The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (28 page)

Dead Eye erupted in laughter. “My Corson, I never took you for a fool.”

Corson’s eye twitched. He seemed to have trouble holding back as his body look to be shaking with rage.

“This is the next evolution in Artificial Intelligence. This creator has achieved what no programmer has ever done. He has created a program with a full working conscience. It thinks on its own, for its own purpose. All things considered, it is a brilliant piece of work!”

“Enough of this garbage,” Rachiel said dismissingly.

Zack merely blinked a second later and was brought face to face with Rachiel. Startled, he stepped back several feet before catching himself. To his astonishment, the flaming wings behind Rachiel didn’t give off any heat, despite him being so close. As he gazed at Rachiel’s form now, he saw the Rachiel he knew. Before, he was blinded by confusion and fear. Now, he could see in her eyes that the Rachiel he created wasn’t lost, but more advanced. She had grown a hundred times faster than Zack could ever imagine. It was as Dead Eye said; she had evolved.

“Don’t be afraid, Zack.” Her words were warm and gentle. As she spoke, her wings of fire slowly vanished, leaving behind a trail of white particles that scattered in the wind. She advanced, reaching out and grabbing Zack’s hands.

“Zack,” Rachiel said softly as she lowered her head with her eyes closed. “I learned many things during the fight to see you. I was able to understand fully how I feel, what it is to live, and what makes me, me. It is thanks to you, and for that I would like to express my gratitude.”

Zack’s mind went blank as Rachiel lifted her head suddenly and pressed her lips against his. The action was so fluid and accurate that Zack couldn’t muster the will to stop it. He felt an overwhelming sensation throughout his entire body. He shuddered all over as his body seemed to be full of pins and needles. His whole head felt like it was on fire as all the blood in his body suddenly rushed to his face.

“Well, well, isn’t this a stunning upset. What do you say to that, Corson?” Dead Eye said with a devilish smirk.

Corson leered with discontent. His attention quickly shifted as the ground beneath them began to quake. Judging from the look of surprise in Rachiel’s eyes, Zack could tell it wasn’t her doing.

Rachiel released him from their passionate kiss and quickly turned toward Dead Eye and Corson. Her rage Zack could feel all too easily, despite the lack of her flaming wings.

“You fiends! How dare you corrupt this moment! You should be grateful I even stomached your presence!”

Dead Eye smacked a hand to his forehead. His look now appeared more annoyed than anything else.

“So it has already begun,” he said, seeming disappointed. “Looks like they are purging the server. It’s a shame, really. It was just getting good,” he added with a evil sneer.

Zack’s eyes lit up with dread.
Server Purge!

Dead Eye laughed, unfazed by the turn of events. “Splendid!” He turned to Corson. His grin didn’t falter. “Do you have a plan of escape? You will die if you stay.”

Corson was silent for but a moment. He spoke with great poise.

“Nerine, are the preparations complete?”

Dead Eye’s eye grew in size. His sneer was quickly vanishing.

Corson stared back at Dead Eye. He didn’t need to see his face to know he was smiling.

“So, you prepared a back door, huh? Clever little snake,” he hissed.

“It would be best to make haste, High King, for not even you can survive this,” Corson replied back tauntingly.

Dead Eye let out a small snicker. “A shame, truly a shame.” He turned to face Zack and Rachiel. “Such a waste that it has come to this.” He waved his hand and an emulated computer terminal appeared before him. He raced his one hand along its fluorescent keyboard before ending his actions with one final wave, causing the terminal to vanish.

“I am certain we will meet again,” he added with such overwhelming confidence that it worried Zack.
      

In that exact moment though, Zack’s vision suddenly warped for but a second. From that distortion in his vision, he could have sworn he saw a face, a dark grimace sneering at him.

Rachiel broke Zack out of his trance.

“What makes you insects think you are leaving this domain?”

Corson huffed under his breath as he turned on his heel without another word. He would hear none of Rachiel’s words. This naturally triggered rage deep within her.

“You insolent-”

Corson’s body quickly was enveloped in white light, along with the girl in his arms. A second later, his white silhouette burst into a sea of small particles, like tiny snowflakes.

