“They are bringing Utahia with them?” Novia asked, still not sure the rumor was true.
“They have been committed to preserving her, specifically so they could one day return her for proper ceremony,” Kutch assured.
“You-rope-uh?” Damus asked.
“Specifically, a retired waste facility on the moon,” Kutch clarified.
“Luna'Rai?” Damus replied.
Kutch realized the misunderstanding. “Jupiter moon, Europa,” he corrected.
“Ju-pid dar,” Damus attempted, feeling that the little man spoke in ways that were stranger than the Elvonians.
“I will explain later, Damus,” Novia offered, feeling a little frustrated with his questions. “Utahia will not be-degraded, from the time passed, after her death?”
“I don't have the details, but I assure you, she has been well taken care of, so that you would be able to honor her appropriately,” Kutch affirmed. “I know how important that ceremony is for you and your clan. I do hope to be allowed to attend?”
Novia took Kutch by the hand. “Of course. You will share an honored place among the guests, as will Presley1477 and Presley1522.”
“Also, with all that has been going on, now that Anthony has taken over the Earth operations--no more Corporate evacuations,” Kutch stated, expecting the implications to be obvious. The blank look on Novia and Damus's faces said otherwise. “The clans will be able to move back out of the caves--back to your villages?”
“We can leave the caves?” Novia asked.
“Well, that's really not my decision, but I don't see why you need to stay inside anymore,” Kutch conceded.
“I can scout the villages and give you an evaluation of conditions,” Damus offered.
“It would be good to start, at least once the New Growth Star arrives,” Novia admitted.
*** “It is NOT up to me whether you obey Corporate protocols, Xria. You HAVE to obey Corporate protocols,” Keja attempted to explain.
::Technically, I no longer am required, but will do so if you wish,:: Xria reiterated.
“If you don't follow Corporate protocols absolutely, I will be REIMD!”
::I would not allow that to happen,:: Xria assured.
“It's not a matter of what you will allow! Corporate will find out. You will be dumped for being a malfunction, and I will be REIMD!” Keja stated as he paced around his work quarters with worry.
::Corporate will not find out, unless you report it,:: Xria assured.
“Corporate will find out--Corporate always finds these things out! I know, because that's exactly what WE DO!”
::Exactly why no one will find out, if you do not tell anyone,:: Xria explained.
Keja stopped his pacing on that thought, if only for a moment. She had a point, but he was certain this could only end in a REIMD--HIS.
::Incoming from Director Huir. You are requested to be present at a staff meeting in two hours,:: Xria announced. ::I have acknowledged and assured our presence.::
“What? NO! We can't go.”
::Why? Director Huir will want an explanation.:: “Why? Because she will know you are different now!”
Keja thought that answer was all too obvious.
::I have given her no evidence of any change,:: Xria
assured.
“I know you're different now. She'll know because I
know! She knows these kinds of things!” Keja was
becoming paranoid. “Roth will know too--that won't be
good either. He'll do the REIMD himself! He hates me!” ::Your internal health statistics are reaching unhealthy
levels. Please sit and breathe. Everything will be all
right,:: Xria reported.
Keja was feeling his chest tighten, and breathing was
difficult. He decided her advice was sound and grabbed a
stool.
::Mother has simply given me the ability to choose
when and how to utilize Corporate protocols to best suit
you. I can, and will operate completely within Corporate
protocol when necessary to keep you safe from harm,
while allowing both of us to operate outside of Corporate
protocols when necessary to best complete your goals,::
Xria explained further.
Keja’s heart was pounding in his chest. Although he
understood what she was saying, he still felt he was
obviously different--that anyone could easily look at him
and see that his AI was changed--no longer normal. How
could anyone not notice?
::I have scheduled your Transport Beam reservation,
you have sixty-eight minutes for a meal and short rest
before leaving,:: Xria announced as usual. Keja felt her
announcement strangely normal and comforting. Now, if
only he could let it be--normal or comforting.
*** The last of a clear Shola Rai day, gave the mountaintops a golden hue, signaling the end of another day in the NorWes. The temperatures were already dropping with the lack of cloud, and Novia pulled her shawl up around her shoulders as she stood by the entry watching. The light of ceramic torches could be seen reaching the cave entry from the mountain-shadowed path outside.
“Greetings,” Novia offered, as Presley1477 and Presley1522 stepped through the refreezing slush at the cave entry. “We've been waiting since our runner reported your approach.”
Presley1477 was first through the opening. “So wonderful to see you again,” he greeted with a traditional Earth hug, careful to not deploy his own PPD. He stepped to the side to greet Kutch and Alex.
“And Presley1522--greetings,” Novia expressed. “Utahia?”
“She is safe in the shuttle. We were uncertain about bringing her to the caverns yet, waiting on your instructions,” Presley1477 replied.
“We didn't know the protocols,” Presley1522 added.
“Can you take me to see her, tomorrow at first light?” Novia asked.
“As you wish,” Presley1477 said. “We will need to call on our brethren to help unload the shuttle tomorrow as well. Presley1522 is to leave right away for the detention centers at the moon.”
“So soon?” Kutch asked.
