Page 18 of Operation Iron Heart

“If you now know so much more about how robots are built thanks to the new chip in your brain,” he replied with a cautious smile, “then you’ll also know that we are incapable of hurting a person who we feel responsible for. That includes the inability to be offensive, but it doesn’t stop us from saying the truth when it’s meant nicely.”

“That means you really are one of the good ones,” she said seriously, as much as to reassure herself, as she still wasn’t completely certain that he was.

“When I’m up against our enemies, I can be utterly despicable,” he teased her. “And that brings us to my next task: Cathrin has ordered me to teach you a few basic self-defence skills. Due to the high levels of criminal activity in Illinois, certain people are permitted to carry a weapon. Registering for the congress means that you and your bodyguard are officially one of these people. And if you’re going to carry a weapon, you need to know how to handle it.”

Before she could contradict him, he pressed a laser pistol into her hand and explained its key functions. He then started up a programme of exercises designed by the Canadian Police, in which lifelike attackers appeared on the holographic 3D screen and threatened to shoot her. Before Marci could even react, Jack had eliminated every single one of the terrifying figures.

Marci stood looking at him in amazement. “You’d probably have to implant fifty chips in me before I could react that fast,” she said, sounding resigned.

“First of all, I’ve been doing this a bit longer than you and secondly, I’m specifically programmed for it,” said Jack, trying to console her. “I suggest we use the rest of the time to practise a bit. You’ll see, by the afternoon you’ll get rid of them on the first attempt.”

Jack was right. She was a really quick learner and soon grasped how to use her advantage against her opponent.

Slightly surprised by herself and feeling full of confidence, she followed him to the next challenge, which was very different from weapon handling.

“Where are we going?” she asked Jack, feeling disoriented as he led her into another facilities complex that housed a style centre where she would be fitted with the right wardrobe for her mission.

Jeanette Blackmoore, a curvy, attractive brunette around Marci’s age, managed the tailor’s workshop, or what passed for it, as nothing had been sewn here for years, at least not by human hands. The clothes-making process was fully automated, as Jeanette briefly explained to them. Like all employees, she wore a simple, practical jumpsuit but unlike the others, hers was a stylish silver, emphasising her voluptuous silhouette. “You can pick out the clothes you’d like to wear,” she said to Marci, who hadn’t known any luxuries in the slums and usually got everything she needed at a second-hand market for slum residents.

She looked in astonishment at the suggestions on a holoscreen that showed her the latest fashions from Paris.

“Anything is possible here,” Jeanette assured her with a smile, seeing Marci’s fascinated expression. “I enter a holoscan of your body into the computer and you use your mind to tell it what a piece of clothing should look like. The machine then produces everything without me doing anything at all, from the material selection to the cut and the finished piece,” she explained. “That’s why the styles are so individual. Outside the base, this is usually only affordable for people with plenty of money. These machines cost a fortune out there.”

Rochelle had a machine like that, thought Marci to herself as she looked at the sinfully expensive equipment with interest before Jeanette made a few scans of her and asked her for her preferences. Marci didn’t have to think for very long; she’d always wanted a dark-red, floor-length evening dress with a deep neckline. As a child, she’d seen one in an online catalogue for rich shoppers. Jeanette also suggested a few styles that would work well in the business meeting that Marci and Jack would shortly be heading for. While the equipment silently put together Marci’s new wardrobe, Jack – still wearing his black jumpsuit and combat boots – changed into a smart dinner jacket and trousers. His measurements were already in the system so Jeanette started fitting him straight away.

He noted with a certain satisfaction Marci’s admiring glances as he stripped down to his underwear and then, only a few minutes later, stood looking gorgeous in a black collared shirt, close-fitting anthracite grey trousers and a matching jacket, and slipped his large feet into a pair of shiny black leather shoes from a top Australian designer. Jack felt totally indifferent about what he was wearing, but Marci was visibly impressed.

