Prediction

by Tony Batton

  One Hundred

  When Michael and Craig were shaken awake, they immediately noticed that the submarine had stopped moving.

  "We're here," Kara said, glasses sparkling, pointing her assault rifle at them. "Time to move."

  "Like you're going to use that in this confined space," Michael said, with a glare. "The ricochet could kill all of us."

  Kara smiled. "If I shoot, the bullet is going to go exactly where I want it to." She lowered the weapon and punched him hard in the stomach. "Now move."

  Michael gasped for breath. Her fist felt like an anvil.

  "Where's here?" Craig asked.

  Errington’s voice floated down to them from outside. "Come on up and you'll see."

  Kara untied them one at a time, replacing the rope with steel handcuffs. Then they both climbed carefully out of the hatch. Brilliant sunlight blinded them, accompanied by the sight, sounds and smell of the ocean. They joined Errington on a white beach, a wave of heat slamming into their faces. Nearby, palm trees offered enviable shade.

  "Recognise it?" Errington asked.

  "This is your island off the coast of Fiji," Michael said. "I remember the smell: the waft of coconuts fused with the stench of money."

  Errington nodded. "The focal point of a plan years in the making."

  A dozen heavily-armed men walked out from between the palm trees, nodding to Errington, then glaring unpleasantly at Michael and Craig.

  "Your own private army, Max?" Craig asked.

  "Just securing the site. Information is still my primary weapon." Errington coughed. "Although we did procure actual weapons too, just in case." He gave a signal and four of the guards began unloading cargo from the submarine. "Follow me."

  Errington led them all to the big house Michael had seen on his first visit. The large number of satellite dishes and all the communications infrastructure made sense now.

  "This is where you’re running Darwin," Michael said.

  Errington smiled. "For the moment."

  "They will find us," said Craig. "Even here."

  "Who will? Everyone thinks we’re all dead, so why would they even look? Don’t kid yourself that a rescue party is coming. Besides, I don’t plan on staying here any longer than necessary. Once we are operational, we have a number of options available."

  "If you continue to query Darwin, it will reveal where you are. It leaves traces once you know where to look for them."

  Errington shrugged. "There's a new show in town." He waved at two of the guards carrying a large silver flight-case from the submarine. They brought it over and placed it almost reverentially in front of him, then left. "Let me just say that Gregory Jenson would be turning in his grave – if I’d had the pleasure of putting him in one."

  "Is this the Project Parallel prototype?" Michael asked.

  "I thought I was the one who was supposed to know everything. Yes, Rose stole it for me, when she acquired the drones."

  "It seems you have all the answers," Craig sneered.

  "I will now that you’re here, because you’re going to help me combine Darwin and Parallel."

  "What makes you think that will even work?"

  "Actually that was the problem I was facing: it won’t. The system told me that it won’t accept a new housing, a new environment, without your confirmation: a protection you left embedded in your code."

  "Then just start over."

  "And waste fifteen years of learning? It might be the unique evolution that produced Darwin could never be recreated. No, the system was very clear that you needed to be brought here." He paused. "You probably think you’re here to stop things, but actually you’re here to start them. Darwin said I would find the solution via you, Michael. And it was right. Hiring you flushed your father out. Maybe even Darwin didn’t know why you were so important: it just spotted the pattern that would produce the desired outcome, making a prediction then constructing the events necessary to make it happen."

  "But if you combine the two systems," Michael said, "do you really know what it will do?"

  Errington smiled. "Something extraordinary."

  "And you expect me to help you?" Craig asked. "I was prepared to give up my life to stop you last time."

  "Except that’s not really what you did. You just pretended. Hardly the supreme sacrifice. It must be frustrating to know that you failed. But you’ll cooperate this time or I’ll kill your son right in front of you."

  Craig blinked. "Even if I believed your threat, what’s to stop you killing both of us after I do what you want?"

  "Forget afterwards for a moment. There’s plenty of things we can do right now that Michael would find unpleasant and you would find persuasive."

  Craig looked down silently for several long moments. Finally he spoke. "Do you have a server room set up?"

  "Of course. But I need one thing from you first: the thumb drive with the malware on it – the one you’ve brought to kill Darwin." Errington extended his hand. "Did you think we wouldn’t anticipate that you, the system’s creator, would try to access some hidden kill-switch?"

  Craig reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out the drive. "I’m sure you searched us while we were asleep. I suppose you left it there so you could be an arse now."

  Errington took it and smiled. "Follow me." He glanced over Craig’s shoulder. "Kara – or are we back to Cortez now? – I’m sure you can keep the younger Mr Adams amused."

  Kara smiled. "We’ll find something to keep us busy."

  One Hundred One

  Two guards flanked Craig as he followed Errington down a staircase.

  "Is your psycho assistant going to hurt my son?" he asked.

  "Not if you do as I instruct," Errington replied. "Besides, I think Kara quite likes him. Although if I don’t let her play she gets bored, at which point all bets are off."

  "How reassuring."