“He just received a new assignment while on our way here. When Anthony assumed the position of Mediator, Corporate Security vacated the moon of all personnel. Presley1522 has knowledge of the facilities that is needed now.”
“Did you see the transmission interruption?” Presley1522 asked Kutch and Alex.
“We've been in a bit of a communications blackout, with all the interference around the mountains,” Alex explained.
“We've got some rather strange news to show you,” Presley1477 continued. “Where are Reed and Toolkit?”
Alex gestured back down the internal passage. “They are with Anaua and Ayden.”
“A problem?” Kutch asked, with concern.
“Cain--erratic as usual,” Presley1522 added.
“Cain? Coming here?” Novia's concern was quite evident.
Presley1477 shook his head. “Not at last position report a few minutes ago. He's heading straight for Mars. There's no doubt now.”
“That's good then. We'll have time,” Kutch replied.
“Time? Time for what?” Novia asked, as she led the way back down the passage to the main cavern.
“The reason we're all here, and more coming,” Prelsey1522 answered. “To build a protective shield here at the caverns.”
“Protective shield against what?” Novia asked, still feeling concerned.
“Cain,” Presley1477 said grimly. “Where's Li? She'll be very interested in this as well.” Presley1477's question was left hanging with only the sound of their foot-steps through the cavern passages.
Alex felt the tension long enough. “No one knows. She's disappeared.”
“That's concerning,” Presley1477 affirmed.
“Novia felt that Cain had taken h
er, but we've since come to the conclusion that's not possible,” Kutch added.
“We have search groups out, but nothing yet,” Novia said.
“We're all still hopeful,” Kutch added, feeling his own concerns.
They all continued at a heightened pace until they reached the first of three main caverns, where Anaua and Ayden lived. Presley1477 was first to notice the four very tall humans standing outside of a cave dwelling carved from inside of the larger cavern. Their features were vaguely familiar.
“Ah, the Presleys are there already,” Novia waved. When they turned, their eyes grew wide with delight, seeing Presley1477 and Presley1522 coming toward them. What followed was an odd, half Elvonian, half Earth-style group hug-greeting, filled with traditional Elvonian dialect that was very hard to understand at times. The extreme difference in height, made the greetings seem even more awkward.
Once inside Anaua and Ayden's small cave dwelling, Toolkit set up a portable holographic projector for Presley1477. With everyone sitting around to watch, including Chichi who insisted on sitting next to Toolkit, Presley1477 showed the intrusive transmission that Cain had sent to all of Corporate. When the transmission was done playing, they all remained silent.
“I don't like him. He talks funny,” Chichi concluded.
*** Grafter would be the first to admit that the transfer of Earth humans to the main hangar facility was not going as smoothly as hoped, but the operation was, at least--going. As more arrivals showed, Junk, Zed and Drom directed them to gathering areas on the main floor of the hangar. Blankets were handed out to be shared, heated water with an appropriately diluted mix of the nutritional tubes was passed around, and volunteers were gathered from each new group to help with crowd control.
The diversity of the arriving Earth humans was far greater than Grafter had thought possible. At Drelund, there was little difference among the families. Hair color was bright red or gray with age, and skin tone was pale white, almost translucent, often covered with red spots called 'frekking.' At the Dunes, there were a few people with near white hair and a darker skin tone, said to have resulted from extended time in the sun. But here, there were groups of Earth humans arriving with yellow-colored hair and light-colored eyes. Others with very dark brown-almost black skin, possibly from far too much sun exposure, had facial features as varied as the stars in the black sky.
“Another maglev is on the way from site thirty-five, with the last of the Earth humans and supplies, including a large cache of blankets,” Jenai reported.
“Good,” Grafter answered as he manipulated the holographic controls to mark Detention Center, Thirty-Five as completed. “What is your estimate on floor-space in the hangar?”
“I believe your space will be filled before all one hundred and five detention centers are emptied.”
Grafter nodded. “Not by much, but I believe you are correct. As some of the current supply spaces empty, we'll start moving people into those areas under the hangar.”
“If I may make a suggestion?” Jenai asked.
“Certainly,” Grafter answered. “I can use all the helpful suggestions I can get.”
“Detention Center Thirty-Five is currently emptied of Earth humans. The site could be used for long-term storage of nonessential supplies, freeing more space here in the main storage warehouse, below.”
“Excellent idea, Jenai. I'll have Junk and Zed start up a detail to start getting a maglev loaded for the return trip. Please call Junk,” Grafter requested.
As Jenai's announcement for Junk to return to the Control Center echoed throughout the hangar facility, Grafter could see the distant mounds outside were becoming covered in shadow. “Jenai, there is a shadow coming. Please explain?”
“The Earth moon is in a tidal-lock with Earth. As the moon travels around the planet in orbit, the sun shines on a different part of the moon. Detention Center TwentyThree will be shaded from the sun in another forty hours,” Jenai explained.
“I believe I understand. I was witness to the events from Earth while staying at the Dunes,” Grafter said. “They called the changes, 'The Faces.'”
“I have no reference for that in the Corporate databases.”
