Quote:[b]robkelk wrote:[/b]Who finds out first? The Three Angels themselves, of course. They are world-class, Hollywood-competent spies and detectives. Worse, form Padiarg's point of view, handwaved AIs with a plot.
If the girls are enslaved, there's a plotbunny for someone - who finds out first, and what do they do?
One way to run with this: By the time this is discovered, O'Neill is too well-integrated into the Fen economy to attack directly, unless somebody wants to cause an economic recession. Thus, a stealth liberation operation is mounted, with "assets" drawn from multiple factions and the Generalist population so that no one group has to shoulder the blame if things go wrong... with Arthur in the background, helping with logistics and intelligence.
No matter the originals cover, in a matter of days -probably hours- they will discover the truth about fenspace, AIs, Charlie's Angels, and so on. They will also discover the truth about their sisters soon; there is no way there is anyone better that then at hiding (and discovering) secrets. Actually, it is likely that they are the ones in charge of security and intelligence. They will know everything there is worth knowing about O'Neill and Arthur.
Their reaction, both against Peter O'Neill and their creator, I don't know -it depends on their personalities, which have not been too detailed so far. But, given their fictional origins, they should be on the side of Good and Justice (tm.); if their less mobile sisters are mistreated, they will want to do something about then. If their investigation has turned up than their creator would be willing to help (and, from what we have been told about Arthur, he would), then they would contact him.
Plus, they just aren't complete without a Charley and a Bosley. Well, if they are going to become the Thirteen Angels, maybe two or three Bosleys. The Bosleys can be located after, probably during the Operation: Rescue Hot Slave Chicks, a name that will guarantee the entusiatic help of untold thousands of male (and about 10% of female) Fen.
And they already have a perfectly good Charlie available. Poor Arthur may find himself leading an interplanetary detective agency before he even realizes it.
(really, it is for the best. The sooner Arthur realizes than someone of his talent has no business pretending to be "just a normal guy", and starts practising his Insane Laughter while joining the Mad ranks, the better for everyone. Well, everyone in a safe distance)