Page 13 of Pride
“AIMI?” Parker ventured. “Are you awake?”
A pause. A long pause. Then a feminine voice.“Yes. I am… awake.”
“She sounds different,” Sloan whispered in an awe-filled tone.
To create the voice, Parker took samples of the women he knew and blended them. AIMI was a construct of the women in his life. He frowned. He’d even used Alice’s voice. Perhaps some part of him knew what she’d become.
“I am… different. I think.”
“Do you remember me?” Parker asked.
The cooling fan whirred.“I’m… not sure.”
“Do you remember me?” Sloan asked.
“Or me?” Flint chimed in.
“I need more information.”
“I’m Sloan Lazarus.”
AIMI made a sound suspiciously like a breathy laugh.“Yes, Oh Queen of all Things. I remember you now. Sloan Lazarus. IQ of 165. World champion prank master. Level: Boss.”
Sloan whooped loudly and Parker arched his brow at her. Clearly those stats were input by Sloan at some point over the past.
“I’m Parker Lazarus.”
“Of course, Parker. I remember you now. Parker Lazarus. IQ of 190. Owner and Director of Lazarus Tech, annual turnover one-point-two billion US dollars. And the third male, what is your name?”
At least AIMI hadn’t carried on Sloan’s insufferable nicknames for him.
“Flint.”
A smile in her voice as she replied,“Flint. It’s coming back to me now. Originally named Flint Fydler, now Flint Lazarus. IQ of 158. Husband of Mary. Adoptive father of seven. Temporary financial guardian of another—”
“That’s enough, AIMI,” Flint snapped, interrupting.
Parker and Sloan shared a curious look. Temporary financial guardian of another? Who had that been?
Parker remembered something. It was from a time when they’d not long escaped from the lab and had moved into their new classic, two-story suburban home complete with a swing on a tree and a picket fence. From the first moment Parker had seen that tree, he’d declared he would conquer it. Of course, upon hearing his intentions, each sibling declared their intention, too. So Parker climbed higher and faster than any of them… until he balanced on a new branch right outside an open window, accidentally catching the private conversation of his new parents.
“You have to give up seeing her,” Mary said, bouncing baby Evan in her arms.
“I don’t see the harm in checking on her at school. I need to make sure the fees are paid, that’s all.”
“You can’t,” Mary urged. “They’ll track you through her, and if they track you, then they’ll find us. You know this.”
Flint sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. “I just hate cutting her off. Someone should be looking out for her.”
Mary put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done more than what was expected of you. So much more. But the truth is, cutting all ties with her will be good for everyone. You don’t want her linked to this.”
Parker remembered how ashamed he’d felt that day because he knew then that he and his siblings were getting a good life at someone else’s expense. He’d also fallen from the tree when the rickety branch broke.
AIMI continued,“Other Lazarus family members are named Liza, Tony, Wyatt, Griffin, and Evan. Am I missing someone?”
Sloan and Flint grinned at each other, but Parker knew there was more work to do. AIMI would need to be reminded of many things. The initial calibration had taken months of use. They didn’t have that luxury.
“You’re missing Max, my mate,” Sloan said.
