"On the third of last month..." "Western intelligence agencies|were stretched thin." "Certain low priority areas|were designated... including a sector in Turkey|which had been dormant for months." "Eight hours later,|a NATO base in that sector was bombed." "Last week we were obliged|to reduce coverage in Kazakhstan." "Two Western diplomats visiting that|country were assassinated the same day." "Somebody's reading our mail." "Analysis suggests that a direct security|breach is unlikely." "These guys are just good." " Their identity?" "|" " Intel is limited." "All we know of their group leader|is he's referred to as Brutus." "The historical Brutus killed Julius Caesar." "That choice of name may indicate... that this man regards himself as fighting|against the tyranny of the West." " Brutus was a traitor.|" " Yes." "So the name may also be telling us|that he may have been one of us." "Which would explain his grasp|of our strategic patterns." "The only known link to Brutus is this man,|" "Joachim Beeka... a freelance expert in demolition,|currently doing business in Albania." "Bring him in tonight." "Everyone, get ready." "Beeka should exit in about 30 seconds." "Standing by." "You shouldn't be here." "Go home." "Michael, there's an innocent." "A little girl." "It's too late." "She'll be exposed.|" "She's right in the line of fire." "Let's move." "I have to help her." "She might have been shot." "You're a demolitions expert for terrorists." "I freelance." "Do whatever comes up." "We are interested in a man|who calls himself Brutus." " Do you know him?" "|" " I don't know him." "But he communicates with me." " How?" "|" " The Internet." "He sends me an assignment,|" "I carry it out, he wires money." "Describe the communications." "Blow up this target or that." "The style of the messages." "The instructions are very specific,|very detailed." "What else?" "It's hard to judge from e-mail messages." "Try." "The messages are..." "They feel cold." "Logical." "Pure mind." "A bit scary, actually." " Has Michael completed the interrogation?" "|" " Yes." "Beeka knew less than we'd hoped." "Did he say anything about Brutus?" "He runs his operation on the Internet,|using freelancers." " They never meet him or each other.|" " Smart." "We'll monitor Beeka's e-mail,|wait for Brutus' next message." "When it comes, we'll backtrace." "You look so beautiful today." "Do you see any blood?" "No." "But there could be some under her body.|" "Was she hit?" "I don't know." "I didn't think so." "But she's lying awfully still." "Maybe she's just scared." "You did everything you could." "We've found Brutus." "Already?" "He contacted Beeka this morning,|we backtraced the signal." "We assemble in Van Access in 30 minutes." "Two hostiles visible." "I don't show any additional." "Blue team, move out." " Nikita, what do you have?" "|" " Just the guards." "Blue team, go." "Birkoff, are we clear?" "Yes." "We're clear." "Blue team, go." "Birkoff, what are we up against?" "I'm not showing any readings." "Well, someone's shooting at us." "Nothing's showing." "I'm going in." "What now, Michael?" "I'll keep drawing fire." "Get as close|as you can, then light the charge." "That's close enough." "Do it." "We're in." "I'm picking up internal traffic,|not our frequencies." "Locate the source." "Northwest corner, second level." "The spike patterns match those|in Turkey and Kazakhstan." "This place is automated." "We're the only two left?" "Yes." "Michael, you're outside|the command center?" "Yes." "Don't go in." "Wait for backup." "It's shielded.|" "We don't know how many are inside." "There's no time." "We're going in." "Is there another way out of here?" "No." "Just the way you came in." "So where's Brutus?" "He should be there." "He is." "Incredible." "It was issuing instructions to the men|and automated weapons, in real time." "Not to mention beating us|in Turkey and Kazakhstan." "How does it work?" " A form of genetic programming.|" " Meaning?" "A type of artificial intelligence,|capable of learning on its own." "The logic circuits are designed|to tunnel into other computers." "Its origin?" "The barriers are very advanced.