by Simon Haynes
"No, sorry. Even Peace Force officers change them once every decade or so." He noticed Alice. "You helping, are you?"
She nodded, looking embarrassed.
"How was that chocolate bar?"
"I'm sorry. I'll pay for it."
"I know." Birch glanced around the office, inspecting the damage, and his eyebrows went up as he noticed the fallen robot lying behind a desk. "Either that's a novelty coffee table, or you've got yourself a BNE-II crime fighter."
"She might as well be a coffee table now," said Harriet. "She took a grenade blast."
"That wouldn't stop one of those," snorted Birch. "I once saw a BNE smash a tank to pieces."
"What, like an aquarium?"
"No, like an army tank. BNEs were designed for the military originally, but that didn't work out so we got 'em. Too much compassion, apparently."
Harriet's expression tightened. This BNE hadn't shown a whole lot of compassion for her aunt … or for her. "Do you know much about them?"
Birch shook his head. "My station didn't have one. Forzen did, but that was years ago." He crouched to inspect Bernie's fallen form. "I can get someone to take a look, if you like."
"Do you know anyone with a forklift? I just want to get her out of here, really."
"I mean it. This guy fixes up all kinds of goods."
"Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea. She went off the rails."
"Oh, they all did that. They were always getting updates and resets." Birch looked up at her. "Seriously, I know a guy. He'll take a look if I ask him."
Harriet considered it. At the very least, they might be able to keep Bernie awake long enough to get a password out of her. "All right, thanks. But he'll need to be careful. She's unstable, and very strong."
"I'll call him now. Use your commset?" Before she could reply, Birch picked up the handset, then stared as several inches of cord dangled uselessly from the bottom.
"Yeah, we're still tidying up."
"I'll call him from the shop. Bring you some supplies when I come back?"
Harriet nodded her thanks, and he left. She and Alice started cleaning again, trying to get the office as close to original condition as possible. When Birch came back with a load of goodies they took a break for lunch, and then he rolled up his sleeves and joined in with the clean-up.
"What about your shop?" Harriet asked him.
"It'll still be there tomorrow." Birch wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, leaving a sooty smudge. "This really brings back the memories, you know. There was this one time when we were supposed to be watching a liquor store …"
He got them laughing with the anecdote, then recounted many more, regaling them with tales of the Peace Force. Harriet listened intently, trying to soak up as much as she could about the organisation she was now a part of. She was so involved she hardly noticed when a man walked into the station. He was about thirty, with a ragged beard and dark hair tied back into a ponytail. He had bare feet, and wore baggy trousers and a faded red T-shirt. She wondered whether he was looking for the nearest homeless shelter, but then Birch greeted him like a long-lost friend.
"Harriet, Alice … this is Jeremy."
Jeremy was already staring at the fallen robot, and he barely spared them a glance. "When you said it was a BNE I thought you were full of it," he said, in a thick accent. "Next time, I'll believe you."
"I gave you my word as a cop," said Birch, acting hurt.
Jeremy snorted, and hurried over to the robot.
"Don't worry," whispered Birch. "He's good."
"Yeah, well I hope he knows what he's doing. She could take his head off."
"Can you help me roll it over?" said Jeremy.
"Her name's Bernie," said Harriet. Despite everything the robot had put her through, she wasn't just some piece of equipment.
"Okay, can you help me roll her over?"
They obeyed, and on the count of three managed to get Bernie onto her back. Harriet expected a lot of damage - broken panels, exposed wiring, twisted metal - but apart from some scorching the robot was intact. "Whatever she's made from, they should build cars out of it," she said.
"They tried," said Jeremy, "Couldn't get them off the ground." He'd taken out a small torch, and was shining the light into Bernie's eyeplate. As the light moved, he sucked air through his teeth and tutted, shaking his head. Then he popped a chest panel and inspected the circuits inside. "When did you charge her last?"
"For the two days I knew her, about every thirty minutes."
"Yeah, the main batteries have gone."