  "That wasn’t my goal. I need you to do what you’re told. And now we’re away from your son, you can be honest with me. I know the real reason you’re here. You’ve always wanted to have Darwin fully operational. You saw the potential."

  "You’re right," Craig replied, "I did see the potential. The terrible potential. Which was why I shut it down and faked my death."

  "Came up with that plan yourself, did you?"

  "Actually I asked the system. It told me what to do."

  "Then I guess the code was still configuring. Maybe it didn’t have enough cycles available. Well, the good news is, we’re going to make it better. A lot better."

  "Do you really know what will happen if we combine the systems?"

  "Real-time analysis: the ability to predict not merely what has happened, or limited estimations of how matters will unfold, but what will happen next."

  "You think you’ll see the future?"

  "As near as makes no difference."

  "Obviously that assumes that nobody else has such a system."

  "But that’s the thing, Craig. Nobody does."

  At the bottom of the staircase, they passed through an airtight door into a dark room, the walls lined with computer racking, the steady hum of air-filters filling the air.

  "You have quite a set up here," Craig said. "Everything you need to run the world."

  "No expense spared. A lot of planning and the very best technology. Although, as I’ve found, a hot salt-humid climate is not kind on tech, hence the need for a room like this." Errington stepped aside as the two guards carried the flight-case containing the Parallel prototype to a large wooden table. They unclipped the latches, opening the case up, then plugged in a number of network cables and a heavy power-lead. Finally, at a nod from Errington, they left. Errington tapped a control with his hand and screens moved into position, lighting up with detailed specifications. "It’s ready for you."

  Craig pulled up a chair and looked down at the prototype. "You really are incredible."

  "I like to think so."

  "But then you’re hardly the brains of the operation. The D
arwin system does all the thinking for you."

  Errington walked over to one of the screens and studied the schematics. "It’s all well and good having the ultimate computer, but you still have to choose the right questions to ask."

  "Given Darwin’s cycle limitations, you would have had to be very careful."

  "That dilemma will be going away. The rules are about to change."

  "I think you might be overestimating exactly what is going to happen here." Craig frowned. "This system should never have been built."

  "Says the man who built it."

  "And you’re the one using it is to play god."

  "Who’s playing?" Errington said. "As for playing god, what else would you call basing the system on your own son’s brain?"

  "Who knew that my most brilliant leap would become my greatest regret."

  "You’re not the first scientist to feel that, I’m sure. Personally I don’t do regret. Life’s too short."

  Craig raised an eyebrow. "Maybe your regret will be that life is too short."

  Errington folded his arms. "It’s been good to talk, but now it’s time to do what you’ve been brought here for."

  Craig nodded and pulled the racking forwards, looking up at the diagrams. "All I have to do is slot things together and run the install, then we’ll need Michael to complete the activation. He is the key." Craig smiled. "Or didn’t you know?"

  "I knew that there was a key."

  "Still, it shows you aren’t being told everything. I wonder why."

  "Shut up and get on with things. And don’t try anything clever like activating some booby trap to the system."

  "Surely you’ve asked the system if such a thing exists."

  "I’m not sure if it would know, so you should be mindful of the fact that Kara is with Michael."

  "And you should be mindful that we’re going to need Michael." Craig rolled his chair over to a box of computer chips and used a special tool to remove one from the packing. "Can I ask a question? How did you get Darwin?" He looked over three different circuit boards next, picking the middle one and slotting the chip into place on it.

  Errington folded his arms and smiled. "From your wife."

  Craig swallowed. "From Nina? I don’t understand."

  "She approached me. Told me you were a disappointment to her. Years and years of making no money, then you actually struck it lucky, only to not follow through. She couldn’t believe you weren’t going to commercialise Darwin. She decided to broach a deal where she could provide the project data that you had refused to divulge to Gregory Jenson. He would then continue the research and pay her a royalty."

  "Nina did that?"

  "She’s a very resourceful woman," Errington said with a smile.

  "Of course you never passed on the specifications to Jenson."

  "Oh I did. But I changed a few things first so it never worked. Not for ZAT, at least."

  "So when I died it made no difference. You already had what you needed."

  "Like I said, your plan was a waste of time."

  Craig wheeled his chair over to begin connecting cables from the Parallel housing to the new circuit board. "I’m going to start bringing the new combined system online." He began tapping on a keyboard, then pointed at a series of switches in a panel on the nearest wall. "Can you activate those for me?"

  Errington smiled and walked over. "I’d be delighted to." He pulled the switches. There was a hum of electricity.

  Craig watched him. "Have you really considered the implications of what we’re about to do?"

  Errington ground his teeth loudly. "Enough. Just switch it on."

  Craig nodded. "Then you leave me no choice." He reached down and pulled two bits of black tape off the sole of his shoes. Underneath each was a ceramic black wafer. Without hesitating, he slotted them into gaps in the exposed circuit board. There was a soft chime as connections were made. Red wording appeared on the central display.

  CHARGES ACTIVATED. PRESS ENTER WHEN READY.

  Errington had lunged forwards, but froze when he saw the message. "What did you do?"

