The Sixth Extinction

by Bob Blink

  "I'm just glad it's not me in there," she stated firmly.

  "Let's just hope that Rao's kernel adapts well," Sam noted. "If it reacts poorly, the only option we have would be to shut it down, and that would destroy the memory. That's akin to death. You've got to keep in mind that despite the mechanical body, this thing will react every bit as alive as you and I in our cloned bodies. It will see shut-down as death, yet we lack the means to extract it and put it anywhere else."

  "You said Walker did just that with Dr. Ho," Jessica pointed out.

  "Yes, there are rumors to that effect that circulated when they installed Joe Thomas's damaged brain into one. But they had access to whatever Memory Mapper they found, and also have the ability to make her a clone later for the second transfer. We lack that option at this point."

  After Sam completed his testing, the three of them wandered back toward the entrance of the tunnel. Both of the stolen vehicles were still there. For some reason they hadn't yet dumped them down the deep shaft farther back in the tunnel where it forked. They'd have to do that once the Cyborg was activated and fully functional. They would be leaving this tunnel behind and returning full time to the bunker.

  "I thought Rao would be here by now," Sam said.

  Greg checked the time. "You're right. He's running late. I wonder if something came up."

  There was always the chance that Walker and his team had stumbled onto the existence of the long abandoned bunker. They also didn't know what Ray was doing, or if he'd been exposed. It was too dangerous for him to attempt communication with them just now. They all assumed that Walker would have pulled him into the investigation, and if something were uncovered that revealed their location, Ray would have found some means of alerting them, including risking a call on his communicator, the fact it might be monitored no longer important.

  "There he is," Jessica said, pointing toward the small figure making his way across the uneven ground. They followed a route that wasn't direct, but which was rocky leaving no telltale trail of footprints back to the hideout. Something in his gait indicated his was not happy.

  "He looks grim," Greg observed, putting to voice what Jessica had been thinking.

  "He was planning on checking with his counterpart in the Sim," Greg said. "I wonder if something has happened?"

  "You'd think Walker would be too occupied with matters here to be bothering with the Sim just now," Jessica said worriedly. "I hope something hasn't happened to Ray."

  "We'll know soon enough," Greg replied, watched the grim faced programmer approach.

  "What's wrong?" she shouted out when Rao was close, unable to contain her worry.

  "I am having very bad news," Rao said when he was close enough he didn't need to shout. They could see the anger had reached his eyes, which were usually bright with an internal amusement. "Walker and his men initiated more attacks in the Sim today. My LA self was able to communicate events via the note system we agreed upon. That is why I am late. The communication is very slow and difficult."

  "Who did he go after this time?" Greg asked.

  "Seven people have been killed that we know about," Rao said.

  "Seven?" Sam asked shocked.

  "Two appear to have been unfortunates who were merely nearby. The remaining five were clearly carefully selected."

  "How can you be certain?" Jessica asked, but she had a tingle in her spine that warned her something different had happened.

  "My original self, from which Walker's people extracted my memories to clone me was one of those targeted. Also, my friend Dale Nesbitt, who was sharing the suite in Washington with my original Simself was also killed. Each was shot multiple times while in the suite. A police officer who was monitoring the situation was also killed."

  "But if he killed Dale's Simself, then he is lost. His only other copy was here in the caverns, and they killed him the other day."

  "That is so," Rao agreed. "They have murdered Dale. There is no way he can be cloned for all copies of him are now lost." His eyes were shiny as he spoke.

  "What about your LA self?" Greg asked. "I assume since you got this information from him, he remains okay?"

  "I am not believing that Walker is yet aware of his existence," Rao explained. "When I injected him into the LA node, I coded him very differently, and there is no reason to expect Walker to have figured that out."

  "Who else was targeted?" Jessica asked. She sensed she wasn't going to like the rest of the news.

  Rao's sad eyes moved from one to another of his companions.

  "You three," he said softly. "Walker sent his murderers to seek out each of you in your home cities and have you eliminated. As of now, your physical forms here in this place are the only copies of you that exist. You cannot be re-cloned unless we learn where the special Memory Mappers are located, and gain access to the Cloning Clinic. Great care must be taken so that nothing happens to you before then."

  Jessica swallowed visibly.

  "The son-of-a bitch! That bastard is sending a message," she whispered. "He wants us to know how vulnerable we are."

  "I am thinking that is so," Rao agreed.

  "Well, he succeeded," Sam said, realizing the impact that his original self was now gone.

  "How did your Simself learn of all this?" Jessica asked.

  "Sgt. Lee called Sammi Donaldson and asked her to tell the LA Rao what had happened. They then checked the ten cities for any killings in the last two days, and that's when they discovered the additional shootings. Your names are known to them."

  "If we were able to find the Mind Mappers, and create a new kernel, you could re-inject that into the Sim's, can't you?" Greg asked.

  Rao nodded.

  "That is so, but we need that machine first. That means we need to have the Cyborg with my missing memories more than ever before. How does it look?"

