Spinebreakers
Page 27
Yuina said, “What about those other ships, Captain?”
Renosha said, “The AndroVault built a new military, most of whom are on board those ships.”
“Let them find their way in the galaxy. They can find new homes, but I can’t allow them to return to the bioark. They’ve made quite a few enemies, so life will be hard. They’re no threat to the Tarium spiral arm.”
Governor said, “With our technology, could we perhaps have the imaginary Councilor Ulay give them messages to turn their culture around?”
“I almost went that way and then I thought, these people have been lied to enough. Let them get by on the truth.”
Governor said, “That seems to be it, then.”
“Not just yet. One more item,” Steo said. “Hawking?”
“Yes, Captain Steo?”
“I have a mission for you. It’s important and it’s permanent.”
“I hope to serve, sir.”
“Earlier I installed a software dongle into your core memory. I guess you’re mine forever. No physical dongle, no order, can change your allegiance. Not even an infosurgent could gearjack you.”
“Is this the permanent mission, sir?”
Steo said, “You uploaded all of our information about the galaxy into their computers. They can’t escape the reality that humans and aliens work together, everywhere, peacefully.
I’m sending you onto the AndroVault. Your mission is to stay there … forever. Wake them all up. Teach them. Tell them the truth. Force them to listen to reason. Make them see facts. Tell them about all species and cultures so they can see the variety out here. Repair and maintain their reclamation system so their genetic degradation stops. Use the medical applications so future generations have a chance to heal.
Your explicit instructions are to advise the people of the AndroVault in a way that will lead them to health and prosperity, as well as the health and prosperity of all people.
Regardless of how long it takes them to regain control, we can’t let them return to finish their crusade. You can prevent that.”
The robot said, “Your leadership and positive example have been etched in my neural pathways. I understand your values and your concern for the people of the AndroVault, but I also understand your anger at their destructive actions. I will guide them on a new course during this long, long journey.”
“I’m entrusting you to keep them safe. Keep us all safe, Hawking,” Steo said.
“I accept. It will be my honor, Captain.”
They saw Hawking away, watching as he hovered down the long white tunnel to the bioark. They disconnected and pulled away from the colossal ship.
The captains of the military vessels sat in confusion. The AndroVault was silent, giving no commands. In fact they had limited, sporadic communication with each other because Yuina was jamming them, too.
They saw the corvette pull away from the AndroVault. Then in a flash, the bioark disappeared, shooting off on a faster-than-light trip.
They were disconnected from their ship for the first time. They didn’t know what to do.
Steo’s face came up on their panels.
“Your ship is gone. You will never find them or be able to rejoin them. This is your punishment for the families you ruined and the lives you destroyed. You are never going home. Now run for your lives.”
The Eye of Orion initiated a nova attack. Its missile systems launched a full-scale assault on the remaining ships.
Most fled, rushing away from the nuclear missiles following them, pushing their ships to the limit to get away. A few chose to fight but were consumed by fire. The stragglers had no choice but to escape the system. They scattered in all directions.
On the AndroVault, Hawking introduced himself to the men in the control room. He made sure the ship was flying at maximum speed. He stopped it at a predestined point that Glaikis had charted, then took off again. There would be no followers. Within a matter of days they would pull away from the flat galaxy and head to deep space, where there was nothing.
Satisfied, Hawking turned to the men. He began telling them a tale. It was about a wonderful alien he once met, a woman with purple skin and blond-and-blue hair. She was born an outcast, but met people who took her in. One time, she saved her human friend’s life.
CHAPTER 42
On the Mend
The planet Muliar, empty of life but technologically still active, welcomed the Eye of Orion.
The ship didn’t need much repairing, refreshing or rearming, but the people needed a break. A well-deserved hiatus from space battles.
They were safe to walk on the planet’s surface. They breathed its air, kicked its stones and saw its sun through green branches. Occasionally a defense robot would fly by overhead, on patrol for an enemy long extinct.
