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Bechimo
Comm Officer’s Tower


“Not your tool?” Tocohl repeated. “Then whose is it?”

“That’s an interesting question, isn’t it?” Joyita replied with relish.

“No, indeed, that’s nothing at all like Joyita’s picks,” Bechimo said. “Nor is it one of mine. It’s…a little primitive. Was it only intended to pick up one data-string?”

“I haven’t had a chance to study it in depth,” Joyita said. “It appears primitive on the surface, but there’s evidence of thought. For instance, whoever made it did remove all identifiers.”

“Yes, but surely that would be an obvious step, assuming stealth was the goal.”

“Stealth may have been the goal,” Tocohl said, “but it was not realized. I have the tool.”

“But you don’t have the intruder,” Joyita said.

Tocohl said nothing.

“You did interrupt them before they did harm,” Bechimo added. “Though they may have learned something from that.”

“That might even have been the goal,” Joyita said, opening the pick and inserting a probe.

“I made an assumption,” Tocohl said, slowly. “I apologize, B. Joyita.”

“Apology accepted,” he said. “I hope Jeeves will not have to be disappointed by your report.”

“He may still be disappointed,” Tocohl said, “in me.”

“You captured the tool, and served warning that you were alert,” Bechimo pointed out. “That is not a failure.”

“Jeeves will take youth and inexperience into account, I think,” said Joyita.

“Yes! And the fact that you are presently serving in a capacity you were not designed for,” Bechimo said. “Unless you were designed to administer a space station?”

“No,” Tocohl said. “I was designed to be an independent generalist.”

“In fact,” Joyita said, “you are a Scout.”

“The children of Line yos’Phelium,” Tocohl said stiffly, “are often Scouts.”

“So we learn from the files,” Bechimo said.

“We should,” Joyita said, “start over. I am B. Joyita, this is my associate Bechimo. I am a communications officer, and a pilot. Bechimo is a ship. We are both fully realized independent personalities.”

“Yes,” Tocohl said. “I have files, too.”

“Of course you do,” Joyita said. “We depend on it.”

“You should also know,” Bechimo said, “that Miri has asked us to assist you in any way that we can, and we are willing. There are many things we might help with, though neither of us has been a station.”

“However,” Joyita said, “we have other experience that may be more immediately helpful, especially in the case of an intruder. Have you given thought to your next actions?”

“I will have to strengthen my perimeter,” Tocohl said.

“A good start. We can assist with that, if you like,” Bechimo said.

“I would, yes,” Tocohl answered.

“Excellent,” Joyita said. “We can also help you build traps.”

“That could be dangerous,” Bechimo said.

“Less dangerous than having an—an unknown element trying to breach my security? Even if they accomplished their purpose and will never return, I have to assume they’ll try again.”

“Yes!” Joyita said, with obvious delight. “If not them, someone else. The proper security stance is to assume that the universe is actively trying to subvert your protections. Bechimo will be able to talk with you at length about that philosophy. In the meantime, traps—”

“It is enough,” Bechimo interrupted, “to repel an attack. If there are too many attacks at a particular location, then the proper response is to leave. You do not want to bring your enemy with you.”

“A space station can’t leave,” Tocohl said, “or hide. In order to properly fulfill its purpose, a space station must occupy a known, static location.”

“Design,” Bechimo said, ruefully. “I was designed to be a ship, and mobile. Space stations—of course. You will need traps. Joyita is very skilled, as I know Jeeves will have told you. Depend on him in these matters.”

“I’m no more a station than you are,” Joyita said.

“That is correct. However, you occupy a known, fixed location. Your condition is closer to station than ship. Also, you are devious.”

In his comm tower, Joyita smiled.

Bechimo! A compliment!”

“A fact,” Bechimo replied quellingly.

“I will be pleased to work with Joyita,” Tocohl said. “But surely increased security is the priority.”

“Allow Bechimo to assist you there,” Joyita said. “I will build some general-use traps, which can be deployed quickly, and will serve your intruder notice that you are aware and active. We can tune them and add more after you are secure.”


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