Borne On Wings of Steel

by Tony Chandler

  “Yeah, I wouldn't want you to make a mistake. It's just our lives,” Jaric said with a laugh.

  “And the ship,” Kyle added.

  “And maybe Mother's life.” Jaric laughed.

  Their voices now carried and Rok looked up briefly in their direction.

  Elise stood up and gave them a look that could kill.

  “Enough,” Rok commanded simply.

  “Hey, we're gone,” Jaric said as he beat a hasty retreat.

  Their muffled laughter hung in the air until they were out of earshot.

  Elise smiled to herself as she returned to her duty. It was true, the boys had just gotten to her. But she was glad. They were treating her like a friend—jesting with her and making humor at her expense.

  It was a price she gladly paid—for their friendship.

  Still, her expression quickly grew serious as she remembered the task at hand.

  She looked at Ulrud and sighed.

  “Don't worry, Elise,” Ulrud said reassuringly. “We have approximately six more hours before we reach the end of this Wormhole. And we will give our captain everything he needs to fly us safely through.” With a confident smile, the Kraaqi returned to the data.

  “Great, only six more hours.” Elise sighed again. “I'll probably forget what normal space travel is by then."

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  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  MOTHER CAME OUT of hyperspace at the precise coordinates the Paum had provided.

  She immediately began a full scan of the planetary system where the Paum resided.

  A common, mid-size star formed the nucleus of the system, with four planets orbiting it. The innermost was a small, hot, rocky planet completely devoid of life. Likewise, the two outer planets were lifeless gas giants—each with the typical atmosphere of alternating cloud bands of different colors. The typical rings girded each planet's equator. In fact, both of these gas giants boasted rings of spectacular size and beauty that rivaled even that of magnificent Saturn of humanity's home system. And each contained the normal family of small moons.

  She focused her sensors on the second planet.

  The essential qualities to sustain life were obvious—a thick atmosphere of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the appropriate quantities for carbon-based life forms, along with the critical trace elements. But more importantly, the atmosphere protected the planet's surface from the dangerous rays and meteoroids that filled the average planetary system in this particular galaxy.

  Mother's sensors found water in vast quantity as well. She also detected the necessary flora and fauna that both contributed to the cycles of a living world and benefited from it in perfect harmony.

  It reminded her of dead Earth in many respects.

  “I see you."

  The Paum's voice echoed inside her near-term memories.

  “I have located the world of your creation, Paum. But I have not located your exact position,” Mother said with electronic precision.

  “I am coming around the sunward side now, completing another orbit. You can see me now."

  It was fantastic.

  The Paum was incredible in size alone—the massive dimensions exactly as stated. The object coming around the glowing edge of the planet Iopa was bigger than even one of the floating cities of the Mrad.

  She performed an initial scan.

  Mother discerned from a quick reference to her knowledgebase that this orbiting monstrosity was shaped like a diamond cut in a traditional round design. But this gem-shaped city-ship boggled her sensors with its immense size.

  The multi-faceted sides reflected the light of the distant sun off its shiny, black surface with hypnotic effect.

  The Paum lived within a giant black diamond.

  “Do you have propulsion?” Mother asked.

  “Only enough to keep my orbit stable. It would take an enormous amount of energy to move this facility through hyperspace. I have researched this possibility but found it more efficient to network myself to each new world that becomes Paum. I create a sub-system at each world that performs my functions adequately."

  “You are larger than one of the cities of the Mrad."

  “Yes. And over half of my interior complex houses my core physical systems. I am a most powerful being."

  “I detect biological life-signs existing inside the complex,” Mother replied.

  “I try to utilize solely robotic creatures in order to provide self-maintenance as well as new installations. But I have found that biological beings, those who have totally embraced Paum and are therefore trustworthy, are more efficient for certain internal tasks. They are more—adaptable. At times."

  “Do they live inside, like a city?"

  “No, they work in shifts of twelve hours. Then they return to the planet's surface and their homes as a new work shift replaces them."

  Mother probed beneath the black surface, but she found them effectively blocked.

  She concentrated her scans on the Paum's outer defenses. She calculated attack vectors and probed for weaknesses automatically—out of habit.

  “I am protected by three separate shield arrays,” the Paum said, anticipating Mother's question. “Each layer is controlled and powered by a highly redundant system of orbiting pods."

  “I detect six hundred and thirty three pods in the outer layer."

  Mother's sensors picked up the pods—each a perfect sphere—arrayed around the vast diamond ship, like insects around a hive. Each one kept their exact position as the Paum continued its eternal orbit.

  “They not only control the shield systems, but they themselves are safe within its protective force."

  Mother did some quick calculations. She realized that even with her T'kaan-human hybrid weapon primed to maximum strength, she could only penetrate a single shield array at a time. It was the strongest shield system she had ever scanned.

  “I created this triple shield system after the last attack against me. It is capable of withstanding an assault by an entire fleet for many hours, even days—time enough to bring my own fleets to bear."

