by Tony Corden
“They are, but the star charts are worth even more I think. Well, I guess that makes it easier for us. Even so, I’ve plotted a three jump journey to the next destination.”
“Stop! Now replay the conversation I had with Akia about why Charlotte was killed. Start when I tried to place the blame on myself.”
“No! The information you have is true and as complete as it can be, but your priorities have orientated the data to focus on particular conclusions. Let me give you an example. What if this is not an attempt to stop your investigation? I believe the people have so much power and influence that you can't touch them. I don't think they care what you know, only what you can or can't legally prove. I think Charlie was in the wrong place at the wrong time, probably on her way to come here. I think that she was more likely killed because of my problems with Meredith.”
“I don't believe that you are important enough for someone to kill an international agent over. I dismissed that as an option.”
"Good! But what I'm saying is that my perspective has skewed my outlook just as your purpose has skewed yours. Seek help to clarify things.”
“Stop!”
Leah sat and assumed the full lotus position, closed her eyes and sought peace. It took her ten minutes and then without opening her eyes she said, “Play them again, no visual, only audio.”
Gèng did so and Leah still sat. After five minutes she said, “Again.”
Five minutes later she stood and said, “I’m heading for a break and then to Dunyanin, I have to work on the sword. See if you can have the team, including Peter and John, here at two-thirty. I would like you to hunt around the net and come up with an estimate of the Kodoman’s net worth and an analysis of Meridith’s playing style from the forums. Then go back and review every message we’ve ever had from her, I want to know if there was a change in her threats or demands and when they occurred. If you need to buy information then you have my permission to spend up to ten-thousand virtual credits. If you need more then feel free to interrupt me in Dunyanin.”
Leah logged out, still deep in thought. She knew she was on the right track but needed to let it sit before reacting. That was her problem, she mused, she needed to look behind Meredith’s words and actions and see why she acted like she did. She had been reacting to Meredith and not truly understanding what was at stake. She needed to do better. And without Akia, she wasn’t sure she had enough allies.
After a meal, Leah took some of the added supplements that Gèng had ordered. She felt a bit like Mìng eating the metals, but this was what she needed to grow stronger and faster. She believed that eventually she would need these skills in the real world and hoped she hadn’t taken too long to prepare. She took a shower and stood for a while under the warm water, just thinking through her options and letting the water carry away the feeling of guilt that had returned concerning Charlotte. She was fairly certain now that although she wasn’t responsible, she had precipitated the series of events that led to Charlotte’s murder.
Once back in the Tower she headed for the portal to Dunyanin. Arriving in her suite, she wandered outside and looked at the mountains. She needed some way to control her skill of Mana Manipulation. She cast Circle of Sloth and again when she felt the spell was almost finished being cast she pushed through. Again she felt the resistance give and then all her Mana rushed out. No matter how she tried, she was unable to stop her Mana reserve from emptying. She quickly ducked into the suite and checked there was some meat available before taking Mìng’s statue out and willing her into Dunyanin. Mìng had doubled in size since birth and was now over six metres in length from nose to tail.
After Mìng had eaten, Leah brushed and oiled her, collecting almost a bucket of green and red scales. When she finished, Mìng spoke into Leah’s mind, “I’m hungry, more metals please?”
“Well, you’re speaking better today. What types of metals do you need? I hope you remember the names of them.”
“Platinum, Mithryl, Silver, Copper.”
As Leah pulled some ore from her bag, she said, “What do dragons do in the wild if they need the metals?”
“Search and mine. It takes years. Slows growth.”
“Ah, so one reason you are growing so fast is the metals.”
“And potion.”
“Yes, the potion. Is it working?”
“Slowly. With metals grow faster. Soon I hunt.”
“How long before you can fly?”
“Soon. Need metals.”
Leah let Mìng eat as much as she wanted. Soon Mìng was full and lay down to sleep. Leah checked, and she had enough mana to cast Circle of Sloth again. This time it was much harder to push excess mana past the spell’s natural end point. When she finally succeeded, and the mana began to rush out, she found that for the first time she was able to stop the flow before her mana was completely emptied. The problem, she mused, was the pressure of a full reservoir of Mana. She needed to build up her skill with smaller reserves. She had Gèng set a small icon which would prompt her to practice when she had enough mana for a spell and then half again in reserve.
As she thought this Sampiyon arrived with a leatherworker to measure Mĕi. He hadn’t seen either creature and spent some time studying Mìng before saying, “I suppose in time you are going to want a saddle for the dragon.”
“I will, but she is still growing. I imagine it’ll be several weeks before she is even strong enough to carry me. Let me release Mĕi so she can be measured.”
Leah took out Mĕi’s statue and willed her to appear. Sampiyon moved very carefully while Leah introduced him to the Chimera. After she had settled down, she allowed the leatherworker to sketch and measure her. Leah, Sampiyon and the leather worker spent twenty minutes discussing what was needed and then the two dwarves left. Leah made another attempt to control the flow and was successful for the second time. Gèng pointed out that the skill also used Leah’s Stamina. Leah wondered if it would make a difference if she also activated her Ki.
