Change Agent

by Daniel Suarez

Desai gestured. “He is an editor for hire—jail-breaking closed-loop proprietary agricultural sequences. He also creates edits for house pets and the occasional chemical biohack for humans—synthesized supplements, things of that sort.” “Anything that hardens dicks is a big seller.” Frey glanced up. “In the humans, not the pets.” Durand eyed Frey dubiously. “Look at it this way: I’m saving the rhinos.”

“I know that commanding the tides to cease does not work. That’s what I know.”

He realized his own personal crisis was just another in an ocean of calamities. Every person here faced a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. And this was just one camp.

Sex with cartoons. The logical endgame of high-tech fanboy culture.

“See, that’s not a helpful attitude. You world policemen want to declare everything illegal, but in the final analysis people will use every tool at their disposal to obtain advantage. You can’t legislate morality.” “You’re not seriously arguing that Vegas had the right to create sterile, remorseless child soldiers?” “Of course not. I’m arguing that what can happen will happen, but that it’s better that the research take place in the light of day rather than in the dark corners of the world.”

Frey spoke to the AI. “Jet Black: Fly us to . . . Chiang Mai Airport, please.” “Why do you say ‘please’ to these things?” “Because it’s polite, that’s why.” “They sell that information to advertisers.” “They sell the fact that I’m polite to machines?” “They sell the fact that you’re susceptible to technical animism.” “So what if I am?” “Tell me that after your machines start to sound wounded if you don’t buy something.”

Frey glanced at the clock. “Look at that: 2:59 p.m. See? That’s what I like about machines—precision.” “Tell me that when we’re facing killer drones.”