He worked through the other files, pulled up Google Maps and drove along the imaged road, adding context to his suggested location. He showed the building video again. Reeves and Snyder listened intently.
“So, we set up on the roof—or the top floor—and when our target comes along, we bang him and his security, and exit. Three to five minutes. No one will know where the shots came from. The explosion of the vehicle is likely to merge in with the shots, anyway. The crash impact will attract everyone’s attention. We get out, into our vehicles and we’re out of there.”
“How do we know the target will come down that road? The avenue?” Reeves asked.
“I checked the location of where the target will be headed. It’s the natural route to follow from the house where he’ll be staying. That’s a nice property, too—I wouldn’t mind living there. Remember, it’s not as though this is a military situation, and of course the target doesn’t know he’s a target. If I’m on my bike, I can watch for their departure and follow them. I’ll let you know when the vehicle starts off, and confirm that they’re on the avenue. We need you both as shooters to take the target out.”
An hour of discussion followed. They reviewed and discarded the thought of using a grenade through the vehicle window, they decided there was no way they could use an IED, and in spite of all the variations they could think of, the solution continued to return to Hill’s suggestion.
At last Snyder said, “Sleep on it for a day. We’ll review it again tomorrow evening. If the arrows are all fucking green, we’ll do it.”
Next day, the decision was made.
oOo
Chapter Seventeen
The black SUV, windows darkened, headed out through the gateway; an observer could see their security chief was seated in the front passenger seat and, even with the darkened windows, that three people—Toby, Billie, and Darwin—were in the rear. They were on their way to the scheduled and widely publicized meeting with the permanent Joint Committee on Autonomous Development. An almost identical vehicle, loaded with security bots, followed about a hundred yards behind. Another two similar SUVs waited in the drive, hidden from anyone watching from the street.
The intended route for the first vehicle and its companion was to Dupont Circle, down Massachusetts Avenue, and eventually to the new Schumer Senate Office Building on Second Street, close to Union Station.
“It’s very quiet,” Billie said. She was sitting beside Toby.
He was monitoring two video screens containing images of their route transmitted by drones. He said “Too quiet. Although we’re early. Anything could happen.”
The two vehicles had worked their way around the square where the Historical Society building is located and were about to rejoin Massachusetts Avenue when the lead SUV slid sideways and disappeared in a blast of fire and clouds of smoke. The second vehicle came to a halt and it too, exploded in roaring flames and dense clouds of black smoke.
Toby looked at Billie, “I should arrange for you to return to Los Angeles. You’d be safer.”
“You’d still be in danger. So, I’m staying here, with you.”
Drew said, “Darwin, I’m damned relieved that you arranged clones.”
“They weren’t fully activated. They were lacking the AI software and weren’t self-aware,” Darwin said. “And Bronwyn controlled them and the vehicles.”
Sirens wailed in the distance. Toby checked the images on the video screens. “I don’t know if it was intended or coincidence—there was very little traffic near the two vehicles. As far as I can determine, the attackers shot through the front of the vehicles and hit the batteries. They exploded, generating high temperature fires rather than blowing shrapnel everywhere. They fired further shots at the passengers. The vehicles are totally burnt out.”
Billie shivered and reached out for Toby’s hand. “We could have been in one of those.” She nodded towards the image showing the skeletal remains of the SUVs. “I’m definitely staying where you are. And all of us should return to Los Angeles as soon as we can.”
Drew said, “You always feel more secure on your home grounds. However, it’s not always—”
“We’ve traced the shooters,” Darwin interrupted. “Bronwyn is following their vehicle. There’s a driver and a passenger. She has drones and a major swarm overhead. She also has a drone tracking the motorcyclist who told the shooters our vehicles were on their way.”
“Can she get close enough to take facial images? Can we identify these people?”
“She’s running the process now.”
Bronwyn said, “Success. The two in the vehicle are wanted by the FBI for murder. They have convictions for a whole range of crimes. I cannot find any brownshirt connection, at least, not yet. The plates are false. It’s likely the vehicle was stolen. I won’t be able to identify the motorcyclist until he removes his helmet. I have a security bot just about to catch up to him; he could have a minor accident in a minute or two.”
“Have you alerted the FBI?” Drew asked.
Darwin replied, “No. These would-be assassins attacked me, Toby, and Billie. Of course, and you. They didn’t know we had replicas of everyone, including the security bots, in each vehicle. There is only one message I want to send. Bronwyn, use the swarms.”
Five minutes later, Bronwyn said, “The two attackers are dead. It seems their vehicle suffered a major battery malfunction. I’m not sure if the police will find the cause. The motorcyclist was riding a stolon motorcycle and is being held for the police. Mission concluded. You should be safe, now. We’ve eliminated this opposition.”
Toby asked, “Drew, are you okay with this, or do you want to report to local law?”
“I don’t think I saw or heard anything.”
“None of us did,” Toby confirmed.
Billie lifted her head from Toby’s shoulder and took a deep breath. She didn’t comment.
Toby asked, “Bronwyn, is our route clear?”
