"Mm-hmm," she said.
"Ulver, child," the drone said, in a voice she knew it had spent centuries investing with gravitas. It swivelled through the air until it was directly in front of her.
She rolled her eyes. "Yes? What?"
"Ulver, I know you're a little-"
"I'm drunk, drone, I know," she told it. "But I haven't lost my wits."
"Well, good, but I need to know you're fit to make this decision. What you're about to see might change your life."
She sighed and put her gloved elbow on the surface of the desk, resting her chin on her hand. "I've had a few young fellows tell me that before," she drawled. "It always turns out to be a disappointment, or a joke of the grossest nature."
"This is neither. But you must understand that just seeing what I'm about to show you might give Special Circumstances an interest in you that will not pass; even if you decide you don't want to join Contact, or even if you do but you're still refused, it is possible they might watch you for the rest of your life, just because of what you're about to see. I'm sorry to sound so melodramatic, but I don't want you to enter into anything you don't understand the full implications of."
"Me neither." She yawned. "Can we get on with this?"
"You're sure you've understood what I've said?"
"Hell yes!" she exclaimed, waving her arms around. "Just get on with it."
"Oh; just one other thing-"
'What?" she yelled.
"Will you travel to a distant location in the guise of somebody else and — probably — help kidnap somebody, another Culture citizen?"
"Will I what?" she said, wrinkling her nose and snorting with laughter and disbelief.
"Sounds like a «No» to me," the drone said. "Didn't think you would. Had to ask though. That means I have no choice but to show you this." It sounded relieved.
She put both her black-gloved arms on the desk, rested her chin on them and looked as soberly as she could at the drone. "Churt," she said. "What is going on here?"
"You'll see," it told her, getting out of the way of the screen. "You ready?"
"If I get any more ready I'll be asleep."
"Good. Pay attention."
"Oh yes, sir," she said, glancing narrow-eyed at the machine.
"Watch!" it said.
She sat back in the seat with her arms folded.
Words appeared on the screen:
("TextTrans" Obscure Term/Acronym Explanation function running, instances flagged thus: {}.)
(Signal sequence received at Phage Rock:)
oo
1) [skein broadcast, Mclear {standard nonary Marain}, received @ n4.28.855.0065+]:
"What's «nonary» mean?"
"Based on nine. Ordinary Marain; the stuff you learned in kindergarten, for goodness" sake; the three-by-three dot grid."
"Oh."
The text scrolled on:
*!c11505.* {trans.: ("*" = broadcast) ("!" = warning) Galaxy sector number; whole comprises standard-format High-Compression Factor Emergency Warning Signal}
oo
2) [swept beam Ml {Basic Culture Intragalactic Ship Language}, received @ n4. 28. 855. 0079-]:
SDA {trans.: Significant Developmental Anomaly}.
c231 4992+52 {trans.: 4th-level-of-accuracy galactic location}
x {from} FATC {trans.: (General Contact Unit) Fate Amenable To Change} @ n4.28.855.*.
"Could we lose all these strings of figures?" she asked the drone. "They're not really telling me anything I need to know, are they?"
"I suppose not. There."
(Command: «TextTrans» Long-Numeral Stripping function enabled, set at five numerals or more, instances flagged thus: )
oo
3) [swept beam, M2 {Standard Contact Section Idiom}, relay, received @n]
xGCU Fate Amenable To Change
o {to} GSV Ethics Gradient
& as requested:
Significant developmental anomaly.
c {trans.: 8th-level-of-accuracy galactic location}
(@n)
oo
4) [tight beam. M16 {Special Circumstances Section High Level Code Sequence}, relay, received @n
xGCU Fate Amenable To Change
oGSV Ethics Gradient
& only as required:
Developmental anomaly provisionally rated EqT {trans.: Equivalent-Technology}, potentially jeopardising, found here c.
My Status: L5 secure, moving to L6^ {trans.: Contact Mind prophylactic system security levels}.
Instigating all other Extreme precautions.
oo
5) [broadcast Mclear, received @n]:
*xGCU Fate Amenable To Change
oGSV Ethics Gradient
& *broadcast*:
Ref. 3 previous compacs {trans.: communication-packages}
[ref 1–3 above].
Panic over.
I misinterpreted.
It's a Scapsile Vault Craft.
Ho hum.
Sorry.
Full Internal Report to follow immediately in High Embarrassment Factor code.
BSTS. H&H. BTB. {trans. "BSTS. H&H. BTB." = "Better Safe Than Sorry. Hale & Hearty. Back To Business." (pre-agreed OK signal between Escarpment Class General Contact Unit Fate Amenable To Change and General Systems Vehicle Ethics Gradient, confirmed.)}
oo
End Signal Sequence.
"Is that it?" she cried, staring at the drone. "That's the most boring-!"
"No it isn't; look!"
She looked back; the text scrolled on.
oo
[Pre-refereed security clearance granted — Ref. Phage Rock.]
[Signal Sequence log unlocked, re-enabled.]
oo
("TextTrans" Record Event function disabled.)
oo
Signal Sequence resuming:
oo
…6) [stuttered tight point, M32 SCantk {trans.: Special Circumstances absolute-need-to-know Level Maximum Encryption Code Process}, relay, Tracked Copy 4, received @n, check to read:
[x].
Being read @n in ECent Command Space on Phage Rock by:
"Text-Trans" (recognised Archaic, v891.4, non sentient. NB: «TextTrans» Record Event function will remain disabled to document End-Read-point).
(so cleared)
&
Phage-Kwins-Broatsa Ulver Halse Seich dam Iphetra
(so cleared).
&
Escaruze Churt Lyne Bi-Handrahen Xatile Treheberiss
(so cleared).
Sentient sight of the following document will be recorded.
Each check to proceed:
[x]
[x]
Thank you. Proceeding:]
NB: Attention: The following is a screen-written text-only dynamically scrolled discrete-assimilation-opportunity document which may not be vocalised, glyphed, diaglyphed, copied, stored or media-transferred in any conventionally accessible form. Any attempt to do so will be noted.
Please adjust reading speed:
[default/human].
NB: IMPORTANT: Established SC secrecy methodology applies at M32 level — see following schedule re. definitions, precedents, warnings, likely sanctions and punishments. You are strongly advised to study this schedule carefully if you are not already fully familiar-
[override]
[Schedule read-out aborted.]
"You weren't supposed to do that!" Churt Lyne yelped.
Ulver had spotted the part of the text panel that overrode the read-out, and pressed it. She snorted. "Shh!" she said, nodding at the screen. "You're missing it!"