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Chapter 40 - Self Configuring Modular Robot[]
"You WERE lying about that? about...
...scanning the brains of the dead for information?" Agent Erich Engels asked.
Elizabeth was wearing regular clothes-her regular clothes, mostly consisting of a thermal-controlled bodyglove under relatively expensive street clothes-this morning, said clothes consisted of a knee-length denim skirt and a white blouse. "Of course, Agent." she said, "I mean, the concept's common in science fiction, but we're a long way from being able to backtrace more than emotional states from brain chemistry and structure postmortem...or so the Coroners told me when I asked about the idea...but those meatheads believed it because our team's had some successes with what Doc Banzai calls 'fringe' science, and apparently it's gotten out."
"But...you're not working on that, are you?"
"Not my field." Liz said, "That field? That'd be biology and Yvonne's our go-to for digging up how living things function. I do maths, statistical analysis, and light duty programming. Terry and Jess are our hardware guys, Penny's got a love affair with weapons and things that go boom, fizz, flash, pop, and so on. Sierra's an all-arounder, and Arthur digs theoretical stuff as much as I do. He's our visionary. We all love him best..." she stopped mid-step. "Although...hm...huh, I'll have to talk to the others..."
"So, what's today's project?" Sierra asked.
"Today? I dunno, how are we on the on-goings?" Arthur asked.
"No reports of issues with the Predator program, we haven't had a new infection report in six months." Penny said, "I'm getting bored."
"Liz, you got something?", Arthur asked her
"Maybe an idea for some actual hard-core research." Liz spoke up, "An empty threat I made last night when that kidnap team your dad was worried about finally made their move-your security idea worked, by the way. Six men taken alive and off to be interviewed by Lohengrin."
"Nahce. (Nice)" Jess drawled.
"What's the idea?"
"I threatened them with the idea we could scan their brains after they die, and learn what they know." Liz said sheepishly, "These hitters bought it, which means either someone really can and has done it? Or it's plausible enough to look into."
"That'd be related to Balzac's work developing the Neurohelmet, right?" Sierra asked.
"Yeah, I guess it would be. Maybe we can dig up some of his old papers and find a starting point?" Terry suggested, "So we're not, like flailing around doing over what someone else already did?"
"Fair Point. We're going to have six months apart again. I've got to go back to New Avalon, Lizzie has to do her home-time in the Kowloon system, Penny's GrandMama wants her for the Landing Day week and to start 'prenticing her, and Doc Banzai wants his favorite daughter-surrogate at NAIS, along with you, Terry, and you, Jess."
"Family time!" Jess pointed out, "Mom's needin' help back home, Ah 's gon' ask if'n Sierra an' Terry kin come with me."
"New farm's working out then?" Arthur asked.
"Ayeh, I seed holos an' momma's not starved no more." Jess asserted.
"Okay...so it's just me and Yvonne going back to New Avalon then?"
"Awww!" Yvonne almost hissed. "I wanted to see the 'Holler'!"
Liz pursed her lips, "Field trip?" she asked, "I mean,. Arthur, your dad's great and all that, but..."
"Remember we have to deal with the adults for at least another seven years, Liz. I'll talk to Mom and Dad."