by D. B. Goodin
Reckoning of Delta Prime
Cyber Teen Project 3
D. B. Goodin
Copyright © 2021 by D. B. Goodin
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction; any references to persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
For more information about the Cyber Teen Project series visit:
www.cyberteenproject.com
https://reckoningofdeltaprime.com
www.dbgoodinbooks.com
www.davidgoodinauthor.com
ISBN: 978-1-7350736-4-4 (Paperback)
ISBN:978-1-7350736-5-1 (Hardback)
For my Family who has supported my writing since the beginning. And to the ever growing fanbase of the Cyber Teen Project.
Contents
Preface
Exclusive Bonus Offer
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Continue the Adventure
A Favor
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also By D. B. Goodin
Preface
It’s been a long journey, but I’m pleased to present the third installment of Nigel’s saga. For many reasons, this one was a lot harder to write than the previous two. Originally I had expected to write only three books. Nigel’s story has expanded and will continue with a fourth installment. I will post updates to that project via my reader group and Facebook pages soon.
I hope you enjoy it.
As with all my books I have altered the names of specific technology used in this book to protect copyrights.
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Sign up to the D. B. Goodin reader group and get the very first issue of the Cyber Teen Project Graphic Novel for FREE. This issue is exclusive to the reading list and won’t be available anywhere else. To sign up for this exclusive offer please visit https://reckoningofdeltaprime.com, or use the “Contact Us” form at https://www.davidgoodinauthor.com
Chapter 1
The cyborg known as Delta explored the webwork, that was April Mason’s unconscious mind. Although the two shared a body of a teenage girl, April was still a child. It reminded Delta of one inescapable truth. April’s essence was imbued with artificial intelligence, which sometimes fought back. Exploring April’s mind was like charting an unknown territory in a virtual simulation. Delta felt a menacing presence as three screeching monkeys approached from behind. Although Delta took precautions, her goal was to be as transparent as possible. April’s defenses would activate when she got too close.
It happened again, but this time I’m ready, Delta thought.
Every time she got too close to the vast drawers of information that was tucked away in April Mason’s mind, an attack ensued. The attackers always came in groups of three.
Today it’s monkeys and yesterday it was a three-headed temple dog. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?
Using the information that she scavenged from April’s memories, she learned April had a unique bond with animals. Delta adjusted her mind palace, her personal interface, as she programmed the controls of April’s dream state. Delta could manipulate anything she encountered in April’s mind. She had to be careful. Delta ducked as one of the larger monkeys hurled a gigantic tome in her direction. The book landed at Delta’s feet with a thud. Some pages had fallen out of the book. Delta was about to throw the book at the naughty monkey when she noticed the title: April’s day at the zoo. An image of April Mason being pushed in a wheelchair by her grandfather appeared. Three monkeys approached April’s wheelchair. The largest monkey was bowing before April. Her perception of the halls that comprised April Mason’s collective life experiences was fading. She had to get to her safe area before April awoke—
April Mason was in a hallway with no beginning or end. No matter which direction she chose, the scenery didn’t change.
I think I’ve slept enough, but why can’t I wake? she wondered. Where is the door that leads to consciousness?
The hallway shook, and then cracks appeared in the floors, walls, and ceiling, all emitting an orange light. She turned and ran, trying to avoid the widening crevasse that was once a hallway, but it was no use. April tried holding on to the remnants of the floor as they faded away.
She fell.
April opened her eyes. She was in a strange but familiar location. The room resembled a bedroom with hospital equipment. She could barely move her head due to the various wires and tubes required to keep the IVs and machines going. She particularly hated the electrodes, because she couldn’t turn her head without feeling their pull. The nurse would come in, inject her IV with something, and then leave. Then sleepy time would resume.
Delta awoke to an area that resembled a bedroom. She recognized objects important to April, but not to her. Beside the bed was a nightstand with a glass of water. The other side of the bed contained equipment that belonged in a hospital room and its presence looked unnatural.
When April was asleep Delta was in control of the cyborg body and she watched with intent, looking for an opportunity, but none came. Occasionally a familiar-looking woman would appear and say something to the dolt who kept her prisoner in this room.
I feel weak, she thought.
Delta had been watching a red button next to a fool for what seemed like an eternity. She wanted to press the red button next to the door. It tantalized her.
