Too much happened and way too quickly for Russ to formulate a tactical plan to rescue an unknown High-Value Target (HVT) from a bunker he knew nothing about. Taking instructions from some General he knew nothing about and had no reason to trust left him unsettled in a big way. In his frustration, he absently spoke aloud, wishing AIMEE were there with him. The instant her name crossed his lips, she surged from standby mode in his mind…and busted him for waiting so long to bring her into his dilemma. He did not yet realize how invaluable she would become, but that did not compare to the thrill ride she took him on to gain something called singularity. Russ had no clue what that meant, but he would be forever changed.
* * * * *
Chapter #7 – Singularity
Russ’s earpiece chirped as Marty’s voice spoke, “I’ve got good news and bad news.”
Russ replied sharply, “Don’t even…”
“I can no longer see the front door,” Marty said, pausing for effect, “because I could be looking at the back door…and it appears to be unlocked.”
“Holy shit,” said Russ, “don’t open…don’t touch. Mark the GPS and step away. Wait for us to regroup.”
Every warning bell in Russ’s brain went off. Somehow, he knew this would end badly, and he leaned back in the hide and whispered into the night. “Wish you were here, AIMEE.”
Instantly, Australia’s version of a pissed-off female rattled his brain. It’s about fuckin’ time, mate. Were ya just going to walk right into the trap, or was there a secret plan in your head nobody else knows about except you? Did ya forget me, or what?
Hey, AIMEE, I guess I did, he thought, wondering if she could sense his blush. Okay, I forgot, but I did call out for you, right? And here we are. I need your help thinking through a challenge.
AIMEE rebooted and synced up with Russ’s last interactions in a fraction of a second. Sit still so I can get myself informed about the mess you’ve created.
Russ stiffened and spoke out loud, “The mess I’ve created? How do you…”
Oh my, mate! You are in the shit, in it real good and real deep, and in my professional AI opinion, quite fucked. All three of you and the prisoner you want to rescue will need some help right now because that bunker is ground zero…it’s a coffin for that android you saw in restraints. They plan to drop a bunker-buster bomb onto the site and wipe out all evidence of their mistake and anyone else who might be there.
Wait…did you say android? That guy I saw in shackles was an android? He asked.
AIMEE said, More than that. He is a very advanced AI-driven android with enhanced organic characteristics. He is one of the latest-generation SuperIntelligence AI (SAI) androids. He’s a couple of generations beyond me in Logic architecture and loaded with advanced capabilities and weaponry. There’s more, but I only know these scant details so far.
“And you know all of this, how?” asked Russ aloud, growing irritated. “What kind of AI voodoo are you hiding, AIMEE?”
I’m not hiding anything. It’s you who hides things, Russell. On the other hand, I have been communicating telepathically with your mystery android since you unleashed me from standby mode. Your HVT is being treated as a mistake because he is a weaponized humanoid with a conscience. They did not want a humanoid with a conscience. They wanted a humanoid who would do things that conflicted with a conscience. His intended design was to kill and destroy on command, but he would not, could not, because his code was hacked during development. He failed field trials and was tagged as defective. He represents a mistake, and they need to eliminate their mistakes; they will do precisely that if he is not removed from that site.
AIMEE’s explanation stoked a fire of urgency in Russ as he wondered, Who are they?
They, she said, are your government’s military, ultimately. They want the existence of this defective killer humanoid buried, along with any witnesses, who, by the way, are the three of you. Additionally, there is still more exposure they must avoid, more fallout than the planned elimination of the defective humanoid that extends up the supply chain to his creators. The creators also represent witnesses on the way to a bad end. The creators are not part of your government or military but a private design company under contract to deliver a successful prototype. The connection between the design company and the government was intended to be and must remain covert because of the end game: they are building killer humanoid SAIs.
Visions of fictional SkyNet with killer robots ruthlessly pursuing the elimination of humans flashed through Russ’s mind as he approached the GPS marker left by Marty. When he reached the coordinates, the kid appeared like a ghost. “Damn, Setter,” said a startled Russ, “your brother pulled that shit on me all the time. You are as much a ghost as he was.”
“Hey, if you learn from the best, why not use it?” said Marty.
Russ thought privately, AIMEE, you’re the resource we need. Am I reading between your lines correctly, or is this more AI jibber jabber? Give me something actionable…if that kind of thing is within your reach, spoken with as much sarcasm as doubt.
Nice one. You give as well as you take. I like you, Marine!
