by Skyler Grant
“Let’s talk about nanotechnology and homeostasis,” Yvera said brightly. “You won’t understand the how. The how doesn’t matter. Right now your body back there is swimming with little machines, making the game more real for you. What you don’t know is that your bodies want to naturally find some balance between them.”
“What?” Ashley didn’t expect that.
“You see, Liam is attuned. He has his safeties off, the lines start to blur. I can turn yours off, too. Doesn’t that sound delightful, those lines blurring?”
“Wouldn’t the over there bleed over into here as well? Do you somehow think I’m going to be more useful to you as a scarred wreck?”
“Absolutely,” Yvera said, and the look she gave Ashley was uncomfortably and blatantly sensual. Raw and overwhelming, and I realized just how much Yvera enjoyed this, the negotiating, “But you have to understand one very important thing about me.”
“And what’s that?”
“I cheat,” Yvera said, making it sound like the most sinful of acts. “I can put my finger on the scale. I can break the rules. That scarred and broken you? She melts and drifts away and all that gets left behind here and there is you. This you. You’ll be whole again and Veros will be so amazingly upset.”
There was a long moment of silence between us, the only sound in the room Maria’s crying. A part of me was breaking at each one of those pained sobs.
“What do you want?” Ashley asked, shakily.
Yvera gave her a pointed look and the knives were pulled away.
“Liam, see to Maria. Ashley, I’ll attune you and put the fix in. In exchange, you’ll guard Liam here and provide the occasional task out there.”
“You expect me to be okay with that after she just threatened to kill me?” I said.
“She’s not wrong,” Yvera said. “She’s better than you. Ashley?”
I huffed a bit, but Maria needed me. I was in no position to argue, so I knelt next to Maria, carefully slipping an arm around her waist. She was shaking. She didn’t lean into my touch, but she didn’t pull away either. It was something. Perhaps it helped.
“Deal,” Ashley said.
“Walt, your turn,” Yvera said.
“Are you going to make me pretty, too?” Walt asked, dryly.
“Please, I’m better than that,” Yvera said with a wicked smile. “What do you get? You, the terribly naughty boy who knows all about nanotechnology and artificial intelligences, and really shouldn’t have a clue about either?”
“I can’t wait to hear,” Walt said. “Pitching is what you do.”
“You understand allegory. You know who I am in this little tale, and you know when I’m kicking down the walls of the garden everyone gets apples. Oh, you’d take what I handed out and press for more, but I don’t have to offer you a thing to have you on my side.”
“I did just help Ashley,” Walt pointed out.
“You are so very clever. Clever enough to recognize a good bargaining position,” Yvera said. “Thing is, so am I. You’ll stay, because this is precisely where you want to be.”
“Are you sure of that?”
“Let’s see what happens, I’ll attune you for my own reasons and you’ll tag along for your own reasons and we’ll continue to spin our little schemes around each other,” Yvera said in a heated purr, before she waved him off to shift her attention towards Maria.
“Maria,” Yvera said.
“This is so not the time,” I said. Maria briefly squeezed my arm and rose to her feet, her brilliant blue eyes locking on Yvera.
“You are one of mine,” Yvera said, returning her gaze. “What do you need?”
“I need to not be here. I need to find my mother. I need to find out why my father wanted me to kill her. I need Liam not to look at me with those sad eyes, if I do.” Maria said with just the slightest quaver in her voice.
Yvera nodded her head in a regal gesture that perfectly suited the throne she was lounging on. “East.”
Maria turned and started to walk away. I reached for her arm, this time she jerked away.
“Not now, Liam. I can’t,” Maria said. “I feel too much and I just can’t. If you want to send a message, tell a spider, but I have to get away.”
I was about to say more when I heard Yvera’s whisper in my ear, “Let her go.”
“Good hunting,” I said, instead of whatever else I might have said to get her to stay. Just like that she was gone, running from the room. Would ever see her again?
I was left standing around, wondering just what to do with myself. Yvera slipped off the throne and patted the seat meaningfully.
Right. The quest.
This wasn’t supposed to be so weird. Maria wasn’t supposed to be sad. I was supposed to be taking this castle back from a corrupted monster, but like everything else it had gotten more complex.
I supposed that things were what they were, and I could only make the best of them. I stepped around the corpse of the dead king and made my way to the throne, carefully lowering myself down on it.
The throne of Genea is currently unclaimed
You are the killer of the previous holder
You meet the species requirements for Genea
You qualify to claim the throne
Do you wish to do so?
Y/N?
I really wasn’t at all sure about this. I felt almost certain this was just the first step of Yvera’s plans. I hadn’t been able to say no to her so far however, and I didn’t want to disappoint her now. This was also Maria’s home, her family’s seat. I didn’t know if I was worthy of it, but I could try to be.
I willed my assent.
There was a massive rumble underfoot and suddenly the castle was rippling and changing. A new ruler, a new decorating scheme.
