Waking in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 2)

by D Patrick Wagner

  “We need to inform Princess Analyn,” Vidhee said.

  “Yes. But maybe not immediately. If this is Ballison, you know how passionate the princess will get. As soon as we inform Her Highness, we will end up dropping everything. We need to get Buster mobile. With his memory banks, his input and support will be very beneficial. Besides, we are already on task for this upgrade. Let’s finish this before we are pulled away and never get back to it.”

  “Agreed. I have a parts list compiled. I’ll have my attendants pull the inventory and tools then get them delivered.” Again, Vidhee froze and unfroze. “Ordered. They will be here within a quarter of a sedeca.”

  “Sedeca?’ Mack asked.

  “One revolution of our home planet is sixteen sedeca.”

  “Like our hour. Twenty-four hours are one revolution of our world of origination, Earth.”

  “Dirt? You named your planet ‘Dirt’?” Vidhee asked.

  “I think something got lost in the translation,” Sue responded. Earth has two meanings. One for our home planet and one for its soil.”

  “You’re playing with us again, aren’t you, Vidhee?” Mack laughed.

  “Maybe a little.”

  “Nice. We have another saying. Payback’s a bitch.”

  “Payback is a female animal with offspring?”

  “Ya, well it does lose something in the translation. It means that I’ll find a way to get you back.”

  “People have been trying for years, human. Give it your best effort.”

  “Oh, the challenge is so on, Syn-Gal.” Taking out his tablet and getting back to the subject, “I am going to set a timer for one minute. Sixty minutes make one hour. Could you set a timer, compare the ratio between a sedeca and an hour?”

  “I have a continuous timer in my being.”

  Everyone continued to stand, this time staring at Mack’s tablet. A minute ticked off.

  “One of your hours is equal to point five of our sedeca. And this translates to Elonia’s rotation taking thirty two of your hours,” Vidhee announced.

  Sounds right. We call one rotation a day. I’ll have Buster update our translators with those ratios,” Sue responded. “Once we get him in his new housing.”

  “How many planet rotations, days, does it take for your planet to orbit your star? It takes our home planet three hundred and sixty-five days to orbit our star. That is called a ‘year’.”

  “Four hundred and twelve.”

  A box-shaped android arrived, its six legs easily maneuvring up the ramp, around the crates and ending, facing Vidhee.”

  “Ah, you’ve arrived, Suhashi. Please place your cargo here.” Vidhee pointed to a spot on the deck.

  Suhashi unfolded its utility arms and proceeded to unload the contents of its storage container. Upon completion, the transport android refolded its utility arms and turned so that its AI dome and visual sensors faced Vidhee.

  “Thank you, Suhashi. That will be all. You may return to your previous tasks.” Vidhee watched her attendant leave the Griffin before returning to the task at hand.

  Like all engineers and scientists of the universe, every being dove in with wilful abandon. Mack and Sue forgot they that they were working with alien cats, one being synthetic. The Elonians forgot they were working with members of a new-found alien race, humans. Everyone pointed, planned, argued, opined. They contributed their skills, their knowledge. They toiled and finally succeeded. The four, now closer, stood back and admired their handiwork.

  “Final testing. If that passes, then Buster is good to go.”

  “Ya, Lassie. You, Dame Srilin and Vidhee did a right good job.”

  “You contributed too, Mack.”

  “Nah, not much. You three did the heavy lifting. Let’s finish getting Buster into his new digs.”

  “Digs? Dirt reference again? I just don’t understand the human fixation on dirt.”

  “Syn-Gal, there is so much about us humans you don’t understand. But, we’ll teach ya. You going to test, or what?”

  “I think Buster should do the testing. We can, or should I say, Mack can test the circuitry. Buster can test the processing and storage. What do you think, Lajala?”

  “That sounds right, Sue. Maybe Vidhee could run a quick analysis with her Wi-Con pickup. Vidhee?”

