by G. E. Stills
“New ship?”
“The ship is a destroyer class and its first mission is to deliver us, along with two ambassadors to begin negotiations with your people, the Mistia.”
“We’re going to Ormel?” He was certain the pleasure he felt was apparent on his face.
“Yes, hon, we’re going to take you home.”
“Ah, Gina, Ormel is my home of birth, but now my home is wherever you are.”
Smiling, she took his hands, leaned in and gave him a brief kiss. “I feel the same way.”
CHAPTER NINE
“So why is there such a disparity between the technology of Earth and Teelan?” he asked.
“Long story that I will tell you when we have more time. Earth is much older than Teelan. When the old ladies, Kat, the leader, my mother Em and my aunts Blaise, Suki, Ing and Kira, were first awakened, Earth was at much the same level technology wise as you have described Ormel as being. They had a rudimentary space program, but that is all. My grandfather, one that lived millions of years ago, charged Kat with a mission. Simply stated it was to bring Earth to a level of ability to turn back a Men-gar invasion. Actually, destruction because that is what they usually do.
The largest problem was that the planet had a multitude of governments, not just one. Each nation had its own leader and many of them were opposed to a central government focused on one goal. Many consider the way Kat dealt with this problem ruthless. Maybe it was. Whenever possible within her self-imposed time constraints, Kat talked to the nation’s leaders to obtain their cooperation. Whenever that didn’t work, she toppled their governments. When individuals or groups stood in opposition, she dispatched her messengers of death. My mother, due to her aggressive nature and her abilities, is one of those messengers. Two of my aunts are also.”
His eyebrows rose. “Your Mother, that nice, humorous and seemingly harmless young woman is an assassin?”
“Don’t be fooled. My mother is very good at being one and although she hasn’t carried out a killing for a long time, my aunt Kat would only need to ask her and she would.”
“Wow.”
“Her and my other aunt’s services have not been needed for a long time.” She grinned, “The word got around that anyone that stood in Kat’s way…well they didn’t remain there for long.”
Joren’s face sobered. “So if the leaders of my government chose to reject your people’s offer––not saying they will. In fact I doubt they will–– but if they should, you would just topple our government?”
“No!” Gina took his hand and kissed it. “No, absolutely not. Ormel is a completely different situation. It is not our home planet for one. The allies we have come from planets that have been devastated by the Men-gar. They were happy to accept our offer and assistance. Ormel is different. The Men-gar haven’t discovered your planet yet. You haven’t dealt with them. However if your people choose to refuse our offer we will go away. I asked the same question, hon. I have this from the top. My aunt Kat. You cannot get any higher. She said, if the people of Ormel do not wish us to be there and to be their allies, we will go away and leave them alone.”
“I don’t think the leaders of my planet would refuse your offer. They’d be insane to do so. Hearing you say what would happen if they did refuse though is a relief.” He grazed the back of his hand over her face gently. “Of course, I’d stay with you no matter what. I love you, beautiful. You’re stuck with me for life.”
****
Gina chuckled silently. You have no idea how long your life will be my love. That is one of the reasons we’re visiting my aunt Kat.
The car left them off in front of a large, tan colored building and whisked away. “This is my aunt’s lab,” she explained.
A woman approached wearing a lab coat and carrying a message recorder.
“That’s my aunt Kat,” she whispered quickly.
After introductions, Kat said, “Joren, I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to take some samples of your blood. You’re of a new species and I’d like to analyze everything about your makeup.”
“Certainly.”
“Follow me then.” Spinning in place, Kat walked away.
“So this is the grand lady herself. I expected to find her with wings and wearing a crown, white robe and golden slippers,” he murmured.
“Shh,” Gina jabbed him in the ribs, “she’ll hear you.”
Over her shoulder Kat said, “I heard your comment, Joren. I guess you could call my white lab coat a robe. I don’t have a crown or golden slippers, but I do have wings and can fly.”
“Oh shit. She heard me.”
“Yep my aunt Kat has very good hearing.” She laughed.
“Oh shit.”
They trooped into the lab room and came to a halt in front of one of the machines. When she turned to face them, Kat was still laughing. “When we get to know each other better, Joren, I might just grow my wings and show you. Put your hand in this receptacle please.”
Joren shoved his hand in the round opening Kat indicated and moments later, she told him to withdraw it.
“That’s it. You can take it out now.” One of the robots trundled up to them. “If you’ll accompany twenty-seven, I would like to obtain a sample of you sperm,” Kat said, not even batting an eye.
Joren’s face heated. From the corner of his eye, he saw Gina hide her grin at his discomfort. You will pay for laughing at my expense later, dear. Dutifully he followed the robot into another room. A few minutes later he rejoined them still blushing.
“Let me show you around the lab while we wait for the results,” Kat said, filling the uncomfortable silence.
