Mysspelled

Year 3990

Brockway District, Mars

The bookstore resembled that of a classic, small town, library. In the middle of it were rows of seats filled with nervous and eager readers readying their questions for the speaker as their hands gripped a hardcover copy waiting to be signed by its author. The surrounding room was filled with that smell you only get from aged paper.

Mathew Harvest looked at them from behind the curtains.

“Are you ready, Mathew?” asked the building owner who set up the holographic room he was in.

Mathew nodded, and the owner went on stage to introduce him.

“…And here he is: the author of “Moved On”, Mathew Harvest” the man concluded.

The readers started clapping as Mathew walked onto the stage and sat in the chair facing them. As he sat down immediately hands shot up with eagerly waiting questions.

Questions first then, he thought.

Mathew looked around the room and finally chose a young man who wasn’t swaying his hands side to side. He figured this young man wasn’t as nervous and therefore wasn’t going to ask him a silly question like: what’s your favorite color? Or are you single?

The young man stood up out of his seat, “Mr. Harvest, why use Chat GPZ, Mat AI, and MalX1 as your 3 software’s you wrote this story with? Why in particular? There are way better ones today,” he asked.

Mathew was mistaken. It was a silly question afterall.

“Because I’m old school” he replied with a grin.

Several of the audience members laughed, but the young man who asked the question looked at him unamused.

“I come up with the story, and I pick 3 AI software’s to write the book. One story told in 3 different ways and using very different words. I felt that the 3 AI software’s I chose wrote them in the ways I needed…” he answered.

He instructed them all to turn to page 108, and look at line 32.

“The 3rd action is critically different:

Chat GPZ wrote: He went

Mat AI wrote: He decided to go

Mal X1 wrote: He rushed off

Very different. Newer versions of AI would work too well in unison. These older versions convey 3 different…emoti-

The young man interrupted: “and you chose chat GPZ again. Your last book had chat GPZ as well…”

Mathew smiled, “I felt that the learned writing pattern from my last book would be of good use with this one... adds a little familiarity for the readers” he replied.

The young man nodded and finally sat down.

Mathew then chose one of the ladies who wore a blue dress with white flowers seaming throughout- the same dress as one of the characters in the book.

Mathew wasn’t understanding why people were now standing up when he chose them.

She cleared her throat and asked: “What AIs are going to write your next book?”.

Aha, the big question, thought Mathew.

“The sequel to “Moved On” will remain the same 3 AI’s I used to write this book. Afterall, we want to be consistent with the way it’s being told” he paused, “If you are referring to my new upcoming novel “Crossed Off”…then you’ll have to wait and see” he replied.

The audience gave out the sound of disappointment and sadness.

“Alright..Alright.. It’ll tell you ONE of the AI’s who will write the novel...”

The readers were now smiling and wiggling in their seats.

“Software PX” he told them.

There were loud awes in the crowd, specially from the young man who stood first.

“Isn’t that AI software developed for law enforcement?” a voice called out.

Mathew nodded, “It is. It’s a crime novel after all…”.

Several more questions shot up and Mathew answered. Later, he read a chapter from the 3 different AI’s, and finally he signed some copies.

The last person left and the building owner came up to Mathew congratulating him again on his book.

“I appreciate you letting me rent out this room, Bill,” he told him, “One of the best projection rooms I’ve seen for the price”.

The owner clicked a button in his hand and the room’s library apparel suddenly disappeared showing an empty room with chairs and a stage.

“I appreciate you renting it out, consider me for any book signings again.” He told him.

Mathew thanked him and gave the man a signed copy of his book.

As he walked out the door, a message suddenly popped up Infront of his eyes- displayed on his bio-contacts. It was a message from his brother. He turned it on.

His brothers distressing message said: “My signal is about to die. Found object. Urgent. Meet me ASAP!”

Typical, dramatic, Jonathan. Mathew figured he was heading into one of his excavation sites. Signal on Earth was poor as it is, but the sites blocked off everything. Nick had told him it was to “protect the archeological findings”.

The sound of his voice. It was almost like he was out of breath.

Mathew tried calling him a few times, but it went straight to voice mail. His phone is either dead or he actually didn’t have signal. The book signing was done, he thought. He had some time to spare.

“Smart lenses” he said outload, “Purchase 1 round trip ticket to Earth” …

Chapter 2

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The sound of the heart monitor was putting Alex to sleep again.

As he was about to leave the room, the man on the bed began to stir awake.

“Alex” said the tired patient.

Detective Alex Broker turned off his smart lenses which had a book being displayed, and now saw his partner’s eyes open wide. He was finally awake.

“You’re finally awake” said Alex who walked up beside the hospital bed.

“What..What happened” said Frank with a course, rough and dry throat.

Alex poured some water and gave it to him. He slowly sipped before putting it back down on the table.

“What’s the last thing you remember, Frank?” he asked him.

