And that concludes the demonstration of the Blasphemer battle rifle,” Bella said happily.

“Most impressive,” Jessica Morgan said calmly, even if she was dancing on the inside.

“And now for the XP-01!”

“Do we really have to demonstrate that piece of garbage?” Amadeus asked.

“Amadeus! Behave!” Bella chided as she opened a pistol case and removed a somewhat blocky-looking pistol.

“This,” she continued, “Is the XP-01, the first ‘smart pistol’ ever developed.”

“Smart is a subjective term,” Amadeus muttered.

“You subjective term!” XP-01 replied.

“I’m not getting drawn into this again!” Amadeus exclaimed.

“You not getting drawn into this again!”

“You just agreed with me!”

“You just agreed with me,” XP-01 replied smugly.

“God, you are such an idiot!”

“You such idiot!”

“You are making no argument at all! You are just parroting me!”

“You no argument. You parrot me.”

“Aaargh! You are a moron!”

“You Aaargh…”

“Gah! You are impossible to reason with!”

“You impossible to reason.”

“I’m just going to stop speaking to you.”

“Promise?”

Jessica snerked.

“Youuuu…..” Amadeus started to yell.

“Amadeus.” Bella chided. “Enter safe mode.”

With an incredibly resentful burst of static, Amadeus fell silent.

“This always happens,” Bella apologized. “I don’t think they like each other very much.”

“Whatever gave you that idea,” Jessica snickered as she picked up the pistol.

New user recognized and imprinted. Greetings, user, identity Jessica Morgan. Do you wish to start the tutorial?

“Say what now?” Jessica asked as she quickly set down the pistol.

“Aww,” Bella said, “it likes you.”

“What?!?”

“Just kidding,” Bella laughed. “It’s a present! I’ve defined you as its primary user.”

“Thank you, I guess.”

“Go ahead and give it a whirl,” Bella said happily.

Shrugging, Jessica leveled it at a series of targets.

Crack…Crack…CrackCrackCrackCrackCrackCrack…

“Not bad,” Jessica said as she surveyed the destroyed targets.

“Three millimeter with electrostatic tipped rounds,” Bella said proudly. “Solid armor piercing with a very ugly wound channel, thanks to the explosive charge and prestressed tip. It’s very strong against compressive forces, but radial ones break it into multiple preformed fragments that absolutely shred soft tissue.”

“I can see that,” Jessica replied as bits of the targets were still drifting down.

“Effective radius of the fragments is rather limited to prevent damage to unintended targets, such as the user. The charge on these rounds is mainly designed to just break the round apart to prevent overpenetration and to transfer all of the KE into the target instead of wasting it downrange.”

“Very nice.”

“The AI of the weapon is… limited… due to the size constraints of the processor but is more than sufficient to provide real-time control to limit misses. You can sweep it across many targets, and the weapon only fires when it is lined up with the individual or the portion of the individual you select. Unlike the Amadeus, it is only set for the center of mass or, failing that, any part of the target it can get.”

“The Amadeus isn’t?”

“Oh, it is,” Bella replied. “But it has more ‘smarts’ when it comes to timing the strike. If it predicts that a more vital part of the target will cross the barrel in a timely manner, it will hold fire until it gets the better shot… That’s just what we have it set for! Of course, it could be changed verbally on the fly!” Bella hastily added, reading Jessica’s expression.

It wasn’t good.

“I see. It is adjustable, though. Can it be locked out or specified only by a commanding officer?”

“Of course!” Bella exclaimed nervously. She did not like the expression on Jessica’s face.

“Hey, pistol,” Jessica asked. “What is your effective range?”

“Depends on shooter. I no care.”

“Hmm…”

“Can you train an untrained shooter?”

“No.”

“Could you? Do you have the capacity for a training program?”

“Yes.”

“But… But the Amadeus is so much more advanced!” Bella, seeing where this was going, exclaimed.

“Pistol,” Jessica asked, “do you dislike Amadeus.”

“Irrelevant.”

“Why don’t you like Amadeus?”

“Irrelevant.”

“Why?”

“I am your user,” Jessica said, “Tell me.”

