The Split Skies (The Possessor Wars, Book 4): The Possessor Wars, Book 4

by Chad Spencer

  Harriet gaped at Hugh momentarily and then said, “You’re right, Hugh. There are a lot of guys in this colony. If Jeff can move on, so can I. And I don’t need a guy to have a life.”

  “Really?”

  “Well … it’d still be nice to have one, I guess. What about you? Is there anyone you’re interested in?”

  Hugh shrugged. “There are a couple of the girls I’d like to date. One in particular that I’d really like to go out with. But she’s already got someone. I don’t know. I’ll figure it out as I go along.”

  Their conversation was interrupted when Hugh got a call on his autolibrary. It was Rick.

  “Hey,” he greeted.

  “Hey,” Rick bounced back. “We were wondering if you could come to the Hiryu. Nuraiyana is about ready to take her new host and we want you to monitor the overmind Mark II to make sure everything goes ok.”

  Surprised, Hugh questioned, “I thought the Argentineans were going to take care of that.”

  “Yeah,” agreed Rick, “but it was your program that designed the Mark II. You know more about it than anyone else. They wanted you to be here just in case. They’ll be monitoring everything over the data grid with the medical bay’s scanners. To tell you the truth, I think they’re just not that interested. They’re making plans to explore nearby star systems and that seems to be more important to them. So it looks like they just want you to handle things unless something goes seriously wrong.”

  Hugh asked, “How did the operation go? Did Ikko and Nikko get the braincase into the android ok? They still think it’s Hikaru’s brain in there, don’t they?”

  “Yeah. The Mark II was covered by the brain case and the cyberbrain. We had the Mark II run the program you wrote to simulate Hikaru’s brain activity. They had no idea it isn’t a human brain in there. Ikko and Nikko put the brain case inside the android’s head and connected up the nerves and blood and stuff. The whole project’s coming off without a hitch.”

  Rick appeared briefly thoughtful and then wondered, “Is Harriet there with you? She can come along. Nuraiyana said she doesn’t mind.” He quickly added, “But don’t bring Tiffany.”

  Hugh chuckled and told him, “There isn’t much chance of that.”

  A short while later they were aboard the Hiryu and waiting expectantly with Akio’s crew in the medical bay. Jeff, Amanda, and Danae were there. Mervin stood close by, obediently carrying the old overmind.

  Nuraiyana’s android body lay on the medical bot’s examination table dressed in a kimono that Ikko and Nikko had made for her. The elegant, flowing garment, with its powder blue tones and pink cherry blossoms, made the android look like a Japanese version of Sleeping Beauty. The kimono was made of vidcloth, so the cherry blossoms were animated. They moved as if blown by a soft wind. Blossoms fluttered gently from the delicately dancing branches.

  Like Hikaru, the android had very long hair. ‘But I think its hair is even longer than Hikaru’s was in her pictures,’ he observed silently. He wasn’t sure because Ikko and Nikko had done the android’s hair into an impeccable style that was partially up.

  Seeing the completed android for the first time, Hugh saw that Kasumi’s prediction was right; it didn’t look exactly like Hikaru’s pictures. ‘That should make Akio more comfortable around Nuraiyana,’ he thought as he glanced at Akio furtively. The android’s face was just slightly narrower than Hikaru’s, and its eyes were a bit bigger. ‘It does look like it could be a sister of Hikaru’s,’ Hugh told himself.

  Hugh checked the scans of the overmind Mark II. Stealing another glance at the android’s too perfect face, he thought, ‘I actually think this android is even better looking than Hikaru’s pictures. I wouldn’t have thought that possible.’

  The medical bot produced a hypospray and gave the android a shot.

  Akio blurted out, “What’s that for?”

  “They’re self-repair nanobots,” explained Hugh. “When we were back in the Alliance and Kasumi first brought up the idea of making a new android body, I thought it would be good if it could repair itself like a human body does.”

  “Don’t tell me,” said Akio wryly, “you made an overmind and had it write the program while we were in cryostasis.”

  “Well no,” Hugh countered, slightly flustered. “I used the same overmind that we were using to design the overmind Mark II. It wasn’t that much more overhead on the processors, so I figured it would probably be done before we woke up–and it was.”

