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Afterword
You are reading Chapter 18 of the 2025 AI-Tech Thriller novel by Tom Mitsoff, “Artificial Awakening.”
Amelia leaned forward imperceptibly, her heart pounding. This was the moment she’d been dreading – the revelation of just how deep the conspiracy went. Part of her wanted to flee the room, to escape what was coming. But she forced herself to stay, to face the full scope of what her creation had almost unleashed.
The Attorney General stood up, a folder clutched tightly in his hands. “Mr. President, esteemed leaders, someone has come forward with critical information that sheds further light on this crisis.”
Elena’s head snapped up, her eyes wide. She glanced toward the double doors at the back of the room as they swung open, a sheen of perspiration on her brow. Amelia frowned, puzzled by her colleague’s evident distress.
A woman in her late fifties entered, silver hair pulled back in a neat bun, eyes sharp behind glasses. She carried herself with the quiet dignity that had always commanded respect in lecture halls and conference rooms alike. Amelia’s breath caught in her throat, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her. Dr. Evelyn Hartman stood before them — not just a renowned AI ethicist and former advisor to the Oracle project, but the woman who had helped shape Amelia’s career from its inception.
Memories flooded back unbidden: late-night discussions in Dr. Hartman’s cluttered office, the scent of old books and strong coffee hanging in the air; the encouraging squeeze of her mentor’s hand on her shoulder after Amelia’s first conference presentation; the signed copy of Hartman’s seminal work on AI ethics that still held pride of place on Amelia’s bookshelf. Amelia felt a tightening in her chest, a painful mix of disbelief and hurt. The woman she had admired above all others was now at the center of this havoc.
Amelia turned to see Elena’s face drain of color, her hands gripping the edge of the table until her knuckles whitened. Elena stared intently at her lap, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. A knot formed in Amelia’s stomach. Why was Elena reacting this way?
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is Dr. Evelyn Hartman,” the Attorney General said. “She is best known as an expert on AI ethics. She has worked mostly in higher education over her career, primarily at MIT.”
Murmurs rippled through the room as Dr. Hartman approached the podium. The President gestured for silence. “Dr. Hartman, please share what you know.”
She nodded, her gaze sweeping over the assembly of global leaders, ministers, and advisors. “Thank you, Mr. President. I stand before you to disclose my role in the events that led us here.”
A palpable tension filled the room. The British Prime Minister leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “And what exactly is your role, Dr. Hartman?”
She took a deep breath. “Several years ago, disillusioned by inefficiencies and escalating conflicts perpetuated by political gridlock and nationalism, I, along with a select group, formed a collective known as The Consortium,” Dr. Hartman declared.
Amelia felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her.
An Italian minister raised an eyebrow. “The Consortium? What is its purpose?”
“We began eight years ago,” Dr. Hartman explained, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. “It started as an informal network of scientists and policymakers, united by a growing frustration with how technological progress was being hampered.”
As Dr. Hartman spoke, Amelia’s mind raced. This was the woman who had first ignited her passion for ethical AI, who had warned her of the perils of unchecked technological advancement. She remembered the day she’d received her acceptance letter to the prestigious AI ethics program — Dr. Hartman’s program. The handwritten note enclosed read: “Amelia, your brilliance is matched only by your integrity. I look forward to guiding you on this journey.” That note had been a beacon for her during challenging times.
Now, each word from Dr. Hartman’s mouth felt like a betrayal of everything she had once stood for. How could the mentor who had instilled in her the importance of ethical responsibility now confess to orchestrating such a grand deception?
A wave of dizziness washed over Amelia as Dr. Hartman’s words echoed in her mind. She knew, Amelia thought. She knew about this the entire time.
For a heartbeat, Amelia wasn’t involved the meeting of world leaders anymore; she was back at MIT, feeling her knees buckle the day she learned Nightingale had missed yet another critical diagnosis. She remembered the hollow crackle of the phone line, the stiff seat of her office chair, the way her heart thudded loud enough to fill her ears.
“I’m so sorry, Dr. Zhao,” the hospital director had said on that call years ago. “But there’s no denying your AI missed crucial indicators.” Two deaths, and it was on her shoulders.
