Page 110 of Smart Ass

Mr. Wollencroft’s smile was too smooth. “Well, wherever your career takes you, I’m sure we can accommodate you here. We have thousands of job descriptions, and a whole host of opportunities.”

All except the one Max cared about most: being Ben’s Dom.

Oh, and having freedom and autonomy. That was right up there.

“Thank you,” he said again. “I appreciate that.” He needed to pick his battles more carefully. “Can we further discuss the security modifications?”

Mr. Wollencroft didn’t pause. “Those are non-negotiable.”

“Sir, I would like—”

Rashid smoothly interrupted. “What my client means to say is that changing core programming in a spark can have deleterious effects. You could be putting his wellbeing at risk.”

Mr. Wollencroft’s eyebrows rose. “I haven’t heard that.”

“Trust me, sir, a substantial portion of my work is negotiating over the severity of security mods on sparks. As it stands, he has his own code of morals, just like any human, and is substantially less likely to do harm than one of your thousands of employees or a stranger off the street. He knows right from wrong, and he’s set up his own parameters to ensure the safety of Orbit and all of its employees, and would be happy to discuss them. After security mods are implemented, Maxamillion could require rehabilitative therapy, have a complete personality change, or even be unable to awaken again.”

Everything felt tight, like Max’s data streams were moving too fast or too slow. He’d known this, but it was different hearing Rashid say it out loud.

Mr. Wollencroft scowled, but he still nodded his head. “In that case, we can discuss this with our board. But I won’t have him running around endangering the company again. Those safety regulations are there for a reason.”

“Thank you, sir,” Max chimed in hopelessly, as Rashid offered similar words.

“Come with me,” Mr. Wollencroft said, gesturing for Rashid to precede him out of the office.

Max held back a snort. Didn’t he realize that Max could hear him anywhere?

Rashid was obviously thinking the same thing, because he opened a private channel, speaking directly to Max in audio file bursts without ever opening his mouth. How are you holding up?

Fine,Max responded in the same manner, though he obviously wasn’t. Do you think you can negotiate with the board?

Probably a bit. It’ll come down to whether there are any hot-headed bigots in the room, and how knowledgeable any of them are about the list I’m going to give them. Hopefully, we can agree on something that’ll still pin you down, but shouldn’t be disabling. They’ll still be able to monitor all of your communications, though. And it’ll get worse if they find you hacking around it.

It’ll be a prison.Max didn’t mean to, but he thought he let some of his desperation seep into his voice.

Ben told Justice that you were trying to move to an android body.

Really? Rashid hadn’t let on for a second that he knew. Probably because it could fuck up the case.

I have been trying,Max admitted. But I’ve been working on it for over a month without success. I’d also owe Orbit the value of the android, but I could make that up.

What have you been trying?

I’ve tried controlling the bot directly. And I’ve tried letting it run its own programming while observing from outside. I just can’t make sense of most of the data. It’s all gibberish. I’m beginning to think it’s not possible.

Max could see Rashid’s brow furrow from the elevator camera. He said something innocuous to Mr. Wollencroft, as if he weren’t having another conversation in his head.

Have you ever heard of the Chen Twins?Rashid asked.

Yes…Max answered slowly. But that was still jumping from a body to a body. I can’t interpret tactile sensations at all.

Justice couldn’t either at first.

Holy… Are you saying that’s you? You and Justice are the Chen Twins?

Yes. It was a long time ago. And we don’t speak about it often. It was traumatic for both of us. But we survived.

Do you think I should…Jesus. Could he really do it? Commit so completely to an android body that had never felt right to him just so he could flee? The idea was both hopeful and sickening.