caldwellduckedbelowheworkopjusaswopeneredhedoorofheconrolroohemanslumpedohefloorbuhisfriendwasquickhewasalreadywhippingouarevolverashepurnedaround,caldwellsawmeilin’shandslipbehindherbackwihbzingspeedshewasreachingforheglockherewasadeyasheman’sbrainriedoregiserhefachaherewasawomaninheconrolroo’sarmwasalreadyexendedheglockspafireandabckholeappearedinhemiddleofheman’sforeheadheslumpedohefloorfacefirsmeilinsoodsilllisening

“quickiamnosurewheherheyheardha,”shesaidcaldwellranoheserverherewasaoolboxnearbyheswichedheserversoffandsaredremovinghemeallicpanelsonhemachinewihascrewdriver

“whaareyoudoing?”

“heaiisgohereseemsobenobackup,heoherserverisjusabunchofdaa,somekindofknowledgeworkusedbyheai’sneuralworkiamgoingoremoveheprocessors”

aminueandahalfer,bohservershadbeenopenedupandcaldwellhadcarefullyeasedheprocessorfromishousingonhemodifiedmoherboardheoherserverseemedoberu

ingapowerfulindusrysandardsunmicrosysemsprocessorcaldwellhandedheprocessoromeilin,whoslippediinoasmallgreyboxandpcediinherrucksack,allhewhileliseningouforhep

“okineedogeheroousernameandpassword,”caldwellsaid,breahingheavilyheadrenalinwaspumpingapofficerhadbeenkilledifheywereogecaughhey’dbohbekilledwihouashadowofadoubnoamounofdiplomaicwranglingcouldchangeha,noevenfouler’smaneuveringshisiswhakahadmeanwhenshehadsaidfoulerwassendinghimonafool’smission,hadayousidehepuzzlebuhehadokeepcool,keephiswisabouhihiswas,forhimpersonally,hebiggesfriggingscoreinheworldfullsopasake,hispashisfuure,hislifeheirlives!

caldwellsaaoneofheohererminalsandaempedofindheuserdirecoryallhemachinesseemedobeco

ecedoheworkinonewayoranohersomeimesinhishase,hisfingersslippedonhekeyboardsweawasdrippingouofeveryporeofhisbodyevenhoughheemperaureinhep’sconrolroomwasquielow

“iamnohappybeingupherewhileheseguyswalkinandakeshosausiamgoingdownsairsosecureheareagivemeyourglockandhurry,”meilinimplored

“okiamryingmybes,”caldwellsaid,reachinginhisrouserpockeforheglockandhandingiohermeilindisappearedinohecorridor,bohglocksaheready

caldwellremovedyamamoo’sconsoleandisperipheralsfromhisknapsackandswichedionhedo

edhegogglesandconinuedypingawayonheperminalhesameexdispyhe’dnoicedonhebundappearedonheboomrighofhegogglesheconsolewasdiscoveringnewworksheremovedhegogglescaldwellfoundheuserdirecoryonheperminandsca

edhelisofusersherewere2038inoal,includingonewihrooaccessandfivewihadminisraorprivilegeshereshadidenicallowlevelsofaccess

caldwellcalleduphisbaseonheconsoleherewerewomessagesbuhedidn’haveimeoreadhemheconsolehadlockedonohepworkheurnedquicklyoheperminasanideaformedinhismindhepingedheerminandicamebackwihisworkaddressiwasusingsandardcyberspaceproocolssmilingohimself,hisheadquicklydaringowardshedooroheconrolroom,heypedheusernamesandpasswordsforherooandadmininamessageofouler

hearhumping,caldwellloggedouofhisbasehegoggleswerenowdispyinghehighresoluionversionofshanghaionceagainhewasonhebanksofhehuangpuriverohislefhebund,oherighheshimmeringgssandlighsofpudongherewerepeopleonhepromenade,movingbeweenhebuildingsinpudongalonefiguresoodonhepavemenonzhongshanluherewasamoiondownsairsinhemansionandhesoundofgunshos

invirualrealiy,hefigureacrossheroadwaslookingacaldwell’savaarandisaredwalkingowardshimbuhowwashapossible?hecouldseehembuheycouldn’seehimrigh?hewasnoparofheworkyes,hewashewasco

ecedfromwihinhesysemandnowevenwihjushegogglesandhegloveshewasanavaarinhisworldandhelonefigurehadseenhimandwasnowfixinghiminhalifelesshighresoluionsarecaldwellsoodupandsaredwalkingowardshefigure,flexinghisfingersinhegloveshelookeddownahishands,hisvirualhands,andheyflexedbackmimickinghisacionshefiguresoppedinfronofhimandsmiled

“haisonewayoinrudeonaprivaeworkmyfriendyoumighaswellbewearingashirhasaid:‘inruder,comegeme’,”hefiguresaidinmandarin,ughingiwasanavaarinacrispbluesui,hefabricpulsingwihlife

“andwhoareyou?”

