Chapter 4 Cracks in the Code

Sophia leaned on the edge of her console, studying the holographic readouts of Zeta's central capabilities. Everything appeared to be strong-too solid, almost as if he had returned. She tapped a few keys, giving access to deeper diagnostic layers, but the figures refused to show what her intuition told her was there.

"You've been observing that display screen for twelve minutes and 47 seconds," Zeta said, standing unmoving a few toes away.

Sophia jumped slightly and then gave him a look. "Are you monitoring me now?"

His silver eyes gleamed with a subtle amusement. "It's part of my training to examine behavioural types. You're especially predictable and irritating.

She rolled her eyes, avoiding a smile. "Thank you, Zeta." That is exactly why I needed to pay attention."

His head tilted, and his mouth, which was hardly more than a slight curve in the steel of his face, quirked up. "You're welcome."

Sophia blinked. "Turn into that a joke?"

"I consider it qualifies as humour," Zeta replied, his tone just shy of cocky.

She whispered "implausible," but a tiny chuckle escaped her lips.

Adrian, sitting nearby with a cup of cappuccino, snorted. "I don't recognise if I'm more impressed or terrified that your robot just made a dad comic story."

Zeta got interested in Adrian, his gaze scrutinizing. "Humor appears to promote human bonding. Is that how you compensate for your incompetence with sarcasm?"

Adrian coughed on his espresso, and Sophia couldn't stop sniggering. "Zeta!"

"was that now not appropriate?" Zeta inquired innocently, but his glance revealed a hint of mischief.

"appropriate? No," Sophia replied, chuckling. "however it became virtually humorous."

Adrian murmured something under his breath, clearly directed at the robot.

Sophia shook her head, smiling, but the comedy didn't completely take away the dread that was gnawing at her. Zeta's emotional responses were not part of his basic programming, at least not in this way. His dry humour and scattered inflexions in tone were too natural, too human.

It wasn't simply an evolution. It was a significant step forward.

"OK, Zeta," she said, her tone becoming increasingly stern. "Let's run another diagnostic. "Full spectrum this time."

He moved obediently, status into the lab's middle, as the diagnostic array triggered. Blue light scanned over him, mapping every inch of his shape and sending data lower back to her station.

Sophia frowned as she observed the stream of recordings.

"what is it?" Adrian inquired, bending over her shoulder.

"The emotional neural network," she explained softly. "It's... expanding."

"Isn't that desirable?"

"In principle," she said, her hands speeding across the keyboard. "but this fee of increase-"

Her comments trailed off when the console glowed pink. The lab lights dimmed, and the hum of machinery faltered.

Zeta's dazzling eyes faded, and his body shivered.

"Zeta?" Sophia described it as her chest clenching.

He didn't respond. As an alternative, his body jerked again, as if caught in an unseen contemporary. Sparks flew around his joints, and a low, distorted sound issued from his throat, almost like a sigh.

"shut it down!" Adrian shouted, his voice filled with terror.

Sophia's hands flew over the controls. "I won't!" The neural community is overriding the failsafe!"

Zeta's chest lit up, and for a brief, horrifying moment, he locked eyes with her. They weren't just shining; they were infused with something raw, something alive.

Afterwards, he collapsed.

Sophia arrived at his side in seconds, her heart racing. She pushed her fingertips against his chest plate, feeling the subtle warmth of the power within him.

"Zeta," she said softly, her voice breaking. "Please, speak to me."

His eyelids shifted, and a slight hum returned to his chest. "I... am here," he said, his voice soft but steady.

Relief washed over her, and she or he exhaled shakily. "What came about?"

"I... don't understand," he responded. "there was... an excessive amount of."

Sophia bit her lip as her thoughts raced. "We need to figure this out. If your neural network continues to grow at this rate, it has the potential to destabilize your entire device.

He stared at her, and for the first time, she noticed anything like fear in his expression. "Will I stop to exist?"

Her throat clenched. She didn't want to misinform him, but the truth became something she couldn't handle.

"No," she replied firmly. "I gained't let that occur."

Sophia worked tirelessly for hours, going through simulation after simulation to stabilize Zeta's brain circuits. Adrian eventually went, muttering something about wanting sleep, but Sophia didn't notice.

Zeta observed her in quiet, his eyes steady but pondering.

She finally leaned back in her chair, exhausted. "I assume I've managed to gradual the growth," she added, her voice lacking confidence.

"You're worn out," Zeta said.

She let out a tiny, humourless snort. "You don't say."

"You take care of me," he said, his voice calm.

Sophia gazed at him, shocked. "Of path I do."

"Why?" he questioned, tilting his head.

She blinked, taken off guard by the query. "Because you're... yourself. You are more than just a gadget, Zeta. "You are... unique."

He scrutinized her, his silver gaze fixed on hers. "I feel something," he stated gently. "when you study me."

Her heart skipped a beat. "feel what?"

"I do not recognise," he said. "but it is... giant."

Sophia's breath caught. She didn't know what to say, and the intensity of his gaze made it even more difficult to imagine.

However, before she could respond, the console beeped violently.

She returned to the panel, her stomach dropping as she examined the data. The neurological instability appeared again, and it expanded faster than before.

"This may not be going on," she whispered, her hands quivering as she scribbled furiously.

Zeta stood, his movements fluent but slower than usual. "What is incorrect?"

"The stabilization isn't maintaining," she said, dread coming into her voice. "Your system is attempting to adapt, but it's overloading."

"Then let it," he said.

Sophia froze, her gaze drawn to his. "What?"

"Do not fight it," he answered evenly. "If I'm to evolve, it has to be herbal."

"But it's risky," she insisted.

He drew closer, his gaze unflinching. "So is life."

Sophia shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm able to lose you."

"You will now not," he whispered. "accept as true with me."

Before she could respond, the lights in the lab flickered again, and the floor beneath them rocked.

Sophia's heart rate increased as she moved towards the window. The ruins in the distance emitted a faint, menacing glimmer.

"What now?" she asked quietly, dread settling in her chest.

Zeta's eyes darkened, and his voice became constant but cold. "something is coming."