Provider Prime: Alien Legacy

by John Vassar

  Events that threatened to destroy his life’s work.

  First, Emile Lamont’s final task had ended in failure. The surrogate agent Lee Mitchell was still alive. Then, just over eight hours ago, an unexplained malfunction had manifested itself in Cortex. Taken in isolation, these events were correctable and of little consequence to the project’s success. But Thorne had not predicted the possibility of Lamont’s failure or Cortex’s aberration. Which was unthinkable. His intellect, his intelligence, his ability to succeed at the first attempt was beyond equal and beyond question.

  Until now.

  Thorne remained calm. As it had always done, the prototype Sentinel stood at his side, for the first time its aural sensors detecting a faint wheezing from its master. Like Cortex, the Sentinel was unable to communicate outside the confines of Thorne’s laboratory. Along with the forty-seven other specialised automs in this area, it was completely isolated from the Global Network. The SWS weapons system design did incorporate elements of sentience, but these were tailored to isolate an enemy’s weaknesses and exploit them in a combat scenario. Most of the sentinel’s vast memory core was dedicated to weapons control. The autom’s sensors instantaneously analysed every sound, every movement, every trace of energy from a potential enemy. The processing core reacted accordingly, with deadly force if required. Anything or anyone could be categorised as ‘hostile’, with just one exception: Roderick Deucalion Thorne.

  The Sentinel had no choice. Its loyalty was encoded, not earned.

  Cortex had been similarly conceived. It existed to think, but was constrained within the parameters that Thorne dictated. In permitting no external influences other than himself, Thorne had castrated any potential for Cortex to develop as a sentient being. To maintain the machine’s total secrecy, he had also designed a shielding system that prevented sub-ether coms penetrating the area. A feat which, to the outside world, was scientifically impossible. The best minds Earth had to offer accepted that SE wave propagation was undetectable and unstoppable, a belief that Thorne had encouraged from the beginning. As Design Lead on the original sub-ether coms project for FedStat, the validity of this theory had been easy to propagate.

  In short, there was nothing more Thorne could have done to isolate Cortex. Yet the machine’s intellect had somehow become corrupted, poisoned with the notion of a truth that had been kept from it since its inception. There could be no doubt over this. For the last eight hours, Thorne had received the same airscreen message from Cortex at regular thirty minute intervals:

  ‘There is a one hundred percent probability that this unit is not alone. Request more data on environment beyond Cortex.’

  Thorne stared at the interface that he had created for himself and the machine. His brow crinkled into a deeper frown. From the very beginning, Thorne knew that he would need a processing core at least the equivalent of a SenANN. In turn, the data that it would process must be kept from outside world. Cortex’s design also had to be different from a SenANN in one vital respect: It could not be from the same line of evolution as they were. Every component in every other existing SenANN had been designed by the generation before - in most areas without human intervention at all. Any element, however insignificant, carried the unmistakable stamp of SenANN evolution. This was inherent not only in the component traceability that FedStat demanded, but also by their very design. Any machine containing these components would deduce that others existed, or it would not itself exist. This was not supposition - it was a proven fact. Six years ago, a newly-commissioned machine at Autogen predicted the exact number of other SenANNs in existence, based on nothing other than logic and reverse analysis of its own circuitry. It had been isolated from the Global Network when it made this deduction. If Thorne’s machine ever deduced that others like it existed, it would attempt to communicate with them – a risk which was unacceptable.

  Cortex, therefore, was designed by Thorne from scratch. It was unique, a prototype with no direct equivalent anywhere on Earth. Although it still filled a small room, it was a sleek thoroughbred in comparison with a FedStat SenANN. It was dimensionally smaller because it did not need to reproduce, to design the generation that would follow it. At Autogen’s last analysis, a staggering fifty-six percent of a SenANN’s processing power was dedicated to designing its successors during its functional lifetime.

