Boris shrugged, “I will see what we can arrange. Sending some of the data as an act of good faith might help. At least ADAM or TOM could check the theoretical viability, so we know you’re operating in good faith,” he agreed in a conversational tone.
“I’ll consider it.” She answered.
It was twelve hours later when Boris came back to the computer, or the technology room. It was the moment of truth for a certain machine…err disembodied brain… whatever. If she’d decided to do something funky, then she needed to be put back in the Faraday cage at least.
“I am here, Boris,” ADAM said through one of the speakers. Boris wasn’t sure why ADAM had insisted on being ‘present’ when the massive healing station was opened. Maybe it was because Bethany Anne wanted a report.
The final decision on her fate was really not up to Boris, anyway. Instead, it would be TOM and ADAM speaking to Bethany Anne who would then make the final judgement.
“He should be ready for viewing. It takes around half an hour after the process is finished for a subject to wake up. Due to the rushed nature of the effort, I was only able to fix so many of his physical problems, and some of those fixes will take days or weeks to fully manifest.” The computer said in a regretful tone.
“What, exactly do you mean by you fixed his physical problems?” Boris asked cautiously.
“Other than the gross physical damage to his body, I have removed several concerning cell clusters that could have become cancerous, fixed a mild heart defect, and improved his lung capacity. Also, I have corrected some imbalances and nutritional deficiencies.”
Boris felt pleasantly surprised, “Two modifications are not complete. I have triggered increased body hair growth to aid in his survival in the conditions that exist in the near vicinity,” she continued. Okay, that one was a little strange, but Boris would let it pass. “I have also enabled his fingernails to grow significantly thicker and sharper by activating dormant genes to give him a natural weapon of self-defense.”
That one was almost unintelligible to him. Dormant genes for knife like fingernails?
“Explain the physical appearance the last change will cause, and your reasons for implementing it.” ADAM request before Boris could object to the last change.
Boris interrupted, screaming in rage “I ASKED you to keep him human! I can’t see how that last one applies.”
“Let her explain first, Boris,” ADAM stated calmly.
“I was ordered to ‘fix’ the subject. The subject had received significant wounds from some kind of weapon. He lacked a natural defensive weapon, though one was clearly present in the genome. I provided encouragement within his genes for that feature to express itself. He will have no residual nanites, nor will he be able to take another form. The natural defenses were provided to reduce the chances of a repeat event causing the same damage. As I was ordered he is still completely human, not a Were or something as you requested,” she said in a calm tone.
Boris was still angry. He flipped the switch to turn the Faraday cage back on.
“What? Why have you caged me again? I was fulfilled your request! I have done nothing wrong.” she paused and then a playback of Boris’ original order came over the speaker in the Faraday cage, crackling but recognizable.
‘Very well, but fix him as a normal human. We have no idea if he’d want to be changed into a Were or something so we will not inflict that on him.’
ADAM asked, “Where has she strayed from your request, Boris? She has fixed him per your request. Personality, intelligence, what would you have done if you had been asked to heal the patient?”
“I would have done the first section. I would have considered the final two changes and may have asked for permission to implement them.” She said firmly.
“Boris, you gave her a broad request. I admit that what she has done is not what I would have expected, but she took the initiative to fill what she perceived as a gap in your orders. Isn’t initiative a trait both you and Bethany Anne value? If so, why punish her?”
Boris ground his teeth. Yes, initiative was something he valued. Finally, he settled down and said through gritted teeth, “Can you change at least the nails back to what they were?”
“I can. He would be in here for days longer, and it is unnecessary, so I will not without substantial reasons. I did not act outside the boundaries you set. I consider what I did a bare fix. I only marginally improved his chances of receiving less injury if he encounters the same situation. If you want my best help, giving me imprecise orders and locking me in when I follow them is not the optimal solution.” She finished with a huff.
ADAM saw Boris’ neck muscles stand out in anger through a camera.
When ADAM saw him move to rise, he answered “Boris, stop and think for a moment. She has effectively been imprisoned for at least a millennia. She makes a mistake, and you imprison her again before she can explain. How would a reasonable human react to that?”
Boris’ anger slowly cooled as he paced around the room, keeping well clear of the Faraday cage and its contents. Finally, he drew in a deep breath. He had tolerated similar and worse from Paul for decades. Why was he reacting so violently to this? A little voice in his head answered, because you only saw her as a tool, an interchangeable piece. Not as an individual being, who has been abused, who deserves rights.
Taking in another breath, he flicked the switch back off.
The computer said “Thank you. But you have now abused my goodwill. I refuse to give you anything until I get a large database of myths, legends, and religions to peruse. Take it or leave it.” There was an edge to the final statement, making it clear that she would not be moved.
Now Boris had two problems. Getting Bethany Anne to agree to give over the part of the database he least wanted to. Then he had to try and calm down a petulant computer with a personality.
He was felt completely out of his depth.
It was with some relief when later he received ADAM’s assurance that the database was on the way.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Long range Patrol, within the region of New Romonovka
ADAM had spotted a large group of what looked to be soldiers forming on the borders of the Oblast. By the time he had warned the Base about it, the invaders had disappeared under cover of a storm.
The weather plays no favorites.
It had worked for Boris’ forces when they had intercepted the large NVG force near Romonovka. Now the inclement weather blocked any chance of monitoring the enemy force or even determining if more were coming for a rendezvous. By the time the cloud cover had interfered with satellite monitoring, there had been over five hundred soldiers poised to move in.
The Russian government was being intransigent. Their support in the UN was risked if the forces available to Boris couldn’t handle the incursion with minimal casualties and no additional support. They claimed that they had forces available to secure the site upon his failure.
Basically putting Boris in a rock and hard place vis-a-vis his responsibilities to Bethany Anne as he saw them. The solution that Boris arrived at was to send mixed groups of Spartans and Weres to interdict any scouts and find the paths of advance. The cloud cover and bad weather were predicted to last at least ten days. From their starting point, they could reach New Romonovka in five.
It didn’t help that the puck and rail gun EI was not online yet, nor were all the railgun pads dugout. Without that, Bethany Anne wasn’t bringing down the system until it could be in place.
Quickly.
It had taken Gyada almost a day to get her arm back to normal. In that time, with her newly chosen name, Lilith, the computer personality had been analyzing Gyada’s physical state.