by M E Wise
All of the events poured forth in the imaging devices around me. They had a way of transferring thought and experience to their holos. It wasn’t near as instantaneous in my sharing as it was in theirs. The moments progressed quickly however. The rapid expression did bring a heavy emotional toll. I felt the torture on the flagship again and trembled. I knew the anxiety and fear of our escape. They reacted minutely but definitely experienced something when I relived the psychic stun I used on my captures. They also scattered links about to each other as the Hermes phase jumped in the belly of the massive carrier.
I felt the emotions of falling in love with Dae again. The moment I first kissed her. The moment we first held hands. They struggled with the plight of the Halfers. I even felt what I thought was remorse. For some reason I was holding back on something. Blurred visions muddled the sharing. I began to feel them well up inside me. First it was the Halfer precession, then the Tekker barge and the decision there and the first realization that the Cruiser was upon us. I couldn’t fight it anymore, the most private of thoughts, feelings and events filled the sharing!
The group collectively braced. Some even left the sharing in haste. I sobbed loudly and maintained the link actively open and honest. Ben’s face laughed and haunted the screens. Dae took that pain and gave me love. Ben’s death grew heavy in the link, more left the sharing. I wailed in my angst. All of these happening’s as raw and as intense as the first time only personified in the compulsive and condensed second life they had. “That is enough Reign.” Said a deep gravelly voice. T’Mir grumbles and recedes from the link. The rest follow and I am left alone once again in the wake of these past revelations.
“Reign, our soil is wrought with your pain. We must adjourn.” S’lei says in a pained voice.
I slumped at this witness stand that held me upright. The pedestal lowered and the Con’Sor Ta and Q’ua Z came to assist me. I stumbled, spent and worn to the boon-door ahead. The boon was the relief it was over for now. Neither of my living crutches uttered a word or linked. I wilted further, humbled and humiliated. As the light from the exterior filled the passageway to freedom, Dae rushed to my side, tearful and angry! “What have you done?” She screamed at the Lo’Mor’h that escorted me in such a state.
“Reign, baby. Tell me what they’ve done? How do I help you?” She stressed. The exhaustive event had stolen my voice. She cradled me like a child. Dalia approached with a tram. Dae allowed her to help, a trust I was glad to see form. They laid me as gentle as they could on the trams rear seats. I watched Q’ua Z and my witness shrink in the distance we were creating. I could see the ever more familiar path home in reverse. The sky above moved with the motion we so urgently made. Tears continued to stream down my face. Humans call that spark of life in them a soul. I felt I had given mine away. Or at the very least bared it in all of its vulnerability to rawness unnatural to the entity it was.
Three put me to bed. Three sat in silent fellowship. One held my heart; the other’s her every word. I was in good hands and went to sleep.
A heart beat calls to me. A rhythm known only to me. Her heartbeat calls to me. Only to me.
Sovereign Chapter 3
The White Tower
After several days of imposed rest, my restlessness had overtaken me. “Lady Dae!” Came a familiar voice with muted inflection. Dalia was apparently ratting me out to the lady of the house. I stood slowly and was unsteady at first but that cleared quickly. I made my way out of the bedroom and stood before the large window that lead to the balcony overlooking the River Pathe. The sun raged a war on my eyes. I briefly wiped them of their tearing and opened the door to leave.
“Don’t you dare!” Bellowed my lovely partner. “I need some fresh air Dae.” I said breaching the threshold. An ornately shelled mollusk made its way across the stone guardrail. It was easily the size of my fist. I admired it for a moment. Then suddenly it was launched away with a smack. Dae had hit it with some broom like instrument. “We have a slug problem.” She said blowing loose hairs from her face. I had never seen her wear her hair high up, given the kimono inspired gown it was like a geisha film without all the makeup. The many blended Chinese, Korean and Japanese styles must be my influence, having drawn so much interest to them in my holohistories. “How do you feel?” She asked with a kiss on the lips and a long investigated stare.
“I feel fine.” I answered her but the look lingered. “Fine. I was in a coma after the last council sharing. This time I think they fared worse.” She didn’t quite believe me but relented a bit. Given the overt emotional spoiling I loosed on the council it would seem I may be off the hook for a while. Dalia brought me a tea, some very strong herbal tea! “Phew!” I winced. “What is that?”
“It’s not earl grey, that’s for sure! But it’s getting better.” Scoffed Dae. “The girls and I have made quite a hobby den below. Trying out new uses for the surrounding resources has been a thing!” She says triumphantly.
“A thing?” I asked objectively.
“A thing.” She restated. “You had us all worried Reign.” Her hand played in mine as we sat at a small table on the balcony. “Over there are some crates delivered from the ships we arrived in. I was told most of it was Ben’s old wares. One particularly large box was labeled yours.” We both looked to the stack of crates. I felt my interest build. It was something to do. “Also you have holo messages backing up. I was screening calls and visitors!” She said with a noticeable authoritative manner. She smiled and watched the river.
