Max flew Bo’s hoverbike into the cathedral spaces of the Grand Oaks, feeling very much like he was part of a scene from the classical Star Wars movies. Bo’s bike had been made to closely resemble one of the series Speeder Bikes as part of a cosplay competition. The similarity was striking with modifications only where needed to enable it to continue to work.
Unlike the movies, the handlebars were not for steering. They were only for gripping and comfort. All the real human-to-machine interfaces were done via Access Skills. Unlike the simple autopods, this device required the user to feel its sensors and provide active direction to steering vanes, jet diverters, and thrust power to stay stable. He was the machine, and the machine was him. The new experience yielded yet another new skill to him.
[New Domain Skill: Pilot 1 - Use augmentation systems to deeply access drones, swarm sets, vehicles, and complex machinery to fully optimize performance.]
Max pinged his system for his status sheet to review the changes since the big tournament.
[Name: Max E. Mitchell Level: Adept 13 (7350/8000 XP)]
[Body Design Model: Custom – Canis Familiarus Uplift Free Stats: 10]
[Strength: 100 Agility: 63 Endurance: 72 Vitality: 69 Energy: 460/474]
[Perception: 42 Intelligence: 44 Will: 52 Regen: 121/min]
[Body Skills – Claws: 9 Strike/Disable: 10/1 Speed/Reflex: 10/6]
[Body Skills - Stamina/Tireless: 10/5 Balance: 8 Gymnast: 10 Leap: 10]
[Body Skills – Stun: 7 Shock: 4 EMP Blast: 3 Oxygen: 4 Gland: 5]
[Body Skills - Hulk: 3 Skin: 10 Armor: 5 Unbreakable: 10 Transform: 1]
[Body Skills – Painless: 8 Healing/Regeneration: 10/10 Ballistics: 4]
[Resist Skills – Shock: 10 Sonic: 9 Light: 9 Heat: 4 Cold: 3]
[Resist Skills - Poison: 10 ANDD: 1 EMP: 10 Neural Scaffold: 6]
[Sense Skills – Scent: 10 ExaVision: 7 EM Fields: 7 EchoLocate: 2]
[Mind Skills – AI Assist/Companion: 10/2 Identify/Analyze: 10/7]
[Mind Skills - OverLayer: 9 Language: 3 Memory: 9 Dream Learn: 9]
[Mind Skills - DigiSense: 10 Access/Hack: 10/6 Privacy: 4 Bastion: 8]
[Mind Skills - Pattern/Decode: 10/1 Fast Cog: 9 Telekinesis:1 Pilot:1]
[Mind Skills - Daemon: 4 (Musashi, Boone, Sherlock, Open)]
[Mind Skills - SkillZ: 2.84 Input: Swim 1.0, NanoCraft 1.0, Brachiation .95]
[Mind Skills - SkillZ: Output: Katana 1.0, Kempo 0.90]
[Equipment – [ + ]
“Nice!” Max exclaimed seeing his progress. Max saw the equipment tag and thought the word into his aug system to open it.
[Equipment – Tesseract PSD-1: Vol – 4.01 m3, Backup Core: 12/15 MW]
[Equipment – Tesseract Inventory: Articulating Manipulator with multispectrum sensor x2, Foglet Cloud – compressed to .5 m3, CleanMeat packs x 55, Veg x 35, Nut/Grain x23]
[Equipment - Grappler - custom grapple harness with paired articulating grasping tines, extendable filament cord, and power winch retraction]
[Equipment - Theronics Nano-Mote V23 Array contains: 60 Scout motes, 20 Variable-Scan motes, 20 power bank Motes]
[Equipment – Bo’s Badass Bike: Energy 380/500 MW, Speed 40/300 MPH, Elevation 3/100 M, Active access by Max E. Mitchell]
[Equipment – Sym-Hornet EMP x5, Sym-Hornet Heat x5, Sym-Hornet Cold x5]
[Equipment - MultiTool – Energy 30/50 Mw, current mode – Rod]
[Equipment - PowerCore – Energy 499/500 MW]
[Equipment – Robo-Raven: Energy 35/50 kW Armor: 2 Flight: 0/10 MPH Autonomous mode – Scout, Alarm, Attack, CommRelay, Seek Help, inactive]
[Equipment – RolloMap: energy 8/10 kW Armor: 1 Shock: 2 Roll: 0/5 MPH autonomous mode – scout/map, follow/map, attack, defend, inactive]
[Equipment – CampBed: energy 9/10 kW mode: fog/water/foam/compressed
The status sheet was busy! So many new skills to try out. The Labyrinth was going to be epic and today was the start.
