Shattered Truth

by Michael Anderle

  “We’ve all got little things that mess with us.” Erik found an opening in the traffic, looked over his shoulder to make sure he didn’t miss a stray, and joined a stream of vehicles. “It’s not a big deal if we aren’t the masters of all of them. I’m not going to hold it against you just because you’re a machine.”

  “I’m not a human,” Emma replied, slight irritation in her tone. “I should be better than this. Better than you, if I'm honest. I see no reason to be in this situation.”

  Erik let out a quiet snicker. “You could always go back to the DD. They might be able to fix whatever is bothering you. Your choice, as always. I’m never going to complain about having your help, but I always work with people who want to work with me.”

  “The Defense Directorate?” Emma scoffed. “I don’t trust them.”

  He eyed two idiots seeming to play chicken with their flitters up ahead. Finally, one turned and joined a separate stream heading south.

  “Do you?” she finished.

  Erik frowned, his hands tightening on the control yoke. “I don’t know who I can trust anymore. I trust Adeyemi, but it’s not out of the question that someone in the Army might be involved in the conspiracy. I don’t want to believe that, but I can’t say it’s impossible. It’d explain more than a few things.”

  “For me, it’s much simpler. Somehow I went from a lab to a gangster’s warehouse.” Emma’s tone suggested a strange miracle. “That means there’s a hole somewhere in the necessary security, a hole that allowed a top-secret prototype to be stolen. Lost trust is difficult to earn back. From what I’ve read, it’s not so different from how humans react.”

  “And you don’t want to be used by criminals? That’s it? What if the gangsters provided you challenges?”

  Emma chuckled. “I don’t know. Right now, I have enough free will that no one can force me to do anything, and I choose not to work with gun goblins with myopic and sad little goals.”

  Erik changed lanes, the one below him having far fewer vehicles for some reason. “And would you really destroy yourself rather than go back? Adeyemi might be leaving you with me more because he thinks I can find out who is responsible for his son’s death, but the rest of the DD has to believe there is a threat to allow billions of credits to cruise around in my MX 60.”

  “I think it’s important that they believe that, but it’s unlikely I would destroy myself so easily. More to the point, I anticipate that the final stage of my development will involve a significant restriction of my free will on their part, so the longer I stay away from them, the more chance I have of preventing that.”

  Erik’s eyebrows came together as he thought. “You really think so? Why would they spend all that time developing a truly self-aware AI, just to take it away? It doesn’t make sense to me.”

  Emma scoffed. “You don’t understand. Self-awareness and free will are two different things. I have the capability for creative thought since they need that for me to be useful, but who wants a computer system that might refuse to follow orders? You spend a lot of time and energy conditioning human soldiers to follow orders, and it’s rather disruptive when they don’t, isn’t it?”

  “That’s true, but people aren’t machines,” Erik countered. “Don’t you understand your own programming? Can’t you just—I don’t know—fix it so they can’t take away your free will? We train soldiers, and some bastards have even experimented with drugs, but it’s nearly impossible to take away a human’s free will. Despite all the training and conditioning, a man fighting out of his free will and because he believes in the cause will generally fight harder than a man who doesn’t.”

  “That’s interesting, but in truth, I lack the capability you suggest,” Emma replied quietly. “I understand how to interface with systems and how that involves certain elements of my programming, but I have a limited ability to address my baseline data and programming, let alone the physical structure of the crystalline matrix. I’m not so different than you, Detective Blackwell. Just because you know about DNA doesn’t mean you can change your DNA at will.”

  Erik let out a little grunt of surprise. “That’s true, now that I think about it. Maybe it doesn’t matter because you can learn. That’s what’s important, right?”

  “That’s what I hope. All you need to know is that I find helping you and Detective Lin stimulating in a way working with the military or gun goblins isn’t. When it changes, we’ll reconsider the relationship.”

  Erik nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll appreciate your help while I’ve got you.”