I began rummaging through the crates. There were many bobbles of decorative interest. A particularly expressive nude woman holding a gaming remote on a large document. A poster maybe. Dae shook her head in disapproval. There were some tools of Earthen make, many different trinkets in different states of wear. A photo of Ben and his father on a pier somewhere on Earth was particularly moving. The coincidence that I stood on a balcony overlooking water somehow seemed appropriate. I moved on to the larger crate with a note for me.
Yo Bro; Here’s a tin man to put all that heart into. Batteries not included. Signed B.
P.S. Live well Reign. No one will do it for you.
The top lifted off to reveal a torso which alarmed me at first. Dae came looking over my shoulder too. The metal and plastic had a seal on it that looked like old navy insignia and the name Duraframe Robotics engraved on it. I moved some pieces around and found a head. There was something very unique about how simplistic the design was. Smooth features and contours held two round and simple eyes. There was a brow and nose like it was pinched in steel. I’m not sure of what the alloys were but it wasn’t too solid. The entire kit was there. “It looks like Ben left you a friend. Seems fairly straight forward to put together.” She says smiling. I nodded pleasantly.
“Thank you Ben!” I said under my breath. “I am onto messages first.”
“All work and no play makes Reign a dull boy!” Said Dae walking through the living area and down the ramp to the newly crowned hobby den. I followed as I normally do when she leads. I could hear much activity downstairs. The room opened up with Dalia and Wan Sah tinkering around on monitors and workbenches. Different centrifuges spun in concert, Mor’h craft had been applied with Earthen laboratory science it would seem. Newly lit fixtures and storage had been installed. All while I was laid up and completely unaware.
“A hobby den?” I smirked. “The lady of the house has acquired tastes!” Played Dae.
“What’s with the whole Lady title?” I asked cautiously. “We watched a bunch of old film while you were loafing. My girls particularly liked the American old southern and British isle noir.” She said as her aides looked to each other and smiled. Lo’Mor’h looked to each other and smiled? I had to take that in again. “So we have a legible Asian theme with British and American hospitality?” I said as Dae gleefully concurred. “Nothing odd about that. Ladies.” I said taking my leave.
I had no real interest in reading or watching the holos Dae
said plagued my future. I did however feel that ever creeping need to explore again. And my attentions were on that white tower. When I was a boy such exploration would have been completely unacceptable or forbidden. Things are different now; at least in my eyes. I had survived and earned some latitude from my perspective and for every question I had never been answered of the Mor’h I aimed to find them.
I made the upper floor only to find Qz waiting there for me. “Many concerns are with you Reign. I am here on that behalf.” He said in an unusually noticeable garble of words. I linked first for a change. There were concerns of my health, my strained ties to the Mor’h and newly found conflicts with my Earthen brethren as well. Mostly political and bureaucratic fears filled the messages he was aware of. Q’ua Z seemed very shocked at my quick exchange. “Sorry Qz, I just don’t feel up to jumping through hoops right now!” I said off-putting.
“The council would like to express our gratitude for your experiences. The conflict however has escalated…” He carried on and I cut him off. “I wasn’t prepared for anything that happened. I improvised over and over to what I had no preparation for, set that in motion and was swept away in the current! Where was the monitoring of anything that transpired?” I argued. “Was there a plan to stop my death? Or was I some sacrificial lamb? A peace offering on a slab!”
“Predictability, when it comes to human nature…” He started and I again stopped him. “I don’t want confusion! I don’t want tired interpretations of what you think should have happened but didn’t. Nothing can change what happened! Nothing!” Dae arrived at the sound of my raised voice. “I need time. Not prodding and platitudes. I need some time to find my place in a solution if there is one. And every day I am feeling less and less responsible or inclined to help in a mess you all started.”
“That’s not fair Reign.” Dae surprised me coming to his aid. “You need a break. That’s easy to see. We can do that.” I shrug off my angst and she has once again proven to be my center.
“I’m sorry for my outburst Qz.” He nodded in acceptance. “I need space and honesty. Either I am to be trusted or you are not to be trusted.” Q’ua Z motions to the table at a very Mor’h type device. “There is your messenger.” A voice filled the room of a mechanical sort. “Passenger Reign, our collective has struggled with your absence!”
“Hermes?” I said with a heavy sigh. “This unit has become an unruly Lo’Nor.” Said Qz with his head tilted in a near judgmental body language. “It would seem your influence spreads unexpectedly.” The three dimensional hexagon of light and panels held the Hermes matrix inside. Q’ua Z began to leave without someone noticing.
“Oh no, no!” I said fervently. “This is not a solution.”
“It is one solution Reign.” Said Qz curtly.
“Functionality has been greatly reduced. I fear we are a mind without a body.” Expressed Hermes. I looked to Dae and she merely left the room. “Reign; my collective however still remains in full allegiance to Reign’s future destinations. How might we be of assistance?” I toss a length of table drapery over the module and walk away. I pause bitterly. “Hermes?” I posit. “What does your collective know of the white tower?”
“White tower?” The Hermes matrix readdresses. “Across the Livewell Sea is an arid land and in the distance a lone spire of artificial make. A white tower.” I restated. “Reign, some histories remain mysteries to you beyond our programming.” In other words, someone has information hidden from me still. “Hermes I need information on that tower.” I insisted.
