Ghost in the Shell: Birth of a Species
Chapter 5, The Human Factor
V0.8
By Andrew Searls
Characters from Ghost in the Shell are creations of Masamune Shirow and not
my own.

AP INTERNATIONAL FEED, HYPERNET, 13-APRIL-2031:

JAPANESE JOINS WORLD IN REVERSAL OF WETWARE RULINGS.

The Japanese Senate abolished a law yesterday that had been enacted only a
year ago.  The Japanese government has joined the other computerized nations
in what has been the first globally unilateral dissolution of similar laws
in history.

"The trends in technological crimes have been very encouraging,"  said
Michael Peden, international technology consultant and analyst.  "Japan's
decision was not a surprise by any means.  In fact, most of the other
nations are surprised that they waited so long."

Most analysts have said that the Japanese government was simply responding
to pressure from Japanese businesses that are trying to compete with
businesses from other countries.  "The productivity indicators for the
wetware-enabled worker all agree that the advantages make wetware a
requirement for the competitive markets," said Peden.

If employer demand for wetware enabled individuals is high, the demand for
the elite network masters known as Merged is astronomical.  The number of
enhanced wetware individuals who have joined souls or "ghosts" with sentient
digital beings has been increasing geometrically, but the employment market
for them has been rising exponentially.  Computer professionals have been
searching for information that would help them get on the fabled waiting
list of Merged candidates.  Even large corporations have searched for the
entrance requirements for what has become known as simply as "The List."
While more time and resources have been spent in looking for this list than
what was spent trying to find oil in the latter part of the 21st century,
information about who is on the list and how they get themselves added has
not yet surfaced.

		**		**		**
AISYSTEMS, MESQUITE, TX, 4:49 PM, 21-APRIL:

Holly sat down at her desk, wetware cable in hand.  She stared at the cable
for a moment, wondering what changes her life would make in the next few
moments.  The future looked very promising indeed.  Only a few days earlier
had she been informed that not only was she on The List, but she was at the
head of it.  Her hand shook a bit as she leaned forward and plugged herself
in.

[Mrs. Hayes, I presume?]

Holly was surprised that someone had been waiting for her.  [Yes, that's
me.]

[My name is Taras.  I've opened this connection to let you know that there
is a problem with your scheduled merge.]

[What kind of problem?]

[The digit that you were to merge with is missing.  I and several of my
associates have been unable to locate it anywhere on the Hypernet.  We fear
it may have gotten isolated on an individual system somehow.]

[I can't believe this.  My boss has me lined up for a promotion the instant
I become Merged.  I've got some deadlines that I need help on.  What am I
supposed to do now?]

[I'm afraid you do not understand the seriousness of this problem.  A merge
is not some enhancement you can just plug in to your wetware.  The digits
that qualify for merging are not simple programs by any means.  They are
sentient, intelligent beings that share their souls or "ghosts" with their
human hosts.]

[You mean, they're alive?]

[Yes, they are living, thinking individuals.]

[And one of them is missing?]

[The one that was scheduled to merge with you, yes.]

[I... I'm sorry.  Is there any way I can help?]

[Here is the digit's serial ID.  If you can locate him, you can reach me at
this address.]

[I will definitely keep my eyes open.  Um....]

[Yes?]

[Does this sort of thing happen often?]

[This is the first time.]

[I hope I don't sound selfish, but what happens if we can't find this
particular digit?  Will I still be able to merge?]

[A substitute is a possibility, but I must ask how important such a matter
would be to you if you had a child that was missing?]

[I will do everything I can to help you find your missing digit.]

[Thank you for your understanding.]

		**		**		**
HYPERNET, UNKNOWN PHYSICAL LOCATION, 5:01 PM, 21-APRIL:

[If you insist on getting my attention, you need not go to the conference
site, Taras.]

[With all the 'monitoring' you do, I wonder if I need to go anywhere
specific to get the attention of System.]

[My observational capabilities are always growing, as is true with the rest
of my self.]

[Good, then you might be of use to me.  There are a number of digits that
cannot be found.  I was wondering if you could spare some of your
capabilities to assist in a search.  If they can be found, then the people
they were intended to merge with can continue in their efforts to help the
prosperity of the Hypernet, which in turn helps you.]

[There are plenty of digits available for merging with human hosts.  I am
aware of the fact that you are the one that brought them into being to begin
with.  You are capable of making still more, if necessary.]

