Mark Walden

H.I.V.E.

While they walked Otto was taking careful note of the signs that were on display everywhere. Most of them seemed to be giving directions to other parts of the facility: 'DEATH RAY TEST RANGE', 'THE MAZE', 'CENTRAL OPERATIONS', 'SICK BAY', 'DETENTION FACILITIES', 'TEST TRACK' and so on. One sign in particular caught Otto's attention - 'SUBMARINE PEN'. This would perhaps explain how the island was supplied in secret. Otto memorised all of the names and used the signs' directions to expand the three-dimensional map of H.I.V.E that he had already started to build in his head.
  'And here we are.' The Contessa stopped in front of a set of large metal doors. 'This is the Quartermaster. Inside you will be issued with your uniforms and have your measurements taken for any more specialised equipment that you may require in the future. I shall also introduce you to H.I.V.E.mind, who you will come to rely on, as we all will, over the coming years.' She turned back to the closed doors and said, 'H.I.V.E.mind, this is the Contessa. I have a new intake of students with me and they need their new uniforms. May we come in?'
  A soft, measured voice replied, 'Welcome, Contessa. Access granted.'
  The doors slid apart and they followed the Contessa into the room. It was almost painfully bright, the walls, floor and ceiling all covered in white tiles and lit by bright lights positioned all around. Strangely, the room also appeared to be completely empty, just a big bright white box.
  The Contessa walked to the centre of the room and said, 'H.I.V.E.mind, please introduce yourself to the new students.'
  There was a whirring sound and a white cylinder slid up from the floor of the room, next to the Contessa. Suddenly a beam of blue laser light shot from the top of the cylinder, its pencil-thin beam spreading, forming a shape in the air. The strange blue blob quickly sharpened until it took on the shape of a wire-frame face hanging in front of the astonished children. The hovering blue head spoke in the same soothing voice they had heard outside the door.
  'Greetings, Alpha stream intake. My name is H.I.V.E.mind - my function is to serve. How may I be of assistance to you today?'
  The Contessa addressed the group. 'H.I.V.E.mind is a first-generation artificially intelligent entity. He controls the main security network and controls many of the facility's day-to-day operations. Do any of you have any questions for him?'
  They all looked from one to another, unsure of what they should ask this strange apparition suspended before them. Otto noticed that the red-haired Scottish girl seemed to be transfixed by the floating blue face. As he watched she slowly raised her hand.
  'Excuse me,' she said, and the face turned towards her.
  'How may I be of assistance, Miss Brand?' Clearly no introductions would be necessary here.
  The girl smiled. 'It's OK, you can call me Laura.'
  'How may I be of assistance, Laura?' H.I.V.E.mind replied.
  'Well, it's just that I know a bit about computers and I've never seen anything like you before. Are you new?' Laura asked, tilting her head to one side slightly.
  'I was brought on-line four months, three weeks, two days, four hours, thirty-seven minutes and three seconds ago. Is this new?' H.I.V.E.mind tilted its head to one side, seeming to mimic Laura's mannerism.
  'Oh yes, that's quite new. You must be very sophisticated to run a facility like this all on your own.' Laura seemed quite at ease talking to H.I.V.E.mind, apparently unconcerned that it was, after all, just a machine.
  'My computational resources are more than adequate to ensure the smooth running of this facility. For example, this is just one of forty-two conversations that I am conducting throughout the facility at this time.'
  Impressive, Otto thought. That would require a computer that was much more powerful than any existing system that he was aware of. More worryingly, it meant that the supervision of H.I.V.E.'s security system would not be prone to any human error and that would make avoiding detection or surveillance very difficult, if not impossible.
  'Where are you? I mean, where is your central processing unit located? Is it here?'
  'I am a distributed neural network. In other words, I could be said to occupy all parts of the facility simultaneously. The location of my central processing hub is classified,' H.I.V.E.mind replied.
  'And really none of your concern, my dear,' the Contessa added, frowning slightly at Laura. 'Anyone else?'
  Otto raised his hand. 'Yes, I'd like to ask something.'
  H.I.V.E.mind turned in his direction. 'How may I be of assistance, Mr Malpense?'
  'I was just wondering, if your job is to make sure that H.I.V.E. runs smoothly, you must have to keep an eye on everything and everybody,' Otto suggested. He was keen to see if H.I.V.E.mind's systems for monitoring the comings and goings of H.I.V.E.'s inhabitants were as efficient as he feared they might be.