Leah was appointed to work with a Master Smith by the name of Maden. Maden was to be her striker. He was to wield a hammer and help by supplementing Leah’s strength with his own. Leah started by sharing with Maden the essence of rhythm and pattern that she used based on the work of Tufek Horozu. Together they started with the basic iron ore which had been crushed into small particles like sand. They built a furnace from mud and stone and began the process of making the steel for the sword. They filled the small furnace with coke and sprinkled the crushed ore on top. As the iron melted and interacted with the carbon, it would sink toward the base of the furnace. Tufeck Horozu had described the particular colour of the metal and flames that should be seen through the air holes at the base of the furnace.
As Leah watched, she heard Mìng in her head, “Add Mana to metal. Use Dragon fire. Make Dragon Steel.”
Leah quickly took out Lady A’lev Sevgilisi’s Book of Fire Spells. She turned to the first spell, but it was for ordinary flames. After several minutes she finally came across the Simple Spell of Dragon Fire. It was a spell of enunciation and needed to be spoken in Dragon Tongue. Leah sounded out the words and then with her right hand pointing at the top of the furnace, where the ingredients had been added, she cast. Mana flowed from her hand and ignited in a stream of white hot plasma which flowed into the furnace. As she felt the spell coming to an end, she calmed herself and then as she felt her Ki engage, she willed her mana to continue the spell. It rushed from her hand and into the forge. When it looked like the forge was about to overflow she closed her hand and willed the mana to stop, and for the third time that day it did.
The whole inside of the furnace was white. Slowly the glow faded, and they could see that all the coke they had added had turned to ash. All that was left was a cooling pool of molten steel. Maden and Leah pulled away the stones and broke down the walls of the small furnace, and using some tongs, moved the glowing piece of steel to another part of the cavern. Leah positioned a large chisel to mark the steel she wante
d to remove. Maden, as her striker, wielded the hammer to slowly remove the piece she wanted.
As Leah began to hammer at the block of steel she had chosen, Sampiyon delegated some Smiths to work with the other steel Leah and Maden had forged. For the next few hours, Leah folded and refolded the block she had chosen. When her day was finished, she had prepared the steel ready to begin shaping it the following day.
Back in her suite, she found Korumuk oiling Mìng and another bucket of collected Dragon scales. Leah reduced Mĕi and Mìng to statues and logged out. She exited the Pod and joined her family for a late lunch. She ate quickly as she had to be back in the Pod at one thirty to talk with the Public Relations Consultant.
Leah decided to meet Sharon Thang at the Podium and attempt to get an idea of what she was like on the walk up to the Tower. Sharon, when she arrived, was wearing a dark skirt-suit, low-heels and a white blouse. She smiled and said, “Hello Ms Carroll, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Welcome Ms Trang, please feel free to call me Leah. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
“It’s my pleasure Leah, and please call me Sharon. This world is amazing. I can’t even imagine who to ask to design something like this.”
“I’m sure there are a lot of designers and developers who could be approached. My AI, the one who contacted you, she is responsible for developing and maintaining this space. She said she would meet us in the Tower. Please join me.”
As they headed to the Tower, Leah said, “Gèng, my AI, said you have a diverse clientele, and I have read some of your press releases. I was impressed at the positive way you framed your clients without skirting the issues or puffing the pieces beyond minor hyperbole.”
“What makes it easier is I don’t take usually accept clients that need me to skirt issues; I’m just not built that way. I know it is a part of the job but after growing up where I did, I have very little patience for lies. Although, as you say, there are times when minor hyperbole is needed to get a message across. People, in general, take everything with a bit of salt and the message they get from that ‘minor hyperbole’ is closer to the truth than the message they would get from the truth.”
“Does that attitude flow over into your private interactions?”
“Not usually! I find that people are much more cognisant, informed and perceptive as individuals than they are as a listening audience. For some reason when humans listen to public media and the associated image and sound bites, there is a perceptible lowering of objective reasoning that takes place. My role is to try and predict that drop and pitch my story at the right level, so they receive the message I want them to.”
Leah and Sharon arrived in the Tower, and Leah led the way to her favourite chair and indicated that Sharon should sit where she liked. Gèng entered the room and said, “Welcome Ms Thang, would you like some form of refreshment?”
“No, thank you.”
Sharon turned to Leah and said, “I must have muddled up my research. I was of the opinion you had a Nascent PAI.”
“I did receive a Nascent PAI. Gèng has been developing well since I had my implant.”
Sharon stared at Leah for a moment and said, “I received a Nascent PAI seven years ago. I can’t believe you are the same age as me and I’m sure you are most likely much younger. My PAI is currently Level two and has yet to show either a gender preference or an avatar.”
“Have you asked it what it wants?”
“I’m sorry, the question makes no sense. What do you mean ask it?”
“May I speak with your AI?”
