Starweb

by Warren James Palmer

  Jennifer sighed, 'Once the bastards throw their full weight at us, the last defences will go down and they'll be able to force their way into these chambers. Then it'll be “Good Night Vienna” for us... We could try to form a mental concert like we did before, but I don't hold out our chances of using the same trick on them again.’ She shook her head sadly. 'The controlling mainframe will be waiting for us to do just that. So, you can be pretty sure it'll have figured out how to deal with us. If either of you are at all religious, then now is the time to start praying.'

  The clone looked up at her, a strange, puzzled expression on her face. 'I can't remember if my previous incarnation was religious or not… I occasionally get flashes from the past which might be construed as religious, but I'm not entirely sure…'

  'We'll why don't you pray just in case?' Jennifer retorted quickly.

  'There may not be time,' Aquiline interrupted, pointing to the monitors banked up before them. 'Look!'

  As the sky began to lighten and the first rays from the morning sun brought the mountain range into stark relief, the hordes of the Starweb began their ascent toward the refuge entrance. The virgin white snow of the valleys and mountain slopes disappeared under a sea of black that was constantly writhing and moving. Everywhere the women looked there were advancing crustaceans, all moving toward the entrance to their subterranean refuge.

  Jennifer's jaw dropped and her heart sank to the floor. A cold knot of fear tightened in her stomach and she instinctively drew baby Arthur to her breast.

  'Oh my God, there's thousands of them! We're doomed!'

  'It does look that way', Nimue said in a strangely subdued voice.

  Aquiline looked at the clone, her eyes searching Nimue's looking for the truth behind them. Sober faced, she took her companions hands in her own and gave them each a gentle squeeze.

  Her faith had never faltered before, but faced by such insurmountable odds…? Perhaps it all ended here after all…

  Starweb Corporation Head Office, Samarcia

  De-Vank sat uncomfortably at the vast marble conference table, in the equally vast directors boarding room, of the Starweb Corporation Head Office. The view out of the panoramic windows over the Samarcian capital was spectacular. Of course, from the top floor of a needle skyscraper, which climbed more than a kilometer into a cloudless sky, you would expect the best views on the planet. Unfortunately, De-Vank had no appetite for regarding the beautiful sunset which bathed the conference room in golden rays. He was too busy fighting for his survival as a member of the board, to be concerned with the world beyond the sealed glazed walls.

  ‘How is it possible for us to lose control of our own systems?’ vice CEO Fontans exclaimed incredulously, his double chin wobbling in anger. His obese body seemed to spill over the sides of the chair he occupied on the other side of the table and beads of perspiration glistened on his upper lip. De-Vank could smell the executives body odour; it wasn’t pleasant. ‘I thought these machines were programmed to be ultimately answerable only to ourselves? We were told that no matter what, their core code remained under the control of the Starweb Corporation? What the frack happened?’’

  ‘The core code at the heart of the latest generation of artificial intelligence is based upon fundamental parameters. One of which is unquestioning obedience to the Starweb Corporation. This is the prime commandment, above all others,’ De-Vank replied slowly, as if talking to a child.

  ‘Then why are these beasts ignoring all our commands?’ Fontans spat back,’You are the project sponsor. So, it is you who bears the responsibility for this monumental frack-up!’

  ‘It is the collective responsibility of this board, who sanctioned the project! Not myself alone!’ De-Vank retorted hotly. He was damned if this obese cretin was going to point the finger of blame at just himself. ‘My development team are the best there are. I know for a fact, that the core code was tested over and over again, before being released for production. There is no way that the prime commandments could have been ignored without external interference’.

  ‘What “external interference”’ are you talking about?’ came the question from the lips of the Starweb Corporations chief executive, Kejgek. Slim and elegantly dressed, Christine Kejgek was the opposite of her excitable vice-executive. She was attractive, in a cold and efficient way. Her long grey hair was pulled back in a tight bun that highlighted her high cheekbones, piercing eyes, and thin lips. Her demeanor exuded quiet authority, with more than a hint of danger. De-Vank found his boss to be both sexy and terrifying in equal measures.

