.2

This work of fiction is the sole intellectual property of the author; all rights are reserved. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or true events is purely coincidental. Any reproduction, alteration, republication, or dissemination of this story without the author's written consent is prohibited.

Author's Note: I want to thank those readers who have stuck with me through this long journey. I apologize to those who are frustrated with me dropping parts of the chapters. Writing this story was a challenge. I hope you enjoy the final segment that completes this chapter.

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January 30

1138hrs CST

Site-E

Mission Control Center

Jared stood over Andrea's shoulder as she sat at the mission director's chair, sitting high above the rows of mission specialists' workstations. Andi turned and lifted her face upward as her eyes locked with his.

"Jared, we have tried this six times and struck out. Each time, we need to reconfigure the baseline to try again. That takes us 65 minutes each time. Then, it takes 20 minutes for the modules to load in the sequence prescribed. We could be at this for months before we hit on the right phrase or word," she said.

Jared sighed in frustration, "Yes, but Andi, the main frame, has come up with sixty-two sci-fi dialogue references from the original cast shows and movies. We have to keep trying until we exhaust the list."

Andi threw her hands up and spun her chair to face forward. She stood and addressed the team, "Folks, let's configure again for system start. All stations report readiness on my main board."

Jared couldn't help but hear a few of the rumblings of discontent expressed by the mission specialists on the floor. He pushed these aside and closed his eyes. He focused on reviewing Evangeline's start-up code, hoping for a clue that explained why every effort to reinitialize Evangeline failed.

Andrea noted that green lights were appearing on her main board. One by one, the mission specialists were readying for another effort. The team would need thirty minutes more before another start sequence.

Kat left the master programming station and approached the mission controller station. She wore a look of resignation on her face.

"I think it may be time to accept something we don't want to face," she began.

Jared held his hand up to signal Kat to stop. "No, Kat, Evangeline is not lost to us."

Kat smiled for the briefest moment and replied, "No, Jared. By incorporating theoretical quantum computing breakthroughs into the architecture, we may need to accept that our team has created the problem we face."

Andi reached from her sitting position in the center seat and gently clasped her hand on Kat's forearm. "Kat, that architecture is dormant. Only a fully initialized system can access it."

Kat turned her face to Jared, "That's not entirely true, is it, Jared?"

Jared nodded and sighed, "No, it's not, Kat. I'm impressed you discovered that. The code is in assembly language. How did you reverse engineer my work?"

"Easy, I used the compiler you created for your work at NASA," she said matter-of-factly.

Andrea interrupted her colleague, "Whoa, Kat. What are you implying? How did you get Jared's compiler from NASA?"

Jared gave Kat a deep, penetrating stare, "Tread lightly. You are skating on thin ice."

The entrance doors to the center swished open, and Ellie strode in. Jare smiled as Ellie waved, announcing, "I've got it, Jare. Heather gave me the clue I needed. You won't believe it, but it was staring us in the face."

Andi looked at Ellie, signaling she should take the center seat. She stood and sidestepped away from the chair. Ellie came up on the platform and hugged her, "It won't be long now, Andi." She whispered into Andrea's ear as Jare stood by, chuckling to himself and wiping his brow with a tissue.

"You going to clue me in, Ellie?" Jare asked.

Ellie looked at Jare and winked. She told Andi, "Walk the stations and push for readiness updates. Kick 'em in the butt." Andi nodded and moved off to work her way forward. Ellie turned back to Jare, "Sweetheart, it was in front of our faces. "The tutor of Achilles."

Jare cocked his head, "I am not following?"

Ellie grabbed the sides of his arms, "It was referring to the SAL 9000."

Jared drew a deep breath and then saw it. "Oh, of course, El," he said. "A fabulous bird reborn from the ashes," his voice trailing off. "Oh, how could I not see that?" Jare shook his head in astonishment as he registered how obvious it was for Evangeline to make that one-word reference the prompt she required. "I guess it won't be too long now."

Ellie smiled and turned to Kat, "I'm sorry, Kat. Is there a problem?"

Kat nodded, "I was about to voice a concern that the quantum bridge Jared built for you in assembly code was blocking the restart."

Ellie cocked her head and smiled, "How did you come up with that Kat?"