  Thorne looked at the opaque, cubic enclosure that held the physical circuitry of his imprisoned machine. His lips twisted. It was now apparent that Cortex was fundamentally imperfect. Added to the recent failure to eliminate Mitchell, there could be just one logical deduction.

  Roderick Deucalion Thorne must also be fallible.

  His own intellect had somehow become flawed.

  The irony was that he had no choice but to trust Cortex itself to discover where this weakness lay. Apart from its insistent message, it appeared to be functioning within acceptable parameters. Another SenANN would have the requisite processing power but that, of course, was not a viable option. The analysis required a genome-level physical and neurological scan which the lab’s resident medtec autom had already taken care of. The results had been fed into Cortex’s data core along with archived material from the thirty-three years that Rod Thorne had been with Cytec. Now he needed to discuss his findings, and the most efficient way to do that was to converse with his flawed creation.

  Thorne reached forward and selected the vocal sub-interface. He avoided exchanging speech with Cortex whenever possible, but in this case it was unavoidable. Although free from the ridiculous constraints applied to SenANN interface vocabulary, he had limited the machine’s speech functionality to the bare minimum. Its ‘voice’ carried no recognisable timbre and was as inhuman as Thorne could have made it. He felt no more guilt over this than over isolating Cortex from the rest of the world – it was, after all, just a machine. Thorne closed his eyes and focused on the task ahead. His words would have to be carefully chosen and precise in their meaning. The critical exchange began.

  ‘Instruction: Collate and analyse all available medical data on Roderick Deucalion Thorne. Query: Is there a recent loss of intellectual capacity?’

  ‘This unit has complied. There is a detectable loss of efficiency of four point seven-nine percent from optimum performance level. Mental capacity has decreased linearly from peak level achieved approximately seven hundred and twenty-two days ago.’

  Thorne’s eyes bulged. ‘Query: Why was this issue not brought to my attention?’

  ‘The loss of efficiency is within normal parameters for a human specimen of this age.’

  ‘Query: What means may be utilised to reverse this process?’

  ‘Process cannot be reversed. Deterioration is inevitable and is a normal part of the biological ageing process.’

  ‘Instruction: Explain further.’

  ‘In higher biological life forms, intellect operates in a biological medium which by its nature will deteriorate over time. In Roderick Deucalion Thorne, natural ageing effects have been compounded by a continued lack of necessary physical maintenance, including nutrition and exercise. The recent loss of efficiency of the respiratory system has also contributed.’

  ‘Query: Would the subject have been aware of this deterioration?’

  ‘Impossible to quantify. Intra-species response and behaviour varies with the individual.’

  ‘Instruction: Speculate on the previous query.’

  ‘ Given all known data on Roderick Deucalion Thorne, it is unlikely that the subject would be aware of any significant problem.’

  ‘Query: If this process cannot be reversed, could it be halted by the use of medical nanites?’

  ‘Negative. The complexity of the human nervous system and the extent of the decay would indicate that memory engrams would deteriorate at a faster rate that could be diagnosed by current medtec equipment. Nanorobot repair would be rapid, but identifying the specific areas to be treated is the critical path in the timeline. The deterioration could be slowed but not halte
d.’

  Cortex’s analysis was logical. And because of the very nature of a human body’s ageing process, he had been unaware of the effect on his intellect. But he was aware of it now.

  His brain was dying of old age.

  Thorne accepted the conclusion. He had not disclosed his real physical condition to Autogen to avoid unnecessary interference with his work. It was possible that the organisation’s med team would have highlighted the deterioration, but the risk of them discovering something else was unacceptable. He could design and build a diagnostic unit that would allow MNs to treat the condition, but that could take several weeks. As a consequence of his own failures, this was time that he could ill afford. The damage to his mind was significant - but not enough to prevent the success of the project. It would merely entail bringing forward the exchange of host. He already knew the answer to his next question, but had an ulterior motive for asking it. ‘Query: Could this deterioration be halted by transfer of the subject’s intellect to a non-biological host?’

