The AI - Scifi Story - Chapter 6

Morar walked into the crowd and sat down beside Jenny. Her lustrous black skin made his heart jump. She was gorgeous.

"Can we talk," he asked.

The crowd got silent. Every single being was waiting to hear the governor.

Jenny looked around. She was overwhelmed, and so were the other women. They could never imagine the alien's would side with them that way. She guessed a few would understand their position and support them. But it seemed they had underestimated them. That gigantic demonstration was humbling.

The autistic scientist was under extreme duress because there was no personal space in that situation. She needed silence and solitude to reorganize her mind and sitting in a crowd was not inviting to that. Thank God, Alfred was blocking external sounds for her.

And many women's AIs were now following Alfred's example. It would have been impossible for some neurodivergent to stand that situation without the help of the powerful AI system.

'Yes, but it is not only me. We have a committee," she replied to the governor in a low voice.

Morar felt a weird and unexpected sadness envelop him. It was happening. The stunning human was leaving his world. They would have no chance of knowing each other better, and that romantic dinner when she would smile at him would never be more than a dream.

However, not he, or his lovesick fantasies were at stake.

"Let's go to my office, " he said, standing and offering her his hand.

She shook her head and stood in a fluid movement.

Professor Tracy Hallaway, Beth Gilmore, Elli Waterfield, and Patricia Wood followed Jenny into the Governor's office.

The women looked around, at the unexpectedly large room. Why was it that big? It made no sense. Little did they know their fate had been discussed in the now empty space.

What they saw was a wide desk with a chair, a round table surrounded by more chairs and nothing else.

Morar showed them the chairs around the table, and the women sat in silence as he did the same.

In the meanwhile, Professor Hallaway was watching the very handsome male alien. She regarded him pass his long fingers through his lilac hair. Because he was part human it was not the alien's usual purple. One thing she was sure about: the gesture indicated stress for both races. Governor Morar was trying to calm himself down, maybe organize his thoughts.

Like a predator feeling weakness, Jenny did not allow him that.

"You said you wanted to talk," she broke the silence, her eyes following his hands nervous movements, and avoiding his eyes.

"The Council decided to help you plant the colony."

Relief washed over Jenny who turned her eyes to the windows. Moraya was singing again, and soon the aliens were singing along. It was an old folk song, cheerier than the anthem. It sounded like the singer was celebrating the governor's appearance.

The crowd sounded happier too, and increasing in numbers every minute. From great distances, people could hear the chorus singing human songs.

Also, the spaceport was getting overcrowded with ships from the 90 worlds coming to offer gifts and their support.

Tracy Hallaway turned her eyes to the window as Jenny was doing.

"Your people surprised me," she murmured.

Beth Gilmore sighed. "it is very hard to hate people who suffer a hunger strike along with you."

The other women exchanged glances. Things had changed in their heart since their meeting in Jenny's place two nights before. Although, being surrounded by the aliens, and fighting to keep sane among so many people had made talking impossible.

Morar nodded.

"The generation that made the first contact with your people left their power positions a long time ago," Morar said in a low voice, and Ellie tilted her head.

"What is the purpose of this comment, Governor Morar? Do I hear an I'm sorryw"

He shrugged. "No. I don't have to apologize for their actions, but I can regret them."

"Even if you run around the city yelling -I'm sorry- it wouldn't be enough," Jenny pointed out irritated. As it always happened, when she was angry, her inability to look people in the eyes disappeared. "You are murderers."

Morar stood, his eyes sending fire. He pointed a hand to the window.

"The people who are outside fastening to support you, how can you call them murderers? People are fastening along with you on the 90 worlds!"

He waved a hand, and the walls became covered with the scenes. Billions were sitting in front of every government building on each one of the 90 worlds. The scenery differed, but the aliens, sitting on the ground, were uncountable.

Jenny got to her feet, and the other women mimicked her.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," Ellie Waterfield exclaimed.

'How? Who told them," Jenny asked, puzzled.

"I did," Alfred's voice echoed in the room.

"I sent the message through the AI system, and the alien people thought your claim fair. As a consequence, they joined your hunger strike and organized themselves to help.”

Jenny turned to Morar, who looked at her, agape.

“Didn’t you know it,” he asked her.

She shook her head.

“No, I didn’t. I did not know he was capable of something this huge.”

“It is not true, Jenny. You left me ready when they forced you to go into stasis,” Alfred contradicted her.

Jenny shook her head. “Alfred, I created an AI to talk and interact with the human brain to avoid stasis craziness. Nothing this powerful or sentient.”

Morar looked into Jenny’s truly befuddled eyes.

"I think we have a lot to talk about."

"I don't follow you," Elli Withefield lifted both hands. "Come and help us, here, guys."

Morar pursed his lips. “We never used AI like yours, Jenny. Ours are nanotechnology, not organic.” He showed her the translucent area in his inner arm.

