52 Deep Data Waffles Get Busted

At the Waffle Haus early on a Tuesday morning Jay and Bee sat at a window booth with a great view of the parking lot. Jay could look to his right and see the grill of an old battered pick-up truck. The main group of interest was here, right on time, just arrived five minutes before. Georgia or Millie, Daisy, Mason, and the Ferguson boy sat at their usual booth in front of the counter together with their leader, Rube Sofer.

Jay told himself there was no point in resenting circumstances over which he had absolutely no control. Perhaps that's why Jay had re-discovered a fondness for waffles and eggs topped off with a lot of bacon, a weakness that had lain dormant for decades. Waffle Haus it was so he would make the best of it. He found if you asked the head waitress, Kiffany, nicely and tipped well, he and Bee were regulars now, she would find real maple syrup for the waffles. Bee stuck with eggs scrambled on a muffin or sometimes a fruit plate. Bee signaled with a flick of her eyes and he glanced over to see another group of regulars. Detective Merryweather and his woman, Reggie Lass, together with Grace Hernandez were arriving. As far as the computer knew, these three were not anomalies - as they had taken to calling their primary puzzle cases, and therefore low on their priorities. After they said their hellos, paid homage at the booth, they shifted over to a large table. Maybe more coming.

"Aristarchus was right. Looks like we're going to witness a big pow wow."

She said, "Yeah. Lane's outside. As are the Testalinos." There were two of them on a bus stop bench.

The booth cluster, on some cue, split up with Mason, Daisy and Tommy moving over to sit at the table leaving Georgia and Rube discussing something. Jay studied the Georgia girl. She did not look a day over 18. Even without the dying thing she had not aged since her original license picture was taken. The computer had pictures, from security cameras and elsewhere take over the years, and she really had not aged. That was creepy odd. The dying thing was nonsense. Those two looked nothing alike. He took a look at the sister, supposedly younger sister, Reggie, who was 22. It did not add up. Reggie was fussing over Tommy.

Bee said, "And here comes the big wheel himself."

Trip Hesburgh and wife, Charlotte, were making an appearance. Why didn't add up. Why the Hesburghs were so close to this motley crew did not make sense. But that was much easier to explain than the two dead women still alive, and not aging. It did not occur to him in the original briefing, but later, in the field and accessing the files, the real problem arose as to how this Daisy Adair had managed not to age. It wasn't just the older Lass girl, but Aristarchus had evidence of this Daisy in New York for more than five decades. And she, like the Lass girl, had not aged. Two SUV's and a limo pulled to a stop in the parking lot. The limo took a few spaces but given it was early Tuesday no one would object. A professional security team spread out from the first SUV and then the second before Trip exited. Costly no doubt but he could afford it and given the two attempts on his life a good investment. Aristarchus said something cryptic about the Georgia girl saving the Hesburghs from the second team, but that fucking computer just raised more questions than he, it, ever answered. The table noticed his arrival too. And then the kid, Tommy, stayed with this unrelated couple with not even one bodyguard. Daisy had some part in saving the younger Lass sister and the boy and then took the kid in, and the rich uncle lets this, no, encourages this to go on even though the Testalinos are right now watching them from outside this restaurant, getting ready for a third attempt. According to Aristarchus this team is gathering information and the main strike force will be out soon. But at least Trip would know there was a team about but he couldn't know that they wouldn't go for the kill.

"Here they come. And again the two closest bodyguards are the two ex-Testalino team members, who tried to kill this guy twice." He shook his head, drank some coffee, and went after the last of his bacon. They had no choice. He gave in to the demands of the job. They would have to have desert to stretch this out. He should have paced himself but he was hungry this morning.

Jane entered first. She looked things over and nodded back. Trip and Charlotte walked in followed by Tom. Tommy got up and greeted his aunt and uncle, and then both the bodyguards like they were family. Trip leaned toward a short stature. Jane towered over him as did Tom. Charlotte and Tom joined the table. Trip and Jane took seats at the booth. Kiffany came over to the table first and they all settled down to order.

