Artificial(ish) Intelligence

Chapter 85

Adelaide ducked quickly, barely escaping the low cross-beam. The tubes weren't meant for people. But then she wasn't on her own, either, her entire body draped over a deliverybot, as if forming a new skin. She held on tight as it jerked right at an intersection, then left at another, the extra weight causing the metal to flex.

Dong. Doinngggg.

It wasn't headed for the right apartment, and was incredibly uncomfortable, but it would at least get her inside the complex. The problem was the precise and overarching lack of any escape hatches. As I said, they're not meant for people. Do keep up. I feel like I'm repeating myself here.

While hanging on for dear life, she had enough composure to wonder why this wasn't more of a safety concern in general. If she could do this, criminals could: thieves, murderers, rapists. Luckily for the people whose apartment she was about to intrude upon, it was only her.

The duct shrunk on all sides as they neared the apartment chute. It was going to be a tight fit, even for Adelaide's body, and her high heels screeched against the metal. Instead of steadfastly hanging on, like Will may have stupidly attempted, she released her grip and let the coarse material drag her off the deliverybot, which continued the last half metre to the apartment.

She heaved herself up, one elbow at a time, until emerging through the chute. The room was bright compared with the tunnels, and while waiting for her eyes to adjust she unconsciously fixed her hair.

"Allo allo allo, what 'ave we 'ere, then?" said a voice.

Her hands froze as she blinked a few times.

Bobb's imposing physique blossomed before her. "We 'ave determined your ah-illegal entry and 'ave followed your ack-tiv-a-ees closely."

So this is why more criminals didn't use this entrance. She should have known there'd be sensors.

"Let me at her," said another voice. It belonged to the Little Old Lady(tm), smacking a large rolling pin onto her hand.