"Like that, yes."

"Do you think that needs explaining?"

"It will."

"And you'd like to explain to us. Why? It seems to me that you ought to take this to Terran authorities."

"Right now they aren't very receptive to explanations."

Mia did not doubt DyNan would be high on the list of suspects. Even without the anomaly of no injuries, Rega Loom, DyNan's owner, was also the untitled head of the Church of Organic Sapiens, a rabidly anti-robot faction. But not only anti-robot-DyNan manufactured ergonomic and organic multiplier tech, tools that allowed a person to do the work personally; in fact, required a human to operate it. Their philosophy was a modified form of self-reliance: any tool that operated independently of human control; they claimed, sapped something vital from the human condition. Positronics topped the pyramid of technologies DyNan found inimical to their concept of humanity, but it certainly did not stop at robots. Imbitek, they declared, made things that were little better. Imbedded tech quietly did things humans did not even know about, hidden and forgotten. Humanity had no idea what capabilities it lost to machines that did work for them. Nothing DyNan made operated on its own. The Church of Organic Sapiens extended that belief into the religious, claiming that the true nature of humankind was pretechnological, that Eden had contained no machines, and that the only true state of grace was a state wherein human beings required and possessed nothing but their own bodies and minds.

But, Mia reasoned, if they had been behind the attack, then it was stupid of them to have not at least offered a token victim.

"I suppose listening couldn't hurt, Mr. Lanra," she said finally. "What do you have in mind?"

"If we could meet somewhere…"

"Give me a code where I can reach you. I have to juggle some things, but I'll get back to you."

"Ms. Burgess, please don't avoid me. I think this is very important-"

"I have no intention of avoiding you, Mr. Lanra. But I still have responsibilities to attend. I will get back to you."

Lanra sighed unhappily. "All right. You can reach me here."

A number appeared on the com. "Thank you, Mr. Lanra. How late will you be there?"

"As late as necessary."

"I'll be in touch."

Mia stabbed the disconnect with a trembling hand and leaned back in the chair, thrilled and frightened.

Something, she thought. Finally something!

Now the only problem was finding Ariel.

"Bogard," she called.

"Yes, Mia?"

"Can you still tap directly into security com lines?"

"I have not attempted to do so since our arrival here," the robot said. "It may be that I have been isolated from access."

I doubt it, she thought, especially if they think you're gone…

"Try it now. See if there is any local security chatter concerning Ariel and Derec."

Bogard moved up to the com console and extruded a thin cable from its left hand. The cable connected directly to the I/O port. Data flashed rapidly across the screen.

"No," Bogard reported.

"Send an anonymous report concerning them."

"Through central coordination, or shall I find a field unit in the area?"

"A field unit, of course, if you can."

A few seconds later, Bogard said, "There is a cruiser within the grid around the garage Ms. Burgess is investigating. I have sent a simulated dispatch directing it to the site."

"Very good, Bogard. Thank you."

"Do you wish me to continue monitoring?"

"Yes, Bogard. No further communications, but let me know if anything happens."

"Yes, Mia."

Mia limped back to the couch, leaving Bogard connected to the com. She had not thought Bogard could do this, but, thinking about it now, it was only logical. She stared at it, wondering what other capabilities it possessed to which she-or anybody else in her department-had given no thought.

She stared at her datum screen for several seconds. It no longer said WORKING. Instead, the words SEARCH COMPLETED glowed green.

Hesitantly, she pressed ACCESS.