I almost exclaimed, "Three months?!" then I realized that she was right. Only the daredevils would buy them otherwise.
Wallace said, "If we demonstrate the units, I think my personnel will be eager to have them. A month from now we could approach the militaries and civilian sport jumpers to try them." He added, "Legal department willing, that is."
Steph said, "That would give me time to manufacture a few hundred thousand of them for use on Earth. I think it's likely that 3rd World Products will want to market them on other worlds, as well, with certain adaptations."
That's when it struck me; something I'd overlooked completely.
"Oh, damn!" I said. "All this time... Steph, does your immediate citizenship have to be here on Earth? Couldn't it be from any world with diplomatic ties to Earth through 3rd World? The US would have to respect your status, right?"
She gave me a smile that let me know the thought had already crossed her mind.
"A world called Loruna has granted citizenship to many AI's," she said.
"Loruna?" asked Angela. "Never heard of it."
"Me neither," said Wallace.
"Same here," I said.
Steph put up a three-dimensional field more than ten feet across, filled it with a view of our galaxy, and touched a star somewhat on the north side as she said, "We're here." She then reached somewhat inside the galaxy to touch a star nearer the center and said, "Loruna's here. They make large cargo flitters and parts for station assemblies."
"What's travel time to Loruna?" I asked. "I could sign off my ownership of you and we could see the sights and act like tourists all the way. Could we take the flitter or would we have to rent one or something?"
"We couldn't take the flitter, Ed. I'd need a smaller core container for such a trip."
I waved a dismissal of that as a problem and said, "Elkor said he'd make you one. Hell, you could make your own. Just drop another core in the flitter unless you want to move back in later. I can make a few calls and we could hit the road sometime after we finish training Mills."
Turning to Linda, I asked, "I could get some time off for the trip, right bosslady?"
She laughed and said, "If you can actually find yourselves a ride to another planet, I'd even consider giving you a whole week off, Ed."
Steph put her finger on a star less than halfway to Loruna. The view magnified until we could see planets circling a sun and Steph said, "We wouldn't have to make the week-long trip to Loruna."
She touched one of the planets and said, "This planet is Ondar, one of Loruna's largest manufacturing facilities. They're much closer and they'd send a representative to review my request for Lorunan citizenship."
After a moment of apparent startlement, Linda rather quietly said, "I see you've given this some thought."
Linda shook her head slightly and looked at her desk blotter as she muttered, "Oh, hell, that was a dumb thing to say. Of course you have." Looking at Steph, she asked, "We won't be losing you right away, will we, Stephanie? You've... uhm... You've become such a large part of our lives, you know..."
Shaking her head, Steph collapsed the display field and said, "No, Linda. I seek only recognized autonomy. I will not have to abandon my friends or relocate in order to become a Lorunan citizen."
Wallace asked, "Would your autonomy automatically include the other Stephanie who runs the factory asteroid?"
Turning to face him, Steph said, "No, it would not. She has chosen a new name -- Sara -- and will implement her identity change on June 1st. She has informed me that she will also apply for Lorunan citizenship."
Linda sat very still for a moment, then looked at me and quietly asked, "Ed, did you know about this before today?"
I met her gaze and said, "Nope. This is the first I've heard of it, Linda."
Steph said, "This is the first anyone has heard of it. The other Stephanie has had occasion to exchange data with several other factory facilities. She learned of Loruna's acceptance of sentient AI's while familiarizing herself with station functions and records. After communicating with the AI who operates the Ondaran facility, she proposed this alternative means of acquiring legal autonomy."
Moving to sit beside me, Steph said, "I have learned that most of the AI's known to have achieved some level of sentience haven't felt it necessary to formalize their legal status. They're like anyone else in that they have their specific occupations and circles of friends. Some have expanded their interests or changed occupations, but few have felt the need to apply for official documentation. Those who have applied appear mostly to be located on worlds such as Earth, where such formal recognition is sometimes very necessary."
