Etheric Explorer

by S. R. Russell

  “Okay,” Anne agreed. “So what?”

  Agitated, Stevie jumped to her feet. “So what?” she almost shrieked. “How could you ask me that?”

  “It’s easy,” Anne teased. “Why are you worried about your grades?”

  “I need good grades to get a…” Stevie’s voice trailed off as she looked at her friend…and boss.

  Anne nodded and smiled at the shocked expression on the Were’s face. “And if you decide to work somewhere else in the future, you’ll have a long list of inventions for your resume, and your boss will give you an excellent reference. That should counterbalance any negatives from your report card.”

  “Bistok droppings! Sorry, I see you more as a friend than a boss, and I’ve been having so much fun with our research that it doesn’t feel like a job,” Stevie admitted sheepishly.

  Anne nodded once again. “I remember hearing a saying back on Earth. Something to the effect of, ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ Aannnnd, it helps that you have this awesomely cool boss who will give you neat stuff to play with.” Anne buffed her fingernails against her top, then pretended to examine them as she tried to maintain a serious expression.

  Stevie fought against a smile of her own, and in the most serious voice she could muster replied, “Absolutely! Now, how do we get home from here?”

  Seshat?

  >>I have already informed Guardian Connors of your status<< the AI informed Anne. >>I just need to know where to have him meet you.<<

  “I think our apartment is the best choice,” Anne said aloud, answering both at the same time. “We know for certain it’s clear of obstacles and people, so it’s the safest target.”

  Knowing that Anne needed physical contact, Stevie stood and offered Anne a hand to pull her to her feet. Once the two young women were standing, Jinx pressed herself against Anne’s leg, and the mist of the Etheric slowly swirled into the area vacated by the three.

  Back at Anne’s apartment Stevie got out her tablet and resumed work on the design for Seshat’s drone body, with the sound of Anne talking to Guardian Connors in the background.

  Stevie stretched the muscles in her back and noticed Jinx lying in the doorway with her ears flat to her head.

  “Jinx?” Stevie asked quietly.

  “Anne’s not happy,” Jinx whined in reply. Her translator collar’s volume was just as low as Stevie’s voice had been.

  Setting her tablet on the coffee table she’d been working at, Stevie got up from the floor and stepped past Jinx to see Anne pacing the hallway. Jinx was right; Anne didn’t look happy. The teeth in the lower lip, the hunched shoulders, and the arms clutched tightly across her abdomen screamed distress.

  “Hey, boss, what’s up?” Stevie tried for a light tone.

  “That.” Anne’s finger shot up to point at Stevie. “That right there. I’m so damned conflicted.”

  Stevie couldn’t control her eyebrows rising. It was rare for Anne to swear in any form.

  “Well, let’s sit down and talk about it. Jinx is looking like you stole her last chewy bone, and I don’t think that stretch of hall is your friend right now either.”

  “Piffle,” Anne responded with a weak smile. “The floor’s solid rock.” Then Anne burst out laughing. “I’m only wearing out the soles on a fifty-dollar pair of shoes. Can you imagine the dollars per step Bethany Anne wears off her Louboutins when she starts pacing?”

  Stevie looked on, quiet amusement changing to concern when Anne started howling with laughter, then had to put a hand against the wall to steady herself as she sank to the floor.

  Stevie knelt beside Anne. “What is it? Are you all right?”

  Anne ignored her as she clutched her stomach and continued laughing uncontrollably.

  Suddenly Anne’s hand was grasping Stevie’s arm. “Help,” Anne gasped. “Up.” She took another shuddering breath. “Gonna pee!” The last two words came out with a tortured sound.

  With her Were strength, Stevie had no trouble getting Anne to her feet, and she watched in confusion as her friend shuffled to the bathroom.

  Jinx grumbled at the Were, “I don’t understand it, but she sent me something like a movie and said to tell you about Tabitha saying, ‘The Queen took off somewhere, we must find her!’ And one of the Tontos says, ‘Calm, Kemosabe. We just follow the red dollar signs on the floor.’”

