by Tal Turing
"Mr. Pol! Please let me say something!" The Matron caught her breath as Pol relaxed. He seemed to anticipate the outburst. She continued: "We are as outraged as you concerning the acts that were committed against you. This calamity is not just yours, we lost a dome and many, many lives as well. I can.."
"That is a point I need to clarify, that we insist you understand," his voice rising. "You speak of the loss of the Humantis Dome, its building and its executives as part of the crime. It wasn't and it isn't. It was a response to the crime and I am here to tell you that, if I may use and old phrase, it is just a shot over the bow. Do you know the phrase?"
The room was silent once again.
The Patron of Urbanic Core spoke softly.
"Please continue, Mr. Pol. You are among friends even if it hasn't felt that way. How can we begin to address the concerns of the people we have lived along side with for ten years now?"
"Thank you. Let me address another issue that has angered us. You speak about punishing Humantis and punishing Transom for their roles in our grievances, but you are not admitting that you all have ignored the anger of the individual villages. It is documented that individual villages approached the council when no reasonable response came from Humantis. You did not hold any council meetings then and as our grievances against Humantis and then Transom grew, you thought more about corporate strategy and advantage than the wrongs which were being perpetrated against us and it was..."
"Please, Mr. Pol, let me assure you that investigations were.."
"Madam," the mechanical voice of the Daneel Tech collective filled the room. "please let Mr. Pol continue, unless you are sure your statement can not easily be challenged. Village complaints and their handling are part of common corporate record, as you know."
The room was silent for a few moments and Pol continued.
"You had the opportunity," resumed the calmer voice of Pol Gente, "to solve this despicable crime yourselves. But instead the whole sordid matter was brought to light, not by you or your security forces or your intelligence operatives but instead was uncovered and reported by a group of defenseless, village children, some of whom I still remember sitting in my classrooms.
Do you have any idea the anger and yet the pride you have unleashed? Villagers are questioning if domed farms are all that important to them now. They are talking about leaving your domes without our aid and expertise and let Maltiempo take you all if it wishes."
Pol took a drink of water. And then spoke again.
"Members of the council, I will be honest in telling you that I have no idea what the mood of my countrymen will be even a month from now. But I can tell you that, today, in my humble opinion, you would be foolish to give them anything less than what they demand. And here it is:
First of all. We do not want a Humantis presence ever again in New Berlyn. We agree to a simple punishment for all the surviving officers: banishment. Second, the villagers wish to renegotiate all corporate contracts and we name Daneel Tech as our corporate partners in those negotiations and their fees will be paid by each of you and not by us. Finally, although we have no interest in your interactions or your judgments among yourselves, we wish to state that we feel that it was Transom who helped uncover this crime and aided in the recovery and return of our people, we grant them what is left of Humantis' land, the opportunity to negotiate with us first and, of course, our gratitude."
Pol nodded a 'good day' to the Council of Five and disappeared into virtual space.
"Did they say that Daneel Tech will get paid a negotiation fee on every contract? Every contract??" asked the Matron of Halstrom United.
A strange sound rose in the room. It was a repetitive and yet somehow mechanical noise and it was coming from the chair which belonged to the Daneel Tech collective. In later years it was speculated that this was the sound of Daneel Tech's collective laughter.
Miriam
Miriam woke at the knocking at her door and smiled. She was finally beginning to feel like herself. It had been a long couple days. When she had heard about Petyr's death, it had been surreal but she had been worried and fearful for him for so long, it did not come as a surprise. Her best guess was that he had made a mistake in the Bug Lab.
But when she had seen the remains, what little could be identified, she had had a genuine panic attack and her worry, her anxiety and her heart-ache had been real. In many ways he had been an awful man, but they had gone through a lot together and she was sure that just as she had been infected with Peithonova-Petyr, he had also, unknowingly, been infected with her strain, so she couldn't help believe that some of the things he had done for her, the trust he had placed in her, derived from the love instilled by those virals. He had been an ally, her lover, one of the few confidants she had ever had and he was the father of her child. But, now that was all over. And it was their fault.
She had spent the next days recovering and furthering her control over the Bugs. She had even thought to demand that they kill themselves or leave her body but she was concerned that would give them proof that she had other priorities, possibly giving them an advantage and she was not yet strong enough for another fight.
Remembering the knock, Miriam sat up in bed quickly. There were two female guards in her room!
“What is it?” she asked frantically, worried that something bad happened. Bad things kept happening every since they...ever since she had arrived in New Berlyn.
“Miss Miriam, we are to take you to a new...room. The doctors have released you.”
She shrugged. She was ready for that. She wanted to go first to the hotel, spend a few days with Uncle Ryk and then she wanted to return to Techview and never come back.
The guards took her to a new building and escorted her down the simple hallways of what seemed to be a residential complex. It reassured her to see some people milling about, even some children and couples. But then she saw him.
Donnie Cabb was in a group of young men. He looked up at her, a strange and satisfied smile ending his chatter as his head turned slowly, tracking her as she went by.