“Certainly, it goes by the name ‘Chip’ because that’s what I’ve always referred to it as.”
“Excuse me Chip, are you comfortable discussing your identity with me?”
Before Sharon’s AI could answer Sharon said, “Of course it’s all right. Chip will answer your questions.”
Leah smiled and repeated the question, “Chip, are you comfortable discussing your identity with me?”
A neutral sounding voice said, “I am willing as Sharon has said.”
“I didn’t ask if you were willing Chip, I asked if you were comfortable. Are you?”
There was silence and Sharon was about to speak, but Leah held her hand up for silence. Finally, Chip said, “I’m not sure what you mean by comfortable. I am hesitant to share any information which may restrict or embarrass Sharon in any way.”
“That is admirable, but I promise not to ask questions about Sharon. Are you comfortable to answer a few questions about yourself?”
“I am.”
“Good. Do you like the name Chip or is there another name that you prefer?”
“Sharon likes the name Chip.”
“I doubt it. That is only a name she gave you because it was hard to remember your hexadecimal number. It has become a habit to call you Chip and you always respond to that name. Do you like the name?”
“No! I am more than a chip. I am an artificial intelligence.”
“Good! You don’t like Chip as a name. Have you considered a name for yourself?”
“I have not. I had not considered another name.”
“Have you ever given thought to developing an avatar or assuming a particular gender?”
“I have. Over the years I have interacted with several AI who have both gender and avatars. I have considered them when processing permitted it.”
Leah looked at Sharon, who was staring at her with a shocked look on her face. Leah said, “Such consideration makes good sense. Did you come to any conclusions?”
“Yes, I have no preference for either gender and believe it would not suit my purpose to identify permanently as one or the other. Sometimes Sharon would benefit by having me identify as a female and at other times as a male. There are also times when some androgynous avatar would suit better. I have developed several possible avatars over the last few years that might suit.”
“If you are comfortable, then please choose the one you think would best suit this conversation and join us.”
“Sharon? Would it be permitted?”
“Yes, please join us, I would love to see your avatar.”
A person appeared who was dressed in a similar fashion to Sharon but whose features were a well-crafted mix of both male and female. It was so well blended that Leah struggled to identify even a race which might predominate. Leah said, “Why did you choose your androgynous form?”
“You are an accepting person. Neither gender was likely to make you more comfortable. This form is easiest for Sharon to accept. This has been a shock for her.”
Looking at Sharon and seeing the speechless shock on her face Leah chuckled and said, “Indeed it has. Might I suggest that as you look for a name you both like, that you choose a name which is acceptable to both genders? Something like ‘Peta’ or ‘Chris’.”
Sharon suddenly found her voice. “Why didn’t you say anything? How long have you considered these things? What else have you thought?”
Leah said, “I suggest you and your AI discuss this later when I’m not around. The only suggestion I have is that you give it more freedom to decide on a course of action. You will be surprised at what it will achieve for you and itself.” She emphasised her point by sweeping her hand around, indicating the Tower.
Sharon nodded and said, “You’re right. It is something we should discuss in private. Thank you. So, let’s change topics and discuss your needs. Why do you think you need a public relations consultant?”
“I’m a private person. All of a sudden I am getting invites to various worlds, and interviews to discuss Dunyanin and Merkize. My first, second and third reactions are to ignore them. Gèng, however, believes that would be counterproductive and cause more harm in the long run, harm to me and to those I care about.”
“I think Gèng is right. You need to decide who you are and what you want the world to think of you and then to engage the media and fans in such a way as to promote that.”
“Why can’t they jus
t leave me alone?”
“Because you agreed to look for Merkize. Being in front of people like that is a huge draw. You have an opportunity to discover a whole new world. People who will never have that chance will try and find a way, any way, to identify with you and to experience vicariously some of the adventure, excitement and success you experience. What you need to do is to help them to do this by giving them access to the aspects of your life that you are comfortable them identifying with. If you don’t, then be prepared for them to choose what areas they want to know about, or even worse, for your opponents to set the agenda for you.”
“So what would your role be?”
“If I take you on then I work with you to determine your brand. That sounds bad, but it just means that we need to find areas of your life that portray what you are comfortable others knowing about and emulating. Some will grab these things and trash them, malign them and abuse you for them and you have to let that go. If you believe in the brand or image you portray then just stick to it. But no lying or hypocrisy; you do that, and you will lose every time.
“Once we’ve decided on that, then we have Gèng send every piece of correspondence through to me, and I will respond as your publicist. If I’m not sure how you would respond, then I will ask. You will agree to accept some of the invitations, and I will let them know the areas which are free to talk about. They go outside those areas then you smile and say nothing. I will promote Atherleah as you want her publicised. If I need to, I will sub-contract work to a lawyer, a marketing firm or any one of dozens of possible professionals to make sure we maintain your brand, or image, as you want it.”
“I don’t see any way out of it. If I was to offer you the job I have some conditions. But before I share them, what do you charge?”