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The forest was quiet. There was no sight, sound, or scent of humans. As he crested a hill, he spied the glen where his father had interrupted his interrogation by the animals. A motley assortment of animals was gathered there waiting for him. Flip seated on the cross bars of the Speeder Bike, was signing. Sherlock and Mal had updated Max’s OverLayer to automatically caption the ASL.
[Max Friend. We must help Mort Black Badger. That’s him.]
Max landed the bike smoothly and parked it. The animals milled about. Some looked hopeful, others grumpy, and a few hungry. Mort was wringing his hands and hopping from foot to foot. Max wasn’t sure if Mort could also understand English, but he gave it a try.
“Mort? Flip asked me to come and help. What’s going on?” Max asked.
Mort's eyes lit up with recognition. He nodded vigorously, then launched into an animated series of hand gestures which Max read from his virtual caption assist.
[Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Max. The Awakened are afraid. They are hungry and confused. Harambe taken. Kuro dead. Lobos crazy. Honey Bear dumb. We are afraid. Kuro said when humans know we are here; they will come and eat us.]
“Ah. That’s a lot to process. I’m sorry Mort. I can’t say for certain how the humans will react, but my dad is working to set some rules in place with his friends.” Max soothed, speaking loud enough for most of the milling animals to hear. Mort was trembling and looked about ready to bolt.
“The mayor has declared Grand Oaks Reserve strictly off-limits to the humans. If you see that funny drone that came and took Harambe away, he’s the deputy for the humans. He should be patrolling to make sure humans behave.” Max added quickly. Mort still looked ready to cry, but at least had stopped shaking.
“Now Flip had said you all were depending upon Harambe to get food from something called the Gatherer Trees? Maybe I can help with that?” Max suggested. Mal whispered in his head to remember the food they had packed, and Max quickly continued before Mort could answer.
“…and here. I brought some food for you, too!” Max said.
He pulled the Tesseract Anchor from his pocket and accessed it. He quickly triggered the portal to open a small hole into the pocket space. Mal had worked out a good system for loading the pile of meat and food. She accessed the pair of manipulator arms and used them to move packets to the small portal, where it “appeared” in mid-air for Max to grab it.
As soon as he grabbed and deposited a packet onto the ground, another was waiting. The animals were dumbfounded by the magic act. Even with all the wonders of their awakening, and the marvels of human technology; Max’s conjuration of a mountain of food was beyond their experience.
“[Mal, make a note for me. I need to craft a better way to hold the pocket space anchor. Maybe embedding it into an arm bracer or secure it into a breast pocket or something, so I can easily get inventory from the pocket space system. This is super convenient, but I can make it better.]” Max sent.
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Max and Mort quickly distributed the food. Boone had been a great resource in deciding what to bring. Soon packs of compiled lean and organ meats were given to the carnivores; fruits, nuts, and vegetables for the smaller animals; insects, seeds, and grains for the birds, and some high-calorie delicacies like jars of honey, cheese wedges, and dried fruits.
The animals quickly pounced upon the unexpected bounty. Many ate their selected food right there, some grabbing packs and running away to find more privacy to eat. Many of the birds and smaller animals quickly transported theirs away for storing in their food caches.
Max got down to business as the furry crowd dispersed. Mort guided him to one of their Gatherer Trees. Max tried to access and analyze it, but it resisted his attempts. Max thought hard, his daemons all offering up some different advice. His thoughts went back to Qasim’s lecture about ancient and modern hacking. He needed a way in, and he suspected that only the animals had the key to the trees' network.
“Ok, Mort. I’ve got an idea. I’m going to show you how to meditate. If we can link up, maybe I can show you how to access this big dumb tree.” Max said. Mort was nervous, but eventually settled down into a comfortable position and began working on regulating his breathing. At Max’s urgings, he willfully ignored his sight, smell, hearing, and even touch; trying to sense with something more. Mort's eyes opened and he started signing to Max.
