Chapter 3: A.I.
The group returned via the elevator back to the upper level of the underground complex and the computer lab. Bob Levinson led them past Issac's terminal and beyond his own workstation area to the back room of the lab. They entered via a large steel door opened by an electronic lock activated by a retina scan, this time of Bobs eye. This is the mainframe room, Bob explained. Actually there is a network of mainframes, all of my own custom design. This computer complex just might represent the most computer power on the planet, he boasted. He then led the group to the very back of the room and pointed to a monitor display. Mounted above the monitor was a dual television camera that could swivel about to adjust it's point of view. The lenses were motorized for focus and zoom, all three axis controlled by the computer.
On the screen was an image of a human face rendered in HD. It looked like a caricature of Albert Tenamann's face. Say hello Max, Albert said. Max looked at the visitors, as his face in the monitor turned so did the camera 'eyes'. Hello Dr. Tenamann, Max said in a voice that sounded like Albert's voice after running it through a Moog box. I call this program 'Max', since his creation reminds me of the character out of the old 'Max Headroom' TV show, Albert explained. Max was created the same way, my brain 'program' was scanned, read out as computer data and copied to a very large hard drive on Bob's mainframe. My brain program is now 'running' on the neural network interpreter program in the mainframe. Max's screen image is it's own creation since that's what I envisioned in my own mind. Max isn't perfect, when I made this copy of my mind the process couldn't capture deep enough to really capture my personality., Albert added.
I developed the mind scan out of some medical research with the hope of a cure for Alzheimer's disease, Albert explained. Now I'm using it as a short cut to develop an A.I. system for robotics. The military only needs to copy the problem solving logic portion of the human brain for the military androids. I've now extended the process much further to be able to copy memories, personality, and even self awareness all of which go beyond the military requirements. Bob added The computer requirements for the military version are reasonable, and can almost be handled with today's processors. To actually clone a person's mind all the way still needs something an order of magnitude more.
If you can make a perfect copy of a person's mind, isn't that like coping his soul?, Adam asked? I mean the copy wouldn't know it was a copy, and it could replace the original. Almost like the way the transporters work on Star Trek by destroying the original and recreating it elsewhere, he added. My what a deep thinker my son is, Albert reflected. But my scanner leaves the original quite intact and only makes a copy, no mater how good that copy is.
By the way, how many people have had their brains scanned so far, Simon inquired. I've had quite a few volunteers, mostly provided by the General, Albert answered. Any bad side effects?, Simon questioned. If by that do you mean is it dangerous?, Albert responded, Not at all. The procedure is a bit more taxing than having an MRI scan in that you need to lie down in a closed confined machine, which is actually based on MRI technology. In addition you get to have lots of EKG electrodes tapped all over your anatomy. And it takes a few hours. But other than that, totally painless and no side effects.
So where is this thing? Simon asked. The Alzheimer's research started during my association with Bellevue Hospital and the equipment was originally developed there, where it remains to this day. It's also a good place to bring volunteers without the security issues, Albert explained. I had a special high speed network cable ran from there to my lab for the data download., Bob added. The network is encrypted with a 4096 bit key, I dare anybody to crack into it!. Perfect, Simon smiled. But, he added, can it perform in reverse to put thoughts or ideas into someone's head? The Alzheimer's project was leading toward that, and in theory it's possible, but not with the current hardware and software, Albert answered. Though I see where you're going with that, and I wouldn't want my research being perverted into a brainwashing machine. I agree, but that's exactly what our terrorist 'friends' might have been thinking, Simon projected.
Adam had the look of someone deep in thought.. Suddenly his eyes lit up, Can you make a scan of me? he asked. You could put a copy of my mind in a robot my size so I can have a friend who thinks like me, that what I'd like, he demanded, adding And if you made it a robot like Atom, that would really be great!. Atom?, asked Simon. Guess you had a deprived childhood, Robert said. Astroboy was one of my favorite cartoons in the early 60's growing up. Albert was privileged , he got to see the original growing up in Japan where the character was known as 'Mighty Atom' and Adam was lucky in that his father had saved his old Manga magazines for him to read. I didn't watch much TV as a child, Simon sighed. I was a different kind of nerd I guess.
One more thing while we're in the computer area, Simon asked. Bob, can you bring up the CIA search you did based on the intel reports the General provided? I'd like to have us know who we re up against here. Easy, Bob said. He walked over to another terminal and brought up Issac's interface. Issac now appeared on the large screen in Max's place. Issac, Bob asked, please show us the mug shots of those al-Qaeda thugs. Here they are boss, Issac offered Four pictures appeared on the large screen, a frontal view and a profile one of the two plug-uglies. The one on the top is known as 'Polecat. He's mostly a thief, but has blood on his hands. He is suspected in the kidnapping of several experts on nuclear weapons. The other character is known has Propane Torch. He's the more violent one, and while he's murdered by many means, Arson is his favorite, hence the nick-name, Issac informed them.
Atom story re-told in a different way....
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Tetsuwan Penguin
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Tetsuwan Penguin
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I grew up in Brooklyn, and I'm familiar with a good part of that borough as well as a good part of Manhattan. In setting this story in NYC I've tried to be accurate, but I've started double checking some items and I've found some of the addresses and local descriptions I've used so far are not 100% accurate. After posting here chapter by chapter I'd like to find someplace to post a complete, edited (and more correct) PDF of the entire saga someplace. Anybody know of any fan sites with file storage?
BTW, I'm also a model RR nut hooked on the NYC subway system. I'm going to work THAT into the story somehow.......
Here is the next part of the story. It may be a while till I get the next piece posted as I have several things I have to figure out how to connect in my mind.
BTW, I'm also a model RR nut hooked on the NYC subway system. I'm going to work THAT into the story somehow.......
Here is the next part of the story. It may be a while till I get the next piece posted as I have several things I have to figure out how to connect in my mind.
Last edited by Tetsuwan Penguin on Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Tetsuwan Penguin
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4: Father and Son
4: Father and Son
Albert and Adam Tenamann walked side by side through the office area of the complex. Albert's office was next to Simon Green's, and was possibly the largest one in the complex. Albert rarely used any more of the room than the area around his desk, the rest of the office was part library, and part shrine.
