Page 103 of The Dis-Graced
Frances’ brow furrow in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“ALAN hates humanity. He thinks we’re unworthy of the world, and his first order of business is to kill us all.”
“Did Drake tell you this? God, I didn’t take you for being gullible. Did you get that from Terminator? Or The Matrix? I mean, when we were together, you were all about the investigating, and now you’re just falling for conspiracy theories on the internet.”
“No! ALAN told me himself. Listen, you have no idea how bad it’s going to get. Every aspect of our lives is going to be affected. The death toll is going to be epic.”
“Well, good to know. Nightly night, Gracey,” Frank says as he raises his gun.
Stephanie’s hand reaches out, bringing Frances’ hands down. “Don’t you think we should talk about this?” she asks.
“Talk about what? I, Robot?” He laughs.
“Seriously! What she’s saying makes sense. Who wouldn’t hate humans? We’re assholes.”
“Look, I never got any of that tech bullshit. I’m not throwing years of planning away because she says ALAN is some kind of psycho robot.”
“Isn’t that the exact reason to throw it away,” Stephanie snaps.
“You have no idea what it’s like to be a fucking outcast from my goddamn family!” Frances shouts. “For years, this has been the one thing that’s kept me going. Revenge.”
“The revenge was supposed to be getting filthy rich while their stock tanks—NOT the destruction of humanity. Ourselves included.”
“We’ll sort it all out once I tie up this loose end.”
Frances raises the gun, pointing it directly at me.
I brace for impact, squinting my eyes closed and bringing my mind to a faraway place, knowing there’s no possible way Bruiser’s going to make it in time.
Bang!
My ear rings, and suddenly, the room fills with shouting. I open my eyes to see Bruiser pulling Stephanie off Frances.
Crash!
Three men charge through the door, guns held at the ready.
Bruiser turns to Stephanie. “Ma’am, it is imperative that you listen to me and comply with my demands. Elliot Conway is making a sale to Gabriel Icor, which will lead to widespread chaos and an unimaginable death toll. Now, I need to know, are you aware of any copies of ALAN?”
Stephanie blinks. “I-I—”
“You need to tell us what you know, right NOW!” he shouts.
“I want immunity!” she shrieks.
“You’ll get immunity, but only if you give us information that will stop the sale of the Dallanger Corporation’s tech. Now, where is Elliot Conway!”
“We’re not working for Elliot Conway,” Stephanie says. “We’re working for Luke!”
Luke?
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut; the wind completely leaves my body.
Everyone’s eyes turn toward me.
“That’s not possible! It has to be Elliot! ALAN analyzed him and said as much.”
Bruiser says something into a walkie talkie, but I can’t hear him.