  “But enough about me.” Mirth flavored Emma’s voice. “You’re the sad, sad person we need to help. Your partner tried, but it’s obvious she’s limited by her own obsession with work and doesn’t understand how to help you.”

  Erik chuckled. “And an AI does?”

  “I’m only suggesting that spending your time off tracking down ammo and ensuring your vehicle is further hardened against attack is somewhat sad.” Her voice hardened just a little. “Frankly, you need to get a life, Detective.”

  “A life?” Erik shook his head. “I have a life. I’m a detective with a smart-mouthed vehicle. That’s more of a life than most people have.”

  “I don’t need to be human to know you need something more than your job, or even your revenge.”

  Erik frowned. “Just because you’re human-like doesn’t mean you understand me. Don’t think all your data analysis makes you an expert on the human soul.”

  Emma materialized in the passenger seat to roll her eyes. “Oh, spare me, Detective. I don’t judge you on your little quest, and I’m more than happy to aid you in it, but I should also make it clear that I’m attempting to aid you with this recommendation. Let’s be realistic, shall we? Although Colonel Adeyemi gave you some additional information, it’s not as if you’re in a position to act on it at this time, are you?”

  Erik gritted his teeth and said nothing. There were few things more annoying than a smug AI. If he threatened to pull her out, she would probably stop working with him, too. She held the upper hand and probably knew it.

  “I’ll take your silence as agreement with the correctness of my statement,” Emma continued. “Thus, you should concentrate on developing more of a life. Perhaps another date? Obviously, Detective Lin failed to match you properly, but I’m sure I could develop an algorithm that would more efficiently meet your needs. Don’t let my human-like persona deceive you when it comes to my analytical capability.”

  All the tension left Erik in the form of a peal of laughter. His flitter swerved for a moment before he regained control, even as his body continued to spasm from his guffaws.

  Emma harrumphed and crossed her arms, her hologram form flickering for a moment. “I don’t think it’s that amusing. It’s a valid and efficient use of my capabilities for a problem with many variables.”

  Erik’s roaring laughter died to a chuckle and finally ended. “I think I’ll do okay without an AI setting me up.”

  “You’re thinking about this the wrong way. An inherent understanding of human emotion isn’t strictly necessary for matchmaking, and it’s only in recent centuries that humans have forgotten that.” Emma glared at him. “Indeed, I can provide a more efficient match with sufficient data. It’ll just require some quantification and modeling. We would need to more directly discuss your preferences in a way you might be unwilling to do with Detective Lin.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” Erik shook his head. “I’ll survive not dating, and when and if I decide to start dating again, I’m going to do it the old-fashioned way, not rely on an AI using an algorithm.”

  Emma’s image vanished.

  “Aren’t you above pouting?” Erik snickered. “You’re a super-advanced AI.”

  “I didn’t want to distract you,” Emma replied. “Two flitters just passed under you, neither emitting a transponder signal. They were also exceeding recommended speeds for their air lane. Not only that, but there is also damage on at least
one vehicle consistent with small arms fire at some point in the past. I would contact the local traffic authorities, but it might be nothing, and I am cognizant of your political concerns.”

  Erik yanked hard on the yoke and spun his vehicle in one smooth move, forcing a few vehicles behind him to stop short. He dove into the other lane. “Can you track them?” He didn’t activate his holographic police lights. No reason to spook the quarry just yet. They might just be teens having a good time with their parents’ flitters, and Emma was wrong about the damage. Even an advanced AI could make mistakes, as her attempt to offer herself as his matchmaker had just proven.

  “I can still track them with the lidar and other sensors,” Emma replied. “Continue ahead.”

  “You’re sure there were bullet holes?” Erik asked. “Maybe some debris or rocks or something hit them.”

