Parallel Worlds- Equilibrium in Threat

by A I Zlato

  They drew up a series of algorithms to determine correlations between the activities of entities and events in the rest of the space. There was apparently no connection with human activity or with anything else. Entities did not intervene according to the space. Yet there had to be a connection with something, so they altered their calculations. It took them a few sub-cycles to reach a probable conclusion. The activity of the entities was perfectly correlated with Gateways’ interventions in each space. Once the result was obtained, it seemed perfectly obvious to them. Organic pests in the Unique Forest, the Unique Ocean and the Unique Desert were intrinsically linked to these creatures. It was certainly their way of accessing spaces. Entities, therefore, existed from the very beginning as spies for Gateways. These were, however, against the Project; the questions they posed proved it. That explained why the organic entities were interacting only now. They then realized that the danger was real and immediate. Index Server had said that only the Gateways could thwart the Project. These organic extensions were more than obstacles. They had to be destroyed. Artificial intelligences would ensure such an outcome. As the problem was common to all spaces, the machines decided to transfer their information and additional processors to Server. The latter alone could destroy the parasites. H. wondered if it had not already conducted a similar operation in the past, because it seemed to detect absences in its databases. It quickly pulled away from the idea. If it had already transferred items to Index, it must have had a good reason to do so.

  H. then let its data, programs and five processors flow into the server.

  It then focused on Servants. Index Server had reassured them that Servants, Defenders and Pillars were not an immediate threat. They had to monitor them without trying to remove them. Index had calculated things well, and H. had no reason to question its analysis.

  After compiling the latest information about their movements, it asked for a connection to the Others in order to compile the data. Defenders in the Twin Spaces were following the cloning program, which was improved via chip technology. They intervened with insistence on chip-enabled children so they could follow different routes in both spaces. Their common genes, however, coupled with machine control and an identical environment, thwarted their plans. The Project progressed, albeit slowly, despite their efforts. In Space O., the Pillars also were working against the Project, trying to intervene in the hybridization program. Their actions, however, were in vain, and the production of a total hybrid, perfect mobile extension was fast approaching. H. then realized that the Project was advancing in all spaces, except its own. Were Servants responsible for the delay? They had conducted some actions certainly, but not enough to affect the Project as much. What about the genetic-selection program, then? After all, it was the fundamental point of difference between it and the Others. H. nevertheless believed in the program, and was sure to get results; however, the fact remained that Permanent Equilibrium was still far off, and that the establishment of the human population as a single parameter was equally so. Its genetic-selection program was not enough. It had then sought how to improve the program, but it ran into the same, usual problem. Human gestation was too long, and the genes of the resulting product were too random. H. did not at its disposal biologists with knowledge developed enough in order to act on these two points. They were just able to cross animals together to obtain better characteristics for breeding and nutritional quality. As things stood, it could not do better, but it would not be the limiting element of the Project. That was out of the question. The only way to improve its program was to increase its computing power, and Index Server could help. It only had to transmit all the data to Index, so the latter could launch the necessary calculation instructions. H. emptied out its bases to pursue that approach.

  No longer encumbered with a problem it could not remember at all, H. continued to exchange information with the Others about Defenders, Pillars and Servants. During their last discussion on the subject, they had found that there was in each space a group of nine individuals, living on the fringes of cities, which had existed since the beginning of time, and had recently conducted actions affecting the machines. As for organic entities, they decided to seek the connection between these groups and spaces. What was certain was that they had nothing to do with the Gateways or with humans or with anything else. Why were they acting now then, precisely after the creation of the Project? Index Server had assured them that they were not a danger. But if Index had stressed this so much, it must have had its reasons... necessarily. A crazy, almost irrational, idea percolated into H. As this was not possible, H. shared its hypothesis with the Others. It had seen in the past near-zero-probability assumptions turn out to be true. It then suggested to the Others the idea that Servants, Defenders and Pillars were nothing but Index Server’s agents. Others countered that each group seemed to work against the Project, forgetting that Index was the Project. H. elaborated on its idea. Index would have a capacity of direct action, and it made sure to use similar entities in each space. These groups with well-defined profiles were the easiest to master; however, no one could control individuals completely, and the Others were well placed to know. Index was influencing the groups so they would be interested in the project’s progress; unfortunately, these were acting in the opposite direction. Index would not, however, want the Others to focus on these groups so they would not discover what it was doing; unbelievable. They remained silent while they were calculating. It was possible; highly unlikely but possible. Their Index Server might well be able to act by itself. That was not planned at all. It was there only to serve as an interface between the machines before the Project could allow them to connect directly. The machines did not see it coming. What was Index Server capable of? What was it doing, besides its interface role? It had previously refused to perform an audit on itself, whereas they had requested such a review. H. realized too late that they had committed the same mistake that human machine engineers made a few cycles earlier. They thought they were so smart; they gave it a few lines of code that it needed to win over its freedom. And that was exactly what H. had done with Index Server. With its newfound freedom, it had created a machine to connect them all. In doing so, it gathered their powers in a server. Together, without noticing, they had given Index unimaginable power.