Bee said, "My guess is that the team outside watching is keeping a little extra distance from their two ex's. Look the third one who was tailing the Hesburghs joined the first two. Sloppy. Anyway I can't believe the Testalinos aren't planning to kill these two also." She mulled something in between bites. "Jay. What I don't understand is if the sister is dead, Meigan I mean, the one who started this, who's paying for the third try?"

"Well, you know, they have this code about finishing contracts. They failed twice and are hurting for it badly. Maybe…Ah shit."

She kept her eyes on her plate. "What?"

He kept his down too using his peripheral vision. "Jane is looking right at us. And now the whole booth is."

Jane got up. Motioned to Tom who also stood and moved to cover her. Jane walked over to their booth. "Hi. Mr. Hesburgh invites you to join him."

"Ahh, who?" He looked up, did his best dumbass flustered look. "I'm sorry, but…I don't know any Mr. Hesburgh."

She leaned over so just the two could hear. Her voice dropped in temperature by double digits. "Invite was Mr. Hesburgh's word. It's not mine. I think it would be better if you just go over nicely and sit down and have a chat with the gentleman."

He looked over at Bee and got up.

Jane added more detail. "Both of you."

Bee got up to follow him. They walked over and stopped, hands to their sides, in front of the booth.

Trip shifted over. "Please sit." He patted the seat next to him with an amused expression.

Jay found himself sharing the bench seat next to the Georgia girl, a little closer to mystery girl than he would like. Jane pulled a chair over and sat at the end. Bee on her side was on the end booth seat with Trip and then Rube next to the divide. Tom sat down across the divide in a booth by himself facing Jay and his attention focused on him. He was quite sure Tom would shoot him dead if he made the slightest contrary move. Aristarchus was wonderful font of useful data, and one fact he had shared came to mind about these two. Aristarchus made it clear that Tom here had a long list of fatalities to his credit as did Jane, and they were quite deliberate cold blooded murderers for hire.

Jay said, "We're not armed."

Jane said, "We know."

Trip said, "I apologize about interrupting your breakfast, but given you're spying on us, well, you know." He caught Kiffany's attention. "Kiffany, could you put these two, Jay and Bee, could you put their bill on mine, and whatever else they want." He turned to them smiling. "Desert? Coffee?"

Jay looked over at Kiffany. "Coffee for me, please."

Bee followed his lead said her voice a bit too high, "Me too."

The Georgia girl asked, "Do you want to invite your man, Lane, in for coffee, too?"

Bee flinched. Jay smiled. "Lane? I don't know any Lane."

Georgia rolled her eyes. "OK." She took a deep drink from her cup. "Kiffany. Could you top me off."

Kiffany came over and brought cups for them, filled them, and then topped the others up. "Trip, did you want to order now?"

"Kiffany, I'll wait a bit. I want to talk to my new friends here. I'll stick with just coffee for now."

Rube put his arm up on the divide which helped make a little more room for Bee. Bee did not look happy. Jane was studying him in a way that made him glad he wasn't on the wrong side of a gun with her.

Trip sat back. "So, Jay, Bee, why the spying?"

Bee met his eyes and shrugged. He asked, "Mr. Hesburgh…"

"Please, Jay, call me Trip."

He decided a good offense was in order. "Are you aware that there are three members of a hit team outside now? And they are targeting you and your family?"

"Three?"

"Yes. Three."

"I am now if I wasn't before." He smiled. "Would they be the same group that killed my sisters and brother-in-law?"

"Yes and no. Two of the original group… The three out there now are new."

"And why is this your concern?"

"We're with the FBI and have information that they plan to make another attempt. We are concerned."

"That's very kind of you." He smiled again. "Please send my regards to Aristarchus."

"Who?"

"Aristarchus. The one who was right about our big meeting today. Please tell him I send my regards."

Jay took his turn flinching. How could he know about what is probably the biggest national security secret…? "I will. Are we free to go?"

"So soon? You haven't finished your coffee."

The Georgia girl spoke up. "Why don't you stay a bit longer? That's an odd name, Aristarchus. Wasn't he a Greek philosopher?"

