by Neely Dobbs
CHAPTER 34: Alliance
Sabanda was asleep. With ADIZ's assistance, she had quickly run through her limited notions for how to identify the code. She knew that it just wasn't her field of strength, but she had tried. Then she had dismissed ADIZ while she took a short nap, prior to the resumption of the meeting. Approximately an hour would pass before the meeting resumed and he had no other pending instructions, so ADIZ initiated standby powerdown.
He stood in the austere cubicle he retired to only when he was not required elsewhere. He had just entered standby mode when a light shimmered in the room and formed a glistening rectangle. Through this passageway stepped a slight figure. ADIZ's alert status instantly activated. He stepped forward to challenge the trespasser, then paused a moment to learn the intruder’s intent.
In that moment, a familiar voice sounded: “ADIZ, respond to directive MI/32H, limited over-ride of protective conflict programming. Prepare to accept program modification. Execute order on my authority, voice recognition Code PA/322; mark, execute.”
“Code and authority confirmed; standing by for new programming, Sir.”
Suddenly, ADIZ's form sagged.