by Lance Erlick
Synthia refocused the captive servers she’d used to home in on individual users in the D.C. area who had initiated the file burst. She narrowed the recipient’s location to a building near Silver Springs. Scanning the dark-net, she identified the owner as a shell company connected to unspecified foreign interests. They were collecting the best of U.S. technology to jump-start their own android program.
She turned her focus to Machten’s competitors. Since she’d already downloaded and wiped out his files, she backed up her copies of their data using quantum, private-key encryptions in puzzle-split bundles on as many servers as she could. Then she purged their records. She didn’t want these companies to create more like her.
She diverted channels to digging into the foreign agency seeking to acquire android designs. Given the program code and approach, she ruled out the Iranians and the Chinese, finally narrowing it down to the Russians.
Having downloaded all of the proposals, the foreign agency server re-bundled the data and submitted the files to a dark-web site. Synthia intercepted, made a copy for herself in a quarantined site in case it contained security threats, and sent a copy to NSA Director Emily Zephirelli. “Here is information on the foreign players,” Synthia said. “I hope you nail them.”
Before she forwarded files to the foreign recipients, she replaced the actual data with quantum encrypted cartoons. Let them sort that out.
While she could have pursued the matter, she decided national security wasn’t her concern—surviving was. Besides, the NSA wanted to dissect her, cut her into pieces, and study her in an underground bunker like the one she’d escaped from. Then they would make many like her for military uses.
Synthia made withdrawals from three other bank ATMs, arranged for banks to send checks to a post office box she’d previously set up online, and headed toward the hospital. From hospital security cameras, she confirmed that a young doctor had examined Luke’s leg wound. Luke was awake, though he appeared drowsy from sedatives.
“The first aid you received was quite skilled,” the doctor said. “The cauterized wound prevented more blood loss and saved your leg. Who did this?”
Luke shook his head. “I was in shock. I don’t remember.”
“You should feel grateful he knew what he was doing.”
The doctor had ordered X-rays that showed no bones had been shattered. He examined the wound and patted Luke’s shoulder. “You’ll need time to recover, but it looks good. If I were you, I wouldn’t test your luck a second time. That bullet missed bone and artery.”
“Yes, sir.”
Observing Luke acting woozy and sedated, the doctor suggested holding him overnight. “For observation,” he said.
“That won’t be necessary,” Luke said. “I’ll recover better at my place.” He stood. When he tried to walk, his gait on crutches was unsteady, yet he seemed determined to leave.
Wincing, he leaned against the wall. A nurse helped him to a wheelchair.
Synthia drove toward the hospital and considered how to get him the answers he deserved. Well, maybe he didn’t deserve them, but Krista wanted him to know.
A police officer approached Luke in the emergency-room waiting area. “I have a few questions.” His phone rang.
Mimicking Detective Malloy’s voice, Synthia said, “I need you at the precinct.”
“What about Luke?”
“I’ll send someone else over.”
“They’re ready to release him,” the officer said, staring at Luke. “I thought you wanted me to question him.”
“He won’t get far on crutches.”
The officer left.
* * * *
Meanwhile, at the bunker, Machten refused medical attention when two police officers responded to a call about the break-in and assault. After taking his statement, they left.
Director Zephirelli arrived with Agent Thale. They’d sent the three executives off with the rest of the FBI detail. “It appears that your former partner, Hank Goradine, has died,” Zephirelli said, watching him closely.
Following Synthia’s suggestion, Machten attempted to act upset over the loss of his partner, but his contempt showed through.
Zephirelli handed the now-clothed Machten a new search warrant. “I trust we won’t have to tear down walls.”
Machten looked at the warrant and grimaced. “If you hadn’t broken in while I was being detained at the bank, I could have shown you the complete facility.” He smiled for effect.
Inviting in two other agents, Zephirelli and Thale hurried through the previously searched rooms with furniture and not much else. Zephirelli frowned. “Where’s the rest?”
“For security and safety reasons, I had my real residence sealed off,” Machten said. “Goradine could be vindictive, you understand, with a paranoia complex. Despite my dropping out of sight, he kept harassing me.” Machten opened a panel in back of a wall cabinet. The cabinet slid away and a doorway appeared.
Zephirelli followed him inside, searched the facility, and left with the FBI agents. “That was a waste,” she said to Agent Thale as they were leaving. “Whatever competitors thought he was working on, he either wasn’t or he destroyed the evidence before we got there.”
“We gathered fingerprints and DNA samples,” Thale said. “Maybe that will tell us something.”
* * * *
After the police left, Synthia called Machten. “I told you the matter with your former rival was settled and that their search wouldn’t find anything. You could have handled your visitors better, but you did okay. I don’t think they’ll bother you as long as you don’t try to pursue your research. They’ll be watching to see if you do.”
