The Wars in Cyberspace II

By Ludvig Solvang

It's all about space. Does space exist in Real World, and in Cyberspace? And what if all possible solutions are excluded, and we understand, that's all in our heads?

In Real World we are restricted to the Earth's surface, most of us. Cyberspace, on the other hand, is infinite; like an envelope inside an envelope inside...

And as real space is suspected to be only one among other spaces, similar might be the case for Cyberspace. A set of impossible coordinates suggests so, and tech whiz Nkwabe is left in despair.

Robin is doing social engineering. Unknowingly his double agents are spreading rumours about an enemy within in the Germania world. What will happen in a game society that is based on paranoia and a questionable myth, when the word about sabotage spreads?

When things begin to get real complicated, it's too much for even the greatest minds. Dragon Master Slive works only with models. She applies some of them in Technical Cyberspace, which is a model itself. Algorithms are visualized in a Cyberspace like environment, the result of an evolution where everything is built on earlier technologies. It's also containing earlier flaws.

The portal to the Germania world has been locked, but Slive manages to create a thin tunnel to the Germania world itself. That means, Bazan and his gang can only get their avatars through, not any tools or weapons. That's absolutely an disadvantage in a hostile world, and their adventure is nearly brought to a premature end.

And then, what is it with Charlie? He's an algorithm brought up like a human, showing peculiar abilities from time to time.

Evolving worlds are in fashion. The Germania world is displaying deadly pterodactyls, and Charlie domesticates them so The Outcast gang can use them as air horses. Phioz asks again; "What is it with Charlie?"

When mobile, Bazan and his friends are able to utilize flaws in game mechanics. They start acting like regular gamers. No one understand that they are foreigners in the chaos emerging after the hostile aliens invaded the Germania world from outer space.

Utilizing game mechanics, some of Bazan's gang take control over alien forces, and direct them at the capital Germania.

In a game, you eliminate your opponent. Some call it a kill. In Virtual Reality it can be different. Phioz has to take a break from her activity in the Secret Police, the constant harassment of other gamers became too much for her.

The Secret Police is Robin's invention. He wants so attack the very core of the gaming society, the concept of "we" against "them". While alien forces are attacking the defenders of Germania, Robin has opened a second front based on alternative facts. The Secret Police helps spread the feeling, there is an enemy within.

But the main question remains; what is the Germania all about? What is the real purpose of this eerie world? The gameplay and the evolution are not off the shelf items, it has cost money. A lot of money.

"Germania is like a brick house, with doors that can be locked," Phioz says. And she is right. The whole Germania world is locked with irreversible algorithms. Nothing can be changed without destroying it, and nothing can be maintained. That's why also the owners of the Germania world have to play by the game rules when defending their eerie secret.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ludvig Solvang
• Release date: Feb 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370820689

Book preview

The Wars in Cyberspace II

Acknowledgment

Cover by John Nordhus

Thanks to Julian for providing technical assistance.

Copyright

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. If you still do, we ask you to support the author after reading if you enjoyed the book.

Copyright © 2015 by Ludvig Solvang

Table of Contents

Title

Acknowledgment

Copyright

4.1 Charlie -- the fittest

4.2 Walking the dog

4.3 Squeezed into submission

4.4 A hidden layer

4.5 Hula hoop barrier

4.6 In the Dragon's Den

4.7 Tracking device

4.8 The impossible coordinates

4.9 A technical question

4.10 A brand new conspiracy theory

4.11 An avatar in RW

4.12 ... that ends well

4.13 Do elves lay eggs?

4.14 Scissors

4.15 My queen

4.16 A mess

4.17 The aliens have landed

4.18 A scary night

4.19 Killer beast

4.20 Suspended

4.21 Air horses

4.22 Frau Doktor Frankenstein

4.23 Dochi's avatar

4.24 Secret police

4.25 Stylish German gun

4.26 The General

4.27 Alien commanders

4.28 Crossing the T

4.29 What a play

4.30 Gun rally Volkshalle

4.31 Many layers between

4.32 Black hats

4.33 The Admoff

4.34 Bomb attack

4.35 Confirmation

4.36 Wounded hero

End

4.1 Charlie – the fittest

Where are you going? my mother asked, as I was on my way out.

