by Tony Corden
“You can’t expect me to keep this secret from the authorities. Earl Barnsworth’s influence is not limited to the private sector. He is an adviser and a consultant with high-level security credentials to the government. There is also the cryptic comment on ‘Epic enigmas’. If there are some EPICS on the loose, then that situation needs to be evaluated and remedied.”
“Thomas said you were trustworthy. Either you keep my secrets, or our relationship is over. I know this isn’t something that will be solved without help or without the authorities being informed but until we, or possibly, I, know more then it’s too much of a risk to let people rush off half-cocked and warn people that we are on to them. The authorities already know about the malware, and they know, or I suspect they know, about the EPICS. I’m coming to believe they not only know about them, but they already have a mutually beneficial relationship with them. They don’t know about all of them because I’m convinced there are several rogue AI out there. I would even go so far as to suggest that in your role in cybersecurity, you have been privy to some of those interactions.”
Archie stared hard at Leah for several breaths and then said, “You have my word. I will not inform the authorities.”
“Will you agree that you will also not order, suggest, advise or otherwise allow others to do so?”
He was silent for almost a minute, then nodded, “You have my word.”
Leah turned to Major White and said, “And you?”
He nodded. Leah said, “One of the other two is Meredith Kodoman. The third has been archived since 2068. I don’t know who he is but I know what he looks like and his first initial and family name, when mixed, contain the letters ‘B’, ‘D’, ‘O’, ‘W’, ‘A’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘L’, and ‘E’.”
All three men studied the image of the third man, but no one gave any indication that they knew who he was, although Leah suspected both the Major and Archie had put a name to the face. Leah said, “Look, I have to go. I have something that is time sensitive to complete. Gèng will be able to answer any questions you have, and she’ll help organise another meeting in a day or so. Alan, if you are willing, then please let Gèng know how to use your backdoors. I promise I’ll only use them for the purpose I’ve mentioned.”
Alan nodded and disappeared. Leah stood, and the other two copied her automatically. She said, “Thank you for coming. I hope our relationship can continue.”
Archie looked like he was going to ask a question but decided, in the end, not to. He nodded somewhat curtly and disappeared. Major White said, “You’re braver than I am, lass, to take on Archie. I’ll see you around.”
When he finished talking, he disappeared, leaving Leah standing by herself. She reviewed the discussion as she walked up to the Tower and then headed up the stairs to the portal into Survival. She took a deep breath and stepped through into the jungle.
SURVIVAL
The symbiotic plant had kept her alive, and her health was full. Leah quickly found water and harvested a large nut which several players had found to be edible once they’d burnt the poisonous outer layer. Leah started a small fire in the branch of a tree and burnt away the toxic layer. Leah kept a watchful eye on the surrounding area, and even though the fire and smoke attracted several predators, Leah finished her meal without taking any damage. After finishing her meal, Leah set off. She slowly built up her pace until she was once again averaging around six kilometres an hour. Leah kept the pace for the full four and a half hours of virtual time with only two small breaks for water and one long detour to avoid a flock of flying lizards which were swarming in a tree directly in front of her. Altogether she travelled almost twenty-five kilometres before she found shelter for the night.
After Leah left Survival, she spent five minutes at full perception as she reviewed the work she’d been doing with Thomas Ellis. Satisfied with her preparation she logged into Academia.
60
Chapter 60
December 17, 2073 - Evening - Part 5
ACADEMIA
When she arrived in Dr Ellis’ laboratory, she was surprised to see not only Dr Ellis, who was looking grumpy but also Dr Whitfield and a slightly rotund woman she estimated was in her late twenties. Dr Ellis said, “Welcome Leah. You know the theoretician Dr Whitfield of course and this is one of her doctoral students, Ahyoka Fields. Dr Whitfield was just yabbering about how Miss Fields’ research into alternate models to describe quantum effects might dovetail into what we are doing. She wanted to see if we could ‘collaborate’.”
When Dr Ellis had said the last word, he had gone so far as to provide air quotes. Leah assumed that Ahyoka was not privy to the friendship between the two supervisors. Leah said, “Although the current model is somewhat complex, I would suggest it is largely supported both by current theory and by the experimental data. I would have assumed an alternate model is being considered to resolve some dissonance between theories or between theory and experiment, but so far I haven’t come across any such major areas of tension in my literature review.”
Dr Whitfield said, “As per his usual misunderstanding of the issues, Dr Ellis used the word ‘model’ where I had explained it in terms of a ‘frame of reference’. Ahyoka is considering the frame of reference within which we consider quantum effects. For example, much of the theory assumes that stasis is the zero position and deals with change as it refers to differences from the null state. In just the same way as our understanding grew when it was observed that the planets revolve around the sun rather than around the earth, so might our understanding grow if we consider our theories from new positions. I was talking with Ahyoka about the directionality you achieved in the Aether dimensions by coordinating leptonic number and chirality, and she wondered if perhaps we were to formulate our theories in non-Euclidian terms and instead adopted a framework more consistent with the directionality experienced with leptonic quantum alignment, this could simplify or enhance our understanding. Thomas suggested we talk with you before he got too bogged down in theoretical scutwork.”
