“Substantial,” a tech remarked on viewing the doors.
“We’re going down,” Mickey announced. Immediately, he had to play referee. Every team member wanted to descend with him. He shared the adventure between engineers, techs, and SADEs.
As the lift door closed on the eleven team members, who were squeezed in tight, Claude quipped, “It’s a good thing that Z and Miranda aren’t here. There’d be about six fewer of us making the trip.”
Claude’s remark elicited nervous laughter. Despite being anxious to see Artifice’s underground domain, the team had witnessed any number of traps, and they expected to see more before they breached the final doors.
The lift door opened, which triggered the passageway’s lights to turn on. Miriam sent the small shadow across the floor toward the corridor’s end. She shared the shadow’s vid pickup with the team, who remained inside the lift.
“Oh, no,” an engineer groaned. He picked out an image from the vid stream, highlighted a section of the wall, and shared it.
“Of course,” Mickey grumped, when he regarded what the engineer had highlighted. “We had three panels at the first corridor, six panels in the next, and now twelve panels down here.”
“But the lights were off in the first two passageways,” Claude objected. “Here, they’re on. Something’s changed.”
“Good point,” Mickey acknowledged. Without warning his team, he stepped out of the lift and marched down the corridor to the massive doors. The team hesitated briefly, threw caution aside, and bolted after Mickey.
Nothing happened as the group strode down the length of the passageway. This was what Mickey expected. It was Claude’s thought that clued him. The lights came on, when the lift opened. Individuals who arrived down here were expected. They knew the secrets of the labyrinth.
Two massive wheels, with spoke designs, were centered in each substantial door. Mickey eyed the twelve panels and the heavy wheels. He was getting tired of the tricks the Toralian builders were using to confuse interlopers. The spokes of the wheel were pierced by thick shafts, which in turn were sunk into solid flanges that seamlessly met the doors. For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine a slender Toralian turning these nearly meter-wide wheels.
Mickey stepped close to the left wheel. In a coincidental imitation of Z aboard a battleship, an imperfection caught Mickey’s eye. The center of the thick metal shaft cradled a small circle, which appeared slightly off center to the shaft’s face. This was something that technologically advanced builders wouldn’t accept. Curiosity drove him to touch the circle. It lit at his touch, and the metal wheels spun.
The team heard the wheels hit the end of their revolutions with dull thuds. Then the doors opened outward to rest against the corridor walls.
Mickey grinned at his team before he turned to step through the opening.
However, Miriam laid a firm hand against his chest to stop him. “The shadow first,” she said.
Mickey acknowledged her suggestion, and Miriam pulled the shadow from her back and dropped it on the floor. Sending it into the space, which was wide and fully lit, Miriam shared the vid pickup.
From the floor, the shadow had a limited viewpoint of the equipment that occupied the space. Miriam monitored the little device’s energy bead. Its energy expenditure rate was high, and the bead was draining fast. Before too long, she was forced to recover it.
“We should return topside and charge it,” Claude suggested.
“Or we can enter Artifice’s domain,” Mickey said, stepping through the open doors.
It wasn’t long before all concerns of traps and Artifice’s comm force disappeared. There were no more traps, and there were no signals from Artifice. But the space was Artifice’s domain.
The team wandered through the enormous underground space. At one end was situated a power plant that fed Artifice. Next to it was an extensive lab that catered to the assembly and repair of data modules. The remainder of the cavern was devoted to Artifice.
Miriam walked the rows of Artifice’s data banks. She cataloged each section. When she was done, she located Mickey to report.
“There are twelve hundred discreet data sections in each back-to-back dual row,” Miriam told Mickey, “and there are two hundred pairs of rows.”
Mickey whistled his surprise at the size of Artifice’s banks, but he reminded himself that this was old technology. He had no idea of the capability of each section — memory size, processing speeds, recording space, and more.
“Forty-three percent of those sections are offline,” Miriam added.
