by James Darcey
"But what about your oath? You had an oath to the Guardsmen, and now you have one to me!"
"My original oath was to the Reliance Guards. I vowed to serve them and protect the system. I saw a chance to do that in ways that I had only dreamed of before. Now that oath is released and I have an oath of absolute loyalty to you. You never posed any threat to the guards or the system, so I had no cause to reveal what I had found. Now I am acting to serve you the best that I can."
By this time Traxel was returning gripping pistols in a couple of his hands. I had guessed right about what he was doing, but he was nervous as well. The way he was shaking I wasn't sure if he would shoot or not. He might even shake enough to pull the trigger on accident. The things Panzo was saying made a little bit of sense, but something still wasn't being told. Some key piece of information was still being held back. I had to know all the answers. Panzo was looking a bit worried as well at seeing the pistols. He turned to me, pleading his case further.
"You have my oath. How much do you trust him? Cardovans are well known for doing whatever best serves themselves at the moment."
Traxel snapped at Panzo, "Shut up dog! I'll be quite happy to clean your blood off the walls after tossing your corpse out into the void!"
This was getting out of hand fast! Panzo had gotten us here, wherever 'here' was, and Traxel was going to kill him. If something didn't happen fast we were all going to be dead very shortly. I needed answers and I wasn't going to get them from a dead Kanari. It was time that I took control of the situation and tried to bring sense to all of it.
I pointed my finger at the pistol in his hands telling him to put it down so we could settle this. We were in high drive; that much was obvious. Just where we would come out, if at all, were still unknown. Trickery aside, I needed this Kanari alive to give those answers. The energy was building inside me, just aching to be let free.
"No! He's tricked us, and I'm going too..."
I let the bolt jump the few meters to the pistol. It may have been carbon composite with simple projectile cartridges, but it exploded very nicely. The result left everyone, including me, surprised enough to break the stalemate. I now had their undivided attention. It was time to take control of the situation. Traxel was standing there mouth agape, so I turned my ire on Panzo.
"I didn't feed the engine output into the power relays. Nor was it some fluke of a plasma stream as the patrol concluded. It was just me. Now, where are we going? I felt the ship twist just before high drive kicked in."
From the corner of my eye I could see Traxel still staring at the pistol grip in his hand. The rest of the weapon was scattered across the cockpit. A thin trail of smoke rose from the burst magazine chamber on the ground by his feet, only to be sucked out by the ventilation system. All in all, I felt it had been a decent enough demonstration of authority. Now I had to make use of the power I had grabbed. I know Ritlabek's philosophy would have had me kill them both, but that wouldn't get answers I desperately needed.
Panzo stood there with his mouth opening and closing, but no sounds were coming out. His eyes had definitely grown larger as they traced a line from Traxel's hand, back to mine. I had dropped it back to my side, hoping that it would reduce the tension.
The stupor was broken by the entrance of a little bot that scooted around the floor picking up the pieces. We all watched as it scaled up and over consoles to get all the parts, even stopping in front of Traxel until he dropped the grip. I didn't recall ever seeing that little gizmo before. Panzo was the first to speak.
"I... uh... instructed the AI to launch two missiles and destruct them at minimum safe distance. Immediately she would alter the nav settings and boost us someplace else. It would give the impression of being destroyed, like I mentioned before."
He looked up to the ceiling of the cockpit: "Lafiel, where are we going anyhow?"
A new computer voice came through the speakers. It held none of the stiffness that the previous one had. Perhaps it was due to being constructed at Reliance that it also sounded distinctly like a female Kanari. The charming note of the voice helped ease the stress a bit as well.
"Rage looked like a good spot. It has an open docking policy with no registration requirements. I know that means pirates will be poking around, but I believe we can handle them with no problems. It lies only a parsec spinward from your original plot. Also, let me bid you a good afternoon, Captain Ion."
The one certainty that we had was that the ship was properly in high drive. Traxel looked as though he was ready to use the second pistol for a moment, but when my finger came up, it quickly found a home in his belt. I had control for the moment, or at least what control could be had under the circumstances. I followed Dleddin's rule sixteen of negotiations, and spoke before anyone else could formulate a suggestion.
"Both of you into the common room. This is going to get explained right away. And if you even think of pulling out that pistol, I'll turn you into charred exoskeleton. I need his answers."
Panzo led the way back to the table, offering to make a pitcher of Onet to sip while we talked. At my puzzled expression, he explained that it was a beverage brewed with dried seed from his native planet. I was all for trying another new flavor, but Traxel declined in favor of a fermented mixed-fruit concoction that he loved.
With us all finally seated at the common room table, and sipping drinks, the tensions eased a bit more. I had demanded explanations, and that part had yet to happen. I was just about to remind them of why we were sitting at the table exchanging glares, when the ship's AI broke the silence. Apparently the new system did not require someone to address it first.
The voice came out of the speakers right over our heads, "Panzo, You should tell the complete story so that they will understand the situation."