Along the right side of the room from floor to ceiling were shelves lined with all sorts of books. While Albert had the use of the mainframes huge on line store of research materials, not to mention the internet indexed by powerful search engines, he kept these hard copies of classic text books and encyclopedias.
The back of the office might have been on the other side of the world. There were shelves and display cases filled with artifacts from various eras of Japan's history. Pottery, iron ware, and various art objects from the land of his boyhood had been carefully displayed. Adam walked over to the corner where the old Manga magazines and books were shelved and scanned the collection.. Originally printed on cheap paper, they had been rebound and the paper treated to preserve the old comics. This was Albert's gift to his son, and himself. Hanging on the wall next to the Manga collection was a large poster of a 'blue print' for Tezuka's Tetsuwan Atom character. The poster was hand drawn by Tezuka himself. Years ago shortly after the famous Manga artist's death, Tezuka's son had sent the poster to Albert explaining in a letter written in Japanese enclosed with the poster that the artwork was found shortly after his father's death. He was sending it to Albert in thanks for Adam Tenamann the first's rescue of his father from the hands of drunk US marines during the American occupation of Japan.
Albert cleaned up his desk and called to his son, Time to go home, Adam. Adam reshelved one of the Manga magazines he had been thumbing through. He then collected his school books, stuffing them into his backpack and they exited past Amy's now empty office. Adam put his backpack on over his shoulders and wheeled the bicycle out into the hallway. They took the elevators up to the lobby of the museum. It was a short walk to the Tenamann's house, a classic bit of old New York real estate. The three story walk up was a few blocks north and west of the museum just to the east of Broadway. Along the way they stopped at a deli to get some 'take out' for their dinner.
They entered the house at the lower level and Adam left his bicycle in the mud room. He ran up the two flights of stairs to his bedroom and threw his backpack on the floor. Looking out his window Adam could see Central Park just a block away. He had an antique brass 100mm refractor telescope mounted on a tripod aimed out the window. He looked through the telescope at the street below. Halfway down the block a late model silver gray Mercury sat. He could see two men dressed in suits wearing dark glasses sitting in the front seat, one of them with a pair of large binoculars hanging from a strap around his neck. The other man held a Nikon SLR camera with a large zoom lens. Albert entered the room What are you looking at? he asked seeing the telescope aimed toward the street. Take a look for yourself, Adam replied. Albert brought his eye to the telescope. Must be the secret service agents that the General assigned to watch us. Must say they are not trying to hide at all. He lifted the telescope slightly aiming the old Alvin Clark objective further down the block. He saw an old rusty van was parked at the corner. Albert replaced the telescope eyepiece with one of a higher power and refocused it. He could now see a man in the van who was looking around through a small pair of binoculars. When the man lowered the binoculars Albert could see his face. It was the face of the man identified as the 'Polecat' on Robert's computer Albert send a text message on his blackberry to General Hayes' secure email server. Within minutes the door opened on the Mercury and one of the SS men started walking back to the van..Before he could get there the van pulled out of the parking spot and left. Score one for the good guys, Albert chuckled.
Father and son sat down to eat their dinner Afterwards they watched something on TV and then Albert saw to it that Adam got to bed. Albert looked in on his son before going to bed himself. Adam had very recently saw his ninth birthday, for which Albert had given him the twenty five speed alpine geared bicycle he had custom built for the boy. On nice days Adam now rode the bicycle to school instead of being picked up by the school bus. The boy loved the freedom, and not having to endure the teasing by his classmates on the bus. Adam was small for his age, at just four feet tall and sixty seven pounds he was the runt of his class. He was a safe cyclist always wearing a helmet and keeping an eagle eye out for traffic.. Albert felt safe in letting the boy ride the bicycle through the city streets.
The next morning Albert came into Adam's room to gently wake him for school as he always did. Adam showered and dressed himself after first checking on his computer for the day's weather forecast. The outside temperature was already in the low 70's . He put on a clean pair of short pants and a NY Mets Jersey tucked under his shorts. Then a fresh pair of red baseball socks to match his high top red Keds. He combed his hair after rubbing in some jell to keep two long patches of hair under control, they were just combed to stick out solidly after the jell set up. Finally he put a vivid green belt though the loops on his shorts to keep them from falling down.
Father and son had breakfast together during which they made plans for the weekend. Maybe fishing or racing R/C boats in the park, they decided. They went out the front door together, Albert walking along side Adam who was pushing his bicycle. When then they reached 81st Street and Central Park West, Albert handed Adam his back pack and helped the boy strap in on. They both had noticed that they had been followed by the two men in suits and dark glasses. The dirty van was nowhere in sight. Looks like our security team is on the job today, Albert said. Have a good day at school son, I'll see you later this afternoon. See you later Dad, Adam said as he mounted his bicycle and headed east on 81st Street to cross the park on his way to P.S.290 on East 82nd Street and Second Avenue.
Albert and Adam Tenamann walked side by side through the office area of the complex. Albert's office was next to Simon Green's, and was possibly the largest one in the complex. Albert rarely used any more of the room than the area around his desk, the rest of the office was part library, and part shrine.
Along the right side of the room from floor to ceiling were shelves lined with all sorts of books. While Albert had the use of the mainframes huge on line store of research materials, not to mention the internet indexed by powerful search engines, he kept these hard copies of classic text books and encyclopedias.
The back of the office might have been on the other side of the world. There were shelves and display cases filled with artifacts from various eras of Japan's history. Pottery, iron ware, and various art objects from the land of his boyhood had been carefully displayed. Adam walked over to the corner where the old Manga magazines and books were shelved and scanned the collection.. Originally printed on cheap paper, they had been rebound and the paper treated to preserve the old comics. This was Albert's gift to his son, and himself. Hanging on the wall next to the Manga collection was a large poster of a 'blue print' for Tezuka's Tetsuwan Atom character. The poster was hand drawn by Tezuka himself. Years ago shortly after the famous Manga artist's death, Tezuka's son had sent the poster to Albert explaining in a letter written in Japanese enclosed with the poster that the artwork was found shortly after his father's death. He was sending it to Albert in thanks for Adam Tenamann the first's rescue of his father from the hands of drunk US marines during the American occupation of Japan.
