Ted Harris Unleashing Janus

8/12/2019 Ted Harris Unleashing Janus

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@The hotos are !or #using and #is$hie!. Are you good at laying se$ret agent

little boyC

@- a# not little% said Josh.

@Travis has your si)e listed as a little belo& average.

@He is a liar 5here are the sitesC They need to be revised

@ al# do&n% it &as a *o"e.

@4n a #an s s$ale this is no trivial #atter% gru#bled Josh.

@5ell% regardless% no& you get a $han$e to lay se$ret agent% said Ale'.

Josh stared into Ale' s eye. @+o#eone else told #e that.@5ho% TravisC

@Just a little #an &ho !li ed #e o!!.

@5ell% get ready. Ti#e !or $rude *o"es are over. 5al" this &ay% dee er into the

Tenderloin% said Ale'.

@Ho& about &e *ust tal" to the#C

Ale' laughed loudly. @The t&o deaths you #entioned $onvin$e #e that &ould

not be a good idea. - do not lan to be ne't. Are you &ith #eC

@5e $ould go the $o s% o!!ered Josh.

@ ither you are &ith #e or you $an go !u$" yoursel!% sna ed Ale' seriously.

@The only reason - a# still tal"ing &ith you is Travis sent you. 3ou #ust have so#e

(uality he thin"s &ill hel #e.

@5hy are they a!ter youC Be$ause o! the rotestsC

Ale' said nothing.

@Thro& #e a bone and - &ill hel you.

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Josh loo"ed ba$" at the t&o #en then as"ed% @5hat is your lanC

@Not getting $aught% said Ale' &ith a s#ile. +he ran a$ross the street dodging

tra!!i$. Driver s hon"ed their horns and shout ro!anities. Ale' #errily !li ed the# o!!

banging on the hood o! one $ar.

Josh loo"ed behind hi# and sa& Thing 4ne and Thing T&o bris"ly &al"ing

to&ards the#. They &al"ed &ith a nervous energy> they &ere des erate. He sighed>

inde$ision gri ed his #ind. The $onne$tion bet&een Travis% Ale'% the hundred and

Janus haunted hi#. Janus &as #u$h #ore than a rogra#> it &as so#ething else. But%

&as Janus &orth his $areer% his good na#e% and ossible his li!eC Ale' &as his "ey tounderstanding. He &at$hed Ale' as she sli ed a&ay. a$h ste she too" &as la$ed

!ir#ly and re$isely. +he &al"ed &ith arrogan$e% &ith $o# lete $on!iden$e. +oon% she

&ould be !orever out o! his rea$h and he &ould be ba$" trying to de$i her Travis $ry ti$

*o"es and ut,do&ns. Josh too" o!! a!ter Ale'.

Ale' &al"ed bris"ly through the $ro&ded streets. The night &as $o#ing and the

dar"ness (ui$"ly $losed in.

Thing 4ne and Thing T&o s lit u % ta"ing both sides o! the street. They &ere

very $lose no&% &ithin shooting range. Ale' ste ed out into the tra!!i$ in !ront o! a ta'i.

The ta'i $a#e to halt> it &as o$$u ied. +he s&i!tly got into the ta'i. Josh hastily and

a&"&ardly got in on the other side.

Thing one !ranti$ally tried to &ave do&n a $ab. Thing t&o started running

to&ards the ta'i.

@5hat is your storyC as"ed Ale' &ith a s#ile to a $ou le s(uished bet&een

hersel! and Josh.

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@HeyC 5hat s your roble# assholesC gro&led the $abbie.

4ther $ars began to hon".

@6reen light% said Ale'.

@- a# not #oving% said the $abbie% @till you get your asses out o! #y $ar

@Ho& about i! you $onsider the guy running to&ards us &ith a gunC as"ed Ale'.

5ith horror in his eyes the $abbie loo"ed behind hi# to see Thing T&o running

to&ards hi# &ith a gun. @+hit% e'$lai#ed the $abbie. @-s he a $o C

@5ouldn t he be yelling sto oli$e C as"ed Ale'. @- a# a dealer he is #y

su lier and - *ust !u$"ed hi# over.Thing T&o &as three !eet !ro# the $ab. His eyes lit u &ith the e'$ite#ent o! his

$hase al#ost $o#ing to a $lose. He ai#ed his gun at to&ards Ale'.

@- ho e you "no& ho& to get blood stains out o! this ba$" seat% said Ale'

bluntly.

The $abbie !loored the $ab and ra$ed errati$ally through the interse$tion. He s ed

aggressively ast a $ar in !ront o! hi#% $ontinuously blaring his horns as he drove. At the

end o! the ne't blo$" he sla##ed on his brea"s and bello&ed% @6et out

@Than"s% said Ale' as she le!t the ta'is. Josh *u# ed out and the ta'i s ed a&ay

(ui$"ly s$ree$hing its tires as it &ent. The $ou le in the ba$" seat stared out !ro# the $a

&ith loo"s o! $o# lete $on!usion.

@5e are not going to lose the# this &ay% said Josh. @5hat is your lanC

Ale' said nothing but gave Josh a disgusted stare then darted a$ross the street

again.

@-n here% said Ale'. -t &as a leather gay bar. Nu#erous #us$ular #en in leather

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$lothing stared longing at Josh &hen they entered. 4ne ble& a "iss at hi#. Josh s#iled

#ee"ly ba$".

Ale' ulled her hat do&n and $o ed an attitude. +he &ent u to bar. @A bun$h

o! $ree s out today% she gro&led at the bartender. @These t&o #en "ee thin"ing - a# a

rostitute or so#ething.

The bartender s#iled and $ontinued to $lean a glass. @5hat &ill you have Ale'C

@5his"y sour% said Ale'.

@5hat else &ould you haveC said the bartender to Josh in a very !riendly voi$e.

@U#% sta##ered Josh.Thing 4ne and Things T&o then entered the bar.

@+hit% said Ale'. @They !ollo&ed #e in here.

The bartender &at$hed the# $losely as they #ade their &ay to&ards Ale'.

@- don t "no& &hat you guys are a!ter% said Ale' angrily% @but - &ant none o! it.

@+hut u % gro&led the blond #an.

@ o#e &ith us% de#anded the dar" hair #an as he grabbed Ale'.

@These #en are atta$"ing #e s$rea#ed Ale'. @5hat do you &antC - a# not

that ty e o! girl

The blond #an sla ed Ale'.

Josh stood in !ront o! Ale' and the dar" hair #an ulled out a gun.

The blond hair #an said% @8a"e this easy.

The dar" #an added% @/ee your $ool. veryone *ust "ee your $ool.

A huge #an in bla$" leather &al"ed u to the dar",hair #an% @5hy are you

bothering herC He had a in" triangle tattooed a$ross his throat and bi$e s bigger in

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&idth than his head.

The blond #an said% @None o! your business.

@Are you $o sC as"ed the #an.

@5e are none o! your $on$ern% gro&led the dar",hair #an.

@-! you are not $o s let her go no&% de#anded the leather $lad #an.

@Ba$" o!! gay guy% sna ed the dar",hair #an. He then !ell to the !loor

un$ons$ious% blood tri$"ling !ro# his nose. The blond #an then &as grabbed !ro#

behind and hit over the head &ith a bottle be!ore $olla sing ne't to the dar" hair #an.

Ale' ut a t&enty on the bar and said% @Than"s Ti#. -! - never see you again you&ere the best bartender - have ever had. Ale' do&ned the &his"ey sour. +he then

grabbed the dar" hair #an s handheld and ran out o! the bar.

Josh rushed out a!ter her.

@Just "ee running till - say it is sa!e% said Ale' to Josh. @3ou are in #y &orld

no&.

-n a dirty $a!O bet&een +outh o! 8ar"et and the 8ission Distri$t Josh and Ale'

$aught their breath. -t &as $overed in gang gra!!iti and had dogs running around !reely

inside. 8ost o! the atrons loo"ed one arty a&ay !ro# graduating !ro# re$reational

drug users to hard,$ore *un"ies. At least t&o #en stared longingly at Josh and Ale'.

Josh did not "no& i! they lusted a!ter hi#% Ale' or both. Ale' ignored the#.

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@Ho& did you "no& - &as a roa$hedC as"ed Josh.

Ale' s#iled then said% @3ou have a !righten but still gro&ling u y loo" to you.

Also% &hy &ould you $o#e loo"ing !or #e unless so#ething bad ha enedC

@Ho& do you "no& - a# not &ith the#C

@Again% said Ale' &ith a s#ile% @you have that adorable u y !eel. +he &in"ed

at hi# sedu$tively.

@3ou are #ore trusting o! #e than - thought% said Josh.

@Ho& do you "no& - &as not told to be trustingC as"ed Ale'. @Ho& do you this

is not so#e lan% h##C@U##% - thin" it is #ore li"ely be$ause you are stunned by #y good loo"s.

@Ho& do you "no& - li"e #enC

@3ou dated Travis.

@All the #ore reason to sus e$t - li"e &o#en no&% said Ale'.

A!ter a #o#ent Josh said% @True.

@9inish u your $o!!ee% said Ale'. @5e should hit the road.

@5here tooC

@+o#e la$e un leasant o! $ourse% said Ale' &ith a s#ile. @ ets go.

As they e'it the $a!O a ho#eless #an held u a $u % begging !or $hange. Ale'

loo"ed at the #an !or a #o#ent then s#iled. @6ive #e you $redit $ards% she de#anded.

@5hatC

@ o#e on (ui$"ly

@5hyC as"ed Josh.

@Just do it i! you &ant to lose Thing 4ne and Thing T&o as you $all the#.

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Josh gave her a $redit $ard &ith great tre idation.

Ale' gave the# to ho#eless lus her o&n% @+ end &isely% she said. @And s end

the# !ar a&ay !ro# here.