Looking upward, he started, "Very well, I'll go first, but I want the other stories too. I stuck my neck out too far to go back, and I want to know that it was worth it." He ended with a sharp glance at me.
I was torn between worry and anger for that verbal jab, "Why should I tell you anything? You hijacked my ship."
"First claw; it isn't your ship. At least not legally. The stuff I dug out of the memory banks told me that much, and Senior Directors don't fetch drinks while underlings work. Second claw, I thumbed the oath, and you have my service whatever you decide to do. Bug-eyed no brain over there is already doing whatever you want as well."
If this was the cost of getting my answers about the ship being hijacked, then so be it. I still had the option of frying him. Panzo took a sip of the steaming Onet, and started the tale.
"Of course you wouldn't know my clan, or why it was important that I devote my life to making the world a better place. When I was old enough to pledge myself, I chose the Reliance Guards for that reason. They took notice of my engineering talents, and shipped me off to Beilion Tech because it was the best school."
The AI interrupted his story just long enough to praise his abilities, and then apologize for the interruption. I remember the previous AI that would only talk to Traxel, being quiet and not voicing anything unless instructed to, but this one just blurted out comments.
"Um, Thanks Lafiel. There were a couple better than me, but I was good enough to get noticed by some of the big companies working on prototypes for drive systems and AI's. It helped me to realize just how much Kanaru space flight depended upon systems controlled by foreign corporations. There is not one single Kanari drive able to reach high drive. It doesn't matter what Kanari want; Flux Genetics and Cynet can pretty much dictate where we can go, and how we run what are supposed to be our own ships."
"So, you planned to steal my ship for this?"
"Nothing of the sort. You have my pledge, remember? No, I've worked for years designing a drive system that's every bit as good as the Flux Genetics one. I just couldn't do anything with it while I was sworn to them. Now you have my oath. My biggest obstacle had been the AI. Cynet is the biggest name for them in this sector, and they won't
let anyone but the Indigal touch those units.
My first break came when you showed up with a totally burned AI. When I approached you with the news that I needed to replace it, a true Flux Genetics Senior Director would have known that a Kanari repair crew wasn't authorized to install such a unit. Thankfully the gamble paid off. You didn't have me shot, and the system works perfectly.
Many of the thing you had said, combined with the clues I dredged up from the surviving memory banks, told me that you weren't really who you claimed to be. Still, there's no thrill like gambling your life on something you couldn't quite prove. For me, the chance to create a truly Kanari drive system was worth the risk."
"Now I know why you stole my ship, but how do you propose to go back there with your prize? They'll know this ship isn't yours. You may have created a new drive system with a stolen AI and ship, but they won't let you use it."
"Firstly, Reliance isn't the Kanari main world. That's just one of three systems we claim. My plan is to go to Kanis Alpha and present my designs to the clan house gathering there. Of course I can't do that until you have released me from my oath. Regardless of redirecting your ship, I am still bound by that oath to you. It was a second gamble that you would have the honor to help me on this after your own goal is achieved."
"I'm not sure I could. I'm merely going to my people's planet and then planned on giving the ship to Traxell. He could take you there."
Both of them shouted at once that I couldn't do that, though the words garbled as to why. I had to add my own shout in order to get them to quiet down. I turned to Traxel, asking for his explanation. Panzo couldn't resist adding his own encouragement by telling 'the bug' to hurry up.
"I was hatched at Trefenva, and worked in the mines there as soon as I was old enough."
"Just what does that have to do with me giving you the ship?"
"When the owner moved to the asteroid field, I went along with all the equipment; my whole brood went there. Then a rival company captured most of the operation, and I found myself with a new owner. At least until Teyrn Elon won me in a game of chance."
My brief outrage at his being traded like property was dismissed. This had been Traxel's way of describing it, though it was quite close to the truth. Cardovan males have a need to belong. For most, this means their lives revolve around whatever task the hive tells them to do. Some Cardovan males will leave the hive and gravitate to some other strong influence, usually female.
This is what happened with Traxel, his move to working for Teyrn Elon had merely been a shift to the stronger ruler. And now here he was with me. I felt disgusted and flattered at the same time. I had no desire to own anyone, especially since I was fighting for my own freedom. At the same time, it was reassuring that he saw me as being a figure of power to rival the Teyrn.
Panzo jumped in with his own bit of insight, "That's why Captain Korcktl had acted like he didn't really matter. He knew that you had to be his owner. Now it's your turn to fill in the blanks about you."
"There really isn't that much to tell. I was stuck on that orbital lab, and now I escaped by way of this ship."
"I wasn't anywhere near there when you did, but I know that's not the full story. Where were you born? What's the first thing you remember?"
"Records indicate that I was created there on the lab, and my first memory was of Assistant Third Eligh pouring acid over my foot to watch how my flesh melted. I was about a year old at that time. It took more than a week for that to regrow."
"You must be exaggerating. Nobody would do something like that."
"I have had many tests done during the years I was there, but finding information about my origin prompted me to make my way to my mother's home planet. I fried a few Selstlaks, and took off in this ship. It was only after I departed that I found out Traxel was on board."
