Defy the Worlds (Defy the Stars #2)(39)
“Earth built another Gate without telling anyone?” Ludwig scowls at the screen as if demanding answers from it. “That would mean they’ve found another habitable world.”
Fon chimes in, “Not necessarily. They could be exploring something else, like a system with materials we need, even if humans can’t live there.”
“Or they built an artificial planet somewhere,” Virginia says. She’s playing with a lock of her red-streaked hair, eager and alight. “It could be a massive space station, maybe. Even a Dyson sphere! Something really flash, you know?”
“Any such structures may well have defenses,” Abel says.
How would those defenses react to the Osiris arriving under Remedy control? Would they negotiate or shoot to kill? Not to mention, such security would mean Noemi is in a prison—no, a fortress. Rescuing her would be extremely difficult.
But not impossible.
Ludwig hesitantly says, “You mentioned—you said that Genesis was under attack? Earth used biological weapons?”
“Cobweb was disseminated planetwide,” Abel confirms. “Possibly the virus was modified to be both more contagious and more deadly.”
The Razers all stare at one another, stricken to a degree that surprises Abel. He doesn’t doubt their horror at the use of biological weapons, but their reaction seems more… personal.
Fon speaks up first. “That’s going to be level 110.”
“I think Ricardo works down there sometimes,” Virginia murmurs. “Mei, too.”
Only then does it occur to Abel that the reengineering of the Cobweb virus might’ve been done at Earth’s request, but it wouldn’t have been done on Earth. That would’ve been performed by the greatest virologists in the galaxy—who, like the top specialists in every science, live and work on Cray.
“Are there any Razers who work on that level?” Abel asks. “Could they get information about how it was done?”
Ludwig lets out a low whistle. “That’s going to be under tight security. Really tight.”
“Doesn’t mean someone couldn’t get past it,” says Fon, and the others take on that look of excitement that means they’ve found a code or rule they plan to raze.
Swiftly Abel inputs contact codes for Harriet and Zayan. “Don’t endanger yourself for that intel, Virginia—but if you get it, please inform these people immediately. Tell them I asked you to. They may be able to hand the information on to doctors who could work on a cure.”
“You’ve got it,” Virginia promises. “Oh, we are forever captains for this.”
“Thank you for your help.” He shuts off his screen; Virginia and the other Razers stare up at him in surprise. “Your insights have been extremely helpful, but ultimately I must investigate in person. I should leave immediately.” Abel gives them another nod instead of saying good-bye.
As he strides through one of the rough-hewn stone tunnels leading back to the dock for Station 47, he hears footsteps coming up fast behind him. “Abel!” Virginia calls. “Wait up!”
He slows his steps, but not by much. “Did you discover something new within the data?”
“No, but you’re running out of here like somebody set your ship on fire.”
“What I observed demands direct investigation, immediately. Looking for alternate viewpoints and theories is—an interesting intellectual exercise, and you’ve provided valuable insights about the distortion fields and a potential Gate—but this is all irrelevant without further data. I don’t know why I didn’t see this from the beginning.”
“You didn’t come here just for intellectual exercise,” Virginia says. “You also came here because you were hurting and you needed a friend.”
Abel starts to say that this isn’t true. He’s functioned without friends for the large majority of his existence. Even if he did need emotional support, he would be consciously aware of it. Wouldn’t he? But humans are often oblivious to the psychological reasons for their behavior. Abel’s mind operates at a human level of complexity. He’s already determined that he has a subconscious—yet this is the first time he’s realized his subconscious affects his behavior. “Maybe I did. Thank you for listening to me, and going over this data. You helped me assess the situation more clearly. But the fact remains that I have to return to the site immediately.”
Virginia shakes her head. “Give it one hour.”
“Why one hour?”
“That’s how long it’s going to take me to put in for emergency leave. Well, I guess I should pack, too, but that’s not going to take long. Basically I only wear about six variations of this.” Virginia wears her usual deliberately oversize jumpsuit, baggy except for the broad belt tight at her waist, with various pins and badges proclaiming her fidelity to every piece of entertainment she’s ever loved. “I can have that done before the request’s even turned around.”
“You don’t have to come with me. I’m more than capable of handling the Persephone on my own.” Sometimes it’s a stretch even for him, but Abel manages.
“For the most advanced artificial intelligence ever created, you can be kind of stupid sometimes.” Virginia sighs. “Backup is good. Backup is your friend.”