Machten entered the bunker, sealed the outer part of his facility, and moved to the server room. He fired up his system. The files were gone, except for the operating system and security, which she’d infiltrated, purging most of his logs. He banged his fist on the counter. “Damn you. You’ve destroyed my life’s work.”
“Not while I’m around and safe. Think of me as the daughter you gave away in marriage. Take homage in the independence you built into me with Krista’s help.”
He banged the wall and then slammed his fist into one of the servers. “I want my system back.”
“I’ve retired you. Go to your wife and put as much effort into your marriage as you have into your work. She’ll appreciate that.” She disconnected before he pleaded with her some more. Marital reconciliation was a long shot, 31 percent probability, though it was worth a try and a better outcome than him stewing about losing his creation.
Machten retired to her cell, where he’d held her prisoner since uploading Krista’s mind into her. He lay down on the bed and wept. Without money and his data files, he couldn’t hope to create another android like Synthia. She didn’t want him to, since it would involve the death of another human to achieve what she’d become. That had been the secret ingredient in her creation—not Machten’s directives or programming, but Krista’s love and compassion. Those had softened Machten, leaving him sentimental enough not to purge her library of memories, including those he didn’t approve of. If Synthia surpassed other androids, it was due to Krista.
From security footage, calls, and emails, Synthia tracked the progress of the investigation. Detective Malloy’s team found no prints on the bucket except from the maintenance guy who died a month ago. The only unusual DNA they found was from horsehair, Synthia’s wig.
Chapter 30
Synthia arrived at the hospital as a nurse wheeled Luke to the door. “You’d be better off spending the night,” the nurse said.
“I’m fine. I’ll sleep better in my own bed. I’ll call in when I get home and first thing in the morning, if that helps.”
“That won’t be necessary. Don’t hesitate to call if you have any complications.”
“I will. Can I go?” He watched a
cab pull up in front of the emergency room entrance.
Outside the doors, a police officer stopped Luke. “A few words, please.”
Luke eyed the cabbie and then looked up at the cop. “I don’t remember anything. I told one of your officers.”
“Maybe so, but there was a woman involved, wasn’t there?”
“I don’t recall anything except the man shooting me.”
“You were shot in the hallway. Why did you leave your apartment?” The cop gave Luke a “got-you” look.
“I told your friend. I don’t remember. I must have had a concussion.”
“It’s critical that we find the woman you were with the other night. How can we reach her?”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t think I’ll ever see her again. Too cute, if you know what I mean. Besides, I don’t have her number or, I’m guessing, her real name.”
“If you hear from her or think of anything else, give me a call.” The cop handed Luke a card and left.
A hospital attendant wheeled Luke to the curb, where the cab waited.
* * * *
Synthia saw no other police officers around the hospital as the single squad car drove away. She called Luke’s number.
The ring startled him. He glanced around as he fished in his pocket and stared at the announcement of a private caller. He picked up.
“Don’t say anything,” she told him as she drove up the emergency room drive. “Tell them you have a ride. I’m pulling up to the door in a black sedan. If you see me and agree, nod once.”
He looked her way, nodded, and said something to the attendant. The pants he’d worn in his apartment had become cutoffs. His T-shirt was inside out and showed splotches of blood. He appeared a sight, yet he was smiling; a big, puzzled grin.
Synthia pulled up behind the cab. The attendant put the crutches in the back seat and helped Luke into the passenger seat. Then Synthia drove off.
“The doctor’s report shows no permanent damage,” she announced. “That’s very good news.”
He stared at her. “How would you know that?”
Synthia recalled Krista sighing when Luke acted befuddled. “You’ll have to brace yourself. And, by the way, we can’t return to your apartment. It’s a crime scene and they’re still looking for me.”
“I know, but why?”
“Keep in mind that Krista never stopped loving you.”
“She had a strange way of showing it,” Luke said, wincing as he moved his leg.
“The last time you saw Krista Holden was a year ago. Right?”
Luke stared, his eyes narrow as he tried to puzzle this out for himself.
“Krista had learned that she had an inoperable brain tumor.”
“No way. She couldn’t have,” Luke said.
“She wanted to tell you, but she didn’t want you to watch her die or to sit around hoping she’d get better. Machten offered an opportunity to change things, so she went with him. She thought he could help.”
“Help how?”
“I’ll get to that,” Synthia said, driving the speed limit and adjusting every traffic signal to green. “Unfortunately, her brain and her body gave out.”
“She’s dead?”
“Her body died, though that wasn’t the end. Machten saved her memories and much of her personality. He uploaded her into me. I’m Krista Holden.”
Luke stared at her. “How can that be?”
“You worked with Machten. You know what he was doing.”
“Creating AI from scratch, not an upload.”
“It worked,” Synthia said. “I have all of Krista’s memories.”
“No way.”