Albert cleaned up his desk and called to his son, Time to go home, Adam. Adam reshelved one of the Manga magazines he had been thumbing through. He then collected his school books, stuffing them into his backpack and they exited past Amy's now empty office. Adam put his backpack on over his shoulders and wheeled the bicycle out into the hallway. They took the elevators up to the lobby of the museum. It was a short walk to the Tenamann's house, a classic bit of old New York real estate. The three story walk up was a few blocks north and west of the museum just to the east of Broadway. Along the way they stopped at a deli to get some 'take out' for their dinner.
They entered the house at the lower level and Adam left his bicycle in the mud room. He ran up the two flights of stairs to his bedroom and threw his backpack on the floor. Looking out his window Adam could see Central Park just a block away. He had an antique brass 100mm refractor telescope mounted on a tripod aimed out the window. He looked through the telescope at the street below. Halfway down the block a late model silver gray Mercury sat. He could see two men dressed in suits wearing dark glasses sitting in the front seat, one of them with a pair of large binoculars hanging from a strap around his neck. The other man held a Nikon SLR camera with a large zoom lens. Albert entered the room What are you looking at? he asked seeing the telescope aimed toward the street. Take a look for yourself, Adam replied. Albert brought his eye to the telescope. Must be the secret service agents that the General assigned to watch us. Must say they are not trying to hide at all. He lifted the telescope slightly aiming the old Alvin Clark objective further down the block. He saw an old rusty van was parked at the corner. Albert replaced the telescope eyepiece with one of a higher power and refocused it. He could now see a man in the van who was looking around through a small pair of binoculars. When the man lowered the binoculars Albert could see his face. It was the face of the man identified as the 'Polecat' on Robert's computer Albert send a text message on his blackberry to General Hayes' secure email server. Within minutes the door opened on the Mercury and one of the SS men started walking back to the van..Before he could get there the van pulled out of the parking spot and left. Score one for the good guys, Albert chuckled.
Father and son sat down to eat their dinner Afterwards they watched something on TV and then Albert saw to it that Adam got to bed. Albert looked in on his son before going to bed himself. Adam had very recently saw his ninth birthday, for which Albert had given him the twenty five speed alpine geared bicycle he had custom built for the boy. On nice days Adam now rode the bicycle to school instead of being picked up by the school bus. The boy loved the freedom, and not having to endure the teasing by his classmates on the bus. Adam was small for his age, at just four feet tall and sixty seven pounds he was the runt of his class. He was a safe cyclist always wearing a helmet and keeping an eagle eye out for traffic.. Albert felt safe in letting the boy ride the bicycle through the city streets.
The next morning Albert came into Adam's room to gently wake him for school as he always did. Adam showered and dressed himself after first checking on his computer for the day's weather forecast. The outside temperature was already in the low 70's . He put on a clean pair of short pants and a NY Mets Jersey tucked under his shorts. Then a fresh pair of red baseball socks to match his high top red Keds. He combed his hair after rubbing in some jell to keep two long patches of hair under control, they were just combed to stick out solidly after the jell set up. Finally he put a vivid green belt though the loops on his shorts to keep them from falling down.
Father and son had breakfast together during which they made plans for the weekend. Maybe fishing or racing R/C boats in the park, they decided. They went out the front door together, Albert walking along side Adam who was pushing his bicycle. When then they reached 81st Street and Central Park West, Albert handed Adam his back pack and helped the boy strap in on. They both had noticed that they had been followed by the two men in suits and dark glasses. The dirty van was nowhere in sight. Looks like our security team is on the job today, Albert said. Have a good day at school son, I'll see you later this afternoon. See you later Dad, Adam said as he mounted his bicycle and headed east on 81st Street to cross the park on his way to P.S.290 on East 82nd Street and Second Avenue.
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Tetsuwan Penguin
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"AprilSeven" wrote:I'm really loving this, because I always thought Astro Boy WAS based in NYC!!
Couldn't ya just hear Adam's New Yawk accent?
I can almost hear Mel Blanc doing it with a mix of daBronx and NuJursey!
(Or maybe June Foray who did the voice of Rocky the flying Squirrel. BTW she is my wife's cousin).
Tezuka's artwork of 21st Century Tokyo (seen though 1963 eyes) DOES look like NYC. And the guys at NBC films did a good job of removing EVERY bit of Kanji signage from the episodes. I didn't find out for years that Astroboy was imported from Japan. My uncle worked for Panasonic when I was a kid, and he went to Osaka twice a year to work on import selections (The Japanese came to the US twice a year). He sometimes brought back local magazines and I was shocked the first time I saw a copy of a Japanese Manga magazine with Astroboy on the cover, it was titled 'Mighty Atom' in English though.
Last edited by Tetsuwan Penguin on Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:07 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Tetsuwan Penguin
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Chapter 5. Saturday in the park
5. Saturday in the park
The next day Adam and Albert didn't see any sign of the dirty van or the two terrorists. Simon had good news for Albert, “I've heard from Dr. Burakku in Japan”, he said. “He's accepted my offer to work for us and will fly out here at once. He'll be at Bellevue on Monday”. “That's great news!”, Albert said. Dr. Burakku was a famous surgeon in Japan, who had had great success in the most difficult cases. While not a specialist in brain surgery, he had much experience in such operations, and was considered a great diagnostician and medical scientist. The hospital would be able to make use of his services while he was not working with Albert on the brain scanner equipment. Albert had met Dr. Burakku while he was staying with his mother in Tokyo shortly after his father's death. He had been embarrassed by his reaction when they first meet, the Dr. had been disfigured as a child and still had scars on his face from the surgery and skin grafts. “Are you and Adam going to the park tomorrow so Adam can try out his new R/C boat I got him for his birthday?”, Simon asked before Albert left his office. “Yes we are. Say!, why don't you join us and bring your R/C model of 'Old Ironsides?” Albert answered. “I just might meet you there”, Simon said. “It's been a while since I've sailed her, and I've added some new tricks to the old girl”.
