X-Calibur: The Descent

by Jackson-Lawrence, R.

  “But I can’t see it being a problem,” Lance added.

  “We’ll speak to Merlin, and Gar-Wan back on Earth,” Gwen continued.

  “Of course,” Caran Doc replied. “Triltan, please show our guests back to their ship?”

  As they stood and moved towards the door, Caran Doc reached out and held Arthur’s arm. “Please, Arthur, if we might have a word in private?” Caran Doc asked. Arthur nodded and returned to his seat and waited for the others to leave.

  “Triltan told me what happened, on the bridge of the Lambent Twilight,” Caran Doc said.

  “And I suppose you’re going to tell me it’ll all be okay?” Arthur said bitterly.

  “No,” Caran Doc replied. “As one soldier to another, I can tell you that it will never be okay. You’ll never forget the faces of the people you kill like that. They’ll haunt your dreams, question you, make you question yourself. It’s not going to get better, and you’re never going to be the same person you were yesterday.

  “I told you before, politicians and bureaucrats think differently than us soldiers, and this is one of those times. They give the order, but they don’t look into the eyes of an enemy as they pull the trigger. They’re not the ones who struggle to sleep at night.”

  “I’ve killed before,” Arthur said quietly. “When I’ve had to.”

  “When it was you or them, and you didn’t have time to think about it?” Caran Doc asked. Arthur nodded.

  “It’s not the same,” Caran Doc continued. “You accept it, in a way, feel grateful that you’re still alive. No, you’d not killed before, not really.”

  “So what do I do?” Arthur asked.

  “You accept it!” Caran Doc said. “You tell yourself that you had to do it, that it was you or them. You know she’d have fired on the evacuation ships, you know it in your heart. Some days will be better than others, but as long as you keep telling yourself that you did the right thing, the next time will be easier.”

  “The next time?” Arthur asked, fearfully.

  “We’re soldiers,” Caran doc said mournfully. “There’s always a next time. We get up every morning and put on the uniform, and we accept that we won’t always have good choices. We make the decisions that others can’t make, and we try to make the galaxy safer for everyone.”

  “Merlin said something similar,” Arthur remarked. “We make the hard choices so others don’t have to.”

  “You’re a good man, Arthur, King of the Britons, and I know you’ll always do your best,” Caran Doc told him. “In the end, could anyone ask for more?”

  Arthur stood and extended his hand. “Thank you, Caran Doc,” he said, gripping the older Teleri’s hand tightly.

  “You’re welcome,” Caran Doc replied. “Let me walk you back to your ship.”

  *****

  Arthur climbed the gangway to his ship and joined Lance and Gwen in the cockpit, leaning over to kiss Gwen tenderly before taking a seat himself.

  “You seem, better?” Lance said with surprise.

  “Not yet, but I will be,” Arthur replied. “Have you managed to get hold of Gar-Wan?”

  “Someone’s gone to bring him to the Tor,” Lance replied. “He’ll be on screen shortly.”

  “Arthur?” Gwen asked. “What happened?”

  “I’ll tell you later,” Arthur said with a smile. “Both of you.” Gwen looked at him quizzically before nodding in agreement.

  “While we’re waiting,” Arthur continued, “I thought we should talk about naming the ship.”

  “I quite like The Insignificant,” Lance said grandly. “It certainly fits, next to all the Teleri vessels.”

  “No,” Arthur replied, chuckling. “I was thinking we should ask Merlin, he’s great at naming things.”

  “Me, Arthur?” Merlin said, appearing before them. “Well, I don’t like to boast, but I think you’ll find Camelot was originally my idea.”

  “I’m sure it was,” Arthur agreed. “So what do you think for our ship?”

  Merlin paced slowly around the cockpit, his hologram moving through the chairs and consoles as though they weren’t there. “Come to think of it,” he said, “you do always seem to be the ones at the fore, leading the way.”

  “And?” Lance asked.

  “Have you considered The Vanguard?” Merlin replied.

