Trans-Human (Post-Human Sequel) by David Simpson Read Free Book Online Page A

won’t have any use for the megalomaniacal program that used to operate it.”
    “Are you talking about me or you?”
    “We’re in this together,” James said. “You know it and I know it. So let’s cut the bull. You’ve got a plan that you’re working on to survive. What is it?”
    “My plan is to join with it, James—to embrace it.”
    “You’re lying—as usual.”
    The A.I. smiled.
    Suddenly, an electronic voice spoke.
    “End your hostilities immediately. Our intentions are peaceful.”
    “Congratulations, James Keats,” the A.I. said after a long silence. “You are about to become the first human to communicate with an alien life form—you can add that to a resume that already includes being the first human to ever kill an alien life form.”

22
    “If they are communicating directly with us then that means you gave away our location,” James realized.
    “Of course I did. They were to be my invited guests,” the A.I. replied.
    “That is strategic information that they simply cannot have,” James said as he ignored the alien’s attempt to open lines of communication.
    “Aren’t you going to answer them, James?” the A.I. asked, amused. “After all, they’ve said that they come in peace. You’re being very rude.”
    “They just killed tens of millions of people,” James retorted.
    “Did they?” the A.I. asked, arching his eyebrow mockingly. “Well, I’d wager you killed a great deal more of them first.”
    “That was their attempt at diversion and we both know it,” James asserted.
    “Your delusions continue,” said the A.I., throwing his head back and smiling as he enjoyed the unfolding of the game.
    “We’re going to have to move,” James said.
    “What?” the A.I. reacted immediately, the smile suddenly vanishing.
    “We’re moving the mainframe,” James repeated as he continued to make trillions of operational decisions at every moment.
    “You’re not going to try to use the nans to do that, are you?” the A.I. asked, intrigued.
    “It’s the only way.”
    “You’re showing your desperation now,” the A.I. smiled.
    “The silicon based mainframe we’ve been using for the A.I. database is unnecessary,” James replied. “The nans are organic—carbon based. That means if we transfer the database into a closed off network of nans we can disguise the physical mainframe as anything we want and become undetectable. It’s a good move. Admit it.”
    The A.I. reserved judgement for the moment. “The organic transistors allowed for microscopic computers built molecule by molecule—a valuable asset to have obviously—but the reason the mainframe has always remained silicon is because it remains a better vehicle for carrying transistor signals. The nans will be slower and less reliable. That means you will be slower and less reliable.”
    “You know there is a solution for that,” James smiled.
    The A.I.’s expression went blank. “You wouldn’t.”
    “We can overcome the efficiency problem by simply making the network of nans that much larger and therefore more powerful. Brute force.”
    “You would need hundreds of square kilometers of space...”
    “The whole planet is being evacuated. We have all the space in the world—literally.”
    The A.I.’s expression revealed his surprise. “Where are we going?”
    “We already went,” James announced. “ Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island. I added a few thousand massive old growth trees—trees that just happen to be nans disguised as carbon lifeforms. It’s protected land—no people living there and no reason for the aliens to look for us there either.”
    “A computerized forest,” the A.I. replied.
    “A disguise to buy us more time.”
    “You’re thinking grows more efficient and calculated by the moment. What a wonderful computer you’re becoming,” the A.I. observed with his sadist’s grin.

23
    Rich stood with most of his family and watched the Earth getting smaller in the distance as billions of