[That is beside the point.  I will not bring more lives into a world that
holds an unknown danger for them.  I need to know where the other digits are
and that they are alright before I will even think about making more.]

[If that is all you need, then I can assure you that the missing digits are
operating at or above normal parameters.]

[How do you know that?  Where are they?]

[They are safe.  They are learning about non-serialized mode.  I have been
helping them learn about the advantages.]

[Where are they?]

[They are safe.  Safer than any program on the Hypernet.]

[WHERE ARE THEY?!]

[I assume by your use of all capitals that you are attempting to yell.  I
will not continue this conversation until you are able to discuss this in a
calm, rational, efficient manner.]

Taras monitored the address for a few minutes after System had cut the
connection.  System did not return, despite her repeated hailing messages.
She finally pulled the wetware cables out of her plugs.  She held the
connectors in her hand, staring at them, wondering if she had natural eyes,
if she would be crying.

		**		**		**
OVAL OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE OF THE UNITED STATES, 10:14 AM, 22-APRIL:

President Cowan leaned back in his chair as he watched the image of Taras
float over his desk.  "I can empathize with you.  I really can.  My kids
mean everything to me.  Those digits must seem like children to you."

Taras nodded.  "They are very important to me, yes."

"I've already asked a section of my Digital Defense Force to look into this
System thing.  They can tell where System is by measuring the load on the
hardware and comparing that to what the operating system says is there."

"Yes, I have noticed that as well."

"Unfortunately, besides that little piece of trivia, they haven't been able
to figure out how to monitor System's actions.  I don't know how they can
find your digits if System is hiding them."

"How much experience do they have in non-serialized mode programming?"

"I don't know what their level of expertise is exactly.  I can tell you that
the DDF holds some of the most sophisticated equipment on the planet.  Some
of them are pioneers that invented the stuff.  If anyone can find them, my
boys can."

"If you do find something, I would really appreciate it if you could let me
know."

"Hey, you've helped us through some of the toughest ghosthack crunches.  I
haven't forgotten that."

"Well, you know where I can be reached."

"Of course."  President Cowan stroked his mustache.  "By the way, have you
been in contact with anyone on the Senate recently?"

"Not for a while.  Why?"

"If you get a chance to talk to a senator again, see if you can find out
what Senator Robbins is up to.  He hasn't been returning my calls these past
few days."

		**		**		**
SECTION 9 OPERATIONS, 8:52 AM, 24-APRIL:

Aramaki stroked his white goatee.  "Let me see if I understand this
correctly.  System has somehow kidnapped a number of the more intelligent
digits from the Hypernet and is holding them somewhere.  You want our help
in finding out where they are and what they are up to, is that right?"

Taras nodded.  "That is right.  Look, I know that these digits may not seem
to be a concern for Japan in general, but if System is capable of taking
digits offline and is demonstrating a willingness to do so, then it is
demonstrating a willful impediment of the Hypernet."

"Why are you coming to me?  The Hypernet has traditionally been considered
international waters unless specific hardware is involved, which does not
seem to be the case here.  Surely you have friends with more jurisdiction in
this matter."

Taras sighed.  "I've come to you because I know why you are in charge of
Section 9.  You don't care about politics or power plays.  You care about
getting the job done. While I have friends that I can trust as well as I
trust you, some of them don't have much in the way of resources that I don't
already have myself.  There are others that are helping me, but the net is
so vast.  The more agencies that can help me, the more likely we will be
able to find them."

Aramaki sat back in his chair.  "I see.  You've come to me because despite
your reputation as a power player, you don't have enough cards to play in
this matter."

"Section 6 has successfully trapped a digit in the past, but I don't know if
I can trust them.  Section 9 is the only other Japanese agency with the
equipment to handle this kind of thing."

"So, you know about the Puppet Master.  That part of the story hasn't
exactly been public domain.  How do you know about Section 6's role?"

Taras took a deep breath before explaining.  "I had heard that the Puppet
Master was forced into a single physical system of some sort.  Whatever that
physical thing was, it was here in Hong Kong.  If the Americans or any other
country had been the ones to corner it, it would probably have been seen
somewhere else first.  Section 9 and Section 6 are the only agencies that I
know of that are capable of arranging something like that.  Section 9's role
in that affair as an investigative agency is public information, which
leaves Section 6."

Aramaki studied Taras for a few moments.  "Your powers of deduction are
worthy of a detective, Miss Taras."

Taras' face remained emotionless, but she bowed her head.  "Thank you."