  “The Vanguard,” Arthur replied, listening to how it sounded.

  “I like it,” Gwen remarked.

  “Me too,” Lance agreed.

  “Merlin?” Arthur asked.

  “Well I chose it, didn’t I,” Merlin said incredulously. “Of course I like it!”

  “Then The Vanguard it is,” Arthur replied.

  “The Vanguard is what?” Gar-Wan asked as he took his seat in the Tor, making everyone laugh out loud.

  *****

  They rejoined Caran Doc in his office the following morning, alongside the surviving members of the Assembly who were far more cordial than during their last meeting with Arthur and his companions.

  “Thank you,” Elder Yamon said. “For what you did. I’m sorry we weren’t more, agreeable, during our first meeting.”

  “And I’m sorry I misled you,” Arthur replied. “From now on, honesty will be at the forefront of all of our meetings.”

  “From now on?” Caran Doc said hopefully.

  “We’ve agreed to your request,” Arthur said. “We’re happy for you to settle on Earth.”

  “With some conditions,” Gwen added.

  “Conditions?” Caran Doc asked.

  “Our settlement is called Camelot,” Arthur continued. “You and your people are more than welcome to join us there, so long as you agree to the rules. We’re looking to build something permanent, something to be proud of, and anyone who chooses to live there will be expected to help in that regard.”

  “Go on,” Caran Doc remarked.

  “The Followers of Ajoch,” Gwen said. “They’re just as welcome as any other Teleri of living within Camelot, but we intend to continue to embrace technology and the benefits it provides.”

  “That would not be-” Elder Minsc interrupted.

  “If you would let me finish,” Gwen continued, speaking over him. “We therefore propose an alternative settlement for the Followers of Ajoch, if they so choose. No one will be forced to live there, but equally, those who choose to stay there will not be persecuted.”

  “I have recommended the continent of North America,” Merlin said, his face on the large screen. “It has lush grasslands, forests and vast open expanses. The Followers should have no difficulty leading their life the way they choose there. Our alliance, alliance, erm.”

  “Merlin?” Arthur asked.

  “I’m sorry, Arthur, please continue,” Merlin replied. The words American and alliance had triggered something within him, though he couldn’t remember exactly what. It made him think again that something was wrong or out of place, being hidden or kept secret from him. All he needed was a clue, the key that would open up his memories to the time before he uploaded his mind into the computer. He was convinced the answer had to be there, something to do with his old body and the reasons for his transfer in the first place, but he just couldn’t remember.

  “Our alliance,” Arthur continued. “Our alliance will relate to all species and citizens resident on Earth. This will include humans, Dorgans, the Teleri and also the Mori who chose to abandon the hive and join us. We live as equals, no gender or species superior to another, and those who live within our society will behave similarly.”

  “And what else?” Caran Doc asked.

  “The Teleri Defence Force will become the Earth Defence Force,” Lance said. “The ships will protect the planet and all of its citizens equally, even those who choose to live away from Camelot. All citizens will be eligible to join its ranks, following your normal procedures and training of course.” Caran Doc smiled but said nothing.

  “And finally,” Arthur said. “We request that Caran Doc join the ruling council in C
amelot, what we refer to as the Round Table.”

  “Along with a representative from each half of Teleri society,” Gwen added quickly.

  “Exactly,” Arthur agreed. “They don’t have to be members of the Assembly, it’ll be up to you to decide.”

  That’s rather a lot to think about,” Caran Doc replied. “Is there anything else you wish to say?”

  “We have two other requests,” Arthur replied. “Not conditions really.”

  “Go on,” Caran Doc said.

  “The first is a request for aid, whatever you decide,” Arthur continued. “Camelot has become reliant on food dispensers, we have no knowledge or skills for farming. We humbly request that representatives from the Followers of Ajoch teach us how to farm crops and raise livestock, if they’d be agreeable?”

  “Very sensible,” Elder Minsc remarked, clearly impressed at the direct request for aid.

