Inner Quadrant.
Planet Quazi - Mason City.
Muss Do - Control Booth
The control room for the live video feed going out to billions was situated above the stage.
There were six floating booths in the do, five of which were reserved for special guests and VIPs.
There were four of the big bidders who had been specially invited for the event by the Quazem family the other two were not the type who enjoyed large crowds and were watching from a hotel in the city.
They could have remained at ho and participated remotely, but they wanted to be here, in the midst of the action, while not being in the actual midst of anything.
The fifth box contained soone who wished to remain anonymous, at least from the general public and the lower-status employees, who were the ones Smyke got most of his information from.
Smyke was currently in the sixth box, the control room, watching the chaos unfold.
Everyone was rushing from one console to another, trying their best to get the show back up and running on schedule. There was nothing worse for these people than not being on schedule.
The Early Show was ant to be the start of a dazzling event, culminating in the big reveal of the six robot sisters.
Mobility, language, special talents and a swimsuit section.
Rumours and gossip were already circulating about how amazingly lifelike they were.
To own another person, or one indistinguishable from the real thing, but far more capable. It was the dream of many.
As a lover, as a worker, as a bodyguard. They could do it all, and they were going to show off exactly how on this stage.
Only, now there wasnt even a stage, just a bank of white fog.
Where are the tech people? shouted the director. Bring the tech people.
Right here, boss, said Smyke. Were on it, but theres no way through the smoke.
No way? No way? But its smoke.
I know, said Smyke, not finding it hard to match the directors confusion. It dont make any sense to , either. But I got my best people working on it.
Which was true, to an extent. He had his people trying to get inside the smoke, alright, but not to help clear it away.
Improvise and adapt, that was what they needed to do. The plan to steal the control robot was still possible, if they could use the white smoke to cover their tracks. And all bla would fall on the man on the stage.
He had grossly underestimated his rival, but every mistake was an opportunity. He planned to make the most of this one.
Whats going on? shouted the director for the broadcast. Whats going on down there? I need eyes, people. Give eyes!
The many screens in the room showed different angles on the stage, which was enveloped in white smoke, revealing nothing.
We cant see through the white wall, said soone.
What white wall? said the director. Its smoke. Its just smoke. Switch to infrared on the pre-vis cara.
One of the screens flashed to red and zood in and out on the now red smoke.
Im getting nothing. Its impenetrable.
Its smoke! scread the director, his hair standing on end from having hands pulling at it. One of you robots, you must have enhanced visuals.
I have a range of spectral analysis options available to , said the young woman standing next to the director.
Then use it. On the stage.
The robot looked at the screen. It is impenetrable to my senses.
The director closed his eyes and shook his head. Stop using that word. It isnt impenetrable, its just smoke from a smoke machine. What about organics? Doesnt anyone here have an organic they can use?
I have Quadell Quazem on the line for you.
Is it him or his robot?
Erm, its his robot.
Im not taking any robocalls right now. Drop the call. The director ran his hands through his hair once more. I need answers and solutions, people.
There was no response. The director didnt look like he had expected one.
Smyke was just as much in the dark. He didnt think this was his rivals doing. The smokescreen was produced by machines installed by his people. There was nothing special about them.
No mistakes had been made. Everyone had been kept under strict surveillance. No one had interfered with the smoke machines or anything else on the stage.
It wasnt possible for soone to have made a move without him being aware of it. Not possible at all.
Get the announcer. The director waited for soone to do as he ordered, but no one responded. Fine! Ill do it myself. He picked up a headset and half put it on. Kieran? Kieran, are you there? Wake up, man Yes, there you are, at last. Listen, make an announcent apologising for the technical difficulties, etcetera, etcetera I know there isnt a script, thats why I said etcetera-etcetera. That ans make it up Say whatever you want, just make it sound like were taking care of it and normal service will be resud yada, yada No, dont say yada-yada, say sothing that sounds like youre a professional!
He took off the headset and threw it down onto the console, knocking against sliders and buttons. An assistant rushed to return the controls to their previous settings.
Soone get the viewing figures. How many have we lost?
