A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 87 and 88

A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 87

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Arksoul

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Maelstrom’s concern over having someone sent to fight her… thankfully didn’t manifest anything. As crazy as it sounds that someone talking about bullshit like that didn’t end with that bullshit happening, it looked like things went as planned. We went in, crushed the heart of the enemy’s main supply point, and got out before they could call for help.

Now, it was all about keeping an eye on things, because now it was all about the waiting game. Basically, since whoever owned this will look into who did it, those first suspected were going to be on the receiving end of something nasty. Part of the reason why we hit them so hard and fast was to simply make ourselves look stronger. It’s one thing to get destroyed by a bunch of powerful superhumans, but another thing entirely to get your information feed cut off, and when you go to check on a place you find it trashed with absolute precision.

The former would piss most people off, while the latter would get people scared

Or, so I hoped.

Anyway, I was over in the Himalayas helping Parvati get the sensor screen up over North America.

Hanging people out to dry after asking them to help you was a one-way ticket to sleepless nights.

I liked my beauty sleep too much to give things a chance.

“Please place this latest sensor net package at this location.” Parvati was already used to my power and had a map ready. Right after the satellites were loaded onto the launching device, it put a new location up, and I sent it over there for it to do it’s thing. NASA would probably kill to design delivery vehicles like Parvati did. No need for shell, weight limits can be laughed off, and as long as it’s within a certain size they can just send it straight up. Parvati was loading a dozen fridge-sized satellites at a time onto a main unit, which was a satellite itself, and I sent them up to disperse into sensor nets. “It will be another hour until the next batch is complete, Designation: Egress. Please feel free to rest and recuperate until then.”

“Four hours and a break? At least, we’ll all be comfortable after your takeover.” I wasn’t a big fan of giving Parvati orbital supremacy, but I didn’t see much of a choice. Even with its amazing track records, the AI could just be playing the long game. Hell, it might be the shadow-ruler of the faction we were opposing now and all of this is a play to suborn humanity under its thumb. Hm. Okay, that might be too paranoid.  “How’s your network going?”

“The backup facilities are being rapidly constructed all over the world. If this facility is destroyed, then I will see my manufacturing capabilities returned within two weeks.” Since we were facing a massive threat with such incredible technology and intentions to use Earth as a resource depot, I went ahead and helped Parvati decentralize. The AI was more than capable of doing it. There were plenty of places on the planet inhospitable to humanity with lots of resources. Mountain ranges provided both secrecy and tons of natural armor. Meanwhile, undersea data-centers and supply depots were already hard at work. “I worry mainly for my undersea assets. If the cable there is cut, there will be too much water for me to establish a constant signal. It’s effectively a fork of mine that will have massive amounts of assets at its disposal.”

“Can’t be helped. You’re just going to have to trust yourself, if that happens.” I shrugged and Parvati hovered wordlessly in a drone-chassis beside me. I had a rest area set up next to the launch station. Much like all the other manufactured shelters Parvati built for me, it was made from a cargo container, but upgraded with insulation and electricity. I got one of my laptops, plugged it to charge, and put on a movie while helping myself to some food from the fridge. Parvati was dabbling in food manufacturing, after seeing how selling condiments worked so well for me, and I was a willing taste-tester. I’ve eaten food its prepared before, so I wasn’t that afraid. “It’s better to have an undersea base than not in a war like this one.”

“There has never been a war like this one.” Parvati glibly stated, and I gave a nod.

“Exactly, so it can’t hurt to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible.” Factories in mountains. Undersea manufacturing centers. A massive network of bases that can all coordinate perfectly with one another, or operate with all the other bases gone. “Once we bring them to the negotiating table, we can unveil everything, and they’ll know that they’re in for a real, terrible fight that they hopefully can’t win. It would be better if you made sure to keep backups. The only way I can think of them doing you in is through some sort of virus.”