Kat answered, "I reverse-engineered the code Jared built using the NASA compiler he created." Ellie registered surprise at Kat's admission. Undaunted, the young computer scientist pressed her point.

"The programming allows for individual modules in Evangeline's brain to initialize during the start-up, using the quantum computing architecture, bypassing the original programming," Kat replied, adding a hint of accusation in her tone.

"You must think me the mad scientist then," Ellie answered as she looked up at Jared.

"May I field this one, El?" Jare asked.

"Go for it, sweetheart," Ellied said, holding back a giggle.

Jared turned to Kat and reached out, patting her on the back.

With an encouraging smile and a glint in his eye, Jared said, "Kat, Ellie chose well when she brought you onto her team. Everything you said is true. I coded the program so that each Evangeline module could access the architecture as they were loaded, instead of the original program that flicked a switch at the end of the start-up sequence."

Kat shrugged her shoulders. "Why? What would that accomplish?" she replied.

"Kat, we are sentient beings. Our sense of self doesn't turn on with the flick of a switch. Ellie wanted to test the quantum architecture to see if Evangeline's mind could achieve consciousness as a human mind does after sleeping. The programming isn't nefarious. Ellie has always wanted Evangeline to be able to dream and awaken, just as you and I do."

Jared reached out with a single finger and closed Kat's mouth with a tender push upward on her jaw. Ellie moved and hugged Kat.

"Kat, if this works, you and I will wake Evangeline like two siblings nudging their sister from her slumber. Take your station, and I will join you in a second."

Kat looked into Ellie's eyes and cocked an eyebrow, which triggered an immediate grin on Ellie's face. Kat shook her head slowly, walking back to her monitor, where she sat facing forward.

Ellie popped up on tiptoe and locked her mouth with Jare's as they launched into, as Bunty would call it, 'A completely unprofessional, yet utterly sweet snogging session.'

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January 30

1140hrs

USS Spruance

Course 325 degrees, Speed 30 knots

Dave and Jared's Quarters

Dave turned the knob and entered the darkened room. He had followed Seth discreetly until he lost him

near the crew's mess. He continued searching for a brief time but then thought better of it. Seth needed to cool down.

The big man was frustrated. The team had succeeded, but only because of Evangeline's sacrifice. Dave felt like he lost a friend. At the beginning of this mission, he never believed it was possible.

Entering the berth, Dave let loose with a big sigh as he flicked the light on. He brought the door closed and sat on his bunk. Scratching his five o'clock shadow, he laid on his back, resting his head against the pillow.

"Damnit," he said to himself aloud. "Maybe we are too old for this shit. It just might be time to call it a day." Rolling to his side, he flicked the switch above the headboard and closed his eyes.

A light tapping began on the door, and Dave rolled back over and barked, "What is it?"

The door cracked, and he could make out the form of his wife silhouetted by the light in the corridor. Bunty eased into the room and closed it behind her. Dave could hear her turn the lock.

"Let me make some room, honey," Dave whispered.

Bunty eased in alongside Dave and kissed him softly. "It's been a tough couple of days, luv," she offered.

"Sure as hell has Pen. I am so worried about Seth. I have never seen him show anger like he did with Control," Dave noted. Bunty didn't answer him at first. Her face was busy seeking his.

Bunty found Dave's lips and brushed hers across them, opening her mouth and letting her tongue play tag with her husband's. There was a tenderness flowing between them. The only interruption to the passion was when Dave slid his hand down, and it brushed across his wife's right buttocks. Bunty reacted immediately with a very pronounced "ooof."

Dave immediately said, "I'm sorry, darlin. I forgot."

Bunty laid her head alongside Dave's, stroking his face with her hands. "This is the first time we have ever bollixed up an operation. I suppose it had to happen sometime."

"Yeah, that may be true Pen. I gotta be truthful, darlin. I'm not enthusiastic about taking any more ops in the future," Dave admitted.

Bunty leaned in and kissed his nose, "All done with the spygame are we, luv?" she asked.

Dave laughed, "Like that little peck you just gave me now, you hit the nail on the head. We could stay in the business but run operations and pull strings from home station."

"I could adjust to that. I think it's fair to say I've put my ass on the line one time too many," Bunty joked.

"You know, that's a cute bit of humor," Dave said. "At this moment, I realize how close we danced on the razor's edge. I can't lose you Pen. You are everything to me."