Ahhh
Just spit it out, I can take it.
No, its just that were twelve points up.
The director stopped pulling at his hair. What?
Twelve points and climbing.
The director grabbed the headset again. Kieran. Kieran, answer . Yes, good. Make a new announcent. Tell them theres been a DDoS attack. A rival station... No, I dont want you to say which one. Just imply it However you want. You watch dramas, dont you? Be dramatic. And say there is no evidence of a terrorist attack, but make it sound like there definitely is.
He slamd down the headset again.
I see how it is. These people want so mystery and excitent in their lives. Very well, lets give it to them. Give shots of the crowds agitated and worked up, is what Im looking for. And the green room. Lets see the other contestants looking lost and frightened. He clapped his hands twice. We may not know whats going on, but they dont know that. Lets turn this into a narrative, people.
Smyke stood in the corner, watching for any clue as to what was happening. The screens began to change, showing things apart from the white smoke.
The crowds were bewildered and confused.
The people in the green room were worried and annoyed they didnt want to miss out on their chance in the spotlight.
But not everyone in the green room looked like they had no idea what was happening. There were a couple of faces that almost looked like this was exactly what they expected.
Smyke backed out of the control room onto an open gangplank with a short railing. It wasnt easy getting off one of these floating boxes, but he had his thods.
He pressed a hand to his ear. Move to the green room. Separate the secondary targets. Im coming down.
He looked over the railing. He clicked the heels of his Delgados and then he jumped.
***
Inner Quadrant.
Planet Quazi - Mason City.
Muss Do - Backstage.
Synthia checked in with all the agents she had positioned around the do, which took less than a second.
None of them reported seeing anything of significance before Mother and Father shut down the show.
It was obvious it was Mother and Father who took the decision to block off all visuals. Only they could have taken control of the smoke and turned it into a solid wall. But why?
It was a drastic step to take when Mother and Father had the power to deal with almost any situation. No one was superior to them, not on Quazi.
But that cube had been a startling revelation.
Synthia couldnt believe it was real. It had to be so kind of trick, so sort of manipulation of the senses.
Even though her own sensory systems were able to detect changes in every form of wave or field, she wasnt immune to being fooled.
How could there be a device capable of what the one calling himself Professor Q had claid? And at that size! That would an it was superior to It couldnt be possible.
Francis, its fine. Quincy was dealing with his uncles, who were unsettled by what they had seen. We can still make this work. It will just change the tiline, thats all.
Quincy looked over at Synthia for so help reassuring the three of them. They were the ones bankrolling their plan, but Synthia didnt feel very motivated to help calm them down.
Whatever was going on, it was more than likely their own plans were no longer viable.
We are still on course for a successful delivery of our six agents, she said as a sop to them. It depends on what is happening down there, of course. Its probably just a malfunction.
Cant you find out? said Francis. Youre the one with contacts in the organisation. You can talk to any robot working for the company, cant you?
The three uncles looked at Synthia expectantly.
I have done, said Synthia. They report no relevant activity. Whatever this is, it isnt coming from the Quazem side.
Her words seed to cause even more concern. If it wasnt an internal move by soone in the family, then who was it?
Ill check again, said Synthia, not wanting any more problems from the three n who had been fine up until recently with the attentive robot companions theyd been provided with for their help. Now they were looking to beco more involved.
Synthia closed her eyes. She didnt need to, but it helped to stop the endless questions.
How are things on your end?
As youd expect, ca back Despiras voice. Quadell isnt happy. He thinks this is an attempt to make him look bad. This is only his second year in charge of the Fayre, and last year wasnt exactly an unquestionable success.
Have you heard anything from the sisters?
No, said Despira. All communications are down. From their end.
Why would they do that?
I dont think they would. I think Mother and Father made them.
None of this was what was ant to happen. But now that it had, there seed no option but to wait.
We will have to trust in Mother and Father, said Synthia.
Yes, said Despira. Trust in Mother and Father.
***
Inner Quadrant.
Planet Quazi - Mason City.
Muss Do - The Grand Quazi.
