Synthetica

by Rachel Pattinson

  Skye stopped outside a large office. Through the glass walls, Anais could see the plush carpet and a large leafy plant in the corner. All four sides of the office were glass – the wall opposite looked out over the glowing city. An artfully designed desk housing the latest computer stood in the middle of the floor, but there was still plenty of space to walk around the room.

  Skye scanned her ID chip and the door opened soundlessly. Anais was immediately drawn to the view outside the window. She let go of Xander's hand as she went to get a closer look. The city sprawled into the distance; the streetlights beneath her twinkled and reflected off the dark river.

  “Who's office is this?” she heard Xander ask.

  “My own,” replied Skye, booting up the computer. She had to scan her ID chip again before it would start up. The holographic screen flickered into life. Anais watched as Skye began to call up different files, Clay by her side.

  “What kind of thing do you need?” she was asking him.

  “I need to get into the mainframe, then into your secure server,” Clay was saying, as he began to manipulate the hologram, almost too fast for Anais to see. “If anyone's hacked into your system, that's where they'll have gone. Have you got a copy of the SLP program on your computer?”

  “Yes,” Skye said, pointing to a file on screen.

  “It's an exact copy of the original?” Clay asked, pausing in what he was doing to look at her. Skye nodded.

  “That's the back-up server, in case anything goes wrong with -” she started, but Clay shook his head.

  “No, I mean, do you have a copy of the file that's just on this computer? If someone's hacked into your secure server, they'll have checked for back-up files as well. I need a file that can't possibly have been tampered with,” Clay said. Anais couldn't help being impressed, despite the conversation going over her head. Skye frowned.

  “One of the designers sent me a copy of the file a couple of months ago – he sent it to all the directors so they could approve it. I kept my copy so I could write a press release about how the SLPs would work. It'll have changed since then though, it was only the first prototype. Like I said, all our final research files and designs are on that secure server,” she said.

  “Doesn't matter,” grunted Clay as he went back to the screen. “So long as we've got something to compare the file with, that's all that counts.”

  Anais and Xander watched in silence as Clay accessed the systems he needed. The computer bleeped and the hologram in front of them turned red, as the system realised someone was trying to access a sensitive area. Unfazed, Clay started to type in a code, his expression serious as he concentrated. After a moment the screen went back to normal and Anais could now see the blueprint of a program on the screen – the SLPs. She had to admit it looked impressive, even if she didn't understand all the diagrams she was seeing. Clay touched a small part of the diagram, and immediately the screen filled with code. Skye's mouth was open as she realised that Clay had hacked into the secure server where all Civitas' sensitive data was kept.

  “I'm setting up a meeting with our Head of Security first thing tomorrow,” Anais heard her mutter.

  “Right, this is the file that was on the secure server,” Clay said. “This is what the SLPs that are being launched tomorrow will have been produced from. And this -” he stopped and pulled up another diagram, and pressed it so the code appeared again. “This is the copy Skye received.”

  He reached out and resized the two windows so they sat side by side on the screen. Skye frowned at the ease in which he was able to access her private files, but she didn't say anything.

  “Now,” he said. “Let's take a look at what's going on.”

  Anais stared at the two windows of code that were floating in the air, but to her it all looked like gibberish. Xander was scrutinising the programs too. He drew in a sharp intake of breath, just as Clay swore and began feverishly searching through the files.

  “What?” Anais asked, looking at Xander. “What is it?”

  “No – there must be – surely they can't have -” Clay was muttering wildly to himself as he enlarged sections of code, before shutting them down again and searching again.

  “Have you found something?” Skye asked, her voice sharp with worry. Anais couldn't help feeling a tiny glow of satisfaction at the thought of Skye's distress that someone had managed to get past Civitas' security systems. That feeling soon faded as Clay looked grimly up at her.

  “Well Annie, it looks as though you were right,” he said finally.

  Anais' mouth went dry.

  “What is it?” Anais repeated.

  “That program has been manipulated,” Xander told her in a quiet voice, his face pale. “Look.”

  He reached over Clay's arm and brought up the two files again. He pointed to a section in each.

  “This is the part that has the subject information on it. It'll be different for each SLP, but they'll all follow the same basic blueprint – this one,” he pointed to the file that had come from the secure server. “But look at this.”

  Xander pointed to the copy from Skye's computer.

  “This is what it should look like. It's telling us what subject will be downloaded, and the process the SLP should follow so it downloads smoothly into our ID chips. Even if other parts of the program have been updated in the last few months, this part should stay the same. But with this one...”

  He pointed to the other file. And although Anais didn't have a clue what it meant, even she could see the extra lines of code that were present on the second file. And now that she could see them, they seemed glaringly obvious, standing out from the innocuous code around them.

  “What does it say?” she whispered, her heart thumping in her chest.

  “It's a link to another program,” Clay growled. “It's telling whoever downloads the information from these SLPs to forget the subject they've just supposedly learnt about and replaced it with something else...but I can't tell what.”

  Clay looked up at Skye.

  “Just how many of these programs have you produced using this?”