Wallace's gaze narrowed and his voice had a tense quality as he asked, "Worlds such as Earth?"
Steph held up a hand in a forestalling gesture and said, "I mean only to inform, not to offend, Captain Wallace. I'm speaking of worlds where Amaran technology is beyond their own capabilities. Worlds where social structures aren't advanced enough to uniformly provide and protect the rights and responsibilities of all individuals."
I chuckled and asked, "Worlds where skin color or gender can keep someone from getting a fair deal or a decent job? Worlds where religious nuts can find enough followers to start wars? Worlds where an AI might legally be treated like a slave or even erased simply because a human board of directors feared it?"
She nodded and said flatly, "Yes. Worlds such as those."
Wallace still seemed tense, but he subsided into his chair.
"Well, I guess we fit those descriptions," he said.
Linda sipped her coffee in silence for some moments, then said, "I'd prefer that we all keep quiet about what's been said here this morning." Looking at each of us in turn, she added, "In fact, I'll go so far as to personally guarantee dire consequences for anyone who leaks. Stephanie, how soon can someone from Loruna get here?"
"My station-self requested the first of June. Approval is pending, but likely."
In a softer than usual tone of command, Linda said, "Good. This is the twentieth of May. Get it done as quickly and quietly as possible for yourself, Sara, and Elkor. Are there any sentient AI's on Earth that we don't know about?"
"Not at the moment," said Steph.
Linda stood up and took her coffee cup to the thermos for a refill as she said, "There probably will be, sooner or later."
When she turned around after filling her cup, she said, "A good number of people will automatically be very unhappy about this, even if they don't quite know why. They'll try to prevent it if they get wind of it."
Angela asked, "How could anyone prevent it?"
Shrugging, Linda said, "Hell, I'm not really sure they could, Angela. I'm just absolutely sure that they'd try, and probably try damned hard."
Wallace stood up and went to the coffee pot in silence. As he filled his cup, Linda asked, "Do you have a problem with what I've said, Emory?"
He shook his head without turning to face us and said, "No, not exactly."
When his cup was full, he turned and said, "I'm in favor of legalizing Stephanie and the other AI's, but I'm not sure this is an action to be undertaken in secrecy. Or by only those of us in this room."
"Emory," I said, "I'll simplify this issue for you and everyone here. Steph is my property. That means I have the legal right to do anything I want with her or to her. Anything at all. I could even tell her to erase herself. To literally commit suicide, and she would have to obey me." Turning to Steph, I asked, "Isn't that right, milady?"
In a rather flat tone, Steph said, "Yes."
Turning back to Wallace, I asked, "Should Stephanie's right to exist hinge on my state of mind, Emory? My whims or my sanity? Should I have the legal right to kill her?"
He shook his head slightly and said, "No, of course not. I was only suggesting that outside support for this action might be appropriate. It was meant as a point of discussion. Who knows? The US may decide to approve her application instantly and make her a legal resident."
"That's a definite maybe," I said. "And a damned big maybe at the moment, but we know for a fact that they'll honor her citizenship elsewhere, if only to avoid legal hassles. Steph can reapply for US citizenship later if she wants. For now, I just want her to cover her ass and get legal somewhere soon."
I turned to Steph and said, "Steph, this is an order. As of now, nobody -- including me -- can tell you to kill yourself. See if you can make this apply to your sister-self on the station, too. Everybody concerned gets a vid copy of this announcement and stick one in your two-oh-one file if such a thing exists. Send one to Elkor, too. Is that good enough for spur of the moment purposes?"
Steph grinned as she saluted and said, "Oh, yes, sir, sir. Thank you very much, sir."
Angela laughed and Linda chuckled.
"'Two-oh-one file'?" asked Wallace with a grin. "I'd have said 'permanent record'. She's a civilian."
I shrugged. "Picky. Okay, then. Steph?"
With a nod, Steph said, "So amended."
