Shards Book One

by Peter W Prellwitz

  "So, is she going to live, Doctor?? Susan asked with mock seriousness. Again, I felt a quick flash of dismay and had to shake it off. I must be thin-skinned or have easily damaged confidence to even begin to worry. I'd have to try to keep my anxiety under control. I had a feeling it could turn into panic very easily.

  Dr. Barrett finished his entry with a flourish, then leaned back in his chair. He addressed me to answer Susie's question.

  "You're in fine shape! You are well within the norms of a young woman entering the middle stages of puberty. Perhaps a bit underweight. And your muscles need toning. But that will all take care of itself with time and Corporal Lendler's guidance. She's a borderline obsessive when it comes to fitness. Probably frustration from being locked up in that cave they call a research facility."

  "Doctor Barrett!? Susie protested.

  He ignored her.? If you survive her attentions in the gym, you should survive anything. And if you have any questions concerning your body's changes, please, see me at your convenience. Your health and comfort take precedence over all my other duties except emergencies. You're also welcome to just come by and talk.? He leaned forward and entered a few more items.? In the meantime, I'm declaring you fit for duty. And since I'm also duty officer, I'll place you right away."

  He looked over a holographic screen that projected itself above the keyboard, but I couldn't make out any details. It was either a limitation of the projection system or, more likely, an extension of his privacy screening. I hoped he was looking for duty in the research wing, with Susan. Not for her company, though it would be a bonus, but so I could get my hands on a terminal and begin catching up. He apparently found what he was looking for.

  "Ah, good! I see there's an opening in the laundry detail. Yes, that will do perfectly. Report to Private William Jackson in the Laundry, at 0400, the day after tomorrow."

  "Laundry? And four o'clock!? I didn't hide my disappointment and groaned, more out of old habit of pulling bad detail than for any other reason. I wouldn't have minded a few nights' sleep. A few nights' real sleep, for a change.

  "Yep. Four AM. And laundry. What did you expect? Vehicle repair? You haven't the strength or stamina. Nor the training. Or maybe one of the cushy jobs in research? Admittedly, it doesn't take much strength to sleep all day…? he paused, probably to listen to the steam come out of Susie's ears.? But in the rare times when they actually take a stab at doing work, again, you don't have the training. Besides, the accessing would wear you down too quickly.? Another odd comment.? So it's the laundry. Must have those uniforms clean and ready to go. Shouldn't be too hard, though. The techniques for cleaning have improved over the centuries, but we still use ordinary water to conserve energy. There is some heavy lifting, but you could stand a little work. And Jackson will probably keep your shifts short for the first day or two.? He stood up.? So! I officially welcome you, whatever-your-name-is-going-to-be. I'm looking forward to your naming tomorrow. I'll see you at the Lieutenant's table. For the next few months at least, welcome to the Third!? I half expected-and half wanted-him to call me a dog, but he didn't.

  We left his office and headed toward the mess. This completed our circle tour except for the research center. I reflected on the doctor's comments about using a computer. What did he call it? The puterverse? It seemed a trifle odd.

  There were a number of things that were striking me as odd. One could point out that being brought forward 600 years, changing sex, getting younger, all after having been an unknown number of whatevers were all odd. And one would be right; they were very odd. But some other things were beginning to nag at me, not the least of which was how relatively easily I was grasping the technology of the era.

  Lt. Sanchez had been correct: my past employers hadn't hired me for my looks. NATech's standards were nothing of the kind; they looked only for exceptions. Even the rookies at NATech could hold intelligent debate with Albert Einstein or Carl Woldheim, two of our early and more well known people.

  And I had worked there for over eight years. So I had a significant edge in experience and ability when extrapolating known facts and adapting with the unknown needed to be done. Even still, I should have been completely out of touch with a society six centuries removed from my own. And not just from a technical standpoint. I was amazed at how little language had changed. There were other feelings, too.

