The Return: Underground, #2

By Gabriella Balcom

The world doesn't know about the compound hidden underground, and the wealthy investors funding it want things to stay as they are. Although it's 2027 with numerous scientific advances having been made, most of the research being conducted in the facility is illegal. If animal rights activists had an inkling of what went on, they'd clamour for justice. Human rights' activists would scream from the rooftops.

 Scientists at the site are delighted with their latest achievements and use cutting-edge technology with their feline service units. However, they envision much more exciting things for the future, and dream of incorporating AI into humans.

By the time 2030 arrives, researchers have worked for a while with Human Replicas—HRs, as they're more commonly known. Virtual prisoners with no rights, they've undergone extensive training in combat, survival techniques, and much more, but their training has ceased in favour of "missions" which have a high mortality rate.

HR-7974 tells the other HRs repeatedly that they have an amazing destiny ahead, but in order to reach it, they have to survive. Needless to say, they dream of freedom. Surprisingly, at least one of the top scientists isn't happy with the status quo either. Tensions are mounting, and things are not as they appear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Hare Press
• Release date: Mar 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201281717

Book preview

Text Description automatically generated

GABRIELLA BALCOM

Available from Black Hare Press in 2021

UNDERGROUND

WHISPERS IN THE DARK by K.B. ELIJAH

THE RETURN by GABRIELLA BALCOM

UNDERWORLD GAMES by JONATHAN D. STIFFY

PLACE OF CAVES by CHARLOTTE O'FARRELL

AFTER THE FALL by STEPHEN HERCZEG

BEYOND HUMAN by MATTHEW CLARKE

THE FALL OF PACIFICA by M. SYDNOR JR.

THE GATE TO THE UNDERWORLD by E.L. GILES

THOSE OF THE LIGHT by NICOLA CURRIE

TIME'S ABYSS by JAMES PYLES

UNDER GROUND by STEVEN STREETER

SWIRLING DARKNESS by SAM M. PHILLIPS

Twitter: @BlackHarePress

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Website: www.BlackHarePress.com

The Return title is

Copyright © 2021 Gabriella Balcom

First published in Australia in March 2021 by Black Hare Press

The author retains the copyright of the works

featured in this publication.

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this production may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner.

Edited by D. Kershaw

Formatting by Ben Thomas

Cover design by Dawn Burdett

I dedicate this book to

my beloved children.

You’ve always been my heroes,

and I love you very, very much.

We all go through difficult times,

but you are much stronger than

you realise. Don’t ever give up,

and remember you’re not alone.

x

Gabriella

March 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUGUST 2027

FEBRUARY 2030

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JULY

AUGUST

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

APRIL 2031

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

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AUGUST 2027

L et there be light , the woman said with a sly smile before touching her tablet. Chuckles sounded around the room.

In unison, the units opened their eyes and scanned their surroundings.

Stand, the woman instructed.

They obeyed and faced the men and women in white lab coats, who laughed, clapped, and murmured in reaction.

What are you? a blond man asked.

FSU, the units replied as one.

We can program the Feline Service Unit’s individual designations next, the blond told the gathered scientists. He then asked the FSUs, Where are you?

Here, they answered.

Technically, that's accurate. The woman with the tablet glanced at her companions. It's overly simplistic and one-dimensional thinking at best, but their comprehension will improve once we start programming them with simple commands and responses.

Too bad we can't do as much with the human replicas as we can with these, the blond man commented.

Oh, we'll eventually get there with the HRs, too. The woman nodded as she spoke. It's only a matter of time. FSU brains are less complex than human ones, so it was logical that we were able to map them first.

I'm looking forward to the day we fully integrate Artificial Intelligence into the human brain, another scientist added.

The woman smiled. The possibilities are endless.

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FEBRUARY 2030

Most of the HRs looked towards the door as it opened.

I have nutritious snacks for you, the Feline Service Unit announced in its pleasant, modulated voice. Part flesh-and-blood and part mechanised AI, FSUs looked like domestic cats—feline faces, fur, and tails—but with slightly larger bodies, and all had a female voice. They could either walk on all fours or their back legs, depending on their assigned tasks, and retained their feline vocal responses. Given their simple functions, their range of pre-programmed statements and responses wasn't as broad as typical human communication, but it was speech, nonetheless.

Standing three-and-a-half feet tall on its hind legs, the FSU pushed a refrigerated cart containing a selection of fruit, food bars, cheese, and juice.

Stopping by the first bed, it asked, What would you like, sir? It waited for the HR to say which things he wanted, then transferred the requested items to plastic plates and cups with its oversized paws, which performed almost as well as human hands.

After reaching HR-7974's bed, the FSU recited, What would you like, sir? It gazed at the floor, awaiting instruction with respect and subservience—two integral features of FSUs.

I'd like blueberries and melon, please, 7974 said. Swiss cheese, two strawberry protein bars and a spinach bar. An avocado and two pomegranate-grapefruit bars also. Once he received his choices, he added, I see by your number you're the FSU who brings us food each day. I appreciate that. Thank you.

Raising its head, FSU-419 stared blankly at him, blinked, then gazed at the floor again. You are welcome, sir. I have a nice assortment of meat bars. Beef, chicken, buffalo, duck, and fish. Would you like one, sir?

No, thank you, but it's nice of you to ask. I prefer vegetables and fruit to meat. I would like some orange juice, though. He accepted the cup held out to him, immediately drinking the contents. Could I have more, please? Once it was given to him, he smiled. Thank you.

You are welcome, sir. The FSU moved on to the next man.

Another HR asked 7974, Why do you always treat that thing like a person, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’? It's nothing but a robot designed to serve us.

"Part robot. And showing gratitude doesn't hurt anything."

"You tell us we have great potential, and while I agree with you on that, sometimes you confuse me. It's odd how you treat those creatures. They're only things and there isn't any point in making an effort. Manners mean nothing to them."

That might be so, and maybe I am odd. 7974 shrugged. I like cats.

They're okay, I guess. I'm more of a dog person.

I like dogs, too, but cats are smarter.

Real cats maybe, but not FSUs. They're mindless servants.

They do serve. What 7974 didn't say was That's only how they're programmed. Who knows what they're capable of?

Four days later

HOLDING THE SNACKS he'd just received, HR-7974 asked FSU-419, "What about you? Do you like any of these foods? Which ones are your favourites?"

The FSU's eyes widened. It seemed confused by the question. I like meat and cheese, sir, it finally replied.

"What about fish