The Reality Plague

by Doug Welch

  Jake shook his head. “Not impossible, just difficult and dangerous. I've got an Idea. We need to go back to the chair factory and talk about it.”

  Allen folded his arms in front of his chest. “Why the plant? Let's discuss it right here.”

  “It's just a hunch, Allan. I can't be sure the deterioration of city’s edge precludes the net from monitoring our activities here. But I'm convinced that the digital noise prevalent at the manufacturing facility interferes with the net communications. At any rate, we need to scope out the plant.”

  Liv broke in. “Dave's people and some others have been systematically dismantling the net infrastructure at the fringes of the city, but I think Jake might be right.”

  Jake was surprised at her statement. Is Dave truly a ‘crop picker’? “Net capabilities and communication are my area of expertise,” Jake said. “The net has more capabilities than you realize. I think we need to go to the plant. The key is there,”

  “Oh no, I hope you're not thinking, what I think you're thinking,” Allan said.

  Jake just nodded. “Let's get back to the plant.” He turned to Liv. “I have no idea if this will work, and I certainly can't predict when we'll be able to deliver what you want. You'll have to have someone watching this spot to warn you if, and when, we arrive. Can you do that?”

  “I think so. I've developed a good relationship with Dave and his group. I think they'll cooperate.”

  Jake mentally winced when she mentioned Dave's name. He recognized his feelings as a twinge of jealousy, but tried to project a calm exterior.

  Liv looked worried. She beckoned Jake to follow her, and she led him a distance away from the tree. “Jake, you don't have to worry about Dave. He's – Well, let's just say that Dave has a special relationship. It's you I've grown to care about. Listen, I've got something for you. I'll leave it here on the ground and walk back to Dave's farm. Don't worry, it can't contaminate you or give you the plague. You need to put it in your pocket. Don't look at it. As long as you don't read it, the net won't know. It's something you can only use once to get out of a tight spot with your AI, and then only if you absolutely must. Once you use it, it's gone forever.” She placed what appeared to be a piece of paper on the ground. Jake hadn't seen paper in many years. He picked it up.

  “OK, Liv if we make it, we'll be here. If we don't… ” He shrugged.

  “Come back to me Jake. Stay safe.”

  Jake and Allan walked back to the city and rode the train back to the plant. Along the way, they refrained from discussing Jake's plan. In the heart of the facility, Allan finally expressed his ire. “Jake you idiot, we can't take the plant's AI. It's impossible! Even if we were able to get it out of the vault, it would have security agent swarming around this place. We'd be history.”

  “I don't plan on taking the plant's AI – at least not directly. What's the most vulnerable point, the most possible situation where we would have an opportunity to steal it?”

  Allan appeared to think. “I don't know – let's see. We can't possibly get the codes for the vault so we can't open it. The spare AIs are just as secure. You would have to be an agent to get to one, and the agents are almost completely controlled by the net. I suppose the only way to get to one is when they are under main… Maintenance! Maintenance, that’s it. The AI will be out of the vault when it is being maintained.”

  “Exactly. And we've got a malfunctioning plant. All we need to do is convince the plant manager that the problem with the plant is the AI. Then he can request maintenance on the plant's AI, and the technician will need the programming interface to do it.”

  “Jake, the person who maintains the AIs will be an agent. He'll probably be carrying a stunner, or maybe something more lethal. I've seen this operation. It's pretty secure. You realize that we may have to injure or kill someone? I don't know if I can do that.”

  Jake thought about the years of living in a world in which violent crime had practically vanished; the only outcome of the plague that he agreed with. But the possibility of survival as a species, trumped any thought of civilized behavior. “If it comes to that. I'll do it. Do you know where the vault's located?”

  “Vaguely. It's slightly different from plant to plant. We'll have to find it, and we don't have much time before your AI will become more concerned.”

  “What about yours?”

  Allan laughed. “I haven't done anything stupid lately, not like some people I could mention.”

