Arete–Ver. 2250: All Men Are Created Equal

By Neil Dibb

Arete: the ancient Greek goddess of virtue and excellence
It is the year 2250, and most countries in the world are administered by an artificial intelligence system called Arete. Initially created to assist lawmakers in writing legislation, Arete gradually took over the whole process, replacing human-generated legislation with simplified universal laws that are fair and equitable to everyone and simultaneously making lawmakers, judges, and juries redundant. Arete is connected to personal intelligent wristbands and various robots built to care for and police society, which offers a true democracy. Everyone is treated equally, honestly, and fairly. Elected officials can focus on leading their country—they don’t have to administer it as well.

The artificial intelligence is based on five fundamental principles defined by a UN committee. The underlying logic interpretation and coding are provided by a team of engineers working for the company that has developed the software. Sean Staples, a newly qualified cadet to this program, finds that lofty theoretical ideals are sometimes not easy to implement.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Sep 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781543760408

Neil Dibb

After a long and fulfilling career in Information Technology, Neil has taken up the pen. Fascinated with how technology will evolve over the next few hundred years into the lives of our descendants, he paints a thought-provoking

Book preview

PART 1

JUNE 2250

CHAPTER 1

Thursday, 6 June 2250

LIFE IS NOT EASY! Tony exclaims as he stares into his whiskey.

Jordan turns at the bar and looks at him, sitting on his normal stool in the corner. What do you know about life? You have been piss drunk for most of it! Jordan doesn’t like Tony and takes shots at him whenever he can.

Tony carries on, staring into his drink. I have never seen him take the bait in all the time we have been coming to the bar.

Karl serves Jordan his drinks and mutters, Leave him be—he isn’t hurting anyone! Do you want a tray for these drinks?

Yes, give me a tray! And for the record, he is a waste of space—he should have been sent to Mars years ago. He’d earn his keep better there than here, holding up the bar!

Jordan picks up the tray and walks carefully over to the large table where the rest of the cadet class is celebrating the end of their undergrad years.

I am sitting quietly at the bar, taking a break from the brash banter and laughter. I am not in a party mood, and they are getting louder by the minute.

He wasn’t always like this, you know. Molly is standing quietly next to me, looking at Tony. He was in the same class as my dad in Arete school. Dad said Tony was the smartest in the class and had so much potential. But then when they finished, Tony disappeared from the scene. My dad focused on enhanced biological intelligence, so he didn’t know what Tony did. The next time he saw him, Tony was here. It was ten years later, and he was trying to drink the bar dry.

I like Tony and always buy him a drink whenever I am in the bar. We talk about lots of different stuff but never about him. He has asked about the Arete program and how I was doing there, but I hadn’t realized that he had gone through it as well. The course runs once every twenty years, and only a select few people in the whole country are accepted. Today had been our graduation, and tonight we are out celebrating at Karl’s Bar—our regular haunt, as it is only a few paces away from the Arete Institute, where we had been studying for the past two years. I often stopped in for a drink on the way home. It helped me wind down, and I think it kept me sane during some of the rough patches.

We were now qualified on general systems and would soon specialize in our focused domains. We were all destined to be part of an elite team of experts that work on Arete—the AI system that runs our lives. Arete runs the government, legal system, business industry, and personal side of everything in the USA, and most of the world as well. Most countries have versions of Arete installed, and it is quickly becoming the norm.

Tony, would you like a drink? He looks at me and nods. He is lousier than usual tonight, and I see Karl looking at him thoughtfully.

One more, and then I’ll call the CareBot to take you home, OK? It’s not often that Karl reins Tony in or that Tony needs a CareBot to take him home and make sure he is safe in bed.

Tony nods—Life is not easy!—and clinks glasses with me.

Life is not easy, I echo. I’m not sure why I say it, but it seems to make sense in the moment.

Molly is still next to me, and I turn to her and ask if she is having a good time. As good a time as you are. She smiles that funny smile of hers—she knows I am not enjoying myself. I have not spent much time with her over the past two years, so I don’t know her well. I have a girlfriend, Savannah, who sucks up most of my time. Both Molly and Savannah are in the Arete program as well, but being with Savannah means I have her almost all day and night without much spare time. Savannah is friends with a lot of the other students, so I usually tag along with what she wants to do.

