Larissa gave a smooth smile and said, “Konstantin needs some fortification for his troops. With the loss of multiceiver communication to other habitats, we cannot be certain when the Jellies may strike. We have to be prepared at any time, and I want my people to be as well armed as possible. If we only rode there we could not carry as many supplies. As it is, it will take us a good share of the day to reach Miass.”
Just as Larissa and Brinley were climbing onto the wagon, a trooper came running up.
“Constable Larissa?” He asked. He was blocky and strong looking with a medium complexion and large hands. His brown eyes were bright and cheery. The look he gave Larissa was more than just a look from trooper to superior.
“What is it trooper?” Larissa asked. “Is there a question about the gravity conduit shipments?”
“No, that is set. I… um…. I baked some small fruit pies for you and made some sandwiches for your journey.” He handed Larissa a parcel. The aroma from the parcel wafted over and covered the prior smell effectively.
Larissa took the parcel and looked back at the trooper. “That was very thoughtful. Thank you Hugh.”
Brinley was surprised to see the obvious affection in Hugh’s eyes as he looked at Larissa. The soft tones in Larissa’s reply were also unexpected.
“However I can be of service. Please do not hesitate to let me know,” Hugh responded. He then looked at Brinley as if he noticed that she was there for the first time. Fear crossed his face, and then his expression hardened. He looked back at Larissa. “Excuse me. Governor-Constable Larissa, will there be any other duties I can perform?” His voice had changed to utter seriousness.
“No, you are dismissed back to your usually duties,” Larissa commanded.
Hugh turned smartly and started to walk away. He then stopped, and twirled around. He looked down at his other hand and realized it was still holding a container. “I also brought your favorite drink… Constable-Governor…. as you ordered.”
“Indeed, that is all,” Larissa said as she took the flagon from him.
Hugh hurriedly marched away and back across the street to where the headquarters was located. At the door he turned and looked back.
“We best be on our way,” Brinley said. “Before some other suitors come courting you.”
Larissa blushed ever so slightly, but enough that Brinley caught the rise of color in her cheeks. She placed the container at her feet as she sat on the bench at the front of the wagon. The springs upon which it was resting shifted only slightly under both Larissa’s and Brinley’s light weight. The seat was designed to smooth out the wagon’s ride, and did that effectively. Larissa gave a slight flip of the reins and the poitevin began walking along, easily pulling the wagon, its cargo, and the two people riding on it.
The poitevin pulled at a steady pace and soon they had left the town of Orsk. The road passed through the farms and then entered the highlands forest which occupied the majority of entire habitat. The evergreen trees were dense, yet the road ran nearly straight.
“We could have taken a raft on the river. It runs from Lake Orsk to the cataract at Miass, and then down through Velky Weap,” Larissa said. “However, from that young woman’s reports, and our experiences in the water, I thought it best to stay on the road rather than the river. No need to give our enemy any advantages.”
“Are there functional vodnees in the river?” Brinley asked.
“Yes. However, we do keep losing a few on a regular basis. That shows there is some Jellie presence somewhere in the water system. I have requested armored and weaponized vodnees; however, the CPO has refused cooperation on that front. My engineers are working to get the Reproduction and Fabrication facility enhanced to make more things, but it all takes time.”
Several stags were standing in the road, but as the wagon approached, they lifted their antlered heads and sprang away quickly. There were occasional game trails that went off the road and into the forest. Larissa knew that there were some people who had established cabins and lodges in the forest itself.
“We have about thirty-two kilometers to travel, and that will take about seven hours,” Larissa said.
“It will be a long and drawn out time, unless we can talk,” Brinley replied.
“I do not mind silence,” Larissa said.
They rode in silence for a while.
“So tell me about Hugh.” Brinley was unsure what else to say as she did not want to think about the aliens, or the Roe, or the androids. The beauty of the evergreens around them, the birds that flew by, and the animals that frolicked as they passed made those horrors seem like they were part of a different world. She smiled a wide and toothy smile as several rabbits cavorted around on the road and then jumped over each other to dash away.
“Hugh is a trooper,” Larissa stated flatly. “His father is a trooper, and his family is loyal. There is nothing else to say.”
They sat in silence as the wagon rolled along to the rhythmic beat of the poitevin hooves.
After some considerable time passed, Larissa added, “Hugh has a romantic longing for me. I am only five years older than he is. I considered transferring him to the Governor’s district to serve under Konstantin.” Larissa’s voice was much less authoritarian than Brinley had ever heard it.
“But you did not?” Brinley added gently.
“No, I did not,” Larissa replied. “Too many bad things have happened, and his family is mostly in Orsk. They need him. He is a kind and gentle man. That is too rarely seen in someone who is also well qualified to be one of my troopers. Not long ago I would have instantly transferred him for impertinence, perhaps to perimeter quarantine duty or some other remote post. Now things are different.”