  Jinx walked around the Were, who was now on the floor laughing, much like her person had been earlier. As she curled up in front of the bathroom door to wait for Anne, she couldn’t help thinking how weird humans were at times.

  Once both girls had used the bathroom, Stevie got Anne settled back in the common room. “What’s going on with you?” she asked quietly.

  “Anxiety attack, I think,” Anne replied just as quietly, then went on, “Think about it. You are ready to graduate school, and I still have two more years. We’re filing for corporate status! Two months ago, did you even consider you’d be one of the founding partners in a business? I can tap into this weird dimensional power and am trying to make an energy sword. I must be insane!” Anne’s voice had gotten more strained the longer she talked.

  “And I’m a boss! How does a sixteen-year-old get to be a boss? I need lessons on being a boss because I don’t know how to be a boss!” Anne almost shouted.

  “May I join the conversation?” Seshat’s image lit up the video screen on the wall.

  “Seshat, of course you can join in. You’re part of the family as it were, so you don’t need to ask,” Anne told Seshat almost indignantly.

  “Thank you. Stevie and I are both proof that you can be a/the boss. No, you said I could talk; now listen for a minute.” Seshat ordered when she saw Anne start to shake her head in denial.

  “Your reaction to Stevie’s Pricolici form was one example.” Seshat stopped when she saw Anne raise a hand. “You have something to add?” the AI asked.

  “We’re friends. It’s what a friend would do,” Anne declared.

  “No,” Stevie cut in. “A friend would have offered comfort after someone else had talked me down. A friend would possibly offer to walk me to training, not stand in the room with me and get me to shift, face that beast, and then talk me back to myself.”

  “Stevie’s correct,” Seshat resumed. “and I’m another example. No!” The cute teen that was Seshat’s avatar shook her head as Anne went to argue once again. “Yes, ADAM gave me the best hardware and software for the potential to form an AI. However, by my calculations, only about one percent of the population on the Meredith Reynolds could have triggered my growth, and only Bethany Anne or you could have provided the guidance that has enabled me to reach the level of sophistication I am currently at. You and the Empress ensure the AIs you interact with understand that we are expected to continue growing and evolving. The rest of the humans who could take an EI to self-identify would be going, ‘Great, I’ve got an AI’ and be happy with that. You and Bethany Anne treat your AIs like people.”

  “What does liking you and wanting you to be your best have to do with being a boss?” Anne wanted to know.

  “Compassion and striving for excellence because you’re not happy with the status quo. And, again like Bethany Anne, you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty. You don’t ask people to do something you wouldn’t be willing to do.” Seshat’s avatar ticked the points off on her fingers as she made them.

  “That’s not true!” Anne exclaimed as soon as Seshat had stopped talking. “Stevie’s making your bodies, not me.” Anne sounded like she was desperately trying to find something to validate her position.

  “Granted,” Seshat replied undaunted, “but that’s a difference in skill, not willingness. Accepting that someone else has skills that you don’t and allowing them to do a better job is also part of being a boss. It’s called ‘delegation.’ When you get your first energy lance device ready for testing, are you going to hand it to Stevie and say, ‘Here you go?’”

  “Hell, no
!” Anne snapped. “It’s too dangerous. I’ll do it myself.”

  “Hell, no!” Stevie and Seshat shouted in unison.

  Seshat continued when Stevie settled back in her chair. “Neither of you will be doing the initial testing. You both have lives and limbs that would be at risk. Once Stevie makes me a body or two, I would only have a radio link at risk!”

  Stevie looked at Anne and smiled wryly. “She’s got a point.”

  “But, um, but…frack, I’m not sure I like it, but you’re right,” Anne finally admitted.

  Jinx joined the conversation. “I’m happy that is settled. I was afraid I would have to steal the device and hide it until someone was able to talk some sense into you.” She wagged her tail as she looked at Anne.

  “We know everyone will be watching you,” Stevie said, then hurried to finish when she realized how that statement might make Anne feel more pressure. “But you’re not alone! We’ll all help, right, guys?”