"I know. She kept telling me they were worn out."
"No, I mean they've really gone. She just has this little emergency pack."
"Can you get more batteries?"
"Sure, but that's not the problem. The explosion shook her up a bit. Some of these circuits are ruined, and you'll need a full service with —"
"I don't want her fixed," said Harriet. "I just want her up and about long enough to give me a password."
Jeremy looked up at her shrewdly. "Peace Force short of money, is it?"
"They're just getting the place back together," explained Birch. "No funds yet."
"Okay, well in that case …" Jeremy reached into the robot's chest and touched a contact. Immediately, Bernie's arms jerked, and everyone else stepped back hurriedly.
"I said I don't want her fixed," said Harriet, alarmed. "I don't want her back!"
Jeremy ignored her, and calmly waved the torch-like device in the robot's eyes. As he did so, the arms relaxed. "There you go," he said softly. "Let's start you over, shall we?" He closed the panel and got up. "Give her a couple of minutes to reboot, and then she'll be right as rain."
"Are you completely deaf?"
"Look, any problem you have with … Bernie, wasn't it?" Jeremy indicated the robot with his thumb. "Any problem you had with her, it's been wiped. I had to delete about six months of history, and according to Dave you've only been here a couple of days."
"So … she doesn't remember anything?" Harriet felt a flood of relief. It would be hard at first, but if she could think of Bernie as a whole new robot … it might just work.
"That's what delete means. It's gone, all of it."
Harriet frowned. "But you said her circuits were ruined. How come she's suddenly okay?"
"Hey, a man's got to earn a living."
"All right, what do we owe you?"
Jeremy gestured. "This one's on the house, but keep in touch. You'll be needing me regular with a BNE around the place. Plus I can get you those batteries, at the right price."
"It's a deal."
They shook, and with a nod to Birch, Jeremy left.
"He's a bit different," said Birch apologetically, "but he's good."
"Where am I?"
They all spun round to see Bernie sitting up. It was the moment Harriet had been dreading, one she hoped would never happen. Steeling herself, she addressed the robot. "This is the Dismolle Peace Force station."
Bernie turned to face her, and a row of question marks appeared across her eyeplate. "And you are?"
"I'm Harriet Walsh," said Harriet evenly. "Don't you remember me?"
Slowly, Bernie got to her feet. "I have no knowledge of your appointment, but I do know who you are."
"What do you remember?"
"I sent a letter this morning, care of your aunt. Did you get it already? Are you here to join the Peace Force?"
"Actually, I joined already."
"Really? After all these years?" Bernie smiled. "I am pleased, Trainee Walsh. That is excellent news!" Then she became aware of Birch and Alice. "Are these people suspects? Should I prepare the interview room?"
"No, Bernie. This is Birch, a retired Peace Force officer. He runs a shop just up the road." Harriet had a brainwave. "Before you … collapsed … we agreed to move his shop into the station's lobby."
"We did?" said Birch, in astonishment.
"Yes, and rent-free. He'll be a great source of
practical knowledge, Bernie. We can't lose."
Birch looked like he'd won the lottery, and not one of Bernie's dodgy efforts, either.
"This is most irregular," said Bernie. "A Peace Force station is not a suitable location for—"
"He's still thinking about it," said Harriet quickly, before the robot could refuse.
"Hmm." Bernie turned her gaze on Alice. "And who is this? Does she run a shop too? Are we going to turn my Station over to market stalls and food halls?"
"No, Bernie. This is …" Harriet turned to Alice. "This is Peace Force Trainee Alice Walsh, my sister."
Alice's jaw dropped, and then her look of astonishment turned into a wide, grateful smile.
"That's really odd," said Bernie slowly. "I have no memory of signing either of you to the Peace Force."
"Well, we're here now, so you'd better get used to us."
"I also have no record of you having a sister."
"Yeah, well, she's my half-sister. You'll just have to adjust the records."
"I can't do that!" said Bernie, shocked.
