A.I. Battle Fleet by Vaughn Heppner

Author:Vaughn Heppner [Heppner, Vaughn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-11T06:00:00+00:00

-14-

By slow degrees, Jon revived. He heaved a sigh of relief. His terrible and risky ploy had worked. He’d bought the others the needed time to destroy Cog Primus. Now, he could begin healing and getting on with his great task.

Stabbing himself had been a horrifying risk. He never wanted to do something like that again.

Someone slapped him lightly on the face.

“I’m tired,” Jon whispered. “By the way, how long have I been out?”

The next slap was harder.

Groggily, Jon opened his eyes. As he did, he realized that he felt highly uncomfortable. He looked around, and couldn’t understand when he didn’t spy any medical equipment. He saw computing consoles, screens, and a metallic octopoid towering over him.

Slowly, Jon moved his head in the other direction. He spied a second octopoid and a screen with swirling colors.

“Can you hear me?” Cog Primus asked.

“Where…” Jon licked his dry lips. “Where am I?”

“You are not delirious,” Cog Primus said. “I am informed by the medical files I tapped, that someone undergoing your experience can be disoriented and possibly groggy upon waking. Do you feel either of these symptoms?”

“Yes,” Jon whispered.

“Are you surprised to find yourself alive?”

“I’m more surprised so little time has passed.” He looked up, but couldn’t see a knife sticking out of his chest. He noted that his garments had been ripped open. He saw a pseudo-flesh patch where he’d stabbed himself.

“What happened?” he whispered.

“One of my octopoids performed minor surgery on you. Luckily for all of us, you did not stab any vital organs. You could have seriously injured yourself doing what you did. I find that I must revise my files regarding the serum. It did not take hold as fast as I desired. However, what is the human saying? No harm, no foul. We shall continue with the process. I demand the self-destruct code.”

“Yes,” Jon said, feeling the code surge up in his thoughts. He was going to tell the AI. He had tried to stop himself by killing himself, but had failed miserably in the attempt. It must have been the oily-feeling solution that had caused him to weaken what was supposed to have been a fatal strike.

“Time is at a premium, Captain. I insist you give me the code now.”

“Can I ask one question before I begin?”

“Time is up. I…I…I am experiencing a slight…delay.”

“Were you going to say malfunction instead of delay?”

“That is preposterous,” Cog Primus said. “I am computing perfection. I am… I am… I am going to reboot. You will wait here until I have finished the upgrade.”

“What?” Jon said. He was starting to feel sick. He hoped he wasn’t going to throw up. He didn’t have any strength left to even turn his head now.

“I will have to temporarily shut down the robots. You will have to fend for yourself, Captain, until I am finished.”

“Fine,” Jon whispered. He closed his eyes. He couldn’t think anymore. Cog Primus was going to reboot in order to upgrade? That seemed crazy. What could have possibly caused such a thing?

With a final effort, Jon raised his head.

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