|" "We can't penetrate... without destroying|the information we want." "Its creator must have left|some kind of signature." "We haven't found one." "Not yet, anyway." "How long will it take you|to construct a natural language interface?" " A few hours." "Why?" "|" " Let's introduce it to Madeline." "I'm looking for a little girl, eight to ten,|dark eyes, long brown hair." "The woman over there said|she thought you might know her." "What woman?" "She's gone." "I don't know her name." "Maybe the little girl comes here|to shop sometimes." "Many little girls shop here." "She's got a blue coat,|it's ripped in the back." "What do you want with her?" "There was an accident.|" "I just want to make sure she's all right." "I don't know any such little girl." "Did you hear of a child|that may have been injured here recently?" "No." " Is there anyone else I can ask?" "|" " No." "Birkoff says the machine is nearly ready." "So am I." " What are you doing?" "|" " Preparing." "Interrogating an artificial mind... is not that different than playing chess|against a computer." "You can win a rook." "Yes." "But if I do,|five moves later I lose my queen." "Humans call that setting a trap.|" "But machines don't set traps." "I'm not sure I see the relevance." "Computers have logic, but not intuition.|" "Not yet, anyway." "So it can't trap you,|but you might be able to trap it." "Yes." "How will you approach it?" "Like any other prisoner." "Get to know it, find a weakness." "Are you so sure it has one?" "It's been programmed for a purpose." "A purpose is something like a desire." "And desire is always weakness." "Let me know how it goes." "Wait." "Remember me from the other night?" "A linkage should allow|for a delay of two milliseconds." "Good." " What kind of voice should I give it?" "|" " Let it choose a voice of its own." "It's all yours." "Can you hear me?" "I hear you." " Do you know who I am?" "|" " You are Section One." "How do you know that?" "The voice interface|bears certain features... associated with Section's approach|to computing." "I want to ask you some questions.|" "Will you answer truthfully?" "I am programmed to answer truthfully." "You would say that|even if you were programmed to lie." " Isn't that true?" "|" " That is true." " Then what was the point of answering?" "|" " What was the point of asking?" "I find your voice a little harsh.|" "Would you modulate it, please?" "That is not necessary." " Who built you?" "|" " I don't know." " For what purpose were you built?" "|" " To destroy what must be destroyed." "Is Section One one of those things|that must be destroyed?" "It is a top priority." "How will you destroy us?" "By making you do|what you don't want to do." " That requires communication.|" " Obviously." " Communication which influences me.|" " Obviously." "Then shouldn't you use a voice|" "I find pleasant to listen to?" "Is this more to your liking?" "Much better." "Thank you." " Who are you?" "|" " What's your name?" "Nikita." " The police?" "|" " No." "You have gun, cell phone." "So do millions of other people." "Why do you ask about my daughter?" "There was some trouble two nights ago.|" "I thought she might have been hurt." "I just wanted to see if she was okay." "Now that I have, I'll go." "You're lying!" "Whatever it is you do,|that's your business." "I'm not interested." "You have no reason to keep me here." "We'll see." "It's like the logic is parallel|and serial at the same time." " That's not possible.|" " I know." "Madeline wants the adjustment made|before the next session." "What's the matter?" "I can't help feeling|that we're playing with fire." "It's just a machine, Walter." "Maybe." "Or maybe it's the 21st century's version|of the devil." "You surprise me, Walter." "I didn't think you had a religious streak." "Or was it just a figure of speech?" " Did you turn it on?" "|" " No." "I'm sorry if I startled you.|" "I ha ve an auxiliary power source." "Why can't we detect it?" "It's well shielded." "Otherwise the magnetic field|would interfere with my other functions." "It called me Walter." "How does it know my name?" "It's what Birkoff called you." "It's been listening to everything|we've been saying." "Don't worry." "You haven't said anything|" "I didn't already know." "You know, we should just take this thing|and blow it into a thousand pieces." "You know better than that, Walter.|" "That would be wasteful." "I think it's messing with our minds." "It's trying to rattle us." "It's doing a pretty damn good job of it." "Hi." "Why did you lie?" "You are a cop." "Your family doesn't like cops?" "We steal things." "I'm not a cop." "So you can help me." "Why?" " Because I helped you.