“Should we try to crack the channel? If we strike now we could-”
“No,” Corson said firmly. “It would only alert the Network security and kill our chances of getting close to the target. We need to try and hack Zack’s sister’s account as discreetly as possible. The last thing I need is World Moderators chasing us now.”
“What if they cancel the concert and the target leaves the Network?”
Corson folded his arms. “Then we will just have to seek alternative means to get ahold of her, but rest assured,” Corson hummed confidently. “I’m already prepared to compensate.”
“I see,” Laura said proudly. “Then we shall hold position until your order. Commander Richter, out.” Laura’s image vanished and was replaced by the grid layout of the concert location in the Network. Corson eyed the layout carefully.
What is your next move, boy?
“Alert, incoming transmission. Transmission encrypted, no video log,” came the monotone voice of the computer once more.
Corson stared at the screen intently. “Put it through.” His words were harsh.
The screen turned to static as an altered voice sounded.
“I overestimated Stigma’s abilities. Your little gang is clearly unreliable.”
Corson’s eyes thinned. “You have some gall contacting me only to say that. You didn’t honor our agreement. Lambda was to obey us.”
There was silence. Only the image of static could be seen by Corson’s dark eyes.
“Lambda was reset as you requested. It was you who failed to get there in time. I’m not responsible for every little variable. That was your job to consider and account for.” The voice was plain-spoken, which infuriated Corson.
“What do you mean? We arrived promptly to the scene where Lambda appeared. So answer me—why was a simple, normal boy able to control Lambda?” Corson’s voice carried with a unsettling fury.
“You fail to grasp the situation. Lambda was only able to be reprogrammed where the first person it sees is to be recognized as its Master Control. Its AI intelligence functions like an infant child as it imprints on the first biological human it scans optically. Since its programming was altered and reset, this also reset its master. You failing to get there when it appeared is not my-”
Corson slammed his fist on the terminal. “You never once stated this! How were we to know this was going to happen when you said it would simply obey us when we retrieved it?!” he fumed. It boiled his blood not being able to know who he was talking to.
Corson quickly regained his composure. “So, you mean to tell me Lambda will now obey this Zack Knight boy?”
“Correct. Unless Lambda is reset, it will see the boy as its master. Though at this stage, it would be near impossible to reset it,” replied the contact frankly.
Corson paused momentarily. “Fine, what are Lambda’s limitations now that it is obeying the boy?”
Silence gripped the room once more.
Corson’s eye twitched. “I said-”
“There are none.”
Corson fell silent as he suddenly felt a little uneasy. “You mean to tell me that the Lambda unit will do anything the boy says?”
“Correct. Lambda has been set to consider this Zack character as a top priority. Lambda will not question any command from him.”
Corson glared, but at the same time, began to laugh wickedly. He knew a system reset for Lambda now was impossible, but his need for Zack’s cooperation became all the more needed for his plan.
“If that is the case, then, all I need to do is control Zack. Sounds simple.”
The contact was about to say something but trailed off. Corson seized the opening.
“What is your angle here? Why contact us after Lambda has evaded us, but not before? What are you trying to do?” Corson asked rigidly.
A few seconds passed with no reply.
“You need not worry of my plans. I simply wish to see what Lambda can do. You would be wise to not threaten the boy though. Who knows what a scared child will do when he is backed into a corner while holding a gun.” The contact’s words were grim.
Corson stuck up his chin. “I will handle the situation. It isn’t your concern.”
“For now it isn’t. You would be wise to understand that.”
The screen went black and quickly was replaced with the image from before. The room felt hollow as Corson rolled over the conversation in his head.
“Did you get that, Nerine?”
The small video window appeared on the large screen before Corson with the energetic face of Nerine.
“Of course. The person was using a complex code to hide their location, but with time, I should be able to pinpoint where it came from. Perhaps then we can get a lead on this arrogant jerk.”
Corson chuckled. “See to it that it is done in a timely manner. I need results if I’m to make any progress in that area.”
Nerine gave a salute while winking playfully. “Understood, the Diamond Lilly is on the scene.”
The window cut out seconds later, leaving Corson to mull over his thoughts once more. He then put a hand to his mask, drumming it with his fingers.
“In time, all will be as I see. Corson the Black God can’t, and will not, fail.”
* * *
[January 6th - Cyber Network, Private Server 23D11 - Day]
Cecilia sat completely dumbstruck. Over the last twenty minutes or so, Zack had explained his situation in stunning detail. It sounded unreal to the point of pure fiction. However, she couldn’t shake the gravity of his tone as he spoke. Stigma wanted her, as a way to get to Zack who had Lambda. Despite being told all this, it still put her in position where she had to make a very difficult choice.
“I’m not canceling the concert,” Cecilia stated bluntly.
Zack nearly fell over. “Did you not hear a word I just said!?” he shouted, regaining his sense of balance once more.
Zack reeled on the inside. He really had hoped Cecilia would get onboard when he told her the whole truth. Now, he was starting to lose his patience.
