Viral Ember

Encrypted doesn't mean safe.

A month has passed since the viral outbreak. Robert and Amanda have been working secretly on re-creating Dr. Waite's experiment, hoping that without network access, they might spawn another sentient program, and this time it will be safe.

They call it Cody.

When the Wi-Fi on the isolated machine activates without warning, the military takes note. Robert and Amanda are suddenly at risk, as is Cody. As much as it makes sense to pull the plug on the project, they've taken a special liking to the antique computer and the code that it's holding. Trashing the project would incur a personal hit, effectively killing their creation before it has a chance at life. Continuing means risking arrest, and worldwide catastrophe.