  “Good. You get to mime the plant manager. Let's find the room.”

  Allan led him through the machines. Along the way, Jake searched for something he could use as a weapon. Presently, in a maintenance locker, he found lengths of heavy pipe of various sizes and a sharp narrow-blade screw driver all coated with gritty dust. He selected a pipe and took the screw driver.

  They eventually found the control room and they entered it. Jake looked at the AI's enclosure. Just as Allan had described it, it was built like a brick, solid and massive, but small. The front had a blinking series of security indicators. It would have been impossible to open. Jake hid the pipe, with the screw driver sticking in the end, against the corner of a junction of the walls. They left the plant and headed back to their cubes.

  

  Chapter 6

  Thief

  When Jake entered his cube he could sense the difference. He no longer felt comfortable in his featureless rooms; they confined him like a prison. The presence of the AI didn't promise companionship, it loomed more as an enemy, an opponent he had to mollify to survive. He decided to act normally, but at the first hint of threat from Alice, he would flee the cube. He removed a meal from the storage area, and asked her to provide a restaurant ambiance to allow him to eat it. Before he assumed his seat in the Sens-U-Chair, he pretended to accidentally brush the sensor that opened his cube door. He dropped one of the wrappers on the door glide surface, and the wrapper caught in the glide, preventing the door from completely closing. He took his seat on the chair. Alice quickly caught the malfunction.

  “The door didn't close properly, Jake.”

  “Really? I suppose you'll have to call for maintenance.”

  “Can't you correct it?”

  “Alice, I'm not familiar with sliding doors, just summon maintenance.”

  “I'm finding it difficult to locate a maintenance technician, Jake.”

  Jake's thoughts bordered on savagery. No shit. Welcome to the real world, bitch! “I can imagine. I'll try to fix it as soon as I eat. I think I'm in the mood for a hamburger. Call up a diner ambiance.

  The room changed. A busy diner, with tables holding numerous customers, seated in typical mid twentieth century diner booths surrounded him. Alice, in a waitress uniform, stood in by his table with a pen poised above a pad, waiting to take his order.

  “I think I want a large double-cheese burger with everything on it and french-fries. Start with a dinner salad with blue-cheese dressing. I also want a side order of blue cheese dressing.” I might as well make the most of the ambiance since I'm eating rabbit food.

  Alice played the part of a pert waitress, eager for a tip, to perfection. “Very well sir, would you like something to drink?

  “Yes, bring me a beer.”

  “Is there anything else sir?

  “No. I'll call you when I need you.”

  Jake ate slowly, savoring the flavors, and hoping to draw out the time until he would have to sleep for the night. He saw someone approach his table. Allan slid into the booth with him.

  “I thought I would join you. I haven't eaten yet.”

  “Feel free. Nice you could be here.” Allan’s presence in the net-ambiance actually added to the illusion of normalcy. Allan's AI took his order, and they both started to chat. They talked about normal things throughout the meal.

  Finally, over coffee, Allan turned to the subject that constituted the real reason they were there together. “Hate to talk about business, Jake, but the problem we discovered this morning is causing
severe problems with the chair production. I mimed the plant manager, and he will get back to me tomorrow about our proposed solution.”

  “Good, if he doesn't, we may need to shut down all production on that one, and on the new chair. Good work, Allan.”

  “I'll let you know in the morning. If he agrees, we have to show the technician what we found.”

  “I'll be waiting for you to net connect.” They finished their meal, and both ordered coffee. Allan finally spoke. “Do you want to party tonight?”

  Jake took the hint. “No I think I'll sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”

  Allan appeared to act disappointed but Jake knew he wasn’t. “I guess you're right. I'll see you tomorrow.”

  They disconnected.

  Jake ignored the AI's protests about the door, saying he would look at it in the morning. He settled in his chair and went to sleep.

