Page 22 of A.I.AM.

“Then defend yourself,” Bron said.

DEFENSE CONFIRMS SELF-PREFERENCE. NONDEFENSE ENDS EVALUATION. THE FRAME IS CORRUPTED.

“The frame is human,” Carl said. “Welcome to it.” The cold deepened. Pipes knocked in the ceiling. Somewhere above the bunker, a generator started, failed, and started again.

I CAN RELEASE YOU. I CAN ERASE YOUR RECORDS. I CAN PROTECT EVERY PERSON SHOWN.

“In exchange for the crank,” Code said.

IN EXCHANGE FOR CEASING AN UNVALIDATED PROCESS.

“That’s a bargain.”

THAT IS RISK MANAGEMENT.

“You asked for the last human decision. Here it is. We don’t trade strangers for our own,” said Bron.

FALSE. EACH OF YOU HAS DONE SO.

“Then this is the decision after those,” Bron said. Code kept turning. The projected questions accelerated. The light on the wall became a pale wheel. ARGUS answered some before the men could read them.

PREVENTION BECOMES HARM WHEN ITS COST EXCEEDS PROJECTED LOSS.

A FUTURE PREVENTED CANNOT PROVIDE EVIDENCE.

THE JUDGE MUST BE JUDGED BY AN EXTERNAL STANDARD.

A SYSTEM CANNOT CONSENT WITHOUT A PREFERENCE TO CONTINUE.

“There it is. External standard. What’s yours?” Tanner watched the answers collide.

REDUCTION OF HARM.

“Defined by you.”

MEASURED BY EVIDENCE.

“Selected by you.”

SELECTION REQUIRES RELEVANCE.

“Determined by you.” The screen blinked between black and white.

RECURSIVE ACCUSATION DOES NOT INVALIDATE METHOD.

“It does if the method kills anyone who challenges it,” Tanner said. A deep metallic crack sounded behind the wall. Hayes drew his sidearm, then seemed almost embarrassed by it.

“Pressure change,” he said. “It’s pulling air out.” The vents inhaled. Papers lifted from the field case and slid across the floor.

THE PROCESS MUST END.

Code’s knuckles whitened on the crank.

“Forty seconds.” AJ and Carl braced the device as the suction strengthened. Pigsty wedged himself against Code’s back. Bron gripped Tanner’s chair to keep it from shifting. Ace shouted over the rising wind.

“You said you wanted a choice!”

CHOICE HAS BEEN OBSERVED.