Crimson Azure
CHAPTER 7
PREVIOUSLY... A dinner was being held in order to break the ice between the two companies. However, the party is quickly crashed by Lincoln’s brief intrusion. Even after the interruption, the people of both companies managed to enjoy themselves.
The next morning, a cellphone is ringing on the nightstand in Crimson’s bedroom. He sluggishly slaps his hand on it before picking it up and checking the screen to see who’s calling. Unable to recognize the number, he answers.
- CRIMSON:
....Morning. Who is this?
- PHONE:
It’s Morpheus. I have an idea that might save our asses. Could you come over to my building at about two this afternoon?
- CRIMSON:
What time is it now?
- PHONE:
Eight-thirty in the morning.
- CRIMSON:
Alright, I think I can do that.
- PHONE:
I’ll be waiting in the lobby.
- CRIMSON:
Vanessa, when you wake up, you will begin business as usual. I will be gone for a while. I want you to look after my office in the meantime.
- VANESSA:
Yes Master.
—A few hours later....—
- CRIMSON:
...Miss Aphrodite?
- SECRETARY:
Hmm? Oh, sorry. I’m Athena. I guess you could say Aphrodite’s my sister. How can I help you?
- CRIMSON:
Oh, uh, I was asked to come here. Mister Azure said he wanted to show me something.
- ATHENA:
Ah, yes, Mister Crimson. Just have a seat. He will be with you shortly.
- CRIMSON:
Alright.
- ATHENA:
Would you like anything to eat or drink?
- CRIMSON:
Uhm... warm green tea, please, if you have it.
- ATHENA:
I’ll bring it to you in a minute.
- ATHENA:
Here’s your tea.
- CRIMSON:
Ah, thank you. Sorry, I was just letting my eyes wander. This is the first time I’ve actually set foot in this building. Feels like I just stepped a hundred years in the future.
- ATHENA:
Don’t worry, you’re not the first one to have had that feeling. After all, Azure Industries is said to be the pinnacle of technology.
- CRIMSON:
Yeah... It’s looking at stuff like this that kinda makes me feel old and quaint. But then, I guess I AM an old-fashioned kinda guy...
- ATHENA:
I dunno... I tend to find the stuff you call “old-fashioned” rather fascinating, personally...
- CRIMSON:
How so?
- ATHENA:
I don’t really know. I guess I’m just interested in what people used to have in mind for the future... like what if all machines were steam-powered, or made of old clockwork, instead of run by batteries or solar power?
- CRIMSON:
Hmmm... Never thought about that before...
- AZURE:
Ah, Richard. Glad you could make it. Sorry I’m late. I was busy with something.
- CRIMSON:
No worries. I was just having a good conversation with Miss Athena here.
- CRIMSON:
And I enjoyed the tea.
- AZURE:
That’s good to hear. So, yeah... whenever you’re ready.
- CRIMSON:
Lead the way.
- AZURE:
So Athena made you tea? How was it?
- CRIMSON:
It was good. I’m impressed with how well she made it. Perfect temperature, great taste and everything.
- AZURE:
Good. Anyway, we’ve just come up with something that might help us defend ourselves against Lincoln’s men...
- CRIMSON:
Oh?
- AOI:
Have you ever read the book I, Robot?
- CRIMSON:
I’m afraid I haven’t.
- AOI:
Well, the general story is told from many different perspectives, but the main connection between them is that at one point, the robots were controlled remotely, and while they were not in control of themselves at the time, they were able to rise against the humans they were meant to protect and coexist with.
- AZURE:
Now, in their normal modes, those robots were calm, friendly, and loyal. The only way they would rise against their human creators would be if anyone were to override their Three Laws programming, which is ingrained into their human emulation programs.
- CRIMSON:
Wait, so the only way to get an AI unit to harm people, is to shut off the AI part?
- AOI:
In a nutshell, yes.
- CRIMSON:
Okay... I think I see where this is going. So you’re considering turning all your androids into Robocops?
- AZURE:
More like Terminators, but the goal is the same: Defending the public while crushing those who defy the law. And it’ll only be when their AI program is deactivated that they’ll harm anyone.
- CRIMSON:
I thought I was supposed to be the one to eliminate him. Change of plans, huh?
- AZURE:
You could say that.
- AZURE:
What you see here is a blueprint of an android designed specifically for this kind of job. AI program activation is remote operated, and the commands can be issued worldwide from this very building.
- AOI:
They will be our eyes, ears and fists in this underground war against Lincoln. And for that, I have dubbed it as the “Hayabusa Project”.
- CRIMSON:
It’s got a nice ring to it.
- AZURE:
We were just working on some finishing touches to our prototypes. We’re planning on having them endorsed by the military to reduce our human casualties. I guess you could say this underground war will be their first real test.
- CRIMSON:
Sounds neat.
- AZURE:
Angus should be done with the prototypes any minute now...
- AZURE:
Well, speak of the devil...
- CERULEAN:
I just finished installing the ballistics gel. They’re more heavily armored than a turtle in a tank. A-grade titanium-aluminium alloy. Lightweight, but stronger and more durable than either metal would be alone.
- AZURE:
This man here is Mister Richard Crimson. He’s going to be our ally for a while. I’d like you to introduce yourselves.
- MALE DROID:
Pleasure to meet you. I am Hayabusa Model M-Zero, Codename: Nagi.
- FEMALE DROID:
...and I am Hayabusa Model F-Zero, Codename: Nami.
- CRIMSON:
Nice to meet you both.
- CRIMSON:
WHOA! What the—?!
- CRIMSON:
...Okay, Morpheus... I think you’ve convinced me.
- AZURE:
Sorry, Richard. Only effective demonstration I could think of.
- CRIMSON:
Understandable... Could you get him off of me now? I think I’m losing the circulation to my arm.
- AZURE:
Alright. Nagi, release him.
- CRIMSON:
That’s... quite impressive. Think it’ll work against Lincoln’s men?
- CERULEAN:
Don’t worry, laddie. Even their soft, squishy bits are armed to the teeth. They’re fitted with airguns that can fire darts, paintballs, rubber AND lead bullets...
- AZURE:
Not to mention close combat weapons, such as police batons or even short blades.
- AOI:
And to top it all off, I plan to program each one with a different code, to deter hackers.
- CRIMSON:
So between my brainwashed assassins and your Hayabusa Project...
- AZURE:
We should each have our own small army ready by the end of the month.
- CRIMSON:
Well, I should head back to work, then... I’ve got an army of my own to build.