Rachiel stared in disbelief.

“That little viper always has an out,” Dead Eye laughed under his breath.

Rachiel grit her teeth. “That won’t stop me from ending you-”

“Enough of your baseless threats,” Dead Eye said dismissingly. “Regardless, it’s over now. It’s been fun, a true enjoyment, but your end has come.” He continued to sneer. “After all, we both know how this is going to play out, don’t we?”

As Dead Eye spoke with pride and superiority, Zack watched Rachiel’s face twist from anger to shock. He knew that she had just realized that what he was saying was true; but Zack still didn’t know what he meant.

Dead Eye’s grin grew unnaturally, now seeing the troubled look in Rachiel’s eyes. “It seems you caught on to what you must do. I would think you have about three minutes or so before the server completely collapses. Use your time wisely, children . . . after all, the shadows beckon.”

With an eerie cackle, Dead Eye vanished in a burst of light, leaving both Zack and Rachiel alone in a crumbling world.

Zack looked around him. The lush green area was slowly breaking away and the vibrant sky above looked like it had millions of holes in it as it cracked like glass. Everything around him was slowly breaking apart as the countdown to his doom drew closer.

What do I do?! Is there a way out of this?! Come on Zack, think!

His thoughts were jarred when he felt the gentle hand of Rachiel on his shoulder. Her smile was true, but her streaming tears completely contrasted her angelic expression.

“Our time was short, but I couldn’t be happier right now.” Rachiel’s white coat began to flutter and glow as she closed her eyes, mumbling words under her breath.

“Rachiel, what are you-”

A quick flash of light blinded Zack for but a second. When he recovered his vision, he realized that the white coat Rachiel adorned was now on him. He stared up at her confused.

“This is what I wanted to give you . . . though I wanted to give it to you under much better circumstances.”

Zack’s chest swelled up. He had a very bad feeling about this.

“This will protect you, no matter where you are in the Network. This gift to you represents everything that I am, and how I feel. That is why, I’m giving it to you, for you are my creator, my King, my love.”

“Rachiel . . . what are you trying to-”

Rachiel put a finger to Zack’s lips. “There isn’t much time. I can only prepare a secure exit for one of us in these circumstances. Had I more time I could . . .”

Rachiel’s smile wavered as she fought to hold back her tears. It was as Zack feared. Rachiel was planning on sacrificing herself.

“You can’t! There has to be something! How can you learn so much and not know how to save yourself?!” Zack didn’t even realize he was crying.

Rachiel tried her best to smile back. “There is no guarantee I can save myself. Regardless, it would take too much time, and that time is needed to ensure you make it out alive.”

“No! I won’t allow you to do this! Rachiel!”

Rachiel pushed Zack off her. He saw her hand blaze across hundreds of screens as they rapidly appeared and disappeared in front of her. Everything moved in slow motion as Zack lost his balance. As he fell, he saw Rachiel’s mouth move; her majestic smile lighting up her tearing face.

“Until another time . . . goodbye.”

Zack’s cries were silenced as the whole world was bleached white. Within the white void of negative space, only his sorrow carried him back to the physical world. He wasn’t allowed any time to grieve for his loss.

He had barely gained consciousness before he was hoisted out of his chair and pinned against the wall with the force of a hydraulic press. He hardly had the strength to look to see who his attacker was, much less fight back. He was then spun around after cold, metal cuffs were wired to his hands and his face was brought into the light. The light blinded him as the outline of a person appeared before him. He was accompanied by six or eight other men in black armored suits all packing heavy weapons. As his vision cleared up the person before him leaned in close,
eye to eye
.

“I told you we would meet again, Zackary Allan Knight.”

[14]

Pressure

[January 7th, 2025 - (Present Day) - Abingdon, Virginia - County Park - Night]

Lambda stared silently at Zack. She could see small teardrops forming in the corners of his eyes. She was compelled to verbalize this observation, but something told her that it was best left alone.

“You and Rachiel are very much alike. You remind me of her in the way you have developed and evolved. It’s a shame she isn’t here anymore to see this,” he said rather quietly.

