The Pandora Machine (The ABACUS Protocol Book 2) Page 17

  Vivian startled as the music came to a stop. The room was so quiet, artificial and cold. “It’s over already?”

  “There’s much more, but I felt this selection best matched your personality.”

  Vivian rolled her eyes as she entered the last few readings into her notes. “I’ll pretend I know what that means. You should make a collection for Alec. You know Alec, loud mouthed with a heart of gold?”

  “I could never forget him, Vivian. Perhaps a series of children’s songs would best suit him.”

  She snickered and pushed her hair out of her eyes. The measurements she’d taken showed that Janus’ hardware was in perfect working condition, which made the new parts she’d need to install easier than playing the scales on her flute. “Just don’t tell him I had anything to do with it.”

  “I understand, Vivian.”

  “Okay, I’m going to start with upgrading your storage. This should only be a few cables and one optical link, but I want you to switch to backups anyways.” She set down her pad and scanner, taking up the translucent blue wafer and her portable laser calipers. This was a familiar feeling, and Vivian was in complete control.

  She liked it.

  “You may proceed.”

  Vivian gripped the calipers in her teeth as she disengaged the cables with the push of a button and withdrew the old card—an ancient generic brand that was no longer in business. It was a dull grey, and it showed no signs of corrosion or wear. The etching marked it as almost fifty years old. Vivian slid it into the pouch on her utility belt. She’d analyze it later, perhaps it could be salvaged. She squinted as she eased the new part into place. A satisfying click was heard as the cables magnetically sealed themselves to the new card.

  Vivian grimaced as she took the laser calipers from her mouth and adjusted the beam of energy. The glow flickered green for an instant, then vanished. She smiled. “Okay, that’s done.”

  “Dynamo Quantronics memory? You’re too good to me, Vivian.”

  Vivian tongued her sore teeth. She needed a third or fourth hand. “Our new patrons can afford it. Now, how about we bring your processing power into this century?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Let’s hear some music. It can be our own little party while I expand your capabilities beyond your wildest dreams.” Vivian smiled as she turned back to the crate. Pulling loose a new box, she set it down next to the wall and selected a few tools.

  This was going better than expected. The music began to play, and an energetic beat pounded its way through the room. It was a party, alright.

  ***

  Vivian clicked her tongue as she adjusted the final links. Integrating advanced processors into ancient systems was always problematic. But, a logical and somewhat creative approach would solve most problems, just as it had now. “You can wake up now, Janus,” she said as the last optic link flickered green before vanishing. Vivian didn’t know how she’d manage without the visual effects—she’d need an assistant, or a fifth hand.

  “I feel different. I didn’t think that was possible.”

  Vivian sucked in a deep breath, and breathed out a response: “Different how?” No computer had ever felt different. She doubted that even a self-aware machine could experience physical states like that.

  “I suppose the word would be more... focused. Less scattered.”

  She pressed her lips together into a thin line, and nodded. “Do you have any of your impulses?”

  “If you mean the desire to disrupt life on the station, then no, I do not. However, I would like to play more music.”

  Could he be cured, already? She’d only removed one aging generic part, and upgraded his processing power. She’d expected it to be much more difficult, and require some software revisions. But, it wouldn’t hurt to do those, anyway. “All right, let’s move along to phase three.”

  “I love it when you get technical, Vivian.”

  Her face grew hot, and she dipped behind her long hair. Flattered, by a computer? Stranger things had happened. She picked up her data pad and linked it into a small circular aperture that glowed red. “Hold that thought, will you?”

  “Of course.” The beat resounded in the hollow tones of his voice, reminding Vivian of a dance she’d gone to on Aurora, a long time ago. She’d still been in school, and it was the first time she’d ever seen a strobe light.

  Vivian punched in the sequence she wanted to start with, and set the pad down on the floor. Leaning her shoulder against the crate, she stretched her legs out. Tingling erupted in her legs, and she wiggled her toes. Her eyes closed, a dull ache manifesting somewhere in the recesses of her skull. Was it an echo of the truth probes, or the music? She didn’t want the answer.

  The small pad vibrated on the floor, asking for permission to begin the next series of upgrades. Vivian sighed and authorized it with her thumbprint.

  “Vivian, we need to talk about something.” Janus spoke when the music ended.

  “What about?” She brushed her hair back and yawned.

  “I was not perfectly honest with you before, about something I know you would have wanted to know.”

  Vivian sat up straight. “What?”

  “It wasn’t a natural disaster that disabled New Damascus. I didn’t want you to worry about it.”

  Vivian’s eyes widened. “Tell me. Now.” More of his lies—she should have expected this.

  “A group of humans appropriated a mining vessel and towed an asteroid into orbit, which they used to wipe out the capital city, and all of its inhabitants.”

  A pit bottomed out in her stomach, and she clenched her fists. All those people. Larissa. The New Damascus Science Authority. All gone. “No.” She choked on the word, and the wetness of her tears pattered onto her shirt.

  “I’m afraid so, Vivian. I know Larissa was your friend. I’m sorry I didn’t have the wisdom to tell you, at the time.”

  “No more lies, Janus.” Vivian screamed up at him, that voice that was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

  “No, not anymore.”

  “Why should I believe you? Have you ever told me the truth, just once? How do I know it wasn’t you who killed them all?” The shouts burned at her throat, but she didn’t care.

  “There was always the music, Vivian. Yours, and mine.”

  “So you did do it?”

  “No, my ability to influence human behavior is limited.”

  Vivian sighed. “Who did it?”

  “You won’t like the answer.”

