Bubblegum Crisis: Stage Three

Chapter 24

"So, Doctor Yuri," Sylia said as they met in her office, "you know how the Boomer overriding has been happening."

"I think so," the older scientist admitted. Yuri continued, "I and Professor Haynes have been studying Boomer brain structures, and we think we finally figured it out."

Sylia still didn't feel she trusted the blond haired man. She also found herself wondering if he brought up Haynes to spread the guilt around. Still, other than her father they were the top Boomer experts. She said, "Go on..."

Yuri brought up a hologram of a Boomer brain. "You see, when Dr Stingray first designed the early Boomers, there were concerns about how well the stand alone AI would work." he explained.

Sylisa nodded, "There was concerns the AI would fail, so the Boomers were equipped to log in to Genom mainframes for computer support."

"It ended up being a needless concern, but the antenna was left in future designs," Yuri continued, "and that's been the point of vulnerability. Someone is using the link to beam in commands to the Boomers, taking them over."

"So how do we stop this?" Sylia asked thoughtfully.

"There doesn't see to be a programming fix," Yuri admitted, "the system they're using is hardwired into all models of boomers."

"So first thing is remove the remote access from new designs," Sylia noted, "with older ones... could we try a recall?"

Yuri blinked as he considered that. "There are... tens of thousands of boomers just in Asia alone. Not to mention internationally...," he shrugged awkwardly.

"Point," Sylia sighed. "Thank you for your efforts," she added, shaking his hand. She sent a copy of the files to Jeena at the ADP, as well as to Nene. Hopefully the information would be of use figuring out threat assessments...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Nene Romanova was looking at a file in utter disbelief. "You have GOT to be kidding me," she muttered. She pressed the intercom, "Lisa!"

A few seconds later Lisa Valante trotted in. "You bellowed?" Lisa asked mildly.

Nene smiled wryly, then continued, "Did you see the initial report on James Yamako?"

"I was wondering what you'd do once it hit your desk," Lisa agreed.

"HOW could he be this dirty and no one notice?" Nene asked rhetorically.

The cyber security branch had, quite illegally, cracked both home and work computers for James Yamako. They dumped all his files, dug through everything, and quickly determined he'd been up to no good. And on a fairly epic scale too...

"We think he sold off confidential data to our US rival Gulf & Bradley," Lisa noted, "and possibly direct samples of technology. It certainly explains how they closed the gap with us on their Boomeroid design."

"Yeah. And we really should have spotted this just because of how fast they caught up," Nene noted. "Then again, being the guy second to Mason meant he could cover up what he was doing too," she added. Ruefully she continued, "I underestimated him."

"And which explains why he panicked when Sylia fired him and put you in the job," Lisa nodded, "he had to have known it would come out."

Nene nodded thoughtfully, "So her ran to Quincy first, to try to override Sylia, then... probably to his contact with Gulf & Bradley. Who most likely killed him to tie up the loose end now that he was probably going to be exposed."

"Do you think, if we hand the evidence over to the police or ADP, we'll be able to go after Gulf & Bradley?" Lisa asked.

"Speaking as a former cop, I doubt it," Nene admitted. She sat back, "The evidence we got from James' home computer was gathered illegally. As was the banking data. All we can actually prove is the internal stuff he did here at Genom, which isn't enough to press charges with."

"Shit," Lisa sighed.

"But we are handing over everything we can to the cops," Nene said. "They may be able to find connections we can't. Plus we need to forward a outline to Miss Stingray. She may decide to take additional steps."

"Got it," Lisa nodded. She hesitated then asked, "Uhm, are you still in that hotel? Any luck on finding a new place?"

"No," Nene admitted, "people tend to be hesitant to rent to you when your last place of residence was grenaded."

"Ouch," Lisa nodded. "I have a couch, if it comes to that..."

"I have a line on something," Nene reassured her.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"So it's some kind of override on a part left over from early boomer designs?" Priss summarized, shadowing Sylia as she walked to another meeting. It was near the end of the day, and hopefully they would be leaving soon.