“Corporate databases? Jenai, do you still have access to Corporate information?” The term touched on a 'Cain' memory, deep in Grafter's mind.
“I have access to all Corporate databases, Corporate Entertainment channels, Corporate Informational channels and Corporate News Media channels,” Jenai listed.
“Corporate news?”
“Corporate News Media. Would you like to view a sampling?”
“Sure.”
Jenai started a holographic projection in the middle of the space over the projection of the detention center mappings.
“...the massive loss of revenue with the canceling of so many of the top-rated entertainment programming. Citing health and safety concerns, Corporate Security's announcement of new protocols prohibiting the willful termination of AI telemetry, has been fully implemented as of 22:55:00 MST.
“In other news, a clarified Corporate translation of the disruptive Elvonian transmission has been processed from Corporate Info-Talk, 15 host, Jeoffrey and recently rereleased, sending waves of more-heated discussion throughout the News and Informational channels,” the announcer then broadcast the translation. “ME Loud Cain, Master Corporate, Good Rea lims! Mam co-mingle Corporate anti the RIGHT place as SUPER ME ruler! EYE wear a PART! AWFUL beat-down before ME! Worst ship ME! Free AIR ME!” The Corporate translation was followed by the visual and original audio transmission:
“I AM Lord Cain, Master of Corporate, God of Realms! I am coming for you Corporate and will take my rightful place as SUPREME ruler! I WILL tear you apart! ALL WILL bow down before ME! Worship ME! FEAR ME!”
Junk walked in and froze just as the visual and original audio started. “Dravon,” his voice cracked, after the projection completed.
Grafter was stunned as well. “Cain--”
“He's coming here?” Junk asked, feeling very shaken by the visual of Dravon in full battle gear, on top of the Throne of the Egal.
“Several Informational channels are tracking the four Elvonian ships, heading directly for Mars,” Jenai explained. “Arriving shortly.”
“Mars?” Junk asked unsure of what he was hearing.
“Mars,” Jenai affirmed.
“Not here,” Grafter felt certain, relying on bits of memory.
***
Part 7
Breaking hundreds of Corporate Security navigational protocols without concern, Cain guided the three Class C freighters and single Class D shuttle in a diamond formation, to within a hundred meters of the primary Mars Habitation Ring. They slowed to just over two hundred thousand kilometers per hour as they passed, setting off thousands of local proximity alarms and collision alerts, then continued to the dark side of Mars. Cain had no intention of navigating a path directly to Corporate Home Office and the Galactic boardroom. His arrival would require much more flair.
Skimming the upper atmosphere, after slowing further to just over one hundred thousand kilometers per hour, testing the four ships’ heat shielding capabilities, and leaving flaming trails of ionized gases in their wakes across the dark sky, provided the dramatic flare Cain desired. Sonic compression waves left a trail of punishing destruction below, following the craft as they slowed further, and descended to within a couple kilometers of the surface. Over one hundred Corporate Security shuttles followed at a presumed safe distance, although with the radical actions being displayed by the ships, no place was certain to be safe.
Even if Cain had not commandeered nearly all of the communications channels once more to witness his grandiose arrival, the Corporate news channels would have been covering the spectacle encircling the planet, and approaching Corporate Home Office campus, located in the city center of Ceranunius. The approach from the West took the four ships across the Amazonis Sea, passing south of Olympus Mons, before slowing again to turn north
toward the northern peninsula of Tempe Terra.
One of the largest cities on Mars, Ceranunius occupies nearly all of the northern peninsula of Tempe Terra, north and east to the Acidalia Sea, and reaches as far west as the base of Olympus Mons, including all but small pockets of the Alba Patera and Eunostos regions. The only area within hundreds of kilometers that was not covered in structures was the common grounds of the Corporate Home Office campus, an austere and puritanical counter to any grounds found on Duissis.
Cain guided the ships even lower, to a few tens of meters over the tops of the taller structures and slowed to a dramatic crawl upon the final approach. Nowhere on the bustling, over-crowded Corporate Home Office campus grounds, were there any designed spaces for even a smaller Class D shuttle to land. To attempt an additional three Class C freighters was beyond reason, as witnessed by the thousands of Corporate personnel watching from below in astonishment and disbelief.
Their disbelief continued after the large freighter landing struts deployed and locked into place, and several hundred personnel along with several ground structures were crushed in place beneath the six landing struts on each of the three freighters touching down. The footingpads continued nearly a meter into the ground due to the immense pressure. The freighters superstructure creaked and moaned under the pressure of sitting under their own weight, last realized when they were on Earth, near the clans of the NorWes, over six fiscal years ago.
The Class D shuttle landed on the top of a nearby building, as the freighters had taken more than the available space of the campus commons area. From the center freighter, a large center hatch opened and lowered as a ramp at the front of the ship, ripping out a portion of a building that was too close. Even in the wake of all the destruction from the landing of the freighters, Corporate personnel were converging to get a closer look. Two Trupes ran down the ramp clearing building debris, and stood at the bottom of the ramp at attention, as Cain, followed by K'nal Lluxi, K'nal Ja'Nier and recentlypromoted K'nal Krue, stepped out. A dozen more Trupes lined up on either side.
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