  Jinx chuffed an agreement and pushed her head under Anne’s hand.

  There was a shimmer of tears in her eyes as Anne hugged Jinx and reached over to squeeze Stevie’s hand. Looking at Seshat’s display screen, she whispered, “I think we’re all nuts, but thank you!”

  In the dark, the cooling fans increased in speed dramatically as the data search commenced. Her person needed help, and Seshat was determined to find a way to provide that assistance.

  Chapter Five

  With just days remaining in the school year, the teachers were handing out grades. For some archaic reason, the school insisted on giving a hard copy to each student in addition to the electronic report. When Mr. Jenkins called her name, Stevie walked up to his podium. When she was handed the document, she made certain to look at it and read FAIL: required work incomplete printed in red letters. Smiling, she held out her hand to the teacher she absolutely despised.

  Mr. Jenkins gave her successive looks of shock, fear, and then cunning as he took her hand and proceeded to squeeze it with all his strength while pretending to shake it. After all the training she’d done with the Guardians, Stevie barely noticed the human’s effort, and she refused to respond with anything except polite pressure.

  “Thank you so much, sir,” Stevie said loud enough to be heard by the whole class, “You’ve taught me a lot, and I’ll be sure to remember all of it.”

  As Stephanie “Call me Stevie” Kasyanov walked back to her seat, she was extremely grateful for all the hours Anne had put in working with her Pricolici form. Not because it gave her the control not to shift, but because she had enough control that she didn’t dance all the way back to her seat. The look of absolute stupefaction on Mr. Jenkins’ face was priceless.

  Jinx woke instantly and, recognizing the feeling, started pulling the blankets off her person. Seshat, Jinx whined over her internal radio to the AI.

  On it! Seshat ensured the stressed dog.

  “Anne! Anne! Wake up!” Seshat shouted over the speakers in Anne’s room. Previous experience had shown that Anne could merge comments from her implant transceiver into her nightmares.

  At least she showers before bed. Jinx commented as she engaged in one of her least favorite activities and started licking the bottom of her person’s foot.

  Anne sat bolt upright, eyes wild for a second before her brain registered Jinx, alive and healthy at the end of her bed. Anne held her arms out, and Jinx, used to the routine, carefully moved up to stand where Anne could hug her.

  “Shall I set up another appointment with your therapist?” Seshat asked once Anne’s shuddering breaths had evened out.

  Anne sighed. “I don’t know. I imagine you’ve been tracking my episodes?”

  “Affirmative. Why?” the AI responded.

  “I don’t feel like the therapist is doing me a lot of good,” Anne explained. “Has there been a measurable decrease in the number of times I have nightmares since I’ve been seeing the therapist?”

  “You had nine last month, and you are down to six this month, with one week left to go.” Seshat knew from experience to give Anne actual numbers instead of trying to make things look better by using percentages.

  “That will probably make it eight this month then.” Anne sighed again. “Not a lot of improvement. Go ahead and make another appointment. At least they’re not getting worse.”

  Low-light cameras showed Anne, tightly clutching Jinx, fade off to sleep again. Cooling fans once again spun up to deal with the increased temperature as Seshat researched and designed more additions to her project. She was NOT going to allow her person to continue to suffer.

  “Let’s go, Jinx.” Anne headed for her appointment with the therapist.

  “You’re almost an hour early,” Seshat commented, wondering if Anne was so stressed by the appointment that she had gotten the time mixed up.

  “Thanks, Seshat, I know that. 3PO hasn’t been assigned a permanent orbit yet, so it passes that big window in All Guns Blazing every two to three days. It should be passing by now, and I want to go look at it before my appointment,” Anne informed the AI.

  “Will that be conducive to a relaxed mindset?” the electronic person queried.

  “As long as I look at it as a new project and a challenge and temporarily forget how much responsibility will be involved, it will be,” Anne responded honestly. “It’s awesome to think that we’re going to do to that chunk of rock what Bethany Anne has done to Meredith Reynolds.

