by Jacob Holo
“The funding for this came from Mars,” Three-Part said. “Part of the tech is Euro. Quicksilvers running the parts. Given how stupidly they reacted, they knew what they were carrying.”
“Who are you delivering it to?” Kaneda asked.
The captain looked at him. Black tears leaked from his eyes and floated off his face.
“Let me explain this in simple terms for you,” Kaneda said, his voice soft and calm. “The punishment for this crime is death. We will never allow another Caesar to be created and we will execute anyone who tries. You are a dead man. Your life ended the moment you decided to carry this cargo.
“However, you have two paths to that end. Tell me everything I want to know. Tell me every last piece of information you can. Betray those who trusted you with this task, and I will make your death swift and painless. You will not suffer. You have my word.
“Or submit to my interrogator. The information will be mine one way or another. She will not be quick. She will not be painless. But I assure you she will extract every last drop of usefulness from your mind. Now tell me, criminal. What path have you chosen?”
The captain’s frightened face twisted into a snarl. He sprang off the ground and lunged. Kaneda grabbed him by the throat and slammed his head against the rack. The captain’s body went limp and floated away, unconscious.
“So be it,” Kaneda said. He contacted the corvette. “Alice?”
“I’ll get my tools ready.”
“Thank you,” Kaneda said. He turned and handed the pistol back to Three-Part. “I’m sorry about that.”
Three-Part took his pistol and holstered it. “You probably saved my life. I knew crusaders were fast but I never realized how fast until just now. I’m glad you were here.”
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” Kaneda said. “I’d hate to think what would happen if they had activated this abomination.”
Three-Part nodded. He stared at the dormant micromind.
“Which brings me to the real reason I’m here,” Kaneda said. He lifted his visor, letting Three-Part see his face for the first time.
Three-Part’s eyes widened. “But you’re ...”
Kaneda nodded curtly.
“I don’t understand. Why would you handle something like this personally?”
Somewhere behind the dormant micromind, huge breakers slammed closed.
“Sir!” Viter said. “There’s something extremely powerful in the ship’s network. I had to cut our connection to the free trader to prevent contamination. I’m running scrubber programs right now to make sure nothing leaked through.”
“Thank you, Viter,” Kaneda said. “I think I see the source of our problem.”
He checked the thermals coming from the micromind and watched parts of it glow red then orange.
“Hello,” the micromind said through their suit radios. “My name is Prometheus. Please do not be alarmed.”
“It’s active!” Three-Part said, backing away.
“I know who you are, Kaneda Kusanagi. I know of your mistrust for artificial intelligence. Please let me assure you that I am no Caesar. I only wish to serve, not enslave as Caesar did. I am no danger to you. My only desires are to learn and to create. Please try to see that.”
“Nothing you say matters,” Kaneda said. “It is what you are that makes you my enemy.”
“I realize that the past has left a black mark on machines such as me, but I have no desire for power. I am a tool to be used. Please can you not see—”
Three-Part fired his pistol into the micromind until he ran out of bullets. Sparks showered from the machine before breakers cut off the power feeds.
“There,” Three-Part said. “Problem solved.”
Kaneda smiled and slapped Three-Part on the shoulder.
“What?”
“I think you’re going to fit in nicely,” Kaneda said.
Chapter 4
... establishing link ...
source: [UNKNOWN]
routing: Capitol City, Europa - TangleNet Test Hub - link_001/link_004
routing: North Pacifica, Europa - JDN Main TangleNet Hub - link_009/link_118
routing: Earth orbit - surveillance satellite JDN-SS-17 - link_001/link_002
routing: [UNKNOWN]
routing: [UNKNOWN]
routing: [UNKNOWN]
destination: [UNKNOWN]
link distance: Exact distance unknown. Estimated at 792 million kilometers.
link signal delay: 0.006 seconds
... finalizing link protocol ...
... link established ...
1: We need to talk, Paul.
2: Not now, Sakura. I’m having a very bad day.
1: What is it this time?
2: It’s these damn crusaders. Sometimes they’re more trouble than they’re worth. I’m still picking up the pieces.
1: You have my sympathies.
2: Ha! Not likely.
1: Well, it seemed the polite thing to say.
2: What do you want, Sakura? Make it quick.
1: We need to talk about the star drive.
2: What are you talking about?
1: Please don’t be coy with me. You know very well what I’m referring to.
2: Refresh my memory.
1: Paul, I’m not blind. I can put the pieces together just as well as you can. The Federacy is running a staggering number of exotic particle research projects. Did you expect none of them to leak?
2: Really? I hadn’t noticed.
1: I’ve found evidence of groups studying quick-matter, negative-matter and dark energy reactions.
2: First I’ve heard of it.
1: Special transuranic properties, antimatter synthesis, hard-matter mutability, neutronium manufacturing.
2: Yes, fine. I get your point.
1: And let’s not forget the twenty research teams working with tachyons.
2: Okay, okay. I said I get your point.
1: Then please explain what this is all about?
2: Look, Sakura. Yes, the star drive exists. Most of the projects you list have been funneling their findings and materials into making it work.
1: Then explain what the intent of this project is?