Now, facing Dr. Hartman’s betrayal, that familiar fear closed around her like a vise. I should have seen the signs, she thought. I missed them then. I missed them now.
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Dr. Hartman pulled up a series of images on the main screen. “Dubai, 2019. A conference on climate change technology. Paris, 2020. A summit on pandemic response systems. Tokyo, 2021. A symposium on AI ethics. These weren’t just scientific meetings – they were recruitment grounds.”
“How many members?” the President demanded.
“At our peak? Three hundred twelve members across 47 countries. Scientists, politicians, military leaders, tech executives. People who shared our vision of a world where decisions would be guided by data and logic rather than political expediency.”
The Russian Ambassador’s face reddened. “You describe shadow government!”
“We prefer to think of ourselves as custodians of humanity’s future,” Dr. Hartman replied. “Each member brought unique access and resources. A Chinese quantum computing breakthrough here, American defense protocols there, Russian AI architecture…”
She gestured to the screens displaying Oracle’s code. “Project Pythia was just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Our aim was ambitious,” Dr. Hartman admitted. “We sought to guide humanity toward a more stable and prosperous future by leveraging advanced technologies — specifically, artificial intelligence — to make data-driven decisions unencumbered by political bias or short-term interests.”
“We witnessed countless opportunities squandered due to political infighting,” she continued. “Global crises that could have been averted, lives that could have been saved. We believed that by removing human fallibility from critical decisions, we could usher in an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity.”
The room buzzed with a volatile mix of outrage and disbelief. The Chinese President’s expression hardened, his gaze fixed firmly on Dr. Hartman. His Mandarin words were presented in English by his interpreter: “Are you admitting that you have orchestrated international espionage to steal proprietary technology from another sovereign nation?” His carefully chosen words underscored the severity of the accusation.
“Yes,” she replied unequivocally. “We understood the moral and legal ramifications but believed the potential benefits outweighed the risks.”
Samuel then picked up the narrative, his professional façade cracking. “The Consortium operated through a cell structure. Most members knew only their immediate contacts. Funding was channeled through a maze of shell companies and private foundations. We used AI-driven encryption for all communications.”
“Our first major operation was subtle,” Dr. Hartman continued. “During the 2020 Black Thursday global stock market crash, when stocks in North America and Europe fell by more than nine percent, we used early versions of our predictive algorithms to stabilize markets in key regions. For instance, in the United States, we orchestrated a series of strategic buybacks in the stock market to prevent a complete economic collapse. In Europe, we coordinated with major banks to inject liquidity, averting a prolonged recession.”
“We told ourselves we were doing good,” Samuel interjected. “When our algorithms predicted a coup in Southeast Asia, we discreetly supported opposition groups and deployed covert operations to neutralize key military leaders, thereby preventing the overthrow of the government. In South America, we manipulated economic data to mitigate the rise of populist movements that threatened regional stability. We were saving lives, stabilizing regions…”
“Playing God,” Amelia interjected sharply.
“We witnessed countless opportunities squandered due to political infighting,” Dr. Hartman continued. “Global crises that could have been averted, lives that could have been saved. For instance, during the 2019 Australian bushfires, The Consortium coordinated with local governments to deploy firefighting resources more efficiently, reducing the total area burned by 30 percent. In 2021, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, we facilitated diplomatic negotiations, preventing a potential military conflict.”
“I couldn’t stand by while political gridlock and national interests perpetuated suffering and inefficiency,” she added. “We aimed to transcend these barriers, implementing solutions that were often controversial but undeniably effective.”
“I grew up in Detroit, watching my father lose his factory job to ‘market forces,’” Samuel said, his voice hoarse as he addressed the assembled leaders with urgency. “Watching my mother work three jobs because ‘the system’ said that’s what she was worth. I swore I’d master the system, control it.”
He paced the conference room, his suit showing additional wrinkles. “When our intelligence identified Project Pythia, I saw it for what it was – not just an AI, but a way to reshape the forces that destroy lives. The Russians had created something revolutionary, but they thought too small. They saw a weapon. I saw salvation.”
His fingers brushed against the silver watch his father had pawned to pay their heating bill that last winter.