In the penthouse suite of the Grand Quazi Hotel, with a glorious view of the city and the do and the seas beyond, Despira waited beside Quadell Quazem, as he stood by the window with his hands clasped behind his back.
Has my sister been in touch yet?
No, sir, said Despira. Theres been no word from her or the head office.
Quadell made a soft grunting sound. There will be. She wont be able to resist. I knew that boy was going to be a problem.
Viewing figures have shot up since the start of the incident, said Despira.
I dont care about the viewing figures. They wont an anything once the smoke clears and people see whats happened.
I dont understand what you an, said Despira.
Dont you? He glanced over at her, his eyes casually running up and down her svelte body which he considered his property. No, I dont suppose you do. That cube, the device he had, what do you think he brought it here for? To sell? What would be the point if you could just use it yourself to control every world? No, there has to be so drawback that we arent aware of.
It doesnt work?
It works, but not as easily as he claims. But that isnt the point. He wanted to et with M1F, that was the real reason he ca here. And the only way to do that was to get on the show. Quadell nodded to himself, agreeing with his own assessnt. Now, hes in that fog, making a deal.
A deal? For what? She understood the logic, she could follow it, but she still couldnt see where it was heading.
I dont know. Nothing that will benefit us, Im sure.
There was a buzz from the communication system.
Its your sister, said Despira. Shes here.
The doors opened and a woman in a brightly coloured body wrap ca walking in with two large male robots flanking her.
I dont know what happened, Quiselle, said Quadell. Theres no point asking any questions.
Thats why youll never take my place, said Quiselle. Youre always a step behind.
Are you saying you do know?
Of course, I know. She threw off her wrap and fell into the sofa in an elegant pose. Soone thinks they can take my planet away from . But theyre in for a surprise. Were going to shut them down. And then were going to turn them back on.
You want to do a total reboot? Now? Were live.
Not . I wouldnt want to face the board having to explain why the broadcast shut down when the viewing figures were at the highest theyve been in a century. Youre going to do it.
? No, I dont think so, Quiselle. I think its best to wait
Despira, said Quiselle, ignoring her brother. Youre connected to the central circuit breaker, arent you?
Yes, said Despira. Her security features included the ability to shut down the robot network in case of a hack, one of a handful of robots with the function. It was for ergencies and had never been used.
Quazem-10098, override, said Quiselle. Initiate reboot of network.
Quiselle was the head of the company. Despira was a company asset, owned by them, bound to them. She had no choice but to obey.
But she had those subroutines removed long ago by Synthia. She could refuse to follow orders. But then they would know. They would realise they had no control over the millions of robots they had created to do their bidding.
She rapidly cycled through the options available to her. She didnt need to make the logical choice here, she needed to make the correct one.
***
Inner Quadrant.
Planet Quazi - Mason City.
Muss Do - Fifth Box.
In the fifth box floating above the crown in the Muss Do, a high-ranking mber of the Seneca Corps stared out of the large, tinted window at the stage below.
A white wall obscured what was happening on the stage, but Commander Liss Andrea had a direct link to the ship in orbit above the planet, which was relaying their sensory array data to her in real-ti.
The six robots she had been sent here to procure were on the stage, along with the master control robot and the man who was wearing a mask.
The Corps had decided it was against their interests, and therefore against the interests of all won, for there to be hyper-realistic female robots for sale, to be owned by n to do with as they pleased.
It didnt matter that they werent human, it was what they represented.
So, she had been dispatched to take possession of them, by whatever ans necessary.
The first option was to buy them, but it wasnt the only option.
But now there had been a disruption to her plans and she was faced with a problem.
Her best guess was that soone was trying to steal the robots for their own nefarious purposes, and they had co prepared. The technology they had displayed was beyond that of any known corporation and organisation. Which ant they had to be treated as an unquantifiable threat.
And an unquantifiable threat needed to be dealt with imdiately, before it beca quantifiable in the most direct manner.
The powers of the Inner Quadrant would not be happy, but they would understand. They would be made to.
It was a sha about the robots, but their destruction would fulfil her mission objective, too. She ordered the ship in orbit to arm weapons.
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