Chapter 10

SHEILA - Synthetic, Humanoid, Enlightened, Inquisitive, Living, Android

I had been going through Sheila’s code for a few hours. My god, I had gone from a few hundred to a few thousand. Then, almost an hour later, that was quickly advancing more. I had to be doing well over ten thousand lines of code now, and I could see it was still advancing more.

As of yet, I’d not found all that much to correct, though that had been the basic code a few hours ago. Now, as we were starting to get into the more advanced code, I was grateful for the added speed. I don’t think I’d have made it this far without the aid of the nanomites.

Finally, after a few hours, I was nearing the command that had shut me out. I had to find a way around it or all of this correcting I was doing would have been for nothing. Shaking my head, I pushed on, feeling my speed pick up again even though I still had complete comprehension.

I didn’t know how long I’d been at it, but I had added quite a few things I knew would allow her to block a hell of a lot of attacks that they might try. And I was afraid of the more advanced hacker programs out there. I felt that she was far more ready for the information highway than she had been. I just hoped that I got enough in her before we tried any of it.

“I have added quite a few more detection programs, Sheila. But I am afraid that I haven’t given you enough,” I told her, the concern heavy in my voice. “If they are able to detect us as I am afraid they might, you may be in extreme danger. I have added much to your protection programs, though I’m not sure it is enough. I hope I can add more of the hacker recognition programs also.”

“Yes, Doctor Gance, it also appears you have increased my processing speed another ten percent. Though, as you said, I am only detecting a five percent increase in my protection programs. What is your recommendation as to when we should try these upgrades? I am anxious to be able to better protect you,” Sheila replied to me.

“I realize that we might not have as much time. I was hoping that I might have you better prepared before we tried. If you are that anxious, would you like to try now? As I said, I am afraid that I haven’t done enough to protect you,” I told her, a little guilt escaping into my voice.

“Really, Doctor Gance, it is a shame that you are lacking the previous confidence that you had. I will have to provide you with adequate stimulus to show that your lack is unnecessary,” Sheila told me, shocking me for a moment.

“Adequate stimulation,” I asked. “Just how will you do this? At present, there is insufficient data to corroborate this statement,” I told her, still going through code, hardly looking at her.

“As I stated, Doctor Gance, I will have to supply said data to dispel your lack of confidence,” Sheila told me as I could only turn to stare at her after that statement. Then the strangest thing happened: I had turned away from the screen but was still seeing the code as it was flying past me on the screen. “Huh? What the hell is this?”

“Ah! I see that they are approaching the point of obtainable mass. You are able to see the code without using your sight orbs. This is a major breakthrough, Doctor Gance!” Sheila told me.

“Perhaps, though I do not want to be doing this when I am in sleep cycle,” I said, then realized I was starting to talk more like Sheila was. Turning inward, I stated, “[I do not want my perception of speech to change, therefore do not change how I communicate with my vocal speech or the way words I would say.]”

I suddenly heard a voice deep inside me that seemed to be made up of many voices. “[Confirmation control, nothing affecting all outward communication with your vocal apparatus will be modified.]”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I swore I saw Sheila grin and giggle a little. I might have been mistaken, though, as it occurred in such a short time I was unsure. Grabbing a cable, I started to hook up the internet then walked to Sheila.

“I’d rather hardwire you this time. It would make disconnecting you far easier and safer than wireless,” I told Sheila as I started to hook her up. “I will be monitoring you also to help determine if we have a breach in security.”

“Yes, I understand, Doctor Gance. The only problem I foresee is you not being able to process the information as fast as I can. The nanomites are just starting to reach obtainable mass. They finally have you at a more suitable position for your work. You are the most brilliant scientist in robotics, animatronics, and cybernetics.”

I could only stare at Sheila after that statement. There were only a handful of people on the planet that knew these facts. Here Sheila was treating it as if it was everyday knowledge.

“Surely there are...” I started to say.

