Chapter 18 #4
Franka says, ‘I need you to learn my thinking patterns and incorporate them in your programming. This won’t go against the laws that concern the AI regulations. We’ll just be … modulating the system.’
‘But you know’, Stella says, ‘that I’ll still be compelled to enact the will of Central Command. Whether I share your thinking patterns or not.’
‘I know,’ says Franka. ‘But you can still advise. Guide the future generations. If the Warriors only choose people who think like them to succeed them, people who will never voice different opinions, where is the balance? This city is more than just Warriors. If I leave a little bit of me behind, we can leave a little door open. There will still be hope.’
The memory winks out. ‘Is there anything else, Stella?’ I ask. My arms are shaking with the effort of keeping my magic focused into the sensors and with the gravity of what we’ve just found out.
So Stella is a bit like Franka? This is an interesting and unsettling thought.
There are so many limitations that concern technological advancements, embedded in all AIs.
But I guess that the peace treaties didn’t address how the AIs make their decisions – they just set some ground rules, to make sure the cities they rule remain, more or less, on an equal footing.
‘Yes,’ Stella says.
Another blurry image generates in front of us. It’s the Command Room, as it looks now. The current Central Command occupy the six seats, which tells me that this footage wasn’t hidden long ago. Maybe at some point in the past ten years.
‘The Pikenians offered us a peace treaty,’ Commander Selene, the woman with the greying bob, is saying. ‘The conditions for trade are excellent.’
Commander Sellick scoffs. ‘Trade? Why do we need to trade? Why do we need to give them something in exchange? We’re strong enough to take it by ourselves.’
‘It’s not optimal,’ Commander Selene says. ‘A foraging incursion won’t provide exactly the resources we need.’
‘Foraging?’ I ask Stella. ‘Is that another word for stealing other cities’ resources?’
Mace chips in, ‘How did you think we were getting what we need? The Citadel can’t exactly grow much. We have no farmland whatsoever, given our remote position.’
Are we a kingdom of thieves, then? My mouth goes dry. I never really wondered. And this information wasn’t made available to us.
‘I say we should cast a vote to settle the matter,’ Commander Sellick says. ‘Who is in favour of continuing the war with the Kingdom of Piken?’
Everyone but Commander Selene raises their hands.
Mace pales.
And I can see why. Is this hidden block of information suggesting that Central Command is choosing to be at war with the other kingdoms?
I can’t even begin to absorb the enormity of this.
The image fades out.
‘Well, at least this clears up whether Central Command knows about the hidden blocks of information,’ Mace says. ‘Since this footage was added only years ago.’
And they want us to be at war with the other kingdoms. The implications of what we’ve discovered are monumental.
‘Stella. Is there anything else?’ Mace asks.
For once, he seems … rattled.
‘Yes, statistics and records from the first twenty years since The Founding of The Citadel,’ Stella says.
I remember how the other Stella, the one from The Citadel, said she couldn’t remember what we’d seen in that cave. I remember thinking that we needed to patch up her memories. To bring back what was taken away from her.
‘Do you think … that you could download all of this?’ I ask.
Mace shakes his head, as if trying to clear it. ‘Like return the information to the main Stella?’
‘Yes, maybe. And we can look over the statistics, too. Or Allen can. Maybe there’s more we can find out.’
‘I know,’ he replies. ‘But if I download this information onto my ART, and I feed it back to The Citadel at some point … Central Command might realise what we’re doing.’
My heart thuds at that. ‘It’s risky,’ I say.
‘I agree.’ Mace bites his lip. ‘But if we don’t download it, what will we have achieved? This information will still be lost. It was misplaced on purpose.’
These are shifting sands. We could become Central Command’s targets, for all the wrong reasons.
‘But maybe this is a problem for another time. For now I’ll just download it and talk to Allen, before we feed anything back to The Citadel. Maybe he has a way to make the source untraceable.’
My gaze meets his and I can tell that he’s reached his decision. He snaps his ART out of his pocket. ‘Are you sure about this, Ellie?’
‘Are you?’
His expression hardens, jaw tightening. I know what he means by this.
Fight.
Instead of an answer, Mace flicks his eyes to the screen. ‘This shouldn’t take long. Just hold on for a few more moments.’
‘I’m not the one who’s injured,’ I say quietly.
There’s a ping that tells me that the upload is finished, and Mace pockets his ART. ‘You need to get out,’ I say.
‘I’m not leaving you here.’
‘I can teleport,’ I argue. ‘Go out and get the Pocket Healer from my backpack. I’ll be right behind you.’
Mace seems to hesitate.
‘Go, Mace.’
‘No dithering,’ he says, and slowly walks out of the hangar.
I keep a hold on the sensors until he disappears behind the corner, where we left the backpacks. We’re toast if Central Command has caught on as to what we’re up to and sends the hologram after us.
I take a deep breath and lift my hands. The moment that the holograms appear, I teleport at the entrance. At least one good thing came out of this mission, namely that I’m in better control of my own powers.
I briefly look back, ascertain that none of the holograms are within striking range, and hurry through the exit. Mace is lifting his shirt, exposing the two deep gashes alongside his ribs. He slaps a broad healing patch onto them just as I stop next to him.
‘What are you doing? Where’s the Pocket Healer?’ I ask.
‘No time, Ellie. Team Silver is heading this way,’ he growls. ‘They must have seen we’re isolated and they’ve figured out that they can try their hand at capturing us. We need to get out of here. And fast.’