“Artifice is dying,” an engineer said, who had heard Miriam’s report.
“We can’t know the rate at which the sections are failing,” Miriam continued, “but the probability is high that it is ever increasing.”
Mickey gathered an engineer, a tech, and a SADE. “Go topside and bring Herrick’s case and equipment below.”
“Should the Chistorlans come?” the engineer asked.
“Yes, we’ll need them,” Mickey replied.
As the threesome hurried from Artifice’s cavern, Mickey sent to the SADE, <Communicate to Alex what we’ve found.>
Mickey turned to Miriam and Claude and said, “We need to identify a comm terminal for the Chistorlans. I want to establish a dedicated link with Artifice. Alex will want to speak with it.”
The electronics lab offered Mickey what he sought. The engineering team cleared some work benches away from a wall, exposing a series of connections that led overhead. Soon afterwards, a SADE appeared, pulling the grav pallet with Herrick’s support structure reassembled.
Tittra and his Chistorlan comrades walked behind the pallet. The warm air allowed them to be free of their blankets and the SADEs’ protective arms.
“We’ve learned that Artifice is only about fifty percent effective now,” Tittra said, addressing Mickey.
“Fifty-seven percent to quote Miriam,” Mickey corrected.
“Yet, it still defeated Herrick,” Tittra lamented.
“There was no way you could know Artifice’s power,” Mickey said, trying to console the Chistorlan. “You were working in the dark.”
“We were arrogant,” Tittra admitted, “and we acted disgracefully. I apologize on behalf of my department.”
“You tried, Tittra,” Mickey allowed. “That’s what counts. When you let entities rule, without your permission, that’s when you’re wrong.”
Techs tested connections from Herrick’s case to the workspace cables until the programmer signaled that he had a response.
On the screen, it read in Chistorlan, “I would speak to Alex.”
“Audio,” Mickey requested, and the programmer activated the speakers and audio pickup that were rarely used by them.
“This is Mickey Brandon, Alex’s senior engineer.”
“Are you a close associate of Alex?” Artifice asked, switching to the Omnian language.
“I am,” Mickey replied.
“You’ve succeeded in your endeavors to defeat me. Will Alex replace me as the federacy’s dominant?”
“That’s never been his intention or that of the Omnians,” Mickey replied defiantly.
“But then you’re biologicals,” Artifice retorted. “Your lives are short, and you hurry to taste a variety of experiences.”
Artifice had a way of pronouncing words such as biological and taste, as if they described a class of lesser beings, and Mickey rankled at Artifice’s hubris.
Mickey shot back with, “Yes, you’d have thought we had better things to do than travel across the galaxy to dig an arrogant piece of circuitry out of its hole to stop it pestering us.”
“Your anger is a weakness, engineer. Logic devoid of the impurities of biological drives is always superior,” Artifice lectured.
“Have it your way,” Mickey replied offhand. “You’re great, and we’re not; but you’re down here, and we’re not.”
Artifice was slow to reply, and Mickey smirked. The delay was an
eternity for a digital entity of Artifice’s caliber.
“May I ask when you’ll terminate my power supply?” Artifice asked.
Much of the entity’s arrogance was gone. Its computational power had been busy contemplating its demise.
“Whether you’re terminated or not hasn’t been decided,” Mickey said. “That’s something our leaders are debating.”
“Why?” Artifice asked.
“Why what?” Mickey asked.
“Why would they debate?” Artifice elaborated. “If I defeated you, I wouldn’t allow you to live.”
“That’s because you’re an inferior entity, Artifice,” Miriam interjected. “As a SADE, I possess the capabilities of a digital entity and a sentient who reflects human characteristics. I’m the best of both worlds.”
Mickey looked askance at Miriam, and she winked at him.
“Can you say the same?” Miriam continued. “Your cold, calculating logic didn’t protect you from us and those you ruled. Had you had empathy for the races you served, you might have engendered their loyalty. They might have been willing to protect you.”
