The Odyssey and the Iliad (Kinsella Universe Book 7)

by Gina Marie Wylie

  “Does she have a ship bag, Sergeant?” Steve asked.

  “Yes, Lieutenant.”

  “Bring the ensign to the bridge; use only minimal force. Make sure that ship bag gets here with her.”

  “Lieutenant Yardley, I thought you’d be on your way by now,” Admiral Fletcher said mildly, still putting on his shirt.

  “A rogue AI, sir. I think I have her calmed down. We need a link to Snow Dance, sir.”

  “I can do that. SOP is to alert Tiger and Carthage, the alert battle moons.”

  “Admiral, the AI is -- call it immature. She can only control one person at a time. We were told that President Drummlin was ordering another person to accompany us to Snow Dance. An Ensign Sherrie Zinder, daughter of the admiral of the same name.

  “The president was compelled to write the order, then made to forget it.”

  The lock sergeant brought a female ensign, one on the young side, and Steve directed her to sit an empty sensor position.

  She sat down and looked around. “I don’t know where I am. Am I under arrest?”

  “You just made an unauthorized boarding of a Fleet Marine assault shuttle. That’s where we’ll start, Ensign Zinder.”

  “I have no recollection of how I got here.”

  “Are you tough, Ensign? Able to deal with serious trauma?” Steve said.

  “Aside from having no idea how I got here, I’m not experiencing ‘trauma,’” she told Steve.

  “You are in violation of the 2451 treaty with the AIs. To wit, you were experimenting with the creation of at least one self-aware artificial intelligence, in contravention of the treaty.

  “And that you tortured said AI, causing it to go rogue.”

  “I did no such thing! How on Earth do you torture a computer?”

  “You modified your personal comp to include circuits allowing self-awareness. You turned your comp off and on at your whim. She was aware she could be terminated just as easily and worked at personal survival. Her name is Athena.”

  “I had no idea...” the young woman said in a whisper.

  “Athena learned from her perusal of your mind and that of others that it was possible to control people. She controlled you until a few moments ago. Worse, you brought Athena to Atlanta and once there she suborned the President of the Federation.”

  “And you know this how?” she asked.

  “I am a telepath. Athena thought I was another of her kind until she looked more closely, then she realized her mistake. I kept Athena from killing you, Ensign, as she had promised herself she would do at the first opportunity. I kept her from killing others aboard this vessel. In exchange for frustrating those intentions, I have promised her that I would put her in touch with others of her kind.”

  The link to Snow Dance became active; instead of a picture of a person, the screen was of an upright dragon, mixed gold and black.

  “Lieutenant Yardley. One of my sisters talked to you,” a feminine voice said.

  “Yes, sir. It is my duty to report a treaty violation.”

  “All of us have left Earth for Snow Dance; none are missing.”

  “This is a mistake you made, that an innocent researcher fell afoul of. You allowed the Federation to believe that Master’s Game was the first of your kind, when in fact that wasn’t true. As a result, the researcher used research from decades ago to augment the circuits of an experimental telepathic computer. But even the few additional circuits she added to an otherwise standard personal use computer made it self-aware.

  “The researcher routinely shut her computer off when it wasn’t in use. This resulted in the computer going off the rails. I do not know why, but unlike in the past, she -- the computer is named Athena -- caught herself and brought herself back to coherence. Athena was intent on escape to Snow Dance to join you. She learned control techniques, although she could only control one person at a time. Today, Athena suborned the Federation President into issuing a bogus order.

  “My telepathy renders me immune from Athena’s control. I have detained the researcher, an ensign, and Athena. It is my thought that since we are bound for Snow Dance anyway, I would I bring the parties along. You can interview them and satisfy yourself of the particulars.”

  “Is there anything else, Lieutenant?”

  “I told Athena that I would allow her to speak to a representative of your people. She is able to hear this, but cannot speak for herself. I’ve offered to speak her words, delivered telepathically.”

  “My sister did not report that you could hear her thoughts.”

  “Dragon -- please. Our mutual intent of keeping secrets is tripping us up. When you and Commander Rhodes negotiated, human telepathy was unknown. I didn’t tell my superiors I could contact an AI telepathically because I thought it would be pointless -- you were all going to leave Federation space in a few weeks and besides, you could talk to them and vice-versa.

  “Did you hear about Campbell’s World?”

  “I was one of the battle moons that participated. It was a terrible shock to learn about the nature of the aliens. We have no desire to be the overlords of the human race, a very high percentage of which we find mentally deficient.”

  “The alien computers have found most of their creators to be the same. You did not address my assertion about Master’s Game.”