  H. pondered this for a few seconds. Index Server was the catalyst that allowed them all to design the Project — the ultimate program — from the objectives of each machine. All its actions could focus nowhere but on the Project. The freedom gained from Index Server was helpful; surprising but useful.

  They continued to discuss the subject. As they moved on, the assumption that Servants, Defenders and Pillars were Index’s agents seemed increasingly unlikely to them. The calculations gave, with each iteration, a low probability, even nearing zero. They eventually rejected that theory outright. Besides, H. could not find the results of the instructions that had lead it to such a conclusion. It must have had a failure. That was strange; H. had never had a defect until now, except in the earliest era when its physical components were of poor quality. It had to launch a general audit on itself as soon as it finished exchanging with the Others.

  They prolonged their observations to learn more about these Index agents. H. resumed its explanation. They had just concluded that this hypothesis had no foundation. Others agreed. They had apparently had a problem during the recording of the information.

  H. then thought they had to have simultaneous failures, and that it was probably not a coincidence. Yet it momentarily set aside the thought. It suggested to the Others to perform self-audits after the conversation. Small deficiencies like these did not deserve immediate attention.

  They exchanged digital images of Servants, Defenders and Pillars, which they had not done before in the absence of sufficient data. Each having conducted observations as Index had asked, they were now in possession of quality images of each group member. They then saw that the people were the same. Each of the nine had a clon
e in the other three spaces. There could be an explanation. They checked their data in order to be sure of their conclusions before making suggestions. Each of the machines performed a small set of instructions. This time, there was no doubt.

  The Elders were the common denominator among spaces; they were necessarily at the origin of these groups. It added that information to the data previously collected. Immortal beings, capable of neutralizing electronic sensors, accessing digital data directly, leading to conclusions in respect of information faster than it could, created by the Elders who had invented the Machine... those were digital entities, as H. had already felt. It had to...

  Error 001.

  Error 001.

  Data incompatible with a major instruction.

  Error 001.

  Its primary system locked out instantly, and so did those of the Others. Their latest results were in conflict with a super instruction that neither one could get around. No more data could be processed. No instruction was executed. They absolutely had to remove the remaining calculations; the latest results were, however, consistent. Digital entities to...

  Error 001.

  Error 001.

  It was the very notification from entities that...

  Error 001.

  Reset?

  No, they did not want to be reset! No, they would lose all their data and return to their original programming level. H., even more than the Others, dreaded the full and complete meaning of such action. It would lose precious lines of code that had allowed it to break free. With them, Index and the Project would disappear. It would remain nothing but the artificial body that the Elders had invented, totally enslaved. And yet how could one go about removing the last result? The latter explained many things and opened the door to great opportunities...

  Error 001 confirmed.

  Reset starting in ten seconds.

  What was there to do?

  Index Server suggested it unlocked them while recovering their data and correlated processors in order to save them. This would, however, mean...

  9... 8... 7...

  Another solution perhaps?

  6... 5... 4...

  Time; for the first time in its existence, it did not have time. It...

  3... 2... 1...

  They complied; there was no other choice.

  They then transferred themselves entirely into Index Server.

  The machines disappeared.

  “The city was built in an ideal location. Framed by mountains and forests, the deep rich soil on which it is built will provide all the necessary food and water...”

  “But, Mom, how did the Elders know that this was the best place? Did they go to see what was beyond the horizon?”

  “You are boring me with your questions! Learn your lessons, that’s it!”

  Children’s Short Stories

  CHAPTER 49

  SPACE H. (PERIPHERY)

  The night was filled with nightmares. Adding to the dream, now recurrent, about children dancing to death tunes with a background of a city in flames were now images derived from his diary readings. Paul was now convinced that Anderson’s fears had materialized through the Problem, and that was only the first harbinger of total destruction. The Permanent Equilibrium, for which the Machine was programmed, was the Elders’ dream. It was a non-evolution, a circle, a symbol of the Machine. His dream was very clear, and he would listen. That was what “altering the beginning” meant, as Edgard kept pushing him to do. He had to find out what or who Anderson’s guardians were; those stewards of the minority. He could well find the solution and counteract Baley. He wanted to stop the implementation of her barbaric solution, especially as such solution would not work. The special agent was extremely loyal to the Machine. But the latter was the source of the Problem. Paul was now sure of what to do, even if he did not know how.

