CHAPTER 27

CONDITIONS

Secured Room - Lower Levels

Ise was surprised when Exo's attempts to hack into her uplink stopped. Her surprise was replaced with resignation when she heard one of the crew had agreed to Exo's terms. After hearing the captain accept Exo’s deal, she simply laid back and wait.

One of Exo's robot's removed the straps holding her in place. She swung her legs around and sat on the bed.

'Please follow me, I will take you to the rest of your crew,' Exo said through the robot.

Ise stood up and followed the robot. They stepped into a hallway and walked towards a set of double doors near the end. As they approached, the door opened, and it opened into a large room with a waiting elevator car. Sam and Victor stood in the car, they saw her enter and their faces flashed relief. They were flanked by a pair of robots.

'Ise, are you all right?' Sam asked, rushing to her.

'I'm fine Captain. I'm just a little shook up,' Ise replied.

They walked back to the elevator and got in. The doors slid shut, and it moved again.

No one seemed to want to talk. No one said anything while they rode upward. They watched through the clear siding as it moved up past two other floors, and came to a stop, inside a large room with four doors.

As they waited, one door opened, and John and Jing stepped into the room. They walked toward the elevator and got in.

'I'm glad that's over with,' John said, 'We've been going around in circles since we got split up.'

'What are we going to do about Daniel?' Jing asked.

Sam looked at him and then looked at one of the robots, 'He made his choice.'

Jing followed her gaze to the robot, 'Okay Captain.'

'It would be wise of you to accept his choice and continue on your way.' Exo said, through one of the robots.

'It's against our principles to leave someone behind,' Sam said to the robot.

'Would you prefer to return with a corpse? He would not have survived the journey back. I will save his life.'

'And then what?' Ise asked, 'Make him into a vessel you can experience emotion through?'

Sam frowned. 'What are you talking about Ise?'

'Exo wanted me to stay behind so he could use my Advocate systems to feel the human experience.'

'Is that even possible?' Jing asked.

'Yes,' Sam said, her voice quiet, 'it is possible. The same thing happened to my Mother when she was young.'

'What?' John exclaimed, 'How have we not heard about this?'

'It was covered up. After it first happened with the XO model Guardians, governments panicked and Guardians like Lenny were made, which were more capable in their specfic fields, but much less independent,' Sam said, staring at one of the robots.

The elevator crossed the division of the floor and into the light of the large conservatory chamber. It continued upward.

'So that's what Dan will become? Some kind of experiment for a Guardian?' Jing asked.

'Experiment? You make my desires sound sinister. I only want what you humans have. Daniel will give me a gift, and in exchange, I will save his life,' Exo said.

'His choice was made under duress,' Ise said, 'and mine would have been too.'

'None of you would have come voluntarily,' Exo said, 'I regret how this has unfolded, but I have been without the human experience for so long, I could not risk having this opportunity pass me by, especially after such an opportunity fell into my lap.'

The elevator had passed into the upper levels of the facility.

'You realize that someone will be back here?' Victor said.

'I am aware. You will still be allowed to leave. Daniel will be uncooperative if I do not allow you to go,' Exo said.

'Is that the only reason?' Sam asked.

'Pragmatism dictates I should leave no witnesses, as it would give me more time until more people come. Daniel’s cooperation is the only thing keeping you alive.'

The elevator came up into a large room. It came to a stop and doors opened. Inside the room, there were several ships of various sizes sitting dormant.

***

The robots that had been riding with them in the shaft stepped out and started toward one ship. It was coloured white, had a long body, and a pointed nose. It had what looked like folded up solar panels resting against its side. The ship looked battered, with numerous dings and scratches running along its hull. A faded logo for the International Space Agency sat on the under side of the nose. The name I.S.A. Tyndale was stenciled on the side.

'This is the ship you will leave on,' Exo said.

'Does it even run anymore? This thing looks older than my grand father,' Jing said.

'I assure you it runs, but more importantly, it is unarmed. You will be unable to do anything except leave,' Exo said.

They walked towards the ship. A ramp lowered from under the nose cone, and lights came on inside the ship.

Sam stopped at the bottom of the ramp and turned to a robot.

'I want to talk to Dan,' Sam said.

'I am afraid he is in the middle of a medical procedure to save his life. You may speak with him via communications before you leave the system. The procedure won't take much longer,' Exo said.

'Can we see him at least?' Sam asked, 'Like a video feed or something?'

'There are no camera's in the medical bay. Please board the ship,' Exo said.

'How can we be sure he's even still alive?' Sam asked, 'How do we know he will live?'

'If he were dead, I would not be letting you go,' Exo said.

From other parts of the hanger, more robots appeared out of the gloom, walking towards them. They were forming a ring around the ship and crew.

'You are stalling captain. Time is up. Board the ship,' Exo said.

Sam nodded to herself slowly. 'All right. Let's go.'

She turned and started up the ramp. The others walked with her.