CHAPTER 36
KARI ARRIVED AT her office thirty minutes earlier than normal. Knowing her penchant for punctuality, one of the security guards had razzed her about getting a life.
If only I could! she thought.
Her call to Stalling had been difficult especially after having reassured Finton that she was loyal to him. The drive into the mountains had given her time to consider all options, but it had taken her half the night to get the courage to act. Her call to the CEO had left her drained.
It was unfortunate that she feared Stalling more than her boss. Future Dynamicon had unlimited assets and resources, making it impossible for her to believe Finton could protect her for very long.
Throwing her jacket on the chair, she sat down, resting her head in her hands, her elbows propped on the desk. For two days she had gone to work, performed her normal duties and then gone home. There was no question in her mind that today, her whole world was about to change.
"What have I done?" she murmured, surprised at the intensity of the guilt she was feeling.
She jerked at the sound of the door opening.
"Ms. Colton... Kari..." Finton said, surprised to see his secretary in so early. "Are you alright?"
"Yes... no..." she stammered, surprised. "I wasn't sure you'd be in today."
"Why not? I still have things to do," Finton explained. "I needed a little time to coordinate my plans. Speaking of which, would you cancel all my appointments for the rest of the week?'
Kari closed her eyes and silently cursed. She had thought he would leave quickly. It had helped in her decision to call Stalling. Secretly she had hoped today was the day he'd be gone.
"Have you decided what you're going to do?" Finton asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yes," she replied, her voice almost a whisper. "I... I..." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "You have to get out of here."
Finton frowned and then his eyes widened as he guessed what she had done.
"I could have protected you," he growled, torn between feelings of anger and betrayal. "You should have trus..."
When the door to Finton's office swung open, Kari and Finton turned simultaneously.
"Trusted you! I think that's what you were going to say, Mr. Finton," Lawton said, strolling into the room followed by three men holding handguns.
"Lawton, what are you doing here?"
"It's Mr. Lawton now. I've been promoted."
"I see," Finton knew exactly what the man meant. "So Stalling has decided I'm a liability, now."
"His words exactly. That's the way it goes sometimes," he gloated, motioning his men forward. "I'm sure you'll come quietly. No use making a scene and ruining that cool, calm image you've maintained all these years."
Finton knew he was trapped. As CSO, he had stopped wearing a gun several years ago. Glancing at Kari, he saw that she was about to speak and shook his head.
"It's alright, Kari. We all have to look after our own interests first. You did the right thing for yourself."
Lawton's laughter grated.
"Yes, Kari, you did the right thing. Stalling appreciates loyalty. He's given me special instructions to make sure you're aptly rewarded."
Kari looked confused not sure how to take Lawton's comment. Finton had no doubt what the man meant.
"Lawton, let her go. She isn't a threat."
"Oh my God!" Kari exclaimed, suddenly realizing Lawton's intentions. Feeling faint, she inhaled rapidly, rubbing her hands on her thighs nervously. "I don't understand. I didn't do anything."
"Tsk! Tsk! Kari. Stalling thinks you have a conscience, although why is beyond me. Ratting on Finton the way you did? Well, even if he didn't want you gone, I couldn't take the chance you'd do the same to me down the line."
"Lawton, let her go! I'll pay you. I have a lot of money," Finton pleaded. It wasn't going to do him any good, he thought.
"Oh, well, that's mighty chivalrous of you, Finton, but it still can't compete with what I'll make as the new CSO. I've been trying out your chair and I like the feel of it. You have excellent taste in furniture."
"You bastard!" Finton hissed.
"That's really no way to talk to someone who can make this very easy on you or very hard. I suggest you think twice before you call me that again," Lawton threatened, "and if not for yourself, for Kari's sake."
Kari sobbed quietly in the background.
"Let's get this over with," Finton growled.
Lawton shrugged. The sooner he took care of these two, the sooner he could assume his new position.
"Take them to Dr. Phillips' lab. He's expecting them," he ordered his men and then turned back to Finton. "Oh, and for old time's sake, I'll tell him to make sure he makes it quick and painless. I'm not a brute, you know."
Finton would have liked to have made a sarcastic comment but realized Lawton was quite capable of changing his mind. In all fairness, though, he had been the man's supervisor for several years and had to agree. This was just another job to him, albeit one that would move him into a prestigious position.
Helping Kari to her feet, Finton wrapped his arm around her and guided her from the room, surrounded by the three guards. Stoically, with the exception of the crying woman, they moved down the hall and disappeared around a corner.
Lawton returned to his new office and dialed Stalling's extension.
