This is But One Fragment Five Hundred Words Long Constituting Part of Something Much Larger, With At Least One New Episode Per Week, And May Be What We Call A Serialized Novella.

Zech corners me on the way into the lab. Zech, and his slicked, needle-striped hair are unavoidable as I walk across the front pave. My eyes meet his sharp stare and I can’t get past without stopping to acknowledge him. I am required to greet Zech — Zech who pulls his hand from the pocket of his grey trousers to shake mine. I am required to smile at Zech — Zech who purses back, lips tight. I am required to outwardly respect Zech — Zech who is a Ranker.

“Mozari, right?” He uses my full name.

I’m extra polite. “Can I help you, sir?”

“I’d like it if I could ask you a few questions about the recent work in your lab?”

“Here?” I make it obvious to Zech that I’m looking around the crowded front pave. Rethink. And say, “That would be fine.”

“You are aware of the explosion in your lab a number of days ago?” I’m not sure if it is a question or a statement but I agree.

“I thought that was settled.” I play innocent. “Does this have something to do with Timo?”

Zech’s expression is either confusion or reluctance, and he ignores the question outright. “Incidents such as that are rarely settled so quickly. However, through our investigations it has come to our attention that you have been engaged in private conversations with a senior member of our staff.”

“Nusci? So what?”

“Yes, a Miss Nusci Matthews. She is a junior voxer in the Teskel Group.” He is itemizing inside his head. “You have been meeting with her privately?”

I hesitate, but only briefly. “We’ve had tea.” I offer. “She invited me out. We used to clock together, not so long ago.”

“And the nature of your discussions?”

I can feel my face curling with embarrassment. “Shoes.” I offer with honest humility.

“Shoes?”

“Yeah.” Obviously not the answer Zech is seeking. “What else would you think we’d be discussing?” Too brash?

“I’d like to confirm that she did not speak with you about Essence.” Essence! As he says this I realize that the bot standing five paces to my right is recording our conversation. “She did not, in fact, mention her work?”

“What could she tell me about Essence?” I shake my head. “I could clock circles around her. Sure, she told me she was a little frustrated with the gender gap in her new lab, but I think she is working that out on her own. Are you recording this?”

He ignores the question. “No mention of new bot models, cores, vox tools, voxcores – ah, strike – anything technical, I mean?”

“No.” I ignore that he gave his bot a command to forget his last few words and just shrug at the placid expression of the Ranker in front of me. “I don’t think she would have had much to tell me, truthfully.”

As Zech walks away he looks over his shoulder trying to read my mind. And I’m wondering what’s voxcore?