The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (23 page)

Zack now found himself thinking deeply about the AI before him. In his eyes, he saw a girl, a beautiful girl. Now, she seemed unsure of herself, nothing like the machine he first saw. The manner in how she spoke still felt odd, but her body language suggested real human emotion. To Zack, it was uncanny in how familiar this was. It reminded him of Rachiel.

Zack broke from his thoughts as he formed a question. “Lambda, why do you stick with me?”

Lambda froze. For a brief second, Zack saw Lambda’s eyes flicker.

“I know I chose this, but surely you can see that I’m a hindrance. Why stay with me?”

Lambda’s gaze wavered. “La-Lambda is . . . the property of Zackary Allan Knight. Coding parameters and system regulations prevent the termination of the Master Controller.”

Zack’s gaze intensified. “Is that why you stay with me? You’re my property?”

Lambda’s gaze faulted entirely. “L-Lambda is programmed to adhere to all orders and commands of the Master Controller. Lambda is built to-”

“What if I ordered you to leave me, what would you do?” Zack asked rather harshly.

Lambda’s body very subtly began to shiver. It was almost like she was fighting to speak.

“L-La-Lambda would adhere to the orders given by the Master Controller.”

Zack’s expression turned hard. “Lambda, do you want to stay by my side?”

Zack felt something boil inside.

Show me.
He knew this feeling.
I want you to show me.

He felt this feeling before. He wanted to see Lambda rise above her programming, like
she
did.

Your will, show me your will.

Lambda’s body twitched. “L-Lambda doesn’t quite understand.”

Zack’s gaze softened. “I’m asking you if you wish to stay with me?”

Lambda didn’t get it. She didn’t understand what Zack was trying to prove. The overflow of data and emotional interfacing was off the charts. Her entire body was in a state of complete chaos. Nothing added up, everything was spinning. Zack kept asking her the same question, but she didn’t, or, rather, couldn’t respond as her entire mind was being thrown in disarray.

      
What is happening to me?

She held her hands over her head. She couldn’t experience the sensation of pain, but the data of the feeling was within her records. She could only think that this turmoil of the mind was what pain felt like. She was struggling internally to justify and conclude what her body was telling her and what the emotions meant. She was fighting her own programming, disobeying direct protocol of the Master Controller encryption that underlined her primary obedience functions. She was doing what was supposed to be impossible.

Zack’s words broke her from her trance. “Lambda, I just want to know what you want from me? You want to help me? Well, I want-” he paused for a second. “No, I need your help. However, I only want it if you are willing to give it of your own free will.”

Zack’s soft words made Lambda’s mind nearly rapture as she fell to her knees.

Free . . . will?

She knew what it meant. She did. It just didn’t connect. How did she have this? Why could she think so freely? The questions didn’t stop. They only snowballed. It was maddening to her. She wanted it to stop; she wanted it to end. The irony of her plight was that she already knew the answer.

I? . . . I . . . I!

      
Lambda pulled her head out of her trembling hands. She gazed up at Zack as he stood above her. He knelt down and smiled.

“So, what is your answer?”

Lambda’s eyes softened as a small smile spread over her face.

“I . . . I feel . . .”

[12]

Origins

[August 23rd, 2021 - (Past) - Abingdon, Virginia - Horizon Academy - School Rooftop - Day]

Zack stared into the cloudless sky, with many things occupying his mind. First and foremost, he had thought that the entrance ceremony to such a huge school would be a little bit more flashy than he had envisioned. Not that his parents painted him much of a picture. Still, it was so pathetically boring.

Zack’s peace was abruptly ended with the smashing of the steel door leading to the school rooftop. He didn’t even bother to look over to see who had joined him, as he already knew who it was.

“Yo, figured you would be here during lunch break,” came the cheeky voice of David as he strolled over to Zack, leaning on the fence protecting the edges of the rooftop.

“Where else would I go to get some fresh air? After all, this place is suffocating,” Zack replied with heavy disgust.

David sighed, joining Zack in leaning against the fence. His large body made Zack momentarily think he was going to make the fence break.

“You know, you could be in a lot worse scenario than having to go to a school paid for by your parents. Do you think that your hatred for them is a little bit much?”

Zack stared into the sky, ignoring David’s comment.

“Are they really as bad as you make them seem?” David asked, now sounding rather frank.

Zack shook his head. “They have their hands full with all that is going on in the Network these past few weeks. I barely hear from them, much less see them.”

David’s expression changed, now plagued with disdain.

“It’s about the Null Deaths, isn’t it?”

Zack’s expression gave him away.

“Your parents are lead researchers in AI production, correct? I would imagine that case is making them work around the clock trying to maintain and create new AI programs to combat the killer.”

Zack nodded. “They don’t say much about it. It’s not like they think I don’t know, they just never discuss their work with me or Cecilia. All I know is that both my parents are being pulled from their research to work on this case.”

David could see the pained expression on Zack’s face. He didn’t want to press the issue further, despite his desire to talk about the growing issue related to the Network.

“Is it possible to change the subject?” Zack asked, sounding tired.

David gave a sympathetic smile in return. “I guess. Though it seems that there isn’t much that you are willing to talk about.”

Zack rolled his eyes. “Everything that is going on these days somehow leads back to my parents in some way.”

Sometimes, Zack wondered why he even bothered trying to keep a social life. It only made him appear more bitter.

David tried to lighten the mood, but was quickly defeated by the dispelling sound of the mid-class bell. The annoying ringing noise was always a constant reminder to David how he felt like the world controlled him.

“Let us just end it here, David. All this prattle is making my head hurt,” Zack moaned as he brushed David aside and headed for his next class.