  'My primary function is to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of this facility. In order to best perform my duties it is necessary to keep a constant monitor on the location of all H.I.V.E. resources. This helps to ensure the health and happiness of all H.I.V.E. staff and students,' H.I.V.E.mind answered quickly.
  It was obvious that H.I.V.E.mind was keeping a very close eye on H.I.V.E. at all times, Otto thought to himself. He knew, however, that any networked computer, no matter how sophisticated, could be hacked, and his thoughts now turned to the question of how one might go about disabling just such a system. Otto felt the familiar tingle of an idea forming, and his next question was suddenly clear in his mind.
  'I see. So, as part of H.I.V.E., are you happy?' Otto asked bluntly.
  The blue face hung in the air, immobile, silent. The lights in the room seemed to dim slightly before brightening again and H.I.V.E.mind replied.
  'I am not authorised to exhibit emotional response.' Another pause. 'My role is to ensure the satisfaction of others and the efficient functioning of this facility. That is my purpose. Emotional response is inefficient.' It might just have been a trick of the light, but Otto could have sworn that he saw the barest hint of a frown on the glowing blue face of the AI as it gave this distinctly pre-programmed reply.
  Not authorised to exhibit emotional response, thought Otto, not incapable. Interesting. He noticed then that Laura was looking in his direction, a curious expression on her face.
  'I think we should proceed with the uniform-fitting, H.I.V.E.mind,' the Contessa said impatiently.
  'Yes, Contessa,' the AI replied.
  Suddenly the room was filled with a flash of bright blue light.
  'Measurements complete. All students please proceed to the changing cubicles,' H.I.V.E.mind continued. Along one wall the white panels retracted to reveal small rooms, one for each student.
  'Now, children, please use any one of the cubicles to change. You have five minutes.' The Contessa stood watching as they made their way over to the cubicles.
  Otto stepped into one of the tiny rooms and the door hissed shut behind him. One wall of the room was covered by a mirror and on the opposite wall was a small screen. The screen lit up, displaying H.I.V.E.mind's face.
  'Please remove your clothes and place them in the processing bin.' A box slid out of the wall.
  'All of my clothes?' Otto asked
  'Yes please,' H.I.V.E.mind replied.
  'Are you going to watch?' Otto asked, half smiling.
  'I'm always watching, Mr Malpense. Please proceed.'
  Otto knew that it was silly to be embarrassed about undressing in front of a machine, but he still felt uncomfortable as he removed his clothes and placed them in the bin. Despite himself he started to imagine the door opening again while he stood there naked, all of the other students pointing and laughing at him. He felt vulnerable, and Otto didn't like feeling vulnerable.
  As he dropped his underpants into the bin it retracted into the wall and there was a muffled whooshing sound. Immediately another panel opened and hanging inside was a black jumpsuit, a pair of black trainers and much to Otto's relief, clean underwear. After putting on his fresh socks and boxer shorts he took the jumpsuit down from its hanger. It was immaculately pressed and had the familiar fist and glove badge in silver embroidery on the chest. Attached to the collar was a single white stud. Otto slipped into the jumpsuit and zipped it closed. The high collar felt stiff around his neck but otherwise the uniform fitted as if it had been made specifically for him. Finally he put on the trainers and stood looking at himself in the mirror. He had to admit that id did look good on him, although it did clash rather with his hair.
  'Is everything to your satisfaction, Mr Malpense?' H.I.V.E.mind enquired. His soft voice made Otto jump slightly; as he had been getting dressed he had almost forgotten that their digital guardian was there. Otto guessed that it would be very easy to forget that H.I.V.E.mind was watching and wondered how many times the AI had overheard the incautious conversations of H.I.V.E.'s other students. Yes, H.I.V.E.mind was always there - indeed, from the way in which he had described his system, he was quite literally everywhere.
  'Yes, thank you, H.I.V.E.mind. Everything seems to fit perfectly,' Otto replied.
  'Very well. You may now rejoin the other students.'
  Otto turned to the door, expecting it to open.
  'One other thing, Mr Malpense.' Otto turned back to H.I.V.E.mind's screen. 'In answer to your previous question... I am not happy.'

H.I.V.E. © Mark Walden, 2006. Published by Bloomsbury.