NSA Data Centre – Utah
5 days after conclusion of negotiations with Meta, Microsoft, Dell and Alphabet.
“Sir we need to talk” said John as he walked into the office of the head of Special Sources Operations Directorate.
“What is it now? We’ve been having issues with China lately, they’ve been slipping similar firmware into 5G modems as was present in the original Huawei devices and it’s been giving everyone a headache.” Said Stewart, the head of the SSO directorate.
“We’ve had a significant reduction in data coming from Meta, Google, and others. We’re not sure why at this time.”
“Then why did you come into my office? If you don’t know why then at least provide some more information than that.”
All we know at this time is that the amount of data coming from those sources has either been reduced to barely a fraction of what we had before or has been completely eliminated with all data going in or out heavily encrypted.”
“Any clues as to why? Surely a large change like this has some sort of common point.”
“We have a couple clues, most notably one Amari Khan. Either himself or his lawyer from a small firm in California has recently met with representatives from the companies involved, specifically their cybersecurity departments. Shortly after concluding the meetings the companies started rapidly patching all manner of security holes including what we placed or exploited to gather data.”
“Look into it further, if he’s going to be an issue let me know.”
“On it Sir, I’ll leave you to it and will update you once we know more.”
Two weeks later I wake up in the presidential suite I’ve been living out of and pull up the mostly completed version of SoftMiner aimed towards commercial use than personal use. After setting a few hard coded requirements such as being run on the same network that it’s testing, requiring a copy of the source code, and getting the user to agree that they aren’t using it for nefarious purposes, it’s almost ready for commercial release.
Catherine and her team have successfully negotiated with the other companies on my list and as a result, my bank balance is a healthy $430,000,000 richer.
I have a quick shower and head out to get my daily mission done, which had upgraded a few days ago and seems somewhat like a certain bald anime characters training routine.
[Mission: Get Healthy 2]
[Requirements (Daily):
10km Run
100 Pushups
100 Situps
100 Squats]
[Rewards: 2500 KP]
With a comfortable balance of 63,500 KP in my belt mostly earnt from said daily mission, as well as some small rewards from the system for using the knowledge provided, I head out for a run. After coming back home I finish off the final steps of SoftMiner and set it compiling. Taking time to look through the system shop, I decide to purchase K++, an upgraded version of the K programming language I initially saw two weeks ago.
Knowledge/Product
Programming Language – K++
15000KP
A programming language aimed towards multi-platform support, smart memory management, and rapid development. Suitable for general computing purposes. Includes complete knowledge on use of the language.
K++ includes new features such as dynamic memory management, seamless platform interoperability, just-in-time compilation and more.
I confirm the purchase and see the same message pop up as I saw for SoftMiner.
Purchase successful. Prepare for knowledge implantation
15000 KP deducted. Remaining balance: 48,500 KP
Leaning back in the comfortable chair I feel nothing, wondering if the knowledge implantation is going to be gentler this time before an unfathomable pain shreds my consciousness and I pass out.
Suitable environment found
Initiating system evolution
Estimated time to completion: 1 hour
Waking up an hour later I find myself with the full knowledge of how to use K++ and how to get it implemented on any system I have access to. Reviewing the knowledge I have obtained, I open up my new laptop I purchased earlier in the week and sit down, preparing to get started on implementing the new programming language I had learnt when I receive a notification from the system.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
First System evolution completed
Completion of the evolution has allowed for the host to redeem a single shop item without incurring a cost up to a maximum of 500,000 KP
Further evolutions will allow for the System to awaken its sentience.
The host is encouraged to widen their goals beyond obtaining currency and leading the civilisation to elevation.
“Widen my goals beyond obtaining currency? I’m not going to conquer the planet and deem myself some sort of emperor” I say while laughing to myself, quickly stopping when I think more on that would mean for myself.
“If I own the entire planet and the entire human race, can’t I just force people to use what I create?”
The host is reminded that KP is only earnt from use of knowledge by non-compelled sentient beings.
“I can’t force people to use what I make but I can definitely make it better than anything else out there” I say aloud while pacing around the hotel room.
I pull up the shop and look at a particular technology I had been looking forward to, which conveniently fits within the free redemption reward. A technology which would give me an edge over anyone else in the information age.