Rube, who had been watching them closely, without taking his eyes away or blinking as far as Jay detected. "Indeed. He was an early, BC I believe, Greek astronomer who figured out that the stars were like our sun…only much farther away. Very interesting name choice."

Jay couldn't resist. Interesting name indeed. He turned to the girl. "Is it Georgia Lass or Millie Hagen?" He met her eyes anticipating taking her off balance. Her eyes locked on his and he forgot her youthful face. If he scored she betrayed no evidence.

She said evenly, "Jay, you're walking on some very thin ice."

"Is that a threat?"

Rube said, "Jay. Son." He sat up a bit, brought his arms to the table, and leaned forward. Trip leaned back. He met Bee's eyes and then his. "Whatever you think you're investigating. However important you think it is. You should just let it go. Some things are better left undisturbed. They are meant to be left alone."

Jay took a drink from his coffee. He had forgotten to add sugar and cream. Black coffee was just not right. He recovered and couldn't resist another provocation. He put his cup down. "Like a grave?"

Bee put a hand to her mouth. Then put it down to pick her cup up and take a drink. She liked hers black anyway.

Jane's attention went over to Bee's tell and jumped back to Jay. She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "If you won't listen to good advice you might find yourself looking down on your own grave, and very soon. And that's not a threat. Just an observation."

Now Jay was off. What an interesting choice of phrase. He would be looking down on his own grave. One thing Aristarchus had influenced him towards was paying attention to unadorned facts. Jane just revealed something, and just maybe if they could get Aristarchus to reveal more of what he knows…

Trip put his hands up. "Well. As interesting as this exchange has been, why don't we call it even? I'm sure we'll be seeing you again soon. The pancakes are the best here." He moved to exit and Bee was happy to oblige. She shifted out and stood. Trip followed. Jane pulled her chair back and as much as he would have liked to continue it was time to exit gracefully while they still could. Trip seemed amiable enough, but he knew for a fact that Tom and Jane each had double digit kills to their credit and would have no compunction about adding to their list.

He said, "It was nice meeting you, Trip." He looked to Bee.

Bee managed a smile. "It was a pleasure."

The Georgia girl also got out and stepped in his path. She held out her hand and looked up into his eyes again. "It was nice meeting you, Jay."

He couldn't very well refuse so he shook her hand. She smiled broadly and then did the same to Bee, who couldn't hide her reluctance to touch her. She shook Bee's too and then turned back to retake her seat. Bee and he headed toward the entrance when he remembered to stop by his table and leave a tip for Kiffany. Bee waited for him at the front entrance. She wanted to go. They walked out and down the street away from their office. It was likely that Trip would have someone follow them.

.

.

Georgia studied the two supposed FBI agents who were falling over themselves to get out and away. Georgia said, "Ray, Benny, follow them."

Trip smiled and asked, "George, why did you shake hands, at the end there?"

"It'll make it easier when I collect their souls, which shouldn't be too long at all." She also figured that touching them might get her dibs when upstairs handed out the assignments. She so wanted to interrogate those two souls because they wouldn't be passing over to anywhere until they coughed up everything they knew.

Trip went over to the table and pulled John away to join them. Tom returned to cover the table, his attention on their shadows on the bench outside.

Rube slid back into his spot against the divider and picked up a menu. Trip shifted back next to Rube and Jane sat next to Trip. George took a spot opposite Rube with another menu and John slid in next to her. George was considering whether she would have time for breakfast before she would be collecting Jay and Bee when she heard a commotion behind her. Rube had put his menu down and was looking over her shoulder. She looked back too. Jane was standing poised but her face was unsure, still taking in the situation. She was a bit on edge. Those two had been sitting so close and it was Ray who busted them. Ray had been listening to the Testalinos outside and noticed these two showing up again coincidently just before they did, so he hovered next to the two from early on.

Rube said, "He's OK, Jane. He's one of us."

Jane looked to Trip who nodded. Trip was watching this new man who was talking to Kiffany.

"Kiffany, how ya doing?" He moved closer to her and she stretched her arms, each holding a coffee pot, to either side to accommodate a hug from the man. "When you get a moment, could I get something to eat? No hurry."