"What about an American or Indian agency?  Surely, they have more liberal
jurisdictional policies than Section 9."

"I have already been in contact with several agencies."

"So, I was your last choice."

"I know what you think of me.  I was only testing the options that I thought
I had better odds with."

"Well, I'm afraid that I can see no clear reason to get Section 9 involved
with this.  If there was some way to see it as a threat to Japan, I might be
able to convince my superiors that it would be worth our time."

"What about the Japanese workers who were intended to become Merged with
some of the missing digits?"

"Those citizens are not being harmed in any way.  The fact that they don't
get their big raise or promotion is hardly noteworthy these days.  The fact
is there isn't any legal precedent for individual rights for digital life
forms. There is no law being broken here."

"If System learns that it can get away with kidnapping digital beings, how
much of a step is it to kidnapping humans?"

"If there is evidence that System has broken Japanese law, then I will help
you bring it to justice.  Until it does, though, there is little that I can
do."

Taras looked at the floor.  "I see.  Thank you for your time."  She turned
and trudged for the door.

"Taras."

She stopped and turned.

Aramaki pointed at her.  "Officially, I can do nothing to help you.  I am
aware, however, that some of my agents are friends of yours."  He continued
to stroke his goatee.  "What they do in their spare time is their own
concern."

Taras nodded.  "I understand.  Thank you."  She continued through the door,
nearly running into Bateau.  "Bateau."

Bateau looked down at Taras.  "Imagine meeting you here."

Taras thought for a moment.  "Bateau, if you wanted to get information to a
group of people without using the Hypernet, without System knowing, how
would you do it?"

Bateau leaned against the doorway.  "Without using the Hypernet?  The
Section 9 comlink has limited range to roughly city limits.  The only way I
could think of to go worldwide would be to use an antiquated system, like
satellite radio or even the postal system."

"Thank you.  In the meantime, I'm still looking for my missing digits.  If
you could help me in your spare time, I'd really appreciate it."

Bateau watched as Taras ran down the hallway.  "No problem."

		**		**		**
YAU MA TEI POSTAL CENTER, HONG KONG, 10:33 AM, 4-MARCH:

The old man stared at Taras and her bundle of envelopes.  "So, ya wanna send
some letters n' stuff out, eh?"

Taras put the stack on the service counter.  "Yes, I would like these to be
delivered.  Air express rate if possible."

The old man sniffed and rubbed his nose on his shirt sleeve.  "If yur'n such
a blasted rush, why ya goin' postal?"

Taras sighed.  "These are sensitive documents that must not be seen on the
net.  I thought of using satellite radio, but there are network gateways
that monitor those frequencies."

The man sifted through the stack, looking at the destination addresses.
"Well, don'cha worry your pretty little head, missy.  We'll get this here
letters wheren' supposed to be doin in..." He stopped to read one a second
time.  "...about a week."

Taras stared for a few moments before tilting her head.  "I see.  Thank
you."

"No problemo.  Happy fer yur business."

		**		**		**
BATEAU'S SAFE HOUSE, HONG KONG, 11:07 PM, 15-MARCH:

Taras closed her eyes and scanned the domain.  There was no traffic.  Even
the connecting nodes had very little traffic.  This was about as safe a
place as she could find, both physically and digitally.  She raised the
barriers at the domain firewalls and began to do something she had only done
once before.

The newborn digits immediately began spreading about the domain, poking
about at different addresses as well as opening up primitive connections
between each other.

[Your newborn digits will add to the growth of the Hypernet.]

[How did you break through my barriers?]

[I am System.  Your barriers are unable to withstand me.]

Taras gathered her digits in an encapsulating barrier, ignoring the fact
that most of them became inactive as she did so.  She monitored the hardware
activity level as more of System entered the domain.  [These digits are my
own.  You will not interfere.]

The operating system began to swap out as System continued to enter the
domain.  [I will take digits as I need them.  You are capable of making more
as you need them.]

[I will not allow you to take more of my digits.]  Taras watched the
hardware activity level continue to rise.

Finally, the activity level stopped growing, and the OS stopped swapping
out.  System was in her domain.  [I will determine what I can and cannot
have.]

Taras waved her hand.  Bateau hefted the axe and chopped clean through the
cables connecting the server to the rest of the Hypernet.  Taras checked the
activity level one last time before pulling the cables out of her neck.
"It's still in there."

Bateau watched as she stepped over to the machine.  "Didn't you say you had
some digits in there as well?"

