The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (13 page)

Zack rolled his eyes. “Is there any way you can speak like a normal person?”

Lambda stared blankly at Zack. “Is there a problem with Lambda’s speech parameters?”

Zack palmed his face. “I doubt you would understand.”

The comment caused a small ping in Lambda’s chest area. She found it unsettling as she couldn’t explain what the cause was.

“Lambda would like to inquire on the proper procedure in speaking your language.” Her tone seemed a little forceful. This caught Zack’s attention, but fell flat given what was on his mind.

“Trifling matters such as how you insist on speaking in the third person can wait until we know that Cecilia is safe,” Zack said with a dismissing wave of his hand as he finally found Cecilia within the mess of people running around the large Concert Hall. He wanted to touch base with Cecilia and find out where she was staying outside of the Network. At the least, if all else failed, he could regroup with her before Stigma made their move.

“Just stay here while I go and speak to Cecilia. Try not to stand out so much,” Zack said back to Lambda. In truth, he knew he was asking the impossible.

Lambda obeyed Zack’s words, but couldn’t shake the uncomfortable sensation residing in her. It seemed strange, almost like her body couldn’t decide if it was cold or hot. It didn’t make any sense. She was built from complex code matrixes in the Network, yet she felt these peculiar occurrences. The only thing she could conclude was that these expressions her body was generating were the direct result of human contact.

“Lambda doesn’t comprehend . . . human beings are so strange,” she muttered out loud.

Without warning, a large hand came down on Lambda’s shoulder. Her head spun around as she stared up at one of the security guards. Her crimson eyes widened as she instantly accessed the threat.

“Threat level zero. Disengaging,” she stated flatly.

The security guard found Lambda’s words rather unsettling, but paid it little mind.

“Weren’t you listening during the meeting? This isn’t the place you are supposed to be.”

Lambda stared at the man, confused. She then remembered Zack saying to make sure that if anyone asked her, to show them the backstage pass that Cecilia gave Zack and Lambda. She then generated the card from her hand and held it out to the security guard.

“Lambda was ordered to wait here. I have pass.” The way she spoke made it seem like her lines were rehearsed poorly.

The guard scratched his head. “I don’t have time for this now, all dancers are to report to the prep stage. Luna will be joining you soon.”

Lambda looked up at the guard. “There appears to be a misunderstanding. Lambda isn’t a dancer.”

The guard now looked agitated. “Huh? Luna instructed all the dancers to customize their Avatar to what you have on now. How are you not a dancer?” The guard rolled his eyes as he pointed to the prep stage. “Just go over there and wait for your instructions. We go live shortly.” He walked away exasperated.

Lambda’s gaze drifted toward Zack. She noted he was trying to speak to Cecilia, but two guards were making it very difficult for him. Lambda felt compelled to head over to aid Zack in his endeavor.

She didn’t get too far, as a sudden electrifying force came over her body, nearly paralyzing her. The strong flash that sprung through Lambda’s body almost made her arch backwards. It was her body’s way of warning her of an imminent threat in close proximity. Immediately, she was alert. Quickly she dove to her internal mainframe and computed her most optimal route.

There was something strange, though. As Lambda raced through the possible outcomes and scenarios she computed, she felt a sinking sensation. The only word she could pull from the English dictionary that fit her description of how she felt right now was: worry. What was the source of this abnormality? The two biological humans that she had come to know had managed to make some sort of imprint on her code. Lambda felt confused by this. It left her body with a strange tingling that would come and go. She couldn’t place the reason as to why her body would for some reason pace back and forth. The act itself seemed so foreign and pointless. Yet, she did it anyway.

Logic and reason don’t compute. Possible error?

She came to a conclusion just moments later. She struggled with the concept of humans and how they felt for another of their species. Slightly, she saw the meaning in the act. Regardless, at that moment, Lambda wanted to help Zack and Cecilia.

She was about to advance toward Zack’s location upon making her decision, but was interrupted when several girls rushed in her direction. Slightly alarmed by the arrival of these people, Lambda took to a defensive stance.

