Page 18 of Silvyr: Glitched for Her
Tanya's expression shifted, the playfulness replaced by focused determination."That's our cue."
We'd known this was coming.The exhibition randomly selected pairs for public compatibility demonstrations… ostensibly to showcase the success of the IDA's matching algorithms, but practically to gather more data and identify potentially valuable genetic combinations.What the audience saw as entertainment, Asset P processed as market research.
We moved through the crowd, following illuminated pathways toward the central platform.Pixel hovered discreetly behind us, its camera lens whirring as it mapped escape routes and captured security protocols.The tiny drone had been upgraded with Vylit's stealth tech, rendering it nearly invisible to standard security scans.
"Remember," I whispered as we approached the platform, "we need only maintain the demonstration long enough for Pixel to access the main terminal behind the observation deck."
Tanya's hand found mine again, her grip firmer this time."I know the plan.Doesn't mean we can't enjoy it a little."
The platform rose beneath our feet, a circular stage elevating us above the crowd.Seven other pairs joined us… representatives of different species, different worlds, all supposedly perfectly matched through the IDA's algorithms.I scanned their vitals discreetly, confirming what I already suspected.Their compatibility signatures were genuine.Whatever the IDA's sins, its matching technology worked with terrifying accuracy.
Which made our deception all the more dangerous.
The announcer—a tall, elegantly dressed being with six arms and iridescent skin—glided to the center of the platform."Distinguished guests, we welcome you to the ninety-seventh Intergalactic Matching Exhibition!Today, we celebrate the harmony achieved through perfect genetic and emotional compatibility."
My internal systems ran hot as data flowed through the exhibition space.Pixel had begun its infiltration, using our elevated position to bounce signals toward the secured servers.Each second we maintained our cover gave the drone more time to breach Asset P's defenses.
"Each bonded pair will now enter the Simulation Room to prove compatibility through synchronized resonance," the announcer continued, gesturing toward a luminous chamber at the far end of the platform."These tests measure not merely physical attraction, but the deeper harmonic alignment that defines true matches."
Tanya's dress shimmered with sudden anxiety that contradicted her confident expression.I intercepted her vital signs… elevated heart rate, increased respiration, a surge of adrenaline.For all her bravado, she was nervous.
"Shit," she whispered through a frozen smile."We didn't plan for that."
"We are compatible," I reminded her, though my own systems flagged warnings at the unexpected development."No preparation is necessary for that."
The announcer gestured to the first pair… two fluid-based lifeforms who melded together in a dance of color and texture.They entered the Simulation Room, and the exterior walls turned transparent, allowing the audience to observe their test.Inside, the chamber filled with a viscous medium that supported their unique physiology.They spun and merged, vitals displayed on holographic panels for all to witness.
One by one, pairs entered the chamber for their specialized tests.Each demonstration more intimate than the last.Each test designed specifically for the species involved.
The sixth pair completed their demonstration to enthusiastic applause.My countdown timer ticked mercilessly in the corner of my vision.Pixel needed three more minutes to complete its data extraction.
"And now," the announcer proclaimed, "our final pair of the sequence.The hybrid android Silvyr and human Tanya McConnell, a unique cross-technological match that has captured the attention of our researchers."
I stiffened, threat assessment protocols activating automatically.They knew who we were.Or at least, they knew what we were… a rarity even in the diverse exhibition.Tanya squeezed my hand, grounding me before my defensive systems could engage.
"We've got this," she murmured as we crossed the platform toward the waiting chamber.
The Simulation Room doors slid open, releasing a pulse of cool air that smelled faintly of ozone and something sweeter—a chemical compound designed to lower inhibitions and heighten sensory input.I filtered it automatically through my ventilation system, but Tanya would receive the full effect.Another variable I hadn't accounted for.
Inside, the chamber transformed around us.The walls, floor, and ceiling vanished, replaced by what appeared to be open space with an endless expanse of stars and nebulae stretching into infinity.Only the solid pressure beneath our feet confirmed we weren't actually floating in the vacuum.
The door sealed behind us with a soft hiss.My sensors detected the one-way transparency of the walls… We couldn't see out, but the audience could see in.The thought sent an uncomfortable spike through my emotional subroutines.
"Each participant will now receive instructions for the synchronized resonance test," a disembodied voice announced."This test is calibrated for human-synthetic pairings."
A holographic display materialized before us, text scrolling in multiple languages: [PHASE ONE: CARDIAC SYNCHRONIZATION.MAINTAIN PHYSICAL CONTACT AND ALIGN VITAL RHYTHMS.]
Tanya's laugh was sharp and nervous."Ready to put on a show?"she whispered, eyes darting to the invisible audience beyond the walls.
I nodded, unable to form words as my system redirected resources to control the flood of emotional data threatening to overwhelm my processors.This was supposed to be an act… a calculated performance to maintain our cover while Pixel completed its mission.But standing here in simulated starlight, Tanya's dress rippling with her emotions, my own code patterns racing visible on my skin, the line between performance and reality blurred dangerously.
She stepped closer, placing her palm flat against my chest plate, directly over my central processing core.The contact sent an immediate surge through my systems, code patterns blooming beneath her touch like flowers opening to sunlight.
"Breathe with me," she instructed, her own breathing deliberately slow and measured."Match my rhythm."
I obeyed, syncing my ventilation system to her inhalations and exhalations.Inhale.Hold.Exhale.My power core adjusted its pulse to align with her heartbeat, a simple enough calculation.I'd performed more complex synchronizations during basic maintenance cycles.
But this felt different.Each breath we shared seemed to strengthen the connection between us, building a feedback loop of data and sensation.The holographic stars around us responded, pulsing in time with our synchronized rhythms.
