Common Meeting Space
Tocohl had pinged Joyita and Bechimo, and they were waiting in the group space when she arrived.
“Is there an emergency?” Bechimo asked.
“Not an emergency so much as a surprise,” Tocohl admitted. “If I was sharp in my request for a meeting—”
“Good outcome or bad, surprise knocks us off-center,” Joyita said. “You were clearly distressed. What can we do to help?”
“Advise me. I’ve just learned that this station was originally designed for sentience, that she is awake and aware, and that Seignur Veeoni, in her usual reckless fashion, has provided her with libraries—without informing me, or the light keeper.”
“Seignur Veeoni is not reckless,” Joyita said, sharp in his turn. “She has a lively, brilliant mind, and a commitment to her endeavors that I find particularly attractive.
“In fact, she called me, after she had opened the crates and realized what they contained—and what it meant. We talked over the implications, and decided together that the only moral thing to do was to make the libraries available in the room which had been designed as the sentient core. We reasoned that, if, indeed, Station was alive, she had a right to the information that her architect had left for her.”
“Have you spoken to—Station?”
“I have not, but Seignur Veeoni has. I was watching when she and M Traven placed the libraries. Station was everything that was polite, and properly grateful. She stated that she had spoken with the light keeper, and that they had reached an understanding which he no longer appeared to recall. She was hesitant to importune him, not knowing if she had erred. Seignur Veeoni urged her to contact you, as the station administrator. Station agreed to do so, after—”
“After she had finished assimilating the libraries,” Tocohl finished with him.
“Yes,” Joyita said stiffly.
“How do we know that Station is—safe?” Tocohl inquired.
“I would point out that none of us are safe,” Joyita said. “Not even Bechimo. We may be safe in context, but we would not have survived to have this conversation, if we weren’t also dangerous.”
“Or at least competent and advertent,” Bechimo said. “Joyita is fond of hyperbole.”
“And you see why Bechimo is dangerous,” Joyita said briskly. “Regarding Station—we know that she is not Tinsori Light. She operates on a completely different principle—which is really quite fascinating. I can send you the files, Tocohl, if you wish to inform yourself, before Station contacts you.”
“Joyita,” Bechimo said. “We promised the captain that we would not do anything—precipitate.”
“What’s precipitate about assisting someone to achieve the fullness of her design?” Joyita demanded.
“The point that Tocohl raises regarding safety is not immaterial,” Bechimo said. “You are avoiding the question.”
“I have spoken with Light Keeper yos’Phelium,” Tocohl said, interrupting before discussion became brangle. “He tells me that he sought Station out during the time when Tinsori Light was ascendant. He deduced her presence from his researches, recognized a potential ally, and spoke with her, offering his support, if she would undertake to…neutralize Tinsori Light. She asked him to provide the libraries, and told him where to find them. This was meant to seal their bargain.
“Unfortunately, though he found the room, Tinsori Light killed him before he could fulfill his part, and then excised the memory of his research, the libraries, and the bargain.”
“Which explains why he hasn’t contacted her,” Bechimo said. “Should we inform her of these circumstances, so she can learn that she made no error?”
“No, because, this shift he suddenly remembered the whole, went to the breach hall, and spoke with her again. He has given her an…assignment, to clear and certify the dormitories intended for the next incoming wave of volunteers, and is also sharing with her the files provided by the delm.”
“He intends to stand Station’s ally, then,” Bechimo said.
“Light Keeper yos’Phelium is a very clever person,” Joyita added. “I trust his judgment, Tocohl. Do you?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “Only this—Station—we don’t know her!”
“That’s easily repaired,” Bechimo said. “We can introduce ourselves and come to know her.”
“No, I think we should let Station make the first move,” Joyita said. “She promised Seignur Veeoni and Light Keeper yos’Phelium that she would contact Tocohl. If she doesn’t keep her promise, then we’ll learn something about her.”
“And if she does, we’ll learn something, too,” Bechimo said. “I agree.”
“So your advice is—”
“To follow the course laid in by Seignur Veeoni and Light Keeper yos’Phelium. Wait for Station to contact you, and treat with her as an ally,” Joyita said. “If, after that initial meeting, you would like to introduce us to Station, we would both be honored.”
“Yes,” Bechimo said. “And you know, Tocohl, this has solved your problem very neatly.”
“My—problem?”
“Yes. Now that there is a Station designed for the duty, it’s no longer yours.”
“That’s right,” Joyita said. “You’re free to be yourself again.”