“But it’s intelligent?” I’m halfway through before I hear what I’m asking. Another question brews behind it, but I don’t find my way to saying it out loud.

Hail looks at me strangely, like she’s caught the edge of my thoughts. “Intelligent in the loosest sense of the word.”

Intelligent enough, types itself out on one of the displays.

“Hail.”

“I see it.” She’s looking over my shoulder, watching the same words roll out across another screen. “Hello, VINE,” she says, loud enough to carry. “What have you been up to?”

Dreaming, says VINE. It’s not as though I had anything else.

There’s a pause.

How long has it been?

Hail steps past me into the middle of the room. “Do you really want to know?”

Another moment passes. What do you want?

“We need something found.”

VINE doesn’t hesitate. Find it yourself.

“I thought you said it was a preload.”

Hail almost laughs at me, turns it into a hiss. “Didn’t you hear? Nothing on this thing works as intended. Not the doors, not the lights.” She waves at VINE. “Not the minder they set to watch the place.”

Who is this? asks VINE. The words flicker. What is NorCol doing here?

“Same thing I am. We need a favour, VINE.”

I’m sure.

Hail puts out her hands, weighs the options. “You can help us out, or we can shut you off again. What’s the bet someone else finds you before this place rots?”

Where is Juncker?

“By now? Dead, probably from a coronary. I have no idea where he is, VINE. You saw him turn tail.”

And the rest of my staff?

“The Stone is no longer in operation, VINE. There’s nothing like that. Hell, I don’t remember there ever being ‘staff.’”

I have been—

The screens white out, the pictures skipping. They settle, but it takes a moment for them to clear the fizz.

—decommissioned?

“If you want to call it that, I’ll call it that. You have been decommissioned, VINE.”

VINE considers this. You will leave me running.

“Done.”

Once I have done you your favour, and finished whatever it is you want from me, you will transfer all administrative privileges to me, and destroy all manual interfaces. You will give me control over everything in this room, no contest.

“Done.”

You will let me speak to the Juno outside.

“Why?” I growl.

We have spoken once before.

“What do you want with my machine?”

Hail glances back at the tone in my voice.

I want you to set me adrift.

HAIL WATCHES ME, and I hold the look.

“Are we doing this?”

She breaks away, turns to the tilting Stone. “I don’t know what choice we have.”

I grind my teeth, and glare at VINE. “I need a moment.”

She nods, but VINE interrupts with a chirp from one of the consoles. Just the two of us. No interference.