“Hot damn!” The words burst from her lips. “You look magnificent. Definitely one of the most attractive men I’ve ever seen.” She gave a light giggle and Jack felt heat rising within him, stirring his humanlike blood – highly unusual for a robot. The fact that she called him attractive would surely help him get closer to her, but he knew that it took more than that for a person to fall in love with someone.

Jeanette noticed Marci’s enthusiasm and smiled. “You’re not the only woman in Hunters Lane who’s noticed that.” Jack pretended that he wasn’t interested in what the women were saying and Jeanette rolled her eyes in amusement. “In truth, he can hardly move for admirers. Isn’t that right, Jack?”

He mumbled something indistinct and stuck his large hands in his trousers pockets, looking at himself with disinterest in the mirror. He didn’t like Jeanette talking about his success with women in front of Marci.

“What happened with the blonde from Engineering?” continued Jeanette blithely. “Are you still together or is it over already?”

“Aside from the fact that I don’t remember talking to you about her,” he responded with an edge to his voice, throwing a warning glance at Jeanette, “you should file that kind of story under base gossip. It’s a bad habit of humans to make up stories when they get bored.”

“Does that mean…” Marci looked at him wide-eyed but didn’t finish her sentence. Jack could imagine what she was thinking but he didn’t have the time to tell her about his previous relationships, which had all been about the same thing – they’d been purely physical, and ended when the women dumped him because he was just a robot and they couldn’t imagine spending their whole life by his side. He’d rather have changed the topic of conversation but Jeanette clearly wanted to try and make up for her previous comment. “If you think robots like Jack aren’t capable of romantic feelings, you’re wrong,” she told Marci, giving her a cheerful wink. “Cathrin gave Jack and his colleagues the full emotional program. When it comes to women, they behave just like human men. In fact, I’d even say they’re more adventurous and more romantic than their human counterparts.”

While Marci stared at him slightly open-mouthed as if he was an alien – which Jack thought made her look even sexier – he decided to bite the bullet.

“Jeanette, I don’t think Marci has any intention of getting into anything with a robot. Isn’t that right, Marci? Our interest in one another is purely work-related.”

Marci hesitated for a moment as if she had to consider her answer. “Oh, Jack!” She laughed for the first time since he’d met her. “Don’t worry. Quite apart from the fact that I can’t imagine getting involved with a man ever again, I certainly wouldn’t consider seducing a robot. You’re just too perfect. If I were with you, I’d have a permanent complex. Plus, I age and you don’t. Imagine you still being young and gorgeous when I’m an ancient grandmother.”

That seemed to be all she was going to say on the matter. He wanted to refute her objection, but not in front of Jeanette, who was watching his reactions closely and with clear fascination.

“You see, Jeanette,” he responded with a forced smile, “there’s no danger of Marci misjudging the situation.” As he said this, he felt as if he’d been stabbed through the heart. He turned round and signalled to Jeanette that he could manage without her help. Walking across to the dressing room, he tried to pull himself together and reminded himself of what Lennox had said – Marci is never going to fall in love with a robot – hoping fervently that neither of the women would notice his disappointment.

When he stepped out of the dressing room, back in his jumpsuit, and saw Marci, he forgot to breathe for a moment. Jeanette had put her in a red, floor-length evening dress with a sensuously deep neckline that almost reached her navel and the hem and the thigh-split were edged with intricate pleating. Jack’s gaze rested for a moment on her sleek, flawless legs.

“So?” asked Jeanette.

When he realised that both women were looking at him expectantly, he focused hastily on Marci’s other attributes. Jeanette had styled her long, thick hair into a loose bun. He kept a respectful distance and regarded Marci with an almost reverent expression but still didn’t answer.

“Come on, what do you think?” she asked slightly cautiously. “Please don’t tell me I look like a stick with frills on?”

“No,” murmured Jack, still staring. “You look like a supermodel with frills on. When MacIntyre sees you like that, he’ll probably blow a fuse and try and drag you off to his bed straight away.”