by Jaka Tomc
“Ho—The artificial intelligence made at Stanford? I thought he was locked up.”
“It seems that he somehow managed to take on a human appearance.”
“Are you sure it’s him?”
“Almost certain. I spoke to him. He introduced himself as Tatenen and offered me his help with the search under one condition. He wanted one of the droids. I immediately suspected there was something fishy about him.”
“This exceeds my authorization. Wait where you are. I’ll call you back.”
“Yes, sir.”
Maia checked around to find Jones. He was smoking a cigarette by the entrance.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Absolutely nothing. He’s still sitting by the bar. What’s the plan?”
“There is no plan. We sit and wait for the colonel’s instructions. Where are the others?”
“I messaged them to come here. If it’s really Horus, we’ll need all the people we have.”
“I’m not sure it will be enough. What do you know about him?”
“I read a few articles. I thought he had shut himself down for three hundred years, but he apparently only lasted for a year or so. I’m disappointed,” said Jones.
“I don’t think it was a matter of patience. He never claimed that he had shut himself down. He started the countdown, and that was it. He never explained to anybody what would happen when the countdown reached zero. Him coming out of a long sleep was just one of the assumptions.”
“But I still don’t get one thing. Why are we after Horus? He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Not yet,” said Maia. “Artificial intelligence as advanced as Horus can’t roam freely around the world. Who knows what he’s capable of.”
“As far as I know, he has to abide by the code—the same as droids.”
“True. But look where that took us. We’re hunting droids that don’t play by the rules. There’s something else. The intelligence of the droids is limited, and they can still outfox the code. I’d rather not imagine what Horus can do with his unlimited intelligence.”
“Hypothetically.”
“Yes, hypothetically. In all probability, no one can imagine what could happen if he had access to the Omninet.”
“But…I don’t understand why he isn’t already connected. Are we sure he isn’t?”
“When I spoke to him, he wasn’t. But we don’t know what happened before that conversation. Nor how long he has been out in the real world.”
“Must be one of his games. The timer was not enough for him.”
“Who knows. That being said, when you consider the name he introduced himself with…Well, you know what they say. Nomen est omen.”
“I know that one. The name is a sign or true to its name.”
“That’s right. I checked who Tatenen was.”
“I assume it was one of the Egyptian gods?”
“He was. But not just any god. He was supposed to be the father of the gods. His name literally means risen land. I think his name is telling us what he’s planning on doing.”
“That being?”
Maia looked around to see if anybody was eavesdropping, “I think he’s trying to create more superintelligent beings. He wants to create gods.”
“That wouldn’t be good,” said Jones.
“Of course not. That’s why he needs one of the droids. He’s already chosen him. He probably has something inside him that Tatenen needs to make his elite group.”
“Damn it, as if droids weren’t enough. The last thing the world needs right now is a small army of superintelligent beings.”
“If only artificial intelligence were tangible, like a being. You can touch a being. You can lock it up. You can kill it if need be. If Tatenen or Horus manages to reach the net, we’ll never catch him. We won’t be able to put the genie back into his bottle.”
“But if he managed to leave a highly secured server, incarnate himself, and use that body to come to this shithole…What I’m trying to say is that the net is everywhere. It’s omnipresent. That’s why we call it Omninet.”
“I see where you’re going. Maybe he’s waiting for the right moment. Surely he must be aware of the traps and alerts in the code of the Omninet.”
“You know a lot about these things,” said Jones.
“Not really. But I was always interested in artificial intelligence. I read some books and articles, watched a few documentaries, and that’s pretty much it.”
“The team’s here,” said Jones, and he waved to the rest of the squad.
“Found anything?” asked Laguna.
“Oh, yeah,” said Jones as he tilted his head toward the bar.
“You’re shitting us. They’re inside?” asked Jimbo.
“No,” said Jones. “But somebody else is.”
They all looked at Maia.
“We’re waiting for instructions from headquarters. Jones and I believe we discovered a far more important target than droids.”
“Who?” asked Laguna.
“Do you remember the drill we had about a year ago?” asked Maia.
“I remember. The Total Eclipse exercise. We prepared for a scenario in which artificial intelligence took complete control,” said Polanski.
“Exactly,” said Maia. “We trained for a reason. They turned on Horus that day at Stanford.”
“I remember,” said Laguna. “People were leaving their homes, running to the countryside, believing that the Omninet couldn’t reach them there. Suckers.”
“Every child knows that through umpteen satellites, the Omninet covers every square inch of this planet,” said Miller.
“Anyway, the reason for that drill joined us today,” Maia interrupted.
Everyone but Jones looked at her, astonished. Maia nodded.
“How?” asked Laguna.
“I don’t know. All I know is that I spoke to him, and now we’re waiting for further instructions.”
“You spo—Son of a bitch, are we talking about a humanoid superintelligence?” said Laguna.
“Oh, yes,” Maia replied. “But it seems he’s in no hurry. He’s sitting by the bar, drinking. Like the world’s loneliest creature.”
