"How is this possible?" Lydecker whispered, more to himself than to Logan, whose shoulder he was presently leaning over.
"All that matters is that, apparently, it is," Logan commented, deftly navigating the system.
Lydecker took in a deep breath and shook his head. "All right...Max's number is X5-452. Renfro doesn't like to use their names; she doesn't think of them as human beings, and she doesn't like them to think of themselves that way, either. So the status of the number is what you should search for."
Logan could feel and hear Lydecker's worry, and supposed that he should also have his suspicions, but he was far too excited at the moment for anything of that nature. Adding to his giddiness was the fact that X5-452's status was not "deceased", but "undergoing reprogramming."
"Ha! I was RIGHT!" he exclaimed, bouncing in his seat. Lydecker, though slightly more hopeful than he'd previously been, was not so optimistic. It had all been a little too easy for his liking.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Surprise surprise," said Logan wryly.
"It could very well be a trap," Lydecker pointed out. "I think you should log off."
Logan, knowing deep down that his companion was right, shut the computer off and leaned back into his chair, jittery and eager to make good on what they'd just discovered. The familiarity of the situation suddenly struck him...all those times he'd been against Max going on a rescue mission, insisting that it could be trap. Now he understood perfectly why she'd never listened to him.
"So what do you suggest we do?" he asked after a few moments of silence.
"Well," Lydecker began, "if this information is nothing more than bait, they'll obviously be expecting an attack. They've probably heightened security and are on the lookout, so before we get a group together and barge in, we ought to know for sure whether they're really holding Max alive and well."
Logan caught on quickly enough. "You talking recon?"
"Absolutely."
*******
The room became silent as Renfro entered, her very presence sending chills through the gathered technicians and engineers. She smiled at the fear she was able to strike and moved swiftly to the man she'd spoken with. What was his name? Lars Haskell? Yes, that was it. She'd rather reluctantly left X5-734 and X5-452 to themselves, ordering that they cease their sparring activities until she returned. X5-734 was, of course, given permission to use force to keep X5-452 in line.
"Mr. Haskell," she greeted him.
"Madame," he replied, bowing his head slightly out of both respect and intimidation. "Whoever entered has since logged off." She nodded slightly and, in fear of reprisal, he quickly added, "please don't be too disappointed, Madame. If it helps any, before they left, they went straight for the information on prototype X5-452, which I'm guessing is what you expected."
"Yes, it is, and no, I'm not disappointed at all. All that was needed I've gained." She smiled and extended her hand, which he took warily. "Good work, Haskell," she commended him before abruptly turning and exiting the room. Such a gesture was rare from her, and as his fellow employees stared at him in shock and envy, he knew his day had been made.
Renfro, meanwhile, ordered the mobilization of the hoverdrone and uploaded a picture of the technician. Lydecker (or whoever else it had been, though she doubted it was anyone but him) sure had gotten off quickly...either he was smarter than she'd anticipated, or Haskell had grown a brain, developed a conscience, and subsequently warned him. Either way, you can never be too careful.
"All that matters is that, apparently, it is," Logan commented, deftly navigating the system.
Lydecker took in a deep breath and shook his head. "All right...Max's number is X5-452. Renfro doesn't like to use their names; she doesn't think of them as human beings, and she doesn't like them to think of themselves that way, either. So the status of the number is what you should search for."
Logan could feel and hear Lydecker's worry, and supposed that he should also have his suspicions, but he was far too excited at the moment for anything of that nature. Adding to his giddiness was the fact that X5-452's status was not "deceased", but "undergoing reprogramming."
"Ha! I was RIGHT!" he exclaimed, bouncing in his seat. Lydecker, though slightly more hopeful than he'd previously been, was not so optimistic. It had all been a little too easy for his liking.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Surprise surprise," said Logan wryly.
"It could very well be a trap," Lydecker pointed out. "I think you should log off."
Logan, knowing deep down that his companion was right, shut the computer off and leaned back into his chair, jittery and eager to make good on what they'd just discovered. The familiarity of the situation suddenly struck him...all those times he'd been against Max going on a rescue mission, insisting that it could be trap. Now he understood perfectly why she'd never listened to him.
"So what do you suggest we do?" he asked after a few moments of silence.
"Well," Lydecker began, "if this information is nothing more than bait, they'll obviously be expecting an attack. They've probably heightened security and are on the lookout, so before we get a group together and barge in, we ought to know for sure whether they're really holding Max alive and well."
Logan caught on quickly enough. "You talking recon?"
"Absolutely."
*******
The room became silent as Renfro entered, her very presence sending chills through the gathered technicians and engineers. She smiled at the fear she was able to strike and moved swiftly to the man she'd spoken with. What was his name? Lars Haskell? Yes, that was it. She'd rather reluctantly left X5-734 and X5-452 to themselves, ordering that they cease their sparring activities until she returned. X5-734 was, of course, given permission to use force to keep X5-452 in line.
"Mr. Haskell," she greeted him.
"Madame," he replied, bowing his head slightly out of both respect and intimidation. "Whoever entered has since logged off." She nodded slightly and, in fear of reprisal, he quickly added, "please don't be too disappointed, Madame. If it helps any, before they left, they went straight for the information on prototype X5-452, which I'm guessing is what you expected."
"Yes, it is, and no, I'm not disappointed at all. All that was needed I've gained." She smiled and extended her hand, which he took warily. "Good work, Haskell," she commended him before abruptly turning and exiting the room. Such a gesture was rare from her, and as his fellow employees stared at him in shock and envy, he knew his day had been made.
Renfro, meanwhile, ordered the mobilization of the hoverdrone and uploaded a picture of the technician. Lydecker (or whoever else it had been, though she doubted it was anyone but him) sure had gotten off quickly...either he was smarter than she'd anticipated, or Haskell had grown a brain, developed a conscience, and subsequently warned him. Either way, you can never be too careful.