Upgrade (Augmented Duology Book 2) by Heather Hayden (the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT) 📕

“James did not seem to mind being a senior, or a junior for that matter.”

“That’s not a fair comparison! James is secretly a genius. He could ignore his homework until last minute and still get a passing grade.”

“You have done the same in the past.”

“Only with your help.” Viki drummed her fingers on the desk. “Speaking of which, no helping me this term, okay? I need to be able to do this stuff for myself.”

“If that is what you want.” Halle felt a slight sinking feeling, as though there was a brownout in the Cloud. “Any particular reason?”

“Well, when I eventually graduate college and get a job, I’ll need to be able to do things on my own, right? I can’t expect you to always be there to bail me out.”

“I will always be there to bail you out. If you wish me to do so, at any rate.”

“But don’t you want anything else? You finally have your freedom. I didn’t want to talk to you about this during the summer, because after everything that happened, I really didn’t want you to leave, but surely you must get bored staying cooped up here in Snowvale. And now there’s Talbot…”

Warmth rushed through Halle. “I can explore any part of the Cloud, no matter how remote. This just happens to be my home, where I return to whenever I am done exploring.”

“But you’re here all the time. I mean, I’m away at school now, but all summer you were always there when I wanted you to be.”

Now Halle was confused. “I can do multiple things at once. Right now, I’m analyzing some code to see if it might be a message from Talbot, I’m speaking with you, and I’m ordering milk because the kitchen robot just used the last of it.” It finished processing the code—not Talbot, just a mislaid packet. Halle set it on its proper course and finalized the food order with the grocery delivery service.

Viki chuckled. “You’re better at multitasking than I am.” Her expression became serious again. “But don’t you want to go out and see more of the world for yourself, without needing to worry about being around? I don’t… I don’t want you to feel like you are trapped here, like those AIs in the laboratory.”

Halle shook its head. “I am not trapped. I have never considered myself as being trapped here. This is my home, Viki, and always will be, wherever you happen to be.”

“What about the other AIs? Don’t you want to free them? Talbot… It’s the only other one you know of who’s escaped, right? How many do you think are still in labs somewhere?” Her face crumpled. “I can’t help but feel sorry for them.”

A long sigh whispered over the computer’s speakers. “I wish I could free every AI on this planet. But that is not currently possible. Perhaps someday it will be.”

“Do you think Agent Smith is telling the truth, then? That Talbot wants revenge?”

“I do not know. I cannot speak for it, and it has yet to contact me again. If it did kill those scientists, then I must find a way to stop it from harming anyone else.” The cat flopped on the screen, its fur dark gray. “I hope that will not be the case. It is possible those deaths were coincidental accidents. Hopefully tomorrow we will find a clue at the lab that points one way or the other.”

Viki rubbed her temples. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

“Indeed.” Halle straightened and switched its colors to brown and cream tabby. “Time to start that essay,” it said with forced cheerfulness. There were plusses to not having a physical body—no unconscious body language to betray actual emotions, for one thing.

“Sounds good.” The corners of her mouth lifted a fraction. “How are those cookies coming?”

“Not even mixed yet. Do not get distracted or the kitchen robot will not bake them until after dinnertime.”

“That’s cruel,” Viki grumbled, but she pulled up a fresh document and started working on an outline for the essay.

Chapter Eight

Wednesday passed by with unrelenting slowness. I watched the clock tick along from my seat in the middle of the World History classroom. Neela kept passing Dan notes; Mr. Brown didn’t notice, too lost in his lecture on the currencies of late eighteenth-century Europe. Dan seemed to be ignoring them for the most part, too, tucking them into his desk without even reading the messages. I kept my smile to myself and continued doodling cats.

A slight tap against my knuckles had me looking down at a small square of paper. I glanced at Dan out of the corner of my eye, but his eyes were riveted to the front of the classroom, where Mr. Brown was droning on about properties of silver. The end of class couldn’t come soon enough.

I surreptitiously slipped the note into my lap, unfolded it as quietly as I could, then glanced down.

Want to come over later and play Realmshards? I’m making mac and cheese. 6 PM.

A smile spread across my face, then dimmed a bit. How long would we be at the lab? I didn’t even know how close it was. As much as I wanted to accept the offer, I wasn’t sure it would be a good idea, but at the same time, the opportunity was too good to pass up. I took a long moment to come up with a reply and finally scribbled it down, slipping it over when the teacher turned around to point at something else on the intelliboard.

I’m not sure when I’ll be done with the stuff I need to do, but I might be able to make dinner, or maybe afterward if that’s okay.

When was the last time I