Re-Wired Read Online Free PDF

kill, but the majority of the people on SEC were there to exchange goods for money. It was how Brad had procured his television, and his imported game system. It was also where he got the illegal A.I. override that sat within Tricia’s head. Androids were restricted to behaving like machines—for a number of reasons—but the true engineers like Brad who wanted to push the envelope would override the restraints and allow their machines to act as close to human as possible.
    There were many ways to modify an unrestrained android. They could be given a personality—there were thousands ready to download from the SEC database. Some droid engineers would make an android that favored their favorite celebrity, upload one of the open source mods that replicated that celebrity’s personality, and have a virtual clone of their Hollywood starlet in a fully intelligent android frame. The more discreet engineers could give an android two completely separate identities—triggered by a sound or switch—and have a maid that would turn into a seductress whenever they liked. SEC had it all, and the android mod community was a large and proud one.
    Brad sat at his personal computer and began to look through all of the offerings of the night. He was hoping to score some stolen synthetic skin, or meet someone who knew how to replicate it. He found several leads but all of them were asking for favors that he was not willing to commit. As he perused the listings a message popped up from a member that had been observing his search. His name was Traze, and his avatar was that of a metallic dragon. Brad answered his request for a chat and prepared himself for the worst.
    “Looking for robo-skin?”
    “Yes, but only for trade. I don’t have any money.”
    “I have two gallons of SZ-02, the good stuff. It feels real, like human flesh. It’s what they use to make sex-bots and house-husbands.”
    “You’re full of it. SZ-02 is a gimmick and a lie that advertisers use.”
    “No, it’s real, from Japan – my country. We make it.”
    “Okay, what do you want for it?”
    “My company needs volunteers for a new drug. You take drug and test for us, and I will send you the SZ-02.”
    Brad thought that the proposition was too good to be true. It would either be a dangerous chemical that would kill him, or he would grow a tail or something like that. But if SZ-02 was a reality, Tricia could possibly become one of the most advanced homemade androids ever. He looked up at her, and saw that she was crooning along to a song by Shirley Vega and the Pneumatics. She looked so cute and innocent as she swayed side to side with her hands clasped, singing along, as if she had a soul that could be affected by music. If I want to change the world, I will need to make sacrifices, right? It’s probably another fitness drug that will make me into a bodybuilder in under a week’s time . That couldn’t hurt . He thought as he imagined Mika looking at him as a physical specimen. He sent an approval to Traze, but only if he got a sample of the SZ-02, and documentation on the drug.
    He walked over to Tricia when the song was over and her plasticine face held a smile to greet him warmly. He returned it and hugged her before sitting next to her on the couch to tell her the good news.
    “Guess what, Tricia?”
    “Could you rephrase that, Brad? I am not sure that I understand.”
    “Okay, when someone says ‘guess what’ they want you to guess at a random event that may or may not have happened to them. Understand?”
    “Yes. So, my guess is that you got a raise at your job today.”
    “Don’t I wish? No, I think I’ve finally found a way to get you some skin.”
    “I would really like that.”
    “So would I, Trish. We could do so much more with you having skin, and we can go outside. How would you like that?”
    “Trees! I will be able to touch the trees?”
    “Yes, you will. And you will learn so much more.”
    She hugged him tightly when he said this,