Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H. Burke (ebook reader browser txt) 📗

She swallowed, but it did little to moisten her dry throat. “I’m fine, Hart. I’m just surprised to see you. I thought …” I thought you came with me in the form of my very human boyfriend. Can’t say that in front of Rivera … even if I knew how Hart would react … oh shock me, does this version of Hart even know that he is Ellis? Or was?

“Yeah, the crash was bad. The last thing I remember is you being attacked by that brute with the electric gloves.”

“Miles, yes.”

“Then something must’ve crashed my system, but I’d kept pretty good back ups.”

“My scientists found his program buried in a series of melted memory wheels.” Rivera stepped forward. “An amazing example of AI … but incredibly uncooperative. He did, however, repeatedly inquire about your well-being.” He glanced back over his shoulder at Nyssa, a sly smile spreading across his smug face. “I’m afraid I wasn’t completely honest with you, Miss Glass. I didn’t bring you here because of any expertise you possess, as impressive as your resume may be. I brought you here because this stubborn computer needs motivation to give me Dalhart’s schematics.”

“I told you, I don’t have the information you want. It isn’t part of my programming.” The light from Hart’s monitor flickered, and his voice deepened. “You should’ve left her out of this.”

“You should’ve given me Professor Dalhart’s research,” Rivera snapped. “You’re his main computer system. It has to be somewhere in your memory.” His shoulders rose and fell in a visible sigh, and he shook his head. “I can’t believe I’ve been reduced to arguing with a collection of faulty circuits.”

“My circuits are fine, thank you,” Hart said. “I believe it’s your moral compass that’s on the fritz.”

In spite of the circumstances, Nyssa chuckled. As Hart or himself, Ellis was always quick with his comebacks.

“Dalhart and his idiotic pet projects … computers with scruples.” Rivera shook his head and turned away. “Like I said earlier, Miss Glass, I’m sure when your life is on the line, you can bring yourself to be quite convincing. Induce this computer to work with me, and you can go free.”

“And if I can’t?” Or won’t.

“Well, then I suppose I’ll have to find ways to motivate you instead of him.” Rivera ducked out the door but then popped his head back in. “If you make any headway, I will be in my sitting room downstairs. Don’t get it into your head to run, though. Aito’s watching.”

Nyssa waited until his footsteps had faded in the distance. She glanced through the doorway. Aito sat in a chair just outside the door to the workshop. He’s got eyes on my only exit, but he’s too far away to hear me and Hart talking … unless they planted some sort of transmitter.

She found a wooden chair and dragged it over to sit in front of Hart’s screen. “Do you think they’re listening in on us?” she whispered.

“No. I’m able to detect signal-sending devices, including the one in your bag. Can you call for help?”

She shook her head. “It’s a prototype and the only thing it can connect to … well, let’s just say it is out of range. Are you sure they can’t hear us somehow, though? I need to be able to talk to you.”

“Look.” The lights on the screen blinked out making room for a black and white image of the workshop, complete with Aito sitting in his chair. The image changed to show a sitting room with a crackling fire and large, overstuffed furniture. The door opened, and Rivera walked in. “There are also a few of his men, hired muscle types, scattered around the grounds.” He showed her two men pacing up and down hallways and a group in the kitchen playing cards. “I’m still programmed into the house’s security system … though Rivera was smart enough to restrict a lot of my normal functions. I tried to control the other security measures at first, but they’d all been disabled while I was ‘out’ so to speak.”

“That’s too bad.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to massage away a swiftly brewing headache. “So, the last thing you remember is Miles attacking me in the workshop?”

“Yes. Obviously you got away. What happened to me, though? The computers must’ve crashed.”

“I’m afraid I did that … but the thing is, we did it together.” She exhaled. So, he doesn’t have memories of finding out that he’s Ellis. Shock me, that news was hard enough for him to absorb the first time. “We decided we didn’t want anyone to get a hold of Professor Dalhart’s research.”

“I can understand that. I’ve been refusing to give Rivera any access to it. Tried to convince him I don’t have it. I’d destroy it if I could, but it’s not like I can delete my own memory files. I mean, I have the ability to send an electric surge through my system that would destroy it, but it would wipe out everything. I still want to live, if at all possible … I wish you’d taken me with you.”

“I thought I had.” She moaned. “Hart, I didn’t know that I’d left you behind. When we got here I … you and I …” She swallowed. “I did take you with me. It’s hard to explain.”

“Oh … that makes sense. You downloaded me, didn’t you?”

Nyssa hesitated. In a way she had. “Yes. I got you out of this system and then we crashed it.”

“It must’ve made a copy rather than transferring my program. Blast. Well, at least I don’t feel abandoned anymore. I honestly didn’t mean to have them bring you here. When they brought me back, the last thing I remembered was you being attacked, and I just assumed they’d done something to you. I wanted to be sure you were safe. Instead I got you dragged back into this whole mess after you’d