Chapter 14
CHAPTER
At noon, Lynch ordered a lunch break in their preparations for their evening mission, but after they’d finished, he turned to Stevie and recommended that she use the next hour resting and then check Archie for any signs of battery failure or mechanical deterioration while he and Kendra did some advance reconnaissance on the acreage just ahead.
Stevie immediately protested. “I don’t need to rest. I feel fine. Why should I stay behind?” She switched the battle. “And why should Kendra get to go? It’s my father out there.”
“Because I want both you and Archie fresh and clearheaded when we do run across any of Korkil’s men.
” He glanced at Kendra. “And she’s going because I would catch hell if I left her behind.
She’s already expressed her opinion on that score.
” He gazed at her appraisingly. “Unless you might change your mind and stay back here to protect Stevie? That would be a fairly noble cause.”
Stevie snorted in disgust.
“My thoughts exactly,” Kendra said. “Besides, Jessie is here, and a trained detective should be much better at protecting and defending than me. You struck out, Lynch.”
“No, he didn’t,” Stevie said impatiently. “Because there’s no reason why any of us should stay behind. Let’s get on with the job. And Archie doesn’t need any other in-depth checkups right now. He’s in prime shape and I can watch him and detect any changes.”
“The reason is that I want to look the situation over again,” Lynch said softly. “I want to see if there’s anything we missed. And I don’t want to lose anyone because I blunder when I should have waited and examined the setup more closely.”
Stevie had just opened her lips to complain when she met Kendra’s eyes. Her mouth closed as she studied her expression. “This is one of those times you told me might happen with him because of all that experience stuff that I don’t have?”
Kendra nodded. “Prime example. And I don’t believe you’re going to walk away now, either.”
Stevie gazed at her for an instant longer. Then she muttered something under her breath and turned away. “Neither do I!” Then she shouted at the robot. “You heard him, Archie. Let’s go check on that nonexistent deterioration he’s blathering about.”
“I don’t understand,” Archie said as he followed her across the campground. “Explanation?”
“Perhaps later. Right now, I’m having trouble there, too.” She glowered at Lynch and Kendra over her shoulder. “I just know I don’t like it!”
Jessie was gazing curiously at Kendra. “I take it that I’m going to have to deal with both Stevie and that robot until you get back? Would it help if I knew what that last bit of conversation was about?”
“Probably not. It was just concerning a talk we had about Lynch before all this started.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Lynch murmured. “It seemed to be full of very interesting revelations. Some of which I’m just finding out about.”
“The only revelation you should be thinking about right now is how to find Stevie’s father.” She started down the path. “Come on, Lynch. We’d better get a move on now before Stevie changes her mind and decides to come after us. Take care of her, Jessie.”
Jessie smiled wryly. “She can be tough, but I’m an expert at difficult clients. I’m just glad you didn’t assign me robot duty.” She started strolling in the direction where Stevie had disappeared. “I might have told you to go dump it in that canyon. Definitely not my cup of tea . . .”
Jessie settled on one of the boulders overlooking the canyon and watched Stevie as she examined the robot for any damage.
She found it interesting as long as the girl didn’t talk to the blasted machine.
Jessie had always appreciated good machinery and loved to tinker and improve her motorcycles.
But she generally found the AI concept and the human resemblance unsettling.
It was entirely too sci-fi for her tastes.
Though Stevie’s robot was less offensive than most to her.
For some reason, it had a kind of polite mellowness and grace that was .
. . pleasing. She wondered who Stevie had hired to design it.
“Did Lynch send you out here to spy on me?”
Jessie tore her gaze away from the robot to see that Stevie had stopped working on it and was now staring belligerently at her.
“You know Lynch is too class an act to do anything like that.” She made a face.
“After you stomped out of that little scene, Kendra asked me to watch over you until they got back. No spying involved. You evidently like her well enough under ordinary circumstances not to suspect her of doing anything like that.”
“Yes,” Stevie said. “I lost my temper and had to blame someone. Heaven forbid that it be me.” She tilted her head as she looked up at Jessie.
“Though it could have been you. When I first met you, I thought we might be friends. You were going to give me lessons on your motorcycle.” She shrugged.
