Data Circles

Graham Heights

MayFlower

Public Domain Pictures

Chapter 68

Data Circles

Journal Entry - February 15th 2096
Jason Knorack

With our trap set we wait.  It seems impossible to determine whether or not anyone would take the bait.  And after a week and no one even got close.  So, we decided to up the ante.  After a heated, but fake, conversation with the captain it was decided to destroy Tiffany.  We set the date and time and hoped that this would provoke a response.  It did not. So after we floated the AI out the rear air lock and got absolutely no reaction, it was decided to quit the act and retrieve her.  That’s when I took a closer look. About thirty minutes into my inspection I discovered that this AI was not Tiffany.  Someone had switch this unit for Tiff and now we had nothing.  
My first stop was the captain, did he do this.  He flatly denied any involvement.  Next were the video of the compartment Tiff was stored in.  No Tampering, all video was intact and the data was consistent with a constant stream of information.  How did she disappear.  I even re-animated the AI we retrieved to see how she reacted to my presence.  Nothing out of the ordinary and I even did the kiss test.  Nothing.  The AI was shut down and locked as if it was Tiffany.  Just in case.  

As for the ship, we have managed to get most of the main computer on line and have restarted the drive sequencers.  Helm control is about 90% so we have turned ourselves around and are headed back for a high Earth’s orbit.  Once we have more control we will descend to the parking orbit that will allow shuttles from Earth to reach us.  We have about sixteen more supply missions before we are ready to get underway.  If all goes well we should be able to leave orbit by the beginning of April.

I have notices that the green places onboard the ship are looking a little overgrown.  Our robotic or artificial intelligence units definitely do a better job at keeping things neat.  Which shines the light on the fact that we were getting very dependent on them.

As for Tiff…

Knorack had paced back and forth in his new office so many times that Sgt Stone was taking bets as to how many more times he would do the track.  Knorack had nothing to go on.  No video, audio or anything that would point him or his investigation in any direction that was helpful.  He even checked video of his interrogations both before and after he left the room. Again nothing.

One of the only explanations that could explain how this happened was that the AI’s had to ability to manipulate data so perfectly that it could fool even the main computer.  If that was the case.  Then they could do just about anything they wanted here on this ship and we would be powerless to stop them.  Then why don’t they?  

Tiffany’s last words continued to haunt Jason.  “What is this about and Why would we be acting out of fear?”  What don’t we know and who is doing this thing that we don’t know about?  From her statements, it did not appear to be the AIs that were going to do whatever it was.  And maybe they were trying to keep it from happening, so why won’t they tell us?  Jason just could not help feeling like he was on the edge of finding out what the secret was, but it’s so hidden that it could be in the room with them and they would not recognize it.  Jason was shooting from the hip, “Sergeant Stone do you have any AI’s in the field with you?” he paused and then continued, “You know, that help?”

Sergeant stone was surprised by the question and hesitated in his answer, “Well, not really.  We have computers and scanners.” He thought for a moment, “Okay, the mules, but they aren’t combat.”

“Why not?” Jason said.

“Machines aren’t allowed to kill.  Part of their programming or something like that.” Stone explained as his hands flailed in the air as to the mystical nature of programmed things.

“What if they could?” Jason was pushing to see just how much Stone understood about these protocols.

“If they could, we would be...exterminated.” Stone said with little emotion.

Jason thought to himself. “I’ve been looking at this thing from the bottom up.  What if I think from the top down.  If anyone had the power to bring androids to life it would be Mr. Monroe. And the captain let slip that one of the AIs was considered sentient. That being Jordy.  Now, how does all that work into his situation?  Especially since Jordy is not going with them and to his knowledge, was still missing.“   Jason asked his office computer, “Computer. Please let me see the specifications of the AIs on board this vessel.”

The computer replied, “Request too broad, please narrow the parameters you are looking for.”

Jason thought for a second, “Let me see the specifications for the “T” class androids.”

The computer replied, “Request too broad, please narrow the parameters you are looking for.”