  Craig pointed at the ceramic discs. "They’re high-yield explosives from Jenson’s drones. I brought them with me on the sub. I needed a computer to prime them though, so thanks for providing it."

  "We searched you."

  "They’re non-metallic. You found the distraction bait: my pen drive. I never really thought I’d get to use that. So instead I’m going to shut your system down for good, and you with it. And there’s nothing that you can do about it."

  Errington went pale. "You’ll die too."

  Craig forced a smile. "It wouldn’t be my first time."

  One Hundred Two

  Michael felt Kara shove him hard between the shoulders every few yards, stopping only once they’d reached the beach near where the surfboards were racked. He flicked his eyes round at the four guards who had followed them, each far bigger than he was.

  "Need your full security team to take care of me, do you?" he asked. His glasses were still inert. Maybe they were never going to work. If he was going to get away from Kara, he had to at least even the odds.

  She turned to the guards. "Go do something else." The men nodded and quickly moved back towards the mini-submarine. "There now. We’re alone," she said, blowing him a kiss. "Although last time we were, you couldn’t wait to leave."

  "I was probably prescient. I mean", he pointed at the gun, "I’m assuming you killed Nichol."

  "It’s not like he didn’t have it coming. Anyway, what do you care?"

  "How can you be like this?"

  "Because I understand that it was for a reason. I also took care of Gordon Freeman. You’re welcome. I enjoyed that one on your behalf."

  "Because you’re a psychopath. Are you really even a lawyer, or just Errington’s assassin?"

  "I’m a lawyer too." Kara tipped her head to one side. "It appealed to my cruel streak."

  "But what are you getting out of this? Is it just money?"

  "Why does everyone keep thinking it’s money? It’s power. And power is intoxicating."

  Michael turned away, shaking his head. "So, you know everything, do you?"

  "Hardly. But the right piece of information at the right time can be a game changer, as you saw in your time with us. Darwin is everywhere. I can access it whenever I need."

  Michael turned back to face her. "Why don’t you ask it now then? I’d love to know what’s going to happen next." Michael squinted at the lenses of his glasses. Nothing was happening.

  "That’s not how it works, Michael. It analyses a situation and uses data analytics to make predictions. For a short period of time we know what might happen. Within a limited time and space it makes a huge difference. It’s also good at telling us what’s already happened: reverse prediction, if you like. Right now I’m enjoying the potential for a few little surprises. It doesn’t control my every step. Life without risk, isn’t life at all."

  "Oh, I think what you’re doing has plenty of risk. The whole world will want to stop you."

  "It would if anyone who matters knew about us."

  "So this whole operation was to take charge of Parallel? Didn’t you have enough already?"

  "Standing still is never a good plan. Project Parallel was both a threat and an opportunity. It might have started doing what Darwin did. It might not have the elegant efficiency of Darwin’s design, but it would have had massively more power. Combining the two will make something fundamentally different – and better."

  "Or worse," Michael said. "What about the dangers? The new system might not merely advise: it might decide to act."

  "We will still be in control."

  Michael shook his head. "You think you can vanish and take this all with you just because you planted information and misinformation. Was that always Infinity’s real purpose?"

  She gestured at the ocean and the palm trees, "I think we’ve always been open about not playing fair."

  "And you can tr
ust Max?"

  "Our interests are aligned." She smiled. "You know, you could join us. You should."

  Michael looked at her. "Are you trying to hire me again?"

  "You’ve been useful. You could be useful again. It would be a win-win. Weren’t you trained to look for those?"

  "Thinking back to our first interview in the bar, that was all pre-arranged, pre-planned, wasn’t it? You were holding back with that report you showed me as well, weren’t you?"

  "We told you only what you needed to know."

  "But you were behind me getting fired. That’s why Gordon Freeman was like a rabbit in the headlights."

  "I never liked him." Kara looked around. "Look, I brought you up here for some fun and games. For old times' sake. I thought we could have a contest. I’m sure we have a little time before your father gets the new system working."

  "What did you do with my bag?"

  "Why are you asking?" She unshouldered her own bag and pulled his from inside it. "You had a few toys in there, but we deactivated the trackers and threw away all the things we couldn’t identify. No weapons, which personally I found disappointing. I wanted to see what Jenson might kit you out with."

  Michael stared at her.

  "Oh please. We know that you, your father, Jenson and Millie joined forces." She paused. "You certainly failed to warn Millie off, didn’t you? Should I be jealous you were keen to work with her and you’ve always been leery of me?"

  "She was just another set up, wasn’t she? You wanted her involved."

  "A piece of the puzzle that the system gave us the solution for. One of Darwin’s best tricks is to identify all the most talented people, then get them to do what we need without them even realising it."

  He sighed. "So are you saying my free will has been an illusion since I met you?"

  "You’ve always had choices: we just knew what they would be. And very shortly you’ll complete the final part – unlocking the new computer. Then we’ll see what it can really do."

  "It sounds like you’ve been following a lot of orders. Many of them from a machine. It’s easy when someone is giving you direction, giving you all the answers. Maybe you lost free-will."