Leah couldn’t help but grin at the look of contempt Ahyoka was trying to hide when Thomas’ name was mentioned. She quickly wiped the grin from her face and said, “I think the changes in your example were more a case of discarding an erroneous model than merely a change of perspective. I do understand the point though, and I’m interested in the concept. Perhaps we should let Dr Ellis get back to the real work, and we can discuss this elsewhere.”
Thomas glared at her and said, “Don’t be so quick to run away from real work, Ms Carroll. Let’s discuss this in one of those speeded up rooms of yours. I’ll stay to make sure you don’t get carried away into the time-sucking Ivory Towers and forget about the practical nature of science.”
Leah asked Gèng to create a large classroom-sized space with white walls. When everyone was inside, Dr Whitfield said, “Let’s start with an explanation of what you are doing with the leptonic number and chirality.”
Leah and Thomas discussed the work they were doing and the results of the experiment the day before. Ahyoka began describing some the work she’d been doing in non-null centric paradigms. As Ahyoka spoke, Leah sat back and started working through possible implications in her mind. She added in some of the work she’d done in bounded aether dimensions and, in particular, the 6N-dimensional hypercylinder. Imperceptibly Leah’s thoughts turned inward, and the different pieces of information interacted across her brain’s newer and increasingly complex neural web.
Dr Whitfield was the first to notice the vacant look and was about to say something when Thomas said, “Shhh, not now Ellen. This is serendipity at work and why I asked you to drop by. Watch as our world changes. Her mind makes connections that mine doesn’t. The information is there, but I don’t see the connections until she points them out. When you said Ahyoka had made a breakthrough with directional non-uniform spatial frameworks, I hoped it might spark some of these connections.”
Ahyoka looked between the two and said, “You ask
ed us to drop by? You wanted us to leave.”
Ellen said, “Thomas is right, Ahyoka, now is not the time. I’ll explain everything after we see what new connections Leah’s mind makes. Thomas, hand Leah a marker, see if it helps when she writes things out.”
Dr Ellis took a marker and handed it to Leah. She took it absentmindedly. Leah didn’t move but had Gèng transfer some the thoughts she had onto the wall in front of them. Beginning with the hypercylinder, Leah reworked the various spatial equations including those which related to quantum particles and then began manipulating the scales, centres, location and movement of the different frames of reference. She was looking for patterns and trends which could simplify the theory. Hypercylinders had been used to describe various interactions in the past, but the final outcomes had been expressed in terms people could understand, terms formed within the uniform three-dimensional spatial framework. Dr Ellis began working through Leah’s assumptions on a side wall and adding other observations from his years of research. Dr Whitfield did the same on the opposite wall, although her work focussed more on a critique of the assumptions and refining. Ahyoka took longer to understand the basic premise, but soon she began writing down all the factors she’d discovered which were impacted by such a radical change of reference.
Leah was peripherally aware of the others working and occasionally glanced over at their work. One of Thomas’ notes clarified a section of her work and helped refine it. She had Gèng underline it and connect it to the reworking she was putting on the wall in front of her. Next, she noticed a qualifying comment by Ellen which she knew was already included, so she circled it on Ellen’s wall and drew a line to where she felt it was explained. Next was another observation from one of Dr Ellis’ early experiments which Leah had read but not incorporated. And on it went.
Forty-five minutes in virtual time equalled fifteen minutes in real time and was close to nine hours in Leah’s accelerated state. Gèng firmly began to slow Leah down until she was working at the same pace as the others.
Finally she stopped, and said, “Sorry guys, I guess I phased out. I’m sorry to take over, but I could see some promise in the approach. I’d been looking at bounded aether dimensions, and this fit naturally with what Ahyoka was saying. It isn’t quite there, but I think some new and exciting patterns are emerging.”
Ellen said, “Leah, if you wrote that up as a paper you’d be able to submit your doctorate. I’d personally push it through committee. Some of the connections you made will have repercussions across all sciences.”
Ahyoka said, “The ramifications for my thesis alone are staggering. I’d been focussed on variable frames of reference, but I was hampered by my self-imposed restriction of four linear dimensions. There is still some work to do with assigning meaning to the higher dimensions, but I already see how the meaning should reveal itself as I rework different components of scientific theory.”
Ellen said, “I should warn you, Ahyoka, that Leah’s thesis involves quaternary braid formulations. It’s more than possible that she’s found a way to blend the current theories and remove their dissonance.”
Thomas said, “Leah, I noticed some of the beginning calculations appeared more developed and more mature than some of the later observations.”
“I’d begun thinking through the implication of a bounded dimension when I considered the way we form them, especially using the additional accelerators. What you saw are some primary calculations I’d been working on. I already have a suspicion that creating an aether dimension may be possible using a less complicated process than we currently use.”
Dr Ellis said, “I suspect the same thing. I know I’ll be busy all day tomorrow designing something to test this new model you’ve put forward.”
