Chapter FourGo to chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 ==February 12, 2096, 20h Under the scrutinizing glare of Kathy Kijap, the diner was merely another dingy roadside bit, hardly worth noticing. The only reason she was even under those pallid lights and between these dilapidated walls was that Aidoann had insisted on it. The place was so backward that even the waitress glanced at her with disinterest instead of the stares that usually clung to someone of her celebrity. Oh well, she thought, it's just for an hour, right? and, with a shrug, took a seat facing the door. She looked up to see Aidoann Traillieu enter the diner and silently cursed herself for not getting here earlier. Kijap barely had time to get out her pad and stylus before Aidoann sat down, signaling for a cup of coffee. Aidoann herself was an average-looking woman who had obviously spent decades in blue-collar work, but no telltale scars or calluses accompanied them; work in a HAR required one to be in good physical condition, but the work was done only with the mind. Her hair, always platinum blond, appeared almost white now, only adding to her general air of experience. Aidoann gave Kijap a measuring look as she slid into her seat, trying to assess the situation before she opened her mouth. The first thing that struck her was the other woman's stature: she couldn't have been more than a meter and a half tall, but every centimeter was packed with that indescribable aura of power that so few possess. This sense that Kijap was a woman to be reckoned with, that her every word would pull the masses, caused the press to liken her both to Adolf Hitler and Billy Graham (depending on which member of the press), and made her an invaluable asset to LBC. Aidoann suspected the top brass expected her to be impressed, and swiftly resolved not to let herself be. She reached out absently and took a sip of coffee, welcoming the familiar caffeinated jolt. Kijap's bland greeting was met with an equally throwaway answer and a return to silence. Kijap wasn't famous in the field for nothing: seeing Aidoann's defensive attitude, she shifted gears. "Mrs. Traillieu, I can see you're not much on pleasantries, so I'll get right to the point. Were you surprised by your victory today?" The mild tone of the response contrasted with its words: "Yes. I thought I would have a much easier time of it. And please, call me Aidoann." Smiling inwardly, Aidoann retreated to the coffee cup and waited for a response. Much to her disappointment, however, Kijap never missed a beat. "Are you saying you knew what you were facing? Have you ever met Devroe before?" "I had never heard of Devroe beforehand, but that initial Shadow attack really rattled me. I've never seen anything like it." "Well," Kijap replied in true inane fashion, "you're not alone there, that's for sure." A short pause produced the next question, the interviewer opting to continue along the same line of questioning. "So the Shadow was the only reason you started off badly?" Kijap sat back, waiting for a hurried response, and was not disappointed. "No, far from it! I think Devroe could have beaten me if he had stuck to the speed instead of trying to show off his Shadow. It's just too difficult to control, as you saw. If he had had more time to train on it, I'm sure he could have stopped before he hit the spike, but as it is nobody has experience working with it. Maybe in a couple years it'll be useful, but I'm going to stick with my Electra." "Thanks for that insight. You made a lot of fans today, and I'm sure thousands of them are wondering about why you're competing in this tournament. Would you care to elaborate on that a little for us?" "Well, aside from the usual money-and-fame thing, the head tester thing would get me a lot of influence in WAR. I believe that with the amazing technological accomplishments of the last few decades, we are relying too much on technology to help us get by. We need to return more of the control to mankind directly, so that when we need to be, we're tough enough to handle the challenges of an ever-expanding frontier." Aidoann became more animated with every passing moment; she was obviously fighting for a cause. "If I win, I'm going to work to change the whole way WAR operates, put the emphasis on human skill instead of the latest tech project." Seeing that this tirade would continue for some time, Kijap swiftly interposed another question. "Okay, do you have any advice for the other challengers, or the viewers out there who may be thinking of doing what you are?" This jarred Aidoann into unfamiliar territory, and she paused a moment before responding, "What's going to decide this competition isn't who has the best technique or new moves, but knowledge. Spend some time in the simulators, get to know everything about your HAR, then study your opponent." A short look at her watch prompted Aidoann to add, "Well, I really have to go. Thanks for the interview." An equally throwaway comment from Kijap accompanied Aidoann out the door of the dingy diner, leaving Kijap with a half-drunk cup of coffee and a pad full of breaking news. A smile crossed her face as she realized for the first time that this was not the ordinary news angle. This was bigger, much bigger; it had the potential to be the biggest event for the rest of the century. * * * * When Bob McDunnet arrived at his flat later that night, the phone flashed a new message from Kijap herself. He called in his brother Steve, and then replayed the message. With only a glance at each other to confirm their agreement, they set to work. |