Steele Interrogation 2

Yesterday, Rome and Rei began their interrogation of Dan Steele, the would-be assassin to see if they could pick up clues where the Onsiras might have taken Aason. Steele was not very cooperative. It was time for Rome to use her new mind-reading ability to dig deeper:

      “So what happened to this insane computer?” Steele asked in a patronizing tone.
     “We vaporized him by detonating a volcano on Earth,” Rei said.
     “You knew that,” Bonnie chimed in. “Everyone on Deucado knows that. Including those of us in Darwin.”
     “Yeah, I guess I heard,” Steele said reluctantly. “So who’s leading them now?”
     “You tell us,” Rei shot back defiantly.
     “I have no idea,” Steele said, shrugging.
     Rome struggled for breath. “MASAL’s Sipre,” she whispered.
     “What?” Rei asked.
     “MASAL’s Sipre,” Rome said louder. “Sussen told Steele about MASAL’s Sipre. He does not speak Vuduri so the words meant nothing to him.”
     “Sipre means shadow,” Rei uttered. “What’s it supposed to signify?”
     “It means the spirit of MASAL lives on,” Rome said grimly, standing up. “An echo.”
     “But MASAL recanted his plans,” Rei protested. “OMCOM told us. In fact, I’ve seen the tape.”
     “But perhaps the Sipre does not know that,” Rome replied sadly.
     “What are you two carrying on about?” Steele asked.
     Rome looked down at him. “The Onsiras, they have an Overmind of their own. It was guided by MASAL, manipulating them to accomplish his goals. But when he died, their Overmind did not die with him. It must be carrying out his mission despite the fact that he is gone. It will not rest until all the Vuduri and mandasurte are dead.”
     “So who cares if one Vook kills another?” Steele said with an evil grin. “More for us when it’s all over.”
     “You idiot,” Rei said. “They want everyone dead. Especially us, the Essessoni. That includes you and Darwin. They call us The Ark Lords, the most hated group in their history. They set up our entire world, Deucado, just so the mind-deaf, which includes you, could be smashed by an asteroid and blown to bits.”
     “Whoa,” said Steele. “That is a lot of trouble.”
     “Did she tell you anything else?” Rome asked Steele. “Anything we can use to track her down?”
     Steele clamped his jaw down as if he was suppressing something. Rei saw this. “Rome?” he asked.
     Rome reached over and put her hand against the side of Steele’s face. She looked into his eyes then she shook her head dejectedly. “His head is filled with only hate. He knows nothing else.”
     “All right,” Rei said. “We’ll deal with you later,” he directed at Steele. “First we have to get our son.”
     Rome took a step back. With a whoosh and a pop, both Steele and the chair disappeared. Just as quickly, the chair returned, this time empty.

She didn't get much in terms of factual information but she is learning about what it means to be human in a whole new way. It isn't always uplifting but deepens Rome's appreciation of the good ones.