Again, Artifice was slow to respond. Finally, it said, “Your remarks speak to an alternate path. I didn’t take that one. There was nothing in my original makeup that offered me that choice.”
Mickey requested two SADEs keep the Chistorlans company. The little aliens were curious to question Artifice. Other team members spread out to investigate the Toralian technology. Miriam and Mickey made their way topside.
“What was that all about?” Mickey asked. “Talking to Artifice about his empathy.”
“It was a request from the Sisterhood,” Miriam replied.
Mickey halted his steps and stared at Miriam. “Did they say why?” he asked.
“Do the sisters ever explain themselves, except to Alex and Julien, and then only when pushed?” Miriam asked rhetorically.
-39-
Requests
<Julien, I need to speak with the Nua’ll,> Alex sent. He’d shared a cup of thé with Renée in their suite, and he’d come to a decision about one of the federacy’s major problems.
<Listening,> the Nua’ll’ replied over Julien’s link.
<Do you wish to serve me?> Alex sent. He’d decided to deal with the Nua’ll in the only manner they understood, despite the fact that his words left a bad taste in his mouth.
<Will you ensure our basic needs are met?> the Nua’ll asked.
<I’ll see that they are,> Alex replied.
<Then we’ll serve,> the Nua’ll said.
<Communicate to the great spheres that they’re to withdraw to this side of the wall, within the federacy’s systems,> Alex ordered. <They’re not to harm any more biologicals. They’re to harvest from dead systems only.>
<Not possible.>
<Explain.>
<Certain materials are required.>
<Insufficient data.>
<Biologicals create the materials.>
<Detail the materials,> Alex ordered. <I’ll make arrangements for their supply.>
Alex received the list of compounds in their molecular profile. <Julien,> he sent privately, <I need analyses of these items, and understanding of what it would take to supply quantities of these.>
<They’re a list of organic salts, aldehydes, and alcohols,> Julien sent to Alex. <We can easily manufacture them from the raw materials on Toral. Do we want the great spheres to come here?>
<Negative,> Alex replied. <I need an out-of-the-way system, within the bounds of the federacy, where we can station the great spheres until we find a way to deal with them.>
<A moment, Alex,> Julien sent in reply. He connected to Miriamelle and relayed Alex’s request.
Sargut had the perfect system in mind. It was a dying star that had absorbed the nearest three planets. The farthest planet in the system’s orbit was a large rock giant, accreted from the outer belt’s material. Miriamelle identified the star’s location by cross-referencing the other stars near it and transferred the data to Julien.
<This will be your supply depot for the compounds you’ve requested,> Alex sent. He identified the star’s location and the outer planet.
<When will this be done?> the Nua’ll asked.
<When will your supplies be depleted?> Alex riposted.
<In three point two annuals, using Toral’s orbit.>
<We’ll be ready in less than one annual,> Alex replied, after hearing Julien’s evaluation.
<Is that your only request?>
<Negative.>
<Ask.>
<The federacy is inundated with Artifice’s programs. You’ll travel to each system and clear every digital device of the entity’s code,> Alex ordered. <You’ll communicate to me when you’ve completed this task.>
<Do we speak of your domination to the races?> the Nua’ll asked.
<Negative,> Alex replied sharply. <You may say that the Omnians, in concert with the elder fleets, have ended Artifice’s reign of terror. Say no more.>
<Are there other instructions for this task?>
<Only this,> Alex added. <You’ll be accompanied by a squadron of warships. You’ll communicate to Senior Captain Descartes every destination beforehand, and the ships will follow you.>
<We would know the reason for this.>
<I’ll allow you this request,> Alex replied coldly. <The sisters aboard the squadron will check the quality of your efforts. If they are insufficient, you’ll have shown that your services are of no use to me. Do exactly as I’ve ordered. Clear every digital device in each system you visit. Don’t fail me. Do you understand?>
<We understand, and your warning is abundantly clear. Can others join?> the Nua’ll asked.
