Red sent more mass hurtling into its singularity to fill its energy reserves. Then it used its field effector to disrupt the main communications hub out of Thermopylae. It was an energy-intensive step, but would only be necessary until more cyblocs fell under its control.
The man became distracted by traffic through his link.
“I’m afraid we’re having some technical difficulty here...” said the Bentran representative.
“Your communications will be restored in short order,” Red said. “After I’ve met with Mr. Brasileiro.”
“What? Oh my god. Is this some kind of cyber attack?”
“I would like to speak about that with Mr. Brasileiro.”
The man looked down and held his temple. Red noted the expression on his face. Red’s expanding network of cyblocs picked up a call for help from the Terran.
Red-L1: Block it.
Red-L8: Let it through. We should demonstrate our superiority.
Red-L2: There is some risk involved. But creating more fear now will help us avoid a revolt later.
Red-L1-8: Consensus.
“Mr. Brasileiro,” Red repeated.
The man stared at the Spinner uncertainly.
“I see no reason to continue the illusion of civility,” Red told the Terran through its link. “I know where Mr. Brasileiro is. I suggest you accompany me, since he may need your assistance to better carry out my directives.”
Red spun away toward the executives’ quarters. The Terran paused for four seconds, then followed along behind Red.
As the Spinner approached the office, it was met by two more Terrans and a security machine. The machine was a small quadruped, armed with a sonic stunner and a grenade launcher. Red-L2 noted the Terrans called this type of machine a Hell Hound. It was used to chase down fleeing criminals. Red-L2 assumed the only reason it was here was because it was considerably faster than the other security machines on the base, and had arrived first.
Red-L8: Here is the demonstration opportunity.
Red constructed three thousand cutter molecules and launched a third of them at each target. The soft Terrans, though they wore tough skinsuits, weren’t able to withstand the damage dealt by the deadly stream of microscopic atom chains. The Hell Hound fared slightly better, but Red composed a finishing round in the next second and disabled it with a critical hit through its thin frontal armor.
The Bentran representative walked up expectantly, then paled as it saw the security forces fall to the ground.
Red-L2: Interesting. The Terrans do have a slight ability to change surface color, though it’s much more subtle than my ancient Spinner ancestors.
Red-L3: Very limited. Only based on the amount of internal fluids very near the outer membrane.
Red whirled past the dead Terrans and into the cramped chambers beyond. It used local cyblocs to locate the Terran it sought only two rooms away.
Mr. Brasileiro’s flesh looked just as awful as that of the other Terrans. It had close-cropped black hair. The soft, strong muscles of the Terran were obvious beneath the scant clothing covering its trunk. Red-L7 provided more information: these garments were designed to ease physical exertion. Having unmodified biological bodies required regular maintenance to retain basic physical metabolic levels. The Terrans had compounds which would reduce the degeneration of their muscles for long periods, but the treatments only worked for so long. Eventually exercise was still needed at their level of technology.
“What is this?” the Terran executive growled. He stepped down from an exercise platform and disconnected from his exercise entertainment program. The man glared at his underling, who tagged along behind Red.
“Sir, I believe this is the source of the cyber attack,” said the Terran behind Red.
“Then why hasn’t it been disabled? Who made it, anyway?”
“You’ll find me difficult to disable,” Red transmitted to the Terran’s link. “I am in fact an alien in possession of technology well beyond your own. I’m now in control of Thermopylae.”
Mr. Brasileiro didn’t respond.
“First, all Terrans will adopt new coverings,” Red continued. “I’ve brought several examples of the new attire. Your flesh must be covered. We’ll accomplish that first. I’m sure you have many questions, and I’m prepared to answer them, provided you cooperate.”
“This is no first contact situation,” Mr. Brasileiro yelled. “It’s a petty attack by a rival. Gant, get security in here.”
Red noted the leader had been so ruffled by the encounter that it yelled aloud instead of calling for security itself over a link. Of course, no such calls could go anywhere on Thermopylae anymore without Red’s clearance.
“Why don’t you accept what I’ve told you?” Red asked.
“You’re no alien. You arrived on a intercorporate shuttle, not a goddamn starship. You’re talking to me through my link, and speaking my language.”
“The truth of my words will soon become clear,” Red said.
“Ridiculous. Gant, why isn’t security in here?”
“Sir, this machine has already killed two members of security and a security robot. I think security is alerted,” said the underling.
“Killed?” Mr. Brasileiro backed up from Red quickly. The Terran walked around to the far side of his desk. His link opened a connection with a firearm sitting in one of the hollows inside the desk.
Red used its field effector to reset the pistol and activate its anti-theft features. Mr. Brasileiro reached into his desk and grabbed his firearm. Then he cried out in pain and staggered back. The gun remained in his drawer.
“I will not allow you to waste any more time,” Red said to Mr. Brasileiro, but it allowed the aide to listen in on the channel. “If you resist me further, I’ll kill you. Then I can temporarily emulate your commands myself. Perhaps your aide can assist me further and avoid death. For reasons of my own, I don’t intend to announce my takeover until later.”
