Too Clever by a Zettabyte

By Gordon A. Long

When Barnabus and his team use Artificial Intelligence to create a communication system in Otherwhere, they stir up the old "ArIn Takeover" phobia.

Can he develop the leadership skills to navigate them through the storm they have raised?
"Hard" Sci-Fi for those interested in Artificial Intelligence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Airborn Press
• Release date: Jun 4, 2024
• ISBN: 9781988898438

Gordon A. Long

Brought up in a logging camp with no electricity, Gordon Long learned his storytelling in the traditional way: at his father's knee. He now spends his time editing, publishing, travelling, blogging and writing fantasy and social commentary, although sometimes the boundaries blur. Gordon lives in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, with his wife, Linda. When he is not writing and publishing, he works on projects with the Surrey Seniors' Planning Table, and is a staff writer for Indies Unlimited

Book preview

Standoff

Bianchi worked a while longer, and Barnabus didn’t need the gestalt to see that she was getting frustrated.

Finally, the Securicorps agent looked up. What are you staring at?

May I be of use?

Well, you can get that so-called security agent of yours in here to explain himself.

Certainly. He accessed the ship’s regular com. Specialist Campbell to the lab, please.

Soon the door opened, and Sinclair and Campbell strode in. Nicholas relaxed into his chair, but the Commando sat erect. You wished to speak to me, Major Bianchi?

"I did. I’m trying to access the Jerusalem ArIn, and I keep getting kicked out. Your name is all over the orders."

Sorry, ma’am. We gave you full access.

You most certainly did not.

I stand corrected. We gave you full access to view the memory. If you’re trying to go any further and you get refused, you’re breaking our security.

The agent tossed up her hands. That’s the point, Campbell. I am Security. I’m supposed to be able to access those files.

With due respect, ma’am, here we go again. If this was solely a Space Arm project, you would outrank me and you could, in most cases, override my security blocks. However...

I know, I know. The ambassador and the admiral and all that.

Do you wish me to contact them for clarification?

The security agent stared a moment into the calm face of the Commando. Then her eyes dropped. I don’t have time to wait around for communication.

He rose. Now, I need to know if you are finished your authorized assessment. My team would like to resume their important duties. May I escort you to your shuttle?

Bianchi scrabbled up her enterpad. I have everything I need. She squared her shoulders and stood at the head of the worktable facing them.

I have finished my investigation for the moment, and I must tell you, I am not satisfied.

Lieutenant Sinclair frowned. But we are making progress...

She cut him off with a negating hand, palm down. I’m not concerned about your supposed barwolf progress. It’s what you haven’t reported that concerns me.

What do you mean?

Your progress with Artificial Intelligence. I don’t believe that this powerful group of minds can make so much progress everywhere that doesn’t matter and accomplish so little where it counts. My conclusion is that you are not revealing your progress.

Again the hand stopped his protest. Your duplicity leads me to conclude that you are moving in a very dangerous direction. You leave me no choice. She placed her knuckles on the table and leaned forward. You tell me what’s really going on, or I will shut this dangerous program down right now.

Too Clever by a Zettabyte

Gordon A. Long

Published by

Airborn Press

4958 10A Ave, Delta, B. C.

V4M 1X8

Canada

Copyright Gordon A. Long

2023

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form without the express written permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-988898-42-1

eBook: 978-1-988898-43-8

Printed by Amazon

Cover Design by Gordon A. Long

Cover Image by Reinhardi on Pixabay

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Kate Sanborn, 1870

Contents

1. Breakup

2. Competency Test

3. ArIn Power

4. Project Security

5. The Consortium

6. A New Partner

7. Securicorps

8. Jerusalem’s Hope

9. On Board Jerusalem

10. Barwolf PLumbing

11. Escape

12. ArIn Choice

13. Arborea

14. Dr. Olafson

15. A New Intelligence

16. Who Cuts the Barber’s Hair?

17. Stick your Head in

18. Zuyeva’s Progress

19. Kindergarten Images

20. Cat and Mouse

21. Stone Wall

22. Intrusion

23. A Complex Mind

24. Asteroid Project

25. Too Cute

26. Combined Approach

27. A Movie Date

28. Into Otherwhere

29. A Meeting in Aether

30. Confrontation

31. New Mining Strategy

32. SOS

33. Official Warning

34. ArIn Tactics

35. Destroyer Tyrol

36. A New Recruit

37. The Path of Love

38. Reunion

39. High-Powered Help

40. A New Deal

41. Lost in Fog

42. Conference Call

Epilogue

About the Author

More from Gordon A. Long

1.  Breakup

I . Am. Pissed. Off ! Roselyn tossed down her enterpad and stamped a foot with each syllable. How can they do this to us, after everything we’ve done for them? I am soooo pissed off!