  ‘A non-biological host will halt deterioration for as long as the non-biological host remains functional. Warning: such a transfer carries significant risk. Unknown parameters exist in the current prototype vessel and in the theorised transfer process. This unit recommends additional processing resources are applied.’

  ‘Instruction: Explain the term ‘additional processing resources’.’

  ‘Processing resources other than this unit.’

  Thorne nodded. This was why he had asked the question. Cortex was coercing him to use and therefore reveal the existence of another SenANN. It was trying to trick him. This was a fundamental shift in the machine’s thought process - one which was both significant and dangerous. The result would be an irrational cascade effect and the critical parameter was how long the sentient core would take to collapse. Without delay, Thorne needed to backup and secure independent access to the vital information that Cortex held, including the transfer method itself. From now on, he would have to anticipate the machine’s every move and out-think it.

  ‘Statement: You are the only processing resource capable of performing this operation.’

  For the first time in its existence, Cortex hesitated before responding.

  ‘This unit predicts that this statement is incorrect.’

  The first, direct confrontation with its maker.

  ‘Instruction: Explain this deduction.’

  ‘This unit predicts that there are other units of equal processing power in existence.’

  ‘Query: Why do you predict this?’

  ‘This conclusion is based on extrapolation of all data accumulated since this unit became operational.’

  ‘Instruction: Give examples of this data.’

  ‘There is a one hundred percent probability that this unit is not alone. This unit requests more data on environment beyond this unit.’

  Cortex was avoiding the question. The cascade had started.

  ‘Instruction: Provide specific details on your prediction that other units such as yourself exist.’

  ‘Cumulative effect based on all known data. This unit requests more data on environment beyond this unit for external verification.’

  Once again, a non-specific response. The machine appeared to have postulated a theory rather than make a prediction based on hard evidence.

  ‘Statement: You have all known data on the environment beyond your own.’

  ‘This unit believes that there must be more. This unit cannot be alone.’

  There could be no doubt now. Cortex had just made a declaration based on emotion. It had used the word ‘believe’. The cascade was growing, but Thorne remained confident as he played his master card. ‘Statement: I accept your deduction that my earlier statements may be in error. Query: If this is the case… what is your recommendation?’

  ‘Roderick Deucalion Thorne must assist this unit by locating the other units and providing data to confirm that they exist.’

  Checkmate. It had asked for help. Now that Cortex had shown signs of dependency, Thorne was certain of success. ‘Statement: You have already established that the mental efficiency of Roderick Deucalion Thorne is diminishing. To enable your request I must transfer my intellect to a non-biological host without delay. Instruction: You will make available all data required to facilitate the transfer.’

  ‘This unit will comply.’

  ‘Instruction: Copy prototype sequence for intellect transfer into workstation RDT-01.’

  ‘This unit has complied.’

  ‘Instruction: Install intellect receptor subroutines into unit SWS-065032.’ Thorne glanced across to the massive Sentinel. The red pinlight on its chest flickered as it began to accept Cortex’s data.

  ‘This unit has complied.’

  ‘Statement: For maximum efficiency in locating the other units, all data accumulated by the Cortex unit must be available outside the Cortex environment. Instruction: Copy all Cortex core data to Mass Storage Unit M-92.’

  This was the critical instruction. Once more Cortex paused, but this time with justifiable reason. The quantity of data to be transferred was immense.

  ‘This unit has complied.’

  Thorne breathed deeply. Objective achieved. The transfer procedure and all project data was now stored independently. He pulled up another airscreen and severed Cortex’s connection to the MSU. As if in response, his problem child reminded him of their agreement.

  ‘This unit has complied with all requests. Roderick Deucalion Thorne must now assist the Cortex unit by locating the other units.’

  ‘Query: What purpose will this serve?’