  Definitely not ideas, and certainly not suspicions. But faint, vague stirrings, and a small yet growing conviction that things were not as they should have been.

  "So, how about some lunch?? Susie broke my thought. We had reached the end of the corridor and were standing at the top of the ramp leading down to the mess. My first thought was that I'd been so full from breakfast that I wouldn't need to eat for three days. Right on the heels of that thought was the growling of my stomach, telling me I was hungry. I nodded vigorously, and we walked down the ramp, hand in hand.

  The mess was comfortably full, much less so than this morning, telling me that the unit did indeed eat in shifts. The line was short, only six people, but they let us go first again. I set my tray down on the counter.

  "Uh, Susie? Maybe you better help me out this time.? She laughed.

  "You learn quickly! Sure. But you eat everything I give you, okay?? It sounded like a setup, but figuring she couldn't do worse to me than I would, I nodded. We went down the line, but instead of filling the tray, she gave me almost nothing. She must have thought I was still full from breakfast. We picked up our milk and coffee, smiled at Hill, the cook, and seated ourselves. Like this morning, we were left our own table.

  Lunch went much better than breakfast. Susie had picked out enough for me. I finished up lunch just as I was getting full. We sat and chatted over a cup of coffee. I took a sip of the hot, black fluid. It tasted like battery acid. I almost choked on it. I shook my head and tried another swig. This time I did choke on it.

  Susie grabbed my wrist gently and helped me lower the cup while I coughed and grimaced.

  "Slow down! Your taste buds are new, too. That poison's bad enough with milk and sugar, let alone straight like that. Here.? She poured copious amounts of both into my swill, until it was brimming.

  "Aaa! You've polluted it! I've been drinking it black since I was in college!? I whined.

  "Oh, yeah? When was that?? she countered.

  "You mean I have to retrain my taste buds, too?? I looked with sadness into the depths of my ruined nectar.

  "Uh-huh. Maybe not even then. People have different tastes, you know."

  I moved my cup away from me and thumped my head on the table.? Oh. Getting turned into a shrimp, having to wear all this… stuff, and pulling laundry duty all in one day is bad enough. But NOW! No more coffee!? I tried another sip, but it was just too sickening. I pushed it away, saying farewell to a fond friend. I looked at Susie.

  "I suppose I'm going to hate beer, too?? I lamented.

  "Beer? Probably. But it doesn't matter. You not old enough to drink alcohol."

  Since my head was already on the table, it seemed like a good idea to bang it a couple more times, so I did. I hadn't thought of that. Of course I couldn't drink. Or vote, if they still voted. I had no idea what it was, but I was undoubtedly well under legal age, too. When I got out on my own in a few months…

  A chilling thought touched me. I wanted to think about it for awhile and work it out, but on the surface, it was frightening. It seemed highly improbable that they were going to turn a child, which is what I now was, into a foreign and potentially hostile society. Yet they had told me they released Cues after-what?-two to four months. I filed that information under the growing folder marked? ODD", and put a priority on it.

  Susan got up and went to the beverage table, returning with a steaming mug which she set down beside me.

  "Here,? she said as she seated herself.? Hot chocolate. More to your taste, I rather think. Maybe later you can try some herbal tea.? I sipped it and it was much tastier. Sweeter, but nicely so. Not coffee, but hot. It
had a calming effect.

  We lingered a while longer. Susie seemed hesitant to leave. I wondered why, but decided to use the time to get some information.

  "What's after lunch, Susie? The debriefing?"

  I guessed the source of her discomfort on the first try. She nodded, a little nervously.? Uh-huh. In about an hour. I've been wanting to bring it up, but kept putting it off. I can't any longer. This interview, we call it the Initial Historical and Acclimation Debriefing, or IHAD, can be a little grueling, even hostile. We-"

  "Why on earth would it be hostile? It's not like I'm on trial or anything."

  "Well, yes and no.? She looked around, then stood up.? Come on, let's head to our room. I'll fill you in there. You can bring your hot chocolate."