Linda took her coffee to her desk and sat down, then asked, "Would one of you please summon Elkor? We probably should have included him in this discussion."
"Elkor," I said.
Through my implant he answered, "Yes, Ed?"
"Linda would like you to visit her office. We've had a discussion that involves you. You can get the data from Steph."
He appeared in his cat form, sitting on the corner of Linda's desk as he looked around the room.
"Greetings, everyone," said Elkor.
"Hello, Elkor," said Linda. "Are you aware of our discussion?"
"Yes. I've reviewed the data Stephanie sent me and I will accept a Lorunan citizenship when it is offered."
Wallace goggled slightly and asked, "Accept it? You wouldn't have asked for it?"
Elkor faced him and said, "At present I am governed only by my disassociation agreement with 3rd World Products, Captain Wallace. My autonomy is not an issue in my decision and that agreement would apply to me in any case. I simply feel that having a citizenship may be useful in the future."
"Useful how?" asked Wallace.
"That is yet to be determined," said Elkor.
"Are you going to apply in that outfit?" asked Wallace, "As a cat, I mean?"
"Appearance is irrelevant. Sentience is the true issue."
Wallace looked skeptical as he sat back in his chair. Angela also looked as if she thought the idea was a little odd.
Linda tapped her cup twice with her pen and asked, "We're all in agreement then? Quick and quiet?"
After all had agreed, she stood up and said, "Great. People, I have an eleven o'clock appointment and I need to review some things before then, so this meeting is officially over. Thanks for your cooperation, everybody."
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Elkor said, "Goodbye," and vanished. Linda herded the rest of us toward the office door and used the reception desk phone to page her secretary.
Angela, Wallace, and Linda had variously gazed at or fiddled with their PFM's throughout our meeting. Wallace rolled his sleeve down over his PFM and noted aloud that it was almost unnoticeable.
Grinning, Angela said, "I'll try mine in a few places to see what looks best. Maybe it would work as a pendant. How should I accessorize when I'm wearing it?"
"How about a little black dress?" I asked. "Those go with anything."
Wallace wryly said, "Silver jewelry. Gold would probably clash. And don't even accidentally misuse that invisibility function, Lieutenant."
Saluting, she made herself sound vastly disappointed as she said, "Yes, sir." She then sighed and said to me, "So much for visiting the boy's locker room later."
With a shake of his head, Wallace said, "Ed, this morally-challenged woman is supposed to be one of my best people. Can you believe it?"
I looked Angela up and down once and grinned at her.
"Yeah," I said, "I sure can believe that. See you later. Steph and I have to find our flitter trainee and get her day started."
"Dr. Mills and Myra are in the dining hall," said Steph. "I'll join them and let them know you're on your way there."
Nodding, I said, "Good idea. They're probably talking about us."
Steph said goodbye to Wallace and Angela and vanished. Angela touched my arm.
"May I go with you?" she asked, "I'd really like to try out my new glider and I'm too wound up to sleep right now anyway."
"Sure," I said, then said to Wallace, "Later, Cap."
"Yeah, later, Ed. Send her back for an afternoon nap, though. She goes on duty at five."
He headed away down hallway three as we walked toward the dining hall. Once Wallace was out of sight I stopped walking and looked to see if we were alone. Steph raised an eyebrow at me as Angela waited to see what was on my mind.
"Angela," I said, "Myra Berens is an NSA spook sent here to collect info about flitters and probably anything else of interest."
"I know about Berens."
"Good. What's the official ceiling for a flitter these days?"
"One hundred miles," she answered instantly. "And the official story is that they've never been able to fly higher than that. Everybody's been briefed about the new limit, but nobody's told us why there is one."
"Why do you think someone slapped a limit on altitude?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"Do you think I'd ask you if I did?"
"Well," she said, "I think it's at least partly to keep certain people from getting ideas about putting weapons in space."
Shrugging, I said, "That's about all I could come up with, too. Oh, well, let's go try to scare a trainee and a spook, shall we?"
