When I get outside I see the line to the main office, and figure it is as good as any to start with. Besides, I figure, seeing more of the city might be fun.

The others file out of the building, “Ready for a tour?” I ask. They all nod their heads with, what looks like to me, false smiles.

What did you tell them? I ask Grass in my head.

We will never tell. They return in my head.

I roll my eyes and head in the direction of the floating yellow line. I try to watch a little more, in case a clue happens to appear on the trail.

It is very hard to distinguish one building from another. I look up every so often to see that some buildings are taller or shorter than others. I can't see a pattern to why they are different sizes.

There is a health station every two blocks of buildings. I almost ran into one of the buildings while looking up. I catch myself just before I run into a wall.

I put my hand out to stop myself. As I touch the surface it morphs into the soft stone of the chairs. After I stop and pull my hand away, the surface turns solid again.

I tentatively touch the surface and it is hard as stone. I don't know why, but I punch the surface. The stone morphs into the soft material again and envelops my hand. “Grass, how does the computer know I could hurt myself, or when I am just touching it?”

“It calculates your speed compared to distance, and adjusts the hardness of the crystal, why?”

“I'm just wondering if there is a way to trick the computer?”

“We don't know, why would you?” Grass responds concerned.

I slowly bring my hand to the wall. Just as I am within inches of the wall, I put all my effort to punch the wall.

I hit solid stone, and a sharp pain ran through my knuckles into my arm. I grab my fist with my other hand, and rub it, “Ow.”

“Why did you do that?” Grass asks with disgust.

“Mm, a test. I just over did it. So the crystal and the computer can be tricked,” I say.

“Well duh idiot,” Grass returns.

“Well it is the idiot that finds the simplest solutions. So how is the virus tricking the computer?” I say trying in vain to see a virus changing speed or something like that.

“We don't know,” Grass says. “The computer doesn't really even see the virus. It's like it registers the virus as part of it. Or the virus is invisible to the computer scans.”

“I wonder. Come on everyone to the health station,” I say and follow the line to the next station.

“Grass can you make this station sound to all of us? I want to be able to hear it with someone else touching it.”

There is a short pause, “Done,” Grass says.

I look at Berg, “Will you do me the honor?” I ask as I motion to the station.

Berg nods and puts his hand on the station. “You still are not registered, please contact main office. What health do you require?” the station asks.

“Ask it to scan for infestation,” I say.

Berg looks at the station, “Scan for infestations.”

There is a slight pause, then the station says, “Uncertain, initial scan indicated infestation, but secondary and third scans show no infestation.”

“And there lies the trick. All computers are set to double check itself, to protect from mistakes. Somehow the virus is able to alter itself instantly after the first scan. Which in effect confuses the computer into thinking it made a mistake. Okay one more test, but we have to go to another station.”

“Just follow the line. We will have it changed so everyone can hear, when you get there.” Grass says.

“Thanks Grass, you are a prince,” I say and head to the next station. I keep myself in check, so I don't outrun the others.

“Thanks, we try,” Grass responds.

We stop at the next station. “Berg if you don't mind.” Berg puts his hand on the station and the computer repeats, “You still are not registered, please contact main office. What health do you require?”

“Same thing,” I say.

“Scan for infestations.”

Again a slight pause, “Uncertain, Initial scan indicated infection, but second and third scan show no infestation.”

“Point?” Grass asks.

“The virus's disguise is still flawed. Does each station have the same or difference in the way they scan? Maybe different energy or speed?”

“Not that we are aware of, but we are checking now.” There is several minutes of silence before Grass responds, “No, we checked several stations in the city, and on the destination planet. All scans are exactly the same.”

“The question is, why is the virus only visible to the computer on the first scan only,” I say thinking, but know I will have no clue.

“Defense reaction,” Peth says.

I look at her, “Defense? You mean it has to do something to hide?”

“Yes, just like a living life will use different techniques to protect itself only if attacked. In every case it is because the defense is either exhausting or difficult to maintain.” Peth answers.