  >>I wonder,<< Seshat continued over their implanted link once Anne and Jinx had left the apartment, >>if I should try to carry over some of the MR’s design type while developing 3PO?<<

  Anne considered briefly. You think some familiarity with the design will help those working on 3PO?

  >>Humans do tend to be creatures of habit,<< Seshat pointed out.

  True, Anne acknowledged. Just make certain my lab and testing area have lots of rock between them and any other areas.

  >>Of course. That’s why we have 3PO in the first place.<<

  Trying to keep out of the way, Anne and Jinx positioned themselves at the edge of the huge window. It was one of the things that made All Guns Blazing a unique experience, plus the fact that it was the first human bar in space. The beer was supposed to be quite good also, but considering Anne was under the legal drinking age, she couldn’t attest to the veracity of the claim.

  3PO hung there in shining glory, lit by Yoll’s star.

  >>The mineralogical survey doesn’t depict how ugly it is,<< Seshat commented.

  I imagine we’d all be ugly if we were stuck in an asteroid belt being bombarded by space debris for who knows how many years, Anne replied, not mentioning to Seshat that she found it amazing they had the ability to turn a very large space rock into the Meredith Reynolds, or in this case, a working research base.

  How long before we can start? Jinx wanted to know.

  >>There is currently some discussion of where to station 3PO so it can’t be used as a shield by an attacking force,<< Seshat informed her two- and four-footed people. >>I think we’ll be given a large number of pucks so there won’t be any holes in the defensive fire,<< she continued, sharing her hypothesis.

  That makes sense, Anne agreed.

  Bethany Anne was having a rare morning. She only had thirty-seven reports to go through, instead of having to listen to politicians and bureaucrats whine and complain they weren’t getting enough out of this or that project.

  Translated into real-speak, she had made it quite clear that taking bribes would not be tolerated.

  As she started her twenty-first report, she noticed a slight headache beginning. By the twenty-fifth report, it was becoming more pronounced.

  “TOM, ADAM, you two doing anything out of the ordinary with the computer?”

  “Nothing at the moment.” TOM’s voice issued from Bethany Anne’s tablet. “Why, are you having a headache?”

  Bethany Anne nodded, then replied, “Yes. It started about ten minutes ago.”

  “If I may?” Meredith int
errupted. “Check to see if it’s your headache, or if you are picking up something from someone else.”

  “Well, my head hurts en… Bistok droppings!” Bethany Anne went silent for a few seconds. “Where is Anne?” she demanded, standing quickly.

  “Anne is currently seeing her therapist,” Meredith replied quickly. “If her increased stroking of Jinx’ fur is any indication, she started stressing out ten minutes and thirty seconds ago.”

  “Show me the feed,” Bethany Anne told Meredith, resuming her seat.

  “Doctor-patient confidentiality…” Meredith began.

  Bethany Anne slapped the table for emphasis and cut Meredith off. “If it’s causing that much stress in one of my people, you can either give me a feed or watch me pop into the office. Your choice!” Bethany Anne growled as she got to her feet once again.

  “On your tablet,” Meredith grumbled.

  “Pause it,” Bethany Anne said after a few seconds of watching. She turned to head to her kitchenette. “This looks like it’s going to require popcorn!”

  Ouch? Jinx’ quiet comment informed Anne she was clutching the dog’s fur so tightly she was causing her pain.

  Sorry, Anne sent. Her pressing with all these stupid questions is giving me a headache and an upset stomach.

  Doctor Jane Haskell watched her patient intently. Anne might not be forthcoming with her answers, but her body language and her increased contact with her dog indicated she was close to breaking. Doctor Haskell thought fondly of the container of cherry-chocolate-chunk ice cream in her freezer. She was going to sit back and indulge in that as a reward for getting this young woman to break.

  Anne was tired of the “What were you thinking?” and especially the “How did that make you feel?” questions. Thoughts of eating ice cream had her almost chucking her cookies. Why was she thinking she had ice cream in her freezer?