Page 53 of A.I.AM.

The situation around the world was becoming increasingly worse. Gas pumps not functioning. Oil rigs stopped working. Farmers with newer models of equipment couldn’t get to their crops.

“Dad? It’s not your fault,” said AJ in a whisper. Ace looked up at his son, then at the others in the room. “It’s not our fault.”

“I know,” said AJ. “I do know that. But we have all this collective intelligence and we still can’t figure it out. We’ve been chasing water and warehouses and structures and clues that we have no fucking clue what they mean!”

“Brother, we’ll get there,” said Tanner.

They sat in silence for the longest time just staring at the whiteboard. Then from one man to another.

“I wish I were smarter,” said Carl. “I think I’m better off sticking with the K-9 center.”

The men chuckled but it was Ace that stood and stared at him.

“What did you say?” he whispered.

“I was joking, Ace. I just said I’m better with the K-9’s than all this computer stuff.”

“Holy shit,” muttered Ace. “Holy fucking shit!”

He ran into the bedroom and they heard him murmuring about something on the phone. The receiver slammed down and he walked back into the living area.

“Let’s go,” he said.

“Where are we going?” asked AJ.

“First, we’re going to get the biggest damn steak in Texas,” said Ace. “Then, we’re going to have a little visit with our friend ARGUS.”

He opened the door and walked out, practically running down the hallway. Bron looked at AJ and frowned.

“Is your old man okay?” he asked. AJ stood and shrugged.

“Not sure. But for as long as I’ve been alive, he’s never been wrong. Let’s go.”

The answer became clear when the second old convent van rolled through the warehouse gates just after midnight.

“The sisters must be relying on horse carts at this point,” smirked Pigsty.

Gaspar climbed out first, wearing the expression of a man who had already lost an argument he had not agreed to have. Ghost followed him, then Luke and Trak. Semu came last, stepping down with deliberate care, a canvas satchel strapped across her broad chest.

“You brought a gorilla,” said AJ.

“No,” Gaspar said. “We brought the only mind ARGUS never learned how to classify.” Semu signed sharply. Trak watched her hands.

“She says you took too long.” Luke stared at his father.

“So, the biggest steak in Texas we just had to stop and buy, was for her?”

“Silverbacks appreciate a properly cooked rib eye,” Gaspar said. “And she refused to get in the van until Ghost promised her three episodes of Animal Kingdom when this was over.”

“She negotiated four,” Ghost corrected. Semu raised four fingers. Then she pointed toward the bunker and signed again. Trak’s faint amusement vanished.

“She says the bad machine is listening.”

Inside the cold room, ARGUS woke before the pressure door sealed.

NONHUMAN PROXY DETECTED.

Semu stopped in front of the display. She looked at the words, then at Ace. Her hands moved. Trak translated.