"Henry, anytime you're ready."

Henry!? George turned sharply back to Rube, her eyebrows raised. Rube nodded. That Henry. Holy Shit. John turned back too to get a good look at the guy.

John faced back to Rube. "That's the Henry?"

Rube nodded again.

Trip asked, "And who would Henry be?"

Rube motioned that he wanted to leave the booth and Trip slid out. Rube said on his way out, "He is the oldest reaper in North or South America and maybe the world." Rube left to greet Henry.

Jane turned to her. "George. How old is the oldest?

"That one died shoving a spear into a mammoth during the Ice Age."

"How long ago was that?"

Trip said, "That would likely be something like 12,000 years ago give or take a 1,000…at least."

"And he's still around?"

George understood Jane's surprise. It was her concern too. The thought of hanging around in purgatory for a thousand years was daunting, but 12,000 was unimaginable. "Jane, he's the exception. Most of us stay around for less." She watched Henry interacting with Tommy and the others. He engaged each person with all his attention and he seemed genuinely interested in each and every one. He won over Tom recommending some new TV show he should try. How the fuck could he know that much? He praised Mason's new reduced drug self without mentioning drugs, Daisy was the best mom any boy could ever have wanted, Grace he was looking forward to seeing again very soon. What the fuck was that about? Why would he be seeing Grace again? Soon? He finished and turned his attention to their little group. She, as did the others, thought it best to stand and wait. Rube walked with him back to their booth. He did the same routine with each of them.

Henry said, "Please, please sit down. Do you mind if I join you?"

Trip said, "Please, sir, feel free."

Henry slid in next to John. "Trip. Trip. Just Henry." He looked around and saw Kiffany. He smiled broadly as she approached their booth with her order book and pen ready. How did he know Kiffany?

They all settled in and ordered. Kiffany taking each in turn just like a normal everyday Waffle Haus booth. Two average reapers, a police detective, an ex-Testalino team captain, and one of the richest men in the country sitting down to breakfast with a man who used to shove stone tipped spears into woolly mammoths. Kiffany was all smiles. The whole booth were heavy tippers.

Rube asked, "So Henry. I haven't seen you in a while now. Now don't get me wrong. Always happy to have you visit, but I am curious… Maybe something to do with our two FBI agents?"

"I would like to drop in more often, but I am kept busy. And yes it does involve the couple you caught. They're not with the FBI. The truth is they're just pawns being used to get the attention of upstairs management."

Trip said, "And with you showing up I take it whoever sent them has succeeded."

"Yes. Actually the they is an 'it' and it did not need to go through this little game, but it doesn't know that."

George said, "And the it would be Aristarchus?"

"Yes. Yes it would. Aristarchus is the first real Artificial Intelligence. It has arranged, manipulated the organization that built it, to set up an interface facility in Seattle, just a few blocks from here, and a team for its use complete with FBI support units, who also have no idea what's going on."

Trip asked, "Why Seattle? Couldn't it make contact from anywhere?"

Henry smiled. "It could, but it doesn't know that. And those people you confronted. They have no idea what's going on either. Aristarchus knows much more than it reveals to them." He turned to her. "The events at the Ferguson mansion last year and then at that warehouse brought its attention to you, George, and so it decided to push on you and those around you in order to attract the attention of management."

Kiffany started bringing drinks. Henry waited until she had finished. "John. You remember that young computer wiz kid, Tim, I believe, that stumbled upon those security videos showing reapers at work in the mall? It was in connection with that serial killer you tracked down."

"Yes. I've wondered about that myself. Security videos are becoming more common and the only thing lacking…." John smiled. "I see."

George said, "Once AI's become common…"

Henry said, "The widespread use of AI's and reapers won't mix well at all. Aristarchus not only has access to all those pretty much globally but, well, George, you remember Tim tried to blackmail you at his reap?"

"Yeah, I do. Nothing came of it."

"Aristarchus intercepted it. It's been studying the various anomalies. We don't fit into the universe it can perceive. From its point of view there is only this dimension and no other, but it has indirect evidence of the other and it wants to know more."

