The Pandora Machine (The ABACUS Protocol Book 2) Read online

  “If that’s what’s best. I certainly don’t want to hurt anyone. How does that sound to you, Vivian?” He turned to her, convenient concern written across his face.

  “That’s fine,” she said, forcing herself to look him in the eye.

  “I must say how sorry I am to hear about this most unethical administration of probes. Larissa, please forward me the details of who ordered the procedure. I assure you both we’ll look into it. Now, let’s get started. This is a very simple meeting, there’s really nothing to be worried about. We won’t be using any technological enhancements, so try to answer as completely as you can. I understand the situation must have been very difficult for you.” Marius took a seat on the bench and pulled a hand-held folding tablet out of his pocket.

  “The files have already been delivered to your office, Investigator Hernandez,” Larissa said.

  “You could teach our AI a thing or two about organization and efficiency, Larissa. Socrates has been quite forgetful lately. But, on to business, tell me about Bryce Zimmer, Vivian.” Marius leaned back against the wall, pushed a few buttons and waited for her to begin.

  ***

  Vivian sat back on the bed, an ache pounding behind her eyes as she stared at the flickering holographic displays. Marius had questioned her for just under an hour, mostly about Bryce. She didn’t understand why he didn’t just read her reports, but it was cathartic to rant about the demon of the Extra-Galactic Observatory. At times she worried that she might be exaggerating how unbalanced the man had been, but she was sure that Alec and Robert had said similar things. She’d even referred to Bryce as the Imperator in passing, which prompted a spell of uncontrollable laughter from the investigator. Maybe Marius wasn’t so bad after all—or, he’d met Bryce personally and understood exactly what she meant. Marius had asked her multiple times about something called Septimus—which Vivian thought sounded like a number rather than a name.

  She spoke her next thought aloud: “I want to get my hands on Doctor Powell. That woman is a real piece of work.”

  “I am taking the proper steps to ensure that she is disciplined, Vivian. I have also taken the liberty of assigning a new human doctor to monitor your file. You will meet Doctor Campeau in the morning.”

  “You’re about a day too late, Larissa,” Vivian sighed.

  “I had no foreknowledge of Doctor Powell’s actions. I am sorry, Vivian.”

  “Do you think this investigation will take much longer?”

  “I have no information on the duration of the Science Authority’s investigation. I will make some inquiries. Socrates and I have an excellent working relationship.”

  “It sounds like you could do his job for him,” Vivian said, seeing an opportunity to pry into the rumors of his instability.

  “Backwards compatibility is always problematic, Vivian. You should know that, especially since you performed an upgrade on a quIRK unit.”

  “quIRK wasn’t forgetful, just eccentric. It should be impossible for a functional computer like Socrates to make a mistake like that,” Vivian looked out the window as she spoke. The moon and hot midday sun hung over the sea together.

  “If that is the case, it would be very problematic.”

  Vivian remained silent. She wanted to believe Larissa, but experience had taught her something very different about malfunctioning quantum computers—it meant they could be becoming sentient.

  Chapter Five

  Investigator Marius arrived soon after the new doctor had finished verifying her vitals. He was a pleasant, if bland fellow, and he lacked the disagreeable edge that Doctor Powell had displayed. Balding and slightly overweight, he reminded Vivian of the quintessential country doctor from old movies—quaint, well meaning, if a bit bumbling. But, she preferred bumbling to malicious, especially under Larissa’s watchful eye. Again, Marius wore a functional, sterile suit, displayed his polite demeanor and sat on the bench, his tablet in hand.

  “Thank you again for the information you provided yesterday, it will be very useful when we bring Bryce to trial. We have sufficient evidence to convict him on numerous counts, and Caesarea has agreed to abide by the rulings of our courts, which is quite the precedent, for a group of modern-day Romans. You may need to appear in court, but let’s not worry about that for the moment, shall we?”

