Offensive
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However, if he was being honest, it would take time to get over his experience—the feeling of being trapped inside himself. The alien, Nox, had been able to exert a level of control that no being should have over another. Kaen had never given up, but he’d certainly seen the potential for a dark outcome that he wasn’t eager to encounter again.
“Glad to hear you’re well,” the president continued. “I know you’re busy, so I won’t pester you with more pleasantries. The reason for my call is to let you know that we’ve reached out to Mysar to engage in political talks.”
“Good, but you’re not beholden to keep the Guard apprised of your activities.” Kaen folded his hands on his desktop.
“Of course. I only thought it relevant to inform you because we have certain suspicions we hope to either confirm or refute through the investigation.”
“Which are?”
“That Mysar had been producing more than the system used. Official records can’t account for the discrepancy.”
Kaen’s brow furrowed. “Where do you suspect it went?”
“Toward some secret activity that the alien controlling Chancellor Hale was up to,” the president replied. “If that proves to be the case, we’ll need outside assistance to determine what those materials were used for and if there’s an ongoing threat.”
If I had to guess, that material ended up in Gaelon. Kaen nodded. “Thank you for the heads up. We’ll be standing by for your findings.”
“Take care.” The president ended the call.
Kaen leaned back in his chair. If the aliens were building something, their supply from Mysar had now been cut off. That might not matter if the project was already complete, or if they were just getting started. But if a project was near completion… they might be all the more aggressive to see it through to the end.
He released a slow breath. Whatever Kira’s team was up against, it was going to be a revealing expedition.
CHAPTER 3
Kira fidgeted on her exam bed. She’d been prepped with various injections over the past day to make her body receptive to the upcoming AI hardware installation. All that remained was to meet her intended AI partner and confirm that they were both willing to proceed with the pairing procedure.
Normally, a soldier and AI would spend weeks getting to know each other, but Guard Command had been insistent about an accelerated timeline. In the interest of expediency, Kira had begun the physical preparations while the AI, Jasmine, was transferred from a Guard base near Lynaeda.
“Jasmine has just arrived on the base’s local Net. Are you ready to meet?” Doctor Elric asked Kira, coming to stand next to the exam bed.
“Can’t wait,” Kira said, far more nervous than she could recall being for any other meeting.
Elric handed her a headset. “A voice chat will be different than the direct neural link of a pairing, but it will give you a chance to feel each other out.”
Kira put in the earbud and pointed the integrated microphone toward her mouth. “Okay.”
“Patching you into a meeting space now.” The doctor left her alone in the private room.
“Hello, Kira,” a warm, slightly synthesized-sounding female voice greeted.
“Hi. You must be Jasmine.”
“I am.”
Kira tried to get comfortable on the bed. “That’s an unusual AI name, isn’t it? I’d heard a lot of you adopt acronyms for your designation.”
“Yes, that is tradition—such as the CACI clones found throughout the branches of the Taran military. In my case, one of my early fascinations was with botany. I always found jasmine flowers particularly beautiful, so I took it as my name.”
“It’s a nice choice.” Kira paused. “Hey, as much as I’d like some getting-to-know-you small-talk, I think we should cut to the chase. Have they told you about me—you know, about the Robus nanites?”
“I appreciate your directness. Yes, I was given your official file and the relevant reports related to MTech’s research,” Jasmine confirmed. “It was actually because of your unique situation that I was interested in the pairing.”
“I don’t know if I’d risk being paired with me.”
“You risk your wellbeing whenever you depart on an op, do you not?”
“Yes, of course,” Kira replied. “But that’s to help others.”
“It’s no different for me. You are in a difficult position, and I believe I can help you—in addition to helping those you would aid through your own actions, by extension.”
Kira swallowed. “Admittedly, I could use someone I trust to have my back. I love my team, but they don’t fully understand what’s going on with me.”
“I would like that opportunity,” Jasmine said.
“Have you been paired with a person before?” Kira asked.
“Yes, on two prior occasions. You would be the first soldier, however.”
The revelation caught Kira by surprise. She had figured they’d partner her with an AI specializing in covert operations to match her own skillset. “What did you do before?” Kira asked.
“My specialization is in biomedical research.”
“Ah, so that’s why they thought we’d be a good match.”
“I am excited to learn more about your abilities,” Jasmine said.