Saturday dawned a nice sunny day. Adam woke to the sound of a pigeon cooing on the windowsill. He dressed quickly and got the new model R/C speed boat out of the closet. The batteries had been charging overnight, and he now inserted them into the boat. The R/C transmitter too had been plugged into the charger, he now disconnected it from the wall-wart. He then placed both into a large canvas shopping bag to carry to the park. After breakfast Albert and Adam left the house and started walking eastward to the park. They walked south down West Drive to where it met the lake at about 77th street. Simon Green was already there prepping his ship. His scale model of 'Old Ironsides' was a perfect miniature version of the famous Early American warship USS Constitution The real vessel had seen service in the war of 1812, and is now the worlds oldest commissioned warship afloat. “I've added some new items to her”, Simon showed Adam. Standing at the ship's wheel was a figure of Popeye the sailor. “There's also a small radio controlled carbide cannon on the poop deck”, he pointed out. “The ship even has a small electric motor so I can get her back to shore if the wind dies out”, he added. “Better than having to wade out to get her”, Adam chuckled.
They put both ships in the water. Adam raced his back and forth across the lake while Simon controlled the sails to catch a breeze and the ship majestically plowed the waters of the lake. Adam carelessly cut his speedboat too close to the frigate and she turned sharply toward the shallows driven by Adam's wake. Her rudder fouled in some duck grass and Simon couldn't free her. “Rats!, look what you've done!” he scolded the boy laughing. “Let's go free her”, Adam offered. He gave his remote control transmitter to his father and ran ahead with Simon following. Albert stayed behind toying with the speedboat. Adam reached the shallow end of the lake. The wooden model was about ten feet off shore in foot deep water filled with weeds. Adam took off his sneakers and socks, stuffing the red hose into his Keds. He handed the sneakers to Simon and waded into the lake to free the tall ship from the duck grass. “Be careful Adam!”, Simon yelled, “You don't know where the bottom drops out into deeper water”. Adam had already freed the Constitution and she floated back into deeper water. He stepped out of the lake and knotting his shoelaces together put them over his head so the shoes laid against his chest. He started walking back barefoot. Simon suddenly handed Adam his R/C transmitter and started running toward Albert. He yelled back to the boy, “looks like your father has some trouble!”.
A dark figure came up behind Albert. He wore dark glasses and his head was covered by a fedora hat one or two sizes to large. “Nice day to spend with your son Dr Tenamann”, he gurgled. Albert turned quickly to face the intruder. “We need to talk Dr. Tenamann”, he said. “What do you want?”, Albert demanded. “You're working on something that you need to share with the weaker countries of the world, Doctor. American has been strong arming too long in places where it should never had stuck it's nose.”, he lectured. “You know, it would be too bad if your son ended up as an unfortunate pawn in this game of chess. I'd rather keep him out of it, so why don't you play ball and let us pay you for your services to us. You know in the long run, history might thank you for it. Arming both sides equally has kept the world safe from a nuclear catastrophe, you know the MAD principle?”, the dark figure explained. “Get away from me!”, Albert yelled. “I will not deal with a bunch of terrorists”. He quickly scanned the horizon looking for the SS men, but didn't see them. Neither did he, nor his assailant see the left hook that landed square on the terrorist's jaw. That guided muscle belonged to Simon Green. The dark man's hat and glasses flew off and he fell over backwards revealing the face of the Polecat. Polecat quickly got to his feet holding a large knife he had pulled out from under his jacket. Just before he could lunge at Simon the sound a gunshot sound echoed from a short distance away. Simon was prepared to land another blow but Polecat took off yelling back, “I'll have some unfinished business with you and your son Doctor!” Albert and Simon looked around for the gunman who had fired the shot that had scared off Polecat when Adam walked up carrying Old Ironsides. The boy had a smirk on his face, and smoke was wafting from the ship's poop deck. “The Carbide Cannon!”, Simon laughed. “That was quick thinking Adam!”
“You seem to have arrived at an opportune moment Mr. Green”, Albert said with relief. “Where did he come from, and where are your body guards”, Simon wondered. He pulled out his Blackberry and send a message to the General. “Wow!, some punch you gave that thug”, Adam cried. “Well, I boxed welter weight at Harvard”, Simon said. “I almost made the U.S. Olympic boxing team, you know. If Polecat had stuck around, I would have been happy to go a few rounds with him”, he added. “Hmmm, I wonder if he brought the 'Torch' with him”, Albert worried. “Probably not this time, but we'll have to be more careful with you. I'm going to make the General post some agents at Adam's school”, he thought. “And I'm going to insist they shadow both of you full time until we can get this under control”.
The next day Adam and Albert didn't see any sign of the dirty van or the two terrorists. Simon had good news for Albert, “I've heard from Dr. Burakku in Japan”, he said. “He's accepted my offer to work for us and will fly out here at once. He'll be at Bellevue on Monday”. “That's great news!”, Albert said. Dr. Burakku was a famous surgeon in Japan, who had had great success in the most difficult cases. While not a specialist in brain surgery, he had much experience in such operations, and was considered a great diagnostician and medical scientist. The hospital would be able to make use of his services while he was not working with Albert on the brain scanner equipment. Albert had met Dr. Burakku while he was staying with his mother in Tokyo shortly after his father's death. He had been embarrassed by his reaction when they first meet, the Dr. had been disfigured as a child and still had scars on his face from the surgery and skin grafts. “Are you and Adam going to the park tomorrow so Adam can try out his new R/C boat I got him for his birthday?”, Simon asked before Albert left his office. “Yes we are. Say!, why don't you join us and bring your R/C model of 'Old Ironsides?” Albert answered. “I just might meet you there”, Simon said. “It's been a while since I've sailed her, and I've added some new tricks to the old girl”.
