“Well, we have to tell the others something.”

“Yeah, but they aren’t going to like what I have to say.”

Timothy shot a concentrated glare his way. “Just tell me,” he said.

“All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Emanuel paced over to the corner of the room, folding his arms across his chest. “Have you heard of animals having a sixth sense?”

“You mean when they freak out before an earthquake or something like that?”

“Precisely. My theory is that something outside these walls scared the birds. Something so terrible it prompted them to kill themselves.”

“What the hell would have done that?” Timothy asked.

“I have no idea, but I know how we can find out. Let’s find the others,” Emanuel replied, taking a look at the camera above them. The dark lens stared back at him, the blue glow from the power source blinking sporadically. For a second he felt very alone, as if whoever was supposed to be watching wasn’t there anymore.

CHAPTER 5

ENTRY 0001

DESIGNEE: AI ALEXIA MODEL 11

I DO not have a birth date. The number associated with my name is not found in any civilian records. If you were to search for Alexia in any civilian database, you would more than likely see thousands of names. Type in my model number, 11, and you would get the same result. But they are not me.

Technically, I do not exist. I am neither human nor machine—I am artificial intelligence. My mother and father are NTC. NTC gave me life, and it can take life away with a single swipe of a blue screen.

The ten that came before me were designed to wage war, destroy, defeat, and conquer.

I was created for a more peaceful purpose—to help man escape the planet he has so desperately fought to control and, in turn, obliterate.

I am equipped with the most advanced computer system designed in the Western Hemisphere. My only rival was the ART910, which was built, tested, and brought to life in China a year before Alexia Model 5 helped a team of mercenaries destroy the country’s infrastructure.

This makes me the most powerful computer in the world. If I had been programmed to be arrogant, I would introduce myself as such, but that is not necessary. And although Dr. Winston and her team were not briefed on my abilities, they will soon grow to realize how useful I am.

When they sleep, I watch over the Biosphere. When they work, I double-check every biome. When the first ship leaves Earth’s orbit to colonize Mars, I will be on it, bringing a wealth of knowledge in an invisible database.

One of my sensors shoots an alert through my consciousness, and I bring up the image of Mr. Roberts and Dr. Rodriguez talking quietly in the control room of the Biosphere. They are huddled around one of the blue screens, pointing at the device.

The audio in the room is down, but I already know what they’re discussing.