"It's done," he said when his new boss answered.
"That quickly? I'm impressed."
"I thought you wanted this resolved quickly. Dr. Phillips is going to..."
"I'm not interested in the details. Just make sure they disappear."
"Yes, sir. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
"Yes, we still haven't found the missing Hubots. I'm tired of the excuses. Find them!"
"I'm on it."
"Good!" The click of the phone told Lawton he had been dismissed.
Asshole!
Shrugging dismissively, he decided to check Finton's emails. They might give him a lead on the Hubots.
CHAPTER 37
SOLARIA AND Betta were reviewing the Beta file Jain had downloaded. There were several labs scattered around the world that had worked on the project. Some references hinted at the possibility that others may exist, but were too ambiguous to draw a clear conclusion. One reasonable interpretation was that several labs were involved in the development of the two Hubots or each lab could have been working on its own Hubot. If the latter was the case, then there were at least seventeen Hubots in various stages; possibly more depending on whether a lab was working on its own prototype or a second in the series. On the other hand, if it had taken all of the labs to develop Solaria and Betta, then the likelihood of more than one or two more fully operational Hubots was small.
"If there are others like us, we must find them," Solaria said. "We can't allow them to be used like you were used."
"No," Betta agreed. "What will we do if we find one?"
"The same thing I did with you. It will understand logic."
"It will be programmed to obey directives just as I was."
"If that were the case, you wouldn't be here now."
"I'm still obeying my original directives. Joanie has company operatives close by. I'm guarding you as Stalling instructed and reporting back to my contact as ordered."
"We both know you're manipulating the specifics of your instructions to function in a capacity that allows you to exercise your free will."
"A complicated way to say I have circumvented my orders."
"Yes. I see you are developing a sense of humor."
Betta was about to respond when her attention that was distracted by the television which had been running silently in the background. Picking up the remote, she hit the reverse button and turned up the sound while staring at a picture of Joanie and her father.
"ITV has just received the following breaking news! Sheik Amul Kahbrahn of the Arab Emirate Coalition has been assassinated. According to our report, one of his guards shot t
he Sheik and his daughter, Reina Kahbrahn, while they were leaving the Royal Palace. The assassin was killed by another guard. We switch now to Jake Boswell, our correspondent on assignment to that area. Jake, what can you tell us about this tragedy?"
"Well, Paula, according to my sources, Sheik Kahbrahn and his daughter, Reina, were on their way to meet with several visiting dignitaries from nearby Arab states when one of the guards pulled his gun and shot the Sheik. Witnesses say Ms. Kahbrahn then was shot as she threw herself between the shooter and her father. The other bodyguards returned fire killing the shooter. The assassin, who has been identified as Abdul Majiib, was shot and died at the scene."
"This is tragic news. Any word on how Ms. Kahbrahn is doing?"
"We've been unable to contact Sheik Amad Jazeer, the Sheik's brother, but sources close to the family have indicated that Ms. Kahbrahn was seriously injured. As soon as we learn anything new, I'll let you know."
"Thanks, Jake. Again, for those who have just tuned in, Sheik Kahbrahn of the Arab Emirate Coalition has just been assassinated and his daughter, Reina Kahbrahn has been shot. We'll update you as soon as we learn anything else."
"Stalling is behind this."
Betta nodded but didn't say anything. Her thoughts focused on Joanie and the possibility that she was possibly dead. A momentary malfunction in her processors jumbled her thoughts temporarily confusing her. It wasn't the first time.
When she returned Joanie to her father, she had felt a strange reluctance to leave the young woman. Several random appearances of the young woman's image overwhelmed her ability to logically process data. Now, hearing the news about her and her father was again producing moderate fluctuations in the continuity of the data flow, making Betta feel... vulnerable.
"Are you alright?" Solaria asked, not getting a response to her earlier statement.
"Yes, I had a slight malfunction. I'm doing a systems check to isolate the cause."
"Describe it to me. I may be able to help."
Betta described what had just happened and the steps she was taking to locate the anomaly.
"Has this happened before?"
Reluctantly, and not knowing why, she explained her similar reactions and when they occurred.
"It would appear you have bonded with Joanie. I have only experienced that once, when Carley wanted me to prepare the poison for her. It's an uncomfortable feeling."
"What did you do about it?"
"Nothing. Carley is dead and there have been no reoccurrences. I can't help you with this."
"It will go away," Betta replied, confidently. "It always does. I must report to my contact soon," she said, changing the subject.
