by Taylor Buck
He placed one hand behind his back and paced.
“We have these brilliant machines, but they are entirely dependent on humans to manually control them.” Braden looked at Kelly as if to see if she understood where he was going. “The robots are only as good as the intelligence driving them. So in order to create smarter robots we needed to refine their AI to account for human error. We also needed a way to operate the robots without having to be physically attached to them. Therefore, we developed a way to communicate with the robots remotely, as needed, and let their on-board intelligence make the functional decisions. This way they begin to learn and store the data from their exercises and encounters—so that they become, in a way, self-sufficient. Soon they are solving problems that they were never trained for, and they are able to develop a solution much faster than a human can process. The solutions to their decisions are weighed on success rates, and they can learn and store their success and failures into their memory. Over time they operate with very limited need for human involvement of any kind.”
Braden looked up.
“Think of an airplane. For the most part, the plane flies itself. These days Autopilot is capable of handling almost one hundred percent of the functions involved with safely flying an aircraft. Humans are really only there in the case of error. But even then, we’re not perfect. We make mistakes too…it’s inevitable. Much like autopilot, our robots have stored functions and are trained to handle most any pre-determined encounter. They are even able to learn new functions based on MMM, Motion-Mirroring Memory. But what makes these machines so fascinating…what makes them a miracle of science…is the integration of nano-communication.”
Kelly was acting interested while she tried to think of a plan of escape. She glanced over at Tom. He was rubbing his chest and he seemed to be blinking his eyes—as if trying to focus. He was still lying on the ground but he looked to be gathering himself. Kelly felt more at ease. She could see Tom didn’t appear to be hurt badly. She looked away and attempted to listen to Braden.
“Nano-communication opened the door for us to interact with the robots without having to be tethered to them in any way. Years ago, Dr. Perry founded NanoCom. He led a team experimenting with RNM, Remote Neural Monitoring. Through their research, they found a way to actually etch nano particles onto microscopic electrodes that could attach to the cortex of the brain. No more strings attached—literally. Huge achievement, I might add—history-making scientific breakthrough. Then they were able to communicate with a person from a computer, without the person having to be hooked up to it. The information was passed through a wireless network, just like a household mobile device. But they ran into a problem right away. The human brain was unable to process the infinite amount of information that it was now exposed to 24/7. The test subjects felt like they were going crazy and also becoming considerably depressed—suicidal actually. The data transfer alone that was passing through their head was hovering around twenty billion bits per second. It was an explosion of information that tapped into all of the human senses at once and resulted in driving people mad. Besides that, the connection wasn’t secure—which made things very risky. They needed to develop a way to securely neutralize any unwanted transmissions so they could regulate the data exchanges. You don’t want people hacking into your mind, right? It was again, Dr. Perry, who developed the solution…and he named it MindGate. It’s essentially a communications pathway using compressed data in MEF, Multi-scale Electrophysiology Format, protected using 512-bit AES encrypted algorithms. It’s extremely secure and virtually impenetrable. A sentinel at the gate of your mind, if you will. It solved all of the issues about unsafe data transmissions and allowed the subject to trigger the electrodes on demand. It was a technological breakthrough and put the power of control into the mind of the host. The host could communicate how they wanted and when they wanted. And once the power of truCloud technology was established, it brought management of all functionality into a new level of accessibility. VA’s became standardized and, suddenly, everyone had their own personal Virtual Assistant, including those equipped with MindGate.”
Braden was so impressed with himself he couldn’t hide the smile from his face as he spoke. He went on.
“The difference being where most people used their mobile device to communicate with their VA, the host used, what we call Synthetic Telepathy, to communicate with theirs.
“Telepathy?” Kelly said skeptically.
“Yes. tele meaning “distant” and patheia meaning “to be affected by”. Since they are controlling actions and directives with their mind, it is considered a form of telepathy.”
Braden sounded as if he were delivering a lecture.
“Bingo—a person could now communicate with a virtual cloud of information using only their thoughts. And they could access it anywhere at anytime. The ‘technology of the future’ that people have been talking about for years is now available.
And there’s more…”
He stopped pacing and locked eyes with Kelly.
“We’ve developed a way to manufacture it,” he said confidently.
“Wait a minute, you’re manufacturing—mind control?” Kelly suddenly sounded interested.
“We’re manufacturing mind communication.” Braden ran his hand through his dark hair and adjusted his glasses. He looked up at Kelly. “We’re calling it ‘The Shot’ for the moment.” He smiled, seemingly pleased with the title. “The reason for the name is because we can actually insert the nano-electrodes into the bloodstream and they are smart enough to attach themselves onto the cortex. No surgery, no recovery period—it’s virtually non-invasive.”
