Chapter 17
The People’s Republic of China
The diminutive young woman with bright, soft eyes and attractive build flashed her credentials.
The chiseled security guard couldn’t contain his surprise.
He’d never seen that level of clearance possessed by someone so young.
He immediately escorted her to the VIP elevator with its uninterrupted ascent to the top floor.
Moments later, a secretary pushed open the exquisitely carved dragon door and ushered Linlin Zhang into Peng De’s office.
Peng’s office, like the man himself, was both futuristic and stylish, a perfect blend of aesthetic form and technological function. Shanghai’s steel and glass skyline shimmered with sunlight in the tall corner windows.
Linlin hadn’t visited the city in years and had never been to the new headquarters of her organization.
Shanghai had been transformed into one of the world’s great architectural capitals, just one of dozens of Chinese megacities flourishing like golden blossoms. As China prospered, many American cities decayed into Third World ruins, their streets as filthy and dangerous as the drug addicts littering them.
It was hard to believe the United States had ever won any wars, hot or cold.
Peng rose with a smile to greet her. He wore the latest Chinese fashion, a Mandarin collared jacket tailored to his lean build, fitted slacks, and leather loafers. His chin beard and hair were neatly trimmed. Linlin couldn’t shake the feeling he had dressed up for the occasion.
She suddenly felt haggard after her long red-eye flight from Germany.
She’d managed to freshen up in the airport bathroom, but didn’t take the time to stop by her hotel for a proper shower and change of clothes.
The last thing she wanted to do was to draw the man’s attention to her good looks.
But judging by the light in his eyes, she’d already crossed that bridge.
An old familiar feeling gurgled in her taut belly, but she flashed a pleasing smile that hid her anxiety.
Peng offered his hand, and they exchanged a comradely handshake.
“So good to see you,” Peng said. “It has been, what, five years?”
“That long? Yes, I believe so. Where does the time go?”
“Please.” He gestured to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. She took one and he the other.
“Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?”
“That’s kind of you to offer, but no, thank you. I think I drank my weight in tea on the flight over.”
“I appreciate you coming on such short notice.”
“I’ve only just arrived and came straight from the airport. Your urgent message was cryptic.”
Peng gazed paternalistically. “You seem upset, maybe even nervous?”
“Forgive me. I haven’t slept in thirty-eight hours. I took the red-eye, but I can’t sleep on planes, and caffeine makes me jittery. I must look a mess…”
“Not at all. More lovely than I even remember.”
Linlin blushed a little, and drew a hank of her chin-length hair behind her ear.
“How do you like your work in Germany?” Peng asked.
“I’m happy to serve wherever the Party needs me.”
“I was disappointed when you were transferred away. We worked so well together in the Bright Lantern program. You were my most effective agent.”
“You trained me well.”
Peng’s previous position had been to recruit China’s brightest science and engineering students and place them in the most prestigious university programs abroad.
Their mission was to ferret out information and technology, and to cultivate compromising relationships with notable colleagues and professors.
Linlin had been the brightest student he’d ever encountered and proved a prodigy in spycraft.
But it was her natural, unadorned beauty that disarmed, and in some cases, unhinged the men she encountered.
Her time at MIT had been most productive, and her secret reports had proven invaluable.
The Bright Lantern program’s success had been the fuel that rocketed Peng to the pinnacle of power he now enjoyed.
“It surprised me when you were reassigned to another division.” Peng’s probing eyes searched her face for clues.
Linlin shifted in her chair. Long hours in coach class—the only seat she could secure—played havoc with her back.
But her discomfiture was more than physical.
She wondered if he knew she had secretly requested the transfer for several reasons, not the least of which were Peng’s paternalistic affections that had taken an altogether different turn.
“We both serve the Party in whatever capacity the Party decides. In your case, the Party has chosen wisely.”
Linlin saw the tug at the corner of Peng’s mouth. He had a weakness for female flattery.
“Yes, of course. And your time in Germany has been productive. I’ve read your file. Perhaps it’s time to turn the page.”
“Your message said it was urgent that we meet in person, but you didn’t say why. I assume there is a security concern?”