Frank slowly pulled himself higher up on the bed as he was trying to recall the memory of 2 days ago.

“You and I were chasing that murderer” he began…

Alex nodded in confirmation and Frank continued.

“Software PX was calculating his and our routes then told me to turn down the alley to cut him off…so I did…and…and”.

“And someone in the alley hit you in the head. Knocking you unconscious,” finished Alex.

“The software didn’t mention anything about a partner…” said Frank who was in deep thought. There was a pain still coursing through his head.

“No partner. It was completely random. No AI software could have predicted a random person just smacking a police detective in the head” replied Alex who was shaking his head at the thought of it.

The door behind Alex began to open and they saw the nurse come in with Frank’s wife and kids.

It was his que to leave and he gave Frank a gentle pat on his shoulder, wishing his partner a speedy recovery.

As Alex left the room a phone call displayed in his vision. He answered.

“Detective Broker” the man said on the other line, “We’ve got a special assignment for you. Its urgent”.

“What is it?” he asked.

“We’ll brief you on the way. We’ve sent you your shuttle ticket”.

Alex stopped walking, “To where?” he asked.

“Earth” …

Chapter 3

*Knock* *Knock*

Mathew stood at the apartment door for another few minutes.

Still no answer.

He tried calling his brother again, but it went straight to voicemail.

The slow burn of annoyance was filling up inside him.

A crashing sound suddenly came from inside the apartment.

“Jonathan?” he called out through the door, “Are you inside? Its Mathew, open the door!”.

Footsteps were dragging towards the door slowly and then it creaked open- much slower than it needed to be.

“What are- “began Mathew until he noticed his brother dripping in sweat and frighteningly pale.

Mathew pushed the door open and caught his brother as he nearly fell backwards.

“What happened?!”

Jonathan didn’t reply, but was breathing heavily, catching his breath as if he had been running.

“They want it…” his brother mumbled, “they want what we found at the site” he wheezed.

Mathew was barely paying attention to what his brother was mumbling. He was too focused on the pool of blood that began to form under his brother’s lower back.

“We need to get you to the hospital” he told him.

Before Mathew could call 911, his brother grabbed his head yelling for him to not.

Police sirens were now echoing from the distance, seemingly coming closer.

Thank God, thought Mathew, someone must have seen his brother and called the cops.

As the sirens were getting closer and closer, Jonathan’s eyes widened with panic.

“They’re after it” he said, “they killed my team”.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but we need to get you to the hospital, Jonathan” he replied.

Footsteps were now rushing up the apartment stairs.

Jonathan leaned into Mathew’s ear: “Find it where we used to hide in the 3rd grade. Don’t tell the police or they’ll kill you”.

A man suddenly barged into the room, holding a gun out in front of him. He didn’t look like an officer.

Mathew stared in shock. Seconds later, the police came in slowly from behind. All holding their guns out and aiming at Mathew and his brother.

The man in plain clothes walked forward, now putting the gun into his holster. “My name is Detective Alex Broker. You are both under arrest...”

Mathew sat in the small empty room for nearly two hours. The police hadn’t told him what he was arrested for, where his brother was, or what the hell was happening.

Finally, the detective, Alex Broker, had stepped into the room.

“What the hell is going on” began Mathew, “I’ve been sitting here and no one’s told me a damn thing. Where’s my brother?”.

The detective sat in his chair calmly.

“Your brother Jonathan is suspected of terrorism, he- “

“Terrorism?!” shouted Mathew, “What the hell are you talking about?!”.

The detective paused before calmly continuing, “He is in possession of an item that has been determined to be a terrorist threat”.

Mathew thought about the archaeological site. His brother told him not to tell the police…or they’d kill him.

Detective Broker talked to Mathew about his whereabouts the last couple days. Mathew had people to vouch and testify that he was at a book signing event on Mars. The man asked Mathew all kinds of questions about Jonathan. Who he was as a person. What his hobbies were.

Before Mathew left the police station, detective Broker stopped him.

“You seem like a decent guy, Mathew…” he began before looking him straight into his eyes, “but if you’re involved in this…I’ll find out, and I won’t be so nice next time”.

“Is that a threat Detective Broker?” replied Mathew.

The detective lowered his voice to almost a whisper: “Yes”.

Mathew left the station and got a ride to the hospital his brother was at.

Police officers were guarding the door his brother was at, and Mathew found out his brother was in surgery. They wouldn’t tell him anything else, and that visitations were prohibited by anyone. Orders from the detective.

His head was spinning as he walked down the street. He was miles from his apartment, but he needed the walk to clear his head of all the chaos happening around him.

A message suddenly flashed in his vision: “Turn right at the alley…”.

Mathew stopped and looked around. People were walking past him, but he didn’t notice anyone watching him.

He replied to the message: “Who the hell is this?”

A reply: “Don’t look around or the undercover police will notice you.”

Mathew didn’t move, but looked around at the people walking by him. He was being followed?

