This is a second short story, a follow up to the first of the same name. Doctor Smith and Penny are being treated as literal virtual prisoners, but is there, perhaps, a way out?

Short story: A researcher in the field of artificial intelligence manages to save his existence in the face of certain death, but is continued existence worth it?

Bob's symbiote introduces itself. After being convinced that he isn't hallucinating while experiencing a stroke, or suffering from food poisoning as the victim of leftover Chinese food, it becomes very obvious that there's something going on that neither of them understand.