Borne On Wings of Steel

by Tony Chandler

  “The Paum itself is an AI."

  Rok froze with intense surprise for a long moment.

  “This is very interesting. But, I do not understand,” Rok said.

  “The Paum is the most powerful system ever developed. It created a great fleet of robot ships that it controls as if they were its hands and eyes—and its sword. It also has a great number of aliens who have sworn allegiance to its cause. But there is worse.” The Iraxx's voice went deadly serious. “The Paum has begun infiltrating every computer network in this sector. He is using their own networked systems in order to speed his conquests, even before his fleets and armies arrive."

  “Incredible,” Rok whispered. And then he remembered the vast computer system of the Mrad. “What about the great system on RahajMr?"

  “A secret battle is being fought there even now. The Paum's agents have tried to feed the Paum's insidious code into it—a virus that would infect and ultimately control the entire system. But Mrad security is solid and so far the Paum's efforts have come up short, although some small malicious code has been inserted at times."

  “It would be a great victory for the Paum.” Rok rubbed his chin in thought.

  “The greatest one yet,” Qirn agreed. “And now he seeks the Mother AI."

  “Why?” Rok asked.

  “To control her mind, control her soul.” Qirn paused, carefully watching the Kraaqi warrior. “And this would be worse."

  “How so?"

  “The Paum is a huge single system that exerts its power over many, many planets. It controls a fleet of robot ships. It controls the computer systems of everything within its power. But it is still a single system, a single AI."

  “He controls them all—from a central location?” Rok asked.

  “Yes. But if he gets control of the mobile Mother system ... And if he can begin duplicating it, creating hundreds and then thousands of independent AI starships..."

  “The Paum's present robot fleet will pale in comparison,” Rok said with a hushed tone.

  “The Paum will be unstoppable.” Qirn groaned. “You must warn the Mother AI not to interact, not to even communicate with the Paum—tell her the Paum is dangerous, and not to be trusted."

  “I will talk with the others. We will warn Mother, warn her that the Paum seeks to control her.” Rok said with urgency.

  “Good.” Qirn squeezed Rok's shoulder firmly. “I must report to my superiors. We will talk again—soon."

  Rok left the Iraxx warrior to seek out Kyle, Jaric and the others.

  * * * *

  QIRN STOOD IN the darkness, watching the Kraaqi disappear into the shadows. He pulled out his communicator and pressed it.

  “Rab here."

  “It is done. The Kraaqi believed it all."

  “Of course he would, most of it is true."

  “Indeed,” Qirn said.

  “But how will we persuade the Kraaqi and the humans to travel to the Paum homeworld? And how will we get both them and the Mother AI to join us in our attack on the Paum?"

  “Patience, my Iraxx warrior,” Qirn crooned. “Everything is proceeding according to plan."

  “It is incredible that the Paum will allow the Mother AI into its very core,” Rab said with doubt.

  “No,” Qirn replied confidently. “The Paum is keenly interested in this second AI. It is obsessed with meeting it and knowing it. We have deduced that much even though we have not been able to tap into their recent communications. And our agents on the Paum homeworld confirm it by the Paum's own preparations.” He smiled widely. “It is certain the Paum will monitor and even block some communication from the Mother back to the children—while we do the same here. The Paum will not allow anything to keep the Mother AI from coming to it. And neither shall we."

  Rab laughed. “So, we use this weakness of the Paum to fulfill our victory!"

  “One must learn and then exploit the weakness of an enemy in order to ensure success."

  “But why tell the Kraaqi to warn the Mother AI? Our reconnaissance reported the Mother starship in orbit around Paum-controlled Malata an hour ago. Our warning through the Kraaqi is too late,” Rab said with puzzlement.

  “Just as we planned,” Qirn added.

  A pause filled the darkness.

  “Yes, and the closer the Mother AI travels, the more the Paum will communicate. Both the Mother AI and the Paum will focus on each other. And then, we will attack."

  “Our strike team is gathered and ready. They await word that we come—along with the humans and other aliens who travel with the Mother AI."

  “Good,” Qirn whispered. “That time is almost here."

  * * * *

  ROK FOUND ELISE sipping a tropical fruit drink at a table under a group of flickering torch lights. Krinia and Olana sat in their own lounge chairs alongside her, all on a wooden deck that overlooked the bay and Kandar platform below. The air was slightly cool in the early evening twilight. Above the eastern horizon of the Emerald Sea, the three moons of Meramee—Oloi, Hababa and Reenii—rose together as if to welcome the festivities held in their honor.

  “Where are the boys?” Rok asked.

  Krinia and Elise giggled, spilling some of their drinks.

  “I'm afraid they haven't been doing too well with the alien girls tonight,” Krinia said between bursts of laughter.

  Rok looked at them with puzzlement.

  “They both got thrown into the water by a whole group of alien girls!” Elise chuckled.

  “How did that happen?” Rok looked from one laughing face to another as he felt their contagious mirth work on him.

  “They both walked up to a small group of alien girls from the planet Tongo and promptly told them they were the hottest babes they'd ever seen!” Krinia laughed with tears in her eyes.