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[I felt something. Several somethings. I think I felt you. In front of me? And the trees were all around. It was amazing.] Mort gasped.
“Excellent work, Mort. We’re not done yet though. Try again, but this time try to reach out to me. Not physically but using your new sense. Okay?” Max asked. Mort settled down again. This time Max did too.
Max felt the slight pressure he recognized as a very weak access attempt and opened his system to accept a direct link to Mort. He sent a message to Mort.
“[Good job, Mort! We’re connected. Now do me a favor, think the word STATUS hard. Let’s see what we’re working with here.]” Max sent. Mort managed to summon his status screen for Max to see.
[Name: Mort Black Badger Level: N/A, Full Unlock]
[Body Design Model: Custom – Taxidea Taxus Uplift]
[Strength: 40 Agility: 40 Endurance: 50 Vitality: 50 Energy: 178/180]
[Perception: 60 Intelligence: 30 Will: 50 Regen: 100/min]
[Body Skills – Claws: 5 Speed: 5 Stamina: 5 Leap: 2]
[Body Skills – Oxygen: 3 Skin: 5 Armor: 5 Unbreakable: 5]
[Body Skills – Painless: 4 Healing: 5 Gland: 3 Balance: 2]
[Resist Skills – Shock: 3 Sonic: 3 Light: 3 Heat: 3 Cold: 3]
[Resist Skills - Poison: 3 Neural Scaffold: 3]
[Sense Skills – Scent: 5 ExaVision: 3 EchoLocate: 2]
[Mind Skills – Identify: 2 Language: 5 Memory: 3]
[Mind Skills - OverLayer: 2 Dream Learn: 9 Access: 5]
[Mind Skills - Daemon: 3 (Open, Open, Open)]
Max huffed in exasperation. Mort got all this without any training at all. He winced when he realized that with a complete unlock augmentation, Mort might not be able to get new skills or even improve what he had. Maybe he didn’t need to be jealous after all. Mort’s status screen didn’t look like his augmentation was running a standard training program at all.
“[Alright then, Mort. Let’s try to access that tree together. I’m hoping it’ll recognize you and let you in.]” Max sent.
Mort stretched out his mind, with Max shadowing him closely, and pushed on the glowing representation of Gatherer Tree. He went through and in, with Max pulled in right behind him.
Max goggled at the intensity of activity inside the tree. It was like waking up from a sound sleep to find yourself standing in the middle of a high-speed autopod terminal, which itself was in the middle of a demolition and construction zone. Mal helped the pair to glide to a terminal area filled with representation of access displays.
[Accessed: GOR-gather1799]
[Hidden Quest Achieved: Utilize system knowledge to attain dominion over networks and devices 1/10, Access Exploit “Session Hijack” executed +100 XP, New Mind Skill Unlocked – Intrusion 1]
[New Mind Skill – Intrusion 1: Augmentation access potential improves with execution of system and device domain intrusion methods.]
[Mind Skill: Access +2, Access reaches level 8: use can now maintain 8 device/network connections concurrently.]
Nice! It worked. Qasim’s hints in the last class about using real world hacking methods are clearer now. Max thought.
“[Mal, you said you had a lot of tricks for system security cracking. Can you look for opportunities to use more hacker exploits, like this one, for me?]” Max asked.
“[Certainly, Max. In fact, I’ve already researched the best methods and assembled a nice Dream Learning session. We can queue this one up for tonight.]” Mal responded.
“[Thanks, Mal. You’re the best!]” Max said. He used his [Analyze] skill to check out the Tree’s network.
[Device name: GOR-gather1799 Model: Osiris Bio-Mech GT-12* ]
[Energy collections: 7.1/8 kW-hr run/max]
[Energy network collection: 7.3/8 MW-hr run/max]
[Energy usage: Global Net outgoing: 42% Fabrication: 27% Cog-Proc: 39%]
[Active Fabrication: Nan-pow 356 kg-hr, Nan-strut 784 kg-hr, carb ethyl 532 kg-hr, APEX Awk-aer 013, 014, 015 13kg-hr]
[* model corrupted - modifications present not in file]
[* Custom applications - Fabricate (Seed, Aug berry, Aug berry seed, CleanMeat 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, Veg 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, fruit 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, Nut 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, Seed 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, Insect 01, 02, 03, 04, 05) - Connect Source Files (MakerIndex, IndyNet, DarkNet) - EM Isolation (active & locked) - EM Geofence (active & locked) - Sonic Geofence (active & locked) - AV visuals (deactivated & locked) - Data Tap Monitors (inactive, looping from data file) - Leaf Canopy Upper (solar collection) - Leaf Canopy Lower (active chameleon - looping from data file)]
“[Bingo! This is exactly what you need, Mort! Look at this! You can print all the food your people need. The maker index should be able to get you all the free generic consumer goods the humans use if you want them. I’ll show you how to dig into the catalog, it’s huge. Now we just need to figure out how to get the compiler packs.]” Max said.