“Yes, things are very different,” Brinley said and nodded.
Larissa did not reply. So they continued to ride in silence.
After some time passed, the highlands forest looked unchanged. Brinley pulled out her multiceiver. “Have you linked to Doctor Chambers?”
“That switch, the one on the side of the multiceivers customized by the AI Tiffany?” Larissa asked, without answering the question.
“Yes. I had an interesting interaction with Doctor Chambers,” Brinley said. She was unsure why she had asked Larissa, or what she wanted to say about her own conversation with Doctor Chambers, but the silence had been annoying her. “It is a fascinating design and program. It has the semblance of a sophisticated artificial intelligence system, yet I have no idea where the memory core, or Atomic Level Processor is located, or even if it has one. Did you try that?”
“I investigated the multiceiver fully before utilizing it. In fact, two of my troopers were the initial ones to activate those special connections. I was uncertain of the origins of that multiceiver, especially since the CPO has been rather cunning in undermining my attempts to defend the Vanguard. This latest interference, with the prohibitions on the links the multiceiver can make will greatly hinder our defenses.”
Brinley realized that Larissa had again spoken around the issue of her having a conversion session with Doctor Chambers.
“Larissa, could we use Doctor Chambers as an intermediary to contact Paul or Gretchen?”
“Have you tried that? It is a suggestion that merits further study,” Larissa replied. “You are the mechanic, what do you think?”
“The technology is from Dome 17, and that seems to be outside of the CPO control. The Jellies also might be unaware of that system,” Brinley replied. Her mind was reviewing what she knew of Dome 17 technology.
“So ask Doctor Chambers, he is pleasant enough,” Larissa stated. That comment revealed that Larissa had spoken to Doctor Chambers.
Brinley pulled out the multiceiver and activated the switch for Doctor Chambers.
The display showed Doctor Chambers sitting in his office. He was holding a brightly polished pan flute in his hands. Its twelve pipes were of various lengths and he had the instrument up to his lips. A very lively yet soothing music was coming fro
m it.
His short and curly hair was tight to his head, and his expressively kind light-brown eyes looked up from the flute at them. His dark face split into a smile as he pulled away the pan flute and said, “This is an unexpected pleasure. Brinley and Larissa, nice to see you both. How can I be of assistance?”
“Doctor Chambers can you assist us in contacting Paul and Gretchen?” Brinley asked.
“Client confidentiality is very important to me. Is this an emergency or something of that nature?” Doctor Chambers asked.
“Our need is certainly urgent. The means of contacting them has been compromised, and since you are a construction from Dome 17 technology, I thought you could help us,” Brinley stated.
Doctor Chambers chuckled a bit. “I am a product of Dome 17 technology since the ova and sperm that came together to make me was carefully screened for gamete compatibility and then the baby I once was, was nurtured in an extracorporeal nursery unit. However, I think you are referring to the fact that now, despite how I feel, I am a constructed simulation made by the artificial intelligence system Tiffany. Is that correct?”
“So can you connect us to Paul and Gretchen or not?” Larissa said forcefully.
“Aw yes, Larissa. Straight to the point as always,” Doctor Chambers stated. “I cannot initiate a conversation with Paul or Gretchen, or with either of you as well. At least I do not know how to do that, or if it is possible. The client must make contact. That being said, I am not opposed to relaying a message to Paul or Gretchen when they next come to my office.”
“They do not come to your office,” Larissa barked back. “I assume you are speaking metaphorically, or using a wider range of definitions than I would use. So yes, we need you to serve as an intermediary. When Paul or Gretchen contacts you, please inform them of the fact that the multiceivers have been compromised, and our most secure method will be to leave messages with you. Shall we say we will contact you again in six hours? That way we will have a schedule for these contacts?”
“Agreed,” Doctor Chambers stated. “I will relay that message, if they contact me.”
Brinley had a puzzled look on her face, but then said, “Doctor Chambers, where is your physical location?”
“I am here in Dome 17, in my office.” He looked around and spread his hands out wide. He set the pan flute on his desk.
“That is where the display simulates your location, where is the memory core? Or are you empowered by an Atomic Level Processor? Where is the ALP? Is it Tiffany’s ALP that gives you life, or does it come from a Vanguard system? If so which AI on the Vanguard is it?”
“Brinley, I have no way of knowing. Those questions are for Brink, or perhaps Willie. I can ask them when I see them next, but I am not an engineer, a mechanic, or a technician.”
“So you are just a mindless program running in its own illusion of reality?” Larissa chided.
Doctor Chambers’ smile grew bigger. “Larissa, you are always consistent. I am glad I am not your enemy. That is absolutely right. Honestly, you two make an unlikely alliance, but a powerful one. You are both experts in your own realms, and both driven to succeed. The fact you have not tried to kill each other recently is a testament to the character and strength of each of you. The two of you are wonderful people for me to meet and get to know. The population of Dome 17 is too structured and too….”
