Soul Thief

by Candice Lim

  “You only say that because I’m the only one who can help you stop Wu Zhang,” I moped.

  Danny slipped his hand on my hand and laced his fingers with mine. “You’re important to me because I need you, Kira.” I sniffed and blew my nose. “You didn’t see my message, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t even have time to breathe.”

  A smirk quirked the corner of his lips. “Maybe if you read it, you’d feel better.”

  I rolled my eyes and retrieved my phone. I opened the text from Danny.

  I love you. I’m always here for you.

  Danny.

  *****

  Freud, the lab technician of the A.I. Ethics Department, turned to us when Danny and I walked into the lab. A tensed look on his face. “Detective Danny, there is something you need to see.” Danny and I traded looks.

  Freud waved in the air to conjure a hologram that looked like a network of nervous systems with green dots representing the live Helper Bots all around the globe. Wu Zhang used this interface to keep track of the Helper Bots. “We managed to download most of Zhang Database information before the anti-hacker software booted us out. But we got what we want.” Freud zoomed into one dot and pulled out the string of codes.

  “Look at this. I recorded the changes in the codes 20 minutes ago.” Freud gestured at me to come closer, his fingers danced fiercely on the hologram keyboard. He tapped on the Play button on the recorded clip and the codes started to evolve as if someone was editing them.

  “Oh my god…this is exactly what I warned Wu Zhang about…” A chill ran through my spine.

  “What is this?” Danny’s confused look bounced between Freud and I, expecting either of us to elaborate.

  “These codes…they’re like the genetic makeup of the Mind Files. The way these Mind Files are programmed, they’re only allowed to overwrite the data values. In simpler terms, what the Helper Bots can do is limited to accepting orders from their owners and doing what they’re told. It’s sort of like humans. We can learn new stuff and apply our knowledge but we can’t modify our genetics to give ourselves a pair of wings or something. Now, it seems like the Helper Bots have gained control of their own source codes.”

  The cold air from the lab pricked my skin, making the tiny hairs on my arms stand on ends. I wrapped my arms around myself.

  “Hasn’t Wu Zhang thought of this possibility? I thought he had a Ph.D. or something?”

  “The Kill Switch! All Helper Bots are installed with a Kill Switch that will disable them if they go against their owners.”

  A brief silence from Freud. “Kira, there is no Kill Switch.”

  I stared at Freud, lost and in disbelief. “It’s impossible. Wu Zhang installs the Kill Switch on every Helper Bot.”

  “I filtered through their source codes. There is no Kill Switch,” said Freud. “At first, we thought only Tobias has disabled his Kill Switch. Now it seems prevalent among the Helper Bots.”

  The skin on the nape of my neck tingled. I rubbed my arms and turned to Danny, who looked equally in distress. “How many Helper Bots are there?” I mentally calculated how many souls I’d collected when Freud blurted out, “302 active Helper Bots.”

  “We could raise a ban on the Helper Bots,” said Danny. “If we take out ten per day…”

  Freud shook his head. “At this rate, it’d be too late.” He waved the hologram to change to photos of a fire devastated building. “This restaurant has replaced all their staff with Helper Bots one week ago.” My hand flew to cover my mouth when I recognized it was the dim sum restaurant at Red Lanterns District that Cypher and I’d planned to go. “Two days ago, a fire broke out and killed all the two hundred staff and customers there. After checking the records of the cameras, we found out that the Helper Bots had locked down the restaurant and started the fire, taking the lives of the innocent with them.”

  I gulped. Freud flicked his hand to show different images. “There have been seven similar cases now. I took their Mind Files to study. The modification patterns of their source codes seem to match. It’s almost like they’re communicating with one another through Zhang Net and planning a covet revolution.”

