Virtually Dead by Edwin Dasso

Author:Edwin Dasso [Dasso, Edwin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Cameron’s MIT friends had received two weeks of air sensor data from Vancouver and had run it through various algorithms they’d created for their quantum computer. They’d sent the results to Cameron and Wes. Wes set the report he’d received from them on his desk, nodded at it, and frowned at Cameron.

“So, even with their super-computer, your braniac buddies can’t really rule in or rule out whether these are just spurious readings or something of significance?”

Cameron shook his head. “No. The four sites where we got hits are in areas with known crack houses or manufacturing emissions in the sensor samples.” He shrugged and slowly ran a fingertip over the keys on his keyboard. “Both of those could produce chemical sensor results similar to those we were searching for. That, uh, means the analytic output may be somewhat…non-specific at this point.”

Wes pursed his lips. “So…we’re dead in the water at this point with this approach?” He’d really had his hopes up that all the whiz kids would be able to deliver.

Cameron shot a quick glance at Wes then pushed his mouse aimlessly around on his desk top. “I really can’t say for sure one way or the other.” He scooted his chair closer to his desk and started tapping rapidly at some keys. “There is this one thing I noticed, though. You wanna see it?”

Wes held his arms up at his sides, palms up. “I suppose—we’ve got nothing to lose at this point.”

“Well, I looked at the actual sensor tracings instead of just the analytic output. Thought I might be able to spot something in the raw data …”

Wes got up from his desk, circled around his and Cameron’s desks, and looked over Cameron’s shoulder. Cameron hit a key, and a spiky red line graph appeared on his computer monitor. He ran his finger over it, stopping about two-thirds along its length. “There’s this spike here on this one.”

Wes gazed at the point where Cameron’s fingertip rested. “You mean something the super-computer actually missed?” he asked sarcastically.

“I wouldn’t call it ‘missed’ so much as, based on its programming, it didn’t consider it important.”

“Okay. I trust you more, anyway. Tell me about it.”

“It’s transient…and not very high, but…” Cameron muttered, looking expectantly at Wes.

“But what?”

“It’s almost like somebody opened a door then closed it again.” He turned to Wes. “You know, like they let a puff of air escape from somewhere but then it quickly dissipated once it got out, and the source was snuffed out.”

“How would you know that’s what happened?”

“I don’t—I admit I’m grasping at straws to try to explain it.” Cameron rubbed his forehead. “I don’t really have any idea if it’s significant or not.” He gazed at Wes and pointed at his computer screen with his thumb. “I didn’t see anything like this in any of the other tracings, though.”

“Hmmm, like somebody opened and closed a door, eh?” Wes mumbled then gazed at Cameron. “Or maybe opened a window…blew the stuff outside, then closed it.”

Cameron shrugged. “Maybe.

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