“So what does this have to do with the robot-cats?” Kelly asked
“They’re called juggernauts,” Braden corrected her.
“Why do you call them that?” she asked.
Braden appeared annoyed with the question. “They were developed as transporters for the military. They can carry cargo and trek virtually anywhere on their own.”
“And they can kill on their own, too,” Kelly said.
“They take orders,” Braden said crossly. He was visibly annoyed with Kelly’s remarks. “They only attack when directed. They are given orders by a VA, or whoever is linked up with them.” Braden blinked uncontrollably for a moment. Kelly found it a bizarre reflex.
“So who’s linked up with them?” she asked.
Braden didn’t respond. He seemed to trail off for a moment. “That’s enough chit-chat.”
“No, really. I want to know how they get their directives. Can you control them? Do you have The Shot?” Kelly got up and stood behind the glass. “Hey!”
Braden glanced at his watch then walked over to Danner’s containment, ignoring Kelly. He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Danner. “Let’s go Rick. You’re going to take me to Lorry now.”
Danner didn’t move. He stayed where he was with his back against the glass.
“Now Rick! Move it!” Braden commanded.
Danner slowly rose to his feet and walked up to the glass. He looked beat, exhausted.
“What’s your plan, Braden?” he said in a rather hoarse voice.
“My plan? My plan is to get Lorry back, and I need you to do that. If she were responding to my directives—I wouldn’t need you. Now stop asking questions or I’ll give you a taste of what I gave your friend here. Now go!” Braden yelled and opened his door.
“No. I mean what are you planning on doing with them?” Danner asked and nodded in Kelly’s direction.
Braden looked over at Kelly and smiled. “They’re involved in this now too. Once her boyfriend wakes up, we will take…”
Braden took a step back and looked over at Bennett’s containment. “What the…?”
Braden slammed Danner’s containment door shut and quickly made his way over to the faction he had l
eft Bennett in. He peered in through the glass.
Bennett was nowhere to be seen.
Braden opened the door and searched the containment thoroughly.
Nothing was inside.
“How did he get out? Where did he go?” Braden screamed. He looked at Kelly as if she had the answer. Kelly didn’t say anything. Braden cursed loudly and looked down at his phone. “I don’t need you. I’ll find him. If he’s in here, I’ll find him.”
Braden stormed out of the faction and marched across the den, in pursuit of Tom Bennett.
CHAPTER 39
955 AKEA ST.
16 OCTOBER, 3:50 A.M.
Jim Lee couldn’t sleep.
He reached over and flicked on his bedside lamp. The alarm clock displayed the hour in digital green characters. It was almost 4AM, and he hadn’t slept a wink. He couldn’t get the info he had uncovered about CERTA out of his head. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something connecting this elusive “phantom” company and the murder that had occurred at the farm. It all pointed back to the location of the murder—the farm bordered the forest reserve—the last place he hadn’t fully covered.
If it exists, it had to be somewhere inside the reserve.
Lee got out of bed and got dressed. He grabbed his wallet, badge and his gun—then headed out the door.
CHAPTER 40
THE DEN
16 OCTOBER, 4:00 A.M.
Kelly waited until Braden was out of the room. She turned around and walked to the back of the containment. “Tom, he’s gone. You can come out.”
Bennett peered his head out from behind the metal cabinets lining the back of Kelly’s containment. He had been hiding behind them for the past five minutes.
During Braden’s rant, he had failed to watch Bennett who had managed to escape by slowly shimmying along the ground until he reached the back of his containment and using a large cable running up the sidewall, was able to climb up the wall, which was roughly about fourteen feet, and then drop down into Kelly’s containment unnoticed. Braden was on the far-side of the faction—out of sight. Kelly noticed that Bennett had disappeared while Braden was talking, so she tried to do her best to keep Braden’s attention by asking him questions.
Bennett stepped forward out of the shadows. He walked up and hugged Kelly.
“Are you ok?” Kelly asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little shaken up. How about you?”
Kelly’s eyes lingered on Bennett for a moment before she responded. “I’m fine. He grabbed me while we were up on the roof and drugged me with something—must have knocked me out. I still feel a little sluggish…” Kelly shook her head. “Ugh…what a creep!”
“We gotta get out of here. Do you have your keychain?” Bennett asked.
“No. He took if from me while I was out.”
Bennett pulled out his phone. He tried to start it up—but the battery was dead now.
“I bet you’re wishing you hadn’t come back here,” a voice said from the adjacent room. It was Rick Danner. He was standing against the glass divider with his back turned to them.
Bennett and Kelly both looked at him. “You’re not going to say anything, are you?” Kelly asked.
“No…no. I’ve got nothing to say to him. My business with him doesn’t require talking.”