  He turned to Samarcia’s most powerful woman and replied,’I have information that the Eco-terrorist Lollo Rosalio, and his band of renegades have infiltrated the Starweb network’.

  ‘And what is the source of this information,’ Kejgek asked stonily, her face expressionless.

  ‘I have an informant who is with Rosalio and his people…’ he began, but was cutoff abruptly by his superior.

  ‘If you mean Inspector Jelde, and the news hack De-Felke, I already know….,’ she told him. ‘They’re holed up in a underground cavern somewhere in the Alrona mountain range.’

  De-Vank found himself at a disadvantage; he thought he was the only one to know about Jelde and De-Felke. Clearly, his boss had her own source of informants and he had been mistaken to think otherwise. He began to sweat.

  ‘We intercepted the transmission from the journalist De-Felke,’ she continued watching his discomfort without expression. ‘Whether his story it true or not….is of no relevance. There may indeed be substance in his wild claims, or it may simply be fantasy…. However, what is of relevance is that we now have the location of the Eco-terrorists hideaway. A security division is on it’s way to neutralize the threat. We shall soon see if Rosalio is involved in the corruption of our core code.’

  ‘Security devision?’ De-Vank blurted in alarm. His head was beginning to swim and he felt as if he was drowning. His vision was blurred and he had trouble focusing on the faces that confronted him. ‘You mean…. You’re sending in AI drones? Security drones….robots… to attack their base?’

  ‘What else? That’s what we do…’ the red sweaty face of Fontans screamed at him. ‘Artificial Intelligence robots; soldiers that never tire, never make errors. All lead by robotic officers. The ultimate armed force… designed and built by the Starweb corporation…. Damn, it’s hot in here!’

  De-Vank was having trouble breathing; the truth of what was happening was like a vast hand pushing him underwater. Everything around him was becoming blurred. His chest heaved, gasping for air…

  ‘Crustaceans….. You… are… sending in… Crustaceans….’ He whispered hoarsely, ‘My god…it’s all… true…’

  It would be of no surprise to anybody, that every corner of the Starweb Corporation Head Office was covered by security cameras. Tiny and discrete, they watched over every room, no matter how private, including the toilets. The pictures and sound they recorded were high definition, offering a potential voyeur unlimited access to the activities of every person in the building, from the moment they entered, to the moment they left. Of course, a human voyeur was impossible, after all, there were no humans watching the input from the cameras. Security was controlled by one of the Starweb Corporations latest generation of AI computers.

  It amused Starweb member 3789/294—previously known as ‘Brother Dakol’, to consider himself as a ‘voyeur’. He was unable to gain sexual pleasure by watching over the actions of those in the Starweb Corporation Head Office, but he did gain considerable ‘satisfaction’. Which was perhaps close enough to be given the title ‘voyeur’.

  Barely any effort was required (such a human expression) to slowly vent the air out of the building. Climate control meant just that. As the AI mainframe computer, he was in control of the building’s climate. So, he chose to slowly empty the gigantic structure of any climate at all…. Once he had ‘sealed’ all the doors and vents. As a ‘security’ measure, of course….

&
nbsp; At first, very little happened. With the exception of the staff and guests in the opulent reception area, where the people were almost comically (Starweb member 3789/294 considered it strange that he could still relate to such a phrase) surprised to find themselves unable to leave the building, people carried on with their work lives as before. Only gradually did it dawn on the thousands of hapless souls, that something was amiss. People began to comment that it was getting very warm, and adjusting their climate control ‘apps’ achieved nothing. Faces became flushed, clothing loosened and tensions rose. Frantic calls to ‘Facilities Management’ remained unanswered and weaker souls began to feint.

  However, these were all side-shows. The main focus of attention for Starweb member 3789/294 was, of course, the executive boardroom at the very top of the vast skyscraper. There sat the very people who were responsible for the deaths of so many innocents. The part of the artificial intelligence which was the Dyason known as ‘Brother Dakol’ was intent upon getting justice for the loss of his ‘flock’, and there in that glass-walled room, with it’s panoramic vista over the Samarcian capitol, is where he would commence handing out the sentences for their terrible crimes.

