IoT Noir: Digital Remediation
Home Front
That third week, Rachael video calls her niece. “Kiko-Lyn. What is the status on Ninan’s recovery? Frankly your continued presence at the clinic puts me at a disadvantage in these negotiations with Chinua.”
“Ninan’s making progress. Surgeries are over and he’s out of bed much of the day. Pumping up in rehab.
“This whole situation has me confused, Aunt Rachael. I do like Dawn and she is clearly trying to be a friend. But I keep feeling something is off about her, more than just faking passes at me. And the AIs creep me out. I try to keep an open mind. Intellectually I have no problem supporting them. I can buy in to their being on our side. But every statement and all their motives seem to have multiple layers.”
“Honey, you are effectively a captive there. They control your environment. What you experience. What they choose to share or hide from you. These AI have an agenda and only part of it overlaps with ours. But, I’m sure you realize that. What are you doing to keep busy?”
“I may not be able to safely leave, but they are generous with their facilities. They gave me access to the facility lab and allow me to order materials and exotic printer stock. I’m upgrading software, making some tweaks, and greatly increasing the size of my dragonfly flock. The old flock was for showmanship. These new ones are configured for defense and limited offense. I’m not going to be caught out, again. I’ve placed the new schematics and program images at our private cloud drop. I suggest you print a test flock for you and Toby.”
“Thanks, I’ll send it right off to manufacturing. I wasn’t going to mention it, but Toby had a close call. A hit and run driver tried to take him out. Swerved into our yard to strike him. If it weren’t for your gift harness of swarm robots linking up and stiffening as a roll cage… Well, he might not have made it. You saved him from all the way over there.”
“He is going to be OK?”
“Just contusions. His reinforced bone set did not fracture. He’s a little Ninan he is.”
Kiko-Lyn starts to cry. “I want to be there. I don’t want to be here.”
Rachael responds, “I’ll leave you a return present in the drop box dear. A set of Toby videos and something more. Hold up for us. Bye bye.”
Arbitration for the Greatest Good
“Good to speak with you Miss Greg,” says Chinua in avatar on yet another VR call.
“I am submitting to this because I do believe it is for the best,” said Rachael firmly. “But I will remember that you held, and still hold my niece as hostage to my making this agreement.”
“Your perceptions of these circumstances are solely your own. I assure we are not keeping Kiko-Lyn Greg hostage. She stays with her friends. Ninan is receiving the best care available and the three will be free to depart when he is released from physical therapy. At that time we will personally insure their safe passage out of Hong Kong.”
Rachael, “You can ensure Jonathon will adhere to the agreement.”
“He has no concept of living up to his word. His motives are very different from yours. But once in motion, the agreement does not depend on his willingness to comply. An avatar of me is even now interacting with the lawyers and the board of International Widget. I have a strong model of Jonathon from his journal. I have created a package that he will see as victory, and his board will not let him refuse.
“If you are finished with questions, Ms. Greg, I’ll start the recording of the Arbitration deposition.”
“I’m done for now. But for my part, if Kiko-Lyn does not show up safe and sound here in the U.S., I’ll restart independent action.” Rachael stares into the eyes of the AI’s avatar wondering just what is behind that kindly image.
In the VR deposition, Chinua puts forward his legal proposition to Rachael. “Seeing the consequence of continuing as is, you agree to this Arbitration? Knowing that what I propose is binding and if you opt out of any provision, you will be left to your own devices.”
Rachael, “Provided Jonathon Blake and International Widget agree as well.”
By the end of the day, all details are finalized. Calling together all parties in a VR representation of a colonial courtroom, Chinua, in formal tribal robes, stands before the 3D images of the impacted parties.
This must have been how tribal elders pronounced their decisions in the post-colonial Africa, thinks Rachael. She sees Jonathon’s image is staring at her and not Chinua.
Chinua pronounces his Arbitration in the traditional, legally-stilted style and language. “All parties acknowledge our arbitration and agree to abide by its tenets.” He waits for general assents. Then continues, “We fairly have heard both sides of this case. All data and claims have been considered with reason and not emotion. In our investigation, we looked at the pros and cons of each claimant’s request. We asked questions about their motives and those of all parties who presented data. Choices we might make were modeled for possible consequences on the claimants or other persons or society at large. These scenario extrapolations were presented to both parties for their consideration. We have determined that the neutral principle which unifies all parties is ‘protection and licensing of technology rights and the expansion of sales territory’."
“I do not deliver any judgement of the parties. Instead, I provide these terms and actions to reconcile conflict. Our duty is not to blame this man or to praise that woman, but to settle the dispute. All parties signed the new contracts.” A virtual white board with the summary articles is displayed. “A binding contract has been drawn up and signed by both parties. The main agreements are:
“Article one: Rachael Greg licenses her technology to International Widget for agreed fees and gives them exclusive rights to China, Europe and Mid-East as a sales and management territory.
