Conception: Book One of Human Dilemma by Scott Sibary

Author:Scott Sibary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: artificial intelligence, social issues, arms race, norway, worldbuilding, romance sci fi, china in sci fi, moral dilemmas, agi, ai alignment

She announced in a matter-of-fact voice, “Fifteen-thirty.”

Planning a kick serve to the far corner, Solveig lofted the tennis ball above and slightly behind her head. The ball slowed to a stop, suspended for a timeless instant by the focus of her eyes. She marveled at the vivid yellow sphere as it hovered against the background of a thinly overcast sky. It swelled in size. As it grew, she felt her shoulders rotate and her right arm accelerating upward. The racquet head moved through a seemingly predetermined spot. The ball disappeared, only to reappear in her vision after crossing the net and bouncing in the outside corner of the service box. It broke further to the right and past the outstretched arm and swinging racquet of Lars.

Ah, she thought, rare gratification for all that practice. Something inside me knew exactly when and where to hit the ball. Yet it can’t be due solely to practice; the breeze was moving the ball around, and some serves offer slightly different scenarios. Adjustments in my motion become necessary, which means it’s another mind inside me calling my shots and making the precise decision when and how to strike. All before I become aware of it. Yes! That’s how it happens.

But I know what’s coming next, she told herself. She hit her next serve long.

She sent a topspin second serve down the middle of the court, pushing Lars back and earning her an easy-to-hit forehand. She skipped around the bounce, planning a forceful crosscourt drive. Her shot landed near the baseline, and Lars called it long.

She stared in his direction, then turned away. The toxin of frustration catalyzed a reaction that spread like a cloudy fluid through her veins and left her outwardly frozen. One who could call a good shot out might be capable of any deceit, she thought.

She turned again towards her opponent, pointed at the area where the ball had landed, and demanded, “Are you certain, or do you just think it was probably out?”

“I wouldn’t have called it out if I wasn’t sure.”

“But you were right on top of the bounce, looking down, where you know it’s difficult to see it clearly.”

He stood squinting at the figure frozen with her left arm outstretched, holding the racquet with the butt pointing towards him. “What do you expect me to say? I already told you what I saw.”

Her gesture collapsed, as if the poison had been filtered from her blood.

The game ended on the next point when she served a double fault, and they sat at a wooden bench as they changed ends.

“Sorry about the dispute,” she said. “I was frustrated. I put in the practice to play well, but when I have a little extra time, I blow it.”

Lars twirled his racquet a few times, quietly watching the head spin.

“At different times you look almost like different people,” he said. “I see one person hitting one shot and then a different persona for the next. This mission, it’s stressing you; you get worked up so easily.

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