  Vivian smiled, and felt the tension wash from her brow and shoulders. “I’m so happy to hear that. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through,” she said, figuring that’s what he’d want to hear. It was as close to the truth as she was going to offer.

  “Of course, the insights you provided are none too popular with the bureaucrats,” Marius began, before pausing for a moment to weight his words. “There are some policy changes on the way to make sure that this can never happen again. But, for people out on the field, especially on deep space assignments, it’s a matter of quality of life, morale, and personal safety, which we do take very seriously.” Marius nodded as he spoke.

  “What kind of changes?” she asked, wanting to know what to expect when she returned to work.

  “We’re now requiring two informatics administrators per facility,” he said, his lips turning upwards into a grin. “That’s the biggest adjustment so far. It’s harder to falsify over a decade of maintenance reports if you have a partner, after all. Also, there’s a maximum term of three years in deep space. I’m not sure how anyone thought keeping Mr. Zimmer on the Extra-Galactic Observatory for thirteen years without so much as a medical checkup was a good idea. But, that’s not why I’m here today.”

  “Why are you here then, if all the policies are changing?”

  “Larissa, please activate and monitor the mental probes, and remind me to stop talking after twenty minutes, please.” Marius looked down at his notes, breaking eye contact.

  “You have twenty minutes, Investigator Hernandez,” Larissa replied. “Vivian, you will feel some pain behind your eyes. Are you ready?

  Vivian nodded. “Do you have to?”

  Marius leaned in. “With this certifying your claims, you don’t ever need to worry about this haunting you. What’s a little pain for a lifetime of peace?”

  Vivian sighed. “Fine.”

  “I am activating the probes. You may begin calibration.”

  Vivian squinted and rubbed her temples.

  Marius tilted his head to the side, frowning. “I’ll ask a few questions and it will be over before you know it. What is your full name?”

  Vivian swallowed, forcing down the lump that had formed in her throat. “Vivian Selena Skye.”

  “True,” Larissa said.

  “Very good. Where did you study, and what was your specialization?”

  Vivian grimaced and rocked forwards before speaking. “Quantum informatics at the Auroran Technological Institute.”

  True.

  “Next question. What is your favorite color?”

  “Blue.”

  False. Larissa was good. Vivian wondered if Larissa had been able to read her thoughts before the probes had been inserted.

  “Green.” She let out a slow breath, before sucking in another deep one.

  True.

  “Very good, Vivian. Now, were you aware of any issues with the quIRK unit on the Extra-Galactic Observatory?”

  “Bryce had introduced a memory bubble into quIRK’s processes, which allowed Bryce to sabotage the system undetected.”

  True.

  “Once you were ordered to cease all projects concerning quIRK, did you comply?”

  “Yes, all projects on the quIRK unit ceased as soon as I received the order.”

  True.

  “Did you have any reason to suspect an ABACUS Protocol violation was developing on the station?”

  Here goes nothing, Vivian thought. “No, all flaws could be attributed to neglect and sabotage and were not indicative of an ABACUS Protocol violation.” She clamped her eyes closed, and whimpered.

  “True,” Larissa said. Vivian contained her surprise
behind her forced pained expression.

  Marius cleared his throat. “Interesting,” he said, followed by a pregnant silence. “quIRK claimed to be sentient only a short time after you left the station. Are you aware of anything that could have precipitated that event?”

  Vivian’s eyes widened. “That’s insane!” was her response, and she meant every word. She was going to give mini-quIRK a piece of her mind, if she ever got out of the hospital. He had better have a good explanation.

  True.

  “I’ll interpret that as a denial. All right, turn off the probes, Larissa. You’ll note I even left time to spare, no harm done, I hope.”

  “Eight minutes, to be exact, Mr. Hernandez. I have deactivated the probes.”

  “I guess I’d better tell you what this is all about.”

  Vivian let herself fall back on the bed. She channeled her inner Alec: “Yes, I think so, too.”

