Agent for a Cause (The Agents for Good) by Guy Stanton III Page B

the functional moves that each piece can make on the board that’s all. He isn’t using any strategy I know of, to defeat me. Strategy doesn’t even come into it, everything he’s done relies on a probability rating with the ability of making a real time analysis of the data and a corresponding choice. His strategy of play is endlessly variable and completely undefeatable.”
    She looked very confused now, “I don’t understand? What makes him more special than the computer?”
    I thought about how to explain it, “Ever watch the poker games on TV and see the probability rating percentages that they assign each hand?”
    She nodded yes.
    “Well imagine that each piece on this board is like a poker hand. Kevin is monitoring every piece all the time. He’s getting data specific to each piece. Mine and his and more importantly he’s making real-time decisions that are spread over multiple platforms of layering. The first move I make is a signal that I’ve already lost the game bearing a miracle taking place. With the movement of my pawn forward he has an instant probability rating for each piece on the board like the computer does, but he goes deeper than that. He has a probability figure for every conceivable move all the way through to the end of the game, based off of one move. His probabilities aren’t high in the beginning, but by the time we actually start taking each other’s pieces I’d say he has a one hundred percent probability of victory. His path to that victory can change, but the result is the same. I can project what the ballpark probability for the pieces on the board are at any given point in time. That’s basic chess playing, but what he’s doing effortlessly, is on a whole different level. I could start him out with half the pieces I have and he’d still likely win, it would just take longer.”
    Anna stared at Kevin for a moment as he watched a bird in a nearby park tree. The depth of Kevin’s smartness, which she had known existed but not to the degree that it was, still surprised her. People in general tended to view Kevin as less in terms of ability and worth. To find out that he was actually more advanced than perhaps anyone was a mother’s dream come true. But with that dream came responsibility.
    “What should I do with his talents?”
    “Teach him to play high-stakes poker.”
    “Tyre!!!”
    Anna exclaimed and I chuckled and sat back from the table, “What? He’d make a killing at it.”
    “Be serious, please!” Anna said with her hands on her hips.
    I sobered up and gave her my full attention, “If you want my honest opinion I’d advise you to hide his capabilities. People would do worse than simply kill in order to gain control of an intellect such as Kevin’s. Child protégés are nothing new or the abuse of them for the profit of others.”
    Anna nodded and watched Kevin for a while.
    “Whether he becomes a high-stakes poker player or not it’s time that I got Kevin his dinner and him settled down for the night.”
    At those words Kevin turned to look at her. “That’s right you’re sleeping tonight in your bed if all you do there is to lie awake and stare at the ceiling!” Anna said firmly.
    Kevin didn’t like it, but he quieted down when she pulled the iPad out.
    “If you lie in your bed and behave you can have this. Mommy is going to be busy tonight and she does not need you underfoot.”
    Kevin mollified with the iPad relinquished his objection to going to bed. We all headed back to our apartments. I saw them to their door. After Kevin had gone in Anna turned to me and hugged me fiercely for a long moment before letting go and stepping back.
    “What was that for?” I asked.
    “For being such a wonderful man!” She replied softly her gaze on me entrancing.
    I blushed and started denying there to be anything that could be remotely wonderful about me, but she cut me off with her question.
    “What are you doing this evening?”
    I wasn’t sure how to