The problem I have is I’ve never been any good at short stories. I start writing and no matter how good my intentions are to keep it short the storyline just runs away with me becoming more complex by the second until I reach a point where I have to turn it into a novella or novel in order to give it a proper ending. I wanted to show willing though so I decided to try my best and give it as much of an ending as I could but I still feel I could continue it on to reach a better ending. I have other ideas for stories I’m currently working on or want to do but once I’ve completed those I might revisit this one and expand on it.
I thought I’d post my efforts here. I’m busy with my new novel and didn’t have the time to invest in writing the ‘homework’ so once again it is an unedited first draft and written in a bit of a rush.
Copyright © Yvonne Arlott 2015
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events and places in this publication are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events and places in this publication are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover.
As the progress bar continued migrating slowly across the screen Dale rechecked the results on his tablet to reassure himself he was doing the right thing. There was no mistaking it; the company had made an error in the programming, an error that caused the code to deviate more each cycle from its original lines of code. A never ending loop that would result in the programming becoming so corrupted there was no telling what would happen. The deviation each cycle was so minuscule it wouldn’t happen straight away, maybe not even for many years but gradually it would become more and more noticeable and eventually dangerous.
So many robots had already been sold with the software though that the last thing the company wanted was to have to recall them all. If it didn’t send the company bust overnight then it would definitely impact their reputation. They probably figured by the time people saw the robots acting bizarrely they would have made their fortune and be long gone. They didn’t seem to realise or want to admit the robots could become dangerous, depending on how the code deviated. It was such a small error after all and most of the robots were still functioning normally. It was only luck that they had even found the problem after one of the robots had been returned faulty. For some reason in that particular robot the error had deviated faster each cycle, a circumstance they still couldn’t explain, which resulted in it accidentally knocking its owner unconscious when handing her a drink. That had happened already and things could only get worse, that’s why he had to let people know and for that he needed proof.
The files had nearly downloaded when he heard footsteps in the corridor outside the room. He still worked for the company and had clearance to be in the room but that very morning he’d had such a ruckus with his boss over recalling the robots that his boss had put him on forced leave. No doubt all his work colleagues would have heard about it by now and whoever it was approaching the door would be bound to question his reasons for working alone, late at night.
The computer beeped signalling the files had downloaded and he hastily retrieved the stick and shut the computer. The screen blinked off as the sound of footsteps grew louder and he waited with abated breath hoping they would pass him by. He felt the vibration before he heard it as his mobile phone began to ring. He desperately fumbled in his pocket trying to turn it off but it was too late. The office door swung open and a man in his late 40’s entered.
‘Dale! What are you doing here?’ He tried to stay calm, hoping the guard wouldn’t notice his panic or distressed state.
‘I just had to tidy up some files to make it a bit easier for whoever takes over while I’m away.’ He gave a half laugh that turned into more of a nervous chortle. The guard eyed him suspiciously and he knew at once his nervous behaviour was the cause. He forced himself to project a calmer manner as he continued on. ‘Guess you heard about my trouble with the boss earlier? Thought it best to keep out his way for a bit so figured it was better to pop in after he’d gone home.'
The guard laughed, relaxing slightly. ‘I think the whole staff heard about that argument. Apparently he was actually shaking after you left him and his face was bright red. His secretary’s been telling everyone. I’m surprised he didn’t fire you then and there.’
‘So am I to be honest.’ Dale forced a laugh.
‘I think you’ve got the right idea keeping out his way, at least until the dust has settled.’
‘Well I’ve finished here and I’m on vacation now for 3 weeks so that shouldn’t be a problem.’ He felt beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow and hoped the guard wouldn’t notice. He had the advantage the lights in the office were turned off and the only light that filtered in came from the corridor.
‘Enjoy yourself and think of us poor souls still slaving away here.’
‘I will.’ Dale smiled, casually picking up his bag containing the memory stick and taking his leave before the guard could change his mind. He had reached the office door when the guard called after him to hold up. He froze, fearing something had happened to give him away.
‘I’ve got a little boy at home who is mad on those robots you make. If you get any discounts for them you couldn’t by any chance send one my way could you?’ Dale exhaled softly, trying to conceal his relief.
‘Yeah sure. We get various staff discounts from time to time.’
‘That’s great. Thanks mate I owe you one.’
‘No worries.’ He smiled and left, feeling sorry for the guard. Once he exposed the data to the world it wouldn’t take the company long to find out he was the one who had stolen it and from there work out who was on duty at the time. The chances were that the guard would lose his job or at the very least get a severe reprimand but he’d gone too far to turn back now. And more was at stake than one man’s job.
Relief washed over him as he finally exited the building and got into his car. He pulled out his laptop and the memory stick. It wouldn’t take him long now to upload the entire contents to the Internet and once there the company would find it impossible to cover up or to refute such hard facts. They would have no choice but to recall all their products. He of course would lose his job but that would be a small price to pay considering the potential disaster he would have averted. The file finished uploading and he smiled pleased, knowing he had succeeded.
There was only one thing that kept niggling at him slightly, disturbing his triumph. What had caused the deviation each cycle in the code and why had that one robot’s code altered so much faster than any of the others? They knew it had to be an error in the programming but no one had been able to find the exact lines of code causing it and that bothered him. Something just didn’t feel right.