The three of them strolled around and Kat explained some of the various machines. A robot rolled up to her and handed her a slip of paper minutes later. She studied it, said yes a few times and I see a few more.
“Okay. Joren, I’ll have a serum developed for you by tomorrow. If you’ll return here I will inject it.”
“And just what serum is this?” he asked.
Kat glanced at Gina. “I see she didn’t tell you.”
“I didn’t want to raise his hope. Just in case, Aunt Kat,” Gina said.
“Joren, it is a longevity serum. It will prolong your life, although I’m not certain how long. At least several hundred years. All of us here have been injected with it.”
“You’re kidding me,” he said, but from the expression of her face he could already tell she wasn’t.
“No, I’m not kidding. Please excuse us for a moment, Joren. I need to speak to my niece in private.”
“Wait for me at the lab entrance. I’ll be right there,” Gina said to him.
He paced at the front entrance waiting for Gina. When she joined him, the ground transport took them to the Tormel concourse and they rode up to the space port. A short ride on a shuttle left them standing in an observation port gazing out on a new spaceship being built.
The ship they were viewing was smaller than the destroyer that had brought them to Teelan. She was solid black for her entire length. He was certain if not for the numerous flood lights focused on her, the ship would have been very difficult to see. It was of a different design than he’d ever seen or even heard Gina speak of. Sleek and deadly looking with few straight angles over her entire length.
“In a few more days the Planetary Defense ship Slayer will be finished and will take us to Ormel.”
“Nice looking ship. I’m certain her new captain will be proud of her.”
Gina’s chest swelled. “Oh she is. Or I should say, I am.”
“What?”
“I’ve been promoted. The PD Slayer is my ship and yes I’m nearly bursting with pride.”
“Damn, well congratulations. Would I be out of order if I kissed the new captain?”
“Order be damned. Kiss me, hon.”
Wh
en they parted, Gina continued, “The Slayer has an enlisted crew of ten and is armed more heavily than a cruiser.” She beamed a smile. “My second in command slot is open. I have someone in mind for the position, but don’t know if he would be interested.”
“He? Is he someone you know?”
“Oh yes. I know him very well.” She grinned. “Intimately well.”
Joren bristled in anger. “Who?”
“You, silly. That is if you want the position.”
“But, I’m not even in your military. I’m not even a member of your alliance.”
“I know, and those are details that would have to be taken care of, provided you wanted to be a part of the crew.”
“I’d be honored.”
“Do you think you could take orders from your fiancée?”
Joren teased. “I take orders from her all the time. Why would being her second in command be any different?”
She smacked him on the arm. “I don’t order you around. Not right now.”
“No comment.”
She kissed him. Breaking their embrace, she asked, “So you’d be interested? It will mean joining our military and our departure will be delayed for a bit while you go through the training program. I can pull a few strings to get the ball rolling if you are.”
“See that’s what I’m saying. My fiancée has a way of getting her wishes no matter who she has to order around.”
“Oh you.”
“Get things in action. Let’s get this done.”
****
Joren gazed around the control room of the Slayer during the moment of lull. Everything surrounding him shined, the smell of newness tickled his nose. His thoughts drifted back over the last thirty days. To say they had been intense was an understatement. It seemed like only yesterday he had been saying tearful goodbyes to Gina as he prepared to leave for his officer training school.
“You’ll be so busy you won’t even miss me,” Gina said and smiled up at him.
“No chance of that. I’m missing you already and I haven’t even left.”
Her smile widened. “You’ll see. The normal training cycle doesn’t start for another sixty days, but the mission we’re going on is high priority so your training is going to be a rush job. I pulled a few strings. Sometimes it helps having relatives in high places.”
He chuckled. “Um yes, you can’t get any higher.”
“My cousin, an instructor at the training facility, is taking you on as a special assignment. I’ve asked her to make certain you get her special attention.”
Joren glanced at the woman he loved, dressed in her neatly pressed silver and black uniform. If I had even guessed at that time what special attention meant. I certainly wouldn’t have thanked Gina for her thoughtfulness. His thoughts returned to his training.
He boarded the waiting aircar and it took him to the training facility. A trim, athletic looking woman met him when he stepped from the car.
“I’m Trish, I’ve been tasked to instruct you over the next thirty days.”
Joren employing a custom he had learned, held out his hand. She accepted it. “Pleasure to meet you, Trish.”
Her wicked chuckle caused him to raise his eyebrows.
“I’m not so certain you will feel the same thirty days from now. First things first, follow me.”
She led him into the large building and they encountered only two people as they strode down the corridor. “During session this hall would be teeming with trainees, but the next session doesn’t start for sixty days.”
She stopped at supply where he obtained a large bulging bag and bedding. They continued down the hall and entered one of the closed doors. The room inside had four beds, each with a footlocker, closet and computer station.