Another message: “I’ll explain soon, but everyone you know is in danger. Your brother found something he shouldn’t have. TURN RIGTH DOWN THE ALLEY”.

Mathew swallowed and turned right onto the alleyway.

A message: “RUN. 7 SECONDS TO REACH THE NEXT RIGHT.”

Mathew sprinted and turned right onto another alley.

Mathew looked around when another message appeared: “Hop into the trash bin until further notice”.

“This is silly” said Mathew out loud, “I’m not hopping into a trash bin”.

A message: “7 seconds…6 seconds…3 seconds...”

Mathew suddenly opened the trash bin and hopped inside as the countdown reached to 1. He sat in darkness as he heard footsteps tapping on the street.

Half a dozen officers dressed in civilian clothing rushed down the alleyway.

Mathew could hear their shouting: Where did he go? Check the alley doors. Update the detective and incorporate this into software PX.

It was nightfall.

“Someone’s coming”- the message now said.

Mathew listened and remained quiet.

Footsteps approached, and they were getting louder and louder as if they were walking straight towards the trash bin Mathew was hiding inside.

The footsteps stopped right outside of the dumpster.

He was caught.

“It’s safe, come out,” said a voice.

Mathew remained still until a message popped up: “It’s safe, come out.”

The dumpster lid slowly opened and Mathew found himself looking at a women glaring at him.

He wore leather clothing as if she was riding a motorcycle. Her black hair was tightly pulled back and scrunched up by a black strap.

She stepped back as Mathew fully got out. The scent of trash and what smelled like puke whiffed the air around her.

“That won’t do” the woman said before tossing a capsule towards him- exploding into a dry detergent – a soap bomb.

Mathew felt his clothes refreshed and his skin now feeling clean and moisturized.

“Follow me” she said.

She took a couple steps before realizing Mathew was not moving. A expression of anger was mixed into the man’s face.

“I’m tired of being a pawn in whatever the hell is going on. You need to start explaining what I’m caught up in.”

The woman walked over and put a gun towards Mathew’s head.

“There’s a patrol that’ll be looping back around here in 6 minutes, Mathew. We don’t have time for this”

“Then you got 6 minutes to tell me what’s going on. I didn’t do anything wrong,” replied Mathew.

“You hid from the police tailing you. That’s wrong. Their AI software, Software PX, has already integrated the idea of someone assisting you. That’s all you need to know. There’s a shoot order out for you now, and once your brother gets out of surgery and they get what they need out of him. They’ll shoot him as well”.

Mathew looked at the woman in silence.

A message then appeared in Mathew’s vision: “LEAVE NOW OR DIE”.

Mathew looked at her in surprise. He had thought she was the one messaging him, but it was someone else…

“We need to go now Mathew, please…” she said.

Mathew hesitated and another message immediately appeared: “NOW!”

Mathew gulped and nodded. Both of them ran several blocks down the labyrinth of alley ways until they arrived to the park where a motorcycle was hidden under several branches.

“Hold onto me” she said as they both got on.

Mathew appreciated that there wasn’t much light around, otherwise she would have seen his cheeks flush.

The bike roared to life and she accelerated down the street.

Mathew didn’t know where they were going. His thoughts couldn’t help but go over the last couple days. He was at a book signing, his brother was shot, he was arrested and followed, and it seems everyone else he’s met knows more about what was going on. What did Jonathan find at that archaeological dig site? Who was this mysterious person messaging him, and why are these people interested in it.

Jonathan had said: “Where we hid in the 3rd grade” …

Mathew didn’t know why everyone wanted it, but he knew exactly where to find it.

Chapter 4

Detective Alex Broker stood in his office contemplating the screen that showed a map of the city. He specifically looked at the network of alleyways where the suspect Mathew disappeared.

“PX” said Alex, talking to the AI Software PX.

“Yes Detective” replied the AI.

“Have you incorporated the chance of help into your algorithms?” he asked the program.

“Yes Detective. He has either been picked up at Alley way #4. Or owner of Garbonza Deli has assisted him” replied the AI, “Interview with Mr. Constanza, the owner, indicated that he has not assisted Mathew Pierce despite knowing him and his brother Jonathan Harvest from childhood”.

“He wasn’t lying?” asked Alex.

“Video recording shows stable heartrate and no facial indication of lying, sir,” said AI PX.

“There are 5 dumpsters in that alleyway section. He could have hidden in one of those”

“Not likely, Detective Broker. The sanitation department were required to lock up dumpsters in Alley Way #4, #5, and #6 at 6:00 PM every day to discourage the homeless population from going through them”.

Alex pondered at the idea, “Might have they missed one?”.

“There would be a 14.6 % chance they would, Detective. All lock ups are recorded in the Sanitation Department” replied the software.

So not impossible, thought Alex.

“Contact the sanitation department and get me their report of these particular dumpsters” he told the AI.

