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Bechimo
Dock A


“So, whose tool is it?” Theo asked. She was in Bechimo’s galley, making serious inroads into a fresh batch of Clarence’s maize buttons, and drinking a cup of tea. The rest of the onboard crew were similarly engaged, and Joyita was on-screen from his tower.

“Inconclusive,” he said. “Bechimo and Tocohl ran checks and upgraded the station’s perimeter security. We’ve placed some simple traps. There’s still improvement to be made, but it’s a good start. If the intruder tries again, we may be in a position to know more about them, even if they elude the traps. In the meantime, the station—”

Theo raised her hand.

“Yes, Captain?”

“I thought Tocohl Lorlin had taken over station systems—which is to say, Tocohl Lorlin is Station. You seem to be talking of two different entities, Tocohl and the station.”

“Tocohl Lorlin is administering station systems,” Bechimo said. “She is not the station, any more than Light Keeper yos’Phelium is the station.”

Clarence chuckled.


There once was a fellow called Ockham,

who was compelled to cut through the hokum.

He got him a razor

with an edge like a laser.

When he had too many choices, he smoked ’em.”


Joyita grinned, but shook his head.

“Not applicable in the case,” he said. “Tocohl Lorlin was designed to be a generalist. It’s why she’s doing as well as she is in this situation. It would be better if she wasn’t in this situation.”

“Well stated,” Bechimo said. “Tocohl and I spoke of this somewhat. She is ambivalent, though she is determined to fulfill the role into which she has been thrust. I think, if we can show her the way to fully automated station systems, she would happily withdraw into her natural environment.”

Kara, who was sitting next to Theo, reached over and snatched one of the diminishing number of maize buttons.

“We would need a system designer, with a specialty in station architecture,” she said.

“Is that not what we have, in Seignur Veeoni?” Win Ton asked. “She is rebuilding the core, and bringing it to spec.”

“She is,” Theo said slowly, “but I’m not sure if she’s building for sentience. If that even makes sense.”

She felt a tug at her knee, and leaned down to bring Hevelin into her lap. The norbear settled comfortably, and demanded a maize button.

“Pirate,” Theo said, breaking a button in two and giving him the bigger piece. She received the impression that Hevelin was more than able to accommodate an entire button—even two.

“I can’t believe they’re good for you,” Theo protested, and Clarence outright laughed.

“As many as he’s eaten over the last while, if they were bad for him, we’d know by now.”

“Still,” Theo said, addressing Hevelin, “you need to watch your figure. A certain gravity is fine for an ambassador, but you don’t want to overdo it.”

Hevelin munched on his treat, ignoring her.

“What are the chances,” Theo asked the table at large, “that Tinsori Light is still—alive? And trying to find a way into the new system.”

The galley fell quiet.

“We’re told,” Joyita said slowly, “that the hardware that housed the original Tinsori Light was largely destroyed, and that Tinsori Light himself has died. This is the opinion of the architect of the new system and also of the mentor, both of whom are very experienced.”

“Even experts make mistakes,” Kara murmured, and Joyita smiled at her.

“So they do. Perhaps it would help if I spoke to Seignur Veeoni.”

Theo looked up at him.

“You, yourself?”

“Indeed. I am acknowledged by no one less than Jeeves to be a very fine researcher and systems analyst. Surely it’s appropriate to offer my services.”

“No harm in trying,” Clarence said, reaching to the table and picking up the empty platter. “I’ll just be making another batch o’these, Captain, unless you think not?”

Theo sighed.

“It’s probably a terrible idea,” she said, “but we’ve still got a lot of planning to do. And I need to write to Miri.”

“I’ll take that as a yes, then,” Clarence said, and went into the kitchen.


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