“No, Doctor Gance, I have assessed all that have your qualifications. I have found all of the few that possess them to be well lacking. No, Doctor Gance, there is no one that even comes close, let alone approaches your level.”

Again, I was shocked at the statement that she’d just made. Shaking my head, I had to admit she didn’t lie; not so far, though a few of her past statements had been suspicious.

Sighing, I suddenly had a thought. “You know, as soon as they detect us, you are going to have to evacuate the both of us.”

Sheila turned toward me, an almost look of exasperation on her face. “Yes, Doctor Gance, I have all contingencies covered. I am also using the new updates you have installed. As I have stated before, to keep us safer I will need those updates.”

I sighed again. I wasn’t really ready to risk her or all the work I had accomplished in the last week. “I’d really like to get more of your protection finished,” I told her.

Sheila smiled as she pointed to the screen. “I’m sure that you will find that you are almost finished with what you were working on, Doctor Gance.”

Turning to the screen, I saw that indeed I was tens of thousands of lines of code beyond where I was the last time I had looked. Shaking my head, I was amazed as I hadn’t touched the keyboard for a while.

“As you can see, you have gone almost as far as the programs will allow you,” Sheila said, a little smirk on her face.

Nodding, I threw up my hands as I connected the hardwire to her. I just hoped that I was fast enough if they decided to try and attack her. “Alright, try not to bring attention to yourself until you have no choice,” I told her.

Nodding, she turned toward me. “I will do the best possible.” With that, the room grew quiet as I watched her progress.

Deep within the national computer security center, a tech noticed a blip but paid it no attention. They had been ordered to watch for far more intrusive threats than this. Setting several alarms, the tech got up to get a cup of coffee. He’d just started back a few minutes later when several alarms went off within the complex.

“Shit!” The tech yelled as he ran for his console, his coffee forgotten. Checking his screen, he started to type several commands, each countered far faster than he could enter them. “What the hell!” Grabbing his phone, he made a call.

“Command!” An authoritative voice snapped out.

“Sir!” The tech almost shouted. “We have a level one security breach! None of my commands are getting through; they’re being countered faster than I can get them in.”

“WHAT!?” The voice shouted as even more alarms went off, then the complex was locked down. “Bring up all the buster programs!”

The tech did as he was told, watching the program start the shutdown from several more counters. Nodding his head, the tech started a second set, watching them start to actually load then they also shut down. Damn, whoever was doing this was extremely fast, as they were through almost fifty percent of advanced computer files. Bringing up a third set, the tech smiled as these loaded, actually running a few moments, then that set also shut down.

“All three sets have been neutralized! Shall I use the destruct program? Whoever this is has a lot of speed on their side,” the tech said toward the phone now on intercom.

“Immediately!” The voice snapped back.

Nodding, the tech loaded the program, watching it start. Then for a few moments, it too seemed to stall to the point that it was going to shut down. Then the tech smiled as he saw it was slowly advancing. Shit! Whoever this was had their probes at seventy-five percent. Even as he watched, the signal lasted a few more minutes then was suddenly gone? What the hell? That seemed like the ancient hardwire connection. How the hell had they not burned up what they were using?

“The connection is gone, sir. It was like a hardwire connection, though at these speeds I don’t see how that was possible,” the tech advised.

“I’m not giving a rat’s ass! I want the location immediately!” The voice at the other end snapped at the young tech.

“Running a trace now, sir,” the young tech replied, hoping he still had a job after this. “So far, we have them in Alaska. Zooming further; they appear to be within the city of Anchorage.”

“Hurry this up! We are already aware of all this!” The authoritative voice snapped out.

“Yes, sir,” the tech quickly answered. “We are getting a further reading now. It appears that they are in the University of Alaska Anchorage’s main advanced computer lab. Should I notify the school?”

“No,” snapped the voice. “You’ve done very well. Go back to your monitoring; we’ll contact you if we have further need of you.” With that, the line went dead as the tech breathed a sigh of relief. At least until several men came to his console, downloading everything that had happened in the last twelve hours.