The Installed Intelligence Trilogy Collection

by Phoenix Ward

  “Today,” Betsy replied. “We have a discreet autocar available for you two that no one should see leaving the city. It’s about an eight-hundred-mile journey, so it should take a couple hours to arrive.”

  Both Tera and Ethan’s faces fell. Neither said anything as they tried to wrap their minds around the task before them.

  “You better get going, then,” Gauge said, a smirk on his robotic lips.

  Reception

  The long flight to the Holy Kingdom of Opes was an uncomfortable one, to say the least. Not in a physical sense — there was ample room and a sofa for each person to sprawl out on — but conversation was difficult and felt forced.

  For the first half hour or so, Ethan managed to ignore the I.I. by staring out the window, pretending to be fascinated with every bit of abandoned land that zipped by below them. The autocar kept a low altitude in order to avoid being detected by any Council authorities, so everything moved by in a blur. After a while of staring out at it, Ethan got dizzy.

  “First autocar flight?” Tera asked. She was desperate to relieve the tension between them.

  “Second, actually,” Ethan replied. “But I figure it’ll take a few more before I’m used to it.”

  There was another stretch of silence while Tera stared at the human and he tried to ignore her. When the silence built up to the point that Tera feared the autocar would rupture, she spoke up.

  “What was it like in there?” she asked.

  “In the simulation?” Ethan said.

  She nodded.

  “It was perfect,” he replied. “A hell of a lot better than out here. But it was all a lie — and I don’t even know if that matters.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, if I was happy with the lie and I’m miserable with the truth, what’s so bad about the lie?” he said.

  “Ethan, they were going to lobotomize you,” Tera said.

  “No, you were going to lobotomize me,” Ethan corrected her, his tone sour. “Don’t forget that you were working with the Council. Did they have you forcing human babies into those pods often?”

  If her rudimentary bodyshell was capable of it, Tera would have blushed bright red with indignation.

  “I had no idea what they were doing to you, Ethan,” she replied. “You weren’t the only one they lied to. And they didn’t even get the chance to use you yet, like they used me.”

  Ethan thought for a moment. There was a small look of shame on his face.

  “I guess it’s not easy having your whole world upended around you,” he said.

  “No,” Tera said. “It’s not.”

  The rest of the flight was a little less tense.

  Ethan and Tera both sat up when they noticed the autocar start circling to make its descent. It took almost an hour longer than they thought the flight would be, but they managed to kill the time by learning a bit about each other’s worlds. By the end of their trip, they were starting to crack jokes about their histories.

  They were high above a patch of desert when they started the final approach. A thin river ran through the cragged dirt and rocks, along which a strip of green vegetation grew. Right where the river became its widest, forming almost a small pond, were structures. They were all tan and orange with small windows and bits of wood holding the buildings together. Ethan and Tera were unable to get a great view of the large village that composed the Holy Kingdom of Opes before they landed.

  Since Ethan had studied a bit of geography in the simulation, he placed their landing somewhere just east of the Grand Canyon. He had come to learn that, while they had lied to him about a lot of the world of the present, they were actually pretty accurate about the subjects unrelated to the rise of the installed intelligence. He was a little grateful that all the science, math, geography, and ancient history he learned wasn’t useless.

  Tera peered out the autocar’s windows as they lighted down. A wall of dust was kicked up around them, but it blew away quickly. Once it did, she could see the settlement itself better. It was composed almost entirely of clay-based adobe buildings and a number of cloth tents. Some of the buildings had colorful murals painted on them, but for the most part, everything was red, orange, and brown like the clay it was made from.

  A form started to approach the autocar, the robes it wore flapping around in the wind. It was a man was dressed in all white, with a long golden chain around his neck. Atop his wrinkled head sat a tall hat that looked like someone put a white bucket over his scalp. To Ethan, it reminded him of the chef hats he’d seen some computer-generated cooks wear in the simulation, but without the wide plume at the top.

  The man strode toward the vehicle alone. His sandals sunk into the sand a little as he took each step. Tera and Ethan opened the door to their vehicle as he closed in on them.

  “Greetings!” the man cried out. “Welcome to our holy kingdom, my friends.”

  Ethan raised his hand as he exited the autocar, blocking out some of the dust that blew around in his face. As he did, he was able to see the man’s aged features a little better. It looked like he was at least fifty years old, enduring the blowing dust every day of his life. He had large eyebrows with long, wiry hairs that looked like they were trying to escape his face.

  “Hello,” Tera said. “My name is Tera Alvarez, and this is Ethan Myler.”

  The older man bowed with a smile on his face.

  “I am Adviser Orram, high ranking priest here in Opes,” he introduced himself. “I hope I’m not being too forward, but I haven’t actually seen a person such as yourself, though I’ve heard stories.” He was referring to Tera.

  She looked at Ethan awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. If Adviser Orram knew the Council like she did, then she was reasonably nervous about what stories he’d heard.

  “I see I’ve made you uncomfortable,” Orram said, his smile falling a little. “I mean you no offense, Ms. Alvarez. I know you are not like the government that runs your city. You do not have to fear ostracization while you are here. We treat all our guests with respect.”

