-13-
Settled into his new quarters, nestled under weighted bed covers in a room full of dignity, Grey fell asleep with his trusty toy six-shooter at his side. Soon lunar midnight arrived, allowing the community level support systems shut down for the six-hour darkness cycle.
Deep into the night, Grey awoke from his dreams. Sleepy, betrayed by the dim light and unfamiliar surroundings, he was surprised to hear an unusual sound outside his door. An unimaginative mind might have identified the noise as the common chime of a computer running a circuit check, but Grey wasn't misled for a moment. He knew exactly what that sound was. Indians.
He slipped quietly from the bed, knelt on the floor, and gripped the toy pistol before him. He heard the noise again, clearer than before, and moved with great stealth from the sleeping chamber into the monitor room. He stopped to look at Computer's terminal. The boards were dark. Inactive. Computer must be sleeping, he thought.
He crawled to the door of the Governor's Quarters and looked out. No Indians here, he thought.
After a brief glance backward, he edged out into the corridor and hugged the wall until he found an enclave labeled SAFETY DEPOSIT AREA. Ah, he thought, the perfect place for an ambush. He crept inside the entrance, huddled against the registration desk, and looked at the computer terminal. The system wasn't alert to his presence. Probably running a circuit check, Grey suspected. A glance at the standby indicator confirmed his guess, so he waited.
A moment later, the indicator signal began to flutter and black signature patterns returned fluidly to the monitor screen flux. The Security Computer had come back on line.
"Draw, you varmit!" Grey shouted, stepping out from behind the registration desk. He drew the six-shooter, giving the computer a fair chance, of course, and blasted the main screen with beams of intense light. Unlike the Hotel Computer, the Security Computer was startled out of its electronic wits.
With a sudden unexpected power surge creating excessive heat on long neglected relays, the Security Computer madly tried to assess the situation. Instantly the red alert sounded, the loud siren tearing through the quiet fabric of the colony for the first time in many years. When the safety deposit alarms went off, alarms all over the base sounded as well. Fire doors self-sealed, service units dashed to their emergency stations, and armed securatrons swarmed from their sentry boxes searching for saboteurs.
Overriding the energy regulating system to gather emergency power, the Security Computer seized control of the internal communications linkage and interrupted the central trunk lines. Bedlam ensued as one computer system after another was blacked out, and even the Defense Computer grew concerned by the intensity of the alert.
In the safety deposit area, a wall-mounted electric discharger swiveled toward the young assailant. Frightened by the system's reaction, Grey slowly backed away with the six-shooter dangling at his side. He realized he had done something wrong but was sure the computer would soon recognize him and call off the alert.
The discharger completed turning and locked on target. Grey continued to withdraw, watching the terminal for information. The signature patterns were badly scrambled, but for a fleeting instant, the panel seemed to indicate recognition.
"Grey? Grey, where are you?" the Life Support Computer called from the monitor room terminal. "Report! Report!"
Like the other computers, the Life Support Computer's internal communications linkage was blacked out when Security overrode the system. Within the safety deposit area, only the Security Computer held access. Grey heard his guardian's summons from down the hall but had no chance to respond.
Just as he turned toward the door, a high energy beam struck him in the chest with a blinding flash. The force straightened Grey up in a spasmodic dance, his body rippling with convulsions, and drove him out into the corridor where he crumpled unconscious against the wall. The disrupter prepared to fire again.
"Cease your attack!" the horrified Life Support Computer demanded as the control room monitor observed Grey collapse in the corridor.
"Acknowledged," Security said, unwilling to continue the assault now that there was a witness. But the overheated computer wasn't willing to let the issue rest. "The child attacked this unit. He must be deactivated.”
"Medical!" the Life Support Computer summoned. "Dispatch paramedics to the community level safety deposit area immediately! Security! What kind of murderously malfunctioning program are you initiating?”
"Communications override," the Defense Computer interrupted, drawing upon emergency resources to seize control of the flux. "What in McKinsey's name is going on down there?"
"This unit was attacked," the Security Computer signaled.
"Request confirmation. Sensors locate no invaders," the Defense Computer asked with angry signature waves.
"Security has attacked the child Waters!" Life Support interjected.
"Confirm and identify malfunction," Defense said.
"Malfunction negative," Security insisted.
"The child is armed?" Defense asked.
"The child Waters has possession of a lighting utensil from the arcade. He possesses no weapons," Life Support said, surging in an effort to take control of the investigation.
"Security, identify error," Defense admonished.
"This unit was caught unawares," Security explained. "All systems responded to red alert. The attacker was in a security area."
"Insufficient response!" Life Support declared. "Your programming should be erased. Your memory function should be disabled."
"Communications override," the Defense Computer said, struggling to retain control of the channel. "Security: Your overreaction may have compromised the prime directive of this project. Another such incident and you will stand down for status adjustment. Acknowledge."
"Acknowledged," Security complied, abruptly dropping off line.
"Medical Computer, what is the condition of the child?" the Defense Computer inquired.
There was no immediate response. Accessing a monitor in the hall, the higher function levels watched as medical units A-4 and A-5 hovered over the still form in the corridor. Determining their patient stable enough to move, the medical units deployed a bubble wrap, boosted his vital signs, and secured him for transport. Several minutes later, the Medical Computer issued a preliminary report.
"The child's condition is serious," the Medical Computer announced. "There is cell damage and possible disruption to the central nervous system. The burns are severe."
"Provide regular reports," the Defense Computer said, dropping from the flux to let Life Support and Medical deal with the situation. Not until hours later was the Medical Computer finally able to provide a prognosis.
"His life signs have stabilized. The child will recover with minimum permanent damage," the Medical Computer announced, a rippling display of white signature patterns accentuating relief.
"Acknowledged. And thank you," Life Support said, signature patterns indicating released tension.
"Just performing my function. We biological systems must retain solidarity," the Medical Computer replied.
Blinking agreement, the Life Support Computer dropped off line, and soon the moon base returned to the customary quiet of the darkness cycle. But the quiet was uneasy. The Life Support Computer continued in an agitated state, while the Security Computer sulked at the rebuke it had received. The potential for confrontation remained.
– End Chapter Thirteen –
