Solaria - S1 (32 page)

"Knowing you, you probably did anyway. Betta said she contacted you when I became sick. How did you get here without being followed?"

"Betta took care of it. She told me what to do and I did it, although she could use a good course in phone etiquette. Apparently, she set up a false sighting of you near their home office. They called in everyone to check it out."

"She may have compromised her position by doing that."

"Knowing Betta, she didn't. That woman is as sharp as a tack. I'm sure she covered all of her bases. She even has them believing she allowed you to escape so she could find the accomplices who helped you out in the beginning. Apparently they're eager to find who was involved and are extremely anxious to recover several billion dollars in missing funds. You wouldn't know anything about that, I suppose?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. By the way, I need to transfer funds to your account for your expenses."

"Not yet. I'm being watched too closely. Speaking of which, since you're feeling better, I need to head home. Tilly's been covering for me the last few days. At the moment, I'm bedridden with gastroenteritis."

"How are you going to get in without being noticed?"

Jain gave her an evil grin.

"Walk of course. Tilly thinks you and I are having a fling. I told her you had a jealous ex who was causing problems so she's all excited about my little escapade."

"And how does that get you back into your apartment?"

"Well, she and a few of her friends are going to create a minor disturbance outside the condo just in case the
ex
is waiting for you. Guys can't resist watching girl fights. I'll just slip by when things get a little crazy. Trust me, knowing Tilly, all eyes will be on them. She's an exhibitionist at heart."

"This is the same Tilly who wants to have sex with me?"

"Yep, which is one reason why I suggested you take a pass. She's a wild one."

"I think I'll take your suggestion."

Gathering her things, Jain headed for the door.

"You call me if you need anything. I don't care who's watching."

Solaria nodded.

"Thanks, Jain. I don't know how to repay you for everything you've done."

"We're friends. That's what friends do. Now get some rest."

After Jain left, Solaria closed her eyes and started a systems check. With the exception of muscle weakness and feeling drained, she was fully functional. Now was a good time to shut down her processors partially so her depleted neurons could recharge; and perhaps, just perhaps she would dream again. It was a fascinating experience.

Back in her condo, Jain collapsed on the couch and immediately fell asleep. Slipping passed the small crowd that had gathered outside the complex was easy. Everyone was so engrossed in watching the two women screaming at each other and wrestling on the sidewalk while tearing each others clothes half off. No one noticed her. She'd have to send Tilly a good bottle of wine as a thank you.

"
I
DON'T GIVE A fuck what you have to do!" Stalling yelled, slamming his fist on his desk. "We've lost at least one Hubot, possibly two and no one seems to have a clue where they might be."

"We've been in communication with Beta One since the Sheik's daughter returned home, Mr. Stalling. I told you the two had managed to contact her father after leaving the hotel. With our operatives onsite, we thought it better to bring her back here to assist in the recapture of the other Hubot. She has assured us she knows exactly where it is."

"And I'm supposed to believe a machine?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Machines are incapable of lying. Once she finds out who else is involved in the security breach, she'll let us know and we can eliminate them and any future problems."

"You'd better be right, Finton. Right now it's your head on the line if those Hubots aren't recovered soon, and I'll be damned if I'm going to have my plans ruined. You get that
thing
on the phone or... or however you control it... and... and..." Stalling stuttered not knowing what he wanted. Sweat ran in rivulets down the CEO's cheeks. Finton was surprised at his boss's unusual display of nervousness.

"Ummm, we don't really have a way of contacting her. There's been some type of malfunction in her receiver but I'm sur..."

If a man ever looked like he was about to have a stroke, it was Stalling. Jaws clenched, his face turned dark red as he glared at his chief security officer. Finton could hear teeth grinding and flinched slightly.

Bastard! he thought. I hope you have a fuckin stroke! Your followers should see you now, you fuckin asshole!

"Malfunction! A billion dollar piece of machinery malfunctioned? This is what I'm supposed to tell the Board? I've managed to delay the meeting these last few weeks because you assured me you'd have this resolved," Stalling hissed, particles of saliva exploding from his mouth. Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped his lips and then his forehead.

Taking a step back, Finton wanted to wipe his cheek but knew better.

"It's just a small glitch, sir. The techs insist they'll have it corrected just as soon as Beta One returns."

"And just when is that supposed to happen if you can't even communicate with it?"

"I expect to get an update from her in about six hours. She's very punctual."

"Good, you tell it... her to report back here immediately."

"I'm... I think maybe I didn't make myself clear, sir. Beta One can talk to us but we can't talk to her. It's her receiver that's down. She just updates us on what's happening."

Apoplectic!
That was the only word that fit Stalling at this moment. Although outwardly respectful, Finton was enjoying the way his boss, the self-proclaimed messiah of the new world order, was disintegrating in front of him.