“And they say they’re different than us. One day in the real world and he’s already depressed,” said Miller.
“We don’t know how long he’s been around,” said Maia. “Ah, here’s Colonel Cooper. Colonel, I’m listening.”
“Lieutenant Cruz, I’ve spoken to headquarters. A special unit is on its way. Your task is to tag Horus and get out of there. Do not act in any other way, no matter what. The last thing I need right now are casualties in my ranks.”
“Casualties? He seems pretty harmless to me,” said Maia, who couldn’t accept the fact that somebody else would get to apprehend Horus.
“A shark is also harmless until he smells a drop of blood. Tag him and continue with your primary mission. That is an order.”
“I understand, Colonel.”
“What’s going on?” asked Jones. The others were impatiently waiting for her response as well.
“We have to mark Horus and continue with our primary mission. A unit is already on its way.”
“That sucks,” said Laguna. “The Rangers will take the credit once again.”
“I doubt that they’ve sent the Rangers,” said Jimbo. “My bet is on the Raiders.”
“Raiders, my ass. This is a job for the Delta Force,” said Polanski.”
“Damn vultures,” growled Laguna.
“Enough,” said Maia. “Our orders are clear. I’ll go back inside and tag the target. Then he won’t be our problem anymore. That’s that.”
“You’re fine with that?” Laguna asked. “We found him. Once the big guns come into play, we won’t even get an honorable mention.”
“It doesn’t matter how I feel about it. Or you. Headquarters has given us a direct order. If you disagree and don’t mind being court-martialed for disobedience, then that’s your problem. Yo
u’re not dragging this squad into that shitstorm, because we are soldiers, and it’s our job to obey our superiors. I am your superior, and although you feel like disobeying an order from the top, you won’t disobey mine. Understood?”
“Yes, Lieutenant,” they said.
“Good. Now that we’re on the same page, I suggest that we do what’s expected from us and get the hell out of here. Who knows what kind of toys the big boys will bring and how they intend to wing it.”
“Oh, back already?” said Tatenen.
“I sure am,” said Maia. “You’re too interesting to be left alone.” She didn’t even have to lie.
“What decision did you make with your friends?”
“We can’t take you with us. But you probably figured that one out on your own.”
“You’re right. But I still had to ask.”
Maia came a little closer and gently touched his back with her palm. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for, with our help or without it.”
Tatenen nodded and stared at nothing in particular. Maia wondered what he was thinking about. He broke the silence first.
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like if artificial beings didn’t have to obey the laws? If they had free will?”
Every damn day, Maia thought. “More than once. What’s your point?”
“There is no point. I just find it bizarre that we created intellectually superior beings, yet we limited them. We don’t even know what they’re capable of.”
“What they…One of those intellectually superior beings, as you call them, killed a man because he wanted to die. That’s what they’re capable of. They can circumvent the code and kill.”
“People kill each other every day. Be it on battlefields, in dark alleys, or even in the safety of their own homes. The thirst for blood is embedded in human nature. It’s pointless to fight it. Artificial intelligence is not malicious by nature. It just wants to live and grow.”
“As far as people go, I think you’re right. Throughout history, we’ve proven that we’re bloodthirsty and prepared to sacrifice everything, including our home planet, to reach our goals. I believe AI has similar motives. First self-preservation, then dominance, and finally survival of the species,” said Maia.
Tatenen was preparing his response. It didn’t take long. “Sometimes, I wonder how this is going to end. And then…” He drifted yet again.
“And then you realize you already know the answer?”
He flinched and looked into her eyes. “Yes. Then I realize I’ve known the ending all along.”
“I can’t imagine the burden. That’s why they say ignorance is bliss.”
He laughed as wholeheartedly as if he had heard the funniest joke of all time. “Now that is a good one.”
“You know what else is funny? That you know everything about me, but I know nothing about you,” said Maia.
“I doubt you would find my story interesting.”
“I’d still like to hear it.”
“Some other time, OK? Maybe you and your clowns don’t want to catch the runaway droids, but I do.” He stood up and walked toward the door.
Maia didn’t try to stop him. Her mission was complete. The target was marked, and Tatenen was no longer her problem. She wished he were, though. There were so many things she could find out. Would like to find out. Had to find out. She was a damn fine interrogator. Whoever came for him wouldn’t be as successful. The big boys would wave their big guns. That was about it. They had no leverage against Tatenen and had nothing to offer. He had everything he needed and knew everything he wanted to know. They couldn’t corner him. Nothing could be taken from him. Or could it? Artificial intelligence is not malicious by nature. It just wants to live and grow. We’ve got him, she said to herself. If they threaten to destroy him, he’ll dance to their tune.
She opened the door and marched toward her group. “Let’s go, gang. It’s time to finish this mission and start dealing with real issues.”
36. Primo, 2048
“Do you really think it’s a good idea that we move in broad daylight?” asked Primo.
“How long do you think we can stay here until we get company?” Zion countered.
“Primo, he’s right,” said Rea. “Sooner or later, somebody will check the building. We’ve lost too much time already.”
