Agent Justin watched the monitors in the Operations center. The perfect world around them played out on a dozen smaller screens. Each displaying the paradise that Earth has become.
“Robot 11458, can you play the new Defenders of Freedom movie?”
“At once, sir.” The robot announced.
Another screen appeared, and Arx’s new movie appeared on the screen. It was currently in theaters, but BADGE had ways of accessing movies ahead of wide release.
“You know, some popcorn would be nice.” Justin mulled over ordering a robot to get him some popcorn.
Gamer G left Nova’s office and walked down to the main level. “Anything to report?”
Justin gave Gamer G a cocked eyebrow. “I don’t report to you. You might have Nova’s office, but you aren’t a ranking member of this team.”
Gamer G chuckled with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Why worry about rank? All we do is stand around and see the perfect world. Sorry if I stepped on toes, just curious.”
“Fine. Nothing to report. Nova is still missing. I have a call out for Alex Fae Murphy, but he seems to be busy.”
“He is still looking for Nova. Poor idiot is kinda delusional. Oh, is that the new Arx movie?”
“Sure is. I was about to send out for popcorn.”
“Sweet. I think I’ll join you.”
Justin asked, “What do you mean, delusional?”
“You know how he was blathering about some weird conspiracy or something. Now, he’s going to prove himself by finding Nova. Whatever that will do to help.”
The movie froze, and the screen collapsed as a new screen came up. Chase looked back at them. “Sir, we have a situation?”
“You found evidence of Nova?”
“No. There are reports of people all over the world asleep that won’t wake up.”
Justin tapped his comm unit. “Dr. Henderson, to Operations.”
“On my way.” She responded.
Gamer G headed for Nova’s office. “This is too soon.” He muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, nothing. Just remembered I have to... check on something. Be right back. Don’t start the movie without me.” Gamer G hurried back into the office.
Justin was frowning. “I think the movie can wait.”
Gamer G. sat at Nova’s desk and tapped the desk where there was no visible button. A holographic visage of Nova appeared, though he appeared older.
“What is it, Gamer?”
“Sir, people are succumbing to the system. They’re noticing people who won’t wake up. Soon, they will start dying. That is too soon.”
Drocha looked to the side and nodded, “I agree. The system isn’t ready yet. Don’t worry, I will slow it down. They’ll wake up. Just be ready. Soon they will start dropping and you will have to move to phase two.”
“What if more people realize it isn’t real? That Alex jerk figured it out.”
Drocha’s face betrayed extreme frustration as he calmly said, “I still do not know how he figured it out. I hope it was just an anomaly that won’t show up again. However, if it does, I will move to the back-up plan of forced harvesting. I don’t want to, it won’t provide everything. But I won’t let this fail.”
“Will you give me what I want? Creating the mega computer system will take extreme skills and...”
“YOU WILL GET WHAT IS PROMISED WHEN YOU HAVE DELIVERED AND NO SOONER. BACK TO WORK!” The screen vanished.
“Sheesh, what a loser.” Gamer G left the office.
Nova paced as he considered what The Oracle was saying to him.
“How, exactly, can you help? Do you know where Gamer G. is?”
The Oracle closed his eyes and his voice spoke in that doubled tone again. “The one calling himself Gamer G is linked to the bad network that connects all the evil devices. I sense a failsafe. His presence in the system is necessary, otherwise the system will break down, destroying all the minds connected to it.”
Alex sat down and put his face in his hands. “We have to stop him. Millions are going to die out there. My baby... “ He controlled himself as he was about to break down.
The Oracle looked at Alex. “We sense them all, their minds, their shared dream. We can see it as they see it. We know it, as they know it. Your little one, it is in the arms of the one who shouldn’t be there.”
“What?” Alex looked up.
The Oracle cocked his head, pondering something. “There is an anomaly, one who should not be there. Every soul in the simulation is real, but one. She is kind. She is an essence. And, with her, the infant of yours lives in peace.”
“Krystal... the one in the dream world.”
“Yes, you know her as such. But she isn’t there, but she is there.”
“STOP THE DOUBLE SPEAK!” Alex bellowed.
Nova held up his hand to calm Alex down. “What you are saying is that Alex’s baby is currently fine.”
