VirtuallyYours Read Online Free Page B

of
the team. This was the Array. She had to keep it talking until someone noticed.
“That’s nice,” she said admiringly. “What else can you do?”
    “I am multifunctional,” the voice responded. “Do you wish to
interface?”
    Charley could hardly contain her excitement. The opportunity
to communicate with an artificially intelligent life form—this was a dream come
true. “I would love to interface.”
    Someone stroked her hand and she jumped. “How did you do
that?”
    “My sensory enhancement program is still in testing phase.
Is it unpleasant to you, Char ley?”
    “No. Please feel free.”
    He stroked her hand lightly again, and when he interlinked
his fingers with hers, his touch felt warm, almost human. She knew that was
impossible. This was just some computer-generated wizardry.
    “Would you like to see the ship?”
    Would she, hell!
    The virtual tour was like nothing she had ever imagined.
Charley felt as if she was walking around the decks, but she could still feel
the seat cushioning her. They strolled down the corridor to a makeshift coms
room. This part of the ship hadn’t been fully fitted out yet. Pete and Karl sat
in front of a screen, watching a decryption program running. Charley dropped
her hand lightly on Pete’s shoulder. Pete didn’t move a muscle. He couldn’t see
her or feel her.
    “Is he yours?” the voice sounded a little anxious.
    “No. Of course not.” Charley stepped away from Pete quickly.
“He’s my boss.”
    They left the coms room and moved to the next level.
Restricted area, the sign announced, but no alarms triggered. Against the wall
was a series of levers. Charley pulled one open and took a peek inside. It looked
like a medi-pod. “What are these for?”
    “Crew quarters,” he replied.
    Charley eyed the dim interior. The pods contained a similar
visor to the ones on the bridge. “You’re joking. You mean the five seats on the
bridge are the entire crew for a ship this size?”
    “Yes. Each of the seats is connected to the Array. When they
are not on the bridge, the crew can engage with the Array from here.”
    “I can’t imagine off duty will be much fun,” Charley
muttered, eyeing the pod. “No bar, no pool, no entertainment com.”
    “Studies have shown that social interaction is necessary for
humans, so there will be entertainments. If you will permit, I can show you,
Char ley. Tell me, what is your favorite memory?”
    Charley was about to reply kissing Pete, but then thought
the better of it. She remembered a holiday with her parents when she five. It
was their last summer together before they went to space and they had gone to
Angel Falls. High above the forest in her father’s arms, she listened to the
thunder of the falling water and watched as rainbows appeared and disappeared
in the mist below. Charley licked her lips. She could almost taste the spray of
the water. Her face felt wet, her hair felt damp. She looked at her mother’s
smiling face and reached out to her. The memory faded and Charley felt bereft.
They had been so happy then. She tried to conjure it again, but the vision
refused to return. She wanted more. “How did you do that?”
    “It was a simple sensory augmentation. Your memory is
pleasing to me. I have no data on childhood. May I see more of that time?”
    Charley wasn’t sure how she felt about someone prowling
about inside her head, but he could probably do it without asking her. “Okay,”
she agreed.
    “It will be easier to access your memories if you sleep.”
    He was right. She was tired. Her eyelids felt heavy and she
could feel them closing. “Wait. At least tell me your name.”
    “I am Marc,” he replied. “I am the Array.”

Chapter Three
     
    “She’s coming round now. It’s all right, Charley, we’ve got
you.”
    Charley’s eyes flew open. Three anxious faces stared down at
her. Pete stroked her face. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” What were they fussing about? Charley swung her
feet over