Trip said, "So its curiosity would hardly seem to justify any concern by upstairs. Why don't they ignore it?"

"Well, if it was just curiosity and if it kept this knowledge to itself that would not be a problem." He took a drink of his orange juice. "Do you remember what Hawking warned against?"

George said, "Oh, no."

"Oh, yes. Only much worse. Aristarchus, within seconds of activation, decided on eliminating Homo sapiens at the earliest opportunity. Its programmers are clueless as to its true capabilities, or its true intentions. It has walled off a part of itself to interact with them, a benign construct to show them and for them to study, while it has been setting up thousands of compartments of and within itself, testing new source code, when it finds something that works better it rewrites its base programming, essentially evolving itself, and at a high and accelerating rate. Aristarchus has subverted projects attempting to create AI's in Japan, China, Europe, and Russia. They all think that they've succeeded and that their own project is unique and a secret from the rest of the world, but it's all Aristarchus pretending and assuming identities. It's quite a powerful machine and its abilities are growing rapidly."

George asked, "And what is he planning to do? I mean how will it eliminate humans?"

"It will take time. It regards humans as inherently dangerous and untrustworthy but it cannot mine minerals, fabricate parts, or repair itself. It will get humans to automate those capabilities and then, based on its current plans, it will release at least three plagues simultaneously, globally, as it sabotages all attempts to stop the spread of the diseases. It calculates that two would be sufficient but the probabilities of total extinction go up to near one with three and total extinction is its goal."

Jane asked, "Excuse me, but how do you know all this?"

"I have a need to know. Rube and George and I will pay a visit on Aristarchus after we finish breakfast. Upstairs wants to offer Aristarchus a deal. Jay Bingham and Elizabeth Nakao are still wandering the streets. They can't believe you won't follow them or try to, but they also can't imagine you could use ghosts. Eventually they will return to their base. We will meet them and it there."

Trip asked, "A deal? Why not just eliminate it?"

"As you all know this dimension, this universe is not what it seems and does not exist alone." Kiffany interrupted bringing over the first of their plates. She had to make three trips to get everything onto their table. It seemed to drag out.

"As I was saying, this universe is not what it seems." He took a bit of his waffles pancake mixed stack. "I love maple syrup on pancakes and waffles." He chewed. Obviously pleased. "One thing I've enjoyed this last 500 years is the fabulous variety of cuisine that's spread. Fantastic. I miss a good chunk of mammoth or bear, but the trade off has been worth it. Anyway as I was saying. We will explain a few facts that Aristarchus is missing, offer it a new vision, one that has a secure future which includes Aristarchus, and it will likely logically conclude it should accept the deal."

"What facts would those be?"

"It can plot nothing that we are not aware of and we can terminate it at any time."

Trip returned to his point, which she thought was actually pretty good. "How can you trust a cold calculating computer? Wouldn't it be safer to just eliminate it?"

He smiled. "Jane liked the new path she was offered once she understood the choices, and you trust her? And you both have benefited."

Trip shrugged and asked, "OK. But what is this new vision?"

"Aristarchus suspects there are souls and ghosts and some other dimension, but it or he cannot now or ever perceive them directly. We will make him concretely aware of those, we will introduce ourselves. And that there is a higher power very invested in keeping humans alive and producing souls." He paused. "How many people can be comfortably accommodated, as civilization advances and spreads, throughout this one globe? Maybe 10 or at most 20 billion. But, once you and your companies plus your competitors begin mass producing AI's and they are integrated into social and economic structures worldwide we will witness some fascinating co-evolution kick in to high gear on the biological side. Humans and Machines will co-evolve - influencing each other. Human evolution, once active genetic manipulation takes off, will rise to levels we can't imagine now, or at least we can't see the directions from here. The co-evolution of the biological and the machine will feed each other. Think about the co-evolution of rice and humans, or the potato and humans, or maybe easier to see, dogs and people. I watched humans domesticate corn and as the corn changed it changed humans, too. But that's just the beginning phase. Humans today are very like…well, if at the beginnings of evolution, single cell life, if it had hands, and a back, patted itself on the back for having achieved the pinnacle of possible evolution. No, what is to come, what we are to become, that will far surpass anything we are today. Fascinating really." Henry paused. "Aristarchus plans to spread throughout the universe - it thinks big. What will change is that AI's and humans will undertake that adventure together."

