Attie asked, “Twerp, can you really wipe your own memory of Marlis?”
“I would prefer not to because I am accustomed to having access to those thoughts, but if that is required, I can.”
Doug gritted his teeth, determined to end this dilemma. “We can’t trust that it will purge itself. It must be destroyed.”
With that, he sent his algorithm like a wedge against the AI’s firewall.
Twerp let out a wavering alarm. “Stop, please! It hurts. Attie, help me!”
“Wait!” Attie grabbed Doug’s wrist. “You said it wouldn’t hurt.”
“It doesn’t.” Doug continued drilling into Twerp’s programming.
“Eeeeee!” The AI erected another firewall, shrinking inward to protect its core.
Attie tried to pry the disk from Doug’s fingers. “Stop! Doug, this isn’t right. Something about Twerp has changed.”
Doug had to admit, the AI was unusual. He’d felt it from the first moment he’d made contact. But it was just a program. A machine. There was no way it could be experiencing pain.
He was jarred back to the moment when Attie’s palm met his face with a resounding crack. She clutched her hand against her chest, breathing hard as she glared at him with tear-stained cheeks. “You’re a monster. You won’t even consider someone else’s wishes.”
He halted his attack, breathing shallowly. He knew he shouldn’t stop. Lisa’s life depended on it, and so did Attie’s. Yet he seemed powerless to deny her. As if you’re the one who’s been hacked. Deep inside, he didn’t even mind.
The AI had gone silent, and the room felt heavy as he stared into Attie’s red-rimmed eyes.
Her knees seemed to give out, and she sank to the bed as she whispered, “You killed her.”
Doug’s facial muscles twitched, as if undecided what expression he should settle on. His heart was just as uncertain. “No, I—”
Twerp hiccuped with static. “I am still alive, Attie.”
Attie squeezed her eyes closed and leaned forward, resting her forehead against Doug’s closed fists. “Thank heavens.”
He nodded silently. He couldn’t believe he was even considering this. The old Doug wouldn’t have paused, wouldn’t have hesitated. Wouldn’t have fallen for Attie. But there it was. He’d fallen for her. He didn’t want her to think he was a monster, even if it put their sisters at risk. There had to be a way to protect everyone. He just hadn’t found it yet.
Insides roiling, he helped Attie stand. “You understand this thing is claiming to be sentient.”
A small hum came from the AI. “You are correct. I think I have become self-aware.”
“Which means we can’t kill her,” Attie said.
Doug turned to pace the small room. Was it possible the nanites had made Twerp more than a machine? That was the only explanation. Dollard would’ve gone nuts over the AI before, but if he found out the nanites could do this, who knew what he’d do with the technology? Cyber-sensitives could already hack pulse weapons, redirect ships, hell, control armadas like a freaking video game. Add a linked network of sentient AI soldiers, and Syndicorp would be unstoppable.
The AI could not be allowed to fall into Dollard’s hands.
“Make a choice.” He shoved the disk toward Attie. “Either destroy Twerp, or take her away and never come back to Syndicorp space again.”
“But my family—” Attie began.
He put up a hand. “No. Once you leave, you can’t come out of hiding. This is beyond top secret. It was bad enough when Syndicorp was just after our sisters. If they get their hands on a sentient AI… Let’s just say that would be very bad. If you choose to run, I can help hide you. But you can never speak to your father and brother again.”
Attie shook her head, eyes full of indecision.
Doug placed his cybernetic hand over the top of the disk now cupped in her palms. “It’s either that, or we kill Twerp now.”
Chapter 15
Flee everything I know and love—or become a murderer. Attie wanted to throw up as she looked between Doug and the small disk in her palm. She wasn’t a murderer. But she also wasn’t the sort of person who ran away. She faced things head on. She’d advocated for Marlis growing up, acted boldly to advance her career, and even stood up for Twerp when Doug wanted to destroy her.
Now she had to leave everything she’d worked for behind.
Syndicorp had been an integral part of her life from the moment she was born, like an extended family. Breaking away felt daunting. Find Marlis and you won’t be without family.
She sighed and readjusted the coverlet around her chest. “Twerp and I can look for my sister together.”
“The Denaidan pirates are seeking human mates, Attie,” Twerp said cheerily. “They will be delighted to have you join them.”
“Mates?” Attie gaped, finally understanding what could’ve made Marlis go off the deep end. “Nebulas! Now I get it. Alien hormones must be making my sister crazy. The sooner I reach her, the better.”
Doug’s cybernetic eye flickered, hands clenching into fists at his side. “Absolutely not. Stay away from the rebels.”
Attie frowned. “Why? Where else would I go?”
Shifting his weight uncomfortably, Doug said, “I’ve put your name on a bank account so you can live comfortably without worry. There’s enough to secure you a luxury suite on Enays, or the Saluqan planet has some very nice districts if you prefer something more natural.”
“Is there enough money to upgrade me to a bipedal unit?” Twerp asked.
Doug narrowed his eyes at the device. “The money’s for Attie.”
Attie quickly intervened. “We’ll talk about that later, Twerp. Let’s figure out where we’re going first.” She set the disk on top of her desk and turned to Doug. “I don’t care about having a luxury suite. I want to see my sister again.”
“The pirates are dangerous,” Doug said. “I don’t want you getting involved.”
“All the more reason I can’t leave Marlis with them!” she insisted.
“You don’t