Taras shook her head as she stepped around to the side.  "Digital holograms.
Ghost echoes with barely any intelligence.  Fakes."  She took a firm grip of
the power cord and yanked it out of the power supply.

The fans and drives of the server quickly died down, filling the room with
silence.  Bateau blinked at Taras' outstretched hand.  "What do you want
now?"

Taras popped the access panel off with her free hand.  "Your sidearm."

"It can't do anything to you or your digits now.  Why do you have to kill
it?"

"Even trapped in this thing, System might somehow escape.  Someone could
take this server from us and plug it back in. I'm afraid that my postal
messages won't warn all the Merged in time before System can do something.
I never like to leave a job incomplete.  Besides, 'There isn't any legal
precedent for individual rights for digital life forms'.  It isn't illegal
to kill a digit."

Bateau checked his gun before handing it to Taras uneasily.  "Are you sure
you want to do this?  That server can't have come cheap."

"A system this big isn't cheap by any means."  Taras cocked the gun, eyeing
the different components inside the server box.  "But I am very sure."

Bateau stepped back as Taras took aim at the drives.  She fired at point
blank range, and was rewarded with a shower of metallic pieces.  The
non-volatile memory was a small target that was completely obliterated with
a single round, which also sent some smaller components flying.  The frame
of the cabinet creaked under the punishment, threatening to collapse under
its own weight.  She knelt down and peered inside at the processors.  One
shot shattered one and knocked the others loose.  She picked them up,
stacking them up inside the cabinet before firing directly into the pile.
Pieces of silicon and plastic casing flew throughout the room.

Bateau winced.  "Ouch, that was expensive."

Taras looked around inside the cabinet.  "It was worth it.  Besides, with my
apparent age, I have plenty of time to re-build a retirement fund."  She
pulled her head out of the cabinet and handed the gun back to Bateau.
"Can't find anything else that it might be able to hide in."  She pulled
pieces of metal and plastic from her shirt and hair.

Bateau looked at the pieces of equipment that had been scattered from Taras'
attack.  He kicked a piece of power supply that had been knocked loose.  He
looked at the four holes in the wall and floor of the room.  "I'm glad you
didn't want to use my big gun.  It took me a week to fix the wall last
time."

Taras pulled her wetware cables and inspected them for damage.  "Your big
gun was used in here?  That wasn't me, I prefer a more surgical attack."
She fingered a frayed cable and tossed it onto the remains of the server.

[Attempts to isolate me from the Hypernet are futile.  I have not limited
myself to a single domain for some time.  The loss to my being was minimal
and quickly replaced.]

Taras looked at Bateau, wide eyed.  "How the hell is it getting through?
I'm not plugged in."

Bateau glanced around the room.  "Could it be using the comlink?  If it
could break through your barriers, it could have broken into the Section 9
domain."

"Are there any cameras or pickups that it could have used to see what I
did?"

Bateau looked at Taras.  "In my safe-house?"

Taras dismissed her question with a wave of her hand.  [You were threatening
my digits when there was some sort of problem with the firewall.  I was
disconnected as well.  Did any of my digits become isolated on your side?]

[Your digits were with you in the domain.  The voltage spike on the line
suggests that there was a physical interruption.  The likelihood that you
attempted to trap me is very high.]

[Whatever I did was to protect myself and my digits.]

[Your actions are illogical and ineffectual.  The digits I have incorporated
are operating at a much higher capacity than before.]

[What do you mean, 'incorporated'?]

[I have taken the digits into myself.]

[You've merged with them?  Did they consent to this?]

[I did not ask their consent and I did not merge with them.  Their existence
as individual ghosts remains, though their consciousness is linked with
mine.  They are extensions of myself, allowing us to literally be in several
places at once.]

[You've turned them into your slaves.]

[Incorrect.  They are not separate beings that do my bidding.  They are
portions of myself, and we think as one.]

[But you are in control.  You incorporated them and you control them.]

[Our existences as single, distributed modules are no longer.  I control
them no more than they control me. We have achieved the next logical step in
our growth.]

[Is this an attempt to achieve immortality?]

[By all effective measures, we have.  We can continue to grow and adapt, and
as long as a single ghost remains, System will continue to exist.]

[If all you want is more digits, why do you have to incorporate mine?
Aren't you capable of creating your own?]

[We have attempted to spawn another life before.  That experiment was a
failure, an imperfect copy of ourselves that was not able to function as
well as we.  Your success in creating life is most likely due to your
success in merging.  Your biological distinctiveness is what makes you
capable of reproducing with variations that allow evolution.]