I stopped in the doorway: To Phioz. I'll be home before sunrise.

Sunrise? Mum threw a pair of gloves at me. It's cold outside. And besides, you will as usual be home in good time before bed time.

I confirmed, that would be before sunrise.

But Mother wasn't finished: You are not home any more...

I eat and sleep at home, don't I? I had no idea what this conversation might lead to.

Mum nodded. At most.

I left my home without any more calamities, and went to meet Phioz. She waited for me at the café, more Goth than ever. She even had some extra black paint in her face.

Any special occasion? I studied her face closer.

Phioz smiled. You might say so. Father doesn't like my present style.

I sat down beside her. Aha. That's reason good enough.

Phioz agreed. But there was more behind this, than I guessed at first glance.

The question is, how much does he dislikes me being a Goth? For a moment Phioz seemed to focus on her chewing gum. If he is only mildly annoyed, he will give in. But if not, I must consider if it's worth it.

I sensed some kind of domestic warfare in my girlfriend’s home: What do you mean?

Phioz was quiet for a while. Then she said: I must be able to talk to my father, sooner or later. But I can't let him win. If I give in, he will turn totally unbearable.

Not any unusual situation, parents meddling with other peoples' businesses. But I hadn't noticed: Don't you talk to your father?

Phioz got a strange expression in her face. You talk to him at the dinner table, and he likes you. But he don't talk to me.

It was understandable that Phioz was astonished. We had been together at her place almost every afternoon for months, and I didn't know... On the other hand, I was there because of Phioz, not her father. I talked to him during dinners, as an act of duty.

Phioz bent over to me, and whispered in my ear: I think it's romantic that you only have eyes for me.

I felt caught, and said yes.

After all this was sorted out, I had a nice evening with Phioz and the rest of my tribe, and returned home in good time before bed time. My parents had gone to bed early.

In the kitchen I met my sister.

Mother has made you some snacks. Sis opened the fridge. From the illuminated cold inside, she produced an omelet with boiled eggs and bacon.

I was half way through it, when she said: Our mother feels some kind of guilt, because you are away most of the time.

After swallowing, I answered. But I am with Phioz, at her place.

My sister said, it didn't matter. Mother knew. And she had asked Sis, why Phioz and I never were here.

Phioz lived closer to school, and it was easier to drop in at her place, than walk all the way to my parents' house.

My sister said, it didn't matter. Mum isn't comfortable with you evacuating your home, whatever reason. Why can't you take Phioz home for a while? For Mother's sake?

I had to trust Sis; Here was a kind of logic applied, that I didn't understand.

I said yes.

And why not? There was nothing wrong in Phioz coming to my place, instead of the opposite. In addition, I had begun hatching a plan. If something worked on one parent, it might work on another.

I informed Phioz at school the following day.

She said: You want us to spend more time in your mother's house, for her sake?

Yes, that was my primary aim.

Phioz continued: And that my absence from home... Yes, I believe, that might soften my father. But let's go home to me this afternoon. They have made dinner for you too, you know.

The following morning, I informed my mother about me, taking Phioz home after school. Mother asked if Phioz would stay for dinner.

I picked up my bag. I believe so.

What does she like? Mother halted me on my way out.

Normal food, I believed. And no, I didn't know about anything Phioz didn't eat. Allergies? Not as far as I knew.

Why can't you make one of your famous pizzas? I asked, and hoped that would calm her down a bit. It did.

Mother had only one last question:

You have seen her eating pizza, haven't you?

Phioz and I were together almost every afternoon, even when we were in cyberspace. Together we could feel each other, also as avatars in cyberspace.

When my avatar took her avatar's hand, it was because I took her hand in Real World. And when my avatar kissed her avatar, it was because I kissed her in RW.

It was a quiet winter, both in cyberspace and RW. As usual, some parents began worrying about grades, when a warm wind heralded spring. This was our last year together at school, and the parents thought about our future.

