by Laer Carroll
"I've got to figure out how to duplicate that," said Jane to the billionaire as the woman held open the door to the dining room.
"No need. I'll email you details. You'll find the effect useful."
<>
In the following weeks Jane worked on improvements to current weapons of space warfare and mulled over various new types of weapons. She received the promised email from Prince about personal invisibility and found that Robot could implement it.
This gave her an idea for better stealth technology for spacecraft. Before her voyage she'd installed technology which would extend Robot's disintegration tech from a mile or so to more than a million miles, so the stealth tech gave her an excuse to take the borrowed SuperScout into permanent possession as a test bed. Thus she had her own personal warcraft immediately available in case she needed it.
Having publicly met Anna Prince Jane could now spend time with her in LA without raising eyebrows. The Guardian sometimes visited her in Colorado Springs on the pretext of consulting on technology issues. The visits were easy to arrange; the woman already had a top-secret clearance as a result of various military contracts let out to several of the companies under the Prince Enterprises umbrella organization.
When the meetings were one on one Jane spent much of that time listening to the Guardian's stories. She found that after the woman's century point she'd enrolled in a sort of Confederation Peace Corps, spending several decades on Protectorate planets as a history techneer, gradually introducing advanced science and technology to the planets.
Toward the end of that time she'd gotten involved in a war when "her" country was attacked by another. She'd swapped her medical career for "magical" armor and arms and the appearance of a mythical elf-like race. She'd earned a reputation which led them to label her Lady Death. This let her help end the war much earlier than it ordinarily would have ended.
Afterward she'd found that this Guardian-like service had taught her that she was more suited to Guardian-like activities. This eventually led her to become a Guardian.
Over dinner one evening Jane spoke to Prince about an issue about which she had long thought.
"Does it sometimes bother you that you have to kill people?"
"Not at the time. Matters were happening too fast to dwell on moral issues. But, later, Yes, I had to come to terms with what I'd done.
"I was lucky. We Galactics, most of us, are engineered to be pragmatic and cool headed even in very stressful situations. So I never committed atrocities from hatred, though the slaughter was atrocious enough. I did kill out of hatred at the very first. They were cutting down and burning alive people that I'd treated as a doctor. I'd even delivered some of them."
She gazed at Jane.
"That introduction to war was over two hundred years ago. But I remember the people I lost that night to this very day. It is for them more than anyone else since then that I work.
"So, no, it bothers me not at all that I killed people. After that one time I never did it out of hatred but because I was protecting innocents.
"Were you in a similar situation?"
Jane was sure Prince knew the answer. Like Jane she surely had access to the entire internet including the encrypted parts. She answered anyway.
"Yes. In my first summer at the Air Force Academy I was embedded in a Marine company sent to Venezuela when it split into three parts. We were supporting the part which was the former official organization.
"I was with a squad in the country interdicting drug trains. I killed two men with a sniper rifle as they were preparing to fire on us. That wasn't too bad. I never saw more than heads at over a mile.
"But in another patrol my squad was pinned down in an abandoned village. Night was coming on. We could not call in air support; there was none available.
"We made cold camp, ate cold rations, settled in. Very late I leaned my rifle against a wall and disappeared into the darkness. This was not dark to me. My robotic augmentation includes several kinds of sensors.
"I used a knife to kill the seven soldados. The first four kills were easy and totally silent. But one of the three others realized what was happening and I had to hurry. Even so they got off some rounds, panic firing on full automatic at the end.
"It had no effect on me. My augmentation disintegrated the bullets which would have struck me. I sliced their throats from in front of them, one, two, three. The last was staring directly into my eyes at the last slice, awfully afraid."
Jane was silent for a moment, reliving the years-gone event. Then she returned to the present and Prince's cool scrutiny.
"I keep those few seconds in mind and the knowledge that the people I kill are real live human beings. But I also keep in mind those of my squad who needed protecting. I hope, I WILL, keep those two memories with me as long as I live."
Prince nodded. "Yes. This may be the most important lesson those of us who become Guardians learn."
<>
Jane also spent time with the Earth Guardian Karen Danburn. The tall blond, Jane learned, had joined the Marines after high school on her 18th birthday. That evening she'd learned from her adoptive parents that her birth parents lived on planet far from Earth. They had given her presents from those parents which were nearly magical in capability.
This included a tiara and bodysuit which duplicated many of the functions of Jane's Robot. The third gift was a brick-sized "personal mobility unit" which could manifest as an enormous number of vehicles, from motorcycles to huge spaceships.
She'd been stationed in Afghanistan and used her advanced tech to appear to be a female genie. She'd used this appearance to capitalize on Arab fear of such beings to curb the excesses of local terrorists and other criminals.
Back in civilian life she'd founded a firm to provide both physical and electronic security to various customers, including police and the government. That had led her to become a Guardian for the entire planet.
"Not an easy job," she said. "Seven billion plus people, dozens of countries at different tech levels, threats large and small. Plus all the natural disasters, several at any one time."
