Daniel Suarez - Influx

It occurred to Grady that her beauty might be more of a weapon than he thought—disarming him. But he managed to scrape together his wits as she approached.

“Do you know how many people died last year of starvation, Mr. Grady?”

“Not precisely, but I’d guess a lot.”

“The answer is just over one million. And do you know how many died of diseases associated with obesity?”

He shook his head.

She stopped just a couple of feet in front of him. “Well over three million.”

She was actually quite intimidating. Taller than she seemed and projecting a confidence that seemed unassailable.

“I’ve seen your type many times. You do realize that ‘limitless energy’ would cause the human population to increase by an order of magnitude.” She spoke over her shoulder at someone. “Varuna, bring up fusion scenario six.”

A disembodied voice spoke: “Of course, Alexa.”

Suddenly a crystal clear three-dimensional holographic projection of the Earth appeared above the conference table. It looked almost real—not translucent but solid. Cities of the world showed as glowing networks of light stretching down the coasts of most continents. The current year appeared in one corner. It was a startlingly realistic display.

Alexa stared at Grady. “Execute simulation.”

“Executing.”

The year started incrementing in one-second intervals as the Earth changed. Alexa narrated, without even looking at the image of Earth just behind her. “From the first decade cheap fusion energy appears, population levels and city densities increase. Within twenty years trillions of additional Btu have been pumped into the atmosphere. Although fossil fuel use drops sharply, abundant energy means industrial processes increase. Industrialized society drastically expands, along with manufacture of complex molecules and inorganic wastes. Human population continues to spike, with eight billion people living a modern consumer lifestyle by the year 2050…”

The simulation showed cities growing into several massive hundred-mile-wide hubs. Blinding conglomerations of light.

“With the added heat in the atmosphere, ocean levels rise. Deforestation occurs as climate fluctuates rapidly. Earth’s ecosystem becomes destabilized and most other species along with it—a vast food chain on which humanity depends for survival. Foundational species go extinct. Algal blooms cloud the oceans. Runaway greenhouse effect…”

Grady studied the very realistic animation as the atmosphere turned opaque. A runaway greenhouse effect began to swallow humanity—all within a century.

“The wealthy move to orbit. The rest of humanity perishes.”

Grady took a deep breath. “Okay. Well, I’d like to see the data behind this model.”

Alexa’s eyes bored into him. “It’s based on four hundred million petabytes of meteorological, sociological, and economic data. If I gave it to you, it would take you forty million years to read through it. So I hope you brought your eyeglasses.”

“Ah. Maybe a summary then.”

“Like I said: I’ve seen your type before, Mr. Grady. Scientists convinced their innovations are going to ‘save’ the human race. Did you ever stop to ask yourself what would happen if your antigravity technology were set loose upon the world? Do you realize the impact it would have on society?” Alexa again barked over her shoulder. “Varuna, load antigravity scenario three.”

“Yes, Alexa.”

The Earth reset, this time showing transportation routes of the world, along with the nations of the world as height maps for economic strength.

“Execute simulation.”

“Executing.”

“Jon Grady, the great innovator. The man who would give his knowledge to all humanity. How generous of you to share your brilliance with us all.”

Grady watched as complex transportation networks of ships, aircraft, and railroad networks disappeared in just a few years, dispersing into a vastly more complex network. Major transit hub cities fell into decline. National gross domestic product numbers lurched around, affected by the resulting economic chaos.

Alexa yet again narrated, apparently having committed this simulation to memory, too. “Transportation, travel, shipping, security, manufacturing—hundreds of industries worldwide drastically reshaped, some erased, overnight. The economic impact would devastate the livelihoods of hundreds of millions—every airport in the world, every airline, harbor, and railroad network, and all the industries dependent upon them suddenly obsolete. Border security. Personal security. Economic chaos—”

“Okay, I get it. But I think you’re painting a worst-case scenario.” He sighed wearily and looked to Hedrick. “I guess I hadn’t thought through the consequences of my work. But I still say you’re being pessimistic.”

Alexa folded her arms. “These models have successfully predicted much more than this.”

Grady considered this. “All right. Okay…”

Hedrick smiled warmly. “Then you’ll join us?”

Grady pondered it and finally nodded again. “Yes, I guess I am interested to see what other advances might speed my research along.”

“Mr. Grady is lying.” The voice came from the ceiling somewhere. It was the same disembodied voice that Alexa had spoken to.

Hedrick looked disappointed. “Thank you, Varuna.”

Alexa looked unsurprised.

Hedrick focused a less friendly gaze on Grady. “Jon, did you really think you could deceive us? There is no ‘lying’ to the BTC.”

Grady looked at the walls and ceiling. “Is that really an AI talking?”

“It’s our bureau interface, and never mind what it is—I’m concerned that Varuna says you’re being untruthful.”

Grady spoke to the ceiling and Hedrick both. “I’m not lying. Look, I want to have a chance to continue my work.” He gestured to the projection of the Earth. “It’s obvious that I haven’t the analytical power to assess the effects of gravity modification on society.”

“Mr. Grady, you are dissembling. Near-infrared readings of the activity in your occipital and frontal lobes demonstrate deceit-related latency.”

Alexa, Hedrick, and Morrison stared at him.

He shook his head. “This ‘Varuna’ thing is wrong.”

Alexa scowled. “Bigotry isn’t appreciated here, Mr. Grady.”

“In plain language, Mr. Grady: It takes humans longer to deceive than to tell the truth. When responding to external stimuli, humans require an average of eight hundred milliseconds to reach what’s termed ‘readiness potential’—meaning a decision. Approximately zero-point-zero-five seconds later a second surge of electrical activity implements that decision. Throughout your visit today, your brain required an average of six hundred six milliseconds to reach readiness potential. Your recent statements required almost twice that interval.”

Hedrick pointed to the ceiling. “We are primitive things, Jon. Our biological systems are well understood.”

Finally Grady took a deep breath. “All right. Okay. You win.” He looked to Alexa. “Spare me the sermon about how I’m egotistical. The BTC controls advanced technology. You’re putting yourselves in a position to technologically dominate humanity. That’s what this is about, and I don’t want any part of it. I’d rather burn my research than work for you.”

Alexa turned to Hedrick and Morrison. Hedrick nodded to her. “Thank you, Alexa. I appreciate you trying.”

She gave Grady one last look. “I consider it a personal failing that I was unable to convince you. Because, unlike you, I wasn’t lying. Those simulations have accurately predicted the spread of the Internet. Free markets. Drug-resistant bacteria. And much more you don’t know about.” Alexa started to walk away. “Sooner or later you’re going to realize we’re right, Mr. Grady. For everyone’s sake, I hope it’s sooner.” In a moment she slipped out through a side door, leaving Grady alone with Morrison and Hedrick.