Chapter 2 #3
“That’s rich,” the computer was heard to chuckle. “I’m a Mock II, kid. I don’t obey any laws other than my own. Everyone knows—” There was a long pause, and then Martha actually screeched, “Get the hell out of my terminal, Brock!”
Shanelle blinked in pleased surprise. She hadn’t realized they were close enough to contact Sha-Ka’an yet, but the deep, masculine voice that now came through the intercom proved that they were.
“Be quiet, woman,” the voice sternly ordered Martha. “I have come at the request of Shanelle’s parents, both of her parents.”
That “both” was all that was necessary to calm Martha’s outrage, but of course Brock knew that, which was why he’d included it.
He could be just as high-handed or underhanded as Martha was, but then he was also a free-thinking Mock II computer.
And he happened to belong to Shanelle’s father, which meant Brock had been programmed to be compatible with no one but Challen.
To this day, Martha still complained that she was the one who had helped to create him by supplying Challen’s statistics.
But she had done it for Tedra, because Tedra had wanted to surprise Challen with his own Mock II.
Some surprise. For a year Challen wouldn’t even go near Brock.
He didn’t want anything that ultra-modern belonging to him.
And after he did finally give in and start talking to the computer, it had taken nearly another year of arguing between the two of them to establish dominance, which each felt they had won.
But now they got along perfectly. And lately, much to everyone’s amusement other than Martha’s, Brock had been trying to exert a warriorlike dominance over Martha as well, an impossibility if there ever was one.
Martha’s outrage might have been put on temporary hold, but her grumbling certainly wasn’t. “Just say what you have to say, then get your tin ass out of my terminal. And the next time you think to drop in, you damn well better ask permission first.
“A tin warrior can get his circuits fried,” Martha actually growled.
“Now, now,” Shanelle said with a grin. “If you two have forgotten, you have an avid audience here who has never heard computers fighting before, and quite frankly, you’re shocking the hell out of them.”
“We weren’t fighting,” Martha insisted.
“Your amusement is uncalled-for, Shanelle,” Brock gently scolded.
“That’s right.” Shanelle sighed. “When you come, you come fully equipped, including sight. Just how long have you been with us, Brock?”
“Not to worry, kiddo,” Martha assured her. “He’s sneaky, but he’s not sneaky enough to arrive without my knowing it immediately. Now state your business, Brock, and go home.”
There was a long pause, as if Brock were debating whether to do as instructed or upbraid Martha on the inadvisability of giving him orders. He finally addressed Shanelle.
“I bring you greetings from your parents, child. They have sorely missed you, and eagerly await your arrival on the next rising.”
“Is my mother there, Brock?” Shanelle asked eagerly. “Can I talk to her?”
“I am sorry,” Brock replied. “But Challen and Tedra are presently at the competitions, where they will remain until this moonrise.”
“What competitions?” Martha demanded before Shanelle even thought to. If there was anything Martha hated, it was not knowing about something before anyone else did, and before Brock in particular.
“Warriors throughout the land have been invited to Sha-Ka-Ra to test their skills against each other. It began this rising and will continue until a champion of all is declared. Challen, of course, is the ultimate judge, and so his presence is required for each event, as is your Tedra’s.
Otherwise they would meet Shanelle at the Visitor’s Center.
Since they cannot leave the competitions, an escort will await Shanelle at the bus station to take her to her parents’ pavilion in the park. ”
“Just like that?” Martha’s voice remained testy. “Well, you won’t mind if I check with the Center to verify these facts, will you?”
“Woman, you are being deliberately disagreeable.” Brock didn’t even try to hide his annoyance now.
“Aren’t I just,” Martha shot back, and then added sweetly, “Good-bye, Brock.”
There was silence from the intercom, long enough for Caris to lean over and whisper to Shanelle, “Does he really think she’s a woman?”
Shanelle could have said that whispering didn’t do a damn bit of good when a Mock II was around, but Martha made that perfectly clear by replying, “Damned right he does, but then he’s an idiot, beyond salvation.”
Only Martha didn’t sound quite so annoyed any longer. She sounded—proud, which had Shanelle grinning. “I thought you liked Brock.”
“Only when he displays a modicum of his vast intelligence, which is rarely these days. He has become, for some male-oriented reason, no doubt, the quintessential barbarian. And when he spouts that condescending warriorlike nonsense, he drives me up a wall.”
“But you can handle that?” Shanelle asked
“’Course I can,” Martha replied with a very loud snort.