  “One moment, Dame Srilin.” Vidhee requested, as the synthetic Elonian stepped forward and pressed her mechanical paw against the chest of Buster’s avatar. After the now familiar freeze, unfreeze, she announced, “Everything appears functional from a radiology perspective. Dame Srilin, Mrs. Benton, you’re next.”

  The human software engineer stepped forward and plugged her tablet into the I/O port at the base of the avatar’s skull. After powering it up and activating the diagnostic software, Sue asked, “Lajala, you know more about the processing and memory configurations. Could you check those with me?”

  The two huddled over the screen, pressed icons, slid virtual bars and studied various results.

  “I believe that the new hardware works as it should, Sue.”

  “That’s good. I’ll take a look at the avatar interface and mechanical connections.” Sue worked her tablet and analysed results. It looks good from my end. I think we are ready.”

  “You’re sure, Sue? Dame Srilin? Asked Mack.

  The two software engineers looked at each other. The Elonian flicked her ears forward and raised her tail. The Human tightened her mouth, chewed her lower lip and nodded. “Yes, we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

  “Then it’s time for Buster,” Mack announced. “Buster, have you been monitoring our progress?”

  “Yes, Mack,” came over the speakers and through the Elonians’ translators.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it is time to give it a try, Mack. Well, give it a look first.”

  “Ok. You’re up. Swing away.”

  “Swing away?” Vidhee asked.

  “We have a sport where we hit a ball with a bat, a stick, not the flying animal. The expression means to make your best effort.”

  “I see.”

  While this discussion occurred, Buster ran his own set of tests. “Everything appears functional and useable, although the logic processor reacts differently. But it is a base eight CPU, so it appears to work.”

  “A thought, Buster. Before we go any farther, should you create an isolated backup before you start shuffling your consciousness around?”

  “I already have, Mack. And thank you for caring. If you look at the ship’s main data core, you will find a secured, fire walled partition. If I degrade, you can simply access the partition. I’ve set it so that a loader will flush the existing core kernel and memory buffers and reload me. It’s automatic. I’ve set the security so than any of you can activate the reboot.”

  “Ok, then. Do your stuff.”

  “Doing my stuff.”

  “Wise guy.”

  Buster proceeded to run his tests, checked the circuit integrity and experimented with the logic integrity.

  “I’ve tested as far as I can. Here it goes.”

  Sue and Dame Srilin stayed riveted to the tablet, monitoring Buster’s progress. Mack and Vidhee stood, side-by-side, intently watching the avatar. One minute, two minutes, three minutes later the avatar stepped away from its mountings and raised its mechanical hand. First staring at its palm, then rotating the hand and staring at its back, Buster commented, “That’s interesting.”

  “Yes!” exclaimed Mack as he pumped a fist.

  Sue held up her hand, palm towards Lajala. At first confused, the cat-being raised her paw and pressed it against Sue’s hand. Sue smiled, careful to not show teeth. Lajala huffed, in pleasure. Vidhee watched, absorbing everything.

  “Ok, Buster, what’s interesting?”

  “Multiple things, Mack. From my memory banks, I recall that I treated this avatar as a tool, much like you would use a wrench. To me this avatar belonged to me, this ship, Griffin. Now I feel as though it is part of me.
When I move the arm, rotate the hand, I am moving my arm, rotating my hand.”

  “That’s part of what we gave you, Buster. An identity. A sense of self, a personal awareness.”

  “Thank you, Dame Srilin. I think I understand.”

  “What else is interesting?”

  “Free thought. Before, I functioned as a responsive machine, simply performing tasks based upon pre-determined programming or requests and commands by authorized individuals. I could find no instances in my memory banks of my taking any initiatives, performing tasks based upon my own decisions. Now, I can raise my arm, rotate my hand under my own volition, through choice. That is very interesting. And it feels very odd. In fact, the fact that it feels very odd is odd within itself.”

