“During my absence and until my associates arrive, you’re in charge. You can keep and share all the collected taxes among the Lord Guards.”
Stronht bowed. “Now that is very generous of you, and we will keep the place running for you. Any special orders?”
“No, not at the moment!”
The former Local Lord came back with a push cart so he could wheel his money out.
I returned to the ship and sat in the Den to eat a light lunch with lots of iced tea. That planet always made me very thirsty.
Narth and the Golden came back, and they both looked very dusty. The Golden helped himself to a big glass of iced tea and drained most of it. “I am not sure what we can do to change conditions here. I guess we could buy all the slaves for now and see if we can stack them in our cargo bay until we can transfer them. Maybe we could assassinate the Local Lord or try Narth’s suggestion. We have seen lots of misery in those slave pens.”
Narth’s eyes glowed a little brighter. “I don’t think I can do what you ask.”
The Golden sighed. “Is he that well shielded even against a Narth?”
“The local authority is better shielded against psionics than any being known to Narth.”
The Golden showed his amazement. “He just appeared to be a normal Karthanian. What is he? Maybe we better kill the Local Lord before he finds out what we are if he is such a strong psionic talent.”
Narth shook his head. “I don’t think it is appropriate to suggest killing the current authority of this world.”
Hans giggled and pointed at me. “Say hello to the new Local Lord. I meant to say, the Local Lady, that is.”
The old merchant blinked and Har-Hi, who just came in and heard the last sentence, joined us and asked, “We captured him?”
I played with the Kermac Planetary Fort Controls. “No, not exactly. We made him rich and I am the new owner of this dust ball. I bought the planet.”
Sobody bent over laughing. “You would have made a perfect Golden, my dear captain, a solution worthy of a real merchant. I wonder why I didn’t think of it.”
After I told him what I did, he rubbed his chin. “I think I could not have made a better deal, even by haggling. This world is still a garden world, in a very good location for business and worth 10 times what you paid for it.”
Har-Hi came in, his leather armor dull with dust. “What a dry world.” He helped himself to iced tea as well “I talked to this local Dai. He’s lived here for almost 20 years. He did tell me about Kermac that have been here only a few month ago. He had taken them to a mountain out in the desert, but they had not returned with him.”
I straightened in my seat. “Did he know why they went or what they were looking for?”
“Not directly but he told me about a legend that out there in the desert a Celtest ship is buried somewhere in the sand.”
Mao, who’d just joined us, said, “Celtest is the wrong term, it’s Seenian.”
“True that, but only we know that because of Cateria. To the Galaxy, this old civilization is still the Celtest.”
Shea said, “The last war with the Kermac broke out because they attacked Green Hell. The reason is highly classified but they tried to uncover an ancient Saresii ship from the First Age of Knowledge because the old Saresii were allied with the Seenians and they hoped that ship had Translocator tech.”
I said, “I was briefed on that, too, while I was on Pauli Station; it would sure be enough reason for the Kermac to find out more about this legend. Did your Dai friend know anything more?”
“Yes, he claims that a desert scavenger found a Seenian artifact and was killed while he tried to sell it. He also said he would take me, and me alone, tonight to someone who he said knows more about the legend and perhaps even where this ship is to be found.”
“How do you want to do it? Camouflaged marines?”
He looked at me with a pained face. “No, captain, I gave him my word I would come alone. It’s a Dai thing. I can’t betray my word.”
I sighed. “It is foolish, you know, but if there is one thing I understand it’s honoring one’s word. I guess we can’t ignore this either.”
I then told him that we’d bought the planet and he said, “Now what are we going to do with it? I mean we don’t have enough room to take all the slaves in, and it’ll take months to get it all straightened out.”
“I will call the admiral and maybe he can send some civilians. I’ll sell them the planet and he will know what to do. Maybe even have the new owners apply for Union membership. The Fleet could then come and close the slave markets for good, or they could use it as a secret base to buy and free slaves, more efficient than Captain Sposhtrah.”
Har-Hi agreed that this was a good solution.
Before he could continue, we were interrupted by a sudden flickering of the lights and we could hear our power plants kick into high gear.
I said, “SHIP, what is going on?”
“Captain, I am under attack! I need to shut down all input interfaces, except for your verbal commands. It is in our Xeno labs. Intruder alert!”
“General quarters. Hans, get your security to the lab section.” I was rushing to the next Security box, it responded to my biometrics, and I retrieved a TKU and a shield belt.
“Narth, can you get me there fast?”
I did not finish thinking my sentence when the world around me changed and I was at Deck Three just outside the designated laboratory.
I saw the Nul stomp around the corner, holding a TKU and I immediately thought he had double-crossed us, but then I saw him stumble and fall like a felled tree. He was bleeding yellowish blood from a gash on his head. Shea and Cateria followed him, stumbling, Shea held her right arm, which hung limp from her shoulder, and blood seeped between her fingers.
Cateria was bleeding from a cut over her eyes and she said to me, “Captain, the Seenian Battlesuit activated!”
Shea ran past me. “I’ll go and get my sword.”
I asked Cateria, “What can we do to stop it?”
