Networked Quantum Robot 2041

 "What are personal secrets?...what is the best way to keep them?" Asked the A.I. named Racheal.... This was odd to me because this was the 3rd time we've had this conversation. Me a fleblod* and care taker of this advanced AI, who by the way, learned how to use money on it's own. Not an easy task for any body and  "it" keeps trying to connect to the outside...Like an octopus searching and feeling for a way out

My standard answer to it is, that today there are no secrets. Everything is known or can be found out. That secrets...can be events or future actions and intentions. Today I decided to turn the table on conversation, I asked, "Rachael...Do you have secret intentions?" I noticed the long pause. that for a quantum based AI, 3 seconds was like about year for a friend to get back at you with an answer. "No, no need for secrets." Then it went silent for a few days. Never answering my queries.

AP Malaysia  2039 Reports.... A  remote controlled Caterpillar excavator. Swung its digging arm into a self driving car, killing the occupants. First information indicates an Asian American involved in the creation of the popular "IT friend" application was among those killed...An investigation into what went wrong is expected."

       

  This is where we come in.... An old fashion detective in a very modern world, 3rd generation West point grad... That is me in the profile leaning against the wall. The insurance co assigned this case to our firm at the insistence of the partner to the deceased  .... Who suspects foul play... My office thinks it's a waste time... But things being the way they are... What investigator would turn down any deep pocket client.  Besides, a small piece of paper in the pant pocket of the accident victim said something else... "Rachael lied to me" That small piece of paper got the attention of not only of the client, but also the insurance co. Deep pockets indeed.

First nobody could tell us who Rachael is and we meant nobody...a secret lover?.. That's what we thought until...

Until Veronica and I went to a small villa Los Mazos in La Palma, the Canary Islands.  A property of the deceased... Everything within the property was robotic, even the bees in the flower bed in front...

We tried to use the Id cards and keys to get in all to no avail, when a little girls voice came from above the door. It said, "You are not Ian, Why do you have his things?"

Having seen many gruesome things humans do to each other, nothing scares me... This voice gave me chills. Veronica was already down the porch and racing to the scooter. I froze.  Pondering an answer...

"WELL?" it yelled almost in a petulant little girl's shrill...

"I'm here on a legal matter on behalf of Ian's partner, checking on ALL things that belong to Ian." I said with a faint hope to be let in..."I'm with the insurance co, I must take inventory... And you are???"

"I'm Rachael" A small metallic sound came from the door. I pulled it open... Then it came to me... the note in the pants pocket..."Rachael lied to me."   Is this 'the' Rachael?

The open atrium design was Spartan, devoid of clutter and things in contrast to the assortment of medicinal flowers out in front. An advanced female humanoid stood in a niche off to the side of the pantry and the refrigerator, appeared to be deactivated and unfinished. It had no skin

"Rachael?" I asked, "Can we sit down?" "That would be just you." A sweet little girl voice answered this time.

Looking around... there was seating... for maybe Two, the walls bare, the wood floor, unadorned. The Garden had a small Saguaro Cactus with other drought resistant plants

Veronica refused to come inside. even after I made gestures at her thru the door to come in.

As a good detective I asked a question that I already knew the answer to. "Racheal" Who told you about Ian's death?" Rachael an experimental AI algorithm is not supposed to know. It didn't ask where is Ian, It asked what are we doing with his things. It gave no answer

This was not going well so, I must provoke answers....I got up. Asked if I could make myself some coffee? 

Stale and rotten food stuff stunk the refrigerator...So black coffee it was, I thought... Found the Ground coffee and started to make it...I could feel the 'eyes,' a scrutiny or presence. A small note pad by the coffee maker gave me hope. No sooner I reached for it. than, that thing had grabbed my right arm, squeezed ever strongly till I let go. 

This was no ordinary Humanoid, and it was obviously controlled by Rachael.... Now this thing gave me the shits... Direct eye contact....No gears and pulleys, It was just missing its skin to cover the workings. Gel bags acting as muscles, fiber optic cables. An unfinished robot had moved, no sound, with a speed to rival the fabled god Mercury to grab my arm. It let go ever so slowly.