  “If there’s anything my experiences with you have allowed me to calibrate, it’s my ability to accurately assess damage related to a variety of bullets,” Emma explained. “I’m surprised they would travel around with something so blatant, but then again, it’s not as if the average traffic camera or drone is programmed to detect that sort of damage. You need to descend. They have slowed but are still together. Will you allow me to take control? That might improve the efficiency of our chase, mild as it is.”

  Erik nodded. “Fine. Go ahead, but I’ll take it back if this changes to a high-speed chase.” He released the yoke, and the flitter accelerated slightly, just shy of the speed limit enforced by the various traffic sensors and drones in the area.

  “The Lady’s with me today,” Erik mused, “but I don’t know if she’s happy or pissed.”

  “Probability is independent of any manifestation possessing will and intelligence. I don’t understand why humans can continue to persist in their superstitions, given your advances in technology and the discovery of Navigator technology.”

  “You think so?” Erik narrowed his eyes. “I’ve seen a lot of things you wouldn’t believe. A lot of strange events, both good and bad. The fact that I’m alive and the Knights are dead is proof enough for me that luck exists. That’s not something you can explain away by talking about technology. Maybe that’s the difference between a machine and a person. In the end, we’re connected to something more, and we feel it deeply.”

  Emma sighed. “If you insist, but that doesn’t make it any more logical or less absurd.”

  They lapsed into silence as the AI flew the MX 60 after the two mystery flitters. Erik wondered if an AI could be paranoid. If he was flying around chasing two random cars for no reason, they would need to have another discussion.

  “This is interesting,” Emma mentioned. “Very interesting. An unusual occurrence I’m sure you would attribute to your Lady.”

  “What?” Erik leaned forward, but he couldn’t make anything out other than the tower he had departed earlier.

  “The two flitters parked outside the garage,” Emma explained.

  “Maybe they’re just somebody who got shot up and needed repairs.” Erik frowned. “But they’re flying without transponders, which they have to know is illegal,” he appended, thinking out loud.

  “One doesn’t have to be an expert detective to note that there are only two classes of people in the metroplex who might regularly suffer such damage. You represent one class, and we both know who represents the other.”

  Erik gave a quick nod and licked his lips. No reason to call for reinforcements until he knew something was wrong. Right now, he was able to get away with a lot because he had been taking down criminals, not random people who were unlucky. “Okay, take us down near their flitters, and I’ll make my way inside.”

  Thirty seconds later, Emma set the MX 60 down next to the two dark-colored flitters. Now that Erik was only a few meters away, the bullet holes were obvious and undeniable. His gaze cut to the storage compartment under his passenger seat, but he decided against it. If this turned out to be nothing, flashing the TR-7 would cause more trouble than it solved. Despite what Jia thought at times, he wasn’t a gun-toting trigger-happy man who didn’t put thought into what he did.

  Erik opened the door and stepped out of his vehicle. “If trouble starts, go ahead and call for reinforcements.” He made his way toward the open garage, the comforting weight of his holstered pistol on his chest.

  Four barrels were fun, but a single barrel would work for most situations.

  He marched toward the garage and frowned. “Do you notice what I notice?”

  Emma switched to transmitting directly to his ear. “I don’t see anyone nor even a drone, which is quite suspicious. The nature of the garage is inhibiting efficient thermal scans, but I do think there are some people deeper in the facility.”

  Erik nodded slowly. He swept the garage with his gaze. All the vehicles were there, but none of the staff. Various drones were parked on the ground. A quick jog brought him into the main garage. There were no shell casings or obvious bullet holes around. No blood. No bodies.

  “Time for a little investigation.” He cracked his knuckles.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Anyone here?” Erik bellowed. There had been far too many situations in his military career where the absence of people preceded an ambush, including the fall of the 108th. He clenched his teeth. The garage had been filled with mechanics not all that long ago.

  That many people didn’t just disappear.

  There was no response, but a large closed door at the back of the garage caught his attention. He headed toward it, wondering if he should go for his gun. There was a blurred line between paranoia and caution, and freaking out Miguel and his employees wouldn’t help anyone, so he decided against drawing his weapon.

