The Genesis Code 1: Lambda by Robert E. Parkin Page B

hunted?” Zack was starting to get agitated now.
    Lambda plainly looked at Zack. “Logic would have called for you to step aside and not interfere. Your decision to welcome danger is rather disturbing,” she said directly.
    Zack rolled his eyes. Great, an AI with no filter.
    Still, Zack rubbed his temples in an effort to calm an upcoming headache. This was getting him nowhere. He needed a different approach if he was going to understand Lambda’s origin at all. As she was the only clue he had, Zack was compelled to probe her for information as best he could. Otherwise, he was in for an uphill battle that he had no chance of winning.
    “You said you were being held on one of the Zero Zone servers right?” Zack was trying to see what questions Lambda would answer. If possible, he was hoping he could use Lambda’s own logic against her. With any luck, he hoped he could get something he could use to making his next move.
    Lambda stared blankly. “Correct. Lambda had been in Stasis Lock for just under 5,000 hours.”
    Zack now paused a moment to think about what she had said.
    Only Babel would have the resources to store something like this on a Zero Zone server. What did they plan to do with her?
    Babel was a collective whole of many working governments and countries run by the Grand Twelve. These twelve elected officials were the ones that ran and oversaw the Cyber Network as its own separate government. If Babel was possibly behind Lambda’s origin, it opened the door to many more possibilities given their vast reach both politically and resourcefully. Again, it came back to the big question of Lambda’s purpose.
    Lambda cut Zack’s thoughts short. A little unnerved he was interrupted, he looked to Lambda, but was left surprised by what she said next.
    “Lambda would like to ask a question.” Her tone almost seemed to have a bit of curiosity riding in it. It was faint, but still there.
    Zack could only stare at her. “You have a question? What is it?” He was a little taken aback.
    “Why did you not stand aside and instead involve yourself in this matter? Lambda has processed the scenario over and over, and while it was Lambda’s mission to find you, Lambda doesn’t understand why you would want to put yourself in danger. Lambda finds your choice to allow this both illogical and foolish.” She looked down as she finished. The look in her eyes told Zack that she seemed confused again.
    Zack smiled faintly. She does seem kind of cute when she’s confused.
    Zack felt a prick in his chest as he recalled the image of the girl in his memory. Her words were now echoing in his head. He had forgotten that she was crying then.
    He then looked at Lambda, a little nervous. “You remind me of . . . someone that was close to me.” His last few words were greatly muffled.
    Lambda perked up. “I’m sorry, Lambda didn’t hear the last part of your sentence.”
    Zack grumbled. “You remind me of someone that I was very close to.”
    Lambda’s eyes widened. Truthfully she hadn’t the slightest idea why Zack was acting in such a strange manner, or why his face was now flushed red. She didn’t quite notice it, but deep down, something stirred within her. She was given knowledge of the human condition and the many expressions and emotions that existed within the human species. She did understand them to a degree, but still had difficulty comprehending such things. They all seemed so foreign and alien to her. If she was right, the emotion that Zack was showing on his face now was called embarrassment, according to her data banks.
    She then recalled the words he used. With the speed of lightning, she quickly analyzed his sentences and choice of words. After she processed it all, she could sense the same stirring feeling from before. She placed a hand on her chest and looked at Zack, who continued to stare at the ground rather awkwardly. Lambda . . . is warm. The ideas and senses that she was experiencing were all new to