Twenty's Mission Log

Fathers Day

Excerpt from the personal logs of Jericho-Three

September 7th V26 (2046 AD)

I know the Spit very well, better than anyone else I would say.

I seem to spend a lot of my precious time driving around its dirty streets; meeting my agents in person; setting plans in motion; killing my rivals. The kinds of everyday things that its ruler is expected to do.

Today was different. Today I was going to visit my Father.

The fact that I consider myself to have a father is likely to be a surprise to most people. I am a cloned body filled with state of the art cybernetic enhancements, half my skull occupied by a quantum processor. It would certainly be a surprise to the Archimedes Artificial Intelligence, of which I am one of three Avatars.

Our purpose is to oversee those functions for the AI that requires physical interaction with the world. We are meant to be a living manifestation of the mind of Archimedes. Yet only half the intelligence that drives the Avatars comes from the processor built into our skulls.

We also have organic brains and these create and store their own memories. They also drive us to develop unique personalities. Each of the three current Jericho avatars act and respond in different ways from each other. It also makes us rivals, each vying for the attention of Archimedes.

I don’t doubt for a second that Archimedes intended this all along. Competition can breed success. However it can also cause conflict. Each Jericho avatar does not trust his own brothers.

Yet there is one person I do trust. The man who helped develop the first quantum processors, and on the back of that to create the first true Artificial Intelligence. He was the father of Archimedes, the first and undeniably most powerful AI on the planet.

I am but a replica of Archimedes, bound into physical form. So I consider this man to be my father. Simple isn’t it?

“Are you sure you want to head out to the Hole?” said Trixie, my driver for today. She was once a Jill, the female Guard clones deployed in the Zone. I had rescued her from “retirement” two years ago. As a trained sniper she was excellent. As a driver she was best described as adequate.

“I am always certain, Trixie” I answered her. “You should know that about me by now.”

Trixie just snorted derisively and steered our electric sedan through the sparse traffic. At least the recent attacks had prompted the locals to stay home for the most part. Trixie got impatient with mere human drivers and had been known to indulge herself in a little “road rage” in the past.

“With everything happening at our base and with Jacob Tan, being out in the open right now is risky” she stated bluntly. “My job is to keep you safe. Can’t you just call the Professor and get what you need from him that way?”

“There are some things I need to do in person Trixie” I answered her. I knew she was hit hard by what happened to Tan. Like me she was trying to make sense of the attacks we were under. Trixie adopted a carefree attitude to hide the fear she was feeling. I admired her for that.

“You know a fancy car like this is going to stand out like dogs bollocks in the Hole” she added. “It will get stolen in under thirty seconds.” From the back seat I glanced at her profile as she grinned at me in the rearview mirror. She was trying to cheer me up, which was strangely funny. I was not human and never would be, yet she insisted on treating me that way.

Like all the female Guards she was stunningly beautiful. They were cloned from mostly Japanese DNA so she had pale tan skin, dark eyes (at least her one natural eye) and dark straight hair. Trixie kept her hair buzz cut short like the Guards on active deployment, but wore a variety of fanciful wigs as part of her so-called disguise. Today it was a striking orange affair in two long plaits down her back.

“That is why I brought you along” I replied to her. “So you can stand guard over it while I meet my contact at the central market”

“What?” she whined. “I wanted to do some shopping. They have great designer knock-off clothing stalls at real bargain prices” She tried to flutter her eyelashes at me, which was disconcerting when one of her eyes was artificial.

“If you behave then I will consider it”

“Thanks Boss!” Trixie said gleefully and focussed back on the road.

What can I say? As a parent to my rescued clones I shouldn’t play favourites, but Trixie knew she was one of mine. I had to grin a little to myself. Some days I almost felt like I was human. I knew it was what she had wanted all along but it felt good anyway.

The sedan bumped down the muddy road to the main parking area for the markets. The markets themselves were spread over four levels of concrete floors and walls. My destination was the top floor, where the more exclusive stores were located.

Trixie pulled the sedan into a vacant spot close to the access stairs. She had no sooner killed the engine when a small boy rapped on the driver’s window with the tip of a large machete.

“You can’t park here!” he shouted to Trixie though the side glass. “These spots are reserved”

Trixie triggered the window to lower and gave the boy the full benefit of her killer stare. The sniper grade right eye certainly added to her menace.

“Says who?” she grated.

“These are my spots for my customers” he answered defiantly, although he did lower his machete. “If you want to park here, you have to pay me two Pandas”

“Listen you little shit....’” began Trixie before I interjected. “Pay the boy” I said curtly.

We both got out of the car and Trixie gave the boy a five Panda note from her wallet. She held out her hand for some change.

“Sorry, no change” he said and ran off. Trixie looked dumbfounded and just stood there as the kid disappeared behind some cars.

“Stay in sight of the car until I get back” I told her and headed to the entrance. I was not concerned about the car. It had high grade security locks and required Guard implants in the hands to be able to operate it. I was more concerned about Trixie getting herself into trouble.

I had dressed for today’s outing in something low key instead of my usual dark blue suit. It was a simple dark blue shirt, denim pants and a black hoodie. I put the hood up over my blonde hair and added my dark glasses. I had been reviewing this look in the mirror at one of my houses. Trixie had declared I looked like an undercover Police Auxiliary. Since it meant I did not look like Jericho-Three I took that as a positive sign.

Inside the markets were as I remembered them from my last visit. Food stalls filled the ground floor and despite the little road traffic there were still a number of locals here shopping. I bypassed them all and headed to the service elevator.