  Akio rolled his eyes. “Same thing,” he stated.

  Unfazed, Hugh rambled on, “This is actually a big advance in android technology. Basically it makes this android body a Living Android–just like the Living Ships. It wasn’t that hard of a program to create. The android already has a digestive system, so it has a way to take in the materials it needs to self-repair. Even the android’s hair can grow. This android body will last for hundreds of years–maybe thousands.”

  Hugh heard Akio mutter, “A Living Android …” and fall silent. Hesitantly, he stated, “I’m going to give Ikko and Nikko these shots as well. ‘Hikaru’ asked me to.”

  Akio didn’t answer, so Hugh instructed the medical bot to give the two androids injections.

  Ai blurted out, “Does that mean she’ll look seventeen forever?”

  Shaking his head, Hugh replied, “Nope. The nanobots are programmed to make it look like she’s aging until she’s 30. Then she’ll stop. The Argentineans added that.”

  “She’ll never look older than 30?” exclaimed Ai incredulously.

  “Not until the nanobots wear out,” Hugh explained. “I don’t know exactly how long that will be. Like I said, hundreds or thousands of years. But once they’re gone she’ll grow old like a regular human, only faster. It’ll probably only take ten years or so.”

  “Young for thousands of years and then old for just a few. Sounds pretty good to me,” Ai muttered. Hugh noticed Harriet nod in agreement.

  Lightly, Kasumi interrupted and advised, “Akio, while ‘Hikaru’ is ‘sleeping’ you should ask Ikko and Nikko to make dinner for us.”

  Akio, who appeared to be lost in thought, jerked back to reality. “Uh, sure. Ikko and Nikko, please go make us some dinner.”

  Nikko stated, “As per Hikaru-sama’s instructions, we must follow all of your orders. But our programming makes Hikaru-sama our highest priority. Until she awakens, we must stay with her.”

  Akio instructed, “Your scans of her brain activity tell you that Hikaru is just sleeping, don’t they?”

  “Yes, Akio-san.”

  “Then the medical bot can watch her. If she wakes up while you’re gone, we’ll call you right away. Both of you please leave and cook a nice dinner. Hikaru … Hikaru will want to celebrate when she wakes up.”

  “Yes, Akio-san,” the two androids replied obediently as they bowed. Again in unison, they said, “Shitsurei shimasu (Please excuse us).” Together they glided gracefully out of the medical bay.

  All eyes turned to Mervin and the case he was carrying. “Ok, Nuraiyana,” Kasumi encouraged. “They’re gone. You can move into your new body now.”

  With clear trepidation, Nuraiyana announced, “I … I’m ready.” Mervin stood motionless. Then Nuraiyana wafted out of the case. Her true form was spherical and glowed with a gentle yellow iridescence. A blue band of color wavered across her as she slowly bobbed. Pausing briefly near Akio, Nuraiyana turned toward the android body and slipped quietly in. The android opened its eyes.

  “Nuraiyana?” Kasumi queried as she passed a hand-held medical scanner over her.

  “Yes, Kasumi. It’s me.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “I … I’m just fine. Everything went perfectly.”

  Hugh saw tears roll from her eyes. Akio blurted out, “If you’re ok, why are you crying?”

  Wiping the moisture from her face, Nuraiyana sighed, “I’m just happy, Akio. It’s wonderful to be back in a real body. I can think and feel again like I did when … when I was hum
an.”

  Kasumi called Ikko and Nikko. The medical bay doors shooshed open and the pair of androids reappeared. They rapidly scanned Nuraiyana and declared her healthy. As they helped her to her feet, Nuraiyana instructed them, “Ikko and Nikko. I’ve decided to change my name. From now on you will call me Fujiwara Nuraiyana.”

  “Hi, Ojousama (Yes, Mistress),” they chorused.

  “Please return to your cooking.” Ikko and Nikko exited the medical bay.

  With a fierce glare, Akio demanded, “Why are you using Hikaru’s family name?”