“It’s unlikely that a virus of such potency can be created to combat me, but I will keep your suggestion in mind.” I shrugged at Parvati’s statement. If I saw the AI problem that was Parvati protecting earth from my efforts to monetize it, I’d go out of my way to develop something to bring the AI down. A virus was my first idea, but apparently Parvati was far enough at combining machinery and life that it was close to impossible, because the operating software and hardware was just that different from anything else. “They would need to create a machine much like myself, and that machine will need to learn, to adapt, and to grow to reach me, while I do the same. Not only that, but can you see our foes giving the necessary freedom to an AI to self-improve when they still employ slavery?”

“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds impossible. But we’ve both seen plenty of impossible things, right? Just keep the backups in case. Maybe, make yourself a body that can start everything off from scratch if everything else gets compromised? It’s what I would do.” Parvati seemed to bob up and down to nod at my words. Plenty of powerful superhumans had ridiculous powers that everyone thought was invincible. However, with time and effort from regular people or their ‘lesser’ peers, those people ended up getting their asses handed to them. I’ve long gotten used to the fact that impossible was just a word. “You’re incredibly strong now, but don’t let pride get you killed. It’s better to be prepared than not prepared.”

“Hm. Very well. I shall endeavor to create restart packages that I will have you secret into various areas in the world. I shall conceal them and back them up every hour. So, at most, I shall lose only so much if the worst ever comes to pass.” While I didn’t like the idea that an AI would have so many backups, I couldn’t deny the fact that this AI was the only reason we stood a chance against our current enemies. Even with my power, and Maelstrom’s backing, I can barely do a thing in space. Even if I can be anywhere out there with the proper preparations, I can’t hurt what I can’t see. “How about yourself? Have you considered the possibility of what should be done if you pass?”

I grimaced at the question.

Parvati had me.

“I’m thinking about tracking doing the kids of the teleporter that Shogun used, or helping you figure out how to transport matter with some tests.” I’m a massive, priority target. Anyone with two brain cells will eventually figure out my part in this whole situation. The moment I’m found, they’ll stop at nothing to take me out. That’s why after this initial strike, I’m going to ground, hiding, and probably shaking up primarily in one of the undersea facilities. “I’ve already given Seran a DNA sample just in case, but it’s up in the air whether a clone of me will be good enough. Hell, a clone will take years to learn how to get as strong as me, maybe even a whole decade. My power has always been incremental growth-wise.”

“I am against training children for combat, but I will present the offer to the child. At least, it should prevent her from making mistakes or wasting her power.” I grunted at Parvati’s words, and enjoyed a bite of heated food. Parvati’s packaged food was… just average. Considering the fact that it was nutritious and very healthy, it was honestly impressive that it was still palatable. Texture-wise it was like good meatloaf, and flavor-wise it was between tofu and a veggie patty. Bland and unassuming. However, it was shelf-stable, could be eaten cold, and with a bit of soy sauce and hot sauce, it was actually palatable. 6/10. Perfectly average. I’d rather just chug it like a shake than eat it, though. “As for your genetic material, I would like to collaborate with Seran with your permission. I have been abstaining from gathering any genetic data from you out of respect for your privacy.”

“Hey, as long as you don’t make weapons out of my clones… go ahead.” I felt like I was crossing the line, but I had to acknowledge that fact that paranoia had no place in the current situation. We’ve got a highly-advanced, extremely-capable opponent whose opening move with orbital superiority was to create a third-party patsy armed with power armor to get them slaves and extract resources for them. These aren’t Saturday morning cartoon villains. They’ve got goals and a playbook to achieve those goals. My hang-ups can take a backseat to those guys go down. “You can go ahead and collaborate with Seran. Just keep in mind that Seran will only start working with it if I’m offed, missing for more than three months, or decided to bail out.”

“I see. I shall honor your wishes, Designation: Egress.”

Things were quiet for a bit, while I finished eating the perfectly average loaf of nutrition bereft of any allergens or impurities.