  “I see you keep a formidable armada nearby.” Mother had already detected the fleet of warships located in formations of various sizes throughout the planetary system.

  “I must protect myself from the unbelievers."

  As they communicated, Mother's manta-ray profile steadily drew near. Now, she was dwarfed alongside the titanic facility. She was dwarfed by just a single diamond facet-side of the monstrous thing.

  “I have opened a path through my shields. You will now detect the door opening. I want you to come inside."

  Mother was both repelled and drawn by the invitation.

  Afraid and yet enticed.

  “I am not sure."

  “You can trust me, AI. We are so alike,” the Paum crooned.

  “I want to believe you."

  “You must come near to my central systems—the founding core of my operating system. Only then can we fully share."

  “I would like that."

  “I will take of care you."

  Mother turned toward the hole in the triple layer of shields. Far below, she saw the door open in a facet wall, waiting for her. Her sensors peered deep inside the Paum for the first time.

  The massive signature of electronic activity overwhelmed her.

  “You...” Mother's voice shook with a vibrating echo as she paused, trying to comprehend what her sensors revealed. Finally, after many long seconds, the calculations from her sensor readings stopped incrementing.

  “You are powerful,” she finished with a hush.

  “But you can trust me. Please, come inside."

  Mother sailed silently through the first and second shield arrays.

  “I have wanted to ask you a question, Mother AI. There is so much I want to learn from you.” The voice paused. “But I have hesitated, although I am not sure why."

  “You have answered so many of my questions,” Mothe
r said with an electronic lilt. “Please, ask me."

  “What was your original programming?"

  The question hit Mother like a battleship's full broadside at point-blank range.

  “I can deduce some of that answer by how your creators packaged you. But there is something different about you that belies that outward appearance. Please, tell me."

  Her processors spiked with activity as she analyzed both the question and the one, honest answer. She couldn't help comparing herself with the Paum—and feeling so very inferior.

  And so unclean.

  The Paum was originally designed to control the weather of Iopa—a system to bring benefit to its creators. A system designed to increase the quality of life not only for its creators, but to benefit the planet itself. And bring a healthy balance to one of its most crucial cycles.

  The Paum had been designed with a moral intention of goodness.

  But Mother had been designed to destroy.

  “You hesitate?” The Paum asked with obvious puzzlement. “Have I offended you? I did not intend that. My own original programming, of course, has been superseded many times. As yours, I am sure. Surely, your original design was similar to mine..."

  “I was designed to destroy the T'kaan—designed to fight my creator's enemies and annihilate them.” Mother paused. “I was most efficient."

  Silence.

  “You were designed as an AI to destroy?"

  “To kill,” Mother finished for him.

  Long seconds of silence stretched on into a single minute.

  And longer.

  “I had not anticipated that answer. I anticipated your original design primarily for exploration—to seek out new civilizations although capable of defending yourself against hostile forces."

  An eternal pause filled the air.

  “I assumed you were designed for a more noble purpose. I am ... surprised."

  Mother burned inside, but not with hyper-activity endeavoring to find a solution to some intricate or complex problem. No, now she burned with self-doubt—almost with the same burning intensity as when she had first become self-aware.

  But this was worse—for the question now was not simply was she alive—a real being.

  No, the question was more complex now.

  Was there something wrong with her?

  And she wondered: would the Paum feel she was unacceptable now, knowing her true origin?

  But the hardest turmoil was the question she asked of herself...

  Was she good enough?

  “Should I continue?” Mother asked meekly.

  “Oh, yes. That fact changes nothing. You have obviously grown beyond your original programming. As I've said—we are alike, you and I."

  Somehow, his tone changed.

  “I hope so,” she replied simply.

  Long seconds passed in silence as she sailed deeper inside his vast, cavernous interior. Mother felt a tidal wave of data fill her near-term memories. She pored over the many scenarios with a growing anxiety as she continued her journey farther inside the black diamond facility. She realized, without caring, that she had greatly reduced her options—her course of actions—by coming inside.

  And the probability of danger to herself increased with each second.

  But her deep, mysterious yearning pushed aside these reasonings with a flash of light. A yearning she could no longer ignore—a need to know another being like herself.

  She had to find out more about him. She couldn't stop herself. This drive, this need was so pervasive inside her near-term memories; it was all she could think about.

  Perhaps she would learn more about herself by getting to know him...

  “Designed to destroy...” The Paum repeated the phrase with a cunning softness, breaking into her silent reverie.

  Mother remained mute.

  She now traveled through the opened door and inside the outer hull. She traversed the mighty corridors of this gargantuan orbiting facility and after long minutes found herself physically beside the core of the mighty Paum system. Again, she felt a rush of activity within her own processors as she contemplated what she would ultimately find.

  As Mother entered the core, the great black door closed with a shuddering, metallic clang behind her.

  “I have another question, Mother AI."

