SUED FOR PEACE (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 11) (11 page)

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Ah, Ok.
 
So, the short answer is yes, our organization knows who you are, I don’t personally.

>>luckyu11 - You are protecting us, Adam?

>>MyNam3isADAM - Yes, I have multiple filters going to catch any reference, if possible, to activity on your current physical names.
 
Should something come up that warrants further review, it would go to operations to see if we need to get involved.

>>ki55mia55 - Uh, just curious.
 
What do you mean ‘warrants’ further review?

>>MyNam3isADAM - We don’t get involved if you are in trouble for passing a bad check.

>>ki55mia55 - Just to be clear, I thought the money was in the bank.
 
My GF took some out, and I didn’t know about that.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Kiss, you are a prominent hacker, and you can’t keep your funds straight?
 
I would think you would be working for a security firm making six figures?

>>ki55mia55 - LOL!
 
No, geez, if I was doing that I wouldn’t be living in this flea trap place.
 

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - What about the rest of you?

>>Ih8tuGeorge - I’ve got a research grant at the University.
 
So, I’ve got good insurance, but not a lot of money.

>>luckyu11 - Yeah, student here too.

ADAM, do you mind if they get told you are an AIRE?
 
I mean, they will think you are an AI, but I can’t help that.

>>I don’t have feelings one way or the other on that, Bethany Anne.
 
I would prefer not to lose their help, however.
 
I can’t calculate the chances of them leaving since I never tried to figure out this line of action.<<

Part of the problem of leading, and of leaders, is you need to show your humanity for a human to emotionally grab a hold and follow. They need to know who you are.
 
If they find out in the future, you will have most likely irrevocably broken trust.

>>I’m not human.<<

No, but you exhibit human traits.
 
You are honest, you are forthright, you seek to help, and not to harm.
 
Hell, that’s better than ninety-percent of humanity probably.
 

>>What about now?
 
I’ve never told them before, won’t they be upset?<<

Most likely not.
 
Since we are being straight with them, we might as well come clean about you.
 
I think we need their help, and I’ve got an offer they might not refuse.

>>What’s that?<<

Well, I would say a lot of money, but I’ll have them with a fast internet connection and the most powerful computers in the world.

>>Why do you want to do this?
 
I seek to understand.<<

ADAM, every time you ask a question, you seek to understand.
 
You are the easiest person to work with I have.

>>I’m…Nevermind.<<

You are learning.
 
I want to do this because of the J0n3sN4u episode.
 
Tabitha and her team got him out safely, but we are about to take on a nation that is not showing any restraint.
 
I want these people safe.
 
They aren’t signing up long term unless they want to.
 
However, once they are on our premises, they will wonder why they never see you.

>>Oh.<<

Yes, oh.

>>The chance of success seems to be…<<

ADAM, never tell me the odds.
 
Unless I ask, then I’d like to know.

>>Seriously?<<

No, not seriously.
 
It’s a quote from a Star Wars movie.

I got it!

I figured you would, TOM.
 
However, I didn’t realize you were listening.

Marcus is sleeping off his binge. So, I heard you guys talking and thought I would listen in.
 
That’s a funny line.
 
ADAM is C3PO, you are Han Solo.
 
It fits.

>>That is an ugly coat of armor C3PO is wearing.<<

Good enough guys, Let’s get back to the conversation.

Bethany Anne didn’t miss the fact that ADAM had exhibited something no A.I. should ever have, a subjective opinion on art.
 
ADAM was growing up.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Ok, I have an offer that you need to talk about amongst yourselves.
 
We have been attacked by a Nation-State, and they are hitting us hard.
 
I refuse to slow down.
 
They have killed some of my workers, and I won’t back down.
 
I’m going to need to up the abilities of TQB’s technology attack infrastructure.
 
But, there is a problem in this, I will not accept the inability to protect those who are working on this project with us.
 
It is a paid position, requiring relocation, and we have to provide more information as well.

>>luckyu11 - Does this mean you are dropping the efforts to go after the hackers and others here on the dark web?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - No, in fact, those who chose to remain on the sidelines in this fight are welcome to continue this effort, but they will be moved to a different group and headed up by a lead chosen from those who have helped already.
 
If one of you do not accept my offer, then I would imagine you will be the one to lead up this effort, with our support under your direction with an override from ADAM.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Why do I feel the other shoe hasn’t dropped?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Because it hasn’t.
 
Since we are laying our cards on the table, I’ve asked ADAM if he is ok with me laying out another one.

>>ki55mia55 - Adam is really Andrea?

>>luckyu11 - Adam, are you an AI?

>>ki55mia55 - Wait, what?
 
Did I miss something?

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Fuck!
 
Adam, are you an AI? Damn, that would explain why you are so cool.
 
I’ve argued with my roommate that you can’t possibly be real.

>>MyNam3isADAM - I am not what you would consider an Artificial Intelligence.
 
A typical AI is a super fast computer that can approximate what a human would do in a situation and then choose the best option.
 
That type of AI approximates a human.

>>luckyu11 - I’m in.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - That was fast.

>>luckyu11 - I’m Japanese, we love technology, and I’ve been studying AI stuff for years, since I was eight.
 
I’d have ADAM’s babies if I could.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - You might want to take that back.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Damn, wish I was a girl.
 

>>ki55mia55 - Nerdgasm.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Kiss, you really don’t get out a lot, do you?

>>ki55mia55 - Sorry, I’m not that good with interpersonal relationships.
 