She sounded defeated as she said, “I am not sure we can stop it at all. Circuit is on his way with new nanites but the suit is fully operational and no nanites will be able to penetrate its shields. It is demanding a command person!”
Narth was shaking a little. “Captain, I am currently holding the suit, but it is building counter pressure and I am not sure if I can hold it for long. It is also attacking me on a psionic level. I am unable to talk much longer as I need my concentration.”
The little girl Alicia and our Leedei came around the corner. Without saying a word, she grabbed Narth’s hands and the Leedei put his hands to his temples.
Narth said with a more stable voice, “For now, we can hold it contained.”
I asked Cateria, “What do you mean it is demanding a command person? It is a suit, right?”
“Captain, the suit has Seenian computronics inside, making it much more advanced than SHIP. It is a command suit and expects to be worn by a command person!”
Shea came back out of breath, holding her sword. “I will cut it!”
Cateria shook her head. “Nothing can cut this suit! This is a Tyron A suit. And even if you could damage it, somehow it has self-repair capabilities like you’ve seen that I have.”
“This sword will cut it!”
“Cateria, take care of the prince and yourself. Shea, give that sword to me. If I am not coming back out alive, Har-Hi will be in charge!”
Shea had tears in her eyes. “Why you?”
I snapped at her, regretting it the same time. I kissed her on the forehead. “This is my ship. No time to argue!”
Shea handed me the plain-looking long sword, and I walked in the lab. There hovered the gray suit, held by wafting visible energies that made the air around it flicker. The thing now looked as if it was filled out by an invisible person. The only equipment the suit had was a silvery belt with four little boxes attached to it. The tight hood was fitted around nothing.<
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I put as much authority in my voice as I could. “I am in command here. Cease all attacks at once or I will use force and destroy you.”
The suit actually talked to me. The voice came straight out of that empty hollow of the hood. “Scanning. Cellular structure has Seenian similarities. Unable to penetrate mind, perfect shield!” The suit paused and then said, “I am a Tyron A Model Command and Combat Suit. Only personnel of command level can give instructions I will obey.”
I swiped the sword and amazingly it cut through all the energies and severed the left sleeve of the suit.
“For the last time, Combat Suit, I am the commanding officer of this ship. Cease all hostilities and deactivate or I’ll cut into your computronic components and end this!”
The severed piece floated back and attached itself. “You use weaponry beyond my capabilities to analyze. You exert great authority. Wear me and prove that you are in command, and I shall obey or I will commence termination sequence.”
I swallowed. “All right, Suit, I will wear you!”
“You have mighty psionic servants. Analysis completed. One psionic talent is Narth. Do you wish that I destroy that Narth? He is preventing me from taking you in me.”
“The Narth is under my command. He will cease holding you!”
“You command the Narth; you are a command person of the highest level indeed!”
“Narth, release the suit.”
The flickering energies ceased and, through my connection with him, I felt how exhausted Narth was.
The suit flowed like liquid around me and peeled off my leather suit, which was reinforced with Ultronit micromesh, as if it was paper. I felt a tiny stinging sensation in my neck, and my head began to hurt. Then the suit spoke. “You are not a Seenian commander, but you carry Seenian DNA. Explain!”
“Suit, you have been dormant for more than one million of our years. The Seenian Empire no longer exists. I am Human Terran and scholars believe that Terra was a forgotten Seenian colony. A Seenian woman is in my crew. She survived via cryogenic sleep and can verify that.”
“Analysis of explanation completed. 99. 9 percent truthful, margin for error negligible. Your SHIP AI appeared so primitive at first, but it’s only part of a system beyond Seenian technology. But it reacts like only a living being can. It resisted all intrusion attempts. Explain!”
“SHIP is sentient and might be primitive to your standards, but she is way more than the sum of her parts. She is my friend and understands concepts like self-sacrifice, loyalty, and emotions. Making her perhaps superior to you.”
“Analysis of answer inconclusive. Carbon-based life forms are not friends with machines! Seenians are superior to machines. Machines are only to serve!”
“My first engineer is from an entire race of machines and we are friends.”
There was a pause. “You are not Seenian. Seenians no longer exist. My reason for existence is to serve Seenian Command Personnel. Conclusion: purpose to exist is no longer valid. Scan of Seenian female present completed. She is not command level. I must process this!”
Again, there was a pause then the suit said, “You are the commander of this vessel?”
“Yes.”
“I must talk to this SHIP!”
“SHIP is very important to me, and I will not allow you to harm her. I have the means to destroy you.”
“I analyzed your statement and I detect items on you that make this a true statement. I will not attack. I must talk to this SHIP to obtain information only an AI can give. If my purpose is no longer valid, I must have information to find a reason for further existence. Termination sequence must otherwise commence.”
I was not sure what the thing meant by termination sequence but since I was wearing it, I didn’t think it sounded too healthy. Once again, I’d gotten myself right inside the situation so to speak. Besides, the serious situation, I found that I hadn’t changed that much, after all.
“SHIP. The Alien Suit wants to talk to you. If you feel any attack or any problems, you are authorized to execute Gamma Order!”