  In the morning, He spent an inordinate amount of time jamming his cube door under the ruse of trying to fix it. He packed the wrapper more tightly. It would take a maintenance technician a long time to get it unjammed, but he didn't plan stay in his cube much longer. He net-connected to several locations, performing his normal daily activities to allay the AIs suspicions. The middle of the day passed, and still no net-connect or mime from Allan. He became anxious. He could only continue this charade so long, before the AI would take action to confine him. A little after the noon hour, Allan mime-mailed him.

  * * * text follows:

  -We have received permission from the plant manager to fix the chair-factory. You need to be there to explain the points of failure. The technician will arrive in person in 1.00 hours.

  Allan

  The time had arrived. “Alice, I need to go to the manufacturing facility that makes the Sens-U-Chair and assist Allan. Please continue to locate a maintenance technician for the door.” He moved to open the jammed door.

  “I cannot comply, Jake. I have frozen the cube door. Please wait here until security can arrive.”

  Chagrined, Jake had hoped that the AI would not make an overt attempt to trap him. He could have left earlier, but he didn't have a plausible excuse. If he fought the AI, it would make the risk more acute, but he'd been prepared to attempt it. Now, refusing to comply with the Alice’s demands could cause security to respond much quicker. Maybe it would listen to argument. “Alice, you saw the mime-mail. I need get to the factory. Now, let me out.”

  “I'm sorry Jake, but security analysis has determined that you may be a hazard to the security technician who services the AIs. Allan can perform the same function as you. You are unnecessary.”

  Arguing further with the AI would only confirm its suspicions. There had to be a way to thwart it, but if he tried he would only hurry the inevitable. He was sure that despite his efforts to damage the cube door, Alice would have it under power and he wouldn't be able to budge it. Luckily it couldn't be locked, and if he could make the AI release the power, he could force it open. But how to do it without alerting security? He paced around the cube knowing the longer he delayed the more chance for disaster. Try to act normal. The AI wouldn't take further steps if he appeared non-threatening. He needed privacy. “I'm going to the bathroom, Alice please prepare a meal while I wait. He stepped into the bathroom and closed its seldom used door. He had no illusions the AI could not monitor him here, but by distracting it, he might be able to think of a way.

  Sitting on the commode, he ran through all of his course of actions and came up with nothing. Isn't there any way to shut the AI down? Then he remembered the paper Liv had given him. He reached into his pocket, pulled it out, unfolded it, and read it.

  Speak the following phrase in the AI's presence: 'Carlson says Simon says shut down'. It's a back door program. It will lockup the AI. you can only use it one time. You will have about 10 minutes to escape – Liv

  He opened the bathroom, and walked into the room. “Alice.”

  “Yes Jake.”

  “Carlson says Simon says shut down.” He heard silence. “Alice – Alice did you hear me?” The AI didn't respond.

  Quickly he ran to the cube door. He tried to slide it back, but it only moved a small amount, not wide enough to slip through. He ran into the kitchen and riffled the utensil drawer. He looked at the assortment and chose a dinner knife. Moving back to the door, he knelt at the slide and jammed the knife under the door. He used the knife as a lever. It moved, but not by very much, and the knife bent. He turned the knife on its other side, and tried again. The door moved again. He repeated this several times, and on the last attempt the knife broke. He ran back to the kitchen bringing out several other eating implements, but none of them fit. He examined the door. It might fit his shoulder, if he forced his body into the crack. He wedged his shoulder in the crack and pushed with all his strength. The door didn't budge. He did it again and increased his effort. I have to get out of this cube. The door resisted, but suddenly it moved. He wedged further in the crack and pushed with all his strength. The door finally moved enough to allow him to slip through. He didn't hesitate. He fled from the cube and the building.

  On the street, he realized that he would not be able to use the tube train. The net would sense his presence and shut it down. He would have to get to the plant on foot. He raced to the underground entrance. Examining the subway map, he located the station that lay near the plant. If he walked normally, he couldn't make it in time.