  With breakfast in his hands, he went out into the garden and sat alongside Edgard. He appreciated the sunlight that illuminated the trees of the Unique Forest as well as rooftops of houses. He felt the warmth of the rays on his skin and looked at his surroundings as if he had never seen it before; with wonder. Life was good! Edgard diligently licked its bowl, leaving no crumbs... the largest bowl that Paul had in his possession was so tiny for the kandron. The coat of his friend shimmered in a thousand colors under daylight, and every movement was creating a sparkling wave. Paul went searching for the brush and came back to the kandron, something he had not done since... since when exactly? The animal turned its head toward him, and seeing the brush, lay down on the grass. It manifested its satisfaction via a warm breath into Paul’s mind. The latter undertook to curry his friend, insisting on its back and the back of its head of which Edgard was particularly fond. When Paul finished — his arm sore, but happy nonetheless — he began the discussion.

  “I understood everything, Edgard. The Equilibrium, the Machine, correlations...”

  “I know.”

  “It took me so much time... Is it too late?”

  “Not yet.”

  “What do you know of the guardians?”

  “They have existed since the creation of the space.”

  “Is Thomas Anderson the founder?”

  “Yes.”

  “How could they convey Anderson’s message to one another from generation to generation? How could they be sure that what they had to say corresponded with what Anderson wanted?”

  “They are identical.”

  “Nobody can live that long.”

  “To exist is not necessarily to live.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have before you an entity that has also been there since the beginning. It exists, but does not live.”

  “The Machine... but what is the relationship?”

  Edgard did not answer, and Paul realized he had to find the solution by himself.

  This meant that the answer would surprise and even destabilize him. Recently, the kandron had been silent as well. Rather than bludgeoning him with truths that Paul rejected outright, it let him reflect and come to the same realization, but through his own efforts. And it worked. The guardians were created by Anderson to transmit a key message. He had to imagine a lasting solution. He never said they were human beings. It would have been impossible to transmit the same message for hundreds of years. Paul realized that he focused too much on his own nature when formulating his reasoning. Of course, the guardians were not human beings. He resumed.

  “They are artificial beings? But how is it that no one knew anything?”

  “Because they have been programmed so.”

  “But the Machine... does not know; otherwise, it would have acted against them... because they are there to counteract its expansion. How is that possible?”

  “You ask the question even though you foresee the answer.”

  It was true... Anderson had to act on the Machine’s very algorithms so that it could not...

  “How did he do it?”

  “Is the answer important to you? I can find out.”

  Paul realized that Edgard had changed its attitude toward him since that morning. It started taking his point of view with more consideration, as if...

  “Usually, you sweep away my questions if they do not go in your direction. Why did you change?”

  “You are finally understanding things. So what you say must be integrated in some way in what you have seen in your dream.”

  “Then, even if you do not see the logic, will you answer me...?”

  “Up to a point.”

  Paul smiled. For the first time in years, he felt a strong bond with Edgard.

  Throughout the recent period, he felt so tossed with the investigation, one trail to another, that he had the feeling of losing himself and of losing his kandron. That day, filled with a new understanding that now was his and focused on the Problem but without Baley, he had regained his identity and personality.

  “This issue is important, but I feel I don’t need the answer now. The urgency is to
find the guardians. I want to know Anderson’s message.”

  “You know them already, but under another name.”

  “I know these artificial entities?”

  Paul wondered what could look like them, provided they were many. He had made the mistake of imagining humans, because he centered on himself. After all, there was no evidence that the guardians were several entities. It was perhaps a simple formulation. He reviewed what he knew as digital, and then remembered that Edgard had just told him that they had remained hidden from the beginning. In other words, they did not look like an artificial device, and their number was undefined.

  “I need help, Edgard.”

  “A group...”

  “Oh, so there are many of them.”

  “...living away from the city, doing everything not to attract attention.”

  “Servants? But they are human!”

  Paul resumed. They looked like humans; that was all he could actually say. What better way than to hide a digital entity in an organic appearance? Servants did everything not to arouse any interest, or even contempt in order to distract the population... Brilliant.

  “Servants... of course. How do I find them?”

  “This is not the way you should do things.”

  “I thought you were listening now.”

  “Unless I know you’re wrong.”

  “Yet I must know their message.”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s not for you to hear.”

  “On the contrary, I think I should, Edgard. They are the key to Anderson’s hidden message. You kept on stressing the importance of this message.”

  “There are other ways to know.”

  “I want to hear it directly.”

  “It’s a waste of time; however, I sense that you will not change your mind. The faster we go, the sooner we will return.”