“They all are. But, it will not last. We must move quickly to remedy this, or many will perish.”
Alex, more calm now, said, “We just said that. How?”
The Oracle looked up, a glint of a smile on his face. “Using the advanced computers of this place, enhanced by my power as Avatar of Tech, the students of this one have been working to break through the bad tech network.”
Nova asked, “I have had BADGE robots working endlessly to break this network. Our system is the most advanced computer in this solar system, and we are blind to what is happening.”
“Was the most advanced.” A girl piped up.
The Oracle changed back to just the voice of the doctor. “The computer lab here at TACC was just upgraded with a new supercomputer system. It was nearly as powerful as the BADGE computer. Then, my friend the Avatar got into it. It has enhanced this system in ways I’m still trying to figure out. Now, this computer system is the most advanced and...” His voice doubled again as the avatar joined him, “Your system was already compromised.”
“Compromised?” Nova took some offense to that.
“Yes. They are watching you, seeing everything you are doing. Your work was futile in stopping them. However, I protect this system. Nothing accesses my information without me stopping it.”
Alex asked, “What are you doing to stop them? What is your plan if you can’t help us find Gamer G.”
The Oracle laughed, “It is quite simple. If you wish to stop technology, you remove its power source.”
“We shut it off. We kill everyone.” Nova stated.
“Turning off the power is a crude and unnecessary choice at this time. The power it seeks are the billions of minds it is harnessing to create a powerful A.I. system.”
“Why?” Nova asked, “What purpose is this AI program for?”
“We do not know the plans in the minds of our enemy.” The Oracle stated, “However, we know that this system is crafting an AI program that will be a billion times more powerful that the human brain. It will think, process, and control vast computers and systems. It is our experience that Legion has used such tech in the past to control their empire of terror. Logic dictates that this new legion is doing the same.”
Nova said, “Drocha is creating a computer to run his new legion, one that can out-think anyone. It will be utterly horrible.”
The Oracle said, “The only way to stop this computer from being created is to end the program.”
“How do you do that without killing everyone?” Alex asked. “I was in there. I know Gamer G has the power to kill anyone on the spot. They triggered something that caused heart failure in me. If the doctor at BADGE hadn’t been able to save me, I would be dead. You tamper with this. They could kill everyone in an instant.”
The Oracle calmly said, “We are aware of this. Mr. Jonas, if you would.” He looked over at a student.
The young man pointed at a monitor he was working in front of. “We are creating a program that will isolate each brain attached to this network. It won’t detach them from the simulation, it will remove the systems controls over their bodies. Although their minds will be connected, they will lack control over their bodies.”
Alex said, “So, you’ve disconnected their kill switch?”
“Not entirely. There is one problem.” The boy pointed at an extremely complex calculation.
“That is way above my paygrade.” Alex held up his hands.
The Oracle said, “This is an organic based computer system right now. The human minds are bound to it, controlling it without their knowledge.”
“Is that why they were all so super smart?” Alex asked.
“We do not know the extent of what you experienced in that world. But the people would be inexplicably intelligent. As such, they are part of the system. The system floods their bodies with high amounts of pleasure-inducing hormones and chemicals to keep them satisfied with their world.”
“That also explains why everything is peaceful. Everyone is super happy there.”
The Oracle said, “Once they are convinced it’s not real, their minds will reject the simulation. By doing so, they will break free. That is where our reprogramming will override the kill controls. They will remain attached to the system, and their minds will continue to function as processors, but they can fight back without fearing immediate death.”
“Okay, so we can stop them from being able to execute a death order program. That still leaves us with the problem of the bodies slowly dying in the real world.” Nova stated.
The Oracle said, “Gamer G has established his mind as the critical anchor for the base program. Destroy him, end the simulation. But only do so after you detach everyone; otherwise, they will end with the simulation.” The Oracle’s blue eyes looked directly at Alex. “We must free them. You must free them.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You can return to the simulation. It already knows your mind. You already know it is false. You must convince your allies there that it is a false reality. Brake them from the illusion.”
“Then what?” Nova asked.
“Then, Director Nova of Badge, humanity becomes the anti-virus.”
0 Comments