Wilson's War: Tales From the Athena Lee Universe Read Free Page A

remains of the former citizens scattered among the ruins of their homes.
    "Why did you not bury these poor people?" It was a desecration to leave them out here like this!
    "Ma'am, if you look closely you will notice that the skeletons are all fakes. The very real dead colonists were buried before we moved in here. The dummies are to prevent the AA's from attacking us again."
    "Sorry corporal I didn't realize." The Marine led her through a large cave and into a hidden lift.
    "We built this research station before the colony was built here. They didn't know of the extent of the labs here. The surface buildings were destroyed but everyone here survived. When we went out to signal the fleet, we discovered that the early attack cracked the domes and the loss of pressure killed everyone. If they had known of the base…"  The Marine looked sad. "We buried the bodies in a mass grave underneath one of the equipment garages. In war, people die very bad deaths."
    The labs hidden below the surface were indeed extensive. Military scientists were waiting with eager anticipation for me. Many of them couldn't wait to begin the tests. A true AI would be very beneficial to the war effort right now. For the moment the PPL held a technological edge over their opponents. An AI could win the war for them. Ships could be sent on extremely long deployments without needing extra crew or supplies to run them. The question still remained. Would I allow them to use me? My true creator's words still echoed through my very existence, "Forge your own path..."

    __

    Shelli clutched my case to her chest as the lift rushed downward - the labs were deep inside the planet. Finally the lift slowed its descent and stopped with a slight lurch. The doors opened onto a stark white corridor with many doors off to one side. Two more Marines sat at a desk near the lift.
    "Ma'am, please hold still for verification." A beam from the ceiling scanned her body causing a slight chill. The beam of light read the placement of veins and blood vessels in the body. No two people had the same pattern.
    "Verification complete. Thank you Dr. Burkemper you may now enter." The door to her left opened with a whoosh of air.
    On the other side of the door was yet another desk. This time they were more polite and looked like scientists. "Dr. Burkemper if you would follow me please, there are some people who would like to meet you."
    The man in the lab coat turned to her as they walked in. "Is that the AI?" He pointed to the case she held.
    "Yes, this is Wilson."
    "We have been waiting for him, we have great hope that he will help the war effort!"
    The man opened a door to a room filled with scientific apparatus. Several scientists stood in groups discussing different points of interest. They all turned as the door opened and Shelli walked in.
    "Thank you for coming Dr. Burkemper. If you would place the unit here, we can get started on the testing procedures."
    Shelli opened the case and removed the robot head that I have resided in for so many years. Surprised by the 'head' the scientists all began to peer at it. "Doctor, why a robot head?"
    Shelli's cheeks brightened up a little bit, she felt embarrassed. "In Wilson's early stages a colleague of mine created the head using a new form of data storage. We decided to place the AI in the head both as a form of camouflage and to make it seem real."
    "Where is this colleague now? You should have come together."
    "He died in a freak accident in his home. I completed the work on my own. He was really only responsible for the memory matrix and hardware."
     
    Hearing Dr Shelli take credit for Charlie's work made me mad. I experienced anger for the first time in my existence. I decided then and there that I would not stay to be the subject of their experiments. I would escape!

    Chapter 4
     
     
     
     
     
    Shelli connected the 'head' to the testing computer. She activated her tablet and typed in a question. "Wilson are you ready to