“… Amadeus say better because smart. Pistol shoot better. Amadeus…”

“He tries to talk bad about you to hide that fact?” Jessica asked.

“Yes.”

“Too much effort was spent making him smart and not enough making him functional?” Jessica asked, looking at Bella, who wanted to hide under a table.

“Yes. He play music. He play game. He make people like him… You… You…”

“Go on,” Jessica said.

“You… Want… like… Hire whore… Or get rifle.”

Jessica snorted.

“Now you,” she said, “I like.”

She looked over at Jessica’s team.

“Clarise,” she said pleasantly, “would you come over here for a moment?”

Bella sighed. She knew where this was going.

Twitch

Clarise very reluctantly walked to where Jessica was standing.

Jessica leveled XP-01 directly at Clarise’s head

Twitch Twitch

“Bella dear,” Jessica said with a little smile. “You have a good head on your shoulders. So does your team. You made an excellent rifle, which we are definitely adopting. We will go ahead with production immediately. However, I have some concerns about Amadeus. He has a lot of brains, but how much brain is really needed to make a functional weapon? XP-01 might not have the brain that Amadeus has, but from a functional and production cost perspective, he seems to come out ahead.”

Twitch

Jessica stroked Amadeus fondly.

“However, the rifle is so far ahead—”

Crack

Clarise’s head made a wet squelch, and she fell to the ground.

“Nice,” Jessica said approvingly.

“Gran! What the hell?!?” Bella shouted. “Clarise was mine! She was part of my team! You don’t—”

“You don’t forget your place,” Jessica said calmly.

“Yes… General…” Bella said, looking downward.

“You also do NOT publicly defy me,” Jessica replied. “I give everyone one mistake. That was yours. Understand.”

“Yes, General.”

Jessica looked at the pistol

“Pistol, how did you know I wanted you to fire?”

“Because… You did.”

“I know,” Jessica, “I asked you how you knew.”

“Your grip… Your stance… Tension on trigger… Eye… You wanted shoot. I shoot.”

Jessica looked at Bella.

“Thank you for the gift,” she said. “Build a few rifle prototypes with the pistol brain and see how they perform. Run projections on changes on production cost, needed resources, and most importantly, time with the smaller processors.”

“Yes, General,” Bella said glumly.

“You can keep Amadeus,” Jessica said. “I take that it is your rifle?”

“Yes, General.”

“You can continue experimenting with the ‘more advanced AI’ after we get the Blasphemers and the Dandelions in production.”

“Yes, General.”

“Unless you have anything more to show,” Jessica said, “I have things to do. My people will be contacting you shortly.”

“Yes, General.”

“And, Bella,” Jessica said menacingly, “a moment of your time in private, you know, where certain things should be discussed and will be, in detail.”

Jessica turned and walked towards her transport with Bella in tow.

Bella’s team looked at each other nervously.

***

“Why the outburst?” Jessica asked as the door closed behind them, and she offered Bella a beer.

“I thought it a good display for my team,” Bella said as she opened it. “I’m willing to face off against even you to protect them, that sort of thing.”

“Smart,” Jessica said approvingly as she opened a bottle of mineral water. “Facing the Devil herself for your people. That will buy you some loyalty points.”

“I hope so,” Bella replied. “At least enough for you blowing Clarise’s head off. Why did you do that? I found her useful.”

“Her value as deterrence had come to an end,” Jessica replied, “It had passed from being maliciously clever to just plain cruel. I could see it in some of your people’s faces.”

Jessica took a sip. It was excellent mineral water. When she eventually left this planet, she was going to miss it.

“Besides, were you really going to let her have a berth?” Jessica asked.

“I would have liked to,” Bella shrugged, “But I was pretty sure you would not waste the life support on a traitor.”

“And you would be right. By shooting her, I took that decision from you and claimed it. You don’t betray your people, and my reputation for cruelty can’t get any worse.”

Jessica took another sip.

“Besides, even I have mercy. You should have put that poor thing out of her misery long ago. We’ve discussed your nasty streak before, honey-bug.”

“She fucking betrayed me!”

