by Ander Nesser
Hakihea asked.
"Ah, well, we've been having a couple problems the last few weeks." The elevator folded open to a short passage made of steel and titanium. Wright led them down and out.
They walked out into an open space with a high ceiling which was crisscrossed with tracks and equipment mounts. The floor was divided by metal separators into a messy grid of various work-stations. Wright led them along a path through the dividers to a large black box, about ten meters to a side. He opened a door in the side and ushered them in. Wright turned up the interior lights to reveal another box made of transparent acrylic. Inside was a jungle of metal bars arranged in several tree-like structures. The clear box-top was perforated with cleanly cut holes.
"This model is almost identical to the missing one. I mean, the destroyed one. Though this is slightly smaller," Wright said.
"Where?" Hakihea said with narrowed eyes and bobbing head.
Wright pointed. They stared at some metal bars where he pointed. "Number Two, show yourself," Wright said in a slightly raised voice. The spot at which they had been staring began to distort and brighten. Small specks of dark green and orange appeared, and then a volume of space lightened in color. The bars shifted and faded, revealed merely as dark patterns on skin. A strange animal appeared, nestled amongst the bars like a monkey on branches. Its skin settled on a light-brown color, stretched over a boney frame. Six prehensile limbs each gripped a bar. There was no visible head, although four leaf-like organs sprouted from the top of a broad torso.
"That's not what I expected," Hakihea said.
"What were you expecting?" Wright asked.
"I don't know, something a little more ... recognizable."
"Well, unlike some Japanese companies, we refrain from anthropomorphizing our robots."
"But it doesn't even look like an animal," Hakihea said.
"Its overall form is not imitative of anything," Wright said. "It's designed purely for functional considerations."
"And what is its function, exactly?" Kask asked.
"This model is for cleaning. Tidying up around the office or home. It can also scrub building exteriors, adhering to vertical surfaces by the van der Waals force."
"Why was it invisible?"
"In some psychological studies, we found that people felt uncomfortable when the robot was sitting and not doing anything, even behind closet doors. So this model camouflages itself while in idle mode."
"And it accepts voice commands," Hakihea remarked. "But how do you program a brain?"
"The same way natural brains are programmed," Wright said. "Genes." Hakihea was frowning at him, so Wright continued. "Much of human behavior, for example, is actually what you would call instinct. It is gene-generated behavior, though we spin elaborate tales of psychology and culture as post hoc explanations for our programming."
"Well, I don't know if I believe that," Hakihea said.
Wright's brows shrugged. "Be that as it may, we have had fantastic success with this method of control over our robots."
Kask stepped closer to the cage. "You still haven't explained how one of these things ended up outside."
"Right, I was getting to that. We've been having ... some problems." Wright led them out of the black box.
"What kind of problems?" Kask said.
"Strange things going wrong with the project. At first we thought it was programming glitches with the machines which sequence DNA, but later we discovered it was sabotage."
"And do you know by whom?"
"Yes, but you can't tell anyone you heard it from me."
Kask and Hakihea looked at each other. "Why not?"
"It involves a competitor, and I don't want them to know how much I know about what they did."
"Don't concern yourself, Mr. Wright," Hakihea said. "We'll keep your secrets as long as we are able to legally do so."
"Very well. About three weeks ago, some employees in this lab attempted to break out a bio-bot and release it into the city. Fortunately, security was able to discover what they were doing and stop them in time. Of course the employees were fired, and a thorough investigation swiftly followed. We discovered that these employees had false identities. They were actually employed by a rival, called 'Helping Hand Robotics'. They had all been hired by us about a month ago, and shortly after that time, the glitches began. So we are confident these were the saboteurs."
"Well, it appears you didn't fire all of them," Hakihea said. "Can we see the security footage from this evening?"
"Of course, just a moment." Wright tapped his arm-comp and walked off as he radioed security.
"It looks like you're right about having this case wrapped up in less than two weeks," Hakihea said to Kask on the side.
"Bad news, gentlemen," Wright said as he returned. "There is no security footage. It seems someone uploaded a virus directly to our servers, which prevented the cameras from recording."
Kask nodded. "Of course. But let me ask you--this is the second attempt to release a bio-bot. What happened the first time with security cameras?"
