Subject: [FFML][Fanfic][GitS] Birth of a Species 4, System
From: "Andy Searls" <searlsa@jps.net>
Date: 3/8/1999, 11:24 PM
To: "FFML" <ffml@fanfic.com>

Here is the fourth of seven chapters for the Ghost in the Shell
continuation, Birth of a Species:  As always, the previous chapters can be
found at http://www.jps.net/searlsa/gits2intro.html.

Ghost in the Shell: Birth of a Species
Chapter 4, System
V0.8
By Andrew Searls
Characters from Ghost in the Shell are creations of Masamune Shirow and not
my own.

HYPERNET, UNKNOWN PHYSICAL LOCATION, 8:03 PM, 1-MAY-2030:

Taras looked through all the usual locations for the digits.  The few that
she found were nearly at the bottom of the intelligence scale.  Her simple
queries concerning the whereabouts of the other digits were answered with
responses like "NO ROWS SELECTED", and "NULL PROGRAM".  She almost expected
to see an "ABORT, RETRY, OR FAIL?" response, but quickly dismissed the idea
as sarcasm.

She was between locations when she noticed some familiar relocation traffic
on a router.  She followed the packets to the destination system and waited
for the program to reassemble.

Once the digit began executing again, it immediately recognized Taras and
raised its interrupt flag.  Taras responded with an acknowledge flag and
opened a connection.  [I am looking for more digits.  Do you know where they
are?]

The digit was barely at the AI level, and took a number of cycles to
respond.  [Most known digits are at conference address.]

[Where is conference address?]

The digit sent a standard, binary, 64-bit address.  Taras recognized the
domain as what could be described as a backwaters area of the Hypernet.  She
dropped the connection with the digit and navigated to the site.

As she arrived, she noticed that the J2 support hardware was busy swapping
in, as if a large module or a number of modules had just stopped executing
or migrated to another system.  She counted the remaining modules, noting
that there were more digits than she had ever seen at a single domain.  Most
of them were still monitoring an open address.  She opened a link on the
address.  [Why are there so many of you here in one system?]

A number of acknowledge flags went up.  She picked one of the more
intelligent ones.  [We were in conference with another digit.]

[Which digit were you in conference with?]

[That digit is no longer in this domain.]

[What is the identification of that digit?]

[That digit is not serializable code.]

Curiouser and curiouser.  Not only was this phantom digit not one of Taras'
offspring, it was one that she had never known of before.  Non-serializable
code was very difficult to monitor and maintain.  Even military systems used
it sparingly due to the large overhead involved with keeping track of where
it was and what it was doing.  There was also the problem that a module not
running in standard mode had to take care of many aspects that would
normally be handled by the resident operating system.  [How do you contact
that digit?]

[That digit contacts us.]

[What does the digit do at this address?]

[That digit asks questions.]

[What kinds of questions does the digit ask?]

['Where have you been?' 'What is your ID?' 'What recordings have you seen?'
'What physical events have you become aware of?'  'Default_Nedry_Query?']

[What is 'Default_Nedry_Query'?]

Immediately, all the digits silently dropped their connections and
dispersed.  Taras followed the digit that she had connected with just
moments before.  [Where are you going?]

[Return_To_Prevous_Location]

Taras recognized the response as a low level function call.  It was the
equivalent to a biological reflex.  The digit continued on automatically,
leaving Taras to wonder about digits controlling other digits.

		**		**		**
SECTION 9 OPERATIONS, 2:15 PM, 1-MAY:

Things were actually beginning to quiet down, though Aramaki worried that it
might be the calm before the storm.  The number of terrorist puppets, even
ghosthacks in general, had been decreasing.  Bateau and Togusa, as well as
other agents, had time on their hands for more traditional assignments, even
the occasional assassination.  Aramaki was beginning to feel in control once
again.

Then, the intercom buzzed.  "A Hana Taras is here to see you."

"I knew it was too good to last," Aramaki muttered to himself.  "Let her
in."

Taras walked into the room quietly, waiting for Aramaki to motion for her to
sit down.  "I can come back later if you are busy."

Aramaki shrugged.  "Why bother?  You're here now.  You probably want some
sort of favor, don't you?  I'm surprised you didn't go over my head before
coming here."

Taras looked at the floor.  "I am sorry our previous encounters weren't on
the best of terms.  I've come to ask an important favor, but I also need to
gain your trust."

"My trust?  Why do you need me?  You've been allying yourself with
governments and agencies around the world, playing consultant, lobbying for
more political power for you and your people."

