Mark Tiedemann - Mirage

"We have no position on the alleged failure. We haven't seen the evidence on it, therefore we cannot determine the validity of the suggestion. Personally, I find it ludicrous. As for the Phylaxis Group, I don't understand what you mean."

Chassik raised an eyebrow. "Really. Phylaxis built that absurd robot that failed to protect Senator Eliton. Phylaxis is in charge of analyzing the RI in Union Station. The claim that the RI failed has come to us from a variety of sources, some of them quite reliable. If you don't believe that it failed and Phylaxis says it did-well, in light of the incompetence of the bodyguard, can you accept their word?"

"Are you suggesting collusion between Phylaxis and-"

"I'm not suggesting anything," Chassik said quickly. "But I have constituents who are quite uneasy about that robot and after witnessing its performance yesterday, I can't say I disagree with them. If there isn't collusion, there is gross incompetence. We can't have Phylaxis damaging our reputations. It was a Solarian firm that installed the RI."

"I'll look into the matter, Ambassador. Is there anything else?"

Chassik seemed thoughtful for a time. "Have you spoken to the Terran Authorities yet?"

"No. I've requested updates on their investigation, but so far I've received nothing."

"Hmm. When you do hear from them, would you let me know what they say?"

"I'm sure you'll be informed at the same time-" Ariel began.

"A favor, Ms. Burgess. In return, I'll share what I receive from them. It may be that aspects of this will be overlooked."

"I see. I'll let you know, Ambassador. Thank you."

"Oh, and one more matter. I'm officially informing you that the RI at Union Station is being removed by Solarian specialists."

Ariel blinked. "Removed…? When?"

"Work begins today."

"But-I should have been informed."

"I'm informing you now. You have been difficult to reach."

"A Calvin Institute representative is required to be on site for-"

"Ms. Burgess, this is Earth. They have no such regulation. The fact that your people were consulted when we installed it was a political courtesy. Now they want it out and they don't care. They need to get the station up and running and a replacement has already been chosen. All that needs to be done is the removal of the RI, which we have been requested-strongly requested-to do with all haste. If you have anyone from the Institute you can spare, send them around."

"It doesn't matter that this is Earth-this is a Spacer regulation."

"Time, Ms. Burgess, time." Chassik shook his head as if exasperated with her. "My people were contacted early this morning and the request was on my desk when I arrived. I understand their haste, even if I have reservations. The RI is defunct, totally collapsed, a useless mass of pathways. This is a simple physical extraction."

"Has Phylaxis been contacted? Is Derec-Mr. Avery there?"

"I don't know. Would his presence mollify you?"

"I'm not sure." Ariel fought back her irritation. "I don't have anyone to spare. Please make sure they document the removal and forward a report to me."

"I'll see to that, of course."

"Thank you. "

"Good day."

Ariel stared at the blank screen, fuming over the breach in protocol. It was not just a matter of form, but a question of accountability. How could she know that everything was done properly without an inspection? She would have to trust them. She imagined that it was the same Solarian company that had installed it in the first place, which did little to assuage her apprehensions.

Why the rush…? she wondered.

After a time, Hofton interrupted again. "Ariel, Trina Korolin is calling. And I have those downloads for you." At a little past two, Ariel wanted to go back to her apartment. The pressure behind her eyes had mounted steadily over the last two hours till she could no longer deny it and her patience had frayed in equal measure.

Trina Korolin seemed far too young and certainly lacked the experience for what she had volunteered to do, but if enthusiasm and commitment meant anything perhaps she could manage it. Ariel had put her in touch with Jonis Taprin and hoped for the best.

After that, she had spent the rest of her time dealing with panicked Aurorans and at least five attorneys who threatened suits on behalf of Terrans who had been injured or simply frightened senseless at Union Station. They could not sue Aurora -the diplomatic arrangements between Spacer worlds and Earth made it virtually impossible-but they could bring suit against resident Spacers who owned businesses. For the most part, they were only threats designed to elicit out-of-court payments. Ariel told them to go ahead and file, that she thought it likely that, once it was brought to the attention of certain government departments what they were doing, they could lose their licenses rather than risk countersuits by Aurorans. The conversations turned ugly in a couple instances, with one attorney telling her bluntly that he intended to press the suit anyway if there was any chance of getting the damn Spacers off Earth.

Her responses grew sharper and sharper until she finally told Hofton to stop putting the calls through. She could no longer concentrate on her job. Her attention was divided.

"Ariel," Hofton's voice came over the intercom, "I have recordings of the incident, as you requested. Two for now, a third one has been promised."

"I'll view them at my apartment later. Thank you, Hofton."

She stared into space, letting her thoughts collide randomly.

There had been gaps in the exchanges with Agent Sathen and Gale Chassik. She kept turning over in her mind what else they might have left out. Sathen had pointedly said nothing about the two agents who had come to see him after Mia's admission to the hospital. Chassik's implication of wrongdoing against Derec infuriated her. He had danced over the fact that it was a Solarian firm that had installed the RI at Union Station and that if any collusion were involved it would be between that company and the conspirators. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that both Sathen and Chassik had made deliberate omissions, and in the case of Sathen, at least, unwilling omissions.

Ariel had never gotten used to the standard practice reticence diplomatic service entailed. Not being told things because it was "not your area " or was not part of her "need to know" irritated her to the point of fury, but she had come to accept it. This was different, though she could not quite define how. There was a distinction between covering one's butt as a matter of routine and covering up. She could sense the change even when it defied specification.

Perhaps her insight came only from the fact that Mia Daventri was hiding out in her apartment. It seemed curious that Special Service could pronounce her dead without a single tissue sample.

She stabbed the intercom.

"Hofton, I'm going home. Unless war breaks out before tomorrow morning, handle it."

"As you command," Hofton intoned with mock gravity.

"Don't be impertinent."

"Never."

In spite of her headache, Ariel smiled. She gathered up the disks of all the downloads Hofton had gotten for her and slipped them into her pocket.

She stepped into the lobby and raised her hand to gesture good-bye to her staff.

"Ariel," Hofton said, looking up from his desk, "you might want to take this call."

"I might?"

"I think so. It's Derec Avery from the Phylaxis Group."

Derec waited restlessly in the small Phylaxis Group reception lounge.

The room contained comfortable chairs, a bar, a subetheric, a viewer on which could be displayed promotional or educational material-a pleasant environment in which clients could become better acquainted with Phylaxis, its work, and positronics. Derec remembered the party held here when they had received their license. His truncated staff and Senator Eliton and a few of his own aides had toasted the future, the gamble they were taking, the hope that things would change. It had been the only time anyone had actually used the room.