The only problem was Charlie, the algorithm turned human. His self was an advanced avatar who lived in the magnificent castle Neuschwanstein. The castle was situated on a little planet in cyberspace, with an ongoing evolution.

His whole development was a bit spooky. But I didn't know how spooky, before I had talked to Nkwabe.

Phioz and Sis had gone shopping in The Other City together with some girls, and had left us behind. Now I had some time alone with my sister's boyfriend, and asked:

You did turn off the distorted signal that initially gave Charlie some kind of feelings, didn't you?

Yes, Nkwabe had done that.

Still, we have all seen him both glad and sad after that, I pointed out.

Yes, Nkwabe knew that. What he didn't know, was how it happened. But he had a theory:

I didn't actually make Charlie. Charlie did it himself, he said.

Nkwabe had written an experimental node based storage system, and had applied a small repair kit. After that, he had used parts of a commercial search engine, and a lot of other technical snacks, designed for totally different purposes.

But the most important is, that the algorithm was designed to make failures. And repair them, or develop a better solution. Nkwabe said.

The algorithm he had implemented, was a meta-algorithm, designed to design algorithms. It was a tool for building another structure. The idea was, that the algorithm had an urge to do everything better. Using evolution, it might fail or succeed.

I had no idea, that it would utilize almost all idle computing power in cyberspace the night it was connected. The algorithm needed all that power, to conduct its own evolution.

Somehow Nkwabe didn't sound like he regretted it.

There must have been millions, or rather trillions, of evolving algorithms that night. And the process produced our friend.

So, the Charlie we know, is considered the fittest, according to the evolution experiment? I believed I understood. But how was he chosen? I mean, there must have been millions of almost similar...

Nkwabe smiled: That was easy. Our Charlie is the one who has the best nerve system, the most efficient wiring of the brain. He is the one best fitted to absorb what Schwarzen and Jane teach him. I believe, they are doing the most important part of the job.

But when did the algorithm stop the evolution process? I needed to know as much as possible. I mean, how did it know when to stop?

It didn't. Nkwabe explained, it was all a coincident. The evolution ended when baby Charlie, the avatar, was lifted up from his cot. The input from the avatar's sensors, required the algorithm's full attention. And then the direct connection to cyberspace was cut, and never re-established.

Did that mean, if the connection between the algorithm and cyberspace had been cut earlier, baby Charlie could have ended up as a kind of retard...?

I am not sure if you should use that word, Nkwabe interrupted. Anyway, I believe you are right.

As usual, I had problems understanding my technical minded friend, and asked: How do you explain that he seems to have developed feelings?

Something happened, Nkwabe recalled. It occurred after I had asked him to shut down the distorted signals fed to Charlie's algorithm.

The algorithm had to rebuild large structures, because of the changed flow of information and the implemented forgetfulness. When the old structures were taken down, it had unexpected consequences. We saw it from the outside, and interpreted it as feelings...

I interrupted him: You mean, Charlie don't have feelings? We have even seen him proud, after his...

Yes, we have. Nkwabe agreed. And who knows, maybe it is feelings. What I have observed, is that these unforeseen effects make some tasks easier. That's the reason why the algorithm has implemented these... eh... feelings in the system itself.

4.2 Walking the dog

Have you seen Laika? My mother appeared in the doorway. She was searching for the dog, and had sufficient time to start worrying.

It's here. Phioz looked down on the miniature animal laying in her lap. Mother was comforted, and left.

It hadn't been necessary to call for any great prophet, to predict that also Phioz would fall in love with Laika. The dog seemed to like her too. It used to come to my room, and Phioz lifted it up and placed it in her lap.

In the evenings, I followed Phioz through the dark park on her way home. She didn't like to walk alone.

She asked: Are you not afraid, walking home alone?

I looked down at Laika. She has grown considerably since she arrived in our house. No, she hadn't reached any considerable size. Rather, she had grown considerably from the tiny being she once was.

No, I'm not afraid, I said. I have the dog.

Phioz laughed: But it's so small...

It's a killing machine. It was rather dark, but I could see Phioz picking up the animal.

Holding it in front of my face, she asked: How could this cute little...

It is a camouflaged killing machine, I explained. That's what makes this particular dog so dangerous.