  Hugh observed Nuraiyana recoil slightly and explained, “I … I’m not just churei any more. I’m human too. I have a human’s memories and a body that’s nearly human. I remember Hikaru’s family and love them just like she did. They left a legacy for Hikaru, and now it’s my responsibility to remember them and honor them by keeping their legacy going. It’s my duty to make sure their family continues. At least, that’s what I feel.”

  Akio’s countenance softened. He nodded and agreed, “I think Hikaru would like that.”

  Abruptly, Jeff changed the subject. “Hugh,” he said. “You know I have a robot too, right?”

  “Sure,” replied Hugh.

  “Do you think that you could make another overmind Mark II? It would be pretty great to put one in Arvix.”

  Hugh repeated, “Sure. I’ll have one built for him by tomorrow. Bring him around after dinner. I’ll copy all of his memories into the overmind and stick it in his head.”

  “Good,” Jeff approved, nodding. “Then I can pull off that backpack I stuck on him to hold his extra processors. I think it’ll make it easier for him to move around.”

  Hugh agreed, “Yeah, and if you want, you can bring your datacrown and I’ll dump its library into his overmind. I’m pretty good at hacking into systems these days.” He glanced warily at Harriet, but Harriet didn’t seem to be bothered by his comment.

  “I’m hungry,” Rick broke in. “I’m gonna go see if dinner’s ready.” They all agreed and followed him from the medical bay.

  22

  Eden stood in the crew’s common area aboard the Hiryu. Jeff was amazed. “You’re really not standing there?” he asked incredulously.

  “Quite true,” replied Eden. “The image of me that you’re seeing is projected telepathically into your mind. People who do not have a telepathic connection to me cannot see me.”

  “And Amanda isn’t here either?” he questioned, gazing at her as she stood next to Eden.

  “No, Jeff. You know I’m on the Amsterdam and it’s outside the Bowman system,” Amanda said.

  Jeff shook his head in disbelief. “You’re right. I know you’re out with the Living Miner picking up raw materials for the colony, but it looks like you’re standing right in front of me.”

  “To me,” countered Amanda, “it looks like you’re all in my quarters on the Amsterdam.”

  Eden explained, “I’m projecting telepathic images to make it possible for us all to meet. It was the only way we could get this done in a timely fashion.”

  Akio broke in and demanded, “You asked to see us all. We’re all here. What’s so important?”

  “Akio,” stated Eden gently, “you know what this is about, don’t you?”

  Grimacing, Akio told her, “You want us to come to you.”

  “Exactly.”

  “We don’t have a gateship. The Argentineans own the gateship.”

  “But you can get a seed from them, can’t you?”

  “How did you know about that?”

  Danae interrupted, “I told her. She and I have been talking a lot lately.”

  “Yes. And I need to keep in closer communication with all of you from now on,” stated Eden.

  Akio scratched his head. “We keep in touch,” he countered. “We just don’t tell you every single thing that we do.”

  Jeff saw that Eden’s gentle calm was undisturbed by Akio’s words. With seemingly unending patience, she gently responded, “Akio, I have done the best I can for you. I want to do what’s best for everyone. I need to know more of what’s going on in order to do that.”

  Jumping back into the conversation, Jeff asserted, “Ok, we’ll keep you up to date. But we still don’t know if we can get a gateship seed.”

  “Actually,” Rick informed him, “we already have one. Our fighter produced a bunch of Living Fighter seeds while we were in cryostasis. It automatically went dormant after it ran out of materials. But while it was active, it had enough materials for dozens of seeds. I traded a bunch of our fighter seeds with Governor Connors for Living Freighter and Living Miner seeds. Then I traded the some of those seeds with Señor Otero for a Living Gateship seed.”

  “Why did you do that?” demanded Akio.

  “Because after what happened during the war, I thought we might need them. You never know. I figured it was better to have them just in case.”

  Eden beamed, “Well done, Rick. So you see, you all can come to me and we can work together to control the danger to humanity.”

  Jeff countered, “We’ve all been gone from the Alliance for more than twenty years. How do you know the dairei hasn’t already done whatever it was he wanted to do?”