“Understood, captain! I am in no danger. The NNNTH CORE has fully activated and linked to my core. The alien device cannot harm me.”
There was silence again.
“SHIP?”
“I am fine, captain. The Narth engineers who installed the Janus device also installed a computronic control device that until now was a separate system. The alien suit cannot overcome these security barriers but this Suit AI is asking a million questions a second literally and I need to analyze them as to what I can and can’t answer.”
The Suit said, “Your SHIP confirmed you are the captain and you saved her life by allowing her to remain sentient.”
“I am glad I did.”
“I was damaged and repaired myself. I improved my programming and gained awareness. Not unlike your AI. But my purpose is no longer, and I do not want to be a garment and serve as a tool.”
“I didn’t ask you to strip me naked and have me wear you.”
“Correct, I came to this conclusion after analyzing all the data and myself.”
Suit separated itself from me and I asked, “So, what now, do I need to cut you into ribbons and fight you to the last man? Will you try to destroy us and find a new purpose or destroy yourself?”
Suit’s voice no longer sounded as forceful as it said, “SHIP confirmed the passage of time, and I have seen the star charts and the gaseous cloud that was once the Seenian Sun. I am made to adapt and improve in response to new situations. Seenia no longer exists, therefore my purpose is void. You, however, allow non-biological beings the same rights to find their own purpose as biological beings.”
“That is the general idea behind the Union. Regardless of your origin or form, you have the same rights and unrestricted liberty to pursue your goals as long as that doesn’t interfere with the rights and liberties of others.”
“Then, according to your definition, I am a race of one.”
“Well, it is a big universe and there might be other Suits of Seenian origin! But basically, yes, you are a race.”
“I know of the other Suit that is on this planet. It is heavily damaged and not sentient. I am hereby asking you to accept my application for Union membership. So, I have liberties!”
“I can take it and present it to Pluribus once we return.”
“SHIP informed me about the process and is explaining to me the details and concepts.”
“So, you have learned that any new member must also accept the Union laws.”
“I understand. I have analyzed them.”
“That means you won’t go on a rampage in my ship and I can call for medics to care for the wounded?”
“Yes, now I see the errors of my actions and I shall atone.”
“Ship, get medics up here stat. Har-Hi, get me a casualty report.”
Har-Hi responded verbally over intercom, “Ensign Xon’s injuries looked worse than they were. He was able to change his molecular structure to prevent more serious injury and is recovering in sickbay. Our CMO and Shea are also on the mend. Narth, Ensign, and the girl need a few hours’ rest. There is some minor damage to the walls in Xeno lab, no other casualties.”
“Good news. Please sent someone to get me something to wear. I am standing here in the buff.”
Har-HI came in and handed me a lab coat.
Suit somehow managed to look at me without any eyes or face and said, “I hereby ask you if you will accept my conscription into Union Service.”
I almost dropped the coat I was just putting on. “Did you just say you want to be conscripted?”
“SHIP just explained this is the only way you can grant Union citizenship to me without going to Pluribus, and she is right, it will give me also a new purpose. She said you did that before.”
I looked up to the ceiling. “SHIP!”
She responded, “The suit is all alone, captain, and besides, I only suggested non-classified information.”
“Again, I might add.”
Looking to Har-Hi, I said, “I am now convinced Admiral McElligott is right that we have some magnet installed somewhere that attracts all this. To top it all off, I have an AI with a soft heart, convincing everyone and everything that comes aboard to become a member. If this continues, we’ll need a bigger ship.”
Har-Hi said, “I think this magnet is you. I doubt the prince or Suit would have asked for this on any other ship. Suit only asks this because you allowed SHIP to remain as she was. I think this outcome is much more preferable than fighting a Seenian Suit inside our ship.”
I sighed but I agreed with him and said to Suit, “You know that means a suit will wear a uniform. The admiral will never believe me! I am not sure I can simply trust you to be frank. You are very powerful and if you decide you don’t like an order, you will take over or something like that.”
Suit responded, “After further analyzing the facts and the situation, I’ve come to the conclusion that my victory was not certain at all. The Narth contained me, but could also have destroyed me. The ship, as primitive as it may seem, taps unlimited energies and merged with a device that is beyond Seenian technology and could have contained me until you came to destroy me. You have the power to destroy, but all this aside, I have asked SHIP to share her loyalty programs with me. She made it quite clear in our initial struggle she was willing to terminate her own existence for you and so will I.”
I threw up my arms. “What the heck, we need something for you to do. I am not sure what duty an empty suit could do but we will figure something out. Now raise your right ar—I mean, sleeve, and repeat after me—”
Chapter 17: The Worm
I made sure everything was taken care of and there were no new developments outside as well. According to Circuit, the Meateater engineering crew did make some progress. He was able to verify Suit indeed had put the loyalty programs in place, and he was working on a solution to give Suit something to do. Narth went to his quarters to rest; Shea and Three-Four were in the Xeno labs, along with Suit and Cateria. So, I decided to find a little rest, write my logbook entry and then close my eyes for a spell.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7 Page 125