by J. Thorn
Jachz closed his eyes for a second and inclined his head in respect. “I’ll do my best to serve your recovery, Gerry. If you would like to come with me to my lab, we’ll start our work. We have a number of challenges ahead of us.”
“And maybe you can finally give me some answers,” Gerry said.
“I will try my best.”
Chapter 22
The recovery with Jachz took eight days in total. By the end, Gerry felt as if his mind had been processed over and over until all the kinks were planed smooth. His vision returned fully with the aid of his cybernetic replacement. It boasted a new feature: an AO—augmented overlay. A HUD display delivered various statistics and information provided by his AIA, which Jachz had reprogrammed to be faster and closer integrated with Gerry’s unique brain.
“Tell me, then, Jachz,” Gerry said while his brain was hooked up to Jachz’s diagnostic and reprogramming system. “What exactly is it that makes my brain unique? Enna mentioned that I had another being within my subconscious.”
Jachz sat on a stool in front of the holoscreen that stretched half the width of the six-metre-wide room. The whiteness of the walls and the semi-translucent blue hue of the screen gave Jachz’s complexion a cold look. “That’s not quite accurate,” he said, turning to face Gerry, who was sat on a recliner with various cables running from his neck port into Jachz’s system. “You have a secondary process running within your neural network.”
“What does that actually mean?” Gerry asked, sitting up. “How did that even occur?”
“It was Nolan, your father, who invented the idea. He created software that could run in the brain. Nanotechnology. Each tiny nano gate would connect with each other, bridging connections with your brain, creating a new kind of brain network—a logical computer. It allows your mind to work on two levels. That is the reason why you and your AIA, courtesy of the dermal chip, are so entwined. So much so that if we were to remove that chip, you would suffer considerable brain damage.”
“So I am one with it all, then? Me, Mags, and this other nano network are all essentially… me?”
Jachz’s face approximated a smile. The muscles were a little stiff compared to Enna’s transcendents. Perhaps he didn’t smile much in his day-to-day duties on the station.
“Yes,” Jachz said. “They are as much you as your heart or your blood.”
“And that’s why I can create code in my mind? Why I can get into computer systems as easy as if I were breathing?”
Jachz inclined his head. That seemed to be his way of agreeing. His facial expressions never really changed much, so Gerry had to try to discern most of the meaning from his non-inflected speech and body language. “Tell me, Jachz, what makes you, you?”
“Can you be more specific?”
“I mean, you’re an artificial intelligence controlling a physical, humanlike body. How does that work exactly? Do you have an organic brain? Are you like Enna’s transcendents?”
“I regret to say I’m not completely aware of Enna’s work, but from the information I have been privy to, I would say we are similar in some aspects.”
“What’s the difference?” Gerry asked.
“I believe they are programmed to work within certain parameters. They are personality stereotypes that Enna has created. Although they control their bodies in much the same way as I do: a software-to-neuronal interface that translates thought to nerve information and thus muscle information, I have the capacity to learn and evolve, with one exception.”
“And that is?”
“I am unable to feel or emote. I can approximate them. I am aware of appropriate responses, but they do not come naturally as they would to a human. Even Enna’s creations are programmed to feel certain emotions. One of her early models was made to feel love and affection, for example.”
“Do you wish you could feel?” Gerry asked.
Jachz blinked once and became still; so still that Gerry had a strange idea he might have perhaps crashed and was in need of a reboot. Shifting his legs off the recliner, Gerry made to move closer when Jachz’s green eyes suddenly glowed and he became animate again.
“I can’t answer that, as I know not what I miss. One cannot wish for something one does not know or understand.”
“I suppose not,” Gerry said, sitting back on the recliner. “Are we nearly done?” Streams of code continued to race down the giant holoscreen in front of Jachz, whose smooth gesturing and programming would occasionally cause a ripple among the code.
Internally, Gerry’s thoughts quickened and sharpened to the levels before his temporary death.
“Almost,” Jachz said. “A few more minutes while I make sure your nano network is fully operational. It took a lot of damage, but I’ve repaired the majority of bugs and broken code. I just need to make sure it is working within the right parameters.”
“What happens if it isn’t?”
“It could overload your brain and damage cells. At the other end of the spectrum, it could retard your capacity to form memories or learn. It’s a fine balance, but we’re nearly there. Now, if you would just relax and clear your mind, I’ll run the last of the diagnostics, and then we can run you through some final tests to ensure you are correct and fully functional.”
“You make me sound like a robot,” Gerry said.
“You are, Gerry. All humans are basically machines, after all. You are just a different kind of machine. One more capable than most. Now, please concentrate your mind, relax, and clear yourself of any thoughts. Especially any that cause distress. Those will only prolong this procedure.”
Gerry sat back on the recliner and closed his eyes. At first he could think of no way to calm his mind as hundreds of questions came to him, begging for answers, but one by one he let them go until his consciousness focused on the image that had pervaded his thoughts since he came to the station. From within his recovery room, a porthole allowed him a partial view of space and the great blue marble that was Earth arcing across the aperture.
