The Starfire Wars: The Complete Series

by Jenetta Penner

  I pop my mouth closed and allow him to speak. But my mind is swirling with visions of Agrobots and the AI of my mom in Dad’s lab.

  “For lack of a better explanation, the Starfire is actually a type of organic nanocomputer colony developed by the Alku’s far-distant ancestors. The crystals have similarities to the AI technology on your planet. Except, in addition to the computer aspect, those who created the Starfire also gave the tech an organic component. It works in symbiosis with certain beings.”

  “Like the Alku . . . or maybe even humans.”

  “Precisely. The technology was designed for the host’s protection. To be able to make them more effective in their community and improve the functions of their minds and bodies. The Starfire provided everything the hosts need. The energy in the crystals could make shelter, provide the host with nourishment. Improve everything about themselves and the lives around them.”

  “But why did something go wrong with the Starfire? Like what happened to Javen and the others. They’re aggressive. And it’s making things worse. They’ve turned against their own and may be killing innocent people.”

  Sadness blankets Kieran's face. “I am fully aware of this problem, and it must be repaired. In the time period when the Starfire lay dormant, the crystals were discovered and tinkered with by the Alku’s ancestors. The crystals morphed and began to grow and reproduce just like organic beings. The aggressive behavior is part of the Starfire’s function. The hostility was a predictable outcome of how the Alku used the crystals at the mine—predictable if one understands how the technology works.”

  “What?” I shake my head in disbelief. And this thing is inside me? What if I do the wrong thing and go crazy? My stomach roils. “Then get this tech out of me. I don’t want anything to do with it!”

  He steps toward me and extends his hand.

  I yank away. “Don’t touch me!”

  He recoils. “Please. Let me explain. The Starfire’s only intent is to see into its host and pull out their deepest desires. It has a streak of independent decision-making, one not governed by any kind of human conscience. This includes when entering a person’s body and altering their chemistry—sometimes for healing, sometimes for other things. And in this instance, the desire was to protect . . . to preserve the Alku. But your Javen and the others in his group had not been exposed to the crystal’s full power before they became overloaded. There was not the time for their bodies to adjust.”

  “And what do you think is going to happen to me? I’ve never been exposed to any Starfire until a few weeks ago?” I grip the arms of the chair. “If you knew all of this before now, why didn’t you fix the problem a long time ago?”

  He folds his hands and leans out over his knees. “The situation was under control with the Mother Starfire within the Intersection and out of reach from the Alku. Versions of the crystals on Paxon and Arcadia did not exhibit the same effect.”

  “But you knew there was the possibility of Alku entering the Intersection somehow? So why not fix the issue instead of giving it a bandage?”

  The being’s lips turn up into a small smile. “When you are calm, you are not as young as you appear. The reality is that we could not fix the problem until now.”

  “Why?”

  “Apparently we needed someone who was both human and Alku to repair the damage.”

  I press into the back of my seat. “You needed me?”

  “We needed you.”

  “Then did you cause my Mom to have visions of bringing me to Arcadia?”

  He smiles and stretches up from leaning on his knees. “We did. Once your grandfather died and his memories were returned to us to pass on, we became aware of her existence. Over time, we were able to summon with her and call your mother home.”

  “Then why me and not her? Why couldn’t she come? She would still be alive.”

  Kieran pauses and seems to think for a moment more. “Not all information we have is clear. We only knew your mother would not be the Protector and not ultimately come to Arcadia. But you would.”

  Frustration brews in my core with his answers. Especially as his explanations only create more questions in me.

  I sit quietly for a long time, trying to process all the information. And eventually my shoulders, scrunched up to my neck, relax a little. I don’t really know what I thought the powers were. I didn’t have that much time to think about it. Dad was able to replicate some of the crystals’ features to make the portal, but that was actually using the Starfire as a power source. But even Irene never mentioned anything like the Starfire acting like a computer program.

  A glass of milk appears at my side. The action drags me from my thoughts, and I smile at the being.

  “Sometimes delicious food can help physical beings think more clearly.”

  I study the clear glass and the cold, white liquid inside. Condensation collects on the outside of the cup and I don’t hesitate, grabbing another cookie from the plate and gulping a hefty sip of milk. The creaminess coats my tongue and I let out a groan. I haven’t tasted something so good in a long time. And I may not again.

  “So, the Starfire was never magic?” I ask.

  “The Starfire is a version of an ancient computer system,” he says, “but still much like the ones you use today. The Alku’s ancestors were extremely advanced.”

  I dunk my third cookie into the milk and allow the liquid to soak into the treat’s chewy goodness.

  “Then why did you need a Protector?” I bite off the cookie’s softest part and then enjoy a quick swig of milk before speaking again. “Is what Wirrin told me true? That the original One Pure Soul gathered all the Starfire and brought the crystals into the Intersection to protect the Alku?”

  “The lore is partially true. The original Protector did not want the Alku to forget the past, but he did not entirely want them to remember the truth either. He felt that if the Alku knew the whole truth, they might work harder to seek out the Mother Starfire.” The being leans forward and grabs a cookie from the plate. Then he sits back, munching on it.