The first time I was taking Laika with me when I followed Phioz through the park, my sister protested: It's too far. She is too small.

I told her that I would carry the animal, if it didn't want to walk any further. Sis almost calmed down: Promise?

Me: Promise.

Luckily my sister was absent, the night it poured down when I was about to follow Phioz. Sis didn't want the dog to get wet. Mother didn't want Phioz and me to get wet, and started digging into a cupboard.

Out in the open, I could hear the rain falling on my hoodie. I felt a warm hand in mine. Phioz was also equipped with the latest in anti rain technology from my mother's stores.

I could also hear the wind in the tree tops in the gardens on both sides of the street. The dense rain made each lamp post a cone of light down onto the pavement. The entrance to the park was a dark hole.

Inside the park we couldn't see anything. But as our eyes adjusted, we could recognize the path we used to follow. We walked carefully in the dark. Phioz negotiated the poodles in my sister's rubber boots.

I took off from the path, and dragged Phioz with me to tree big, old pine trees. Under a canopy of branches it was almost dry; the water from above followed the trees' branches and ended up somewhere else.

We opened our water tight jackets, and hugged each other. It was like the jackets made a cocoon with us inside. Outside there were rain and wind, under the trees' protecting branches, the soil was dry. It was only us in the whole universe. Phioz and me. Me and Phioz. Us.

For a long time we just stood there, listening to the wind and rain, feeling each other's presence. I let my lips glide over her forehead.

You are taller now, than when we kissed for the first time, Phioz said.

We continued our journey on foot, in rain and wind. The weather didn't seem to bother Laika. The dog was roaming freely, and returned to us when I called.

I brought Laika a snack, Phioz sat down to feed the wet hair ball, visible in the dark only because it was white.

We continued, and I asked Phioz about her father.

Phioz laughed: He has noticed I am not home in the afternoons any more.

And? I stopped. We had reached the last few trees in the park, the border line to an illuminated area.

And? Phioz laughed loud. I believe he has got this sneaking feeling, there is something he doesn't understand.

The next day, I followed Phioz home from school. We were to collect the rain gear and my sister's rubber boots, before continuing to my place.

I was parked in a chair in the entrance. Phioz had something to do, she said, before she disappeared.

Sitting there, I was in the middle of an article of an interesting development in Angola, I suddenly heard voices from upstairs.

You are evicting your daughter from her own home, a female voice sounded.

A male voice said, it was not true. There is something wrong with our daughter...

Wrong? the female asked.

She used to be such a nice little girl, the male countered. And look now, have you seen the clothes she's wearing? And what about the make up?

The female voice displayed a sharp edge. Yes, I have. And I will not interfere with it. Neither will you!

I heard steps. But before they reached the stairway, they were halted by the male voice: Don't you feel any responsibility...

No. The female continued: Remember, your daughter isn't a child any more.

Not a child any more... ? The male sounded surprised.

No, she isn't. And one more thing. The female increased the pitch:

You act like you don't want her here, you don't talk to your own daughter, and use every given opportunity to show her that you are not satisfied with her. Now she walks home, late every night, through the dark park. And if it hadn't been for Bazan's mother who lent her a rain coat, she would have been wet and cold when she came home yesterday. She could have caught a cold, the flu, a lung inflammation...

The owner of the female voice continued to walk towards the staircase.

I wasn't supposed to have overheard this conversation. In the moment a pair of feet appeared in the upper part of the staircase, I made a hastily retreat to Phioz' room.

She looked astonished up from a cardboard box: You here? But there is nowhere to sit.

Phioz was again remodelling, as she called it, her room. That meant, every item in the room was moved at least three times. I never understood the purpose of her efforts, and she had given up explaining it to me.

I was going to make the bed, so it's ready when I return home later tonight. Phioz pointed to the bed that stood upright, leaning on the wall. She moved a cardboard box and some other items, and made room for it.

I placed the bed down on the floor, and Phioz finished the operation by applying a duvet and a pillow. Then we left, carrying my sister's rain gear.

I like walking here with you when it is dark, she said, when we were in the middle of the park.