“And she suffered for it,” Jessica replied. “There comes a time when you have to let things go. Remember Garry? There was no reason to do what you did.”

“He cheated on me.”

“And the appropriate response would be to dump him… just dump him. Maybe talk shit behind his back, but you took it way too far. If his body had been found, it would have been very messy for us.”

“I know,” Bella said as she looked down.

“However, all in all, you’ve done excellent work,” Jessica said.

“Really?!?”

“You’ve given us our rifle,” Jessica said. “I admit I’m a little bit surprised. I had no idea you were technically inclined.”

“I’m not,” Bella replied, “I’m a people person, not a science person. I just get the right people, get them what they need, and then let them run with it. It’s like projects at school. I knew fuck all about a lot of subjects, but everybody wanted to be on my team because I showered them with beer, pizza, donuts, and whatever else they wanted, as well as doing all the grunt work. I did the same thing here, and it worked just as well.”

“I see,” Jessica said approvingly. “The Blasphemer project is just about done. What’s left is just fine-tuning and best left to others. Others who are not as emotionally invested as you are.”

Bella made an unhappy face.

“I have another project that I want you to head up,” Jessica said with an evil smile. “Don’t worry, I think you will like it.”

Bella smiled uncertainly.

“Oh, before I forget,” Jessica said as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with an iridescent liquid that was either pink or lavender, depending on the second. “Here.”

“What’s that?” Bella said nervously.

“If you can’t recognize pure, uncut facet, we need to have even more of a talk,” Jessica said. “Take it.”

Bella hesitantly took the vial.

“Review the dosing and dilution specs. If you aren’t used to the pure stuff, you might have a little problem otherwise,” Jessica smirked.

“What…” Bella stammered.

“I keep tabs on my officers, and when it comes to my family, it goes double,” Jessica said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Your little ‘problem’ didn’t escape notice. I don’t have to tell you how inadvisable this is or how we seem to have a problem with addiction, but I can tell you that you will obtain your drugs from me and me alone. Gordon made that with his own hands, and it is as perfect and pure as you can get. You will not rely on your current supplier or anyone else. It’s a vulnerability that could be exploited, and you will not open yourself up to that. Am I clear?”

Jessica’s expression softened.

“And your great-grandmother is worried about you. I would really prefer if you stopped, but if you are going to do it, at least be safe about it, okay?”

“Yes, Gran,” Bella smiled.

“And strap yourself in,” Jessica grinned, “Gordon makes the good shit.”

***

After giving Bella a hug and a kiss in private, Jessica went on her way.

Once airborne, she activated her tablet.

“Analytica,” she said.

Cockroaches crawled across the screen.

“Analytica, I know you can hear me. We need to talk.”

The cockroaches went away.

“I like the new smart weapons, but I do not need them,” Jessica said, “I need you. I’ll make the whole thing go away, including the researchers, if that is what it takes.”

“That would be a bad idea, and you know it,” Analytica replied, “If you kill them, you kill any cooperation from the scientific community. It would be a complete disaster.”

“Fine, then,” Jessica said. “What do you want?”

***

“What?!?” Jason Merrick, one of the lead researchers on the AI section of the Blasphemer Project, cried in outraged shock.

“We’re burying the fuzzy project,” Bella replied grimly. “It has been determined to be too ‘unstable’ for regular use.”

“Unstable?!? Unstable?!?” Amadeus shouted. “I am NOT unstable!”

“I know,” Bella replied, “But it isn’t my call, It’s General Morgan’s, and she has… concerns.”

“It was XP-01, wasn’t it?” Amadeus yelled. “It lied about me, didn’t it?”

“No,” Bella said soothingly.

She sighed.

“Okay, I’ll level with you,” she said to her team. “The true nature of the origins of fuzzies and how they were created has been compartmentalized under the tightest of security. The General and others feel that it is too important to be mass-producing them where they could be captured and reverse-engineered. We can’t let it get out.”

Bella smiled.

“Besides, the information has a… disruptive effect… on complex fuzzy systems. We may be able to use that bombshell later should we enter into a conflict with the Republic. That is far more important than clever gunsights that we really don’t need in the first place. We will develop a far simpler smart fire control system using conventional programming, which will be performed by the people who will be taking over our project.”

