So the android was responsive… and she was quick to confirm that she was indeed IRIS. Now this was an unexpected meeting. Rita never really thought IRIS had a face that they could meet. It looked like even in person, her speech contained all the strange hitches and stalling that it had over the intercom.

Taura didn’t waste any time, and dove straight into asking some of the heavier questions. Rita wondered if IRIS would or even could begin answering those for them, but she couldn’t fault Taura for trying. It wasn’t often that they were face-to-face with someone with insider information on the workings of the institute.

Since it was probably best to take those big questions one at a time, Rita decided to posit a simpler, practical one. “Did Landel send you to meet us here?” This wasn’t quite the trap she had been expecting.