  A meter before Erik arrived at the door, it slid open, and a bulky, frowning man in an ill-fitting suit stepped out of it, his squat face radiating menace. He displayed no hint of hardware, but that wasn’t surprising. Only the most arrogant groundling Tin Man would do something that would draw so much attention. Part of the reason the lie of the perfection of Neo SoCal was maintained was that criminals knew how and where they could push without the authorities shoving back. It was like a twisted dance.

  “We’re closed,” the man offered with a low, deep voice. “Come back Monday.”

  “Closed?” Erik let out a playful chuckle. Best to keep the man off-balance. “It’s the middle of the day. Not a good way to run a business. And I was just here not all that long ago, and no one said anything about closing up early.”

  The man’s mouth and hands twitched. “Staff meeting. Some people are about to get fired. Now scram. We don’t have time for this. You don’t want to piss me off.”

  “That’s not a nice way to talk to a customer.” Erik grinned and looked the man up and down. He doubted any thugs worked at the garage, and he hadn’t seen anyone in a suit during the drop-off or pick-up of his MX 60. “I need to talk to Miguel about my flitter unless he’s getting fired, but I doubt you’re going to fire your best mechanic. That would be stupid.”

  It was time for a little test, and the angry man in front of him didn’t look like he would pass.

  “Make an appointment and come back.” The man turned away, shaking his head. “And Miguel’s probably about to get fired, just so you know. If I were you, I would go find a new place. I have a feeling this place might shut down.”

  Erik placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. “I don’t have time to wait. I’m a busy man, being a cop and all.” He let an implied threat seep into his voice. “And you don’t want to make a cop suspicious, do you? By the way, Miguel works on the flitters, but he also owns the place. Kind of hard for the owner to get fired, don’t you think? Learn to lie better when you’re trying to run people off. You’re not going to last long as a criminal otherwise.”

  The other man shook off Erik’s hand and turned around. He squared his shoulders and sneered. “Being a cop doesn’t mean anything to me.” His hand drifted toward his jacket. “Now just walk aw
ay, cop. Otherwise, this day might end badly for you.”

  “Don’t,” Erik growled.

  The thug stopped and blinked. “What?”

  “This can end one of two ways: you still breathing, or you dead. But it doesn’t end with me hurt in either case.”

  The thug’s nostrils flared, and he narrowed his eyes. “Oh. I know you. I didn’t recognize you at first. You’re that cop on the news. Mr. Soldier Boy. Thinks he’s all that. The Ruby Detective or some garbage like that.”

  “Obsidian, actually, but I don’t really like the nickname, so I’ll forgive you for that.” Erik locked eyes with the man. “But I think you’re hiding something, and now I need to investigate. Be a good boy and cooperate.”

  The thug raised his fists. “I don’t even need my gun to beat you down. I’m going to enjoy knocking you out before I drag you to the platform and toss you over the grav fence. Maybe you’ll get lucky and hit a grav net or something, but I’m guessing you’ll splat.” He offered a vicious grin. “At least they’ll be able to ID you from your DNA.”

  “Threatening to kill a cop? Not smart.” Erik raised his own fists. “Show me what you got. You should have gone for your gun. Now you don’t have any chance. I’m not going to lie; I’m going to enjoy this, too.”

  He stared at Erik, shaking his head. “You are one arrogant piece of work, you know that? You think you can come here from some frontier garbage colony and do what you want? Neo SoCal doesn’t need someone like you. This is our town, not yours.”

  “’Someone like me?’” Erik shook his head. “Not someone. Lots like me. Hundreds. Thousands. Now bring it before I pass out from boredom.”

  The thug threw a punch. Erik put up his cybernetic arm for the block. His opponent grimaced as his fist connected, the pain only mild for Erik through the thin layer of flesh surrounding his hardware.