Cecilia folded her arms and pursed her lips. “It’s not like we are in the physical world. Here they can’t kidnap me.”
Zack reeled on the outside now. “Don’t you get it!? They will hack your Avatar and account. When they do that, they will be able to find your location. They will come and get you, wherever your agency has your body held up!”
This angered Cecilia. Right now, she couldn’t help but feel pent up as Zack tried to make her understand. The more he tried, the less she wanted to hear it.
“How do you expect them to be able to get to me during the concert? There are countless AI programs and security forces set up for my concert. You expect that Stigma is going to be able to get through all of that?” Cecilia shot back heatedly.
Zack groaned. “Stigma is notorious for causing chaos in order to fulfill their goal. What makes you think a little security is going to deter them?” Zack shot back strongly.
Cecilia didn’t want to hear this anymore. She took to standing and glared at Zack. “I’m doing this concert no matter what! Even if the world explodes or our parents don’t show up, I don’t care . . . I’m doing it!”
Zack was a little taken aback. The fresh tears forming on the corner of Cecilia’s eyes told him that she was far too emotional and stubborn to be persuaded at this point.
Zack exhaled heavily, shaking his head. His temples were throbbing with frustration. “This is ridiculous,” he groaned. “Why are you being so selfish right now?”
Cecilia didn’t know the answer. There was something about the whole situation and the girl named Lambda that she didn’t like. It reminded her of a time that she couldn’t stand to look at her brother. Back then, something to do with AI units took place. She didn’t like the way Zack looked and moped around the house then. She didn’t want that event to repeat.
Cecilia looked to Zack and then to the girl standing
behind him. “Why are you with her?”
Zack’s face twitched. For some reason, he found Cecilia’s word choice rude.
“Her name is Lambda. Try to at least manage that,” Zack said with a little force.
Cecilia heard Zack’s warning. She decided it wouldn’t be a good idea to test his patience given the subject at the moment.
“What do you plan to do if Stigma shows up, anyway? You’ll probably just get in the way of the real security.” She had a bit of sass weighing on her words.
Zack ignored the attitude. “Your staff security isn’t aware of Stigma appearing at this event, whereas I am. If I were to inform your staff of this, they would immediately cancel the event given Stigma’s reputation. They wouldn’t want to risk it since they aren’t stupid.”
Cecilia turned her head away from Zack as she puffed out her cheeks. “That or they will think you’re just a crazed fan.”
“More like concerned and worried older brother.”
Cecilia stuck up her nose. “They won’t see it like that, I’m sure.”
Lambda broke into the conversation. “Lambda would like to confirm something.”
Cecilia looked at Lambda with scorn. Zack found this alarming, as just moments before, she was asking Lambda to be part of her dancers and allow her to copy the outfit she had on to her Avatar and use it for her back-up dancers too. That, of course, was before Zack brought her up to speed. Now, she just seemed to think of Lambda as another enemy of sorts. This confused Zack; he didn’t understand his sister sometimes.
“Go ahead, Lambda,” Zack said, sounding tired.
Lambda nodded. “This event is to begin at five o’clock Eastern Standard Time correct?”
“Yeah . . . so?” Zack replied almost bored.
Cecilia’s eyes grew wide as her mouth sat slightly agape.
Not knowing the cause, Lambda stated her observation. “Lambda would like to note that your blood relative’s heart rate has increased alarmingly,” she said as she turned to Zack.
Zack caught on quickly. Sheepishly, he let out a small laugh. “What is the time, Lambda?”
“4:37 pm EST.”
It was almost comedic how casually she stated it.
[6]
High King
[January 6th - Washington D.C. - Pentagon, Underground Chamber 34 - Night]
Charles stood firm as he stared at the metal doors of the elevator he was riding in. Slowly, the steel cage was moving to an area that few had access to.
Just beneath the Pentagon was a large amount of private chambers that were used by high-level government officials as secure conference rooms. These rooms were designed in an effort to keep top-level secrets from reaching the wrong ears. At the moment, the Director was about to join a large group of very powerful men from all over the world to discuss the state of their project and the plans for Lambda’s future.
Charles shook his head. “This is too soon. The Board isn’t going to like what I have to report,” he said, letting out a heavy sigh. Before, he was told that he had six hours. In the end, he was barely given three.
The elevator stopped and retracted the doors. Charles marched forward where he was greeted by a giant room with a massive table at the center. The room looked to be made of black glass and reflected lines of blue light from along the square-shaped pieces that made up the room. Charles took a seat at the end of the massive table. There was only one chair in the room. The emptiness of the vast area was soon filled by Charles’ words.
“Web link engage, server code: L11 - 12113241.”
“Server code accepted. Commencing data link. Welcome back, Director 13,” awoke a voice from within the room of black glass. The mechanical voice had more of a human touch to it, but still had a lingering emptiness in its tone.
Charles waited patiently as he watched the long table quickly be filled with dozens of monitors that floated in place. Each screen displayed a different person, represented by the overseeing Director. Men, women, Asian, Russian, English; not a single person or place was left unrepresented.
