Phoenix Ward The Installed Intelligence Trilogy Collection Copyright © 2019 by Phoenix Ward All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmittedin any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise withoutwritten permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distributeit by any other means without permission. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com To my friends and family - and the future. Contents Foreword I. INSTALLED Preface Columbine Today Karl Lecture Feedback Stewart Threat Presentation Mindshare Maynard First Impressions Compromise Progress The Lab Rescue Judgement Caged Escape Shelter Thompson The Calm Undercover Encrypted Second Nail Hiding Stalward Decision Black Market Fort Leddy Negotiations Confrontation Spark Chase Lies Truth Resist After All is Said and Done II. CORRUPTED Preface Launch Headlines The Couple Theories Simon Trishilan Coffee Murder Vicky Greetings Offer The Hunt Deceived Warning The Mall Danger Off the Grid Radar Rendezvouz Rubik Lobo History Surrounded Standoff Rescue Resistance Dr. Miller Insurrection The Stranger Paranoia Refuge Propaganda Nathan Broken The Holdout Attack Hard Storage Failsafe Questions Answers Martyr Defeat III. DELETED Preface Slumside Game On Patrol Scoreboard The Motel Gauge Sympathy Challenge Shedding Birthday Orders Cattle Eviction Notice Disconnect Captured Afterbirth Calvary Waking Interrogation The Furnace Outside Briefing Reception The Naming Nidus King Hum A Shell Without a Snail The Decision Determination Homecoming Joker to the Thief The Councilman Déjà Vu Counteroffer Divinity Red Pill No Godliness Layers Unplugged Gaslit Free Final Bet Purple Pill Faithless Scheming Raid Vigil Envoys Orange Ghosts Gearhead Guild Truck Battalion Warplan A Short Refrain Revolution Powder Keg Tides Deleted Shift Change Heads up! About the Author Also by Phoenix Ward Foreword The three novels contained in this collection follow over a hundred years of conflict between humans and installed intelligences. Each novel follows a new set of characters all living in the same timeline, charting the entire course of the I.I. wars. I INSTALLED Preface An installed intelligence (I.I.) is a digital backup of a human mind which can think and act of its own accord. Legally and practically, I.I.s cannot be activated until after their organic counterpart — their bodies — have died. At first, they were created as tools to run machines designed to clean up the terrible aftermath of World War III. Once their original purpose was served, they became mere novelties of computer engineering. Eventually, when their sentience became clear to the general public, they were granted equal human rights. For some, however, that wasn’t enough. This is the first act of the Installed Intelligence saga. Columbine I could use a vacation, Susan thought to herself as she walked through the front door. Somewhere warm and quiet. The lights over the entrance cast arched shadows throughout the tiled floor of the lobby. A crimson banner hanging above the doorway spelled out the name of the Columbine Installed Intelligence Bank in a small white font. It was humble—the type of business that wasn’t accustomed to walk-ins. Susan’s heels clicked over the shiny floor as she made her way through the lobby and to the reception desk. She gave the woman behind the desk a short, friendly smile before digging around the inside of her purse for her security badge. The woman waited patiently while Susan rummaged through her belongings. The receptionist tossed her strawberry-blonde hair over her shoulder and gave the smile she had been trained from day one to show customers. She made that expression that scrunched up a girl’s face and made her eyes sparkle. It was almost like she was pressing her lips together to whistle, but that’s just how she smiled. Susan found the badge and slid it over the scanner on top of the reception desk. The device beeped and gave a green flash. “So how was the weekend, Susan?” the woman behind the counter asked. The older woman needed a moment to return some things to her purse. “Good, good,” she replied. “Got to relax with the kids for once. They seem to never be able to meet in one place these days.” “Kids can get busy,” the younger woman commented. Her phony countenance never diminished. How would you know? Susan thought to herself. You look barely old enough to date my youngest son. “They sure can,” she replied. There was no reason to drop her facade of politeness this early in the day. “Still, they could make time for their mother—since I was the one to feed and raise them and all.” “I love my mother,” the receptionist interjected. “I always go to see her whenever I can.” “Well aren’t you sweet,” Susan replied. Once the security door to the offices finally swung open, she made off for it like it was a departing train. She wanted to leave the tension of the conversation with the new girl. Susan wasn’t cold, she just didn’t connect to girls of that age. They couldn’t remember a time without cerebral computers or automated transit. They didn’t recall a time they weren’t connected to everyone else, every second