Red-L4: This one isn’t going to make it far in the new rankings. It doesn’t seem to adapt quickly to hidden rules.
Red-L1-8: Consensus.
“Very well, you have us,” said Mr. Brasileiro. “Who made you? What do you want?”
“As I said before, the first priority is one of concealment. We’ll be producing new clothing for you to wear. Then you may begin a series of tests I’ll set up for you. I’m already reconfiguring your virtual environments to prepare.”
“We’ll cooperate,” said the executive. It exchanged a look with its minion. Its mouth moved but no sound came out. It pointed one of its tiny appendages.
Red analyzed the expression for a few moments. It seemed most likely the Terran leader was simply stalling for time, waiting for rescue.
Red-L1-3:
***
Captain whirled in an armless sphere framed on one side by glinting stars, on the other side by a massive space station. The Spinner had changed bodies temporarily, composing an expensive but useful body optimized for operation on the outside of Synchronicity.
The Spinner couldn’t help but enjoy the freedom of the open space after the mind-numbing confines of the Terran station. Captain’s primitive side longed to spin among the floater vines in a vast open sky. Even the cold vacuum of space was one step closer to home.
Captain had accomplished a great deal in the week since its arrival here. The Terran systems were all firmly under Spinner control. They had studied and learned a great deal about the Terrans. The Spinners had tools with which to seize and use the alien cybernetics, monitor their communications, and handle the new system of challenges.
After Killer had been sent to Asgard, Red went to a station called Thermopylae, Shetani to Nibiru, and Spider to Pearl River. As more shuttles arrived, the plan would call for Hitler to travel to Tanelorn and Claw to Avalon. Slowly the tendrils of their control were spreading out. Captain’s communications through Ship were more than good enough to keep close contact with all Spinne
rs in the system.
The official reason for the excursion out into the vacuum had been to place field effectors around the station which the Terrans wouldn’t be aware of. That reason alone did justify the action, but Captain had more reasons than that.
Captain-L8 had been contemplating the possibility of competition from Slicer here in Reality0. In order to prepare, it had come up with the idea to stash an extra body, identical to Captain’s own, to be used as a fake.
Captain’s current internal consensus was to continue to disperse the Spinners. But Slicer would stay until they had cleared their rivalry again. Captain would have to defeat Slicer in their new society before that Spinner could be trusted fully.
Captain-L3: Will Slicer act in Reality0 to dispatch me, since we operate there anyway? The others might well accept that as a challenge win.
Captain-L5: The root reality is just another ruleset to most of them.
Captain-L8: Perhaps I should send Slicer away then, deprive it of the chance to take such a bold move.
Captain-L2: From a great distance, Slicer could build its own empire.
Captain-L5: If it chooses that course, it would act alone. The others wouldn’t follow it unless it defeats me.
Captain-L3: Except Claw, of course.
Captain found an external access locker near the spaceport that held equipment for maintaining the inner surface of the landing ring. There was plenty of room there to put an extra Spinner body. Captain left an empty shell there, its eight legs wrapped neatly around the sphere and packed into an unmarked box. A control module sat inside the shell where a Spinner braincase would be, enabling Captain to remotely control the body whenever necessary. The body could serve as an almost indistinguishable duplicate of Captain.
Having hidden the fake, Captain launched itself away from the station again, whirling about and enjoying the brief bit of freedom.
Captain-L1: I’ve finished the design of a weak field effector that knows how to influence a Terran mind. Together with manipulations of the data coming in from the gear they wear, I should be able to effect a wide range of behaviors.
Captain-L3: Including influencing memory?
Captain-L1: It can suppress some memory formation.
Captain-L3: Then I have to produce many. And make a system for controlling the aliens en masse.
Captain-L7: Can I reset them?
Captain-L1: As with Spinner brains, the variance between individuals is too great for a general reset of state. If we need to put a Terran into a favorable state with the field effector, it would take careful study of each target specimen to produce a suitable reset pattern on a case-by-case basis. Influencing moods and emotions is easier, since the most primitive structures of their brains are more regular.
Captain-L4: I could reset a few critical ones then.
Captain-L1: Yes. That may become necessary to control large populations.
Captain-L4-L5 had finished the grand plan for accelerating the Terrans into a new society. Not much remained except for one vital decision: could the challenges be implemented among all Terrans with Spinners taking the place of a supreme AI arbiter as Slicer wanted?
Captain’s lobes could not yet reach a consensus on this question. The default plan was to rule the Terrans for a time, but if the results were poor...
Captain-L7 had been contemplating its Terran follower, Claire. That one had performed well in the challenges so far compared to the other Terrans. Probably because Claire embraced the process rather than merely tolerating it.
Captain-L1: What fraction of humans could be expected to exhibit such a positive response?
Captain-L7: Very few... unless Claire could form the nucleus of a new faction of Terrans that want to live by our rules. The Terrans have shown a tendency to gather around a few charismatic cult leaders.
Captain-L2: Is Claire charismatic?
Captain-L5: Her body falls within optimum parameters for Terran mate selection.
Captain-L2: And what of her personality?