He fixed that image in his mind and let everything else go.
Jachz’s procedural diagnostics caused a low-latency hum within Gerry’s mind. It made his body tingle as if he’d been connected to a low-voltage battery. It helped him remain calm, like listening to white noise. As he fell ever deeper into a state of semi-unconsciousness, a state between waking and sleeping, he became aware of a dark shape lurking in the corners, just out of his full cognition.
It sat there, beckoning him to focus, to let his attentions go into the shadows of his mind. Curiosity took over, and being now more in the dream state, he let himself flow through the darkness towards this source of energy. For a brief moment the true scope of this other entity came into focus. Gerry reeled away as if from a monster in a nightmare. Black, infinite tendrils rushed to him, but Gerry was too quick.
He snapped his eyes open and exhaled a breath he had unknowingly held for too long. Dark blotches of colour covered his vision. He sat up and instinctively made to pull the cable from his neck port, wanting to get as far away from the black entity as possible. The glaring whiteness of the room soon cleared his vision and made him squint against the stark contrast.
“What the hell was that?” Gerry asked, thinking it was of Jachz’s doing.
The AI leapt to his feet, bounded to Gerry, and prevented him from disconnecting the cable, grabbing his wrist with a fierce grip. “You must not do that, Gerry,” Jachz said. “It’ll damage the nano network. Please, just give it another minute to reboot, and we’ll be done here.”
Gerry’s throat constricted. A pain throbbed within his head. “What did you do to me? What was that… thing in my head?” He could still see a shadow of the infinite tendrils reaching to him from the void of unconsciousness.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Jachz said, turning his attenti
ons to the holoscreen. “I didn’t do anything but run the various diagnostics. I could not make you see anything with this system. All this does is recalibrate your nano network. What did you see?”
The image had started to burn away by the fire of waking. Like a dream, it had vanished to some secret recess beyond his reach. The only evidence of any such thing was the feeling of dread and awe. Whatever it was, it had a vast intelligence. So very vast. “I can’t describe it,” Gerry said as the memory sped away from him faster than he could think.
“This is quite unusual. I see nothing in the log files to indicate unusual brain activity. This must be some artefact of the semi-dream state and the recalibration. I should notify the others.”
Gerry grasped Jachz’s arm. “No! You can’t.” He realised he was gripping Jachz tightly and eased the pressure. “Sorry, but I don’t want anyone knowing about this. As you say, it’s just a quirk. No more tests, no more diagnostics. I just want to go back to Earth. I’m done here. You understand?”
The AI paused for a moment, considering Gerry’s words. Again, Gerry thought he had switched off such was his deathly stillness. Eventually he inclined his head. “I will finish here and let you be on your way, Gerry. There’s no record of the incident, so I’ll assume it’s a human quirk.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
With hindsight, Gerry would wish Jachz wasn’t so compliant.
***
The rest of the procedure went without incident. Jachz had mentioned a few times how impressed he was with Gerry’s ability to recover and the capacity with which he could deal with complex programming problems. If Jachz had the ability to emote, Gerry was certain there would be an element of jealousy within his comments. But he couldn’t feel and was merely making Gerry feel at ease.
When Jachz had finally finished and given Gerry a clean bill of health, he accompanied him to the shuttle bay ready for his return journey back to Earth. Within the dock of the bay, standing in a small group, his parents, Amma and Nolan, and his brother, Tyronius, along with Jachz and a number of engineers waited for Gerry to approach his shuttle.
A sleek two-seater craft, in the Family’s colours of white and beige, shaped like a rounded wedge, awaited his boarding. A single gull-wing door hung open, showing him the sparse but comfortable interior. The journey would only take a couple of hours, but it was encouraging he would travel in comfort.
As he approached, Nolan stepped forward, his arms out wide as if waiting for a hug. Gerry stopped short. Throughout his stay, he’d only really interacted with Amma and Jachz, and occasionally the cold and distant Tyronius. Nolan had barely spoken with him during his recovery, but the way he acted as if he were saying goodbye to his best friend made Gerry only increase his disdain for his so-called father.
Realising Gerry wasn’t going to reciprocate, Nolan dropped his arms by his sides and coughed to ease the embarrassment. The flashing blue and red docking lights of the shuttle bay created specular reflections on his bald head. His skin, the colour of polished mahogany, had a bright sheen to it. He fiddled with his round, silver-wire-rimmed spectacles, diverting his attention away from Gerry’s gaze.
As much as he tried, Gerry could not return the warmth that Amma and Nolan had wished for. They might be his biological parents, and Tyronius, with his dark, slicked-back hair and sharp cruel features, might be his brother, but he looked on them as strangers, enemies even.
They had used Gerry, experimented on him and, despite bringing him back from death, only wanted him for what he could do, wanted him to bring Petal to them so they could continue with their experiments and advancements.
