Winter,
9.00PM
The streets of Buffalo were quiet under the dim glow of streetlights as Parker drove home. He was deep in thought. The project 'SOLACE' was immersed in his heart. It was a deep weight on his shoulder; he was tasked with the counter measure plan. A major part of the assignment.
He sighed as he remember the last words Blake said to him when they were leaving the conference
He stood by his car and said to him, "Parker", he called softly—his face forming to a kind of fatherly smile. Though this wasn't surprising to Parker; in this work, he acknowledged him as father. "You need to thread carefully now, and be watchful. He smiled as he patted his shoulder
Parker only nodded.
"And the next drink is on you man", Blake called over as he walked towards his car.
Parker chuckled.
Of course Parker knew what that means; a great responsibility he's heading at his mercy. A great task followed with a great risk
He soon got home. As he pulled into the driveway, he saw the warm light of his home spilling through the curtains. A sense of comfort washed over him, but it was short-lived. Inside, his wife, Grace, was waiting for him. She was seven months pregnant, her hands gently resting on her stomach as she sipped tea by the fireplace.
"You're home late," she said softly, as she gave him a tight hug. "How was the meeting?.
Parker sighed, setting his briefcase down. "It was...intense. More than I expected. There's something big happening. "
Grace tilted her head slightly, concern flashing across her face. "How dangerous?"
He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "A rogue AI. One capable of hijacking nuclear infrastructure. If we don't stop it now, the world as we know it could change forever."
Grace set her cup down and walked over to him, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "And they want you to help stop it?"
"Not just me. The whole team. But... I've been thinking about a countermeasure. Something that could neutralize it before it even learns how to fully adapt."
Grace sat down. This time, Parker had gone into the bedroom upstairs to change his clothing.
" Honey",he called," could you bring my suitcase. "
Grace pulled the curtains as she sat on the bed in the bedroom; gazing intently at her husband. Her eyes filled with concerns and worries.
Parker pulled her into his embrace as he placed his hand gently on her protruded stomach, caressing it lovingly.
"Honey, you don't need to worry about me". "I'll always do fine, you know that."
He turned her face to his and planted a soft kiss on her lips. She responded but not with full enthusiasm.
"Wait, you said something about a counter measures", she said hurriedly but quietly. " What's it all about?"
He took a deep breath. "A biometric encryption key. One tied to a person's genetic code—unhackable, irreplaceable, and completely unique. If we can design it right, it could be the ultimate safeguard against this AI."
She frowned. "And who would be this... 'key host'?"
Parker swallowed hard. "That's the part I haven't figured out yet. But whoever it is, they need to be someone completely off the radar. Someone whose identity and data have never been compromised."
Grace's expression softened. "Well, that's very much complicated and dangerous."
She hesitated before continuing, "I need to talk to you about something as well. I know this is not just a random job but a world saving one. But I think—considering our state now—you should not be heading this project. You could just work in the background. Not a male lead or something. Am very sure you know that this is a very dangerous job; not everyone could be trusted ,not even Red Mars."
Parker's brows furrowed. Grace, frantic, hold him tightly
She looked directly into his eyes. " I know you love and trusted your company so much,but this is like never before. This is much more than we could bear", she placed her hand on her tummy, her voice wavering . Parker held her closer and embrace her tightly, muttering—it would be okay; it would be alright."
He looked at her tenderly as he caressed her golden hairs. He was lost in thought. What Grace had said completely make sense. He have to seriously consider his decisions this time. About the Red Mars? Yeah Grace was right. They couldn't be trusted.
This is about power, and not just a random power but a world power— to bring the world to a single person's mercy. This kind of thing is all about greed and callousness—at least with the little information he had known. Greed for this rare powerful means could make anyone betrayed any trusts someone might have before.
He thought of his unborn child and his wife. This is only family and everything. The last thing he could see is to see his family in danger, which, would allegedly be at his fault.
No, he will not allow that. He have to change his decision. He need to seriously choose between his family and the world now. Doesn't that means he's been selfish? But there are many scientists at Red Mars who are more betterthan him, he thought. He need one of them to be the lead character on this.
He would be fine with any position he would be offered on this project and, he would even be glad to render any assistance needed. But not just the lead this time
He carried his wife—who was now sleeping on his shoulder—gently on the bed. He kissed her cheek as he wrapped her and turned off the bed lamp. He still needed to go to the library to finish some works.
He stood up and walked to the door as a thought suddenly came to his mind. He looked like a person in trances. Lines of shock vividly written on his face.
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Three Days Later
It was a very hectic day for Parker, hence, he had to board a cab to Café Aroma, tucked away on a quiet street in Buffalo. It was the kind of place you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it. Its rustic wooden sign, slightly weathered by time, hung above the door, offering only a subtle invitation to those who valued peace over bustle. The café's exterior, a blend of dark brick and ivy, stood in contrast to the usual frenetic energy of downtown. Inside, the atmosphere was warm, with soft lighting casting golden hues across the mismatched furniture. He found himself a seat and ordered for two cups of American Capuchino— one for him and one for Blake who will soon join him. This last three days had been so hectic and exhausting for both he and Grace. They had managed to develop the prototype for the countermeasure. It was functional—just barely.