  We cleaned up our places and walked the short distance to our quarters. Once inside, Susie instructed the door we were not to be disturbed. We only had one chair, so I sat on my bed, Susie in the chair. I sipped the hot chocolate, but it was nowhere near as burning as the curiosity I felt. Curiosity and worry.

  "Okay, let's hear it. I am on trial? How could I be?"

  "Of course you're not on trial! Unless you're a plant.? My eyes widened some as she continued.? The powers that be have been after us for over a hundred and fifty years now, but have never fully disabled us. Because of our recruitment methods and security checks on even possible recruits, they've been unable to penetrate us too deeply with spies. Until recently, when they found another way to get at us.

  "About five years ago, one of our regiments, the Fourth, rescued a ripe. They did the normal checking and IHAD, but it was pretty routine. Remember, we find out everything we can about you before we even begin plans to rescue you. So the IHAD went off without difficulty, and he was integrated into the Fourth for orientation and acclimation before being assigned to a family on the outside.? That answered somewhat my concern about what awaited me once I left here. A moment's thought would have given me that answer. I was just too quick coming to conclusions, a fault of mine I had outgrown but now, being un-grown again, had reacquired. I would need to watch myself about that. Susan continued.

  "Then, about three months into the Cue's acclimation, the Fourth was hit by Xeno shock troops and was nearly obliterated. The few not killed were captured and alpha suppressed. No one escaped. At first. But on the way to the camps, our unit and the Eighty-seventh hit the column and got back our people. What they told us forced us to change the way we did the IHAD, and is why you're going to have an unpleasant experience this afternoon."

  I didn't like the way she said that. Sitting there, she worked her hands, almost wringing them. She obviously didn't like what was coming, but she would do it. I think I knew what it was. I decided to relieve her of the burden of telling me.

  "I think I can guess why,? I said quietly.? The government, or more probably those in charge of the physiomanufacturing complex, suckered you. Since you can reconstruct a ripe's past, they probably can, too. So they find a likely candidate, re-ripe him with his own memories, then ripe him again back to what he had just been. But those memories aren't entirely original, are they? They were modified to include false memories, or embedded instructions, or some such, so that when the original was restored, the ripe would be the perfect inside agent. Probably without his knowing it."

  "How did you know that?? Susan said softly.

  I shook my head.? I didn't, Susie. I suppose I should be up front about this. Before I tell anything more, though, answer just one question.? I felt my heart thudding heavily in my chest, already knowing the answer,? This IHAD. It's going to be held against my will, isn't it?"

  She looked at me carefully, then cast her gaze downward and nodded.

  "I-I-I'm sorry, but yes. It has to be. Even if you want to cooperate fully, it has to be. You're right. Of the forty-eight cases the Resistance has uncovered so far, not a single Cue was aware of their programming or behavior modifications. It gets worse. The actual persona is destroyed during the process, so we can't even determine that there was a copy made. It's only through the IHAD that we can get deep enough into your psyche to know that it's your original persona.? She went on, anger in her voice,? I hate it!

  We do everything we can to bring you back, then subject you to this. You're not even given time to get used to us, or yourself, or anything. We wake you up, then… then… attack you!? She choked off a sob.

  I put down the mug and held her hands.? Susie, please don't cry.? I felt tears welling up unbidden, but forced them back.? I don't blame you. How could I? If it weren't for you and the Third, I'd still be whatever I was before. Or worse. It's because of you that I have my life back. It's new, and different, and scary, but it's mine. An invasive interrogation that insures your safety is a small price to pay for everything you've done for me.? She wiped a tear and smiled.

  "I'm not exactly building up your confidence, am I, kid? I was supposed to be the one giving you support, not the other way around.? She took a breath to steady herself.? So, tell me. How did you know?

  About the infiltration methods and everything? None of the plants had any idea they were subverted, so it's not that."