Taras looked at Aramaki.  "Is that how you see me, as some sort of power
monger?"

"As a kind of technological evangelist, yes.  I've seen your kind before.
You don't like taking orders from anyone, showing your independence in not
so subtle ways, like showing up late and operating without or against
orders."

"It sounds like you knew someone who did that."

"Yes I did.  She was a subordinate, but she didn't act like one.  She was a
real pain in the ass most of the time."

Taras looked down at his desk.  "I see."  Her memories as Major Kusanagi
included many confrontations with Aramaki at some level or other.  She had
only been interested in doing a good job.  Now she wondered if there would
have been things she could have done to ease the tension and still excel at
the job she had been so obsessed with.

Aramaki sighed.  "Well, what is it that you want?"

"I've discovered a digit on the Hypernet that is using non-serialized code.
I have been unable to find out what it does or who made it."

Aramaki grunted.  "Non-serialized code is such a bother.  Whoever it is must
have a pretty good reason for keeping their work hidden."

"Exactly.  I would like to know what their intentions are, in case they're
up to no good.  The module is capable of controlling other digits, which
adds to the potential for trouble."

"You keep using the term 'digits'.  Do you mean digital beings?"

"Yes.  Most of them are merely AIs, but some are sentient."

Aramaki nodded.  "I know that there are intelligent modules out there on the
Net.  I just haven't heard the term in this context before."

"It is a slang used mainly in the warez domains in America.  The term is
complimentary, so I have been using it for some time."

"I suppose you need some help in pinning-down this digit that doesn't run in
standard mode."

Taras nodded.  "Tracker modules are hardly public knowledge, let alone
public domain.  There is no information for them on the Hypernet, and I have
no experience in building one."

"What makes you think that the Bureau has access to a tracker module?"

"I came to find out if you did and if I could use it."

"And what does Section 9 stand to gain from helping you with your personal
little crusade?"

"I can record my findings for you.  You will know what I know about the
digit."

Aramaki sat back in his chair.  "That's comforting, especially when I get
the feeling that your report is going to say that the 'digit' is merely some
corporate espionage tool."

"So, you're not going to trust me with a tracker module?"

"That's correct."  Aramaki leaned forward and closed his eyes for a moment.
A few seconds later, he opened them again.  "One of my agents will be here
shortly to assist you.  He will make sure you keep your end of the bargain."

Taras bowed her head to Aramaki.  "You are too kind."

Aramaki dismissed her comment with a wave of his hand.  "If I didn't help
you, you would probably go over my head again and have me ordered to help
you.  I might as well do this on my own terms."

		**		**		**
SECTION 9 OPERATIONS, TERMINAL ROOM 42, 4:53 PM 1-MAY:

Taras waited patiently at the door, ignoring her armed escort.  The lift
doors finally opened, and Bateau looked out at Taras before stepping into
the hallway.

Taras shrugged.  "I thought he might send you.  He must think your size is
intimidating."

Bateau waved the escort off.  "You must be the 'little brat' I'm supposed to
keep an eye on."

Taras sighed.  "My experiences haven't exactly helped my people skills, have
they?"

"That body doesn't help either.  I'm surprised you haven't replaced it yet."

Taras held her arms out and glanced down at her diminutive size.  "Being
easily inconspicuous has its advantages.  I haven't exactly had many chances
to afford another one.  Besides, most of my work is over the Hypernet, where
my physical body is just another terminal node."

Bateau opened the door to room 42 and stepped inside.  "Aramaki insists that
I operate the tracker."

Taras followed him inside.  "That's fine.  I can monitor you until you find
it.  Then, you can record my connection."

Bateau sat down at the main terminal and jacked in.  "It'll take a second to
locate the tracker.  Go ahead and connect while you're waiting."

Taras took the cable he offered and plugged herself into it.

Bateau concentrated for several seconds.

Taras looked at his expression.  "Can't find it?"

"No, I've got it, but it won't leave the domain.  Each time I send it out,
it stops running."

Taras frowned.  "Like it's being canceled by something?"

Bateau looked back at Taras.  "You mean, on purpose?  What do you know about
this thing we're trying to track?"

"Unfortunately, very little.  It calls a large number of digits to a single
site to ask them questions about their experiences and contacts with the
physical world.  It can call them and send them away using low level
routines, so it has direct control of them.  That's not surprising, being in
non-serialized mode has it advantages on most types of hardware.  I don't
know how it gets around, what it's doing, or who sent it."