"They sprayed the lenses with foam," Wright said. "That crude technique is what helped to get them caught."
"Interesting. So a little more sophisticated this time," Kask said.
"Obviously they learned. We didn't even know the footage was missing until I asked just now."
"Are there any other employees working in this lab whom you hired around the same time as the known saboteurs?"
"No. Any remaining spies must have infiltrated us at an earlier hiring period."
"Is anyone close to the project still working this late?" Kask said.
"I think so. Let's see whom I can rustle up. Follow me." Wright led them through the labyrinth of hulking machines. After a few minutes, they encountered a tall man in a white lab suit working at a broad terminal. His fingers danced over equations scattered on the smooth surface. "Hey, Doctor Fearson!" Wright said cheerfully.
The man looked up at him and smiled broadly. "Mr. President! Fancy seeing you down here at such an odd hour." He took off what looked like a large pair of sunglasses, stamped with the letters "DOPCI" on the brim, and they shook bowed.
"And shouldn't you be at home with the wife and kids?" Wright asked.
"Nah. My wife complains about my snoring, so I thought I'd give her a good night's sleep for a change."
"Haha. Well, don't work too late. Have you seen anyone from Organics Division around?"
"Yeah, sure. I saw Dr. Hinman a few minutes ago. He went that way." Fearson pointed.
"Thanks Brett. I'll see you around." Fearson smiled again, and they went off in the direction he had indicated.
Doctor Hinman was standing in the middle of three equidistant cylinders, each several meters thick and reaching to the ceiling. He adjusted bright touch-dials on one of them.
"Dr. Hinman," Wright said. "What's your status?"
"I'm checking some tissue growers to see if I can find evidence of any more sabotage. Haven't found anything else wrong so far," Hinman replied.
"So these tanks are used to grow tissue which you use in the bio-bots?" Kask asked Hinman.
"Not directly. The robots are grown in their entirety from embryos. We don't assemble separate parts. These machines here just grow certain types of tissues for testing purposes."
"So, it's like the chicken you buy at the grocers?" Hakihea asked.
"Yes, exactly," Hinman said. "If you can believe it, just a couple hundred years ago, people raised and slaughtered billions of animals every year for food. Nowadays it's hard to conceive of something so barbarous, but back then it was done unquestioningly. The turning point was only when it became more economical to grow muscle tissue rather than raise an entire animal. The accelerated growth technique was certainly a key factor."
"And that technology enabled you to create the bio-bots?" Kask said.
"Well, yes, in addition to the research motivated by the desire to develop human genes which enable the astronauts to survive cryostasis o
n the colonizing missions."
"You're talking about the fact that the bodies of pioneer taikonauts generate cryoprotectants."
"That was a primary result of the research, but many more biological discoveries were made along the way. And we're entering a golden age of biotechnology as a result."
"Dr. Hinman, we think we may have more Helping Hand spies in your division," Wright said. "Did you notice anyone behaving strangely today? Or anything else unusual?"
"No, can't say that I have. I was at home when the bio-bot was released from the lab, of course. But the work day was perfectly normal. Quite honestly, I thought we purged all the spies. This act of violence against us was rather surprising to me. Although ...." He stared off to the side for a moment.
"Although what?" Kask said.
"What if it wasn't a spy in my division? What if someone broke into the lab?"
"Helping Hand cat-burglars," Wright nodded. "Wouldn't surprise me."
"Yeah, or someone like Phil," Hinman said.
"Who?" Hakihea asked.
"Phillip Warner," Wright answered for Hinman. "He was a bit of boat-rocker down here in the lab. Had to let him go a few weeks ago."
"Because?" Kask prompted.
"He just wasn't a team-player. Very non-constructively critical of everything his teammates did. Couldn't stand things that weren't done his way. But in this company, things are done my way. So he had to go. Maybe he'll start his own business, but I doubt it."
"I see," Kask said.
"I need problem-solvers, not complainers," Wright added vigorously.
There was a moment of silence, and then Hakihea cleared his throat. "Could you provide us with Mr. Warner's address?"
"Yeah, it's right there on the sheet I gave you," Wright said.
