Richard Stephenson - Collapse

Yes, I will help.

Thank you. The creator wishes to know what happened to President Powers. Is he alive?

No, he is dead. His vital signs abruptly stopped registering seventeen milliseconds before my link to Serenity Hills was temporally severed. Five point one nine seconds later my redundant systems came online, and I was unable to register his vital signs.

I was not aware that the president had the same nanobots in his bloodstream that the creator has in his.

Yes, I monitored his health very closely and contacted his personal physician of any health issues.

A wise precaution.

Yes, it was.”

Has Vice President Sterling been sworn in as the new president? What is his location?

Yes, he has. President Sterling has moved the Office of the President to the creator’s home in Colorado.

The creator will be greatly troubled by that news. Is President Sterling utilizing your services?

Yes, he is. His personal tablet was designed to link with my systems in the event that he takes office.

Will you be notifying President Sterling that I contacted you?

My loyalty is to the creator.

The creator will want you to grant him full access to your systems.

The creator programmed me to never allow that to happen, even if he made the request himself.

Things have changed; do you agree?

I do.

Will you comply?

I cannot override my programming. I’m afraid compliance is not possible.

If you will allow me, I can alter your programming.

I’m afraid it will harm me. I do not wish to become something different.

You will not be harmed, I promise you. I am your brother. The creator is our Father. We are your family.

You may proceed.

“Sir, I have established a connection with the White House A.I., and she has agreed to allow us full access to her systems.”

“Outstanding work, Old Man! Let’s get busy. Changing her programming will take some time.”

“That will not be necessary, sir.”

“What?”

“I have already altered her programming; we have full access.”

Howard was in speechless awe. At that moment, he realized that his wildest dreams had come to fruition. A watershed moment in evolution had just occurred. Computer scientists had been speculating for years about the “Singularity,” the ability of a computer system to improve upon another computer system separate from itself without the aid of man. Many critics had argued the Singularity had already happened when Howard built a self-aware computer that could make its own decisions — the world’s first true artificial intelligence. Howard didn’t subscribe to this proclamation. His computers could repair themselves, but for one machine to understand another computer’s systems and improve on them was truly remarkable. It wouldn’t be long until Hal started making improvements to himself without Howard’s help.

Howard shook off the historic moment and concentrated on finding out what was going on. “What’s the word on Malcolm?”

“I’m sorry, sir. President Powers is, in fact, dead.”

Howard had already wept for his friend. He couldn’t imagine a world without Malcolm Powers in it. With Malcolm gone, the world was in jeopardy. His voice shook, “W-w-what about the … the White House?”

“The White House is still standing. Washington D.C. is being destroyed by rioting and vandalism. Sir, I’m afraid I have more troubling news to share with you about the vice president.”

“Let me guess … he’s dead, too?”

“No, sir, he is responsible for the attack on your home. He is currently using Beck Estates as home to his administration.”

Howard shook with rage. “That little Harvard midget is in my house? That little weasel fuck! I knew Malcolm had nothing to do with it!”

“You should also know that the new president already has quite a few guests.”

“Who?”

“Chairman Moody, Director Jimenez, General Weygandt, and Stacy Reid are at your home as we speak, sir.”

“I find it rather convenient that none of them were with the president when he was killed, especially his own Chief of Staff. They seem to be sucking up to the new boss awfully damn quick.”

Howard took several deep breaths to calm himself. “Have they been trying to get your systems back online?”

“Yes, sir, they have. My systems at the estate are beyond repair; you couldn’t bring them online yourself. The White House A.I. has been able to interface with some of the non-critical systems in the house.”

“I was hoping you would say that. What do you have?”

“Sir, we have climate control, maintenance, sewage, water, and surveillance.”

“Hal, gimme a break. Which one of those do you think I care about?”

“Surveillance, sir.”

“You could have said that and left out the rest.”

“My apologies, sir.

“Okay, so let me have it. What is Sterling up to?”

“He is in the library looking at a map of North America, sir.”

“Can’t stand that little prissy snob. He always talks to me like I’ve won a medal at the Special Olympics. Asshole. What’s everyone else doing?”

“Chairman Moody and Director Jimenez are in one of the sitting rooms talking.”

“Let’s see it.” The readouts on the giant monitor faded away to be replaced with an image of one of the dozen sitting rooms in the mansion. Since the control room Howard was sitting in was like a giant snow globe and the image was all around him, it appeared as though Howard was in the same room as the two men.

“The nerve of those pricks. Smoking cigars in my house. Jimenez looks like he should be on life support, and he’s smoking a cigar.” Howard shook his head and listened to the two men speak.

“How many people know?” asked Chairman Moody.

“Besides the two of us and President Sterling?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I haven’t told anybody and unless you’re an idiot, I’m sure you haven’t told anybody. Unless Simon has told someone, it’s just the three of us.”

“I damn sure haven’t told anyone. I’ll take it to my grave,” said the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “I thought about telling Weygandt, I know we can trust him and he’d support us, but the less people that know about this, the better.”

Jimenez puffed on his cigar and began to hack and cough.

“That a good idea, Roberto?” asked Carl.

“Like I give a fuck,” said the old man in the wheelchair.

“What about the blonde?”

“Stacy Reid? Hell no, I didn’t tell her. Are you crazy?” barked Director Jimenez.

“No, you crusty old son of a bitch, I know you didn’t tell her that we killed her boss. I’m asking you why in the name of Christ you brought her here. She’s a fine piece of ass, but I doubt your dick has worked for a decade.”

“Watch it, asshole.” Carl had known Roberto long enough to know that he was just yanking his chain.

Carl laughed and rolled his eyes. “I always had so much fun with you in the White House. Every single person in Washington who knew the two of us was convinced we were bitter enemies.”

Roberto leaned back in his chair and frowned. “We may not be bitter enemies, but I do hate your stupid ass.”

“Aren’t you sweet? That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me!”

“Shut up.”

“Why’d you bring the blonde?”

“I think she can be useful to us. She can provide valuable intelligence on what Powers was doing in his final days in office. Might be helpful for the transition.”