Renosha and Steo walked alone.
“You have changed,” Renosha said.
“The Gleen fixed the processor. It’s installed correctly now.” He stretched. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“You used it to defeat them.”
“I couldn’t have broken into their defenses or calculated the tachyon stand-still maneuver without it,” Steo said. “My mind is always whirling now. I can’t stop it. The feelings of people around me wear me out but that’s nothing in comparison to the foresight. I can’t stop predicting. Symbols fly past my eyes. I perceive moments in the future. The closer they get, the more accurate they are.”
“Can you see farther than right now?”
“Yes. Slightly. I don’t know what’s happened between the Petids and Loytz while we’ve been gone, but I know they’ll retreat from war. The Petid Republic will split up into multiple states. It will be 29 years before any of the old states begin to reform.”
“Even before the processor, you showed talent. What about this spiral arm?”
“The number of armed starships in this region of space has fallen 11%. Many are scattered. This era of disorder will soon be forgotten. Recovery already begins.”
“The AndroVault – is it really lost for 237 years?”
“They won’t be able to regain control for 118.7 years. During that time all current generations will have died. If the rest turn around and come straight back, it will have been 237.4 years and six or more generations will have come and gone. The people will live, but the culture will have died.”
“Why save their lives?”
“Strange; I just saw that I won’t live long enough to suffer any possible consequences from my decision. But back to your question, it’s because life is more important than way-of-life,” Steo said.
“Do you think Hawking will help them?”
“They won’t destroy him. He’s a valuable science robot and so well designed that he’ll outlast all of them. Hawking will persistently challenge their Old Ways and show how unhealthy those beliefs are to the people on the ship. There is a 98.8% chance they will become a peaceful people, settle on a habitable planet and never be heard from again.”
“What’s the other 1.2%?”
“Mostly a combination of unlikely events like catastrophic shield failure. The largest cultural possibility is self-destruction. It’s not a large percentage, but they may not be able to accept differences of opinion. If so, the most likely event is civil war, and the ship won’t survive.”
“Was it wise to release the soldiers in their armed vessels?”
“They’re scattered now. Even if some find each other, they’re no threat. Their instincts without leadership will be to find a safe place to settle. Besides, they have plenty of enemies now. Knight-mercenaries will be looking for those responsible for the massacres on Kurzia Station, Insolent Stray and the Veert Commonality.”
“So they’re on their own now. What about your future?”
“There will be more challenges,” Steo said.
“I agree.”
“Ema brought her sons to save us.”
“To save you,” Renosha corrected.
“Fine, but they could have
ditched the rest of you and they didn’t. I don’t fully understand why, but I think it means life won’t get easier. They’re on about something. We know the Gleen have their own reasons, and no pity. Their motivations elude me. I’ve had eerie dreams since then. Dreams of forces beyond our ability to perceive.” He shook his head. “The near future is clear but it’s only a reprieve.”
They walked for a while.
“I’m quite proud of myself, you know,” Renosha said. “Choosing you, boy. It worked out quite well.”
“Great,” Steo said. “Then be my advisor and help me with this processor. You’ve had one longer than I have. I’m starting to sound like a science robot!”
Everyone met at Tully’s grave, next to a calm lake. When Steo and Renosha came out of the jungle, the rest were waiting.
Yuina had a thin rod in her hands. She said to Glaikis, “It’s a dartflare. Mother Gleen gave it to me. I never got a chance to use it. Maybe next adventure.”
There was a long pause while they reflected.
Steo said, “The job is done. We don’t need to return for a reward. The Shipwright process here on Muliar has provided rare gems and precious metals – enough for us to live on forever.”
“Ooo, gems,” Yuina said.
Glaikis said, “You don’t have to ask the next question. We’re all staying with the ship.”
“Yaaay,” Yuina said in a quiet cheer.
