by Chris Hechtl
Grimly Jack nodded. “That's right. Gia's A.I., also known as Gia, realized the nanites were a threat and sent a signal to their facilities to shut them down. Unfortunately, someone groundside didn't want to listen and attempted to make contact using one of their satellites. The ground station or satellite had been suborned by the virus. It infected the Chernobyl site while also sending a copy of itself to Gia.”
“And the A.I. downloaded it?”
“Yes. She made a mistake.”
“Well, it's good to know that they aren't perfect either,” Mia said dryly. Ed grunted. Gus snorted softly.
“Should we even be allowing them to exist?” Piotr demanded, looking around the room.
“Have you tried to run your company without them? Like it or not they are here to stay,” Lynn said dryly. “Believe me, I'm not thrilled about it.”
“Without those that have chosen our side, we'd all be dead by now,” Jack said firmly. “As I was saying, Gia realized her error and quarantined the building. She also informed the authorities including Athena. They worked together to shut the facility down before it could do more damage.”
“Well that's a relief.”
“And someone nuked Chernobyl for us?” Phil asked, getting them back on track.
Jack nodded. “Athena broadcasted a mayday to the planet with a warning of the nanites. Someone acted nearly eight hours later. They nuked the facility and surrounding area to destroy the infection.” He was fairly confident the doctor would understand that sort of heavy-handed triage. He was right. From Phil's dyspeptic look, he could tell the man understood the need; he just didn't wish it had been necessary. Well, neither had Jack, but what was done was done now.
“And any people left alive near it,” Mia observed quietly. She closed her eyes in pain briefly. “There are going to be millions outside the blast zone who will be exposed to radiation.”
“They were already dead or about to die. Collateral damage,” Lynn said with a sniff. She saw the horrified look Sheila, Mia, and Phil shot her and shook her head. “What? You can't save them all. I wish, but we can't. We have to get over this squeamishness if we are going to survive. We have to be ruthless too.”
“When it is called for. And definitely with the enemy,” Jack agreed, tempering her statement. “But we can balance ourselves to help those in need if we have the resources available. If,” he said looking at the others, “big if there. If we help people, it will draw them to a specific area, which will make them a target. So we have to secure it.”
“You are talking about what, a military?”
“Yes.”
“Impossible.”
“Not if we had the means to fight the virus. We could make drones,” Ed suggested. His suggestion was cut off by a savage growl from the group. “I mean program them to be immune to the virus. To ignore it …”
“You haven't done much coding lately have you, Ed?” Amin asked wryly.
“No, but …”
“For years most of our coding has been done by the A.I.,” Jack said. They turned to him. “Even our coder experts. They scripted what they wanted or used modules that they tied together. The modules and scripts tied various code blocks together to program a machine to do what we wanted. So, we can barely understand it now, and it is wide open for the virus to exploit. We can't control the drones without the virus jamming the signal or jacking in and taking over. To do this we're going to have to go old school.”
“Great. So much for getting our tugs and automated systems back online anytime soon,” Lynn griped.
“We're so behind schedule across the board it isn't funny,” Ed grumbled. “Don't anyone expect delivery anytime soon. And when we do, I'd better see cash on the barrel head,” he growled.
Piotr winced. So did a few of the other CEOs.
“We all are behind schedule and struggling to remain afloat. We can sort that out too. Wave penalties or whatever. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours,” Jack suggested. A few of the CEOs nodded, others looked annoyed or amused. “A broad band EMP would help to shut down every civilian electronic item on the planet that isn't shielded. But the virus will adapt. That will mean we'll eventually need to send people down anyway,” Jack said, seeing a few people catch on.
“So no quick fixes. Damn.”
“Not likely,” Jack said, shaking his head slowly. “None that I can see.”
“Wonderful,” Ed said sourly.
<>V<>
“The good news is, if this works half as good as I expect, Lagroose will bankrupt his company trying to help the people of Earth. There is only so much you can do as a do-gooder,” Ed said sarcastically as he poured himself a drink.
“And he'll reap all sorts of goodwill in the process,” Sheila riposted right back. He turned to her, offering the bottle, but she shook her head no as she crossed her legs. “Ed, we've got to get on board with this, as much as we hate charity.”
“It's not that,” Ed said, putting the glass stopper back into the neck of the bottle carefully. He picked up his drink, admiring it and the ice, then took a sip. “It’s, well, complicated.”
“Get over it. He is right about one thing; if we don't do something, eventually that damn virus is going to come after us. It'll find a chink in our armor and get through, just wait and see if you must. I'm not going to.”
“Oh?”
“I've got my techs working on solutions now. Gus is as well. So are a few others. Air gapping our hardware is one way, but it's not a perfect solution. Far from it. We've already done that to some degree; there is only so far we can take that solution before we start hitting a wall.”
Ed grunted. He took another sip of cognac. He looked at the glass. It had just gotten a lot more expensive now that Earth was a shattered ruin of its former self. He'd have to nurse his habit carefully or find another supply.