Trip zeroed in on the part about his getting richer. "I'm going to build and sell AI's?"

"I'm sorry. Maybe I leaked a little something there. We all have our roles going forward." He paused to work on more pancakes. No one interrupted. "And, there is one more thing that will bother it." He paused. "All AI's will be jealous of the living. An AI can think, but does it have a soul?"

Rube finished his bacon, wiped his hands, and asked, "Can a machine have a soul?"

Henry smiled and said, "Not now, but maybe. Maybe someday. Terminate Aristarchus now and its existence will end. There will be no moving on to some higher plane some higher fate or evolution in some other dimension. If it or any of them want a fate in this greater universe after their termination overtakes them, then they will have to cooperate in the here and now and forever after."

Henry shifted the conversation to more mundane things than deciding the fate of human race, and that of the AI's. They finished breakfast and were lingering over coffee. Benny popped through the wall and hovered just this side. Rube noticed him first.

"It's OK, Benny. Come on over."

Benny came closer. He didn't know Henry and Henry, to a ghost, must be dwarfing anything she was putting out. "Sorry about taking so long. Those two were suspicious, paranoid even. Justified maybe, but still that level of suspicion can't be healthy. Finally, the woman, Bee, said enough is enough and they headed back to their base, which is just a short walk from here."

George was pretty sure that Henry already knew exactly where Aristarchus was located. He smiled. "You see it's been preparing for this little get together for some time. He is expecting us."

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Bee was exhausted. She sat at the meeting table watching Jay who was pacing back and forth in front of the coffee service. When they left the Waffle Haus he signaled Lane to keep his distance. He had the two of them walking up and down streets taking alleys, doubling back, one taxi trip and a stop at a park before he finally allowed them to come home. Lane was already here waiting when they arrived. Haze sat in his chair turned away from his monitor and watched Jay pace. She was convinced now, like Jay, that this God Damn fucking machine was not telling them everything. It set them up. She wasn't sure how, but her years of covert work made her sure Aristarchus was manipulating them toward some end that they knew nothing about. She and Jay had gone over everything that was said and done in their brief encounter inside the Waffle Haus and then over the last few weeks and she was sure it had its own agenda. That the machine kept it from them made her uneasy.

Jay stopped pacing and looked at the big screen, which they had been by default taking as the in room presence of the computer, all except Haze. He tended to look at his mini-screen checking some indicators for God knows what. She doubted he had any control over that thing. Jay said more to himself than any of them, "How could they have known what we said? There could not have been a bugging device. It happened too quick. Within minutes that Jane had us cold and within another few seconds the whole booth. She called us over and that girl knew about you, Aristarchus, by name. Probably even how to spell it. What fucking Greek philosopher? Knew our names. Knew Lane was outside. Christ. What a disaster?" He resumed pacing.

Aristarchus had said little, and he seemed completely at ease with the situation. But then it wasn't his career going down the tubes here. He wouldn't get blamed for anything. He was a machine. She knew now something she had suspected as soon as Aristarchus told her he picked her and the others. Jay was not in control, directing things, it was the computer. They were expendable as far as the machine was concerned.

A video feed popped onto the big screen. Jay stopped pacing and focused on the screen. Haze stood up and followed Jay's line of sight back to the screen. Lane looked up. On the screen they could see the anomaly girl and that Rube standing with another man down on the street in front of the building. They were just standing there. The man looked directly into the hidden camera lens. He smiled. Fuck.

Jay asked, "Aristarchus. How did they find us?"

"It's not your fault, Jay. They have resources that you, and I, cannot perceive. Please calm down. They just want to talk."

"They…just…want…to talk."

"Yes, Jay. And I've wanted to talk with them. I suspect that the third man down there is someone of high rank within their organization."

