because the shock never came. Or Daedalus really couldn’t read his mind.
“Alioth has a message for you,” Daedalus said in his whispery monotone voice. The sound of it still made Buck’s skin crawl.
“I’m all ears,” Buck said, using one of the many homey phrases that had helped him win the last election. He was a man of the people, not some overeducated egghead who’d never gotten drunk and stood up for himself in a bar fight.
Daedalus gave him a curious look. “We have a situation developing in the western protectorate that may require the use of nanobombs over a large area. This information would not concern you under normal circumstances. However, some of our predictions indicate that a potential massive outbreak may occur along the western barrier, so large-scale police measures may be required to subdue the invaders without needless damage to food production, power, and manufacturing facilities east of the barrier wall. We will initiate a propaganda campaign in the borderlands to stir up fear regarding the ‘mutants’ who live on the other side of the barrier. This will develop sympathy for our cause among the borderlands city dwellers in the event that police forces have to institute martial law and extreme suppression measures. The locals must support our actions so they don’t get hurt. Are you with me so far?”
Buck was thinking about mouthwatering pastrami sandwiches when he realized that Daedalus had asked him a question. “Yes,” he said, hoping that was the right answer. His muscles tensed in preparation for a shock.
“Good,” Daedalus said, leaning forward within a few inches of Buck’s face. The nanoborg’s breath smelled as if something had crawled into his mouth and died, but at least he wasn’t going to shock him. “You will be a part of this propaganda campaign. We will take care of the troop movement logistics, drawing most of the paramilitary police forces from Denver on the underground freight train unless we determine the need for additional support.”
“Okay,” Buck said, figuring he ought to say something. The sooner this interview was over, the sooner he could eat.
“In addition to press briefings, you may be required to make a personal appearance along the border zone.”
“What?” That got Buck’s attention. Images of tasty sandwiches abruptly disappeared from his mind. “I can’t go out there. I’ve heard there are mutants all over the place.”
With a heavy sigh, Daedalus closed his eyes for a moment. “You will be protected from any contact with the mutants. We will endeavor to create hysteria in connection with the possible mutant invasion, then we’ll bring you in at the right time to calm the local population when the emergency is over. The behavioral testing city of Las Vegas will be our base of operations. You’ll be completely safe.”
“Las Vegas, eh? Now you’re talking. Strong president flies into the face of danger and calms the people. I like the sound of that. It has reelection written all over it.”
“That may be true,” Daedalus said without blinking.
“Then count me in, buckaroo,” Buck said, happily slapping Daedalus on the shoulder before he remembered whom he was facing. He winced. His hand hurt like hell from the impact, but he didn’t want to reveal too much weakness in front of the nanoborg. “I’ll show you how to have a good time. We can gamble at the casinos and pick up some showgirls for later.”
Catching Buck off guard, Daedalus shocked him.
“YOU call this your house in the hills?” Tom asked, his eyes wide as he looked up into the massive branches of a redwood tree. They were standing in the deep shade below a thick canopy of old-growth redwoods and California bay trees.
“It’s a tree house,” Magnus said, his eyes narrowed at Tom. “You have a problem with that?”
Tom couldn’t make out many details, as the tree house was too high up, and there were a lot of branches blocking his view, but
“Alioth has a message for you,” Daedalus said in his whispery monotone voice. The sound of it still made Buck’s skin crawl.
“I’m all ears,” Buck said, using one of the many homey phrases that had helped him win the last election. He was a man of the people, not some overeducated egghead who’d never gotten drunk and stood up for himself in a bar fight.
Daedalus gave him a curious look. “We have a situation developing in the western protectorate that may require the use of nanobombs over a large area. This information would not concern you under normal circumstances. However, some of our predictions indicate that a potential massive outbreak may occur along the western barrier, so large-scale police measures may be required to subdue the invaders without needless damage to food production, power, and manufacturing facilities east of the barrier wall. We will initiate a propaganda campaign in the borderlands to stir up fear regarding the ‘mutants’ who live on the other side of the barrier. This will develop sympathy for our cause among the borderlands city dwellers in the event that police forces have to institute martial law and extreme suppression measures. The locals must support our actions so they don’t get hurt. Are you with me so far?”
Buck was thinking about mouthwatering pastrami sandwiches when he realized that Daedalus had asked him a question. “Yes,” he said, hoping that was the right answer. His muscles tensed in preparation for a shock.
“Good,” Daedalus said, leaning forward within a few inches of Buck’s face. The nanoborg’s breath smelled as if something had crawled into his mouth and died, but at least he wasn’t going to shock him. “You will be a part of this propaganda campaign. We will take care of the troop movement logistics, drawing most of the paramilitary police forces from Denver on the underground freight train unless we determine the need for additional support.”
“Okay,” Buck said, figuring he ought to say something. The sooner this interview was over, the sooner he could eat.
“In addition to press briefings, you may be required to make a personal appearance along the border zone.”
“What?” That got Buck’s attention. Images of tasty sandwiches abruptly disappeared from his mind. “I can’t go out there. I’ve heard there are mutants all over the place.”
With a heavy sigh, Daedalus closed his eyes for a moment. “You will be protected from any contact with the mutants. We will endeavor to create hysteria in connection with the possible mutant invasion, then we’ll bring you in at the right time to calm the local population when the emergency is over. The behavioral testing city of Las Vegas will be our base of operations. You’ll be completely safe.”
“Las Vegas, eh? Now you’re talking. Strong president flies into the face of danger and calms the people. I like the sound of that. It has reelection written all over it.”
“That may be true,” Daedalus said without blinking.
“Then count me in, buckaroo,” Buck said, happily slapping Daedalus on the shoulder before he remembered whom he was facing. He winced. His hand hurt like hell from the impact, but he didn’t want to reveal too much weakness in front of the nanoborg. “I’ll show you how to have a good time. We can gamble at the casinos and pick up some showgirls for later.”
Catching Buck off guard, Daedalus shocked him.
“YOU call this your house in the hills?” Tom asked, his eyes wide as he looked up into the massive branches of a redwood tree. They were standing in the deep shade below a thick canopy of old-growth redwoods and California bay trees.
“It’s a tree house,” Magnus said, his eyes narrowed at Tom. “You have a problem with that?”
Tom couldn’t make out many details, as the tree house was too high up, and there were a lot of branches blocking his view, but
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