  “You are maturing, Buster. Actually, you are maturing very quickly. Much more quickly than a normal new-born synthetic. You are showing cognitive abilities that are not normally displayed until after the first orientation. I may need to reassess my original projection on your processing ceiling. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Vidhee. I have a question. Does this mean that I could become a free synthetic like you? Someone with free choice?

  “Not for a while. You need to experience living among your people, maybe my people for a period of time. You need to establish your own value system, your own moral code. This is only done through the interaction with others. You need to live a while, just experience, learn, live.”

  “More interesting stuff to think about. Thank you Vidhee. Thank you all. I do truly appreciate the effort you all have invested in getting me to where I am now. I will endeavor to live up to this new life that I have been given.”

  Vidhee froze and unfroze. “That was Princess Analyn. She asked that we prepare an Elonian meal and have it delivered to this ship’s galley. It is on its way.”

  “Shall we introduce the new member of Griffin’s crew to the others?” Dame Srilin asked.

  Chapter 4

  Shar’s Bar

  With the exiting of the Gregor group, the formality previously held, dissolved. The power brokers of Tolimar variously stood, sat on the stools at the bar or wandered around, all thinking, all planning.

  “I’m thinking we have no choice,” Richelle Brandt, owner of Brandt Minerals announced. “The aliens are coming. We can’t withstand them alone.”

  “I agree,” chimed in Garman Burkhart, owner of Tolimar Logging. “If we are going to survive, we need every resource, every bit of manpower we can get. Ernst?”

  “Doesn’t affect me or Galactic Consolidated Mining. Not as long as we don’t lose our people. As long as we can keep mining and shipping, it doesn’t matter either way.”

  “We are forgetting the five hundred pound bear in the room,” Governor Kaufman offered. “We’re talking about allowing a galactic criminal organization to settle on Tolimar. Gregor and his cronies have a whole different value system than we have. This is going to change our way of life, what we believe in.”

  “That’s already changed,” responded Garon Stein of Planetary security. “Our life has already changed. What we believe has changed. The aliens arriving insured that. Speaking from a military standpoint, I think self-protection trumps everything. We survive. If that means packing up and fleeing, then we do that. If it means digging in, preparing to protect the world we already know, then we do that. Whatever it takes.”

  “This is a big change. I agree with Garon,” Richelle added. “We do whatever it takes. Shar, you know the people. Throw your two credits in.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Brandt.” She left her place at the bar, went to the coffee station and topped off her cup as she collected her thoughts. “The people won’t want all these outsiders mixing in, changing their lives. The shop owners will want the credits, but not the people. The rest of the townies won’t want anything to do with them. That goes for all of the ranch communities too. They’ll all want what Gregor’s crowd has to offer but they won’t want Gregor’s crowd.”

  “That’s pretty much what I thought,” Richelle added. My miners like to keep to themselves. They don’t care much for outsiders. I think we’d have an uprising if we tried to mix Tolimar with Gregor’s people. Besides, if we let those wolves in our henhouse, who’s to say they won’t just gobble us up, metaphorically speaking.”

  “Then it’s agreed? We need Gregor and his resources but we don’t want to try and mix his people with Tolimar?”

  “That’s the way I see it, Dedrik. It would become a security nightmare real fast.”

  “So, what’s the solution?”

  “We give them a plot of land at the base of the mountains,” Garman stated. “I have an abandoned logging camp just off the river. They can build their own town there. It’s only a couple of hours from here. So there’d be no trouble with communication and them coming to town for supplies or any other things they’d want. With the water and proximity of the forest, they would have all the building materials they need to get set up and running. I think that’s the answer. If they don’t have loggers I can rent them a crew. Kevin, you’ve got well diggers. You could do the same.”

  “What if they decide to dam the river?”

  “That’d never happen, Garman.” Kevin touched his holster to emphasize the point. “Me and the boys would see to that.”

  “Then it’s settled? Garman donates some land and loggers. Kevin kicks in the well diggers and equipment. Gregor and his people set up their own town.”

