Not with the room monitored.
She sat down at the terminal, in front of the monitor.
Ari,it said. This is Ari senior. By now you've gotten the update. By now you know some things you may not have figured out before. Are you upset?
"Of course not." She felt Florian beside her. She grabbed his arm and held it, hard. "Go on, Ari."
Your access is upgraded. You are no longer on time-lag. Data is available through April 13, 2295.
She grabbed Catlin's shoulder, on the other side of her.
"Go on, Ari."
That's when I was 12. Updates will still be weekly.
Good night, Ari.
She clenched down until her fingers hurt; and then she realized what she was doing and let up. "Log-off," she said. And sat there shaking.
Catlin patted her shoulder and gave her the handsigns they had made up for Tomorrow, Outside.
Florian signed: Tonight. Take-out Monitor.
She shook her head, and signed: Stay.
And took them each by a hand.
Knowing that five more years of data were in the files. But she had an idea what was in it.
Exactly what was in it.
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.
Security was still taping. "Florian," she said, "Catlin, we aregoing to Security. Right now."
Catlin made the sign for Seely.
"They won't stop us. Get your stuff. Come on. We're going to go kill that thing. Hear that, uncle Denys?"
He didn't answer. Of course not.
She went and washed her face while Florian was getting his small tool kit. While Catlin was getting whatever she thought she might need. Which probably included a length of fine wire.
They walked out into the living room. Uncle Denys was reading at the dining table beyond the arch. Like most evenings. He looked at her.
She said: "We're going down to Security, in case you missed it."
"I'll advise them," uncle Denys said. "Don'tbreak anything, Florian." Seely was not in the room. Seely should have been. Maybe Seely was monitoring from the office.
She stood there and stared at uncle Denys a long, long while. "Like your maman," uncle Denys said, "I've tried to help you."
"They could kill you."
"Yes. I know that. You know that. You could do that anytime, if you put your mind to it. We have to take chances like that. Because I'm your friend. Not your uncle. Not really. I've been your friend for as long as you've lived."
"Whichhow long?"
"As long as you've lived. You're Ari. One isthe other. That's what this is about. Neither one of you betrayed the other one. You arethe one who did all these things—in a very direct sense. Think about it."
"You're crazy! Everybody in this House is crazy!"
"No. Go see about Security. I'll tell them. Your accesses have upgraded considerably tonight. You havereal authority in some things. You don't have to live here. You can take your apartment, if you want to. It'll be very large, for a young girl and two azi. But you have the key. If you want to go there, you can. Florian can access the Security system there, and vet it for you. Or you can come back here when you're through. Or you can go over to Amy's. Her mother won't ask any questions."
"Does everybody in Reseune know what I am?"
"Of course. Everybody knew the first Ari. And you began, at least on paper, the day after she died."
"Damn you."
"Same temper, too. But she learned to control it. Learned to useit, not let it use her. There's a lot of Cyteen history in those data files, too. A lot of Reseune history. A lot of things your education has just—avoided, until now. Once upon a time there was a man who could see the future. He began trying to change his life. But that washis future. Someday you'll access yours—as far as you want to. Think about it."
"I'm not doing anything you tell me from now on."
"Ask yourself why five years. Why not six? Why not four? Ask the computer what happened April 13, 2295."
"Youtell me."
"You can look it up. You have the access."
"I want all my stuff up at my apartment."
"That's fine. Tell Housekeeping. They can do that first thing in the morning. You'd better pack at least the basics—for the apartment where you're going. Or buy it. Necessariesis open round the clock. If you need anything—like advice on how to fill out the paperwork, whatever, —call me. I certainly don't mind helping you."
Trust Denys to get to the mundane, the depressing workaday details of anything.
"I'll manage."
"I know you will, dear. I'm still here. If I can help you I want to. Florian, Catlin, don't let her hurt herself. Please. And take some pajamas."
"Dammit, uncle Denys, —"
"Dear, somebodyhas to take care of things. It's usually me. Do you want to go to your apartment, —or do you want to come back and live here for a little while, till you've figured out what it takes to runan apartment on your own?"
"No. No, I don't. I'll manage."
"I'll send Housekeeping foryou. They can't go in up there. But I'll have a package waiting at your door, and send your things on tomorrow. Practical things, Ari. I'll fill out your supply forms for you, and your budget report, you have to have that, or you foul up accounting. I'll give you copies so you know how to set it up in your Base."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Ari. Thank you for being reasonable about this. This is different from Ari senior, understand. She was fourteen when she moved out of this apartment. But you're overrunning your course too, by a little. Please. Take care of yourself. Can you give me a kiss?"
She stood there, frozen. Out of this apartment.She swallowed a lump of nausea. And shook her head. "Not right now. Not right now, uncle Denys."
He nodded. "Sometime, then."
She clenched her jaw and motioned to Florian and Catlin that they were leaving.
ARCHIVES: RUBIN PROJECT: CLASSIFIED CLASS AA
DO NOT COPY WITHOUT COMMITTEE FORM 768
CONTENT: Computer Transcript File #5998 Seq. #1
Denys Nye/Catlin II
Emory I/Emory II/Florian II
2418: 4/14: 0048
AE2: Minder, this is Ari Emory. Florian and Catlin are with me. Print out all entries since I was here last.
Elclass="underline" There are two messages.
Welcome to your own home. If you get scared and you want to call me or Security, please don't hesitate. But you're as safe there as here. Trust Florian and Catlin. Take their advice when it comes to your safety.
Drop by the office tomorrow if you feel like it. There's so much you need to know. I let you go because you're not a child, and I wouldn't bring your Security and mine into conflict: my bet would still be on Seely, but I truly don't want to put that to the test.
Attached to your Housekeeping list will be Security's standard recommendations and Seely's for basic Security set-up. Give it to Catlin and Florian. They'll understand. They probably don't need it, but a checklist never hurts even with experienced personnel.