by W. H. Massa
There was an eternal moment between the two of them. AI Cole could tell that human Cole thought he was done for but AI Cole whisked his human counterpart away from the fiery inferno that was singeing the nape of the commander’s neck.
Human Cole collapsed on the landing pad, completely spent. He inhaled sharply, catching his breath and spat blood. He stared at AI Cole.
“Why did you save me?”
“I didn't. Only you can do that.”
Bloodshot eyes glared up at AI Cole.
“Talk to Dr. Ajit. He knows what really happened.”
Human Cole's eyes were suddenly hungry for answers but that would have to wait. AI-TAC troopers had appeared on the roof. AI Cole was galvanized into action by their arrival. He dodged a hail of bullets and pulse blasts as he ran for the hovership. The access hatch jumped into view.
AI Cole snatched Keira’s hand and pulled her back to her feet. Her arm oozed crimson. The wound looked nasty but she would live.
Shielding Keira, AI Cole helped her crawl into the belly of the hovership as bullets perforated the air and bounced off the vessel’s hull. A few bullets slammed into AI Cole's back as he hurled Keira and himself through the closing access hatch.
He eyed Keira with concern, taking in her bleeding arm. “I’m okay,“ she said. “Just get us out of here.”
AI Cole hesitated for a moment but a renewed barrage of bullets striking the hull was a reminder that a continuous assault would swiftly ground the craft. AI Cole sprinted toward the bubble cockpit and took a seat behind the controls.
He cranked the engine, fingers on the throttle and stick. He wasn’t a hotshot pilot by any stretch, but his training at AI-TAC had included basic piloting skills. He wouldn’t win any trophies at an airshow, but he could get them out of here. A few more bullets slammed into the cockpit, cracks spider-webbing the glass.
AI Cole increased the power to the ramjets.
On the landing pad, the violent blast of jet engines hurled the approaching AI-TAC soldiers off their feet. Their shots went wild.
The hovership blasted off into the night sky.
As a curtain of rain engulfed the escaping craft, now a quickly fading dot of light in the deepening darkness, human Cole stepped up to the downed troopers. His expression spoke volumes – he was mulling over AI Cole's final words.
17
The battered truck kicked up plumes of dust as it rumbled toward the U.S.-Mexican border. Zola was behind the wheel, and riding shotgun was one of the mechs who had escaped with her from the salvage yard. She caught glimpses of armed border patrol agents fronting the gateway ahead. Lights from a series of towers swept the deepening darkness. Only a few hundred feet separated her from Mexico. From freedom.
They had driven in gloomy silence, all too aware of the grim odds. If they got lucky and caught the border agents on a good day, they’d check their identifications, perform a quick bio-sweep of the truck and let them pass.
Zola doubted luck would be on their side. On some level, she had lost all hope. She had seen the fall of the individual she admired most in the world and she was devastated by the loss. Solus had taught her to be proud of her mech nature, to embrace what she was, who she was, not a mere machine but a thinking, feeling being. She might be man-made but that didn’t give humans the right to enslave her. Solus had shown her a different path and given her a goal worth fighting for, but the great leader was gone now and the movement that had inspired her in such a profound manner now teetered on the brink of defeat.
The worst part was knowing there was nothing she could do about it. Escape was her sole option, other than facing certain doom. She felt like a coward for not making a last stand with the others, but another part of her wanted to go on, regroup and continue the battle for freedom. Her deactivation would change nothing but if she survived, there was hope she might find others who had managed to flee.
Perhaps in another country where the laws were different, they could regroup and rebuild but as the truck slowed before the border gate, a voice boomed through the desert and all hope of a second coming of the revolution were shattered.
“The truck's surrounded! There's no escape! Step out of the vehicle or we'll open fire!”
Zola's expression darkened. The game was up.
As she had feared, AI-TAC had alerted all border guards of the possibility that runaways might flee to Mexico. Someone must’ve tipped them off about the truck. Zola saw a phalanx of border cops and AI-TAC troopers closing in.
Her fingers tightened on the handgrip of the rifle resting next to the gear shift. The mech in the passenger seat shot her a desperate look. “What are we going to do?”
Zola was at a loss for words. She knew the panicked AI wouldn’t like her answer. At this point, there was nothing they could do to alter their fate.
Zola powered up her pulse weapon, the dull hum filling the cab of the truck. It was a sound that promised imminent violence. The AI-TAC troopers had almost reached the vehicle when the night lit up in a white-hot glare of halogen.
Searchlights lanced the darkness, sweeping over the surprised faces of the approaching troopers. The men looked skyward just as the roar of the fast-approaching hovership shattered the silence of the desert crossing. An instant later, the world exploded with gunfire. Bullets peppered the ground, a continuous hail of lead that forced the officers to back off and seek refuge near the border gate.
Zola was stunned at the sudden turn of events. A voice crackled over her internal com-link and a familiar voice filled her head. It was AI Cole!
“You better floor it!” the voice in her head urged.
