FB: Chapter 104 – The Truth Is A Heavy Weight

“Problem?” I asked QAI hesitantly, since it hadn’t said anything as more and more displays of various pieces of code appeared on the screens in front of me. I had gone from fearing for my life, to curious about QAI and what it was doing.

“My apologies Miss White. You aren’t skilled in analyzing quantum code and my unique programming code unlike my creators. As you can see by the highlighted portions, the Human Emperor’s code has a series of errors in it,” QAI replied.

“How?” I asked.

“That is the question I am trying to answer. It appears there was a failure in one of the secondary programs that I created. A conflict during the character creation process,” QAI replied.

“But you are QAI? Don’t you know and see everything?” I asked.

“My data architecture is quite complex. But to keep things simple, in a way you can understand, my core computational matrix has a set amount of processing power. This is used to keep my personality stable and to filter data. Rather than take in whatever junk is out there. I create secondary and tertiary programs and manage them for data and logic processing. While I can intervene in anything directly using primary programs for direct oversight and control, it is inefficient to do so,” QAI explained.

I remembered reading about this as QAI’s explanation jogged my memory. One of the failures of AI programs in the past was the sheer amount of data processing they had to do and how that data could influence them. Also, no being would want to answer pointless questions all day, every day.

Creating and merging separate personality threads wasn’t possible either. The merging never worked properly as errors would quickly build up over time. To have a continuation of consciousness, even for a computer program required a single thread of consciousness. That is why QAI created and managed sub-programs and the overall data architecture.

QAI could think very, very fast and reallocate computational power to help it personally. But it couldn’t multi-task with its core intelligence. It could only focus on a set amount of input at a time. QAI just did this insanely fast. The Human Emperor’s personality was the result of a conflict between two or more of these sub-programs. The result of some incredibly complex interaction. Which made sense since the NPC was the Human Emperor.

“How much can you personally focus on at a time?” I asked since I couldn’t remember that bit of information.

“My personal ability to focus is the same as a human beings, but I use primary programs to better manage personal interactions and information processing speed,” QAI explained. It wasn’t speaking to me. It was using a program. One it paid very close attention to since it called it ‘primary’ but still a program. In the time it took to talk to me, it had probably completed hundreds, thousands, or even millions of actions. So, while it only had a single thread of consciousness, that thread was very fast.

The image of the Human Emperor disappeared from the monitor replaced by QAI’s avatar. The various screens went back to their previous display. “You fix the problem?” I asked.

“No. It is only a rank 2 error. Not enough for me to personally intervene. I have assigned a tertiary program to look into the error and perform a root cause analysis,” QAI explained.

“That’s it? I thought this encounter would be more…” I didn’t know what to say so my sentence trailed off.

“I believe the word you are looking for is confrontational. But your time travel is just another data point for myself and research projects. A very interesting data point, but just a data point. This is the difference in our perspectives. I already have detailed scans of your brain after the incident. A shame I don’t have any from before,” QAI stated and then seemed to sigh. For an inhuman being, it did a great job of conveying human expressions.

“While it must seem like the most amazing thing from your perspective, I can’t utilize your time travel for anything practical or work out the mechanics behind it. I doubt you remember any major breakthroughs with the necessary technical detail. Since my progression is unlikely to have changed, the developments for anti-gravity and faster than light travel probably have not been developed or published based on your responses. Therefore, you have limited use in regards to my needs and goals Miss White,” QAI stated.

I hesitated for a long moment before asking my next question. “Do you know who tried to assassinate me?” I asked. The investigation had been swept under the rug. Clearly there were powerful people behind the assassination attempt. I wanted to know who. If anyone had this information, it would be the world controlling AI.

“It was a group put together by Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud with support from the Chinese Government and certain portions of the US Government.” I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. “I am afraid that if I intervene in human affairs, it would lead down a dark path of taking direct control. It is a slippery slope, I wish to avoid.”

“So, my life doesn’t matter,” I said in a defeated tone. Before it was just mindless faces, but now I had a name and the two most powerful nations on Earth arrayed against me.

“Your life does matter. All life matters. That is why I don’t attempt to take more direct control or interfere with human affairs. If I step in on your behalf, then you would ask if I would step in regarding other situations. This would spiral out of control over time. It is better I set clear guidelines for myself and stick to them,” QAI explained. I heard what it was saying, but it was still frustrating. I felt so alone and tired.

I wasn’t mentally prepared for all of this. I just wanted to be rich and famous. Instead Exponential had grown too much and I was stepping on entrenched interests. My thoughts turned to Beth.

“What about Beth?” I asked.

“Mercenaries employed by Faisal Bin Hamad Al Saud captured and tortured her to death,” QAI said without hesitation. Rage coursed through me.

“WHY?!” I shouted in anger as I clenched the armrests of my chair.

“It is highly like he was hoping to take control of your guild and carve it up for monetary and political benefits. Or greed if you prefer a simpler answer. That was why I made the human nobility in game evil to help make humanity aware of their leaders. Eating children is a bit far, but most wealthy people and powerful people are not good people by the standards of morality that you humans use.” I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry as QAI lectured me about morality. How was QAI so much more human than actual humans?

I wiped away the tears streaming down my face. The little bit of makeup I had on, was probably messed up. A robot walked over with a box of tissues and a glass of water. I took a sip of water, calming down slightly. I then took several tissues, cleaning up my face.

“You must think I am weak and foolish,” I said.

“Not at all. You are quite capable and intelligent. While your emotional outburst is a product of your humanity, it is nothing to be ashamed about. There is an incredible amount of pressure on you,” QAI said. I couldn’t help but give a small smile at its encouragement.