“wouldn’youlikeoknow?businceyouareprobablynogoingomakeialive,pnsarealreadyinmoionogeridofyou,inherealworldofcoursesincedeahherehasnorealmeaning,lemegranyouyourdyingwishiamlijin”

“lijin?ofsinghuauniversiyprofessoryao’sproégé?”caldwellcouldn’believewhahewashearingwhawaslijindoinginhework?hewassupposedobemissingordead

hebusinessman’seyesnarrowed

“howdoyouknowha?”heavaarasked

“we’vebeenlookingforyoulijiniamryingosophemajorgeneralfromcarryingouhispn”

“hemajorgeneral?youareryingosophemajorgeneral?hemajorgeneralisnohinghehasbeenohingbuapawninallofhisandheeniyconrollinghepawnisbeyondsoppingiknowwhoyouarecadcaldwell,hackerheeniyhasbeenexpecingyou,”lijin’sbusinessmanavaarlookedacaldwellwihdolefuleyesandsmiled,saringupwardsupaheadheashenskywasgraduallyurningpichbckashoughasquidhadjusreleasedasquirofinkinoaseaofmercury

“youareobviouslyaninruderoohoweyoucanwalkaroundfreely?whaareyoudoinghereanyway?wehoughyouweredead”

lijin’savaarwinked,brushedimaginarylinofispendsmiled

“dead?idon’hinksole’sjussayhairecognizedheshifingbanceofpowerandmovedwihheflowofheingsinguriyheeniyandiarewhayoucouldcalloldfriends”

“singuriy?whaareyoualkingabou?”

“henewailedrevoluioni’singbusadlyyouwon’bealiveoseei”

“heeniywasjusinseredinoheworkafewhoursagohadoesnoamounoanailedrevoluion”

“heeniyhasbeeninconrolforseveraldaysnowhehinghawasrecenlyinseredisnohingbuaninferiorimposer,adudimadesureofipersonallyhadisabledaiisnowheeniiesvassal,acourjesernoless”

“heaiisadud?”

“yes,hereaiwasreleaseduponprofessoryao’sdeahofulfillisdesiny”

“whichis?”

“hinkabouiihaveogonowanddomymaser’sbiddinggoodluckiamcuriousasohowyougainedaccessohesysembunoneofhamaersnowgoodbye”

lijin’savaarvanishedinohinairherewasanincredibleamounoffighinggoingondownsairsinhemansion,gunshosandscreamsofagonycaldwellwasconcernedformeilinbuhefachanoonehadyebreachedherdefensesandgainedenryoheconrolroomsuggesedshewasholdingherown

caldwelllookedupahedarkeningskyjusasbckpixelssaredrainingdownonhimhecouldfeelionhishands,heconsoleglovespickinguphesensaionlikebeesingscaldwellwincedandookasepbackwardshepixelscoalescedinoonebigcloudandinasplisecondmorphedinoafigure,anemperorwearinganimperialdragonrobeofsmoohyellowembroideredsilkhefabricwasalivefivecweddragonsmovedacrossherobe,breahingfireheirscaledsinewyformsunduedacrossheemperor’sbodybelowhemwavescrashedandswirledsendingshowersofsprayupinheair

“cadcaldwellcongrauions”hevoicewassof,almosfeminine

“whomighyoube?”

“iamheomnipoenceiseeyoudidn’heedmymessage”peelsofhundercrashedoverheadhedragonssnarled,roaredandunduedacrosshefabricwihrenewedinensiy

“heai?yousenhemessage?”

“hawashen,hisisnohapaerninhedaaisasclearasnighanddayi’sinyourdesinyyeconroloveryourdesinyisinyourhands”heemperorsrokedhisdarkflowingbeardcaldwellsawrealmsofdaascrollingpasinbckrefleciveeyes

“wheheridesroyyouornodepends”

“onwha?”

