Unstable Prototypes Read Online Free Page A

resources, and lack of moral conviction to be a threat
to society on an unprecedented scale. The only thing that has
prevented him from becoming a purposeful blight on humanity thus
far has been a lack motivation and, more recently, gentle influence
from me. He is now beyond my influence and at the mercy of a group
of very motivated individuals. It is a relative certitude that,
unless something is done quickly, an evil will be unleashed upon
the populace that will make the plot you foiled several months ago
seem mild by comparison. I have set a plan in motion that should
leave us adequately equipped to retrieve him, but to remain on
schedule for the next phase, you and I will need to be en route in
sixty-five minutes, so there is no further time for debate. I need
your help."
    "I guess I don't really have a choice."
    "I was confident you would make the correct
decision. I hope that you are able to leave immediately. We will
need to purchase a few items."
    "Like what?"
    "Well, evidently if we are to be moving about
freely in public, I will require a leash."
    #
    A few minutes later, Lex was finishing a
call, almost ready to leave.
    "Yeah, mark off, further notice. Thanks. See
you later," Lex said before pocketing his slidepad.
    The first step had been to call his various
dispatchers and employers to let them know he would be off the list
for a while. It was something he had to do every time he had a long
distance package to drop off for his freelancer gig, so they were
used to it. Next, a reasonably clean t-shirt and jeans were
selected and he set about loading down his pockets with everything
he might need, including his slidepad, a pack of gum, and a supply
of chips. He also quickly packed an overnight bag with clothes for
an assortment of climates. One of the side effects of the ease of
long distance travel meant that, in the space of a few days, you
could be exposed to both extremes of hot and cold, as well as every
weather condition you could imagine. It paid to be prepared. When
he was through, Lex stopped at the door for a final check.
    "Hey, how are you going to talk to me?"
    "I could utilize the speaker functionality of
your slidepad," offered the series of female voices from the panel
beside the door.
    "I think that would be a little obvious."
    "Do you have a hands-free device?"
    "Uh, yeah, somewhere," Lex said, eventually
fishing the jelly bean-sized device from his pocket.
    "Insert it, please," she requested.
    He slipped it into his ear.
    "Processing... Negotiating... Pairing...
Establishing Connection... Connection Established. Can you hear
me?" she recited, her last comment coming from the ear bud rather
than the panel.
    "Yeah. I guess that will do. The only problem
now is that I'm going to be talking out loud to an animal."
    "I understand that is not an uncommon
behavior."
    "I guess not. But most people aren't getting
replies. I guess I'll just pretend I'm on a call."
    "That is wise."
    Lex left his apartment, Ma tapping along the
ground beside him. After an elevator ride to the surface, he
fetched his hoverbike. It used three hover modules, mounted at the
end of short outriggers, to haul around the contents of a shopping
cart-sized wire basket mounted behind the seat. It wasn't the most
dignified means of conveyance, but in his hands it could beat
virtually anything in a race across town, including, on more
occasions that he would be willing to admit, police cars. Ma was
loaded into the basket.
    "You sure you're going to be okay back here?"
he asked.
    "I trust your skill as a pilot," she replied,
settling carefully to the floor of the basket.
    "Even so. I'll take it slow. First stop,
mega-store," he said, easing his bike into the air.
    They began to make their way through Preston
City. It was the capital of Lex's home planet, Golana, and one of
the largest transportation hubs in the galactic neighborhood. As
such, it was home to far too many people crammed into far too
little space. Even though the city sprawled