I wonder what will happen if that button gets pressed? Something bad, or something good?
Delta watched the man in the white uniform for a long time. She studied his weaknesses. He removed a package of cigarettes, then put them back. She wondered what he was doing when he would take a long white stick out of the package, then smell it. Sometimes he sniffed the package. After a while he would put the package away. Especially when others were coming.
He doesn’t know I’m watching. I just need to wait for the right moment—
Suddenly, Delta’s vision blurred.
I’m losing control . . . not again!
A familiar wave of nausea overcame her as she was being placed in the back seat of April’s mind.
I will take full control of this body—I need to explore—
Darkness.
Delta awoke to the familiar face of a pretty woman whom she recognized.
Mother?
A man dressed in a white coat approached the woman. “Ms. Mason, may I have a word in private?”
The woman headed toward the man, but hesitated.
“You can talk to me right here,” she answered.
Delta could barely make out their words, so she tried controlling her enhanced hearing interface, but her systems were offline. She tried to move one of her fingers, but there was
no response. She could move her eyes and her eyelids, but even that was difficult.
What’s happening? This IV seems to be paralyzing me.
“It’s not safe—she can hear,” the man said.
“She’s not going anywhere, especially not with the IV, so I don’t think you need to worry.”
“Your daughter’s cyborg host is functioning—for now—but she has taken on more than she can handle, and her brain is overwhelmed,” the man said in a low voice.
“How long does she have?”
“It’s hard to say, but your daughter will need to be transferred into another host soon.”
The woman gazed longingly at her daughter’s new body.
“Can we purge the AI that merged with her?” she asked.
“Possibly, but I don’t have the skills to do it.”
“Then get me someone who can.”
Delta didn’t require sleep, but something in the IV made it difficult to keep her eyes open.
She tried to fight it, but it was no use. As the room went out of focus, Delta prepared herself for the nightmares to come.
Delta opened her eyes again; she was strapped to a metal table.
How long was I out? This is not right? Am I dreaming?
An older woman entered the room. Delta struggled to move her arms, but she could only manage to move one finger; the belts did their job of restraining her.
“What do you need from me?” Delta asked.
The woman glanced at her but didn’t answer. It was almost if she couldn’t hear anything Delta was saying.
A man entered. He had a trimmed beard and bore the plain vestments of a monk.
“Are you ready for the disposition voidance transformation?” the man said.
“No, Jeremiah, if we do it now her mind will be lost, and her body cannot survive without it.”
“We need to save April, even if it kills the construct known as Delta-51.”
“Again, I’m against this course of action.”
The man seemed to consider for a moment.
“You have other Delta constructs, do you not?”
“No, I’ve moved onto the Echo phase.”
“Good, then she will receive an upgrade. Now start the procedure.”
The woman put on an AR visor, then performed some hand gestures. She looked into Delta’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, my child, but this is going to hurt,” she said.
The woman tapped something in the virtual space.
What’s happening? Delta fretted. Is this a dream? It feels real—
Every nerve ending in Delta’s cyborg body came alive; it was like someone had set them on fire. Delta convulsed. The bearded man known as Jeremiah looked into Delta’s eyes.
“April, my dear, come back to me,” he whispered.
The pain ramped up a level, and Delta screamed. The room spun, and then . . .
Darkness again.
Sometime later, Delta awoke to a darkened room. She was alone.
I need to punish the bad actors, the demon seeds who corrupt everything they touch, Delta silently seethed. April’s grandfather failed to expose them with his failed master plan, but I will continue his work and make them pay! I just need to escape.
One of Delta’s hands jerked. She moved her head, then sat up.
I’m no longer paralyzed.
Delta removed the electrodes. A piercing beeping noise emitted from a nearby machine. She was about to remove the IV when the dolt rushed back in. He was holding a full IV bag. She glanced at the IV stand; the bag was empty.
Time to get out of here.
The man pushed her down against the bed. Delta was weak, but strong enough to push the man off her. The man stumbled back, then picked up a phone fastened to the wall.
“She’s awake, I need help—”
Delta was looking at the man when a metal rod suddenly pierced his throat. He was bleeding profusely and trying to say something as he sputtered blood from his neck and mouth.
I did this?
