‘When the lift door opened, I saw Elsie lying on the floor,' Lore said. 'At first I assumed she had fallen or that she’d suffered some sort of systems failure. Organic beings are notoriously unreliable in my experience. Or perhaps she’d decided to undertake a recharge cycle.’
It took Pete a few seconds to parse that. ‘Did she often fall asleep in’ – he searched for the right word – ‘unexpected places?’
‘Stranger things have happened,’ said Lore with that strange verbal shrug. ‘But not normally, no.’
A thought occurred to Pete. ‘Had you known Elsie was on the station? I always got the impression she didn’t spend much time here.’
‘She had arrived the night before. Sometimes she likes to put in an appearance and give the customers the impression that she leads from the front.’
‘Ah.’ Pete had worked retail in high school. He’d had a boss like that. ‘But at some point you realised she was dying,' Pete said.
‘Correction,’ said Lore. ‘She was not failing – her central processes had already terminated.’
Pete blinked. ‘She was already dead?’
‘Correct.’
‘What makes you say that?’ Pete narrowed his eyes as he studied Lore.
‘Her recirculation pump had ceased functioning.’
‘How could you tell?’ Pete asked. ‘Jackie said she was still bleeding when they found you with her.’
‘Jackie was mistaken. Their auditory and visual input sensors do not have the acuity mine do. I can both see and hear organic beings’ recirculation pumps – as well as other biological processes. For instance, right now, your recirculation pump is operating at a rate of seventy-eight beats per minute. Your oxygen exchange system is operating at thirteen exchanges per minute. Your fuel processing system is currently handling a load of 1.4 calories per minute. Your next waste fuel expulsion is likely due within the next—’
‘Okay!’ Pete held up a hand. ‘I get it. Thank you.’