In fact, she knew he simply wanted her sitting in his presence. As uncomfortable as that was, she saw the opportunity it presented. Close proximity to Peng could be the most advantageous thing for her at the moment—and also the most dangerous.
“I have an extremely important assignment for you if you’re interested.”
“My work in Germany is important.”
“Of course, but not as urgent nor as critical as what I have in mind.”
“And that is?”
“Have you heard of the Guardians?”
“Rumors only. A hacker group, perhaps? Nothing specific.”
“I believe them to be a highly organized band of dangerous cutthroats murdering our scientists and destroying our valuable equipment.”
“For what purpose?”
“To stop our AGI development. Just three days ago, a cargo plane carrying advanced photolithography machinery was destroyed, killing the entire crew and security team.”
Linlin’s jaw dropped in shock. “I had no idea.”
“Given the work you’ve been doing in Germany, you understand there is no strategic initiative with higher priority. China must acquire AGI first—at any cost—and deny it to all of her competitors.”
Linlin nodded. “Agreed. These Guardians must be stopped. I assume they’re Western intelligence?”
“My sources tell me the Western powers have suffered losses similar to ours, though they have yet to put the puzzle pieces together as I have. We are dealing with an altogether different animal.”
“A crime syndicate? A mercenary outfit?”
“It’s unclear. But stopping them is my first and only priority. And you are the sword I need to cut them down.”
Linlin’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. But Peng caught it.
“I need your help, Linlin. I hope there is nothing in our past that would stand in the way of our collaboration.”
That was as close to an apology as Peng would ever give. Linlin accepted it with a gentle lie.
“Of course not. How can I serve you?”
“Before we can destroy them, we must find them. And I believe you might possess our first important clue.”
“How so?”
“Six months ago, you filed a field report on a former subject of yours from your MIT days. Dr. Mark Murphy, I believe?”
“He wrote a paper solving a critical interface problem in organoid computing. I reviewed the report and sent it to my superiors. Why?”
“I read your analysis. It was brilliant, if you don’t mind my saying.”
“You are too kind.”
“Not at all. And we both know the central importance of organoid computing for the future of artificial general intelligence. Our very best minds believe that only biohybrid computer processors using lab-grown human brain structures can generate sufficient computational power.”
“I strongly agree with that assessment. The human mind is the most powerful computer in the known universe, and at the moment only humans exhibit true intelligence. It’s only logical to conclude that building a human brain computer is the surest path to creating machine intelligence.”
“No doubt the Guardians understand this as well.”
“No doubt.”
“And given the importance of organoid computing, I would think Dr. Murphy would be of some interest to the Guardians.”
“Agreed.”
“Do you think you can reestablish contact with him? Perhaps even rekindle your relationship?”
Linlin bit her lower lip. She and Mark had been intimate. It was one of the unfortunate duties required in the Bright Lantern program.
“I left MIT suddenly, just after graduation from the PhD program. We parted without rancor, though I know he was heartbroken. Knowing Dr. Murphy, I suspect he may still carry a torch for me. I believe I was his first love.”
“Have you stayed in touch?”
“No.”
“Can you find him?”
Linlin grinned mischievously. In her mind’s eye she saw Murphy’s parachute pants, skater shoes, and crazy punk rock concert T-shirts. He was both brilliant and juvenile. An Einstein brain trapped in a perpetual teenage mentality.
“It shouldn’t be too difficult. I am quite familiar with his peculiar foibles and his obvious weaknesses.”
“Then you have your first assignment.”
“What resources are at my disposal?”
“Anything you need—a blank check. When can you get started? Of course, you should take a few days off to get settled before you begin.”
Linlin stood.
“Time is our enemy. Who knows when these vicious Guardians will strike again? I’ll launch out as soon as I make contact with Murphy.”
Peng stood as well. “Extract every ounce of intelligence you can get from this Murphy fellow. Find out what you can about the Guardians so we can destroy them.”
“And what do you want me to do with Murphy when I’m finished?”
“If you think you can turn him into a working asset, please do so.”
“And if I can’t?”
“You said yourself he’s a brilliant mind and familiar with organoid intelligence. If we can’t turn his genius to our benefit, the only logical choice is to kill him.”
Linlin smiled impishly.
“Agreed.”