  "Initial indications are all green," Sam said softly, still recovering from Rao's disturbing news. "We were waiting for you before activating the unit fully. Shall we go and see?"

  All indicators remained green as they approached the horizontal device. Jessica and Greg looked intrigued at the thought of the thing 'coming to life', but Rao looked distinctly nervous. They couldn't decide if he was concerned the experiment wouldn't work after all the effort had cost, or whether he worried about meeting the mechanical version of himself. Sam reached down to the control panel on the chest and pressed a series of buttons. Moments later, the Cyborg woke up.

  It took a moment where it appeared to be taking stock of its surroundings, itself, and then of them. The 'eyes' that focused on the group were a bit disconcerting. They were dark black irises with no eyelids. Obviously it had no need for eyelids. The unblinking stare moved from Jessica, to Sam, and then finally shifted to Rao, where it lingered for a time.

  "I am thinking I am a Cyborg," the strange mechanical voice said, odd to hear with Rao's typical speech mannerisms, but in a very deep, almost hollow sounding voice.

  "That is correct," Sam replied, pleased with the clarity of the thing's observations. "Do you know who you are?"

  The 'head' nodded several times, again a mannerism familiar to them from their time with the programmer.

  "I am him," the synthetic voice said. "I am Subha Rao. Now there are two of us."

  They thought that might be it, but the Cyborg only hesitated before continuing on.

  "I have memories that I wouldn't be expecting," it said.

  "Explain," Sam directed.

  "I remember myself through the time the Facility was being constructed. I was an integral part of some of the work, although I only visited here a couple of times. Most of what I did was accomplished at the firm where I work in California. Those memories seem correct, but I also have knowledge of more recent events. This later knowledge is more like a list of events and people that do not seem like true memories. I would deduce that this is a file that was edited and combined into my kernel before it was installed in this machine."

  The real R
ao smiled happily. It had worked, better than he could have hoped.

  "I am concerned," The Cyborg said, which caused immediate consternation among the three humans.

  "What is the problems?" Sam asked.

  "This is the cavern area. I was not scheduled to be inserted into a Cyborg. They were meant to be used in special situations where there was not time to create a proper clone, or where the risk of destruction to the unit is likely. That was never my function. Something has happened to make this unusual insertion necessary, and for the facts in my memory file, I am thinking that you have a serious problem with the state of the program. The Director appears to be changing the plan the builders set forth."

  "You are correct," Rao said before Sam could answer. "You say you have memories of the work you did here and for this project. We are hoping that information can serve us in resolving this very bad situation. Tell me, do you recall your programming efforts on this project?"

  "Of course. That was my primary responsibility."

  "Are you familiar with the location and layout of the various parts of the cavern?"

  "Once again, of course. The programming had to deal with all manner of the facility here."

  "We need to speak with you about a number of aspects of your work. We also could use your help in working with those inside the Simulation."

  "You are in contact with those living in the Simulation?"

  "A few, yes."

  "That is most unusual."

  "Communication is extremely difficult, but things have happened in just the past day you need to hear about."

  "Why is communication a problem? Have you forgotten the emergency access procedures?"

  "I am not like you," Rao explained. "I was extracted from the Simulation and brought here by the Director. He did not have access to all of the memories when I was cloned."

  "Ah," the Cyborg said.

  "I already see where I might help. Can we go to where you access the Simulation?"

  Without waiting for a response, the Cyborg shifted, placing his legs on the floor of the tunnel, and abruptly standing.

  "This is wonderful," he said. "For the first time I am taller than everyone else. I am liking this body. It feels strong and nimble, and my senses are better than ever before."

  He reached down and closed the panel on his chest.

  "I can see my status without that," he explained.

  Indeed, the Cyborg towered over them. He glanced at them again, and then said, "It will be confusing with two of us here. I need to have a name so you can refer to me. How about Cyborg, or CyborgRao in case there are more like me?"

  "How about Raobot," Jessica said. "It's less of a mouthful."

  "Acceptable," the robot replied. "Where is it we are going?"

  "We are hiding in the old control bunker," Rao explained.

  "I know of it," Raobot replied. "Shall I lead?"

  "Perhaps I should lead," Greg said. "We have chosen a special route that does not leave tracks."

  "Before we go, we should dispose of the cars and other evidence here," Sam reminded them.

  It took longer than expected to clean up the equipment, putting most of it into the vehicles before they were driven, then pushed to the edge of the drop that would take them down a couple hundred yards into the darkness. By the time they finished, one would have to look very carefully to detect that anyone had been using the tunnel to hide out from Walker and his people.

  Raobot managed the trip to the bunker as well as, if not better than, the rest of them.

  "He has adapted to his new body remarkably well," Sam had noted as they disappeared into the underground sanctuary.

  If the Cyborg found the quarters Spartan, he said nothing, moving over to the computers and finding a spot that pleased him, set about poking into the system to see what they had. Soon enough, he indicated that he was now up to speed with their system.