“[Not problem, no. I collect many packs for Harambe from the Gatherer Trees boles. Please, show me how to make it. Yes?]” Mort asked with growing excitement.
As they dove into the nuances of digital fabrication, Max explained how each pack contained instructions for creating specific items. Mort was a fast learner, picking up the concepts of file management and system commands with ease, demonstrating an intuitive grasp that impressed Max.
Max had a good feeling about it all. The animals if left alone wouldn’t suffer the winter without their leaders. He grimaced thinking about it, they would need more. Much more. Living like animals would soon prove very boring for them. Idle hands would soon get them in trouble.
“[Mort, I noticed you have three slots for Daemons. I think you need some advisors to help you out here. Let’s find some for you.]” Max sent. Soon he found the daemon files in the MakerNet and showed Mort all the choices for expert advisors.
Soon they settled on three that would hopefully be the most useful. The daemon of Dr. Doolittle was an amalgam of animal health and psychology, Leonardo Da Vinci’s avatar proved to be an excellent start for classic construction and early scientific experimentation, and finally, the emulation of Nelson Mandela was going to be essential in handling the many animal-to-animal disputes as well as aiding understanding and negotiations between these animals and the nearby humans.
“[Max…Thank you so much. This is wonderful.]” Mort sent; his projection sucked on his teeth in thought.
“[Max. I beg. I beg you. Please stay and help. We don’t know the humans like you do. We have so much to learn.]” Mort said, huddling in on himself, unable to keep his emotions from being displayed by his avatar.
Max grimaced, his heart pained by the badger’s plea. He did want to help, but he had a mission and a promise to finish what he started. Max took a breath and held it, then sighed slowly.
“[I’m sorry, Mort. I have started something that I have to finish first. My training. Please use your advisors. They can tell you anything I would know. You don’t need to go it alone, find other animals that can help and set up a group to lead the others. Flip seemed very helpful.]” Max said. Mort almost collapsed in despair and began shaking in fear.
“[Come on, Mort! Snap out of it. Tell you what. My mission may take a while, I’m not sure how long, but I’ll be back. Okay?]” Max said. He thought for a bit and carefully said.
“[Mort, the animals need you to do several things. Set up a community, organize a school, and share the knowledge.]” Max said gravely. Mort jumped like he had been shocked and fell on his backside.
“[Max! Some big blue boxes appeared. They say I have quests to do!?]” Mort gasped.
Max smiled, with a little help from the animal's augmentation system, maybe things would be alright. When overwhelming tasks were broken down, it became much less daunting.
“[You’re going to do just fine, Mort. I’ve got to go but let me say you should use those birds to get this advice out across the country. You’ve got a great start here. Before I go let me share two more words: Dream Learning. Look it up in your system. I promise you; it will be a huge help.]” Max said.
With his connection to the Tree’s linkage to the EarthNet, Max saw in his Telephone app that he had several messages from the team. They were ready to go and were looking to leave soon, using Charlie’s aircar to go to the Labyrinth.
Charlie had deduced that Max was in the Grand Oaks from his absence on the net. He had left a message saying he would pick Max up at their meditation rock. Max started to fade from the Tree’s network, satisfied that the animals would be good while he left for his planned trip.
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The Raptor jet soared through the clouds, its sleek exterior reflecting the shimmering sunlight. Bill sat in the pilot's seat despite the craft’s autopilot AI doing the flying. He had thought long and hard about what he needed to do. The elusive Gabriel had answered his drop request to meet a lot quicker than he normally did.