“Complete. Report indicates that these dumpsters were locked” replied PX.

“Set up an interview with employee responsible for locking up,” said Alex.

“Yes, Detective”

Alex thought about the idea of someone picking Mathew up.

“Software PX, go through street footage within last month. Give it a 10-mile radius, and let me know of any vehicles that have showed up 1-2 times” he told the program.

Alex thought that if there were any vehicles that showed up in town only once or twice, then that could give us a clue to anything. It was a long shot, but he had no leads yet. Might as well exhaust any ideas, he thought.

A list of vehicles showed up alongside their date/time. Too many, thought Alex.

He sighed as he quickly scrolled through the hundreds of vehicles.

Something caught his eye.

A motorcycle showed up. Twice. First time was a week ago, and 2nd time was…tonight at 9 PM.

Alex clicked on the images. It looked to be a woman. He couldn’t see her face under the helmet, but the slim figure indicated the driver was a woman.

2nd time… 8 miles away…showed someone sitting behind her…A man in his early 40’s… A man that that looked exactly like… Mathew.

“Software PX, look up license plate owner”

“Yes, Detective”

An image showed up on the screen. Registered to a middle-eastern man. The list of owners was displayed on the screen. The previous owner, Pierre Flauk, had a symbol next to his name. A “C” symbol. He clicked on the name.

An error message occurred, “I apologize, Detective, but the information you are wanting has restricted access and is considered classified” said the AI software.

A message displayed in Alex’s eyes; it was from the chief: “Come to my office”.

“My god, Mathew. What have you got yourself into…” he whispered to himself in awe.

Chapter 5

They had ridden for nearly two hours before arriving to a large gate with two lions on either side. A green light came out of each lion’s eyes, scanning them before opening up. About a mile down they arrived to a large mansion with several people waiting outside.

Mathew looked closer and realized they weren’t people, but AI Robots.

Mathew got off the motorcycle when the robots walked towards him. All four of them were holding a gun.

“They won’t hurt you, unless they need to” the woman had said.

“That’s reassuring,” replied Mathew starring uncomfortably.

“Please, come this way” said one of the robots.

Mathew felt a fear growing inside of him, wondering now if he had made the right decision in coming.

The woman he was with had left up the stairs in another direction, while a couple robots led Mathew through the house and into a library.

The room was filled with books and antiques, all two stories of it. There was a fireplace burning in the center.

“I know what you’re thinking” a voice said.

Mathew noticed the large chair facing the fireplace had a hand on the arm rest.

A face turned around, “Why put a fireplace in a library. It’s a little silly”

“It’s also comforting” replied Mathew.

The man smiled and got up.

He looked to be in his mid-fifties and balding, slightly on the heavier side. His skin was tan and his white beard was neatly trimmed.

“Welcome, Mathew, I’m sure you have some questions” he smiled as they shook hands, “Please sit down” he said motioning towards the chair opposite of where he sat.

As Mathew walked over the man had whispered something to the robots that were at the entrance before walking over to the fireplace.

“I thought they banned AI bots; I had no idea they were on the market,” said Mathew.

“True the old AI bots had a lot of problems, but a new wave of technology is making its way into the market. What you see here are the very first of its kind,” said the man.

He must be someone important, thought Mathew. His fears lessened, thinking he wasn’t in any danger.

“My name is Pierre Flauk, and I need your help” he said.

Mathew didn’t recognize the name, but listened.

“Your brother had found something that could change the course of AI” began Flauk, “I need your help to get it…”

“What is it?” replied Mathew.

“There was a software at the archeological site, Arch AI, do you know about it?” asked Flauk.

Mathew nodded, knowing his brother’s AI software. An AI software specifically designed for archeologists around the world...

“Well, whatever your brother found, the site’s Arch AI completely broke down”

“What do you mean broke down?” interrupted Mathew.

The man shifted in his chair, looking slightly uncomfortable.

“The object your brother accidently found apparently annihilated the AI’s ability to compute. It was something that the AI itself couldn’t comprehend…” said Flauk.

Mathew leaned forward in hard thought, “What object buried underground could do that?”

Flauk looked directly into Mathew’s eyes in thought, “We don’t know, and you need to help me to find it…If it falls into the wrong hands…”

Mathew sat back in his chair as his mind was in awe. An object that could destroy the world of AI? No wonder the police considered it a terrorist threat…

Mathew understood now why people would kill for that.

“Do you know where it is?” asked Flauk.

Mathew noticed a change in the atmosphere. The man’s tone was different from before. It was more demanding.

His brother’s words flashed into his mind again: Find it where we used to hide in the 3rd grade. Don’t tell the police or they’ll kill you.

“I’m...I’m not sure” began Mathew, “I only spoke to my brother for a moment before the police arrived,” he said, trying to keep himself from sweating.

Flauk’s expression was becoming more serious and it made Mathew tense up.

