Cyber-Eugenics: The Neural Code

By Bernard Amador

In her search for Hans Barskova, a Teaching Assistant at MIT, Eliza Boria learns that the neural code was deciphered by the United States government and the technology to create computer-controlled humans ("Cybernatons") was tested in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Eliza discovers her grandmother, Bernice Figueroa, traveled to Russia with Norbert Weiner during his lectures on cybernetics and planted the idea of utilizing cybernetics for the advancement of eugenics to create a master race on earth. The Soviets were part of a greater design and exploited as a prototype in the race for global control. Eliza becomes victim of the political and scientific communities who want to prevent the key mechanism of the mind from being revealed. Eliza must help the American government preserve the conspiracy and convince the world that the neural code cannot be deciphered. Eliza reveals the technology to the modern day eugenics leaders in an attempt to put a stop to their diabolical plans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456615086

Book preview

Author

Prologue

The world does no t know that the neural code h as been deciphered by the United States government , and the technology to create computer-controlled humans ( Cybernatons ) was tested in the Soviet Union during the Cold War with the first orbit of Sputnik in 1957. Graduate student Eliza Boria learns the truth in her search for Hans Barskova, her Teaching Assistant at MIT who has disappear ed . Along the way she finds a past she never knew, when she discovers that her grandmother Bernice Figueroa traveled to Russia with cybernetics pioneer Norbert Weiner during his lectures on cybernetics and planted the idea of utilizing cybernetics for the advan cement of eugenics to create a master race. The Soviet s utilized the technology that Weiner laid out to them , but what they did not know was that they were part of a greater design and were being exploited as a prototype in the race for global control.

Eliza finds herself catapulted into the combined eff orts of the CIA and FBI to prevent the workings of the neural code from be ing used by leaders of the underground modern day eugenics movement that has concealed itself in academic disciplines throughout the world. In her efforts to discover her own past, Eliza becomes a victim of the political and scientific communities who want to prevent the key mechanism of the mind from being revealed. Eliza soon learns that her time at MIT is preparing her for the mos t important lesson of her life-- how to help the American government preserve the conspiracy . Eliza must help them to continue to convince the world that the neural code cannot be deciphered and that technology to remotely control humans i s unrealistic. Eliza becomes a pawn as the government tries to show everyone that any attempts to figure it out may be fatal. She part icipates in a government-funded study at MIT that results in the sweltering of the brains of its subjects , proving to the world that deciphering the neural code is a threshold that modern day scientist s should not cro ss. B ut because of her past, Eliza becomes the one to reveal the technology to the leaders of the modern day eugenics movement in an attem pt to put a stop to their diabolical plans.

Part I: Cybernetics

Chapter I: Assignments

It was a balmy Friday afternoon and Eliza, a second year Fulbright Scholar, rushed across the campus mall to catch the remaining fifteen minutes of her advanced mathematics course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This was a course once taught by the prominent Norbert Weiner, the father of cybernetics. Eliza walked along the side of the Brain and Cognitive Science Complex and glanced up at some flyers that were posted on the walls of the building. She stopped for a second and stared at one in particular. It was a fly er for the showing of Michael Crichto n’s The Terminal Man . The picture showed a man lying down with electrodes ta ped to his forehead and wires coming out of his head. Eliza made note of the date and time then continued off to her class. She reached the front door of The McGovern Institute for Brain Research that had a rug of golden fall leaves before it and entered the building. Walking down the hallway she noticed the same flyer posted on the wall near the door of her classroom. She looked up at the poster, grinned and reached out for the door knob.

Eliza quietly turned the knob of the classroom door and her tall lanky body entered the already filled room. Her long flowing wavy brown hair fluttered in the wind as she headed for a seat near the front of the class. The door slammed shut behind her. Dr. Jeffrey Young, a medium height high yellow stout African American man with a beard and glasses, was standing directly between the podium and blackboard. He stopped writing an algorithmic equation on the board and quickly turned around to look at her. Eliza approached the empty chair in front of the classroom too intimidating to be occupied by any other student, dropped her bag by its side and slid gingerly onto its oak surface. She wrapped her arms around her torso and rubbed her back exposed by a pink tank top that accentuated her olive colored skin.