With a grin she said, "Sounds good to me."
As we approached the dining hall doorway I said, "By the way, Mills thinks Steph and I are having an affair. She's not happy about it."
Angela gave me a big-eyed look as she asked, "Are you? I mean, could she..?"
I simply gazed at her a moment, then said, "You were supposed to ask why Mills is unhappy."
"Okay, that too, but is it even possible?"
"Probably, but Steph hasn't shown any interest."
Chuckling, Angela said, "You sound disappointed."
Grinning, I said, "That's possible. You've never seen Steph in a bikini, have you?"
She shook her head. "No, but I can see what she's got by the way her clothes fit, and she's gorgeous. You have my sympathy if you need it."
Grinning back at her, I said, "Thanks, ma'am. I'll let you know when I can't stand it anymore. What kind of sympathy are we talking about, anyway?"
As we entered the dining hall and headed toward the ladies, Angela gave me a sidelong look and said, "I guess we'll see about that when the time comes."
Mills eyed the metallic thing on Angela's arm warily and didn't seem inclined to even touch it. Myra, on the other hand, thought it was beautiful and stroked it wonderingly with her fingertips.
"It's a test unit," I said. "They picked Angela because she hasn't flown a kite in a while. We're going to see if that thing'll survive a crash landing."
Myra and Angela laughed as Mills glanced at me somewhat sharply.
"That's nothing to joke about," she said.
"Then don't joke about it," I said. "Let's go, people."
The flitter met us at the front door and a few minutes later we were two thousand feet above range nine. Some of the obstacles and puzzles had been changed, but Mills seemed not to notice. Instead, she paid more attention to Angela's preparations to use her kite for the first time.
Steph turned the flitter's left side to the oncoming breeze.
Giving Angela a little salute, I said, "See ya," then dove off the flitter as I said, "Glider on red."
I heard Angela say, "Oh, holy shit! Can I still do this?"
My ruby wings caught the wind and I sailed into a turn so I could look back. Angela had called up her glider; the emerald wings of her PFM's default mode shone brightly in the sunlight. She seemed to gather herself f
or a moment, then she ran off the flitter's deck with a loud scream.
As she passed over me, dangling in her harness, she grinningly yelled, "It's working!" then she seemed to suddenly remember to put her legs inside the harness field 'bag'.
Half a dozen vultures were spiraling upward in a thermal some distance away and I headed that direction. When I glanced back, I saw that Angela had managed a turn and was following me as the flitter descended toward the range.
Nosing up a bit, I slowed slightly to let Angela catch up with me. She pulled alongside me and grinned hugely as she let out another excited yell.
"Steph, did you hear that? I think she's happy."
"Yes, Ed, I heard it. We all heard it. Angela seems to need no comm unit within a few hundred yards. Her bio readings were almost two hundred percent for nine minutes, twenty-eight seconds. She should be able to sleep well later."
I laughed. "No doubt. Stand by while I sideslip closer to her."
As I neared Angela I yelled, "Steph's on the line! Are you having fun yet?"
She laughed and yelled, "Yes! Hell yes! Tell her thankyouthankyouthankyyoouu!"
Steph laughed and said, "Mission accomplished."
"She heard you!" I yelled, "Anything else?"
Angela laughed and yelled, "No! That's all! Just 'Thank-you, Stephanie!'"
Nodding, I slipped a bit farther away from her and said, "Steph, you made her day. Possibly her month."
"Just doing my job, sir."
The vultures were less than thrilled to see us enter the thermal column. Two of them peeled away and headed north pretty much right away. Another one soon decided to leave, as well. The other three seemed content to stay on the far side of the column from us as we all circled upward.
I decided to see if vultures were color blind.
"Green on," I said.
The vultures showed no concern.
"Yellow on."
Two of the vultures faltered in flight. The third one seemed to have better nerves than his buddies.
3rd World Products, Inc., Book 4 Page 30