Looking around, he said, “Leah’s time is up, but you should remember that I’ve recorded this session and we all will have access to it. It shows where the ideas have originated, and I would encourage each of us to give each of the others appropriate credit for their ideas. Leah, much of this was your work, and you should keep a recording of this session in a vault. The time stamp will protect you should anyone attempt to seek recognition for concepts you’ve developed. I’ll also send you a copy of the official recording from the other night at Ellen’s.”
Leah nodded, and after some final discussion to clarify one aspect or another, Leah logged out to the Tower before exiting her Pod to have a shower and eat something.
Diary - 17 December, 2073 - Night
People are seriously messed up. Their idea of what can and can’t be done is so far beyond what any reasonable person would agree to it scares me. What kind of sick person thinks pretending to abuse their daughter is OK? What kind of mind pretends to attack and rape another person for fun? All the arguments that it is just in their minds just don’t stack up. People who think like that have so misused, mistreated and abused their consciences that they can’t be expected to know up from down. What sort of society lets this go as OK? Why do people keep believing that what happens in our heads isn’t real? The whole virtual multiverse should be evidence enough that what happens in our heads is real. No wonder Jesus said if someone lusts, it is as if they did the deed.
Am I arrogant? Several times today people have hinted I’m precocious, not understanding, young, an upstart. Should I hand my suspicions over to the authorities? When does competence become arrogance? Is even asking the question arrogant? I don’t want to be prideful, but I don’t trust the authorities to do the right thing. I believe I have a better chance of helping people. Should I let them do it because they’ve been semi-chosen? Am I a vigilante? Everyone says that is a bad thing, but what if the authorities can’t or won’t do their jobs. When does passivity become a crime?
61
Chapter 61
December 18, 2073 - Early Morning - Part 1
HOME - REAL WORLD
Mia was dozing in Leah’s room when the Pod opened. She sat up slowly and said, “Leah, do you mind if Jenny Ngô’s younger sister Emily helps? Jen is getting chipped today, both Marie and Lacey had their chips implanted yesterday, and John said they needed some sleep before getting in a Pod.”
Leah said, “I don’t mind if Em doesn’t. I thought she was working at her family’s bakery.”
“She was, but the youngest, Lily, is also helping out these days. Emily always wanted to be a healer or a nurse, and Kevin’s agreed to help with some training if I would agree to take her on as an apprentice. John had a long talk with Emily, and he says she knows to keep her mouth shut.”
“Then yeah, it’s fine with me.”
Mia left the room briefly and returned with Emily. Leah had seen her around, but they moved in very different circles. Mia showed Emily how to help Leah from the Pod and the best way to support someone without straining herself. Em stayed and watched while Mia gave Leah a brief wash and then helped Leah get dry, put on a robe and sit down. As Leah ate, Mia explained what she was doing as she changed Leah’s dressings.
When the dressings were done, Emily said, “Leah, thanks for letting me help.”
“It’s quite all right. Mia explained she’s taking you on as an apprentice. It only makes sense that you get to see what the job will look like. It’ll be great if we get better health care in the Switch, and I’m glad you’re interested.”
Mia said, “Leah, Em’s also thanking you for the job. You realise you’re the boss around here, don’t you?”
Leah laughed and said, “I tend to forget. I’m just glad to help. I remember watching Mrs Yeoh fade away day by day after her baby died. I heard that both of their deaths were preventable. If Em can make a difference, then I’m glad.”
Turning to Emily, Leah said, “You’re welcome Em. I know John’s made it clear, but you do know I’m not like the government employers. If you don’t work hard, John’ll get someone else. Having grown up in the Switch, I don’t believe in handouts.”
Emily nodded and said, “He wasn’t the only one. Jen practically threa
tened to tear my head off if I slacked off. She was the only one of us girls who worked hard at school. I just coasted and Lily, well you know Lily, as she was in your year. It’s only been since I stopped school that I realised how ignorant I am. Dad, Mum and Jen were always saying it, but it didn’t hit home till I couldn’t get a job and the educational subsidy stopped. It’s been four years and the only work I can get is at the bakery. Lily’s going to find it harder than I did now there’s no more subsidy since she finished school.”
Leah said, “Hopefully things will improve over time, and Lily will find something she wants to do. I hope she’ll have the chance to try it.”
“I love my sister, but I think that it’ll take a miracle. Believe it or not but at the moment she’s blaming you for her situation. She’s sure if she’d been given the chance you had to go to college, that she’d have placed much better than eighth in the contest today. Mum and Dad are almost ready to throw her out, and Jen won’t even talk to her. When she found out I was coming to help here at the compound, she kicked up a huge stink that it should have been her chance, her opportunity.”
Leah shook her head and said, “You do understand why it isn’t likely she’ll get the chance, don’t you?”
“I do. I’ve spent a lot of time with John and Jen over the last few months, and they helped put things in perspective. I do have one question, though. You didn’t even flinch when Mia changed the dressings, doesn’t it hurt?”
Before Leah could answer Mia said, “Em, Leah’s not been allowed to take much pain relief for most of the day. She fought in the contest without almost no relief and with fifty per cent simulated movement. Most of the others had ten per cent. Changing the dressing is the least painful thing she’s done today, and I imagine it was agony.”