SHIAM Conspiracy- Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Rose only nodded her confirmation.
    “Are you people out of your minds?” Zak said.
He got up from his chair and began pacing again “You’re telling me
that we have a SHIAM on the loose that is designed to be even
stronger than previous versions, doesn’t need a power grid to
recharge and doesn’t have any safety protocols!” He turned and
glared at each of them in turn. “And you want me to find it!”

4
    “ A re you certain your android didn’t
escape on its own somehow?”
    “Yes, I am sure he didn’t escape.” Dr. Rose
answered.
    They were now standing in a spacious living
area Dr. Rose had referred to as the Habitat. It was living
quarters designed to resemble a loft, except that it was located a
hundred meters below ground. In order to compensate for the lack of
view, three of the four walls contained mock windows displaying
three-dimensional images of a cityscape. The illusion was completed
by artificial sunlight shinning into the room from each of the
windows.
    “Why use a city view?” Zak asked as he looked
around. The loft was much smaller than the loft he lived in,
although it seemed to have plenty of open space. “Why not a view of
the county, something more sedate?”
    “Derek lives in the city, not the country.”
Jonas made the statement sound perfectly logical.
    “He lives in a hole in the ground,” Zak
corrected.
    “SHIAM are more likely to live in an urban
environment,” Dr. Rose explained in a less than friendly tone. “We
wanted to simulate his future environment so he could become
comfortable within that context.”
    The loft was divided into separate
well-furnished functional areas. A large-screen comm and
entertainment system was set up in one corner, with comfortable
overstuffed chairs and a couch positioned for optimal viewing
enjoyment. An impressively large digital library section ran along
the nearest wall. The library included an extensive collection of
digital books, movies and music neatly arranged and categorized on
the shelves. In the opposite corner was a small but well equipped
gymnasium. A dining and kitchen area completed the space.
    There were two doors off the kitchen. One
door led to a full bathroom. It wasn’t fancy, but it was complete
with a toilet, sink and shower.
    “A toilet?” Zak asked.
    “As I said,” Dr. Rose replied. “Derek has a
digestive system. Naturally, that system includes the necessity to
eliminate waste.”
    Zak simply shook his head. He doubted he’d
ever get used to the idea of an android going to the toilet.
    The second door led to a rather small and
austere bedroom. There was very little in the way of personal
effects. The private quarters reminded Zak of the living quarters
he had while attending the University of Pevnost, studying for his
degree in computer science.
    “So, why a separate bedroom?” he asked.
“There is plenty of space in the main area for a bed.”
    “Would you want your bed out in the open that
way?” Dr. Rose asked.
    “Actually, it is.” Zak didn’t understand why
a SHIAM required a bed in the first place. The documentaries he’d
seen showed SHIAM simply standing against a wall-mounted power
station during their recharging period. Why would a simulated sleep
mode be any different? He decided not to pursue the issue. “We’re a
hundred meters below ground and there’s only one way in or out. In
order to pull this off the thieves had to get past all the security
alarms and cameras on the main floors, circumvent the retina scan
to gain access to the elevator, pass by the security guard at the
station right outside the elevator door down here, then avoid the
cameras on this level. And then do it all over again in order to
get out! How did they manage all that?”
    “We don’t have a fragging clue,” Vennhim
said. “You saw the security vids of the checkpoints and elevator.
There were no signs of anything unusual going on in any part of the
building that night. Not a single alarm. Nothing. And our