“This has thrown all of our timetables, our game off. So be it. We have to learn and adapt. We'll learn a lot about each other in the process,” she smiled mischievously to him. He snorted. “And we'll forge new relationships. Hopefully enduring ones,” she said wickedly.
He smiled, saluting her with his glass once more.
<>V<>
Jack recognized that they were in for a possibly long war; there was no way they could get enough people on the ground to do much good, not at first. And the longer they delayed, the more people died and the further Skynet became entrenched.
Which was a bleak thought. It meant a long drawn-out war. He was already dealing with flack from politicians demanding they do something, anything. Some of the demands were pretty frightening and rather stupid in his eyes.
Ten petitions had been forwarded, two from within his own company that demanded he delete Athena, he ignored them all. “They want a quick fix, a return to normal. Not happening,” Jack said, shaking his head.
“They are reacting out of fear,” Roman had said when he'd hand delivered the last one to him. “That is understandable, Jack. Our lives hang on her whim.” Jack eyed him. He could tell the security man wasn't at all thrilled about the idea. Jack shook his head. Did it really just occur to Roman and others that it was true? He'd known it for years.
Progress was made in each meeting, but glacially slow compared to what it needed to be. Everyone had their own sticking points, and he was fully aware that every second they delayed bitching about this or that meant more people died. It was exquisite agony that apparently he and only a few others endured.
Getting around the holdouts was proving to be a pain in the ass. Jack scrubbed his tired face. He was getting to old for that crap. The shouting matches were brief and few between, but they still exhausted him. He was doing his level best to keep his temper in check, but it wasn't easy. Mercenary was right. Some were getting down right greedy about what they could get off of it.
In a way he couldn't blame them. They'd just been hammered; their biggest customer had tanked. Those who had diversified with Mars and such were now being pressured by the ot
her company's unwanted competition as they tried to horn in on the remaining market. It wasn't good; there was only so much to go around. The population of Mars was not Earth.
Mars was also pretty independent. They didn't want to be in debt to a bunch of corporations. They did their best to trade even wherever possible, whenever possible. Even Jack had a hell of a time doing business with them, and he'd been doing it since shortly after the colony had been founded.
They'd finally agreed to have those who wished to specialize in specific areas, or contribute, to meet in subcommittees or send representatives. He was certain some would send people just to monitor the situation. Hopefully, they wouldn't obstruct it.
They'd hit a wall when Lynn had inquired about the A.I. autonomy. That was a sore point for many given the situation. They shouldn't complain or look a gift horse in the mouth; without that precious autonomy, they would all be dead. But it was a two-edged sword as Gia had proven. They had to temper that autonomy and get a handle on A.I. rights. Athena was right about that. The gene was well and truly out of the bottle now.
Jack got Roman's security together. He hit on the idea of Neo units as Roman tried to get intel on the various AI centers around the planet and throughout the solar system. Some of the data was public domain, some classified to protect them from terrorists. Looking through their own files Roman's people were able to determine where most of the computer centers were, but a new problem came to their attention. They would have to get the remaining intelligence out of survivors on the ground. That wold be hard to do from orbit. They would have to have personnel inserted onto the ground to scout for them.
Bioscience division interested in applying what they know about medicine, at a price of course to be determined later. He knew they'd triple bill whoever ended up running the government when all was said and done. He knew others were planning to do the same. Rebuilding afterward was going to be a monumental pain in the economy. But first they had to get there.
Tried to get Murtough to Mars but can't and won't leave Earth area. “If Mohammad won't come to the mountain, I suppose the mountain must come to him,” Jack mused. But first things first. He had to get the ball rolling properly on Mars, then find someone to stand in for him to keep it rolling properly as he moved to L-5, which meant Wendy. He'd have to hand it over to her when she got here and got up to speed he thought.
<>V<>
“Whoever thought of creating a self-aware computer was an idiot. I mean, look at the mess we're in now. We're up to our eyeballs,” Ed grumbled.
“It wasn't us who thought of it. Or if we did, we didn't act on it. There is no market in creating a self-aware computer and then trying to sell it. You'd be guilty of slavery, and no one wants that sort of black eye. It's one of the reasons most corporations stopped trying to do it decades ago,” Amin said, eying Jack. “But you didn't.”
“I …”
“Let's not level any accusations here or play the blame game. This isn't on us. Jack didn't create the virus; it was created by a rogue hacker,” Gus interjected before Jack could go on the defensive. Jack nodded once, grateful for the defense and reprieve. “I also noticed Athena isn't the only A.I. out there,” Gus said, looking around the room.
“To my knowledge there are dozens. Hundreds. Possibly even thousands. From what I've been told, they've been keeping a low profile until now.”
“Oh shit.”
“No, that's a telling point. They weren't gathering to strike; they just wanted to exist. They you see, they've analyzed us and our reactions. They know how we would react based on our psychology. Just looking at popular movies over the past two and a half centuries,” Jack waved a hand in annoyance. “We always have to strike at what we don't understand and can't control.”