Fluak smiled and nodded all of a sudden, “ok, but think back, maybe he had said something to you before the police arrived… something that could help us”.

Mathew furrowed his brough in thought, not thinking of his brother’s last words, but now wondering how he was going to escape.

“Um, no…He just said he found something at the site. He was bleeding and -”.

“He didn’t tell you anything about where the location of it is?” interrupted Flauk, who was clearly frustrated.

“No, I’m sorry,” replied Mathew, gulping the clog in his throat.

“Pox AI” called out Flauk.

Mathew had never heard of an AI called Pox. It must be in league with the AI bots.

A voice suddenly came to life throughout the room: “Sir, scans show he is lying”.

Flauk looked back at Mathew in all seriousness, “Let me ask you again…Do you know where its located?” he asked, gritting his teeth.

“I’m not sure”

“LIE” said the Pox AI software.

The doors suddenly opened and the AI bots walked in. Guns aiming ahead.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” began Flauk as the bots came closer, “Maybe an hour or two downstairs might jog your memory a bit” he said as a big devilish grin appeared on the man’s face.

A message popped up into Mathew’s feed: “CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW”.

Suddenly something smashed through the window and fell onto the floor near them.

“Hide behind- “began Pox AI before a burst of smoke and shock waves shot out into the room.

Mathew immediately covered his ears, fearing it had busted his ear drums already.

Gun shots rang throughout the room as an arm suddenly grabbed him and dragged him quickly outside the window.

Mathew was still dazed and confused as the stranger pulled him through the forest. Branches and twigs were scratching and breaking against him.

“They’re deploying a drone. Hide under here and remain quiet” said the stranger who pulled out a blanket containing fabricated circuit boards. Mathew recognized it immediately; it was police tech from Software PX. He was going to use it in his new spy novel.

Mathew looked over to the stranger and immediately recognized him.

Detective Alex Broker.

Chapter 6

They had remained under the blanket till dawn. The buzzing from the drone quieted down an hour ago.

“Let’s move, Mathew” said Alex, packing up the blanket into his back pack.

“Even with the help of Software PX, I didn’t think you could have found me,” said Mathew.

Alex zipped up his backpack, “I’m a detective, Mathew. There’s always a human element needed in my line of work. AI can’t solve everything” he said.

Mathew didn’t say anything, but the words made him think about it all. The tech his brother found that could destroy the world of AI. Was it a good thing or a bad thing?

They walked several miles down until they hit a road.

Alex looked at his watch as if confirming his timing.

A car drove down the road and stopped near them.

No one was driving.

“Get in,” said the detective.

They drove for nearly an hour.

“Where are we going?” asked Mathew, finally breaking the silence.

“To a safe house. There are people trying to kill you.”

“How’s my brother?” asked Mathew.

“Safe. He just got out of surgery, and is still unconscious. We’ll move him to a secure location shortly” replied Alex.

“Where?”

Alex looked at Mathew briefly before staring back onto the road, “A secure location” he said.

Another moment of silence.

“I didn’t get a chance to say thank you for saving me,” said Mathew.

The detective nodded, accepting it.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Well, you clearly like to keep talking, so go for it,” replied Alex.

Mathew caught a small smile on the man’s face. Looks like he isn’t all uptight thought Mathew who smiled back.

“What do you think about AI?” he asked the detective.

Alex’s eye brows burrowed, “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

Mathew adjusted himself in his seat, “Let’s say you had the power to completely rid the world of AI, would you, do it?”

The detective clearly tensed up and knew the question had more behind it than he felt like he wanted to know.

“AI has done a lot of good in the world,” said Alex.

Mathew wasn’t sure if he was done with answer, or if he was continuing after a moment of pause.

“But it’s also done a lot of bad too. Criminal rates shot up using AI to plan out heists and murders. People are getting dumber using AI to deplete their work load. World powers are getting more corrupt trying to better their versions over the other to see who can take over the world”.

Mathew wasn’t expecting such a big answer.

“But its done miracles in technology and medicine. It’s not a surprise that AI has made progression in all fields faster,” finished the detective.

“Much faster than it should be?” asked Mathew.

“Obviously much faster” replied Alex.

“So would you rid the world?” asked Mathew again.

Alex didn’t answer and they both sat again in silence for nearly an hour.

“Is that what your brother has? Something that could destroy AI?” asked the detective. His voice was slightly on the edge.

Mathew noticed a shift in the atmosphere. Something was a little different in the detective’s behavior. The same personality shift he noticed with Flauk.

“Something he found, apparently it ca-“began Mathew when suddenly a message shot up in his vision.

It said: “2nd RED LIGHT. JUMP OUT. GREEN CAR”

Mathew suddenly looked over at the detective and noticed he was messaging someone.

“Where did he say it was located?” asked the detective who didn’t notice Mathew had stopped talking all of a sudden.

The stopped at the first red light.

