"You want to explain that?"
Carefully, Mia recounted the day of the reception, the events she remembered just before the explosions, and the slaughter that followed. She told Ariel about the bizarre behavior of the robots, the chase and capture of three of the assassins. She described how Bogard had carried her from the hospital after her room was bombed. She spoke in an even tone of voice, choosing her words precisely, the way she would if giving an oral report on an assignment, as if it had happened to someone else and she was only the investigator. The habit of training and experience helped, kept the fear at arm's length, got her through the entire recitation without a break or a tremor.
"There are several unanswered questions," she said. "Several dozen, actually. But the big ones-who were the assailants, how did they get in through security, where did they get their weapons?-those can be confronted directly. Unfortunately, some of the answers may lead to questions just as large that can't be directly confronted. My conclusion is-has to be-that someone inside the Service is involved. They knew about Bogard, they knew where I was, they knew the only way to get me was the method they used because Bogard could defend against anything else. But they were also eliminating witnesses. They wanted Bogard gone, too. Besides, I can think of no other way security at Union Station could have been compromised so badly. There has to be an insider."
"How do you explain the behavior of the RI?" Ariel asked.
"I don't. Which brings me to you. You have a degree from the Calvin Institute, your specialty is robotics-"
"I'm a bureaucrat-"
"-and you're embassy staff with a stake in what happened. I think you want to know as badly as I do. Plus, you want to know that it won't happen again."
"You're still assuming."
"And you're not throwing me out."
Ariel smiled faintly. "I have some expertise in robotics, true, but that doesn't mean I can solve this for you. For all I know, I won't even be allowed near that system. Besides, there's already someone who has probably been called in to do that. Still… assuming you're right and there's an insider, that means that any investigation will be hampered, crippled, or blocked completely."
"Exactly."
"But that also means you can't do anything, either."
"Not exactly."
Ariel shrugged. "As an Auroran, there's not much I can do."
"You're being modest," Mia said. "As a member of the Auroran embassy mission, you have a primary interest in this investigation. You can make noise, embarrass people, harass them." She smiled. "All things you enjoy."
"Now you're being facetious."
Mia shrugged. "Do you remember when we met?"
"Four years ago, Kopernik Station. The day I arrived to take a job with the Auroran Trade Section."
"I was new on the job then, freshly certified, right out of the academy."
"And the reason they assigned you to the duty was your high tolerance for open spaces."
Mia smiled. "They assumed that included outer space, too, so I spent two hours' shuttle time with my eyes shut and my fingers clamped tight around my seat, not daring to look out the port."
"You were in charge of security on our baggage-"
"-and you weren't going to let me inspect your personal luggage-"
"-and you weren't going to let my bags off Kopernik without a thorough inspection-"
"-and you weren't going to let a human do it."
Ariel was laughing. "I'd met some stubborn people before that, but you were the most"
"After you, that is."
Ariel nodded. "Yes. After me."
"But I wasn't unreasonable, was I?"
"No. You asked what kind of inspection would satisfy me, and I said only a robotic inspection. You agreed. Surprised the hell out of me."
Mia nodded. "So we dragged some poor domestic from the Auroran section of the station over to do the inspection. I told it what specifically I wanted to know about, you validated my instructions, and everything else was kept confidential."
"I wasn't used to Terrans understanding anything about positronic robots. I'm still surprised when I find one that does."
"I trusted you."
Ariel raised an eyebrow. "You trusted the robot."
"But I had to believe the claims for them, which meant I had to believe you."
Ariel gave her a sober, assessing look, nodding slowly. "Yes. You trusted me."
"It could have meant my career if you'd deceived me."
"It could have meant your career if you hadn't compromised."
"And you had to trust me that I'd abide by the robot's findings."
After a pause, Ariel sighed. "We trust each other. Then and, I suppose, now. Is that your point?"
"That's my hope."
Ariel's gaze shifted to a point past Mia's left shoulder. "And that?"
Mia turned her head to look at Bogard, standing immobile at the archway between the foyer and the spacious living room. Ariel's robot, Jennie, stood nearby, waiting.
"Bogard? What about it?"
"That's the bodyguard, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Why do you have it?" Ariel asked.
"I'm its primary duty right now," Mia replied. "I had to transfer its priority from Senator Eliton to me to keep it from freezing up. Bogard was close to… what do you call it? Positronic collapse."
"I imagine so. It failed. Why is it still functioning?"
"Because-"
Ariel shook her head. "That shouldn't matter. A human died that it was supposed to protect. You can't conveniently tell a positronic robot to forget about one set of duties and take up a new set to keep it from collapsing."
"You can with Bogard."
Ariel looked unhappy. "I don't like it. But I suppose it has to stay with you?"
"Bogard has all the data concerning the assault. There are things I didn't see, couldn't see, and most of the others who could provide reliable information seem to be dead now. Besides, I'm not exactly in any condition to defend myself at the moment. I need Bogard."
"You trust it?"
Mia shrugged. "For now."
"I'll reserve my judgment." Ariel stared unhappily at the robot. Mia did not understand her reaction-she seemed almost afraid of it. Then Ariel shook her head and looked at Mia. "But you have a point about the data it has-it might be useful." She turned to her own robot. "Jennie, prepare the Terran guest room for Mia. And check my itinerary. Cancel any guests I had scheduled for the next ten days."
"Yes, Ariel." The robot moved quickly from the room.
Ariel pointed a finger at Mia. "I want you to make it clear to Bogard that I am now part of its responsibility. I don't want it misinterpreting anything I do as a threat to you. How long before you're back up on your feet?"
"A few days maybe. A week at most. If I had some medical attention, maybe sooner-"
"I'll take care of that later today." Ariel stood. "I'm exhausted and I need to think. Not a good combination. Make yourself at home. We'll talk in the morning."
Mia reached out and caught Ariel's hand as she walked by. "Thank you, Ariel."
Ariel hesitated, then returned a squeeze. "Get some sleep. You'll be safe here for the time being." Mia sat propped up in bed in the half-light from a dimmed bedside lamp, knowing she should sleep and unable to slow the cascade of thoughts. She had dozed so much during Bogard's journey through the warrens that while she did not feel rested, she did not feel sleepy.
Ariel had given her the guest room with no windows, for which she was grateful. She had fewer problems with open air and unceilinged sky than most Terrans, and given time she could manage to overcome those reservations and minor fears she did possess. But tonight, after everything else, trying to sleep with a window looking out over the roof of D. C. would be difficult.
A reader lay beside the lamp on the nightstand, a stack of book inserts with it. Ten pages into something light or dull and she would be asleep, she knew, but she was reluctant. For that matter she could ask Bogard to tranquilize her.
The robot had inspected the entire apartment, much to Ariel's dismay. It now stood near Mia's door, on standby, satisfied for the time being that Mia was safe. And for the moment, Mia did feel safe. Her anxiety came from different concerns.