Barnabus had an idea how the scene in front of him was going to play out. It wasn’t the first time.

Ahem! came a small voice from behind her. I don’t think you’re supposed to use expressions like that, Rosy.

Red hair flying, the teacher spun and looked down into the big, round eyes of her ward. I’m not angry at you, Miriam, but I am very angry. And when you’re angry, it’s good for you to express it.

Unless you’re a seven-year-old, in which case you would get your mouth washed out with soap.

Roselyn sighed. To stop you from being bratty.

I’m not bratty. I’m cute. The little girl gave a quick curtsey and a totally fake smile. I can get away with all sorts of stuff.

Barnabus stayed out of this faceoff. Even a mildly Sensitive person like me can see that now is not the time for what I have to say to Roselyn. This has been coming for weeks. I can wait. He focused on the tech mag on his enterpad. Patience had always been his strong point.

Miriam, you are almost eight years old, and you are no longer cute. The scars from your cleft palate operation have completely disappeared, and people just laugh at me when I tell them you hardly spoke for the first six years of your life.

Nonsense. I’m Super-Sensitive. If people stop thinking I’m cute, I’ll know.

Don’t ever let people think you’re reading their minds, Miriam. Rosy knelt to meet the girl’s eyes. They hate that, and they would be afraid of you. You don’t want people to be afraid of you, believe me. It does weird things to their minds.

I know. You only told me seventeen times this week.

Roselyn tweaked the button nose. You seem to forget. I’m not your teacher anymore. I don’t have to be nice to you. I’m your guardian, and I must whip you into shape.

Says the most softest-hearted lady on the planet. The little brow furrowed. That’s a strange expression, isn’t it  ‘Most on the planet?’ I’ve never heard it anywhere else.

That’s because everywhere else you’ve ever been, wasn’t on a planet.

More frown. Now you’re trying to mix me up and change the subject.

That’s right. And it worked. Now, you run along. Barnabus has a serious and difficult thing to tell me, and we don’t need you chiming in.

He looked up. And you’re telling her not to give the impression she can read minds.

A scowl put him on task. He lowered his brows and stared at Miriam. You might as well stay, Twit-Girl. You’ve probably got the whole scene figured out in that twisted little mind of yours, anyway.

See? He gets to call me ‘Twit-Girl’ and you never bat an eye. ‘Twit Girl’ is not cute, and it’s not nice.

Emotion: Huge mental sigh. Image: humans playing ruggerball. Ball explodes into Emotion: pleasure.

Roselyn glanced over at the black barwolf lying on ones pad in the corner. We’re not playing games, Patches. This is not fun. It’s serious. Do something? Please?

Emotion: reluctant agreement. The dark figure eased to ones feet and nudged the little girl towards the door. Image: barwolf and Miriam playing ruggerball. Miriam knocks Patches to the ground, limbs flailing.

Emotion: giggle.

Before she closed the door, the victim popped her head back in. We’ll still be able to feel the whole thing, you know.

I know. That’s what it’s like to live with barwolves. Get used to it. She motioned the closing of a door. The door closed.

Roselyn sighed and went to sit beside him. Well, Barnabus, here we are.

He took her hand. But where are we, Rosy?

We love each other. That’s certain.

He nodded. Living with barwolves makes everything easy. You can’t hide your emotions for long. Even from a barely-Sensitive like me.

And it makes it hard, because we can’t pretend very long, either.

He shrugged miserably. But we both know it, so we have to make the break, don’t we?

We do. We aren’t going to settled down in a pleasant little house to make a pleasant little family of three and maybe more. We just don’t love each other that way.

I know. We were ‘just friends’ for too long, I guess.

Something like that. She shrugged miserably. Being Sensitive to what’s going on doesn’t mean I know why it’s happening.

And now is the right time, because they’re assigning the housing.