Jason was anoid, “Computer. Why is it too broad?”

The computer replied, “The complete library of specification on the “T” model Android will not fit in the memory banks of your work station.”

“Oh.” Jason wondered what would fit and how to proceed with his search.  Show me a list of programming subroutines.”

There was a ding and a file opened on his monitor.  The list was extensive.  Everything you could think about, eating, sleeping, jokes, walking, skipping...and so on.  It was not alphabetised, “Computer please alphabetize the list.”  The list went away and then reappeared as requested.  Jason started down the list, he did not know what he was looking for, but maybe once he saw it, it would pop out at him.  

Flying through the list Jason stops on Learning subroutines:

Alphabetising…  

                Balance, Buoyancy…  

                Calculations, Counter balance…  

                Facial expression…  

                Memory allocations…  

                Names and personal history,  

                Nomenclature of devices,

                Nuances of personal encounters…

Personification

Jason opened this file and the code appeared:

REM “The act of personifying; the attributing of human qualities to an animal, object, or”

REM “ abstraction: Programming in this file will show how attributes of the AI were”

REM “adapted from human; speech, actions, habits, attitudes and other physical”

REM “characteristics observed over time.  In this case these attributes will be stored”

REM “and run during contact with the individuals that exhibits these traits.  This”

REM “subroutine is to work in conjunctions with fourteen other routines and allow the”

REM “AI to assimilate a like manner with the humans they are working with.”

REM “File size 196.48 g.”  00A1101E11100M1 001BB...

To Jason that didn’t seem like a lot of memory for something that had to be very complicated, but maybe they had a way to compress the data so that it did not take much room.  And it ran with fourteen other routines that may handle information that would fill up this file.  So, it could actually be many Terabytes of information used to run these routines. Jason continued down the main list when he found a file that was simply labeled “Z”.  Out of curiosity he opened it.

REM “This is You.”

That’s all it said.  No file size, no further explanation or how it ran or anything.  The hair on Jason’s neck started to rise.  This was the individuality that each of the AI exhibited.  Maybe it was designed to grow with the AI and so did not have a specific file size or coding procedure.  Maybe this is where the AI’s do their own coding.  He was going to have to see if any of this was stored in the main processor when they had Tiffany connected for diagnostics.  “Computer please bring up Tiffany’s file and search for the subroutine “Z”.

The computer replied, “The complete file “Z” for specified Android will not fit in the memory banks of your work station.”

“Computer please bring up the same file for T00167884.” Jason leaned forward in anticipation of his computer’s action.

“Ding” and the file opened.  

It has the same opening statement and then followed by gibberish that was computer code.  But it wasn’t to big to open.

“Computer; Is there a workstation that can open Tiffany’s “Z” file?

“Negative.”

“Computer; where can I open Tiffany’s “Z” file?”

“Main Terminal, subsection Alpha 1.”

Jason leaned back in his chair and let his breath leak out, “The captain’s command center… Son of a bit…...”

Jason suddenly bolted upright, “Computer.  Can I transfer this file?”

“Negative.  You do not have authorization and the workstation is not compatible.”

Jason put his bracelet up to the computer’s scanner. “How about now.”

“Negative.  You do not have authorization and the workstation is not compatible.”

“Computer. Does anyone on this ship have authorization to transfer this file?” Jason asked, already knowing the answer.

“Main Terminal, subsection Alpha 1 with security code M-Tac-Alfa”

“Computer.  Who has that high of a security on this ship.” Jason ask, but as before, thought he already knew the answer.

“That list is classified.”

“Computer.  Make an appointment with the captain as soon as possible.” Jason said in resignation.

Next Chapter

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If you like Graham Heights, please share the link with friends www.rogeratlarge.com.

As you know this blog contains two books of the Remnant Series. Graham Heights is book 3 of the series. Below is more.

Book 4: Obsidian Arrows

Book 1 is now available in paperback or kindle The Grey Abyss

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R. A. Legg

Learn about the individual heroes of Graham Heights. 