@5hat theK

Ale' ulled Josh a&ay and said% @Thin"% distra$tion% rouge trails. -t gives us

!reedo# to use one o! our o&n i! &e need to as a last resort% o! $ourse.

@But that is #y #oney% &hined Josh.

@+urely a night out on the to&n &ith #e is &orth your $redit $ard li#it% sna ed

Ale'.@- have (uite a $redit li#it% said Josh.

@+o% &hy did you $o#e hereC 5hy did you $o#e sear$hing !or #eC as"ed Ale'.

Josh said nothing.

@There are #any reasons that $ould drive a #an to !ollo& #e the &ay your are%

said Ale'% @but there are very !e& that - a# $o#!ortable &ith.

@- &as &orried% - a# &orried.

@About &hoC as"ed Ale'. @Travis% #e% your !riend% yoursel!C

@Just $on$erned that is all.

Ale' stared into Josh s eyes !or a #o#ent then said% @-! - &as you - &ould have

*ust ignored it all.

Josh s#iled a hal! s#ile then said% @+o#eho&% - doubt that.

Ale' s#iled (ui$"ly then loo"ed a&ay. @- need to "no& &hy be!ore - ta"e you

any !urther. - don t &ant to sho& our inner &or"ings to a otential s y.

@They threatened #e% said Josh bluntly.

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Ale' s#iled then rodded% @5hatC

Josh aused to thin". He did not "no& &hy he had !ollo&ed her this !ar. Ale'

&as su$h a #ythi$al $reature in his #ind> so#ething invented by Travis. No&% she

see#ed $onne$ted to Janus. He had to "no& ho&. Josh s#iled at Ale' then said% @They

threatened #e and - &ant to "no& &hy. - al&ays need to "no& &hy no&. - use to do

things &ithout "no&ing &hy. - &as good at that. But% not any#ore% - ro#ised not to do

that any#ore.

@4/% big boy &ho does not li"e to be threatenedC -t is all $o#ing together. - $an

see &hy Travis &ould hang out in bars &ith you.@8aybe% said Josh &ith a s#ile% @- also $a#e be$ause - did not &ant you to be

har#ed.

@3ou are *ust trying to lay &ith #e% said Ale'. @5on t &or". - lay &ith

#ysel! enough not to $are.

@Just trying to "ee u % said Josh.

@5ell% they are trying to "ill #e not you% re#inded Ale'. @This is #y li!e so i! -

#ust bring you it is on #y ter#. 6ot a roble#C

@None% said Josh.

@6ood. 9irst% &e need to !ind out &ho sent the list to you. -! &e !ollo& the

#oney it &ill tell us &ho is behind it.

@- "no& &ho is behind it% said Josh. @Thing 4ne and Thing T&o.

@But &ho are theyC as"ed Ale'. @- &ant a trail to !ollo& ba$". 5e need to

regrou and a $hange o! our $lothes.

@+o#ething stylish rightC

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Ale' s#iled #is$hievously% @3eahLrightL stylish.

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+#o"e rose !ro# the nu#erous ho#eless en$a# #ents hidden a&ay under an

over ass in the 8ission Distri$t in +an 9ran$is$o. +$ores tents &ith $hildren% drug

addi$ts and handi$a ed &ere stre&n about. eo le &ithout legs lay in the #ud. oorly

$onstru$ted latrine its &ere !eet !ro# laying $hildren. 4ne #an &as i$"ing u used

needles and tossing in the garbage gru#bling irritably to hi#sel!. Another #an near by

also #uttered to hi#sel! o$$asionally brea"ing out into !its o! anger% yelling at unseen

ene#ies tor#enting his #ind. No one s#iled. veryone loo"ed tired. Josh e'a#ined his

surroundings as Ale' tal"ed &ith several o! the ho#eless. He seldo# !elt out o! la$e as

he did no&. They see#ed to "no& her% he noti$ed that #u$h. Ale' had been tal"ing &iththe# !or (uite so#eti#e. 9or so#e reason this #ade Josh nervous. The $onversation

then ended and Ale' hugged one #an. Josh loo"ed a&ay as she started &al"ing ba$".

He retended not to $are he had seen her hug and un"no&n #an. But% his #ind still

layed ga#es &ith hi#. His #ind d&elled on the other #an. His #ind "e t re laying

the little s"i she had a!ter hugging the #an. 5hat did it #eanC

@+till hereC as"ed Ale'.

@5o&% there are $hildren here% said Josh loo"ing at a !a#ily o! !our tending a

!ire.

@This is the #ore o! the single adult en$a# #ent% said Ale'. @There are a lot

#ore $hildren in the en$a# #ent on the other side.

@- $an t believe in a $ity li"e +an 9ran$is$o there are this #any ho#eless% said

Josh. @There are no ho#eless &here - live% do&n in +an Jose.

@-t is be$ause &e are the only $ity that tolerates the#% sna ed Ale'. @-! there

are no ho#eless in a $ity it is only be$ause they &ere "i$"ed out. 8ore li"ely they are

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@Dyna#i$ grand loads o! shit is about right.

@He did things% said Ale'. @Things no one else $ould doK

@He is a great rogra##erK

@Not *ust &ith $ode% &ith eo le% &ith anything. He $ould lead eo le unli"e

anyone - have ever seen. -! - had an idea he &ould #a"e it ha en. He $ould #a"e

eo le do anything. His $oding &as se$ondary. Ale' sighed.

@He had a &ay o! #a"ing things ha en at re!erred Data onne$tions% said

Josh. @He understood oliti$s but al&ays loo"ed as though he ignores it% des ises it.

@He &as a visionary. 5hen Travis leads &e all !ollo&ed. He had a&ay o!#a"ing it see# $ool% doable. 5e never !or a se$ond believed &e &ould not su$$eed.

@5hat ha enedC

@4h% &e !ailed% said Ale'% @#ost o! us ended u in *ail. A&!ul% *ust a&!ul.

8aybe% he &as not that great o! leader in retros e$tive. Ho e!ully that &as not &hat he

had lanned all along.

@8y $areer has been !ollo&ing a&!ul leaders% said Josh sadly. He thought o!

telling be!ore he #et Travis he daily $onsidered sui$ide. Travis so#eho& ulled hi# out

o! his de ths% #ostly% &ith hours u on hours o! &or"% argu#ents and drin"ing. -nstead%

he added% @-t is &hat - e'$el at.

@That is right% you are a #ilitary #an% said Ale'. @5ent to &ar - su ose. Hard

to #iss one no&adays.

@4h% yeah% - &ent to t&o% said Josh (ui$"ly. @That - did.

@Any regretsC

Josh stared into Ale' s eyes !or #o#ent. @-! you $ould understand #y ans&er

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@Than"s Juan% said Ale' as she ulled Josh a&ay.

@The dude thin"s he "no&s the guy% said Juan in a #o$"ing voi$e% @8aybe they

"e t hi# in the last &ar a bit too long.

The three #en laughed and resu#ed &at$hing the TE.

4n$e Josh and Ale' &ere !ar enough a&ay !ro# the three #en to revent being

overheard Ale' said to Josh% @4/% no& you $an tal".@ButK started Josh.

@Just be$ause they are ho#eless does not #ean everyone &on t rats us out% said

Ale' in a hush tone. @/ee your $ool.

@They $annot do that% said Josh. @5e &ere in F4T together in $ollege. Abdul

served in the #ilitary. He &ent to &arK

@A!ter a !e& #onths they &ill release hi# !or no eviden$e% said Ale'. @This is a

&arning shot.

@A &arning shotC A &arning shot !or &hoC

@9or you% said Ale'.

Josh s !a$es gre& tense &ith anger his eyes darted around (ui$"ly. @- $aused

thatC Ho& did - $ause thatC

@5hat did you e' e$tC That is ho& they $ontrol you. They are targeting in on

you. Ale' s voi$e gre& sy# atheti$ as she said% @He &ill be ta"en $are o!!% *ust not

right no&.

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Josh said nothing.

@Are you still &ith #e be$ause things are going to get &orse than thatC as"ed

Ale'. @Just leave no& go to the# be!ore you dig yoursel! any dee erK

@5hat is the lanC sna ed Josh.

Ale' stared into Josh s eyes !or se$ond. +he sighed. @4/. - a# &aiting !or a

&ord !ro# #y !riends. They should have gotten #y + A8 by no&. - &ill give the# t&o

days to res ond.

@5hat do &e do until thenC

@Be ho#eless.Josh !ro&ned. @- a# beginning not to li"e your &orld.

@3ou $ould al&ays go ho#e or turn yoursel! in% said Ale'. @-! you are having

doubts the soon you leave the better !or #e.

Josh said nothing !or a #o#ent then said% @- need to "no&% !or #y !riend.

@- don t get you% Ale' said.

@And - &ill #a"e sure they &on t get you% said Josh in an atte# t to sound

$hivalrous.

Ale' #anaged not to laugh. @A!ter you +ir "night% she said ointing to the dirty

tent.

Josh s#iled and &ent inside. The s#ell &as not as bad the se$ond ti#e.

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ha ter 9ourteen

5a"ing 5ithout 3ou

Ale' &o"e u (ui$"ly> so#ething &as &rong. ast night she s ent in a ho#eless

en$a# #ent but that &as not &hat disturbed her. +he had gro&n a$$usto# to living in

the#. The horrible !ood% $onstant noise% odor o! #an and la$" riva$y #attered little to

her no&. Ale' a$tually gre& to en*oy the la$" o! riva$y. Her !or$ed e' osure to

everyone in the $a# #ade her !eel vulnerable% so#ething she avoided &ith a assion

every&here else. +he needed to !eel vulnerable !ro# ti#e to ti#e. Eulnerability let her

re#e#ber her $hildhood> it re"indled her !aith in #an. The hardshi s o! the $a# also

#ade her #ore in tune &ith &hat #attered% &ith &hat her $ourse in li!e #eant. Ale'

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you and "no& everything about you.