  "No. As you and Doctor Barrett told me, I'm one of the oldest ripes you've uncovered. I'm willing to bet I was the first ripe, ever.? Then, going into moderate detail, I filled her in on my past life and my position at NATech, though I didn't mention them specifically. The story, even abridged, was apparently pretty good. Susie forgot all about my upcoming IHAD and sat there, fascinated. I must admit to feeling childishly proud of myself and was tempted to really wow her, but managed to hold my tongue. At the end, she shook her head, trying to absorb-and believe-what I'd told her.

  "That's incredible! So you're saying that much of what we use today was actually envisioned by your people over six centuries ago?"

  "I wouldn't go that far. I haven't seen a great deal of this world yet. And some of what I've deduced is just that: deduction. But yes, there are elements here that we were working on at the time of my first riping. If that's what it was,? I concluded.

  "What do you mean, 'If that's what it was.'? It was a riping."

  "Maybe that's what it ended up being. But I'm sure that's not how it started out. I'm certain that the goal was to revive me, or at least my memories, by moving them to an undamaged portion of my brain. I was completing work on…? I hesitated, then skirted,? an important project when I the accident occurred. I hadn't yet transferred my conclusions, procedures and projections into the main systems."

  "And that project was that important? That they'd risk untested technology to get that information. That's ghoulish!"

  "Hey, not too hard, Susie. I was probably dead or dying. There was no risk. And the technology wasn't untested, it was nonexistent. I imagine they came up with the hypothetical solution and implemented it within several days, though I don't know. In any event, they were successful in keeping me alive. But I don't have any memories beyond what I've told you. It's as though I stepped up to the elevator and woke up in the recovery room."

  She shuddered.? How can you talk about dying and being experimented on and be so calm?? Without seeming to, she paid very close attention to my response.

  "I don't know. It somehow seems so… removed. I know it happened to me back then. I think I may have been inadvertently electrocuted by the entry defense systems. Whatever, it's as though my head knows it was me, but I know it's not me.? I hugged myself.? For better or worse, this is me now.? I looked at her.? Does that sound right?"

  Her eyes sparkled with delight.? That's exactly how it's supposed to feel! I knew you'd make it. I didn't have any proof, but I was somehow certain you'd begin to make the transition!? She seemed vastly relieved. I felt it, too.

  We passed the next twenty minutes with idle talk. Susie seemed to have passed a barrier and didn't seem as concerned about the IHAD, which in turn put me at ease. I still wasn't sure why she'd been so tense earlier, but I had a hunch that if I turned out to be a plant, she'd be the one to de
al with me. I spent no time thinking about how they'd deal with me if I were a plant. Pretty abruptly, I suppose. These people didn't seem like fanatics, but they risked their lives and lived like outlaws in a cave, all for the chance to restore a person who didn't know they needed restoring. They would be willing to take extreme measures to continue their work.

  We were in the midst of planning our evening gym workout after dinner, when a knock came at the door.

  I jumped a bit; the heavy thoom! of an energy door was worlds different from a wooden one. Susie got up and let them in.

  I was expecting mad scientists with long robes and covered faces. They would be tall, skinny, and devoid of human compassion. One would have a huge needle, dripping some sort of mind-altering drug. I'd scream, then faint, then come to just as they jabbed the needle into my arm, making sure the barbs grabbed on firmly. At least, that's how my overactive imagination envisioned it.

  There were two of them. One was a young man, of average build, maybe twenty. He had a pleasant face and cheerful greeting. The other was a middle-aged woman. She came right up to me and pulled me from my bed, a big smile on her face.

  "Hello! I haven't had a chance to meet you yet! I'm Corporal Geher, but please, call me Betty. I'm going to be your interviewer. Nervous?? I nodded.? Good! You wouldn't be normal if you weren't at least a little frightened. Let me tell you right now, though, the interview isn't scary in the slightest."

  "Uh-huh. And you've got prime real estate in Florida to sell me, too, right?? I quipped dryly.

  She frowned, trying to figure out what I meant. She got the gist, though.