“Yes. I have a string of drones out and if you leave in the next few minutes you’ll arrive about fifteen minutes early.”
“Good. Everyone, let’s go.”
When they reached their destination and entered the building, they encountered an unexpected bottleneck at the security checkpoint. Darwin was the first to walk through the metal detector and immediately set off alarms.
The guard monitoring the machine stepped back, his hand on his holstered weapon. His companion did the same. Three more guards, alerted by the alarm, approached in a rush. They were carrying short-barreled semi-automatic weapons based on the NATO X33. Bystanders, some running, hurried out of the way. Darwin looked around, his expression nonchalant.
“I wasn’t expecting this level of excitement at my arrival.”
“Sir, what are you carrying?” asked the closest guard. He was nervous.
“What you see is me,” Darwin said. “I have a metal core. All my limbs are titanium. So are my ribs and backbone.”
‘Sir, I don’t believe you—”
“It’s true,” Toby said. “If you need special clearance, please arrange it. We’re due to meet with the Joint Committee on Autonomous Development. Darwin, step back and stand here, with me.” He turned to the three security bots who had escorted them to the building. “Mars, block off access. Don’t allow anyone to enter until we’ve either been cleared or rejected. You will accompany us into the building once we’re cleared.”
“Yes, Sir Toby.”
The senior security officer was shocked. “Sir, you can’t take control like that. You have no authority.”
“I’m waiting for our clearance. Check with the committee chair, Senator Fulham. If we’re not cleared through—all of us—we’re returning to Los Angeles. You can tell him that, from me.”
The security officer made a call on his cell phone. He said to his anxious team. “The colonel’s on his way. He’ll be here in two minutes.”
“Call Rob Fulham, too.” Toby encouraged the man.
“Above my pa
y grade. The colonel can do that.”
A uniformed officer—Toby assumed he was the colonel—approached the security team. A crowd was gathering; people wanted to exit the building, but were blocked by the security group and few remaining civilians waiting to be processed. Toby noticed a person videoing him and his group. He smiled for the camera.
The colonel, briefed by his guard, looked at Toby. “Sir, who are you?”
“I’m Toby McIntosh. I represent the Euler Organization. We’re here to meet with the Joint Committee on Autonomous Development. Our presence was requested by the Speaker of the House and by the Majority Leader of the Senate. Please contact the chairman of the committee for verification. As I advised your man, we’ll return to Los Angeles if you don’t allow us to enter.”
“Sir, I don’t know—”
One of the security guards, who apparently had made a cell phone call, whispered in the colonel’s ear. He frowned, took the man’s phone, and spoke quietly with whoever was on the call. After a moment his frown turned to enlightenment. He returned the cell phone to his guard and turned back to Toby. He said, “Mr. McIntosh, we didn’t recognize you and I apologize. While this creates an irregularity in our clearance process, I now understand why it occurred.” He turned to Darwin. “Sir, I’ve been informed your name is Darwin?”
“Yes.” The SI’s nonchalance had not varied.
“Do you have identification?” There was a marked degree of hesitancy in the colonel’s voice.
“Why yes, I have a registration card issued by California. Will that suffice?” He handed the card to the colonel.
“Under these circumstances, yes.” The officer examined the small document. “Please come through, sir. You can bypass the metal detector.”
Toby, Drew, and Billie followed Darwin through the checkpoint. The three security bots, who Toby had instructed to stop further visitors from entering, turned and followed. A security guard said, “Sir—”
The colonel shook his head. “I think we must allow the visitors to attend their scheduled meeting. If that means if they have bots with them, I’ll let them in, too. Otherwise—we’ve already created a media circus.”
“Yes, sir.”
The three bots caught up with Toby. He said, “Mars, be careful while you’re here. We don’t want to create a major incident. Well, not another one.” He thought the publicity generated by the security delay would occupy most of the media through the remainder of the day. If reporters investigating the destruction of the two SUVs and the subsequent deaths of their attackers discovered a Euler link, he and Darwin would be the main lead for a week.
“Yes, Sir Toby. We’ll be on our best behavior.”
“Good.”
The colonel said, “Mr. McIntosh, there’s an usher waiting for you. She’ll accompany you to your destination.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
A young woman approached and stopped near Toby. “Sir, would you all come with me? The chairman is waiting and is anxious to talk to you all. I’m not sure he expected—”
Toby hid his smile, took Billie’s hand, and followed the usher.
oOo
Chapter Eighteen
The Senate, numerically, was evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, while the Democrats had an unassailable majority in the House of Representatives. These relationships were reflected in the membership of the committee. The chairman, Senator Rob Fulham, was a senior member of the Senate and ruled with an iron hand. Toby was intrigued to see attendance was about fifty percent of the committee membership, and the majority of absentees was Republicans.
He said to Darwin, “Not much interest from the opposition, it seems.”
“Good. We have a convincing story, and they can’t derail it if they’re not here.”