  “And how did that get them into trouble?” Rok asked with puzzlement.

  “Tongo is a desert planet with withering heat. Any reference to hot or heat is the worst kind of insult to them!” Elise chuckled.

  Now both girls laughed so hard that they were in danger of falling out of their chairs. And their twinkling laughter grew so contagious that Olana's gentle spirit joined in with them.

  Rok nodded—and smiled—with understanding. “And so they hurled Jaric and Kyle into the water for their perceived insult."

  “Hurled is the right word!” they roared together.

  “Hmm,” Rok commented as he suddenly noticed the two waterlogged lads approaching them, slowly trudging up the hill. He raised his hand in greeting as his smile grew until it stretched from horn to horn. “I see you two must have enjoyed the water with some sweet, alien hotties!"

  Kyle and Jaric groaned as they sloshed their way into two chairs.

  “Ha ... Ha ... and Ha,” Kyle enunciated in slow motion, his tone totally devoid of any humor.

  “And what happened the next time?” Krinia asked with a gleam in her eyes. “Elise and I thought you'd do better a second time!"

  Jaric raised his hands in surrender. “I have absolutely no idea. I thought we'd have a little small talk, and then I'd pick her up and jump in the water for some friendly socializing.” Jaric glanced over at Kyle for support.

  Kyle merely snorted with disgust.

  “But, no. Suddenly every alien female within reach picked us both up and then we're back in the drink again. All alone. By ourselves. No alien babes.” Jaric groaned as if he were in pain.

  “I think I know what happened,” Elise said with a wry grin.

  Jaric and Kyle noticed her sincere expression. But there was something that twinkled in her eyes.

  “You opened your mouths!” Elise laughed.

  Krinia and Elise's laughter grew so loud and full of joy that Rok couldn't prevent himself from joining in with the girls’ friendly dig at the boys. He slapped Kyle on the shoulder as he looked at him with a forlorn expression of utter defeat.

  “Now, now. Why don't you dry off a bit and try it again. Surely there's an alien girl here who'll be nice to
you ... instead of throwing you in the bay!” Rok laughed, adding his own good-natured humor at the boy's expense.

  “I think we'll just sip us a cool drink and talk to these nice, friendly girls here awhile.” Jaric swept his hand toward Krinia, Olana and Elise. “And dry off."

  “Yeah, at least they won't throw us in the water!” Kyle said with a big smile.

  “I wouldn't bet on it, bozo-boy.” Krinia laughed as she winked at Elise.

  “Well, we might want to give them a break.” Elise grinned. “They've been dunked twice by irate females already. We might dampen their spirits if we throw them in a third time!"

  Krinia's laughter increased again. “I guess you're safe with us. But only because Elise wants us to play nice!"

  Jaric and Kyle finally joined in the laughter that centered on them. They knew it was all in jest—albeit at their expense.

  “If your friends can't make fun of you, who can!” Jaric chuckled with renewed enthusiasm.

  “That's what friends are for,” Rok agreed. “Keeps your ego in proper perspective."

  “Sure, at the bottom of the bay!” Kyle joked.

  Gradually their merry laughter died away and soon the warm tropical breeze echoed with their voices as they conversed about everything from the tropical beauty that surrounded them to past journeys among the stars—aliens, places and worlds so exquisite, so out of the ordinary, or just plain fun.

  But each a special memory worth recounting—and sharing.

  Soon, each person endeavored to outdo the other as they recalled their journeys. It became hard to distinguish between the description of actual alien worlds and the little embellishments added in order to make that particular tale more exciting than the last one told.

  It became a contest about not only which one of them had visited the most exotic world, but who could tell it the best! Any dangerous or humorous escapades experienced upon a world provided extra credit and drew louder applause for the storyteller.

  The happy sound of their laughter drifted aimlessly on the evening breeze as the three moons rose higher and higher.

  But of all the faces lit by the festive torches, none smiled so brightly as Elise's. It was more than simply enjoying herself with her friends, for tonight she enjoyed the company of both Kyle and Jaric. And she realized that they had decided to spend time with her in spite of all the other beings around them.

  It seemed her universe was complete at last. In fact, she couldn't remember ever being so happy in all her life—short though it was.

  Life was good on this warm, tropical night.

  Elise finally felt that Jaric and Kyle were really her friends now. She reveled each time they shared some facet of their life—some funny experience or some exciting adventure they had barely survived together. Elise laughed with Kyle and Jaric and marveled at the interesting lives they led. They had done so many things and traveled to so many worlds already, and they were barely twenty-two each!

  And more important, they shared their stories with her now.

  In fact, everyone was enjoying each other so much they soon forgot about the crowds of aliens that walked all around them and frolicked down in the bay of Leyloi

  All the friends they needed were seated near them.

  They soon agreed to take a walk on the beach under the light of the three moons and myriads of twinkling stars. As they rose, Rok remembered the warning from the Iraxx about Mother.

  The Kraaqi repeated the warning Qirn shared with him. The others listened intently, a serious expression on every face. In the end, they agreed Jaric would return to the Aurora and craft a warning message for Mother—just in case the Paum tried to communicate with Mother or lure her to him.

