Every Last Mother's Child
Page 236
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It was as she unhooked from the computer network that Alice realized that her mother was lost. Over the last few months she had not spoken much to Jonesy, she didn’t want to break her cover, but she had tried to keep in contact with her. She wasn’t sure what their connection was. She called Jonesy to discuss things, and Jonesy treated her like both an equal and yet her daughter. As she absently buttoned her blouse as a tear crept down her cheeks. She didn’t even know she could cry. Her mother had done such a good job of designing her that she could have the emotional release of crying.
“Are you okay LT.” the sergeant asked not knowing how to approach Alice. He had worked with her as she brought the computers up doing things she couldn’t do on her own. He knew she was a humbot, but was surprised when he saw what he knew as a machine, begin to cry.
“Yes no.” Alice got to her feet, “I don’t know. My mother died on the weapons barge.”
“I thought it was... Oh you mean the being that created you,” The sergeant said, he was totally confused, he reached out and held the humbot. He was surprised how much she felt like a real person. “Come on let’s get out of here.”
He took her back to her office and left her alone while he wrote up the report. Just as he was ready to present it to Alice, General Qoum walked in to their shop.
“As you were,” the general said, “Where is the lieutenant.”
“She in her office sir,” the sergeant said, “She’s not been herself since we got the computers on. I think her mother died. I don’t understand that. She’s a humbot.”
“Jonesy, the evacuation command’s logistic officer created her. Jonesy managed to defeat the DeepSpaceJunior from giving the weapons barge to the Republican fleet; but so much of her was on the barge and some one set off a bomb on the space dock she was to live in, and she was killed on the barge as she couldn’t get off it before calling fire down on it. She gave her life to prevent those weapons from going to a hostile enemy. She is a hero.”
“Damn,” the sergeant said, “I guess she is.”
The general entered Alice’s office and found her quietly working. He watched her for a second before announcing his presence.
“Oh hello general,” Alice stood up. The general motioned her to sit and sat down himself.
“Alice there is nothing I can say about Jonesy.” The general said, “Without her, we wouldn’t have been able to evacuate nearly half the people we did. She made the impossible possible. The people of Trena owe her a great debt of gratitude.”
Alice was quiet.
“We also owe one to you.” the general said, “You did the one thing no one else was able to do. Find the computer that was sabotaging our efforts. You and your mother helped the people of Trena better and more effectively than my staff. Thank you.”
Alice was silent not knowing what say next.
“Lieutenant, General Langtree has requested that you be reassigned to his command, to help him close up his operation.” The general said, “Oh he did mention that your clumsiness has gotten better.”
“Much better general,” Alice smile remembering the coffee she had spilled on the general months ago. “Sir may I take Sergeant Anderson with me?’
“Yes,” the general said, “Alice. I am not sure what the future holds for me. I will most likely retire, but if I have a command anywhere in this universe. You look me up. You will have a position with my command.”
“Thank you sir,” The humbot came to attention and saluted. The general saluted and left.
“Sergeant Anderson,” Alice called. “We’re reassigned to General Langtree at Fletcher. Find us some transport and let’s go. Sergeant Timmins, I am turning this unit over to you. Let’s go Andy!”