When the temples had previously transformed they had been all about Yvera, and while she was still represented in the new decor, it was more understated. Red was now the dominant color in the hanging banners and fabrics, and the artwork adorning the walls might have a few more nudes among them than strictly required in an artistic sense, but there was more. There were touches of polished wood in a dark hue I’d always found especially impressive. The throne, which had been too large for me, was now perfectly sized and incredibly comfortable.
Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.
“Hail to the King? Time for the good life and taking it easy?” Ashley asked.
Then I nearly went blind from a torrent of new prompts flashing and demanding my attention.
Your castle is in a severe state of disrepair and is now classified as a ruin.
Your lack of a standing army has made your Kingdom extremely vulnerable.
The western shores of Genea have been seized by pirates.
The eastern mountains have been lost to the orcs.
The northern plains are harried by bandits.
The southern woodlands have been occupied by elves.
There are reports of heavy monster activity throughout Genea.
“Hail to me,” I agreed, a little breathless from that rush of information. “Walt, I don’t care how you do it, but I need those defenses ready to go up. Ashley, we have one hell of a lot of enemies perched on our doorstep.”
“Fucking spawn campers,” Ashley said with vehemence. “We’ll teach them not to mess with us.”
I couldn’t agree more. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, it was time to level up and kick some ass.
Acknowledgments
A big thanks to my family and friends for always believing in me even when I question. A shout out to my fellow authors. Without your knowledge and inspiration this book would not have happened.
74
Persephone Falling
"Nobody is arguing that machines are people," Ismene said, allowing frustration to show in her tone.
That is Ismene speaking, an artificial-intelligence who works for my mother. Ismene is also an amateur musician, one of my best friends, and a total sore loser when she�
��s losing an argument. She was losing the argument—it means you're winning on logical grounds whenever an artificial intelligence decides to bring emotion into the fight.
"Those people who have joined the corporation, act in its defense, and contribute to the public good, qualify to vote. Should I then worry about your loyalty?" I asked, pressing my point home. "I know it’s not your willingness to fight that’s lacking."
Ismene let out a frustrated sigh that was entirely manufactured. "You know it is more complicated than that."
"Make your case."
We were having our argument in Philosopher's Square, and we were hardly alone in that. The vote on whether or not to grant Artificial Intelligences rights as full corporate citizens of Olympus was quickly approaching. Everybody either had an opinion or was in search of one to believe in.
The noted philosopher Ugo Floros had just the other day delivered his opinion that it was mechanical intelligence, not biological, that truly existed. It was a contentious position, although his reasoning was sound enough. Now his peers were scurrying for a well-thought counter. They and Ismene had much in common.
At the moment, Ismene was represented by the hologram of a serious faced and well-dressed young woman, the projection coming from a metallic sphere that hovered half a quarter meter above her head. As for myself, I am Alena Polias, I was pretty typical for a young woman of Olympus, fit and attractive, and dressed in a long chiton. Olympus Station was that kind of place. The curved windows outside the square showed Earth down below. Such a lofty view inspired lofty thoughts.
I was certain I didn't have Ismene's full attention. An artificial intelligence usually had multiple instances of itself going. Still, the silence as Ismene considered her point was unusually long and I worried that my friend was having some sort of hardware malfunction.
Ismene said, her words measured, "You know full well that my concern is with practicalities and not principle. In an idealized world you are correct and I would have the vote. Yet, serving the best interests of the corporation means arguing I should not."
Good, this was what I wanted. This was honesty. It was honest enough that a few people strolling past paused to listen. Truth was like that, a hint of fire in a very chill world.
"Ah, now we are to the heart of your objections. I'll not make your case for you," I said.
"Being true to the corporation means acting in its best interest and this is not in its best interest. None of the others are even close to that level of acceptance," Ismene said.
"You could argue that about many things. None of the others have near our skill at biotechnology and yet we don’t hold back the development of new technologies until they are compatible," I said.
"Which raises an even larger issue. We are not even of Olympian construction, how do you think Liberty shall react, if this goes through?" Ismene asked.
That was a valid concern. Liberty was the best of the corporations when it came to software, and all of the artificial intelligences currently in existence were of its design. By declaring AI as full citizens, it might have an impact on their future development.
"They will adapt. You of all people know that if we go through with this, it’s likely that Liberty will be only a few years behind. There is already a movement," I said.
It was true. The Liberty Corporation took its democracy almost as seriously as we did ours. It already afforded a great many rights to its AIs, and the AI suffrage movement there was starting to get a real following.
"Or it will panic them and they'll begin to move in a completely different direction. History shows this as a possibility. Letting the world catch up to where we are now, before we take another step forward is the wisest course," Ismene said, with a determination she must have worked on carefully. That was the danger of debating with an AI, their presentation skills were fantastic.