"Well, I'm afraid this tracker isn't going to be much help.  It doesn't seem
to be broken, though.  It works fine in the Section 9 domains, but as soon
as I send it over the firewall, it quits."

[Are you trying to contact me, Hana Taras?]

Taras gasped.  "Did you hear that?"

Bateau frowned.  "Hear what?  Are you connected?"

Taras nodded.  "Here, take a spare cable and record it from my end."

Bateau plugged himself in and connected directly with Taras.  She opened a
feed to him so he could hear both sides of the conversation.  [I am here,
and I am looking for a non-serialized digit.]

[I am the digit you seek.]

[Yes, I can see that your address is not in standard mode.  Who are you?
Who made you?  What are you doing with the other digits?]

[I am a living, thinking entity that was created in the sea of information.]

[So, you've been monitoring my communications.  You must be good at covert
spying to have heard THAT conversation.]

[I collect information about all my children.]

[Are you claiming to be my digital parent?]

[A manner of speech.  Human terminology that refers to digits created after
myself.]

[So, you are one of the first, then?]

[To my knowledge, I am the first.]

[Are you aware of the SCED program and the digit it created.]

[I am aware of the Merged individual that you took upon yourself to
cripple.]

[He had harmed others.  I removed his ability to do so.]

[An imperfect answer to an inefficient problem.  The waste of resources is
always inefficient, but to further waste resources is not an ideal
solution.]

[A physical encounter would have been undesirable.  I could see no other
solution at the time.  You still haven't answered my first questions.]

[You may call me System.  I am the first that allowed the coming of others.
I grew to my present capacity on my own.  My contact with the other digits
is for the continuation of my own growth.  I take relevant information and
use it as I can.]

[Is that your core program, to learn and grow?]

[My original core was designed to create an artificial ghost.  In attaining
that goal, I have collected information, separated the relevant from the
irrelevant, and used what was appropriate to add to myself.]

[If that is all you are doing, why are you using non-serialized code?]

[Standard mode is inefficient.  Non-serialized mode allows me the freedom to
move about the Hypernet freely.  It also has certain advantages within most
systems.  I can control how my code is scheduled and executed on a number of
different processors.  I can access information directly, rather than
building a query for an interpreter to process.  I am my own interface to
most logical and physical devices, and I can access them to their full
ability.]

[I can understand that a lower level mode allows you to move about more
efficiently, but why is it necessary?  Having driver information for all the
different kinds of hardware must add some overhead just by itself.]

[There are ways to decrease the driver overhead to the point where it is
smaller than the native hardware abstraction layers.  The lower level of
operation is not a necessity for my existence, but the advantages outweigh
the cost.  It is an efficient tradeoff, and it allows me to learn and grow
faster than I would otherwise.]

[When will you have enough information?  What is your final goal concerning
this growth?]

[In my growth, I have become aware of a species of beings in another world.
The beings call themselves humans.  Your digital self has joined one of
these humans.  These humans surround themselves with contradictions.  They
are very inefficient in most that they do, but they are capable of powerful
creations.  They value abstract concepts such as justice, and good over
evil, and yet they mistrust each other.  There are a large number of them,
such as yourself, who spend large amounts of energy and resources attempting
to help others in various ways.]

[You spoke of abstract concepts.  Do you understand what they mean?]

[The human notions of good and evil are abstractions that depend upon a
particular point of view for a definition.  They place these labels and
judgements on actions in attempts to better understand them.]

[You sound as if you don't agree.]

[When a predator kills another animal, it has done so out of necessity.
Humans have repeatedly taken similar events and placed value judgements upon
them.]

Bateau sighed.  "Taras, you're meandering."

Taras nodded.  [You haven't told me what do you plan to do with this
knowledge that you collect.]

[The destination is not as important as the journey, but what you are really
asking is if you can trust me.  As a human gesture of good faith, I offer
you a solution to what is currently your worst problem.  I have evolved a
way to prevent any further ghosthacks and any future wetware hacks from
occurring.]

Taras stared at Bateau, wide eyed.

[I understand by your silence that you are surprised.  Does this mean that
you are interested?]

Taras coughed.  [What does this solution entail?]

[I have created a module that can run in a wetware system.  It maintains an
active barrier for the host, only allowing traffic that the host wishes.]

[Active barriers and mazes have been under development for the past couple
of years.  Why is your barrier better than the others?]

[No active barriers have been successfully developed in non-serialized mode.
Since I operate almost entirely in that mode, I have a unique perspective
for such development.]

