The virgin & the bad boy (Gravity)

B2/Chapter21/Informant

Headquarters of the occupation force/Spaceport base/Mars

Jackabuous looked sternly over the screen showing a stream from the on robot cameras from Scarlett's escape in the bar.

"So they got away," he said to the rack of processors he kept securely in his office. Next to them was the robot the direction of operations used when he needed to have a mobile presence.

"If you wish to blame us then turn on yourself. You won't let us kill children. It hardly matters. What is important is the informant was correct. While trapping the shadow would be useful, capturing her entire network is of greater importance. When you remove any cancer you must be careful to remove any infected material cleanly. Leave any trace behind and it can grow again, faster and harder than before. If it makes you feel any better then remember we can make the informant move against her whenever we want" said the machine.

Jackabuous liked the way the robot used the 'we want'. It showed an arrogance he never liked.

"Brevity was never your strong point was it?" said Jackabuous watching the aria of bullets, smoke and booth splinters unfold in unmatched technicolor before him. She escaped but only because all the robots in the room were all doing their best to protect their owners and her. 

He watched the video of Scarlett's flips,  the mars girl could move, he's give her that. They knew the movement confused the motion tracking in the robot's vision system. Odd how they were so ineffective against an average cheerleader. They had sent a demand back to earth for a software update.  

"The smuggler survived he's an adult. Next time kill him" said Jackabuous.

"He's from Mercury," said the machine. 

The smuggler's survival was not by chance. Robots don't miss but they can use fire power to stop somone. The mercurial smuggler with her would have to be killed 'by an accident' to keep the Blue-axis powers, as Earth and the federation of neutrals was now calling itself, in agreement.

"There are well-hidden indications the smuggler called Han Sai Wang may be an agent for the Mercurial special operation division. It's known that certain sectors within the Mercurial military are uncomfortable with the truce and are secretly seek to subvert it. A revolt on Mars would be the kind of disruption which might favor those for whom are not content with the blue-axis nonaggression pact"

"Find him and kill him, this time do it without an audiance," said Jackabuous.

"While your eagerness will do you credit. I will remind you it is just this kind of recklessness which lead to your over eager attack on the Venusian sky city of Arambo and your transfer here." the machine said through the table.

"Tact is not your strong point either," said Jackabuous.

He paused while the face of Scarlett spinning came up in front of the camera. He recognised her from college. She looked calmly confident, she was almost enjoying her self. The arrogance of a girl who knows she can't be shot.

"I'm a solider," said the computer " I might be saddled with your presence, but I don't have to enjoy it"

Jackabous got up and walked to the server rack.

"See this red button," said Jackabous pointing at a mushroom shaped red button on the machine's front pannel. "You're protected by countless intrusion systems, secondary and tertiary power, redundant backups. I press this button and you go off. Totally and utterly. I am the last line in defence about machines like you taking over. Don't think I wouldn't press it to save humanity? Think again. "

"I am here solely to further the aims of the great Terran Empire. " said the Machine.

"Keep it that way," said Jackabuous.

He looked back at the video.

"Kill her, but don't tell Dante" said Jackabuous.

"As far as I am aware he doesn't even know she is alive," said the Machine.

"Where is he now?" said Jackabuous.

"Before his duty hour in the morning he likes to go to the metropolitan museum of non-degenerate art. His security team, keep a close watch on him. He will be leaving in 10 minutes"