Page 333 of Every Almost

"So, you can see here that the program’s randomization seed generated a completely valid library address."

"Charlie's Library," they said in unison.

"The timing and everything is correct. The next song had been selected exactly as the software was designed to select it."

"Okay, so, where's the fire?" Maren asked.

"The fire is that the next song was selected appropriately, it just wasn't the song that played."

Maren turned her attention to Tavi.

"Come again?"

"The next song selected wasn’t 'Into the Mystic.'"

Maren turned back to the screen and went very still.

“The algorithm requested a different track,” she said.

“Yep.”

“But the room played this one?”

“Right again.”

She reached past him and expanded the system record on the screen. The evidence was pretty clear. There was no additional datapad, no voice command, and no manual addition to the queue. Not even a remote authorization from another part of the ship.

“Corrupted index?” Maren asked.

“I thought of that. If that were the case, it would’ve opened the wrong file under the right title.”

Maren studied the record again.

“Three separate system actions with no initiating command.”

“Exactly.”

Her shimmer flared once, bright enough to catch against the console display.

"I even checked the audio relays, the room-routing network, the library server. There's nothing in the service connections,” Tavi added.

“Well then, Tavi, you know what I have to say?” Maren asked.

Tavi lifted one shoulder.

"You're not being dramatic."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Maren."

"Anytime."

They both stared at the console display screen again.

“Old ship?” Tavi added.

Maren kept looking at the entry for another moment.

“Old ship,” she agreed.