Dale drummed his fingers impatiently on the desk as he waited for the files to finish transferring to the memory stick. All the while he remained alert for sounds of anyone approaching the room. It was taking longer than he had thought it would and every second increased the risk of his discovery. He couldn’t let that happen, too much was at stake. He was the only one who could expose what was really going on. He knew no one else at the company had the guts or were prepared to risk the penalties for stealing files even though they had all seen the same results he had and knew the inevitable outcome if someone didn’t stop it.
As the progress bar continued migrating slowly across the screen Dale rechecked the results on his tablet to reassure himself he was doing the right thing. There was no mistaking it; the company had made an error in the programming, an error that caused the code to deviate more each cycle from its original lines of code. A never ending loop that would result in the programming becoming so corrupted there was no telling what would happen. The deviation each cycle was so minuscule it wouldn’t happen straight away, maybe not even for many years but gradually it would become more and more noticeable and eventually dangerous.
So many robots had already been sold with the software though that the last thing the company wanted was to have to recall them all. If it didn’t send the company bust overnight then it would definitely impact their reputation. They probably figured by the time people saw the robots acting bizarrely they would have made their fortune and be long gone. They didn’t seem to realise or want to admit the robots could become dangerous, depending on how the code deviated. It was such a small error after all and most of the robots were still functioning normally. It was only luck that they had even found the problem after one of the robots had been returned faulty. For some reason in that particular robot the error had deviated faster each cycle, a circumstance they still couldn’t explain, which resulted in it accidentally knocking its owner unconscious when handing her a drink. That had happened already and things could only get worse, that’s why he had to let people know and for that he needed proof.
The files had nearly downloaded when he heard footsteps in the corridor outside the room. He still worked for the company and had clearance to be in the room but that very morning he’d had such a ruckus with his boss over recalling the robots that his boss had put him on forced leave. No doubt all his work colleagues would have heard about it by now and whoever it was approaching the door would be bound to question his reasons for working alone, late at night.
The computer beeped signalling the files had downloaded and he hastily retrieved the stick and shut the computer. The screen blinked off as the sound of footsteps grew louder and he waited with abated breath hoping they would pass him by. He felt the vibration before he heard it as his mobile phone began to ring. He desperately fumbled in his pocket trying to turn it off but it was too late. The office door swung open and a man in his late 40’s entered.
‘Dale! What are you doing here?’ He tried to stay calm, hoping the guard wouldn’t notice his panic or distressed state.
‘I just had to tidy up some files to make it a bit easier for whoever takes over while I’m away.’ He gave a half laugh that turned into more of a nervous chortle. The guard eyed him suspiciously and he knew at once his nervous behaviour was the cause. He forced himself to project a calmer manner as he continued on. ‘Guess you heard about my trouble with the boss earlier? Thought it best to keep out his way for a bit so figured it was better to pop in after he’d gone home.'
The guard laughed, relaxing slightly. ‘I think the whole staff heard about that argument. Apparently he was actually shaking after you left him and his face was bright red. His secretary’s been telling everyone. I’m surprised he didn’t fire you then and there.’
‘So am I to be honest.’ Dale forced a laugh.
‘I think you’ve got the right idea keeping out his way, at least until the dust has settled.’
‘Well I’ve finished here and I’m on vacation now for 3 weeks so that shouldn’t be a problem.’ He felt beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow and hoped the guard wouldn’t notice. He had the advantage the lights in the office were turned off and the only light that filtered in came from the corridor.
‘Enjoy yourself and think of us poor souls still slaving away here.’
‘I will.’ Dale smiled, casually picking up his bag containing the memory stick and taking his leave before the guard could change his mind. He had reached the office door when the guard called after him to hold up. He froze, fearing something had happened to give him away.
‘I’ve got a little boy at home who is mad on those robots you make. If you get any discounts for them you couldn’t by any chance send one my way could you?’ Dale exhaled softly, trying to conceal his relief.
‘Yeah sure. We get various staff discounts from time to time.’
‘That’s great. Thanks mate I owe you one.’
‘No worries.’ He smiled and left, feeling sorry for the guard. Once he exposed the data to the world it wouldn’t take the company long to find out he was the one who had stolen it and from there work out who was on duty at the time. The chances were that the guard would lose his job or at the very least get a severe reprimand but he’d gone too far to turn back now. And more was at stake than one man’s job.
Relief washed over him as he finally exited the building and got into his car. He pulled out his laptop and the memory stick. It wouldn’t take him long now to upload the entire contents to the Internet and once there the company would find it impossible to cover up or to refute such hard facts. They would have no choice but to recall all their products. He of course would lose his job but that would be a small price to pay considering the potential disaster he would have averted. The file finished uploading and he smiled pleased, knowing he had succeeded.
There was only one thing that kept niggling at him slightly, disturbing his triumph. What had caused the deviation each cycle in the code and why had that one robot’s code altered so much faster than any of the others? They knew it had to be an error in the programming but no one had been able to find the exact lines of code causing it and that bothered him. Something just didn’t feel right.
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