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Betrayals: nineby Steve Bowers |
Zero plus nine hours
The Keeper of Revenues, Bonds and Customs for ArGartha Town, Elvis Mikmakmenemony, had never seen so many seekerdrones assigned to one prisoner before. The black brushrobot that they had identified as Max Handy6754 was restrained by half a dozen of the blue wormlike drones, but seemed relaxed and untroubled somehow. This was not however true of his companion, a white pigmented brushbot who was complaining bitterly in an amplified female robot voice.
“This is an infringement of my sapient rights! On what change are you supposed to be holding us? This is not some Negentropic Police State, you know!
“I have a complete audit available that says I have never committed an arrestable offence since my construction. Why won’t you even look at it?”
A soft chime announced the arrival of two avatars into the baroque surroundings of the Custom Hall. A human looking woman, dressed conservatively, hair in a bun, slightly transparent (and eight feet tall) was accompanied by a featureless black humanoid shape, (of similar height) with a small white five-sided star on its chest, and a pair of blue lights set in its head to represent watchful, aware eyes.
“My Lady Librarian! I am honoured,” said Elvis.
“My thanks, keeper Mikmakmenemony, for looking after our two guests. May I introduce Negentropic Bailiff Beta Forty-nine, who is interested in our current enquiries.”
The great black head turned towards him, and the blue ‘eyes’ twinkled.
“Greetings, Mr Mikmakmenemony. It is a pleasure, I must say, to visit this interesting town and particularly your beautiful Custom Hall.”
Elvis was quite surprised to find the Bailiff charming and friendly. Some ArGarthans were suspicious of the Negentropists; some saw them as control-freaks, even fascists, and long ago in the Version War they had been the enemy for a while. Now the Negents worked closely with the Progress Alliance, especially in the Arkab system where they held the companion star.
“Welcome, your honour. All my resources are at your disposal.”
“Excellent. Now. So you are the elusive Handy, I presume.”
“I’m Max Handy, yes,”
said the black brushbot. “Am I right in presuming that you are the Necklace
Librarian?”
“You are correct, robot Handy. I myself prefer the ancient Sumerian name Lady Ur-ner-geb, but you may address me as Lady Librarian, or simply Ma’am, if you prefer. It has fallen to me to investigate the recent attack on the Keterist Ascension Crusader, the blessed dolphin Chwrrii Nashira. Since this event my seeker robots have been looking for you beneath this city; I have to say that you are not the easiest person to find.”
“What connection could I have to the Blessed Dolphin, Lady Librarian? I wasn’t even aware that she had been attacked.”
“That’s right! We have been in the Underquarry cave system for two whole days!”
piped up the female brushrobot.
“Excuse me, Librarian, but I recommend the prisoners are kept separate during interrogation. It occurs to me that the Progress Alliance may be relatively inexperienced in these matters,“
the black figure intoned.
“Do not concern yourself, Bailiff, I intend to interrogate these people down to the atomic level shortly. We are simply introducing ourselves. May I ask your name, Madam robot?”
“ What-what do you mean, atomic level? I should be going home to Efe Ring the day after tomorrow. How can you think I have anything to do with any - attack?”
“That is what we intend to determine. Your name, please?”
“I am Luci Branch833, Ma’am.”
“Thank you, Robot Branch.
“Robot Handy, please allow me to ask one or two questions. Time is short. Your symbiote human Auguste Cis Gienah is currently –er – assisting our enquiries. When did you last contact him?”
“My who? I have never heard of him. I am an independent brushrobot, Lady Librarian.”
The tall woman avatar looked at the black bushbot over her glasses for several seconds. She turned to his femvec companion.
“Can you corroborate this at all, Robot Branch?”
“Well, we only met four days ago- but he told me he was not interested in bonding with a human - He says all the skinbags are too boring where he comes from.”
“And where do you think you come from, Robot Handy?”
“Think? I was built and raised in Kimville, Carter Ring, among the boring old New Martian hu.”
The Black figure moved forward and seemed to whisper in the tall librarian’s ear, although Elvis could hear no sound.
“Seekerdrone! You are certain this is MaxHandy6754?” the librarian asked.
‘Confirmed. Molecular registration tags present and correct,’ trilled one of the tiny blue wormlike
machines restraining the black brushrobot.
“So. The symaiote has already been reprogrammed. It is my guess that we shall obtain little of value from him. Unfortunate. It will of course be necessary to continue with the disassembly and interrogation, cousin Librarian.”
“What? You’ve got the wrong robot, you fascist Negent idiot!” The femvec waved like a tree in a hurricane.
“Max knows nothing about any of this. And neither do I!”
“Do not concern yourself,”
said the tall female avatar.
“You will be put back together again better than ever before, and perhaps we will erase all the memories of this little meeting as a going away present.”
She turned to Elvis. Outside a small holding craft was landing to remove the prisoners to a place of inquiry.
“I presume I can rely on your discretion, Keeper?”
Elvis had no particular desire to have his own memories revised at that point.
“Of course, my Lady Librarian. This never happened, you were not here,” he said, following the ancient form of words.