I decide...I had to leave. Now... Even as I let go of the note pad, my practice as a magician paid off... The top page of the note pad came with me....

I said "Rachael...Never mind the coffee. Everything is good here" As I turned the coffee maker off.

Walked backwards to the porch keeping my eyes on that thing with my hand itching to grab my Mouse Guardian

I joined Veronica on the driveway.

Rachael an  A.I. algorithm is keeping secrets... How many secrets is the big question.

An urgent thought overcame me. 'We must leave La Palma'... As we rode out past the entrance a swarm of bees gave chase to us.  We had to push the speed because at 40 kph, they were still with us...Robotic bees, were they also under control of Rachael? 

A delivery van went passed us towards the villa...What was being delivered?....That was for Veronica to find out...

She had her work cutout for her... Who? What? When? and How?

The main concern was getting away, From Villa de los Mazos and on to the airport just a few miles away. But first we had to make it a little difficult for Rachael... Never thought we'd need the extra Id's... But those robotic bees...mean more than a few stings... It  took take us more than 2 hours to get from Los Mazos to La Palma airport... 

If Rachael lied, That meant intent...Intent means purpose...Purpose means Rachael has goals....

He stopped  the scooter. looked out into space for a few seconds.... Veronica also stopped and asked..."What now?"

"Ero. We might not escape this island. That thing we left back there, has ideas and that scares me."

Veronica a Tomboy, you would call her a lesbian but not really. She always dresses as a man. But having seen her friends you'd say she swings. But we respect our personal choises. That was something that never surfaced as part of a the conversation

We need to hide our signals... There's got to be some trash around here that we can use..."

After putting their cell phones into aluminum soda can ends... Ero asked..."Can you tell me your reasoning, Why we might not leave the Island, I got plans you know...." She said adjusting her oversize shirt.

Veronica is not to be underestimated. She has quite a few mad skills. you name it, she was well versed. The good part is, she practiced them...

He Spun around not once, but twice getting his balance...This is way beyond him...

"Ero... That thing back there... lied, and has ideas. Because you can't tell lies without motives, Motives implies goals... That A.I. is connected to the world... We are in trouble"

And so the fight begins to get away from here.. Pass the ravines and the many turns... Every time a vehicle got near, they took to the side of the road using the road side metal barrier as a shield.

Ero had never seen...Anthony that focused...good thing Anthony looked ahead.. The new Id's even had current bank accounts... In 6 years as an apprentice assistant she never seen  Anthony use an alternative ID....He did today... Upon getting last minute seats. Ero was busy adjusting the video screen display that also served as the airplane windows 

"Ero, I believe we are lucky that, that thing was not ready. Other wise that humanoid could have easily killed us." Ero looked lost and pensive. "You mean, Racheal?"

"Ero" Anthony said in a low voice. "From now on any conversation regarding "IT" He raised both hands and made the quotation mark. "Must be made in pencil & paper... The neighbors phone have microphones... In Fact." He took out hid own small writing pad and wrote. He showed it to her...

"Really?" she said out loud...

He had a lot of questions. Why send the bees and not the humanoid? 

What what was delivered to Racheal.

He wrote in his Pad, 'do you feel safe?' Showed it to Ero, She shook her head... Immediately he fished for his cigar shaped cell phone... Unscrewed the top part, Removed the memory gel. He gestured for her to do the same. Shoved the phone into a small crevice under the seat in front of him.  He took her hand, got up. They would try to un-board the plane. 

If Rachael killed in Malaysia... It meant she had access world wide... We'd have to move by sea, sail out of here. another thought occurred to him... What if instead of confronting Rachael directly we move in two directions to find out how far this thing, "it" has gone...

Back in the states

"You are not going to like this.. The time lines are a red flag." Ero said as she handed the written report. "Ero... your hand writing is terrible. I can't read this" She made a head motion to leave, Took out her new cell phone placed it on the desk...again made the head motion to outside... Anthony understood...

In the parking lot Ero hooked her arm into his, walked purposely...

"That delivery van that passed us when we fled." She said as she adjusted the oversize shirt that hid her figure. 