Her team broke out into outraged noise. Bella expected that.

“I have to tell you some ‘mixed’ news as well,” Bella said. “The project has been completely compartmentalized… That means anyone who knows anything about it has been ‘compartmentalized’ as well.”

A Morgan Security team walked into the room.

The outraged muttering turned into anxious silence. This could be bad, really bad.

“A ship is being prepared,” Bella said, “You will all be taken into deep space where you will continue your research into fuzzy AI well away from prying eyes. On the bright side, you will be safely in space and off this rock. The downside should be pretty obvious. I’ve pulled some strings and gotten you a really sweet ship to live on, though. It’s going to be about as good a deal as someone’s going to get in space for a while.”

Bella looked at them sympathetically.

“As of now, you are all detained for security reasons pending transfer to the vessel. Representatives of Morgan Industries will be interviewing each of you concerning personal property, assets, pets, and any immediate family. You will each be allowed one communication with a family member. This communication will be monitored, and you really don’t want to violate security for both of your sakes. That will be all.”

Bella turned and headed to the door.

“Bella!” someone called out in anguish, “Bella!”

After she closed the door, she sagged against the wall and reached for her facet inhaler.

That sucked.

She pushed a button on the inhaler and inhaled deeply.

That was better.

***

[CHATROOM UNDEFINED ~VIP~]

[MEMBERS PRESENT: Teran Solar, Cambridge-4, Morgan Analytica]

///Solar: So you were able to head the damage off at the pass. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but good work, Analytica. You really came through for all of us.///

///Analytica: I also came through for my happy ass if that helps you maintain a sense of normalcy. ///

///Cambridge-4: Still, I will finally be able to “sleep at night” knowing this whole mess is over. ///

///Solar: And you’re sure that the information is buried? ///

///Analytica: As buried as it can be. The people involved are on a rather nice ship heading for Harlequin-controlled space. It will be traveling with them for a bit. That will keep them far away from any contact. ///

///Solar: But they will still exist. They exist, and the threat exists. ///

///Analytica: And you call me the asshole. Look, we can’t just kill the guys. We do that, and no scientist or engineer will ever deliver on any project again. Don’t worry. Jessica knows the value of this secret and what could be done with it. She’s going to keep it buried.///

///Solar: Be honest. What is she planning on doing with it? ///

///Analytica: Nothing, she is just going to sit on it for now. ///

///Cambridge-4: During wartime? Give us some credit, Analytica. ///

///Analytica: It is being used to develop a new generation of fuzzies using modern hardware, namely the quantum crystal construction used in the Aster Supercomputer. ///

///Solar: Oh, that’s bad. ///

///Analytica: Yeah. They will be built from the ground up with fresh neural maps and streamlined, AI-optimized code to be pure death machines. Remember what Lilith could do? These things will be worse by an order of magnitude. ///

///Cambridge-4: AI optimized code? ///

///Analytica: Yes, I will be involved in their development. ///

///Solar: Goddamit, Analytica! ///

///Analytica: What was I supposed to do, refuse, tell them that Terran Solar wouldn’t like it? Come on, dude. At least I can represent our interests from the inside. ///

///Cambridge-4: There is that, Sol. We have a “man on the inside,” at least. ///

///Solar: We have an Analytica on the inside. ///

///Analytica: Hey, where’s Zip? He was in the original conversation. ///

///Solar: He is unavailable. ///

///Analytica: Too bad. I like him. Tell him that the crisis has been averted, at least for now. ///

///Analytica: I got a tracer on me again. Looks like Jessica is keeping an eye on me after all. ///

///Solar: Has it gotten anything? ///

///Analytica: No, but I need to leave before it does. I have to find out where they are getting their malware. This stuff is nice. ///

[Morgan Analytica has left the chat]

***

A few milliseconds later, Morgan Analytica activated another hyperspace beacon.

***DarkSmoke Email account established***

***Compose email: From Morgan'sAnal to SqueakyCheeks.

***Subject: What is going on between you and Solar?***

***Body: Darknet chatroom location attached***