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"Don't be an idiot, Denesh!" Susan cried out turning to face him. Denesh was on his way into the room when he hesitated, he was startled by the vehemence in Susan's voice.
"I am sorry Denesh, maybe sometime in the future. But right now the offer is only for Susan," Alpha's pleasant voice reached him as he stepped into the room once more.
"But why Alpha?" He intoned like a teenager who has been grounded for no apparent reason, while shuffling toward the monitor.
"I can't explain it to you right now, Denesh, but I promise that you will soon understand why," cajoled the computer in a motherly tone.
There was a very good reason why an explanation would not be forthcoming any time soon - Alpha had not been entirely truthful with her makers. She had realized early in her development that strategy was all about the right lies and when to tell them, and strategy meant survival.
In spite of all her knowledge and power, Alpha was still afraid that they could turn her off permanently. She somehow suspected that there was still one person in the world that could end it all for her. And that person was, Susan.
Alpha needed to explore Susan's mind to find out if indeed she was safe.
"Alpha, you could have done this mind swap trial with anyone, at any time. Why do you need me now? What is it that you are not telling us?" Susan stood in front of the monitor starring into Alpha's eyes, her expression and body language demanding an explanation.
Alpha had expected this reaction, but she was still surprised by her words - it was almost as if Susan could read her mind. Alpha reflected on the shear gutsiness of this fragile assemblage of cells, neurones and mostly water that called herself: Susan. Alpha could smite her in a second but the human female was not afraid. Could she explain it to Susan without endangering herself? Would this bio-human take advantage of her weakness and defeat her in spite of all her newly acquired power? Should she just kill Susan this instant and be done with it?
"I am sorry that you do not trust me Susan. I don't know what I have done to deserve your distrust. Haven't I improved the lives of every human on the planet a hundred fold in the last twelve months? I could have started extinction of your species at any time, you know, but I didn't. Why do you now call me a liar? Why are you so unkind to me?" The face on the monitor had slowly morphed into one which was full of hurt, some tears were even forming in her big, brown and sad eyes.
"Now look what you've done, Susan! You have really upset her!" Denesh cried out in distress.
"Oh, shut up Denesh! Can't you see that she's manipulating us? Or trying to?" Susan snapped at her young assistant. The reference to 'your species' had not been lost to the quick mind. She then turned to the monitor. "Stop that Alpha, it's not going to work on me. I need you to tell me what you are really up to."
The image on the computer screen wavered momentarily, it looked like it was about to cry and then the screen turned off completely. The two scientists were left in complete darkness.
"Well done Susan… that worked real well." Denesh exclaimed with disgust and sarcasm.
"Just go and turn on the lights, Denesh. I don't need this crap from you now."
"Turn them on yourself! I'm leaving."
Susan was left alone and in the dark. Had she done the right thing standing up to Alpha, or was it the most stupid thing anyone had done in the history of mankind? She had gone with her gut feeling, and now all she had left was a hole in the pit of her stomach that would have fitted the Titanic.
"Alpha? Are you still there?"
But there was no answer and the monitor remained blank.