The Cyber Chronicles IX - Precipice Read Online Free Page B

betrayal want you. You will resign."
    Atrashka
nodded, sagging. "Gladly, My Lord."
    "Step
back."
    Atrashka
retreated to his place beside the enforcers, mopped his brow and
shook with relief. Fairen turned to Rond, who stiffened as if
someone had stuck a red-hot poker up his backside, his eyes
wide.
    "Host
Researcher Rond Delra," Fairen murmured. "What do you do in your
laboratory?"
    "I - we study
cyber hosts. Try to improve them."
    "What does this
entail?"
    "Finding ways
to immunise them to all drugs, poisons and diseases, researching
new drugs to enhance their abilities -"
    "Intriguing."
Fairen tilted his head. "Do you work for Jorran Parmal?"
    "Yes, My
Lord."
    "And did he
intend to use drugs to damage Sabre's brain?"
    Rond nodded.
"Yes, My Lord."
    "And how did
you feel about this?"
    "I - I hated
it, My Lord. It-it was wrong."
    Fairen stepped
closer, bowing his head, then nodded. "The truth. So, given the
chance, you would have helped Sabre to escape?"
    "Yes My Lord! I
- They didn't ask for my help."
    Fairen turned
away. "Release him."
    The guards
ushered Rond, who almost wept with relief, out, and the doors shut
behind him. Fairen wandered past the throne and made a complete
circuit of the dais before he stopped in front of Jorran.
    "Host Research
Department Head Jorran Parmal."
    Jorran looked
up, blinking. "Yes, My Lord."
    "Did you intend
to cause damage to Sabre's brain?"
    Jorran glanced
at the cyber. "Yes, but I... He was dangerous, My Lord. He killed
two of my fellow scientists. One was the head of the department
before -"
    "Is that
supposed to be an excuse, or a good reason?"
    "A good reason,
I thought."
    "You thought,”
Fairen said. “You knew he was fully aware, and free of cyber
control. That was why he was able to defend himself when you
tortured him, not so?"
    "Yes, but he
was not supposed to be. His control unit is defective, so he
couldn't be returned to cyber control."
    Fairen cocked
his head. "Spare me your reasoning. Did you know that Sabre is my
friend, and under my protection?"
    "No, My
Lord."
    "So, you care
nothing for the suffering of another human being."
    "He's a cyber
host, My Lord."
    "And what does
that make him, in your eyes?" Fairen asked.
    "A clone. He's
not supposed to be able to think. He's a device."
    "Yet he can
think, and feel. What is he?"
    "A cyber
host."
    "What is a
cyber host?"
    Jorran gulped.
"A clone."
    "Now we are
going around in circles. What is a clone, Jorran, and don't tell me
a cyber host."
    "A copy of a
man who died a long time ago."
    "A man."
    "He's a clone
of a man."
    Fairen said,
"The only difference between him and you is that you are the result
of the combination of two people's DNA, while he is a copy of one
person's DNA. But in your mind, he's inferior, merely a biological
tool to be used by a machine."
    "Yes, My
Lord."
    "Do you know
that all cyber hosts are aware?"
    Jorran nodded.
"Yes, My Lord. But I just do my job. I didn't invent them."
    "But you feel
no pity for them. No guilt for their suffering."
    "I need my
job."
    Fairen turned
away, shaking his head. "Give me the name of the man who ordered
you to experiment on Sabre."
    "Department
Head Parvan Vorgid, on Bental Seven."
    Fairen
addressed the air. "Bring me this man." He faced Jorran. "Give me
the names of the men who captured Sabre on Omega Five."
    "I don't know.
Parvan would know, maybe."
    "Who is
Parvan's superior?"
    "Cybercorp Head
Prello Jardon."
    Fairen
addressed the air again. "Bring me this man also, and find out the
names of the men who were sent to Omega Five. I want them too." The
young Overlord looked down at Jorran. "You will be judged."
    "My Lord, what
have I done wrong? I only do as I'm told. I didn't know he was your
friend. He was dangerous! I wanted to ensure the safety of my
personnel, and he would have felt no more pain."
    "So, it was
mercy that made you plan to cause him brain damage?"
    "Yes, My
Lord."
    Sabre snorted,
and Fairen swung around. "Sabre. What have you to say?"
    The cyber
glared at