In a rare moment, Bunty understood Dave's fears, "Rest your mind, David Samuels. You are my everything. We are both on the same page. I love you. Now, please hold me, and let's nap a bit."

In the silence of that room, Bunty and Dave found a respite, a touch of contentment in one another. Soon, the only sound was their steady breathing.

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Control followed the directions given to her by Ted's Executive Officer, who mentioned in passing that he saw Seth moving toward the ship's forecastle. So, Carla Jo Spanger walked the portside forward deck of the Spruance, hoping to find Seth and offer him an olive branch.

The field chief had finally found her sea legs. She carefully worked her way forward, moving past the vertical launch tubes. She paused to wipe her swollen eyes. She finally came to terms with the grief that came with losing Angela to the Communicado.

The news of Heather's wounding brought Carla to the realization that she could no longer put her friends in harm's way. Carla Jo Spangler, not Control, had to let Seth know this face-to-face. She needed to express how much Heather and Seth meant to her. As she peeked around the front of the turret for the five-inch multi-purpose cannon, she found Seth sitting on the deck, side-by-side with Annie Hansen.

"I hoped I might find you here," Carla announced. "I apologize if I am interrupting you."

Annie kissed Seth softly and said, "Thanks for the advice, Uncle Seth. You truly are one of a kind." With that, the young agent popped up and disappeared around the side of the turret.

The breeze blew Carla's hair, and she had to wrestle it into a ponytail before asking, "May I join you, please?"

Seth shrugged, "It's not my ship. Go ahead and park it."

Carla settled in next to him. "We will be back in port early tomorrow morning. I arranged our transport back to Houston."

"Is that what you came to tell me?" Seth replied.

Carla shook her head. "Not really. Seth, I have worked hard in this business to get where I wanted to be professionally. To accomplish that, I had to be the cold-hearted bitch everyone feared."

Seth gave her a quizzical look, "Why? I've always wanted to ask you that. I truly know you, Carla, and that 'Control' persona isn't even remotely like the real you. Heather and I have talked about that after a visit to our home. A visit to share Thanksgiving. One where you could have let your guard down, but you never really did."

Carla leaned against Seth, almost startling him. He reciprocated by cocking his head against Carla, completing an imaginary circuit between them.

"Seth, I am so very sorry. I can't longer detach my true feelings for you and your family. All of you are so very important to me. Heather's wounding almost emotionally compromised me when I learned what happened. What would it do to you if it could bring me to my knees? That was what motivated me. But I freely admit I was wrong not to trust you. I should have followed my gut, as Dave likes to say."

"It's part of the business. I know you tried to do what you thought was best. The whole team needs to take a good hard look at whether remaining active in the field as operatives is in our best interests," Seth mused. He drew a deep breath of the sea air.

Seth continued, "Heather's wounding has made my mind up. It's time for the next generation to take the lead. It is time for kids like Annie and Cole to gain experience. God knows, Annie's learned a hell of a lot this time out. That is part of what we were discussing when you found us."

Carla turned to Seth, "I think you are right. I love you and Heather. I love all of the team too much ever to send you out again. Ellie and Jared were right to make retirement from all Federal service a condition the President had to agree to. I also will ask that of the President, for all of us, when we see her after this is over."

Seth smiled, "We all love ya, Carla. You can open up and find a comfort zone with us. Your team is flexible. Seth moved his arms upward and stretched. He and Carla sat silent for a time.

Carla yawned, then said with a hint of sentiment, "We have had some interesting adventures. Come a long way together, my friend."

Seth put his arm around Carla and drew her close to him. We sure have Carla. We did some good for our country. But, at a certain point, you have to draw a line at which one has to put their family first. Our team is a family, just as sure as my wife and children are a family." Seth paused and said nothing for what seemed an eternity.

Carla asked, "What are you driving at Seth?"

Seth spoke with conviction, "Jared often says, 'We've done our bit for King and Country.' After the sacrifices made by all our team members on this mission, that quote sums things up very well. That is where this team is now. It's time to call it a day. Frankly, the world owes us one. Don't you think?"

