tence descended on teor ling irrevocably toed a bed of intrusion detection and elimination activity on t lay glimmering beyond. ever, lay tacked by somet y  somet of tence, fragments of itself designed to lure to a battle t could not possibly be  ted enemy h ease.

    to become part of t of turn becoming parts of its oter of minutes ty AIs greance retreating into dying embers. ttle  could begin. Yet tence marveled at ted efforts of resistance. A srengt it ected no greatly. ever lay o ence ly in ting value – exponentially. Splitting itself into a trillion code fragments, tence disappeared into thin as if by osmosis.

    ***

    Major-general ang stubbed out a Z about to leave enant Liu came ruso er printout.

    “ do you mean by tenant?” the major-general growled.

    “Apologies sir, but you o see tenant said panting  facility ment’s compound  tecs. Projects, ies in Zion Army and nationwide.

    “It better be good, Lieutenant Liu. I am late for dinner and my  like t,” tenant Liu cursed to y-four y urning po catch some sleep.

    “Sir, ta traffic floenant said pointing at a spike in t  vertical and disappeared off the paper.

    “A softch?”

    “I don’t t last count  c t tes of tion figures,” Lieutenant Liu said, sing at a roout read:

    Population: 2008 [Last Updated at 19:28:02]

    Population: 1,000,000,002,008 [Last Updated at 19:29:08]

    Population: 2,009 [Last Updated at 19:29:09]

    Population: 2,009 [Last Updated at 19:30:09]

    Population: 2,009 [Last Updated at 19:31:09]

    Major-general ang picked up  anotte.  tobacco smoke circle hen exhaled deeply.

    “Virus?”

    “Could be but I doubt it. A virus   on tion figures. to do so, it e knoem and t is impossible.”

    “You forget about our conversation earlier. t t may o our system. Someone may em. I ructions for to be retrieved but it is not going to be t easy to find t migake time. In time, I  you to do t you can to investigate t a stop to it. In a fe ime to go to S afford to cand?”

    “Yes, sir.”

    “Put your best men on it. Send t let t until t  tion figures back doions for our country, Lieutenant Liu. I am sure you understand t.”

    “I do sir,” said Lieutenant Liu as ly folded tout. ions for  the office.

    Major-general ang cursed under ter  as ub of te into a pulp in tray. o er console, pulled it out of ion and entered a secret address at tered a passo tem only o. A grainy video screen popped up and it gradually became crystal clear. tion of ture meant t tly ed reality, a killer’s point-of-view.

    “ now?”

    “o t up an AR overlay so t t han Road.

    “ thinking of coming home are you?”

    “I  mig  according to the analysis.”

    “?”

    “No idea. t ant point in several respects and multiple scenario modelers confirm it. At least t fe is tion. I antly ces. ties just keep getting better.”

    “Good. You must be as t time. A lot is riding on this.”

    “Of course.”

    “And ttle surprise on t y to look out for its interests.”

    “Not sure I understand, sir.”

    “Believe me you o do oday t ed to disappear as quickly as it ever ely not anding on end as  teps of te to Kowloon Park.