Page 76 of Seven Oars
Whatever operational problems it may have, Tutti’s ability to watch and gather information seemed to be in perfect working order. So, Rosamma surmised, was its ability to incapacitate even a grown Rix with a single zap.
The robot didn’t explicitly make the women’s existence worse, but it frightened them.
It parked itself near the bathroom stall and stood there, unmoving, riveting Daphne with its purple light.Its presence effectively stifled all conversation. Even their own language was off-limits on the outside chance Tutti could translate. Discussing escape plans? Forget it.
“Tutti, what are you doing in the Cargo Hold?” Rosamma prompted the robot.
Since no one else wanted to be on the receiving end of Tutti’s zaps in case it lashed out, Alyesha and Anske had prodded her to once again assume spokeswoman duties.
“I am observing your interactions, females.”
“What is the purpose of your observation?”
“I am adding the information to my repository.”
“Dirty bot,” Gro muttered quietly.
Tutti picked up on that.“While my maintenance is overdue, I am equipped with multiple self-cleaning features that keep me fully operational.”
That contradicted what Phex had overheard about Tutti’s abilities, but far be it from Rosamma to argue.
She asked several more leading questions, but the sly robot provided no additional information beyond what it had already revealed: that it was merely observing.
“Yes, and I’m the king of this space station,” Eze mumbled through swollen lips.
An idea occurred to Rosamma.“Tutti, scan Eze for injuries.”
Then she held her breath as Tutti approached Eze’s pad, praying it wouldn’t pull some nasty trick.
The robot subjected Eze to a blood drawing and took a minute to process it.“The biomarkers are weak.”
“No shit!” Gro exclaimed.
“No excrement is observed in the sample,” Tutti followed up on the exclamation.
Eze’s snicker ended in a groan of pain from engaging her abused facial muscles.
Rosamma wasn’t amused. Nothing personal, but she hated the robot in a way inmates hate their guard, no matter how well-meaning and kind.And Tutti was neither.
“What is the nature of Eze’s injuries?” she asked.
Tutti whirred and then enumerated in its feminine voice,“The damage is consistent with traumatic injury: a concussion, three muscle hematomas, a left shoulder sprain, a dislocated right ankle, hairline fractures in three ribs and the jaw, and lacerations to the face. None life-threatening.”
Rosamma shared a look of relief with Gro. Bad as it was, Eze would recover.
“Where can we get medical supplies for this subject?”
“Medical supplies are located at the medical station in the Crew Quarters.”
Rosamma sat back, her mind working. The path to the Crew Quarters was familiar, and she could take another look at the weapons rack.
“You may not access the medical supplies without approval, alien prisoner,” Tutti added.
So much for that.“Who will need to approve?”
“Striker Fincros.”
Rosamma sighed. She wasn’t going anywhere near that one.