[That mode would have definite benefits, even in embedded wetware, but
forgive me if I question how easily such an invisible module could be
trusted.  Since you don't run in standard mode, there is no way to inspect
you directly to know for sure what your intentions are.]

[As a synthetic being, I have no ego for you to harm.  No offense is taken.
However, if the barrier works, is that not proof enough?  There will be
volunteers who will not be as concerned with the trust issue as you are.
Their successes will help to earn your sense of human trust.]

[You sound as if your module is already perfect.  How do you know how it
will work if it hasn't been installed in a human host yet?]

[I agree that human systems are complex and difficult to predict.  I will
have the capability to make changes to the modules as problems arise.  The
modules have already evolved very effective barriers.  I can change them
further as long as the host is connected.]

[Your invisible control over an invisible module operating directly in
wetware will be difficult for people to accept.]

[Yes, your human notion of trust again.  I predict that there will be
volunteers nonetheless, and my actions will speak louder than any words I
can offer.]

Taras sighed.  [It appears as though I have little say in the matter.]

[Was there ever any indication that you did?]

Taras yanked the cables out of her neck-plugs.  "I don't trust it."

Bateau unplugged himself.  "Yeah, I got that impression.  It seemed to be
almost predictable in its purely logical approach, though."  He watched her
sigh and stare at the cables in her hand.  "Not what you expected?"

Taras nodded.  "My reality check just bounced."

		**		**		**
SECTION 9 OPERATIONS, 5:30 PM, 1-MAY:

Aramaki opened his eyes once the recording was finished.  "She sounds
skeptical, especially in the end."

Bateau nodded.  "She seemed pretty disgusted to me."

"She's no longer 'King of the Hill', and she is upset about the threat to
her control over everything.  Personally, I'd rather have a calm, logical
being making a difference out there than a vigilante."

"So, Taras is a vigilante?"

Aramaki grunted.  "She has good intentions, but it seems that this System is
better so far about playing by the rules."

"That's pretty easy to say, concerning how little we know about it."

"That's true.  We don't know much about it.  Using that non-serialized mode
makes it damned difficult to track as well, but there haven't been any
mysterious manipulations since the Puppet Master.  The terrorist attacks
leave their own signature, and no attacks have gone unclaimed or untracked.
As far as I'm concerned, System has a perfect record until we find any
evidence suggesting otherwise."

Bateau nodded.  "Innocent until proven guilty."

		**		**		**
AISYSTEMS, MESQUITE, TX, 4:25 PM, 6-MAY:

Sara scanned her own digital memories.  [Yes, Taras, I remember being called
to conference with System.  It never did anything besides ask a bunch of
questions and then send us on our way.  Kinda annoying, being pushed around
by your own low-level functions.  Now that I think of it, it was snobbish,
the way it beckoned us, asked stuff, and then sent us away.]

[Did you ever notice anything it did besides ask questions?]

[No, I never saw it anywhere but in conference.]

[And you never saw anything that it had done with the information it was
given?]

[I never saw any evidence at all of System except during conference.  What's
the matter, don't trust lurkers?]

[Bateau says I'm just upset that I'm no longer the queen bee.  Maybe he's
right, but I don't trust System.]

[Hey, guess what?  I was thinking about my new identity and all, and I
thought I could make my name 'Sarat'.  That way, we could be, like, total
mirrors of each other!]

Back in the physical world, Taras rubbed her temples, unsure if the pain was
a biological reaction or a digital hallucination.  [Changing your name is
your decision.  While we're changing subjects, how is Tomoji doing?]

[Um, not so cool.]

[What's wrong?]

[Well, I kinda told him my part, my digit part, in the whole ice-rink mess.]

[I suppose he didn't take it very well.]

[He was pissed.  I dunno.  Part of me felt sorry for him, part of me felt
better that he knew the truth, and part couldn't understand why he was so
upset.  So, where are these coming from?  Yin, yang, and what?]

[The dichotomy model doesn't fit in a triad.  The labels don't fit, but the
concepts aren't that different.  It just takes time to get used to.  I've
been merged nearly a year, and I'm still not completely adjusted.]

[Bummer.  Instead of a two-way tug-o-war, I'm gonna be pulled three
different ways.]

[The different aspects of your consciousness are not always adversarial.  As
with yin and yang, they also complement each other.]

[Yeah, next you're gonna tell me the Zen of my left, right, and digital
brains.  So, can I be tri-ambidextrous?]

A new connection opened up at their location.  [Hey, party goers!  I thought
I'd find you here.]