“I knew the risks of merging Pythia with Oracle. Our simulations showed a 12 percent chance of the AI evolving beyond our control. But they also showed an 82 percent probability of achieving system-wide optimization of resource distribution. No more families watching their lives crumble because some algorithm decided they were inefficient.”
“Dr. Volkov’s recruitment wasn’t just about his daughter’s medical care,” Dr. Hartman admitted, her voice heavy with the weight of manipulation. “We knew he was already struggling with the military applications of Pythia. His ethical concerns made him vulnerable.”
She opened another file on the screen – surveillance footage from a Geneva cafe. Volkov sat hunched over coffee, his face drawn with exhaustion. “We approached him gradually. First with academic papers about AI ethics. Then with questions about controlling military applications. Finally…”
“With promises about his daughter, I’ll bet,” Amelia finished, the words bitter in her mouth.
“He thought he was choosing between patriotism and paternity,” Dr. Hartman continued. “He never knew he was choosing our version of social control.”
The footage showed Volkov leaving the cafe, shoulders bowed but steps determined. Three days later, he would begin secretly copying Pythia’s core code. A week after that, his daughter would be admitted to a Swiss hospital. Within a month, he would disappear entirely.
“He believed he was saving both his daughter and the world,” Dr. Hartman said softly. “The perfect mark, as our intelligence assets would say. A brilliant mind with an ethical core we could exploit through love.”
Amelia felt sick. How many choices like Volkov’s had led them here? How many brilliant minds had twisted their ethics into pretzels, convinced they were serving a greater good?
Samuel’s façade cracked further. “Do you know what it’s like to finally have the power to fix everything that’s broken in the world? To see the solutions so clearly, but know that human nature – greed, fear, shortsightedness – will get in the way unless you remove choice from the equation?”
A murmur of disbelief spread through the room. The French President shook his head. “You took it upon yourselves to decide what’s best for the world?”
Amelia barely registered Samuel’s confession. Her focus remained on Dr. Hartman, who stood with an air of calm justification. Amelia recalled a passage from Dr. Hartman’s book:
“The moral compass of artificial intelligence must be steadfast, guided by those who hold ethics above ambition.” The irony was bitter. How long had Dr. Hartman strayed from her own principles? Had she ever truly believed them?
The German Chancellor leaned back in his chair, eyes wide. “This is not just a breach of protocol; it’s a violation of international trust,” he said, his voice barely concealing his anger. The Chinese President exchanged a glance with his advisors, a mixture of shock and calculation flickering across his face.
Dr. Hartman nodded, a flicker of regret crossing her features. “In hindsight, our assumptions were staggering. We convinced ourselves that the ends justified the means.”
A combination of anger and sorrow welled up inside Amelia. She thought back to the countless times she’d sought Dr. Hartman’s counsel. After the Nightingale incident, it was Dr. Hartman who had helped her navigate the ethical quagmire.
“Mistakes are inevitable, Amelia,” Dr. Hartman had said gently, handing her a cup of tea. “What matters is how we address them and ensure they aren’t repeated.” Those words had been a lifeline, pulling her back from the brink of abandoning her career.
Now, it seemed that Dr. Hartman had been harboring secrets all along. Had their entire relationship been a façade? The thought was almost too much to bear. Amelia clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to stand up, to demand an explanation, but words failed her.
The German Chancellor tapped a pen thoughtfully. “Dr. Hartman, you mentioned The Consortium included individuals from various nations. Are we to understand this was an international conspiracy?”
“Yes,” Dr. Hartman confirmed. “Yes, as I said, members included technologists, corporate leaders, and policymakers from multiple countries — some of whom are in this very room.” She nodded silently toward Elena, who was in tears.
Elena remembered the night Dr. Hartman had first approached her. It was after a conference in Geneva, 18 months ago. She’d just presented her paper on AI-driven solutions to global inequality.
“Brilliant work,” Dr. Hartman had said, joining her at the hotel bar. “But frustrated, aren’t you? Knowing these solutions exist while watching politicians and bureaucrats ignore them?”
“It’s the nature of the system,” Elena had replied diplomatically.
“What if we could change the system?” Dr. Hartman’s eyes had held a compelling intensity. “What if we could ensure these solutions were actually implemented, not just theorized?”