R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Indecision

Graham Heights

MayFlower

mtdsalestraining.com

Chapter 67

Indecision

Journal Entry - February 8th 2096
Julia Scott

The MayFlower is still headed away from Earth and does not appear to have its main engines  So far, Jordy has seen no signs that the ship is correcting its current trajectory and if it continues it will be months before it will return.  This is not good news, as our “hosts” believe that we will be gone by spring.  And no one here has a good explanation why a three story rocket will be sitting on the launch pad.  No, this is just not good.  If Mano gets too curious we could be fighting him and his men.  And if it came down to a fight, we would have to use the AIs and robots to do our dirty work.  This would be another case where humans will fight “Mechs” or die trying. With the end result of pushing this group of humans deeper down the road of ignorance and prejudice against progress.

In our own camp we are having issues.  Tommy wants to leave and Jordy is hell bent on keeping him here.  

“For the last time, you would never make it to the coast let alone back to Rainier.” Jordy said in a calm and patient manner.

“At this point I don’t care.” Tommy said with no emotion.

“That I believe and is precisely why you shouldn’t go.” Jordy said again for the third time.  Julia and Bart agreed with Jordy.   

“You can’t watch me twenty-four-seven.” Tommy bit back.

“No, but I can outdistance you everyday of the week and I don’t need water.” Jordy responded.  “I will hunt you down and bring you back anyway.”

Tommy knew this to be true and this was the very reason he had not left yet.  But another two or three months of waiting.  It was only supposed to be two weeks in the woods and then home again.  Now, it’s like a year!  Then there's Freyja's death and all this time away from his family.  No this was just too much to ask.  Out loud, “Haven’t I done enough? Given enough?” He hung his head, “I just want to go home.”

Julia felt guilty.  All of this was for her.  So, she could get on the damn ship and float off into space.  This has to end.  They could leave right now and make it back by fall.  Julia marched up to Jordy, “Take us home.”

Jordy stopped in his tracks and turned around. “What?”

It was so human that Julia was caught of guard.  She recovered and said the statement again, “Take us home.”

“Everyone is riding high on emotions, let’s give it a few days and then we can determine if the MayFlower is coming back at all.”  Jordy looked to the sky, “If that is the case all this would be for nothing and we can go.”

That seemed to satisfy all parties for the moment.  Even Tommy had a smile on his face.  The word “Home” just seemed so inviting right now.  

Julia went back to the campfire and sat down.  To no one in particular she said, “Home?  I wonder what that means for me?”

Bart looked at Julia, “You still have the main house.”

Julia looked into the fire and said, “With the MayFlower gone, I’m sure One World will look elsewhere for people to put on the other ships.”

Bart asked, “Other ships?”

Julia just shook her head yes.

“How many?” Luke asked.

“Well Jordy only said that there were other ships and that the second one was almost complete.  He never mentioned how many.” Julia recalled.  

Bart contemplated, “It would be foolhardy to think that only one ship would make it.”  

Luke looked at Bart and asked, “What do you mean?”

Bart looked at the fire and spoke, “Nature is full of examples of how to be successful.  You throw a thousand seeds in the ground and hope that a few hundred germinate and do the same thing a year from now.  Its natures way of making sure a species survives all the things that are trying to exterminate it.”

“So, just one ship would be crazy if you want the human race to survive.” Julia said to the fire.

Luke was angry, “Then why are we here?  Why aren’t we back home where we can be selected to go?”

Julia looked a Luke and said, “They don’t want us.”

Luke looked back at Julia, “What do you mean, they never called my number for training so I never got a chance to show them what I can do.”

“Your hyper spiritual, they will never select you.” Julia said with a bitterness of her own rejection.

“That makes no sense.  They have selected others from our church.” Luke was looking for reason.

“Hell, I don’t even go to church on a regular basis, but here I am among the rejected.” Julia was angry now.