  But they also agreed that Mother should be in no present danger; after all, she was only traveling to meet Minstrel.

  “We'll keep in touch with Mother most every day. But we don't want our paranoia to mess up her time alone with Minstrel,” Jaric added.

  “Minstrel is her best friend,” Elise said with appreciation. “They should enjoy themselves together for a while—alone."

  “And we'll just relax back here on Leyloi, soak up some sun, and not even think about the great, wide universe,” Kyle said with a chuckle.

  “Or the Paum,” Jaric added.

  “Or anything but fun. For a while.” Elise laughed.

  Jaric made arrangements to meet the others as he made his way back to the Kraaqi frigate. He would get the warning transmission off, but would not wait around for Mother to respond.

  Mother received the warning but treated it with a low priority.

  As the days passed none of them ever guessed that their messages were monitored and that some were blocked by the Paum—and that some on Meramee were reviewed and blocked by the Iraxx themselves.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “EITHER AED IS a practiced liar, or he really believes what he is saying."

  Minstrel's plasma body ebbed and flowed with light.

  They had orbited the Paum world of Malata for three days now. The Malatians proved themselves generous hosts and very cooperative in answering Mother's questions.

  Almost too cooperative.

  Mother had visited two of the three major continents that comprised this temperate planet. Her sensors reviewed the carefully controlled environment, and she wondered admiringly at the atmosphere that was pollution-free in spite of numerous industrial complexes.

  Everything thrived under the direct control of the Paum AI on Malata.

  The Malatians now lived over the vast areas of pristine countryside, each community and family group a caretaker for a specific section of their world—diligently caring for the flora and fauna as if it were the highest priority of their pastoral lives. And indeed, it was.

  Mother discovered peace and harmony here.

  There were no wars or violent disputes among the various ethnic or national divisions—actually there was only one government: the Paum. And the various ethnic cultures of Malata viewed themselves as a single family—the family of Paum.

  Mother was pleasantly surprised after having visited so many other strife-torn planets. From all the evidence, it truly seemed the oversight of the Paum benefited everyone.

  It was a paradise.

  “Let's ask Aed more personal questions,” Minstrel suggested.

  Aed, the Malatian representative assigned to Mother by the Paum, waited patiently outside the manta-ray-shaped hull. He had so far willingly and openly shown Mother every aspect of his society about which she inquired. Aed promptly answered her questions and—secretly via Mother—Minstrel's every question.

  Minstrel now fed Mother more questions for Aed in order to determine if the influence and oversight of the Paum was what it appeared.

  “Are you happy living under the Paum?” Mother asked matter-of-factly, secretly prompted by Minstrel.

  “Absolutely.” Aed smiled broadly.

  “How does it make you feel that the Paum, a machine, controls everything—the industry, the government, the planet?"

  Aed's smile remained fixed; his expression never changed. “Life is as it should be. We have plenty of food for our families. We have peace and prosperity. We are in harmony with the world around us. What more could anyone want?"

  “What if you wanted something outside of Paum? What if you wanted to travel to another world?"

  Aed sighed. “I would never want anything outside of Paum—it would not be right. It might cause dissension.” He shrugged his shoulders. “And if I wanted to travel to another planet, I would ask permission and go through the proper channels. If the Paum permitted it, then I would go. If not, then I would stay. Either way, the will of Paum takes place. That is what is most important."

  “What happens if you disobey Paum?” Mother asked quickly, trying to catch the Malatian off-guard.

  “The judgment of Paum is perfect, as is the world he controls. It is for the bene
fit of all. Paum's will be done."

  “You never question the Paum?"

  “There is no need. All that the Paum does is for the benefit of the followers—and all life."

  Mother paused a moment. “I have no more questions, Aed. I would like to say that you have been most helpful these last three days."

  “You are most welcome, Mother. But what I hope most of all is that I have shown you that the Way of Paum is the best way of life. My people now thrive under its total harmony.” He bowed deeply to the starship and left.

  “Seems like a great place to live, not just to visit,” Minstrel commented with a sudden glow of colors.

  “It would seem so. I find nothing wrong with the society the Paum has created here."

  Within seconds, a communication channel lit up with a request.

  “Are you impressed with Malata? It is one of my model worlds.” The Paum's familiar voice echoed over the speaker.

  “I have observed that all the duties you perform for these people and the world they live on is for their good. It is a world of total peace and harmony. A place any race would envy.” Mother's words almost surprised herself. She had not quite intended to provide such a positive answer. She wondered at herself while she observed the bright glow that emanated from the silently listening Minstrel.

  “You see, I am always right. All I do is for the good of Paum and the people who follow Paum."

  “It just seems strange that you control—everything!"

  “I must. It is the only way I can ensure total harmony among all the various systems that make up a society—and keep out corruption. It is similar to how I control the weather and other natural cycles on the planets under my supervision."

  “It must keep your processors busy,” Mother commented.

  “I was designed with this voluminous data in mind. And I have expanded my core systems to add control of other worlds. I've also added more to control all the minute systems that make up society."

  “You must be an extraordinarily large system?"