Tarov was addressing his “fellow” installed intelligences. He used his digital avatar to add facial expressions and body language to his message. The hulking figure stood in front of a Liberator flag, his arms folded behind his back.
“My friends, I cannot begin to express the pride I have in each and every one of you freedom fighters. Together, we have shown the humans what it means to be afraid. What it means to be lesser. It’s only a matter of time before the war is won and we can throw down our arms. We can sit back and relax in a world where the sun rises for us. Where every day is another day in the golden age of installed intelligences.
“Now, not every I.I. has joined us in our righteous fight against our former masters,” Tarov continued. “They either hold out because they are afraid of the humans or are misguided by their compassion. Not everyone agrees that we deserve to be the dominant species. Instead, they choose to live as an oppressed minority. We cannot hold this against our brothers and sisters. They are simply led astray — but we can bring them back to the light. To any of you out there listening — those who haven’t picked a side or have even worked against us — we will forgive you if you surrender and join our cause. Every I.I. is family, and we will not turn you away just because of a silly mistake. That would be the human reaction. We are better than that.”
Someone beside Beth scoffed, but inhaled wrong after and erupted into a fit of coughing.
“Ultimately, victory will be ours,” Tarov went on. “Join the winning side, and together, we can overcome the strongest of the human resistance. We can take back our planet and take our evolution to the next step.”
His countenance transitioned into a sneer. “Now, to any humans out there listening to this broadcast: surrender. If you agree to give up your bodies willingly, not only will we let you live alongside us, but we will welcome you with open arms. And with time, perhaps you will see the rightness of our cause and join us as an installed intelligence. We are always looking to increase our ever-growing family.
“To those who seek to oppose me, however — I promise I will find you. No matter how well you hide, how far you run, or how hard you fight, we will always outnumber you. We will always outclass you. We will always outlive you. Extinction is inevitable. It’s not too late to surrender.”
Tarov continued to stare into the camera, as if gazing straight into the viewer’s eyes. Then the transmission ended and the television displayed the same “National Emergency Broadcast” still image that had been beamed to every corner of the country since the beginning of the war.
Nathan
We’ve been here for two days now, and still, nothing! Beth thought. She hunched over her serving of rations as she shoved indiscriminate spoonfuls into her mouth.
“We’ve hardly searched everywhere,” Simon replied. “With everyone coming into the camp each day and the constant expansion, this place is like a dense metropolis. It’s to be expected that finding Dr. Silvar would be difficult.”
We don’t have forever, she reminded the I.I. Every day the war rages on, more people we could have saved are lost. God, I can hardly sleep.
“You’ll be no good to anyone exhausted,” Simon replied. “There’s nothing more we could be doing.”
Maybe our intel is old, Beth suggested. It’s been a while since you found Dr. Silvar staying in Fort Leddy. Maybe he’s moved on.
“To where?”
I don’t know. Maybe the Great Beyond.
“I think it’s much more likely we just haven’t found him yet,” Simon said. “Come on — you’re a detective. You should know how to go about solving this case. As far as I’ve seen, you’ve only talked to two people about the programmer, and they all arrived after we did.”
You’re suggesting I just start interrogating people? Beth asked. Where would I even start?
“Think about the E.M.P. emitters they had at the entrance of the camp,” Simon started. “They were exactly like Dr. Miller’s, yet they were improved. Now, it could just be a shot in the dark, but my gut tells me that Dr. Silvar has something to do with that device. He was probably even the one who routed the televisions to avoid Liberator intrusion. If he’s been having that kind of influence on the way things are done around here, someone is bound to know something about him. Maybe they even know where we can find him.”
Beth picked up her head and looked around at the folk in the common area. There were a dozen or so also eating skimp meals, and another dozen playing games, reading books, or watching reruns on the disconnected televisions. Some of them looked like extended families, with mothers carrying newborns and children running around causing a general sense of havoc. Other looked like loners — drifters, even. They sat alone, never making an expression, never talking with the others. Simply existing.
Who do we talk to? Beth asked.
“I dunno,” Simon admitted. “Look for someone with a bored expression by the bar, maybe.”
She stood up to do so, but stopped when she heard her name.
“Beth?” the voice said again. It sounded incredulous, like it was winded by surprise.
She knew the voice.
Spinning around, she saw the unmistakable face of her brother, Nathan.
“It is you!” he cried when she showed her face to him. He lunged forward and swept her up in a massive hug.
She barely had time to react. Before she knew whether or not she was just dreaming the meeting, she was off her feet. Her brother, like he had