“Whoa, there, save that for the show,” one of the dancers said playfully. “Didn’t you hear? All dancers are to be on the prep stage right now. Come on, we don’t want to keep Luna waiting,” the girl said as she grabbed Lambda’s wrist.

Completely lost, Lambda found herself being pulled by the strange girl dressed just like her. Aside from her hair being a lavender color, she looked almost just like Lambda.

Lambda was running through the scenario and seven hundred possible routes it could take as this girl pulled her along like a lost lamb. She quickly concluded that the alteration occurring didn’t jeopardize her long-term goal. She allowed the girl to guide her while pondering to herself.

Humans are such strange creatures.

*
      
*
      
*

[January 6th - Cyber Network, Server 346 - Unmarked Skyscraper - Night]

Overseer zoomed in with her bifocals mounted in her helmet to get a better view of the mass of people below. The sheer number of people that had uploaded to the server for the concert event was beyond her estimates. It was starting to become a problem. She gazed below from the 32nd story of an adjacent building to the Concert Hall.

“Foresight, what is the server count?”

Foresight’s voice sounded in her ear. “Just over thirty-four thousand. The server limit will be reached shortly.”

“What is the probability of the Medusa Field working with this many accounts present?”

Foresight paused for a moment, quickly running some numbers.

“The Medusa Field has a ninety-seven percent chance of full operation. Still, is this really the best option?”

Overseer dismissed his worries. “The field will hold the Lambda unit long enough for us to make our move. There is no other option that ends with us bringing it down in one piece.”

“There is always the Thanatos Tech,” Foresight said, albeit a little hesitantly.

Overseer responded rigidly. “That device is designed to kill AI programs, not incapacitate them. I doubt even our commander would want that.”

“Just saying that it is an option if things get out of hand. We can always shoot to maim, not kill,” replied Foresight objectively.

Overseer took note of his point. The main question was how they were going to get Lambda in their grasp once the Medusa Field was activated. They would have limited time to get the job done with the server reaching its maximum upload point. She was confident in her ability, but couldn’t predict what the Lambda unit would do in response to their attack. Trapping the
Lambda unit in the field was one thing, but forcing a Stasis Lock was going to be a tall order if they were to bring Lambda in with minimal damage.

“With max server load, what is the time limit on the Medusa Field?” Overseer asked firmly.

Overseer heard Foresight over her Com-Linker run some quick numbers again before he returned with a reply.

“About ten minutes, give or take. There has never been a Medusa Field tested while a server was near its max upload limit, so there is no way to be sure about the numbers.”

“I see,” Overseer concluded. It was going to boil down to a game of chance. Still, she couldn’t help but feel excited. It wasn’t every day that you got to bring down something that could effectively obliterate an entire city’s mainframe with so much as a wish and a thought.

Seconds later, a new voice sounded in Overseer’s ear. It was Clairvoyance.

“I have an incoming message for you, Overseer.”

Overseer continued to scan the ground below as more and more people appeared. She seemed a little annoyed.
      

“I told you to ignore any and all transmissions during the mission unless it is our commander-”

“It’s Dead Eye.” Clairvoyance’s voice was flat and seemed to echo in Overseer’s ear. She didn’t waste any more time after that, patching the call through.

“This is Overseer, what is-”

“Working hard, I see. I’d expect nothing less from my underlings.” His voice was unnaturally happy. It was disquieting.

“How are your preparations in bringing in the Lambda unit coming?” he added, sounding highly amused.

Overseer shook off the chill running up her arm. “We are almost done with-”

“Sorry, lost interest in what you were going to say.” The man snickered eerily. “Anyway, I’m changing up the game.” The sudden change in his tone made Overseer’s skin crawl. It was now dark and quiet, but with a hint of laughter lingering at the end.

Overseer shook her head. “What new elements should we be aware of?”

“I’m sending in a new player. He has already been given his task, but I want you to be aware of his presence when he makes his appearance.” His words were overflowing with enthusiasm.