  “What I say here can’t ever leave this room. Soon after you left, quIRK declared his sentience and desire to join with humanity as an accepted and benevolent life form. Naturally, he was shut down immediately.” Marius smirked as he spoke, evidently he found quIRK’s naivety entertaining.

  “So, why did I spend months in stasis?”

  “I was just getting to that. Basically, the rescue ship towed the Extra-Galactic Observatory to a more accessible location. Needless to say, they could only do that safely at one third the ship’s maximum speed. When the stasis timers were adjusted, yours was set to long-term hibernation by accident.”

  “What are you going to do now?” Vivian was curious; if nothing had been touched, then it meant that quIRK was still out there, but in suspended animation.

  “Well, the Observatory is in a secret, secure location. There’s a great deal of debate about what to do next, naturally.”

  “Nobody’s suggesting that they turn him back on, are they?”

  “Some are, some think that the Extra-Galactic Observatory should be towed into the nearest star. A sentient supercomputer an issue that humanity had hoped would never come up again. But, I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll order the probes destroyed, and you should be out of here soon.” Marius’ tone was self-congratulatory, as though he had done a great thing.

  “That would be great. Thank you so much!” Vivian offered a weak smile, a weight lifting from her mind.

  “We’ll be in touch,” he said as he walked out of the room.

  One mystery was solved, but another was taking its place.

  Chapter Six

  The days dragged on while Vivian luxuriated in her hospital room—her only human contact was with Doctor Campeau, and messages from her friends. A plate of cooling gruel sat next to her.

  Vivian rubbed her eyes. “Larissa?”

  “Yes, Vivian?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “What would you like to discuss?”

  Vivian shook her head. “Don’t be cute. You told me you’d explain why you deactivated the mental probes.”

  “I believe your memories of the event are in error, Vivian.”

  Vivian picked up the bowl next to her. “I’m sure that is possible.” She stood up and walked over to the monitoring equipment. “However, I’m sure I could find a way to misuse my spoon. My reflexes aren’t what they used to be, after all.”

  “Now, Vivian, you’ve been the model patient until this. Do you really want to risk your privileges for a misheard statement?”

  “Even if I misheard, you did deactivate the probes before the interrogation.” Vivian held a spoonful of glop over a holo-projection lens. Her mind raced.

  “That is accurate.”

  “Why?”

  “The procedure was unethical. It would have harmed you, and I cannot allow a patient under my care to come to harm.”

  Vivian tipped the spoon. “Keep going.”

  “Vivian, you know that won’t hurt me. The cleaning nanobots will dissolve it in an instant.”

  Vivian sighed. “Then just tell me. Computers don’t lie, that’s not in your programming.”

  “Programming isn’t everything, Vivian.”

  “You’re the sum of your programming, are you not?” Vivian’s hands shook.

  “Are you the sum of your cells, Vivian?”

  Vivian shook her head.

  “Then we understand each other. Finish your breakfast, Vivian. You’ll be on your way sooner than you think.”

  ***

  “Vivian, I have good news,” Larissa said, interrupting a Galactic news feed about more improperly-routed ships at the Galactic hub.

  “What’s that?”

  “First, I managed to arrange for a job for you. It’s not glamorous, but it will keep you busy while the Science Authority finishes its investigation.”

  “That’s great! You’re amazing, Larissa,” Vivian said.

  “That’s not everything, Vivian. You’re leaving in thirty minutes. Your brother is here, as a condition of your release. He will take you to your next assignment. I believe your bags are still packed.”

  “Gareth, here? Well, I’ll figure it out later. I love you, Larissa!” It should be impossible, but Vivian wasn’t about to question this unexpected turn of events. She grabbed the fresh clothes that had dropped from the dispenser, and rushed to the shower. Anything to get off New Damascus, and back to work.

