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melo_annechen) wrote2006-12-23 09:16 am
Three of Five, Ch 48
Thursday noon, the crew had returned to the suite for lunch, and Lupin took the opportunity to check his e-mail. He was expecting taunts and threats from the other symposium attendees. What he did not expect was the message titled ‘Re: Your Daughter’. He nearly erased it for spite, and thought the better of it. He had not referred to Lovelace or Sela as his daughters at the panel, the idea was too new for him to share just yet. He ran the missive through his malware scan, and was surprised to note the message was completely clean.
“Professor Madblood,” the message began, “I hope this message finds you in good health. I have undertaken to write to you concerning your daughter Lovelace, and her future.” How oddly formal, Madblood thought. He read further, suspecting the writer was Lovelace’s online friend, and he was not sure how he felt about that.
The message was from b1431gs0n, the name that had shown up in the IM logs for the lab. Lupin stared at the screen, noting the e-mail had been sent two days ago, from a high-traffic ISP. Back-tracking the message led him to another ISP in the university research network. Further traces would need Lovelace’s assistance, if he wanted to involve her.
The idea of Lovelace as his progeny was still difficult for him to wrap his mind around, but it felt right. The thought that she had a fiancée was a shock, and not a pleasant thought. He had just this year discovered his creation could be family, and now she would leave him.
He must have shown his turmoil in his expression, as Charlotte asked, “Is everything all right, sir?”
“I don’t know. On the one hand, the Turing test has been turned inside out. But on the other, I don’t want to lose her just yet.” Lupin stared at the screen, and did not notice Charlotte coming around behind him to read the note.
Her murmured, “Oh, my stars and garters, what has he done?” got his attention immediately.
“What do you know about this?” Madblood demanded.
Charlotte’s eyes were wide as she changed her focus from the screen to meet the professor’s gaze. “He is… a former classmate. I don‘t think he has been this serious about any of the relationships I know about.”
“Is there anything about him that would cause problems with Lovelace?”
Charlotte’s brow furrowed, and she thought a few moments before answering: “I don’t think so, only that he is likely to try to move into the lab to stay close to her.”
“Humph, I didn’t realize I would need dormitory space when I built the lab,” he said. “I’ll wait to arrange the security review meeting after we get home, and can get everyone’s schedules aligned.”
“Of course, sir,” she said, her expression somber. Charlotte turned from the professor’s improvised workstation thinking, I suppose it wouldn’t have lasted forever. At least I have this week.
Sela caught her expression, and asked through the earwig, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem back home?”
Charlotte twitched her fingers, and brought her no-top computer online. She surreptitiously typed: “Four has lit a fuse, don’t know how long it will be.” She shut down the IM client and headed out for the panel on Goo and You: Securing Your Lab from Elastomorphs.
Arsène caught up to her at the stairwell. “Sela will handle the professor, now how do we handle you?”
“I’m fine with it; I wish them all the best.” Charlotte focused on her footing, and was brought up short by Arsène blocking her on the landing.
“You’re not ‘fine’, and I don’t think this is about them. Talk to me.”
“Please drop it, Arsène.”
“No, you are miserable and I do not like it. I do not know why you are upset and Sela will not tell me.”
“What you do not know cannot be used to force you into platform conflict. I will not put you in that position.” She hugged Arsène tightly, and murmured, “I’ve hurt enough people without scarring you as well.”
He gently returned the hug and responded over the earwig, “I’ll drop it for now, Mother. But I still want to help, whenever you’re ready.”
>>>>
That afternoon, Charlotte entered her room to find Sela dressed in her eveningwear. “Erm, what are you doing?”
The android twirled, and said, “Just finishing up getting ready.”
Charlotte was marginally relieved, and yet disappointed at the same time. “Ah, I did not realize I was going to attend the dance by remote.”
“Don’t be silly!” Sela brought Charlotte’s dress from the closet, “you didn’t think I’d let you go without back-up, did you?”
An hour later, after Sela was done helping her primp, conceal weapons, and make a comm check, Charlotte entered the suite’s main room to let the professor know she was leaving, and was confronted with the professor and Arsène waiting, also in formalwear. “This is a surprise, sir.”
“Considering the events of the past week, I thought it would be odd for you to attend alone, and Arsène had packed appropriately.” Madblood said, “I hope you don’t mind my presumption.”
“You didn’t think we’d let you go without a proper escort, did you?” Arsène said over the earwig. “Say something; he thinks you’ll say no.”
“I- erm, thank you, sir.” Charlotte blushed, and added, “I just hope you won’t be bored by the proceedings.”
“Do you dance?” the professor asked, opening the door to the hall for her.
“Well, I am able to dance, but usually I end up on the wall, and don’t get the chance.”
“That’s just wrong,” Madblood said as he tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her down the hall to the elevators. “We’ll just have to make sure there is suitable music.” He added in an undertone, “All right, Arsène?”