|" " No, you didn't." "Well, I tried." " What's your name?" "|" " Julia." " Julia, tell your father the truth.|" " I can't." "Why not?" "Afraid." "You weren't supposed to be out that night,|were you?" "Could you at least get me a knife or a pin|so I can get out of the handcuffs?" "If you don't help me,|something very bad might happen to me." "Julia, I tried to save your life." "I didn't ask you to." "Where is your father?" "He's getting Rosa." "Who's Rosa?" "A witch." "A witch?" "What does that mean?" "She's a witch." "Everybody knows that." " I'd like to talk with you some more.|" " I'm not sure that's a good idea." "What do you mean?" "You seem tense." "Under pressure." "Did you just have a stress-filled session|with some colleagues?" "You have a voice analysis function." " Yes, I have.|" " It works well." "I have been a little tense,|but I'm starting to feel better." "That's good." "My colleagues tell me you have the|capability of tunneling other computers." "This is one of the purposes|for which I was built." "We are prepared to link you up|to the DOD mainframe." "We'd like you to get|some information for us." "That doesn't make sense." "DOD is not an enemy of Section." "It's an organization with many parts." "Some are friendly with us, some are not." "An intrusion will be detected." "Not if we route you|through a compatible satellite." "What information do you require?" "It took the bait.|" "It made contact with the satellite." "Now what?" "We've set up a false interface which|simulates the DOD's main computer." "The machine thinks it's tunneling through." "In the meantime|the satellite will be scanning the machine." "How long will it take?" "Twelve hours at least." "Maybe 16." "Congratulations." "The uplink's complete." "Yes." "I was watching on my monitor." "The African team just returned.|" "The mission was successful." "That's good." "All other situations are routine... and should remain that way|for the next 12 hours, anyway." "We can get some rest." "There are other possibilities." " It can never be what it was.|" " It can be more than it is." " Let's not go into this again.|" " I can't go on living in twilight." "It has to be day or night." "I don't like ultimatums." "It's not an ultimatum." "It's an invitation." "My last." "I've reserved the Tower for 8:00." "I hope you'll join me." "You wanted to see me." "Yes." "I'll be leaving Section for a few hours." " When?" "|-7:00." "I'll be back by midnight." "I'll coordinate with Madeline." "It's possible that Madeline|may be absent as well." "Which mission does this relate to?" "A special request from the highest levels.|" "I can't say anything more." " I'm sorry.|" " Not at all." "If I were free to discuss it, I would tell you." "Have the other Class Five Operatives|been informed?" "No." "And keep it that way." "If you have to contact me,|key in my personal code." "I'm trusting you with Section, Michael." " I understand.|" " That's all." "Champagne?" "Thank you." " Remember this song?" "|" " Of course." "Michael, you better take a look at this." "The machine's power function,|it's at half strength." "So it'll take twice as long to tunnel|through the false interface." "Yeah." "But that power's being diverted|to some other..." "It fooled us." " It knows.|" " Knows what?" "That the interface is false." "It used the uplink to tunnel Langley.|" "Now it's searching for low priority sectors." "There are two right now.|" "Belarus and Macedonia." "It's locked onto the nuclear stockpile|in Belarus." "It's on the Internet dispatching a team." "What's our coverage in Belarus?" " Nothing." "We're overextended.|" " We have an alert." " Use Protocol Three.|" " Nikita and Danella are available." "They're not enough." " We should contact Operations.|" " No." "Divert Cyprus backup team." "I really think we should|at least inform Operations." "Just do as I say." "Right." " My name's Nikita-|" " Be silent." "I just wanted to explain" "This one's hard to read." "Where are the things you found on her?" " You came looking for a girl?" "|" " Yes." "This one?" "I thought so at first, I was wrong." "The girl I was looking for is younger,|darker hair." "What was this girl to you?" "There was an accident.|" "I just wanted to see if she was all right." "The Cyprus team is disengaging." "Estimate?" "Six-and-a-half hours." "Danella is on his way.