Saturday dawned a nice sunny day. Adam woke to the sound of a pigeon cooing on the windowsill. He dressed quickly and got the new model R/C speed boat out of the closet. The batteries had been charging overnight, and he now inserted them into the boat. The R/C transmitter too had been plugged into the charger, he now disconnected it from the wall-wart. He then placed both into a large canvas shopping bag to carry to the park. After breakfast Albert and Adam left the house and started walking eastward to the park. They walked south down West Drive to where it met the lake at about 77th street. Simon Green was already there prepping his ship. His scale model of 'Old Ironsides' was a perfect miniature version of the famous Early American warship USS Constitution The real vessel had seen service in the war of 1812, and is now the worlds oldest commissioned warship afloat. “I've added some new items to her”, Simon showed Adam. Standing at the ship's wheel was a figure of Popeye the sailor. “There's also a small radio controlled carbide cannon on the poop deck”, he pointed out. “The ship even has a small electric motor so I can get her back to shore if the wind dies out”, he added. “Better than having to wade out to get her”, Adam chuckled.
They put both ships in the water. Adam raced his back and forth across the lake while Simon controlled the sails to catch a breeze and the ship majestically plowed the waters of the lake. Adam carelessly cut his speedboat too close to the frigate and she turned sharply toward the shallows driven by Adam's wake. Her rudder fouled in some duck grass and Simon couldn't free her. “Rats!, look what you've done!” he scolded the boy laughing. “Let's go free her”, Adam offered. He gave his remote control transmitter to his father and ran ahead with Simon following. Albert stayed behind toying with the speedboat. Adam reached the shallow end of the lake. The wooden model was about ten feet off shore in foot deep water filled with weeds. Adam took off his sneakers and socks, stuffing the red hose into his Keds. He handed the sneakers to Simon and waded into the lake to free the tall ship from the duck grass. “Be careful Adam!”, Simon yelled, “You don't know where the bottom drops out into deeper water”. Adam had already freed the Constitution and she floated back into deeper water. He stepped out of the lake and knotting his shoelaces together put them over his head so the shoes laid against his chest. He started walking back barefoot. Simon suddenly handed Adam his R/C transmitter and started running toward Albert. He yelled back to the boy, “looks like your father has some trouble!”.
A dark figure came up behind Albert. He wore dark glasses and his head was covered by a fedora hat one or two sizes to large. “Nice day to spend with your son Dr Tenamann”, he gurgled. Albert turned quickly to face the intruder. “We need to talk Dr. Tenamann”, he said. “What do you want?”, Albert demanded. “You're working on something that you need to share with the weaker countries of the world, Doctor. American has been strong arming too long in places where it should never had stuck it's nose.”, he lectured. “You know, it would be too bad if your son ended up as an unfortunate pawn in this game of chess. I'd rather keep him out of it, so why don't you play ball and let us pay you for your services to us. You know in the long run, history might thank you for it. Arming both sides equally has kept the world safe from a nuclear catastrophe, you know the MAD principle?”, the dark figure explained. “Get away from me!”, Albert yelled. “I will not deal with a bunch of terrorists”. He quickly scanned the horizon looking for the SS men, but didn't see them. Neither did he, nor his assailant see the left hook that landed square on the terrorist's jaw. That guided muscle belonged to Simon Green. The dark man's hat and glasses flew off and he fell over backwards revealing the face of the Polecat. Polecat quickly got to his feet holding a large knife he had pulled out from under his jacket. Just before he could lunge at Simon the sound a gunshot sound echoed from a short distance away. Simon was prepared to land another blow but Polecat took off yelling back, “I'll have some unfinished business with you and your son Doctor!” Albert and Simon looked around for the gunman who had fired the shot that had scared off Polecat when Adam walked up carrying Old Ironsides. The boy had a smirk on his face, and smoke was wafting from the ship's poop deck. “The Carbide Cannon!”, Simon laughed. “That was quick thinking Adam!”
“You seem to have arrived at an opportune moment Mr. Green”, Albert said with relief. “Where did he come from, and where are your body guards”, Simon wondered. He pulled out his Blackberry and send a message to the General. “Wow!, some punch you gave that thug”, Adam cried. “Well, I boxed welter weight at Harvard”, Simon said. “I almost made the U.S. Olympic boxing team, you know. If Polecat had stuck around, I would have been happy to go a few rounds with him”, he added. “Hmmm, I wonder if he brought the 'Torch' with him”, Albert worried. “Probably not this time, but we'll have to be more careful with you. I'm going to make the General post some agents at Adam's school”, he thought. “And I'm going to insist they shadow both of you full time until we can get this under control”.
Last edited by Tetsuwan Penguin on Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Tetsuwan Penguin
- Robot Revolutionary
- Posts: 4714
- Joined: 11 years ago
- Location: Chelmsford, Ma
- Contact:
-
Tetsuwan Penguin
- Robot Revolutionary
- Posts: 4714
- Joined: 11 years ago
- Location: Chelmsford, Ma
- Contact:
Chapter 6. Breakthrough
6. Breakthrough
Albert spent Monday at Bellevue Hospital getting started with Dr. Burakku. As the hospital was on the lower east end of midtown he took the subway instead of walking. He first stopped at the Museum underground to get some paperwork, then took the 8th Avenue local downtown to Times Square where he walked thought the long underground passage leading to the Times Square shuttle. The shuttle dropped him at Grand Central Station where he picked up the Lexington Avenue local going downtown.. He got off at 23rd street. It was then a refreshing walk east to 1st Avenue and the Hospital.
Dr. Burakku was every bit the genius that Albert remembered. When his mother fainted at the airport on their arrival in Tokyo they were lucky to have literally bumped into him. The Dr. had been running to catch a flight in the opposite direction when Elizabeth fell down in a faint in front of him. Albert thought that the long flight and dehydration had been the problem, but Dr. Burakku took one look in her eyes and realized she had just suffered a mild stroke. They ended up at his clinic (he ended up missing his flight), and Elizabeth Tenamann had emergency life saving surgery.
Two young army volunteers took turns lying down in the brain scanner's magnetic pickup chamber having their brain waves and EEG signals recorded. The two doctors studied the readouts and adjusted the equipment. Robert Levinson remotely analyzed the data, with some help from Issac. Dr. Burakku took a liking to Issac. Your artificial assistant is smarter than many of the Doctors at Tokyo General, he laughed. By the end of the day the four of them had rewritten many of the subroutines in the scanner's embedded computer, as well as in Robert's back end processor. When the mainframe ran the resulting images the results were astonishing. I think we've broken the Turing Barrier, Robert laughed. Turing Barrier?, Dr. Burakku asked. That's when you have a computer interface so advanced that you can't tell the difference between it, and talking to another human being, he explained. Ah yes, you are referring to the famous British computer scientist, Dr. Burakku remarked.