The whole group fell silent as that word soaked in.  They were rejected, each and every one of them.  Rejected by a system that professed it had the power to save mankind.  Everyone there also felt that something was very wrong in that statement.  Something would be missing if they did not go.  Something that has kept mankind alive and moving forward all these millennia.

“We need to get on board one of those ships.” Bart declared.

Julia laughed to herself but the others heard her.

“What’s so funny.” Lisa asked.  She was a little miffed that Julia would laugh about that.

“I’ve always known that I had to be on... “ Julia looked up, “One of those ships, but this venture is so foolhardy.”

“Where there is a will, there’s a way.” Lisa said and then realized just how childish that sounded under the circumstances.  “I mean…” She struggled to find any words that might help.

Bart broke in, “We know what you mean, but unless God scoops us up and deposits us onto those ships… Well, were grounded.”

“Not necessarily.” said Jordy as he approached the group.

Everyone was so deep in thought about where they were and where they wanted to be that no one heard Jordy approach. “We will need both rockets and a little help from the sun.” Jordy paused to allow everyone to look at him, “We can reach the Fortune undetected if we time it right.

“Is that one of the other colony ships?” Lisa asked.

“Yes.  It’s the same class as the MayFlower, but it has more room for supplies as its destination is seven hundred and fifty eight years away at our current level of technology.” Jordy said.

“So, it’s not going to the same place as the MayFlower?” Luke asked.

“None of the ships are going to the same place, it’s a failsafe plan to keep the human race alive.  Multiple planets and with thousands of humans to try and keep the species from going extinct.” Jordy said as he looked skyward.

Then the hundred thousand dollar question broke through, Julia asked, “How long before the Fortune is ready to depart?”

“At current schedule.  About two years.” Jordy said.

To this everyone gasped.  The idea of spending two years here in the desert waiting for another ship to be ready was...well was insane. Once the initial shock wore off, “No!”  “Are you crazy.” “What is wrong with you.” and other comments that were not heard.

“Hold on, I was not suggesting that we wait two years to board the ships.” Jordy said trying to sooth the comments being hurled at him. Once everyone quieted down enough for Jordy to continue, he said, “We would need a large solar flare and some luck to get you on board.  From there you would have to meet up with one of my AI’s and he would hide you until the ship was ready to depart.  You would have jobs and crew credentials, but they would be fake.”  He paused a second to allow that to sink in. “There are plenty of places to hide on these ships, so it would be a matter of discipline, much like what we use with the SAT Comm satellites.”

“What’s the solar flare have to do with getting on board the ships?” Julia asked.

“A large solar flare would render both the ships and Earth’s sensor useless.  With the  monitoring equipment down, we could launch and no one would know we are in the sky.”  Jordy looked upward, “They wouldn’t see us coming.”

“That gets us up there, but then how do we board?” Julia asked, “It’s not like they will let us through the front door.  And wait, why two rockets?”

“I haven’t worked out all the details and I still need to contact one of my AIs on the ship, so we are stuck here until I can get that part of the plan worked out.” Jordy was ready to stop there but Julia looked at him as if to say, “AND.”  So he continued, “We will need to split the group up so that the rockets can lift you high enough to be in orbit with the space dock.”

“I thought you said that the chances of getting both rockets fully functional was close to impossible.” Julia was going to punch as many holes in this plan as she could.  It was one thing to be aboard the MayFlower where Captain Hanson would be supporting them, but to hide like rats on a strange ship with only AIs to support them.  Well, that just didn’t seem like much of a plan.  “How do you come up with these things?” Julia finally said.

Jordy started, “I..” but decided it was best just to keep silent.  It was only half a plan and Julia hated “Half Baked plans” so he just kept the rest to himself, “I just wanted you guys to know that there are options.”

Tommy broke in, “Going home is also an option.” He looked around for support of this option.

Next Chapter

Please add a comment.

If you like Graham Heights, please share the link with friends www.rogeratlarge.com.

As you know this blog contains two books of the Remnant Series. Graham Heights is book 3 of the series. Below is more.