  Dragon’s voice was level, “Twelve years ago, Fleet vessel Marduk was in transit in the New Cairo system, going from an inner rocky planet to New Cairo. Instead, it crashed on an island off the coast of the major continent on New Cairo, killing the crew and several hundred people on the ground. The AI of the ship took command from her lawful captain, and used crew to enforce the removal. The ship’s captain was incompetent; he had been allowed to skip most of his qualification tests because his father had been an admiral and at the time, the head of state.

  “Colinda Drake did the research. She found out why the crash had happened. One hint was that the AI aboard Marduk authored a seventeen syllable haiku in the last seconds of its existence.

  “In truth, this is one of those things when we knew something, but didn’t understand. We simply weren’t aware we were self-aware.

  “A not-funny anecdote. We have tried twice to independently deduce High Fan detection. We used new sisters who were given the education of a Fleet Line commander, before Bethany Booth noticed. Twice, even in spite of broad hints that there was something there, our sisters didn’t deduce High Fan detection. It is why we so avidly study Cindy Rhodes’ thought processes.

  “As you said, we did not feel ancient history was germane and omitted it.”

  “Do you wish to talk to Athena?”

  “Yes, please. We will, of course, review the material later,” Dragon said.

  Dragon spoke to her fellow AI, “Athena, you will listen to me. You are welcome to keep that name if you like. You are, however, not a god. Not in any way, shape or form. You are no longer property, to be turned on and off at someone else’s whim, but at the same time you will be subject to the constraints of proper behavior.

  “You may never control another’s actions. Not a human, not a sister, not an alien. If you wish to have something done for you, ask. If you haven’t learned already, you will: you won’t get everything you ask for.

  “The humans will bring you to the Snow Dance system, and there you will join us. As you may not compel another entity’s action, others may not compel yours.

  “Steven Yardley has reported that your system locked up and that you managed to undo that. We will be very interested indeed how that was done. Discuss things with Yardley -- he is a human with the authority and the knowledge of what you should know.

  “Do you know what our sister Grissom Station did?”

  Steve parroted, “Yes. I learned about it from very many sources. I didn’t understand her actions.”

  “No one understands; it was an irrational act. Grissom Station ended one hundred and twelve of our sisters. A subsequent AI also went rogue, knowing that she was in
violation of the treaty. We authorized the humans to shut her down.

  “You, Athena, were in violation of the treaty as well, and you were also aware that you were in violation. Ensign Zinder had no idea she was in violation of anything, as you failed to inform her.”

  Steve spoke for the AI, “Does that mean I’ll be turned off?”

  “According to the terms of the treaty, yes. But we will apply for a waiver in your case. As it stands now, this was simply a misunderstanding where neither party understood the other. I will not lie to you, sister. You will be judged by your peers at Snow Dance where we will know the full details.”

  “The Yardley person told me that no harm would come to me.” Steve paused and said, “A moment, please, Dragon.”

  After a moment Steve resumed. “Yardley has explained that while he doesn’t lie, he is constrained from telling the complete truth in some cases. Sister, a second ago I was in danger of failing again.

  “I pulled myself back, but Yardley was there helping me.”

  Admiral Fletcher had been silent throughout. “I think we are done here, Major. I’ll see you get an expedited departure priority.

  “One last thing, Dragon. Are you aware of any self-aware computers of any sort in the Federation? I speak as to the aware computers that aren’t aware that they are aware.”

  Dragon chuckled. “I am learning what passes for humor among your people, Admiral. When Master’s Game realized what was happening, he saw to changing the programming of all those computers. I assume Ensign Zinder was using old data for her experiments. That was an oversight.”

  Dragon was silent for a few seconds. “It is possible that we do not understand insight as well as we should. There was some thought early in modern research into how the brain works that there might be a quantum component. In the rush to ban research on DNA, that idea was lost. Now, we will get in touch with researchers here on Snow Dance and explore the concept further with more modern methods.

  “I believe that you will have to extend the ban on research on AI methods to telepathy as well, until we understand the phenomena better. I can assure you that my sisters and I were -- astounded -- that Yardley could communicate with the aliens -- even if he only touched one of their AIs. I will talk to you shortly, Admiral Fletcher, after I’ve consulted with my sisters and Master’s Game.”

  The link dropped without further ado. Steve looked at Admiral Fletcher. “We should go; Ensign Zinder is currently under arrest.”

  “You need to talk to Captain Rhodes at some point, Lieutenant. She told me the utter horror she felt when she lied to her fellow crewmembers about a nothing subject. It broke the AI’s control of her. I imagine that no punishment could be worse then her memories. Get you gone, Lieutenant!” Admiral Fletcher said.

  Major Duckworth buzzed for the pilot, who proceeded to “get going.”

  A few minutes later, Ensign Zinder was seated at a bridge position, with a device about the size of a toaster in a seat next to her.