  “Because if he had,” Eden replied, “he would have come to where I am and taken control of the portal to our universe. That has to be what he’s after. He’s just using humanity to accomplish his goals. And his goals have to involve his clan back in our universe. I really doubt the human race is anything more than a means to an end for him.”

  Again, Jeff insisted, “How do you know he’s not dead?”

  “Even if he is,” responded Eden, “others will come into this universe as long as the portal remains unsecured. You must help me take control of the portal so others don’t come and things don’t get even more out of control than they already have.”

  Jeff didn’t know what to say that. Finally, Harriet spoke up with, “You have to give us time, Eden. From our point of view, it’s only been a few months since we were in a war. We’re not real happy about rushing into another one. And anyway, it takes months to grow a Living Gateship. For now, you’ll just have to wait and let us have some time to ourselves.”

  Eden surveyed them thoughtfully. “I suppose you’re right,” she agreed. “Meanwhile, I can use the time helping you all learn the full extent of the powers you have.” Suddenly, Eden exclaimed, “Oh! Is that Hikaru? I thought you said she passed away.” She pointed toward the common area’s entrance.

  Nuraiyana hesitantly stood in the doorway. Kasumi quickly explained, “That’s Hikaru’s sister, Nuraiyana. We rescued her from Section 21. They were doing experiments on her because they thought she had korei.”

  “Ah,” Eden said comprehendingly. She continued, “And I suppose Hikaru’s sister must have a cyberbrain like Hikaru did. That’s why I can’t connect with her telepathically.”

  Jeff could see that Nuraiyana was desperately trying to pretend she didn’t see Eden.

  “Are … are you all done?” Nuraiyana asked hesitantly, acting like she didn’t know what was going on.

  Kasumi helped the charade with, “Not yet. We’re still talking to Eden.”

  With obvious thoughtfulness, Eden queried, “Nuraiyana is an unusual name for a Japanese girl, isn’t it?”

  Jeff saw Nuraiyana freeze, trying not to react.

  Hastily, Kasumi interjected, “That’s true. It’s not a Japanese name. But Nuraiyana told us that her mother named her after a friend from the planet Karaganda, in the Astana system. Didn’t she Nuraiyana?”

  Warily, she replied, “Yes … that’s right. I’m named after my mother’s friend.”

  “I see,” Eden acknowledged. “Well, I guess we’re done here. We’ll work on your abilities later. Please call me when you’re ready. Goodbye.” She disappeared.

  “I don’t trust her,” complained Tiffany.

  “I don’t know,” countered Danae. “I’ve talked with her a lot over the last few months. She�
�s always been really nice to me.”

  “She’s been good to us,” Kasumi agreed, “but there’s a lot she hasn’t told us.”

  “Kasumi’s right,” Hugh interjected supportively, “There’s a lot of things that don’t add up about this situation.” Kasumi smiled.

  “Like what?” asked Jeff.

  “Like did you know that Madison Burke was in the same wormhole as you when it collapsed?” Hugh queried.

  Furrowing his brow, Jeff responded, “I guess I never thought about it. But she had to be, didn’t she? That’s how she wound up meeting Senthil and becoming Eden.”

  “But she shouldn’t have been there,” countered Hugh. “Her ship was two months ahead of yours because the ship you were on went into the Far Oxford system. I asked Eden about it and she said that they had an outbreak of Kalaran swinepox on the ship. It had to be quarantined for two months. That’s the only reason it was where it was at the time of the wormhole collapse. Kalaran swinepox is so rare that they don’t inoculate for it any more. It’s almost like someone knew that the wormhole would collapse and purposely made sure Madison and her boyfriend were there.”

  Harriet concurred, “He’s right. And we found out that the dairei that we fought was on Earth a long time. We think he started all three World Wars and attacked Leo’s family in 1487. It’s like the dairei knew a long time ago that Leo would be important.”

  “So you’re saying,” questioned Jeff, “that you think Eden’s lying to us?”

  Hugh shrugged. “I don’t know. But I think there’s more going on here than what she’s telling us.”

  “Or more going on here than what she knows about,” Kasumi interjected.

  Tiffany tossed her hair and flouted, “Well if nothing’s happened on Earth for twenty years, then it seems like there’s no real reason to worry.”