Albert was about to leave for the day when Bob's voice came out over the computer terminal. I've got some good news for you when you get back here Albert, he said. Can you tell me over the link, or must it be in person?, Albert asked. I've just got some real great news from my friends over at the IBM think tank, Robert started. Seems that they have a present for us, the first prototype copies of the quantum processor chips. I have their first version now, and should have the improved second revision in a few weeks. he said. Have you tried running the software on it yet?, Albert asked. You know me!, Bob laughed. I'm debugging the first pass right now!. Oh, Simon has some more good news for you, but you'll have to see him when you get in, he won't let me in on the details, Bob added. I'm sure you know the details anyway Bob, Albert laughed. Yeah, you might say that Issac had his ear to the grapevine as usual, Bob smirked.
Late in the afternoon Albert was back in his office. Adam had already arrived from school and having finished his homework was lying on the floor in the back of Albert's office reading an old Manga book. Simon walked in pulled up a chair next to him and said, I've received some interesting news Albert. It seems one of our industrial spies in China has come up with the details of an interesting alloy that they've been working on. The Chinese stole the formula from the Russians before the Soviet Union fell, and the Russians had got the first details of it from the Germans they captured at the end of WWII. Of course it wasn't perfected until very recently. We think that our agent may have been able to switch some details around with the help of a computer virus, so we just might have this breakthrough to our selves, he gloated. What kind of an alloy are you talking about?, Albert's curiosity was in overdrive. It's a remarkable combination of Tungsten, Aluminum and Titanium, he started. It has a higher melting point, greater strength, and lighter weight than any structural metal alloy yet devised. The Chinese achieved this by adding a combination of rare earth metals and a bit of modern alchemy, he explained. What our scientists have added to the magic is a way of changing the alloy's crystalline structure to allow machining it, then back again to achieve maximum strength. The problem the Chinese had was that they couldn't build anything with it, it was too tough to drill and not malleable at all. Our process allows us to get around that, he explained. Can we got some of this stuff to use for the robot project? Albert asked. We will have use of an automated foundry machine shop in New Jersey within a few weeks. Right now they are finishing the required retooling and software upgrades. The 'skunk works' at Area 51 have priority, but I've managed to get you enough access for a couple of prototype runs, Simon said. In the meantime the metallurgical data from their first trial runs are available to you on our network. I'll examine the data and determine what changes I'll need to make and how suitable the material will be for my uses, Albert replied.
Albert was so excited about the news that he forgot about Adam who had fallen asleep on the floor with his face buried in an episode of 'Black Jack'. He found the links to the metallurgical data Simon had provided and started the process of calculating the results of using it in the robot framework. Within an hour and a half he had enough calculations done to modify the inputs to the CAD program used to design parts. He glanced at his watch and realized that the next phase of the work would have to wait for tomorrow. It was time to get his son home, they were already late for dinner. He gently picked Adam up and placed him in a chair. He picked the magazine up off the floor and put it back in the shelf with a slip of paper bookmarking the page where Adam had left it open to. Adam yawned and got out of the chair and put on his backpack. Albert guided the sleepy boy to the door and they left the complex for home.
Albert spent Monday at Bellevue Hospital getting started with Dr. Burakku. As the hospital was on the lower east end of midtown he took the subway instead of walking. He first stopped at the Museum underground to get some paperwork, then took the 8th Avenue local downtown to Times Square where he walked thought the long underground passage leading to the Times Square shuttle. The shuttle dropped him at Grand Central Station where he picked up the Lexington Avenue local going downtown.. He got off at 23rd street. It was then a refreshing walk east to 1st Avenue and the Hospital.
Dr. Burakku was every bit the genius that Albert remembered. When his mother fainted at the airport on their arrival in Tokyo they were lucky to have literally bumped into him. The Dr. had been running to catch a flight in the opposite direction when Elizabeth fell down in a faint in front of him. Albert thought that the long flight and dehydration had been the problem, but Dr. Burakku took one look in her eyes and realized she had just suffered a mild stroke. They ended up at his clinic (he ended up missing his flight), and Elizabeth Tenamann had emergency life saving surgery.
Two young army volunteers took turns lying down in the brain scanner's magnetic pickup chamber having their brain waves and EEG signals recorded. The two doctors studied the readouts and adjusted the equipment. Robert Levinson remotely analyzed the data, with some help from Issac. Dr. Burakku took a liking to Issac. Your artificial assistant is smarter than many of the Doctors at Tokyo General, he laughed. By the end of the day the four of them had rewritten many of the subroutines in the scanner's embedded computer, as well as in Robert's back end processor. When the mainframe ran the resulting images the results were astonishing. I think we've broken the Turing Barrier, Robert laughed. Turing Barrier?, Dr. Burakku asked. That's when you have a computer interface so advanced that you can't tell the difference between it, and talking to another human being, he explained. Ah yes, you are referring to the famous British computer scientist, Dr. Burakku remarked.
Albert was about to leave for the day when Bob's voice came out over the computer terminal. I've got some good news for you when you get back here Albert, he said. Can you tell me over the link, or must it be in person?, Albert asked. I've just got some real great news from my friends over at the IBM think tank, Robert started. Seems that they have a present for us, the first prototype copies of the quantum processor chips. I have their first version now, and should have the improved second revision in a few weeks. he said. Have you tried running the software on it yet?, Albert asked. You know me!, Bob laughed. I'm debugging the first pass right now!. Oh, Simon has some more good news for you, but you'll have to see him when you get in, he won't let me in on the details, Bob added. I'm sure you know the details anyway Bob, Albert laughed. Yeah, you might say that Issac had his ear to the grapevine as usual, Bob smirked.