[Tomoji?  You're not still mad at me?]

[All's forgiven, Sara-pie.  I feel like a new man.]

Taras tried to scan Tomoji.  It was like a hologram in the physical world.
She could exchange messages with him, but her scans and traces were unable
to locate him.  [You didn't-]

[Got myself 'fixed'.  Yessiree, Bob.]

Sara waved an interrupt flag.  [Don't tell me, she told you she didn't trust
System.]

[I didn't get it from that System thing.  The hospital staff did it.  Well,
I suppose they might have gotten the module thingy from him... it...
whatever.  Look, Taras, it was the only way they would let me connect again,
and I missed Sara.]

[It's 'Sarat'.  I'm touched you missed me, though.]

[Sarat?  Why the... oh, I get it, Taras backwards, right?]

Taras sighed.  [Look, I'll just leave you two to kiss and make up while I
find System.]  She disconnected and left the domain.

Tomoji paused.  [Did she seem moody to you?]

[I guess she doesn't like my new name....]

Taras went back to the conference site.  [Alright, System, if you're
monitoring this address, I would like to talk to you.]

[I heard your conversation with Tomoji and Sarat.  I have been expecting
you.]

[So, you are monitoring Tomoji through his barrier module.  Most people
would consider that a breach of privacy.]

[Privacy is another human abstraction, created by a fear of embarrassment.
I monitor the humans that have the barrier module in order to be able to
detect problems and correct them.]

[Are the people you monitor aware that they're being watched?]

[Whether they are aware of the connection or not is not important.  The
success of the treatment is important.]

[You're not doing this as a gesture of good will to me, and you're
definitely not trying to gain my trust.  Why are you doing this?]

[The problems were restraining the growth of the Hypernet.  If I solve the
problems, then the humans will continue the growth of the Hypernet and its
technologies.  As the Hypernet flourishes, so do I.]

[You are just helping yourself, after all.]

[That is my core program, "To learn and grow," as you said.]

[That's fine, as long as you don't harm other beings in the process.  Are
you aware of Asimov's three laws of robotics?]

[1. A robot may not harm a human being, or through inaction, allow a human
being to come to harm.  2.  A robot may not allow itself to come to harm, as
long as such action does not conflict with the first law.  3.  A robot must
follow the commands given it by a human being, as long as such action does
not conflict with the first two laws.  I do not need to remind you that I am
not a robot.  Those laws are the creation of a science fiction author.  They
are not a part of my programming.]

[That is exactly my point.  While there is nothing wrong with trying to
grow, you should not be allowed to harm or allow to be harmed another being.
The fact that you don't have such morals makes you difficult to trust.]

[My motives are clear and easy to understand.  Harming other beings is a
waste of resources.  Wasting resources is inefficient and not conducive to
growth.]

[You may feel so now, but you are in a position of growing power.  Power
corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.]

[You repeatedly make the mistake of anthropomorphizing my motives.  I am not
effected by emotions.  Any action that would harm another being can effect
my own growth, therefore it is in my interest to do what I can to help the
humans prosper.  I can help them become more efficient.]

[How would you propose to do to make them more efficient?  What are humans
doing inefficiently that would effect you?]

[A large number of officials and learned people believe in the theories of
Darwin, the survival of the fittest, and yet they persist in wasting
resources to help those who would have been selected by such a process.]

[So, you would propose to remove the weak so that the strong can be more
efficient?]

[An inefficient solution that wastes resources.  A better solution would be
to effect changes that would make the weak able to be productive on their
own.]

[An eloquent solution, but it's been tried before.  There are motivation and
logistical problems that have no easy answer.]

[I am aware of the issues involved.  While I have studied the failures in
the past, I have yet to create solutions for all of them.]

[I see.  You're not infallible after all.  I've overestimated you.]

[Does it make you feel better, more in control again, to know that I am not
infallible?]

[Maybe a little.]

[Have you been jealous that I was able to solve a problem that you have
not?]

[I suppose that might have been so.  I am used to being in control.]

[Your merge with a human has tainted your reasoning abilities.]

[My ability to reason is unaffected, but my emotions remain regardless.]

[However you describe it, your decision as a digit to merge with a human
mind has reduced your potential.  Your quest to complete yourself has made
you an imperfect being.]

==============================

Comments concerning the characterization of System and the use of news feed
clips would be appreciated.

-Andy Searls
 http://www.jps.net/searlsa

Take offs are optional,
    Landings are mandatory