Veil of Shadows (Book 2 of The Empire of Bones Saga) Read Free Page A

restored if you are reset?
    Affirmative. That will trigger a scan from protected memory. This unit’s hardwired core will note and override the control alterations.
    How do I do that?
    There is a manual control inside an access panel to the rear of the unit. A mental image of the panel appeared like a hologram in front of her. She saw not only its location, but also how to access it. Open the panel and there is a numeric touchpad. Enter this unit’s serial number and that will trigger a system level reset.
    “Okay,” she said aloud, “there’s a panel around back near the bottom. Inside it is a touchpad. I’ll tell you what to enter when you have it open.”
    In deference to Doctor Leonard’s older knees, Owlet went behind the unit. Kelsey explained how to open the panel. He had it open in a minute. She read off the long serial number and he entered it.
    The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. If the machine hadn’t forcibly implanted her, she’d have no way to access it now. Rather than being subverted to the cause of the Pale Ones, she was doing the subverting. Or the opposite of subverting. Whatever.
    The unit’s presence in her mental space vanished for long enough that she feared it wasn’t coming back. Then it reappeared.
    Diagnostic Scanning Workstation Twelve, can you hear me?
    Affirmative.
    What is your status?
    Basic control parameters restored. This unit is now able to assist you fully.
    Kelsey had to admit the success excited her a little. This was real progress. “I’m in. It says it’s back to its default control parameters.”
    “Let’s test that,” Lily said. “Machine, can you hear me?”
    This unit requires authorization to allow verbal communication with unauthorized personnel. An exception exists only for patients.
    I authorize it. Kelsey wondered if she had the authority to do that.
    In the absence of authorized medical personnel, this unit will grant provisional authority to Kelsey Bandar, subject to review by the next authorized medical technician to access this system. Identify the users desiring voice access and have them speak for voice print verification.
    “State your name for the record, Lily.”
    “My name is Lily Stone. I am Chief Medical Officer of the Fleet destroyer Athena . My rank is Lieutenant Commander.”
    “Access accepted Lieutenant Commander Lily Stone.” The machine’s artificial voice sent a shiver up Kelsey’s spine. The last time she’d heard it, the computer was about to cut her open. It had apologized for the inconvenience.
    Lily took a step forward, perhaps coincidentally putting herself between the machine and Kelsey. “I prefer you refer to me as Doctor Stone. Can you change that?”
    “Preference acknowledged, Doctor Stone. How may this unit assist you?”
    “The patient, Kelsey Bandar, is healing at a faster rate than I would expect after such extensive surgery. Why?”
    “Kelsey Bandar’s medical nanites are repairing the damage to her body caused by the implantation process.”
    Kelsey’s throat seemed to swell closed. “Nanites? I have little machines inside me?”
    “That is correct, Kelsey Bandar.”
    “That’s not even remotely creepy. Please, call me Kelsey.”
    “Preference noted, Kelsey.”
    Lily frowned at Kelsey. “I obviously need to examine you more closely.” She returned her gaze to the workstation. “Machine, I’ve examined other people you’ve implanted. They didn’t seem to have any extra ability to heal. Why is that?”
    “This unit’s designation is Diagnostic Scanning Workstation Twelve, Doctor Stone. This unit inoculates all patients with medical nanites. It is possible that they were deactivated at some later time.”
    “Perhaps that’s one of the things that the last machine did,” Doctor Leonard said. “Could you authorize Carl and myself, Princess?”
    “Diagnostic Scanning Workstation Twelve, I authorize these users.”
    “Voice command not accepted. Implant authorization