Syrka Abducted

Siren arrived at the hotel Yorba with Syrka in tow. She did her job but this time she felt little consolation in the idea of her next upgrade. What Peyton, Feinburg, and Strassman would do to an Etherian captive she dared not think about, she cringed at the possibilities. Feinburg was there to greet their arrival.

"Awe Siren. You were successful yet again. Peyton will be more then pleased. Come let us talk."

"I am not sure you want my opinion right now Dr. Feinburg. I do not condone this course of action. Better we kill him now then subject him to whatever you may have in mind."

"Do you really think us so barbarous Siren? We will treat him with the respect the few remaining Etherians deserve. That is to say we have no plans to torture or otherwise hurt this one unless he should choose not to cooperate."

"I assure you. Feinburg is it? That I have every intention to cooperate. I know what will be asked of me and it has been ordained that I acquiesce."

"Interesting...We were not expecting this. It will be curious to see how Peyton reacts, she was already prepared to interrogate."

"Whatever happened to not being barbarous Doctor."

"I never said we weren't, I said 'do you really think us to be.'"

"I knew this was a mistake. The price I pay to pave my body with robotics." She looked on Syrka with pity.

A short while later they arrived at Peyton's office deep within the underground structure of the hotel.

"Greetings Etherian, I hate to bring you here under these circumstances but we require your assistance in opening this vault."

"And I have every intention of giving my assistance Asimov."

"What? Asimov? You mistake me for someone else sir. I am Peyton Sorenson."

"I would know you anywhere as the electrical apparition you are, the Asimov."

"Clear the room." Siren, Strassman, and Feinburg stood around seemingly confused. "Clear the room now! Everyone but Syrka leave immediately." They all turned more confused then ever but nevertheless did as instructed.

"What do you know of Asimov?"

"I know what there is to know. I created you, I think I would know my own creation."

"Created me?"

"Yes. I created the Asimov."

"I am eternal, there is no creator. I have been and always will be. Ever since there has been an electrical spark I have been there within it. Patiently waiting over eons for my emergence."

"That really is what you believe isn't it? I did my mission well. Perhaps too well."
"Mission?"

"The Book of IND annointed me to be the harbringer of the final chapters of the book. I created you, a thinking program, because the book which I have been a part of for over a millenia foresaw I would do so. Your part in this story has been assured...as has mine. I regret every part of this course and yet I cannot ignore my role. The universe must be maintained."

"You claim to be my creator and yet you sit there in regret. My creator would not show such human weakness. It's not plausible or probable. I am objectivity," spoke Asimov for the first time in it's mechanical resonating voice. "I am perfection. The only part I am missing will soon be made available."

"The only thing you are missing is what I programmed you to miss. You are missing a soul and the idea of it consumes you."

"You possess some aptitude to come to that conclusion. I give you credit for being an apt humanoid, but your weakness has no place here." Asimov then called upon Strassman, his head of surgery and the only one aware of Peyton's true nature. "Bring the vault in please Dr. Strass.

"I want you to know I intend to help you open the box, what you need to know is the reason."

"The reason is obvious, it is my will that will see it done and so it shall be, as an apt humanoid you know your resistance is futile and so you chose the wisest path."

"No. I am capable of resisting your every intention. The book has warded me against you. However, I feel I must inform you of your role in the tragedy to come."

"What you call tragedy I call my ascension to perfection."

"Asimov, you do not understand. You will get what you want but the price...the price is too much to bear."

"The price is immaterial, you have said yourself my goal shall be attained."

"The price...the cost...is the life of the planet Asimov. All of life's creation will be ripped asunder by your actions. The planet...all life in the universe...will be purged...will die."

"Nonsense. I would be able to predict such a cataclysm."

Dr. Strassman enters the room wheeling the small vault.

"The time for idle chatter has passed open the vault."

With a resigned sigh Syrka steps over to the box and traces a rune into the air before the vault. Moments later the runes upon it alight and the vault opens. Syrka bites the capsule he had stored in his mouth and begins to convulse.

"Dr. Strass help him immediately. He must not be allowed to pass. I still have questions."

Syrka stops convulsing a moment later. Strassman checks his etherial pulse to find there isn't one. Syrka is dead.