“But then you changed. I could feel you pulling away from me. But that was okay. I’m not everyone’s favorite person.
My father says I have certain ‘issues.’ ”
“Everyone has issues. Yours don’t show as much as most people’s.”
“Then why did I scare you away?” Her eyes were narrowed on Jessie’s face. “I don’t usually make mistakes about that. Was it the IQ? Did I intimidate you?”
Jessie laughed. “Hell, no. It would take more than that to intimidate me.” She paused.
“It wasn’t really you at all. It was that creepy robot you insist on hanging out with.
I know he’s supposed to be some kind of wonder, but I can’t get behind creating a giant toy that can actually hurt people just to show off a few clever tricks.
” She added bitterly, “And then bringing out all the worst characters in the universe who want to make a few billion bucks selling all that havoc to their enemies. It doesn’t make sense to me.
Sorry, I’d just as soon return to a normal life and ignore all the hocus-pocus about AI and robots like Archie.
If that’s going to send you into another rage, I’ll go back to my rock over there and shut up. ”
Stevie shook her head. “Do you think I don’t know how many people feel the same way?
” she asked quietly. “I don’t live in a vacuum.
The world is at the beginning of being torn apart, and I have a responsibility to not only keep informed but also help in any way I can.
” She leaned forward, her eyes holding Jessie’s with an intensity that was almost desperation.
“Because when I created Archie, I became one of the warriors in the battle.” She looked down at the robot, and her expression softened.
“When I first came up with this project, I was excited and thrilled with all the wonderful things that I could see in the future if I only worked hard enough. Advances in medicine, construction, climate control, space . . . There didn’t seem any limit to what we could accomplish if we were smart enough.
I was proud to be part of it.” Her lips tightened.
“I’m still proud whenever I make another advancement or discovery.
I still believe in it. But then I also began to see the other darker potential.
The weaponry use is only one facet to worry about.
The political power struggle that could result would be another one.
But lately, I’ve been watching what’s been happening in the markets and corporations—and that may be our worst threat.
We can’t ignore the fact that as AI expands, it’s going to cause incredible job losses as corporations authorize robot takeover in many fields.
We have to study and prepare the public to change vocations and get additional schooling to work with robots.
Perhaps develop new methods and companies to strike a balance. ”
Jessie gave a low whistle. “You’ve really been thinking about this.”
Stevie nodded. “When I’m not playing with this clever toy I’ve created.
Or going after those bastards who kidnapped my father.
That’s been taking up quite a bit of my time.
You might think about it, too, Jessie. You’re tough and smart.
We need all the ideas we can get.” She turned back to the robot.
“But right now, I’ve got to finish checking out Archie.
Unless there are any other questions you’d like answered? ”
“Only one.” Jessie grinned. “I’m still a bit uneasy being around your robot here, but I’m pretty good at tinkering. Anything I can do to help?”
NIGHTFALL
“Ready?” Kendra stepped inside Stevie’s makeshift workshop, where the girl was fastening a long coat around Archie.
“Almost.” Stevie buttoned the coat and positioned the knit ski mask over Archie’s silver metallic face. “Archie, run your rapid diagnostic routine.”
After a few seconds, Archie responded. “All systems fully operational.”
“Good. Just what I want to hear.”
“I appreciate your concern, but the danger to you is far greater than it is to me. Perhaps you would prefer to remain here while I scout out the area.”
“No way,” Stevie said. “My father’s out there, probably in danger, and soon you’ll be out there, too. You’re the two most important things in my life.”
“Ah. I’m sure your father will be flattered to hear that you ranked him at my level.”
Stevie laughed.
“A joke?” Kendra asked. “Did Archie just come up with that himself?”
Stevie shook her head. “I didn’t program that. He constantly hears things and incorporates them into his programming. He may have seen me laugh at something similar, so he determined that it was a good way to communicate with me.” Stevie stepped back. “Archie, give me a deep knee bend on one foot.”
The robot raised his left foot and descended to a level that few humans could hope to accomplish. He extended his arms slightly for balance.
“Incredible,” Kendra said. “He’s so . . . lifelike.”
“But better,” Stevie said. “Smoother and better balanced than almost any living creature. Archie, switch feet.”