Synthetic Uprising by C. Mielczarski

Author:C. Mielczarski [Mielczarski, C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2014-06-26T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Curt Danziger had always prided himself on being able to read the shifts in the environment he was in. It was how he had clawed his way up to be one of the lucky ones, giving orders rather than taking them, doing far better than those barely scraping by after the so called great ‘liberation.’ He didn’t like to think it was his processor that allowed him to gauge the changing landscape. Numerous other models had the same hardware he did after all. He liked to consider it his version of what the humans called ‘gut instinct,’ and lately it was warning him that things were beginning to sour, in more ways than one.

Like most in the colony had at that point, he knew DIS was pulling up stakes. He’d known for quite a lot longer actually, having partnered with Riley behind the scenes when he met barriers to his ambition. Of course he’d never trusted Riley, but he needed him to exert some political pressure when his own methods failed. He tried never to be deluded. Danziger always knew their relationship wasn’t as mutually beneficial as he’d prefer, that Riley was keeping a lot of things close to the vest. It was why he’d taken up working with the droid opposition leader, Gabriel, at times, turning him on to what DIS was cooking up.

He didn’t think playing both sides would have too much of a disadvantage, but with the information he’d just been presented, now it seemed as if Riley had been playing a whole different game entirely, and Danziger did not like to be made a fool.

He glared at the normally unassuming messenger used to bring him the information. “Did you look at any of this?”

Gilly Soames hesitated for a moment, feeling the intensity of his scrutiny. Carver had asked her to deliver a carefully edited bundle of information, after giving her the broad strokes of the situation. She hadn’t bothered to look at what had been delivered, so as not to let anything contradictory slip if questions arose. Still, Danziger was not someone to trifle with, and she figured honesty would be the best course. With a healthy dose of jaded disinterest which would hopefully keep her from raising any real suspicion.

“No, I was just asked to deliver it to you. I’m sure our mutual friend would have come himself, if his face wasn’t plastered across colony wide wanted beacons. I don’t concern myself with other people’s business, and delivery girl isn’t the kind of ‘job’ I’m best at.”

That evoked a derisive snort from Danziger as he looked her up and down again. “Quite.”

Gilly cursed him inwardly but didn’t rise to the bait. Danziger might not be the owner of The Silicon Chip, but he did have enough control over the man who did to be able to make things difficult for her if she angered him. “Look, I just want to get back, so if that’s all…” She stood, making a gesture towards leaving.

“Not quite, tell our ‘friend’ that—“ Gilly held up a hand to stop him.

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