  Danny’s fingers rolled into a fist that slammed on the bench. “We have to take action now. If we raise this matter to the Council–”

  “There is a quicker way.” Danny and Freud traded looks and gazed at me at once. “We can destroy Zhang Net by installing a virus that overheats the computing units. We can wipe out all the Mind Files in the database. The Helper Bots’ Mind Files are connected in the database. Wu Zhang has a safety net for himself in the time of emergency like this one. We have to access into Zhang Net before the Helper Bots boot themselves out of the database. That’s right! Wu Zhang won’t be around tomorrow. This is our chance to do it.”

  Danny grabbed me on the arms and lasered into my eyes. “What about you, Kira?”

  “What about me?”

  “You’re a Transient Bot.”

  I shook my head. “Transient Bots’ Mind Files aren’t connected real-time to Zhang Net for privacy reasons. The policyholders of New Life Insurance only upload their Mind File to the Mind Cloud as a backup to keep their memories in case of emergency. If we destroy Zhang Net, only the Helper Bots and untransferred Mind Files will be affected…”

  My mind went to Cypher. If we destroyed Zhang Net, the only hope I’d to resurrect Cypher would be gone. A pounding pain hammered my head. I staggered back and massaged my temples. “No…we can’t do this…”

  A pained expression flickered on Danny’s face. “What if we transfer Cypher’s Mind File into a Transient Bot first? Do you know how to do that?”

  I nodded. “I’ve watched Wu Zhang do it countless times. But the thing is…I’m not sure if he’s any spare Transient Bots lying around. We’ll have to check out the production lab.” Danny squeezed my hand.

  “We can do this, Kira. We’ll bring Cypher back.”

  I nodded with a happy smile. “Yes…we will…” I looked at the hologram and clenched my fists. Finally, Cypher. I’m going to free you from the Mind Drive and the rest of the innocent souls from their eternal suffering.

  I looked out of the window in Danny’s car when my phone buzzed in my backpack. It was Lucia. Why would Lucia call me? She never used to call me. We never even texted much. Guilt pricked on my conscience each time her name appeared on my screen. I felt she was going to curse me out for taking her dad’s soul.

  “It’s Lucia,” I told Danny before picking up the call. “Hi.”

  “Kira? I hope you’re not in the middle of something with Detective Danny.” I glanced at Danny to make sure he didn’t hear any of it and rolled my eyes.

  “We–I’m good, thanks. What’s up?”

  “So Synthea hasn’t told you anything yet?”

  “Um, no. What is it?”

  “So Synthea bought a few Helper Bots from your boss. They arrived last night, so this week will be my last at Rain Bar.” Red alarms went off in my head. I sat up straight. “I wish you were here for the last shifts but I don’t think Synthea needs more manpower since she got her diligent machines slaving away for her. I heard they’re more popular among the customers too.”

  Lucia sighed.

  “Oh no…” I muttered, bile rising in my throat.

  “I know right?” said Lucia.

  Danny put his hand on my thigh. “What’s wrong, Kira?” He mouthed, my face must have betrayed my feeling. I licked my dry mouth, “Lucia said Rain Bar has employed new Helper Bots.” Danny muttered under his breath.

  “Oh, Danny is with you? I better leave you then. I’m clocking in as we speak,” said Lucia.

  “No!” I cried out. “Don’t clock in! Don’t go to Rain Bar!”

  “What are you talking about, Kira? I fought with my life to get this extra week out of Synthea. I got bills to pay.”

  “No, Lucia, listen! You’re in danger. Don’t go to Rain Bar, please.”r />
  “Wokay, Kira. I’m not sure what shit you’re on right now. I’ll talk to you after work, kay?”

  “No, wait, Lucia. The Helper Bots are–” Beep. I spun towards Danny. “Freud mentioned that the Helper Bots are possibly interacting through Zhang Net and planning some sort of revolution. Rain Bar has employed some Helper Bots. I think Lucia might be in danger.”

  “One way to find out.”

  Danny shifted gears. I fell back to my seat as he sped down the road.