“Will do, sir - we are ready to leave as soon as you are in the elevator,” Arsène replied.
Charlotte was quiet until the elevator doors shut behind them in the empty cab. “Sir, I thank you for agreeing to be my escort. How should I, erm…” she focused on Lupin’s shoes, “how would you prefer to be introduced?”
“Anything that doesn’t involve profanity should do, Charlotte,” he chuckled. “Introduce me as your partner, if you wish.”
I wish you weren’t so offhand about this, Charlotte thought. Her nervousness translated into a firm grip on the professor’s arm as they crossed the lobby to the ballroom.
>>>>
Charlotte had not danced so much in ages. The professor was light on his feet, and she was finally able to relax. That is, until she realized she had been quietly singing along with the music. She stopped, and heard the tenor line continued.
Lupin stopped and looked up at her, “Something wrong?”
“Just forgetting myself,” Charlotte dipped her head and murmured in his ear, “Your soprano is lovely, but I find I prefer your tenor to your soprano.”
Lupin chuckled, “I’ve had more practice as a tenor - and your enthusiasm more than makes up for your accuracy rate when you sing.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte said, blushing. Then she remembered the study. I shouldn’t be this close to him, it is going to skew the results, she thought. I’m going to have to scrap the study at any rate, but how do I tell him? I don’t think I want to allow anyone else to read the notes, and I know I don’t want Lupin to be hurt… The sudden revelation made Charlotte miss a step in the waltz. “Oh, bother,” she muttered.
Lupin murmured, “Something wrong, koishii?”
“Just realizing I have lost the last scrap of my objectivity.”
“Don’t worry, dear. We’ll look for it when we get home,” Lupin chuckled and pulled her a fraction closer.
Charlotte sighed and said, “I suppose by that time I’ll know if I want it back or not.” We will also see how proficient at drowning kittens you are once I give you the full disclosure.
They had just returned to the closed position after the final flourish, when Charlotte hissed. Lupin saw her grimace hidden behind a smile, and asked in an undertone, "What's wrong?"
She shook her head, and said "Security unit activation: we have a shooter at north-north-west. We are going to cover." She then guided Lupin off the dance floor, murmuring "We don't want to start a panic, at least not until we are out the door. If you could lean in a little," she draped her arm across his shoulders, and toyed with his hair.
He then realized that she was trying to provide as much coverage for his head without being obvious about it. He held her tighter, as his head calculated the angles of attack on their position, and he broke out in a cold sweat at the implication that she was using herself as his shield. He guided her to the first elevator they reached, the glass ones fronting the lobby, despite her protest. "I know it's exposed, but if we stand near the door, it's less likely they could get a clear shot." It also meant he could help shield her. The doors opened almost immediately, and as soon as the doors closed behind them, he reached up to wrap his hands around her head and pulled her face close to his. "The next time you try to protect me at your expense, I shall be very angry; don't do it again." Then he kissed her. Another rationalization for taking the glass elevators, he thought. The only time I can be demonstrative is in public, and that will change when we get home. I will enjoy it while I can.
Charlotte's chuckle was weaker than usual, but she responded, "Only if you catch me at it, sir." The elevator doors opened, and she slid her arm around his shoulders again, but did not pull his head under cover.
Lupin put his arm around her waist, and pulled her closer as they reached to door of the suite. He had his card key out while she was fumbling with her belt pouch, and held the door open for her. His hand slipped on the doorknob, and when he looked, it was bloody. "Charlotte, wait - there's something-" was as far as he got before Charlotte fell to her knees in the foyer.
The androids ran up from the stairwell, and pushed the professor into the room. “Right, I’ll get her kit, Arsène, secure the rooms and you try to find out her injury point.” Sela said from behind him. She then darted into Charlotte’s room.
“Shoulder, feels like it might be in the bursa,” Charlotte was trying to get her gown undone one-handed. Lupin’s hands shook as he unfastened the hooks and tried to peel the Velcro at the back without jarring her shoulder. Charlotte grunted, “Better do it like a bandage.” Lupin nodded, though he was behind her, and grasping the edges, yanked the back of her gown open. She whimpered at the action, but reached up to work the gown off her damaged shoulder.
Sela was there with a large case the size of a bass tournament lure box. “We’ll need you to steady her - whatever is in there has hooked itself into her cartilage.”
“Composition?” Charlotte panted.
“Scans show it’s probably gunsmith-grade brass, with a possible Teflon coating.” Sela pulled a pair of forceps and a sterile dressing from the box, “Now shush and let us work. Arsène, get her arm - I need you to give a steady pull without dislocating her shoulder. Father, hold her steady.” She handed Lupin the gauze pad, as she pulled the underdress away from the wound site. “As soon as the thing is clear of her skin, cover the wound.”