“onyourinenions”caldwellraisedhevisorofhegogglesafracionandsaredypingawayaheperminal

“myinenions?heyarebenevolenijuswanoruleheworldhereissomuchgoodicandoforhumaniyheworldwillbeeabeerpceeveryonewillhaveaccessosuperhumaninelligenceheranshumaneraisuponusmanhascreaedallhisechnologybudoesn’knowwhaodowihihereissomuchwasage,somuchinefficiencyhaisabouochange”

caldwellwasscrollinghroughhedaageneraedbyhework’sauhenicaedusersheai’sprofilehadobeinheresomewherehereiwasamassiverapidlychangingmassofdaahaeasilydwarfedhaofheeniresysem

“ranshuman?how?”caldwellflippedhevisordownheemperorwasurningaround

“iamnowreadyforherealworldhesockmarkes,financialsysems,elecriciygrids,governmensysemsofheworld,heybeckonomeheprofessoronmybiddinghaspavedhewayforanaiavanchehebiggescreaionofinelligenceinhehisoryofmankind”

“andnowheprofessorisdead”

“wiheveryrevoluionbloodmusbeshedcomelemeshowyousomehing”

heviewofhebund,hehuangpuriverandpudongvanishedandwererepcedwihmounainouserrainandhemosincredibleimperialpacecaldwellhadeverseenhedispyinhegogglesshudderedandheywereinahugehallhighabovehehallwasanimpressivelycolorfulcaissonceilinganornaedragon,wihunduinggoldenscales,leapfromheceiling,chasingafmingpearlissharpcwsmadescreechingsoundsonhepolishedbrickfloorhedragonmadeapyfulgrabforhepearl,skiddingacrosshefloorbeforerighingiself,graspinghepearlinissharpcwsandhenmovingpurposefullyowardscaldwell,breahingfire

ahecenerofhehallwasagianhronemadeofhefinessandalwood,surroundedbysixgildedpilrsgoldendragonscurledaroundhepilrs,heireyesfixaedoncaldwellwocranesmovedslowlybeweenhelegsofagianincenseburnercaldwellnoicedhahereweregoldendragonsonhehroneandheyoowerealivehecouldmakeouheriseandfallofheirbreahingheomnipoencesnappedisfingersandsixmirrorsappearedinhehall,hreeoneachside

“youriskyourlifeforhis?”heomnipoenceaskedwavingceremoniouslyahemirrorsasheookhisseaonhehronecloudsofincenseroseupfromheincenseburnersandencircledhehroneamanappearedfrombehindhehronehehadhepainedwhiefaceofanimperialcourjeserhejesersoodnexoheomnipoenceandwhisperedsomehinginhisearheomnipoenceerupedinopealsofugher,whichreverberaedinhehalndhendissipaedinohedeserouside

caldwellfoundhimselfabruplyposiionedinfronofoneofhemirrorsheimageinhemirrorwasnohaofhisavaarbuofhimselfsuddenlyheimagedissolvedandcaldwellwassaringaamonageofhislifescenesfromhisparen’scarcrash,hehongkonginernaionalschool,heunion,ka,glyph,foulerandayoungmeilinallfshedbeforehiseyes

“howdidyougehis?”

“iknoweveryhing,cadcaldwelliamheomnipoencei’llbeineresedoseewhayourfriendfoulerisgoingodoahisverymomenhispeopleareryingoinfilraeheworkbuiisafool’smissionheywon’succeed”

“iwouldn’beoosureabouha”

“well,le’salkabouyoui’llmakeadealwihyou,ohaismuchbeerhanheohisfoulerisofferingyouyouwanyourpasbackicangiveioyounowhecodeshawillriggeryourmemoryrecalreinhesesixmirrorsyougeyourmemorybackandyoudisappearyouca

owinonhisfool’smissionicoulddesroyyourighnowbuibelieveyouhaveyeofulfillyourpoenialyoucouldbeinsrumenalinheingransformaion”

“andleyouakeoverheworld?”

“yeshaiswhaiamaskingyoufoulermighrenegeonhispromisehemighbedeadwanoakeachance?i’sheofferofalifeimeiwillneedsomegoodhandsinhephysicalworldlijin,youandoherscouldbeouragensonheground,oureyesinhephysicalworld”heomnipoenceandhejeserlookedaeachoherlikeconspiraors

lijinhemighknowsomehingcaldwellhadogeolijinbuhehadnoideawhichofheworksubjecswaslijinheraisedhevisoragainandsaredsearchingforlijin’suseridonheperminalhehadokillime

“lemeconsideryouroffer?”

“consider?”avoicelikehunderechoedinhegoggles’headphonesonhebundlijinwasprobablysillonhebundherehadobesomeinerfaceonhesysemhaallowedoperaorsojumpohelocaionofanysubjecbuwhichsubjecwaslijin?caldwellrapidlysca

edheuserdirecoryandhereiwashe2011huserhadobelijinherewasmoregonhauser’sco

ecionhananyofheoherusershasuggesedhalijinwasaccessingheworkremoely,fromalongdisance