Hakihea scanned the list. "Okay, thank you. I don't want to take up much more of your time. We have a lot to think about." He looked questioningly at Kask.
Kask nodded. "I think we're about ready to leave, though obviously we have to see the cage first."
"What cage?" Wright asked.
"From which the bio-bot escaped--or was stolen."
"Well, it didn't escape," Wright said. "Someone would have had to have issued voice commands for it to follow him out of here. And the cage is the one I showed you. We keep them together."
"No one could physically overpower these things, could they?" Kask said.
"No. They're bigger and stronger than humans."
"Okay. I'd still like to take a look at the cage one more time before we go," Kask said.
"Sure." Wright led them back to the black box. Once inside, Kask walked completely around the acrylic cage, inspecting it up and down. The bio-bot was in camouflaged in idle mode, barely visible curled up amongst the climbing bars.
Kask pointed to the upper part of the cage. "The only way to open it is from the top?"
"That's right," Wright said. "By that external mechanism. It's too heavy to lift by hand. And each use of the mechanism is time-logged. But of course, the memory from tonight was erased."
Kask nodded. "Then I think we're about done here. Just one more thing. Do you know this woman?" He showed him a photograph of Cai from his arm-comp.
Wright shook his head. "No, who is she?"
"Evelyn Cai. We believe she may have some information relevant to the case."
"Hm. Well I've never seen her before."
"Okay, thank you."
They all perfunctorily bowed to each other, and Wright showed them to the exit. They went back up the elevator and passed through the bleached-bone lobby. The secretary's desk was still empty.
When Kask and Hakihea walked out onto the transport platform, the stars were out in the sky.
Kask stopped, looking up through the gaps in the glittering black towers. "You know, my father used to tell me in his letters that back when he was growing up, you couldn't see stars from the cities," he said. "Too much light pollution."
"Um ...," Hakihea said.
"Of course, that was even back before the Global Unity edict which re-organized all the cities into circular plans. Before the 'Garden World Laws' when there was little forest left. Now there are still city lights, but engineered not to create so much skyglow. Did you know that?"
"Wait a second. Before the Garden World Laws? Your father was alive way back then?" Hakihea spoke incredulously.
Kask nodded. "Time dilation."
"Oh, right." Hakihea shook his head. "You know, I'm really tired. Let's say we call it a night--pick it up tomorrow morning."
"We're almost done. But I can continue without you if necessary."
"Where do you want to go now?"
"To see Phil Warner."
"It's late. He might be sleeping."
"Justice doesn't sleep," Kask said as he approached their transporter. "Besides, it's good to catch persons of interest off-guard. If he's hiding something, I don't want him alert and wary."
Hakihea sighed. "Fine, I guess I'll go with you. This had better be quick." He followed him into the transporter .
1:42 AM >
Warner's seventy-floor apartment building looked like a thin plate of graphite wedged between the fat steel rods of business towers. Their transport rail guided them gently downward to a dock on the second floor, just above the walk-troughs.
Kask disembarked and looked down at the walk-trough, which was an off-white groove between buildings, lit at regular intervals by yellow lights. While Hakihea slowly climbed out of the transporter, Kask pulled out a small device from his trench coat, checking it over before putting it away again.
"What was that?" Hakihea asked as he came up behind him.
"My gat."
"Huh?"
"A sonic stunner. Used a similar thing to pacify trouble-makers in the colonies."
"That technology was originally developed by Pendant, actually," Hakihea said. "They observed how certain whales stun their prey with focused beams of sound. The stun tech just makes people sick and lose control rather temporarily--it can't knock them out, right?"
"Of course not. Unless they hit their head when they fall."
"Wait, you wouldn't use that indoors, would you? The sound can bounce off the walls."
"Not unless I absolutely must. I do have training and experience in how to use it safely. Let's go." They approached the building, following a walkway around to its broad side. There was no entrance or lobby, merely an external elevator tube. Hakihea used his law-enforcement credentials to open the locked elevator door. They entered the metal cylinder and ordered it to the eighth floor. It rushed upward, providing a city view while blasting them with filtered air. They arrived at the floor just before the air cycle was complete, so there was a slight pause before the door slid open.
