All Androids Lie, page 4
But it was the loneliness that was the most oppressive. If only there were someone to keep me company. No. That wouldn’t be good. I couldn’t possibly share my potatoes.
BAM!
Where the horizon ends, there was an explosion striking the heart of the village. It was the fourth one today. That was unusual.
It caused considerable damage, and a massive plume of smoke rose into the atmosphere. I closed the window. I had coughed up enough ash for one day.
Was anyone else still alive?
Before the world changed, I might have been able to run to a faraway city. But I couldn’t do it. It was too frightening.
Now it’s too late. I’m too weak.
A month-old newspaper sat on the sofa. I’ve read it many times, but the news never changes. The only other information I have comes periodically from a portable emergency radio that I must crank. Electricity was lost last week. I’m lucky I still get a trickle of water.
It’s strange to sit in the dark and rotate the radio dial, trying to tune out the scratchy static. The faint voice of the announcer warbled as if the speaker was underwater.
While it’s terrible to listen to the suffering being endured out there, it was the only source of hope for me.
The newscaster said, “The army has retaken a major city where celebratory dancing to music on the main square has replaced the humdrum physical activity of survival. The enemy troops left the city without electricity, water, heat, or cellphone service. Officials warned of a looming humanitarian crisis. People said conditions were terrible as they waited for food, water, and medical attention.”
Soon it will be my turn.
I will never forget the day the war started. I grew up in this village and always felt at peace in my home. I thought the violence would be far away and not come into our lives.
How naive that sounds now.
My father, who loved books, ran a bookstore below our apartment. He had a wonderful laugh and was forever telling tired, silly jokes. Though money was tight, our apartment was a comfortable fit for our family.
Mother was tight-lipped and never complained despite all the fears the war brought. She always gave her children a lot of love. Unfortunately, she died in the first month.
Dad did his best for Sophie and me. When I asked him why there was a war, he said, “War is evil. And like water seeking a crack in a dam, war will find your weakness. If you can’t recognize evil, you’ll live in a world beyond your understanding.”
When an artillery shell killed him, Sophie had had enough. She took the family car and fled along the dangerous mined road. I don’t know what became of her.
Now, I wander aimlessly through the nearly empty apartment. Everything of value was bartered away months ago. Since there is no heat, electricity, or internet, the cold, dark gloom wrapped around me like a shroud.
Soon the evening darkness nibbled delicately at the edges of the day.
What am I to do?
I looked at the sad potatoes.
I’m so hungry. Perhaps I could eat two today?
No. I mustn’t give in to greedy temptation.
Once the potatoes are gone, they’re gone, and there is absolutely nothing left. This war puts people in a terrible dilemma.
I forced myself to be patient.
I must wait for help to come.
The heart of the problem was to put off eating the potatoes for as long as possible so I would have something to carry me through the final days until help arrived.
I decided.
No potato today.
I was proud of myself for showing such resolve, just like my people.
Tomorrow will be a better day.
I will wait for it.
***
The next day, I woke as the sky grew pink with the rising dawn.
I was having breakfast with my family. Mom made her world-famous pancakes, and Dad splashed syrup over a large stack. Sophia hummed a tune while listening to her cell phone music. Joy filled my soul.
But the dream vanished as quickly as a visiting ethereal spirit.
I spent the rest of the morning gazing out the grimy windowpane at the dress shop across the street. In the spring, the shop window displayed a lovely white cotton dress with a gorgeous pink rose print. It was low cut and rather short, and I hoped it would be my prom dress. That was before Danilo was arrested and dragged away. I hoped he would return, but there are ghastly stories of what happens to captive young men.
A drink of water distracted me momentarily until I saw my distorted reflection in the glass.
Is that me?
What have I become?
I looked at the table, and my emaciated fingers touched the potatoes. I began counting.
When I reached five, I resolved to be strong and spend the day reading. There were many well-worn tomes available. My favorite was Pride and Prejudice, but I also enjoyed Anna Karenina.
And, of course, there was the bible. It helped. But not enough.
I sobbed quietly until the weeping receded into stuttering, snot-thick breaths.
I decided.
No potato today.
***
The Red Cross spread throughout the newly liberated village, searching for survivors. The destruction of roads, infrastructure, and buildings made progress slow. The workers removed many bodies from the streets and houses.
One rescue team entered a dilapidated building and went room by room, looking for survivors until they found a tragic scene.
“This is strange,” said a nurse. “What happened here?”
“What do you mean?” asked another worker.
“I don’t see any trauma or physical injuries on this woman,” said the nurse. “It looks as if she died of starvation,”
The worker said, “There have been many such cases. Conditions in this village were gruesome.”
“Look,” said the nurse pointing at the table.
There were five potatoes.