I was pleased to see it was working today. My body is fit and strong but it takes time to climb all those stairs to the top. A scratchy pop tune played from hidden speakers as the elevator ascended. Even with my extensive database I was not able to identify the tune being played.

Finally I was at my destination – the store front labelled as Rackman and Tao. It was a place that predominantly sold black market tech stolen from Pan City and other technical centres around the world. Its proprietors were also master level net divers and surveillance experts.

All in all, handy contacts to have.

When I walked into the store there were no customers. There was only one person on duty behind the sales counter, currently delving into the heart of some piece of hardware.

“Hi Dad” I said to Jericho Rackman. He looked up in surprise at hearing me call out. On seeing it was me he scowled.

“Get out, Jericho” he responded and went back to fossicking in his hardware.

“Is that any way to speak to your progeny?” I teased him and went to stand in front of the counter.

“Zeke is downstairs getting us coffee and donuts” continued Jericho senior. “He will be back in a few minutes so you need to be gone.”

“I have not seen Ezekiel in such a long time. It might be nice to catch up with him”

Jericho senior stopped and looked at me keenly.

“Why are you here?” he asked flatly. “Surely you have enough on your hands with this rogue AI causing havoc. Shouldn’t you be off dealing with that?”

“In a way I am” I told him. “I heard that you were able to dive on the AI core from the Golem. I want to know what you found”

He looked apprehensively to the doorway. I followed his gaze.

“If Zeke comes back, just tell him I am your nephew Jerry” I suggested.

“Alright” he acceded. “Let’s do this fast and then you can crawl back to the Governors with your report”

I was affronted that he thought I would speak to the Governors. They might believe they ran Pan City and the Zone, but I knew it was really Archimedes and his Avatars. I am probably too prideful for my own good some times. I suspect the pride was something genetic because it certainly seems to run in our family tree.

Jericho senior ran me through the results of his tests. There were two key elements that I wanted confirmation of.

The first was that the AI core to the Golem was not subverted by a remote infiltration. The core was only remotely accessible using our dedicated quantum network. It was our greatest fear that someone would devise a way to achieve that.

The second was that the core was subverted by highly sophisticated subversion routines. Such an attempt had to driven by an AI, using its incredible processing power to overcome the security protocols. This could not done using a pre-coded assault. It had to be done “live” as it were.

“So, we must have an Avatar on the loose” I said to Jericho senior. “Nothing else would have the capability to break through the defensive programs”

“Agreed” he replied “But it could be a plot by one of the other Jericho avatars. It does not have to be another AI”

“Unlikely” I said. “It is possible I will agree, but my brothers are not as devious as I am. But how could even an Avatar subvert the Golem without direct access to the core?”

“There has been reports of a short range quantum field disruptor being developed” admitted Jericho senior. “I have no idea of the specifications, but in theory you could interrupt and even manipulate the quantum network of any AI”

“I knew it was being worked on, but has it been made?” I asked.

“At least one prototype according to my sources” he answered. “Short ranged, maybe only one to two meters at best. And it would have to be activated as far as possible from their own quantum processor to avoid disrupting their network”

I was beginning to get an idea of how this was possible. It fitted my current plans perfectly.

“Thanks Dad, you have been a great help” I said cheerily and turned to leave. I had what I needed.

“Jericho” he said to my back “Are you going to keep drawing Millie and Twenty into these schemes of yours? You are putting their lives at risk. I heard what happened to Tan and Thorsfeldt and I don’t want them to suffer too”

I stopped near the exit.

“They are just tools to be used as I see fit” I said coldly.

“Even your own family?” the old man persisted.

I turned back to look at him. My face was hard.

“They named my series of clones in your honour” I reminded him. “The great Jericho Rackman, war hero, inventor of the quantum processor, father of the world’s first fully self aware artificial intelligence. You were head of the Board of Governors for the Zone. You chose to walk away from all of that. You abandoned us when we needed your guidance.”

My voice had grown harsh as I recited my litany of what I hated about this man that I claimed as a father. His face fell as he heard the venom in my words.

“I could not stay” he admitted. “The things they wanted to do were monstrous. Are still monstrous”

“So you ran to the Hole and hid yourself here!” I spat at him.

“I was never hidden from you or the Board. You always knew where I was. But here, I can try and do what I can to stop the worst of what they plan”

“It is why I still help you, Jericho” he added. “Because I know that deep down inside of you, you care”

“I think you may have mistaken me for someone else” I said tiredly. “Don’t forget to send me a bill for your services today.” I stalked out the doorway and passed Zeke coming the other way, his hands laden with coffee and donuts.

His eyes followed me and I heard him ask J who I was. I guess with my glasses on and hoodie up I really didn’t look like Jericho-Three. Some days I don’t even feel like him.

I took the service elevator down to the ground floor and walked quickly back to the car. As I arrived I could not see any sign of Trixie.

“Hey Boss” she called out from behind me. I turned to watch her come jogging up from the markets, carrying two coffees in a cardboard tray and a bag of donuts. “I thought you might like some” she said and smiled hugely.

I faced back to the car and pointed to the nearest tyres.

“Trixie, where are the hubcaps?”

“Weren’t they always missing, Boss?” she said hopefully, her eyes wide. I shook my head in the negative. She looked around at the parking area. “Where is that damn kid? He was supposed to be watching over the car!”

After all the failures of the past few days, she finally got me to laugh. Thank you Trixie, I needed that.

End of Part 6 of Millie the Gunsinger