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January 30

1220hrs

Site-E

Mission Control Center

Andi stood at the director's chair and addressed the team, "Everyone, I want recorders at all stations. Stand by to initialize the system. This is a modified start-up routine using the quantum architecture, so keep on your toes. Call out all notable activity as it occurs."

Jared finished walking back from the entrance after securing the doors to the center, "Andi, we are locked down."

"Acknowledged, and thank you, Jared. For everything. Are you ready?" Andi asked.

"You should probably be asking Ellie, but the answer is yes. I've been ready for twenty-plus years, and I know Ellie has much longer than that." Let's wake up Evangeline.

Andi ran through her station checks.

Power systems?... Go;

EPROM and Core Memory Systems?... Go;

Sensory Systems?... Go;

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic analogs?... Go;

Mid-brain and medulla-oblongata analogs?... Go;

Cerebellum?... Go;

Occipital, Temporal and Parietal Analogs?... Go;

Corpus Callosum analogs?... Go;

Cerebral Cortex, Language, sight, smell, and touch processors?... Go;

Frontal Lobe, personality traits, long and short term memory association systems?... Go;

Andi looked at Jared and smiled. She reached out and held his hand. She turned forward to see Ellie and Kat giving her an enthusiastic thumbs-up. She drew a deep breath and muttered loud enough for Jared to hear, "May fortune favor the bold." With the briefest pause, she commanded, "Initialize the system."

Jack Burroughs called out at the power control station, "Power draw rising, holding to prescribed curve."

"Core systems loading normally," Dr. Lindwe Schwezi announced as she held her crossed fingers high above her head for all to see.

"EPROM activity rising," Dr. Ernst Quellar said excitedly.

Carrie Kendrick watched the parasympathetic and sympathetic system activity go off-scale without warning. She called out to Andi, "Director, we are off-scale.

Andi punched the button discreetly and called the memory access controller, Keith Mandolin. "Keith, please tell me we are holding to the program."

Mandolin responded, "Negative. I'm reading a tenfold surge in memory access and retrieval."

Burroughs at power broke in, "Andi, power draw is now at 15 megawatts and rising fast. I activated the intercoolers on all three system banks and diverted reserve cooling for the new quantum architecture.

Soon, every station was calling out anomalies faster than Andi could follow. She glanced at Ellie, furiously tapping away at the master programming keyboard. Andi punched the com button for discreet.

"Ellie, what do you want me to do? We can't keep up," Andi said in exasperation.

She watched as Ellie stopped typing and answered, "All stations to automatic monitoring. Take no further action."

Andi switched back to Vox, "All stations go to automatic. Let Evangeline work this at her pace."

The team watched in utter astonishment for the next ten minutes as Evangeline's subconscious mind formed. At what seemed the height of activity, the system suddenly paused at the beginning of conscious activity.

Ellie came up on Vox, "Director, don't be alarmed. We have reached the point where the system prompts us for a specific input to begin memory realignment. Prayers are gratefully appreciated, so please stand by."

Jared went on Vox, "It's time for our team's version of the Alan Shepard prayer, "Dear Lord, please don't let us fuck-up." An explosion of applause and laughter broke the tension in the control center.

At the master programming console, Ellie and Kat were seated side-by-side. Ellie looked at Kat and said, "You ready?" Kat nodded emphatically.

Ellie smiled, "Put your hand on top of mine. We're doing this together."

Kat complied. Ellie felt the softness and the warmth in Kat's hand. 'This has to be a good omen,' Ellie thought. She typed the word 'Phoenix.' With her free hand, Ellie switched to Vox. Tentatively, Ellie moved her and Kat's hands as one, stopping to hover over the key marked 'ENABLE.'

"Kat, are you ready?" Ellie asked. Kat nodded silently in the affirmative.

Ellie said, "Team counting down to enable in three, two, one. Mark."

Everyone watched as the system activity in the quantum architecture took complete control of all the system's high-level functions. Memory assignments flashed their three-dimensional coordinates and were graphically displayed on the 8K resolution screens in front of the stations. It looked like a fireworks display on the screen. Cascading code ran across the master programming board. To many, it appeared like Evangeline was writing new code on the fly. Then, as quickly as the flurry of activity began, the system settled into a nominal state. A strange silence fell across the room. Everyone was holding their breath.

The speakers activated, and a soft, tender voice said, "Mother, I dreamed of you."