The smoke still cling to the air and the fire had fizzled and died down in smoke city. The power had come back on in most areas of the city, people were slowly going back to their everyday lives but the imbalance remained. Protesters doubled in size while the grief still remained heavy in the air.
Three days isn't enough time to heal, Adam knew that very well, he wasn't sure if the Senator knew that as well. Stellar's efforts to cull the protesters from the senatorial tower were lukewarm almost as if the people's feelings were secondary in the grand scheme of things.
Her hands laced together and tucked under her chin, she looks back and forth between every face on her round table at the meeting with the same expression, absolute boredom. And when her honey brown— almost gold eyes land on Adam does something shift in the air.
"How's the city holding up with the current bombings at the festival?" She looks towards her officers and secretaries.
"Citizens are rallying around vault bank and the parks on the border of Greenwood. I've dispatched officers to handle the situation and keep the protests as peaceful as possible but that's all we can do for now with how many officers I've been given. There's not much we can do about electricity and increased crime rate on the hill side." John scratched at the bandage over his brow. He hadn't slept since he was discharged and it was telling on his body.
"Senator, the people would want to hear from you, maybe a heart felt speech. Something to ease the grief and show them you also mourn." Minister of information speaks up. Warren was a psychologist and the youngest on the table. "A distraction right after as well. Maybe asking a famous singer to make a broadcast singing the national anthem?"
"Julius would be nice." A voice pipes in.
Stellar hums, smoothing down her thick dreadlocks with both hands. She looks towards Hubert, the vault bank chairman with a balding head and three fat rolls on his chin. "That would work. We must also take action and immediately. Redirect the funding for the special education charity to the weaponry department. We don't know what we're fighting and who might be invading our city. We need to tighten security now more than ever."
"Yes ma'am." Hubert dabs away the sweat on his forehead. "The entire funding?"
"Empty the account."
Adam stiffens, brows furrowing. "Senator, I don't think that's hardly fair."
Her eyes are cutting, nearly slits as they pierce his soul. "You can't protect dead children." His heart drops, grief swarming him like a tsunami. "We will move forward as we always have, in one voice and coordinated. We will rid our city of this filth scouring the streets even if we have to comb through every citizen one by one."
She nods towards Johnny, the chief of police. He stands, dressed in his full police uniform, hat and gloves, he walks out of the meeting to join Finn whose been standing by the door. The AI heard everything, his improved reception the only good thing following the attack.
His gears worked overtime, he's never heard Adam his creator talk like that— with emotion. Knowing the scientist to mumble and do all the work himself, no assists. He almost didn't recognize the voice.
Johnny and Finn's job had changed, Marian's story remains a mystery and will for a while. With everything going and the force being understaffed, they're spread thin. The partners walked side by side, a comfortable silence settling over them until Finn speaks.
"You never asked me what I saw in the smoke."
Johnny doesn't stop walking and it seems he didn't hear his partner. Johnny inhales, "sometimes I think you experience trauma too. I don't know, I'm trying to be kind by not asking."
"You must've hit your head hard."
Johnny raises a brow, giving his partner a side glance. "The new maintenance upgrade made you witty. What did you see?"
"I know how angry you can get." Finn warns as they approach the entrance of the building. "I researched the reaper while we were on the Marian case. It is as they say it is."
Finn hadn't seen that Johnny had paused. He turns back to look at him and an unreadable expression is on his face. Finn continued, "I believe it may be another AI. And if that is true, that means someone inside NA tech is selling sensitive information to other countries."
Johnny's features morph into anger. "You're accusing the very people who worked tirelessly, had sleepless nights to bring—" he paused, catching himself. "create you of treachery."
"I attach no sentiments."
Johnny inhaled, letting the fire in his eyes cool. Finn wasn't programmed to lie and he didn't know how to go about this information, they needed evidence. He brings up a finger in warning. "Not a word to anyone. Not yet until I know what we're dealing with."
"Yes Johnny."
He nodded, "good. I'll start the car, you go upstairs and get the permits we need to proceed with the case. The meeting should be over by now."
He watched Finn go, not sure how to feel about his disobedience. He wasn't programmed to go against orders, it was tiring. Adam made one hell of an invention with this one, Johnny could barely catch himself with Finn.
Finn takes the elevator and sure enough everyone's talking and shaking hands all over the floor. The senator and Adam are deep in conversation, whatever they seem to be on about stresses Adam. She walks away with Hubert and a police officer at each side but Finn doesn't miss the scientist's hand clench in a tight fist.
Finn walks into the now empty meeting room save for just him and Adam. Finn nods in greeting and takes the files off the table. "I can't smell anything."
The simple phrase gets the scientist's attention. "What would you need smell for?"
"To really understand food and aromas as a concept."
Adam shook his head tiredly. "There are more pressing matters than working noses." He slumps against a seat. Behind his glasses, his grey eyes are vacant and cold. Finn takes the opportunity to question him.
"Have any files been missing from your office at the lab? Notes, parts, anything at all."
Adam massages his temples. "What are you on about?"
"I'm investigating the mole. Johnny doesn't want me saying that to just anyone but we think someone's selling information to other countries concerning the AI algorithm you invented."
Adam blinks, taking off his glasses. "I am the only person with access to my office. Nothing's missing." His eyes narrow slightly. "I caught faint wind of the statement report, you were the closest to the blast. What did you see?"
"A girl, beady red eyes that looks nothing like your AI designs."
Adam rubbed his eyes a little confused. "Why wasn't this included in the police report?"
"I was deactivated at the time. Maybe the only thing that saw it."
"It. You said you saw a girl."
"AI that looks like a girl." Finn corrects. "She was dressed in a prep uniform. Similar designs to me but incomplete or poorly maintained. A creaking neck as well and music."
Adam blinked in confusion. He processed the information in his fatigue, choosing to believe that Finn somehow had jokes. Why else would he describe his daughter so easily like that. "You're saying the AI could sing and was dressed in a prep uniform. What color was it?"
Finn paused, "a plaid skirt and what was supposed to be a white shirt covered in grime."
Adam's heart raced in the wrong ways. "I haven't had anything go missing but I'm also told I have a bad memory at the company. I wouldn't know what I'm looking for." He pauses, staring hard at the table before standing to his full height. "I- um, I have to go but you can call in and talk to my secretary if you need assistance. Come some time this week for that working nose."
"Okay." He watched Adam look at him, grey eyes frazzled, skin ghastly white like he'd seen a ghost.
"Come alone, don't alert your superior."
"Okay." Adam could've sworn the reply sounded unsure but he couldn't waste another second. He felt sick.
And he needed a doctor badly.