S.P.E.C.T.O.R-Chapter 524: Cause and effect

The next day, Lorelie received a call from Matriarch Maiya while she and Eri were finalising her choice of songs for each performance. Her first performance was scheduled for two days on Felinia Seven.

“Matriarch Maiya, are you calling about my tour schedule I sent over to your office?” Lorelie said with a smile as she answered the call.

“I’m afraid not, Diva Lorelie,” Maiya replied with a smile before saying, “I would be happy to discuss it with you after, but right now, is it possible to speak with Adam? I have some pressing news to tell him.”

“Adam?” Lorelie replied in surprise before nodding and saying, “One moment, please, I believe he is helping Tephe and Aphrodite make lunch.”

After she finished speaking, she left the table and proceeded to the kitchen, where she found the three of them busy preparing food for them all.

Stacey and Rowena had gone out shopping a while ago to spend some alone time together and were due back soon, which is why they were preparing the food.

“Are those two back? The food needs a bit longer,” Aphrodite asked as she noticed Lorelie enter.

“No, they're not back yet,” Lorelie replied while shaking her head before turning to Adam and saying, “Matriarch Maiya just called; she wants a word with you, Adam.”

“Me?” Adam asked in surprise, to which Lorelie nodded.

Adam wore a confused look as he dried his hands on a towel before following her back into the living room, while Aphrodite and Tephe shared a smirk before following after him.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Matriarch. What can I do for you?” Adam asked curiously.

“I’m afraid I have some rather disturbing news to report to you that I just learned myself,” Maiya said with a sigh.

“Regarding?” Adam asked with a raised eyebrow while the girls listened in with interest.

“I’m sure by now you have heard of the explosions that took place at our Research and Development Department Two space station?” Maiya asked.

“Yes, it was on the news cast,” Adam replied.

“Yes, well. What’s not reported is that the cause of the explosion seems to be your tech,” Maiya replied, causing the group to show looks of surprise.

“Excuse me?” Adam asked.

“Understand this,” Maiya replied before beginning to explain, “While everything might look peaceful on the surface, the Felidae Galaxy has two major factions that are constantly vying for power. The faction led by me and the one led by Counciler Aimi.”

“Counsellor Aimi, that’s Prime's aunt, isn't it? The one Aphrodite told us about?” Tephe asked curiously.

“That’s correct,” Maiya replied before continuing, “I am currently Matriarch because I am stronger and no one who has so far challenged me has been able to defeat me. However, Aimi’s faction is constantly at odds with us and trying to suppress any new policies when suggested, even if it’s for the good of the people.”

“...,” Adam didn’t say anything, but Lorelie and Tephe all knew what he was thinking as if they could read his mind, {Fucking politicians.]

“I don’t see what this has to do with my tech,” Adam finally said.

“It seems that during your fight with the Bounty Hunter Drot, your mech was damaged,” Maiya stated.

“Technically, it was the mech who was assisting Drot, but yes, my mech lost an arm,” Adam replied.

“Well, that arm was picked up by the CSF ship Taiki after you departed and then, under the orders of someone in Aimi’s faction, it was transported to Research and Development Department Two for study,” Maiya stated and although she did her best to hide it, they could all hear that she was nervous and apprehensive about revealing this. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“Research it?” Adam asked with a frown.

“I’m not certain on what they were after since I only just found out about this myself, but if I had to guess, it was probably the beam-cancelling tech within your mech's arm,” Maiya stated.

“That adds up,” Aphrodite suddenly said before continuing, “Beam-cancelling tech was unknown before the Black Knight demonstrated it during the Siege of Fenix Nest. Every race since then has tried to replicate it without fail. I guess being able to get hold of the tech first-hand and study it was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

“And you're saying it was this that caused the explosions on the space station?” Adam asked.

“We are still investigating, but that's what preliminary reports suggest,” Maiya replied before adding quickly, “Understand that I am telling you this as a sign of good faith and friendship.”

