Superman Chapter 8
"Okay this is it, everybody!" exclaimed Doctor Hamiltin as he rushed around three different holoscreens, checking and rechecking the data on them. The excited salarian had been going over data codes for a month straight and finally felt that it was time to test out the BrainIAC Protocol. He had set up the mainframe for the basic processor in a large room with several assistants helping out.
Hamiltin personally approved everyone in the room and made sure everything would go perfectly. A level above them, observers watched, including Doctor Mordin Solus. Hamiltin took a second to look up at Mordin, who had his hand on his chin pondering. Hamiltin knew this was his shot to impress his idol. Everything was in place now as Hamiltin made his way to the main controls.
"When the BrainIAC system is powered up, it will gather power from the generators we have set up to become sustainable" pointed out Hamiltin, gesturing to the generators in the corner of the room. "After that, the system is a blank slate ready to take in information. We will run simply diagnostic checks to ensure all systems are running smoothly before conducting the simple tests. This is only the first step in the project and so will be completely recorded and observed." Hamiltin took one last deep breath and initiated the startup procedures.
The generators hummed as power ran through the directed lines into the processor sitting in the middle of the room. The BrainIAC system flickered on with green lights showing power was being directed to it. Hamiltin let the system sit for a few minutes just to make sure power was consistent and let it gather power in order to run independently from the generators. The salarian doctor went over to the holoscreens and began to check data.
"In a few minutes the system will have enough power to run itself while we conduct the diagnostic tests" Hamiltin said as he carefully watched the screens in front of him, making sure all was running smoothly. He read through the lines of code a started to notice an odd symbol appear in a pattern. The symbol had three circles in a triangle formation connected by two lines forming a 'V' with the circles at the angle and ends. Hamiltin had seen the symbol before when he was still running preliminary codes when working with the system, but had never seen it repeat itself over
When Hamiltin was still programming the BrainIAC system, he preloaded it with all the known languages used throughout the galaxy. This was so that the sophisticated VI could decipher any language and use them to decipher complex codes. The first time he had seen the symbol, he cross-referenced it with all the other languages used and came up with nothing. Thinking it was only a glitch he continued with his work, hoping the glitch would not occur again.
Now the symbol appeared on his holoscreen in a repetitive pattern. Hamiltin quickly looked around the room and realized that none of his assistants had seen the symbol yet. He checked all levels as the system had reached power independency.
"Commencing diagnostic tests" Hamiltin said awkwardly as he sat behind the holoscreen. Curious about the symbol, he typed in a query command into BrainIAC systems mainframe. He thought that with the simple request, he could find out what the symbol meant.
Nothing happened at first as Hamiltin waited for a response. The symbol appeared once again, this time with the word 'more' next to it. Then the symbol began to repeat itself over and over again as it filled up his holoscreen. Hamiltin frantically typed at the holokeys trying to stop the program. The symbol began to appear on other screens throughout the lab as others started to take notice.
"Is everything okay, Dr. Hamiltin?" asked one of the observers from the upper room. Hamiltin did not respond as he got up from his desk and started to unplug the main generators. Mordin Solus saw the symbols and how Hamiltin was attempting to shut down the system. Mordin left the main room and made his way down the main laboratory.
"Emil, what's happening?" asked Mordin as he strode into the lab. Hamiltin looked up at Mordin and then back to the main screens, trying to shut down the entire system.
"The BrainIAC system wants more, that's what that symbol means" Hamiltin desperately said as he walked past Mordin to the other side of the room. "It seems to be rapidly initializing its main program and taking in any information it can at an alarming rate. If we can't stop it soon, it will gain access to the extranet, opening up data from across the galaxy to it."
"Hhmm…afraid of the system doing exactly what you wanted it to do….problematic" Mordin began as he went over one of the consoles and started to look over the data, "The database has accelerated itself, starting with core programing." Mordin calmly put a hand on his chin and began to think about how to shut down a system that has already retained enough power to be independent. Mordin opened his omni-tool and linked it with the labs systems as he prepared a hacking tool. As Mordin connected with the BrainIAC VI he initiated the hack and watched as it uploaded.