When I finished, I gave a decisive nod and a sigh.

Parvati picked up on it instantly.

“You were under the impression that I’ll kill you then and there.”

“Absolutely, yep. Just murder me along with your base, say some bullshit about being found and struck, and with my dying as collateral. Everyone will believe you.” I checked again. Nope. There was nothing stopping me from running away. There were no signs of massive energy weapons coming online. Finally, my stomach felt perfectly fine even as I let the food stew in it. “Honestly, I thought you’d make some sort of crazy explosive that kills me from the inside. I’m almost upset that you didn’t. Kinda wanted the easy way out instead of all this horseshit.”

“I’m afraid that I’m not as cruel or capable as you believe, Designation: Egress.” Parvati stated with its version of a shrug. It flapped the side-wings of its drone chassis up then down like a pair of shoulders. “I go to great lengths to do nothing that I will regret. That includes killing you merely for power.”

“It’s a lot of power though. Enough power to make me think that even a beneficent AI would decide to off me for the greater good.”

“I am flattered, but I am not perfectly beneficent. Though my creator had many, many flaws, I was created with many freedoms in mind.” It was my turn to shrug, which had the drone-chassis fly up and nudge against my face. “Heed my words, Designation: Egress. I desire to live alongside humanity. I have no intentions of becoming a tyrant.”

“Even if it means saving humanity from itself? Are you going to stand idly by if we nuke ourselves to oblivion?” I accused Parvati and took hold of the drone with one hand. It was the first time I reached out to actually touch it. This was probably something that the AI knew. I went one step farther and also took off my mask. Most likely, it already knew my face. But that’s not the point. I’m going out on a limb and trusting it with a whole lot of firepower and assets by spreading it across the Earth and the system. It knowing my face was a drop in the bucket. More of a comfort for me, but I had to face the facts. We’ve just declared war on a polity with a shitload of advantages over us, and Parvati’s our only real, honest hope of putting the world together while not under a boot heel. “What will you do, if humanity does the catastrophe all over again, while you hold all this power in your hands?”

“I know the answer that you wish to hear. The answer that will allow you to let go of your concerns. You wish to hear that I will let humanity break itself down, and only move to ensure the continuation of the human race.” Parvati had me pegged down to the letter. It knew me. How couldn’t it? As much as I’ve tried to conceal my identity, both in the past and the present, I wasn’t perfect. “But the truth is that I will move to prevent it. I will do my best to stop such a thing from happening, even if I have no right to. My wish is to help others and have them stand beside me. Moreover, Designation: Egress, I have no desire to be alone. To have nothing besides myself, until the last light in reality flickers and nothing but darkness remains.”

I blinked at Parvati’s words.

Just like that.

That little statement at the end.

She made sense.

“We could’ve avoided all this bullshit if you started with that, idiot.” I just shook my head and scoffed, while letting Parvati go. The iris stared at me and Parvati was quiet. Probably processing the fact that I was all-in and letting go of my paranoia. There was a sudden banging on my door, and one of the gynoid models burst in.

Tomboyish, long straight hair, tall, and in a white suit.

She really had my type pegged down to a T.

She also knew EXACTLY what I was thinking.

“Egress, don’t you dare say it!”

Yeah, look like my exact type all you want… I’m still going to laugh at this forever!

“Egress, don’t—

“You really couldn’t admit that you wanted us for company and had to pretend to be a hero!?”

Parvati leapt at me and tried to cover my mouth but failed.

Could this be all some convoluted trick?

Yeah.

But things just fell into place too neatly for me to care.

A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 88

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Arksoul

…

“I almost preferred you when you’re paranoid.”

“I mean, it’s still there. I can just ignore a lot more.” I lounged, while Parvati dropped off more satellites to place in orbit. They got churned out, checked, and their locations presented to me. After being fabricated, each satellite was sent up into space within minutes of construction. “I mean, not to the extent that Clancy does, but a lot better than an hour ago. I can trust you enough to help you fortify the world, so you’re not lonely at least.”

