Distraction 2

Chapter 6

“Lissandra Rockfield” I will remember that name, lady. Now, I have listened with respectful and polite attention. I will speak and you will reciprocate.

I find this sort of misunderstanding from time to time. Trust me, has nothing to do with this stellar system provincialism! The Solar is no different.

My opinion is that it is a collateral effect of those Personal Privacy Protocols adopted by High AIs in consequence of the Alexandrine Code.

Laws are never perfect.

Projects like ours are like mountains. A mountain has one side that is reached by daylight, and another in the shadow. No, do not interrupt me. I am getting there.

Our Public Relations team works in one side. I am in charge of the other.

My records can tell you that I am a “military man” to the core. All my life. They will not tell you which kind of "military" I am.

There is a kind of soldier that flitches and shies away in face of ****.

You are excused from assume I am in that category. Because you do not claim to be in the field of security. You may even wonder if I didn’t got my position just because I am a friend, protegee, of our boss. I am not offended if you have that question in your mind.

Some could rhetorically ask if you know what I do in this project. Clearly, you don’t.

I do plan the daily security measures, and I watch them. Thinking how I would steal information or resources from the project. Anyone trained to think as a military official can do that.

That part of the job is only relevant to discourage the casual opportunistic bandit.

The main problem large scale projects face in this Age is the **** of key figures for the sake of extorsion or sabotage. Political or not. As a matter of fact, is impossible to build and keep security measures capable to prevent that. Current state of technology make this task economically prohibitive.

That is what gives people like me a job in projects like that. Lissandra.

Whatever name they print in my door. I exist in this project as a living promise.

Those who need to know, understand.

The promise is that: anyone who crosses the Tritan in the wrong way will never face any consequence from law enforcement. No police will catch them, no judge will ever touch their case.

I am their guarantee in that regard.

If anyone, for instance, kidnaps you. Or tries to **** you in any way, while you are working for us. You will not call the police. You will call my department. Or you may call the Juridical, and they will pass your case to us.

And then you will forget the subject.

I will not adhere to local costumes. Being a little bit eccentric is part of my job.

You are the first living thing that enters my house without invitation and leaves without serious reason for regret, Lissandra. In a long time. And, you are the last who will do that, in this stellar system.

As for Mrs Clementine Altimer, she is my property. My property is extension of my home, and by consequence, metaphorically speaking, of my very soul.

I appreciate the fact that you were doing your job in the best of your abilities when you touched my soul, Lissa.

Still, I would not be doing mine, if I didn’t reciprocated the favour.

We will continue this conversation another day. Miss Rockfield.

In good time.