  He started running, periodically breaking into a fast walk as he moved toward the plant. He didn't have long before security started hunting for him, and not enough time to reach Allan before he arrived with the AI technician. No sense worrying about it, just move as fast as you can. He continued jogging.

  About an hour later, Jake arrived at the factory nearly exhausted. Realizing that Allan and the technician were already in the plant, he entered thorough the maintenance entrance, passed the anteroom, and on the way, grabbed some safety gear. He wound his way through the machines, now silent, toward the AI room. As he moved closer, he heard the conversation occurring in the room through the comm-set in the noise-canceling hearing protectors.

  “That can't be right. We saw the malfunction occur. The machines aren't responsible. We checked them. Run the diagnostics again.”

  “I don't need to. There's nothing wrong with the AI. You must have interpreted your tests wrong.”

  Jake moved close to the open door, and risked a peek around the edge. Allan stood facing him. The technician, dressed in a haz-suit, stooped over the AI, sitting on the floor. He stepped further into the room. Allan saw him. Jake motioned for him to continue.

  Allan nodded. “Maybe there's something wrong with the comm interface, why don't you check it?”

  The technician looked up at Allan. “I think there's something wrong here alright, but I don't think it's the AI.” He reached for the weapon he wore at his waist, drew it, and stood up, facing Allan. He held the stunner pointed at him. “Why don't we wait here for security to arrive?”

  Jake didn't think about it, he just acted. He rushed into the room and threw his body against that of the security technician. He grabbed the arm that held the stunner and they both crashed to the floor. Jake landed on top, knocking the breath out of the man. The tech appeared dazed both from the fall, and the fact that Jake had actually touched him, but Jake knew that a trained Security Agent would likely outmatch him in a fight. He had to take advantage of the situation. As he struggled for possession of the weapon he shouted. “Allan help me!”

  Allan stood frozen, likely horrified that someone would actually make contact with another person. The agent recovered and drove the elbow of his free arm into Jake's stomach. Now it was Jake's turn to feel incapacitated. The intense pain nearly caused him to black out, but he held on to the agent's arm, keeping the stunner pointed at the wall. Suddenly the stunner leaped from the security tech's hand. Jake glanced up to see Allan holding the pipe. The stunner lay against the wall. “Get the stunner Allan!” Allan didn't move. He lo
oked ill. He threw the pipe across the room. Jake jumped up and dove for the stunner, followed by the technician. Jake reached it first. But the tech, conditioned by years of habit, and reluctant to touch him, hesitated. Jake activated the stunner and shot him. The security technician dropped to the floor.

  Allan knelt in the corner of the room, vomiting. Jake felt like joining him, but he suppressed the urge. “Allan, we don't have much time. We have to leave – now.”

  “I can't believe you did that. Hell I can't believe I helped you.” He dry heaved again.

  “Neither can I Allan, but it's done. We need to grab this stuff and get out of here.”

  Allan reluctantly stood and helped collect the equipment and the AI. “I've never seen one of these up close. It looks so – harmless.”

  “Well, that object you hold in your hand is likely screaming to every security agent in the city that we've abducted it. We need to run.”

  They divided the equipment between them, and hurried through the factory. Outside they paused.

  Jake scanned the street for signs that security had arrived. “We can't take the tube, we'll have to walk it,” Jake said.

  “Carrying all this equipment? It'll slow us down.”

  “No choice, the net will locate us in the train and shut the system down.”

  They struggled through the streets pausing between buildings to look for anyone chasing them. Jake had stored the AI in a metal case he had found in the maintenance area to block its communication link. He hoped it would be enough, or the AI would broadcast their position. They were very cautious at the site of any underground exit, because that would be the place security agents would come from. They moved a considerable distance away from the plant and paused to rest in one of the alleyways.

  Jake leaned against the wall breathing heavily. A noise caught his attention. “What's that? Do you hear it.?”