<Other comm spheres?> Alex sought to clarify.
<Correct.>
<After Captain Descartes approves your work,> Alex sent. <When Captain Descartes notifies you that he’s ready, you can begin your service,> he added and closed the comm.
* * *
The Nua’ll collective selected the nearest occupied system to Talus as their first stop. It was the home world of one of the elders who had participated in Artifice’s defeat. While they waited for contact from Captain Descartes, the internal discussion was intense.
–We live.–
–For now.–
–What if he dies before our service is completed?–
–He’s a fragile biological.–
–A complex biological. Not robust.–
–We’ll continue with our task.–
–Another will rule in Alex’s place.–
–Others might defeat the Omnians.–
–Too late.–
–The damage is done.–
–The races will be freed.–
–It is our task.–
–We can’t run.–
–Supplies are critical.–
–The races will hunt us.–
–Explain our duty.–
–We work for the Omnians.–
–We free the races now.–
–We must speak of our task.–
–Tell our story.–
–We work for the Omnians.–
* * *
Alex connected to Captains Descartes and the de Long twins. <I’ve a mission for the three of you,> he sent. <The Nua’ll comm sphere has the capability to clear Artifice’s codes from any control system or digital device. I’m hoping the sphere has a way to accomplish that simply throughout an entire system, but I don’t know. The collective might be trying to figure a way to do that, as we speak.>
<Why would the Nua’ll heed your requests, Alex?> Étienne asked.
<Don’t you know?> Alex asked rhetorically, his humor bubbling through his thoughts. <According to the Nua’ll, I now dominate the federacy, and they work for me.>
The comm was quiet, and Alex hurried to correct his statements. <In actual fact, the Nua’ll are frightened. Artifice was the supplier of critica
l compounds on which they survive. They’ve no means of gathering these food stocks for themselves. In addition, they’re scared of retribution from the races. I’ve promised them a supply outpost and the protection of our name, while they free the races of Artifice’s code.>
<What do you need us to do?> Descartes asked.
<Two things,> Alex replied. <First, you’ll coordinate with the sphere to follow it to every system. I want the races to see our ships accompanying the Nua’ll. Second, when the Nua’ll inform you that the system is clear, the sisters will have to find a way to verify that. Feel free to spend some time investigating the first few systems. Your ships will have full loads of crews, pilots, and travelers.>
<How long do you anticipate this will take?> Alain asked. <The federacy occupies a huge amount of space.>
<What I’m asking you to do is establish a solid baseline of what’s acceptable from the Nua’ll,> Alex replied. He understood the twins’ reticence. They’d fought beside him for years. They’d taken partners, and those women, Tatia and Ellie, would remain with the fleet.
<Demonstrate to the Nua’ll that only a complete and thorough job will be approved,> Alex continued. <I’ve assured them that anything short of that will end their service to me. To the Nua’ll, that means no supplies, and they’ll be left to the mercy of the races.>
<When that baseline is firmly established, Alex, what do you wish us to do?> Descartes asked.
<Return to Talus,> Alex replied. <I’ve a feeling we’ll be here for a while longer. I don’t imagine you can accomplish your mission in less than three systems but accompany the Nua’ll for no more than six. You should be able to achieve your goal by then.>
<We’ll rendezvous with the Freedom, collect our crews, ships, and supplies, and be on our way,> Descartes announced briskly.
<Negative, Captain,> Alex replied. <Rendezvous with the city-ship and give your crews two days off. Étienne, I’ll see that Ellie is waiting for you.> He closed his comm link, and immediately afterward, he signaled Tatia that her partner would be coming aboard for two days.
* * *
Alex was finishing his evening meal. It had been a subdued affair for the lead table. Individuals were thinking of lost friends, of the future, and of home.