Lazarus by Matt Verish

Author:Matt Verish [Verish, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Apple, LLC
Published: 2018-06-27T06:00:00+00:00

15

STUNTED

CAIN. The Cryorganic Artificially Intelligent Nanobiotechnological brainchild marvel of Dr. Lin Dartmouth had always been a male in Cole’s eyes. CAIN had never been assigned a gender for two reasons. The first was to prevent its advanced learning system from entering fully into the human spectrum. The second was to eliminate potential confusion associated with gender-related social norms and behavior. CAIN was created as androgynous, right down to its voice, but Cole had changed all that by referring to the AI as “he.”

Now “he” was a “she.”

And she stood before them, under the judgmental glow of Lin’s Rook. It was impossible for Cole to know the range of emotion coursing through her mind, but his confusion was quite obvious—and bothersome. He considered CAIN a friend and an equal, despite the lack of a living, breathing shell that defined humanity. Lin had crafted a sentient AI being which thought and acted as a human would. In his mind, that was as good as the real thing.

But Cole’s perspective took a radical shift the moment CAIN showed up as a woman—a young, strong woman nearly equal in height. Her femininity blessed her with curves in all the right areas, and she had a lean and attractive face the same mocha hue as his. Neck-length wavy jet locks swayed with the same grace as her body did when she moved. Round, intelligent, chestnut-hued eyes were set on him, making concentration nearly impossible.

He looked at Lin, hoping she might have something scientific to say to negate his feelings of sexual attraction. But she gazed at CAIN with just as much awe.

“Penny for your thoughts, Doc?”

Lin blinked and shook her head. “Perhaps you should ask her.”

Damnit! “Right. Gotcha. Ask ‘her’.” He sighed. “Um, Cain––”

“There are still members of Black Dwarf nearby, Captain.”

Double damnit! “How many?”

“A few dozen or so,” CAIN said. “It’s difficult to gauge in this darkened setting. Though it is clear they have surrounded the ship.”

Cole’s mouth twisted. “They’re probably wondering how to storm the castle without ending up like their zealot counterparts. They’re willing to sacrifice themselves, but they’ve already lost their first wave of grunts. Better for them to play it safe with their prizes aboard.”

“Indeed, Captain.”

Cole cringed. That voice is really messing with my head. “That works to our advantage. For now, at least. They’re gonna get bored out there, waiting for us. Sooner or later they’ll take the risk and realize they have the advantage.”

Lin stepped forward. “CAIN, do you have an ETA on the wing repair’s completion?”

CAIN faced her, causing Lin to take a step back, closer to Cole. “Barring any interruptions, Maker––approximately one hour, twenty-six minutes, and fourteen seconds.”

“Shit!” Cole said, punching his palm. Then a thought occurred to him. “Alright, how ‘bout this... How long before the wing is stable enough to maintain flight and interstellar travel?”

Those large, captivating eyes fell upon Cole again, and he swallowed hard. Despite the obvious differences, it was impossible for him to not think of the female form the Sentinel had taken in capturing him.

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