“Son?” Nolan finally said, stepping towards Gerry, gripping his arms. “I know none of this has been easy on you. I know you don’t feel an emotional connection with us, but I want you to give us time. Try to see things from our perspective. When you come back with Petal, you’ll have time to study us. Research our history, and then you’ll understand why we did what we did, and why we do what we do. You and I are not so different.”
“How’s that?” Gerry asked, genuinely interested, especially as that last remark seemed to elicit a sneer from Tyronius, who stood next to Amma as if his very proximity would claim her as his own. As far as Gerry was concerned he was welcome to them.
“I hated my father too,” Nolan said, releasing Gerry. “I hated what our great company had become at the time. Moving from environmental technology to that of an arms power. There’s a blurring of lines when a corporation grows so powerful it becomes a sovereign entity in its own right.”
“And yet you were still influential come the time this ‘company’ decided to end the war, and basically ended the world.”
“Yes, but I was also the driving force, along with your mother, in rebuilding it. We gave humanity a future. Without us, there would be nothing.” He sighed, letting his shoulders drop. “But I know this is an old conversation, and it’ll never end. Such a massive event will always generate questions. But before you go, I want you to know that you will always have a place here with us, and that I hope when you return, you’ll find it in yourself, even if it’s just curiosity, to study with us, get to know us, learn the facts of this family, and then judge us.”
“I will do that,” Gerry said. “I believe that is only fair.”
At that, Nolan smiled, and the tension of his body eased. Amma also smiled, her eyes showing it to be natural. Tyronius’ sneer deepened.
“I’m pleased to hear it,” Nolan said. “In the meantime, your new transceiver software will give you a direct connection to our communication satellite while on Earth. And your new eye will deliver us an audio and video feed, along with an augmented overlay to give you data during your mission. If there’s anything you need while you’re down there, or if you need to talk with any of us, we’ll be here.”
Gerry was already at work in deciphering the code that created that connection. When he got to the planet’s surface, he had no intention of allowing that direct connection to continue. And he had no intentions of ever coming back and researching them.
He saw enough during his recovery. Saw the number of AI-controlled bodies being experimented on; saw how their coders were trying to come up with new types of intelligences, even devices in order to upload one’s mind completely, which he had learned was Amma and Nolan’s main line of interest. Immortality was their aim, one that was entirely posthuman and without the need for a body.
That was too far for him. Humanity was more than just a mind on a computer chip. Still, he continued the subterfuge, played the game, and made his way to the shuttle.
As he settled inside and the engineers got him set up, he turned to face the onlooking group. “I’ll be sure to keep you updated on the status of my task.”
“Safe journey, my love,” Amma said. “And thank you. We look forward to welcoming you, and Petal, back to the station soon.”
Gerry nodded and turned to the engineer. “I’m ready to go.” The young woman in the grey coveralls radioed to the dock controllers and stood back from the shuttle as the door closed.
A voice came directly into Gerry’s mind via his transceiver. “I’ll be your liaison during the flight, Gerry,” Jachz said. “Just relax and listen to my instructions, and you will be on the surface within a few hours. Are you ready?”
“Let’s get this bird in the air, Jachz. I got a woman to find.”
Chapter 23
The shuttle left the station with the grace of a swan. It pitched away in an arc towards Earth, leaving that great, long metal structure of the Family’s home behind. For a moment Gerry held his breath at the majesty of space before him. Unlike being on the planet’s surface, where pollution and clouds obscured the stars, here everything was sharp and clear and infinite. For the past couple of weeks he’d stared out of the porthole and watched the stars, but having this
wider vista through the shuttle’s holoscreen, he felt like he was right in the middle of a great void.
Jachz’s instructions had finished. Gerry was told he would be flying silent for the next hour, unless he required anything. But he didn’t. All he wanted was the quiet to enjoy the awe-inspiring views. It also brought into perspective the significance, or lack of it, of his life.
Out there on an endless number of worlds there must be other life, other people, creatures, types of life forms, all thinking they matter. But individually, they, including himself, those on the station, and those on Earth, amounted to so little. And yet that smallness mattered so much. A tiny blip of life on a dust fragment spinning through space had all the meaning in the universe.
It was during that journey towards the planet that he realised just how much he missed Petal. She’d sacrificed so much for him and kept him alive in numerous situations. There was no way he could betray that loyalty, or his feelings for her, by returning to the Family.
His mind was still at work unpicking the code that made up the connection to the Family’s communication satellite. They had a whole collection of them in a low-earth orbit, providing various functions. It was the largest network he’d ever seen.
Despite his skills and his recovery, he couldn’t get into the code, but he could at least program a roadblock to prevent them spying on him from within. As he sent his mind more fully into the communications satellite, he discovered a flow of data from a specific node. He guessed that was the satellite. It appeared to him as a massive data store, with other stores connected to it.
Unable to resist looking closer, he dove further in and analysed the data.