me twice," he said.
He was investigating what looked like a small bedpan with a few
controls on the side, the waste disposal device Lex was referring
to. Anyone who had ever used one quickly came to agree that it was
only for emergencies. "Not precisely first class
accommodations."
"Cheap, fast, or roomy. You can pick two, and
for me, leg room didn't make the cut."
"Understandable," he nodded. "At least the
seat is comfortable."
"Please provide Mr. Garotte with one of the
slidepads," Ma requested.
"Oh, right. Courtesy of Ma," Lex said,
digging out a slidepad and accessory bag to toss to his
passenger.
"Good heavens. A prison break with a door
prize," he said with a smirk, thumbing at the device. "They haven't
really changed much in the last few years, have they?"
"The processor speed has increased
approximately 780%. The battery capacity has increased 13%. The
operating system has gone through three feature upgrades. The
signal to noise ratio has-" Ma began to recite.
"Yes, understood," Garotte interrupted.
"Please insert the hands-free device into
your ear for a communications test," the AI requested.
Garotte dug the device out of its packaging
and slipped it into his ear. Science had progressed nicely in the
area of portable power. The typical electronic device battery
barely needed to be charged once a month, and doing so required
little more than leaving it near a universal wireless power module
for a few minutes. It had taken a number of years to convince most
of the larger electronics companies to abandon their precious
proprietary charging methods for this single broadcast power
solution, dubbed the ChargePod by the brilliant minds in marketing.
Once they'd hopped on the bandwagon, though, consumers entered a
golden age of convenience. The average city was so liberally
peppered with the fist sized, blue LED spangled power modules that
most people never needed to charge their devices at all. ChargePods
built into display shelves topped off the batteries of devices
waiting to be bought, and dash mounted models came standard with
all modern vehicles to make sure you didn't run out of juice during
a long commute. Say what you will about modern science, sometimes
it hits the nail on the head.
"Processing... Negotiating... Pairing...
Establishing Connection... Connection Established. Can you hear
me?" Ma rattled off.
"Yes," Garotte replied with the tone of voice
one reserves for voice menus.
"Lex and Garotte. All six slidepads, as well
as Lex's personal slidepad, are now networked and have been
upgraded to maximum encryption. Personal communication is code
phrase activated. To open a direct communication channel, clearly
recite the words 'Open Com' followed by the name of the individual
or individuals desired. To close the channel, say 'Close Com.'
Please test this feature now," Ma explained.
"Open Com Lex. When we rescue Karter, remind
me to tell him that his computer system needs work. Close Com,"
Garotte quipped.
The creature on Lex's lap glared at Garotte
briefly.
"Initiating signal level check," she
stated.
Suddenly a piercing whine sounded off in
Garotte's earpiece. It was loud enough that even Lex could hear
it.
"Bloody hell!" yelped Garotte, clapping his
hand over his ear.
"Signal level optimal," Ma stated, the
tiniest hint of a foxy grin flashing across her face.
"Right," the passenger said, clearing his
throat and fishing the device out of his ear, "I'd say I may be a
bit overtired. Time to close my eyes for a bit. Keep me apprized of
any developments, Lex my boy."
With that he reclined his seat as much as the
cramped space would allow, which wasn't much, and activated the
privacy screen. Instantly a holographic image popped up around him,
hiding the rest of the cockpit behind a realistically simulated
room. A small menu projected near one armrest displayed his privacy
options. Right now he was surrounded by what looked to be an
expensive hotel room. One by one he cycled through the others in
the
He was investigating what looked like a small bedpan with a few
controls on the side, the waste disposal device Lex was referring
to. Anyone who had ever used one quickly came to agree that it was
only for emergencies. "Not precisely first class
accommodations."
"Cheap, fast, or roomy. You can pick two, and
for me, leg room didn't make the cut."
"Understandable," he nodded. "At least the
seat is comfortable."
"Please provide Mr. Garotte with one of the
slidepads," Ma requested.
"Oh, right. Courtesy of Ma," Lex said,
digging out a slidepad and accessory bag to toss to his
passenger.
"Good heavens. A prison break with a door
prize," he said with a smirk, thumbing at the device. "They haven't
really changed much in the last few years, have they?"
"The processor speed has increased
approximately 780%. The battery capacity has increased 13%. The
operating system has gone through three feature upgrades. The
signal to noise ratio has-" Ma began to recite.
"Yes, understood," Garotte interrupted.
"Please insert the hands-free device into
your ear for a communications test," the AI requested.
Garotte dug the device out of its packaging
and slipped it into his ear. Science had progressed nicely in the
area of portable power. The typical electronic device battery
barely needed to be charged once a month, and doing so required
little more than leaving it near a universal wireless power module
for a few minutes. It had taken a number of years to convince most
of the larger electronics companies to abandon their precious
proprietary charging methods for this single broadcast power
solution, dubbed the ChargePod by the brilliant minds in marketing.
Once they'd hopped on the bandwagon, though, consumers entered a
golden age of convenience. The average city was so liberally
peppered with the fist sized, blue LED spangled power modules that
most people never needed to charge their devices at all. ChargePods
built into display shelves topped off the batteries of devices
waiting to be bought, and dash mounted models came standard with
all modern vehicles to make sure you didn't run out of juice during
a long commute. Say what you will about modern science, sometimes
it hits the nail on the head.
"Processing... Negotiating... Pairing...
Establishing Connection... Connection Established. Can you hear
me?" Ma rattled off.
"Yes," Garotte replied with the tone of voice
one reserves for voice menus.
"Lex and Garotte. All six slidepads, as well
as Lex's personal slidepad, are now networked and have been
upgraded to maximum encryption. Personal communication is code
phrase activated. To open a direct communication channel, clearly
recite the words 'Open Com' followed by the name of the individual
or individuals desired. To close the channel, say 'Close Com.'
Please test this feature now," Ma explained.
"Open Com Lex. When we rescue Karter, remind
me to tell him that his computer system needs work. Close Com,"
Garotte quipped.
The creature on Lex's lap glared at Garotte
briefly.
"Initiating signal level check," she
stated.
Suddenly a piercing whine sounded off in
Garotte's earpiece. It was loud enough that even Lex could hear
it.
"Bloody hell!" yelped Garotte, clapping his
hand over his ear.
"Signal level optimal," Ma stated, the
tiniest hint of a foxy grin flashing across her face.
"Right," the passenger said, clearing his
throat and fishing the device out of his ear, "I'd say I may be a
bit overtired. Time to close my eyes for a bit. Keep me apprized of
any developments, Lex my boy."
With that he reclined his seat as much as the
cramped space would allow, which wasn't much, and activated the
privacy screen. Instantly a holographic image popped up around him,
hiding the rest of the cockpit behind a realistically simulated
room. A small menu projected near one armrest displayed his privacy
options. Right now he was surrounded by what looked to be an
expensive hotel room. One by one he cycled through the others in
the
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