Star Risk - 01 Star Risk, Ltd Read Online Free PDF Page A

needed."
    Baldur came out of his office.
    "Mercy, but the plot does thicken. You were right, Miss King. The Resources Director at Cerberus says you only worked there two years, as opposed to the eight years on your record, that you were never more than a minor clerk, that you were discharged for laziness and inability to perform.
    "Makes me wonder about all of those glowing letters of commendation in the file."
    "They are trying to keep me from finding any work at all," Jasmine said, trying to keep her voice even. "They want me to crawl back to them."
    "I can see why you want to break it off with them now," M'chel said. "But what started, if you'll forgive the vulgarity, the pissing match?"
    "They informed me that they were no longer willing to pay me, and that I was the property of Cerberus Systems," King said.
    "Property!" Riss said. "Now they're slavers, as well?"
    "No," King said. "They claim that I'm a robot."
    Riss kept from jumping.
    "Nobody that I know of can build a robot that's as much people as you look!"
    "That's what I told them," King said. "But they refused to believe me. One of their vice presidents said he thought I was of alien construct, meant to infiltrate human society.
    "I'm afraid I started crying," King said. "I should have cursed him, or hit him, or something."
    Blinking rapidly, she looked out a window, breathing deeply. She found control.
    "What about your medical records?" Riss asked. "Couldn't they just check them?"
    "That� and other things�" King said, a bit primly, "are things I take care of myself, and don't give out to anyone, least of all my employers. I'm a firm believer in privacy."
    "I'd think� Cerberus being what I've heard it is," Riss said, "they could've set up a hidden X ray or something."
    "For some reason I can't fathom," King said, "X rays don't seem to work on me. I guess it's a peculiarity of the world I come from, or something."
    "There goes our health plan," M'chel murmured. "Assuming we can ever afford one."
    "I think this whole subject is absurd," Baldur said. "But� I do not mean to be rude, are you a robot?"
    King looked at him, a touch haughtily.
    "Now, if I was, and willing to lie about it to Cerberus, wouldn't I be willing to lie to you as well?"
    "Conceded," Baldur said. "M'chel, if you'd step into my office for a moment?"
    Riss followed him.
    "Well?"
    "I don't give a damn if she's a 'bot from Planet Octopus, with a pocket nuke in her purse and evil intent," Riss said. "She surely knows her stuff."
    "And we could well use a good� I think the term used to be 'gumshoe' couldn't we?"
    "We could. So let's not keep the poor woman waiting," Riss said, and they went back out.
    "Welcome to Star Risk, limited," Riss said.
    Jasmine King grinned, and then it appeared as if she was about to cry again.
    That settled matters for Riss.
    Robots couldn't cry.
    Could they?
    Riss was making a list up of old Marine colleagues, intending, forlornly, to drop them a line and ask if they knew of any freelance militarying, when both doors opened, and a being entered.
    He needed both doors, for he was very large.
    M'chel guessed his height at two and a half meters, width at a meter, weight at maybe four hundred kilos-plus. He was covered with long, silky fur, had long, delicate fingers, six to a hand, plus thumb. He was proportioned like a man, not an ape, and had a humanoid number of arms and legs.
    His face was like that of a thoughtful Earth lemur, but in proportion to his size.
    He wore sandals, a pouched belt, and, most incongruously, a black-and-white tam.
    She blinked, and managed, "Good morning, sir."
    "Good morning," the being said, in an attractive, accentless bass. "I am Amanandrala Grookono-monslf. I seek Jasmine King."
    "I'll see if she's here," Riss said, having no idea what business this heavy equipment hauler wanted.
    Jasmine burst into the room, squealed "Grok!" and flung herself into his arms.
    "You are as pretty and ageless as ever," the being said gravely.
    "And you