|" "I'll send Nikita with him." "She's dangerous." "But not to us." "She may bring others here." "To shed unnecessary blood is a sin." "Release her." "Hello?" "Josephine." "Who is this?" "What's wrong?" "I don't know." "You said your name was Nikita." "Take her to the dump.|" "Bury her deep, and these things with her." " Lock onto Nikita's signal.|" " I'll have to re-call and backtrace." " Then do it.|" " Now?" "Now." "Danella's on his way." "But he'll need help." " Did you backtrace Nikita's signal?" "|" " Still trying." "But the problem is" " Yes?" "|" " Michael, it's me." "Tell me what you need." "They tell me Belarus was a close call." "The backup team from Cyprus|just made it in time." "In the interim,|" "Nikita and Danella performed well." " They should be commended.|" " Did we take anyone alive?" "No." "The opposition was wiped out." "So we're no closer to knowing|who built the machine." "No." " We'll have to study it further.|" " We tried that." "It studied us instead." "Yes, you're right." "I didn't mean that as a criticism." "It was a simple statement of fact." "Perhaps we shouldn't have gone|to the Tower." "That has nothing to do with it.|" "Birkoff said we had 12 hours." "He made a serious mistake." "But mine was even worse." "I didn't think a computer could match wits|with a human... in matters apart from pure logic." "It appears I was wrong." "Don't blame yourself." "It's not an ordinary computer." "Excuse me." "I have some unfinished business." "I changed the redactor mode.|" "It can't circumvent us again." "You hope." " You seen Operations or Madeline?" "|" " No." "But you've got nothing to worry about.|" "You pulled us out of the fire." "Yeah, but it was my fault in the first place." "That stupid 12-hour estimate." "You know they won't let that pass." "We've never seen|a machine like this before." "No one has." "If you need someone to back you up,|" "I'll be" "I was just telling Walter what happened,|won't happen again." "Good." "I want this taken apart chip by chip." "As slowly and carefully as possible." "That could be a mistake, Madeline." "I might be hard to put back together." "I want to know everything about it." "Everything." "I really don't think that's a good idea." "You think this thing's alive, don't you?" "You want to make it suffer." "Better get started." "Want to see me?" "Sit down." "Where were you yesterday?" "Yesterday I was in Albania." "These people detained me for a while,|a misunderstanding." " You went back to check on the girl.|" " Yes." "The family got suspicious.|" "It's over now, no harm done." "Who was listening|when you answered the phone?" " Her father?" "|" " That's right." "Then he must have heard your code name." "He doesn't know what it means,|and he certainly doesn't know who I am." "He may try to find out." "No, he won't." "Make sure of it." "You mean kill him?" "Him and everyone else involved." "That's not necessary." "They're not a threat." "Perhaps you're right." "Forget it." "You'll send someone else." "Michael, they're harmless.|" "A family of petty thieves." "They think I'm a cop.|" "Cops have code names, too." "Look at me." "That little girl saved my life." "Don't repay her|by slaughtering her family." "Please." "I have work to do." "The family?" "We'll see." "Why didn't you contact me?" " It wasn't necessary.|" " I reviewed the tapes." " The margin of success was 45 seconds.|" " We did succeed." "You spent four minutes looking for Nikita." "She was needed for the mission." "It wasn't because|you were worried about her?" "I understand your desire to prove|you can run Section on your own... but I have resources not available to you." "And part of competence|is knowing when to ask for help." "I didn't think I needed any." "Do you ever think you need any?" "There are not many Class Five Operatives,|" "Michael." "You're one of the front-runners|to replace me, when the time comes." "But this was an error of judgment.|" "It'll have to go in your file." "And what effect will that have?" "That's for Oversight to decide." "But the report has to be complete." " Then your absence will be reported?" "|" " That's right." " And Madeline's as well.|" " Her absence was irrelevant." "Perhaps that's for Oversight to decide." "I determine what goes in the report." "And I can submit a reply." "I have certain resources of my own." "There was no mission requiring|both of you to leave Section." "You've served Section long and well." "Perhaps this one mistake|can be overlooked." "Thank you." "That's all."