Mirage by Mark W. Tiedemann; Isaac Asimov

Author:Mark W. Tiedemann; Isaac Asimov
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Conspiracy, Robots
ISBN: 9780739411506
Publisher: ibooks
Published: 2000-07-09T05:00:00+00:00

EPILOGUE

D

erec watched Masid pack. The man wore the clothes of someone used to moving around: comfortable, lots of pockets, simply cut. The pack, though, contained tools and devices no baley would carry.

“You’re sure about this?” Derec asked.

“I’ve got the best chance of getting to Nova Levis of anyone,” Masid said. “Already worked it out with the TBI and the Aurorans, so don’t even try talking me out of it. “

“Is there anything I can do?”

Derec had grown quite fond of Masid in the last few days, since the world had changed. Derec had few enough friends. The thought of losing a new one disturbed him.

But Palen’s death had affected Masid profoundly. He was angry and felt the need to do something. Derec believed going off like that was a bad idea, but he could think of no convincing argument to stop Masid.

“You’ve got your hands full here,” Masid said. He glanced significantly at the robot standing near the door. “You wouldn’t want to loan that to me, would you?”

Derec started. “That could be awkward, don’t you think? Having a robot with you wouldn’t be the most inconspicuous thing you could do.”

“True, but I think I’m going to miss it.”

The DW-12 did not react. Derec needed to schedule a complete diagnostic for it. Thales was unable to tell him very much about its make-up; everything was guesswork and projection. For a time, it had insisted on accompanying Masid. It took a good deal of insistent talk to convince it to stay with Derec. He recognized Bogard’s attachment to duty, certainly, but its facility at debate was all Thales. Derec doubted he would win every argument with this new creation, this composite.

“You’re right,” Derec admitted. “Besides, Ariel asked me to help her do the analysis on the cyborg we acquired.”

“‘Acquired’? Interesting term. ‘Killed and captured’ would be more accurate. “

“If you destroy a robot, do you kill it?”

Masid frowned.

“It’s a good question,” Derec continued. “I’d say no. They aren’t, strictly speaking, alive. Can you make the same statement about a cyborg?

They’re organic, certainly, but are they human?”

“Or human enough.” Masid nodded. “Too much philosophy for me. I’m just a spy.” He finished packing and sealed the bag, then turned back to Derec. “We need to say goodbye. It’ll take me a few days to work myself back under cover so I can do this with any expectation of success. I’ll be on Kopernik for a time still, but after this we can’t know each other.”

Derec took Masid’s hand. “Be safe.”

“Always my intention.”

Masid shouldered the pack and walked quickly out.

Derec looked at the DW-12. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Whatever you wish,” the robot replied. “Within limits.”

Derec started, then laughed out loud. “What do I call you?”

“The preponderance of my matrix is based on Bogard.”

“In that case, welcome back, Bogard. We have a lot to talk about....”

Derec found Hofton in the positronics lab with Rana. They looked up at him dourly when he entered.

“Now who died?” Derec asked.

Neither smiled.

“Ariel can’t get you permission to bring Bogard down,” Hofton said.

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