“So could its own defense be used against it?” I ask.

“Perhaps, but it could be dangerous,” Grass says.

“Why?” I ask.

“We can set the station to a loop of scans till we stop it. But we do not know the reactions of the virus itself.

We can detect the virus in you because of the mental link, but we cannot be sure of anything in the others.”

“Okay I have to be the guinea pig. But how, if the city will not do anything to me?”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Easy a scan is considered non invasive, so the computer will do that on you. In fact your first scan is still on the computer. The infestation that it scanned in you are earth viruses, not the one from this planet.”

“Really, then this will be easy. I can have you do the scans on me. I will just have to be ready to transform to the station, if needed,” I say with hope.

“Sounds workable. Just put your hand on the station when ready. We will do the rest,” Grass says.

Berg stops aside and I step in front of the station. I pick a place on the station without writing on it. I then look at the writing since it morphs and prevents my morph from kicking in.

I hold my hand over the station in anticipation. I run though the transformation in my mind, trying to set it as my reaction. I put my hand slowly on the stone repeating my mind transform as reaction.

My hand touches the stone and I wait in anticipation to transform. As I stand perfectly still, I feel every muscle tense. The longer I stand the more tense my muscles get.

I can feel my leg starting to cramp when Grass says, “Okay.”

I look at the spot to transform, before I realize what they said. I look up, I'm sure just in time to prevent transformation. I pull my hand away and stand up stiffly.

“You do know if you get any tenser your muscles would probably snap,” Grass laughs.

“Yeah, Yeah. It wasn't you on the chopping block,” I retort.

“Nah we just get our tips clipped,” Grass laughs even harder.

I couldn't help but chuckle. “Okay comedy central what happened?”

Grass pulls itself out of a laughing hysteria. “It actually worked. You are free of that virus. The little buggers burnt themselves out.”

“Well that gets that one out of the way, but it still doesn't answer the original question though. How do we create an anti virus?” I say.

“Yes you have,” Peth says bluntly but sweetly.

“Excuse me?” I say as I look at her.

“The answer to the problem is not outside the computer it is the computer. Grass is the computer. There is no way to anticipate every possible scenario of difficulty. As you said earlier, that is not possible. But there is a way around it. A memory that can think outside its programming.

Grass has been the answer all along. But the part I had missed was you Ben,” She says and I look at her strangely. She continues on, “Grass learned from you, Ben.

The one person that was perfect for Grass to learn from. You have never followed the normal. It is not that your talents made you that way. You have always been that way.”

“If that is the case, then why hasn't the clause unlocked/” I ask defiantly.

“Because it is memory. It has to have its condition met. We have to have Grass meet its condition, and all will be unlocked.” Peth explains. Right behind Peth the whole building shivers then stops.

I look at Peth sternly, “You do know this is not fair, there may only be two females against five males, but you still out number us. One city to all,” I say and Peth just smiles.

“Well smarty pants what is the condition?” I ask sarcastically.

Peth just looks at me hurt. “He's joking,” Grass says.

Peth's expression changes to a stern mother, “It isn't funny.”

“Guess not, but I was hoping you had a clue,” I say a bit deflated.

“I do not understand how memory works. I am a health helper. I learn people, but I will have to say you tend to frustrate me,” Peth returns to her calm demeanor.

“Yeah, I royally piss off my mother too. I just have a knack, I guess.” I say and hear the guys chuckle. Peth looks at them with a 'Don't encourage him.' look. You can see they are fighting the urge to burst out laughing, but her look wins.

I look around at each of them, “Any ideas?”

They all shake their head begrudgingly no. I stand in my own thoughts. I don't know how a computer works either, but the condition was created by a person. If we only knew the original condition, we might be able to deduce the one on it now.

Then it hits me, “Grass please,” I say.

The door to the building behind Peth opens. “Room to the right,” Grass says.

I head to the door. “Come on, we need to start at the beginning with this clause,” I say.