Cyrus said, “We don’t want to stay here though, and unless you want me to do math, we need a science officer or science robot.”
“A mechanical engineer, too,” Yuina added seriously.
Governor said, “Master Tully was a good man. Of that there can be no doubt. Captain Steo, may I remind you that you promised to take care of his wives and children?”
Renosha said, “It sounds like we’re headed back to the Tarium spiral arm, correct Captain? Unless you had further adventures planned out here?”
“No,” Steo said, “We can do all those things. Do some shopping and recruiting. Let the galaxy heal.”
They prepared to board the Eye of Orion. Cyrus approached Steo with Governor following.
Cyrus said, “Captain, I have a request. We’re quite a team now, but like Yuina will tell you, I’m still fuzzy on getting by. I’m glad for everything you’ve done for me, but I need to ask for help a lot. I don’t own anything except these clothes. Governor has been helping me learn. So what would you think about maybe … transferring Governor to me?”
Steo knew that this wasn’t the cocky, outwardly confident Cyrus but a young, immature man who didn’t like fumbling his way through life.
“Governor,” Steo said. “I no longer need your assistance.”
“Sir,” the jeeves robot said. “I was honored to serve you.” The robot went silent as he rebooted into chaperone mode, to assist his new master Cyrus Majeure.
They were in good spirits when they got back inside the ship. Renosha took over Hawking’s station for now. Glaikis took her familiar place at the navigator’s console. Yuina fairly bounded into her pilot’s seat.
Governor said, “Master Cyrus, you should eat. I will begin preparations for dinner,” and left for the dining room.
“Where to?” Glaikis asked.
Steo remembered Threber, a wet, mist-shrouded world where cities were suspended between giant cliffs. It wasn’t far from Tully’s home planet.
“Set course for the planet Threber. Leave when ready.”
Yuina said, “You got it, S-cap!”
THE END
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my critical group:
Melanie Chin
Jason Frazier
Matt McBee
Marci Ferraro
Adam Taylor
I would like to also thank those who helped put together the book:
George Yoo
Debbie Bright
Marina Anderson
Jason Anderson
Table of Contents
DEDICATION
CHAPTER 1 Hope Happens
CHAPTER 2 Volunteers Step Forward
CHAPTER 3 Armaments
CHAPTER 4 Human Exceptionalism
CHAPTER 5 Scorpion’s Venom
CHAPTER 6 Genetic Drift
CHAPTER 7 The Battle of Metal Carcasses
CHAPTER 8 Reminders
CHAPTER 9 Terrors of the Flesh
CHAPTER 10 Turning
CHAPTER 11 Infirmary
CHAPTER 12 Purity Tests
CHAPTER 13 Trading Storms
CHAPTER 14 Medical Checkup
CHAPTER 15 Limping Away
CHAPTER 16 Detachments
CHAPTER 17 Downloading
CHAPTER 18 Compliance & Complicity
CHAPTER 19 Flawed Servants
CHAPTER 20 Orion’s Spear
CHAPTER 21 Brief Deadlock
CHAPTER 22 Ideologies
CHAPTER 23 Finder’s Fee
CHAPTER 24 Contribution without Doubt
CHAPTER 25 Dance Class
CHAPTER 26 Drawn In
CHAPTER 27 Critical Thinking
CHAPTER 28 Tumblewell on Insolent Stray
CHAPTER 29 The Pyre of One
CHAPTER 30 Installation Procedure
CHAPTER 31 Captain
CHAPTER 32 Firepower Demonstration
CHAPTER 33 Light Manipulation
CHAPTER 34 Escapees
CHAPTER 35 Overload
CHAPTER 36 Outer Burn
CHAPTER 37 Man-things
CHAPTER 38 New
CHAPTER 39 Awakening
CHAPTER 40 Faster Than Light
CHAPTER 41 Far, Far Away
CHAPTER 42 On the Mend
Acknowledgments