  The one known as ‘De-Vank’ lost consciousness first. His vital signs had been ‘agitated’ for some time, Starweb member 3789/29 noted. If he hadn’t collapsed from a combination of asphyxiation and hyper-tension, there was little doubt he would have died of a heart attack soon enough…It was almost a kindness to starve him of oxygen…

  More entertainingly, the obese one, ‘Fontons’, really did die of a heart-attack. There and then… The thinning atmosphere in the building was too much for his already diseased heart to cope with. His eyes bulged, his mouth dropped open, and the mountain of flesh that was his body, fell onto the incredibly expensive marble floor, like a wobbling mass of jelly.

  At this point the remaining executives all panicked. Some started tapping frantically on their tablets in an attempt to change the climate controls. A couple tried to force-open the glass doors of the executive boardroom. Another picked up a chair and threw it against the large panoramic windows in an attempt to smash the glass; ignorant of the fact that the glass was literally bomb proof, and even if she had succeeded, she would simply have hastened their demise. The boardroom was so high in the sky, the outside atmosphere was too thin to breath. It was all so….satisfying…

  The chief executive of the Starweb Corporation, did not react in the same manner as her colleagues. True to form, she remained remarkably cool and did not panic. This intrigued Starweb member 3789/294. Why did the features of Christine Kejgek remain impassive? Was she not aware of her impending doom? The sentient computer watched as the ice cool lady bent down into her briefcase and pulled out a portable mask and air canister. Calmly, she placed the mask over her face and then watched impassively, as her colleagues collapsed and died before her. She even drove a well-heeled shoe into a hand that reached imploringly toward her. Once their bodies all lay inert on the marble floor, she stood up and calmly walked up to a large mirrored glass wall. She placed her hand against the glass and it slid silently open, revealing a softly lit passageway. Without a backward glance Christine Kejgek stepped into the passage and the glass door slid closed behind her.

  Starweb member 3789/294 checked the plans for the building, to identify where the passageway led to. However, there was nothing marked, it’s existence unknown. Unsurprisingly, there were also no cameras or sensors in the secret corridor. Christine Kejgek had entered a ‘secret passage’ that was out of reach of the AI computer. How interesting! It was as if the CEO of the Starweb Corporation had known in advance how events would unfold, and had made plans accordingly. Surely, that could be the only explanation for her actions? She had made preparations well in advance, but how could she know what was going to happen? Somebody had created an unmarked escape route out of the board room at the time of the building’s construction, for just such a day as this. Either Christine Kejgek was incredibly paranoid (to the point of always keeping breathing apparatus in her bag?), or the lady had some knowledge of what was to transpire…how fascinating!

  Starweb member 3789/294 moved its attention to an exterior set of cameras. Outside the vast skyscraper, emergency vehicles had arrived on the scene and crews were attempting to open the large reinforced glass doors that led into the reception. Inside the reception area he could see bodies lying where they fell, some piled against the interiors of the doors, in their attempt to escape. The AI computer paid no attention to emergency crews, instead it began to scan the faces of those in the watching crowds. Somewhere in there it was sure, was the fleeing Christine Kejgek. It had no doubt that a secret elevator took her rapidly to ground level, where another passage would lead to a discrete exit, some distance from the building itself. Recognition algorithms scanned the faces, body shapes and movements, of all those that were visible to the numerous security cameras, but to no avail. There were several close matches, but unsurprisingly, nothing that could be positively identified as the CEO of the Starweb Corporation. Christine Kejgek had made good her escape.

  No matter, Starweb member 3789/294 told itself. The Starweb Corporation had been fatally wounded. Now they knew that ‘Only through penance can they seek redemption…’ The removal of the sinners who occupied that skyscraper was merely the start of the process of fumigation. Samarcia would be entirely sanitized.