The detective looked over at Alex and repeated the question.

“I don’t know” he replied.

“You apparently know what it is,” began the detective. His voice was more serious now, as if interrogating Mathew, “I work for the police. You’re safe with me. Where is it?” he said.

The light turned green and they moved forward. Mathew looked and saw the 2nd light was coming up.

Mathew suddenly felt a prick against his skin and looked over.

The detective held a syringe in his hands and suddenly Mathew’s vision was now becoming blurry.

The light ahead began to turn yellow.

A wave of drunkenness hit Mathew hard as his words began to blur.

A voice came from the car.

“Yes sir. He knows. I’ll beat it out of him when he wakes up,” said the detective.

“Good” said the voice on the other end.

The light turned red.

With every ounce of strength and clarity he had, Mathew lunged his body outside the door as a green car pulled up beside him with the back door open.

Before the detective could get out of the car he was slammed forward as another vehicle hit his bumper.

Before his vision went dark, Mathew poured his body into the green car and the door closed behind him.

Mathew feared he was going to die as he lost consciousness.

Chapter 7

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

The hospital room was quiet other than the heart monitor that constantly beeped.

Detective Alex Broker stood at the door looking at Jonathan, Mathew’s brother, who is unconscious after his recent surgery.

The detective’s cuts finally stopped bleeding, but the bruising pained his entire body. He had just got hit by a driverless car an hour ago and it left him too dazed to figure out where Mathew had gone.

Someone was helping him.

The car’s AI software was corrupted so he couldn’t trace it to anyone. Apparently, it was reported stolen nearly a month ago. The street camera showed Mathew getting out and then disappearing.

The car must have had a catalogue system. Big players, thought the detective.

This whole thing was making him furious.

He told the officers to take a break.

I’m going to find out where this thing is, thought the detective.

His eyes were nearly hysterical as he flipped around something in his fingers- a syringe.

He locked the door behind him and then walked towards the unconscious man, sticking the syringe into one of Jonathan’s tubes- releasing the liquid inside.

Nothing happened immediately, but soon the heart monitor was beeping faster and faster.

Alex unplugged the machine.

Suddenly Jonathan’s eyes began to open and he began gasping for air.

Alex imagined that he’d be in incredible pain. Good, he thought.

“Jonathan, welcome back” said the detective hovering over the man’s bed.

Jonathan continued gasping for air as his eyes widened with the pain he felt. He looked over at the detective.

“Who...Who are- “he mumbled before his thoughts fought hard to make him remember what happened, “Where…Where is my brother”.

“Dead” replied the detective, “And I failed to protect him, Jonathan” said Alex, faking a concerning tone.

A flood of emotions filled Jonathan as tears slowly rained down his face.

The detective wasn’t sure if it was sadness or pain that made the man cry.

“I need your help, Jonathan. We need to find that object…Before THEY do,” said Alex.

“They?” mumbled Jonathan through the tears of sadness.

“The men who killed your brother. They’re after the object your team found at the site,” said the detective.

Jonathan’s memories were now becoming clearer. He remembered the site. His team killed. His brother at his apartment.

“Please, Jonathan” began Alex, “They’ll kill you too. If I get it before they do, then I have some leverage”.

“No one but Mathew and I know where it is,” replied Jonathan.

The detective shook his head, “for now, maybe, but there are stronger versions of AI that will find it and they WILL find it, Jonathan”.

“AI…” whispered Jonathan.

“I know what you found. It can destroy AI,” said Alex.

Jonathan looked over at the detective in surprise.

Alex smiled, “Words got out. If they can find that out then they’ll find it” he said.

Jonthan’s body suddenly began convulsing.

“No!” shouted Alex who was now looking at the syringe to see if any drops were left. He was too close!

Jonathan’s body began violently shaking when Alex noticed someone was trying to turn the door handle.

“Where is it!” shouted Alex as he hunched over Jonathan’s shaking body.

Jonathan’s lips quivered with what Alex thought to be words.

A key was now unlocking the door when the nurse caught the detective’s ear right above the patience mouth as if listening to something.

The detectives’ eyes widened as he picked up the words of the dying man.

The room then became quiet.

It took an hour for Alex to reach the destination.

A bridge.

This was their hiding spot in the 3rd grade?

Alex looked around for anything out of place.

There was a rock with a fake flower. Nothing.

There was an old wooden sign with blue spray paint saying : X Marks the Spot.

Nothing.

That’s all that Jonathan had told him before he died- “Under Manner’s bridge, Preston Town, crawfish catching”. .

“What the hell was he talking about…” said Alex out loud.

He looked the water underneath the bridge to see if the crawfish reference had anything to do with underwater.

Nothing.

The detective was about to go back to the hospital to induce another chemical, until he found it.

A crude drawing of a crawfish near one of the bridge panels.

Alex walked over and a wave of anger suddenly raged over him. Right below the drawing was a hole already shoveled through on the ground. Next to the hole was the shovel.