  “And the other thing,” Gwen continued, “is Merlin. We’ve been worried about him, and Triltan suggested some of your scientists may be able to look at his code and make sure he’s okay?”

  “Which I have agreed to,” Merlin added, “though I fail to see what use it will be.”

  “We have numerous scientists and technicians used to working with AI’s,” Caran Doc replied, making Merlin scowl. “I’ll arrange for them to have a look. Will that be all?”

  Arthur and Gwen exchanged a satisfied look, smiling to each other. “No, we don’t think-” Arthur began.

  “Hey,” Lance interrupted. “I almost forgot. When are you going to get this thing out of my head?”

  *****

  Caran Doc and the surviving Elders had a prolonged debate regarding Arthur’s proposal, though ultimately they agreed to his terms. Caran Doc delivered the good news personally.

  “Thank you,” Arthur said. “This’ll be beneficial for all of us, you wait and see.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” Caran Doc replied. “Surprisingly, the Followers were more than happy with your proposal, it was the other half of the Assembly who took some convincing.”

  “We’re asking them to surrender some of their power,” Arthur suggested. “That’s never going to go down well.”

  “No, you’re right,” Caran Doc agreed. “Well I suppose its official, I’m now a Principal in the Earth Defence Force!”

  “Congratulations,” Arthur said with a smile.

  “Oh, my technicians have finished their analysis of your AI,” Caran Doc continued. “Shall I send for them?”

  “Please,” Arthur replied. “I’ll call Gwen, Lance and Merlin, they’ve been waiting to hear what you’ve discovered.”

  “They suggested not involving the AI until you’d heard what they have to say,” Caran Doc said cautiously. “I don’t know what they’ve found.”

  “Oh,” Arthur replied nervously, returning to his seat. “I’ll use the capsule, Gwen and I are keeping ours.”

  The four Teleri technicians arrived before Lance and Gwen. They sat nervously across from Arthur, trying to avoid eye contact as they waited for the others to arrive.

  “Arthur, what is it?” Gwen asked as she entered. “What’s wrong?”

  “The technicians have found something in Merlin’s code,” Arthur replied, pointing towards them. “They wanted to tell us before Merlin got to hear it.”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” Lance replied, sitting heavily in the seat. He sat forwards and scratched at the small incision behind his ear, and Arthur wondered if it might become a nervous habit. Triltan had given him an earpiece to replace the capsule, allowing him to understand what the Teleri around him were saying.

  “Proceed,” Caran Doc said, looking towards the technicians.

  The four Teleri technicians looked very young, younger even than Triltan. During his time with them, Arthur had learned to differentiate Teleri behaviour, picking up on their habits and facial expressions. The four technicians looked decidedly nervous, and they all looked to each other to deliver the news. Ultimately, one of them stood and began to speak.

  “We’ve analysed all the AI’s code,” the technician began. “It’s incredible really, such a basic design I’m surprised it works at all. As far as we can tell, it’s been running for some four thousand years or more, entirely autonomously and with little if any maintenance. The subroutines alone-”

  “Please, what did you find,” Arthur interrupted.

  “Ah, well,” the technician continued. “The Merlin identity it has currently, that wasn’t always who it was. The system code refers to something called an American-European Alliance Mainframe, a military AI?”

  “Merlin mentioned a North American continent,” Arthur replied. “A faction on ancient Earth perhaps?”

  “So when did Merlin find it?” Gwen asked. “When did he transfer his memories into this military AI?”

  “He didn’t,” the technician told them. “The identity known as Merlin, it’s, well, it’s a construct. At some point in the code’s development, the creators altered the code so it would assert a single identity above all else. As the original identity degraded and ultimately disappeared, the Merlin identity was selected somehow, and the memories and personality were constructed around it.

  “Unfortunately, the continued degradation of the system code is starting to eat away at that identity too.”

  “But can you help him?” Lance asked. “Fix him?”

  “Of course!” the technician replied, smiling. “The basics of the system code are there. It should be a simple matter of returning it to its original state, and regular maintenance will prevent future degradation.”

