The Second Dimension

Saturated storage

When she regained consciousness, Dr Orway had begun a long, sanctimonious speech. Rose had decided in advance not to give a damn, swallowing her burning feeling of helplessness.

-Anyway,' said Orway. Get up on the platform, 2475001.

Rose, having no desire to experiment again with the whims of the Sensors, against whom any attempt was ineffective, took her place in the centre of the platform.

Orway left the room and returned in the company of three other people, dressed in the same way as her. Without the medals. So much the better, Rose thought, the medals make the skinny Orway look like she's going to bend under their weight.

Dr Orway stepped up to the microphone.

-Don't you dare break our rules a second time, 2475001. That was just a taste of what I might do.

Rose glanced angrily in her direction.

-I'm sorry to bother Your Highness, but the monitor behind you has switched on,' she said tartly and sarcastically. If Her Majesty deigns to turn around.

Her eyes crinkled with suspicion, Orway turned her head in the opposite direction. She did not see Rose discreetly reach for a scalpel on an iron shelf.

-No,' said Orway. There's nothing there. What are you doing here, 2475001?

Rose glared coldly at her.

-'One word and I'll slit your throat, Your Grace. You have no leverage over me.

One of the three men held her by the shoulder.

-Try it, 2475001, you're ashamed of your predictability. Drop the knife.

Rose freed herself from the man's grip and approached the central monitor without being stopped.

-Go on, then. Enjoy yourself. You'll be sorry, said Orway.

Rose severed the monitor's power cable and it shut down pitifully.

Orway whispered something to the Researchers in Avenian, the language of the province of Avenia. The words made sense to the Researcher, who left the room. Perhaps they had been taught Avenian in Blancheville or perhaps they had come from Aetys or Aclae.

The sight of Orway, perfectly calm and composed, only made Rose more angry.

Then something happened that Rose didn't understand. A sort of vibration distorted the air and hit Orway hard, sending her flying a few metres away.

Far from being furious, Orway smiled in satisfaction. Before she could get up, Rose slammed her against the linoleum floor.

-What does His Highness say now?" she hissed, rage distorting her features, the blade pressed against Orway's neck. Blood was beading at the end of the blade's edge.

-She says that no matter how impulsive you are, you'll never get ahead of me, you fool,' said Orway with delight. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Suddenly thrown back, Rose felt a firm hand grab her wrists and lace them. She remained in this position for a few moments, as hurtful as it made her feel.

-Her Majesty,' said Orway in a sweet voice, imitating Rose's sarcastic words. I like the name you gave me. Say it again.

Rose bit her lip. Orway was only trying to humiliate her. That's all.

The pressure on her wrists increased - did she still have blood? - and she took a deep breath without answering.

-You've wasted a lot of my time today,' Orway said. But I have to admit I was planning to test the intelligence of the EGMs with you today - much nicer than the other task on my schedule, bone strength. Again, I was planning to do it on a machine, but would it really be useful when you can get such good results at such low cost?