It’s nice of you to join us Ms. Boria, please mind your time, said Dr. Young.

He glanced into her almond shaped hazel eyes then quickly returned to face the black board to finish writing the equation. Eliza looked around at the other students many of whom were typing notes into their laptops. Dr. Young once again turned to face the class.

"In considering your reading of Algebra of Conscience due today, can someone please tell the class how many ethical systems Lefebrve argues can exist simultaneously and be proven directly by psychological experimentation?" asked Dr. Young.

The class was silent with most students looking down onto their laptops. Eliza raised her hand.

Yes, Ms. Boria? asked Dr. Young.

Two, sir, said Eliza .

And how is that? asked Dr. Young.

Only two ethical systems exist for him because his comparison is a closed system that only includes Western and Soviet culture’s notions of good and evil. His main argument is that human ethics is not a byproduct of another occurrence, said Eliza.

What does that tell us about the phenomena of conscience and moral choice? asked Dr. Young.

There are two fundamental ethical systems, neither of which is morally acceptable, that determine human behavior in situations of conflict, said Eliza.

Well stated. We will continue our discussion next class. I want you all to consider the question why one cannot predict which alternative will be chosen between two moral choices or the probabilities with which they will be chosen, said Dr. Young as his watch alarm rang out.

He lifted his arm to glance at it then lifted an old pocket watch hanging from his vest to verify the time.

Hand in your assignments as you leave and next class, please come prepared with the algebraic proof that explains the formula written on the board! shouted Dr. Young as the class handed their assignments to Hans Barskova, the Teaching Assistant (TA), who stood by his chair in the front of the room near the classroom door, as they exited.

Hans was a tall lanky man that fit William H. Sheldon’s description of the ectomorph. His head held a mop of shaggy brown hair that draped over his forehead and reached the rim of his silver edged spectacles. As usual, he was dressed in his casual attire of white oxford shirt, beige chinos and loafer style shoes. He had a fair complexion that contrasted thick brown eyebrows that made his bright blue eyes radiate. Hans always had a glow of intensity in his appearance, an appearance many of the female students and on some occasions a male like Pierre St-Hilaire, seemed to admire. Pierre was a Parisian exchange student of Moroccan de s cent, tall and lanky with a dark complexion. He had black hair as dark as coal with thin eyebrows and light brown eyes. Pierre showed an admiration for Hans that Eliza herself felt. She tried to conceal it but seemed to show it stronger from a distance. It was clear she wanted to be in a relationship with him that was beyond academic.

Eliza flipped through her notebook for her assignment. She located it and tore it out along the perforated lines all the while glancing at Hans. Hans likewise was looking at Eliza waiting for her to approach him with her assignment. Eliza reached for her bag beside her chair, grabbed it, placed her notebook inside and rose from her seat. She headed for the door with assignment in hand. She slowly walked over to Hans not only to hand in her assignment b ut to thank him for spending an hour with her the night before to discuss Lefebrve’s theory. Although he knew Eliza very well, Hans blushed as Eliza drew near him. It was obvious to the other students and especially Dr. Young, who was witnessing their interaction from the podium, that Hans was just as attracted to Eliza.

Very well done, said Hans.

Thank you for your help, said Eliza as Pierre and Amy Fielding waited behind her to hand in their assignments.

Amy was an advanced first year student who was given permission to register for Dr. Young’s course. Amy stood slightly shorter than Eliza and Pierre with jet black hair to her shoulders , which s he wore in a messy bob held by a purple sparkling hair clip. Her jeans and tee shirt were shredded and decorated with glitter. Amy was also a bit heavy for her height.