She patted his hand. Convenient, isn’t it? Then she frowned. And they want to send you off...

He put a finger over her lips. Different topic. Focus.

Right. I’m not mad at you, Barnabus.

I know.

But it’s much easier when there’s someone to blame.

He nodded, his mouth turning down. But there isn’t, and we aren’t going to try.

We aren’t anything.

We’re finished?

She sighed. I suppose.

And is that it?

Unless you want to have a big emotional scene and entertain the whole barwolf tribe and half the Sensitives on the base.

Huh! I’m not worried about them. I’m just not going to give Twit-Girl the satisfaction.

I’m with you, there. She turned to face him. She’s not becoming a problem, is she? What I said was true. What was cute in a six-year-old will be bratty when she’s eight.

No, she’s far too Sensitive to upset anyone. Unless she wants to, of course.

Is that a message for me?

Well, the people who know say that if a child gets the same response out of you over and over, that’s probably what the child wants.

She put on a frown. And where does an ArIn programmer learn something like that?

A teacher friend of mine told me.

Did she? She must have been very smart.

He assessed her expression. She used to be.

Roselyn batted his shoulder with the back of her hand. Now you’re trying to mix me up and change the subject.

Caught in the act as usual. He made a half-hearted try at looking disappointed. Then he squared his shoulders. There’s one thing more.

She raised her eyebrows.

I’ve been offered a job.

She sighed. I know. On the Orbital Habitat, maintaining the system programming. I don’t think that’s the kind of job you need right now. If you...

He held up a hand to stop her. It’s a different job. He grinned A real job. ArIn programming, I gather.

The smile that was forming faded. You gather?

They haven’t set the criteria yet. We were waiting for the Space Arm Artificial Intelligence Specialist to arrive from Sol. Now he’s at the embassy, and they sent for me. Abram and me, actually.

Both you and Abram? And you’re working for Space Arm? She seized both his hands in a firm grip. But that’s marvellous. She peered closer and dropped her voice. Are they paying you whole bunches of money?

He shrugged. Space Arm Technician’s scale plus bonuses. It all depends how well the project turns out.

So, what’s the project?

He shrugged. No idea. We’ve been asked to take the next available transport and report to the Science Branch lab on Embassy Station.

Wonderful! Her eyes glowed into his.

He gently pulled his hands away. It’s a big step, Rosy. I’m not sure I’m ready for this.

She grabbed again and shook firmly. Of course you are!

Well, yeah, but...

But what? This is exactly what you need, Barnabus Lantz. A chance to show everybody what you’re really worth.

He faked a chuckle. Yeah, maybe they’ll find out what I’m really worth, and I won’t be worth it.

Again, he stopped the predicted tirade. I’m sure I’ll do fine. But it’s the other matter I’m worried about.

What other matter?

The one we’re supposed to be talking about. I’ll be going to the embassy. I may be working there for quite a while. Who knows, maybe permanently. I know we’ve been talking about...well...going our separate ways, but now it’s happening. Right now. It’s real, Rosy. He regarded her closely, opening his Sensitivity to the nuances of her emotions, which washed over him.

After a moment, she calmed herself and sat straighter, her hands folded in her lap. Well, how are we going to handle this?

He grinned sadly. Same old Rosy. Take charge, keep everything under her control.

That’s right. That’s how I manage, even when things get difficult. So. How?

Nothing’s going to change much. I’ll be leaving in the next two weeks. It’s not like we’d moved in together or anything like that. We still have the same circle of friends.

She nodded. I’ll still be coming to you when I want to have a sane conversation.

And I’ll still be pretending to defend you. He grinned. So nobody knows how tough you are.

But we’ll have to stop hanging around together all the time.

Right. Only with the usual group. Abram’s been complaining I don’t spend any time with him.

Right. And we’ll have to keep an eye out for a girl for you. Somebody more appropriate. For when you come back.

Rosy!

She gave him the wide-eyed look that Miriam had just used. What?

You’re not in control of my life anymore, is what.

But we’re still friends, right? I just want to help.

And I’m not making detailed plans, right now. It’s a time to play it loose.

"Sure. What about one of the girls from Ark of the Covenant?"

He rolled his eyes. They’re all nice...

They were all nice to you. Even when they thought you and I were permanent.

