Inhumanity

Chapter 20

Javi'PoV
I hurry down the corridors, I need to hear exactly what happened. I only got five words down the phone line. Eve went over the border. This isn't right one minute she was here on snowpeircer, we were planning a date and now she's leapt over boarder lines. I open the door to hospitality "thought Ben was attending the meeting" Roche says. I shake my head "we had an argument about who to send I won" I say simply. Layton enters looking like he hasn't had much rest, but I suppose if there's an uprising going on I wouldn't be sleeping easy either "what happened with Audrey, Ruth?" He asks urgently. Like always Eve is a second thought. Ruth clasps her hands noticing my annoying "She was standing right there with him. Across the border. I couldn't hear much, but it looked like he was offering her a choice." She repeats the story. Layton tilts his head "She chose to stay." He says in disbelief. Ruth nods but seems uncertain "That's what it looked like. But I cannot know her motives." I bite my cheek, tapping my fingers impatiently "It was a risk sending Audrey over there." Roche voiced his opinion. Zarah leans forward in her seat "Well, she was there on a mission for you, wasn't she? Did she complete it?" She presses. Everyone looks to me, I sigh "No.We still don't have access to their comms." I hate that we actually went along with this pointless mission. Her gaze travels round the room as she speaks "So maybe she just stayed behind to finish the job." I doubt it. Ruth shakes her head "Well, either way, she's Miss Audrey,Doyenne of the Nightcar.She's one of us." She's right of course, it looks bad and we all know that rumours fly fast on snowpiercer. Layton rubs his forehead "Looks like a defection even if it isn't."

There's a long pause "and Eve, what happened there? Because eve certainly isn't leaping into big Alice unless she had good reason" I ask. Ruth bites her lip, "I'm honestly not even sure what happened there" I wasn't aware she was even in the tail. The alarms were going off. The door was closing and then she shoved past me and slipping in. Just in the nick of time" she run a hand down her arms. Roche mirrors my expression "well that doesn't seem preplanned" he comments. Zarah and Ruth are just confused "but she's a robot, thought she was capable of forethought and planning" Zarah says looking directly at me. I nod "yeah most of the time Eve is capable of both those things and usually very quickly. And don't get me wrong she is doing that 95% of the time. but she has proven to be shortsighted during moments of heightened stress and emotion. It's what makes her more human than most AI". Layton raise an eyebrow "so this was just one of those times that she didn't think ahead". He suggests. I nod and then shake my head "probably, I'd need access to her data. But that isn't available to us because she need to connect manually... which she can't do". Ruth nods "so the alarms and panic? They will have caused this reaction". I snort "I doubt that, eve is used to alarms." Realisation hits Roche "it's Audrey isn't it?". I nod quickly "yeah. Eve sees audrey in possible danger, emotions and stress kick in. There's the jumping over the border"

Roche nods "and now we have another possible deserter in the eyes of the passengers" he states. Layton shakes his head "thought there was a dislike and lack of trust from the passengers". I hate how this is a pr discussion now "she was able to sway them with her performance at the launch party" Roche says. Zarah looks hopeful "so maybe she's safe over there, their unlikely to hurt her. I watched her and Wilford. He treats her... like a daughter". I scoff "that was in front of people, big Alice is a whole other ball game" my words come out angry. But honestly they should know, maybe that way there would be more of hurry too get Eve back. Layton nods "javi is right, Audrey is safe for now... eve is not" he opens the door "come on javi let's go make a call to Wilford" We leave the room, Layton pauses "ruth we may need your hospitality diplomacy".

Ben is sat up front "well?" He asks. Layton nods "we need to get him on the phone negotiation for eve begins now, as far as we know she's not safe and that's a good enough reason." Ben nods determinedly, a look of relief on his face. He switches the mic on, opening up our lines of communication "Big Alice, Big Alice.Good day from Snowpiercer. Come in..." there's a calmness that I don't understand how he's managing to keep up. No answer from Wilford "Big Alice, Big Alice. Snowpiercer calling. Come in." Still silence "Pick up, Big Alice. I know you're listening, you psychotic old goat." And there goes any false politeness. Wilford answers "Hello, Ben. You sound needy." Ben goes to speak but he's cut off "We're going to be hitting the Himalaya Roundabout tonight. Big event. We're turning back for your brave chief, Melanie." He knows we don't are about that at the moments.