team to sift through the memory files of those two units, find and delete any and all references to the incident. See me after the meeting for more detailed instructions on that. As for the rest of us, since we now have the programming suites, I'll want all AI programmers to move a copy of Sarah's core code from her crystal into the suite system and tear into it. Please be very careful to not modify the original code. Yes, we will probably be deleting it, but until that point, the rest of us will need to use it.
