The car containing three Agents and an Enforcer pulled up outside another operational plant. Smith hesitated before stepping out of the car and regarding the building warily, if this was simply a transfer to another facility they would have told him… wouldn’t they? His gaze flickered to Lucifer, who offered, what could be taken as a vaguely sympathetic smile, though with the Enforcers ‘vague’ was the operative word. It was a debatable point as to how Enforcer expressions within the physical construct actually related to their mental processes. In fact it was possible that Lucifer wasn’t even paying attention to the maxillofacial applications of his program. At least with Raphael’s psychopathic grin you had some indication as to what was going on, Smith reflected, though he secretly though that Raphael had a really big, mouth. Pulled from his own contemplations by Lucifer’s scrutiny, Smith shifted, trying to conceal the fact that he was trying to hide behind Jones.
Once inside the building Lucifer sent them to one of the upgrade areas, departing as soon as he had given his instructions. Brown watched Lucifer’s retreating back, still looking puzzled.
“What was that about?” He enquired as they made their way to the designated area.
Smith was about to formulate a reply when Jones cut in “Perhaps God wants to know what he had been doing here.”
Smith and Brown looked at Jones, surprised. There was no change in the other Agent’s expression.
“Are you being funny, Jones?” Brown was genuinely interested.
“He is being biblical.” Smith said.
They continued along the corridors in silence but, being machines, it wasn’t long before optical sensors detected Jones’ tiny smile.
Upgrade Centre 28 consisted of a reception desk, waiting room and several consultation rooms, much like an Outpatients clinic. After making themselves known to the bot behind the desk, team 0.2.8 was left to wait. Sitting in the waiting area, Brown discovered that someone had tried to make the place look more like a human hospital by placing several magazines on a table for perusal. Glancing at Smith, in case of disapproval, Brown picked up a magazine and began to read.
Brown was about a third of the way through the magazine when someone came to usher him into a consultation room. Smith picked up the discarded magazine.
“What was he reading?” Jones asked, leaning over to take a look.
Smith silently held up the copy of “Woman’s Weekly”.
Jones and Smith didn’t immediately notice when Brown returned from his basic physiological checks. Brown took a moment to watch them curiously.
“I think he is ‘cheating’ on her.” Smith said in his usual flat tones.
“He might have a reason for interacting with his previous mate.” Jones argued.
Smith raised his eyes from the magazine and looked at Jones.
“She could try a different approach.” Jones said, a little defensively.
“I would slap him.” Smith was decisive.
“That would constitute domestic violence.”
Seeing Brown both Agents made an effort to direct their attention away from the copy of “Woman’s Weekly” that they had obviously been reading.
In another part of the operational plant, in one of the vast offices with its floor to ceiling windows, Lucifer sat on an elegant couch set against a far wall. Opposite him Advanced Agent Toleezu, was looking through various files. Toleezu nodded to himself and dropped the latest file on top of the growing pile on the floor, next to the couch. Pausing for a moment he regarded the label on the last file.
“Those are Raphael’s Agents.” He stated, in his silken voice.
“Yes. They were assigned to deal with the human ‘Neo’.” Was Lucifer’s calm reply.
“Were?”
“Are.” Lucifer corrected himself.
The Agent dropped the rest of the files on the floor, on top of the others, “I see no problems with any of the Enforcers’ selections.”
Lucifer nodded. Though he technically outranked Toleezu, the Advanced Agent had excellent field experience and Lucifer let himself be guided by Toleezu’s recommendations.
“But…” Toleezu began.
“But?”
“The selection of Agents here is sufficient…”
“What changes would you recommend?” Lucifer wondered which Agents from his selection might be replaced.
“No changes. Additions.”
Lucifer nodded for Toleezu to continue.
“I would assign Mutuki and Gil-Rhuven to ground operations, once the conflict begins.”
“Just those two?” Lucifer was uneasy with the prospect of assigning two units that he had previously discounted as uncontrollable.
Toleezu was smiling now “You will only need those two.”
Several system diagnostics and slight modifications had been carried out on each member of team 0.2.8, and now they were to report of Agent Toleezu’s office.
“I do not understand what is happening.” Brown’s voice carried through the communication channels.
“Our modifications are required. They would not be authorised otherwise.” Jones rationalised.
“But we do not know why.” Brown continued.
“We have been ordered to report to Toleezu. The reason must be significant for it to involve the head of this Operational Plant.”
Brown looked to Smith who had not, as yet, contributed to the conversation. The Command unit was unnaturally unresponsive.
“Smith?” Brown waited for a response but was ignored. He tried again, out loud this time but still to no effect. Almost uneasily, Brown reached out and lightly touched Smith’s arm. That got a response. Smith stopped and looked down at the white fingers resting against his arm, them focused on Brown’s face. Brown didn’t remove his hand and instead asked, “What is happening?” out loud. Smith opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by polite coughing. Brown lowered his hand, turning to face Toleezu. The Advanced Agent smiled his bitter smile; “You are reassigned to patrol duties, concerning rebel exits. Your task is to observe only.”
That was something new, normally 0.2.8’s duty involved observation followed by appropriate action.
“What are we to do about the rebels accessing these exits?” Smith’s query possessed the tone of a rhetorical question.
“Nothing. Do not interfere with the rebels’ actions or that of any… others using such exits.”
Still in Toleezu’s office, Lucifer didn’t bother raising his head to watch the security camera footage of the various Agents, assigned to patrol duties, leaving for their destinations. He knew what it meant, these new orders to observe and not to interfere; after all he’d given them. And for a moment a defeated expression flitted across his face, before the blankness returned, as Lucifer waited for the destruction to begin.
18:55, 23/04/02