Jane said, "But you managed it somehow. Thinking back over the last dozen or two years I see a trend to less violence, fewer disasters."
"I have help. I created an organization of a half dozen people which has grown into a hundred. A few of them know I'm an alien, most don't. They just know that an anonymous person with lots of money employs them very generously."
<>
A week before Easter the various leaders "above Willoughby's pay grade" finally decided who would use the hypercom contact number for the Guardians of the zone containing Earth. This was the Prime Minister of the British Empire, the most powerful political force on Earth, closely followed by China, the US, and the Russian Federation. The woman tried the number but the videophone screen in her hypercom console displayed a text message: ALL CONTACT MUST BE ADDRESSED TO GENERAL JANE KUZNESOV. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
Jane knew about it from Karen Danburn. The woman had phoned Jane still snickering about the ending sentence which she had written for herself and convinced Anna Prince to add.
"Quit snorting," Jane said, "O Most Magnificent Guardian of Earth. You sound like a donkey. Asshole. You have not made me any friends."
"I don't give a shit. And neither should you. Prince outranks them and your genius and dedication means you outrank all the other military brass hats around."
"I'm just a brigadier general."
"Not for long. Bye."
"Don't hang up--" But Jane's videophone screen was sky blue overlaid by the icons and text of it readiness image.
The next day midmorning Jane got a call from her boss telling her to come to her office IMMEDIATELY.
Jane knocked on Willoughby's office door frame. The general looked up and gave a curt "Come" command.
Warned by the unusual curtness Jane came into the office, advanced to behind the three easy chairs in front of Willoughby's desk, and braced.
> "General Jane Kuznetsov reporting, Ma'am."
Willoughby looked at her for a long moment, then spoke.
"At ease, Kuznetsov, and sit."
"Aye, aye, sir."
Jane sat in the middle of the three seats, torso upright, feet flat on the carpet.
Willoughby said, "Relax, Jane. I'm not pissed at you. I'm pissed at the tone of the ass hole at the other end of a vidphone call I just received. It seems that the Guardian will only talk to you."
"Oh."
"You don't seem surprised."
"The time I spent with Galactics gave me a feel for how they think. They think I am a Galactic, the only human one in the Solar System. As such I outrank anyone in the local military organizations."
"You are an officer in the US Air Force."
"That means nothing to them."
The general turned her head to the side and scratched her ear while turning the information over in her head.
"OK. Contact the Prime Minister and set up a meeting with her in her office. The fact that you are going to her should help make clear that you think you are subordinate to her."
Jane nodded.
"ARE you a Galactic, Kuznetsov?"
It was time she uncovered more of her nature. But not all of it. She would keep secret Robot and her ability to shift to think far faster thinking than other humans. Also secret: the fact that she was eternally young.
"I seem to be. I appeared in a park aged maybe 14 years old. I'm never gotten sick. Have enhanced intelligence and physical strength and reaction time. I have the sort of rapport with machines that suggests either evolution or gene mods. So yeah, Hello, I'm your friendly neighborhood Spidergirl."
<>
Two days later Jane boarded a Scout space ship which took her to Northolt Royal Air Force base in west London. She deplaned to meet an honor guard of a dozen officers who formed a double line ending in a single officer facing her.
Jane advanced through the line of saluting officers to within a few feet of the single officer. He was Group Captain Taylor, a rank equivalent to full colonel in the US Air Force. He was also the commander of the base.
The man saluted her. Jane returned the salute. As the commander dropped his salute she heard the whispering sound of a dozen arms behind her dropping theirs.
"Welcome to Northolt and to the British Empire, General. If you'll come this way..."
The commander turned aside to open a way toward a waiting black limousine. It had a boxy shape and tires, so not a hovercraft as was becoming common nowadays.
Jane walked toward it. Accompanying her was the group captain and a lesser officer.
At the limousine Group Captain Taylor said, "This is Squadron Leader Davies. She will accompany you while you are here in London, General. May I say I am honored to meet you? Have a good day, Ma'am."
He backed off and gave Jane a second salute. Jane returned it and followed the prompting arm of the squadron leader into the back seat of the limo, moving over to allow the woman to get in.
The sergeant driver started up the limo and followed a yellow line to and through a cluster of buildings to an exit from the air base. The limo was preceded and followed by black SUVs, modern SWAT vehicles moving on hover fields.
"Davies, eh? You seem to be young for your rank." Squadron leader was the equivalent of major in the US Air Force.
The woman turned her head toward Jane. She was athletic, late thirties, and had fashionably short brown hair under her soft peaked cap. On her chest was a row of miniature medals and pilot's wings with a rocket through it to indicate that she was a spaceship pilot.
"Partly the effect of nepotism, I'm afraid. Third-generation military parents on both sides so I entered service with a lot of institutional knowledge that eased me through the tough spots."
"Ever wish you had gone civilian?"
The woman regarded Jane for several seconds at the somewhat intimate question.
"You Americans do live up to your reputation for informality."
"And we take full advantage of the myth," Jane said with a smile. "You have family in London?"
There was another pause.
