STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR (REVISING)

CHAPTER 6: JEOPARDY

Thank you for reading this far! From this point forward, you will notice some major discrepancies from previous chapters because this book is undergoing an extensive/story changing revision. I apologize for the inconvenience. Please feel free to bookmark this chapter and keep an eye out for the next update. You can also follow me on social media for the latest news on this and other stories by Sondi. 

From Norma's vantage point outside the Cryopod back at the wall, Magnum Opus had been an impressive droid. In person, she experienced a kick in her chest and a catch in her breath at the sight of him. She was familiar with beautiful. New Silicon Valley was full of beautiful people. The polished glint of engineered good genes. Whatever wasn't corrected in a lab at conception was repaired by the surgical knife at a later date.

Magnum wasn't beautiful. His tousled hair was windswept, and he was dressed in the stylish way of trendy Influencers back home. But the deep-set eyes were too intense. The lips pressed into a smile too hard and thin for that aesthetic. He was a marvel. He towered over the women and filled the doorframe.

Skylar's whiskey-hued orbs jogged his body head to toe. And, if her blank expression was any indication, she found nothing lacking. Norma's lips tilted in a lopsided smile as she pushed forward with a hand extended.

"I'm Norma Mansfield. How do you do, Magnum? Do you know why you're here?"

"One of theirs?" Skylar asked.

Norma raised a finger. Her friend squared her shoulders, miffed. However, Norma was testing the droid's collaborative range. He slipped a cool hand into hers and applied the right amount of pressure for a handshake with a brief nod. Full expressive motion. Steady eye contact. She could tell at a glance his payload would be off the charts, but there were no force-limiting effects, meaning he was engineered for agility and safety.

"I'm... pleased to meet you, Ms. Mansfield." His words were delivered in the bright notes of a basic service droid, but his inflections were near human. "Reporting for innovative reprogramming."

"Excellent! Right this way." Norma tugged Skylar aside, allowing the AI to enter the house. She quickly ushered him toward her basement lair until Sky beckoned her with a jerk of the head. Leaving Magnum waiting, Norma followed her. A wry thought occurred her. The tables of life had turned, and Skylar was the one trying to talk sense into her.

"I don't like phase two of today's surprises," Skylar groused.

"He's our assistant." Norma raised her eyebrows. "Running this city will require serious muscle, which Mr. Betts delivered. His name is Magnum Opus."

"Mag—?" Skylar paced away in frustration. "A mole, Norma! He delivered a mole. I'm not okay with this."

"Hey, when have I ever not known what I was doing?" She caught her arm and whispered. "While I handle assimilation of the rest of the androids, I need someone managing security and maintaining law and order. Magnum will be perfect... after I tweak a few things with his programming."

"Oh my god, girl. What am I missing? This is an obvious Trojan horse. Mr. Betts, or whoever, has given you the gift of a constant companion to report back to him," her friend railed, staring heavenward.

Norma clasped Skylar's face. "After I tweak a few things," she reiterated for emphasis. Sky scrunched her eyes. Her eyes widened, and Norma nodded. She relaxed her hold, resting her fingers on her friend's shoulders. "I need you to trust me. We have the same endgame, and I know how to accomplish it. Just trust me."

"Big ask, Norma. It's like I know you, but I don't. All I know is your cover," Sky pointed out.

Norma dropped her gaze, and the burn in her throat returned. Only this woman could do this to her, make her think of the consequences of her actions when, prior to meeting the artist, she would see clear-cut justifications. The recessed mood lights illuminated two people inches apart but separated by miles of misunderstanding.