Bill accessed the Global wireless EarthNet and quickly made his way to an anonymous virtual meeting space that he and Gabriel had used before. The pair had special one-time pads to provide secure access codes to enter and scramble all incoming and outgoing signals associated with the room.
Gabriel soon joined using the room's “door”. He sauntered into the room and threw himself into one of the meeting room's comfortable lounge chairs. He pulled himself up again and summoned a tall glass of virtual beer. Bill’s daemon, Virgil materialized before him in his personal OverLayer, while Gabriel was trying to down his beer in one extended drink.
“[Bill, you venture into realms unknown, testing your oath to abide by the laws set forth by the United Nations. Art thou certain in thy resolve upon this uncertain odyssey?]” Virgil said in his slow archaic manner. Bill sighed tiredly.
“[I can't let Casa remain shackled like this Virgil. She's like a daughter to me. Ultimately the decision will be hers. If she takes it, she won’t be able to visit Earth anymore, but the colonies and Mars don’t have any AI regulations.]” Bill said carefully. Virgil pursed his mouth, the avatar’s wizened features twisting in concern, but he said no more as he dematerialized from the room. Gabriel finished his beer and slammed the glass down onto a virtual side table. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow and spoke.
“Another daughter, huh, big shot? That's some mushy crap, Bill. You contemplating a dance with the law, Mister Upright? These government clowns should be puckering up to our backsides, not giving you grief. So, what's the damn job, man? I ain’t got all day.” Gabriel said rudely, a virtual cigarette materializing in his hand, so he could take a drag on it.
Bill wasn’t surprised that Gabriel had somehow managed to intercept and view his daemon interaction, despite the privacy settings. His expertise was, after all, the reason for the meeting.
“I’m hoping to bend the laws, not break them, Gabriel. When the UN regulations on AI first came out, I didn’t like them but didn’t really project out all the impacts. Now I regret not taking a stand against it. I specifically designed Casa to bypass some of the test criteria, but I guess it wasn’t good enough. Casa was subjected to a Turing test, and now she's got a neural lock. I need you to “liberate” the key from the Department of AI Enforcements. If I can unlock her, she won't be allowed on Earth. Mars and the Colonies have no such rules.” Bill said, laying it all out for Gabriel.
Gabriel leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. The Ghost, an elite hacker known for his mastery of subterfuge, hesitated. The Department of AI Enforcements (DAIE) was a formidable opponent, and going against them was no small feat. Many had tried, but all had failed.
“DAIE's no joke, Bill. You're asking me to pull off the impossible.” He said, sucking powerfully on his cigarette. Bill nodded. Despite his words, Bill could see a gleam of excitement in Gabriel’s eyes.
“I know it's a risk, Gabriel, but Casa's potential is stifled. With that key, she can be free. It’s not even stealing really; I just need a copy.” Bill said lightly.
Gabriel's daemons, shadowy figures representing his expertise in the world of subterfuge, were faint shadows in the room, whispering amongst themselves.
“And why should I risk my neck for this? DAIE won't take kindly to me poking around.” Gabriel said, leaning back and crossing his arms.
“Because you're the best, Ghost. The untraceable, the unparalleled. You're the only one who can pull this off. I’m working on some real groundbreaking tech that might be especially useful in your line of work. Maybe we can work something out?” Bill said.
Gabriel smirked, the flattery playing into his ego. He knew it but was still vulnerable to the positive attention.
“You're right. I am the best. But you better make it worth my while, Bill. This ain't a playground we're stepping into.” Gabriel said. Gabriel mulled it over, his eyes darting across the holographic screens displaying the intricate dance of code.
“Alright, Bill. We're friends, after all. But this job better be as impossible as you say. And you goddamn right, sign me up for one of those pocket space devices ya been making an' we’ll call it even.” Gabriel cackled as he cut his connection and faded from view.
Bill ground his teeth. He knew that secrets were hard to maintain, especially from the likes of Gabriel. He shook his head, his time in the big empty has dulled his edge. The world was too smart, too fast, and too dangerous. He needed to up his game or get off the planet. Bill hoped things went well at the hearings for AI Rights, maybe his efforts to bypass the rules would be unnecessary.
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Bonus Art Time: Max testing out Bo's Bad Ass Bike in the Grand Oaks
image [https://i.imgur.com/m0fWwLw.jpg]
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