“Back to the physical apparatus. If I can locate the ALP or the memory core, or whatever it is that is your physical base, I may be able to reprogram your system. You could then initiate contacts, or serve in greater ways,” Brinley said.
“Brinley, I can see that your mind is already disassembling me from the inside out. It is kind of creepy, to tell the truth. I am happy like I am. I do have limitations, as we all do, but I am pleased with myself. Now I will pass along your message, and any responses Paul or Gretchen offers, but I ask you to consult with me prior to doing my vivisection. Is that unreasonable?”
“Can my wagon refuse to let me change a wheel or refinish the upholstery?” Larissa asked. “If I field strip my handgun, does it get a say in how I reassemble it?”
Doctor Chambers laughed and laughed. “Larissa, you are priceless. You bring a high point to my day. I know this is a serious time on the Vanguard, and I am not intending to demean that in any way. So please inform me of when you change my wheels, or reupholster by furniture.”
“I do not intimidate you for a moment do I?” Larissa asked with just a hint of a smile.
“Larissa, I am certain you are capable of anything,” Doctor Chambers said in utter seriousness. “I also know a bit about where your heart lies and what is behind everything. With Brinley here, it is probably not good to delve any further into that matter, but come and see me anytime you wish. My office is always open to you. I honestly enjoy your company.”
“We will check in with you at the appointed time. Thank you,” Brinley said.
“See you then,” Doctor Chambers stated.
Brinley shut down the link. She was uncertain what to say about Larissa’s interaction with Doctor Chambers, so she spoke of the communication plan. “I think that might work, Paul and Gretchen may get our message.”
“I agree. You are resourceful and inventive. It was a good plan, and well worth the attempt,” Larissa was pensive for a moment. “It may very well bring positive results; however, I just hope the CPO and Jellies do not figure out more ways to squeeze us. The Jellies are relentless and I just cannot see the specifics of their goals. To put it bluntly, the only discernable goal of the Jellies is extermination of the human population on the Vanguard.”
“And the CPO does not even recognize what the Jellies are doing,” Brinley replied.
“And an artificial intelligence can only do what it is programmed to do,” Larissa recited the idiom. “In this case, the CPO is blind to the true threat and actually is enabling the destruction of the Vanguard. That will stop when my plan succeeds. I am more determined than ever to see this happen.”
They rode onward in silence.
“That is Miass up ahead,” Larissa said as they exited the forest, but continued following the road. The farmlands around the town were different than Brinley remembered from her previous visit. The road approached Miass from the opposite side of the canyon.
There was a glimmer of rose color reflecting off the tallest building. It was not made from permalloy, like the majority of the roughly one hundred buildings around it. Rather it was made from cut and stacked stone. Each stone was uniformly consistent in size and shape and were various shades of pinkish red color.
“The Governor’s Palace is still quite a sight,” Brinley remarked.
“The last time you and I were here it was a very different situation. Again, I would go back and change things and make different decisions if I could,” Larissa said.
“So you would not murder Governor Muravyev?” Brinley said. “Or murder my friends and the people I knew?” She could not keep the bitterness from her voice.
“The official story is that smugglers murdered our former Governor,” Larissa answered. “You and I both know that is not true, and I would change things to not blame the Free Rangers for his death. That was part of a serious of events which, looking back in hindsight, I know now were very unfortunate. I regret the deaths I caused in the Free Rangers, for that I am sorry. However, I do not regret Muravyev’s death.”
Brinley’s anger boiled up, “I have been trying to understand all this, and we have had to work together, against a common enemy. But coming here, and seeing this place, I just do not know how this can work. I cannot forget.”
The wagon was rolling through the streets of Miass. Larissa directed the poitevin to pull it around a corner and head directly on the main street leading to the palace.
“Brinley, you have done far better than I would have done in your place,” Larissa said. She turned and looked directly into Brinley’s face. “You are a much more honorable person than I am. Again, I know that nothing I can
say will make up for what I did, but I was wrong. I should...”
Larissa’s chest shook and then bubbled in bright red soaking her clothing.
Blam. The gunshot echoed off the buildings all around Miass.
Larissa’s back exploded as the bullet exited out of her. With it came a huge gushing fountain of blood, bone, and tissue. Larissa’s hand was still gripped tightly to the reins, otherwise she would have toppled over the wagon’s seat back.
“Larissa!” Brinley screamed.
The poitevin reared upright and ran away in panic. The wagon was bouncing all over, heading directly down the street and toward the palace.
Blam. Blam.
Brinley ducked down, but fragments from something struck into her clothing.
People came running out of the houses, and stared at the sight of the donkeys running with the wagon whipping behind them, Larissa slumped over and Brinley tried to keep both of them from flying out of the wagon.
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 154