Conquering Aios

Dharma took a deep breath to reduce any gestures that Aios' sensors might suspect later. He glanced at Hyker as a signal for the young man to begin his task.

"—And change the FCU to manual mode," Ryan continued his instructions.

Beep!

"Good Morning, Captain Dharma," and Aios immediately activated.

"Good morning, Aios," Dharma replied to the voice of the main computer with a slightly tense face. "I'd like to double-check all the systems before we take off—maybe, in two days."

"Is that necessary, Captain? You did it yesterday afternoon. I detected changes in your expression and heat in your body."

"I don't want to argue with you, Aios!"

Dharma's speech was met with a small grunt by Hyker who was faced with dozens of digital buttons and files that appeared on every glass table surface a split second after he activated the FMGC.

Dharma cursed Hyker's attitude. It turns out that the young man still thinks this is all just a game.

"Inconsequential," Aios argued. "My data shows all systems are under control. Nothing is wrong. Except, the fuel supply for the propulsion jets, and foodstuffs."

Dharma doesn't want to lose, not with those formless artificial beings. "I told you, I don't want to argue with you. Making sure everything goes perfectly is my job. You know, my crew's safety."

"Captain, my electroencephalogram sensor detects a rise in hydrocortisone in your body. A forty-two percent increase in beta waves—"

"Stop it, Aios!" Dharma was still trying to control his emotions before his adrenaline got too high and that would be a powerful excuse for Aios not to grant his wish. "Please contact the Lord! We'll see, you or I will be quiet?"

For a few seconds later the atmosphere in the cockpit was very quiet. Dharma repeatedly narrowed his eyes at Hyker so that the young man could be more serious about all this.

Beep!

Aios's avatar appeared on the screen of the ruler's desk. The chubby man raised his eyebrows, he didn't feel like asking anyone to call the Artificial Intelligence. Even if he wanted to, he just had to call Aios via the table and concurrently as his communication tool.

Who activates Aios? he thought.

"What do you want, Aios?" he snorted because he was disturbed. "I don't feel like I need you right now!"

"Pardon me, sir. Captain Dharma asked for approval to re-check the aircraft system. Is this on your orders, sir?"

The ruler rested his chin, then yawned. Well, he remembered that an hour ago he did ask the captain to double-check everything on board, though he didn't say Dharma should check the software.

The ruler snorted as if laughing softly. In his view, Dharma is nothing more than a herding dog who always follows whatever his master wants. And what Dharma is doing right now, it's like licking his master's hand for his own life.

"Just allow him!"

"All right, sir. Sorry for bothering you."

Beep!

"How is it going, Aios?" said Dharma.

"Captain, the Lord permits you."

Dharma smiled because he felt victorious over his argument against Aios. However, he didn't want to be rash. After all, the Aios sensor would continue to work, and he didn't want to let go of an opportunity that was almost completely accomplished.

"Now, Aios… deactivate FCU, return to manual piloting!"

Again, Hyker snorted with laughter. Well, the captain's words and facial expressions seemed to reply to his annoyance at Aios earlier.

"Affirmative!"

Beep!

Five seconds later, in the upper left corner of the large screen in front of Hyker—the PFD panel—lit up with a green indication, indicating that the autopilot function had been disabled. Thus, Aios was already in an inactive state.

"Yan," Dharma touched the earphone in his right ear. "You can start now!"

Beep!

"Here it goes!" Ryan said while fiddling with the ghost file.

Ryan took the file across the gadget in Dharma's hand to the plane's main computer.

"Give me five minutes," said Ryan, who was trying to take over the spacecraft's guard system.

Hyker rested on his chin as he looked at the large screen board in front of him. The ghost file entered by—a man he had never met—Ryan, is set to split apart. Infiltrate the FCU function, making the guard system nothing more than a host. And finally, have full control over FMGC.

Hyker chuckled as he gave a small nod, he gave a thumbs-up right in front of Dharma. Dharma smiled in response.

"Are you ready, sir?" Ryan asked then.

"One second," asked Dharma.

The virtual screen was active again in the captain's hands, and he immediately contacted several people at once.

"We'll start now. Get ready you guys!" Dharma's orders were addressed to Indra, Jennie, and their fellow logistics supervisors. "Hey, Doc, can you hold on to something?"

"Bastard! Don't make fun of me, Dharma!" Kamal snorted loudly.

Dharma chuckled in response to the curse, as did Hyker who was about to get ready to fly the plane. Only a few more moments and the adrenaline in everyone pumped the excitement inside each of them.

"Fraya, Guntur, standby!"

"Aye, Captain!" and Guntur was heard laughing there.

"Here we go!" said Fraya, the voices of several people with the woman also sounded very excited by Dharma.

Five minutes and Ryan had to lock himself in full concentration. This was the toughest battle he had ever fought, defeating Aios the Artificial Intelligence who controlled the spaceship system.

Yuan Xi was well aware that Ryan didn't want to be disturbed for that five-minute break. Whatever the bespectacled man was up to, Yuan Xi hoped for something good, and she prayed for it. Then she asked Xian to leave Ryan alone. In the front room, Naomi waved at the two, asking them to stand by with her.

Five minutes, and it felt like five hours. Ryan's ten fingers are constantly moving dynamically on the virtual keyboard. Even though the corners of his lips were raised, his eyes didn't blink once. Conquering Aios was a must if they wanted to use the plane in Pangandaran as their only foothold after leaving Earth.

"And…, done!"

Ryan almost jumped with joy. His success in conquering Aios was a special achievement for him. Unfortunately, there are no trophies there instead of congratulations. He fumbled for the earphones in his ears.

Beep!

"Sir, go ahead!"

TO BE CONTINUED ...