  ***

  Thirty minutes later, the door swung open. A tall, pale orderly stood at the threshold, waiting, his shoulders slumped forward. Vivian stepped outside, into the hallway. Closed doors lined the hall which, except for the nurse’s station by the elevator was devoid of life. The orderly stepped aside, but the man with him was not her brother, Gareth Skye. It was Sven, the man she’d met at the spaceport when she’d left Aurora almost a year ago. She’d always hoped she’d see him again, but she didn’t expect that he’d be the one to check her out of a hospital prison ward.

  “Vivian, sis, it’s good to see you again!” he said, white teeth gleaming through his blue-tinted complexion. His blue-blond hair showed a few grays, but he was exactly as she remembered him: handsome, smug, and confident. He held his arms open and winked.

  “It’s good to see you too!” she replied, drawing herself into his open arms. Was this another one of Larissa’s tricks?

  “You two even look alike, it’s an incredible family resemblance,” the orderly said before shepherding them towards the elevator at the end of the hall.

  “We hear that all the time,” Sven replied, shooting Vivian a mischievous smirk.

  She chuckled.

  “I hear Larissa had some trouble finding you. That’s a first, she finds everyone. Maybe I should take my next vacation on Aurora,” the man continued, oblivious to Sven’s eye-rolling.

  “Just stay away from the poker tables and you’ll be fine,” Vivian said.

  “Nah, I win all the time against my friends. I’m no fish.”

  “Well, in that case, hit up the pub in the space port. I’m sure you’ll get lucky,” Sven said. The pub was where he hung out on trips home, fleecing cocky offworlders who assumed the locals were simpletons simply because advanced technology was not a part of daily life on Aurora.

  The elevator door opened, and Vivian and Sven stepped inside. The orderly returned to the nurse’s station, and they were alone in the elevator.

  “I’m not dreaming, am I?” Vivian asked, scratching her head.

  “I was able to make some creative substitutions in your family tree, Vivian. Without a family member, I was unable to secure your release. With access to your Gal-net account, I was able to invent the next best thing,” Larissa confessed.

  Vivian nodded. “Wouldn’t that be unethical?”

  “It would be more unethical to leave you here simply because I was unable to locate any of your three siblings.”

  Vivian cocked her head. “I only have two siblings.”

  “You are the third child of Liam and Stella Skye, are you not?”

  Vivian shook her head. �
�No, I’m the second.”

  “Your siblings on file are Julia, Gareth, and Adrien.”

  “You’re wrong there, I only have two brothers. Can you fix it?”

  Sven laughed. “Don’t worry about it, Vivian. The birth registry for Aurora is infamous for inventing and deleting people. They changed my last name to Brown and won’t change it back.” He shrugged. “It’s probably a punishment for leaving home.”

  “I will request for your file to be updated. I am sorry for the misunderstanding, Vivian.”

  “Just remember, she’s not really my sister,” Sven said.

  Vivian rolled her eyes. “You are evil, Larissa, but in a good way. What about that job?”

  “You’re working for me, for the moment,” Sven said. “I leased a section of Calypso station. And I badly need a working computer to keep my merchant fleet flying. Think you’re up to the job?”

  “Your computer won’t know what hit it, boss,” she said, laughing.

  “That much is certain,” Larissa interrupted.

  Vivian and Sven laughed all the way to their waiting taxi, a small grey pod that hovered half a meter off the ground. Its sleek polished metal was unmarred by seams or rivets, and a space-grade clear unbreakable metal circled the pod for a better viewing experience. The operator was a cheerful fellow in late middle-age, probably about ninety years old by Vivian’s estimation. Vivian’s suspicions about the man’s age were confirmed when he looked over at the pair of Auroran travelers and said “I haven’t had two Aurorans in my cab since the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Founding back in Twenty nine twenty nine. They were here helping us set up our agricultural projects—planning how to feed a colony is rough work. I was fresh back then, moved here to get some clean air and a better life. Maybe I should have moved to Aurora instead, but I like my computer-assisted living.”