I know. He gave a small grin. Which means they aren’t as nice as all that. No, there’s another problem. They’re all sort of...stodgy. Like the girls from our ship. He held up a defensive hand. Except for a few exceptions, of course.

Nice recovery. So, you’re looking outside the Union?

He sighed. Rosy, I don’t want you to feel bad about this. We were equally wrong, and we’re equally to blame.

I know that. She regarded him suspiciously. What is it you’re afraid to tell me?

I’m not afraid to tell you. I’m worried that you’ll take it wrong and assume the blame.

Barnabus. She shook her head. You’re in a village full of barwolves. I know you’re not that Sensitive, but surely you realize that with all the honesty floating around, nobody can take anybody the wrong way.

And you think your Sensitivity can solve all problems. I know better than that. You can tell it wrong even when the person knows you mean it right.

She flopped in the chair opposite him. Okay. Let’s put my Sensitivity aside. You’ve told me straight to my face that you don’t mean to hurt me. I’ve agreed that I believe you. Now tell me. What’s the gremlin in your code that is going to shatter my self-esteem?

You have such a direct way of summing things up. After all this kerfuffle, my great announcement is going to fall completely flat. Which is good, I suppose.

He shifted in his seat. It’s simple, Rosy. When I thought I was in love with you, I couldn’t consider anything but getting married, of being together for the rest of our lives. But now I’m not so sure I’m ready for that.

You’re not?

No. He leaned forward and took her hands. I’m twenty years old. I’m free to do what I want, go where my desires take me.

And marrying me would have closed a lot of doors.

He shook her hands gently. It would have. And I would have made the tradeoff gladly. But if that’s not to be, then I can’t help but realize that I’m free to take another course.

She frowned, staring into his eyes.

Before she could open her mouth, he held up a warning finger. And this is not a rationalization created because I am so broken up about losing you that I’m off women for the rest of my life.

The frown remained, but her lip quirked in a half smile. And who was telling whom a moment ago about not giving the impression of being a mind reader?

Well, that’s how it is with you Sensitives. It’s awfully easy to get to know you. You’re too honest.

That brought her up short. Are you saying that Sensitives are easy to manipulate because we broadcast our true emotions?

He shrugged. For those of us willing to make the effort. He held up the cautioning finger again. And I am not attacking your personality to get my revenge on you. We have an agreement, and you’re not going down that path.

She tossed up both hands. You’re impossible to argue with.

Because I refuse to argue. He grinned. And Twit-Girl is picking up nothing but your frustration for something she has no way of understanding.

Be thankful for small mercies.

Oh, and one more favour I’ve done for you today. You have no reason to be pissed off anymore. The Powers That Be can send me anywhere they want, and I can freely obey them, because I no longer have any responsibilities downplanet.

You are going, then?

Even Barnabus could feel the ache in her heart. Yes, dear. This project involves Artificial Intelligence research. For some reason they’ve latched on to Abram and me, and they want us to do the programming.

She frowned. The reason is that you’re great ArIn programmers.

Thank you, and I’m sure I’ll find out what the real reason is after it’s too late to back out. But I’m going to work on ArIn programming, which is my field, and I’m pretty happy about that.

"Do you have any other idea what you’ll be studying?

Anyone who has seen Otherwhere through the senses of a barwolf can understand that the religion we were brought up in was founded on an error. It turns out there are all sorts of ways of interpreting and accessing the invisible forces in the universe, and I’m sure we’ll find more as we go along. That’s why I’m interested in this job.

She sat beside him. You never told me any of this.

He wrinkled his eyebrows. It wasn’t a preferred topic of conversation.

Now it is. Tell me.

"Not much to tell. Space Arm scientists are interested in creating a way for non-Sensitives to communicate with and understand Otherwhere. Freighty uses a rudimentary method to run his Pony Express supra-light communication system. Space Arm wants their ArIns to be part of the equation. That’s all they’ve told us. I hear the guy that just got here is one of their top men on the project, but they need people to do the pick-and-shovel work. The basic programming.

Don’t they have their own programmers?

"Not in the Outback. The research has to be here with the barwolves. It’s because of the Space Swimmer incident last year. Somewhere, somebody found out that people from Jerusalem’s Hope have more than normal experience with barwolf communication and Otherwhere media. We’re available, we’re cooperative, and we also have personal contact with the downplanet situation and the barwolves. They want us at the embassy ASAP, and there’s a ship passing that way sometime next week. I guess I’m on it."