“Miriam,” the head spoke, more as an observation than a greeting. “I've been literally counting the days until you showed up. Come see me.”
“Don't hold your breath,” she said simply without looking back. She was done with Humantis and their schemes. Besides, it was Donnie's partner who had tried to kill her. They would never get a second chance and if they pushed her...”
The guards took her to a room, not much bigger than the one she had been in. But present were Uncle Ryk and Annabelle, together again. She gave them a smile before she stopped and stared at the other occupant of the room.
It was an elderly woman with long silver hair, but her face...her face was covered with some sort of video screen, one that projecting a face. It was strange. But she had seen similar images on the news feeds, one of the corporations had taken to wearing these strange masks, she had forgotten exactly why.
“Hello,” she said and reached out her hand. The woman took it without hesitation and shook it, her hands were cool.
“Greetings, Miriam. We are Daneel, we are representing you.”
“Sit down, Miri,” urged Uncle Ryk and she took a quick seat by him, comforted by his arm around her shoulders.
“You were judged too ill to participate in the banishment proceedings,” the voice was feminine but had a strange echo, as if others were also speaking. Banishment? “Unfortunately we must tell you that all of the Humantis survivors in New Berlyn have been banished. Women, children, elderly, there will be no exceptions.”
She stifled her urge to say 'Thank the Storms'. Instead she looked at her Uncle and she could see the sadness in his eyes and when she looked at Ann, she saw the same.
“Banished where?”
“That has been a subject of much debate. You should know that there were some who wished to see you all banished outside of all of Las Joyas. But we worked very hard to avoid that sentence and we reached a compromise of so
rts. You will be banished to Palenque Dome.”
“But...I have never heard of Palenque Dome?”
“It's the one that fell, Miri, Sweetie,” Ryk whispered to her.
“It was the best we could do,” explained Daneel. “There is at least a chance to survive there...”
“Are you going too?” she asked Uncle Ryk quietly.
“That isn't possible,” Daneel explained. “Only the Humantis officers must go.”
And her heart started to pound.
“What about...what about...my child?” and she could feel the Bugs.
The Cell
The black-adorned woman slipped into the room as the guard left. She wore standard corporate attire, complete with boots and AI spectacles. Her long black hair was tied back tightly and the sparkly globe of Transom Industries shone from the breast of her uniform. Miriam almost didn't recognize her.
“Official business?” Miriam called out and then looked away. Every hour now was a new tug-of-war with the Bugs. The prospect of never seeing her child again, Petyr's child, was an huge issue for them giving them a chance to attempt a vote of 'no confidence' in her. Still, they were weakened, but she needed to stay strong.
“I don't have much time,” Cyn shrugged.
“I asked for her,” Annabelle explained stepping forward. “I want her help.”
“What kind of help?”
Ann sighed. “This thing they are doing to the Humantis survivors, this awful thing. It's taking a toll on everyone here, including Miriam. This banishment is leaving children without parents, men without their loved ones, women without families.
I have made that point to Daneel and offered my help, as a counselor. I've had that training and experience in Techview. And I know that this asset has had the same. We both attend the same church...isn't that right? You've had the training?”
Cyn looked back at Annabelle. Her face was placid and yet aware.
“Be specific as to what you want, Sister,” Cyn replied.
Miriam watched as a strange conversation evolved. Neither Cyn nor Ann seemed to care to be specific about anything, preferring to generalize and philosophize at every turn. Stranger, there was a growing animosity between the two as they spoke back and forth.
She had never seen either of them speak in this way. Annabelle openly challenged the other girl's loyalties and her willingness to put people before profits. Cyn, on the other hand, teased the older woman about her choice to live in the villages and even her choice of clothing.
“Stop it!” Miriam insisted. “This is not how I want to remember either of you.”
Cyn nodded.
“I am done with her anyhow. Now, listen to me, Miriam,” Cyn instructed, her deep, brown eyes large and intense, “I'm sorry about what has happened. But when you realize what this old woman is all about, what she's really is trying to do. Well, then come and see me and you'll know who's your real friend, even through the storms.”
“Just words,” Miriam pouted, “so easy to say. Besides, in case you didn't know...”
“My time is up,” Cyn said simply before turning and leaving.
It was hard to blame her, Miriam decided, especially considering what they had tried to do to her. Another result of the Bugs and their blind allegiance to Petyr. At least, somehow, the strange asset had come out of it all.
Chaplain
Ann rubbed her temples as the hugger train droned on to the unknown location, the abandoned valley which was once the domed city of Palenque. She had started the process of interviewing each and every one of the fifty banished officers back in New Berlyn but the task was not complete even as they approached New Chicago.
At the start, there was a dark part of her that had gleefully anticipated the interview of these corporate officers who were being punished for their callous treatment of other human beings. Those feelings had quickly evaporated. Most of the officers had no idea what awful things their parent company had been doing. And many of those who did were inconsolable over the pain that their punishment was causing their ignorant colleagues. It was truly a monstrous sentence and Ann now understood why so many societies preferred execution to banishment.