Kira looked down. “I’ll be honest, Jasmine. You seem friendly, and certainly knowledgeable, but I don’t see how we could possibly get to know each other on any deep level in the next few minutes.”
“I agree, Kira. This is a big decision for both of us—for you, especially, since it would be your first pairing. I would never want you to feel rushed, but the present circumstances don’t allow for standard vetting.”
“Yeah, that’s been made clear.”
“From my side,” Jasmine continued, “I have reviewed the facts regarding the aliens, and my assessment is that you are the Guard’s best chance to interface with whatever may be in Gaelon. I believe I can help you safely complete that mission, so I am willing to try this pairing if you are.”
Kira smiled. “A spur-of-the-moment AI pairing wouldn’t be the most surprising thing that’s happened to me in the last two weeks.”
“You really have had quite the month.”
“If you’re willing to move forward knowing all of that, then who am I to say ‘no’?” Kira took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Kira,” Jasmine said. “I look forward to getting properly acquainted after I’m embedded in the deepest recesses of your mind and there’s no going back.”
“Um…”
“I’m joking, Kira! I may not be organic, but I do have a sense of humor.”
Kira laughed. “Well played. The test remains if you’ll be able to withstand my unmitigated snark.”
“Challenge accepted.”
Kira’s anxiety from before the introduction began to dissipate. Jasmine would still be a stranger inside her head, but she could see them becoming good friends in time. “All right, I guess I’ll see you on the other side. Or… inside?”
“Something like that. Try to relax.”
“I’m feeling better already.” Kira removed the headset and then poked her head out of the room. She spotted Doctor Elric at a nearby workstation. “Doctor, we’re agreed,” she told him. “Let’s move forward with the pairing.”
The doctor returned to her exam room. “That wasn’t a very long talk.”
“That’s all we needed.”
“Very well. I’ll make the final preparations.” Elric turned his attention to the medpod in the room, where the surgery would take place. The device looked entirely too simple from the outside, considering everything it could do.
Kira took a calming breath while she waited for Doctor Elric’s instructions. I’m still going to be me. Jasmine will be someone to talk to when I’m bored. Though she was trying to be lighthearted about it, the reality was that having a constant companion in her mind would be a huge change, standard procedure or not. S
he’d still have private thoughts, but not like she could before. She hoped Jasmine would respect those boundaries.
“Okay, all set,” Elric said. He beckoned Kira over.
“Will it hurt?” she asked, approaching the pod.
“A little discomfort is to be expected, considering you’ll be cut open and fitted with new augmentations.”
Kira paled. “I guess I hadn’t thought about that part.”
“Don’t dwell on it. The incision sites will be fully closed by the time you wake up. You can expect your nerves to be over-reactive for a bit afterward, but I know for a fact that you’ve been through much worse.”
“I’m sure I can handle it,” Kira said.
“The procedure will only take about two hours,” Doctor Elric explained. “We’ll install a communication chip in your brain for the AI interface before we begin the pairing. The main AI hardware installation will begin inside your rib cage, followed by the hardwire connection along your spinal column to the neural communication chip. The AI consciousness will then be transferred to your new hardware. Finally, you’ll get a dose of specialized med-nano to aid the AI in evaluating your physiological state and make sure there won’t be any conflicts with your Robus nanites—think of it as a super-charged version of your standard immune support nanotech.”
Kira’s eyes widened. “All that in two hours?”
“It’s an efficient system,” he assured her. “Are you ready?”
She nodded.
“Please undress and climb inside.”
Kira took a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm her lingering nerves and began stripping down. Once naked, she quickly climbed into the medpod to avoid standing on the cold tile.
As she reclined inside, the space seemed much more like a coffin than a sophisticated medical device. What am I so worried about? This is a standard procedure in other parts of the Empire. She focused on her breathing.
The medpod’s lid sealed her inside.
“Stay still and try to breathe normally,” Doctor Elric said over an internal comm. “You may feel a tingle as you start to go under.”
Kira did as she was instructed. She felt a tickle along her spine as her eyelids grew heavy. Calm darkness enveloped her.
When the medpod’s lid popped open, it didn’t feel like more than a minute had passed.
“Take it slow,” Elric said, coming to stand over her. “How do you feel?”
“Fine—” Kira started to reply but cut off as soon as she tried to sit up. Sharp pain stabbed her head and radiated along her spine. “Gah!”