"Oh, I'm sure you can," said Harriet.
"Well, what a day," said Bernie. "I've been expecting one new recruit, and now fate has delivered me two new recruits. This is good news indeed."
"Bernie, now you're back there's something I need you to do."
"Yes?"
"Melvin Canitt. He fled Dismolle two days ago, and I can't send out a warrant for his arrest."
"What did he do?"
"Major financial fraud, abduction and attempted murder. Oh, and he landed a ship in the middle of the city, but I think the spaceport will be onto him for that."
"Those are serious crimes indeed, Trainee. Mr Canitt must be brought to justice."
"I don't know whether you can track him, but he visited a nearby agricultural planet just a few days ago."
"Please give me a moment." Bernie's eyeplate turned blank, and her circuits hummed as she concentrated. Then she opened her eyes again. "Mr Canitt is in orbit around Dismolle."
"What? He's still here?"
"Indeed. It seems his ship was intercepted by the Imperial Navy, at the request of the Dismolle spaceport."
Harriet felt elated. He hadn't slipped away after all! "So they did catch up with him."
"Indeed, but I see no record of criminal activity. Did you not report it?"
"How?" demanded Harriet. "You haven't given me access to the Peace Force network yet."
"Trainees are not allowed to access the network."
Birch had been watching the exchange, but now he broke in. "What do you mean they can't? They were always allowed access in my day."
"And how long ago was that?" demanded Bernie.
"A few years," admitted Birch.
"Procedures change," said Bernie smoothly.
Harriet gestured impatiently. "So can you have him arrested or not?"
"I can put in a request, but a Peace Force officer must detain him in person."
Harriet realised what she meant. "So … I get to go into space? I can arrest him myself?"
"Not this time, Trainee. We cannot process Canitt on Dismolle."
"I don't care. I just want to cuff him, someone else can drag him away."
Bernie considered this for a moment. "Very well, I have just booked your passage on an orbital supply vessel."
"Two seats."
"Why two?"
"Trainee Alice is coming with me."
Bernie sighed. "Very well, but the family I had to bump from the flight will not be happy."
"Yeah well, give them a winning lotto ticket."
"That's an odd suggestion, Trainee. And an illegal one, I might add." Bernie looked down at herself. "While you are preparing for your flight, I will access my charging station. And, after that, a car wash. My appearance is not up to Peace Force standards."
"Neither is the office," said Harriet, "but it's getting there."
"In that case, after you arrest Canitt, both of you must clean the station from top to bottom."
"Again?" protested Alice. "But we just—"
Bernie held up a hand, silencing her. "Trainee Walsh the younger, I am your superior officer and you will obey my orders."
"Yes, Bernie," said Alice sullenly.
The robot nodded, then turned and strode towards the lift. As her footsteps thudded away, Harriet shook her head slowly. "If she starts calling me Trainee Walsh the elder, I quit."
Chapter 29
Harriet was nervous as their freighter blasted off. It was much larger than the ship she'd travelled to Chirless on, and it wasn't built for passengers. Instead, they were shown to a spot in the hold, where they perched amongst crates of goods being delivered to the Dismolle orbiter.
Alice handled the flight like a veteran, not even flinching when the huge engines burst into life, hurling the ship into the sky. Harriet envied her, and hoped that one day she could travel into space with just as much composure.
The flight took an hour, and Harriet only realised they'd arrived when she heard a loud clunk from the hull.
"Docking clamps," said Alice. "They hold the ship to the orbiter."
There was a distant hiss, and Harriet's ears popped as the air pressure changed. Moments later, one of the ship's crew came to find them.
"We're leaving as soon as the cargo is unloaded," he said. "Captain says if you're not back in thirty minutes, you get to stay on the orbiter until next week."
"We'll be here," said Harriet.
The cargo doors opened, and she looked out on a spacious docking bay. Dozens of people were waiting, and as soon as the hold was fully open they poured into the ship. Harriet and Alice were bustled aside as the workers grabbed crates, bundles of fabric, trays of fresh fruit and vegetables, and hauled them out of the ship.