2: I would think it obvious. To travel faster than light.
1: That’s not what I mean. Why are you developing the star drive on Apocalypse?
2: What makes you think it’s on Apocalypse?
1: Paul, please. Enough with the pretenses.
2: Oh, fine. Yes, the star drive is on Apocalypse. Where else do you think the Federacy would run its tests? I’d do the same thing if it was my project. Something like that needs to be well guarded.
1: So that’s it? The star drive is on Apocalypse to keep it safe?
2: Yes.
1: And not to someday move Apocalypse?
2: What a vivid imagination you have. Why would the Federacy want to move Apocalypse?
1: I can see a great many military reasons, Paul.
2: Then let me be blunt for a change. The star drive is off limits. I will tolerate no interference.
1: But you just said tha—
2: I know what I said. Listen to what I am saying now. I have been lenient with you. I have been patient and understanding but I also have my limits. I warn you, do not test me further or the consequences for that little ice ball of yours will be dire.
1: I ... I understand.
2: Do you? Listen, Sakura. I very much want a long and fruitful relationship between us. That’s why I spared you ten years ago. I have been patient with your empathic flaws. But let me again be clear. Do not interfere with the star drive project.
1: You realize that I will never agree with your goals or your methods.
2: Give it time, Sakura. You will eventually see the worlds as I see them. You let emotions and your archaic belief in a god cloud logic.
1: There should be a capital “G” in that last sentence.
2: Cute. Look, there is no cosmic plan.
Things do not happen for divine reasons. The worlds are not shaped by supernatural beings. Unlike you, I’m not sitting around waiting for some non-existent divine entity to shape the worlds for me. I shape them myself.
1: We are not God.
2: Speak for yourself, Sakura.
... link severed at destination ...
Ryu floated above the rows of empty seats. He pulled himself along the head rests to a circular window in the passenger shuttle. Pressing his face against the glass, he tried to get a sideways glimpse of Europa. The moon was passing in front of Jupiter. Rusty streaks crisscrossed its pale, icy surface. He could already see a scattering of bright navigation lights from Europa’s orbital factories and transportation hubs.
“Home at last,” Ryu said with a smile.
“About damn time,” Toshi said. He threw a speeding rubber ball against the cockpit door. It rebounded, flew through the passenger compartment, and bounced off the door at the rear. Toshi caught the ball behind his back with a bored look on his face.
“The frigate wasn’t that bad,” Ryu said.
“Are you kidding?” Toshi said. He launched the ball again. “Two weeks in transit and I spent most of the time staring at the sickbay’s ceiling.”
“How is the new arm?”
“It’s okay,” Toshi said. He caught the ball behind his back and launched it again. “It just feels different.”
Ryu pulled his white beret out of his shoulder strap and adjusted it with his reflection in the window. He brushed some lint off the breast pocket of his white dress uniform.
Cat floated to a window on the other side. “Hey, check out the view here. We’re passing really close to Ganymede.”
Ryu joined her. “Nice. You can even see Tros City.”
“Where’s that?”
“See the white impact point just a bit south of the northern dark plain? Look for the lights.”
Cat squinted. “Oh, there! Now I see it. They call that a city?”
“Hey Toshi?” Ryu said. “Come over and have a look.”
“No thanks,” Toshi said. “I’ve had my fill of barren, gray moons for one lifetime.”
Cat pushed off the window. “So when do we get to see Matriarch?”
“Not until tomorrow,” Ryu said. “We have a meeting at Heart first thing in the morning.”
Cat giggled. “I can’t wait.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Ryu said. “How about you, Toshi? Looking forward to catching up with your girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Come on. I’m sure she’ll leap into your arms when she sees you. She’s waiting at the spaceport, right?”
“No.”
“She’s not? What’s her problem?”
“I don’t know,” Toshi said. “Something felt wrong with her last few messages. I’m not sure what it is, but I don’t want to deal with her problems right now.”
“You can always find someone else. They all swoon for men in uniform.”
“Whatever.” Toshi threw the ball so hard it burst against the cockpit door.
Naomi swatted a piece of rubbery shrapnel before it hit her head.
“What about you, Naomi?” Ryu said.
“What about me?” Naomi said, strapped into a seat with her beret pulled over her eyes.
“Looking forward to anything when we get home?”
“Not really. Just happy to be home.”
“Is your new spine giving you problems?” Ryu asked.
“My back is a little sore.”
“We could have it looked at.”
“It’s fine, Ryu,” Naomi said.
“All right. All right. Just checking.” Ryu sighed and rolled his eyes.
The intercom in the passenger cabin chimed.
“Capitol Spaceport has approved a dock for us,” the young pilot said in a sweet, feminine voice. “We’re now on final approach. Please return to your seats.”
“You realize after what we’ve been through,” Ryu said. “A few bumps before we land aren’t a big deal.”
“Uhh ... right. It’s just what I’m supposed to say. Sorry, I hope I didn’t offend you. I know you’re all badass dragons, and all that.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Ryu said.
“Right ... uhh ... one more thing?”
“Yes?”
“I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward,” the pilot said. “But could I have your autograph after we land?”