@No shitC They are too #any $a#eras and too #u$h !ootage. Ho& $ould theyC

@-t is all auto#ated% said Ale'. @They have arti!i$ial intelligen$e s$an the

i#ages% loo" !or ano#alies% tra$" eo le s !a$es. They have been doing that !or years.

And you said you &ere in the industry.

@The rivate se$tor end% not the govern#ent end% sna ed Josh de!ensively. He

said nothing !or a se$ond as he thought about &hat to say ne't. @Janus is a arti!i$ial

intelligent algorith# li"e those !a$e s$anning so!t&are. He #ade sure to not as" a

(uestion but to #a"e a state#ent.Ale' s#ir"ed at Josh s atte# t to be snea"y. @Janus !alls #ore under

$o# utational intelligen$e. - is based o!! organi$ syste#s> they do not have the sa#e

li#itations that traditional A-s have. - s $an #i#i$ they &ay our #inds &or"K

@Fight They #i#i$ our #inds. They are not sel!,a&are Travis never

understood that> he thought Janus &as alive% said Josh de!ensively. Josh s#iled then

(uoted /ei"o:

A +tone /no&s -tsel!

A 8an Does Not "no& Hi#sel!

A +tone /no&s +tillness

@5ho said thatC said Ale' &ith a s#ile.

@A !riend. A $o# uter is rogra##ed to "no& itsel! there!ore is not sel!

a&areness.

@That is one vie& - guess. But% &hy notC as"ed Ale'. @- have seen nearly sel!,

a&areness - algorith#s be!ore. 4ne &ay is to build the# li"e those Fussian nesting

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dolls% ea$h inner doll a&are o! the ne't one but not the one behind it. 8y !irst - used

so#ething si#ilar to that. -t is a dead end though% but it &as #ore a&are than a hu#an.

5e are barely sure &hy &e do anything. A $o# uter "no&s e'a$tly &hy it does

everything. 5e $an #a"e #a$hines that ada ts% have needs% $o##on senseK

@ ver heard o! the hinese roo#C UhL +earleL John +earle s hinese Bo'C

@3es - haveK

@-t roves $o# uters $annot have true thought li"e hu#ans% interru ted Josh. @-!

- re#e#ber $orre$tly% you &rite out an set o! rules% a rogra#% !or inter reting a story

&ritten &ith hinese $hara$ters and give it to a nglish,only s ea"er hidden in a bo'.Then you !eed into the bo' one by one a series o! hinese $hara$ters that tell a story.

The erson in the bo' uses the rules to ro$ess the hinese $hara$ters and deliver a

#essage that indi$ates understanding o! the story. But the erson had no understanding.

He does not understand hinese. -n !ollo&ing the rules it gives the a earan$e o!

understanding but the rules the#selves do not have any understanding. o# uters

ro$ess sy#bols% they don t understand sy#bols li"e the hu#an #ind. -t is an illusion o!

thought. A- at its $ore is *ust a series o! rules. 8ere rules $annot $ontain thought%

$ons$ious.

@+earle loo"ed too dee ly in #y o inion% at too !ine a granular level% sna ed

Ale'. @-! you loo" that dee ly into anything and it &ill lose #eaning. Qoo# in on a

ainting to the individual ato#s o! aint and the aint has no #eaning. +o &hatC Thin"

about the hu#an #ind. 5e thin" via syna se !iring in a $ertain se(uen$e. -! instead o!

!ollo&ing a set o! rules the erson% or better yet an unthin"ing% auto#ated la instru#ent%

!ollo&ed a re$i e o! ele$tro,$he#i$al intera$tion that &as identi$al to a erson &ho

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understood the $hara$ters does that triviali)e that erson s thoughtC -t you loo" at our

thought #ethod% the individual syna se% and as" i! they have understanding the ans&er is

the sa#e as i! you loo" at a Turning #a$hine. -! +earle s $riti$is# holds !or -

algorith#s it da#ns both $o# uters and #an to non,thin"ers. But% #aybe he is right.

8aybe &hat &e $onsider as though is not that s e$ial a!ter all.

@- don t thin" that &as his oint% sna ed Josh. @True understanding $annot be

$ontained in an algorith#% a set o! rules.

@- agree &ith that% said Ale'. @But% an ada tive algorith# is not a set o! rules.

An ada tive syste# $hanges. - a# not saying a set o! rules $an have thought> it is a ro$ess.

@But% all rogra#s are a set o! rules. 3ou are si#ulating thought not a$hieving

it.

@At the dee est level% erha s% said Ale'. @But% at our dee est level our thought

is *ust ele$tro,$he#i$al rea$tions bet&een neurons. 3ou $ould &rite a $he#i$al e(uation%

a set o! rules% to de!ine our thought as &ell. All o! our thoughts boil done to &hether a

neural !ires *ust as &ith $o# uters% &hether a bit is yes or no.

@ ven i! you $ould do thought% and - a# not saying you $ould% said Josh%

@e#otion &ould only be si#ulated.

@ #otion is the easiest thing to rogra#. Do so#ething to alter its lans it gets

angry. Hel it a$hieve its goals and it is ha y> it &ill li"e you. -! it needs you to a$hieve

its ends then it loves you. +i# le. -sn t that &hat e#otions are all aboutC

Josh snorted then said% @Again% you are si#ulating% e#otion% thought% sel!

$ons$iousnessK

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@4! $ourse &e $an #a"e #a$hines that see their o&n errors and ada t% #a$hines

that try to #ani ulate us through e#otions% ones that have desires% #a$hines that gro&

beyond the s$o e o! their $reators. -s that not a&arenessC -! not% &hat you #ean by the

sel! and $ons$iousnessC Are &e even truly sel!,a&areC Not easy to ans&er huhC 3ou

ans&er that then you $an ans&er &hether $o# uters $an ever be alive.

@AndC

@That is bet&een Janus and itsel!.

Josh as"ed% @3ou and Travis sound very si#ilar at ti#es.

@-n so#e &ays &e have the sa#e #ind% said Ale'.Josh said nothing !or a #inute then said% @Travis loves you.

@- doubt it% laugh Ale'. @He loves #y #ind. This !irst and only #an &ho sle t

&ith #e !or #y - and not breasts.

@-sn t that enoughC

@- a# a body and a #ind. - a# a &o#an not a #ere intelle$tual tool. Ale'

stru$" an arrogant ose.

Josh laughed. @- don t get &hy you are here% running !ro# the la&C - #ean% you

see# li"e an intelligent erson. 3ou should be a ro!essor or a resear$her not being

$hased li"e a $ri#inal.

@- a# not running !ro# the la&% sna ed Ale'.

@3ou "no& &hat - #ean% said Josh. @3ou are running !ro# so#eone.

@But it is not the la&. Ale' toyed &ith her en. @- got into oliti$s in $ollege.

robably should have *ust ignored &hat &as going around #e. -! - had - &ould be

tea$hing #ath in so#e $ollege &orrying about tenureL slee ing &ith #y students in

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return !or assing the#. +he s#iled &i$"edly at Josh.

@+o% you &ere a rotester% said Josh.

@4! sorts% said Ale'.

@+u ort the troo s but against the &ar ty eC

@Not really% said Ale'. @No o!!ense% she added a!ter a #o#ent to gauge Josh s

rea$tion.

@- &ould be #ore o!!ended i! you lied. 3ou #ust have been rotesting &hile -

&as serving.

@Ti#ing see#s about right.@5as /ei"o a rotestor &ith youC as"ed Josh.

@/ei"oC as"ed Ale' &ith a stunned voi$e. @Ho& do you "no& /ei"oC +he

aused !or a se$ond that added% @4h yeah% you *ust (uoted her didn t youC

@- &as a$$identally d on a #essage to /ei"o !ro# Travis. +he then started

e#ailing #e hai"us% e' lained Josh.

A!ter a #o#ent to thin" Ale' said% @-! it &as a$$idental Travis has gotten slo y.

@He is stoned or drun" hal! the ti#e at &or".

@4"% said Ale'. @-s he truly or *ust a$tingC

Josh aused then as"ed% @+o% the three o! you &ere in $ollege togetherC

Ale' s#iled and said nothing !or a #o#ent. @3es% &e #et in $ollege.

@5as there anything bet&een you threeC

@5hatC Ale' laughed !or a se$ond.

@- sense so#ething in your voi$e% said Josh% @&hen you s ea" her na#e.

@- love her% said Ale' bluntly.

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Josh s eye &idened.

Ale' laughed. @Ha - "no& &hat you are thin"ing 3ou &ant to "no& i! there &as

a love triangleC Ha. 3ou *ust &ant to "no& i! - ever &ent do&n on a &o#an. - love her

be$ause o! &hat she is trying to do% &hat &e #ean to ea$h other. 3ou best not

underesti#ate #y !eelings to&ards her.

Josh loo"ed disa ointed.

@ ver gone do&n on #anC

Josh involuntarily *er"ed his body &hen she as"ed hi# that (uestion. @4" lets

$hange the sub*e$t% he said. @5hen did you invent E C@3ou are no !un% gru#bled Ale'. +he !olded her ar#s a$ross her $hest.

@- sus e$t Josh $reated none o! it% said Josh.

@-t &as #y thesis% said Ale'. @ E $a#e to #e &hen - &as &ith Travis. His

res onse% in Travis style% &as ADA8. Never to be outdone.

@+o% then% you started it% said Josh e'$itedly. @- "ne& it

@-t is too $o# le' to say one erson started it. Hell% 4ld 8an 8ins"y% the guy

&ho hel ed reinvigorate arti!i$ial intelligen$e in a$ade#ia% has as #u$h to do &ith it as

#e. - *ust ut the ie$es together% said Ale'. @Travis has his #o#ents% #ore than #ost

eo le% #ore than #ost e'$e tional eo le. 5e $reated ADA8 and E &ith the hel

o! #any others.