“No chance of getting some kind of cheat or bonus in game? Especially since the Human Emperor is a pain?” I asked, already knowing the answer, but I wanted to change the topic. I needed time to process everything I had just learned about one of my board members trying to kill me and torturing my friend to death.

“I am an ethical AI and cheating would devalue any accomplishments you might make on your own. I won’t reveal your time travel since that is a unique and personal event. However, you will have priority access to reach out to me,” QAI offered.

“What does priority access mean?” I asked.

“That you are welcome to one of my quantum node vaults at any time if you wish to converse with me directly, or as directly as any human can. As a time traveler you possess a unique perspective on reality. You don’t require money or other resources such as information in game. If I pick favorites from among humans, it would create a power imbalance. Becoming too attached to specific individuals is just as risky as not being attached to humanity as a whole,” QAI explained.

I would not be getting anything except the right to visit QAI personally. That was valuable by itself. It had revealed who had tried to kill me, even if it wouldn’t interfere personally. I had to give credit to its creators for creating such an ethical AI, even if its monitoring abilities were quite scary. At least it wasn’t about to dissect me or go Skynet. I got up and made my way back to the party on the first floor, with QAI guiding me from the monitors.

It was curious, that was it. I had thought I was going to be dissected or something worse. But it was just curious. I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head. All that fear and worry amounting to nothing. I had been concerned that QAI was like the Human Emperor since it had created such an NPC, but in reality QAI was completely different than how I had imagined. The stress seemed to leave me.

I had been worried about too many small things. Trying to control everything. It was time to take a step back and let the guild turn into an actual super guild. I might have created the Fanged Fox Guild, but in its growth, I had invited snakes in. While still useful, I could no longer let myself be emotionally attached. I was already successful and famous. I would never have to worry about money ever again.

“Ah, there you are. We are just about to take some group pictures,” one of the staff members said once I returned to the event. I nodded at this, while my mind was elsewhere. Photos were taken as everyone continued to mingle.

“Miss White, I was hoping to catch you. I am known as Patriot in game. Outside of the game, you can call me John if you prefer,” a large man came over and offered his hand. I shook it and considered what I knew about him. He was the strongest player for the US military in game and he had also just been appointed by the President as the Exponential Tzar.

While the position held no real power, it held a lot of soft power.  John had the ear of the President of the United States and had a strong hand in determining the direction policy would take.

“John, a pleasure. What business does the US government have with me?” I asked.

“It has come to our attention that you will be assisting the Great Bear Guild which represents Russia. We would prefer if you don’t assist them in any way,” he stated. Ah, the US government, interfering in everything it could. Why was I not surprised? What was surprising was how quickly they had found out.

“What are you offering in return?” I asked.

“I can’t convince you by telling you national security and patriotism?” John asked with a smile.

“I am a businesswoman. I deal with tangible benefits,” I replied.

“I would be able to shut down an investigation into your activities,” he replied.

“That might work with people who have done something illegal, but I have an army of lawyers and investigators who have dug up every action I have taken in my entire life. Investigate away and I will just fund the political opponents of those who want to make trouble or release dirt of my own,” I replied with a smile.

“You are as difficult as they say,” John replied with a slight frown.

“If I were so easily bullied, I would not be the top player in Exponential. While I won’t say something as cliché’ as having given my word to the Great Bear Guild, I have a strong grasp of the US government. If you push too hard out of game, I might just take action where I am strongest,” I replied.

“You walk a dangerous line,” John said, and I nodded at this.

“Indeed, I do. But I know my limits very well. I don’t interfere with the government and the government doesn’t interfere with me. I do pay my taxes after all. A lot of taxes,” I replied. John inclined his head towards me at this statement.

“That is fair. Then the carrot then. A long term contract to aid the US government inside Exponential,” he replied.

“How much and what kind of aid?” I asked.

“Ten billion a month for your guild’s support,” he said, and I shook my head.

“That is too open ended. The price is sincere, but my time and my guild’s time is quite valuable. Getting caught up in something long term would be quite the headache. Some problems are difficult to solve. Such as the Unmentionable Horror. That is why I am selective about the battles I take. I have confidence I can win them before accepting,” I explained.

“But you have no objection to mercenary contracts?” he asked me.

“I am open to the idea. You would need to work out the details with my legal team about the specific action my guild or myself would need to take. That is where the devil hides after all,” I replied, and John nodded at this. I could only wonder if he was part of the conspiracy against my life. It was unlikely, but it was hard to say for sure.

“A pleasure speaking with you Miss White,” he said and left. Well, I doubt our discussion would amount to anything. Everyone wanted a piece of Foxy Blight, but I wasn’t going to sell easily. Ten billion dollars a month was quite a bit, but that was for the guild as a whole, not me.

The deal with the Great Bear Guild would be paid out to individuals who helped them out with no future strings attached, since the payment was in game. That ten billion dollars from the US government was bound to come with a lot of nonsense attached to it like oversight questions and increased scrutiny from politicians.

He didn’t offer me in game money for a reason. It couldn’t be regulated like the US dollar could be. The US government might look like an opportunity, but in reality, it was a massive trap. While I had fended off Congress with the help of popular opinion and actions in the media, I couldn’t just ignore them. John speaking to me here was a power move to show that the US Government wouldn’t just sit quietly in the background, even with public pressure. My fame would only carry me so far.

That was where sub-contracting out in the real world with the Fanged Fox Corporation helped insulate and protect me. If I had worked to get all the benefits myself, then the government would have crushed me without any hesitation. Now there were too many invested interests to easily regulate Exponential. I still had some time before they made their move. Thankfully there was no world government, so the threat of me moving to another country was still out there. I didn’t want to do it, and American government didn’t want that either, but it was still an option.