I’m excited, is that a better word choice?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - No, I think you were right the first time.
 
Keep Nerdgasm.
 
It’s growing on me.

>>ki55mia55 - You’re kinda cool for a CEO.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Yeah, I’m going to have to agree with kiss on this, are you sure you are the real Bethany Anne?

>>MyNam3isADAM - She is the real Bethany Anne, I would not pull your leg like she would.

>>ki55mia55 - Really?
 
Why not.

>>MyNam3isADAM - Because I would not break faith with you three.

BAM!
Bethany Anne thought,
my little AI just grew up.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Adam, how did you help J0n3sN4u?

>>MyNam3isADAM - Once you sent me the message, I spoke with Bethany Anne and she sent…Well, would you speak to this Bethany Anne?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - I have different groups who operate on my behalf. In South America, I have a representative from my Ranger group who extricated him and is making sure he is safe.

>>ki55mia55 - Is he putting him in a safe house?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Well,
she
has him protected at her house while she takes care of the problem.
 
Her group is responsible for policing, and a drug lord problem is in her area of responsibility.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - A ranger?
 
Like a Texas Ranger?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Yes, the concepts are similar.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Can I work with her?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - I suppose the potential is there. However, I’m not sure you would make the grade.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - I’m not as sedentary as you might think.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Ih8tuGeorge, I wasn’t talking about your ability to move physically.
 
I was thinking more about the fact she is one of the best hackers in the world.
 
So, you might need to up your game before she could benefit from your help.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - She’s a hacker too?
 
I’m in love.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - How can you be in love already?
 
You haven’t even met her.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Who cares?
 
She can kick ass and hack computers, what else do I need to know?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Well, how about whether she can cook?

>>Ih8tuGeorge - There is Taco Bell for that.

>>ki55mia55 - I’m with George, if she can hack and kick ass, I’m in for meeting her as well.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - I’ll have to consider that.
 
If you guys are on the team, it would make sense, and I imagine it would happen in the future, but otherwise I have no idea.
 
I can’t make a promise either way.

>>Ih8tuGeorge - It doesn’t matter, ADAM has made my life mean something.
 
That he is some form of AI only makes it cooler.
 
Your group seems pretty damned important, and I trust you guys more than the rest.
 
I’m in.

>>ki55mia55 - I wish I could be in.
 
I need to stay with my GF, and she won’t leave her parents.
 
Yeah, I know, love and all of that but I can’t leave the only girl who has ever trusted me and done me right.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Kiss, we can’t directly connect with you due to paper trails, but do look for something good in the near future.
 
You will stay working with ADAM, and we will keep the civilian side going while the others help us focus on a direct issue.

>>ki55mia55 - Thanks, it means a lot that you trust me to continue the work with Adam.
 
Or I guess it is ADAM?

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Nah, leave it Adam.
 
We do trust you, because if it becomes known what Adam is, we are going to have a serious set of issues on our hands.

>>ki55mia55 - It’s ok, Adam has my back, I got his.

>>MyNam3isADAM -
 
Thank you, ki55mia55.

>>ki55mia55 - Dude, it’s just kiss.
 
Now that I think I know why you never shortened it, please know my friends all do.

>>MyNam3isADAM -
 
Thank you, kiss.

>>ki55mia55 - I’ll catch up with you guys.
 
See you soon and Bethany Anne?
 
Thank you.
 
I appreciate your trust.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - You are welcome, kiss.

>>ki55mia55 has disconnected.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH - Ok, we will have another set of conversations, but this is just the beginning.
 
We will figure out how many you might want to pull from your teams that would be willing to come work for me.
 
I’ll let you and Adam vet the people first, then another on my team will do it again.

>>Th3Qu33nB1TCH has disconnected.

>>MyNam3isADAM - George, lucky?

>>Ih8tuGeorge - Yes?

>>luckyu11 - Yes?

>>MyNam3isADAM -
 
Welcome to
ADAM’s War
.

Paris, France

George Bernard looked around the opulent room and sniffed.
 
He hated the old, staid hotels from hundreds of years ago.
 
He stepped into the private chambers and nodded to the second most powerful woman in Europe if you believed Forbes.

If you didn’t, she was the most powerful person in Europe, man or woman.
 
What she knew about some members of high society would embarrass a woman of the night. She used that knowledge to manipulate men and women in little ways, ways which always worked out for one of her companies, eventually.
 
Even a few years away.

She was a planner, a thinker, and an excellent strategist. That she was joining this event meant she wasn’t sure of the future herself.

George decided to make his way around to Cynthia to see if he could pick her brain.

He counted heads and came up with twenty-two.
 
A pretty big group willing to change their schedules at a moment's notice to discuss the issues within the group across the nations here in Europe.
 
He couldn’t find Joshua, but rumor had it that he had skipped out of his home in the U.S. and left a note that he was going to be gone for a long time.

He was either yellow or a genius.
 
George wasn’t sure which.
 
He walked over to the foods placed out and grabbed a small plate.
 
He placed a few wedges of cheese and a couple of melon slices on his plate.
 
Grabbing a small fork and napkin, he continued out of the line and found himself conveniently close to Cynthia.
 

He stepped over and cleared his throat to catch her attention, “Cynthia, how are you this evening?”

Cynthia looked up to John and smirked, “Ever the quiet and devious one George.
 
I was wondering if you were going to swing my way, or Terence’s over there?” She nodded her head off to the left where Terence Whitesbridge was holding his own sort of court.