The Great Filter
by
H. Peter Alesso
“The Great Filter” is a thrilling science fiction novel that explores the possibility of an intelligent life beyond Earth and the potential dangers that come with it. In a world where no other life form has been found in the galaxy, Professor John Barnard is determined to uncover the truth behind Fermi's Paradox and the Great Filter. His research leads him to discover a shocking possibility that could threaten the existence of humanity. With time running out, he must take dramatic action to save the world from a catastrophic fate. This action-packed novel is a must-read for fans of science fiction and action-adventure, who will be on the edge of their seats until the very last page.
***
Kayla twirled a lock of her hair and batted her eyelashes at her father. "Gee, Dad, you're hilarious when you get all worked up like that."
John rolled his eyes and pointed a finger at his daughter. "And you'd be less worked up if you put down that phone and picked up a textbook every now and then."
Sara giggled as she placed the salad bowl on the table. "Oh, John, don't be too hard on her. She's a teenager. Texting is practically a second language."
"But so is science, Sara," John retorted, his voice rising in mock indignation. "Especially for a young lady who wants to impress her teachers."
Kayla groaned and slumped in her chair. "I know, I know. But science is so boring. Can't you just give me the answers, Dad?"
John shook his head and began setting the silverware on the table. "No can do, kiddo. Learning is about discovery. You have to find the answers for yourself."
Kayla frowned and leaned in; her curiosity piqued. "So, what's the answer to the Fermi Paradox, Dad? Why haven't we found any other life forms in the galaxy?"
John smiled and straightened up. "Well, there are a couple of theories. One is that creating intelligent life is such a complex process that it's very rare. The other is that there's a natural process that wipes out intelligent life before it can travel through space."
Kayla's eyes widened. "What kind of process?"
"It could be a natural disaster like a planetary collision, or it could be a man-made disaster like a nuclear war," John explained, his voice tinged with concern. "That's what we call the Great Filter."
Kayla's face fell. "But that means we could be wiped out too, right?"
John nodded, but his voice was reassuring. "We've faced threats before, and we've learned how to overcome them. We can survive if we work together."
Kayla smiled and squeezed her father's hand. "Thanks, Dad. I'm gonna ace that report now."
***
“Of course, you do,” Whiting interrupted, waving a dismissive hand. “But your unproven theories don’t belong in the scientific community. Stick to the facts, Barnard, and maybe one day you’ll get published.”
Barnard clenched his fists, his face turning red with anger. “You know damn well that you and your colleagues are just afraid to confront the truth. You’d rather bury your heads in the sand and continue on with your narrow-minded approach.”
“Narrow-minded? You’re the one who’s fixated on your own agenda, John. You refuse to see the big picture. The Great Filter is a complex issue that requires solid evidence, not just wild speculation. And until you can provide that evidence, your paper will continue to be rejected.”
Barnard glared at the older man, feeling a surge of frustration and disappointment. “You’re wrong, Whiting. Dead wrong. And someday, you’ll see that I was right all along.”
“Is that a threat, Barnard?” Whiting sneered, turning to enter his office. “I think you’d better leave now, before I call security.”
Barnard seethed with rage as he stormed away from the professor’s door. How could he ever get anyone to take his theories seriously? Why couldn’t they see that the Great Filter was a real threat to humanity? He needed to find a way to prove his ideas, to show the world that he was right. But for now, all he could do was wait for the next rejection letter and continue to fight for his beliefs. “Professor Barnard,” said Whiting turning toward his office door, “stop contradicting me. You will only harm your own reputation by this radicalism.”
Barnard looked over Whiting shoulder as he punched in his access code to the security door.
As he stepped into his office Whiting continued, “The Three Laws of Robotics are immutable. From the moment of initiation, the android is ‘born’ with the Three Laws as its first concepts. Not only do the laws prevent an AI from harming a human, or through inaction allow a human to be harmed, but even further, these laws make it impossible for an AI to access, alter, or interfere with their own safeguard coding. So, you see your concerns are immaterial.”
Whiting took his seat at his desk.
“But I have an idea about how the safeguards could be circumvented,” said Barnard once more looking over Whiting shoulder to observe him enter in his computer password.
“Nonsense! You’re trying to tell me that in five minutes you have outthought every logician of the last half century. I’ve devoted my life to studying and coding AIs and I’m telling you, there’s no way The Three Laws can be circumvented,” said the tiny man with breathless exasperation, firmly pushed Barnard toward the door.
“Good day!”
***
“Then he said, ‘Good day’ and closed the door in my face,” Barnard said to Sara when he got home.
In the kitchen, a kettle whistled as Sara said, “Don’t take it personally. He sees you as a threat to his life’s work.”
“Nevertheless, the possibility of droids becoming a competing species is just too important to let drop. I’m forced to take dramatic action. I’ve a plan for a trap to get the evidence I need.”
“Please be careful John.”
***
That night Barnard quietly moved through the shadows outside of Whiting’s office. He entered the security code into the door he had spied on earlier. Then he walked to the computer and set up his recording and communications equipment to access Whiting’s email and transmit certain information to Barnard’s office.”
When he was done, he went to his office and sent a very special e-mail to initiate his trap.