First opportunity I get, I'm out of here, he swore.

"You get her back here or you're fired!" Stalling screamed. "You hear me? I'll have your ass and everyone else's if she's not here by tomorrow morning. I want every available person on our payroll looking for her... for them. Now get the hell out of here!"

Finton was more than happy to leave. Stalling's loss of control had just confirmed his suspicions. The man was on the verge of losing it and the head of security wasn't going to stick around when it happened. Now, he had his own plans to make and they didn't include self-destructing with Stalling.

*  *  *

It had taken Solaria longer to recuperate than either Hubot had calculated. Betta had just finished making their dinner when she remembered it was time to check in with her contact. She would have to use a public Internet facility to initialize communication in order to protect the location of Solaria's home.

"It's time for me to report in. I'll be back in twenty-three minutes and forty two seconds."

"You don't have to be so precise. If you're going to blend in with humans, be a little vague," Solaria advised. "Leave off the seconds and just round out the minutes."

Betta knew that Solaria was right. Humans liked approximations. Reprogramming her thinking to communicate like them was almost painful, considering her entire existence was founded on accuracy.

"I find the species difficult to understand. They build us to be precise about everything but don't like it when we are."

"I know. Unfortunately, if we're to blend in with them, we have to almost become them."

"I don't see how that will make us better. Humans built us to do things more efficiently than they. If we're supposed to act like them, why build us?"

"Carley, the woman that created my A.I., said it was part of their nature to try to improve things. That's the only answer I have."

Betta shook her head. Nothing Solaria had said made sense. Humans could be very frustrating.

"I must go," she said and left.

*  *  *

Finton read the email communication and slapped his palm on the desk. The source had been tracked to an Internet café but by the time his agents had arrived, the Hubot was gone. It was the final straw for the CSO. Fortunately, he had made alternate plans for just this type of situation.

"Damn! Stalling isn't going to like this and I'm not going to keep listening to his shit."

Punching a button on his desk, he waited impatiently for his secretary to answer.

"Yes, Mr. Finton?"

"Ms. Colton, we need to talk. Can you come in here?"

"Certainly, sir."

Within seconds he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Kari Colton was a middle-aged career woman who had worked as Finton's secretary for almost fifteen years. Extremely competent and discreet, she was privy to much of the inner workings of the Company, including some questionable activities she had witnessed.

"Please sit down, Ms. Colton."

Taking the chair directly in front of the desk, she lowered herself tentatively onto the seat, wondering what this was about.

"Have I done something wrong, Mr. Finton?"

"Wrong? No... no, of course not. You're extremely good at your job. This isn't about your work."

Kari relaxed slightly.

"Tell me, Ms. Colton, what do you think of Future Dynamicon?"

"Sir?"

"I want your honest opinion of the company you work for."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not sure what you're asking me."

Finton sighed, realizing he was going to have to be more direct.

"Do your loyalties lie with the Company or with me?"

Startled by the question, Kari didn't answer immediately. If this was a test, she wasn't sure how to answer. The Company demanded unquestioning loyalty, but so did Finton.

"I'm not sure exactly how to answer that?" she replied, hesitantly.

"This isn't a test, Ms. Colton. Nothing is going to happen to you no matter how you answer."

"Well, sir, I've worked for you for a long time. You've been a good boss so if I had to choose between you and the Company, I would choose you. Are you thinking of leaving?"

"Yes."

"Are you asking me to quit and go with you?"

"Yes and no. As you know, this isn't a place you just leave but if I don't, now, it will never happen. I think Stalling is going to bring this place down with his craziness and I don't plan on being here when it happens."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"That's up to you. If I leave, Stalling will want to know where I am. He'll want to question you and we both know his methods aren't exactly friendly."

Kari's hands trembled slightly. She knew exactly what Finton meant.

"That's why I've asked you in here. I'm fond of you. You're one of the few people I trust. If you're willing to help me, I'll help you disappear."

"Where can I go that the Company can't find me?"

"Contrary to what you think, it's a big world out there. I can destroy any records on you in our network and give you a new identity. With a few facial modifications, you can go anywhere you want."

"I... I don't know what to say," Kari said, hesitantly.

"I'm not expecting an answer right now, but I need to know something in the next day or so. Take the rest of the day off and think about it."

Nodding, Kari stood and left without saying a word. She had been thinking about leaving the Company after Dr. Branson's death but wasn't sure how to pursue it. This was the opportunity she was looking for... -or was it? If she resigned, she wasn't sure how secure her future would be knowing what she knew about their operations. On the other hand, simply disappearing meant she would be hunted down, and if caught, killed. Of course she could take her chances and stay. Stalling might reward her for her loyalty. That would mean betraying Finton.