Next Thursday, same time? asked Eliza.

Yes, of course, said Hans as he took her assignment from her slightly trembling hand and watched her as she moved past him and exited the classroom.

Amy stood patiently behind Pierre as he walked up to Hans and gave in his assignment and exited the room behind Eliza. As Eliza and Pierre exited Amy noticed that Hans kept his focus on Eliza, admiring her long flowing brown hair and olive colored complexion. As Hans kept his eye on Eliza, Amy’s gaze and interest focused on Pierre. Amy was now next to hand in her assignment; she stopped short in front of Hans and held it out for Hans to take. Hans took it from Amy and she smiled at him then exited the room. The only two left behind were Hans and Dr. Young , who approached Hans from the podium with belongings in hand.

Young man, you look like one of those miniature butlers that are sold in department stores to be placed beside a chaise lounge to hold a cocktail, said Dr. Young.

Do I? asked Hans.

You seem to be doing well with the students, said Dr. Young.

Thank you, sir, said Hans.

I am particularly impressed with the work you are doing with Ms. Boria, said Dr. Young.

She’s very bright and possesses a strong motivation to learn, said Hans.

Well son, with some it is just determinism, said Dr. Young.

She does work hard, said Hans.

No, determinism, I mean it is in her nature to be the student she is, said Dr. Young.

How so? asked Hans.

For some it is part of their biology, you’re familiar with Darwin’s work, a genetic predisposition, said Dr. Young.

Understood, but some people still argue against his work, said Hans.

"Well it is because they are reading the wrong text, T he Origin of the Species is not the true text," said Dr. Young in a raised voice as he headed for the door, shut off the light and exited the room.

Hans grabbed his belongings from the chair beside him with assignment in hand and followed behind Dr. Young down the corridor.

Sir Francis Galton? asked Hans.

Yes, you know Darwin’s cousin, said Dr. Young.

Oh yes, said Hans.

"In 1869 Hereditary Genius: An inquiry in to its laws and consequences was published. This should be the only bible people are reading, not creation stories of Moses. Galton’s work put forth his main idea that intelligence is inherited," said Dr. Young.

Isn’t environment equally important? asked Hans.

Some would argue not exactly, said Dr. Young.

I thought the nature/nurture debate is still alive today, said Hans.

It is my son, but back then Galton assumed that great intelligence was to be seen in those with a high reputation and worth. If one was illustrious one’s offspring would also have the characteristic, said Dr. Young.

We live in a diverse global society today; those with high status are from all walks of life, said Hans as he held the door open for Dr. Young to exit the building.

Hans followed Dr. Young across the campus to Building 2.

This is not about ethnicity or race, said Dr. Young.

No? asked Hans.

It never was. By selective breeding one could produce a highly-gifted race of humans, hence, the term eugenics, said Dr. Young.

That is a dead movement, and even if it existed today how would it be accomplished? asked Hans.

Easily by government funding to implement social programs to help engineer the society by paying those possessing higher intelligence to marry and produce more intelligent offspring with those like them or even smarter. If we allow wea ker members of society with lower intelligence to breed, it will weaken the human race in general. Especially if they intermingle, said Dr. Young.

In today’s world it is impossible to separate people by different levels of intelligence, said Hans.

Is it? Son, look around you. Social engineering has come a long way and for those who are resistant there are other means available to accomplish the task, said Dr. Young.

Hans associated what was being discussed with Dr. Young with his dissertation project and stopped walking as Dr. Young continued to proceed ahead of him. Dr. Young continued talking and realized Hans was no longer beside him.

Come along son, said Dr. Young.

I will catch up with you later, I left a book at home I have to retrieve, said Hans. Dr. Young approached the entrance to Building 2 and entered the building shaking his head.