I enter the building and the right hand door to an apartment is open. I enter it. I find myself again in a room like the previous we rested in.

I take a chair and wait for the others to follow suit. After we settle in, the image of Althoos rises from the table.

“Hello again, what can I help you with this time?” Althoos asks after facing me.

“What was the original condition of the desperation clause?” I ask.

“How will that help? It has been changed,” he says.

I exhale sharply and loudly, “Humor me.”

“Okay, It required an anti virus serum or the complete eradication of the virus,” he says.

“How would the computer know it was eradicated?” I ask.

“When the main computer scans the planet, there can be no scan registering it. Even a false image will prevent the computer from unlocking everything.”

“Grass, how long would it take to scan the whole planet?” I ask looking up at an angle.

“It would take the computer two and half minutes to scan the planet.”

“That would take too long to do a rapid scan,” I say defeated.

“Not really. Once a scan starts it does have to finish it, but there is no fail safe preventing it from doing others, while the first is in progress.” Grass replies with enthusiasm.

“Is it possible to activate enough to do the job?”

“I don't understand the purpose in this futility. You need to get to a lab and create an anti virus,” Althoos says disgruntled.

I look at Althoos. “I agree with her, you can be a pain, Grass please,” I say flustered.

“What...” starts Althoos then he freezes and lowers into the table.

“Rude, but effective,” Peth says. The guys bust out laughing and Peth just rolls her eyes.

“It can be done,” Grass says, “But we will have to help. I have informed Seth of the situation. It will take several minutes to complete and during the time all systems will be down.

We have checked around the cities to make sure security will not be activated. As long as nothing interrupts it we will be okay, but if something extra is activated we will have to cancel and start over. So no one move if you can get out of it.”

“I think we can do that, right?” I look at the others. They all nod in turn.

“Whenever you are ready, Grass,” I say, feeling the growing anticipation.

“Okay quiet, now,” Grass raises its voice slightly on the last word.

The tension in the room could almost be felt. I just hope I don't get an itch. It may only be a few minutes, but with an itch it could be an eternity.

I have had to wait several minutes for someone many times. But it was nothing like this agonizing wait. I've heard of some saying the wait is agonizing. I do believe I fully understand what they were referring to.

I could swear I feel every second pass. Each of those seconds are like an exposed nerve being tortured. I think every nerve in my body is exposed.

I jump out of my skin when I hear Grass, “Done.” Even Grass sounds exhausted. “We have to let the computer reconfigure itself now. It was all we could do to keep the computer from shutting some of the scans down. The extra energy it is releasing is well needed.”

“Hate to push, but how long till we know?” I ask.

“Not a push at all. We have recouped from worse. At least this time it is for a good cause. It will take a few more minutes for the computer to reset,” I can hear the energy coming back to Grass.

“I hate to rain on the parade, but this is just the source planet. What about the other planets? Are they infected?” I ask begrudgingly.

“We will not know for sure till the computer can do a scan. We don't believe it will survive outside a host, or this water table. A lot of the natural chemicals are not present in other planets.”

“Lets hope, I would hate to have to go through that on every planet,” I say.

“You and we both, bud,” Grass returns.

“You all okay?” I ask as I look at them.

Tieth looks like his body was still frozen with an expression of pain. Cliff looks absolutely relaxed. Berg has a worried or concerned look, but other than that normal. Peth as usual looks calm and relaxed. They each nod as I look at them.

“Okay, about ready for a scan?” Grass asks.

There is about a minute wait and Grass says, “So far so good.” I cross my fingers.

“Scan is complete and no false reports. All looks good. The destination planet will take a little longer due to it being just about all eternal stone,” Grass says cheerfully.

“Why does it require longer?” I ask.

“The nature of eternal stone cause some feed back on the scan, so it requires each room or chamber separate,” Grass replies.

“That's odd, why would they have a scan that is hindered by itself?” I wonder.

“We don't know. We can't get into that area of the computer to find out. We have almost figured out all the workings of the computer, except the locked areas.”