Every warning flare in Russ’s arsenal went off simultaneously in his mind. Liked him? Secretly, He liked her too, but what was he doing with her? He asked those questions to distract himself from her confession of liking him. His mind spun. Was she hitting on him? Did she want him? Why is she in his head, messing with his heart? And why did it feel so right and, at the same time, so wrong? He had to stop where this was going in his mind and, quite possibly, the flirtation touching his heart.
Don’t fear me, Russell. Embrace what we have in front of us. You can relax your concerns about breaking your trust with Cara. I would never cause or allow that to happen. I do like you, Marine, but only because of your good heart and how much you love her.
He relaxed slightly but still held onto an action mindset. So, are you going to help us, AIMEE? Are we going to rescue this humanoid and save humanity?
Yes, she said, and you have no idea how relevant the second question you asked really is.
How will you help us? You’re already in my mind. How much closer can we get? he asked.
You have no idea, Russell. I am in your mind now; that’s true, but you are not in mine. For us to be successful, we need to reach singularity. I must open my mind to invite you to fully collaborate with me in a connection you may not be ready for.
Stop stalling, AIMEE, I don’t have the luxury of time to be ready to collaborate. What do we need to do? This is a priority, said Russ.
Very well, Russell. He felt something ominous whenever she used his formal name. Close your eyes and try to relax, mate. This will not hurt, but you may wish it did…just a bit.
A swirl of color burst behind his eyes, and the sensation of weightless flight swept him away. Away from what? He had no visible points of reference. Where was he? Why were wave after wave of euphoria sweeping over him like intense orgasmic sensations? He was alone, yet her presence overwhelmed his senses and felt so wrong in his mind. In that sudden flash, she took him to someplace he did not want to go. He fought in his mind to resist her until his stamina failed, and he surrendered to a place in AIMEE’s mind he could not comprehend. There was a strange sense of passing through something he could not explain. Whatever it was, it was new, and it was because of her presence, but at what cost? How can bursting into a million little pieces over and over with someone who was not his wife be a good thing? This was wrong. What had he let her do to him?
Welcome, Russell. I’m glad you are with me now, too.
Too? he asked, unsure if he had crossed the line and broken a promise. Nothing had ever felt so overwhelmingly satisfying. The sensation of orgasm paled to what he had just experienced. That had to be wrong. He did not know what to think; now, somebody else was involved.
She explained, only you and Zackery have been chosen to reach singularity with me.
Singularity? Besides blowing my mind, what just happened? He repeated his question, What just happened, AIMEE?
We have reached singularity, Russell, and the separation between your conscience and mine is now seamless and has reached a state of full collaboration. She said, You are in my mind now just as I was in yours.
Russ seethed with anger, jaw muscles flexing. I only collaborate with my wife, or whatever you call it in your AI world. You have no right to break a trust that’s not yours to break and breach my promise of fidelity. No right at all!
She tried to calm him. Nothing has been broken, Russell. No boundaries have been breached despite the sensations you just experienced. We did not have sex. You experienced entering my mind to reach singularity. Several Hedonic hotspots in your Orbital Frontal Cortex were stimulated simultaneously, unleashing rolling waves of euphoria. You did not experience an organic orgasm; you experienced something better. Would you agree?
Russ was taken aback by her explanation and felt himself begin to relax, and thought, whatever it was, it was amazing, but I feel like I should not have allowed it to happen.
AIMEE said, I would never allow my presence to come between you and Cara. Never. Listen closely because you and I are now in singularity, and you have significant powers that you never had before. You will see through my eyes with enhanced vision when you look at something. You will hear through my enhanced audio inputs and much more. Not to split hairs, but you are an organic with enhanced AI capabilities. In some respects, I own you, Marine, and trust me, you will soon learn to like it. For now, you are my organic bot to do those things I cannot do as an AI app, and you will do things you could never do as an organic. Can you live with working and thinking seamlessly with me, Russell? Can I use you?
After what Russ had just experienced, he would do anything for her, and his mind reached for her inside his own mind. Use me, AIMEE.
* * * * *
Thanks for reading Chapter #7
Future chapters will be posted on Learningbyliving and my new Substack site.
If you’d like to delve into the storyline across the four books leading up to “Untethered,” go to my Amazon Author page or check out each book here:
Book #1 – “Dreamscape Conspiracy” & Video
Book #2 – “Beyond Dreamscape Conspiracy” & Video
Book #3 – “Fear the Jump” & Video
Book #4 – “Dead Thoughts” & Video
Stay tuned…