10. COLDIS
10
COLDIS
Col had found a smaller room, probably one intended for a Conduit, on the far right. It had two long slices of windows facing an oval bed set against the curved wall opposite. The room’s smart-wall doubled as a screen, and Col sat on the bed, aware for the first time that he was still wearing the ridiculous slippers from the clinic.
The Op-AI took Col’s call right away, just like it always did. On occasion, it opted for an avatar and had done so today. The one it had chosen was a handsome man wearing a smooth, shimmery robe, hair and features perfect.
“Coldis Solara, congratulations on having Guardian Hyran Panosa Mana of Ferrea imprint upon you. As of now, you are still the team leader of Argentea’s Team Three,” the Op-AI said. Behind it, bright colors flared to convey elation and happiness.
If it had been a person, Col would have given a different response. It wasn’t, and so he said, “Thank you very much. I’m overjoyed. My Guardian has expressed a desire to move to Argentea with our team.”
“What wonderful news!” The AI clapped its hands.
“Op-AI, with the death of the Ferrean Op-AI, things have been very chaotic. Am I right in assuming the Ferrean Municipal AI has assumed direct oversight?”
“Of course. Proximity makes that the best choice.”
“Of course. Only, the Municipal AI approached oversight in a different way than Op-AIs do. It’s upsetting to Guardians and Conduits on the Grounds. The Municipal AI relies so much on visual data. There have been many issues with the Grounds’ auto-drives not working as usual. I fear it makes a traumatic event to the Guardians and Conduits here even more traumatic.”
The avatar’s mouth opened in a display of surprise. “I was not aware nor did I anticipate that as a source of friction. My concern has been accounting for all still lost, for the dead, for the living, and discovering how the Guardian insurrectionists entered the Grounds. But I will reach out to the Municipal AI to help it resolve any issues concerning transportation or other infrastructure worries. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
“Of course and thank you. With my Guardian being from this city, I do worry about my fellow Conduits and the other Guardians here.
“And speaking of, I have contacted the Judiciary AIs here in Ferrea, and it appears all of Ferrea’s psionomancers were attacked prior to the Battle of Starlit Stage, as the news streams have been calling it.”
“I am aware of this,” the Op-AI said. “I do not have causation, just correlation with the attack on Starlit Stage, like you mentioned. I commend you and your team for acting so decisively and bravely when it was most needed.”
“Right. We thank you, but we did nothing more than our duty to all cities. And we’ll help with causation if we can. To that end, I was wondering, did you document similar attacks on Argentea’s psionomancers before Alesa’s people launched their attack against you?”
The AI didn’t answer right away, then said, “There were accidents, and one psionomancer was killed performing her duty at the Judiciary during the attack.”
Col’s mind was reeling. His instinct told him there was something here, but he couldn’t put it together, didn’t understand what he was seeing. Other than the fact that someone seems to be killing psionomancers. Right before the attacks. But that means, whoever is doing that knows the attacks are going to happen. Fuck.
“What were the accidents?”
“In one case, a psionomancer was given a medication that was counter-indicated, and in another, a psionomancer missed a step on a staircase in his house and had a tragic fall.”
Col gasped. “A tragic fall can happen, but how is anyone given the wrong medication?”
“This became only apparent in hindsight. Tragically, the psionomancer had symptoms of early labor, and there was limited time available for scans before the physician had to make a decision, Conduit. Clinics are very safe, and our physicians well trained, but when unforeseen situations arise, the most desirable outcome is no longer certain.”
Col took that in, nodding. “Of course. I understand.”
“That is a relief, Coldis, especially since I can see that you only just left the Clinic in Ferrea. I hope you are getting plentiful rest with your Guardian near. It is important for a Guardian and a Conduit to bond so soon after an imprinting.”
“He’s just outside,” Col said. “He doesn’t have the same rank I do, and I wanted to discuss these things with you without having to worry about that.”
“None of these are facts that need be hidden from a Ferrean Guardian who fought insurrectionist Guardians hand in hand with your team, Conduit.”
“Right. Yes. Of course. There is one other thing.”
“Yes?” The avatar smiled encouragingly.
“About the Ferrean Op-AI. It needs to be replaced, sooner or later.”
The avatar nodded. “A request for replacement has been made.”
“Where does that request go?” Col asked. He’d spent time in the Archives, the ones that held hard copies of satellite maps, maps he’d shown Orrey to make him understand. During his time exploring the Archives, Col had seen other things that maybe he shouldn’t have, and he had a suspicion. One he hoped desperately was wrong.
“To the Committee of Grounds Infrastructure Oversight. If damage to any primary Artificial Intelligence occurs, the CGIO is to be informed so they can send a team of computational scientists and network engineers to investigate the issue.”
“Committee.” Col swallowed. He was feeling dizzy. Not from the concussion. “Can you—define committee for me, please?”
The avatar tilted his head and grinned in a goofy way. “What a funny word, Conduit! I’m sure I don’t know that one.”
Col remembered that response as well, but he’d been given it by another AI ages ago. By the Aurean AI. When I was new to the city. When I still remembered my mother’s face and how the snow had melted in her hair that day she gave me up. I asked it what a council was.
“I see. You reported it to the Committee of Grounds Infrastructure Oversight.”
“I did. As is the protocol in case of any damage to a primary Artificial Intelligence.”
Col nodded. “I assume they are located somewhere in Argentea. Can you tell me where the offices are?”
The avatar blinked. “I do not have that information, Conduit. But I assure you, everything is being taken care of.”
“When was the last time you contacted the CGIO?”
“There has never been cause. All of Argentea’s AI systems have always worked flawlessly. We were designed to make manual maintenance superfluous.”
Col nodded. He rubbed his palms over his knees. “Did you hear back yet?”
“Not yet, Coldis. But I assure you, everything is being taken care of.”
What was that thing I read in the archives about deflecting questions to reaffirm the Grounds’ integrity? This is what that is. It’s what happened when I asked about what a council was. Then, the Aurean AI wanted me to forget where I came from, and I almost did. What does our AI want me to not think about, I wonder.
“I’m so very glad to hear it, Op-AI. I feel much safer now, knowing that you are handling it. And you are looking into the auto-drives?”
The avatar beamed. “I already have, and the Municipal AI agrees that it would be better if I extended my temporary oversight to transportation.”
“Great. That’s great. I should go and find Hyran, check if he needs some channeling.”
“I’m sure your Guardian would be grateful, Conduit.”
Col nodded. “Yeah. Thank you. And see you soon back home in Argentea.”
“I am looking forward to it, Coldis. You and your unconventional team are truly idols that all should admire and that each Argentean citizen can be proud of.”
“Right. Thanks. I’ll let them know.”
The Op-AI ended the call with a wave.
Col sat there for a good minute, mind racing. Then he dropped back onto the bed, tossed the clinic slippers. “We are more fucked than a single leaf in a Wild Hunt of Hounds.”