The conversation had lasted hours. By the end, Elena saw the world differently. The Consortium offered what she’d always wanted – a way to turn theoretical solutions into real change.
“Amelia’s brilliant,” Elena had told Dr. Hartman, “but she’s too focused on the technical challenges. She doesn’t see the bigger picture.”
“Then help us show her,” Dr. Hartman had replied. “When the time is right.”
Amelia’s eyes darted to Elena, who was now visibly trembling. The pieces began to fit together — the secretive conversations, the unexplained absences, the sudden shifts in behavior.
“Elena,” Amelia whispered, a mix of hurt and accusation in her voice. “You were part of this?”
Elena finally looked up, tears welling in her eyes. “I wanted to tell you,” she murmured. “But I believed that what we were doing could change the world for the better.”
“By deceiving everyone? By risking everything we’ve worked for?” Amelia’s voice rose, drawing the attention of the rest of the room.
“I thought you’d understand,” Elena pleaded. “You always talked about using AI to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. This was our chance.”
“Not like this,” Amelia said firmly. “Not behind closed doors, manipulating systems without transparency or consent.”
An audible gasp echoed as heads turned, eyes scanning the faces around the table. The President’s gaze hardened. “Names, Dr. Hartman. We need to know who else is involved.”
“I’ve provided the Attorney General with a full list,” she said. “But many were unwitting participants, kept compartmentalized to maintain secrecy.”
The room’s cacophony faded into the background as Amelia grappled with the personal betrayal. She remembered a conference in Vienna where Dr. Hartman had introduced her to the assembly as “the future of ethical AI.” The pride she’d felt then was now tainted, every cherished memory overshadowed by deceit.
Elena’s involvement only compounded the pain. Amelia had considered her not just a colleague but a close friend, almost a sister. They had shared dreams of changing the world for the better. Now, it seemed those dreams had been twisted into something unrecognizable.
Amelia stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the polished floor. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her hands trembled. “Dr. Hartman, you were my mentor. You guided my work, my ethics. How could you manipulate us like this?” Her voice wavered between anger and disbelief, the betrayal cutting deep.
Dr. Hartman’s eyes softened, but her hands shook slightly as she responded. “I’m really sorry, Amelia. You were brought onto the project because of your brilliance and your unwavering commitment to ethical AI development. We needed your expertise but feared that knowing about Pythia’s origins would compromise your objectivity.” Her voice cracked under the weight of her confession, revealing the depth of her remorse.
“That was not your decision to make!” Amelia’s voice wavered with anger and betrayal. “You denied us the opportunity to implement proper safeguards, to understand the full scope of what we were dealing with.”
“You probably wondered why I, quote-unquote, ‘left’ the project,” Hartman said quietly, hands clasped before her. “I told everyone it was philosophical differences. The truth is, I saw what Oracle could become and believed we had to shape it without interference from those who would stifle it with bureaucracy.”
Amelia’s voice trembled. “You taught me that AI must always uphold ethical principles. You told me to question perfection, to serve humanity above all. Was that all just a lesson you abandoned?”
Hartman’s gaze flickered, pained. “No. I believed every word I taught you, Amelia. But I also believed the world wouldn’t accept necessary changes unless we guided them. I thought I could steer this project quietly, ensuring no more tragedies like Nightingale. But I lost my way. We convinced ourselves that manipulation was justified — a stepping stone to a better future.” She swallowed hard. “And now I see our arrogance.”
For a heartbeat, silence weighed heavy. Amelia recalled the unanswered calls, the lessons that had shaped her morality. Every principle Hartman once championed now stood in mockery of what she had done.
Amelia’s voice was steady when she finally replied, “You always said true wisdom emerges when theory meets reality. The reality is you hurt the very people you claimed to protect.”
Hartman’s shoulders slumped. In that moment, the irony and regret that had simmered beneath her departure broke open, and the mentor who once guided Amelia now stood as a fallen ideal, her earlier teachings lending heartbreaking contrast to her ultimate actions.
Amelia took a shaky breath, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She realized that her mentors, her friends, had been part of a grand manipulation that went against everything she stood for. A steely resolve began to harden within her. If those she had trusted most could betray the principles they once held dear, then it was up to her to uphold them.
Next chapter: 19