  “I didn’t say I’d donate my land or people. I don’t know about you, Kevin, but Gregor will have to pay. Not a lot, but he’ll pay. He needs to know that we can’t be pushed around, run over.”

  “I’m with you on that one, Garman. They don’t get my people for free.”

  “Next question. Gregor talked about a standing army. What about that?”

  “One step at a time,” Shar interjected. Gregor needs to get his foothold. Tolimar people need to get used to them. Besides, that sounds like something this joint board should hash out.”

  “Then the first step is agreed?”

  Governor Kaufman got nods and sounds of approval all around.

  “One more round on Gregor,” Shar announced. “Then it’s back to normal living.”

  Roth Ranch

  Climbing out of the van, Gregor’s group stood around and waited for direction. Harriet noticed the well-manicured grounds, the multiple groundskeepers going about their business of maintaining a life style that one of Tolimar’s royal families would demand. Looking up, she saw a five-story, rock-granite mansion, complete with balconies and decks. She didn’t see any of the fortifications like those that had been built into the Gregor manor. But then she wouldn’t. The Roths weren’t a galactic enterprise with many legal and some criminal elements.

  “I know,” Randy commented. “It’s ostentatious. But you have to remember, it’s been built and expanded over a three hundred year period. It started out as just a single floor, three room ranch house. The original three rooms are still there. I’ll show them to you.”

  As Randy, followed by his charges, approached the main double doors, one swung open, revealing a doorman in full nineteenth century American butler regalia.

  “Welcome back, Mr. Roth.”

  “Thank you, Chester.” Gesturing to his group, “Would you please have some refreshments delivered to the game room?”

  “Certainly.”

  “And inform the kitchen we will have six more for supper?”

  “Are there any special dietary requirements?”

  “Ladies? Gentlemen?” Randy asked.

  Everyone responded in the negative.

  “No, Chester. I think that will do. Set up on the terrace.”

  “Will Master Roth be dining with us?”

  “I don’t think so. He has business in town that should keep him late. Just in case, be sure to have a night snack prepared when he does arrive home.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  The Roth family’s head butler left to car
ry out his duties. Gregor watched the young Roth comfortable in his own skin, firmly, not domineeringly, in control.

  “If you will, this way, please.” Randy led the Gregor team into the main foyer of the Roth mansion. Everyone stopped and looked. The large, stately room consisted of a high ceiling, cut rock walls and multiple doors. Furniture groups, set as separated areas for resting and waiting had been strategically placed to afford pockets of isolation. Rough wooden pillars reached from floor to ceiling with one in the center bearing a plaque. Impressive wooden beams crossed the ceiling, adding to the sense of grandness. Two massive stairways curved around the outside walls and ended in a second story walkway. The opposing bannisters consisted of solid wood, meticulously carved with forests, horses and hunting scenes. The whole room gave an impression of heavy, aged wealth.

  “This room was the original living space for the first Roth family. Over the years, the roof gave way to that two-story ceiling. That center post and the main cross beams are part of the original construction. The floor is the same chiseled stone that our forefathers installed. You can see the centuries of wear patterns in spots. Just off the center, there, is a newer section.” Randy pointed to a lighter, large square in the floor. “That used to be a giant fireplace. The chimney went up and through the roof. It was open on all four sides so the entire room could be kept toasty during the cold season. Also, in the beginning, it was where the cooking was done.” Pointing to two massive doors directly across from the entranceway, he continued. “Those doors lead to the banquet hall, come ballroom. Some of our ancestors were big on parties and get-togethers.”

  “I have a wife like that,” Lawrence joked and everyone laughed.

  “If I had a wife, I would probably need to say the same thing. The two stairways lead to the living quarters and personal offices. Out back, beyond the pool, deck area and guest quarters, we have a small office building for running the company. Charlie, the HR guy, works there. To our right is everything that is needed to keep a household running. It started out as the kitchen area and grew from there. The left is the original sleeping area. The room we are going to was once the master suite. Now it’s the game room.”