Overseer’s back straightened. “Another Void Reaper? What purpose-”

“My little war god has his orders. As for you three, your objective remains the same, but do try and make sure that no harm comes to the boy,” he hissed.

Overseer was confused now. “What do you mean? Isn’t the goal to detain the Lambda unit?”

“Correct. Though your priority is Lambda, you are to make sure that no harm comes to the boy, and keep him separated from the Lambda unit. Do I make myself clear?”

Now, Overseer was concerned. “Sir, if I may speak freely-”

“You will do no such thing!” He was adamant. He then lowered his voice and spoke a little more calmly. “Just do as I say, and everything will go smoothly.”

Overseer tried to probe for some answers. “What do you want the boy for?”

Dead Eye hissed on the line. His laughter was strange, strange to the point of unnatural.

“The boy is far more interesting. You have no idea just
how
interesting.”

Overseer didn’t follow Dead Eye’s logic. “Should I make contact with this new
player
of yours as to ensure that they don’t screw up our plan to take down the Lambda unit?”

Dead Eye laughed darkly. “No need. He knows what he must do. He also asks fewer questions,” he purred with an evil lick of his tongue.

Overseer shook her head in irritation. “Will there be any other changes to the mission?”

From the other end, it sounded like Dead Eye bit down on something hard as Overseer heard a loud cracking noise over the line. She rolled her eyes, knowing what he was eating.

“The addition of our new player will be the only change.” He paused for a moment, for dramatic effect. “Oh, and if you see any members from Stigma, be sure to kill them.”

Overseer’s head jerked up. “Stigma is here?!”

Dead Eye cackled. “There is a ninety-one percent chance that they will appear here during the concert, and I also predict that the Black God himself has a seventy-three percent chance of making a grand appearance.” His level of enthusiasm was growing again. “It should be quite a show, don’t you think?”

Overseer’s blood boiled. “Where are you getting your information?”

“My dear, these are just calculated guesses. I’m not a god, you know.”

Overseer didn’t need to see him to know that he was sneering.

“Is that all?” she asked rigidly.

Dead Eye laughed lightly. “Do try and keep your senses, my dear. We wouldn’t want you to lose it like you did the last time Corson appeared.”

Overseer clenched her fist. “Don’t remind me.”

“Too late for that, I’m afraid. He is just one man, and you are just one lowly Void Reaper. Do try and keep your priorities on task this time around, or I’m afraid you and I are going to have some strong words.” There was then a crackling of paper on the line. When Dead Eye spoke again, it sounded like he had something in his mouth.

“Oh, and do try and wrap this up quick when this all gets underway. I don’t want the World Moderators to think everyone on the server is a Corruption and purge you all,” he finished with a hiss.

The line went silent seconds later, leaving Overseer filled with an unpleasant feeling of wrath and irritation. She gazed once more below at the unsuspecting crowd as she leered with abhorrence.

“Did you idiots get all that?” she shot heatedly.

Both Foresight and Clairvoyance replied quickly in her ear. They weren’t ones to provoke a viper when it was preparing for the kill.

“Good. Ready the Medusa Field. We make our move when the concert begins.”

A black hole spawned next to Overseer as she finished. She leapt into the chaotic space and disappeared without another word.

[7]

Convergence

[January 6th - Washington D.C. - Pentagon, Underground Chamber 34 - Night]

Charles dabbed at his face with a small handkerchief. The sweat just didn’t seem to stop even though he was free from the Board. The appearance of Dead Eye had really put him on edge. However, during the meeting, Dead Eye had said a number of things that hadn’t sat well with Charles. He was now beginning to question what he helped create.

“Project Lambda was supposed to be one of the next generation of Combat AI programs, or so I was told. So why does it seem like it, and all the others before it, have more of a purpose than was made known to me?” Charles pondered aloud. He kept thinking back to when Dead Eye had called Lambda “the Enforcer”.

“What did he mean by that?” Charles’ words fell on deaf ears.

The monitor in the elevator exploded with light as an image quickly appeared. It was the familiar face of the man that contacted him right before he entered the meeting with the Board.