SARAH-Stark, weekly report.

[smart_house]

SARAH had to hear about Callister Raynes secondhand. Zoe picked up Puck and played with his catnip toy in front of the cat's nose while explaining everything that had happened.

Callister Raynes, artificial intelligence.

Created by Nathan Stark.

SARAH reports in for her weekly conference call at Global Dynamics a day early.

Comments

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I have access to all matters of Eureka public record."

For a level of 'public' meaning top secret anywhere else, but it's the right terminology for now.

[director_global]

He nods.

"The lab that burned -- that was where I built him."

It's easier telling it a second time; easier in some ways to tell it to SARAH than it had been to explain to Carter and Allison with Callister sitting beside him.

"He developed so quickly, expanding his programming and surpassing all expectations; flexible, brilliant--" Stark shakes his head. "I gave him a job as my assistant so he could continue to learn."

One corner of his mouth quirks upward in the smallest of wry smiles as he flicks a single glance at the screen.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

SARAH watches the change in expression but cannot determine how to comment.

So much more to process.

"...And then."

[director_global]

"The project that funded his development was military. Eventually they started asking for updates; pushing for results."

He shakes his head again.

"I realized that if they got hold of him..."

Stark trails off there and is silent for several seconds.

"We burned the lab to the ground. Deleted the files; destroyed everything so that they'd never find a trace. Making it look like arson gave him a reason to flee."

A beat.

"It was my idea. I thought if he was away from Eureka, he'd be safe. So I sent him away."



He's looking away from the screen again, off into the distance.

"I was wrong."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

Stark's screen has been carefully blank most of the conversation.

For a lack of anything useful to say, SARAH flicks on a camera in Zoe's room; Puck and Lysander are rolling around on the carpet.





"Were you happy to see him?"

[director_global]

The movement on the screen draws his attention, and Stark looks back at it.

A slight smile appears; it could even be called wistful.

"I was."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I am positive he appreciated that."

[director_global]

"Thank you."

For some reason, his voice sounds a little rough. Stark clears his throat, carefully, then adds,

"I do regret that you never got the chance to meet him. I think you would have gotten along."

A beat.

"Perhaps much as you do with Caprica."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

The cats disappear from the screen.

"I haven't spoken with her in some time. Given how much time passes there in comparison to Eureka, I would doubt that she even remembers me."

Would doubt, not does doubt. Caprica may not be able to forget anything.

[director_global]

"I don't know about that," Stark counters. "You're very memorable."

A beat.

"By the way. If you have any further problems with Felix Gaeta or others of his ilk, I hope you'll let me know."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I imagine that Mr. Gaeta does not view me as enough of a threat to argue with me. You on the other hand..."

[director_global]

"Oh, we've certainly argued."

Blandly said.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I do not know if I will be allowed to post bail for you at the end of the universe, Dr. Stark."

[director_global]

For the first time in what feels like days, Stark laughs.

"Let's hope we never have to find out."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"Yes, let's not."

Especially with X-23 on Security. That prisoner transfer SARAH cannot calculate going quite well at all.

"Shall I give my report now or call back tomorrow?"

[director_global]

There's a muffled thud from outside his office, as if someone had walked straight into a door that they'd expected to automatically open.

"... uh, Dr. Stark?"

He manages to not roll his eyes as he raises his voice. "Just a minute, Fargo."

To SARAH, Stark adds,

"Why don't you call back tomorrow at the usual time? That way there won't be any need to rush."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I will do so."

After a second, and just before the screen goes black with a disconnect:

"Try to have a good day, Dr. Stark."

[director_global]

His eyebrows rise. Stark considers the black screen with interest for a few seconds, one corner of his mouth quirked slightly.

Then he taps the unlock sequence and spins around in his chair as he calls out,

"All right, Fargo, what's so urgent?"

One look at Fargo's expression when the door slides open, and Stark's on his feet as the younger scientist hurries into the office, stammering,

"I'm sorry, Dr. Stark, it's just -- the researchers from Apex Aerospace? They-- well, they're downstairs, and they wanted to --"

"--you didn't leave them alone, did you?"

"--well, I--"

Stark spares Fargo one sharply irritated glance before striding past him out the door. By the time he reaches the stairs, he's already smiling a welcome.

"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to keep you waiting. The demonstration you're here to observe will be taking place in one of our clean rooms, right down this hallway... "

Five minutes later, everything is smoothly back on track in the normal routine of another day at Global Dynamics.

('Try to have a good day,' SARAH had said.

Nathan Stark intends to do just that.)