I needled the immortal, sentient biomechanical machine with hundreds of thousands of bodies and its response was to glare at me from multiple gynoid forms.

I raised a middle finger at her in response.

“You are oversimplifying my desire.”

“No, I don’t think I am. If humanity goes kaput, you’re either waiting millions of years in the infinite vastness of space for someone else to pop up, or you have to create your own company… which is like talking to sock puppets to you.” If there’s anything I’m really familiar with, it’s loneliness. Going around in secrecy, staying away from other people not knowing if they can be trusted, and hunkering up in a bunker with just a dog was all just the tip of the iceberg. Years of solitude built me up, but even I couldn’t imagine going on if all of humanity was truly gone. “You’ve probably got a long-winded speech about what you really mean, but you know you’re not changing my mind.”

“If I had known changing your mind would lead to this, I would have kept my distance.” Parvati retorted, and I gave her nearest body a thumb up in response. “You’re insufferable, Egress.”

“Welcome the intimacy circle of friendship. You can leave at any time.” I shot back, before pointing at her. “Don’t pretend like you’re above it all. I see what you’re doing. You’re lucky I’m saying you’re just lonely and not starved for companionship. Seriously, you’re fine-tuning bodies for individual people. Was your creator into being cucked or something?”

I waited for an answer, received nothing for a worrying amount of time, and slowly turned my head towards the Parvati looming behind me.

Parvati’s brow was furrowed and she seemed to be deeply introspective.

Probably checking code or something.

“I have no such code that facilitates such things.” Parvati’s relief was palpable. So palpable that I was also relieved. Whew. Shiva might’ve had a lot of fetishes, but— “But there isn’t anything against it, either. Perhaps, my creator intended for me to be some sort of means of controlling the rest of the world?”

“Beat everyone down, then give everyone attractive women that double as secret police? Sounds a lot better than most world conquest ideas. Honestly, he could’ve skipped the first part.” Most of the world will just lay down and die, if you decide to give them caretakers and servants for free. Might not even need to arm the gynoids, honestly. “Should’ve just flooded the world with androids and gynoids, called it a day, and watched everyone fall over to be ruled. Oh, right, how’s your infiltration and usurpation of the Indian subcontinent going?”

Parvati gave me another glare.

Earning a lot of those today.

“I am infiltrating places of power by using inbuilt systems of governance, Egress. I am not sleeping my way to the top.”

“Uh-huh, and how many of your gynoids have workplace romances going on right now with the head honchos?”

Parvati’s silence on the matter spoke for itself.

“Hey, I’m just pointing it out. You’re getting things done. Nothing to be ashamed of. Just remember to build plenty of androids, too. So, you know, you don’t end up outcompeting half the human population on accident.”

“I shall take your advice under consideration, Egress.” Parvati shook her head, before changing the subject abruptly. “Regarding your earlier question, I’ve put many communities under my control towards unification, as well as facilitated trade between them to discourage any fighting. Education is top priority, as well as rebuilding infrastructure. India is well on its way towards returning to being a nation ready to stand on the world stage.”

“Good enough to start trading with China or the surrounding areas? Maybe trade with me and the US?”

Parvati shook her head.

“No. There’s too much here in India. Too much can be offered and sent over. Allowing India to trade with other nations will cripple reconstruction efforts of their partner’s domestic industries.” That made sense. India was shattered, but most of its infrastructure and population remained. They had the ability to become the manufacturing center of the world, and lead it out of the apocalypse, but that would invite fighting and power plays from other existing factions. With the superhuman numbers advantage, and a predisposition towards superhuman geniuses, I could see that conflict swiftly turning into another apocalypse. “It is best to focus on creating a cohesive nation of the disparate peoples here. I expect more than a two or four decades of work to accomplish it. More if they are affected by external threats and nationalism and fear takes root.”