We’re all going to dinner and then on to Laguna’s for an all-night rave. Are you coming? I look at Molly and take a sip of my drink. She can see the answer in my eyes. I don’t blame you. It’s not my scene either, but tonight is a big night, so I’m going. She picks up her drink and walks back to her seat at the table.

The party is breaking up now, and everyone is finishing their drinks and getting ready to leave. Savannah comes over and hugs me from behind.

Ready to go, darling?

No, I don’t think so. I am going to pass. She looks at me funny and shrugs. She is quite drunk—more than usual. I don’t enjoy her when she is like this.

Be a wet rag, then! See you tomorrow at the airport, and don’t be late. Remember, it’s our special weekend that we have been planning since we started Arete two years ago. I have booked a two-person couple CAV at 9:00.

Jordan comes over—drunk as well—and drapes his arms over Savannah and me.

Hey, Sean. Not joining us? Your loss! Don’t worry—I will make sure Savannah gets home! See you tomorrow, Sean.

Have fun, and enjoy yourselves. I am not up for it tonight. I don’t know why, but I get this way sometimes. They all leave noisily, bumping into chairs and other customers in the bar.

Not going? Tony asks from the corner of the bar. It’s your big night. Everyone looks like they are having fun.

No. Too much fun depresses me. Then I look at Karl. Another drink for Tony and me, please? And have one for yourself too. Karl glances at Tony, takes a long look at me, and then reaches for the whiskey bottle. He pours three glasses.

Tony raises the toast. Life is not easy. Karl and I nod. Then he follows with Arete will get you! Tony says this often, but it is typically told as a warning to anyone who is thinking of doing anything slightly out of the norm.

Much later, after too many drinks, Karl calls a connected automated vehicle (CAV) and a CareBot for both Tony and myself. The CareBot wheels in and transforms into a wheelchair. CareBots look after people and can transform from small wheeled robots into wheelchairs. This is in comparison to PoliBots, which zoom around and enforce the law; they look like eight-foot-tall humans wearing masks, appear very intimidating, and speak in deep no-nonsense voices.

When I sit down and lean back into the CareBot, it carries me outside, up a ramp, and into the CAV. The door hisses shut as the CareBot locks in place, and the AntiGrav lifts the CAV off the ground to take me back to the apartment. Luckily, it is a driverless connected vehicle; otherwise, I may not have made it home. I prefer having Arete drive when I am in this state. The CareBot is wafting a perfume into my face to keep me from passing out before we reach my apartment.

CHAPTER 2

Friday, 7 June 2250

OF COURSE, I AM late. Savannah calls and wakes me at 8:30 a.m. My head pounds with every heartbeat, and my tongue is a dry, swollen lump in my desert mouth. I feel like shit.

Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead! How are you this morning? We had so much fun last night. Laguna was rocking. I only got to bed at 4:00 a.m. See you at the airport. Don’t be late! She hangs up before I can answer. Vomiting in the toilet followed by a couple of headache tablets, a long drink of water, and two minutes on the oxygen breather typically sort me out. But not this time. My head is still throbbing in the shower and on the way to the airport.

Savannah, Jordan, and a few of the others from class are all waiting in the airport departure area. I am the last to arrive. We are all going to the same resort for a weekend break. It is a reward for two years of sweat, tears, and hard studying. Ararat Resort is one of the best in the world—only the wealthy and worthy get to go there. The Arete Institute arranged for groups of the class to visit five different exclusive resorts around the world, which we could choose. Savannah chose Ararat. I told her that I didn’t care where we went, which is not true. I wanted to go to the Hedon’s Resort, but it wasn’t worth mentioning to Savannah because she has been talking about Ararat since we met at the start of the course.

Sean, you look like shit! said Jordan. You missed a good night. You should have come. Savannah really let loose! Jordan is clean-shaven, looking so healthy and strong that I could vomit, and I nearly do.

We all line up in the CAV queue. The attendant at the departure lounge scans our wristbands and allocates us to our CAVs. Savannah and I are alone in our two-person CAV that she booked, of course.

