Part 22 (1/2)
When she arrived, she found only a white door flanked by giant purple vases overflowing with airscrub gra.s.s, each with a miniature palm tree rising from the center.
Aldriena let herself inside. Beyond the door, she found a simple room with advertis.e.m.e.nts flickering on the walls. A conveyor belt and a drop chute sat empty and silent. Someone had discarded a hardcopy of the station rules on the floor. She chuckled at the irony of it. It was harder to stifle the spread of electronic copies of the crazy code of behavior, so the spinners gave out hardcopies instead. The more primitive medium was easier to keep under tabs. Her link picked up the book's service cybloc. She could see that the chip forbade making electronic copies of the content by any method. Of course, her Cascavel could cache away a copy of anything that pa.s.sed in front of her eyes without alerting anyone.
Her link picked up a service for ordering parts from the wall near the conveyor. Apparently, the module was completely automated. Aldriena had imagined a setup where people ordered new parts and a specialist fabricated and delivered them. Not surprising, considering that Aldriena herself had been acting as a delivery girl for the stations. But the reality was that parts were usually ordered via link and delivered by robots.
She poked around the interface in her PV for a while longer. Then she saw that the station did have a troubleshooting alias for requesting help.
Aldriena sent the request and started pacing. Her link told her that she had three hours left before she could expect the UNSF. At least the swift execution of the first half of her mission had bought her some time.
A person wearing green-trimmed gear walked into the room from the door Aldriena had used.
”Hi. What's the problem?” the person asked via link.
”I need to take a part to Claw in the lab, but I don't have the authority to get in,” Aldriena said. ”Claw asked for it. I'm in trouble if I can't get it in there soon.”
”That doesn't sound like a fabrication problem.”
”It's not, but do you ever take parts there? Can you get in?”
”I'm not going into any lab with Claw unless he orders it.”
”Can we talk face-to-face? These helmets are ridiculous, don't you think?” Aldriena asked.
”Take the helmets off? Uh, are you feeling okay?”
Aldriena pulled off her helmet.
”What's wrong? Afraid of a little excitement? This place is so dull!”
The helmeted figure looked her over calmly.
Then the troubleshooter took off his helmet.
Aldriena's heart sunk incrementally. The man was a woman! A beautiful woman.
The face before her had a splattering of freckles and long brown hair. Her eyes were a startling clear green.
Aldriena's face must have betrayed her disappointment.
The other woman giggled. ”You were so brave a moment ago,” she said.
Aldriena gathered her wits. Time for a change of plan. First, her Cascavel isolated the woman's link so she couldn't call for help.
”I need your help,” Aldriena said.
”Yes? Did you get in trouble for taking your helmet off?” the woman smiled. ”I'm Sheridan.”
”I'm Aldriena, and I'm here as the vanguard of a UNSF incursion to this base. It's been taken over by an AI.”
Sheridan's beautiful eyes flexed wide. Then she laughed nervously. ”Are you a whack job?”
Aldriena sensed that Sheridan had half swallowed the information. The nervous laugh and the way her body had frozen meant that she was considering it. Aldriena knew it was a good lie. If she mentioned s.p.a.ce aliens, she'd get nothing. But mention an AI and everyone was ready to believe it. After Ma.r.s.eilles, fear brooded in everyone's mind that it would happen to them.
”Think about it. Have you heard about the incursions?”
”Well ... security is on high alert ... maybe for wackos like you.”
”The AI is in control. That's why we have to wear these crazy suits. All these inexplicable rules ... all created by the AI.” Aldriena pointed at the book on the floor.
”That's not my copy,” Sheridan said quickly.
”I didn't say it was. I don't care if it is.”
”What do you want, Aldriena?”
”I want to clone your link and get into that lab,” she said.
”No. I don't know you. I think I should report this.”
Aldriena considered attacking her, but she didn't feel like making a mess.
I can still talk my way out of it.
”This is bigger than us, Sheridan,” Aldriena said.
”What is Claw working on that the UNSF needs to stop it?” Sheridan asked.
Aldriena had no idea. She was about to ask Sheridan the same question. But she could use the question.
”A weapon,” Aldriena said. ”But I can't say much. Earth is in danger. A lot is riding on this, Sheridan.”
”I don't know you. You're probably lying.”
”All right. Tell the authorities ... if the UNSF doesn't show up here in a few hours. But when they do, let me into that lab. Okay?”
”Maybe you're a criminal and the UNSF is coming after you,” Sheridan said.
”Think about it. You know things are far from normal here,” Aldriena urged. ”Do you have a better explanation?”
”I've been thinking about it. That's the only reason I'm even having this conversation. What good is getting into the lab before the UNSF gets here? Won't they let themselves in when they arrive?”
Aldriena produced her grenade. ”I'm supposed to neutralize the spinner for the s.p.a.ce force,” she said. ”Claw is a new model. The first of many. It's the primary muscle of the AI. With Claw out of the way, we might have a shot at containing the AI here. Haven't you noticed the communications crackdown? Earth is trying to protect itself.”
Sheridan stared at the grenade. ”You're either a freakin' s.p.a.ce force commando or a terrorist,” she said. ”How'd you get that on the station?”
”It's a glue grenade, so there's no incendiary signature,” Aldriena said. ”But it is industrial strength glue. Should shut the spinner down. It could save lives. You'd be a hero.”
”Okay. Tell you what. You pa.s.s a T check and maybe I'll believe you.”
Aldriena knew a truth check relied on links that were obeying the spec. Her Cascavel could easily defeat the check.