“Over-riding firewalls. Adjusting partitions. Access is limited.” Hermes paused as lights circled and cycled around the matrix. “Potential threat to functionality imminent.” The device goes dark, flickers and dark again. “Hermes?” I didn’t mean to fry the stupid thing. I am definitely going there. Whatever that tower is or what it stands for I think would go some long ways to pressuring more truthful dialogue with the Mor’h. At worst I find some answers myself.
“Honey!” I belted out. “I need a ship or some transportation.” A distant but audible reply came from below. “Honey?” She questioned. “Are we going on a trip?”
After a lively discussion, my vision quest of sorts was a mutual if begrudgingly accepted pursuit. I had not been entirely honest as to where I wanted to explore some retrospection and introspection. I know that Dae was finely aware of this but she also possessed a great obsession with unknowns. She had already traveled half a galaxy with an alien lover on little more than seconds separating completely different pathways. Bringing her attention to these things on finer points of the argument to go on an excursion of faith caused her to flush with colors rivaling the Mor’h light ripples.
“Dalia cannot get permission to venture where you so vaguely gave direction to.” Dae said triumphantly as if she now had leverage. “Therefore you, Mr. Mister; have to be more forthcoming.” Using a memorable pet-name; as she called it, from our time at Green Acres.
“I’ve been as accurate as I can.” I said fiddling with a few cables in the Duraframe Ben had so kindly left me. This technology was simplistic but when the internal chamber has limited space and so much wiring-space is limited to work, adding some upgrades was a chore. “What do you think?” I baited for praise. “That piece of equipment is oddly aesthetic.” She poked at its eyes and got very close to the face. “You said you added some changes.”
Hums and beeps and even some grinding noises followed the boot sequences. The eyes flashed on and off like robots from old black and white films. A genre called science fiction I rarely found interest in. Too close to home I suppose. I stood back as the working parts settled and jerked. All in all, the design of the frame was almost pleasing. I was reminded of an artist’s helper; the little drawing dummy I had seen in use while studying as a student. The android as it were had slightly more squared parts though. All of the wire and inner tooling were carefully hidden. It ratcheted forward once and turned with quiet sounds.
“Something is not booting up?” I observed questioningly. “What would that be? It seems to be moving freely.” Dae hovered ever closely. Her vacuum suit revealing her otherwise modestly hidden feminine wiles. “I wanted more than a shiny pack mule.” I said frustrated. “What changes did you make?” She asked puzzled.
“Reign?” It called questioningly. “Have I become animate?” Rattled a voice in need of moderation. “Clumsy but operable.” It again voiced.
“You didn’t!” Dae barked in a pitch soon to be followed by a lecture. “Was it not bad enough as an annoying table ornament! As an overtly arrogant ship!” She stamped away and sat in protest.
“We need a guide. We also could do worse than five of the greatest minds of Mor’h!” I mocked Hermes voice. “Thank you Reign.” Agreed the collective. “I am surprisingly impressed.” It voiced in near elation. “How are the systems working together? I used some Mor’h tech to improve some things.” I asked.
“This substitute rooting will suffice. I will run a diagnostic and through persistent background evaluation continue to suggest and make improvements.” The Hermes frame moved with a stuttering motion at first and then corrected to a near perfect mimicking of human motion. “I see you have replaced Earthen plastic with Mor’h polymer. Great choice.” Hermes cycled and stared in mid movement doing so. “That’s creepy Reign!” Dae chimed.
“Yes, this is an improvement in mobility.” Hermes congratulated. “Well done.”
“Good.” I segued to my next points. “I have a remote around my neck and you have a power switch on your frame under your back plate. Annoyance is at your own risk!” Dae smiled widely. “Let me see?” She motioned for the remote in fun. Hermes attention followed the motion expressionless but obviously concerned. “We shall avoid such infractions.” Answered Hermes literally robotically.
“Don’t wander to far!” I say to Hermes as he moves to the edge of the balcony placing both of his artificial hands on the ledge wriggling his fingers. For
a moment I could see Dae relent some of her disdain for the Hermes unit and feel compassionately indifferent. “About this transport issue? What is the mode of denial?” I asked.
“Dalia must be approved to take a bell craft; some necessity within her assignment. Running errands for the adventurous other’s like ourselves is not beyond her duty but she needs specifics.” Dae said while pouring some tea, yet another attempt at producing it. She nods her head and scrunches her face in near approval. “Not bad!”
“We’ve spent nearly a week waiting for permissions.” I rustled with arms folded. “Reign, don’t you think it is a bit childish to ask for the parent’s keys not telling them where the car is going?” She scolded. I stared blankly and couldn’t place the reference. “Vehicles with wheels!” She motioned a steering wheel and made wiggling motions. “Ah, humans haven’t mastered magnetic lift, that’s right.” I noted as she rolled her eyes. “Not judging!” I quickly added. “But couldn’t we just borrow a craft and maybe a…” I chortled, “a tram maybe too?”
“You’re incorrigible!” She belted. “Completely ridiculous and bull headed at times.” She had this practiced challenge down. It was all show. “But I love it! I love you and IT!” She boasted.