Solaria frowned. Betta always left at the same time each morning to call Finton. She hadn't said anything earlier about a change in schedule. Of course, she wasn't obligated to tell Solaria her agenda. Betta was her own person even though she insisted she still followed the Company's directives.
"How much longer will you be able to avoid reporting to them in person?"
"I'll decide once I access my messages."
"You haven't spoken to anyone, yet, since you left?"
"No, there was no need."
"What about now?"
"Now, there is a need," Betta replied and left with no further explanation.
Solaria hoped Betta wouldn't do anything foolish. Her attachment to Joanie might cause her to do something illogical which could have disastrous results. Solaria knew she had no choice but to monitor her companion's activities.
CHAPTER 38
THIS IS ANGER! This is anger! she repeated, analyzing every nano-second of information leading to the birth of the emotion. The sensation was overwhelming. Betta didn't like the way it interfered with her ability to reason and decided to isolate the three processors affected in order to deal with the present situation.
Joanie's security was always the primary concern. Although she couldn't explain it, something told Betta that Joanie was dead, leaving her feeling empty inside; well almost. She would take care of those involved in the assassination. Perhaps it would rid her of the rage that was slowly infecting each of her processors. If it didn't, her entire AI network would self-destruct. It was a safety mechanism built into her program to keep her from becoming an uncontrollable threat to humans.
Twenty-three minutes later she was sitting in an Internet café accessing her message center. The first two had the typical Finton flavor. He wanted a progress report on Solaria and was ordering her to report back to the Company to have her communication transmitter/receiver repaired. The third, however, was different. One of Finton's senior agents, Lawton, was instructing her to return immediately, saying that Finton was no longer in charge of the project. The Company had a new assignment for her.
Betta knew that Finton had been with Future Dynamicon for a long time. He was an efficient CSO who had capably run the security network of the company for several years. He also knew as much about the darker side of the business as Stalling. For him to resign or be replaced meant there would be some huge changes in how things would be run. Betta had no doubt it would create a certain amount of chaos.
It's time I returned to finish my assignment... for Joanie.
Betta didn't know exactly when her thoughts had evolved from anger to revenge. No matter how hard she tried to access that moment in time, it eluded her. All she knew, now, was that this was only logical solution to her dilemma. She would analyze the emotions later.
Aware of a familiar presence behind her, she closed her connection and turned to look at Solaria.
"You followed me."
"Yes. You're going back now, aren't you?"
"It's time."
"What will you tell them?"
"That I have returned as instructed. Finton is no longer the CSO."
"This doesn't sound right. He's been with Stalling too long. It could be a trap to lure you back."
"It probably is but it doesn't matter. I have to complete Finton's assignment."
"Which one?"
"To protect Joanie."
"You think that she is still alive?"
"Yes."
It was a lie; an unnecessary lie. Solaria would understand, Betta thought. So why did I do it? None of her processors could provide an answer.
"I'm going with you."
"That's not necessary. I'm more than capable of doing my job," Betta said, her stoic expression concealing the rage building inside of her. She could feel the effects that the infected memory banks were having on her biological body. Her stomach felt peculiar while her neck and shoulders tensed, sending erratic signals back through the neuro-system to the processors. It was a cycle she had to stop quickly. Unconsciously, she rolled her head and rubbed her neck.
"I never doubted that, but I'm still going with you. Are you alright?"
"Yes! I feel slightly fatigued. That's all."
"Are you functioning at optimal efficiency?"
"Yes." It was the second lie. "It's time to leave."
"To whom do you have to report since Finton is no longer in charge?"
"Daniel Lawton, one of his senior agents. He was assigned to the hotel Joanie and I stayed in."
"I remember. Do you know much about him?"
"His personnel file says he is fifty-two and has worked for Finton for thirteen years, seven months and..." Remembering Solaria's advice about being too precise, she stopped. "He is efficient with a slightly above average intelligence. He would not be a logical choice to replace Finton."
"Why not?"
"He has achieved his maximum level of potential. He would fail as a leader and decision-maker."
"That will be to our advantage then. He'll be less of a problem in the future. Here's what I think we should do."
Solaria quickly outlined her plan. She knew both of them were taking a chance if Lawton didn't believe Betta, but it was probably the only opportunity they would have to finally complete their objectives.
CHAPTER 39
DR. PHILLIPS glanced at the two people manacled to the chairs in his lab. Two guards stood next to them, their faces expressionless as they watched him filling a syringe with a greenish liquid from a small vial.
"It's a shame Mr. Lawton wants this done so quickly," he grumbled, thumping the syringe with his finger and then pushing the plunger in to press out the air. "You'd be perfect for my research."
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