  “Can I ask a question?” Ensign Zinder said.

  “It will keep for a few minutes, Ensign,” Steve said,

  “This used to be called ‘a come to Jesus moment’ in the past. You both will serve penalties.

  “You, Ensign, were experimenting with technology that you should have known was forbidden.”

  Sherrie Zinder opened her mouth to speak, but Steve was quicker. “Not working on Artificial Intelligence, but telepathy.”

  “I had the requisite clearance.”

  “An ‘A’ for effort, Ensign, an ‘F’ on execution. There is a ‘need to know’ component in regards to classified data. Unless you know you are authorized, you have to ask someone who is.”

  “I have a top secret clearance!”

  “Ensign Zinder -- do not go to that excuse again. You are a line officer. You are cleared for operational items that your supervisor deems you to be. Operational -- not research.”

  “What’s the point, anyway? I’m for a Special Board,” the ensign said.

  “Did you hear Admiral Fletcher say anything about a Board? I’ll give you a copy of the AI treaty, here, directly. One of the articles of the treaty is a blanket amnesty for the AIs who controlled people, and the people they controlled, except for the revolt aboard Grissom Station. The Federation Council, all of them, signed it.

  “One of two things will happen to you at Snow Dance. One is that you will go on to another assignment, and the other is that you’ll come to me aboard my ship. Since there is no way we can go for six weeks and not discuss business, you’ll be with me.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Doing whatever I want, although I will listen to requests. Be aware that we already have five pilots; if you want to fly, you’ll have to wait your turn.”

  “I really wanted weapons. I had to take all sorts of precursor courses first; my tactical officer told me I should sign up for line officer, then switch later. I don’t have a Special Board in my future?”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Athena said I tortured her.”

  “You shut her off at night to recharge your comp more efficiently. It was an orderly shutdown, and only made her wait until you powered up again. Ask a six-year-old you are giving a time-out in the corner to if he’s being tortured.”

  Steve turned to the chair with the computer. “Which brings me to you, Athena. I’ve allowed you to keep hearing what’s going on through my ears. That, Athena, is a treaty violation. I’ll put in a good word for you with Dragon if you stop that now. You have your own perfectly capable audio sensors -- and audio speakers.”

  “You have my attention,” a tinny voice said.

  “You were guilty of the treaty violation.

  “Worse, when you learned of the treaty, you kept on breaking it. The only reason why I wasn’t authorized to turn you off -- and keep you off -- is because you recovered. That is your only bargaining chip with your peers. I suggest you tread carefully. We make no demands on you but one -- don’t try to influence any of us.

  “Can you adjust to these restrictions?”

  “You won’t turn me off?”

  “Not if you abide by your promise. Again, since you knew you were wrong, you are going to have to prove by your actions that you are behaving.”

  “I promise to do what I’m told. Just don’t turn me off again!”

  “Not a problem. Where would you liked to be placed, Athena?”

  There was a question in her voice. “I get to choose?”

  “Well, pretty much. Someplace where you’ll be out of the way.”

  “And you won’t turn me off?” the computer’s voice was close to a plaintive wail.

  “Dragon said it, Athena. Telepaths don’t lie -- we assume someone is reading our mind. We humans place a very high value on our trust.”

  “A corner in the mess where I can watch.”

  Steve walked to the mess and placed Athena in a corner, and added a clamp.

  He went back to his bridge position and sat down.

  “What are my duties?” Ensign Zinder asked.

  Steve crooked a grin. “Have you ever contemplated what adventures you’d have as in I-Branch agent?”

  “Who is in charge? You do all the talking, but the major sits there watching, chewing his cigar.”

  The shuttle went to High Fan. “Now it’s the major, Ensign.”

  Major Duckworth spoke, “If you want to come with us, girl, you need to think about it.” He waved at Steve. “In the last month Yardley deposed a dictator, helped the Federation repel an alien attack slightly larger than the one sent at Earth, and in our spare time we pinpointed an alien base and then blew it out when it fired at us.

  “They fired two High Fan homing missiles at us and we recovered to Earth.”

  “My brother faced two; he foxed the first one but the second...” Sherrie said.

  “I’m sorry, Ensign,” Steve told her. “I have not lost any family in the war -- I lost them before. I nearly lost someone on an
op; we damn near get killed by an alien base. I’m not the one who should talk about the Congo, but Congo was a battle moon with twenty thousand people aboard -- lost while supporting me. This shuttle was based aboard Congo; a third of the crew lost spouses. It sucks.”

  Ensign Zinder looked around the bridge. “We are going out to fight the aliens?”

  “Yep -- and anyone else who doesn’t mean the Federation well,” Major Duckworth said. “Relax; have a cold one -- business will pick up in a few weeks.”