“Let’s just get on with this,” started Charles with an imposing stare. “So, who would like to go first?”
The long line of monitors was silent at first.
“Where do we stand in the operation?” The prominent voice belonged to one of the Directors located on the western side of the United States. Charles couldn’t remember his name. The man’s features were old and looked to have far too many miles on them; yet his shined head and nicely pressed suit gave him a look of importance.
“I have enlisted aid in the effort to bring in Lambda. As far as damage control, the public is unaware of the events involving Lambda’s escape as of now.”
One of the monitors grew in size and appeared in front of Charles. It was the second District Director located in Hong Kong. His eyes looked like a cobra, hidden behind his thin pair of glasses.
“This aid of yours, they are part of your reserve?” the man probed.
Charles sighed. “They are Void Moderators from Babel.”
The monitors began to chatter. Charles groaned, knowing what was to come.
“So, then Babel is aware of your failure.”
Charles scowled. “Mr. Ling, I’m aware of the circumstances, but Babel was going to find out about this either way. Better to enlist their manpower than to try and fix a problem we simply can’t solve by ourselves. Without the Void Moderators, it would be like fixing a dam with duct tape,” Charles responded powerfully.
Mr. Ling fell silent, but only for a moment. “Have you heard anything directly from the Twelve or the High Kings, given current matters?”
More of the monitors began to chatter and murmur words of discontent.
Charles’ stare darkened as he peered up at the monitor displaying Mr. Ling. “I have received no words from the Twelve or the Three. Given this, I’m sure that they are confident that we can fix this problem without their direct involvement-”
Mr. Ling’s monitor vanished and was quickly replaced with a new image before Charles. The man on the monitor wore a patch over his right eye and had short, jagged, black hair darting out like a spiked mace. Charles found the man unsightly as he had a thin face with a rather sickly grin, hindered only by his sucking on some kind of candy stick.
Charles stared at the man intently. He noted the emblem on the man’s breast. It was a picture of a gold planet with a silver ring around it that complemented his white uniform. It was the emblem of Babel. The other observation Charles noted was that below the emblem was a fixture attached to the gold pin. It looked to take on the shape of an eye that appeared to be inflamed. It was then that Charles lost some color in his face.
“District Director 13, Charles Baldwin,” the man hissed with a smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” The man continued to smile with his sick grin. It disturbed Charles.
Charles regained his composure as he straightened. “The honor is mine,” Charles said with a small bow as he sat. His darkened eyes didn’t quiver as he glared up at the looming man in the screen.
Why now?
The man pulled out the piece of candy he was sucking on and tossed it to the side.
“The Twelve felt that I should be a part of this meeting as I’m the acting commander of the Void Moderators that have been sent to aid you,” the man said playfully.
One of the monitors spoke up. “Since when do High Kings oversee their own Void Moderators personally?” The voice of the man speaking was a Director from India.
The man glared. “You ought to show a little respect to your superiors, old man. One whisper to the Twelve and I can have you on the street.”
The man said no more as Charles drew the attention back to him.
“If you are indeed here on orders by the Twelve, can you contribute to the cause in bringing in Lambda?”
The man seemed intrigued. “Ah, yes. I’ve had my eye on that creation of yours ever since it managed to
escape. So tell me . . . how fares Babel’s little Enforcer?”
The room fell silent. The man’s words seemed to ring ominously in the glass chamber.
“What do you mean by Enforcer?” Charles could tell right away that the man before him knew more than he was letting on.
The man in the screen didn’t seem pleased as he peered down at Charles.
“You are a smart man, figure it out,” he replied harshly. He shook his head and started laughing. “At any rate, the Void Moderators I sent will be able to get the job done. You have my word. That should suffice, no?”
Charles was doubtful. “Lambda brought down Class Five God Mods like it was nothing. No human could possibly bring it down so easily, even in the Network.”
The man taunted as he waved his finger at Charles. He found it insulting.
“I’m Dead Eye, the second High King. You will never hear anyone question my ability.”
Charles felt his whole body racked with chills. “And why do I not feel comfortable about that?”
Dead Eye sneered. “Because they are all dead.”
Charles shuddered. Add one more problem to the list.
* * *
[January 6th - Washington D.C. - Cyber Research Plant - Night]
Karen eyed her Com-Linker strongly as she stared at the screen on her wrist. Her thumb was hovering over the send button. There was a contact on the front screen and the “call” tab was highlighted. She didn’t like having to resort to calling a friend for something in this manner, but given the circumstances, she felt it would serve her interests well.
I’m sure she will rise to the occasion.
She pressed the button. The earpiece lit up within her lobe as the call was sent. She waited silently as the rings continued to climb in count. Four rings, five rings, six rings-
“Karen? This is odd of you to call with this number-”
“Margret, I need your assistance.” She was still rigid from her encounter with Charles, but she managed to keep her composure, speaking calmly.
The Genesis Code 1: Lambda Page 9