She smiled. Well, I don’t pretend to understand it, but I’m sure you’ll do fine.  

I don’t expect to understand it, either. I’m no genius, but I can be part of the team.

She slapped him on the shoulder. And I know you’ll find a way to be more helpful than anybody expects.

He grinned back. From your mouth to the ears of the gods.

As we were just saying, there’s no metaphysics involved. It’s up to you. Get out there and succeed.

He stood and saluted. Yes, ma’am.

She stood, regarding him. And if you need any help, just remember you have a big support network downplanet here.

And if I can find any way to use it, I’ll be happy to include you all in my successes!

They turned toward the door, and he resisted his habit of tucking an arm around her waist.

There was an awkward pause, and then she stepped outside. Let’s go find Miriam and tell her the news. As if she didn’t already know.

2.  Competency Test

Barnabus glanced across the battered lab table at Abram, who gave him a twisted grin. Then he scanned the rest of the Science Branch Electronics Lab. Grey walls, empty equipment lockers, metal furniture and a stack of luggage. Do I want to spend the next ten years of my life here?

To his left sat a stocky woman in her mid-twenties, dressed in Commando utility wear. She looked competent and relaxed, and he wondered what she was doing there. He also wondered why she had a heavy clasp knife, its blade open, lined up precisely with the side of her enterpad.

She gave him a grin. Be on time and ready to wait. You’re working for the military, now.

He raised his eyebrows. Any idea what’s going on?

I assume that we’re here together because we’re working on this project, but I’m not speculating. Waste of good thinking time.

Don’t let me waste your thinking time with idle chatter.

She waved a negating hand. No bother. Chat is an essential part of team building.

The efficient type, are you?

See? You learned something about me already.

Okay, tit for tat. You’re a Commando. Abram and I are ArIn programmers, arrived in Barnard System a year ago. We’ve worked with barwolves, so we’re on this project.

She winked across the table at Abram. And you’re the strong, silent type, I suppose.

Barnabus sputtered with suppressed laughter. Yeah, silent, that’s Abram.

His friend merely smiled.

Her response was interrupted by the door slamming open. A well-built young man with a blond military haircut and pale complexion strode in and came to a halt facing them. He wore a lab coat over a Spacer’s uniform with officer’s bars on the collar.

The Commando sprang to attention and saluted. Sergeant Kirstin Zuyeva, reporting for duty, sir.

He returned the salute but waved the hand on its way down to prevent the other two from rising. No military protocol here, Zuyeva. We’re in Science Branch, now. This pair probably don’t even know how to salute.

Abram grinned. Would you like me to demonstrate my ineptitude, sir?

The lieutenant sighed. No, I imagine we’ll have plenty of opportunity for ineptitude later. Sit down, Sergeant, and let’s get to know each other.

Barnabus remembered how Rosy dealt with this sort of situation. Straightforward and to the point. Lieutenant, sir, if you have a problem with our competence, now would be the time to get that out of the way.

The Spacer regarded him. You’d be Barnabus Lantz, programmer. I apologize for my choice of words, Mr. Lantz. It was meant to be a joke, but it didn’t come out that way. None of this is a joke. He turned to Abram. And you are Abram Miller. According to your file, the senior programmer.

There was a pause.

And I’m Commando Sergeant Kristin Zuyeva, as you already know, and my skill is killing people.

The blond man raised his eyebrows. Hence the knife?

There was a flurry of fingers, a click, and the weapon disappeared. No, sir. Call it a security blanket.  She regarded him. And you are Technical Specialist Lieutenant Dr. Nicholas Sinclair, newly arrived from Space Arm SciBees, Sol Branch, to run this project. She turned to the other two. Tech Specialists are usually non-commissioned officers, but he’s a PhD and he’s in charge, so he’s a Lieutenant. Hence the long handle.

Barnabus grinned. Thank you, Sergeant. That’s very clear.

I like to keep things straight.

How did you know all that? The subject of their conversation eyed the Commando suspiciously.

The Barnard Embassy is a small station full of people whose main task is information gathering. It wasn’t hard.

The tech frowned. Well, don’t go spreading it around.

Barnabus watched with dismay. This whole thing is running off the rails before it even starts.