Read Episode VI: Beta Test for Free Online

off!"
    "Alicyn, emergency shut down!" I yelled, and bent down to put my arm supportively around Freyair. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
    In the display area, Athena didn't even get a chance to start screaming at everyone before her image faded out.
    "Medical team is in route, Eric," Sarah replied. "May I suggest carrying her to the couch in your office?"
    I nodded once and picked up the small woman once again and quickly headed for my office. Carla followed me, and Alicyn made sure Athena was completely offline before she joined us.
    "I'm fine Eric, I just got a massive headache when you powered her up. There is something very wrong there, but I don't think it's actually the AI," Freyair replied. "This started before she was active."
    "The problem isn't in the AI?" I asked.
    Freyair slowly shook her head. "It has to be the environment."
    Christy arrived first since the lab she was working on was closer than the medical section was. I quickly filled her in on what happened as well as what Freyair had told me. She nodded and knelt next to her patient. After looking her over, she opened her small kit and took out a diagnostic tool.
    After few minutes of checking the girl over, Christy smiled at her. "No permanent damage. You experienced a very minor stroke resulting in the migraine headache you now have. I've repaired the blood vessel, but the pain is going to hang around for a while. I'm going to have you taken to main medical overnight just for observation, but before you go, I'm going to give you an analgesic to help with the pain and counter the remaining effects of the caffeine you ingested earlier. If you can sleep please do so, it'll help the healing process."
    "Do you have any idea what might have caused this Christy?" I asked.
    "She was affected by the crystal you are using to test the AI. Our young friend here is a Talent," Christy replied.
    "Please! You can't tell anyone else!" Freyair asked urgently. Tears formed in her eyes but it was unclear if they were caused by the pain she was in or the emotions she was now showing.
    Both Alicyn and Carla looked completely confused, but still concerned for Freyair. "Ladies, nothing you just heard in this office can leave here, do you understand?"
    "Uh, not really. I don't know what you’re talking about." Alicyn replied. Beside her, Carla nodded her agreement with the comment.
    "Actually, that's a good thing then. Just consider anything you think you might have heard as private medical information. Don't mention any of this to anyone," I said. "Freyair will be fine. Alicyn, please make sure no one tries to use the crystal again. Carla, please contact Ced and the crystal team and ask them to come down here as soon as they can. There is a problem with the crystal we've been using. I want it completely shut down until we get it figured out. Okay?"
    Both women nodded and left to do as I asked. I turned back to Christy and Freyair. "No one will say anything, Freyair. But may I ask why you’re afraid?"
    "It’s a stupid curse!" the woman said. "The 'Talent', as you call it, gave me the eidetic memory but nothing else. However, if it became known I actually had Talent instead of just a really good memory, the Clan would force me to try to develop it and isolate me at the same time. The only being I'll ever see again is the person they choose for me to breed with! It's horrible! They even take the babies away and torture them to see if the powers got passed on, then they will force another mate on me to try again.
    "Please, I'm begging you. I don't want to live like that! Please don't let them know!" Freyair begged.
    "Hey now, relax. No one is going to say anything to anyone," I told her. "We're friends remember?"
    "I honestly can't tell anyone, Sweetheart. Unless you give me permission to share it with others, your medical information is kept private," Christy replied. "Besides, I'm officially recording today's event as a result of the over stimulation due to the caffeine; which