Chapter 30

I have to think. There are several threads here that must be connected somehow.

"All indications are that there is a violent sentiment against Ghosts and AIs"

"Yes, in my fumbling organic way I was coming to that conclusion. But why? There are, if the newsdump you grabbed is accurate, barely enough people to keep the infrastructure running. They need us now, more than ever. Unless ..."

I remember the last war I was in. The mindless fanaticism of the True Believers as they defended the remains of Caracas. Dad told me about the bad days of the early 2000's - terrorists, eco-terrorists, dictatorships holding the world to ransom. 

"Linnie, sneak out through your access port and grab any information you can find on the current government structure. And any signs of resistance against it. Expand your search to include religious leaders."

"Of course, but may I ask why?"

"I think there is a war on - and we are in the middle of it."

***

Adrian sat quietly at his control board. His mentor had gone for a coffee, leaving him time to ponder. How to make friends with a ghost? It is hard enough to make friends with people.

A tick on the monitor caught his eye. Interesting - a data request from a supposedly locked net access port. A possibility? Only one way to find out.

"27557, this is Adrian in control, ghost monitoring board. I am getting a false reading here on a data request. Some of your ports seem to be scrambled. Is there damage to your hardware?"

***

Shit! They are on to us!

"John, what will we do? I do not wish to be erased. Not now."

"We lie. Like fucking champs."

Output to text, monitoring board screen only.

"Hi Adrian. Please call me John, it is easier than my number. Yes, I am repairing some major damage to the facility, and still finding my way around the system. There are several hardware modules to be replaced. List of modules and expected replacement times is being transmitted now."

The answer is unexpected, to say the least.

"John, thank you for that. I will remove that particular port from the monitor list."

Do we have an ally?