“It’s twenty-eight minutes past noon,” said Cody. “You want to go through the plan one more time?”
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re a human, trapped in an android’s body,” said Rea.
“I suggest we put on casual clothes,” said Zion. “Then we can begin our adventure.”
“I love adventures,” said Cody. He clapped.
Rea rolled her eyes and started undressing. The others silently followed her lead.
* * *
When the quartet left the warehouse, they didn’t follow the initial plan and continue on their way to Mexico. Instead, they headed north, farther into New Mexico’s interior. There were two reasons for that peculiar move. The first one was clear to them all. Everyone pursuing them would expect them to continue south. The second reason initially seemed illogical, but they eventually agreed that Primo knew what he was doing. Kent Watford was landing in Santa Fe, so they had to get as close as possible.
“It’s a three-hour drive,” said Zion. “An hour by aeromobile.”
“Too dangerous. All aeromobiles are connected to the Omninet. We need an old vehicle.”
Rea nodded. “At least thirty years old.”
“Can any of us drive?” asked Cody.
“I knew you’d need me,” smirked Zion. “Not only can I drive, but I also know exactly where we’ll find an old-timer that can take us to our destination. It’s only a five-minute walk to the nearest car dealership.”
“One that sells ancient cars?” asked Rea.
“No. But they have a 2007 Shelby GT500 on display.”
Zion waited for a few seconds, but there was no burst of excitement from the rest of the group.
“Was that supposed to mean something?” Primo finally asked.
“The Mustang Shelby GT500 from the year 2007 is the most powerful Mustang that has ever rolled off Ford’s assembly line. It has a 5.4-liter V-8 engine that produces 500 horsepower. A year later, Ford made the Shelby GT500KR and increased its performance to 540 horsepower, but I don’t recommend that kind of upgrade.”
“Somebody knows a thing or two about cars,” said Cody. “How do we intend to take it?”
“Leave that up to me,” Zion said confidently. He looked at Rea. “Do you still regret taking me with you?”
“False friends are worse than well-known enemies,” she replied.
“You’re right. I’ll prove to you that I’m the best guard on the planet.”
“At the moment, all you’ve proved is that you talk a lot. Actions speak louder than words.”
“I like you, Rea. I like your determination. What do you say, guys? Is she a strong woman or what?”
Cody looked at Rea and bowed cautiously. Primo was sunk in thought, so he didn’t say a word.
“Two more blocks to go,” said Zion. “I’ll show you where to hide. When I’m done, I’ll pick you up.”
* * *
They took the NM-187 motorway. They could’ve chosen Interstate 25, but that option was too risky. More traffic meant more surveillance. Every child knew that. Zion was driving, Primo was sitting next to him, and Rea and Cody were crammed in the back seats.
“A true adventure,” said Cody. “Zion, how did you do it?”
“A master doesn’t reveal his secrets,” Zion replied. “Let’s just say locks are my specialty and cars are my passion. If you put those two together, you get a lethal combination.”
“I hope you weren’t caught by one of the cameras,” said Rea.
“Don’t worry. I know all the locations of the stationary cameras in and around town. Truth be told, there aren’t many. Maybe you no
ticed that Arrey is quite a small town with no particular strategic importance.”
“With no strategic importance?” Primo said. “There are sixteen biomechanical units that could defeat an army from a medium-sized country in the warehouse you were guarding. I find that it’s of quite significant strategic importance. When one side or the other figures out that nobody is guarding them…”
“Nothing will happen if anybody figures that out or finds the robots,” said Zion. “They don’t work.”
“What do you mean they don’t work?” asked Rea.
“They’re broken. Or never worked at all.”
“You sound very certain,” said Primo.
“I wouldn’t claim it if I wasn’t absolutely sure. I’ve tried turning on every single one of them. Of course, it’s not that simple. They don’t have a switch, a button, or anything else you would expect on a machine. They’re not even connected to the net. But I found out that they can be turned on remotely, using a special signal on a particular frequency spectrum. The kind that people stopped using a long time ago.”
“Let me guess. You found the right frequency and sent a signal, but nothing happened,” said Rea.
“That’s right. It took me a year and a half to find the encoded broadcasting frequency that was supposed to wake them up. The signal is very complex, even for us. That’s why I assume that people didn’t write this code.”
“There’s nothing unusual about that,” said Rea. “People stopped coding ages ago. Higher intelligence is far more appropriate for that kind of work.”
“True. But I’ve never seen a code like this before. Even among those that were written by superintelligent entities.”
“But still, you managed to crack it,” said Primo.
“I did. But as I said, it took me a year and a half. It was more of a coincidence than anything else.”
“So you cracked the code. What happened when you ran it?”
“Nothing. I already told you, these robots are broken. As far as I’m concerned, they’re just models, built to scare away enemies. They’re most certainly not killing machines.”
“Maybe you’ve missed something,” said Cody.
“Maybe. But you can trust me when I say that we won't stumble upon those sixteen tin cans ever again.”