* * * *

It was 7:45pm the following Thursday evening and Hans was sitting at his desk in front of a laptop in the TA’s office in The McGovern Institute for Brain Research, giving Whitfield’s Neurocommunications a second read. As he re-read sections of the text, he underlined with a red pen portions of those sections he had previously highlighted with a florescent yellow marker. He took a deep breath, looked up from the textbook and stared at the surrounding walls covered with shelves filled with books. Letting go of the worn pages with his right hand, he reached up to his brow and pushed back the large bang of brown hair that fell directly above the silver rim frame of his glasses. He then dragged his hand down the front of his face pulling off his glasses and wiping his forehead letting out a deep breath. Hans placed the book on the desk, touched his mouse pad and his Eiffel Tower screen saver disappeared and a word processing file opened. He reached to his waist and unsnapped his Ta2b Mimoco keychain. The Ta2b has a Cyclops eye that is sensitive to open when the sun shines. When the sun goes down his eye opens wide and he can supposedly see in the dark, traveling by means of his radar emitting navigation tattoo. Hans pulled the keychain apart to reveal a USB drive that he inserted into the port of the computer and opened up a file named Cyber-Eugenics . After Hans opened up the file, he then opened the web browser that led him to the MIT home page. Hans clicked on the icon for the campus map and copied it with the map index into his document. He then resaved the file to his Ta2b USB, closed all open computer windows and removed the USB. Hans then snapped its cap on and attached it back on to his waist.

He had been working on this project for quite some time but was not able to find the right research to support his theory. The last four years he had been working on his doctoral dissertation hoping to prove that it is possible to communicate and control humans with the use of an electromagnetic energy field. Sure he had read at some point that radio waves were sent out from the antenna stemming from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Empire State Building in New York to control the masses, but he passed on the idea due to the large number of conspiracy theorists sensationalistic stories. Besides there were more serious movements he learned about, like the one he re cently discussed with Dr. Young. Eugenics was coined in 1883 by Galton, Darwin’s cousin , who advocated selective bree ding habits to improve the human race. But this movement was not as groundbreaking for Hans as the movement begun in 1948 some 65 years later when Norbert Weiner coined the term cybernetics , which would revolutionize the sciences and become what we know today as cognitive science.

Hans leaned backwards in his chair. The chair absorbed his force and tilted back as he extended his knees in front of him and returned to the upright position as he bent his knees before him again. The chair made a squeaking noise. He repeated this motion until the pile of papers sitting on the right side of his desk caught his eye and he remembered Dr. Young had asked him earlier to have all the papers graded by the next class. For the past four years Dr. Young had mentored him and helped guide him in his research. Dr. Young even helped Hans devise his dissertation proposal and picked the three required professors that would work closely with Hans to complete his dissertation. Hans was quite concerned Dr. Young still had not given his final approval so that Hans could submit it to the dissertation committee. He thought his idea and proof for electromagnetic mind control was a bit far out there, but he proposed a theory that would help crack the neural code and he found research that explained it and synthesized the material in such a way, he believed he would be getting contacted by the United States Department of Defense for the funding his project needed to make his way through the academic labyrinth.

Hans was keeping himself busy until his next appointment. He got up from his chair and passed the extra empty desk he had brought in for students and went over to a small table in the corner that held a coffee pot. He grabbed the pot and left the room to fill it with water. Hans returned and poured the water into the machine, opened up a can of coffee and scooped three small portions into the machine then turned it on. He returned to his desk and picked up the Whitfield text again to type in some notes that he had highlighted. There was a gentle knock on the door. Hans did not answer the door immediately because he knew who it was. As Hans waited for her to knock a second time, knowing she would not give up after only one try, he quickly grabbed the mouse, dragging the arrow cursor up to the desktop icon that read Cyber-Eugenics , right clicked on it then selected the delete function. Hans could see the figure outside the frosted glass window at his door as he waited to answer. He had plenty of practice waiting. In fact, Han s ’ stay in the United States was part of a larger plan that had forced him to wait on justice for what had happened