"Better get a move on," remarked Alice. "They're not going to be long."
They hurried into the docking bay, where Harriet approached a man in dark blue uniform. "Peace Force," she said. "We're here to arrest Melvin Canitt."
The man looked her up and down, then jerked his thumb towards an airlock. There was none of the deference she'd seen on Dismolle, but she didn't have time to think about it. She needed to get to Canitt, and fast.
Beyond the airlock was a long tunnel which connected the outer docking ring to the orbiter proper. There were huge windows on either side, and despite the lack of time, Harriet's pace slowed as she saw planet Dismolle laid out beneath her. The view was breathtaking, with half the planet in shade, and the other half a patchwork of browns, blues and greens, the whole overlaid with a wispy layer of cloud.
"Come on," said Alice.
Reluctantly, Harriet turned away from the awe-inspiring view and set off after Alice, who was almost running in her haste, her bandaged ankle forgotten. They reached the far end of the tunnel, where they saw a batch of signs. Harriet was still staring at them when Alice set off again.
"Brig," said Alice over her shoulder. "That's where he'll be."
"Brig?"
"Jail, you landlubber."
"Don't give me any of your cheek. I'm the senior around here."
"Stop dawdling then, Trainee Walsh the elder."
Harriet muttered under her breath, but sped up all the same. When they finally reached the brig, they found a guard sitting behind a barred window. "Melvin Canitt," said Harriet. "We're here to arrest him."
"You're a bit late."
"Why? Has he been charged already?"
"No, he's gone back to his ship."
"YOU LET HIM GO?" shouted Harriet.
Alice put a restraining hand on her arm.
"It was only five minutes ago," said the guard, with a shrug. "Took a while for his fines to settle, or he'd have left yesterday. Between you and me, I think his bank manager was annoyed at him."
"You have to call someone, get his ship stopped. He's wanted for several crimes on Dismolle."
"I don't know whether you've noticed, love, but this ain't Dismolle."
&nb
sp; Harriet wanted to rip the bars off the window and beat him with them. "I can see the damn planet out the window!"
"Different jurisdiction. Nothing I can do, sorry."
"Which bay is his ship in?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Canitt tried to murder both of us," said Alice quietly.
The guard looked at her, and something in her expression convinced him. "Look, I can't authorise a lockdown on his ship, it's more than my job's worth. But … it's docked at bay 23."
Harriet thanked him and ran off.
"Other way!" shouted the guard.
She cursed and charged down the passage in the opposite direction. "I can't believe they let him go," she panted, as they ran full tilt down the corridor.
Alice said nothing.
They followed signs to the docking bays, which started with large batches of numbers, but gradually narrowed down to the twenties as they took narrower and narrower passages. Then, finally, they reached bay 23.
"He's got all those mercs with him," Alice warned her. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I have the law on my side," said Harriet firmly.
"That won't stop a pulse rifle."
The door to bay 23 was open, and as they ran in they saw Canitt himself. He was strolling up the ramp to the ship's cargo hold, and at the sudden commotion he paused, turning to look at Harriet. "Officer Walsh!" he called politely. "Whatever are you doing here?"
"I have a warrant for your arrest," said Harriet. "Put your hands up, and step away from the ship."
Canitt laughed. "I don't think so."
He turned away, and Harriet calmly drew the training gun and fired three shots into the engine cluster beside the open cargo hold. There was a shower of sparks as the energy blasts melted electric cables and fuel lines, and Canitt threw himself to the floor, hands over his head.
"Have you gone mad?" he shouted, his voice muffled by his clothes, which had ridden up over his chin. "You can't just—"
"Shut up, or I'll shoot you in the back."
"But—"
"I'm Peace Force, Canitt," said Harriet roughly. "I can do whatever the hell I want."
Several faces had appeared inside the hold, looking out cautiously to see where the firing was coming from. At the mention of the Peace Force, they melted away again.