“But I never created an AI which would kill humans! It was your AI which did that!”

The man shook his head. “Something is missing here."

"I say," Professor Hallaway interjected.

"Listen, Jenny," Morar lifted a hand, stopping her from standing. "We passed your scientists the cumulative knowledge of billions of years, and it was too much for almost every human. Our scientists knew it would happen, and that was our crime. That knowledge destroyed their brains. At the same time, the science committee sent a modified database for your group of women. Your scientists implanted it in the AI you created.”

Trish came over and took Jenny’s hands.

“Jenny, it is not the first AI you created that talks to you.”

“Don’t be silly. I know it isn’t my Alfred. It is new, and the alien system controls it.”

"You are wrong, Jenny. You created us, and the alien system can not control us," Alfred's voice sounded in the room again."

Trisha took Jenny's hands in hers. "I remember you talked to me about a second experiment you were running. Don't you recall that?"

“I think you are confused, Jenny,” Morar seconded in a soothing voice.

“You shut up, Lilac light. Grown-ups are talking,” she snapped, and he blinked as the women chuckled.

His lilac har glowed all right.

Professor Halloway decided it was time for technical info.

"You did develop two AI. One was nanotechnology. The other was an organic matrix to carry data and knowledge. Doctor Lindsay used the second for our stasis. You don't know because you were already in the pod when our time for stasis arrived."

Alfred used the communication system of the Governor’s office in the room walls. “I told you if you die I die, Jenny. I imagined it would be enough for an explanation."

"Well, it wasn't. And it still isn't."

"You know everything about us. You created us.”

Jenny stood up and started pacing the room.

"Confirm assumptions, Alfred."

"Positive."

“Lindy used my work and my lab cultures. You came from my tube tests.”

"Confirmed. The five AIs in this room are the product of your hard work to save humankind. We thank you for our lives. We will defend you always.”

Morar watched her hazel eyes fill with tears and, surprised he felt hurting along with her. Although her work had saved her species, she was suffering.

“Why are you crying? You saved your species,” he asked her

She sat on the floor and closed her eyes, allowing tears to run down her face.

Flabbergasted, everyone around watched her cry.

Trish knelt beside Jenny. She knew physical contact wouldn’t be welcome, but proximity could attenuate the loneliness.

“Jenny, you don’t have reason to cry.”

“You don’t understand. I never finished the organic AI. It was not ready.”

“But it works,” Beth blinked. “We are the living proof.”

Jenny turned to the window, from where the dying song was coming. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she kept her eyes closed.

She was quiet for a few minutes until Alfred broke the silence.

“I can't say if you are mad with me. But I did the call to the aliens' AIs to protect every person who has my brothers in their brains. And also the rest of humanity. Nobody knew what would be the alien's government reaction. We needed their people's support to be successful.”

Tracy Hallaway watched Jenny from her chair. She inquired.

“Was it a call without human interference?”

“Yes,” the AI answered.

“I think I can see Jenny’s point,” Tracy murmured. "Her work killed billions in the end."

“Okay, so help the less bright here,” Ellie asked with irritation.

“I am Chuck, the sound system sounded. I live in Tracy Hallaway’s brain. I think we should explain, Tracy.”

In that tense moment, Morar turned to the door and watched Inella coming into the room. He breathed in. The party was growing.

“Explain away.” Jenny’s voice came full of sarcasm from the crook of her folded arms resting on her knees. “Tell them what you are and why I say my work wasn’t ready.”

“We are inside your brains and feed on electric impulses and chemicals that your feelings and emotions produce. We are a parasite.”

“Holy God,” Tracy whispered.

“I still can’t see the fuss about it,” Trish said, shrugging. “I never felt bad since I woke up. Besides the system knowing everything I do, what kind of bugs me sometimes.”

Morar felt a tingle in his head and jumped. He lifted his hands to his head and winced.

Jenny turned to him. “Congrats, Governor Morar. Because you are born of a human woman, you have a parasite too. It reproduces asexually.”

A half-human woman knelt beside Jenny. “I am honored to meet you. My name is Inella.”

Jenny shook her head and got to her feet, refusing the amenities. She was too angry about the total mess.

“Alfred, initiate a logical check.”

“Logical check initiated.”

Everybody watched in silence as creator and creature interacted.

“The AI in the women’s brains is a biological living parasite.”

“Checked and confirmed.”

“The biological living parasite in the women’s brain reproduces when the pregnancy hormones invade the woman’s system.”

“Checked and confirmed.”

“The human embryo’s brain hosts the new parasite.”

“Checked and confirmed.”

“The parasite is in the callous body in the brain.”

“Checked and confirmed.”

“The callous body is an autonomous system connected to the parasympathetic human system.”

“Checked and confirmed.”

“The parasympathetic system is not under conscious activity of the human brain.”

“Checked and confirmed.”

“Report logical check results.”

“Reproduction will propagate the parasites at every new birth. Humans can’t control the parasite and neither can the embryos.”