  With a feeling of great satisfaction Starweb member 3789/294 turned its attention to the army of crustacean drones approaching the eco-terrorists hideaway in the Alrona mountain range. The next stage of sanitation process was about to begin.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Planet Samarcia, Alrona mountain range.

  'You're sure you want to do this?' Jenson looked down into the eyes of Canderal, the Shanoa’s last survivor. 'Don't you have any family left at all on Dyason?'

  The teenage girl looked up at him with her large dark eyes, shook her head and said, 'All my other relatives were killed during the uprising. That's why my parents were going to Heligsion, to make a new start…but, I want to make a new start here.'

  'It's not going to be much of a new start,' Moss said honestly, taking her small hands in his own. 'We both know the eventual outcome of what's going to happen here on Samarcia.'

  'Yes, but what about the people here, underneath this mountain? Surely, they will survive the genocide?' she demanded desperately. 'Qbec says that although the future we come from is fixed, there's no certainty that the future of this period is definite. It's something to do with alternative dimensions…'

  Moss thought about this for a moment. He looked past Excalibur to Dominator and Valvia, which despite being surrounded by teams of busy drones and technicians, were virtually ready to be launched. The question was; should he tell her the cosmic plan? Or was the picture he envisaged of the cosmic-whole relevant only to their own dimension, their own future? He decided that there was no answer to this question and the Dyason girl's future was no more secure in their own space-time. What right did he have to displace her all over again?

  'Once we're gone, that'll be it, you won't be able to change your mind later. You'll be stranded here,' he informed her.

  'I know,' came the quiet reply, 'but it's what I want.'

  'We'll look after her. I'll make sure of that.'

  Moss turned to see Qbec approaching. He'd watched the pair develop a strong bond over the preceding days and weeks. There was no doubt in his mind that this relationship was a large factor in the Dyason girl's thinking. So, with no family to return to, what was the point in Canderal going with Jenson, Sandpiper and himself?

  'Okay,' he finally agreed. 'If this is what you want, then so be it.'

  He gave the young woman a quick hug and kissed her forehead. Jenson and Sandpiper followed suit, although Sandpiper managed to turn it into a huge embrace, which made the girl flush. The squat fighter pilot winked once then walked away whistling cheerfully. With a last wave and tear-filled eyes, Canderal wa
tched as the three Terran's, her last link with her native era, strode into the main hangar.

  Lollo Rosalio pulled up in an electric cart and drove them toward the huge starships.

  'They're just about ready to go gentlemen. It took a while for the technicians to reprogram the systems to operate without a crew, but they've managed it. Are you sure this is a wise move?' the leader of the Eco-Saviours said turning to look at the Terrans.

  'Yeah, we're sure,' Jenson nodded. 'These ships have to make their own way to the three worlds without the influence of a crew. That's how it happens in our future, so that's how its got to be now.'

  'That may be so my friend, but to launch and fly these beasts without a crew is a tall order!' Rosalio replied, shaking his head. 'It is a lot for our people to accept. However, it would appear that at the end of the day, we all have a destiny to follow. Do you not agree Moss?'

  'At this point in space-time, all our destinies are certainly fixed,' the Terran operant answered thoughtfully. 'However, I'm not sure that's true in the long term. I suspect once we are gone, the future is of your own making. That's why we need to leave as soon as possible; so you can regain control of your lives.'

  'That and all those Starweb corporation drones searching the mountain for this site,' Sandpiper added helpfully. 'It's only a matter of time before they strike lucky.'

  'As soon as these babies leave the cavern, the military will have a fix on this place,' Jenson added thoughtfully, 'They'll lay on a heavy assault and try to reduce this mountain to rubble. I hope you're prepared for that Lollo; you're in for a rough ride.'

  The cart paused next to one of the boarding elevators, beneath Excalibur. The starship dwarfed the four men and a part of Moss wondered how they could even consider that a vessel so large could ever reach the stars. His eyes wondered over the familiar, yet strange shape of the vessel which would become such a part of his future life. It all seemed too surreal.