Chapter 11

....What could go wrong.... Stephen wondered putting on a warbot's uniform. He have already drugged 002 so she won't remember what happened. And he have succeeded in smuggling her to his room at home. It's already on the records that 002 is the one to kill Lavender so no one else will ever known the assignment was undertaken by him. If 002 is missed, as she will surely be since she is in his room, it will be assumed she is already on her assignment. The only person who might recognize him is the shopkeeper who serves as their watchman, and whose shop serves as the front entrance and exit of Suplex camp. But he have already created a diversion to distract the shopkeeper as he slips away. Stephen nodded his head, sure that he is ready to go.

As he walked out of the shop, his heartbeat accelerated. He is to commit a murder for goodness sake! And all for a girl.

But when he thought of what might happen if 002 did it herself, especially if the authorities catches her... she is barely two weeks at the camp academy. One week spent in engineering her and the other one week is not enough to acquaint her with the act of murdering. No, he is by far better suited for the dirty job. He calmed down and started reviewing his plans to make sure nothing could go wrong.

He have already booked an appointment earlier that day so his coming to her office won't be considered odd. He have fabricated a situation to seek her legal advice in. There are no cameras to worry about. Lavender is a famed lawyer and famed lawyers who wants to keep famous never leaves a camera in their office, though most have one sneaked on them.

"Hello Stephen m what brings you here?"Lavender asked smiling as soon as he closed the door.

"I don't like states I will inherit from my father when I will be 19. I don't know what to do." Stephen said, lying glibly.

"That should be complicated, and I can't give you just any legal advice. I need to consult some records." She said, getting up. Once her back was turned , Stephen pulled out a knife he kept hidden, pressed a switch and threw it at Lavender, all in one movement. The knife lodged in her neck, making her convulse as it's currents passed through her. He got up, looking away quickly and walking out of the door.

He walked a long distance from the office avoiding places commoners might recognize him. The authorities have a way of using them to their advantage. Then he called his chauffeur, got into the wheel less car went to his house. He laid the chauffeur off for the day, got into his room carried 002 to the car and drove to Suplex camp. Then he made a small cut on her head, gave her the antidote to the first drug and gave her another one to knock her out in five minutes. Then he woke up her up and watched her walk into the store on her own before driving home, all the while wondering what could go wrong.

Even now, a year later, Stephen shuddered at the calmness with which he executed the whole thing. And the calmness with which he had asked what could go wrong. Funny enough, he asked himself that very question many times, but failed to see the most obvious answer.

What could go wrong? Fingerprints!

His fellow guards noticed the almost visible effort Stephen made in leading 002 to her final introductions. But by the time Stephen was reading out the report of 002's achievements to the large group of people gathered in the Hall, he was very relaxed. At least she has high chances of survival. He thought.

"Meet a new addition to your ranks. You can call her 002. To get her acquainted with you I think you should hear her reports.

Intelligence : high

Reflexes: high

Probability of correct instinct: 90 of 100.

Attributes : undecided

Because of this report, she is elevated to the first rank immediately. She is going to be in the same unit with 014, 021 and 023."

Then he turned to 002 by his side and said.

"From hence you are now one of the soldiers of this camp. You are as warbot and your glory and honour lies in winning wars. Be ruthless, tactical and merciless I your missions and you shall succeed. The rules of this camp will be delivered to you to read at your pleasure. Before that bear in mind that :

You don't ask questions

You don't disobey your superiors

You don't show signs of emotions.

All these at punishable by death. Do you understand me 002?"

002 nodded. Stephen then called out 014, 021 and 023 to convey her to her room and dismissed the others.

"Why did you make the introductions so short? The Lord will complain" a guard told Stephen once the Hall became empty. Stephen didn't answer. He took out his pen ands looked at it, then he smiled. He had only one thing in mind as he walked to his booth in the guard room. He turned it over as he pulled out his chair. He considered it as he inserted his pen into the pen slot in his desk. He reconsidered it as he used one eighth of his whole income to accelerate his connection to the Clouds, to make a fast time message to a friend at a space station many solar systems away, to bribe comm personnel. He reconsidered it as he bribed some power personnels using his friend's identity. He reconsidered it again as there was a power blackout at a part of a town three cities away for thirty seconds. And he knew there is no other way.

He must not be caught! No one else must know what he did!