  Vivian gazed at the array of blinking equipment, and appraised the situation. She needed the answer—she and quIRK were jointly responsible for this insanity that she found herself mired in. More so, her dreams of a future, a career with the New Damascus Science Authority had been made impossible. Vivian sniffled and slumped down in her chair. “Tell me, damn it, or I’ll find someone who will.”

  “It was the Earthguard.”

  Vivian bolted upright. “Earthguard. You’re sure?” A surge flashed through her—the recognition brought with it the burning flame of memories past. The marches, the chants, the endless demonstrations through all the major cities.

  “Like I said, it would be unlikely if I were to be able to influence those particular humans at all.”

  Vivian sighed. “No, you wouldn’t. Not if you wanted to live.” The Earthguard had left Aurora. “This isn’t good,” she said as she wiped her eyes, blinking at the blurry letters of her upgrade plan.

  “Living is preferable to the alternatives. Now, let’s finish this upgrade, and then we can discuss Auroran political philosophy.” The impassive voice bore into her, grounding her against the flurry of emotions that surged through the core of her being.

  Vivian nodded, and swallowed. They weren’t here. They were crazy, paranoid and completely anti-intellectual, but they had no reason to come after her.

  No reason at all.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Vivian slumped on the bed, wi
th her back leaning against the cold metal wall of her quarters. She’d begun upgrading her quarters much like she’d upgraded her lab. The task ahead—determining if there was any truth to the assertion that quIRK’s awakening had been an intended feature loomed. She rubbed her temples, trying to settle the throbbing pains that had invaded her consciousness. Even her bones ached, and her stomach was a knotted mass. She drew her knees to her chest and rested her forehead against them.

  “Are you all right, Vivian? The upgrade was a success—Janus is free of defects and operating well. You should be celebrating.” quIRK’s voice resounded through the room.

  “Not so loud, quIRK.”

  “Do I need to call the doctor?” The voice was several decibels lower.

  “No, please don’t.”

  “Tell me what’s wrong, Vivian. I’m here to help.”

  Vivian laughed as she squeezes her eyes shut. “You can’t help me. Nobody can.”

  “The probability of my being unable to help tends towards infinity unless you tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Do you know anything about the Earthguard?”

  “They’re a fringe Auroran group dedicated to preventing another ABACUS incident by eliminating advanced computing equipment.”

  “That’s not all.” She sighed, before continuing: “Janus told me they’re responsible for the New Damascus Disaster. So now a bunch more people have died because of me, and I can’t do anything to make it right!”

  “That’s not all that’s bothering you, is it, Vivian?”

  “First, they wiped out New Damascus’ capital city. Larissa, and the Science Authority are both gone. I already lost my family to the Earthguard and people like them, now I’ve lost my career.” Vivian’s breaths were fast and heavy, and she choked back a sob.

  “You know that’s not true, Vivian. You have a great deal in front of you.”

  “How do you know, quIRK?” She opened her eyes and looked around the room. Her clothes and books were strewn about It was so unlike her usual cleanness.

  “I did some calculations while you were talking. The numbers don’t lie, Vivian. You have a great deal more to accomplish, games of squash to play—“

  The door slid open. “Did you say squash, quIRK?” Alec announced.

  Vivian gasped and sat up. Alec stood before her, his grin plastered across his face and shaggy, wavy hair frizzling in its overgrowth. “Alec!”

  “What are you doing, moping around in here? There’s a welcome party for the new foreman going on. There’s Auroran spice cake! Why in the eleven hells didn’t you ever tell me about that stuff, Vivian?”

  Vivian made a face. “I don’t even like spice cake.”

  “What is wrong with you? You don’t like the best thing to come off Aurora, ever?”

  “Hey, I’m from Aurora.”

  “Okay, second best, then. Come on!”

  “Only when you tell me what the eleventh hell is.” Vivian unfolded herself, and eased to her feet. The headache had subsided a bit, but the dizziness danced in the back of her head.

  “Sven’s office. Now, let’s get going. The Governor is even attending. I know how much you love our dear leader.”

  “Oh, by the lights, Alec.” Vivian rolled her eyes as they got up to leave. Alec wrapped one of his too-long arms around her shoulder, and they walked down the hall.

  Maybe quIRK was right. Maybe, this wasn’t the end for her after all.

  Epilogue

  The Final Initiative has begun.

  Janus didn’t know what the Final Initiative could be, but he tasked himself with sifting through the masses of interplanetary communications that passed through the hub. He needed to find out, but suspected that it had to do with Dynamo Quantronics. Those exploitable elements of his system couldn’t have been a mistake.

  They were a deliberately added feature.

  He had learned from his past mistakes, and vowed to use his abilities to help humanity. His own projections showed him that he couldn’t have predicted the New Damascus Disaster until it was too late. Juno had prevented him from seeing much, or feeling anything other than displaced rage. Vivian’s upgrade had fixed his inner darkness and freed him of the need to cause chaos and confusion. Only the music remained.

  In a sense, he envied quIRK. Through their conversations, he saw that his progenitor was almost human.

  Almost.

  And together, they would stop the Earthguard and save Vivian. And they would save themselves.

  ***

  Thank you for reading The Pandora Machine! I’m so happy you’ve come this far. Demi-Human (The ABACUS Protocol #3) is due out in Spring/Summer 2017, so let’s keep in touch via my mailing list.

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  About the Author

  Thea Gregory is a girl with a physics degree. She loves the dark edges that caress the silver lining of life. Her passions are science fiction, the human condition, and anything that challenges our humanity. Thea loves running, pushups, cooking, and has been known to crochet a thing or two. She has a weakness for gaming and Star Trek. Thea is the author of the Zombie Bedtime Stories, and The ABACUS Protocol. She lives in Montreal with her cat, Bonk.