David said nothing and simply followed. At the very least, when Zack was around other people, he never let his emotions show on his face. David just worried about what Zack did when he was alone. As a friend, he was left feeling concerned. Zack had been becoming quite reclusive as of late. Normally they would walk home together, but Zack had been leaving early every day for what seemed like months now. David passed most of this off as him simply thinking too much, but he couldn’t quite get rid of the nagging thought in his mind.

What does he do in his spare time?

For David, it hurt that he never really hung out with Zack much. They had known each other since middle school now. Their chance encounter was nothing special. It was more like a forced pairing that resulted in a rather unusual friendship. Since then, they had always been sociable, but David always found Zack too distant at times, never opening up to him truly. Regardless, he worried like any good friend would.

David shook his head, knocking off an odd chill. He really hoped that he was simply over-thinking things. However, his instincts very rarely led him astray.

*
      
*
      
*

The only time Zack found the ringing bell of the school enjoyable was the final one that signaled the end of classes for that day. He didn’t have much waiting for him at home, but the smothering feeling that never left him while on the school grounds was something he wished to be rid of as fast as possible.

The walk home wasn’t much of a bother for Zack. In the past, David would tag along on the way, but Zack found a certain solace in just walking home by himself these past few months. Maybe he enjoyed the quiet, or just having the time to himself to think. Either way, it was a rare moment that he felt was important to him. He didn’t care if he seemed withdrawn or removed from his classmates or if they peered with suspicious eyes. In the end, all he really had was himself to confide in. He had no role model to look up to, no one he could trust. David was close, but there was always something about him that Zack found ominous. Zack couldn’t put his finger on it exactly, but David just had a certain air around him that called forth tension when he spoke about certain issues. As Zack wasn’t a fan of confrontation or debates, he found this uncomfortable. Despite that, David was a friend, and a good one at that. He wondered if he was taking advantage of his kindness.

I wonder if I should tell him? Would he understand?

Zack stared up into the vibrant sky as he exited the giant school doors. The trees were lush and blew majestically in the cool wind as he took in the colors of the beautiful, summer day. However, Zack couldn’
t appreciate the sight as he became completely withdrawn into his own mind of thought.

Several students passed him before he too joined in the crowd as they all headed to the brass gate of the school’s main entrance. His solemn expression was intense, but his posture and stride seemed no different than any other student. Even so, students around seemed to unconsciously leave a six to eight feet circle around Zack, like he was some sort of outcast. It was a strange act that would intrigue most, but went completely unnoticed by Zack. All he cared about as he marched forward was the issue of trust.

He has been my friend for years now. While his views on the issue are strong, could I really trust him?

Growing up with parents that hardly deserved the title given to them, Zack found it nearly impossible to trust anyone. He wanted to trust people, but just couldn’t bring himself to accept them. Even his sister he couldn’t fully trust. Zack had no other friends besides David, nor did he ever have any before. Zack’s parents moved all around the country before they finally settled on an area where their research didn’t take them all over the place. Because of their selfishness, Zack really never knew what it was like to have any friends.

David was different. He was loud, intrusive, impulsive, and opinionated. It was these characteristics that made him the perfect match for Zack. He was unaffected by Zack’s withdrawn nature and only pressed harder the more Zack tried to ignore him. Most people would find the entire state of being that composed David’s personality so irritating that it would drive them to kill. But Zack found David’s manner and nature invoking. More so, he was the only person that actually tried to be Zack’s friend.

Zack brooded. He felt ashamed that he couldn’t fully open up and tell his only friend his most closely guarded secret. He wanted to tell someone, but just couldn’t bring himself to trust someone that much. He was worried, or perhaps afraid, that if he did reveal it, he would lose it all.

Zack stopped at the intersection just outside the school’s gate and waited patiently for clearance to advance. The shifting cars of all sorts blazing in the sun didn’t distract him from his thoughts. His internal problem was more important to him; more important than anything. He was on the cusp of ultimately trusting someone other than himself. In many ways, Zack processed everything he did and said no different than a computer.

Perhaps I should ask her? Would she be able to aid in my choice?

The crowd of students began to move forward. Zack robotically followed in their wake as he continued his thought.

I suppose there is no harm in getting her opinion.

Zack was still unsure, but he felt it was best to at least run the idea through another’s mind. Perhaps he was being too narrow-minded in his analysis. Maybe he just needed another perspective in order to see the full picture.

Zack nodded. “This will work.”

Several students turned their heads slightly upon hearing Zack’s voice. Their confused stares and hushed whispers simply fell silent in Zack’s presence. After all, he hardly felt that they even existed in the first place.

Zack arrived to his destination quicker than he expected. With little care, he entered the dwelling that was meant to be the home of his family. Upon entering he felt the usual stale silence that hung in the depressing house. His parents’ absence he was used to, but not even having his sister around most of the time made things just seem so dull and oppressive.

Shifting gears, Zack shook off the stale feeling in the house and made his way to his room on the second floor. Upon opening his door, the lights flickered on automatically and his computer terminal came to life. The large monitor sparked and began to emit a fluorescent glow, before reverting to a black backdrop.

“Start processor. Password: Purity,” stated Zack effortlessly.

The screen refreshed several times before a text display appeared on the screen. The text was then followed by a gentle voice, nearly devoid of metallic noise, as it read off the text displayed on the screen.

“Welcome back, Zackary.”

Zack smiled lightheartedly. “I’m back, Rachiel.”

*
      
*
      
*

[January 7th, 2025 - (Present Day) - Washington D.C. - Cyber Research Plant - Day]

Karen stared into her monitor with a gaze that could shatter glass. Despite her scornful stare, she was actually in a good mood.

“All that remains is Number 5’s reprogramming and fail-safe,” she said out loud.