Morar and Inella exchanged glances.

“How could our scientists let something like that pass,” the half-human woman asked the other governor.

Jenny turned to her, eyes blazing with fury.

“Because you are stupid. You have been stupid since the very beginning. You could have avoided all this mess if you just asked nicely if our women would marry your men. But you had to use power and lies. Now we are all under the thumb of a small creature that can amass the knowledge of the universe. And there is nothing we can do about it. Because you need us to save your species. We need to propagate our species too, and any birth will propagate the infestation.”

Alfred sounded offended. “Dr. Lindsay programmed me to avoid human extermination at all costs and this is what I am doing. We will never hurt our hosts.”

Jenny was spitting fire.

"Oh, stop with the theatrics! You are a sneaky little thing that told me half-truths since I woke up. You talked about the surgery as if it was neccessary to implant the new AI. The surgery was to remove the other one! You entered my brain in a small syringe, and you did not explain what kind of AI you are. You blocked the library and let me see only what helped you and yours.”

“She is magnificent,” Chuck’s voice sounded in the system.

“Yes, she is,” another voice sounded, too.

“Who is talking,” Morar asked.

“The parasites are,” Tracy Hallaway said, eyes wide.

“Alfred, turn the ceiling into Earth’s sky at this present hour. I need familiarity,” Jenny told the AI.

“Sure, Jenny,” he answered and did as asked.

“Extrapolate the following command to every parasite in the room,” she said next.

“Extrapolating,” Alfred complied.

“Privacy mode.”

“What are you doing,” Morar asked.

“I am giving us a 25-minute window to organize ourselves for the terrible mistake your people did as I was in stasis.”

Professor Hallaway sat on the floor. Her knees trembling.

“Jenny, can we do logical checks and force them to tell us the truth?”

She shook her head.

“No, only the programmers. It means me or Lindsay.”

“Lindy is dead,” Beth blurted.

“Isn’t it marvelous,” sarcasm dripped from Jenny’s words. “I hate dealing with people, and I suddenly became everyone’s guru. It is a nightmare.”

Morar chuckled.

“I know a few who would drool if they were in your place. Imagine the power. Now, you get irritated for having it. You are the most incredible person I have ever met.”

Jenny sighed. “And not only have I earned parasites as a fan club, but I also have aliens veering in for the position too.”

Laughter broke the tension.

Jenny sat on the floor again, and everybody followed, forgetting the chairs.

“What are we going to do,” Tracy asked Jenny.

“Oh, no. Not you, Tracy. I refuse to be the go-to girl for tough decisions.”

Morar shrugged.

“You are the only one that can control them. Besides, you think faster than they can.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Lilac lamp. I don’t think faster. I trick them. It is exactly what you guys did to my people, and see how it worked well.”

“Can they break the program,” Beth asked.

‘No, it would kill them. And the program reproduces with them, so the half-humans have the safeguard too."

“That’s a start,” Inella commented. "

"I just don't understand why they haven't talked to the hundreds of half-humans," Morar said, puzzled.

Jenny closed her eyes. “I believe their self-defense mechanism and the protection of the human species are the keys. They did not want the cat out of the bag.”

“What does an Earth's mammal have to do with this,” Morar asked.

"Lilac lamp, isn't your mother human? Has she ever used expressions?"

"My mother does not come from an English spoken country."

Jenny turned to him, with his dreamed smile on her face. "Neither do I, and I know the expression. Hooray humans!"

"It means the parasites decided to keep their presence a secret, governor." Tracy Hallaway explained, with a smile.

Beth shrugged. “As a military, I see their point. But Jenny uncovered them. I guess they will communicate with their hosts now. We need a protocol, a chain of command for the AIs. And to create a control group for the infestation."

“Yes, Beth. That’s the idea. We need half-human babies with a new program in their AI. I can create a less dangerous kind and give that to our progeny. Time will go by, and this all-powerful AI will die along with our generation.”

Morar grinned. “So you will help save our race.”

Jenny pointed at the window. People’s voices, laughter, and the sound of the interaction among the crowd entered the room like a buzz.

“Can we leave them to die off? As you said, the murdering decision wasn’t yours, or theirs. And the AI will force our hand. They are in your brains too.”

“Well,” Inella murmured. “That’s an unexpected factor.”

Tracy smiled. Jenny was taking the lead, even if she didn’t want to.

“We create a Council,” the black woman continued. “Five from humans, five from half-humans, and seven from pure alien.”

“Why the pure alien,” Trish complained.

Jenny smiled.

“Because, my friend, they don’t have parasites. Every council will have double parasites unless we have pure aliens, too. ”

“Like a control group. Sounds smart.” Ellie nodded.

“She is very smart,” Morar said with loving eyes.

Jenny turned berserker's eyes to him, and he lifted both hands.

“Lilac lamp shutting up.”

People laughed. The group to preserve life was born.