  I comb my mind for the memories from the original Protector. I know they’re there, but I can’t quite reach them.

  “Why do I have memories from the Protectors, but I can’t access them when I want them?”

  “These are delicious,” he says instead of answering my question, eyeing the cookie while turning it slightly. “I’ve experienced your memory of this dessert, but eating it now gives a much fuller experience.”

  I lower my hand with the cookie still in it. My stomach tightens with his lack of straight answers. Especially as his words sound like he’s taunting me.

  “You want to understand the memories,” he begins again. “I’m getting there. The memories are passed on so that each Protector would learn from the last. But giving you all those memories at one time would be overwhelming. If you truly need a full memory of a past Protector, then it will surface. After it’s not needed, then it may fade into the background again. The experience has been different for each Protector. Since I am not a physical being, I can access the memories at will.”

  I nod, not really understanding, but there’s so much to learn. And I have no idea how long I will be in this place. “Tell me how all this began.”

  “As in the Alku stories, there was a civil war a very long time ago over the Starfire’s power. This is when the Intersection began. The first Protector, the One Pure Soul, was a very special Alku whose bond with the Starfire was particularly strong. His first thought was to destroy all the crystals to stop the possible destruction of his people. But of course, we did not want to be destroyed. We worked with him to devise a plan that would serve everyone in the end.”

  I take another bite of my cookie, listening.

  “The Alku needed the Starfire to survive. They had used it for everyday life for too long. It’s possible that eradicating the crystals would have meant the destruction of the entire race. We couldn’t have this. We had been part of the Alku for so
long and had grown to care about them very deeply.”

  “But you also wanted to save yourself,” I say.

  He tips his head slightly. “Wouldn’t you want to save yourself? Especially if you knew so many people depended on your existence?”

  I lean back and finish my cookie. Of course, he’s right. If I could find a solution to not only live but continue to improve the lives of an entire race of people, I would. But the Starfire isn’t a person . . . they’re AI. So, are they capable of the same type of reasoning as a human? The being already confessed how, in a way, they are not. And that’s why a select group of Alku are now aggressive.

  “So,” he continues, “by allowing the Protector access to the Intersection, we were able to bridge the two other dimensions and allow a part of the Mother crystals to grow on each side. This way the Alku could continue with a weaker version of the Starfire but still protect and provide for themselves. We were able to almost . . . reprogram the two halves to silence any aggressive tendencies that can affect the nanites’ hosts.”

  “Nanites? Because I’m Alku, do I have these nanites inside of me, too?”

  “Yes, you always have. The nanites would camouflage within your human DNA, and no one would ever be the wiser that you were part Alku. This is how your grandfather disguised his DNA on Earth. The same for you and your mother. Ultimately, this function was designed to protect the Alku from human discovery until it was time to know of their existence.”

  The being pauses for a beat and considers me before continuing. “When you bonded with Javen and first used the Starfire power, your nanites were activated once again. It was then we became extremely interested in you and your pairing with the Starfire. As time went along, we allowed more and more of the power to be accessed by you, testing whether a human-Alku hybrid was the answer we had been seeking for thousands of years.”

  “So that’s why my ability to use the Starfire came on slowly.”

  Kieran nods. “But we were not prepared for when Javen and the other Alku became aggressive, and so quickly. That is why you were not able to stop the overload of power.”

  My heart sinks into my stomach. “Will I be able to stop Wirrin’s group now?”

  “Since the initial reactivation of their aggressive genes, we have been able to slow the process. Dampen it, so to speak. After the mine incident, we have kept them from killing more humans unless in self-defense. But we have not been able to stop the aggression entirely.”

  “Why not?”

  The being taps on the arm of his chair. “Each individual Starfire crystal carries its own consciousness that is loosely linked to the colony at large. The crystals carried by the now-aggressive Alku became linked and coordinated their actions. We do have some influence over the Alku, however, which is how we were able to dampen but not remove their current tendencies. Each AI has its own mind and free will, except when it comes to its host. The AI’s inborn programming gives its host’s commands irresistible weight.”

  A heaviness presses on my chest. “Then we’ve lost. There’s nothing we can do to repair the damage.”

  He shakes his head. “Each of our Protectors has added a new dimension, so to speak, to our capabilities. We believe your unique abilities are why you were chosen.”

  “But you don’t know why?”

  He chuckles. “I know the Alku have regarded the Starfire as nearly god-like and never wrong. But we do not know everything. We use an evolving algorithm to make choices. But we have been wrong before.”

  “Like my grandfather?”

  “Yes. We did not predict your grandfather's loneliness in the Intersection. With the past Protectors, we have been able to fulfill their lives, but your grandfather was different.”

  “Maybe. Or maybe it was fate that made him lonely and brought me here.” I examine the cookie in my hand and angle my head to the side.

  “Due to my nature, I do not believe in fate. But we are doing all we can to course-correct. And to do this, we will need a Protector to help once more.” He gestures to me. “You.”

