Part 4 (2/2)
She's not budging and this is going nowhere. Time to make another move, draw her out.
John stepped into another of the control alcoves with the lights and b.u.t.tons, and perused the controls for the minirail cars. He recalled the nearest unit, Car 2.
”Adam, what are you doing? Why are you requesting Car 2?”
He ignored her. If she had control over the cars, he'd soon find out. He studied the console screens above him. Level Five, where he was now, was built into the side of the hill he had entered. Levels Four through One were stacked below it, subterranean chambers that grew progressively larger as they descended, like sections of a beehive.
The place was huge for the size of the island it was on. There was a floor full of offices and control stations, a cafeteria, an active robotics lab in addition to the disused shop he had come in through, plenty of storage areas, and living s.p.a.ce for fifteen or twenty people. He wondered how many were home now, or if any were at all.
According to the schematics, the far side of the hill was a sheer cliff extending down much farther than the elevation at which he'd entered. None of the facility levels actually exited to the outside except Two, which had a door opening out at the bottom of the cliff face. Level One was completely underground.
There's no exit except the tunnel I came in through. That means there's only one way to get beyond this facility and avoid the bot jungle behind me. Level Two.
An electric hum signaled the arrival of Car 2 in the hallway, and momentarily a low rail car pulled to a stop in front of his doorway. It was a bulbous thing of muted gray plastic with a single bench. Punching the b.u.t.ton to send the car on to a random room 52 which he hoped was in the opposite direction of Level 2, John crouched behind it. The front section was a raised cargo rack, and it provided a good enough s.h.i.+eld. As the car moved back up the hall, he ran along behind it, trying to stay out of sight of the camera in the ceiling.
”Adam, this is very counterproductive. I can see you.”
When he got to the end of the hallway, he got ready to run to the front of the car so as to keep the car between himself and the camera array. But instead of turning left, the car turned to the right, where the diagram showed the entrance to Level Two lay.
Should have seen that one coming.
He glanced quickly down both hallways, and seeing no threats to the left he ran that way as the car trundled to the right toward a large set of interlocking security doors with ”To Levels 4, 3, and 2” glowing in blue across the top.
”Adam, you'll take several minutes longer getting to Level Two that way,” Eve's voice called through the corridors. ”If you wish to explore the facility, I can offer a detailed holo-tour once you arrive, but I'm under some time constraints now and would prefer you to just cooperate with me.”
The hallway ended at a door. It too had an observation window through which he could see what lay on the other side: a tunnel much like the one he had entered the Facility through. Twenty meters ahead he could see daylight.
Between him and the exit was the Koyuki battle 'droid, gun barrels spinning slowly in place.
”Adam, I need you to listen to me now. Without further delay, I want you to enter Level Two and I will guide you to my Observation Deck where we can talk. I have need of you, and you have need of me. You have a reason for being here, as do we all. I know you must be feeling bewildered and you're just reacting to your stress, but you have to trust me. There is no other way, and my time is running out. Please.”
John walked slowly back down the hall, keeping an eye on the camera on the ceiling. She could see his face clearly now, but there was no way of getting around that. If she had access to the bots' sensors outside, she would already have gotten a good look at him in the jungle.
Ahead, the security doors slid open.
”As you can see, there is nothing to threaten you down here. Just head down toward the elevators and I will guide you to the Observation Deck. I am watching every step.”
I just bet you are. ”To tell the truth, Eve, I feel like a prisoner.”
”I fully understand,” Eve replied. ”All will be explained, as I said.”
”But only if I go to Level Two, right? You're trying to corner me.”
”Why are you so being so hostile to me? I don't mean to belabor the point, but your behavior is both counterproductive and stubborn. If I had known you would try to exit that way, I would have warned you about the security units stationed there.”
”Who stationed them there, Eve?”
She didn't answer.
Just outside the doors there was an elevator in one wall and a short hatchway that the railcar had disappeared down. John cautiously walked over and kicked it, but the hatch doors were solid.
”I can make Level Two much more comfortable for you than this,” said Eve. ”Once our business has been negotiated. Refreshment, rest, music. I have it all down here.”
John's sunburn itched as the air conditioning dried the sweat on his body. I could use a shower and a drink.
But I don't trust her, and I won't be manipulated.
The hatchway couldn't be forced open, but the elevator doors were another story. The display above them showed that the elevator was still down below, waiting for him to call it. Instead of pus.h.i.+ng the b.u.t.ton to bring it up, he used his ratchet's screwdriver end to force the plate off of the b.u.t.ton panel.
”Adam, that is not safe. Please call the elevator and step inside.”
”Explain the bot attacks,” John said quietly, without looking up.
”I'm sorry. You were mumbling.”
”Explain the bot attacks!” he yelled.
”I have already apologized for that, and there's no need for you to get excited.”
”Eve.”
”Yes, Adam?”
”Tell me about the bots. Tell me about this island. Tell me everything. Until I know more, I'm staying away from Level Two. That's my ultimatum. I was nearly shot to pieces out there, and you seem to be running the only control center in the area. There is no way I'm coming to you until I have the information I need.”
His hands were busy with the panel; two wires were free now, and he was fiddling with a third.
Eve's voice was several degrees colder. ”Further tampering with the elevator wiring will not be tolerated, Adam.”
Yeah? John connected the third wire to the first. A long beep sounded. He pushed the b.u.t.ton to call the elevator, then turned to the doors and started forcing them open.
”This is the last warning, Adam.”
John got the doors open and a put a leg through to hold them there. The shaft in front of him ended just above, but descended four more stories.
”Getting inside the elevator would put me completely at your mercy, Eve,” he said. ”I'm going to find my own way out of this place.” He watched as the elevator approached.
”Very well, Adam. I regret this, but you leave me little choice.”
A low hiss from the ceiling vents indicated the release of gas into the hallway, and the blast doors slid shut behind him, locking him in.
”Don't worry,” Eve said. ”This gas will not cause permanent harm. I'll ensure that you are reawakened safely.”
John jerked up his s.h.i.+rt and breathed through it. ”Everything you've told me so far is a lie, Eve. And I don't like it when computers lie to me.”
”You're so sure I'm a computer?”
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