10 Minute Tales

Mar 14

Abe returned eventually, carrying a variety of memory crystals. "Miss Aurora, I trust you're ready?"

"Ready to use a weapon?" she grinned, cracking her knuckles. The gesture was purely for show, but it made its point. "You're damn right I am."

"Very good." Abe chuckled. Queenson was a little less comfortable with the idea of the schizophrenic android holding a weapon, but he chose not to say anything. "What manner of weapon would you use?"

"Rifle seems good." she grinned, pretending to hold one. Her stance was worryingly accurate already.

"Sniper or assault?"

"Assault, I'd guess. Both would be nice."

"One at a time." he frowned softly. Aurora stared back, but eventually stood down. "Assault, then?"

"Yeah, I guess." she shrugged.

"Please lie down." Abe gestured to the table. Aurora obliged, laying face down. The panel in her back opened up.

"Don't do anything stupid." she warned, moments before her eyes dimmed. Queenson relaxed, not even aware that he had tensed up.

"Jeez, this is not a good idea." he sighed. "She's crazy and we're just letting her learn how to use a weapon."

"She is somewhat unstable, I cannot deny, but it is better to have her that way. Sentinel can not control her if she is not in full control of herself. That is how artificial intelligences work, after all."

"I guess, but arming her? What if she goes A.W.O.L.?"

"Then we outgun her. We can teach her, but she must be the one to learn. Even if she surprises us, it is two against once." Queenson frowned his arms, unimpressed.

"So, if she does go hostile, you've got nothing."

"In essence." he shrugged, holding up a soldering iron. "Can you give me that solder?"

"Hang on." Queenson obliged. "So what do you get out of this?"

"I do not understand."

"Well, you're attacking Geoco, but I thought you had connections in there - enough to stay comfy, at least."

"Your point?"

"You're taking down one of your own sources of revenue, right?"

"It is true that I am able to acquire some funds from my connections there..."

"Only some?"

"Indeed. However, that source has proven volatile recently. I am cutting my losses."

"By destroying the source of so many people's livelihoods, directly and indirectly. If Geoco goes down, people are gonna panic, there's gonna be a war. Apartheid all over again."

"Yes, that would be unfortunate." Abe muttered, focusing on his work.

"Unfortunate's one word for it." Queenson frowned. "I thought you would help those who couldn't help themselves."

"And I shall. This is just one step towards granting everybody equality."

"Hm... anarchy, right?"

"Indeed." Abe nodded. "There is wisdom in the will of the people."

"The higher-ups aren't pure evil, they can see more problems than the commoners and they're obliged to help as they can. The wound from destroying that hierarchy will take years to heal."

"One way or the other, we shall see which ideology shall prevail."

"Guess so. What am I gonna do about weapons, anyway?"

"The doorway I came from should hold your answer." Abe glanced at the door briefly. Queenson nodded and walked over, opening the door and striding through.