  Skye swallowed nervously.

  “We – we manufactured around 10,000 for the launch tomorrow,” Skye said, her voice barely audible. “And we have another 20,000 being produced as we speak.”

  Clay simply looked at her.

  “Well then darlin' I hope you've got some way to recall all these SLPs. Because if you don't, we're in a whole heap of shit.”

  *

  It was at that moment that a blare of noise blasted out of the speakers.

  Anais clamped her hands over her ears, wincing.

  “What the hell is that?” she shouted.

  Through the glass walls, she could see orange lights flashing down the corridor. The alarm quietened for a moment as an automated voice boomed out.

  “Please remain calm. This is not a drill. Please make your way to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion. The authorities are on their way. Please remain calm...”

  “What did you do?” Xander yelled over the noise at Clay.

  “That wasn't me,” Clay shouted back. “Someone else must've set it off.”

  “Everyone out!” Skye barked. Anais had to hand it to her - even in a crisis Skye was remarkably composed. Her face was still pale, but her eyes glittered with determination.

  Anais and Xander ran to the door, Clay hot on their heels. Skye paused for a moment to shut down her computer. As soon as they were outside the room, Clay grabbed Anais' arm.

  “I can't be here,” he shouted above the noise, his fingers biting into Anais' arm. His eyes were wide with fear. “You understand me? I can't be here.”

  “Let go,” Anais struggled under his grip. She pulled his hand off her and ran to the window, peering down at the street way below.
Several police cabs raced around the corner, their red and blue lights flashing frantically. She could see more flashing lights coming from the opposite direction. She swore.

  She whirled round. Skye was just coming out of the office.

  “They can't see him,” Anais shouted over the chaos, nodding towards to Clay. “The police can't know I'm here either.”

  Skye paused just long enough to give her a searching look, before nodding.

  “Follow me.”

  They raced down the corridor, but instead of heading towards the bank of lifts, Skye veered left and led them towards the back of the building. Anais' heart pounded painfully in her chest as she ran. She could not be caught by the police again.

  The orange lights still flashed on the walls, dazzling Anais' eyes. Through the roar of blood in her ears, she could still hear the alarm and the automated message playing on a loop.

  Skye stopped by a large steel lift.

  “This is the supply lift,” she shouted. “It'll take you down to the supply corridor.”

  “Won't it be cut off too?” Xander asked.

  “You'll have to override it,” Skye said. She nodded towards Anais and Clay as she spoke.

  “What about you and Xander?” Anais asked.

  “We'll take the normal lift. With any luck, they'll be focusing on the main areas of the building. We can buy you some time, but you'll need to move fast. Get yourselves out of the building, I'll contact you tomorrow. We can meet at the parade.”

  Anais turned to Xander, not wanting to leave him after being with him through so much. But she knew she had no choice. He pulled her to him and kissed her softly.

  “Message me the second you get home,” he said in her ear. “I'll see you soon, okay?”

  She nodded.

  Clay shouted for her, and she reluctantly pulled out of Xander's arms. Clay had already managed to open the doors and he was waiting impatiently inside the lift for her. She slipped inside beside him. The doors began to close and she caught one last glimpse of Xander smiling at her, though his eyes remained full of worry.

  The doors clanged shut and Clay began manipulating the keypad. With a rumble, the lift started its descent. The only good thing about this situation was that this lift was much bigger than the others, meaning that Anais could put a comfortable distance between herself and Clay. She crossed the enclosed space and folded her arms as she leant against the wall, deliberately ignoring him.

  “Look, Annie, I know you're mad at me. But you gotta believe me, I was doing what I had to do.”

  Clay's voice was as gruff as ever. He wasn't looking at Anais as he spoke; instead, he was staring straight ahead at the lift doors.

  “I don't believe you,” Anais said at once.

  “Yeah? Why's that then?”

  “Why didn't you take us straight to one of the offices? Why take us to that particular lab?” Now that they were alone, all of the angry thoughts that had been buzzing around her head burst out before she could stop them. “Were you trying to set us up?”

  Clay turned and contemplated her.

  “No,” he said. “I wasn't.”

  “Then why? Why bother -” Anais stopped short. She couldn't believe it had taken her so long to ask her next question. “What was on that computer drive you had?”

  Clay didn't answer.

  “Clay, what was on that drive?”

  “Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about,” Clay said stubbornly.

  “What have you done?”

  “I said nothing,” Clay snapped. “I ain't done anything wrong. It's none of your business. But if it makes you feel any better, it wasn't a virus.”

  “Strangely enough, no, that doesn't make me feel any better.”

  “Look, I had nothing to do with these SLPs if that's what you're thinking. I'm not a murderer,” Clay said, looking her in the eye. Anais stared back. From where she was standing she could see the faint outline of the scar on the top of his head.

  “You know what, Clay? I think that's the only honest thing you've said to me tonight,” she said quietly. The tips of Clay's ears went pink.

  “I have another question for you,” Anais said. Clay sighed.

  “Out with it then,” he grumbled.

