Deep Black Road: The Head of the Snake

Chapter 20

"Lieutenant General Orkan," linked the soldier.

"Go ahead, sergeant."

"I've been monitoring Dr. Sheppard's Network connection and link per your order, and just intercepted a link conversation with his boy robot. Do you want the audio file?"

"Please. Were you able to locate its point of origin?"

"No sir. Whatever the robot was using, it isn't regulation; and he gave no useful clues in what he said either."

"I see. Thanks anyway."

General Orkan leaned back in his chair. So Ricky's still alive. Outstanding.

After reviewing the recorded conversation, he called up the Appalachian CDA, and asked to be put through to the Sensors network.

"Sir?" came the immediate response.

"Put your units on alert for ten hundred hours tomorrow. The Sheppard robot intends to enter Pittsburgh by means unknown sometime after that to meet with Dr. Sheppard at the university. Locate it, track it, identify its point of departure if possible. I want to know where it's been hiding."

"Yes, sir."

#

"I've got a bogey coming in hot and low at seven o'clock," exclaimed the on-duty technician at eleven fifteen the next morning.

"Give me a visual!" said the captain in charge, and then linked, "Lieutenant General Orkan."

"... Yes, Captain?"

"Dr. Sheppard's robot is nearing the southern outskirts of Pittsburgh. It's flying."

"Lost it," said the technician.

"Okay, General," said the captain as he checked the sensors record. "It seems it's landed just outside the city limits."

"Get a monitor on it immediately!"

The captain made several selections on his screen, and tapped an icon. "Sent, sir."

"Good. Keep me advised."

#

Ricky picked up the radio signature of a spy-bot, and leaned casually against a nearby building to wait and see if it would come into view, since he wanted to be sure it was in fact following him. For all he knew, it was checking on a crime in progress, or some other problem.

The spy-bot soon appeared above the intersection Ricky had just crossed, and stopped; and he hacked into it.

Yup, it sure is looking for me. That means the CDA knows I'm here. Which means they were expecting me. Which means they intercepted my call to my builder. Which means they're very interested in me. Great.

He looked at the spy-bot. Nothing personal, but I don't want you following me.

#

"Captain, sir?" said the technician who was looking after the monitor.

"Yes, Corporal?"

"The monitor-it's gone up onto the roof of the West Provincial Specialties store on Kimberley Street to watch for, um, dragons, sir."

The captain covered his face in his hands for a moment and thought, Did that robot kid actually do that? Then he said, "See if you can get the thing operational again. I'll try something else."

"Yes, sir."

Something low-tech, thought the captain, and chose the appropriate person from his terminal screen.