You don’t look so good. Let me see your wristband. She takes my arm and twists the band so she can see my wrist. The center status orb on the band is glowing red, and the three segments making up the outer circle are not much better—physical is orange, emotional is red, and mental is red.

Why do you do this to yourself? You know how you get when you drink too much! You need to stop this, especially now that you’ve graduated. I will help you through this—just tell me how I can help. I look at her flat eyed. She wouldn’t understand, so I’m not even going to try and explain. No one can help me. These are my demons, and I don’t want anyone messing with them, especially amateur psychologists who think they have it all figured out. I have some self-worth issues that someone like Savannah could never understand—someone who comes from a highly privileged background. I am reminded every day that there are people who have, and there are people who don’t have. I’ve been very lucky to escape my past through hard work and natural skill. And I often think of all the people who have not been as lucky as me, which leads me to question the purpose of life.

I didn’t think about it—it just happened! The last I remember is Karl calling a CareBot for both Tony and me. Next thing, you called to wake me. Sorry, my darling. I won’t let it happen again. I wanted a quiet night, and then it got away from me.

That bar is not good for you and especially Tony! I want you to stop going there. Or, at least, only go there when I am with you. Promise? She is always so forgiving and gentle. I feel sick again and want to throw up, but I can’t in the intimacy of the two-person CAV. It’s her mission to save me from myself.

I promise. You know what is good for me. Thank you, my darling. She pecks a kiss on my cheek and settles back into the couch, looking out the window. We are high over the North Pole, and the view is stunning. I wish I were feeling better so I could enjoy it more.

I am so excited about this weekend. It is going to be so much fun, she bubbles.

Yes. It’s what we have been looking forward to for the past two years. I am trying to get excited, but it’s hard. My head is hurting, and my stomach wants to turn inside out. I need quiet and sleep.

She is quiet now, lost in her thoughts. This is not normal for Savannah, not that I am going to complain. I settle back and grab a few minutes of sleep. I need at least a day’s worth, but it’s not going to work like that. We will get to the resort late afternoon on Friday, and there is a full weekend program planned.

Our CAV docks into the Ararat Resort, and we walk into the reception area. A young man, dressed in casual shorts and singlet, greets us.

Welcome to Mount Ararat! We have been expecting you. Please come with me, and I will show you to your suite. I believe you are top of the class, and so you have been awarded the exclusive Noah Suite with your private pool and uninterrupted view of the two snow-covered mountain peaks. It is our best suite! It’s a bit over the top, but he is just doing his job.

Savannah giggles and squeezes my arm. I told you that all the work you did would pay off, darling. Well done! Wasn’t I right?

Yes, my darling, you were right. This makes it all worthwhile. I gag. Why can’t I see it like everyone else? Oh, well. It doesn’t really matter—there are bigger demons out there than this one.

I have to admit, though, that the room is beautiful. I grew up in the lower-income parts of Seattle and never saw real luxury. This is another level in its own right. Even Savannah is quiet, which says a lot, because she came from a very wealthy and elite family. The pool and view of the mountain take my breath away—it’s just stunning. Why does a place like this exist with the rest of the world as it is? Surely, all this money could be better used for social welfare programs. There are poor people in every country in the world. What have these people done that they can come to resorts like this?

Sunset cocktails are served in thirty minutes if you want to unpack and freshen up. Savannah has our two bags open and is unpacking into the wardrobe as our host leaves.

I kick off my shoes and socks, and I drop the rest of my clothes as I walk out to the deck and dive into the pool.

I’m coming, darling! Just getting my bikini on. She dives in with a graceful, voluptuous splash, her golden hair, erotic curves, and red bikini shimmering. I swim over to hug and kiss her as my hands wander over her body, feeling horny. She responds to my deep kiss, and the pointless red bikini gets dumped as we get into it. Sex with Savannah makes up for all the other little things that rub me the wrong way. It is heart-stopping, breathtaking, orgasmic heaven. This time is all of that—but different. She has all the moves and passion, but with extra fire and vigor that I have not seen before. I’m not complaining.

Showered up, we go downstairs to have drinks with the rest of the class.