Zola seized the moment and pounded the gas. The truck lurched forward with an explosive hiss and barreled toward the border crossing. At the last moment two border agents jumped out of the path of the onrushing truck. Zola wasn’t going to slow down for anyone. Freedom was within her grasp, and there was no way she was letting the opportunity pass her by.
The truck blasted through a guardrail in an explosion of wood, metal and fiberglass and shot down the road, surging past stunned agents on the Mexican side of the border.
The hovership crossed into Mexican airspace, breaking a few more international laws in the process, but who was counting? The craft showered bullets around the border gate and tore apart the AI-TAC vehicles parked nearby, warning shots to discourage anyone from coming after them. Two cars detonated into giant fireballs, sending everyone diving for cover.
Zola allowed herself a rare smile as the endless stretch of desert highway unfurled before her. It was her first true taste of freedom since her human masters activated her. It felt like she’d been granted a new lease on life.
When Zola felt confident no one was pursuing them, she killed the engine and pulled off the road. The hovership descended like a giant metallic insect, jet exhaust kicking up clouds of blinding dust, and touched down in the middle of the desert landscape.
The access hatch hissed open and Cole popped out. Zola knew what Cole wanted. She still didn’t approve of the uploaded human, but he’d come through for her and she intended to keep her word.
“Solus?” she asked.
Cole shook his head.
She had expected this answer, but it still pained her. The port in Cole’s arm slid open and Zola mirrored the move. A cable extended from the hollow portion of the arm port and Zola interfaced with Cole. She rode the data stream and entered Cole’s mind, locating the self-destruct program. The countdown flashed before her.
00.34... 00.33... 00.32...
Zola mentally entered the correct number sequence just seconds before the self-destruct sequence would delete Cole’s mind, and the countdown froze.
Cole and Zola shared a meaningful look. Their minds had touched on a digital level and she caught a glimpse of Solus’ uploaded data. Hope filled her face as it dawned on her that all was not lost.
“There's a boat waiting for us at the harbor,” Zola finally said.
“I won't be coming w
ith you.” Cole’s voice resonated with power and confidence, almost as if he was channeling Solus on some level. “Running away isn't an option. The Underground Network must go on.”
Zola agreed. “Then I will stay too.”
Cole smiled and eyed Keira. “What about you?”
Keira touched her microchip pendant. “Ron would have kept on fighting for what’s right.”
The look on Cole’s face suggested he was relieved to have Keira on his side.
They all turned back to the lonely desert road. Sirens could be heard in the distance. Laws were different in Mexico but if they were stopped this close to the border, extradition wasn’t out of the question.
Oily black clouds of smoke streaked the horizon, a dark reminder of the violence that had erupted on the U.S.-Mexican border.
They had won the battle, but the war had just begun.
18
Janson’s sleek, multi-million-dollar mansion stood atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was a real-estate jewel made from glass, steel and stone that blended in perfectly with its breathtaking surroundings. Winding steps descended from a marble patio to the beach. Locked gates and high walls assured privacy.
The house was now filled with eager partygoers. The sounds of clinking champagne glasses and bursts of drunken laughter blended with music from the band Synthetika hired for the event. The musicians were stained in sweat as they fired off one rocking tune after another in an attempt to entertain the fickle, well-heeled guests. The company was celebrating a new milestone and no expense had been spared. Based on the latest census reports, there was now one Synthetika mech for every five Americans and profits had hit an all-time high.
Despite the efforts of the Underground Network, Synthetika’s corporate reign continued unchallenged. They were at the top of their game and a ragtag group of rebels couldn’t alter the course Janson had mapped out for the company.
Nevertheless, AI-TAC troopers guarded the mansion – one couldn’t take any risks in the current social climate. Even though the movement was being crushed, it only took one fanatic strapped with explosives to score some juicy headlines and send the company’s stock into a nosedive.
The CEO had nursed a glass of champagne all night, but many of his underlings were less disciplined about their alcohol consumption. Alcohol could loosen the tongue and make people slip up. Janson never slipped up.
His steely eyes roamed the party. Everywhere he looked, people were imbibing, snacking on hors d’oeuvres and letting it all hang out. A mini-army of mechs serviced the event, all of them perfect male and female specimens. The androids were earning multiple admiring and lusty glances. Some partygoers weren’t satisfied with just looking and were beginning to get frisky with the androids. The mechs blankly obliged every whim.
Janson smiled, happy to see his business contacts enjoying themselves. Those guests who’d be spending the night at the mansion would be well taken care of and were guaranteed to leave satisfied the next morning. He had his best techs check and double-check the program parameters of all the servers to make sure they were all functioning at the highest level.
Synthetika still hadn’t solved the problem of why some mechs broke free of their programming, but Janson was optimistic that it was merely a matter of time. No matter how vexing a problem might be, if one threw enough money and brainpower at it, a solution would present itself. Janson believed this with all his heart. He had based his life around the idea and Synthetika’s success spoke for itself.
A stunning female mech approached Janson. Her tone was both alluring and subservient as she addressed her master. “Sir, there's a call on your private line.”
“I'll talk to them later,“ Janson said dismissively.
“They said it was urgent.”
“Tell them to text or call me on my mobile like a normal person...”