“This is the room you will sleep in and keep your belongings in for the next thirty days. She pointed to the clock over the door they had entered. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes which is the time you have to unpack the bag you just got, put the contents away neatly and make your bed.”
“That’s a lot to get done, if I don’t accomplish that task in the time you are allowing?” he asked with a smile.
Her face remained sober. “Please don’t test my orders, Joren. If you fail to comply with them, you will be punished. In this case each five minutes you are late translates to an extra half hour of rigorous physical exercise.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“You now have eighteen minutes before I return.” She wheeled in an about face and left the room.
“I guess you aren’t kidding.” He opened the bag and quickly started putting the items it contained away. He had just finished making the bed when she strode back in the room.
She gazed around and without smiling said, “Good you have the ability to follow orders.” Several items filled her hands. She placed two of them on the desk and held up the third. It was a sliver of metal with a silver chain attached.
“Meet your new best friend. The armed forces of Earth call this a dog tag. This one is similar in size and thickness and has your identification engraved on it. There the similarity ends. It is also a computer programmed with an extensive amount of information. A few of us, like my cousin, and your fiancée, Gina, have an AI implant, the rest of us wear these. When I’ve finished getting it ready I will let you put it around your neck.”
“For how long should I wear it?”
“For the rest of your life.” She picked one of the items up from the desk. “Turn your head.”
When he did, she pressed the front of the tool to his head directly behind his right ear. The small machine buzzed and he felt a small prick. She put it back on the desk and picked up the other item. She inserted the dog tag in a slot and pressed some buttons.
“I’m activating the computer.”
“How am I supposed to use the computer? It’s very small and I didn’t see any buttons on it.”
“You’ll see.” The unit in her hand, chimed and she removed the tag. “Put this around your neck.” He took the tag from her hand and slipped the chain over his head.
“Now, let me explain. I inserted a small microchip behind your ear. It establishes a wireless link between you and your new computer. No pressing of buttons is required, you communicate mentally. We are almost finished. I want you to say number 5,872,493 activate.”
“Okay.” He repeated the number and said activate. His mouth fell open in shock when moments later a mechanical voice answered in his mind.
“I’m computer number 5,872,493. Pleased to meet you, Joren. I look forward to getting to know you better and working for you. When you wish to communicate with me just think my number, although I suggest you come up with a name for me rather than this long number.”
“So all I have to do is think of you and you’ll answer?”
“Yes.”
“I look forward to working with you, too.”
His attention shifted back to Trish who stood waiting patiently. “Unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve talked to Gina and seen with my own eyes how much further advanced Teelan is than my home, but this…this is…unbelievable.”
“I trust then you have established contact with you new computer then?”
“Yes. Two questions. Is that just an arbitrary number or is that the number of units in operation and hence the number of military people you have?”
“All military personnel have one of these or an implant, but some non-military have them too. Yes that is the total number of units in operation.”
“I would like to rename my computer. I’d like to call him Ra-mel who is an ancient god in Ormel religion. We don’t practice the religion anymore, but I think the name is appropriate. Ra-mel is the god of knowledge. Anyway, how do I go about changing my computer so it answers to that name?”
Trish grinned. “Just tell him that is h
is new name.”
“Wow.”
“The bathroom facilities are straight across the hall from here and the mess hall, eating facility, is at the north end. The opposite from where we came in. I’ll leave you now to let you get better acquainted with Ra-mel. Enjoy today. This is the last free time you will have for the next thirty days. The workday starts at three a.m. and will last until six. You are to be in bed by eight.”
“You only allow seven hours of sleep maximum?”
“We do not waste sleep time. During that time you will be learning while you slumber.”
“You’re kidding… No, I can see it in your eyes. You aren’t kidding.”
Trish flashed him a brief half smile and after turning smartly, she left.
At three a.m. sharp Ra-mel woke him. “I like my new name,” it said. “Get dressed, the training has started.”
Ra-mel gave him instructions where to go. Trish was waiting. An hour of grueling exercises later he grabbed a premade breakfast from the mess hall and went to a classroom. He ate breakfast while she bombarded him with information.
“The first thing I want you to know, Joren, is that our computers and other machines are intelligent, but there is something far superior to them.”
She tapped her finger to her temple. “Our minds are much smarter. We made the computers and AI’s.”
Lunch was the same, a premade meal eaten while studying. At five came another hour of grueling exercise. At six the day ended. After a quick supper and shower, he fell into bed only to have Trish enter and hand him a thick book. It was titled A Brief Summary of Humans and War.
“What’s this?”
“Reading assignment. You must have it read by week’s end, then I will give you another one for next week.”
“When am I supposed to read it?”
“You really didn’t think we were going to give you two hours of free time each day did you?”
He groaned.
“From now until you graduate from this institute we own you 24/7, get used to it. Good night. See you in the morning.”
At three a.m. Ra-mel woke him to start a new day. Vaguely he remembered the computer had been instructing him all during his slumber.