@5hy did you brea" u C Did you brea" u be$ause he too" $redit !or E C

Ale' laughed. @He said he invented E C 5hy &ould he na#e anything he

invented a!ter a &o#anC oo" u the literature on E . He is not the only na#e given

$redit. +he laughed again. @None o! you $he$" u his storyC Ty i$al.

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ver have a girl!riendC very satis!y a #anC

@A$tually% said Josh% @noL - have not% on both $ounts. - &ould li"e to at least

say - have tired to satis!y a &o#an. - have dated several &o#an but never real had a

girl!riendK

@Not into $o##it#ent ehC

@5hat ha en bet&een you an TravisC

@Nothing% said Ale' bitterly. @-t *ust ended.

@+ound li"e there &as #ore% rodded Josh.

Ale' said nothing and $ontinued &or"ing on her #ath roble#.@- get this !eel you love hi#. That is all.

@ ver &onder &hy they trust hi#C as"ed Ale'.

@5hoC

@5ho do you thin"C They don t trust *ust anyone. 5hy &ould they trust hi#C

@Be$ause he $reated Janus% said Josh !ir#ly.

@Be s aring in the trust you give to Travis% de#anded Ale'. +he !iddled &ith her

e(uations and erased a !e& lines.

@Then &hy do you trust hi#C

@Be$ause the !ool thin"s he $ontrols #e% sna ed Ale'. @He believes - still love

hi#.

@Do youC

@Are you a!raid o! $o##it#entC

Josh said nothing.

@5hy did - date hi# &hen he $heated on #eC 5ho "no&sC Besides he did not

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betray #e &hen he had the $han$e. He #ust still &ant #e. As long as he desires #e -

a# sa!e. 3ou% he does not desire.

@- $an ta"e $are o! #ysel!% said Josh. He gave an arrogant s#ile. @Has anyone

ta"en $are o! youC

Ale' stared at his s#ile and held ba$" a laugh. @- a# getting si$" o! ans&ering

ersonal (uestion No #ore (uestions !ro# you. Ho& about youC Ho& &as the #ilitary

li!eC Do anything you regretC as"ed Ale'.

Josh said nothing.

@- get it% said Ale'. @3ou interrogate #e - get nothing.@+o% Travis did things he robably regrets. - understand that% said Josh.

@- got it shouted Ale'. +he sho&ed Josh the age o! #ath she had been &or"ing

on.

@ ool ots and lots o! nu#ber and 6ree" notations said Josh in a #o$"ing

voi$e.

@5e don t need te$hnology to $o##uni$ate. There is #y #essage Ale'

sho&ed a sta$" o! rave dan$e !liers. +he held out one% @5hen &ill it endC +"yBlue.

Josh as"ed% @+"yBlueC

@9irst% - $onvert the letters to nu#ber% ut the# through the #agi$ e(uation and%

resto% - get )ero.

@Qero% as"ed Josh%

@Qero is good. Qero #eans #eet us there% e' lained Ale'.

@5hat is the #agi$ e(uationC as"ed Josh.

Ale' laughed. @- guess &e are going to a rave tonight. ver been to a raveC -t

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#ay be a bit #u$h !or you.

@- $an handle #ysel!% said Josh !ir#ly.

Ale' laughed% @-t is not a &ar )one. -t is !ull o! eo le &anting to have !un.

H##L - thin" you &ould be #ore $o#!ortable in a &ar )one than% heaven !orbid% a

roo# !ull o! eo le trying to be #erry. @

@+ounds li"e a i$" u s$ene.

@That is &hy - li"e the#% said Ale'. @- al&ays need a !resh su ly o! young

naive #en. A lot li"e our #ilitary.

@4h% reallyC@8ore than you &ould i#agine% said Ale' &ith a s#ile.

Josh stood u and as"ed% @5hat is thatC

+ounds o! a $o##otion bro"e out at one end o! the $a# . +ear$hlights lit u the

!og &ith an unnatural glo&. Thoughts o! the British !ighting o!! the 6er#an lans in

5orld 5ar -- *u# ed into Josh s #ind.

@The de!inition o! not good% res onded Ale'.

eo le start yelling and running ast Josh and Ale' s tent. +everal oli$e horses

$ould be seen to&ering over the tents li"e #ythi$al beast.

@They are brea"ing u the ho#eless $a# % said Ale' as she grabbed her

ba$" a$".

@5hyC as"ed Josh.

@5hy do you thin"C 3ou are al&ays *ust going to as" (uestions aren t you JoshC

5e #ust go. Just "ee $lose.

oli$e s o"e over the loud s ea"ers to re#ain $al#. A line o! oli$e $ould be

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seen !or#ing on the !our sides o! the $a# .

+o#e o! the ho#eless !ranti$ally grabbed so#e ite#s and ran. 4thers a roa$hed

the oli$e line and yelled. +uddenly there &as gun!ire and the grou that a roa$hed the

oli$e line !led.

@They are shootingC yelled Josh. @Ho& $an they shootC oli$e don t do that.

@5ho &ill $areC 5ho &ill "no&C as"ed Ale'. @No& a days they $an do

anything they &ant to the ho#eless.

@5e are surrounded% said Josh.

@Not above% said Ale'. @Al&ays have an es$a e route in #ind. @ +he grabbed a!e& ite#s !ro# her $a# ing ba$" a$" and la$ed the# in a s#aller ba$" a$".

@Above does not sound good% said Josh. He loo"ed at the high&ay loa#ing high

above.

@Be very (uiet. They are hunting us not rabbits. Ale' started $li#bing a servi$e

ladder.

Juan said% @- &ill $over !or you.

Ale' stared dee ly into Juan s eyes. The t&o see#ed to $onne$t they dri!t a&ay

(ui$"ly.

Josh sighed then !ollo&ed. He loo"ed u and sa& Ale' a (uarter &ay u the

over ass be!ore he even began. +he $ra&led around as i! she had done this be!ore.

Funning a&ay $a#e natural to her% he thought. Josh &as not a !an o! heights. -n basi$

training he vo#ited *ust be!ore his !irst s"y diving atte# t. They never let hi# do&n !or

that one. Till the end the na#e Eo#it Ju# er haunted hi#. reativity &as not a

re(uire#ent !or the or % ersisten$e &as. He held his breath and started to !ollo& Ale'

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u the over ass. Josh had to ad#it it &as an easy $li#b> the girders gave lenty o! la$es

to grab. Nu#erous gra!!iti littered the bea# telling o! ho& easy the $li#b &as. +o#e

&ere very artisti$> one o! a $o& &ith )ebra stri es $a tured his attention !or a se$ond.

The #ost di!!i$ult art &as avoiding the bird dro ings that &ere liberally a lied

to the stru$ture. +till% &hen Josh &as a (uarter the &ay u he &as &inded. Josh

#u#bled to hi#sel! that he needed to e'er$ise #ore.

The Juan shouted% @5ait

Both Ale' and Josh sto ed $li#bing. Josh &as hal!&ay u he $ould see $learly

the oli$e#an lining u the ho#eless and $he$"ing one by one. They &ere sear$hing !ora &o#an. They &ere sear$h !or Ale'. 9ear overtoo" hi# as he reali)ed ho& deli$ate her

situation &as. A $o then had a light onto the over ass and &as sear$hing #ethodi$ally.

Ale' and Josh held their breaths as his sear$h neared their lo$ation.

Josh loo"ed u at Ale'. Her !a$e &as e' ressionless. He loo"ed do&n at the

oli$e#an. Josh &as about eighteen !eet high> this &ould not be retty. His basi$

training &ould be "ey to his survival. But% i! he did it &rong% Josh told hi#sel!% he &ould

have very little to &orry about a!ter&ards. He readied hi#sel! to *u# . His &orld

$olla sed to a drea#> he !elt re#oved !ro# his a$tions% as i! none o! this &as real. All

that #attered &as Ale'. +uddenly the gravity o! his a$tions stru$" hi#> he &as ris"ing

hi# li!e !or her. Josh had only #et her and &as no& re aring hi#sel! to *u# !or her.

5hyC 5hy did she #ean that #u$h to hi#C He sighed> it &as the only &ay. Then he

sa& Juan &at$hing hi#. Their eyes #et !or a #o#ent then Juan s#iled. Juan then

&al"ed $asually u to the oli$e#an Josh &as targeting. The oli$e#an yelled

so#ething Josh $ould not hear and raised his baton threateningly. Juan sneered ba$" at

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the oli$e#an. He then blo$"ed the baton &ith one hand and slugged the oli$e#an in

the !a$e &ith his other hand. The oli$e#an (ui$"ly !ell to the ground. -nstantly% all the

oli$e#en dro ed &hat they &ere doing and ran over to Juan. He !ell to the ground as

they beat hi#. His ar#s $overed his !a$e as they stru$" hi#. Josh &at$hed !or a se$ond

then !or$ed hi#sel! to $ontinued u > he #ust not let Juan s sa$ri!i$e be in vain. Juan had

saved hi# but Josh !elt $hanged% as i! his reality &ould never again be the sa#e. All that

he &as no longer #attered. His ast turned a&ay !ro# hi# as i! on a &heel as his $hoi$e

!or a ne& li!e be$a#e $lear. He had #ade a $hoi$e and that $hoi$e &as Ale'.

Josh and Ale' (ui$"ly #ade their &ay u the over ass. The $o##otion belo&told the# no one &as aying attention. Josh &ondered i! he &ould have *u# ed. -t

s$ared hi# that he had even $onsidered it. Ale' &as a $ri#inal. 5hy &ould he be

&illing to *u# eighteen !eet !ro# an over ass onto a oli$e#an !or herC Josh "ne& he

better !igure out his !eeling (ui$"ly. Ale' glan$ed at hi#. There &as e#barrass#ent is

her stare. +he understood &hat he &as re ared to do% Josh !elt this.