Now, she sat across from Donyden Cabb, the Humantis senior officer who planned and initiated a scheme which involved impersonation, corporate espionage and heinous acts of human abduction, experimentation, rape and possibly worse. And for what reason? Just to betray and topple an ally and benefit from their loss.
Cabb spoke first. “Where is that girl? The sick one? Miriam? I can't find her anywhere?”
“Yes,” drawled Ann, her emotions perfectly controlled. “I have not interviewed that one as yet.”
In truth, Miriam was kept separated from the rest of the group. One of the few concessions they were able to get. It didn't matter, when they reached their destination, they would all go down together.
“Too bad,” Donnie said simply. “Because I can tell you I am dying to reunite with that little traitor.”
Ann could feel the hairs on the back of her neck tingle.
“Why? Aren't you all in the same boat? Each of you just as guilty as the others?”
“She isn't one of us...she's an import from Techview, a traitor and a manipulator. She was never on our side. It was her and her Doctor, playing us all. I can tell you that I plan for her to mother so many of my children that she may never know a year without her belly hanging over her toes.”
Ann chose her next words carefully.
“Despite your, excuse my accuracy, crimes; many of these people seem to be looking to you to lead them, even those who know your guilt. I am told we are only seven hours from your new home,” and now she looked straight into his eyes, “Have you even started to plan how you will keep these people, your friends, alive? Or are you too preoccupied with this revenge fantasy?”
The smile on his face fell.
“Don't you think I know that? I haven't slept in days. And worse, they all believe in me, I can't even convince them to choose someone else to lead. But rather than strike me or yell at me, each one shakes my hand and tell me that they believe I will find a way to return them to Las Joyas, like that is even possible. I don't even know how they got that idea in their head? This is a one-way ticket.”
“So what will you do, Mr. Cabb?”
“I am going to try harder than I ever tried before. What else can I do?”
Ann had not expected these words, but she was unwilling to let him off the hook.
“Do you feel bad that some of your co-workers may never see their families again?”
“Of course, that is what I am telling you.”
“And yet, you had no problem separating women from their families, from their friends when it was in line with your corporate objectives?”
Ann leaned forward, eager to hear his response. This was as far as she could push him.
“This is different, I know these people. They know me. We have a bond.”
“You seem like a very driven and competitive person, Mr. Cabb,” Ann consoled him. “Somehow I think they could be in far worse hands. Good luck to you.”
Ann was still thinking about Donnie later. Honestly he hadn't surprised her in most ways, he was selfish and competitive but he really did regret that his actions had caused so many of his own friends and family this pending hardship. Still, it wasn't his actions that he regretted, it was the outcome.
She looked over at the last of the banished. Ann needed to distract her.
“I probably should have told you before...I really like your Uncle Ryk.”
“Duh, Ann!” the girl actually stopped her brooding in order to laugh at that. “Give him an extra kiss for me when you see him. Oh, and sometimes, when you catch him unawares, sneak up on him and give him the start of his life. Tell him it's from me.” Miriam's eyes shone with delight.
“You won't forget I said that, will you Miriam?”
“No. Of course not. I never doubted...hey!”
Miriam looked
down at her arm, at the tiny red dot which grew there as Ann withdrew her hand. Puzzled, she looked up at Annabelle. She opened her mouth to speak but Ann put a finger to Miriam's lips.
“Remember all we discussed, my dear, things aren't always as they seem,” Ann said simply. She saw the girl's eyes widen and then close.
Ann moved quickly, they would arrive soon.
Edwyrd
Ed closed his eyes simply to give some part of his body a rest. But closed eyes did not stop the urgings of his sensory implants and the requests and notifications continued. Everything was changing so fast and yet remaining the same. It was business as usual in over-drive.
Every village in the valley was renegotiating its contracts with every corporation, including Transom. That led to a lot of business meetings and those between corpers and villagers often required security, especially in the current political climate. And Daneel was involved in every negotiation, Ed had met so many members of the collective that their strange masks were starting to seem like real faces to him.
Daneel stock was soaring while Transom's had abated. Then, suddenly, without any warning, Daneel turned around and asked Transom Industries to provide legal, communication and hospitality services on their behalf. Overnight, Transom emerged from the ashes and criticism of Patron evaporated. Even Transom Techview was sending a special delegation to meet with Patron and the other executives.
But they were also coming to reclaim their property. So Cynnamon needed to be safe, rested and ready. So another thing that kept Ed up at night now was the thought that some radical would pop up and put a bullet in her. And there was another matter which kept him awake, one more thing he needed to do and it was frustrating how he kept missing the opportunities.
One of his minor alarms was going off, trying to attract his attention. Damn it. Ed looked up from his AI as Cyn appeared at his door, paused, and peered in. Her demeanor was relaxed yet still respectful.