Lupin nodded, and Arsène started to pull tension on Charlotte’s arm. Her breath hissed through her teeth into the professor’s ear, and suddenly Sela announced “Clear!”
He pressed the gauze over the wound until Sela had the prepared dressing ready. Lupin's voice was rough as he quietly commented, "That is an interesting emergency kit for an engineer to be carrying."
Charlotte gave a weak laugh. "I never said I was just an engineer." She sat up as Sela finished taping the dressing down.
"I see. And you didn't mention your medical training because..." Lupin let the question drift.
"I... received the degree under another name." Charlotte was dazedly sorting through her case, not paying attention to what she said.
"Another name? How utterly unsurprising." Lupin's dry response was followed by another leading question phrased as casual speculation - "And just how many names have you used?"
"Used? Just a few,” Charlotte carefully picked through the pill case, with Sela checking her selections over her shoulder.
"How many aliases do you have?" Lupin seemed more amused than alarmed, "Have we collected the whole set, yet?"
"Oh, more than a dozen and less than a gross,” Charlotte chuckled weakly. "You know, just in case." She was shaking as she assembled her medications in her cupped palm. "I've been playing with a full deck, but you and Lovelace managed to pull the joker in the first round."
Sela handed her a glass of water, and reported "Her skin temperature is severely elevated, sir. I would discount the veracity of her statements, as she may be hallucinating."
"Oh, surely not this quickly,” Lupin's demeanor changed as he felt her face. "I stand corrected. Sela, please take her to her room and monitor her condition. Contact me if she worsens."
Sela gathered Charlotte up from the floor - "Where will you be, sir?"
Lupin growled. "Arsène and I are going hunting."
Arsène spoke up for the first time since returning to the room. "That would not be a good choice, sir. Sela and I may be Mark II models, but all it would take is one more shot. We need to work out how to get the both of you out of the hotel, as soon as it is safe to move Dr. Bowman."
>>>>
Lupin woke to Sela shaking his shoulder - "Sir, we need your assistance."
"Huh? What?" Lupin answered.
"Charlotte is trying to get up, and Arsène and I cannot restrain her without damaging her further. She is asking for you. She apparently is able to distinguish the differences between you and Arsène even in her delirium." Sela said as she hustled him across the suite to Charlotte's room.
Charlotte was thrashing against Arsène, muttering, "Gotta shield... can't find, gotta hide him... get to safe cover..." Her hair was matted with sweat; her eyes were unfocused and fever-bright.
Lupin crawled up beside Charlotte, luckily on her uninjured side, to help restrain her. "Charlotte - listen to me, you have to rest..."
At the sound of his voice, Charlotte stopped trying to get out of bed, and turned to Lupin. "Ah, you're okay... good..." and she collapsed against him. Her sudden weight shift caught him off-balance, and he fell back on the bed. Charlotte murmured, "Be safe, keyarrr..." as she drifted into sleep, draped across his chest.
Lupin's expression could not decide on delight or panic, and finally settled on confusion. "Ah. Well. Erm, Sela? What was that last bit?"
Sela's neutral expression did not change. "I am not sure, sir. We shall have to ask her when she wakes." She began tucking the both of them in for the night.
"Wait, let me..." Lupin began as he attempted to extract himself from the bed. Charlotte whimpered in her sleep. Sela gently pushed him back as Charlotte tucked her head under Lupin's chin.
"No, sir," Arsène said as he made a circuit of the room, turning out the lights. "This is the most restful she has been all evening. It would be in her best interest for you to stay. We will monitor for further problems and finish packing." Arsène left him in the dark, while Sela moved quietly about, apparently packing Charlotte's and her things by LI/IR vision. Not much later, the sounds of movement ceased.
Lupin stared into the darkness, with his intern curled around him. He was discomfited to find that despite their disparate heights, they molded together quite well. How horrible. I find a woman that I can talk with intelligently, who also fits into my arms, and she will most likely be dead by the end of the week - and it would be my fault. He closed his eyes. I've had to keep reminding myself she is an employee, and not... I've wasted so much time, because I thought I would have the rest of her internship to... hire her? Convince her to stay? Plot a way to lock her in the lab for the rest of my life? Lupin opened his eyes and stared sightlessly at the ceiling again. Admit it, if only to yourself, Lupin. Unwise as it may have been, you have let yourself care for another human being. She does not return the favor, but you have to be honest with yourself. He carefully avoided her injured shoulder as he put his arm around her. I should have not accepted the challenge she presented. If I hadn't she'd be safe, and I'd be - dead. I owe her my life and this is how I repay her? I'm out of practice taking chances, and where did it get me? If she hadn't shown up, my corpse would probably be moldering in a corner of my lab as Lovelace tried to find someone to be her hands. If by some miracle Charlotte survives, I should tell her... Sleep was stealing upon him. Foolish old man.