The Sixth Extinction

by Bob Blink

  "At least not so well developed," Jessica corrected.

  "We could find ourselves labeled the bad guys if we don't do this carefully," Ray warned. "We don't know what his goal is, and what he has been telling his converts. And it would be wise to know just how many players he has before starting the shooting. Besides, we only have a few weapons, a couple of magazines, and I believe I'm the only one trained with firearms, even though the rest of you did okay the other night."

  "We know he has people at the Cloning Clinic, the Resort, some number of people in manufacturing, and of course support at the Command Center. That's where I'd really like a better assessment of who is working covertly for him," Greg said.

  "It would be useful to know what other activities he has going that we know nothing about," Jessica said. "We've stumbled on to his killings in the Sims, and his gun manufacturing. I find it hard to believe that is the extent of his activities."

  "Maybe we should grab one of his people and question him," Greg suggested.

  "Are you willing to take that to its logical conclusion?" Ray asked. "Once we grab someone, we couldn't allow him to be released."

  Both Greg and Jessica looked uncomfortable with the implications.

  At some point they all realized that Rao had been unusually quiet during the exchange.

  "Is something the matter?" Ray asked, looking at the programmer.

  "I am thinking about these robots and that they can be used to assemble the memories of one of us," Rao said.

  "Why is that of importance," Greg asked.

  "Our resources are limited, just as you have said. Director Walker controls more people and has the advantage of more knowledge than probably any other person about this place. As Greg noted earlier, I am certain he knows many things that we do not."

  "We know that, but there's nothing we can do about it," Jessica complained.

  "Perhaps that is not so," Rao disagreed. "I am wondering if we could create our own robot with the proper set of memories."

  "You want to load one of the machines with memories?" Ray asked. "Whose, and how would that help?"

  "I am thinking my own," Rao explained calmly. "When Walker had me cloned, he took my Sim memories, and added memories that my Simself did not have. Like everyone here, I have the memories leading up to the Extinction that were extracted from those living inside the Simulation. Walker's team knows where those are stored. But what he didn't know about, or know where to find, are the memories of the effort I put into working on this place when it was being created. For whatever reason the builders separated and hid those memories. They wanted much of how this place operates kept secret to protect against anyone here making changes. Dale located the storage place for those memories," Rao added.

  "How would that help?" Jessica asked.

  "If I could assemble a version of myself that had all of my old memories and awareness of what is happening here today, we would have at least as much knowledge about this place as Walker, and I am thinking probably more. With that, we might be able to gain an advantage."

  "How would you do this?" Ray asked. "We know that Walker can copy memories, but we don't know where the equipment is located nor how to use it?"

  "The easiest would be to copy myself and add the mission file when the memories are assembled in the robot, but lacking that I could use the version of myself in the Los Angeles Sim, further edit the one file of his that I use to keep him up to date with events here, and link in the missing file I just spoke about. There are advantages to this, because that Rao knows the people inside the Simulation better than I. All of this assumes we could gain access to the robots, and that this contact of Greg's has the ability to operate the memory transfer tools."

  "Wouldn't it be simpler just to create another version of yourself inside the Simulation somewhere with these memories?" Greg asked.

  "I had been thinking along those lines," Rao admitted. "The problem is that communication between those inside the Simulation and those of us here is marginal and slow. That's especially true of information coming from them. The Rao I envision would be of greatest use if he were here and able to access the system."

  "This sounds risky and complicated," Ray complained.

  "It is indeed both," Rao admitted, "but our situation is becoming perilous, and we need to gain the initiative. We need somehow to gain knowledge over those who are intent on eliminating our resistance."

  Ray glanced at Greg. "What do you think? Can this Sam get us into where these machines are stored, and is he knowledgeable about the transfer process?"

  "This is beyond anything I have spoken to him about. Even if he were to help us, he would be placing himself on Walker's hit list. I cannot see managing this without revealing his involvement."

  "Perhaps you can arrange a meeting with him for several of us to explore the possibility?" Rao asked. "It is either this, or I fear we must go to war against Walker, and I do no think we will fare well in such a venture."

  "I will ask him," Greg replied doubtfully. "When would you like to have this meeting?"

  "As soon as possible. Things are only going to get worse with time, and I don't believe we can stay hidden as long as we would need. Just the logistics of supplying this bunker with food, and having this kind of meeting, puts us at constant risk of discovery."

  Everyone was silent for a moment while they absorbed the significance of the request. Finally Ray spoke, changing the direction of the discussion. "Do we alert our friends inside about Dale's death?" he asked. He was looking at Rao as he spoke.

  Chapter 33

  Sequoia Facility

  They chose the northeast park for the meeting. Sam and Greg had met there before, so it was familiar territory to both of them. There were two such parks in the Facility, one on either end of the east-west path that separated the Residential Zone from farming lands. They weren't used as much as might be expected, in part because there were no children in the Facility, but each was equipped with a jogging track. They were the only real green areas in the underground caverns, and each even had a small pond. The eastern park was also close to where Sam Duncan lived, and he used the park frequently, so it wouldn't be unusual for him to be visiting there during the evening after he got off duty. Sam wasn't a jogger, despite his lanky runner's frame, but he liked to walk the track, and to sit by the water and read. None of them wanted Sam to know about the bunker, which was their last option for safety, so this was the best compromise for a private conversation. The pond was far enough from the park's border, and hidden by the ripple in the landscape, that they would be able to spot anyone interested in his actions.