"Looks like it. I want to go over the research myself, just to confirm," Sylia added.

While not a brilliant scientist herself, Sylia did have a good working knowledge of boomer technology. Both because she wanted to understand her father's work, and because she had a general interest in advanced technology.

"And there's no fix other than ripping the one bit out?" Priss clarified.

"Correct...," Sylia agreed.

"Fuck...," Priss muttered as the full scope hit her, "so ANY Genom built boomer could be used to attack us?"

"And any built by Gulf & Bradley," Sylia noted darkly, "they ripped off our brain design so closely that they have the same flaw."

"Fuck," Priss repeated as they reached the meeting.

Priss followed Sylia in, standing at a corner while she met with several division heads. Apparently several were 'under-preforming' though how you defined THAT was anyone's guess. Anyway, Sylia was lecturing them, as well as trying to figure out how Genom had acquired a series of Nevada brothels.

"I LOVED your 'Dude, what the fuck?' reaction," Priss teased as they left.

"It's bad enough Genom owns titty bars," Sylia complained, "but BROTHELS too?"

"Well, at least you can put the sexaroid models to good use," Priss teased.

Sylia rolled her eyes.

They stopped in at her office, then the two headed to the basement garage.

Priss checked for ambuses as the garage door opened, then escorted Sylia to her car. "No bombs," she noted.

"Yeah, they haven't tried that for a week," Sylia noted.

"Are you and Nene still crashing at the warehouse?" Priss asked as Sylia climbed in.

"No, I've managed to rent a new place," Sylia said. "I emailed everyone the information... don't you check your mail?"

"Not all of us are on our devices all day," Priss deadpanned. She checked her messages... "You and NENE? Oh HO."

"Oh shut up. She's homeless too, remember," Sylia blushed.

"And I'm CERTAIN that you sharing a place has nothing to do with what we walked in on a few days ago?" Priss teased.

Sylia blushed brighter, if possible.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Quincy was sitting in his office, drinking good, aged bourbon.

Sylia had come to his office earlier with the file on James Yamako. He had been hired under Quincy, he had been promoted under Quincy and he ended up in SECURITY under Quincy., and Sylia wanted to know how that happened.

OBVIOUSLY it had been all Mason's fault. The man was his minion, basically. But Quincy couldn't just tell Sylia that.

So Quincy had to apologize. Repeatedly. And worse, Sylia had all but said that the remaining parts of the business he was responsible for would be reassigned to others. His place at Genom, basically, was done. All he had left were several months of being, simply, a relic.

Not that he minded, in some ways. But it was sad to realize that things were really over for him.

There was a ping from his phone. A unlisted number. His unseen ally... "Sorry. I was unaware that Yamako's actions were unauthorized. Otherwise steps would have been taken."

'Nice to see my ally isn't omnipotent,' Quincy sighed.

"It's all right," Quincy texted back, "not your fault. Have the remaining issues we discussed been dealt with?"

"Yes," came the reply.

"Thank you," Quincy typed, "I know some of this has been difficult for you."

There was a pause. "Do you think it has been worth it? Do you think Dr Stingray would approve of what we've done?" the reply came.

Quincy blinked at the screen. "Of course. We have brought his dream into reality. Boomers are everywhere, and new versions are growing closer and closer to humanity. In a generation or two, I expect to see no division between us," Quincy typed.

"It's all worth it, then," the reply came.

Quincy was still wondering what that meant when his boomer secretary came in. "Wha...?" Quincy started.

Wordlessly the boomer picked up a chair then brought it down on Quincy with crushing force. Blood sprayed as he was knocked backward. The stunned older man looked on in shock, bleeding from a huge gash in his head.

"I'm sorry," the boomer added, then swung the chair again, striking with a loud crash.

To be continued...

Notes: When you tell 'someone' to tie up loose ends and YOU are a loose end. Alas, poor Quincy, we knew you well.

Random things I need to do: Show Nene and Sylia moving in together. I expect mild issues. Aftermath of Quincy's death. Gulf & Bradly as a villain. Reveal who the 'big bad' is pulling strings.