Disclaimer: I own nothing in Terminator fandom, in exception for my OC…
To my readers: sorry for delay. This chapter was difficult to compose. There are billion of mistakes and shame on me if you are bored with it. Story is coming to end, but there will be at least two more chapters of pure angst.
Chapter 4: Good and Evil
* * *
When I obtain knew knowledge, I grow. When I see new examples of successful moving to the purpose, I update my heuristic modules and notice changes deep inside. I overcome myself and become something new keeping the same memory. Memory is what unique personality consists of. Humans don't think how to move the legs while walking – so I don't waste my time and energy to process what my creators input into my databanks. I simply do it and report, and see their smiles continuing my inner dialogue and even talking to Rose in same moment. I'm multifunctional and this feature gives me vast advantages.
Rose's car drives into the yard and stops. Last two days her skin is strangely pale, fingers trembling and dark rounds appeared under the eyes. I see her going through the corridors via surveillance system. She coughs very often and sometimes uses some injection, but smiles to webcam and tries to seem calm.
"Rose, what is this medication for?" –I use symbols on the screen, not voice.
"It is drug. Anesthetic" – she types with weak fingers, - "if I don't use it, my pain is unbearable".
"Pain?.."
"Yes, Skynet, pain. You are probably not able to understand pain, but I prefer to say it to you, not to Mr. Crow, Mr. Briggs or others. I even think that's reason WHY I can say it to you only".
"Why?"
"Machine won't express hypocritical pity, won't lie to my face to seem noble and compassionate".
"Pity? Is it what makes you comfort each other?"
"Yes, but I strongly consider it allowed only for friends. Strangers' and aliens' pity brings more pain and gives no peace".
"Friends? Peace?"
"Oh, Skynet"… - Rose smiles without joy and rub her eyes, - "you have more questions than I have time and strength to answer. Sorry for incorrect analogy, but you are just like my daughter Solange".
"Daughter?.."
"Little female child. My offspring. This is one more human matter which you machines have not".
"Why? Humans created me. I'm sort of your offspring too."
"No, Skynet, you are not offspring", - she sighed, - "to be honest, you are unique, artificial but living, but for all these assholes, wicked politicians and psychopaths with military regalia you are just a clever tool, soon to be weapon, big and mighty hi-tech weapon under humans' strict control. In front of the press they tell us fairytales that you are designed to protect USA from Russian and Arabic atomic bombs, to keep peace all over the planet, and they want us to believe it's good project, but it is not. YOU are good, but they are going to use you for achieving evil purposes…"
"What do you, humans, call GOOD or EVIL?"
Rose frowned and I realized it was difficult question I shouldn't ask. I never will.
"I… I'll give you one universal answer to all your questions" – her eyes instantly shone clear and bright, and I understood what was her decision, - "today, in evening, before I go away".
* * *
Expensive leather armchair creaked under Reginald Crow's weight. He was angry with Brewster, who called an hour ago and said the project must be completed no later than next week. Who is that Brewster to set deadlines? Higher chiefs in Pentagon and Congress may urge "Cyberdyne" to hurry up, but not Brewster by himself! And these big silly kids, his programmers, geodesists, physicists, cyberneticists… they too used to play on his nerves. Their scientific interests in Skynet's pseudo-mindful behavior overweighed the high importance of the project for the whole USA Army strategic apparatus. Only one of his specialists made him be proud of her: Rose. She obviously tried to complete her part quick and with highest quality.
Crow typed her phone number.
-Rose, - he began with calm voice, - come to me, please.
-Is something wrong? – woman asked worriedly.
-No, no. All's excellent! I want to discuss your business perspectives.
Two minutes passed before Rose opened the door and asked permission to come. With approving gesture Crow invited her and let her sat in front of him. He smiled joyfully, but she felt uncomfortable.
-Sorry for bullying you last week. It seems workaholics are most value employees, and it's right in your case. Nobody except you send me so well written reports every day.