“Alright, Kelly come on,” Bennett urged. He made his way to the front of the containment and clasped his hands together. “Let’s go. I’ll lift you up. You should be able to reach the top of the walls.”
Kelly paused and donned a look of confusion. “How are you going to get out?” she asked.
“You can get out through the roof. I’ll find a way out,” Bennett said trying to hurry her along.
“Tom, I can’t just leave you here. I…”
“I know a way,” Danner interjected. “If you get me out of here, I’ll show you.”
“What?” Kelly turned and looked at him. “You do? Ok…what is it?” she asked.
Danner turned and faced the east corner of the room. “That computer over there controls the security to the entire building. You can open these containments, too. If you can get to it, I’ll walk you through it.”
Kelly looked back at Bennett. He nodded in response. “Kelly, we’ve got to move quick, though,” he said.
Bennett gathered his footing and crouched down. Kelly walked over to him and stepped into his locked hands. She reached up and braced herself on the walls with her hands.
“Ok, ready? One…two…three.” Bennett heaved her up. Once he got her above him he used his legs to bare the weight—which was not much seeing how light Kelly was.
“Ok, I can almost reach the top,” Kelly said. Bennett breathed out and extended his arms out above him. He held both her feet in his hands and moved his weight onto the balls of his feet—stretching up onto his toes.
“Almost…only a few more inches,” Kelly said.
Bennett gathered his strength and pressed hard. “Got it!” Kelly said. She hung from the top of the wall. She used her feet to climb up the glass as she pulled herself up. She crouched down and balanced on top of the wall. Then she lowered herself down the other side and dropped the rest of the way. Once on the other side, Kelly quickly moved over to the computer. She wheeled it over a short distance so that she could communicate with Danner. The screen flashed to life, displaying a password access prompt.
“Ok, type in P2FR811. Then click ENTER,” Danner instructed.
Kelly followed his directions. “Ok. I’m in.”
“Good. A nav screen should pop up. You will have multiple options to choose from. Look for Infrastructure, then Security, then look for Building Access.”
Kelly scanned the different options on the screen. Halfway down the list she found “Infrastructure”. Then she navigated through the “Security” options until she landed on “Building Access”. “Ok, it’s asking me for another password.”
“Type in DESIGNATOR1,” Danner directed.
Kelly typed it in. An error message flashed on the screen. She tried it again. The same error message popped up—this time it was accompanied by another message: You have 1 attempt remaining.
“Umm…it didn’t work. It’s telling me I have one attempt left,” she said. Kelly looked over at the door to the den anxiously. Braden could return at any moment and walk through those doors, she thought.
“Did you use all caps?” Danner asked.
Had she? Kelly couldn’t remember. She typed it in slowly, in all caps. Then she pressed ENTER. Multiple lines of security code ran across the page instantly. They stacked up and filled the screen. “Alright, that worked. Now what?” Kelly asked.
“About a quarter of the way down, there is reference to Building Access. It will ask for a door override.”
Kelly searched and found it right away. The override code was displayed in front of her.
23874/23874 files checked 100% done
Checking .main_building/access/building_security/doors. . .
Access granted . . .
System security currently activated . . .
Override doors? [y] [n]
“Override doors?” Kelly asked.
“Hit, yes,” Danner said.
“Wait!” Bennett said. “What about the other robots? The ones still inside their cells…” He pointed across the room to the shadowed out factions. Although they couldn’t be seen, there were still four more juggernauts behind the glass.
“It’s ok. Braden needs to activate them first. They are fine…unless he decides to turn them live. We just have to get out of here before that happens,” Danner said.
The information didn’t seem to appease Bennett at all.
“Ok, I’m gonna do it.” Kelly clicked “Yes”. Immediately th
e doors throughout the room all clicked. The locking hinges gave way and the doors were freed. Bennett manually slid the door open and exited the containment. Danner opened his and did the same. As soon as he exited he walked across the room and entered the control room.
“What do you think?” Kelly said.
“About Danner?”
“Yeah. Do we trust him?”
Bennett paused. “He certainly appears to loath Braden. We could certainly use his help getting out of here,” he said.
“What about everything that went down yesterday? He almost shot you. Let alone the fact that he was an absolute jerk.” Kelly was clearly concerned with involving Danner. She was right. Her questions raised valid concerns and caused Bennett to think it through.
“So, do we trust him?”
Danner exited the control room before Bennett could answer. He looked focused—much more so than before.
“Braden took the guns. We’re going to have to make it out of here without them. The supply room is on the east side hall. That’s the objective for now…we’ll have a much better chance if we’re armed,” said Danner.
“Is that the quickest way out of here?” Kelly asked.
“It’s the only way out of here right now,” Danner replied derisively.
“Braden’s got two robots out searching for…” Danner looked at Bennett, awaiting his answer.