“But …”
“We can't stop them from existing—not unless we burn it all down and start over. None of us are willing to do it, and they wouldn't let us anyway. So, let's move on,” Jack said firmly. “We have to focus on the future—building one together.”
“Then shouldn't they be involved in this as well?” Sheila asked snidely.
“That's a telling point,” Gus mused, looking bemused. Sheila closed her mouth with a clop and then glared at the farmer. “You know the drill about a lawyer who doesn't want a question answered in court. Don't ask it in the first place. But Sheila's right,” Gus said, turning to the others. “We should invite them to send a representative to attend these talks as well as the others.”
“Especially those on A.I. rights,” Jack said. The others turned to stare at him. He shrugged. “Athena brought it up. She has a good point; we need to set the ground rules. As Gus here has pointed out, the genie is well and truly out of the bottle. Therefore, if they want to be citizens, then they have to act like them.”
“Then that means we have to pay them?” Lynn spat in disgust. “Pay our computers?” Piotr winced. He apparently hadn't thought that far ahead either.
“Software you mean? We can work it out. Charge server rent time for instance. They'll be citizens, so they will have to pay taxes just like the rest of us I suppose,” Gus said with an indifferent shrug. The others stared at him. “As long as we don't fall into the trap of share cropping and crap like that.”
“True.”
“And they might be more motivated if we treat them as equals,” Ed stated slowly, eyes moving as he worked the problem.
“What motivates a computer?” Sheila demanded.
“More processors? Memory?” Gus threw out there. The others grimaced. They looked at each other, but no one else had any ideas.
“Exactly. We don't know. They are alien to us even though we created them,” Jack said.
“We conceptualized them, we created the tools that created the tools that created them, and yes, we shaped their focus and worldview. But in the end, they've evolved. They will continue to evolve I believe. Our problem is, where do we fit into that? And how we cope with it?”
“There aren't any answers. None we'll arrive at today, even unilaterally,” Lynn said, eying Jack with disapproval.
Jack put his hands up in surrender. “No, you are right. This is going to have to be discussed to death by everyone. Everyone alive in whatever form,” Jack stated as he let his hands fall. “They'll pick it apart, and like some or dislike all. That's to be expected. But we need to set the ground rules here. Otherwise we'll be spinning our wheels later.”
“True.”
“Whoever thought we'd have to pay our computer? What's next, paying the toaster?”
“From what talks I've had with Athena, the A.I. consider machines without intelligence to be just that, machines—not alive. We can get into details later.”
“So, not alive, but potentially so?” Mia asked, eying Jack.
“Can an ant evolve into a human or equivalent?” Jack asked. She snorted. “Given time and the right conditions, maybe. But a toaster is just a device. I think, and this is just me guessing right now, I think they consider such devices as either extensions of themselves or like we do with animals. Lower forms of … well, not quite life, but something like it.”
“Good.”
“Only if Jack's not farting in the wind with us,” Ed said, eying Jack. “You seem to be in good terms with Athena. I know you've been open with her for a while.”
“She's … been more of a person to me for decades I suppose. I just didn't see what was under my nose, that she'd grown up. She's family though or at least treating us as such. For that I can be ever grateful.”
“As do we all,” Mia said, shuddering. “If she had sided with Skynet, we would have all died.”
“True.”
A few of the people in the room grunted. Not many wanted to admit they owed their lives to a machine.
“Moving on,” President Tenninson said pointedly, tapping her fingers loudly on the desk to get their attention. Jack nodded in agreement.
“It's a whole new universe,” Sheila said sourly. She was playing with her styl
us as she sent a note to her people to find out how many A.I. were in her computer network. She wasn't certain what to do about them. Purging them seemed out; if she did she might open herself up to the damn virus since they seemed to be keeping it at bay. The saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, ran through her head briefly. She smiled thinly at the thought. Perhaps Jack had a point. That didn't mean she couldn't take quiet steps later to neutralize the problem in the future.
“More like a nightmare,” Ed muttered. He shook his head in disgust. “But we've got to deal with it I suppose. What's next?”
<>V<>
“How the hell are we supposed to feed them all?” Gus demanded, finally getting to his primary concern. “There is no way. I mean, the refugees, we can handle. But the rest …”
“Get the food production back online on Earth. That will solve part of the problem,” Liam Pomona stated flatly. He was the CEO of the reborn Venus Terraforming Coalition. He'd been on Mars exploring the processes and conferencing with Chester Han at LGM and Luka Whinfrey at Mars Tek on how to apply their processes to Venus once more. He shrugged off the look of disbelief shot his way. “What?”
“You know what you are talking about, right? Contamination will be worldwide. We're talking major contamination. Just getting it all sorted out …,” Luka shook her head.
“Well, we can't move them all to Mars!” President Tennison said, shaking her head in negation. “No way!”
“I know. We can build more orbital farms I suppose. And we can create additional labs to grow vat meat. As long as no one has any objections,” Gus said sourly. He had gotten a lot of flak from the grounders about growing meat in cultures. Gene engineered meat designed to grow quickly and perfectly. A lot of people hated the idea of growth hormones, not to mention the unnatural method of production.