"Yes."
"Can you remember their names?"
"Just the one and only because I heard Agent Sathen say it. Cupra."
"They didn't show you ill?" Ariel asked.
"Agent Sathen knew them."
"Thank you. I appreciate it. If I have any other questions, can I-?"
"I'd rather you didn't," Carther said sharply.
Ariel started. "Oh."
"If that's all, I have things to do."
"Yes, I -"
The image winked out. After all this time, Terran prejudice still surprised her. Too often it came wrapped in a false tolerance that camouflaged real sentiment.
Ariel checked the clinic records again. She found a note appended to the staff log that night: HEAD NURSE KARL FUNIL: EXCUSED FOR ILLNESS. But there was no notation for who took his duties. The way the log read, Nurse Carther had stayed.
Was anyone on staff after she left…? Ariel wondered.
Agent Sathen had said nothing about the visit by Agent Cupra.
"I can't think of anything I left out," he had said.
"How paranoid do you want to be?" Ariel muttered aloud.
"Ariel," Hofton's voice came over the intercom. "Gale Chassik is calling again."
"Damnit!"
"Do you want me to?"
"Put him through. If I don't talk to him now he'll never go away."
A moment later Chassik's face appeared on her com screen. Gale Chassik's features implied an athletic youth unmaintained in middle age-wide jaw, a fleshy chin, and solid cheeks below bright greenish eyes and a seamed forehead.
"Ms. Burgess," he said slowly, "thank you for taking the time to speak with me."
Ariel heard the unspoken "at last" at the end of his sentence. She made herself smile and hoped she looked convincingly apologetic.
"Sorry, Ambassador Chassik, but it has been a hectic day."
"I can imagine. I truly hate to add to your burdens, but I do have a matter or two that require attention. The sooner the better and I can leave you in peace."
"Of course. What can I do for you?"
"First, may I offer condolences on the losses of your fellow Aurorans?"
"Thank you, Ambassador. And I for yours."
"We were more fortunate, at least in simple numbers. I understand Setaris's top aides were killed."
"That's correct."
"Who?"
"I'm taking over some of their duties for the time being. "
"Ah. Then I have finally reached the office I need."
"That depends on what you need, Ambassador Chassik. "
"Simply the formality of an official statement. What is Aurora's-and the Calvin Institute's position-on the disaster just experienced?"
"It's strictly wait and see. We don't intend to take any precipitate action until we have some answers from Terran authorities. For now, we'll wait on their investigations before taking any further steps."
"Nicely paraphrased, Ms. Burgess. What about the conference?"
"There is no reason currently to believe that the conference should not continue."
Chassik looked surprised. "Without Galiel? Who could possibly stand in for her? And Senator Eliton?"
"Senator Eliton's second, Vice Senator Taprin, will stand in for him," Ariel replied. "As for our own contingent, I don't know yet what the roster will be. What about your own legation? Who's staying?"
"None of them. Why should they? The welcome they received-"
"Ambassador, I already have commitments from survivors of the Auroran Legation to stay and see the conference through. It would be awkward if Solaria backed out, don't you think?"
Chassik pursed his lips. "I'll get back to you on that. May I ask who is staying?"
"You may ask."
Chassik waited, then grinned. "When you have your roster completed, you will let us know?"
"Of course."
"The second matter, then. What is your position on the alleged positronic failure and what do you intend to do about the Phylaxis Group?"
"We have no position on the alleged failure. We haven't seen the evidence on it, therefore we cannot determine the validity of the suggestion. Personally, I find it ludicrous. As for the Phylaxis Group, I don't understand what you mean."
Chassik raised an eyebrow. "Really. Phylaxis built that absurd robot that failed to protect Senator Eliton. Phylaxis is in charge of analyzing the RI in Union Station. The claim that the RI failed has come to us from a variety of sources, some of them quite reliable. If you don't believe that it failed and Phylaxis says it did-well, in light of the incompetence of the bodyguard, can you accept their word?"
"Are you suggesting collusion between Phylaxis and-"
"I'm not suggesting anything," Chassik said quickly. "But I have constituents who are quite uneasy about that robot and after witnessing its performance yesterday, I can't say I disagree with them. If there isn't collusion, there is gross incompetence. We can't have Phylaxis damaging our reputations. It was a Solarian firm that installed the RI."
"I'll look into the matter, Ambassador. Is there anything else?"
Chassik seemed thoughtful for a time. "Have you spoken to the Terran Authorities yet?"
"No. I've requested updates on their investigation, but so far I've received nothing."
"Hmm. When you do hear from them, would you let me know what they say?"
"I'm sure you'll be informed at the same time-" Ariel began.
"A favor, Ms. Burgess. In return, I'll share what I receive from them. It may be that aspects of this will be overlooked."
"I see. I'll let you know, Ambassador. Thank you."
"Oh, and one more matter. I'm officially informing you that the RI at Union Station is being removed by Solarian specialists."
Ariel blinked. "Removed…? When?"
"Work begins today."
"But-I should have been informed."
"I'm informing you now. You have been difficult to reach."
"A Calvin Institute representative is required to be on site for-"
"Ms. Burgess, this is Earth. They have no such regulation. The fact that your people were consulted when we installed it was a political courtesy. Now they want it out and they don't care. They need to get the station up and running and a replacement has already been chosen. All that needs to be done is the removal of the RI, which we have been requested-strongly requested-to do with all haste. If you have anyone from the Institute you can spare, send them around."
"It doesn't matter that this is Earth-this is a Spacer regulation."
"Time, Ms. Burgess, time." Chassik shook his head as if exasperated with her. "My people were contacted early this morning and the request was on my desk when I arrived. I understand their haste, even if I have reservations. The RI is defunct, totally collapsed, a useless mass of pathways. This is a simple physical extraction."
"Has Phylaxis been contacted? Is Derec-Mr. Avery there?"
"I don't know. Would his presence mollify you?"
"I'm not sure." Ariel fought back her irritation. "I don't have anyone to spare. Please make sure they document the removal and forward a report to me."
"I'll see to that, of course."
"Thank you. "
"Good day."
Ariel stared at the blank screen, fuming over the breach in protocol. It was not just a matter of form, but a question of accountability. How could she know that everything was done properly without an inspection? She would have to trust them. She imagined that it was the same Solarian company that had installed it in the first place, which did little to assuage her apprehensions.
Why the rush…? she wondered.
After a time, Hofton interrupted again. "Ariel, Trina Korolin is calling. And I have those downloads for you." At a little past two, Ariel wanted to go back to her apartment. The pressure behind her eyes had mounted steadily over the last two hours till she could no longer deny it and her patience had frayed in equal measure.
Trina Korolin seemed far too young and certainly lacked the experience for what she had volunteered to do, but if enthusiasm and commitment meant anything perhaps she could manage it. Ariel had put her in touch with Jonis Taprin and hoped for the best.