  "Limited, but it will do," he said. "You said you wish to communicate with those in the Simulation. Can you arrange for them to gather at one location? It would be easier that way."

  Rao nodded, and sitting next to his alternate self, he had edited the memory file for the third Rao, the one living in LA.

  Now, the magic was apparent. They were watching the most incredible image that Rao could imagine. Somehow, the Cyborg had sent a holo image of their group into the conference room. Like those sitting around the conference table inside the Simulation, he could see the holo image of himself, as well as those physically present in the room, which included Sgt. John Morrison, who had come in from Chicago mere moments before. Also present, but like them in holo form, was Sgt. Mike Lee from New York.

  Crossing his fingers, Rao spoke. "Can you hear me?" he asked.

  Heads bobbed in surprise, so he knew his answer even before another spoke.

  "This is remarkable," Lt. Rodriguez said. "You we know, of course, but can you identify those with you, including that ominous appearing machine next to you?"

  "The people here are those that you reported killed earlier in the day. This is Jessica, Greg, and Sam. I'm happy to say the flesh and blood versions are in good health at the moment."

  Each raised a hand as their names were spoken.

  "The machine is one of the Cyborgs I told you about, and which we borrowed the other day. This one is now loaded with my memories, but more importantly, a complete set of my memories, so he knows things that none of the other versions of me would. The first indication of that is this remarkable conversation we are having. We have yet to have a detailed discussion to see what other useful bits of information he has that can be used against Walker."

  "This is indeed good news, but before we continue with that discussion, I need to tell you that there have been more deaths. These have been scattered among various cities, and all occurred within a short time of one another. All were execution style killings, most with shotguns at short range. One was with a sniper rifle at a considerable distance, but that was because of a unique situation and apparently the only access to the target."

  "Who was killed now?" Greg asked.

  Sammi chuckled happily.

  "Walker and his band of killers," she said with a wide grin.

  "What?" Jessica asked.

  "Rossetti got them," Morrison said. "Apparently he has had teams watching all of them for some time, learning their habits and patterns, and just waiting for a reason. His man Sal sent off a group text earlier that was the go signal to all of the teams."

  "How would Rossetti know? The timing is remarkable."

  "He had an inside man," Rodriguez said with a touch of annoyance. Obviously he wasn't as happy with the outcome as Sammi. He pointed toward Don. "He told them."

  "Fair is fair," Don countered. "The bastards have been getting away with murder, and there is nothing we can do about it. This sends a message to them as well."

  "I doubt that it will ultimately matter to him," Greg argued. "I don't think he is using the Sim versions to re-clone."

  "Perhaps not," Jessica said, jumping in to the conversation, "but it has to be a shock to him when he learns of it. He no longer has a backup either. If we nail him here in the Facility, he is gone, gone, gone!"

  "You are not exactly positioned to engage the man," John Morrison pointed out. "What is it you have, a pair of handguns and some non lethal stunners?"

  "A sharp knife would do just as well," Jessica said boldly, although she knew it was just talk. Knives made her queasy.

  "There are weapons," Raobot said.

  "What?" Greg asked. "Here? Here in the Facility?"

  "No, not in the caverns, but close enough," the Cyborg answered, but didn't appear inclined to say any more.

  "If we could only disable the Memory Mapping device that Walker has, then he would be doomed, not having any way to continue his current self," Rao said.

  "I have not seen such a device," Sam countered. "We didn't see one in the basement where the Cyborgs were stored. That would have been a reasonable place."


  "It is stored in Dr. Ho's library," Raobot said calmly. "Actually there are three such devices."

  "How do you know this?" Sam asked.

  "I was involved in the design of the interfaces for much of the facility. There is a spot behind some of her bookshelves where a small room has been set up. It was deemed the Cloning Clinic was the appropriate place, but the existence was not to be revealed even to Dr. Ho until her final cloning, as preparations were being considered for a return to the surface. Somehow, she and Walker must have discovered the existence of the units."

  "Her final cloning?" Sam asked. "How was that to work?"

  "I am not knowing the details, but once the conditions on the surface were deemed improved sufficiently, information hidden in the system would surface with instructions to include the file with Dr. Ho's kernel, much as you did with me and selected memories that this Rao didn't receive."

  "But they have bypassed the usual cloning already. She would have missed out on that information," Sam pointed out.

  "It is so," Raobot agreed. "There could be other information that will be overlooked by the process they have adopted."

  "There must have been someone else who would receive this information," Jessica said. "They couldn't have relied on a single individual."

  Raobot nodded.

  "Sam was the backup."

  "Me?" Sam asked surprised.

  "Other than Dr. Ho, you had more experience than any other with cloning. You did not wish to have a leading role, but the builders saw you as a valuable resource."

  "Where is this information stored?" Greg asked. "Walker and his team must have spent years trying to find any hidden information."

  Rao already knew the answer. He and Dale had found the files he had loaded into Raobot's memory.

  "They are hidden inside the Simulation," he explained. They are not on the Facility's system in the normal sense."