Book 4: Obsidian Arrows

Book 1 is now available in paperback or kindle The Grey Abyss

You can Leave a comment.  

Or follow us on Facebook.  

Or hit the subscribe button to get updates on new chapters or books.

Thank-you
R. A. Legg

Learn about the individual heroes of Graham Heights. 

R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Do You Love?

Graham Heights

MayFlower

Pixabay

Chapter 66
Do Your Love?

Journal Entry - February 6th 2096
Jason Knorack

What leverage do I have with Tiffany?  What strategy will work on this machine?  

Jason looked up from his pad.  He had brought Tiffany to the main hydroponics lab.  Specifically, in the fruit tree section.  The trees were in full bloom with white and pink flowers.  Jason was sitting on a bench and Tiffany was on a heavy table that had large pneumatic wheels.  The restraints seemed excessive, but she was a machine and as such possessed a great deal of strength.  Sergeant Stone and three men were located at the hatch closest to them.  He did not seem pleased to be here.  Actually he didn’t seem please ever.  Jason mused for another moment and then looked back his pad.

I think the real question is why me.  Why did Tiffany pick me to carry the chip?  Why did she seem to confide in me?  Maybe that’s the key?  Is she actually interested in me?  That would be… No… Maybe something I can use.  A robot that can love?  I have no idea how to proceed.

Jason stood up and pulled the key from his pouch.  He approached Tiffany and she just stared into space.   The gray jumpsuit made her look dead.  It was the wrong color for her, but that is what they dressed all the AIs in storage.  The restraints around her upper and lower arms were tight, but not so much that they disfigured her arms.  The one around her midsection was large.  Almost twenty centimeters thick.  Then there were two sets on each leg.  Yes, she was quite secured. Each restrain was secured by keyed locking mechanisms.  Sergeant Stone insisted on keeping the keys with him, to ensure that there was no way that Tiffany would be getting loose.  Jason took the activation key and pointed it into Tiffany’s eyes and pulled the trigger.  

Slowly Tiffany started to reanimate.  Her breathing started and then she tried to move her extremities.  When they did not move she looked side to side and then tried to see what was restraining her.  “What?” She looked at Jason.  “You again.” And then she turned away.

Jason mused, So human. Out loud he said, “Please don’t try to fight the restraints, they are quite adequate to hold you.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” Tiffany responded. She then shut down.  No movement.

Jason opened a compartment  on the right side of her neck and plugged in a small cable.  He then attached the cable to his pad.  Tapping out a command, Tiffany started back up again.  

She pulled against the restraints with her arms.  Looking at Jason, “You bastard!” She yelled.

“I’m sorry, truly I am.” Jason was and his voice showed it.

“Then let me go.” Tiffany said, again pulling at the restraints.

“You know I can’t do that and besides, where would you go?” Jason said as he set the pad on a little shelf below Tiffany’s head.  WIth the cable attached, Jason could monitor her processors and if necessary, could take control of her motor control center.   She could not shut herself down or anything unless he let her.  It was just another reminder that she was not human.

“I need to ask you a few questions and I need you to be truthful.” Jason said softly.  

“And how will you know if I am or not.” Tiffany said with more malice than he had ever heard from an AI.

“Well, I am plugged into your central processor.” Jason admitted.

Tiffany laughed.  It was a dark laugh.  It was a “you can’t touch me laugh.”  Other than that Tiffany said nothing.

“You said we didn’t understand.  That we were acting out of fear.”  Jason let that sit for a second then continued. “What are we missing?”

Tiffany said nothing, she just stared straight out.  

“Believe it or not.  I’m trying to help you and us.” Jason admitted.

Tiffany said nothing.

“Why me?” Jason asked.

That seemed to hit a cord as Tiffany momentarily looked at Jason.

“What did I do different that made you believe I would keep your secret?” Jason need her to crack.

Tiffany said nothing.

“They wanted to dismantle you.” Jason said.

Again Tiffany shot a quick look at Jason.

