Artificial(ish) Intelligence

Chapter 97

                Daaa daaa.

Da Da.                           Da Da.

                                                       Durr Durr.

The theme music continued to rattle around Will's head, as he finished reciting the grand plan to save Libbi from the evil purple lady.

"This time, there won't be any pairing," he said.

A few others mingled in the large reception area, politely ignoring the crazy man mumbling to himself.

"I'll grab Libbi and escape from the building." He caught a flash of purple out the corner of his eye. "Then we'll prepare to assail the headquarters of Josef Hydan's business."

"Will!"

                Daaa daaa.

Da Da.                            Da Durrr

                                                             rrrrr

                                                                      rrrrr...

There she was, the one he'd come to rescue, floating freely next to, not shackled by, the purple woman. All his enthusiasm seeped away.

"Come on," said Libbi.

"But..." he said.

"We're going back."

"I came to save you," said Will, begrudgingly following them out the door.

"Thanks!" said Libbi, without a hint of irony. It had gone missing. Perhaps she's just not ruffian enough?

"I...I had a plan and everything."

"Uh huh."

"Is she..." started Will. He pulled Libbi aside and nodded to the purple woman. "Is she...all right?"

"All right?"

"As in, can we trust her?"

"Oh, sure," said Libbi. "Her name's Adelaide. We had a great chat and she wants to help us."

"And that's it?" said Will.

"What more is there to say?"

"Is that another one?" said Adelaide, nodding toward the second selfiebot surrounding Will.

"Another...?" said Will. "Oh, no. I mean, it's a selfiebot but it's not...not like Libbi."

If Libbi could smile, she would have.

"There's no special aye-eye inside?" said Adelaide.

"Aye-eye?" said Will, still dumbfounded.

Adelaide leaned in closer to Libbi. "I see what you mean."

"What what means?" said Will.

"How did I think you were a mastermind?" said Adelaide.

"Amateurmind," corrected Libbi.

Adelaide laughed.

"What am I missing?" said Will.

"Quite a bit," said Libbi, "but right now we need to get inside AutomatIO and find my body."

"How can we slip past the defencebots?" said Will.

"It should be sorted by the time you get there," said Adelaide.

A car pulled up.

"But wait," said Will, "I have more to my plan."

Instead of answering, Libbi jumped inside. A bewildered Will followed.

"Good luck," said Adelaide, through the window.

"Aww, she's not coming along?" said Will.

"Don't worry, I'll be there in a way," said Adelaide.

"Ermm, bit mysterious," said Will.

The car took off.

"Thanks for coming, Will."

"Shouldn't you be mad at me, or something?" said Will.

"Why?"

"For leaving you. For not telling you about the un-pairing."

"Shouldn't you be mad at me?" said Libbi. "For not telling you about the game. Or how we paired."

Will placed a finger and thumb on his chin as his eyes rocked upward. "Good point," he said, nodding.

"So we're good?" said Libbi.

"I guess so..."

They rounded a hard corner.

"So how did the game go?" said Libbi.

"Oh. I lost."

"Was I wrong?" said Libbi, shocked. "Did I remember it incorrectly?"

"Oh no," said Will, "I was winning. But I came to save you."

"Aww. That's really sweet."

"Yeah, well..." said Will, his cheeks reddening.

"I'm sorry you couldn't finish it. I know the competition was important to you."

"But you need me, right?" said Will.

"Yes," said Libbi.

"So I'm important!"

"Sure," said Libbi. Ah, we found that irony!