Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Murderbot has told Varvie that she needs to visit the council in person about her asylum application, really just a formality, it won't take long. They agree to meet up and attend together after she's carried out some essential retail therapy.

Shopping for clothes to look nice for the meeting, she tries them on in the clothing outlet. Among other things, there's a pretty chocolate-coloured hand-made kaftan, in a really soft fabric. She tops it off with a deep crimson turban, pays with one of her hard currency cards and heads out into the throng to look for a cute pair of shoes to match her outfit.

"Here you are! I've been looking all over the place for you! Come on, we'll be late for the council meeting!" Councilor Ephraim grabs Varvara's hand and almost runs towards the administrative centre with a bemused Varvara in tow.

______

Murderbot is waiting for Varvara in the administrative centre when it picks up a security alert in the feed.

Councilor Ephraim explains, "GreyCris have created a doppelganger of Dr. Mensah, it's infiltrated the Council Chambers and now it's out to assassinate her."

Murderbot's risk assessment for Dr. Mensah jumps thirty percentage points.

"Come quickly! We've barricaded ourselves with Dr. Mensah in the secure room behind the main chamber."

Murderbot pings Varvara. She pings an acknowledgement and replies, "You're not going  to believe this. [amusement sigil 602 = cry laugh]"

"Try me," replies Murderbot.

_____

Murderbot races through the administrative centre and bursts through the heavy wooden doors of the main council chamber. The large room is empty barring a single Station Security Officer, whom it recognizes as Officer Tifany, on the left, facing off against a lone figure in a brown kaftan, topped by a red turban, on the right. The figure calls out to Murderbot.

"SecUnit! Thank deities you're here!"

Murderbot rubs its forehead. Then it straightens up and looks somewhere over Tifany's left shoulder. It waves a hand at the heavy projectile weapon she has trained on the intruder.

"Officer Tifany, could you please stop pointing that thing at Dr. Mensah? Someone might get hurt."

Officer Tifany does a double-take, then sheepishly lowers the gun.

"And do you think it's wise, locking a suspected GrayCris assassin in the closet with the rest of the Council?"

Varvara, listening from the other side of the door with Councilor Ephraim, giggles.

Murderbot shakes its head as its risk assessment drops back to normal. "Humans shouldn't be allowed to do their own security."