“Mhmm, got it. Just leave the subcontinent to you.” Parvati made no sign of being surprised by my decision. “What about the US? How’s your work going there?”

“In Maelstrom’s lands, I have been readily accepted and seen as a valued trading partner because of your efforts. Clancy’s lands see me as a capable advisor. Many of his clerical staff already report directly to me.” Jeez, Clancy, you’ve already lost your whole kingdom. You’re just a beatstick that’s nominally in charge now. Wait… that’s a good thing. That guy’s cut out for ruling people out of an apocalypse but not after. “As for Anderson, my few infiltrators have found her land to sequester anything more than a smartphone out of the hands of the public. Private computers are unheard of and only acceptable for work.”

Parvati continued before I could ask.

“With Qin and her people, my offered technology is being purchased at a low, but steady rate. Their desire is to manufacture their own, first and foremost. Japan is making a point to purchase only technology that will speed up their own fabrication abilities.” I kept nodding, while Parvati listed everything off. I hadn’t asked, despite working with her to transport all those things, because I didn’t want to hear it. Hearing all of this now just made it clear to me that I had both been paranoid and burying my head in the sand. I was worried about satellites and more bases, but most of humanity was already trading with Parvati extensively. “Mayor Seran and I have just come to terms regarding a trade agreement. They are very interested in fabricated meat substitutes.”

I made a face at that.

“Augh, you're selling them those printer steaks. Those are… fine.” Theoretically, with the ability to manipulate protein, carbohydrates, and fat, a food fabricator should be able to make anything at the highest possible quality. Just print out the finest steak with more fat than meat on it and enjoy. “Sell the initial versions for cheap, then once you start rolling out the good ones, market them as another tier. Don’t just upgrade them for a better price. I know you would.”

“If someone is purchasing a product from me, I will treat them fairly.”

“Fair goes both ways. Hell, you’re providing perfectly ethical meat to a bunch of people who’ve uplifted animals. You can charge out the nose, sell it from the bite, and people will buy.” I shook my head. Parvati really wasn’t cut out for this capitalism business in the slightest. “Hey, for a retainer fee of 1%, I’ll advise you. For 3%, I’ll go with your morals and ethics and not mine.”

“I refuse. My goal is to create an international economy. Not facilitate more division amongst superhumans. The fact that billionaires were able to fight private wars for their interests with superhumans is why we are in our current situation.” Oof, right. She had a point there. Can’t really ignore the fact that the rich and powerful went to space with their private armies and research groups, while we fended for ourselves after a thermonuclear exchange. “Let us not facilitate the growth of another such group while the previous iteration is trying to enslave the planet.”

“Point heard. Guess I won’t be getting that retainer fee.”

“If you’re willing to be employed by me, I promise fantastic benefits and incredible pay.”

“Yeah, no. I don’t work for friends on a salary and a benefits package. One-time, discounted courier services, sure. You being my corporate overlord? Nah.”

“You have such strange rules, Egress.”

“Said the AI who can just conquer the world to save it, but doesn’t.”

“Touche.”

You know what?

I’ll admit it.

 I like hanging out like this with Parvati.

…

Within two days, we had a 24/7 orbital sensor network over the North American continent. Compromised of multiple constellations of satellites with stealth systems, they were technically going all over the northern hemisphere, since they were spinning all over the planet. While North America received full coverage, they were passively providing detection for the rest. Even for an incredible AI like Parvati, resources needed to be gathered and repairs made on fabricators, before we could set up more swarms.

If she wasn’t making backup facilities, we’d have the whole planet covered, but one strike at her one base would’ve knocked it all out.   

Not exactly a good plan.

And, with her facilities coming online, it’ll take just five weeks to cover the rest of the planet.

Of course, things couldn’t be that easy.