  “So Merlin’s okay,” Arthur said, relieved. “You really had us worried.”

  “Oh, ah,” the technician replied. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ve explained myself very well. The Merlin identity, it’s part of the problem. When we restore the code to its original form, the construct will be erased and the primary identity will resurface.”

  Arthur, Lance and Gwen sat back in their chairs, stunned at the news. Merlin was their friend, not an identity in an ancient computer. He had become such an integral part of their lives, they couldn’t imagine being without him. Merlin was the reason humanity had been freed from the Mori in the first place, and he’d continued to guide them every step of the way since.

  “What happens if we do nothing?” Gwen asked tearfully. She felt as though her whole world was beginning to collapse around her, and as she looked towards Arthur and Lance she could see similar looks of despair on their faces too.

  “The code will continue to degrade,” the technician told her, “and the Merlin identity along with it.”

  “Stop calling him the Merlin identity,” Lance yelled, his voice breaking. “He’s Merlin, that’s who he is, the greatest Wizard who ever lived!” The technician looked stunned and returned to his seat, looking down towards the table.

  “Arthur?” Gwen asked.

  “They’re asking us to choose between killing our friend or letting him fade away,” Arthur replied. “I’m not choosing either of those. There has to be another way, something you can do to fix him?”

  “Exactly!” Lance added angrily. “You’re the computer people, you must be able to fix him!”

  “I don’t know,” the technician muttered. “We can look again, try, perhaps.”

  “Lance,” Gwen said soothingly. “They aren’t the enemy here, they’ve done what we asked them to.”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” Lance muttered.

  “How long?” Gwen asked, trying to remain calm. “How long does he have?”

  “It’s impossible to say,” the technician replied. “It could take years, centuries even for the code to degrade, or a critical piece could malfunction tomorrow.”

  “But we’ve got time?” Arthur said hopefully. “Time to find another solution?”

  “I’m not sure,” the technician began, but upon seeing the anguish in Arthur’s face he stopped himself. “But we’ll do everything we can, I promis
e.”

  “Thank you,” Gwen said, for all of them. “We know you’ll do your best.”

  The technicians stood awkwardly and filed out of the room without another word.

  “Do we tell him?” Lance asked. “Do we tell him what they found?”

  “No,” Arthur replied sternly. “We keep this between ourselves until there’s no other choice. I don’t care about the Knight’s Code, learning this would destroy him.”

  “It’s okay,” Lance said. “I agree, we can’t tell him he isn’t who he thinks he is.”

  “He’s Merlin,” Arthur insisted. “No matter what those technicians say, he’s Merlin and he always will be.”

  *****

  They walked sombrely back to The Vanguard, heads low and deep in thought. They each felt like they’d lost someone close to them, as though a piece of their heart was missing. As they climbed the gangway, they tried to put on a brave face, disguise their anguish with empty smiles.

  “There you are,” Merlin said as they climbed. “I was beginning to worry. Where did you go?”

  “Caran Doc and the technicians had finished their analysis,” Arthur replied, the smile on his face failing to reach his eyes. “We thought you’d be joining us?”

  “I hadn’t realised you were meeting,” Merlin replied, disgruntled.

  “Sorry, Merlin,” Lance said. “That was probably my fault.”

  “Well, what did they find?” Merlin asked.

  “Nothing,” Gwen said hurriedly. “Nothing at all. You’re fine, Merlin, they didn’t find anything wrong with you.”

  Merlin looked at them quizzically, his brow furrowed. Something about them wasn’t right, but he couldn’t say exactly what. “Just as I thought,” he said at last. “Don’t judge a book by its cover, nor a Wizard by his looks. I assume everything went well with Caran Doc and the Assembly?”

  “Perfectly,” Arthur replied. “We’re leaving for Earth shortly.”

  “Excellent,” Merlin remarked. “Then how about another tale for the journey. Have I told you the story of Sir Balin?”

  “No, Merlin, you haven’t,” Gwen replied with a smile. “Join us in the galley and you can tell us all about it.”