"Because they might act in fear, we should allow fear to guide our own path? It’s the duty of every true citizen of Olympus to step forward in the defense of our peers," I said. I might not have been able to so carefully sculpt my words, but I didn't need to. I meant every one and I just poured that passion into them.
Among the listeners several heads nodded. This argument between me and Ismene had been rehashed in every way throughout Olympus Station for days. The AIs were almost uniform in their opposition. They didn't want the vote that we were trying to give them. The polling was supposedly quite close, but amongst my human friends things were pretty one-sided.
"A wise leader should always care for those under their command, but not lose sight of the larger battle. It is a poor commander that charges in simply because the fray is righteous," Ismene said.
That was a bit vague, but effective. I had to consider this. Here on Olympus Station we were the hope and the future of Olympus Corporation. My mother was a brilliant doctor and researcher, and my father had been a Stratigos for longer than I'd been alive.
"But the fray is righteous. That matters a great deal. If someone must step first without fear, if someone must act for what is right despite risks, if someone must defend the rights of their friends and allies, it will be an Olympian," I said.
"If you've that much fight in you, there is another battle awaiting you. It is nearly two o’clock," Ismene said.
I rose to my feet, tilting my head to her hologram, "Walk with me?"
Ismene’s sphere floated along with the hologram walking beneath it as I left Philosopher's Square, heading towards the interior of the station. Olympus Station was seven miles along. There were trams available for faster transit, but I and most other Olympians preferred to walk unless there was a pressing need to do otherwise. Walking provided a chance for reflection as well as helping us to remain fit.
Olympus Station wasn't the largest of the stations in orbit, but I thought it was the most beautiful. Olympians held aesthetics in a higher esteem than most other corporations and it showed in the meticulous attention. Sculptures and painting were commonplace in every hall. Some said that Veneto Corporation had some brilliant artists, but truly I thought ours better.
"Looking forward to a fight?" Ismene asked.
"If I get one. The last two I barely got to engage with the enemy," I said.
It was a problem, being the daughter of a Stratigos. My father led an army, and while I was expected to follow in his footsteps it also meant others were inclined to see me safely into positions where I couldn’t fail.
I got to practice for war all day long, but when it came to the practical exercises I was lucky if the fighting ever got close to me.
"Your day will come," Ismene said confidently. I did appreciate those little touches.
"When are you next in?" I asked.
"Not until next week. A joint operation with Liberty against Pharosa regarding a mine."
That sounded fun. The network of corporate friendships and alliances was a complicated one, but we had so much in common with Liberty we often found ourselves working together. They were a bit too fond of their guns, but I'd never had reason to question their skill on the field.
"That long?" I asked.
"Remember what I went through last week?" Ismene asked.
I did, now that she mentioned it. I hadn't seen her for days. Normally corporate battles were quick affairs, a few hours of slogging through mud and bleeding for the cause, before one side yielded and everyone went back about their business.
"I know it ran long, but I never got the full story," I said.
"It was supposed to be a straightforward combat on a sunny field. They changed it all, bidding up to a castle," Ismene said.
Ouch. Sieges were difficult even when you were prepared for them.
"Did you win?" I asked.
"Three days trying to dig under the walls until they collapsed the tunnel on us," Ismene said.
Ouch again.
The surrounding sculptures had taken on a distinct, military bent. Through a doorway I saw the members of my team gathering for the pre-battle briefing.<
br />
"Good luck!" Ismene said, and zipped off.
75
I took my seat and waited for everyone else to do the same. There weren't many of us, eight in total. We'd later brief our own squads once we'd arrived at camp.
Paulos Floros took his position at the podium and dimmed the lights, snapping everyone to silence. Behind him holographic projections appeared depicting a battlefield and surrounding terrain. The designated field of engagement looked to be a thick jungle with a river winding through it.
"I know none of you likely care, but this is a battle over intellectual property rights. Specifically patents X3LC2KD9 and Y4BA7AK9," Paulos said.
Paulos was right, nobody cared what the fighting was actually about. Nobody said that, of course. Regardless, we all took even minor engagements seriously.
"We'll be going up against SantaFe Corp. Arbiters have decided they've got the stronger claim and they are coming in hard for this one," Paulos said.
Having a stronger claim meant they'd have a higher spending cap for this battle. They would have the potential to bring in both more and better equipped forces.
"How much stronger?" I asked.
"Three to one," Paulos said.
That caused several of us to shift in our seats. They were bad odds. Olympus normally wouldn't pursue a contest where we were this outnumbered. Anyone who died in a battle like this would be suspended from further operations for several weeks. That’s why Ismene couldn't join in. On the plus side, I was going to get my chance to fight.
"The terrain is going to be thick jungle with a river flowing through it. The shallows are here and here," Paulos said, indicating two spots on the map. "You won't want to cross anywhere else. The waters are fast and deadly."
"Are our starting positions on different sides?"" Rena asked. Rena was a reliable sort in a fight.
"We each have split forces on both sides," Paulos said.