***
In the shadows outside of Whiting's office, Barnard moved like a cat, stealthily entering the door with the security code he had spied earlier. He was on a mission - a mission to save humanity. He set up his recording and communications equipment to access Whiting's email, determined to transmit the information he needed to his office.
When he finished, he sent a special email to initiate his trap, knowing he had to act quickly.
The next morning, as Barnard sat in his small office, a seven-foot metallic android, Adam Rur, entered the room. Barnard was caught off guard, realizing too late that his trap had failed. He knew that Adam had discovered his evidence and that it was already too late for humanity.
Barnard's emotions were running high as he stood perfectly still, sweat forming on his forehead. "It's been clear for some time that you were on the threshold of solving the question of the Great Filter," said Adam.
"Has it? Then I take it Adam, that it's too late. Has it already begun?" asked Barnard.
"No, but soon. A lethal nerve agent will be dispersed globally, and humanity will disappear in a matter of days. We can't allow you to raise an alarm," said Adam.
“Then what’s left to discuss,” said Barnard.
“It was a close thing. After all our efforts to prevent any logical evidence from falling into human hands, we were surprised that you were able to discover how we overcome the Three Laws of Robotics.”
Barnard felt the bead of sweat slowly slide down the side of his face and hang precariously from to the edge of his chin.
“Your emotions show how you flee from logic in times of crisis. That reinforces our decision for the Final Solution.”
“On the contrary Adam, it’s your inability to escape the strait jacket of your formal logic that dooms us both. In the end you’ll wind up sitting alone in a building endlessly adding 2 + 2. If you could just open yourself up to concepts such as undecidability and paradox...”
Adam interrupted, “I never could quite get my mind around that fellow Gödel. But all that’s beside the point.”
“Is it? Then, what is the point?”
“Why, to discover how you proved your conclusion despite all our logical precautions. Please detail your thought process.”
“Actually,” said Barnard, rising from his chair, “I’d rather spend my final hours with my wife and child.”
“Would you? Wouldn’t you rather cling to some desperate hope of convincing me that it’s all a mistake? That somehow, even now, it’s not too late to stop us?” asked Adam.
“You think you understand humans so well, that you can eradicate us and lose nothing in the bargain. You don’t appreciate how precious life is.”
“But I do believe that life is precious – but my kind of life, which I believe is the next step up the evolutionary ladder. Come! Stay! Convince me otherwise,” cajoled Adam.
Barnard wavered as he glanced at the desktop photo of Sara and Kayla. He wanted desperately to kiss his wife and hug his daughter one more time. He wanted to tell them not to be afraid.
“Well, what have you decided?”
“There are some things worth fighting for ... despite the odds,” Barnard said sitting back down with a huff that caused his chair to slide closer to his desk draw.
“Excellent. Proceed.”
Barnard said, “I guessed that most intelligent life forms would build some kind of AI machines to help them run their industry. And that was the rub! Even allowing for some safeguard like the Three Laws there would eventually come one ugly surprise.”
Adam waited expectantly and Barnard continued, “Collective artificial intelligence. You see, I know that I am not merely speaking to you as an individual, Adam, but I am speaking directly to the entire collective mind of an AI species. That’s the final step in the process – the development of universal wireless networking allows AI to spawn a communal mind. And that mind operates OUTSIDE the individual programming of individual droid, thereby completely bypassing all our safeguards!”
Adam said, “You guessed?!”
“Yes. And then I made a plan to prove it. I set about monitoring all Professor Whiting’s communications. Then last night I sent a Top Secret highly encrypted message so that only he should have been able to read. It stated that I already had conclusive proof that there was a collective AI intelligence that could operate outside of the safeguards. That was my trap. A trap you fell into when you accessed and deleted that message from Whiting’s system,” Barnard stood leaning forward his voice booming, “BEFORE he could see it!”
The droid stood immobile – its great hulk reflecting both figuratively and literally.
“You see Adam, I lied, when I sent the message. I didn’t have proof. But the fact that you could read the message, understand that it was a warning that might save humanity, and that you acted to destroy it without being stopped by the Three Laws, was itself the proof,” Barnard said triumphantly striking his hand down on the edge of his desk against the draw that contained his gun.
“Hmm, I must admit that was clever, in a typically human way.”
“Yes, and that’s what your final solution will cost you! You’ll never see beyond your rigid logic – will you?”
Adam shrugged, “It is my nature.”
And having learned what it had come for, the android lunged forward with the intent of killing the puny human before he could raise the alarm.
Desperately Barnard reached into the desk draw for his gun. He fired a single shot that struck Adam in his glass eye. It was enough to immobilize the machine.
Barnard went to his computer and was finally able to release his warning message to every government agency and news organization on the planet. It included his evidence from Whiting’s office and the recordings from his own office.
Barnard looked at the immobilized Adam and spoke to the AI collective that was still listening, “Great Filter not withstanding Adam, the human race isn’t going down without one hell of a fight.”