Adam didn’t reply to her and instead thought. {Spector. Is what she is saying true?}

[[Affrimative. The arm Spector Unit Six lost was indeed recovered by the CSF Taiki before being transported to the CSF Research and Development Department Two space station.

Upon arrival, the Catonians attempted to scan the arm, which triggered the built-in self-destruct program.]

“Please accept my most sincere apologies over this,” Maiya said as she thought that Adam was not speaking because he was angry.

“Calm down, Matriarch. Adam didn’t go quiet because of you,” Lorelie suddenly said with a smile.

“Is that so?” Maiya replied in confusion, but decided it was best not to pry.

{Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner if you knew?}

[[Why didn’t you recover the arm?]]

{What?}

[[Why didn't you recover Spector Unit Six’s arm after the battle was over. In fact, why didn’t you recover the destroyed drones as well?]]

{Are you serious? I didn’t recover the drones because they were no longer functioning. As for the arm, I was prioritising getting Tephe medical.}

[[I had already informed you at the time that Tephe’s life was not in danger and all she needed was rest. Spector Unit Six, along with everything else that is a part of me, is so highly advanced that any race would do almost anything to get hold of it.

The self-destruct program was installed in case this kind of situation ever happened.

As my operator and my owner, do you really want your advanced tech to fall into their hands? Should a piece of me be dislodged from the main body or stop functioning, you should make sure to recover said piece if possible and if it’s not, then you should see to its destruction so that it doesn’t fall into enemy hands.]]

{Ok, ok, I get it, I fucked up. Then what about the drones that were left behind?}

[[Unknown. I lost contact with the drones after they stopped functioning.]]

{And you didn’t think to tell me any of this before now?}

[[How are you supposed to learn if I tell you everything? I might be a hyper-advanced artificial intelligence, but even I have my limits.

What happens if one day someone manages to disable me? Are you still going to rely on me to fix the issue?]]

Adam was silent for a moment before asking {Do the drones also have that self-destruct program?}

[[Naturally. However, since I am no longer in contact with them, I can’t tell if it has been activated or can even activate.]]

{It could fail to activate?}

[[Depending on the damage it received that caused it to stop functioning.]]

{Is there any way to track them?}

[[My sensors were tracking them prior to us travelling through time. However, I have been unable to detect them since our return. They might be in a secure facility that interferes with or blocks my sensors.]]

{Just great.}

[[Cause and effect. By not recovering them, you caused the effect of their disappearance.]]

{Gee, thanks for that piece of insight, Merovingian.} Adam replied before directing his attention to Maiya and saying.

“Sorry about that, but there is another issue relating to this that has just come to my attention and I could use your help with.”

“And that would be?” Maiya asked.

“Some of the drones that I used in my battle ceased functioning because of excessive damage. These have now disappeared and my ship is no longer able to detect them. It’s possible they may have been recovered and moved to a secure facility,” Adam explained.

“Sata,” Maiya said while looking to the side.

“On it,” Sata’s voice suddenly sounded from somewhere off-screen.

“Are these drones also liable to explode?” Maiya asked in concern.

“If someone is foolish enough to try and scan them,” Adam replied before adding, “It might be advisable to warn Councillor Aimi before another accident happens… not that I’m suggesting she has them, of course.”

“Do I have to? I would much rather she died in the explosion,” Maiya complained, surprising them all.

“Matriarch!” Sata's voice suddenly said in an admonishing tone.

Maiya turned to the side and gave a guilty smile before focusing on Adam again and saying, “Well, if there’s nothing left, I’ll go call that bit… I mean Councillor Maiya.”

Adam smirked and shook his head, causing Maiya to look at Lorelie while saying apologetically, “Forgive me, Diva Lorelie, but I will need to call you again later about your tour.”

“It’s fine, Matriarch,” Lorelie replied with a smile.

Maiya nodded before ending the holocall.