Late in the afternoon Albert was back in his office. Adam had already arrived from school and having finished his homework was lying on the floor in the back of Albert's office reading an old Manga book. Simon walked in pulled up a chair next to him and said, I've received some interesting news Albert. It seems one of our industrial spies in China has come up with the details of an interesting alloy that they've been working on. The Chinese stole the formula from the Russians before the Soviet Union fell, and the Russians had got the first details of it from the Germans they captured at the end of WWII. Of course it wasn't perfected until very recently. We think that our agent may have been able to switch some details around with the help of a computer virus, so we just might have this breakthrough to our selves, he gloated. What kind of an alloy are you talking about?, Albert's curiosity was in overdrive. It's a remarkable combination of Tungsten, Aluminum and Titanium, he started. It has a higher melting point, greater strength, and lighter weight than any structural metal alloy yet devised. The Chinese achieved this by adding a combination of rare earth metals and a bit of modern alchemy, he explained. What our scientists have added to the magic is a way of changing the alloy's crystalline structure to allow machining it, then back again to achieve maximum strength. The problem the Chinese had was that they couldn't build anything with it, it was too tough to drill and not malleable at all. Our process allows us to get around that, he explained. Can we got some of this stuff to use for the robot project? Albert asked. We will have use of an automated foundry machine shop in New Jersey within a few weeks. Right now they are finishing the required retooling and software upgrades. The 'skunk works' at Area 51 have priority, but I've managed to get you enough access for a couple of prototype runs, Simon said. In the meantime the metallurgical data from their first trial runs are available to you on our network. I'll examine the data and determine what changes I'll need to make and how suitable the material will be for my uses, Albert replied.
Albert was so excited about the news that he forgot about Adam who had fallen asleep on the floor with his face buried in an episode of 'Black Jack'. He found the links to the metallurgical data Simon had provided and started the process of calculating the results of using it in the robot framework. Within an hour and a half he had enough calculations done to modify the inputs to the CAD program used to design parts. He glanced at his watch and realized that the next phase of the work would have to wait for tomorrow. It was time to get his son home, they were already late for dinner. He gently picked Adam up and placed him in a chair. He picked the magazine up off the floor and put it back in the shelf with a slip of paper bookmarking the page where Adam had left it open to. Adam yawned and got out of the chair and put on his backpack. Albert guided the sleepy boy to the door and they left the complex for home.
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Tetsuwan Penguin
- Robot Revolutionary
- Posts: 4714
- Joined: 11 years ago
- Location: Chelmsford, Ma
- Contact:
Chapter 7. Prototype
7. Prototype
Albert was finishing up the blueprint changes for the metal parts to the prototype android soldier they were going to finally demonstrate. The design would be electronically transferred to an automated facility in N.J. that had a combined foundry and machine shop. It could produce any kind of metal assemblies Albert might need for any project. The plant was run under a secret budget under the CIA's bookkeeping as it had been originally built to supply the needs of the Area 51 'Skunk works'. It currently was at the service of various government funded research groups including NASA, and Simon Green's research think tank. The facility could produce various alloys of metal, including many top secret new formulas. The new high strength, low weight wonder metal that the Area 51 geeks had perfected from the stolen Chinese formula would soon be added to their inventory. Meanwhile, Albert had specified a 'Standard' aircraft grade of high strength metal alloy that might have been used on the likes of the SR-71 blackbird.
Bob entered the office holding a small electronic assembly. Here is the completed computer unit, he offered. It contains the first version of the Quantum processor core chip to handle the A.I. neural unit, and an upgraded sixteen core ARM-15 embedded I/O processor to handle the autonomic nervous system emulation. This version of the Quantum processor can handle most of the A.I. levels of the neural network interpreter except for the self aware and original thought levels of the human brain. The next version of the processor will be so much advanced over this one that we will be able to do it all, total cloning of a person., he finished. Great work Bob, Albert slapped him on the back. This unit should be good enough to demonstrate to the General, in fact his requirements probably don't need the advanced unit. I know that, but I have a feeling we ARE going to find a use for the advanced version. Building a complete clone of a person's mind and putting it in a robot body would be a form of immortality, Robert waxed philosophically. I don't know if we have the right to go there, Albert said, Though it now seems that I'm inches away from actually doing it, Dr. Burakku and I think we've worked through the last of the barriers on my end, and your latest software seems up to the task.
Late in the day Simon reviewed the work with Albert. It looks like you will be assembling the prototype android soldier by the end of the week, he exclaimed. General Hayes will be happy. BTW I've been informed that the SS agent protection for you and Adam has been doubled. They've been shadowing your every movement, except of course when you're in this complex. I don't think that we'll be seeing anymore of Polecat or Propane Torch, he added. I sure hope so, Albert sighed. Adam has been having some bad dreams about them, you know. Well it looks like this project will be over by the time school is over for the summer, Simon said. In a few more weeks you and your son can enjoy some vacation together. I'm going to arrange a secure get away for the two of you.
By the end of the week Albert had nearly completed the prototype. Bob had finished flashing the firmware onto the processors and all that remained was the final neural download from a processed brain scan. A 'donor' had yet to be assigned, but it was assumed that the General would have someone in mind. All of the robot's artificial skin covering was in place except for some final work on the hands and face. The date for the demonstration had not yet been picked, but Albert expected that could happen in at most two weeks time.
On the other side of the Hudson river from NYC, in a dingy Hoboken apartment house the two terrorist spies who had so far managed to be kept at bay by the SS were not giving up. They knew from their mole contact in the pentagon that their time was limited and that they had to act soon, but they also knew they couldn't afford any mistakes. We have to act soon, Polecat said. Dr. Tenamann must be about finished with the prototype since the General's staff is preparing for a demonstration within a week or two. Trying to grab the good Dr. is futile, Propane Torch explained. he's too well guarded during his short commute from his house to the museum complex and at home. Both he and his son travel together on that route when the weather isn't threating, and the boy is tailed by bodyguards while he rides his bicycle to school. Snatching him from the school is too risky as well. If it's raining the boy will take the bus, we could hijack the school bus before it gets to his house, Polecat offered. That idea has some merit, but we can't wait for a rainy day, and the weather forecast for at least a week isn't promising, the Torch replied. No, the best plan is to grab his son when he leaves school. That will involve separating him from his body guards. I think I have an idea on how to do that, Propane Torch offered. Torch was toying with a short piece of rope attached to wooden disks at each end. Does that Garrote cord you're holding have anything to do with your plan?, croaked Polecat. I like quiet ways of putting my adversaries out of business, he laughed. I think this toy will come in handy. We'll need to strike within a few days I think, Polecat decided. I'll get us some extra help, Torch suggested. My cousin in a good wheel man, he'll drive while you grab the kid and I take care of the Feds.