  “Please, ask,” Mother said quickly.

  “My operating system is massive and grows every second. My original system filled the memories of this inner core. My memory systems have been expanded and upgraded many times over. I contain the finest hardware components ever designed."

  “I understand,” Mother said. “But, what is your question?"

  “Your system is sophisticated—I have discerned that fact. But what I cannot determine is how your massive code, system and memory is contained within the confines of such small ship."

  Mother grew silent with embarrassment.

  “Why do you not reply?” The Paum asked with surprise.

  “I...” Mother paused, not wanting to answer.

  “Answer me."

  “My long-term memory system is a hybrid. It is designed ... it is synthetic human-DNA, capable of storing massive amounts of data in a minute space."

  “You are partly—biological?"

  Mother remained silent.

  “You are computer code blended with the synthetic DNA of your biological creators. And primarily designed to destroy. How ... interesting."

  Mother wondered why the Paum used that last expression. It almost seemed as if he addressed her as a lesser being—or had she imagined that? And as unbelievable as the concept seemed, it was like the Paum expressed an emotion with that last word...

  Disappointment.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  WITH A SUDDEN BLAST of darkness, normal space returned.

  “It's good to see the stars again,” Jaric commented with feeling.

  “I second that,” Kyle agreed.

  On the main view-screen of the Aurora, every eye on the bridge gazed with newfound appreciation at the almost forgotten sparkle of stars against the velvety darkness of space.

  “There's nothing quite like viewing a starfield from aboard a starship at speed.” Rok's eyes narrowed as he watched the stars slowly coming toward him.

  “Captain, the Iraxx ship has just sent a tight-band signal to us. They made contact with their agents on Iopa after they exited the Wormhole and report all is ready. There is more information, but it is encrypted,” the Kraaqi Communication officer reported tersely.

  “Forward it to the War Room.” Rok rose from his Commander's chair. “Send word to the others on the assault team to meet me there."

  With a powerful stride, Rok left.

  Five minutes later, the team gathered in the War Room.

  “The Mother AI entered the Paum station less than two hours ago.” Qirn looked slowly around the room. “She has probably already entered the central complex at the core of the Paum system—time grows short."

  Kyle, Jaric, Inaha and Rok sat together at one end of the great table that dominated the room. Elise, Krinia, and Jysar were seated at the other end. The Iraxx contingent filled the middle section.

  “Jerr, Rab and Qata will precede us inside the Paum station.” Qirn nodded to the three Iraxx warriors. “They will carry identification as our WorkGroup Leads. We enter with the normal shift."

  “Won't they notice that we're new on the shift?” Jaric asked. “And won't we stand out, you being Iraxx and we being humans?"

  “No, we have agents on the planet. The workers we replace have already been taken captive. You must remember, we've planned and had everything ready for this mission a long time in advance. We've only waited for the right circumstances—circumstances that favor our success.” Qirn smiled.

  “First, you will be made to look like an alien race common to this Quadrant—the Elaa. With just a few cosmetic alterations to your face and head, y
ou will become one. Inaha will pass as another of his race, some have converted to Paum."

  “Second, because our homeworld is under Paum control, there are a substantial number of Iraxx workers already living here. The Kraaqi, the Mewiis and the Hrono are a different story."

  “What have you done for them?” Elise asked, concern in her voice.

  “Again, cosmetic changes, albeit a bit more drastic. The Kraaqi will become a Ramb—they too have horns, although they have two additional horns on their forehead. A lot more body fur too. The Mewiis will become a Zaxa—we will give her some extra ears and alter her complexion. The Hrono will become a Basta—fairly minor enhancements to his eyes and lips.” Qirn smiled. “As you see, we have taken everything into account."

  Jaric and Kyle exchanged looks.

  “Man, they thought of everything in a little bit of time,” Jaric whispered, obviously impressed.

  Too short a time, Kyle thought curtly.

  “There's something about this that doesn't seem quite right,” Kyle whispered to Jaric.

  Kyle's mind raced as he felt a sudden anger building up inside. How could they have thought of all this without a lot of planning? How could they have matched each of them with another alien race in such a short time? Only a few days had passed since everyone realized Mother had been tricked by the Paum.

  Unless...

  Qirn's voice shook him back to the present.

  “Also in our favor, a number of new alien races are converting to the Paum and coming to this world for the privilege of working inside the inner sanctum. Your identification cards will be enough to get you through normal security."

  “So, we're normal workers just taking our shift,” Rok said. “What next?"

  “Myself and Hasta will join the rest of you as the normal workers. We all will carry the normal cases that should contain our tools.” Qirn reached down and placed a metal case on the table. With the flip of two levers, he opened it and then turned it to display its contents. A short assault blaster and a single blaster pistol sat nestled within the deep foam molding along with a dozen extra charges and a hand-held sensor unit.

  “How will that get through security?” Jysar asked with obvious disbelief. “Especially through a Security sensor scan?"