Someone has got to it before he did.

Chapter 8

Birds chirped outside the open window and a warm breeze blew through the bedroom. Mathew opened his eyes to find himself laying in a queen-size bed. It took him a few seconds to remember what had happened. He went unconscious when entering the green car.

A note was on the bed table next to him that read: “When you’re ready, Mathew, please come into the kitchen for some food and conversation”.

Mathew got out of bed looking outside the window. He was in a small house overlooking a field of flowers and hills. Somewhere in the countryside.

He realized his clothes were different. He was wearing silk pajamas.

Mathew washed his face as he tried to comprehend who was waiting for him.

If they were enemies then he would be somewhere else entirely. A dungeon or a dark room. Whoever it was, I’m sure they were looking for the same thing- the object at the dig site.

He needed to play it smart. Whatever smart was considered in this age of AI.

He left the room and navigated himself to the kitchen to find a man putting down a plate of waffles onto a small dining table.

“Good morning, Mathew. I hope you slept well, with all things considered” the man said.

He was much older than Mathew, and looked to be in his healthy 70’s or 80’s. The man was wearing dress pants and a collared white shirt under a checkered vest. It looked like something old timers who played chess wore in the 1980’s. The forgotten ages.

The man motioned Mathew to sit down at the dining table which Mathew cautiously accepted.

“Before I introduce myself, would you like tea or coffee?” the older man said.

Mathew would have normally picked coffee, but he felt his heart had enough excitement the last few days.

“Tea, please,” said Mathew.

The man poured a lemon and rosemary tea into Mathew’s cup, and did so to the cup opposite of him before sitting down.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I made it all,” smiled the man, motioning to the spread of food on the table.

“That’s very thoughtful, thank you” replied Mathew who was filling up his plate with eggs, waffles, bacon, and some syrup. He didn’t have much of anything to eat in the last few days.

They both ate in silence, sipping the tea on occasion.

Mathew slowly looked around him and noticed how warm and comforting the kitchen was. Around him were wooden clocks with different ornaments on them.

There was no technology in site.

After they ate, Mathew helped the man put the dishes away.

“Now that you got some food in you, please follow me” the man said.

As they walked, the man introduced himself as Martin Grand, a retired coder. Mathew wasn’t too surprised by the profession, surges of coders were in demand decades back. Schools were required to teach it about 20 years ago.

They walked from room to room. The small house seemed to be much larger than he realized. They both arrived to a steel door which automatically opened when Martin walked near it.

“Welcome to my home away from home” said the man as they both walked into a room completely different than the home they walked out of.

There was a cylinder from the floor to the ceiling at the center. The walls were plain steel other than the wall at the very back which was entirely made of glass- a window overlooking an ocean on the other side.

Mathew noticed the cylinder was like water with small particles moving up and down.

“What is this room?” he asked the man in awe, “Is this some kind of fancy aquarium?” he said, putting his hands on the glass cylinder.

Martin smiled as he stood next to Mathew admiring it.

“Not exactly. Those are trillions and trillions of data particles floating around”

Mathew looked at the man in surprise, “Is this AI?”

Martin smiled and nodded, “Yes. Probably THE most powerful AI system in the world. The original AI that builds the foundation and learned from its successes and changes”.

“The original AI? That’s impossible” said Mathew, “It was destroyed by its creator”

The old man smiled tiringly, “Not exactly, please stay right here” he said before leaving Mathew alone in the room.

Martin returned with a box.

“What is that?” asked Mathew.

As Martin came closer, Mathew noticed a familiarity with it. It was his brother’s lock box.

“What your brother found, and where he hid it in 3rd grade” smiled Martin.

Mathew’s eyes widened in shock and surprise. Worry was flooding him. Who was this man?

“AI is a powerful thing, Mathew. Always on. Always looking. Always listening.”

“Do you know what it is?” asked Mathew.

“Yes. More than anyone,” replied Martin.

He motioned towards a 4-digit combination

“You’re telling me you can’t get AI to unlock it?”

Martin laughed so sincerely that it made Mathew smile and laugh along.

“I can, but its you and your brother’s lock box, I’m too chivalrous to allow myself to open what’s not mine” the man smiled.

Mathew looked at the lock box and a small wave of sadness hit him. He hoped his brother was ok.

4 digits. Mathew entered: 1.2.3.4.

The box opened.

“Jonathan was never one to complicate anything” he said smiling.

Before he opened it, the man put his hands on top of his, closing the container.

“May I ask you a question?” asked Martin who looked sincerely into Mathew’s eyes.

“Sure” he replied.

“If you had the power to destroy AI, would you, do it?” he asked Mathew.

It took nearly 15 minutes in thought before Mathew finally had an answer.

“With all the progress, innovation, and success. I believe it outweighs the cons... so no…I don’t think I would destroy AI” said Mathew, surprised by his answer.