Delta realized that she was standing next to the man with bloody hands. She was detached, like she was watching a film.
“Get her!” a male voice said behind her.
A group of men all dressed in white entered the room and grabbed her. She pushed one of them out of the way, and he went flying into another man. Then Delta ran toward the door—and saw the red button.
It’s so close!
Delta fended off the others who tried to stop her, tossing them aside with surprising ease. Her hand slapped the red button, and the room went dark as the power left the building. From everywhere at once, Delta heard sirens and screams. She ran through a pitch-black hallway and activated her interface; with the power of a simple thought, a system menu appeared in front of her eyes. She selected the “night mode” option. Her field of vision expanded and, except for color, she could see everything. Within seconds, Delta had found the facility’s exit, but she couldn’t open the door.
“I have activated the lockdown protocol,” a man’s voice said behind her.
She turned to see an elderly man with a white beard; he appeared much older than her grandfather.
“Come with me, child,” the old man said.
You’re not going to stop me!
Delta charged the old man. She wanted to eviscerate him. But before she got too close, he pressed something in his hand, and then she collapsed in a heap before him. The old man smiled.
“This old man still has a few surprises,” he said.
Several men, also dressed in white, surrounded her. She couldn’t move.
“Take her back to her room and sedate her,” the old man said.
One man nodded, then carried Delta back to the room that served as her prison cell and the incubator of her nightmares.
Newport, Northeastern United States
October 15th
Nigel Watson pushed down the dread that overcame him as his first customer opened the door to his new business. He knew it was common courtesy to greet people, but he loathed the feeling of helplessness and paranoia that washed over him. It started with nausea, then the familiar pressure in his chest, followed by a sudden paralysis. For a long moment he couldn’t move, couldn’t think. The attacks that Hunter subjected Nigel to had a long-lasting effect.
Am I being watched? he wondered.
Nigel focused on his breathing and pushed away all negative thought. He hated battling the demons of his past.
“Are you okay, buddy?” the teenage boy standing in his doorway asked. He was holding a laptop.
“Yeah—it’s just indigestion. How can I help you today?”
“My computer is acting up. I think I have a virus.”
“Eradicating viruses is my specialty. I’ll need time to diagnose it.”
“Well . . . I can’t leave it with you for long,” the teen said.
“I’ll do what I can,” Nigel said. “So, you go to high school in Newport?”
“No, I go to school in Milford. I’m visiting my dad.”
“Milford? I graduated from there last summer, and now I run this place.”
“Really? You own this business?”
“Me and my girlfriend do, but yeah.” Nigel took the laptop from the boy’s hands. “So, can you describe your computer problem in a little more detail?”
I was just like him a couple of years ago.
“I was editing a video, and then the computer froze up. I turned it off for a while. When it came back up, it had a warning message from the FBI. I shut it off again. I have all my homework on here. You think you can fix it?” the boy asked.
“Probably, but I need more information,” Nigel replied. “Can you tell me more about the message that appeared, and what you were doing when the computer froze? Just before you received the message? What kind of video were you editing, if I may ask?”
The boy shifted nervously.
“What is your name again?” Nigel pressed.
“Uhhh . . . Peter.”
Probably not his actual name, but I’ll play along.
“Well, Peter, let me ask you a question. Am I going to find anything illegal on the computer?”
“Like what?”
“Well, if I find any underaged porn on the computer, I’m obligated to report it to the police.”
Peter’s eyes went wide. He licked his lips.
“No, nothing like that,” Peter said finally. “It’s just some personal videos of me and my girl.”
“I see,” Nigel said.
“You’re not going to look at any of them? Are you?”
“Not unless there is a malware infection or something nasty in the file. I’m not in the business of violating my client’s privacy.”
Peter looked relieved. He surveyed the shop. When he was convinced that they were alone, he spoke to Nigel in a hushed tone.
“I was looking for some stock photos and music to add to the video I was making. I was adding the video to the video-maker program when everything froze. Do you think I have a virus or something?”
Nigel found the switch that turned off the Wi-Fi and booted up the computer. When he got to the login screen, he instructed Peter to enter his password. The desktop image had been replaced with a link and a text message that read:
Your computer is infected with a virus. We have locked your files. Pay up, or we expose your pretties to the world.