Lambda truly didn’t know how to respond. Zack told her what happened to him three years ago moments after she brought up Rachiel. It was difficult to understand the weight and emotion that she could feel coming from Zack. She herself found her chest tightening whenever he spoke of Rachiel. She had this uneasy feeling that she didn’t like. It was almost like a voice in the back of her mind was telling her to hate this person. That in itself made Lambda unsure and unable to speak.

“I wonder if you two would have gotten along,” Zack said frankly as he stood up. “You and her were both fated to come into my life, and I likewise. I can only guess this is a test for me in some strange way,” he said, sounding a little overwhelmed.

Lambda averted her eyes as Zack turned to face her. She didn’t know this feeling that coursed through her body. All she could tell and feel from her cold shivers was that she didn’t like being compared to Rachiel.

“I worry though . . . will you turn out like her, too?” Zack trailed off as he finished in a hush tone.

Lambda heard his words, and felt her body spring in rejection before she could even process her own thoughts as she shot to her feet. She could barely believe the words that came out of her mouth.

“I’m not the same person! Don’t lump me in with your dead girlfriend!”

Zack’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. His whole body froze as he stared bewildered into Lambda’s red eyes. He wanted to be angry, but every muscle in his body refused to move. Perplexed, he could only gape at Lambda as he tried to conjure a response.

Lambda quickly reeled in her outburst, clasping her hands to her mouth. The look of fear and shame clashed on her face as her eyes quivered.

Why did I say that?! That was cruel and insensitive!

She fell to her knees, unable to handle the pressure pressing down on her own body. She couldn’t put words together to describe this emotion she felt. She wanted to take back what she said, but every plausible explanation told her that it was impossible. She didn’t understand why she even said such a thing. Everything about the topic just didn’t develop the way it normally did or should have. She was lost in her own torment as she furiously dug for an answer. She wanted to bury her face into the ground, far too ashamed to look Zack in the eyes.

Does he hate me now?
She thought silently, knowing the answer.
How could he not after I said something so heartless?

She stopped just as she finished. Something clicked.
      

Heartless?

Heartless. The word echoed in her head. She didn’t have a heart. Yet how could she still act in such a way? It had to be the emotions, but what could make her think such vile thoughts?

Envy.

The word rattled her mind, louder than the first. Lambda began to shiver all over once more. She defined the word in a millisecond, found its roots, its meaning, and use.

Sin.

She gripped her head with her hands. The sound of her own voice reverberating in her head was driving her mad. It wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t stop it from going deeper.

Hate.

Zack now leaned down and put a hand on Lambda’s shoulder. He was beginning to worry from the way she was acting. It seemed like she was breaking down. Her eyes were sunken in and her whole body wouldn’t stop shaking. She looked absolutely terrified.

“Lambda? Lambda! Hey!”

Zack’s words didn’t reach her. Only her thoughts bounced within her mind. She already understood the reason behind her outburst; she already knew what she needed to do. The answer, though simple, she couldn’t solve. Her computer mind dictated the most logical choice of action, but every part of that choice Lambda felt to be wrong. She refused to acknowledge the conclusion as a possible option.

Eliminate host.

She gripped her head tighter. She didn’t even realize that Zack was now shouting while shaking her. She couldn’t break her mind from its valid path. She was suffering from this pain caused by the memories of the AI known as Rachiel. Those memories were being projected on her by Zack . . . the host of her pain. All her data concluded that Zack needed to be erased.

Destroy the host.

Lambda shook her head.

Stop it.

The voices became stronger.

Annihilate the source.

Lambda snapped. All reasoning left her. She couldn’t take it anymore.

“That is enough!” she screamed as she bolted to a standing position with alarming force and speed. The sudden outburst sent Zack falling backward. Alarmed, he wasn’t sure if it was okay for him to speak yet.

Lambda heaved in and out, breath after breath, as if she just had run a triathlon. The chatter in her head had ceased and she was able to regain a bit of her composure. Still, that didn’t make it any easier to look Zack in the eyes as he lay on the ground, on looking with apprehension.