Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [145]
Andeker went to control decks and powered up several systems. "Please stand here." The scientist motioned him to a spot near the wall where a mechanical apparatus was mounted, humming as if ready to move.
Jorax obeyed, betraying no emotional response and voicing no complaint.
"I'm sorry," Andeker murmured, though not below Jorax's detection threshold. He activated a system.
Powerful clamps shot out of wall sockets, struck Jorax's body core, and locked restraints upon his outstretched limbs. One fastened around his thorax socket. Jorax did not try to move out of the way. After making a brief survey of the tensile strength of the restraining devices, he believed he could summon enough power to tear himself free.
If he chose to do so.
Andeker came forward, distraught. "This is a restraint cage, Jorax. It can project fields that dampen electrical power sources. It will hold you motionless, so please don't try to escape." He frowned, deeply apologetic—as if such emotions mattered to Jorax. "You see, the Hansa is facing a crisis situation with these attacks on Oncier and Golgen. You and your fellow Klikiss robots may offer a source of new technological breakthroughs."
He reached out to touch the carapace of the Klikiss machine, then withdrew with a jerk. "We can't be sure unless I study you properly." Andeker hurried back to his console and looked over his shoulder. "I assure you, I will be as gentle as possible. I'm sorry."
Before the treacherous scientist could begin to dismantle him, the Klikiss robot assessed the situation and decided his response. With a single blast of a high-powered scrambling beam, Jorax transmitted a surge strong enough to destroy all of the recording apparatus in the laboratory.
Andeker tried to reactivate his systems, to send the energy-dampening field through the restraint cage, but none of his equipment would respond.
Previously hidden weapons components emerged from sealed portholes in Jorax's black carapace. Intense laser cutters easily sliced him free of the restraining clamps, which he tossed like scrap metal onto the laboratory floor.
With his clusters of flexible legs, Jorax moved away from the wall, scanned the room with his scarlet optical sensors, then began to move toward William Andeker. The scientist shouted for help, but he had sealed them into the laboratory room. With all power systems down, no one could break in.
More cutters and weapons systems emerged from the robot's body core. Andeker backed toward the wall, frozen with fear.
"There are some things you cannot be permitted to know," Jorax said. He easily closed the distance to the human scientist.
66 BERNDT OKIAH
The new Erphano skymine had functioned admirably since it had been put into service. Berndt Okiah studied the weekly ekti tallies and took pride in the facility's accomplishments. He had already decided to issue a nice bonus to all the workers who had made this dream a reality.
Berndt stood on the control deck as the skymine cruised like a hungry waif above the clouds. Through the huge panoramic windows, he saw an endless landscape of soft mists, green gases, and swirling currents that painted an ever-changing expression on the face of Erphano.
Scout ships flew like crows around the giant skymine. Atmospheric chemists and meteorological engineers dipped into the cloud decks, monitoring storms, studying upwellings of exotic chemical components that were cooked deep inside the gas giant. On the command deck, some of Berndt's associates monitored the reactor and storage systems.
One man played copies of musical recordings that had been in his clan for generations. Berndt himself did not enjoy the atonal racket, but he let the crewman have his preference, so long as the rest of his operational team didn't complain. He had learned how to relax more, how to be open and lenient. His wife, Marta, said it was good for him.
Wearing warm clothing, the curly-haired engineer Eldon Clarin climbed the metal ladder to the command deck, looking distracted but satisfied. "Something wrong,