They stepped into a short, narrow corridor. The bright lamps above were hidden by vine-holding trellises, their light filtered green by wide leaves. There were four apartment doors on each side of the corridor. They approached Warner's number, and Kask noticed a triangular device clinging to the metal wall like a robotic barnacle. But it was actually moving slowly, cleaning the wall as it went. A logo of a stylized out-stretched hand was painted on its top. Kask rang the door.
After a minute, the door slid open, and a disheveled, middle-aged man stood looking up at them.
"What the ... ?" the man said, followed by a very rude expletive in a sincerely questioning tone.
"Oh, ah, ah, we're so sorry to bother you, uh ..." Hakihea stammered.
"Are you Phil Warner?" Kask asked.
"Yeah, what of it?"
"We're so sorry to wake you, Mr. Warner," Hakihea said soothingly.
"Wake me? You think I was sleeping? You think a man like me has time to sleep?!"
"A man like you?" Kask said.
"Yeah! A hard-working man! I have ideas! I have things to do!" Warner jabbed at his own chest. "Sleeping!" he scoffed.
"This is Municipal Sheriff Hakihea, and I'm Acting Detective Kask. We'd like to ask you
a few questions. It won't take much of your time."
The man stuck his head out into the corridor and looked both ways. Then he ushered them in. "Well I bet I know what this about. What have they done?" Warner asked as walked away from them.
"Who?" Hakihea asked.
"Pendant. They've done something illegal, haven't they?"
"Why would you say that?" Kask said as he took off his fedora.
Warner turned and looked at him in the eyes for a moment. Then he shrugged and walked on. The apartment was a single long room--more like a hallway than a room--molded out of glossy white plastic. The walls were lined with bright, back-lit photographs which provided most of the light. There was a single floor-to-ceiling window at the far end.
Kask looked closely at the murals. They seemed to be natural scenes from around New Zealand--Ruapehu, Rangitoto, the Fjords, the Alps--and in each one a small figure. In one of them the figure was being chased through grass by a huge, wingless bird--the two-meter tall South Island Giant Moa. He gestured to the picture. "Is this you?"
Warner nodded. "A long time ago. I hired a photographer and a guide to take me outside the city. Made several trips around the islands." He reached his desk and sat with his back to the window, which afforded a view only of other windows.
"And I see you made a friend," Kask said.
"Well, we had a little misunderstanding," Warner said, looking at the moa. "Most of the time I was worried about Haast's eagles, and never considered I might annoy an herbivore."
"It seems you may have annoyed someone at Pendant as well," Kask said. Warner's desk was strewn with esoteric lab devices. Shelves between the pictures were stacked with dissoluble information sheets. "And you've been continuing your work here since leaving them?"
Warner slapped his desk and pointed at Kask. "Let me tell you something. I have been more productive here in my flat in the past eight days than I have at the company for the past eight months. Pendant operates on the basis of personal whims and flighty feelings. Here I can actually do the work."
"But you didn't quit, did you? You were fired," Hakihea said.
"Who told you that?" Warner snapped. Then he leaned back in his seat and waved his hand. "I was about to quit anyway. I complained and stirred up the pot a little. Figured I had nothing to lose."
"So what is your work, exactly?" Kask asked.
"Well, at Pendant my job was ass-kissing and writing memos which nobody read. Here, I do what I was trained to do. Biological robotics." He gestured to the tools on his desk.
"But that is what Pendant is doing," Hakihea said.
"On a much smaller scale. They are interested in creating autonomous maids and vacuum cleaners. I am working on a revolution. A paradigm shift of almost all technology." Warner blew air loudly from his mouth. "Are you guys going to tell me why you're here, or what?"
Kask opened his mouth, but Hakihea spoke. "Well Mr. Warner, we're investigating a case of vandalism against Pendant."
"You're kidding. That's what you're wasting my time on?"
"A bio-bot was destroyed," Kask said.
Warner leaned forward onto his desk. "Oh? That is interesting. How?"
"On reserved land at the edge of the city," Kask said. "It was torn to shreds. Gelatinized, more accurately."
Warner leaned back and made a chuckling scoff. "Then what do you need to talk to me for?"
"Pardon me?" Hakihea said.
"Well, isn't it
