CHAPTER 7

Processors

CHANTELLE WAS exhausted, but she knew she couldn't stop. She had managed to heal Primeris' physical injuries. None had been life threatening. The brain, however, eluded her.

Eluded. What a ridiculous concept. Brains don't elude. So why can't I touch your mind? I need to find the damage. Frustrated, she stood and staggered to the door. Her legs felt like rubber. What am I missing?

"Solaria," she called out. Her throat was painfully raw. "I need your help."

Within seconds, Solaria was standing next to her, helping her back to the bed.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. I mean, I —" Chantelle rubbed her forehead, hoping to clear the fog that was slowly destroying her ability to concentrate. "It's her brain. I need to heal her brain, but I can't get to it. Something is blocking me."

"She needs to know the truth, Solaria," Jain said, following them into the room.

"Truth?" Chantelle looked at Jain and then Solaria. "What truth?"

"Help her into the den," Jain said. "I'll make everyone something to eat while Solaria explains everything."

*  *  *

"Processors!  Are you telling me she's a machine? That's impossible. She's as much flesh and blood as the rest of us," Chantelle declared, refusing to accept what Solaria had just told her. "I had no trouble healing her body."

"Most of her body is human tissue, although it has accelerated healing abilities. The rest is man-made — trabecular metal for the skeleton. Electronic circuitry feeds impulses to bio-tissues. Nano-processors control movement, reflexes and everything else required for optimal function."

"That's crazy. There's no way science has advanced to such a level. The best robots on the market can only be programmed to do about hundred things... and you're trying to make me believe Primeris is a robot?"

"I never said she's a robot. She's a Hubot... like me."

Like me... Like...

"Like you? You... You're saying you're a... a Hubot... man-made?" Chantelle shook her head in disbelief and felt...

What? Confused, yes, but disappointed? Why should I be disappointed? I don't even know if I believe this, so why should I care what they are? Chantelle massaged her temples and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes. She could feel the blood pounding through her veins.

"Are you alright?" Jain asked.

"I'm tired, confused and not thinking straight. It's all so unbelievable. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to sort this out. Let's say I believe you. Tell me about these processors. Describe them."

"They're extremely complex," Solaria said. "Unless you have a degree in computer sciences, you won't understand anything I say."

Damn! Of course not. I need to clear my head. I'm not dealing with a toy. Think. Think. Chantelle racked her brain, trying to remember everything she had learned about computers. It wasn't much, considering her age and her lack of interest in electronic gadgets. There has to be a way to access those processors.

"Maybe it's not a lesson you need," Solaria offered, "but a direction. If you can reach her backup programs, you might be able to reboot them. The problem is whether you can get through her defenses and discover a frequency to activate the correct sequence."

"I'll find it. You just get me there," Chantelle said confidently.

Solaria described the neuro-circuitry and three possible gates that could circumvent the security system protecting Primeris' processors. Designed to mask the nano-chips, sensors detected and modified scanner frequencies, producing false readings to simulate a human brain. Mini-programs continually altered all magnetic resonance and electronic impulses, creating ghost images. The most advanced civilian technology would be tricked into showing normal brain activity.

"I can't believe science has progressed so far," Chantelle said. "But here you are. At least this explains my failure. Apparently, it's treating my song as a probe. I've never cared for gad —" Damn! That's about as insulting as it gets. "I'm sorry, Solaria. That came out wrong."

Solaria's teal eyes twinkled.

"No need to apologize. My feelings don't hurt so easily."

Feelings? Is that possible? Can machines feel?

"I feel," Solaria said, answering the unspoken question. "That's what you were thinking, wasn't it?"

Embarrassed, Chantelle nodded.

"Yes. I wish we had time for this, but I need to get to work. I don't know how long it's going to take to get into her head, let alone discover her song... and even if I do, I'm not sure I'll be able to repair... or activate her backups."

Getting up, she walked slowly back to the bedroom and disappeared inside, closing the door behind her. Seconds later, Solaria and Jain heard the haunting melody of the Singer. Solaria immediately sensed an energy surge. Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the words. This time, she understood Chantelle's words.

"Interesting," she murmured, scratching Scootie behind her ears.

"Arroof!"

"Yes, arroof," Solaria agreed, ruffling the dog's fur. "Whatever that means."