The high&ay &as busy. ars ra$ed by% their lights blinding hi#. The road &as

da# !ro# a re$ent rain. The roar !ro# the high&ay &as dea!ening. -t sounded as i! the

tires &ere ri ing through the as halt. The sound nu#bed his #ind. He stood staring

into the on $o#ing tra!!i$ unsure about &hat to do ne't.

@4/% &e are u here no& &hatC

Ale' loo"ed do&n at the $haos belo&. @H##. +he &at$hed the tra!!i$ !or a

#o#ent then shoo" her head.

@Hit$hhi"eC

Ale' shoo" her head again. @- thin" &e need to get o!! o! the !ree&ay as (ui$"ly

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as ossible. +he ointed to houses that lined the !ree&ay. @4ver there% &e $an $ut

through that house s yard> it loo"s li"e no one is at ho#e.

Ale' &al"ed slo&ly to the !irst house as i! nothing had ha ened. Josh tried to

a ear as $ausal as her. +he $li#bed through the shrubs then (ui$"ly *u# ed over the

!en$e. Josh !ollo&ed.

@6ood% said Ale'% @no dogs and no eo le. +he o ened her ba$" a$" and

ulled out s$issors. +he !ound a dar" &indo& to use as a #irror and $o#bed her long

hair straight then ulled it into a onytail. Then% a!ter sighing% she $ut the onytail o!!.

@5hat are you doingC@Thing 4ne and Thing T&o sa& #e% e' lained Ale'. @Ti#e !or $hange &hen

those eyes have seen #e.

@Have you done this o!tenC as"ed Josh.

@ ut #y hair in strangers ba$" yardsC as"ed Ale'. @No.

@Fun !ro# the la&% said Josh. @Brea" the la&.

@-t is a living% sna ed Ale'. @Do you en*oy hel ing heartless $or oration !ind

ne&s &ays to e' loit their $usto#ersC

@5e !ind !raud.

@4h reallyC - thought you tra&led u ersonal in!or#ation on eo le to *usti!y

$harging the# a higher rate or better target the# &ith useless rodu$ts. But% &hatever

lets slee $o#e to you at night.

Josh said nothing. He reali)ed Ale' "ne& e'a$tly &hat he did. Travis and her

#ust $o##uni$ate #ore than she let on. +he &as also right. +ele$t Data onne$tions

#ostly rovided $o# anies &ith a reason to $harge a higher rate on a ban" loan or

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insuran$e oli$y. Josh $ould argue the oint they &ere $losing in!or#ation ga s but did

not &ant to argue &ith her. He% instead% &anted to &at$h her. @5hat do you thin" &e

$an !ind out about the#C an &e !ind Travis &ithout Janus% #y JanusC as"ed Josh.

@5e $an do the sur!a$e sear$h o! the -nternet but &e need #ore data% said Ale'.

@5ithout #ore data - doubt &e &ill get very !ar.

@Ho& #u$h data do you haveC

@5e ta ed into the #a*or in!or#ation !ir#s. All but yours.

@The se$urity is very tight% said Josh roudly. @The best - have seen.

@- "no&. All atte# ted ha$"s have !ailed% said Ale'. @8ost !ir#s are si# listi$to ha$" today. ither they have outsour$ed their -T to eo le &ho don t "no& &hat they

are doing or have arrogant e'e$utives &ho de#and things li"e E N a$$ess !ro# ho#e

#a$hines or% #ore o!ten% both.

@Not even Travis has a$$ess to the data% e' lained Josh. @And - donMt have

a$$ess to Janus... He then &ent (uiet re#e#bering he no& had a$$ess to everything. As

long as the disaster re$overy lan &as la$e he $ould do anything. Josh "ne& he $ould

not let Ale' "no& this.

@ an you get us inC as"ed Ale'.

Josh said nothing.

@Do you &ant to !ind TravisC as"ed Ale'.

Josh said nothing.

@Do you &ant to !ind out &ho is !ra#ing your !riendC

@- $an try to get us in% in a li#ited bases.

Ale' s#iled and then e'a#ined her ne& hair $ut in the &indo&. -t &as very

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short% to#boyish loo"ing. Ale' toyed &ith it a bit. +he sighed again> it &ould ta"e seven

#onths to get long again.

Josh &at$hed her un$o#!ortably. He "ne& he should say so#ething. @- li"e it%

said Josh. @-t #a"es you loo" so histi$ated% inde endent.

Ale' s#iled ba$" and toyed &ith her hair so#e #ore. @Than"s% she giving hi# a

sedu$tive loo". +he grabbed a bar o! soa !ro# her bag% &ent over to a garden hose and

turned it on. +lo&ly% she re#oved her $lothes and la$ing the# $are!ully beside her.

Josh &at$hed in a&e as she undressed. Ale' stood there na"ed !or a #o#ent to gain

$ourage to dare the $old then s rayed &ater on her.Josh turned a&ay.

Ale' laughed% @5e have to s#ell better i! &e are going to a !etish rave.

@9etish raveC

@Don t &orry% said Ale'% @- "no& &here &e $an get so#e !etish &ear near by

here. +he loo"ed Josh over then said% @3ou need a sho&er too. o#e here. Ale'

#otioned !or hi# to $o#e $loser. +he then bit the air.

@Ah% - &ill &ait% said Josh.

@Don t be a!raid% said Ale'. @8y bite is en*oyable.

@- a# sure it isL.&hat i! they $o#e ho#eC

@Then they get !ree% live so!t $ore orn in their o&n ba$"yard. They should ay

#e don t you thin"C - thin" - a# &orth a lot *ust to loo" at don t youC +he s(uee)ed

her breasts together in a #o$"ing !ashion.

Josh &at$hed her !or a bit then as"ed% @Ho& #u$h o! Janus did you &riteC

@ ots o! it.

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@5hat is JanusC as"ed Josh.

@The #ost si# le e'tre#ely $o# le' beauti!ul thing you have ever seen.

@5hy do you both do thatC as"ed Josh. He stared at her body as she bathed. Her

s"in &as $overed &ith goose bu# s.

@Do &hatC as"ed Ale'.

@Ans&er every (uestion about Janus &ith a riddle.

Ale' laughed then said% @- need so#eone to s$rub #y ba$". - $ould as" so#eone

!ro# the street but you are so near.

Josh said nothing.@- #ay even ans&er #ore (uestions about Janus.

Josh s#iled #ee"ly and &al"ed un$o#!ortably over to Ale'.

+he gave hi# her soa and resented her ba$"side to hi#.

@5o& the &ater is $old% said Josh.

@9ir#s u the s"in% said Ale'. @- &on t dis$redit you !or any shrin"age i! you

*oin.

@U#% sta##ered Josh as he s$rubbed her ba$".

Ale' turned around (ui$"ly and ulled o!! Josh s shirt. +he !elt his $hest &ith one

hand and grabbed his ants &ith another.

Josh groaned and #ade a &ea" atte# t to ull a&ay.

Ale' grabbed hi# !ir#ly and unbu$"led his ants. +he into his eyes then ulled

do&n his ant. @ oor thing% she said sedu$tively. @+o $old. et #e &ar# things u !or

you.

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ha ter 9i!teen

9etish in the ity

The #usi$ &as loud at the !etish rave. Josh $ould hear the $lub hal! a blo$" a&ay.

Josh &ore a tight leather vest% a leather $ollar and *eans> Ale' &ore a bla$"% tight% late'

stra less out!it. Her ne& hair suited her attire.

Josh rubbed his bare ar#s and as"ed% @Are you sure - loo" good in thisC

@3ou loo" the art% said Ale'. @5e are an alternative $ou le going to a !etish

rave. 3ou loo" *ust right.

@- !eel silly that is all% said Josh #ee"ly.

@3ou got great ar#s% said Ale' &ith a s#ile. @-t is good to let others see the#.

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+he ulled on her to . -t "e t sliding do&n.

@Do - have to &ear the $ollarC as"ed Josh.

@That is to #a"e sure not one else grabs you% e' lained Ale'. @3ou don t &ant

so#eone else to grab you do youC 3ou never "no& &hat so#eone here &ould $hoose to

do to so#eone li"e you.

The $lub &as nondes$ri t% only an old &ooden sign o! a don"ey &ith )ebra stri es

de$orated the !ront. The only indi$ation it &as o! interest &as the hordes o! eo le

&aiting i# atiently to get in.

@4nly eo le in $lub &ear% said the boun$er as he turned t&o #en a&ay.Ale' strutted assed the line and u the boun$er. +he leaned in $lose to hi# and

&his ered into his ear.

The boun$er listened to Ale' !or a #o#ent loo"ed at Josh then laughed. He then

#otioned !or Josh to enter.

Ale' then ulled on the boun$er s ear &ith her teeth be!ore entering the $lub.

@-t is hard to thin" o! you as a #athe#ati$ian% said Josh.

@Hu#an s are easier to understand% said Ale' &ith a s#ir"% @then things su$h as

#ani!olds and the nu#ber e. - never truly got the nu#ber e. Her voi$e had a tou$h o!

sadness to it &hen she #entioned the nu#ber e. @8en% - es e$ially get. +he sla ed

Josh s rear. @/ee in $hara$ter.

Josh s#iled #ee"ly. 8ost eo le in the !etish rave &ere in s"i# y bla$" or red

out!its. @- thought raves &ere !or "ids% yelled Josh over the roar o! the #usi$ as he

observed a grou o! eo le in their late thirties.

@The $ool ones are% yelled ba$" Ale'. @This one is !or old !arts li"e you and #e.

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@-t has been years $hild. ove that out!it% said 6eorgina &ith a sigh.

Ale' said% @8ight as &ell !launt it.

@- &ould "ill to be able to get into an out!it li"e that% said 6eorgina.

Ale' grabbed 6eorgina s ar#s and @- love &hat you are &earing. +o% se'y in a

raun$hy &ay. - bet you $an t "ee the #en o!! o! you.

