Professor of Enigmas (Evil Tech Support Origins Book 1) by Henry Andrew Wong

Author:Henry Andrew Wong
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Henry Andrew Wong
Published: 2018-06-14T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 10: Concerned

Bixby paced among the ship-sized objects Smeiser kept in its Hall of Artifacts. The whole contingent attending the first arbitration hearing had shuttled back to Smeiser HQ. His flight to Venture Lab was scheduled for the next morning.

Niner followed him like a puppy. There was everything ranging from decommissioned fighter craft to asteroid core samples here. Each item was kept behind an air-tight material resembling plexiglass.

The artifacts on display connoted museum exhibits of the past, but these were the keys to Smeiser’s future. The untapped knowledge in the artifacts outstripped what was known, and the further one walked into the hall, the higher the required clearance to interact with the artifact.

Bixby carried the highest research clearance possible. Might his inventions be shown here one day? Not if that Tanner fellow at the hearing got his way. He meant to acquire Bixby’s prototypes, the rights to exploit the patents behind them, and apparently Bixby himself.

How many times can one person be sold or dealt for corporate agendas?

Bixby knew his excuses wouldn’t resonate with Laramy Orbital—they would insist on an implant. Laramy had a reputation for that. If Smeiser capitulated in its negotiations to settle, everything would be gone—his technical throne, Venture Lab, even Niner.

Laramy Orbital wouldn’t be as willing to be fooled by technical jargon and obfuscation—enough of their managers rose on technical excellence in contrast to Smeiser’s tradition of lineage. They would uncover his main project—that just wouldn’t do.

The hearing at the Skunk had adjourned with questions of process, but there was no doubt which corporation would win. Negotiations would only parcel out the assets to be transferred—not prevent the transactions altogether. Something had to be done.

Bixby not only had to conceal his secrets from Smeiser now; he had to conceal them from a new overlord at Laramy he hadn’t met. He knew nothing of their internal procedures.

Bixby squatted and spoke to the droid. “Look, Niner. There’s going to be a change. I don’t know when it will come, but there’s no stopping it.” He hung his head for a moment, remembering…

The droid said, “Inquiry: what change is Bixby referring to?”

“We probably won’t work together anymore.” He made up his mind to focus on Niner instead of the headset until he was certain she would be safe. “I didn’t make you like the others. You’re the first.”

“First what?”

“When they brought you to me, you were injured beyond…repair. They couldn’t help you. You were going to die, so they turned you over to me.”

The droid began whirling in a slow circle.

Bixby stood up, folding his arms. “You remember, don’t you?”

“Niner remembers.”

Bixby said more to himself than to the droid, “Of course you do. Nobody could forget that kind of pain.”

The droid stopped whirling, wheeled away and then back to Bixby. Niner sounded…confused when she said, “I remember,” in her original human voice. He drew back. Bixby had not programmed her to sound like that.

“How did you?—”

“Bixby, I remember you. They told me you were my last chance. Smeiser Labs offered me experimental treatments because I was an advanced case.

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