"Spouse. Three kids. Youngest adopted. Like you."
Jane made note of Davies' use of "spouse" not "husband" label. It might indicate that she was Lesbian but non-gendered language was increasingly popular nowadays.
In the half hour trip through increasingly dense traffic Jane learned a good deal about Davies after a brief warming-up period. She obviously had no interest in a civilian job and was fiercely ambitious underneath a cool exterior.
She was also very smart and had besides her technical studies a PhD in history specializing in military history. Jane made note that here was a potentially very useful person in the upcoming potential conflict with the Frogs.
Number 10 Downing Street, the residence and offices of the Prime Minister of the British Empire, was set off from the street. The four-story office building was a drab grey on a street blocked off on each end by a fence seemingly made of spears.
The limo passed it by and turned into an underground garage a block away while the SWAT SUVs proceeded straight ahead. Two armed policeman triggered a yellow gate to let the limo in. It traveled around two turns and parked.
Jane got out and approached the driver's side of the vehicle. The sergeant inside rolled down his window.
"You going to be OK, Sergeant?"
The greying officer nodded seriously.
"Got my telly--" He patted a flat tablet computer on the seat beside him. "--and my lunch." He motioned to a brown paper bag further along the seat. "And I can scamper inside for a bathroom break."
"Good. See you later, Sarge."
He sketched a salute to her and she turned away.
Inside the buildings Jane and Davies were briefly detained at a security checkpoint. Davies spoke as they left it.
"Nice of you with the driver."
"Lesson for you, though you probably don't need it. You are only as effective as your support staff allows. No matter how brilliant or brave you are, if they fuck up you fuck up."
"You're right I didn't need it." But she said it with a smile.
At that two waiting men wearing dark grey suits with white shirts and red or blue ties stepped forward. They were both fit forty-somethings with iron-grey hair who could have been twins.
"General Kuznetsov, come this way please."
One turned to lead the way while the other lagged behind to walk a step or two to the back. The party went down the plain hall to an elevator, up it three stories to the top of the building, then down a gold-carpeted hall to an office area. This included a dozen cubicles full of busy people.
On the far side was a pair of closed doors of some glossy honey-colored wood. Without knocking the lead escort opened the doors to allow Jane and Davies to enter. Then their escorts closed the doors to leave the two military people alone with a woman who stood up from behind a large cluttered desk to greet them.
"Welcome to London, General Kuznetsov. Please sit. You too squadron captain."
Jane returned a serious gaze with the political head of the largest, richest country in the world, followed closely by China, the United States, and Russia.
Eleanor Spencer was clad in a fashionable light pink business suit over a white turtleneck blouse which might be silk. On one coat breast was an ornate gold medal. Except for discreet pearl ear-rings the blond sixtyish woman wore no other adornment.
"Would you like a spot of tea, General?"
"That would be delightful."
A door to one side of the high-ceilinged room opened and in came a woman and a man wearing white jackets. The man pushed a cart holding white porcelain cups and saucers and a silver sugar bowl and one of cream. They served the three with cups on saucers and poured tea into each cup. When each drinker had requested and mixed in sugar cubes and cream they retired from the room.
Jane enjoyed a few sips of her lightly flavored hot tea. Then the PM
spoke.
"Do you have any idea why the region's Guardian only wants to speak to you?"
"Yes. First, I'm a Galactic orphaned long ago who grew up here. Second, I've taken it upon myself to protect Earth from possible alien invaders. The people of the Confederation thus consider me a de facto Guardian."
"So in the Guardian's mind talking with you is a peer-to-peer relationship. I and all other natives are mere locals, the protected, not protectors."
Jane made a sidewise nod to concede the point.
The woman was silent for several moments, considering. She seemed to be emotionless. Robot's under-the-skin senses detected no evidence to the contrary.
"And now we've taken control of the Space Defense Force away from you. Doesn't that annoy you? All that work for nothing?"
"Not a bit. The situation is one I planned for. I've given our military leaders a tool. My job is substantially done. It's up them to use it. I have ways to support the war effort better suited to my individual talents than to lead it."
The PM considered for several long moments.
"You seem sincere. So. If you'll finish your tea we can get to work."
Jane drained her cup as the Prime Minister stood and copied the woman. Davies did the same. She and Davies followed the leader of the British Empire into a side room opposite the one from which the tea servitors had come.
It seemed to be a war room similar to that of a war ship's battle station. The far wall had multiple large flat screens currently showing nothing. A crescent row of consoles faced the wall screens but no one sat in the ergonomic chairs at each console. Half a dozen ergonomic chairs sat before a row of consoles closer to the entrance.
The PM gestured toward the central chair and stood aside to let Jane sit. She and Davies remained standing.
"Your Excellency, please sit beside me." Jane gestured to the seat to her right.
As the woman did so Jane donned the professional-grade transparent glasses-like virtual/augmented reality headset on the desk in front of her. The vear projected various icons onto the view screen in front of her, seemingly an inch nearer to Jane.
Jane used her eyes to focus on several icons, double-blinking on each to "click" it.