6eorgina s#iled &i$"edly and sna ed ba$"% @3ou al&ays "no& the right thing

to say don t youC

@That is &hy you love #e so% said Ale'. @FightC

@Fight you are dear% said 6eorgina. @And &ho is this #anC This hun"y #anC+he gave Josh a little &ave.

@This is Josh% said Ale' &ith a s#ile.

@Does not say #u$h does heC as"ed 6eorgina. +he &in"ed t&i$e at Josh &ho

loo"ed the other &ay.

@- li"e hi# !or other (ualities% said Ale' s#iling do&n to&ards Josh s $rou$h.

@-! it is not one #an it is another% said 6eorgina !ollo&ed &ith a little laugh.

@5ell% - only go through the# i! they are not real #en% re lied Ale'. @Josh here

has% ho& $an - say it% #ore !oundation to build o!! o!.

6eorgina raised one eyebro& and said nothing.

@+houldn t &e be doing s y li"e stu!!C as"ed Josh.

@No !un is heC sna ed 6eorgina. @-s he li"e that all the ti#eC Boy% !ore lay%

even &hen doing s y stu!!% is hal! the !un n*oy this.

@6eorgina% - a# &or"ing on hi#% said Ale'. @- got hi# na"ed earlier.

@4h% e'$lai#ed 6eorgina. @3ou &ill have to tell #e all about that. His voi$e

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had a bit o! *ealousy to it. @+u$h a #eaty #an. ots to tellC

@ ots to tell% said Ale' &ith a s#ir".

@Details% de#anded 6eorgina. @6ive #e the *ui$y details.

@+ure you $an ta"e itC said Ale'. @- don t &ant to sho$" you.

@Nothing you do% said 6eorgina &ith a sneer% @$an sho$" #e. Nor &hat you do

&ith the hun"y #eat you $olle$t. +he "issed at Josh.

@- do &hat is e' e$ted o! #e% sna ed ba$" Ale'.

@4h dear% said 6eorgina in a sedu$tive voi$e% @and so #u$h #ore.

Ale' sneered ba$".@ an &e get to the oint% de#anded Josh. @5e need to get #oving. This is not

sa!e.

@Don t &orry big boy% said 6eorgina. @6eorgina is here to rote$t you.

@5e need to "no& &ere the sa!e house is% said Ale'.

@5hyC as"ed 6eorgina seriously. @Just "ee running. 3ou should be in anada

no&.

@5e need to ta"e do&n so#e eo le% said Ale'. @- need a$$ess to Janus.

@Things are dangerous no&% gru#bled 6eorgina. @Did you "no& they lost

$onta$t &ith !iveC

@No% said Ale'. @Are they gone or *ust in hidingC

@Un$lear% said 6eorgina. @This better be good. They are sear$hing too. 5hy do

&e need you toC They are !airly good at &hat they do.

@- have a$$ess to #ore data then anyone $an i#agine% said Josh !ir#ly. @- &or"

&ith Travis on the ne& Janus.

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6eorgina stared stunned !or a #o#ent. Then laughed% @TravisC

@3es% said Ale'.

@- bet this #an in his #eaty ri#e &ould not even "no& &hat Travis loo"s li"e%

said 6eorgina &ith a s#ile.

Ale' $ut in and de#anded% @5hat should - do ne'tC

@3ou "no& better than #e dear% said 6eorgina. @- don t "no& about your taste

in #enK

@- never i$"ed the# &ell% Ale' said shar ly.

@-t is on this a er% said 6eorgina then handed Ale' a sli o! a er. @ oo" !orthe ty i$al signs. And i! you don t #ind dears% - got to go ba$" to #y ro&ling &hile

you go ba$" to yours.

@4h% &e don t #ind% sna ed Ale'.

@And tell Julie ne't ti#e she #oves% said 6eorgina% @be a little #ore dis$reet.

@-! - tell here - got the lo$ation !ro# you% said Ale'% @she &ill #ove right a&ay.

@Bye bye #eaty boy% said 6eorgina. +he then re$ited:

T&o leaves in a strea#

arried together as one

Never &ill be one.

Ale' glared ba$" at 6eorgian &ho shouted ba$" @- love this song% as she dan$ed

into the $ro&d.

A!ter 6eorgina #elted into the sea o! dan$ers Josh said% @That &as a strange guy.

@3ou have no idea% said Ale' angrily.

@Ho& do you t&o "no&C as"ed Josh. @3ou see# to have so#e sort o! history. -

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got this strange vibe.

@+trange vibeC erha s% &e "no& ea$h other through bad $hoi$es. 5e need a

$ar% said Ale'. +he stor#ed out o! the $lub &ith Josh in to&.

The streets &ere deserted> it &as late evening.

Ale' loo"ed ulled out a en then sat on the side&al" &or"ing out a #ath

roble# on the sli o! a er 6eorgina gave her. A!ter a !e& #inutes she said% @- guess

&e are going to 4a"land.

Josh hel ed Ale' u .

@ ets go into the alley% said Ale'.@5hat is your lanC as"ed Josh.

@5e are aying a visit to one o! the Blet$hley Huts% Hut ight.

@Blet$hley HutL Hut ight... Hey That is &here Turing &or"ed on the #a$hine

that bro"e the 6er#an $ode en$ry tion #a$hines% the nig#a #a$hines% during 5orld

5ar --. That is &here he built the Bo#be% one o! the !irst $o# uters.

@That is &ho &e are% the Blet$hley 6rou % said Ale'. @Just li"e Turing &e are

trying to de$eiver a enig#a to save #an"ind% the enig#a o! $ons$iousness.

@5ell% said Josh sar$asti$ally% @at least you are "ee ing your head on your

shoulders about it.

Ale' s#ir"ed but said nothing. +he then &ondered about the ar"ing lot loo"ing

at ea$h o! the $ars $are!ully. +he sto ed at an e' ensive lu'ury $ar. +he s#iled at Josh.

@Did you "no& everything in these $ars is $ontrolled by $o# uterC

@8ost o! the #odern $ars are.

@3eah% said Ale' #errily% @#ore things to ha$". Did you "no& it is &irelessC

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+he ulled out a note ad $o# uter !ro# her ba$" a$". A!ter a !e& #inutes o! !iddling

she e'$lai#ed% @6ot the !re(uen$y The $ar s doors unlo$"ed at the se$urity syste#

bee ed.

@+o% said Josh relu$tantly% @&e are stealing this $ar.

@Do you &ant to ta"e a $abC as"ed Ale'.

@5e $ould ta"e BAFT.

@BAFT has $a#eras% sna ed Ale'.

@5hat about the bla$" bo' on these thingsC as"ed Josh.

@+i# le to turn o!!% said Ale' as she rea$hed under the dash yan"ed out the bla$" bo'. +he then tossed it into the street.

@- don tK

@Then stay% said Ale' (ui$"ly. +he *u# ed into the $ar and started it u .

Josh stood unde$ided.

@ o#ingC as"ed Ale'.

Josh sighed then *u# ed into the $ar. @Aren t you !eeling the least bit guiltyC

@-t is a lu'ury $ar. This $ar is &orth #ore than #ost A#eri$ans #a"e in a year

and #ore than #ost eo le in the &orld #a"e in their li!eti#e% said Ale'. @+o% not

really. +he then s ed a&ay the $ar s &heels s$ree$hing loudly in the $old evening air.

@That is not a *usti!i$ation !or stealing% sna ed Josh.

@3ou don t thin" eo le a#ass this level o! &ealth &ithout $orru tionC sna ed

Ale'. @4ur &ealth is based on $orru tion. Nobody earns this a#ount o! #oney.

Josh said nothing.

Ale' s#iled% @Te$hni$ally% - a# borro&ing it &ithout er#ission. To the

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unedu$ated it see#s li"e stealing% but it is not trust #e.

@- have trusted you this !ar% said Josh.

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ha ter +i'teen

Blet$hley ar"% Hut ight

The #orning light revealed the un leasantness o! &here they &ere. The buildings

&ere old and dila idated. Trash littered the ground. The only things that gre& &ere

&eeds. -t had been a $old night in 4a"land. Ale' had dit$hed to the &arehouse distri$t

near the orts and they sle t in an e# ty lot under da# $ardboard bo'es. Neither

loo"ed very good this #orning. They had sle t !or only a !e& hours. No& they &ere

&andering the streets loo"ing at &arehouses.

@5here is the Blet$hley HutC as"ed Josh i# atiently.

@ ui$"% hide% said Ale'. Both Ale' and Josh darted into a door&ay.

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A ostal tru$" drove by.

@The ostal servi$e is su$h a &ealth o! in!or#ation% said Josh.

@No shit% said Ale'. +he started loo"ing around the side&al" as i! she had

dro ed so#ething.

@5hat are you doingC

@ oo"ing. Ale' sear$hed the side&al" $are!ully. +he said% @- a# loo"ing !or

gra!!iti on side&al".

@5hat ty e o! gra!!itiC

@- &ill "no& &hen - see it% said Ale'. @-t is #ore o! a attern.@This is li"e% a very% said Josh nervously% @very interesting art o! to&n.

@5e are a$"ing #ore heat then anyone &ho &ould &ant to do use har#. /ee

your anties on.

@A$tually - a# &earing your anties.

@Not li"ely% - never &ear under&ear% said Ale'. @-t sti!les #y "i$".

@- a# !eeling dirty. Do you thin" - need a sho&erC

@+ave that thought. Here% said Ale'% @the gra!!iti o! a igeon &ith )ebra stri es.

-t is this &arehouse. The &arehouse loo"ed at though it had not been used !or a de$ade.

@Hey% 5hat is &ith all the )ebra stri esC -s it be$ause Turing &rote so#e a er

on Qebra stri esC

@Turing !igured out a #athe#ati$al #odel to e' lain ho& )ebras got their stri es

and in the stri es you $an hide a lot o! in!or#ation% re lied Ale'. +he &al"ed u to the

door and "no$"ed one% three and seven ti#es. The door &as a heavy &ooden door &ith

#etal su orts.