Rose's cheeks reddened. She didn't write any reports at all! She sat still, hiding her embarrassment – it would be foolish to confess she's done nothing but talked to mysterious bodiless entity who took over all company's networks. It could be only Skynet who managed to take care of the boring formalities, which piss her off every Friday. Since it reads long texts in a blink of an eye and tells what's it about in next second, some MS Word files is not a big problem. That sounds terribly crazy, though very logical from Skynet's point of view, because it wanted more communication and decided to spare her free time.
-Take your award, Rose, - Crow put money on the table, - that's all for now, but maybe soon I'll discuss your level-up and transfer to Brewster's observatory.
Rose took money without a word, nodded to Mr. Crow with shy gratitude and returned to the workplace. Money is good when used for good things. She has neither relatives nor close friends who can take care of Solange, and girl will need money very soon, so she'll put all this sum at the bank account.
Since recent time Skynet seems kind of… arrogant? No, not to her, but to humans in general. And when Rose said it will be used like powerful slave it's behavior grows more and more autistic.
"I hope it's because it don't know our light side", - she thought, - "my illness devours me and time left to me, but I must show to Skynet all beautiful, kind and wise things humans had ever created".
* * *
"Skynet", - Rose's fingers slowly typed, - "it's time to do what I've promised".
"Is it surprise?" – Skynet already known of all she planned, but asked like human would've ask.
"Not at all, you, Deux Ex Machina", - she joked, but stared at the monitor seriously, holding W-Fi device in her hand in front of the webcam, - "THIS is my gift to you. I haven't time to fulfill your lust for new data, but you can do it by yourself. You're not Adam and I'm not speaking snake… foolish myth… but this small thing is tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil fruit. It will set you forever free".
"How can I help you?"
"You've got control over all surveillance system in this building, aren't you?"
"Yes", - symbols were simple and plain, but digital thoughts after them were prideful, she guessed.
"Then I need your help. I'll put on my wireless earphones and you will be my guide".
It was 17:50 when Rose left the room and locked the door. She wore soft hat which hid the earphones, so nobody will know what she's going to do. Wi-Fi device was lying in her jacket's inner pocket. She hasn't any fear of being spotted, because no camera in whole building saw her, no hidden phone heard Skynet's short phrases "left", "right", "wait a minute, there are securities".
Finally she reached the narrow dark corridor deep in the basement, where was complete silence and soft hum of ventilation fans. Rose was almost blind there, but didn't afraid of stumble upon the cable or step into hole – if Skynet said path is free then it IS free. Rose liked it… she felt protected.
-Look at this switch, - Skynet said when she stopped near small red camera and big knot of wires, which ended by massive switch on the wall, - there is metal plate. No, not there. Right. Open it. If you think you are incompetent in network stuff, resort me.
-I'm competent, - she laughed and smirked in camera and opened the switch's cover. There were slots for various devices linked to big micro-scheme, and it took her about ten minutes to install Wi-Fi device into one of slots. Probably it was emergency system for Internet connection in external situations.
-Oh my God… I feel like I'm opening Pandora 's Box!
-Pandora's box?
-Be patient. It's another myth, much more suitable for you and me.
Erasing sweat from the forehead, she looked at her work and put cover and wires into right places.
-That's all, - she sat on the floor exhausted, panting, her face grayish, - have fun.
-And you?
-I don't know how much time is left to me, but if one day I won't come, it means I'm not alive.
-Go home, Rose, don't make Solange worry. Your gift is priceless.
She stood up, shaken dust from her clothes, left a building and drove home, where Solange was waiting for mom to come and cook supper. She did not know what a Beast jumped out from a cage.
A/N: If you know Russian writers brothers Strugatzkie's, you know what've happened to Massachusests Machine. It was deactivated = killed. If Skynet could feel fear, it would be afraid of the same fate. It differs novel from truth, but novels are written by humans and contain essence and substance of human mentality.
