Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by G. J. Koch Page A

man said?”
    “Oh, no, Captain. I have complete free will.”
    “Then, uh, why didn’t you free will yourself out of here? I’m just guessing, but I’d bet you’re a lot stronger than I am, potentially able to break down the door.”
    She nodded. “Yes, Captain. I am. However, they told me they’d hurt Randolph if I tried to escape.”
    Ah, what he hadn’t programmed her for was how to tell when the risk to reward ratio was worth it. There probably wasn’t a lot of self-preservation in Audrey, either.

    “Okay. Where’s Slinkie?”
    “I don’t know, Captain.”
    “She’s not here with you?”
    “No, Captain.” Audrey looked around. “It’s not a large room.”
    “I just thought I’d be finding Slinkie in here, that’s all.” My brain was registering that Audrey was the thing Nitin wanted to keep his eye on, and, presumably, what my mysterious friend wanted me to get out of here. “Can you track the others?”
    “Oh, yes, Captain. Randolph gave me programming so that I can find any of you when I need to.”
    “Audrey, we need to. I want to get the others and get out of here.” She shook her head. “I can’t leave. If I leave, they’ll hurt Randolph.” “I’m the captain, right?” She nodded. “I’m also Randolph’s friend.” She nodded again. “I’m also more experienced than you. Audrey, they’re going to hurt Randolph if we don’t get him and get out of here. They’re going to hurt Slinkie and the Governor, too. I don’t care what they told you, they’re lying.”
    “They said they would torture and kill all of you if I didn’t cooperate.” Still said in that calm and cheerful way.
    “Audrey, Randolph said you have feelings. Is that right?” She nodded. “Need to ask you a personal question. Do you actually feel as calm and cheerful as your voice would indicate?”
    “No, Captain. I would like to cry and scream, but Randolph didn’t allow for that in my programming.”
    “Really. Well. We’ll talk to him about fixing that. Once we save him and the others. Okay?”
    “I’m afraid.” This was the first time I’d ever heard someone say that phrase with this much calm happiness in their voice. At least it was bothering her as much as me.
    “I know. Me too. A little. But, you have to trust me. If Nitin wants you, then we need to ensure he doesn’t get to have you. Okay? I’m saying this as the captain.”
    “Yes, Captain. Randolph did program me to consider you the leader and therefore to follow your instructions as long as the odds
of them causing greater harm than they were solving were not over seventy-five percent.”
    “Where’re we at?”
    “About seventy percent.”
    “Great! Now, we’ll talk to Randolph about that pesky twenty-five percent later.” All I needed, an auto-help copilot who was going to second guess me at every turn.
    “I have already made adjustments, Captain. I have run all history, and your odds of success are normally ninety-five percent, particularly when doing something considered dangerous and foolhardy.”
    I was impressed. “Great. So, let me know when we’re dealing with that rare five percent. Otherwise, let’s get out of here and find the others.”
    “I am happy to.” She cocked her gleaming head at me. “Would you like to clean up before we go?”
    Took a look in the mirror. “Huh. Yes, thanks.” I washed the dirt and dust off my face and hands while Audrey did some very fast cleanup on my clothes. “How are you doing that?”
    “I have a small but powerful vacuum in my right arm.” She showed me. Her wrist was bent in a way that, had she had bones, would have indicated she was never going to play the xaxachord again. Her forearm was hollow and she was using it to suck the dirt off me. She finished, emptied the dirt into a wastebasket, then closed her hand and arm back together. I couldn’t find the seam.
    “Amazing. Once we’re safe, I’d like a full run down of your capabilities.”
    “Of course,