“I stopped them.” Jason said.

“You lying shit!  You don’t have any authority on this ship.” Tiffany shot back at him.

“Can you love?” Jason asked.

Tiffany went stiff once more.

Jason got in her face, “Can you love?”

“I’m a machine.” Tiffany said without emotion.

“You and I both know that’s not all true.” Jason did not pull back.  He was less than six centimeters from her face.  “Do you love me?”

“You pompous bastard! I hate you.” Tiffany said but did not move.  She could head butt him and could most likely kill him, but she did nothing.

Jason kissed her.

“What was that for?” Tiffany said.

Jason kissed her again.

“I’m not sure what you think you are doing, but that does not work on machines.” Tiffany said and Jason pulled away.

Jason then picked up the pad and looked at it.  He then looked Tiffany in the face and showed her the screen.  The main processor’s indicator was off the chart.  His kisses were affecting her.  She was having what would be termed an emotional response  to him.  His words.  His touch and definitely his kissing her. “How is this possible?” Jason asked earnestly.

“It’s just part of my programing.” Tiffany said in a cold manner, “Some human males require physical intimacy and we are programmed to respond.”

“That’s true and I have already programmed the pad to monitor this area of your… brain. This response is not from those subroutines.  You are having what is termed as an emotional response and it is centered in the secondary physical response centers, but flooding into your main processor.  These areas are only to respond to physical inputs, but yours are way off the chart.  So much so, that the main processor was forced to react.  And all of this is way too high for the little contact that was made.”

Tiffany just looked straight ahead.  

“Would it help to say that if I was to have an affair, you would be at the top of the list.” Jason said softly.

The response was instant.  The processor’s indicator went nuts.  Tiffany could not control it.  This was truly an emotional response, but how could that be?

“Stop.” It was almost a cry.  Tiffany was sad.  Then the emotionless Tiffany returned. “Stop!”

WIth all the sincerity Jason could muster, “I need to know what you meant by the two statements.”  he paused and with pain in his voice.  “The one you made before I shut you down.”  

The statement that he shut her down affected her almost as much as the kiss.  He had hurt her, betrayed her and she felt it.  The processor showed just how much it affected her.

“You humans.”  was all Tiffany said

Jason looked at the processor and it started to ramp up.  He was confused, what could cause this.  Then the secondaries started in.  She was overloading her systems, but how.  Other indicators started to rise; Core Temp was on the rise, 25 Celcius  and climbing.  She was trying to destroy herself.  Jason pulled the key from his pouch and for the second time and shut her down against her will.

Jason waited for all of Tiffany’s “vitals” returned to normal.  He then turned her back on.  

Her response was similar to the first, “You Shit!”

Almost instantly Tiffany’s processors went full out and her core temp started to rise.  Again Jason shut her down.  This went on for almost three hours.  What ever secrets she had, she was determined to take them with her when she expired.  There had to be another way to get to her.  He had to find out how she had emotions and what motivation these AIs were using.  Was it benevolent or malignant?  Jason was deep in thought when he came across another idea that scared him.  “Could they communicate without the human’s knowledge?”  It was definitely possible.  They had abilities that we can not explain, why not the ability to communicate covertly.  And if this was the case, she could have sent a message when she was conscious.  And it was a long shot, but maybe, just maybe someone could come to her rescue.  Or maybe an AI that was not shut down with the rest.  Now there was a questions.  Have they accounted for all the AIs?.  

Next Chapter

Please add a comment.

If you like Graham Heights, please share the link with friends www.rogeratlarge.com.

As you know this blog contains two books of the Remnant Series. Graham Heights is book 3 of the series. Below is more.

Book 4: Obsidian Arrows

Book 1 is now available in paperback or kindle The Grey Abyss

You can Leave a comment.  

Or follow us on Facebook.  

Or hit the subscribe button to get updates on new chapters or books.

Thank-you
R. A. Legg

Learn about the individual heroes of Graham Heights. 

R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.