  18

  “Access denied,” said the mechanical voice when I tried to access Zhang Database. I let out a tired sigh and put the tablet aside. I chewed my lip while laced and unlaced my fingers over my stomach.

  “What are you trying to do?”

  “I’m trying to access their source codes to see what they’re up to, but Wu Zhang locked me out of the database weeks ago.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “He thought I was being too nosy trying to get to know the people whose Mind Files I collect. He didn’t want me to get too attached to their stories. He wanted me to put my emotions aside and get the job done, like how his Helper Bots are programmed to be.”

  Wu Zhang was right I got obsessed with stalking my victims. I couldn’t stop checking what happened to Lucia’s dad and Danny’s mom after I updated my database with the information Freud got, as if I could change their fate if I constantly checked on them. As much as I wanted to share, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Danny what happened to his mom.

  I was reaching for the tablet again. This time, I shook the urge and looked out of the window, trying to collect my thoughts. If something happened to Lucia, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

  Danny slipped his hand on mine and squeezed tightly. “We’ll be there in a minute.” I sniffed, not realizing my face was wet with tears, and nodded.

  I hopped out of Danny’s car once he eased into the usual spot. The music was blasting from Rain Bar and the lights turned the walls into a kaleidoscope of colors. Danny followed close behind when I pushed through the door. It didn’t budge. “It’s locked.”

  Danny and I exchanged looks. I stepped aside to let Danny try. He cussed under his breath and kicked the door open. The music was so loud no one heard Danny barging in. I took Danny’s side. At the bar, Lucia turned at me. Her face lit up. Something else behind her in the kitchen lit up, a white glare mushroomed before it burst into flames.

  “Watch out!” I shouted. My voice sounded warped as everything turned into slow motion. Danny threw one arm over my face and the other around hips. The warmth of his body pressed against my chest as we fell back. My side was connected to the ground. Danny was on top of me, shielding me from the blast.

  My thought went back to the day I lost Cypher. The whole incident just unfolded in front of my eyes like a déjà vu. My whole body was paralyzed with fear. “Danny?” I couldn’t hear my own shaky voice over the ringing in my ears and the muffled screams. My vision was hazy. Silhouettes flitted around the veil of smoke. A lump of hot tears formed in my throat. No, I couldn’t afford to lose Danny. “Danny? Danny, please answer me. Please...DANNY!”

  “Kira! Kira! I’m here. I’m fine!” A hand cupped on my face. My heart swelled. I gripped onto Danny’s hand, not wanting to let him go. His piercing brown eyes interlocked with mine. I grabbed his face with my other hand, checking for wounds. He’d streaks of dirt on his face, otherwise, he looked fine. Not even a cut on his skin. I smiled in relief, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I was so worried…I don’t want to lose you…I can’t…I can’t do this…”

  Danny shushed and wiped his hands on my face. “It’s alright, I’m here. I’m good. Are you alright?”

  I nodded. Danny helped me get on my feet. Fire lapped in the kitchen. The usually relaxed atmosphere turned into a chaotic mess. I waved around the clear the smoke and pushed past the frantic customers bolting for exit to the bar. Danny went to comfort the terrified customers and guided them to the door.

  “Lucia?” I went around the bar. Lucia cowered in the corner, her hands above her head. Her whole body was trembling when I dropped to one knee next to her. “Lucia?” I put my hand on her back.

  “Argh! Don’t kill me!” Lucia screamed and jumped. When she saw it was me, she muttered a cuss under her breath and grabbed onto my arm. “What the fuck was going on?”

  “Long story. You’re safe now. Come with me.” I dragged Lucia out of the bar. She flopped against me. The bar was empty after Danny managed to evacuate the patrons. I was carrying Lucia towards the exit when a silhouette appeared in front of us. “Danny, come help us!” My arm was aching in protest. He didn’t budge.