Knowledge/Product
Artificial General Intelligence
500,000 KP
Provides knowledge of use and implementation of a self learning, self regulating artificial intelligence. Requires significant computing resources in order to progress at a reasonable rate. Conventional computing resources will be insufficient for complete awakening of the artificial intelligence.
Wondering what would be sufficient beyond creating a massive data centre, I add it to the shops cart and move to implement K++ as soon as possible.
Six days later and hundreds of thousands of lines of code later, the new programming language is finally ready for its initial test run. Clicking Compile on my laptop I wait for the new language’s compiler to be completed.
While waiting for the compilation to complete, I go through the shop and look into the personal enhancement section, looking for an overall improvement to myself without going through years of potentially dangerous or morally corrupt research.
Akashic Development System > Shop > Personal Enhancements (Self Filtered)
Item
Description
Memory Enhancement – Eidetic
250,000 KP
Reconfigures the memory centres of the brain to grant the host eidetic memory, including reconfiguration of existing memories. Allows for seamless implantation of knowledge below 2,500,000 KP and significantly reduced difficulty for knowledge below 10,000,000 KP.
Minor Genetic Enhancement
500,000 KP
Reconfigures the hosts DNA and body to significantly increase physical parameters while retaining same-species reproduction.
Functional Processing Enhancement – Stage 1
500,000 KP
Reconfigures the frontal lobe of the brain and creates a new section of brain to significantly increase the functional processing speed of the host. Effectively doubles intelligence.
Infinitesimal Consciousness Elevation
1,000,000 KP
Elevate self. Provides a minor increase to willpower and -Further information restricted by System for host safety.
Adding my choices to the cart and hearing a compilation successful noise from my laptop, I lay down on the couch and prepare for the knowledge implantation of the Artificial General Intelligence.
Purchase successful. Prepare for knowledge implantation
0 KP deducted. Remaining balance: 63,500 KP
Waking up I immediately run to the bathroom to relieve myself while wondering how long I was unconscious. Looking at my phone I notice it’s the morning of two days later and after some quick mental math I realised I was unconscious for between 33 to 34 hours.
“No wonder I was desperate for a leak” I say aloud while walking out of the bathroom. I order room service and sit down at the table, ready to get the artificial intelligence put together. Reviewing the knowledge obtained, it turns out that conventional computing is far too inefficient for the AI to use and will only allow basic functionality, even if that basic functionality is decades beyond anything out on the market currently.
To fully unlock the potential of the AI a massive quantum computer is needed with tens of thousands of qubits. Shaking my head to ignore that I had set myself up for even more work in the future, I sit down to get started only to be interrupted by a phone call. Looking at the contact, I realise it is my old orphanage bunk mate who I hadn’t spoken to in over a year, Kate.
“Hi Kate, long time no talk, how have you been?” I say after picking up the phone.
“Long time no talk indeed, I heard you got booted from university for grabbing someones butt when they were walking past. Still haven’t gotten rid of that old habit, have you?” she says while laughing.
“What do you mean old habit? Even with my past you and I both know I wouldn’t risk my future doing something stupid like that. I was asleep on a couch when next thing I know I was woken up and falsely accused. Turns out her uncle was on the board so there’s no hope for going back.”
“True or not, are you okay?”
“I’m fine now, it was difficult at first but now I’m doing my own thing and earning plenty to get by. How’s your business management course going?”
“It’s going great, I’m graduating at the end of the ye- shit sorry, too soon?”
“No no, not too soon.” I say while thinking of my initial plans. “Do you have anything lined up for when you graduate?”
“Nothing yet but I’m sure something will come up. Why do you ask?”
“Would you like to manage my company? I have a product ready to release but have no clue how to run a business. Money is no issue; I have plenty of that.”
“Hoho he earns a bit of cash and now he’s thinking of starting a company. You’ve always had big dreams Amari, what’s the situation this time?”
“Would you like to catch up over dinner some time soon and go over my plans?”
“Sure, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you and it would be great to catch up. I’ll text you when I’m back in Pasadena.”
“Sounds great, can’t wait” I say and after reminiscing on the past with the only person I could call a friend, I hang up.
‘Now we really get started’ I think to myself while chuckling quietly.