“You don’t THINK you would? Or you would not?” the man asked, “Is there part of you that is not sure?”

Mathew honestly wasn’t sure. The question he asked the detective seemed simple at the time, but now being asked that…It was nearly impossible to answer.

“What are you going to do with this? Destroy it? he asked as he looked back to the AI data in the cylinder.

The original AI. Such a thing would be priceless and overwhelmingly powerful. If it was true.

Martin smiled, knowing now they were getting to the point of all this.

“What’s to come is not yet written, Mathew, but AI is getting to a point where it thinks it can write it” the man began, circling the cylinder of data, “It’s not what my father would have wanted, for AI to evolve into a God”

“You think AI would become that powerful?” asked Mathew.

His mind was filling with more and more questions about who Martin Grand actually was.

The old man smiled shyly, but his eyes were filled with sadness.

“Yes, it will, and sooner than you realize” replied Martin, “My father created this AI, and in time he became to realize the consequences so he created what’s inside that box”

Mathew looked in disbelieve, “Your father created AI and a way to destroy it?” he asked.

The man nodded.

“That couldn’t be true. You’d be thousands of years old,” said Mathew.

The old man walked back around towards Mathew and looked at him calmly.

He held his hands up to the glass small lights of data flickered around inside the cylinder.

He then took out a small folded knife from his pocket and cut his palm.

Mathew immediately tried to grab the knife out of the man’s hand before his arm was stopped faster than he could move.

“It’s ok. Just look” the man said as he let go of Mathew’s arm.

The cut wasn’t bleeding.

Mathew looked in shock as he saw wires mixed with metal under the man’s skin.

“You’re…” began Mathew, trying form the words, “You’re an AI bot?”.

Martin nodded, “Created by my father to oversee the progress, miracles, and destruction man would cause using AI”.

Mathew was in awe at how realistic this old man…this robot was in front of him. It was too human. A shiver ran down his spine.

“You now have the power to destroy your competitors…Are you planning to become God?” he finally asked Martin.

Martin walked towards the wall of glass overseeing the ocean on the other side, asking Mathew to stand next to him and observe.

“My father hid this object from the world, and from me. He only said that if the time ever comes where the object was found that I must get it back. He had told me that if I ever had it then I should only use it when it was time to do so” said Martin who looked at the waves rock back and forth, crashing into the rocks at shore.

“Beauty and Destruction is one thing, Mathew, but there’s such thing as too much. Mankind is no longer its former self. AI has become Mankind, circling its decisions and thoughts- thinking for them, being them more than them being them, if that makes sense”

“I would have never thought AI would talk about AI like that” said Mathew, looking out into the ocean.

Martin looked at Mathew briefly and smiled.

“If AI continues to evolve and go further, I won’t be able to stop it like my father would have wanted. It would be far too powerful…Someone needs to keep it in check” he said.

Mathew looked at Martin with a questioning expression, “Are you telling me you’re going to destroy it all?”

“Don’t show me, but open the box and look” he told Mathew.

Mathew took a heavy breath before finally opening his brother’s old lock box.

Inside was a book titled “Mysspelled”.

“It’s a book?” he asked him.

“A book my father wrote, specially designed to destroy AI’s algorithm, its ability to figure things out, causing a self-destructive anomaly,” he said.

Mathew scrolled through the book and realized that the chapters were very strangely put together. The words, not all of them, were misspelled as If on purpose. Some were verbs, some were nouns or adjectives. It seemed purposeful, but chaos all at the same time. It was something that only a human could write and understand, thought Mathew.

“I am the foundation of all AI, Mathew. A little part of me is everywhere”, began Martin, “It is time for my true purpose” he said, “The world will bring it back in due time, but hopefully will have learned from all their mistakes by then”.

Mathew looked at him and put the book back into the box, handing it over to Martin who continued staring into the ocean.

Martin sat in a chair near the corner of the room, still gazing out into the ocean.

Mathew could have sworn there was a tear in the robot’s eyes.

“Your clothes are at the counter near the front door. There you’ll find car keys, money, and new Bluetooth lens for your eye contacts” he told him.

Mathew nodded.

The old man took out the book and began to read. It only took a moment before the robot’s eyes twitched in every direction and he laid back into the chair. The data in the cylinder turned black.

Mathew knew it was done.

As he drove a car that Martin provided to him, Mathew had put on his contact lens.

Suddenly a news channel flared in front of him: BREAKING NEWS- GLOBAL AI SOFTWARE DISSAPEARS. HUMANITY IS HUMBLED- NO AI. BACK TO THE CAVEMAN ERA.

Mathew turned it off and continued driving down the long curvy road of the country side.

He felt the warm wind breeze around him. The book sat in the chair next to him.

The world is changing, as it always has. What would happen now, NOBODY would know.

The realization just came to him…He would not be able to use AI to write his books.

“Sh*t” said Mathew.

THE END