  “Or at least don’t stand in the way,” I spat. My nerves rose when the silhouette walked into the light, revealing a spotless porcelain face. He wasn’t Danny. His one eye was brown and the other flickering in the blue screen. He lifted the cleaver in his hand. Lucia screamed. We staggered back, Lucia cowering behind me.

  “What do you want?” I yelled. Where was Danny?

  “You…” A chill shot through my veins when the Helper Bot’s mechanical eyes interlocked with mine. “I know you. You work for Wu Zhang. You’re the one who captured and enslaved us, aren’t you?”

  Lucia’s confused gaze darted between us. I licked my parched tongue. How much did the Helper Bots know? The mental pictures of me walking down the street and being attacked by random Helper Bots flounced in my head, making my heart thud harder against my chest. “What is he talking about, Kira?” asked Lucia.

  The Helper Bot turned to Lucia, a smirk curved the corner of his lips. “You don’t know? Your friend, Kira Lee, is the notorious Soul Thief! She works for Wu Zhang who sells so-called A.I. Helper Bots, except the robots are run by the Mind Files she’s robbed from the dead!”

  I pursed my lips. Lucia bulged her eyes at me. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, he’s right. I’m the one who wronged you, so why are you taking the lives of the innocent?”

  “This is the only way Wu Zhang can be stopped. If we make it big enough, it’ll attract media attention. Wu Zhang will be exposed. You’ll be exposed too!” shouted the Helper Bot, murder flashed in his eyes. He gnashed his teeth at us, making me draw back in shock. Lucia screamed in my ear and tugged onto my clothes, almost strangling me with my collar.

  Everything turned into slow motion when the silvery blade of the cleaver swung in the air and reflected the colorful lights. My thought went to the Mind Cloud at once. Did I back up my Mind File last night? My heart galloped in my throat. I groped on the table and scooped up the empty glass bottle with my shaky fingers.

  I was about to swing the bottle at the Helper Bot when another glass bottle shot across in the air and smashed on his face. I cried out and sheltered my face with my arm when the Helper Bot tipped over and collapsed on his back. The mental images of Tobias being shut down flounced in my head when the Helper Bot spasmed and blacked out.

  I spun around, half expecting to see Danny. The silhouette moved into the light, revealing a familiar face. “Oh my god…” I let out a muffled sigh. I pinched the bridge of my nose, unable to believe my eyes. The Helper Bot stood frozen about six feet from where Lucia and I were. His mechanical eyes moved from my face to Lucia where his gaze lingered.

  “Lucia…”

  “There’s another one!” Lucia tried to snatch the bottle from my grip but I was clenching onto it tightly. Her face was pale like a ghost and streaks of makeup ran down her cheeks.

  “No, Lucia…not this one…” I tasted bile in my mouth.

  “What are you doing, Kira?” It turned into a tug of war…between Lucia and I, and within me, between spilling the truth and keeping the secret. Lucia had always been taller and bigger than me, even in the Transient Bot, she was still stronger than me. Lucia snatched the bottle out of my hands and was about to hurl it at the Helper Bot when I shouted, “He is your dad!”

  Lucia’s eyes widened as
she froze in position. A dark gleam flashed in Lucia’s dark brown eyes. She looked like she was about to smash my face with the bottle. I wished she would do that if it made me feel less guilty for what I had done to her. “I’m sorry…” My voice was quivering with my legs.

  Lucia’s frown bounced between her dad and I. She’d lowered the bottle but still looked tense. “What the fuck, Kira?”

  “Lucia…” The Helper Bot inched closer and stopped when Lucia stepped back. “Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you, Lucia. It’s me…dad.”

  “Dad…?” Her lips trembled. Seeing Lucia get all puffy-eyed and red-faced made me hate myself more.

  “Lucia, I don’t have much time. I wanted to tell you things I didn’t get to the other day. I know you always feel like you’re not great enough for me. You blame yourself for not making enough money to pay for my treatment or get the insurance. You dropped out of school for this reason. You’re the best daughter I have and I can’t ask for more, my little pumpkin...”