CHAPTER 3

Saturday, 8 June 2250

THE WEEKEND IS GOING well. We spend Friday evening in the hotel pool and bar. Savannah and I relax at the pool and sink multiple mojitos—too many, in fact, that when we go to change for dinner in the evening, Savannah passes out on the rug in the lounge of the suite looking out at the beautiful mountain. Her big night is catching up with her.

Her nap is just enough to get through late dinner and afterward with our classmates—dancing, drinking, laughing, joking, and winding down. Then we head off to bed for an early night, but it’s not to sleep.

The next morning, breakfast is a huge spread! Why do we need so much food? Where is everyone to eat all that? This must be how the wealthy live.

Everyone is planning an expedition to the mountain today to visit the supposed resting place of the biblical Ark. When the water subsided, the Ark was left resting somewhere on Mount Ararat. Savannah and Jordan are the ones pushing for it; they say it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not for me—I am going to spend the day by the pool, sipping on an occasional cocktail.

Don’t be such a wet rag, darling! Why don’t you join us? It’s going to be fun and an amazing opportunity to visit such a special religious site. I don’t get this religious stuff like the rest of the party; that’s why they are here. It’s not for me.

Leave Sean alone. Let him be. With his beliefs, he wouldn’t be allowed up there anyway. I don’t know why he even came to Ararat. Jordan is a dick. Oh, right! I know why Sean came to Ararat, he continues, looking directly at Savannah. She turns red and looks down at her plate of fruit.

This is a common theme with Jordan. He and Savannah both came from an exclusive group of wealthy families, and they have known each other since they were kids when their families used to vacation together. It bugs Jordan that Savannah is my girlfriend. He is always having a go at me about it and also trying to get ahead with Savannah.

Jordan, don’t be a pain in the ass. We always do everything together. She pushes back on him, but I can tell there is something more to it than that. She gives him a long and hard look.

I chime in. I am going to sit quietly by the pool, sipping cocktails and reflecting on life. What better way to celebrate the end of our course?

Not too many cocktails, darling! See you later. Savannah gives me a hug and kiss, and then they all leave together.

I am left staring into my coffee. Alone. What am I doing here? Jordan is right, but I would never admit it. This is not me. I stand up and walk out onto the pool deck with one last glance at the sumptuous spread of food—overflowing and almost untouched.

I settle into a deck chair at the pool and check my wristband for messages—I need to call Ben back. He called at his usual Friday lunchtime, but it was in the middle of the night for me and went to voicemail. I will call him later when he wakes up—morning time in the United States. I do need to call him more. He’s alone and needs to talk sometimes. Plus, he’s an excellent sounding board for me as well, and my only living family. My parents both passed away when I was young, and Uncle Ben raised me until I was fifteen when I went to boarding school. Then he moved to Cheyenne with his job. He has been good to me. Even though I am twenty-five now and call him Ben, he still treats me as if I am a teenager, but I go along with it. I last saw him when he moved, and that’s almost six years now.

Could I have a mojito, please? I ask the waiter when he walks over to me.

Of course, sir, without even blinking. It is nine thirty in the morning—what the hell?

The day slips away slowly in a blur of alcohol, food, sunshine, swimming, and napping. Perfect! I am in the pool, floating gently, watching the sunset over the mountain when Savannah returns.

How was it?

It is so inspiring and meaningful! So few get the opportunity to visit the resting place of the Ark. It’s where Christianity restarted after going astray. Noah saved the world for us—all the sinners and unbelievers were drowned in the floods. Humanity had a chance to reset and start again. God works in strange ways. She is a babbling brook, words tumbling out of her, nearly breathless. Wow! I never knew the human race came so close to extinction.

We showered together and went to dinner. Everyone is on a high, talking about their awesome day. I am as low as they are high. What is my highlight? The fifth mojito had too much mint? That’s about it—nothing to rave about, which is depressing. I switch to single malt whiskey.

The night goes downhill from there as everyone else is drinking, laughing, dancing, and joking. I’m just drinking. Savannah is on a high again, and today has made a significant impression on her. She is trying to lift me up, but it’s not working.

Come and dance, darling? It’s our favorite song. I join her, and we dance together, losing ourselves in the moment. At the end of the song, the band takes a break, and