  Tera bowed like the old man had. “Thank you,” she said.

  “I have also heard a bit about you, Mr. Myler,” Orram said, addressing Ethan. “Your People’s Union friends were able to outline the crimes that were committed against you. Absolutely horrible, if you ask me. Know that we all feel blessed by your presence here.”

  Ethan blushed. He almost felt like he had a fan but didn’t know he was famous.

  “Come along, then,” Orram said, turning away from the autocar and the two guests. “I’ll show you to your rooms. You’ll probably want to get comfortable before you meet with the king.”

  Tera and Ethan started to follow the older man down a slight slope that led into the denser part of Opes. A few people emerged from their dwellings to get a look at the newcomers. Some retreated back inside when they saw the metal and plastic woman who walked with them. A bit of murmuring drifted to them on the wind.

  “When will we be meeting with the king?” Ethan asked. He wasn’t sure how long he wanted to stay in the dust-filled city.

  “Soon, soon,” Orram replied.

  “Why can’t we see him now?” Tera asked. She looked over at Ethan. He could see that she shared his sentiments.

  “He’s meeting with someone right now, actually,” Orram answered. “Other visitors, like yourselves. In fact, I’d say the king has been rather popular since his coronation. A number of people have come to his temple with all manner of requests.”

  “Who’re these other visitors?” Tera asked. There had been no mention of another party in their briefing with the Clevingers.

  Orram turned to look at her, a sour look on his face. He led them between a couple stacks of adobe apartments, through a narrow alley.

  “Some missionaries,” he replied. “I believe they came from Shell City as well.”

  “Missionaries?” Ethan asked.

  “They’ve come to spread their religion,” Orram said. There was a bit
of distaste in his tone. “They worship digital ghosts, like you, Ms. Alvarez. ‘Installed intelligences’, I think you call them.”

  “They worship them?” Ethan said. He wasn’t sure he was following along right.

  Tera’s eyes went wide. For a moment, she was back in the abandoned church, watching the man stick the knife in his own throat. She could still see the blood pooling on the wood floor in her mind.

  “That’s what they say,” Orram replied. “They want everyone to join them. I think it’s ridiculous that the king is even entertaining them. Their mere mission here is an insult to the kingdom and, were I in charge, they’d be expelled immediately. They serve only to create rabble where there was none. I can’t lie and say that no one has found their preachings…intriguing. That’s what worries me.”

  Tera said nothing as they continued out of the narrow alley and into a wider, dirt-laden street. A number of people moved to and fro, most wearing long robes like Orram. Theirs were simpler, with more humble colors, but the style was the same. Women moved their children aside as the entourage continued past them.

  “Not much farther now,” Orram said. “Sorry to make you walk for so long. You’re probably used to using your machines for such distance.”

  “It’s no worry,” Tera replied, tapping on her metal legs. Orram laughed a little.

  “Tell us a little about Opes,” Ethan said once a silence started to settle over them. “We weren’t told much about your culture before we were sent here.”

  “Yes, your friends did seem to be in a bit of a hurry to meet,” Orram commented. “But I’m more than happy to educate people about our way of life. We’ve been here for a long time, but never became ‘Opes’ until after the Great War. I could go deep into our long-form history, but that would be a conversation for another time.”

  “You seem to have made quite a home here in the desert,” Tera observed. Any topic to get her mind off the Shedders was welcome.

  “We live off the clay that God gives us,” Orram said. “This oasis has proved quite fruitful in that regard. We are able to shelter our people and create a culture of art. There is even a bit of gold in the area that all the people of Opes share.”

  “I hope you don’t consider it an offensive question,” Tera started, “but why haven’t you clashed with the Council? They’re the kind of people who would take whatever they can, assuming they have the power.”

  Orram chuckled. “I think they know better,” he answered. “They realize that Opes has the perfect balance of men and women willing to die for their country and nothing of value worth killing for. What would they take from us? Our clay? Do you think your mechanical tyrants would have much use for adobe construction?”

  “You still have people,” Ethan said. “And the Council likes to take people.”

  “Then they would have to raise us from the dead, Mr. Myler,” Orram said. “Every man, woman, and child would sooner join God than let the Council make body slaves of them. Yes — we know what your I.I. leaders do with people. We would not allow them to succeed, even if it meant the end of Opes.”

  They took a right turn and approached a large clay building. It had many openings in it, all covered with cloth doors. A number of steps led up to a second floor. Orram led them to one of the openings on the ground level.

  “This will be your room to use while you’re visiting us,” he said. “Feel free to make yourselves comfortable.”

  “How long will we be waiting?” Tera asked.

  “I will come fetch you when the king is ready to speak,” Orram replied. “Other than that, I cannot say. King Hum takes his time if God deems it right to do so. And only King Hum can know what God asks of him.”

  “Thank you,” Ethan said, pushing aside the cloth door to their room. “Come on, Tera. We might as well get situated.”

  Orram gave them another low bow, the smile returning to his face.

  “Please, enjoy your stay in the holy kingdom,” he said, then turned and left.