  There was a great deal of discussion about who would meet with Sam. It wouldn't be enough for Greg to do so alone. Not this time, and not given what they were asking. Rao wanted to ask specific questions about what would have to be done inside the clinic to accomplish his plan and insisted on being a part of the meet. Ray wanted to see Sam firsthand as well, but a strong argument was made that he was the only person in their band close to Walker's people, and thus far wasn't under any suspicion. It would be foolhardy to risk that with someone who might not be as committed as they hoped, even if Greg vouched for him. In the end, Ray agreed he would watch from cover, using binoculars to observe the man and convince himself he wasn't setting them up. Ray would also come armed, in case of either a double-cross by Sam, or in the event he was being tailed and watched without being aware of the fact. Jessica declared she was coming along to back up Ray, and would have the second gun. Although untrained, she felt she'd do well enough at the ranges they would be dealing with. Two handguns, with less than a full pair of magazines each, was hardly a reasonable backup if things went wrong, and Ray knew it. They were taking a big risk, but doing nothing meant they were just killing time until more of them were located and arrested or killed like Dale had been.

  Ray and Jessica were in place well before any of the others arrived. Greg would bring Rao, and Sam was supposed to begin his walk in abo
ut fifteen minutes. They watched as Greg and Rao made their way toward the water. Ray was nervous because Rao wasn't exactly the typical resident, with his small frame and darker coloring. Their hope was anyone interested would be following Sam, and Rao would be in place and out of sight of the street before the other arrived. If things turned bad, Greg and Rao would attempt to flee opposite the direction they had arrived, and make it to one of safe houses and hope to elude detection. So far it appeared no one had any interest in them, but after today the parks would be off limits to any future meetings.

  "There's Sam," Jessica hissed softly.

  Ray shifted his attention back toward the entrance Sam had told Greg he would be using. The technician was alone, walking with book in hand, and a small bag which Greg said usually held a bottle of water and a snack of some sort. Apparently Sam liked to nibble when he read.

  "He looks to be alone," Ray noted, but he unconsciously touched the butt of the semi-automatic all the same.

  They watched as he slowly wandered around the path, taking the longer route that half circled the grounds, and then turned inward toward the pond. From the spot they had chosen they could see where Greg and Rao waited, almost hidden by the small trees that surrounded the table they had selected. They could also see back along the route Sam had taken, all the way to the park entrance. No one was following. At least not yet.

  Sam finished his walk, and sat down a short distance from the others, never glancing back or looking in any way suspicious. Anyone who was watching would assume he had nothing on his mind except a bit of time for his reading. After about ten minutes, Greg and Rao moved over and sat down next to Sam.

  "Now we'll see," Ray whispered to Jessica, who was as restless as he was. He wished he was close enough he could be part of the conversation, but that wouldn't have allowed them to keep a proper watch. He had setup a small mic, and a weakly powered laser link directed back to where he and Jessica waited, so at least they could listen in. He was certain that the beam couldn't be tapped by anyone even if they were hiding somewhere close by.

  "Greg," Sam said softly, but his eyes were focused on the slighter figure walking beside him.

  "This is Subha Rao," Greg replied.

  "I know who he is. He's the friend of the one that was killed yesterday. Is it true he was armed? Where did you get the guns? Are you armed as well?"

  "Not me, but some of my friends are. They are close by."

  "Here?" Sam asked, and started to look around, but then checked himself. "Why?"

  "After what happened to Dale, do you need to ask? Walker isn't pulling any stops trying to find us. The guns came from his men, by the way. We took them from them after they tried to kill us."

  "This is getting scary," Sam said. "I never expected anything like this when you pulled me into your plots."

  "Today's the day you have to decide where you stand," Greg said. "We want to know if something can be done, but it would certainly take your help, which would probably leave you exposed. You'd have to join us full time. It'll be up to you."

  "What do you want to do?"

  "We want to take one of the robots and plant someone's memories into its brain," Rao said softly.

  "Cyborg," Sam said automatically, but he shifted his attention to Rao. "Whose brain?"

  "Mine," Rao answered.

  "Why?" Sam asked.

  "It's a bit complicated, but we'll explain if you convince us it's even possible," Greg replied.

  "It's not," Sam said simply, almost relieved to be able to give them that answer. "I don't know how to even get where they store them."

  "We do," Rao said simply.

  Once again, Sam shifted his look toward the smaller figure.

  "How did you find out?"

  "You told us there was a third underground level. We have someone who has access to all of the plans for things here in the caverns. He was able to find them for the Clinic, and find the access to the third level basement."

