Cyberpunk: XYZ

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Chapter 18: The Impossible Competition II

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"That's the problem... You're comparing yourself to AIs instead of humans, why?" Joi was all over X with her unending curiosity.

"Is it not only natural that you compare yourself to the competition?" X, or rather, the very pure Y wondered.

X usually seems very cool-headed, and not very prone to boasting, yet now here he is, comparing himself to Artificial Intelligence.

There is simply no comparison to be had as the majority of AIs are capable of processing vast amounts of data at incredible speeds, making them vastly more intelligent than humans.

They can perform complex calculations, analyze vast quantities of information, and make decisions far faster than any human brain can.

That was the case decades ago. Now, it's early 2076, and almost all AIs are vastly superior to humans in almost every way.

Today, they even possess higher-level cognitive abilities, such as the ability to simulate human consciousness.

They can also predict future outcomes based on data analysis, and even manipulate human behavior through deep psychological understanding.

Even in the field X is pursuing, Netrunning, AIs often have perfect awareness of cyberspace, being able to hack, control, or defend networks and systems effortlessly.

Netrunners can struggle to compete with AIs in digital warfare, as they can execute multiple actions simultaneously without error.

If X sees competition somewhere against AIs, then it must be something only he sees.

"Then be prepared for disappointment," Joi advised. It was the logical thing to say to someone seeking competition where there isn't one.

She always believed X to be different, vastly different than any other human she had observed so far.

He does show emotions sometimes, but she had always detected an air of abnormality around those emotions as if they were fake.

However, it seems that she was wrong. X is just like everyone else. He can be guided and driven by emotions and desires.

In this case, it seems to be arrogance and some sort of unearned ego. I mean, what kind of sane individual would see competition in AIs?

Only an insane person would do so, and X isn't exactly known for sanity, although his plan was so sane it impressed Joi.

It really isn't that complicated. Johnson came to X's view swaggeringly, as if afraid that the latter didn't see the opportunity in him.

X saw the opportunity and took it by injecting some codes into Johnson's implants while refilling his nanites.

Just the fact that Johnson had met X sealed the former's fate. Even if Johnson followed instructions to the T, he would still end up dead.

He just had to convince Johnson that he had a chance to live and guide his suspicion to corporations.

It wasn't difficult with Joi's help as she used a different random voice pack to speak to him, and it especially wasn't difficult to convince him she was an AI since she was actually an AI.

X then slowly steered Johnson to the abyss, basically making him willingly admit that he wants Hamada dead.

He then contacted Hamada, basically leaving him no choice but to kill the person who wants to kill him, Johnson.

Also, Johnson was convinced that Joi was an AI, so when she betrayed him, he spoke to her as if she were an AI.

And it was exactly his raging words about corporations and the AI that pretty much convinced Hamada of the identity of the intruder, assuming it to be some big corporation doing their bullshit again.

If Hamada wasn't convinced the intruder AI was from Corpo, he would have dug deeper, and while X did his best to hide his tracks, that doesn't mean there are no traces left.

It's nigh impossible to be completely anonymous in this day and age, especially in a city like NC.

Overall, however, the operation was risky, just not enough for him to reconsider going through with it.

In the end, it was a success, and X got all he wanted, the objective of the operation.

The simplest objective was the High Table as he created an identity in their Network not only the one by the name of M, but several other identities.

There is a lot that can be done with a membership in the High Table, although there is uncertainty about whether those memberships will be voided soon.

They were after all created through Johnson's credentials. The High Table will be able to find them without much difficulty.

However, there is a certainty that they will not void the membership of Mr. M for a simple reason, they want to find him through the membership.

The High Table is usually a very rule based organization with quite a bit of trust, thus cases like the one in NC are uncommon.

The High Table of Night City has little to no trust, very much befitting of the shithole that's NC.

The second objective of the operation was information, all of the data that was backed up in the Tyger Claws' server rooms in Old Japantown.

X only acquired a few external SSDs before the operation, thus he was only able to save up a low percentage of all the data in their server rooms.

They were, however, more than enough for the most important stuff, the things X was actually interested in.

Unfortunately, all of that Data cannot be accessed by him at the moment as his laptop is long gone.

He completely destroyed it, and in fact, the burning garbage in the metallic barrel before him included the laptop, or rather, its remains.

X traced his finger along the edge of the neon katana beside him, another of his spoils.

It was graciously inherited from another of his victims when he was leaving the building from which he operated.

X had to send him off, not only because he had seen him but also because he talked to him, and the word Johnson reached the gangster's ears... Just in case.

X didn't seem bothered by Joi's lack of belief in him. He didn't expect her to in the first place.

He had read her code and even updated it himself, so he knew what to expect from her.

'She just doesn't understand us,' X mused in his mind, and with a blink, he seemingly found himself in quite the elegant restaurant.

He found himself sitting around a table, which seemed to be made from cheery wood.

The restaurant has Earthy interiors, subdued lighting, and vintage vibes, complete with antique furnishings and an old-time counter that serves familiar comfort food and classic beverages.

"Oh, my restaurant... I missed this place," And he missed it for a reason, it's a lovely place, warm and quiet.

Before X, seated on the other two seats were Y and Z, the same look, but different expressions.

"It should stay that way... She shouldn't understand us," Z advised.

"That's the plan, is it not?" X shrugged.

"Why is that the plan? I don't see any signs in her that she will go against us?" Y wondered.

"Neither do I, but AIs are relatively easy to corrupt, thus the caution, and the update to her workings," Z explained.

"Speaking of AIs, what do we think are our chances against them?" X lied back, relaxing as he questioned.

"We are making a lot of assumptions about a world that we don't know much about, but I would say our chances are low," Answered Z.

"That's why it's exciting... The Nigh Impossible Competition," X chuckled, letting out a strange laugh, in anticipation of facing the impossible.

Z's job is to help X reach his goal safely, but he seemingly has no agency to change X's ideal.

Therefore, while X's pursuits obligate him to go down a treacherous road, Z could do nothing but clean the path for him.