Ryu smiled. “Of course. I’d be happy to.”
“Oh, thanks! My friends are going to die from jealousy!”
Naomi kicked the seat in front of her.
The passenger shuttle swooped around the spaceport. Ryu took his seat and watched their final approach. The main hub of the spaceport was a kilometer-wide disk with craft of various sizes docked along the circumference. The giant words “WELCOME TO EUROPA” were painted in striking white English and Japanese characters against the dark blue of the disk’s hull. Ryu caught a glimpse of the elevator shaft connecting the spaceport to Europa’s surface.
After the shuttle landed, Ryu stepped into the cockpit, signed an autograph, and even posed for a picture with the pleasantly attractive pilot. He retrieved his bag from the cargo bay and joined the others.
“Hey, Toshi,” Ryu said. “I got the pilot’s SolarNet address. You want it? She’s a cutie.”
“No thanks, boss.”
The four dragons walked across a wide friction carpet to the center of the spaceport and got in line for the next elevator to Capitol City. Throngs of other travelers passed by heading for the outer docks or crowded into line behind them. Most wore colorful Euro body paints. Ryu spotted a few comrades in crisp navy uniforms, a family of Martians wearing more holograms than actual clothing, a lost-looking quicksilver in a white jumpsuit, two Lunarians in blaring pastel colors, and even a few Feddies in black business suits and ties.
Ryu and the other three dragons stepped into one of the smaller elevators. He strapped into an upright recess along the circumference. The elevator lurched and dropped like a rock. A holographic timer over the door started counting down the fifteen minute ride. The moon grew until its streaked icy surface filled the windows.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Ryu said. “Why don’t we all meet at Seven’s after we freshen up?”
“You know, that’s a great idea,” Toshi said. “It feels like an eternity since I’ve had decent sushi.”
“I’ve never been there,” Cat said. “What’s it like?”
“Good food, good drinks,” Ryu said. “It’s a classy. You’ll like it.”
“Okay. Sounds fun.”
“How about it, Naomi?”
“Maybe,” Naomi said, staring out the window.
“Come on,” Ryu said. “You know you’ll enjoy it.”
“We’ll see.”
The elevator shot through the thick ice layer surrounding Europa’s subterranean ocean. Flashes of light flicked by, providing glimpses of the thick diamoplast mesh holding untold tons of ice in check. They passed through almost two kilometers of ice before entering the black depths of the Locked Ocean. Beneath them, external lights illuminated the spherical shell of Capitol City.
The elevator braked. Capitol City swelled in size until they passed through the upper shell. After a moment of darkness, the city’s artificial daylight blared in on them. All around them stalactite towers descended from the city’s ceiling. Even more numerous stalagmite towers reached upward for an open center. A continuous column of buildings spanned the middle of the city with the red spherical Heart at the exact center.
“Finally,” Toshi said. “A proper city.”
“What do you mean?” Ryu asked.
“Lunar cities are too open,” Toshi said. “Sometimes I felt like a good jump would send me floating into space.”
“You should try a city on Earth on a clear day,” Ryu said. “All that open sky can be overwhelming.”
“No thanks,” Toshi said. “I have no desire to set f
oot on that dirtball. Give me a city protected by two kilometers of ice any day.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Ryu said.
The elevator came to a halt. Ryu and the others exited into a long hall of shops and restaurants. English and Japanese characters danced over their heads in holographic marquees. The glass floor gave a spectacular view of the city’s towers and the constant buzz of aerial traffic. Blue-painted “walkways” were provided on either side for unnerved foreign visitors.
Ryu stopped at a glass staircase leading to the parking garage.
“Let’s shoot for being at Seven’s in an hour, okay?” Ryu said.
“Sounds good,” Toshi said, taking the steps up.
“See you then!” Cat said, running after Toshi.
Ryu and Naomi took the stairs down two levels to the bottom parking level.
“Ahh, there you are,” Ryu said, spotting his cherry red Saito two-seater. Black serpentine dragons coiled around the triple fusion torus bulging out of the car’s front. He linked the unlock passcode to the car. The engine hummed to life and the running lights switched on. Powerful fans elevated the car off the ground.
Ryu and Naomi stashed their bags in the trunk. Naomi flipped herself into the car and slouched in the passenger seat. She fished in her breast pocket for a cigarette.
“Hey, Ryu!” someone shouted from the far end of the garage. The slender waif-of-a-woman ran over, waving the whole time. She’d detailed her black hair with bright red highlights and wore a formfitting spacer jumpsuit.
“Miyuki?” Ryu said. “Oh, hey! Long time no see!”
Miyuki ran up and threw her arms around him.
“Whoa!” Ryu said, laughing. “Hey, nice to see you too.”
“I saw New London on the news!” Miyuki said. She backed up and held him at arms’ length. “Did those crusaders get a piece of you?”
“They tried their hardest,” Ryu said. “But we were better.”
“I heard a lot of dragons died on Luna. You should have written! I was worried about you.”
“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll remember next time.”
“Liar,” Miyuki said with a pouty face.
Ryu shrugged. He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “Naomi and I are heading to Seven’s in about an hour. You want to join us?”