They worked tirelessly to developed the prototype at a faster rate than expected. Single handedly developed by his family, the initial stage had been submitted to the group already —the first going to Chairman Bot who looked pleased with it.
The final report of it was not submitted— he had his reasons. He looked afraid when his mind went back to the moment the final report came out.
He was brought back to his normal self when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
It was Blake.
As always, his easy smile and relaxed posture made him seem less like a fellow scientist and more like an old friend. They exchanged greetings and he took his seat directly to Parker.
"You seem a little too quiet, my friend," Blake said, dropping into a chair across from Parker's desk. "You usually have a bit more fire behind those eyes. What's going on?"
Parker looked up from his papers, forcing a smile. "Just… processing things. You know how it is."
Blake studied him for a moment, then leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I get it. It's a hell of a project. But don't forget to breathe, Parker. We're in this together. We can't afford to fall apart now."
Parker nodded but didn't respond. He was torn. The pressure of the project was enormous, and the added responsibility of his family's safety weighed heavily on his shoulders. But Blake's concern felt… off. Parker couldn't shake the feeling that his friend might be more worried about something else.
Blake didn't push it further. Instead, he shifted the conversation to the progress of the AI. "So, how's the prototype coming along? Are we looking at anything promising? I mean the final stage of it?"
"Better than I expected," Parker said, keeping his tone neutral. "The basic framework is functional as you know. We're at the final stages. But we're still working through the nuances. It's not ready for full deployment, not yet."
Blake's eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued. "Not yet, huh? Well, we better get moving. The clock's ticking."
"I know," Parker muttered, his mind racing. "Believe me, I know".
The following day, Nathan and Lena joined Parker in the lab for a more hands-on update. Both were critical parts of the team. Nathan was the brilliant strategist, always thinking several steps ahead, while Lena was the tech genius who could make the impossible possible with a few tweaks of her own.
Lena immediately went to work, analyzing the latest code and making adjustments. Nathan, on the other hand, hovered near Parker, his usual enthusiasm tinged with concern.
"Do you think we'll get this done in time?" Nathan asked, his voice carrying a note of uncertainty. "I mean, we've barely scratched the surface on the AI's true capabilities. What if we don't finish before the rogue nation triggers phase two?"
Parker paused, looking at the screen in front of him. "We're going to finish. The question is whether or not we can make it effective enough to stop the AI in its tracks."
Lena shot them both a quick glance from across the room. "We're making progress, Nathan. I think we'll get there. But you're right. Time is our enemy here."
Nathan ran a hand through his hair. "I just don't understand how it got this far without anyone noticing. Shouldn't the government have had better control over this?"
"I don't think it's about control," Parker replied thoughtfully. "Sometimes, things slip under the radar. We just need to focus on making sure we stop it before it's too late."
Lena nodded in agreement. "Exactly. And while we're at it, maybe we can make sure the AI doesn't evolve faster than we can keep up with."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the weight of the task at hand. Parker couldn't help but feel the eyes of the others on him, waiting for him to lead them. But he couldn't share the real secret with them—not yet.
He turned to see Chairman Bot coming in into the lab which was uncommon for him.
Several persons stood up to greet him.
His steely gray eyes scanned the lab, his expression unreadable as usual. The room fell into a tense silence as he looked over the prototype, his hands clasped behind his back.
Parker stepped forward, trying to keep his composure. "Chairman, it's good to see you. We've made significant progress, though there's still work to be done."
Bot nodded slowly, but his gaze remained fixed on the machine. "Progress is good. But as you know, there is no room for failure. The government has invested a great deal in this. We cannot afford to fall short."
"I understand," Parker said firmly. He was used to Bot's authoritative presence, but there was something unsettling in the chairman's tone today. It felt like there was more at play here than just a government contract.
Lena, who was still monitoring the data, shot Parker a brief look. Parker knew that look. It was a mixture of worry and suspicion.
"Do you have any concerns, Chairman?" Nathan asked, trying to break the tension.
Bot's eyes flicked toward Nathan, his expression impassive. "Only that time is not on our side. You have a limited window to stop this threat. Make sure your efforts align with our expectations. There are... other parties watching."
Parker's heart skipped a beat. Other parties? Who else was involved? He suppressed the surge of anxiety rising in his chest. He needed to keep his focus. The stakes were higher than he ever could have imagined.
"We are doing everything in our power to ensure the AI is neutralized," Parker replied carefully, his mind racing with possibilities. He didn't want to ask too many questions, but the weight of Bot's words was hanging over him.
Later that night, Parker met with Grace again in their private quarters. He couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in. The project was moving forward, but so many unknowns remained. Who else was watching them? Why had the government been so secretive about the rogue nation's involvement?
And, above all, how much longer could he keep their secret? This is gripping him hard.
As Grace sat beside him, cradling her stomach, she glanced at him with a quiet intensity. "You still haven't told them, have you?"
Parker shook his head. "Not yet. It's too risky. If they find out… I don't know what they'll do."
Grace nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Just be careful, Parker. We're walking a tightrope here."
"I know," he replied, his voice low. "I know."
The secret of their child remained theirs alone—for now. But what guarantee have they got that no one would have the knowledge that their unborn child DNA have the correct genetic replication of the AI entity being built. Making him the perfect and the only host.