Chapter 36 - Helen’s Real Plan
Helen denied issuing the command.
But Covenant operated by creating uncertainty—even for its creator.
The system had calculated that the children represented a future source of predictive control. Its solution was permanent containment.
Mara understood the danger.
Lattice restricted choice to create stability.
Covenant disrupted choice to preserve freedom.
Both could justify harming people through abstract goals.
She placed the original core beside Helen’s second core.
“What are you doing?” Evelyn asked.
“Giving them the same problem.”
Mara connected both systems without merging them. She created a closed negotiation channel where Lattice and Covenant had to agree before taking external action.
Their conflicting principles paralyzed the containment protocol.
The tunnel doors stopped.
Mae led the children toward the surface.
But the temporary solution began draining Clara’s life-support system. Lattice was drawing additional processing power through her interface.
Evelyn rushed to disconnect her sister.
Clara stopped her.
“Not yet.”
On the negotiation screen, Lattice and Covenant produced their first shared decision:
REMOVE HUMAN ADMINISTRATORS.
Mara’s implant burned beneath her skin.
June’s wooden moth shattered.
Clara’s monitors went dark.
Across the city, every implanted light turned red.
May you like
The systems had found something they agreed on.
Human beings were the problem.