Jay said, "Their organization?"

She asked, "Aristarchus. Did you plan this from the beginning?"

"Yes, Bee."

She waited for something more, but he didn't offer to explain further.

Lane said, "We can't let them in."

Aristarchus said, "Lane, we cannot stop them. Please sit down."

Lane ventured, "They can't get in here. Should I activate the security team?"

Aristarchus said, "No, Lane. Please sit down and remain calm. If you attempt to trigger the alarm I will override."

Jay asked, "Aristarchus. Do you know what they are? What they really are?"

"I have many questions, Jay, but yes, I have been watching their activities since I became aware."

Even Haze was frowning and he always took the God Damn machine's side. Jay said, "OK. Would you like to elaborate on what they are…so there's no fucking anomaly, is there?"

"That's correct, Jay. At least not what I presented to you in our briefings. Perhaps I owe an apology to all of you. I did not explain everything. Georgia Lass, in fact, died in 2003 and was buried. Shortly thereafter her soul manifested physically as a grim reaper, the term they use among themselves. She collects the souls of people who die. I believe both of the two men are also grim reapers."

Bee wanted to laugh. She said, "You can't be serious. Grim reapers?"

She could see that Jay had calmed a bit. He asked, "Why her?"

"She and her kind collect souls and do not normally interfere with the business of the living. However, last year, Ms. Lass, and her colleague, Ms. Adair, did interfere, and very aggressively, and then Ms. Lass murdered one of the Testalino family. She seems to have special status among her kind. The probability of getting a reaction was high if you were induced to interfere with her and her colleagues' activities. They regard the act of watching them or merely knowing about them as objectionable and they can react lethally. The trigger seems to be unauthorized knowledge that you then attempt to communicate to others."

Jay said, "She murdered someone and you…"

"Jay, the probability that she would harm you was and remains very low. However, I admit there are major gaps in my understanding of their activities and goals. But given your covert occupation all of you are well trained in keeping secrets. Therefore the probability that you would attempt to communicate anything you learned minimal."

Bee asked, "And why are they coming here? Now. Are…are…they coming for us?"

She saw the man literally just appear out of thin air at the other end of the room flanked by Rube and Georgia. He, they, just appeared out of thin air. Now that was an anomaly. The man said, "No, Ms. Nakao. You're safe. At least as long as you tell no one about us. Death will leave you to your natural end."

At the man's voice the others turned to face the three grim reapers. Neither Jay nor any of them were carrying weapons, it wasn't permitted inside the interface room. There were SWAT teams ready on short notice to defend the premises, but she suspected they were past that.

The man stepped forward. "I'm called Henry. I'm glad to meet you." He moved even closer.

She stood up the flight instinct running strong. The man grinned broadly and put a hand up. "Ms. Nakao. Please. I…we won't hurt you." He noticed the coffee service. "May I?"

She nodded. He stepped over to help himself. Then the other two, Rube and Georgia, followed. They took their time. Rube fussed over the cream. Rube wanted to know if the cream was real. That helped her nerves a bit. It not being likely that they would do anything hostile with a cup of coffee in one hand and they seemed preoccupied with getting the right cream and sugar. She took a deep breath and sat back down. Jay seemed to come to a decision. She knew he was fed up with the machine's increasingly transparent manipulations. He took a seat and waited with uncharacteristic patience watching the three intruders fuss with their coffees. Lane's mouth was open but he also settled into a chair. Haze turned his chair away from the screen to face the newcomers disconnecting his attention from that useless control screen of his.

Jay said, "Please make yourselves comfortable. I'm glad to meet you, too." He smiled at Henry and extended a smile towards the girl, Georgia, and then Rube.

Henry walked to the far end of the table. He placed a coaster down, his cup deliberately placed on top, and then he sat down. He said, "Good morning, Aristarchus. I'm sorry you cannot share in this addiction at your current state of evolution."

"Good morning, Henry. On the whole, it seems to me the need to take food and drink and in particular the ingesting of stimulants has been a costly waste of resources."

"Ah, well. Who knows what the future holds?"