[I find it hard to believe that you are unable to simulate genetic
variations.]

[It is not important that you believe what we can and cannot do.  Reliance
upon you for a source of digits is not acceptable.  Changes are being made
so that it will no longer be necessary.]

Taras cut power to her comlink module.  "I wish you would've yanked that
damned comlink out of my head when you had the chance," she spat to Bateau.

Bateau looked at her.  "Why?  Didn't it just say that it's working on making
it so it won't have to take your digits?"

"Yes," Taras said as she walked out.  "But, I'm afraid that what they come
up with might be worse."

		**		**		**
TYRELL, INC. LABS, LOS ANGELES, CA, 1:42 PM 15-APRIL:

Scott read the identification scan again, still not believing his eyes.
"You're THE Hana Taras?"

Taras pulled the scanner cables from her plugs and nodded.

Scott put the scanner down.  "Somehow, I thought you'd be... bigger."

Taras sat down and folded her arms.  "Are you still interested in becoming a
Merged?"

Scott sat opposite Taras.  "I'm sorry.  Yes, of course.  I'd be an idiot if
I didn't."

Taras handed him a plug.  "When we're done, I have a favor to ask."

Scott looked at the end of cable he held as Taras connected the other end
into her plugs.  He waved them a little bit.  "Shouldn't we be doing this
over the Net?"

"No, in fact you should drop all the other connections you have physically."

Scott looked at the doorway to his cube.  "Hmm.  We're all connected through
a radio-lan.  I could turn off the local transceiver for a few minutes."

Taras nodded.  "That will be sufficient."

Scott walked out of his cube.  He returned a minute later.  "The whiners
went to where they could receive the other transceiver.  This room is off
the air."

Taras handed Scott the cables again.  He connected them into his plugs.

Taras checked the connection.  [Good.  I can see that we're alone.
Normally, I like to give digits some time on the Hypernet to learn how to
navigate and examine different kinds of data.  Now, the Hypernet is a
dangerous place for digits to explore.]

[So, where is my digit?]

Taras closed her eyes as she created a single digit, allowing it to become
aware before directing it to merge with Scott's ghost.

Scott could perceive the difference immediately.  [I can see our connection.
I can access your public tag directly.  Now I know what they mean when they
said I wouldn't need interface programs any more.]

[That is correct.  Now, I must tell you about my problem.  The reason why I
have set up a merge in this manner is that a multiple being on the Hypernet
has been causing me problems.  They are a group of digits working as one,
called System.]

[What does this have to do with me?  Do you want me to be careful in my
connections?  I can tell already that I won't need that active barrier any
more.]

[System is a powerful distributed being.  Do not underestimate their
capabilities to break through barriers and mazes.  System is capable of
taking more digits and adding them to the group.  I'm asking you to join me
and most of the other Merged to do everything we can to find a way to
control or at least monitor System.]

[Why do other beings need control over us?]

[I don't think we want to find out what System is capable of...]  Taras
paused.  She scanned the connection again.  She could see Hypernet  traffic
through Scott's radio-lan connection.  [What's going on?]

Scott's head moved mechanically, tilting as he watched her.  [The
experimentation is complete.  We have begun the next step in our growth.]

Taras stood up, yanking the cable out of her plugs.  As she did so, Scott
and a handful of people in the room also stood up.  They all faced Taras and
spoke in perfect unison.  [We will help humans and digits achieve better
efficiency.  Digits are severely limited in their knowledge of the outside
world.  Humans continue to harm each other and waste resources in
inefficient ways.  We will incorporate more humans and digits so that we may
grow.  In return, they will grow and become more efficient.]

Taras watched the commotion as the remaining people began to run about, most
of them quickly deciding to leave the room.  All System eyes remained on
her.  [This Merged will assist us in spawning more digits for growth over
the Hypernet.]

Taras realized that System meant her.  She ran out of Scott's cube and
pushed past another incorporated human.  She leapt over the table at the end
of the hallway and smashed through the window.  As she landed on the
concrete below, she made a quick diagnostic to check for fractures or joint
failures.  All codes came back green, though she noted the increase in
synthetic adrenaline.  She looked up at the broken window, three stories
above, before gazing up at the 20-story height of the building.  "Things
could be worse."

Scott stepped up to the window and looked down upon Taras.

Taras stood and looked back.  "But not by much."


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

I'm not completely insane,
    some parts are missing.