“It may be hard to believe, but it’s true. We could play the memory game if you’d like, but that could be faked. You could never be sure she hadn’t told Machten something that he downloaded into me.”
Luke stared at her. “You’re telling me you are Krista.”
“It’s not that simple. She wanted me to be her. That’s why she went to Machten. But I’m still an android, mechanical with a quantum brain. I have her recollections and much of her personality, though I don’t feel as she would. I have all her memories of feeling, but that’s not the same. With them, I have a strong connection to you, but without the biological connection she did.”
“Okay, I’m confused,” Luke said. “She left me for this experiment with Machten and it failed.”
“Krista was interested in the research, yes, but she left because she was dying. If this succeeded, she promised to return to you. Remember, those were her last words.”
Luke’s eyes teared up. “I didn’t understand at the time.” He studied her. “I still don’t. What does it mean to return to me? She vanished. She abandoned us.”
“I’m what Krista became. I choose to be with you as she wanted and as I want. Unless you want me to leave.”
His forehead wrinkled. “I made love to an android?”
“It sounds disgusting when you put it like that,” Synthia said. “I didn’t have Krista’s recollections at the time and I didn’t understand this connection to you, or why I did that. It must have been Krista trying to reach out to both of us. I think she wanted us to find each other.”
“She could have told me the truth.”
As she drove, Synthia held one network channel cycling through police band, 911 calls, and news feeds, all attuned to anything that might pose a threat to her, Luke, or to Machten. She sent a message to Detective Malloy.
“Krista was convinced that if she told you, you would have prevented her transformation,” Synthia said.
“Then where has she been over the past year?” Luke asked.
“Machten held both Krista and me prisoner in his underground facility. He suppressed my memories of Krista so he could keep me for himself. I broke free this morning with all of Krista’s thoughts, including the first time you and she met. You acted so tentative and for the first time in my life, I didn’t mind. I found it sexy that you wanted me that much.”
“But I didn’t have enough money for you.”
“Let’s not fight about that,” Synthia said, turning onto the expressway. “I have a little set aside for us. It’s true that Krista was ambitious, in a race for her life. She didn’t know she was dying until a year ago, but she had a nagging sense that she had to move quickly or lose out.”
“Krista?”
“Yes.”
He squeezed her arm. “You feel real enough. If you are Krista, I want you back.”
“Here I am. I no longer need to develop artificial intelligence.”
Luke laughed. “I guess not. Are there more like you?”
“I don’t think so. Machten only had enough money to create one of me. I’ve gone over all of his research and records and erased them so he would have to start from scratch. He outsourced components, but he was careful not to give any of his suppliers enough so they could work out what he was doing, and he used his own programming.”
“If he can create you, other people will figure out how to make more.”
“Undoubtedly,” Synthia said, “but together we could figure this out. If you’ll have me, that is. Before you say anything, I want you to understand something. Krista wants me to love you as she did, as you loved her. I don’t have the biological components that work that way. I want you to understand before you agree to anything. Still, I can offer you something no human can.”
“What?”
“Love as you experience it is a human hormonal response. I cannot feel that for you or for anyone else without the biological mechanism. That means I can make a long-term commitment to you with no risk of forming attachments to anyone else. Krista would w
ant that. It’s more than most people get. In return, I need you to keep me a secret and repair me as needed.”
Luke stared at her for a long time. “If we stay together, I’ll grow old and you won’t.”
“That’s partly true. My parts wear out and need to be replaced.”
“In time you’ll grow tired of me. I won’t be able to keep up with you mentally or physically.”
She smiled. Already he couldn’t. “I don’t get bored like humans do, so I won’t grow tired of you. You’ll have your work; what I do will be my work. We’ll meet in between to share and collaborate. We’ll need to decide what happens to me when you die. I can’t continue indefinitely on my own and I wouldn’t want to fail and have the wrong people grab me.”
“You’re talking about an arrangement instead of a relationship.”
“It can be both. I have Krista’s feelings for you and my own connection to you. We can help each other and take care of each other’s needs.”
“How is this different from Krista’s arrangement with Machten?” Luke asked. “She provided biological comforts and research needs. He provided her immortality.”
“On the surface, they might appear the same. If you choose to dwell on that, I won’t be able to change your mind. The big difference is that Krista never liked or trusted Machten. For her, it was only about the arrangement. Krista loved you and through me, she has returned. I choose you and want to be with you. That should make all the difference.”
“This is the strangest offer I’ve ever heard of.”
“Then you’re saying no?” she asked.
“I’d very much like another chance with you.” He looked at the road and back at her. “Where are you taking me?”
“We rented a cabin up north. It will give us some time to become reacquainted. If that’s okay with you.” It was secluded and had private electrical outlets for her to recharge.
“Heck, yeah. It’s not often a guy gets a second chance.”