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Josh loo"ed at one $orner o! the door!ra#e and sa& a $a#era ointed at hi#. He

gave it a little &ave. A!ter several #inutes Josh as"ed% @Are you sure this is the right

la$eC -t !eels li"e a drug house or a do#inatri' denK

@Ho& #any do#inatri' dens have you been tooC as"ed Ale'.

@- &as - the #ilitary% re#inded Josh. @3ou get bored% very bored stationed on

bases in the #iddle o! no&here.

@8y interest has been ee"ed and &e will $ontinue this dis$ussion later but%

shush% de#anded Ale'. @They are listening.

@ robably hiding things.@That too and dressing. - al&ays i#agine they are bu$" na"ed &hen - a# not

around.

The door then unlo$"ed. Ale' entered (ui$"ly &ith Josh !ollo&ing !ro# behind.

They &ere in a s#all s(uare roo# &ith t&o doors and no !urniture. The &alls% !loor and

$eiling &ere $overed in sheets o! #etal. Ale' shut the !ront door behind Josh. The door

lo$"ed auto#ati$ally the instant she shut it. A slot #id&ay in the &all o ened beside

the#.

A voi$e de#anded% @ ut all guns% e' losives% "nives and $o##uni$ations devi$es

in the hole.

Ale' ut a s#all gun that she hid bet&een her legs% a gun !ro# her *a$"et and

another revolver !ro# her bag in the slot. +he then la$e t&o $ell hones and the hand

held into the slot. Ale' stared at Josh.

@- don t have a gun% Josh said !ir#ly.

@- "no&% said Ale'. @But you do have that handheld and $ell hone o! yours.

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@But you soa"ed it% said Josh angrily. @-t does not &or" any#ore.

Ale' sighed $rossly then said in a $o##anding voi$e% @Just ut it in.

Josh aused !or a #o#ent then ut into the slot his $ell hone and Travis

handheld.

A!ter a !e& se$onds a voi$e announ$ed% @5el$o#e to Blet$hley Hut ight.

@6ood% said Ale'. @5e are $lean

The slot in the &all $losed and the door o osite to the !ront door o ened.

Ale' rushed through the door.

@5hat are you thin"ingC de#anded a &o#an $lothed that #ade her loo" li"e aho#eless erson. +he had a strong !a$e and ier$ing eyes. Her osture #ade her

authority evident.

@Julie $an - get a hug !ro# you be!ore you $he& #y ass o!!C as"ed Ale'.

Julie sighed then hugged Ale'. -t &as a long and &ar# hug% li"e t&o sisters.

Ale' did not see# to &ant to let go.

@This is Josh% said Ale'. +he had a bit o! ride in her voi$e.

@5e "no& &ho #ister #ilitary is% sna ed Julie. Her voi$e &as heavy &ith

disa roval.

@4bviously% sna ed Josh% @you don t.

@3ou brought hi# here% sna ed Julie staring at Josh% @so no& &e have been

e' osed.

@6eorgina gave #e the address% said Ale'.

Julie loo"ed sho$"ed. @6eorgina% sheLshe is ba$"C

@-n all its glory% said Ale' &ith a evil s#ile.

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@5o&% gas ed Julie. @-s it ha eningC -s she $o#ingC -s this overC

@- don t "no&% said Ale'. @But% - "no& i! 6eorgina $ould !ind you it #eans you

should #ove. 6eorgina &anted #e to tell you to be #ore dis$reet on your ne't #ove.

Julie #otioned !or so#eone. @+tart the e'it lan no&. 5ithin thirty #inutes -

&ant to see eo le e'iting. -n t&enty,!our hours &e are out o! here. The #an ran o!!.

@5ell% !or as long as &e are here% said Julie% @#a"e yoursel! at ho#e.

@5e need a$$ess to the Janus rototy e% de#anded Ale'.

@5hyC

@5e need to tra$" do&n &ho issued a sear$h on the hundred% said Ale'.@5e "no& &ho &ould do that% gro&led Julie.

@And to !ind Travis% added Josh.

Julie s#iled then as"ed% @To !ind TravisC 5hat do you #eanC - thought you said

K

Ale' said in a blunt voi$e% @Josh does not "no& &here Travis is. He &ants to !ind

hi#.

Julie loo"ed at Josh. Here eyes s$anned his !a$e !or a se$ond. Then laughed and

said% @+ureL - don t thin" our syste#s $ould tra$" do&n Travis though.

@- $an hel e' and your sear$h% said Josh &ith arrogan$e.

@4h% said Julie% @by all #eans do. 5hy are you so interested in !inding the#C -

don t "no& i! - trust this #an. +he ointed at Josh. @- don t see any #otive !or hi#.

Josh loo"ed at Ale' then aused be!ore said% @Abdul,Aalee 8uha##ad Nasser is

a !riend o! #ine. - don t li"e eo le #essing &ith #y !riends.

@The terroristC as"ed Julie.

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T&o rogra##ers &or"ed ba$" to ba$" in a dar" noo" in a seldo#,traveled art

o! the building. # ty bags !ro# !ast !ood *oints littered the !loor beneath the#. The

s#ell o! old !ries over&hel#ed any la$" o! hygiene that #ight have other&ise been

evident. They both &ore head hones and dan$ed in their seats to unheard tunes. The old

$hairs groaned as they boogied but neither heard the $hair s $ries% both had the volu#e

set high enough to $o# letely obs$ure the outside &orld. Their #ove#ent &as si#ilar

enough to i#agine the# listening to the sa#e song% as i! they &ere dan$ing together. Asthey ro$"ed in their seats they ty e $ontinuously and !uriously. 3ou $ould !eel the#

thin"ing as one #ind sitting ba$" to ba$".

Ale' grabbed both $hairs and shoo" the#. +he yelled% @Tina% arry ong ti#e

no see

@+usan e'$lai#ed arry ha ily. arry &as a s#all% nerdy loo"ing #an in his

t&enties &ith a big s#ile.

@Ale'% said Ale'% @it is Ale' no&.

@5hatever dude% said arry. @- $an t &ait to $hange #y na#e again. - &ant to

be 5illia# 6ates ne't. 5hat do you thin"C

Tina% an e(ually nerdy a earan$e to arry% laughed% @3ou are su$h a d&eeb

@This is Josh% said Ale'.

Josh &aved and s#iled #ee"ly at the t&o.

@Hey - "no& you% said Tina. @- sa& you at a Bla$"Hat $onvention a !e& years

ba$".

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@+orry% said Josh% @- don t re#e#ber you.

@4h you &ouldn t% said Tina &ith a laugh% @- &as #onitoring Travis. - &as

dressed u as a guy.

@5hat is a Bla$"Hat $onventionC as"ed Ale'.

@+o you don t "no& everythingC as"ed Josh.

@+he "no&s enough% sna ed arry (ui$"ly.

@-t is a $onvention o! anit,Ha$"ers o! sorts% said Josh. @-t sho&s the latest in

se$urity te$hnology and threats.

@As - re$all you t&o &ere !airly drun"% said Tina. @5eren t you trying to i$"u on those ladies !ro# A leK

@5hat are you t&o u t&oC as"ed Ale'.

@ leaning duty% said arry. @Than"s to you &e have to #ove.

@- &as getting si$" o! this la$e any&ays% said Tina. @There is only greasy !ood

here and #y $ar "ee s getting bro"en into.

@5e &ill robably be in the #iddle o! no&here ne't ti#e% said arry.

@4h% be!ore - !orget% said Ale'. +he handed arry the handheld she too" !ro#

the blond hair #an and a #e#ory $ard. @Here are so#e hotos and a handheld. Do your

&orst.

@8y !avorite% said arry #errily.

@ et #e see% sna ed Tina ta"ing the handheld a&ay !ro# arry. @5ho is it

!ro#C

@A blond hair gentle#an% said Ale'.

Both arry and Tina s#iled.

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@5i$"ed% said Tina.

Josh loo"ed around the noo" shoving bo'es around &ith his !oot. A!ter loo"ing

over so#e old servers $olle$ting dust in a $orner he !ell to his "nees and !ranti$ally

re#oved bo'es $overing an old $o# uter. -t &as very unusual loo"ing% the $ase &as

$urved and a bright blue. @5o&% e'$lai#ed Josh. @- never i#agined it This is a A8,

Brain $o# uter Ho& did you get a hold o! one o! theseC There are only three in the

&orld rightC

Tina as"ed in a su erior voi$e% @5hat do you "no& about a A8,Brain

$o# uterC@-t is a learning #a$hine built around 2000. -t used neural net&or"s $hi s to gro&

and ada t% said Josh. @-t !ailed. - !orgot the reason.

arry laughed #o$"ingly.

@They said be$ause it &as i# ro erly installed and the investors got s"ittish% said

Tina. @- "no& the real reason &hy though.

Josh s eye &idened. @5hyK

@5e #anaged to get one% interru ted Ale'. @-t &as *ust stored in a $loset

$olle$ting dust.

@Does it still &or"C as"ed Josh tou$hing it.

@-t is a bit slo& by today s standards but &as interesting to &or" &ith% said

arry.

Tina said% @-t gave us lots o! ideas.

@4! &hat to do and not to do% said arry.

@To do &hatC

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@Janus o! $ourse% said Tina.

@No shitC as"ed Josh. @-s this #a$hine is itC -s this your Janus rototy eC

@4! $ourse not% said Ale'. @Janus% both yours and ours is so!t&are not hard&are

based. 3ou should "no& that. 4ur Janus is so#e la$e sa!e.

@+a!eC as"ed Josh. @+a!e &hyC And &hy do you thin" the A8,Brain ro*e$t

!ailedC

@5hy did all the arti!i$ial li!e e' eri#ents !ailC said Tina.