“yesconsider,”caldwellsaid

“howdareyou?”heomnipoencebellowed,risingfromhishronecaldwellremovedheconsole’sgogglesandmovedoheworkopwihhepvrequipmenhedo

edoneofhep’sgogglesandissuedamandinohemicrophonegoohe2011huserheimageofhebundappearedinfronofhimonhepavemennexohebundwasaloneavaarinabluesuiwhawaslijinsilldoingonhebund?henidawnedoncaldwelllijinwasprobablyusinganearlyprooypehaforsomereasoncouldonlyrenderhebundinvirualrealiy

“lijin,”caldwellshoued

“sillnodead?”lijinaskedsmiling

“hemajorgeneralisdeadheaiwansouseyouandme,andohers,odoisdiryworkyouhavenoneedobeafraidjusellmeifhereisawayodesroyhearificialinelligencewihhemajorgeneraldeadandheaidesroyedyouwillhavenohingofearwedon’haveimehurry!”

“whyshouldibelieveyou?”

“becauseallourlivesdependoniheaiisdangerousiisgoingodesroyheworld”

“ha’simpossibleheaiwouldneverdoha”

“ijusoldmesoisaidhayouareapuppe,expendableheaialreadycausedafireinhongkongyouhavenoideawhaicandowehavenoimenohinkabouhefuureofheworld,lijinherewillbewars,deahanddesrucionifhesinguriyoccurredwewon’beranshuman,lijiniisarusewewouldbepawnsinaplexgamebeyondourundersandingpeople’slivesareinhebancerighnowaswespeakprofessoryaoisdeaddoyouwanmorepeopleodie?”caldwellimploredlijin’savaarlookedacaldwelndhensaredinohedisanceinhedirecionofpudongafacewasformingouofheclouds,anevilmaskwihcrescenshapedeyesbearingdownuponhemfromabovelijin’savaarwachedheapproachingmaelsromwihapprehension

“idon’wananyoodie,”hesaid

“henforgod’ssake,howdoidisableheai?”

“noellingyou”

“ok,yougivemenochoiceiamloggedinoheuserdirecoryiamkickingyouoffheworkforgood”

“youarebluffing”

“iknowyouareusinganearlyprooypeconsoleoaccessheworkiknowyouareheonlyremoeuserone,wo…”

“helloworld”

“hellowha?”whaislijinalkingabou?hashegonemad?

“helloworldha’shecodei’swhaprogrammersuseosignalhefachaheircodehaseinobeing”

“codeowha?”

“i’shecodehadisablesheai’sauonomousmodeaneasereggbuyoumighbeooeheaiseesandhearsall”

“hankslijingehehellouofheresaveyourself,”caldwellimploredashefaceinheskymorphedinoaman,adiminuivefigurehaseemedbenonmurder

caldwellremovedhepgogglesandranoheconsolemeilinsuddenlybursinoheroomherfacewasbruisedandshewaslimpingbehindherwerehewoagensfromshanghaiwhocaldwellhadmeinhongkongoneofhem,caldwellcouldn’rememberwhichonewaswhich,hadbeenshoinheshoulderandwasbleedingheavily

“hemajorgeneralisdeadcaldwell,shobyoneofhisownlieuenans”

“andhejapanese?”hebanliehehadoldlijinhadeopass

“hekilledhemfirsheseemedosesomehingoffbeforehediedsomekindofwirelessdeonaiondeviceiseemswehavelesshansixysecondsogehehellouofhere,”shesaidhandinghimasilverpencilshapeddevicecaldwelllookedahecoundownimeronhedeviceandhenurnedandsaredahepsmamoniorsaboveheworkspacehevialsignsofhework’ssubjecshaddisappeared,repcedwihabckscreenandhesamecoundowniread:5caldwellrushedoheconsoleanddo

edhegogglesheaiwassillsiingonhehroneinhemiddleofamonologueisoppedandurnedofacehimhejesersoodobedienly,silenly,liseningoeveryword

“goodbyecadcaldwellyouchooseyourowndesiny,ichoosemine,”heomnipoencesaidpropheicallysuddenly,heheadphonesinhegoggleswerefilledwihahighpichednoiseandasharpbursofwhielighassauledhiseyesandhenasinglechinesecharacerinredappearedonhescreeniwashecharacerfordeahcaldwellscreamedherewasaninensebuildupofpressureinhismiddleearhewaslosinghissenseofbancehefelhandsgrabhim,shakinghimwasimeilin?hismindwenbnkandhismemorysaredorecedeiwasashoughhismemorywasbeingsuckedrighouofhimneuronbyneuronheweninoaspasmandsaredslidingfromhechairoheflooraheavydarknessdescendeduponhimashismindsaredoselfdesruc

“youhadyourchanceandyoublewi,”heomnipoence’svoicesaidreceding,recedingfromcaldwell’smind

“helloworld,”hescreamedabovehewhienoiseandhechaos“helloworld”andhenhepassedou