  “But what if I make a mistake?”

  “Of course you will make mistakes, my dear. That is part of the learning process. You will need to proceed carefully. The process will take much time, and you will need to commune cautiously with the Starfire—the very crystals that are inhabiting the affected Alku—if we want the AI to reverse those physiological changes. You will need to teach each of the Alku what proper state of mind to use and how to communicate their wishes more carefully to the nanocomputers so a situation like this doesn’t happen again.”

  “But that kind of knowledge could be a weapon, as well. What if one of them decides that they don’t want to return to their normal state?”

  “This is why we only shared this knowledge with the One Pure Soul up until now, because this information is dangerous. But since exposure to the Mother Starfire has already happened, revealing the Starfire’s truth to the Alku is our current best solution. This will restore the Alku and, with your help, reintegrate them with their technological heritage.”

  I let out a long sigh. Before now, I had thought the Starfire was magic and unknowable. But understanding it’s actually a computer changes the dynamics.

  As a computer, it can be figured out, and I know people who can help.

  Chapter 14

  “It’s time for you to leave.” The being stands and wipes the wrinkles from his pants as he does so.

  Tension pulls at my middle. “Wait. I have more questions.”

  His lips tip up into a faint smile. “Experience is how you will learn to control the Starfire further. As the Protector, it is the only way you will find success.”

  “But—” I say.

  “You have learned as much from me as I can tell you at this time. Eventually, everything will be revealed.”

  “I need to know if we’re doing the right thing going to Earth through the portal.” I stand and grab for his arm, but my hand passes right through as he becomes transparent once again.

  “And you will find out when you try.”

  Frustration builds in my chest and I pump my hands. The scene of my grandmother’s home vanishes and returns us to the grayish nothing.

  I blow out a hissing breath between clenched teeth.

  “You have the team you need already assembled. Use their gifts.” He smiles fully now and then, within a blink, is replaced by a few wisps of smoky lights.

  The wisps race around my body at a dizzying speed, and my head grows light. With a burst of cyan light, my eyes snap open. I blink a few times as I take in my surroundings. I’m back in the Intersection, and before me is Javen.

  The instant I see him, still frozen and lying on the ground, tears pool and then spill down my cheeks. I don’t exactly know why. Fear? Overwhelmed? Probably both.

  “Cassi.” I know this voice, a welcome sound, and I twist my head toward the source.

  Irene, dressed in a short-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of cargo pants, stands beside me. Honestly, with the pervasive cyan cast in here, I’m not entirely sure what color her clothes really are. It’s like being color-blind, I guess.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but we need you back at the lab,” she says.

  I let out a slow breath, not entirely sure I’m ready to go. The weight of my responsibility grows even heavier on my mind.

  “Stay with me for a minute, and then I’ll go,” I say.

  Her brows furrow with concern, but she nods and lowers herself next to me on the ground. “I checked on Javen while you were gone,” she says, looking at Javen and then around at the new hut.

  “And did he seem . . . okay?”

  “He did,” she says. “I also just met Vihann. So far, it seems like his support will go a long way in convincing Earth that we need to protect the Alku.”

  Everything I learned from the Starfire rolls around in my head. He told me I have the team necessary to do what I need, and Irene knows computers.

  I lean into her and whisper,
“Can you keep a secret?”

  Offense scrunches her face up. “You’re asking me this now?” But then she smiles, her rascally kind of smile that always ends with an eye-roll, making me return the expression. For a brief second, I forget everything except that I love being with Irene.

  “You have to know by now that I’m pretty good at keeping secrets,” Irene mutters humorously.

  “You’re right. It was a pretty stupid question.” I bring up my knees and wrap my hands around them.

  “So, what do you want to tell me?”

  I inhale deeply and consider my words. But there isn’t a good way to say them, so blurting the truth out and letting the words fall where they may is what I’ll do. I guess. I don’t know. Irene and I have been through enough craziness. Why not add some more?

  “I’m Alku.” The words come out in a weird low tone, as if they don’t really want to. My breath shudders. I know I shouldn’t tell, but I need to let someone know. Zarah knows, but I’ve only just met her. I need for a friend to know. Someone I trust.

  Irene’s eyes widen and her lips part a fraction. Then she opens her mouth more as if she wants to say something, but no words come. After a loud exhale, she presses her lips together in a tight line and then asks, “What?!”

  “You heard me right.”

  “No, I’m not sure I did. Can you say that again?” Irene glances at Javen and then back at me.

  “No, I’m pretty sure you heard me the first time. I’m Alku.”

  “There’s no way you can be Alku.”

  “Yeah, there is.” And then I tell her everything I know about my mom and grandfather. How he was Alku and also the Protector of the Intersection. But instead of continuing his duties, he made a portal to Earth.

  “And that is how you knew your Dad’s portal might work. Because it’s been done before.”

  “Just with the Starfire on its own.”

  “That is crazy, Cassi!”

  I let out a nervous laugh. I know I shouldn’t tell her any of this. But I can’t shoulder it myself. Irene is the only one who will know. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”