  "Where are the stairs?" Sam asked.

  "In Dr. Ho's office," Greg said.

  "Ah, shit!" cursed Sam. "You guys have got to be crazy."

  "It gets worse. The plans suggest an ID lock. Probably Ho's. We'll need her to be there so we can get it open."

  "How are you going to do that, and she'll know who you are."

  "More importantly, when this is done, she'll probably know you were involved. For us it doesn't matter. They are already after us, but it will put you on their list as well," Rao said.

  "We'd stun her, then put her under with some drugs. Her ID implant will still work." Greg added.

  "What happens if all this works, you get down there, and find the things?" Sam asked.

  "You tell us," Greg said. "How are they activated? Is it a time consuming activity, or fairly simple?"

  Sam shrugged.

  "I don't have any idea. I've never seen anything on how it is done." He hesitated, but then added, "I'll bet it is pretty easy. Probably a lot like booting up a computer. They didn't know one was going to be needed when they brought Joe in and transferred him."

  "So the mind mapping gear is somewhere in the clinic?" Rao asked.

  "It has to be," Sam agreed. "Maybe even in the same general area."

  "Can you use it?" Greg asked.

  Sam shook his head. "I've never seen the gear, although I remember reading it was much more sophisticated than the simple transfer gear we use in the Clinic."

  "You can use that?" Rao asked, wanting to be certain.

  "Of course. I move memories into place in clones all the time. It's part of my job."

  "Do you think the equipment is the same?"

  Sam shrugged.

  "We won't know that until we try."

  "So you're willing to try?"

  "I didn't say that. There are other problems."

  "Such as?"

  "You don't simply implant the memories and are ready to go. Even with people there is a day or so recovery time. I think it'll be the same with one of the Cyborgs. That's probably why we didn't see anything for a day or so after Joe's body was brought in. You can't just hang around while this thing goes through the adaption/recovery phase. You're going to have to haul it out of there."

  "Shit!" Greg cursed.

  "How heavy are these things?"

  "Don't know, but they are bigger than a human and have a lot of metal and heavy plastic in them. It'll take two strong men to lift one I'll bet."

  "We'd have to get it out and away without being seen," Rao said.

  "More and more difficult," Greg admitted.

  "They are going to know you've been there, and most likely what you've done," Sam warned.

  "They won't know why," Rao said.

  "Anything else you can tell us?" Greg asked.

  Sam shook his head.

  "You can come up with a reason to be there late when we want to make our move."

  "That won't be hard. There are a number of transfers coming up, and there's always one that is having some trouble. I know how to make it happen, and it would be reasonable for me to be around. But, I didn't say I was ready for this."

  "Understood, but think about it. I have to tell the others and we have to work logistics. But, by the day after tomorrow, you're either in or not. Understand?"

  Sam didn't look happy, but nodded. He stood, and without a glance back, walked away.

  Chapter 34

  Los Angeles

  The surprising updates posted to his memory by his real world counterpart had prompted the Los Angeles version of Rao to request a gathering of those people in the Simulation who knew about the attacks prompted by Director Walker. With the holographic images of the Chicago and Washington detectives, the team was once again assembled. The only other non-police representative was the newspaper reporter, Don Russell. Russell had pushed to include Rossetti or his representative, but the police didn't see him as someone they wanted to be part of their planning sessions, and continued to actively ignore the only surviving target of the
Director's attacks.

  "Matters are becoming increasingly serious for my real world counterpart and his friends," Rao explained. "My fellow programmer, Dale Nesbitt, has been killed by one of Walker's men; one of the same individuals who has participated in the raids here in our Sim-World."

  The blunt announcement immediately gained everyone's attention.

  "When did this happen?" Sammi asked.

  "Just the other day," Rao explained. "My flesh and blood self has been forced into hiding. And he is not alone. He, Greg, and Jessica also have been unmasked as working against Walker, and are finding it necessary to hide. Dale was in hiding as well, but foolishly went out and was spotted."

  "How did this come about?" Rodriguez asked. The names of the people were known to all of them by now from earlier reports Rao had made to keep them somewhat abreast of developments in the cavern Facility.

  "A few days ago they were raiding the storage warehouses for electronics to set up a secret base to link with us here in the Sim. They were spotted, and as a result of the ensuing confrontation, two of Walker's bullies were killed. Unfortunately, one lived long enough to unmask Jessica, and Walker made the connection between what was being taken and myself. Greg's involvement had been discovered independently as a result of the visit that Rao made to us here in the Sim using the Resort facility."

  "What is that going to mean to us inside the Simulation?" Sgt. Lee from Washington asked. "Are we likely to lose contact with your counterpart in the Facility?"

  Rao shook his head.

  "For the moment, no. They managed to make off with the equipment and have set up a secure location. But, they have no more idea than we do who might be on Walker's list and why he is after the people he has been targeting. That's something we are unlikely to be able to resolve because several years of our memories have been edited out, and that's where the connection probably lies. For those in the Facility, any information gathering activities are going to be curtailed as they try simply to remain undetected."