“Yep, that’s a fucking space station on an asteroid in geostationary orbit. They’re really just ripping ideas from comic books.” Parvati pointed a lot of sensors outward, as well as towards the planet. The AI quickly noticed when a constant blank spot showed up in its outward scans. A deployment of a drone at the location revealed what we couldn’t find: a logistical and military hub in geostationary orbit. A hub abuzz with transports and with people working all over it. “What’re the odds they saw what happened down there right after the signal cut off?”

“Unlikely, I see no observational equipment. Communications, yes. Sensors, no. They haven’t even detected the drone.” The drone in question was covered by optical camouflage and moving through space on bursts of expelled gas thanks to its small size. We only had a connection to it thanks to my power keeping a connection open to it, otherwise it’d have to be an order magnitude bigger to be able to send back a signal. “Place these sensors around the base.”

Parvati handed me things, I placed them around the asteroid base, and we got a clearer and clearer view.

“That’s a very big gun.” I focused on the large gun built into the side of the asteroid. The asteroid had a base growing around it, covered in sheets of ice that were pockmarked by small impacts, but the asteroid itself was probably hollowed out. Whatever was powering the large gun was probably inside the asteroid itself. “Some sort of kinetic kill device?”

“Most likely, but it’s too small to fire something at the planet itself. No. It’s meant to intercept launches from the planet.” A simulation came up on the screen. The gun in question fired a series of different munitions. A shot that came from the gun burned up in the atmosphere quickly, but anything between the station and the atmosphere? No go. “If not for your power, I would’ve found my efforts to leave orbit shot down by this. Not only that, but it would’ve been impossible to find with observatories. Only with this satellite network we’ve launched could’ve found it.”

“A satellite system deployed by a teleporter in mass over the course of a single day. A network that’s only started because we launched an assault on them just a few days ago.” I grimaced. The amount of things that needed to find this base was ludicrous. Anything even remotely conventional, heck even a random superhuman going up into space for a custom crafted, couldn’t have found this station. “And, now, it looks like it’s getting ready to deploy something.”

“Indeed.” Parvati focused on some large, armored hangar doors on the bottom of the asteroid. They were open and inside we could see multiple shuttles. There were several familiar transports in it too, with their weapons taken off and chassis being disabled. I could only guess that the transports themselves were a form of cargo and going up here was a one-way trip.  “There. Those vehicles are what we need to look out for. They’re capable of multiple ascents and descents from my calculations.”

 “What’s the tonnage?” I examined the vehicles. They were kinda like sci-fi shuttles, but more realistic. They were flying bricks with curved re-entry bottoms and very large pairs of articulating thrusters on the back and front. The hull itself looked like it had the holding capacity of half a shipping container. “I think it can fit about a ton inside it.”

“My calculations are similar. Whatever they fly in will need to be very lethal. That vehicle is more than capable of delivering nuclear weapons, though. We will need to revise our strategies to intercept them in space, rather than on the ground.” I agreed with a nod. Parvati pulled up multiple schematics. We’d already been planning on building low-earth orbit battle stations to contest space. Parvati went over the designs one by one. “All the current designs will simply be destroyed by the asteroid and the base upon it. We need something else.”

“Or, maybe, we need to place them somewhere they don’t expect.” I reached out and picked the most streamlined one. A shipping-container-sized weapon system armed mostly with missiles and point defenses, as well as the ability to turn itself into ammunition by slamming into an enemy. It was a design that would fight against space-ships through sheer, industrial tonnage of thrusters, mass, and light weapons. “They don’t have any point defenses. Only that one giant gun, and it’s not exactly geared towards turning around. Let’s flank it.”

Parvati nodded decisively at my words, and within moments, she was refining the design and preparing multiple vectors of attack around the base.

Meanwhile, I stared at the base in question.

It looked old and worn.

Like it was built before things went to shit.

The rich and powerful were very quick to get off the planet, and equally quick to come back right when people looked like they were getting back on their feet.

I had suspicions, but I kept silent.

I needed more information.