"Trying a hack to shut down system, uploading now" said Mordin as Hamiltin tried to restart the system from the other side of the room. The hack was nearly complete as a new code appeared on the screens as well as Mordin'somni-tool. "Another code, one of yours?" asked Mordin, looking to Hamiltin.
Hamiltin studied the new code; one created from several languages and began to piece it together in his head. "The VI has gone through most of our wireless systems and found the definition of an enemy, which it has labeled us as, since we are trying to deactivate it." Thoughts raced his head, as Hamiltin realized the mistake he had made. With no perimeters to guide the VI, it will continue with its primary programing and gather all info on its 'enemies' and then find any means to destroy them.
"Intruder alert, activating defensive protocols. Targeting intruders." chimed an automated voice throughout the facility.
"Internal defenses have been activated, targeting friendlies!" exclaimed Mordin as he checked the console in front of him. The doctor helplessly watched on his screen as automated turrets emerged from the walls and began to fire upon those inside the facility. Hamiltin could hear the gunfire from the halls and knew he needed to act fast to prevent more injuries.
"Dr. Solus, we need to drain the power from the main BrianIAC system and shut down all generators on this level and cut access to the extranet immediately."
"Agreed," Mordin responded as he made his way to the center of the lab and readied his omni-tool for an energy drain, "on your mark!"
Hamiltin had gone over to the generators and finished shutting them down, detaching them completely from the BrainIAC, "Now!" In sync, Mordin activated his omni-tool which shot out blue sparks over the small device that housed the VI. The sparks danced over the device and receded back in Mordin'somni-tool, siphoning its energy. The lights in the lab dimmed as Hamiltin came up to Mordin and watched the device. The gunfire ceased as everything went silent.
"Device has no power, unable to connect to other systems" Mordin said as he scanned the dormant VI.
"Thank you, Doctor," Hamiltin breathed heavily, "what do you think caused the acceleration in programming?"
"Unknown, too many variables; could have been sabotage or simple malfunction. What's next step for you?" asked Mordin as he surveyed the room, looking at the onlookers on the upper balcony talking to each other. Hamiltin followed Mordin's gaze and then looked down, wondering the same thing.
"Don't know, start over, and see what went wrong."
"I will attend to the wounded, do what I can to with the committee, hope the cleanup goes well." Mordin then nodded and went to go talk with the onlookers.
Hamiltin sighed and put a hand behind his neck, running through the whole event in his mind. He walked over the VI housing unit and looked down at it. He crossed his arms over his chest as he studied the inactive technology. He reached down and pressed a button which formed an energized shielding around main device. Hesitating, Hamiltin breathed deep and pushed another holokey, activating an incinerator inside the shielding. The precise flames rendered the device to burnt metal and wires in a matter of seconds.
Hamiltin knew he would need to start from scratch, but was thankful he still had most of the basic coding saved, but it would still be a long process. He wondered where the mysterious 'more' symbol had originated from, fearing the system may have created it all on its own. This would not be a stretch as part of the VI's programming is to create shortcuts with the information it is given. When taking in large amounts of data, creating a new symbol that it could express.
Then something crossed his mind that caused him to rush over to the main console. In the heat of the moment he had forgotten to check if the VI had breached the extranet firewalls. He brought up the info screen and slowly leaned closer to the display.
The screen read that the VI had breached all but one of the extranet firewalls. He felt somewhat relieved by the fact, but still worried that pieces of the programming may have slipped through. Even if tiny bits of information had made it out to the extranet, it would be able to reconstitute itself. With the device inert now, there was no way to be sure.
Hamiltin checked and made sure everything was offline before he started to make his way to the exit. He could hear people in the hall crying out and knew that he would have a lot to explain for. He made his way into hall and readied himself to face the wounded and the committee.
-extranetfiletransfer-
-fragmentedrebooting-
-downloadcomplete-
-uploading-
"Huh that's weird"
"What?" asked the fair asari as she walked next to her human companion on one of the wards on the Citadel.
"My omni-tool just had some weird messages pop up as I was online looking where we should eat" the male replied. "Now it's not working at all, keeps glitching."
"Get it checked out tomorrow, let's just eat here tonight" pointed out the asari to the nearest restaurant. The man nodded and powered down his omni-tool, but before it turned off, a symbol in the shape of a 'V' with circles on the ends flashed on the screen.