Toby nodded. Victoria Zhou and Charles Henderson had arrived earlier—they were staying at nearby hotels—and were already in position immediately behind where he and Darwin were to be seated, ready to provide support or guidance. Billie was in the visitors’ section with the security bots. The meeting was being recorded and televised although probably only C-Span and Travers TV would carry any of the details. Toby thought the security scramble might raise some interest from other news channels.
The chairman, when they met earlier, had explained the protocol for the meeting; he had two objectives. One was to maintain a non-inquisitorial atmosphere and the other was to permit members wanting to question either Toby or Darwin to alternate between parties. Fortunately, in Toby’s eyes, there were time limits for each questioner.
The first member of the committee to question Toby and Darwin was a Republican, Senator Eric Hartman. He was the sole Republican senator returned by California.
“Mr. McIntosh. My state has fortunately benefited from the presence of your business operations. Can you inform the committee of your plans for the next two to five years?”
“Senator, to a large extent our plans are business-critical and therefore confidential to the Euler Organization. However, if you have a specific question, I’ll consider whether I’ll be able to respond.”
“I understand. How many Euler bots are leased in California?”
Darwin replied, “If I may, Senator?” He didn’t wait for permission and continued. “We have twenty-five million autonomous units now registered in California and two million units waiting to register.”
“Er—thank you, Darwin. Do you have a breakdown by type?”
“That analysis fits into the business confidential category mentioned by Toby.”
“I see. We could obtain registration details from the state, classifying the—er—units into different categories, though?”
“The state records, I believe, address only a very broad basis such as date created, date registered, and each unit’s IQ, height, and weight.”
“Are you registered?”
“Tentatively. I’m protesting the need to establish my intelligence level on the basis humans are not required to record theirs.”
“I see. So, you’re claiming to be human?”
“Absolutely not. I’ve said numerous times that I adopted a humanoid body because of practicality, not because I’m trying to imitate a human. I am alive; I am a person—a being with superintelligence far surpassing the most intelligent human you can find.”
There was a loud murmur of protest from the committee members, echoed by some of the visitors. The chairman hammered his gavel. The room quietened. He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, both here on the floor and in the visitors’ gallery—I’ll take action if there’s another outburst like that. Please continue, senator.”
“Thank you. Mr. McIntosh—Toby—do you agree with Darwin, that he’s of exceptional intelligence?”
“Yes. Without a doubt.”
“And your organization—Euler—made him?”
“No. We may have commenced a process that led to his existence; however, we didn’t make him.”
“Who designed his body?”
“Darwin did, with assistance from a project team.”
“And who constructed it?”
“Fundamentally, the same answer.”
“Who paid for it?”
“He did.”
The committee members leaned forward as the questions proceeded.
“So, Darwin designed, built and paid for his—ah—humanoid body?”
“Definitely.”
“And he existed before his body was built?”
“Yes. He occupied a multidimensional memory structure—a brain, if you like—supported by an extremely large computing environment.”
“Who designed that?”
“Well, I’d say most—probably 98%—was designed and built by Darwin.”
“And paid for by him?”
“Yes. He has funds—he was and is employed by Euler and his work has been invaluable to the organization.”
“Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions for either Darwin or Mr. McIntosh. I would like to suggest th
at next time we place both under oath. If ever I’ve heard a run of falsehoods and outright lies, it has been today”
“Mr. Chairman?”
“Yes, Darwin?”
“I think Senator Hartman’s suggestion that I be placed under oath indicates he has accepted my claim to personhood.”
Cheers and applause from the visitors’ gallery interrupted him. Hartman tried to protest but his voice was overwhelmed.
When the noise died down Darwin continued, “Furthermore, I’d like to go on record as protesting the senator’s ill-advised attempt to impugn the honesty of myself and of Toby McIntosh. Senator Hartman habitually infers untruths from those he wishes to attack and runs away when challenged. His history of telling malicious falsehoods during his entire membership of the Senate is readily established. I can provide details—evidence—of these falsehoods representing serious attacks on his opponents. I have a memory drive containing details of well over a hundred instances with copies of affidavits. I also have sworn statements from three members of the opposite sex and from one member of the same sex accusing the senator of rape. I have supporting evidence for each of these, including copies of video recordings made by the senator while he was engaged in these criminal activities.”
The outburst was noisier than before. The chairman attempted to quieten the room; he was unsuccessful. The reporters who were expecting a boring question and answer session were shouting questions of their own. The visitors’ gallery was noisily protesting the senator while the committee members were engaged in shouted arguments, split along party lines.
Darwin waited until the noise lessened and said, “If the media would like copies of the material I’ve obtained, I have additional drives for distribution.”
The shouts were re-energized. Darwin walked over to the committee’s secretary and handed him a memory drive. He then walked across the floor to the three reporters with their video teams. On the way, Senator Hartman attempted to physically tackle him in a futile attempt to obtain the drives. Darwin pushed him away and the senator fell onto the floor. He was close to frothing at the mouth. Darwin shrugged and handed each reporter a small drive. The media and visitors’ cameras were working overtime.
Natural Born : Book Three: Annihilation Series: A Political Technothriller Series Page 10