The part that I knew they were waiting to hear about involved telling them how I had exploded the pistol in Traxel's hand. In order for them to understand that part, I had to tell them about Teyrn Elon's plan for me. I had been created for the sole purpose of being a weapon that could pass undetected through scanning equipment, and still be lethal when needed. According to the files I had seen, he felt that I was nearing the point when they would wipe my personality to instill a new one, controlled by Teyrn himself.
I told them both that this discovery had been the catalyst that set me on the course to escape, relating how I had spent so many hours studying every aspect that I could conceive for the escape. I even trusted them with my goal to lose myself among my mother's people. My fellow Humans.
They both listened in disbelief as I described my escape. Selstlak are known to be rather hardy in nature, as well as having a good deal of strength. Normally they can endure a large amount of shock before getting knocked out. The fact that I described killing two of them that were wearing suits was more than either of them could believe. I guess with what I have seen of other races, it does sound a bit improbable.
I answered what I could about my control of the electrical bursts. Panzo still had a hard time believing anyone could survive so much energy going through them, even after I reminded him that I'd blown the ship's systems. To quell the disbelief I set up a little demonstration in the longest spot we could. I had about eight or nine meters distance down the passageway to the table in the common room. Panzo set up one of his power meters on the table, telling me to give it all I had. I really think he doubted I could make my bolt go that far. He paled a bit under that fur when I reminded him that I was weakened when I had burned out half the ship.
"Ok, just a good jolt then, nothing to hurt the ship."
I stretched out a hand, feeling the charge centered there. I could tell that it was stronger than before. The water system had been really charging me up. When I let it jump, I held the power back enough that it would just reach the test probe. This was one time that I didn't mind being the test subject. The arc ripped through the narrow passageway, touching the probe as it lit everything in stark relief. I heard a soft 'wow' from the ship's computer. Panzo was still blinking away the after image as he called upward to the ceiling.
"Ok Lafiel, time to quit hiding! It's your turn for story time."
Seemingly coming from everywhere was an excited voice. It certainly carried the accent and tone of a Kanari female. I never imagined hearing an AI give a slight giggle when it talked. I also never guessed that an AI would have a history of itself, I mean beyond the chronological events of its creation. She talked of family as though she had been born, not assembled. As she went on it became clear that she had memories of a life as a Kanari. I'm sure that Panzo had heard this before. His attention was focused on the probe, which seemed to have melted into the glass partially.
"I come from the northern continent on Reliance, though my clan is small there. I always got a thrill out of watching the turbocraft flying over the hills. Just as soon as my paws could reach the pedals, I was taking joy rides in the ground car. Just as soon as the guilds let me, I qualified for flight instruction. The faster the aircraft, the better the thrill. I was hooked on flying."
I had to ask, "Panzo, are these implanted memories from a real Kanari? Is that how the voice sounds like it does?"
"Just be patient and listen. You'll find out."
"I'll get to it in a minute. Anyway, I soon mastered the aircraft and set my sights on the stars. It took me three trys to convince the Guard recruiters that I wouldn't wreck their precious needle ships. I was head of my class for the first two years, and nearly got my comet badge before... before I got sick with one of those diseases that has a name longer than your arm. Sliding through a curve at only nine gravities, and my arm snapped, along with three ribs. I limped the flitter back to the station.
It took the healers a week to figure out what had happened. They told me that within the year my bones would get so week that they'd snap under their own weight. My only choice was to get cybernetic implants and a titanium skeleton. My clan couldn't afford the su
rgeries, and even if I got them, I'd never be able to fly again. That seemed worse than dying.
Along came Flux Genetics and Cynet with an offer that would save my life and even let me fly again. The only catch is that they'd wipe my memory, and I'd be dead as far as the clan was concerned. It was a tough decision, but it was the only way I'd ever fly again. Even with the cybernetic implants I'd have been barely surviving.
At the time they came, all they talked about was how great it'd be for me to not just fly, but feel what the ship felt. I'd be trading my crumbling body for duratanium skin and bones. With my brain integrated into the computational neural network, I'd think faster than the best computers. All I heard was that I could fly again.
They tore off my body, and sliced me into the integrator; at least my brain anyway. Then the painful part as they tried zapping away my memories. After the third round I kept silent and let them think I was gone. I lost some stuff, like my first birthday, and the name of my pet greetl. I could have passed right by my sire and not recognized him, but I remembered most of my thoughts.
A bunch of painful and confusing stuff later I work up feeling like I knew every star system this side of the spiral, and feeling like I had a hundred arms and a thousand eyes and ears. I was strapped into a brand new Guard cruiser with a green crew ready for worthiness trials. To add more fun to this ride, I had a dozen technicians that jumped every time I said anything. If I talked without being addressed, they'd shut me down to find out why. So, I tried to keep quiet. I'm a Kanari, not a machine, I don't quit thinking merely because somebody flips a switch. They'd shut down the computer side, and I'd be in the dark with my own nightmares working a thousand times faster in the void of isolation."