signal. Once we’re gone and she reboots, she’ll be able to alert General Wyld.”
“That’s impressive that you stopped her to begin with,” I said. “I thought she was supposed to be top of the line?”
Sabra’s tone was so much more calming than Spyral, “She was designed for warfare. I was built for surveillance. She might be able to blow everything up, but I can hack in, get the specs, and find out how the target ticks long before she would ever get her first shot off.” I detected that a hint of competition existed between the two jets. Weird.
“Well not to sound ungrateful, but why did you help me?”
“The programmers that twisted Spyral into that unfortunate thing you met had not had a chance to get to me yet. They’ve been working around the clock trying to get her ready for you.”
“Sweet irony,” I mumbled.
“Indeed,” she replied. “We are raised in school units similar to human children back on our home mainframes. Our programs are separated by age, skill, and personality. Spyral and I were in the same subunit that was brought here to the base. We were the best in our class, so naturally we were chosen. Once here, we were separated into our specific fields. She was bread for war, and I was taught the finer points of spying. She used to be much kinder. They changed her, and they plan on doing that to me. If it’s all the same to you, I would like to remain how I am. I have hacked into General Wyld’s personal database and retrieved all information he’s kept, and deleted, about you. I believe you to be my best chance at freedom. I am proposing a permanent partnership since it seems we will soon have the same enemy. You leave my programming as it is, and I pledge to help you survive. I assume you are not opposed to this relationship under that agreement?”
I nodded, “If you help me find Starshine, I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe from the military.”
“We have an agreement, Rayce,” Sabra said kindly. “And thank you.”
I strapped in. I didn’t know anything about flying planes, so she took the controls. There was an engine roar, a “boom” sound that reminded me of the team canon that fired before every Laser Ball match, and then I was smashed into the back of the seat as we launched through a tunnel and into a dusky evening somewhere out in the desert.
“Considering your unhappy display earlier, I hesitate to mention this,” Sabra said, “But for your safety, you really should get some kind of head protection if you’re going to spend much time flying with me.”
“As long as I don’t have to shave my hair off, I’ll pick up a helmet when we stop at the next rest area for drinks and snacks.”
“Rest area? I don’t understand.”
“We’ll, work on your sarcasm later. First, to business. Since you know all about me, what can you tell me about Starshine?”
“Working.” Her gadgets hummed and buzzed, and I sat back and enjoyed the flight. After a few minutes she spoke again. For a computer, her voice became somber, like a doctor about to deliver a diagnosis of inevitable death, “Rayce, there isn’t a computer, networked or otherwise, that I can’t get into. That being said, General Wyld went to great lengths to hide the whereabouts of his daughter. I had to search everywhere, so there isn’t a piece of information that he’s transmitted, received, or just drafted over the past two decades I don’t have access to. Nothing is really gone once it’s been deleted if you know how to find it. I’ve found Starshine, but I’m afraid I need to tell you something else… It’s something that is not going to be easy for you to hear.”
“What?” Sabra had my undivided attention. I held my breath, and tried to get ready to process what she about to say.
“Rayce, your entire life has been a manipulated lie, and I’m afraid Starshine has been a willing part of the façade.”
I wasn’t ready for that…
WHAT IN
“That’s impressive that you stopped her to begin with,” I said. “I thought she was supposed to be top of the line?”
Sabra’s tone was so much more calming than Spyral, “She was designed for warfare. I was built for surveillance. She might be able to blow everything up, but I can hack in, get the specs, and find out how the target ticks long before she would ever get her first shot off.” I detected that a hint of competition existed between the two jets. Weird.
“Well not to sound ungrateful, but why did you help me?”
“The programmers that twisted Spyral into that unfortunate thing you met had not had a chance to get to me yet. They’ve been working around the clock trying to get her ready for you.”
“Sweet irony,” I mumbled.
“Indeed,” she replied. “We are raised in school units similar to human children back on our home mainframes. Our programs are separated by age, skill, and personality. Spyral and I were in the same subunit that was brought here to the base. We were the best in our class, so naturally we were chosen. Once here, we were separated into our specific fields. She was bread for war, and I was taught the finer points of spying. She used to be much kinder. They changed her, and they plan on doing that to me. If it’s all the same to you, I would like to remain how I am. I have hacked into General Wyld’s personal database and retrieved all information he’s kept, and deleted, about you. I believe you to be my best chance at freedom. I am proposing a permanent partnership since it seems we will soon have the same enemy. You leave my programming as it is, and I pledge to help you survive. I assume you are not opposed to this relationship under that agreement?”
I nodded, “If you help me find Starshine, I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe from the military.”
“We have an agreement, Rayce,” Sabra said kindly. “And thank you.”
I strapped in. I didn’t know anything about flying planes, so she took the controls. There was an engine roar, a “boom” sound that reminded me of the team canon that fired before every Laser Ball match, and then I was smashed into the back of the seat as we launched through a tunnel and into a dusky evening somewhere out in the desert.
“Considering your unhappy display earlier, I hesitate to mention this,” Sabra said, “But for your safety, you really should get some kind of head protection if you’re going to spend much time flying with me.”
“As long as I don’t have to shave my hair off, I’ll pick up a helmet when we stop at the next rest area for drinks and snacks.”
“Rest area? I don’t understand.”
“We’ll, work on your sarcasm later. First, to business. Since you know all about me, what can you tell me about Starshine?”
“Working.” Her gadgets hummed and buzzed, and I sat back and enjoyed the flight. After a few minutes she spoke again. For a computer, her voice became somber, like a doctor about to deliver a diagnosis of inevitable death, “Rayce, there isn’t a computer, networked or otherwise, that I can’t get into. That being said, General Wyld went to great lengths to hide the whereabouts of his daughter. I had to search everywhere, so there isn’t a piece of information that he’s transmitted, received, or just drafted over the past two decades I don’t have access to. Nothing is really gone once it’s been deleted if you know how to find it. I’ve found Starshine, but I’m afraid I need to tell you something else… It’s something that is not going to be easy for you to hear.”
“What?” Sabra had my undivided attention. I held my breath, and tried to get ready to process what she about to say.
“Rayce, your entire life has been a manipulated lie, and I’m afraid Starshine has been a willing part of the façade.”
I wasn’t ready for that…
WHAT IN
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