A week from the coming Friday would be Adam's final day of school for the year. Dr. Tenamann put the final touches on the prototype android soldier and they decided it would be ready for inspection by General Hayes and his staff on Monday. For the rest of the week, Albert and Simon went though the checklist for the demo. Robert loaded the final software onto the Robots on board computers and ran diagnostics on the android. Everything appeared to be ready. Over in N.J. Polecat and Torch had decided that the coming Friday would be the day they would kidnap Adam and exchange him for the prototype robot soldier or the plans to it. Adam was looking forward to his last week in school. That coming Friday afternoon there was to be a party in his class in celebration of the end of the school year, and an awards ceremony for those with good grades.
Albert was finishing up the blueprint changes for the metal parts to the prototype android soldier they were going to finally demonstrate. The design would be electronically transferred to an automated facility in N.J. that had a combined foundry and machine shop. It could produce any kind of metal assemblies Albert might need for any project. The plant was run under a secret budget under the CIA's bookkeeping as it had been originally built to supply the needs of the Area 51 'Skunk works'. It currently was at the service of various government funded research groups including NASA, and Simon Green's research think tank. The facility could produce various alloys of metal, including many top secret new formulas. The new high strength, low weight wonder metal that the Area 51 geeks had perfected from the stolen Chinese formula would soon be added to their inventory. Meanwhile, Albert had specified a 'Standard' aircraft grade of high strength metal alloy that might have been used on the likes of the SR-71 blackbird.
Bob entered the office holding a small electronic assembly. Here is the completed computer unit, he offered. It contains the first version of the Quantum processor core chip to handle the A.I. neural unit, and an upgraded sixteen core ARM-15 embedded I/O processor to handle the autonomic nervous system emulation. This version of the Quantum processor can handle most of the A.I. levels of the neural network interpreter except for the self aware and original thought levels of the human brain. The next version of the processor will be so much advanced over this one that we will be able to do it all, total cloning of a person., he finished. Great work Bob, Albert slapped him on the back. This unit should be good enough to demonstrate to the General, in fact his requirements probably don't need the advanced unit. I know that, but I have a feeling we ARE going to find a use for the advanced version. Building a complete clone of a person's mind and putting it in a robot body would be a form of immortality, Robert waxed philosophically. I don't know if we have the right to go there, Albert said, Though it now seems that I'm inches away from actually doing it, Dr. Burakku and I think we've worked through the last of the barriers on my end, and your latest software seems up to the task.
Late in the day Simon reviewed the work with Albert. It looks like you will be assembling the prototype android soldier by the end of the week, he exclaimed. General Hayes will be happy. BTW I've been informed that the SS agent protection for you and Adam has been doubled. They've been shadowing your every movement, except of course when you're in this complex. I don't think that we'll be seeing anymore of Polecat or Propane Torch, he added. I sure hope so, Albert sighed. Adam has been having some bad dreams about them, you know. Well it looks like this project will be over by the time school is over for the summer, Simon said. In a few more weeks you and your son can enjoy some vacation together. I'm going to arrange a secure get away for the two of you.
By the end of the week Albert had nearly completed the prototype. Bob had finished flashing the firmware onto the processors and all that remained was the final neural download from a processed brain scan. A 'donor' had yet to be assigned, but it was assumed that the General would have someone in mind. All of the robot's artificial skin covering was in place except for some final work on the hands and face. The date for the demonstration had not yet been picked, but Albert expected that could happen in at most two weeks time.
On the other side of the Hudson river from NYC, in a dingy Hoboken apartment house the two terrorist spies who had so far managed to be kept at bay by the SS were not giving up. They knew from their mole contact in the pentagon that their time was limited and that they had to act soon, but they also knew they couldn't afford any mistakes. We have to act soon, Polecat said. Dr. Tenamann must be about finished with the prototype since the General's staff is preparing for a demonstration within a week or two. Trying to grab the good Dr. is futile, Propane Torch explained. he's too well guarded during his short commute from his house to the museum complex and at home. Both he and his son travel together on that route when the weather isn't threating, and the boy is tailed by bodyguards while he rides his bicycle to school. Snatching him from the school is too risky as well. If it's raining the boy will take the bus, we could hijack the school bus before it gets to his house, Polecat offered. That idea has some merit, but we can't wait for a rainy day, and the weather forecast for at least a week isn't promising, the Torch replied. No, the best plan is to grab his son when he leaves school. That will involve separating him from his body guards. I think I have an idea on how to do that, Propane Torch offered. Torch was toying with a short piece of rope attached to wooden disks at each end. Does that Garrote cord you're holding have anything to do with your plan?, croaked Polecat. I like quiet ways of putting my adversaries out of business, he laughed. I think this toy will come in handy. We'll need to strike within a few days I think, Polecat decided. I'll get us some extra help, Torch suggested. My cousin in a good wheel man, he'll drive while you grab the kid and I take care of the Feds.
A week from the coming Friday would be Adam's final day of school for the year. Dr. Tenamann put the final touches on the prototype android soldier and they decided it would be ready for inspection by General Hayes and his staff on Monday. For the rest of the week, Albert and Simon went though the checklist for the demo. Robert loaded the final software onto the Robots on board computers and ran diagnostics on the android. Everything appeared to be ready. Over in N.J. Polecat and Torch had decided that the coming Friday would be the day they would kidnap Adam and exchange him for the prototype robot soldier or the plans to it. Adam was looking forward to his last week in school. That coming Friday afternoon there was to be a party in his class in celebration of the end of the school year, and an awards ceremony for those with good grades.
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