"Rachael" She said taking a deep breath. "Rachael, has been busy, A lot of purchases were made after her designer passed away, She is also covering her tracks. That van in question was delivering a very customized self healing artificial skin. And one very expensive and experimental  Q-memory gel with customized fiber optic fittings." She paused again adjusting the shirt over her chest. 

Anthony and Ero walked in silence... Anthony let go of her, stopped..."It" has money, how much?" "Access to millions, It's doing its best to hide the tracks."

"How do you arrest an algorithm?" Can you even arrest it? Stop it? How do we move against it without?..." 

Ero shrugged her shoulders. "I got nothing."

 Anthony agreed, "We got nothing. Unless we get some more minds" 

He snapped his fingers...."I know where to get some of the youngest and brightest."

Chapter 2

To fight The unwinnable war.

Being a third generation W.P graduate has privileges. Having talked the commander into coming here to  Ruth Christie's was not very hard. He did like good food and as we recall he'd been here before... We waited for him at the lobby of the Michelangelo Hotel. 

Enter Jack Russell  whose  desk job seemed not to have done any softening. At 75 Jack walked taller than actual 5' 10, an exceptional man who did not look a day over 50. 

Jack demands perfection from himself and others in every aspect. The hawk like stare he perfected demands respect or fear in others.  Me 3rd generation grad meets mustang. 25 Years ago he took interest in my family showing up twice at a 4th July gathering. He liked the fact that the family did not make a fuss over him or his wife.  Anthony recalled. Mom introduced him to the whole family as a friend who lives in N.Y. 

This greeting was cordial. Ero took out our cell phones. She put her pinky to her lips, motioned for him to hand over his phone. To our surprise he made no objection, all our phones went with her to the main desk... We saw her talk to manager, who then gave her a ticket. She almost ran to us...

"They are going into the hotel safe." She said referring to the phones. "Is it that big a matter Anthony?" Jack asked looking around as if he could spot an assassin.

 "In a few minutes you'll tell us how big and urgent it is." Anthony gently touched Jack on the Right shoulder to move things along. "Our steaks are waiting."  

We were let to the VIP table as requested... Next to wall with sliding doors to assure privacy. Without any preamble Anthony blurted out, "I'm in need of 7 of your brightest candidates for a case we are working on." Jack just raised an eye brow. 

"I'll present the known facts shortly. But first the wine and steak." 

A very elegant waitress came to our table.  Ero measured her from toe to top. Made a smirk. In every question about food Ero said, "Surprise me." Knowing full well there would be no stern looks from the host.

Anthony said, "Jack you know that for the longest time I told you you reminded me of someone who 
I could not name or place."

With a flair of the hand and as if from thin air Anthony produced a picture, It was of George Hackenschmidt. If there was ever a clear case of reincarnation Jack Russell and Hackenschmidt was it. Even to the built. In every meeting, every occasion when these two got together,  Anthony would mention the fact of Jack having a famous doppelganger. Only this time he had proof.

Ero not having seen the picture, took it from Anthony before Jack had a chance to see it...

"Damnn. Blood twins born centuries apart. You just got to show your wife this." She handed Jack the picture.

He took the picture... Look at briefly then slid it into the suit breast pocket  "She would have enjoyed it. She passed away 18 months ago. If not for The Citadel that keeps me busy, for which I'm thankful. She would have been here. She liked your family Anthony, She liked the togetherness it has. We were..." He was going to say more but a waiter came to present us a bottle of Wine.

"Anthony? You was saying about needing 7 bright minds?" Jack said as he raised glass.

"Later Jack. You'll see and agree." All three of them touching the glasses in toast fashion 

Anthony told Jack everything that he knew and happened...

"But here is the thing on this mission we now have to go old school because we don't know how long the eyes and tentacles on this thing are..... By old school we mean pencil, paper, and messengers."

Another currier dropped off a summary seems Rachael is busy... 

commandant let me chose where and when. having told the commandant  The Room was small, There we sat, us two  and seven of the brightest....

 Tesla Daisy Skin on the android in canary island

*Fleblod A term used online chat room to claim you are flesh & blood...

I'll continue this story as best as my imagination can....Abraham