The doctor placed a hand on her bare shoulder, urging her to lay back down. “Your nerves were just reknitted. The sensitivity will subside within an hour.”
Kira remained motionless for several minutes, giving her senses time to adjust. I thought I’d feel more different. Where is—
Kira recognized Jasmine’s voice in her mind even though she wasn’t hearing it with her ears this time.
Whoa! Kira’s pulse spiked with the sudden appearance of the mental presence.
Kira realized she was still reclined in the medpod.
She tried to sit up again, slower this time. The initial physical discomfort she’d experienced had faded to a dull ache in her neck and back. She climbed out of the device.
Doctor Elric handed her the shipsuit and undergarments she’d removed before the procedure. “I’ll let you get dressed.” He departed.
Kira began donning her clothes.
The AI chuckled—an odd sensation behind Kira’s eyes that almost made her feel like she had to sneeze.
Jasmine told her.
Kira finished dressing in her shipsuit and then left the exam room. She found Doctor Elric talking to a nurse.
Elric dismissed the nurse. “Feeling better?” he asked Kira.
“Yes. Jasmine and I have been getting to know each other better.”
“Ah, good.” The doctor smiled. “Any lingering pain?”
“Not too bad. That first jolt was the worst.”
He nodded. “It should all be gone soon. Jasmine will be able to help with future pain regulation, once you two finish syncing.”
“I’m more interested to see how she deals with my impulsiveness,” Kira replied.
Jasmine gave a mental nod—a far less disorienting sensation than a laugh.
Kira laughed out loud.
Doctor Elric gave her a quizzical look.
“Poor Jasmine is coming to terms with the insanity that is my life,” Kira explained.
“Ah.” The doctor nodded. “Good luck with that.”
“Is there anything else, Doctor?” Kira asked Elric. “I’d like to let Major Sandren know I’m ready for the mission.”
Elric nodded. “I’ve gone over your post-pairing scans, and everything looks to be in order. I’ll clear you for duty, but come in for a check-up when you return from Gaelon.”
“Yes, Doctor. See you then.”
Kira headed for the interface terminal outside of Medical so she could send Sandren a message.
Kira smiled.
Jasmine sent a copy of Kira’s medical clearance to Major Sandren, and an acknowledgement soon came back that the Raven would depart for Gaelon in half an hour.
Kira headed to her quarters to retrieve her travel bag. While she was there, she also wanted to let Leon know the procedure had gone off without trouble; that kind of personal communication didn’t feel right to be relayed by Jasmine.
>>Paring complete!<< she wrote Leon. >>I’m officially a ‘tech head’. Departing for Gaelon now.<<
He took a moment to message back. >>Do you have time for a proper goodbye?<<
>>No, but I’ll see you soon. Try to stay out of trouble.<<
>>You, too. Be careful, Kira.<<
>>Always.<<
She grabbed her travel bag from next to the door and headed out.
As she made the trek from the residential area to the docking location of the Raven, Kira could sense Jasmine’s fascination of seeing sights for the first time that had become commonplace to Kira after so many years.
Kira thought she detected a hint of concern in the AI’s mental tone.
Kira smirked.
She arrived at the Raven and used the gangway to board the craft. It deposited her on the residential level, and she walked down the short hall to the cabin she shared with her team.
The other soldiers were unpacking their travel bags when Kira opened the door.
“Hey,” Kira greeted them.
“Is it done?” Nia asked.
Kira nodded. She set down her bag on her bunk in the lower left of the room. “Yep. I’d like to introduce you to Jasmine.”
The AI connected to the comm system inside the cabin. “Pleasure to meet you,” Jasmine greeted.
“You’re in for quite a ride,” Kyle replied.
“It’s only been a few minutes since our pairing, but I’ve gotten that distinct impression,” the AI said.
“It’ll be nice finally having an AI on the team,” Nia added. “Sometimes it would be nice to have extra help with the hacks.”
“Really?” Kyle shook his head. “I’ve always liked going it alone. I live for the challenge.”
“A partnership doesn’t diminish your individual abilities,” Jasmine pointed out over the comm.
“No offense meant,” Kyle hastily amended.
“None taken. I know that not everyone enjoys a pairing. I will strive to be a productive member of your team, in whatever capacity will be mutually beneficial.”