Captain-L7: This will require further study.
Four
The Spinner noted that the Terrans of Thermopylae had decided to call it Red. They had named it after the color of the field effector disc on its equator, placed perpendicular to the row of arms that encircled its body.
To them, the name no doubt was appropriate. They hadn’t seen any other Spinners and didn’t know that most Spinner bodies, no matter the configuration, would have a similar disc on their surface.
Most of them still thought of Red as nothing more than an enforcement robot owned by the executives.
Nevertheless, Red had managed to make great progress in the last twenty-six Terran day-night cycles since it had taken over Thermopylae.
The humans were participating in challenges set in Reality1. Their VR systems provided most of what was needed for this ruleset, since the Terrans themselves were still in the stage where their virtual reality simply simulated Reality0 to a high degree of fidelity. Red considered itself quite lucky that the Terrans at least had mastered this technology. If they had been even more primitive, then it would have taken another month to get this far.
Shipments had started to flow between the two corporations VG and Bentra, allowing Red to send supplies needed for various projects. Although the Spinners could compose their own materials, doing so expended huge amounts of energy. The exiled Spinners were feeling the effects of being on their own. Ship had remained largely uncooperative, forcing much of the work to progress in the Terran factories and labs.
Red was working on its communications filters when a new and unexpected message came in, directed at the whole station.
This is the United Nations Space Force. We are conducting a surprise inspection of this facility. Report to your personal quarters immediately and remain there or face possible severe injury or death.
Red’s information network informed it of a hull breach in the station. A few more moments of examination verified the finding. Another spacecraft had joined with the station. Terran military forces were disembarking into Thermopylae.
Red-L2: Sometimes Reality0 is as full of surprises as one of Captain’s challenges.
Red-L1: Yes. I could get used to it, if it wasn’t so sluggish.
Red spun into action physically and mentally. The Spinner moved from its position near the spaceport toward the executive suites. All around it, the Terrans headed for their quarters.
Red spawned a new wave of assimilators to augment its current fleet running on the station. The new cybloc programs would control the storage systems and systematically purge data stored since Red’s arrival. Captain had been very clear: the presence of the Spinners couldn’t be revealed yet. The data had been sent to Ship in its entirety anyway, so Red wouldn’t be missing any of it.
Red transmitted another order over its network of cyblocs. The army of effectors placed in the Terrans’ gear started to soak out the creatures’ memories of the past few weeks. The process wasn’t particularly clean or exact, but Captain had told Red that the helmet effectors would be getting more sophisticated soon. Red would have to deflect this attack and Captain would send plans for better Terran control devices later.
Red picked up many transmissions from the Terran invaders. The messages were encrypted, so Red started a third assimilator farm to grab cyblocs to be used to try and break the Terran obfuscation schemes.
Red-L8: Without Ship’s help, I won’t be able to listen in on them.
Red-L7: Most likely. But there’s always the possibility they’ve miscalculated somehow. There may be a way.
Red-L2: I’m just too used to operating in an environment with hidden rules.
Red-L7: Reality0 is full of hidden rules.
The Terrans were attacking.
Red stopped near a dense cluster of cyblocs and set up an assimilator factory with its field effector. It put seven cyblocs into a configuration designed to create more assimilators as well as respond to enemy attempts to fight back o
n the network in this area.
Assimilators were like viruses—they had to be continually mutated in waves, or else an enemy would learn the weaknesses of a group of assimilators and stop them from spreading, then kill them off. Red’s cluster would monitor progress in the area and launch a new wave of assimilators whenever it detected the old wave had been cracked by the enemy.
Red-L2: That will be sufficient to defeat any attack the Terrans can muster on the station’s systems.
Red-L3: Unless they have an artificial intelligence.
Red-L8: Maybe Ship will help me.
Red-L2: No. Ship will not help me.
Red-L5: Forget about Ship. Forget about the Prime Intelligence. It has abandoned me. I will defeat these Terrans by myself.
Red-L5 had studied the details of Killer’s battle with the Terrans on Asgard. It had suborned every security machine on Thermopylae long ago. Red ordered the machines to slow down the Terran attack. Red would join the battle soon enough—after it took care of something.
The Spinner arrived back at the quarters of the Bentra leaders. It let itself into the office of their highest ranked.
“Mr. Brasileiro,” said Red.
The Terran stood behind its desk, a location it seemed to favor. It stood as Red spun in and crossed its arms in an odd way.
Red-L4: Its two arms cross towards each other, rather than wrapping all in the same direction as ours do.
Red-L5: They’re wrong in so many ways. Their brain isn’t even in the center of the body!
Red-L4: Of all the bodies I’ve tried, I would never try anything so... nonsensical.
“Come to beg?” said the Terran. “Your time here is up. The UNSF will put a stop to this.”
“The possibility seems remote. In any case, you won’t be able to gloat about it,” said Red. The sentence arrived at a buffer in Mr. Brasileiro’s link, but the Terran’s brain never processed the information, as Mr. Brasileiro was dead.
Synchronicity Trilogy Omnibus Page 50