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ERIC NYLUND
127
seam with her forefinger along a shard of ruby to the
ninety-degree angle made by a stair-step-cut emerald. "This data
cluster here. Spike that and backfill with a neutralizing pulse."
"Yes, Doctor."
The holographic crystal shattered into a thousand glittering
fragments and swirled upward into a helix.
"I'm in, and—"
The shards pulsed and coalesced. Facets and hard shimmering
planes fit together into curled horns, an elongated jaw, and over-
sized eyes that flickered with holographic fire. It turned and
smiled at Dr. Halsey, baring razor jags of teeth.
"Civilian consultant 409871," it said in a deep bass rumble
that contained a crackle of thunder. "Doctor Catherine Halsey."
"Araqiel," she muttered. "Did your master leave you behind
when he was reassigned? Don't you have anything better to do
than steal data from my SPARTAN program?"
The doctor leaned toward a side display and, without looking,
tapped in line commands, accessing the base's root directory.
"You are in violation of UNSC military security code 447-R27,"
Araqiel stated with a growl. "This has been recorded and the
proper authorities have been notified. You will cease and desist
all activities."
Dr. Halsey snorted and continued to type. "I'm the only au-
thority left here, Araqiel. For a 'smart AT you are extremely
thick." She glanced at the display before her. "Kalmiya, I need
you." She tapped level-seven security barriers, which popped up
over her command line prompt. "Here."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Oh, 'thick' indeed, Doctor," Araqiel rumbled. "While I al-
lowed you to 'access' these medical files, I have taken control of
the air reclamation system for your medical wing. I can pressurize
your office and cause pulmonary edema. I can release narco-zine
gas to para—" His eyes narrowed to a squint. "What are you doing
there?"
"We're in," Kalmiya said.
Dr. Halsey tapped in a flurry of commands.
The holograph of Araqiel leaned over her shoulder. "What is
that? I don't recognize mat directory path ... or those"—he
sniffed derisively—"archaic line commands."