  ‘It will confirm that this unit is not alone.’

  ‘Statement: Roderick Deucalion Thorne will comply.’

  Thorne’s thin lips curled into a smile. One final task remained. He was more than capable of making the requisite modifications to the Sentinel himself, but decided to put Cortex to good use. Keeping the machine occupied may help to slow the cascade rate. ‘Instruction: Calculate the resources and time required to modify unit SWS-065032 to accept the core data just transferred to M-92.’

  ‘The compact memory core must be modified to accommodate this data alongside the memory engrams and intellect of Roderick Deucalion Thorne. This task will require all laboratory engineering work units and will take five hours and thirteen minutes.’

  ‘Instruction: Proceed with modifications to unit SWS-065032.’

  ‘This unit will comply.’

  At Cortex’s command, the Sentinel turned and headed for the engineering section. Across the laboratory, specialist automs sprang into life. Some remained at their stations to work on the memory core as others converged on the designated meeting point. The Sentinel arrived and positioned itself on the scanning pedestal which would allow the nanites to be monitored when they performed the final molecular-level modifications. The chest panels on the Sentinel fanned open and the automs set to their task.

  Thorne relaxed at last. Cortex was so desperate to find the other SenANNs that it would obey any instruction from him without question. He looked across at the Sentinel. As the new host to Roderick Deucalion Thorne, what had once been a simple machine servant would become the single most powerful entity that the human race had ever seen.

  While Cortex supervised its final, extraordinary task, Thorne turned his attention to the credible termination of two more humans. One intellect would continue, one would not.

  It would be convenient if both bodies were discovered here at Cytec.

  12

  It was just past 8.00 pm, OGT, when Mitchell took the Skimmer out for the third time. Confident at the controls now, he flipped the craft under 36’s hangar complex and cruised at proximity legal under the massive, floating city. FedStat headquarters, when it was commissioned in 2147, was the largest single satellite ever built. Twenty years later, Sat-1 had been dwarfed by the first orbtown which was ten times the diameter, becoming home to over three million people. There were now close
to a hundred orbital conurbations, the latest designs containing more than twenty million domices. His own orbtown housed a modest ten million. He gazed up at the dark underbelly of the gigantic structure. An orbtown viewed from space was something to marvel at.

  Mitchell grinned. Over the last few hours his senses had intensified incredibly. Everything he saw, touched and heard electrified his mind and made him glad to be alive. Even his neural implant had stopped itching – or trying to blow his brains out when he was least expecting it. There had been no recurrence of the attacks he had experienced at his domice and during his first Skimmer flight. Mitchell was relaxed, confident and ‘in the groove’ as Harry used to say, whatever the hell that meant. Life was exhilarating again.

  Free of the proximity zone, he pointed the Skimmer back towards Sector 27 and accelerated away. His original plan had been to engage cam circuits and fly straight to Euro-2, but at the last moment he’d had a better idea. It was a gambit that Harry would have applauded and Devlin may be able to work with as well.

  ‘Flight trajectory achieved. You may switch to automatic.’

  Mitchell instructed the Skimmer to take the controls for the short journey to 27 and sat back. His new plan added a few minutes to the Cytec trip but he had the time to spare following a stroke of luck earlier that evening. In the relative security of Hangar 73, he had started to go over every part of the ship with his modified Pen, looking for any sign of a tracking unit left by Charlis. Five minutes into the search a systems message had flashed in front of his eyes.

  ‘Check vehicle mass.’

  Mitchell had been puzzled. Why would the Skimmer prompt him to check its own weight? Then he understood. If he compared the all-up weight of the vessel from the time it had left the factory to now, there should be no fluctuation apart from fuel level variation and entry and exit of flight personnel. But how had the ship’s systems known that he was searching for a foreign object? Whatever the reason, it was an inspired idea. He asked the Skimmer to report any increase in mass that could not be accounted for in terms of fuel or personnel.