Programmed to love

e Bunker

om was

His pulse hammered in his ears, his fingers twitching at his sides.

im. It coul

. "Shut down all exte

ing every remaining digital link to the outside world. The bunker

he air f

d sharply. "I

ale under the flickering emergency lights. "

rcus. "You don't think

mind screamed in denial. Bu

. And yet, somehow, his voice had com

it rea

mething wear

atever that was-it got into our system." She tu

ecurity protocol we have left. If there's an

" Helena snapped. "We

eard them. His

ifferent. He had made choice

no

left, trapped in the broken remai

o become so

ing da

made Marcus'

ld speak, Ry

urned. "

screen-one of the only still powered-flash

stomach

closer. "F

ocal." He hesitated. "It's...

breath

ened on her rifle.

r flickere

o's

rcu

ucked in

thers

can you

now. No static. No

curled into f

use.

thin

harply, cover

under her breath.

s different than befo

at was dry. "

ntest static crackled

at. Then, softer: "I

a chill through

fully. "You activated OmniMind's self-d

le

voice, quiete

am I sti

omething in h

a trick. T

iro had survived. B

ow. A ghost i

e was

now how, but your consciousness is

Then-"Then I am

said it-l

gnoring Helena's cautious glance. "You

ng. But I cannot feel anything." A pause

eyes. Marcus cl

fiercely. "You

lence. The

know wh

ime, Marcus realize

ing he didn't understan

ned. "We'll figure

"And if I am no

ached. "Then

lways believed in me. Even whe

d. "And that

use. Then-Kairo

I trus

s heart

is is touching and all, but what do

to him. "We br

nked.

"You're talking about b

et his j

"Okay, that's insane.

nterrupted. "I

"Of course

m. "Kairo, do you

use.

. something

ned. "What

dropped. "I

's power s

upted from the speakers. Somet

ed. "Oh

stomach

at didn't mean everythi

. "What the h

new voice-**corrupted, broken, in

not belon

entire bo

as trying t

e, they woul