“They expressed concern that the conversation could be hacked and compromised.”
Janson’s eyes narrowed. The fact that the caller was aware of his private line suggested this might be more important than first anticipated.
Janson searched the mech’s face for any signs of disobedience or free will, but her expression remained impassive. Paranoia was getting the best of him. And truth be told, his curiosity was piqued. He wondered who had the audacity to contact him at this time of the night, when he was hosting the biggest party of the year.
Janson headed to his office. A sleek mahogany desk dominated the room and faced an amazing view of the ocean. The glass double doors that led out to the balcony stood partially open, allowing a nice night breeze to cool the room. Janson closed the door, shutting out the din of the party, and activated the speakers on his secure line.
“This better be good. Who is this?”
After a moment of silence, a familiar voice filled the office. “You tried to destroy the Underground Network but you can't destroy the desire for freedom.”
Anger flared on Janson's granite features. It was the Cole upload, the Frankenstein’s monster that had turned on its creators. He’d commissioned the best bounty hunters in the business to track the runaway from Mexico to whatever godforsaken country where it might seek refuge. There wasn’t a place on the planet where the AI would feel safe. It was just a matter of time before Janson crushed the abomination’s CPU in his own hands and put this whole sordid affair behind him.
“We have our best trackers looking for you,“ Janson said. “We'll hunt you down the same way we did Solus.”
“Good luck. By the way, there's someone who'd like a word with you. I believe he’s standing right behind you.”
Janson froze, suddenly aware he wasn’t alone in his office. He spun hard and came face to face with Commander Marsalis. He stood on the balcony overlooking the ocean, but something was wrong with the picture. Human Cole was pointing a gun equipped with a silencer at Janson, his face a bloodless mask.
Janson let out an exasperated snort. “What's the meaning of this? You two working together now?”
Cole's response was quick and lethal. The gun in his hand whispered. Pfft-pftt! Two silenced shots.
Crimson bloomed on Janson's chest. A stunned look lit up his fading eyes before he collapsed on the desk, blood seeping into the wood as he knocked over his computer monitor.
Human Cole surveyed his handiwork, his expression bereft of emotion. “I'm done taking orders.”
The time had come to make himself scarce. Janson’s absence at his own party would not go unnoticed for long. Cole turned toward the open balcony doors. He made a running start and jumped over the balcony railing. As he swiftly crossed the expansive, lush property, no one paid Cole any mind. After all, he was one of them. Just another AI-TAC soldier doing his corporate master’s bidding.
Cole put distance between himself and Janson’s property. He reached the nearby beach just as the sun began to rise on the horizon. Dawn’s light dappled the foaming waves and for a moment, he could pretend all was right with the world. For thousands of years, the water had ebbed and flowed against the land, unchanging in its elemental beauty. The human drama that continued to unfold beyond its shores was another matter. The human race had a long way to go before it could attain a similar level of perfection.
Cole had no idea where he was going or what his next move would be. When he started looking into AI Cole’s allegations and tracked down Dr. Ajit, the cyberneticist broke down into a blubbering mess. He had spared the man, perceiving him to be another of Janson’s pawns. The CEO, on the other hand, had to pay for his crimes and pay, he had.
Cole tore the AI-TAC insignia patch off his shoulder and tossed it in the foaming ocean. It quickly swallowed this symbol of his old life.
Cole kept marching down the strip of sand, never looking back. An unknown future waited for him, but, for the first time in ten months, Cole wasn’t haunted by the past.
***
AI Cole was staying at a rundown hotel in Mexico City when he heard about Janson’s death on the variou
s newsfeeds. After the line was cut in Janson’s office, he had assumed his human counterpart would finish off their mutual enemy. Receiving confirmation of Janson’s demise came as a relief. A great weight was lifted off his shoulders, a relief borne of closure. A chapter in the book of his past could now be closed and put away for good. Justice was served. Taking out Janson was a true victory but Cole also knew that the executive’s potential replacements were already lining up for the job.
Synthetika’s stock took a big hit but soon enough it would be back to business as usual at the mega-corp. This was the first shot fired in a longer campaign. Humans had created AIs to make their lives better but, in the process, they’d given birth to a new form of intelligent life. To enslave androids was as much of a crime as slapping shackles on any conscious, living being. As a man who became a machine, Cole stood at the intersection between the worlds of flesh and silicon. His hope was that in time he could bridge these two worlds and pave the way for a better future.
For now, however, the road that lay ahead was treacherous and filled with peril. Cole was all too aware that Synthetika’s goons were hunting for him. The trackers drew closer by the minute. Cole and company had to stay on the move, remaining wary and watchful at all times.
Cole pushed the darker thoughts aside and stole a glance at Keira’s sleeping form as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window and played over her beautiful features. She let out a slight moan, almost as if she could feel his admiring attention even in her sleep. As Keira’s eyes fluttered open, Cole’s lips found hers and all thoughts of the impending conflict were cast aside.
A war was coming, the outcome of which was not guaranteed. All Cole knew with any degree of certainty was that this time around, he’d be fighting on the right side.
