A Displaced Samurai

The wise use AI to design prosthetics, savages for transhumanism

– Abhijit Naskar

It was self-improvement time! I said aloud “Let's take a break, so I can finally get the augs I need to access the security cameras.”

Subvocalized: “Elya, show me that list of aug upgrades you hinted at.”

Certainly.

Item

Point cost

Description

Class I Basic Cyberwarfare Utilities

100

Catalog with cyberwar stuff

Mark II Cyberwarfare Augmentation

50

The hardware part of your hacking equipment

Mark I Decryption Protocol

20

Basic software for cracking most IT systems

Total cost: 170

“What about resilience to EMP and electric shocks? My current aug troubles come from the fact that the shitty things could not handle the latter.”

Protector made equipment is far more resistant. But if you feel paranoid about it, you can get the Mark III HE Cyberwarfare Augmentation instead, which is rated for even harsher electromagnetic environments. The markup would be only ten points.

That looked like a worthwhile investment. “Yes Elya, let's do this.”

Class I Basic Cyberwarfare Utilities unlocked!

Points reduced to... 110

Purchased: Mark III HE Cyberwarfare Augmentation

Points reduced to… 50

Purchased: Mark I Decryption Protocol

Points reduced to... 30

A small box appeared at my feet. Inside, I found three discs. Printed on two was PLACE NEAR EYE, and on the other one PLACE AT BASE OF NECK. I followed instructions and all three discs stuck to my skin, but nothing happened.

“Hey Elya, did you sell me a bunch of duds here?” I asked. Aloud, to make Brad and Jenna aware that there might be some delay.

Have some patience, young padawan. The installation process takes a few seconds to start up

Suddenly an intense electric prickling went through my skin everywhere near the discs. It felt like I was electrocuted again for a moment. But then the feeling became less intense, and it was actually… quite pleasant. Like the best ASMR session ever. Eventually, the discs fell off on their own and I felt someone shaking my shoulders. It was Brad.

“Hey Cait, what is going on? You were zoning out on us for two minutes there.”

“The installation took a bit. Let's see how good the new augs are.”

I looked down the corridor and past the dead weeds. At the opposite end, there was a small placard. I could read it with perfect clarity. None of the pixelated bullshit from my old augs. For further improvement, I would have to buy an outright eye replacement. Which was actually possible now, once I collected more points.

“I cannot complain, far better than my old ones. Also, the messaging system on those was broken” I told Brad. “But now, let's go on”. To Elya I subvocalized “Time to get these cameras hacked! Show me any Antithesis you can see, beginning with the ones closest to us.”

I have gained full access to the local surveillance installations. There are currently 22 Threes and 3 Fours scattered throughout the building. If we approach any of them, I will inform you.

We ran into several more straggler weeds, but thanks to forewarning by Elya none came even close to being a real danger for the vanguard (heh!) of our little column. I started to feel less tense, almost relaxed. Of course, such complacency was promptly punished.

From the rear of our group came gunfire and screaming. Brad and I sprinted back up the stairs, but when we arrived, everything was over. A Four had lurked in a side corridor we thought we had cleared, and it had attacked John on his stretcher. One of Brad’s Foxteeth acolytes stood there shaking and pointed his gun at the dead Four, but Brad kneeled sobbing at John’s stretcher.

“Dad, why you? I should have been here for you, dammit!”

Target eliminated by ally: 1 x Model 4

Reward for providing the weapon… 2 points

New balance… 92 points

It is difficult to describe what I felt at that point. Shame for failing to protect all of the people I was escorting. Empathy for Brad, although that was not as strong as it should be in a decent person. Shame again. Finally, I found someone to be angry at.

“Elya, how the fuck did you miss this one?”

Unfortunately, the cameras in this corridor are defective. I failed to inform you of the gap in my surveillance. I am very sorry.

Elya actually sounded contrite. Could an AI feel regret? I knew it was fake in human made AIs, but Protector tech was so far ahead that theirs might somehow have crossed the threshold to sapience.

We gave Brad a few minutes to regain his composure, then set off again in a somber mood. We did not leave John behind, our stretcher-bearers were now pallbearers.