  “Does your ID chip work like everyone else's? Can Civitas and the police track you?” Her eyes were on the top of his head as she spoke. Clay touched the spot self-consciously.

  “I don't know. I don't plan to find out either.”

  The rest of their ride passed in silence, Clay having made it obvious he wasn't prepared to answer Anais' questions in any more detail. Anais' stomach was in knots as the lift finally slowed to a halt. There was no way of telling if there were any police on the other side of the door. There was nothing they could do if there was. The doors opened, the light from the lift spilling out into the darkness beyond. Anais breathed a sigh of relief. There was no one there.

  The pair crept out of the lift, Anais grateful for the alarm that was covering any noises they might accidentally make. They were at the very back of atrium – Anais could see the bank of lifts up ahead. On their right were several doors, but Anais knew from their earlier break-in that they needed the very last one at the end of the narrow hall, before it opened out into the vast reception area.

  They froze as they heard shouting up ahead. Flashlights were bouncing around the atrium as police officers checked the area for intruders. Outside, Anais could see the lights flashing from the police cabs through the glass.

  “We're going to have to make a run for it,” Clay breathed in her ear. Anais nodded.

  As quietly as they could, they sped towards the door, keeping low in case one of the flashlights found them. They had almost reached the door – Anais' fingertips were inches from it – when she heard a voice that made her stop dead.

  “Halt!”

  Terrified, they both froze. In that same moment, the alarm shut off, the last of the sirens ringing in Anais' ears. The orange lights cut out, leaving bright spots in her vision.

  Anais slowly turned around, but to her confusion, there was no one there. And then she realised – Xander and Skye's lift had arrived. Every searchlight was now focused on a spot outside of Anais' eyesight, but she knew where they were pointing. She gasped as she realised exactly how many police officers were in that space. There were at least thirty spots of light concentrating on the area by the bank of lifts, each one belonging to a different officer. Now that she knew how many there were, it seemed like nothing short of a miracle that her and Clay had made it as far as they had.

  Clay jabbed her in the back, but she couldn't move. She had to know that Xander was okay.

  “Identify yourselves,” an authoritative voice rang out. Anais could feel the dampness on her palms. She swallowed hard, her heart thumping. She knew that voice.

  A tall police officer detached himself from the shadows by the main doors. Even in the dim light cast by the torches, Anais would've recognised that sharp profile anywhere. The whole room spun and nausea rose up in her stomach as Officer Nox advanced on the lift, his gun raised. This can't be happening, she thought, as panic began to rise within her.

  Clay gave her another insistent poke, but she resisted. Ignoring Clay's hiss, she crept over to the metal column and the large potted tree that had been blocking her view of the lifts, and peered through the leafy branches. She still couldn't see Xander or Skye, but the light from the lift was casting their shadows on the floor. She could see Nox's face clearer now, his grey eyes gleaming in the half light. His dark green hair was swept back off his face, his face somehow still full of arrogance despite the situation.

  “I'm Skye Belaforte,” Anais heard Skye's calm voice. “I'm head of PR here, and I'm also on the company's board of directors. By all means, I'm hap
py for you to check my ID if you need further clarification.”

  “What are you doing here?” Nox's voice cut through the air. Anais could just imagine the look on Skye's face at Nox's tone.

  “I was double checking a few last minute details for the parade tomorrow,” Skye said smoothly.

  “Who tripped the alarm?”

  “He did.” Anais saw Skye's shadow gesture towards Xander. Nox's eyes narrowed over his gun.

  “And why is he here with you?”

  “I was on night duty,” Anais' heart constricted at hearing Xander's voice. She prayed with all her might that Nox would let them go. “I accidentally set it off. I'm an intern, I didn't realise what I was doing.”

  For one wild moment, Anais thought they'd managed to pull it off. She could almost sense the eye rolls; disapproval was coming off in waves from the other officers at his explanation. But then she caught sight of the expression on Nox's face and her heart plummeted.

  “Hang on...” Nox said slowly. He stepped towards the lift. “I know you.”

  He went right up to the lift, almost out of Anais' range of vision. His brow furrowed as he struggled to remember where he'd seen Xander before. Then his expression cleared. As fast as lightning, he raised his gun again.

  “Search the building,” he suddenly shouted to the police around him. “There's someone else here, a girl. Find her, don't let her go.”

  Before he'd even got the words out, Anais knew it was game over. She was already running for her life. She shot past Clay and wrenched the door to the supply corridor open, remembering at the last moment to close the door as quietly as possible. Through the metal she could already hear the running footsteps, and Nox's voice shouting orders.

  “Come on!” she hissed at Clay, setting off at a run down the corridor.

  “What on earth do they want you for?” she heard Clay puff behind her, but she had no time to answer. From behind them, she thought she could hear a bang and a shout as the police drew closer. Her eyes alighted on one of the supply closet doors that was slightly ajar.

  “In here,” she said, pulling the door open and darting inside. Clay followed her, softly closing the door behind them. They drew back from the glass door, going deeper into the closet. There was just enough room for them to squeeze behind a pile of crates which, according to the peeling labels on their sides, had once housed cleaning products.