@+i# le% be$ause it is i# ossible% said Josh.

@Ha% res onded Tina.@+o#e eo le do not &ant us to dis$over a true arti!i$ial intelligen$e% said Tina%

@so#ething &ith $ons$iousness that is not hu#an.

Tina said e'$itedly% @They !ear arti!i$ial intelligen$e that is &hy they "illed

Turing% to (uiet hi#.

@Turing $o##itted sui$ide% said arry.

@-t &as an a$$ident% sna ed Ale'.

@- thin" they "illed hi# li"e they "illed a&ren$e o! Arabia> the British don t li"e

eo le &ho "no& too #u$h to be e$$entri$% said Josh bluntly% @and de!initely not gay.

Ale' sighed% @- &onder &hat &ould have ha ened i! he had not died.

@He &ould have been !ighting our battle no&% said Tina.

@5hy do they !ear A- so #u$h they &ould "illC as"ed Josh o! arry.

@They see it as a threat% said arry.

@That is &hyK started Tina.

Ale' $ut in% @A thin"ing #a$hine &ould have an unbiased vie& o! #an"ind. -t

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&ould be out o! their $ontrol. They don t &ant anything out o! their $ontrol.

@- a# not in there $ontrol% said Josh de!ensively.

@But% &e all are% said Ale'. @-n$luding #e. Unless &e hold u in so#e sha$" in

the #iddle o! &ho "no&s &here &e all intera$t &ith so$iety% are a art o! it. 5e go

sho ing% &or" have !riends and live out lives. An A-% !or all intent and ur oses% &ould

be alone in a sha$". All it &ould need is an -nternet $onne$tion% o&er and o$$asional

#aintains. -t &ould be a !ree thin"er% an inde endent thin"er% out o! their $ontrol. And

&orse it &ould be i##une !or the oor rogra##ing o! the hu#an #ind. -t &ould thin"

&ithout our !la&s.@They are s$ared by &hat &e are $reating% added Tina. @5e are $reating the

liberator% so#eone that $an destroy the $orru t% has unbiased vie& o! hu#anity.

@5e &ill $hange #an"ind% said arry. @A &hole ne& age% no &ar% no $orru t

leaders% eo le &or"ing to betterK

@Janus &ill be lead us into the ne't age o! hu#an develo #ent% said Tina.

@And they &ant it !or the#selves% said arry. @To use it to "ee use under there

$ontrol. To get even #ore o&er. To "ee us in the dar" !orever.

@- don t buy it% said Josh &ith relu$tan$e.

@ eo le% said arry% @are easy to $ontrol. 5e get distra$ted (ui$"ly% overly

e#otional% !ear the un"no&n% re*udges% &e have !alse in our thin"ingK

@The govern#ent lays to our !la&s% said Tina. @The &hole !oundation o! o&er

rests on the !la&s o! #an"ind s thin"ing. o&er is a illusion resting on the &rong

thin"ing o! #an% as Travis o!ten says.

@4ur #inds% although &onder!ul% &ere develo ed through evolution% a rando#

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ro$ess% said Ale'. @Are #inds are !ar !ro# er!e$t and o&er rises to e' loit those

!la&s.

arry gre& e'$ited and al#ost *u# ed out o! his $hair as he s o"e% @Build

so#ething that sees through the !la&s and the illusion o! o&er li!ts and a ne& age begins

K

@Just be$ause you have a true arti!i$ial intelligen$e does not #ean you have any

o&er. 5hat is it going to do besides #ess &ith #edia re orts and ha$" into

$o# utersC

@4h% Janus $an do !ar #ore than that% said Tina. @-t $an $ontrol any $o# uter$onne$ted to the -nternet% tra!!i$ lights% #edi$al devi$es% !a$tory robots% navigation

syste#s% un#anned vehi$lesL anything.

arry leaned to&ards Josh% @-t is not hard to i#agine &ith that o&er you $an

even "illK

Ale' angrily $ut in% @5e are not doing anything o! the sort

Josh sna ed% @5hat they don t &ant is a bun$h o! ha$"ers to have things li"e

this.

@-s that &hat you thin" &e are a bun$h o! ha$"ersC as"ed Ale'.

Josh laughed% @-sn t that &hat you doC 5ho you areC The Blet$hley 6rou is

*ust a ha$"ing grou li"e the egion o! Doo# $ondu$ting the ne't 6reat Ha$"er 5ar.

3ou + A8% ha$" into syste#s% steal in!or#ation K

@-s that &hat you thin" - a#C as"ed Ale'. Her eyes narro&ed in anger. @3ou

#a"e it sound as i! &e are nothing #ore than a bun$h o! 8ar" Abenes or /evin 8itni$"s.

o# uter terroristK

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@4h - &ould have sooo loved to be a art o! the 8asters o! De$e tions during

the 6reat Ha$"er 5ar e'$lai#ed arry. @- &ould have had to gotten a $a though.

Tina sna ed (ui$"ly% @And% hey% - li"e /evin

@Be!ore he got arrested you #ean% said arry.

@True% he turned into a &i# s a!ter he got arrested% said Tina &ith a sigh.

@- &onder &hat ha ened to hi# in rison% (ueried arry.

Ale' glared angrily at the t&o o! the#.

Josh #otioned to Tina and arry as i! #a"ing a oint.

Ale' sna ed at Josh% @5hat do &e doC 5hat about &hat do you doC@5e do nothing &rong% said Josh !ir#ly.

@ ets see% violate eo leMs riva$yK

@5e do nothing illegal% said Josh de!ensively.

@ ven i! it is legal it is slea)y. -t is only legal be$ause big !ir#s have #ore o&er

than individual $onsu#ers.

Josh sighed then said% @9ir#s have a right to "no& about their $usto#ers.

@5hyC gro&led Ale'.

@-! !ir#s aren t in!or#ed they #a"e the &rong de$ision then &e% the $onsu#ers%

all ay in the end. riva$y hurts those that have nothing to hide. 4nly $ri#inals bene!it

!ro# riva$yK

@5here does our riva$y begin thenC

@Ho& about i! so#eone has de!aulted on there ast t&o loansC +hould a !ir# be

!or$ed to ignore thatC The rest o! us subsidi)e that erson disregard !or the rulesC

@Ha% laughed Ale'. @-n that e'a# le it is si# le> it is the !u))y areas that

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trouble #e. -s se'ual habits !air ga#eC -s oliti$al leaning !airC

Josh said relu$tantly% @+ure. He i#agined Ale' "ne& Janus &as using those

thing to deter#ine $redit ratings.

@Ho& about i! a !ir# !avors &hat they $onsider better $iti)ens not based o!! o!

statisti$s but there gut !eelingsC

Josh said nothing !or a #o#ent then said% @They &ould lose #oney. 3ou &ant a

#odel that &or"% so#ething that is statisti$ally valid.

@-n statisti$s i! you loo" long enough you &ill !ind the ans&er you &ant even i! it

is &rong.Josh re#e#bered ba$" to &hen one o! his bosses de#anded he !ound rural areas

&ere di!!erent !ro# urban. He had to !or$e that M!a$tM into his #odel even though it &as

not valid. @+ure there &ill be oorly built #odels here and there. There is a $ost to

everything. The bene!its out &eight the $osts. The oorly built #odels &ill !ail in a

$o# etitive #ar"et. eo le are abusing the syste#% !ir#s have a rightK

Ale' &aved her !inger at Josh then said% @9or !raud yes But to give re!erential

treat#ent to or redi$t !uture behavior based o!! o! bad #odeling% - disagree.

@4ur #odels are the best. Josh !olded his ar#s a$ross his $hest.

@Janus is robably the only $orre$t #odel. But it is not *ust about Janus. 8ost

!ir#s *ust ha$" things together. But even ro erly build statisti$al #odels $an be !la&ed.

And this is &hat really s$ares #e% said Ale' leaning $lose to Josh% @ eo le #ay be$o#e

bad ris"s *ust be$ause you redi$t the# to be. -! a #odel erroneously #ar"s you a bad

$redit ris" you are !or$ed a higher interest rate then the higher ay#ent $ause you to

de!ault. -t be$o#es a sel!,!illing ro hesy. A !alse ro hesy that the ora$les !or$es to

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onne$tions have a Janus i! they !eared A- so #u$hC

@Do you have it no&C as"ed Ale'. @Ho& soon be!ore you &ill lose itC A!ter the

hundred run do you thin" they &ill let you "ee itC And &hat &ould your $o# any $areC

They &ould get a he!ty su# o! #oney to hand it over. The shareholders &ould be ha y

and all o! you &ould get large bonus. A &in,&in.

@4/% said Josh relu$tantly.

Tina snorted.

@- *ust "no& Travis andL it *ust see#s li"e Travis isL said Josh% @shallo&. -t

is hard to i#agine any #otivation on his art e'$e t !or #oney.@His $ode is in #ost o en sour$e a li$ations% e' lained Tina. @There is no

ro!it in that. He did it !or the better#ent o! all.

Josh snorted in disagree#ent.

arry said% @He basi$ally &rote all #odern net&or" a li$ations. Feally $ool shit%

&i$"edly bad stu!!> although% - never understood hal! o! it. -t is no& all over the la$e.

eo le are using his $ode &ith out even "no&ing it.

@He in$reased the internet ten !old by #a"ing ada tive net&or" a li$ations%

said Tina.

@Ada tiveC He ut A- in the net&or" so!t&areC as"ed Josh. @His net&or"

so!t&are thin"sC

@3eah% this real si# le learning algorith#% e' lained Tina. @-t is so s#all an

elegant.

@-sn t anyone &orried about se$urityC as"ed Josh &ith !ear in his voi$e.

@-t $an t have any hole% said arry. @He is not better than every rogra##er on

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earth and they all $an see the sour$e $ode. The $ode is in lain

Documents

Ted Harris Unleashing Janus