  The Naming

  Ethan and Tera could only sit in their empty apartment room for so long before they became too restless to contain. They came to a mutual agreement to go on a little walk around town. If Orram wanted to get in touch with them, they figured the king’s adviser would be able to find them.

  When they emerged from behind the cloth door, they noticed a line of Opes citizens making their way deeper into town, to the right of their room. People were trickling in around the line, headed in the same direction. It wasn’t the mindless wandering of a town in the middle of an average day; the people moved with purpose.

  “Where are they going?” Ethan asked. He only got a shrug in response from his mechanical companion.

  A young woman, about Ethan’s age, walked past them, and Tera reached out to get her attention. The Opesian jumped a little when she saw the artificial woman who had touched her, but settled when she noticed Ethan.

  “Oh, you’re the outsiders!” she said, a sparkle of realization in her eyes.

  “What’s going on?” Tera asked. “Where is everyone headed?”

  The girl looked back at her with confusion. “It’s the Naming ceremony,” she replied as if everyone should know what that is.

  “Naming ceremony?” Ethan repeated.

  “It’s where our children receive their adult names,” the Opesian replied. “It’s a very important step in maturity. A number of children are being named today.”

  Tera thanked the young woman and let her continue on her way.

  “Wanna check it out?” Ethan asked.

  “I don’t see why not,” Tera replied, watching more worshipers flood past them.

  They joined the Opesians in their long, crowded march towards the temple in the center of the city. The lines of people ran through the streets and through the town square that lay before the massive temple.

  As Tera and Ethan got nearer to the place of worship, they couldn’t help but be impressed by the sheer size of the structure. It was the largest building in Opes by a long shot, even two or three times larger than the king’s palace. It was made of sandstone and clay, built in cascading tiers that reminded Ethan of the pyramids he’d seen in his education. At the entrance of the temple, two enormous stone statues of a man and a woman welcomed the masses as they trickled inside.

  “Ah, didn’t want to stay cooped up?” a voice came from behind them. They turned and saw Orram, also in line to get into the temple. “I can’t say I blame you.”

  “This place is massive,” Tera observed, looking up at the walls that towered above them.

  Orram nodded. “A true point of pride for our people. A great amount of care was put into its construction.”

  “I find it hard to believe that this was all done by hand,” Tera said.

  “I must confess that we used simple machinery for the building,” Orram replied. “We are not backward technophobes, you know. We just don’t like those computerized devices that you’re so familiar with, and with the way Shell City is run, I’m sure you can understand why.”

  They were finally able to enter the temple with all the other people, shoulder to shoulder as they shuffled forward. The interior was even more impressive than the outside. Along the sandstone columns that held the structure together were gold inlays that sparkled in the sunlight that bled in through the windows. It was impossible to tell from this distance, but both Ethan and Tera had a hunch it was real gold.

  The walls were covered in tapestries so large that they could cover a soccer field. The images and patterns were abstract and hard to discern, though some familiar shapes could be identified. There were birds, flowers, snowflakes, and stars. Ethan saw what he thought was a goat and Tera imagined one shape was a tree.

  At the top of the temple, to cap off the decor of the place, was a massive mural of the planet Earth. An ethereal glow came off the blue globe, reaching out to the dark, star-dotted heavens that surrounded it. Four hands reached out towards the planet, one coming from each cor
ner of the ceiling. The fingers stretched towards the blue orb like they were receiving some divine gift.

  The three of them marched in file with the worshipers until there was nowhere left to advance. Eventually, they were all standing so close together that there was hardly room to lift their arms. They stood like this for a few minutes, until it seemed like every square foot of the temple was packed. Reaching just above everyone’s heads, just at the front of the chamber, was a stone platform. Once the commotion of the crowd started to settle, a woman in a white robe and hat like Orram wore strode onto the stage.

  “Good tidings, my congregation,” the lady on the stage said. “We welcome you into God’s house.”

  “Amen,” the crowd said in unison.

  “That’s Sister Tarrin,” Orram whispered to the two guests. “She studied under me for some years. She’s a decent priestess, but a bit grandiose, in my opinion.”

  “Let us bring out the children to be named,” Sister Tarrin said, waving her arm off to the left side of the stage.

  From behind a curtain, six children emerged. They all looked at their feet timidly as they stepped up to the middle of the stage where the priestess was. They couldn’t have been much older than seven or eight years old. All of them avoided looking directly at the audience as they were intructed to face them.

  “These children are presented before the holy spirit and everyone in this chamber to be named — to become adults,” the priestess said, her voice booming through the temple. “Every child here represents the phoenix of humanity. They are what keeps the spirit of the Earth moving and they bring our people closer to God. Each soul born in the world lights up a new star in the night sky, and those with the strongest faith burn the brightest.”

  The priestess stepped away from the center of the stage, retrieving a clay bowl from behind one of the curtains. She brought it up to the first child on the right and dipped her thumb into the dish. A bit of oil glistened off her thumb as she wiped it on the boy’s face, from his hairline to the tip of his nose. Then she dotted him on the chin.