The Sixteen Galaxies

by William Drayman

  16

  John Crabtree smiled in satisfaction. He turned to Kestil and bowed. “The fleet is in position, Kestil. Their ship is completely surrounded, and our ships are all at 50 kilometres distance; perfect range for the kinetic field weapons.”

  Kestil nodded. “Very good, John. Fire one salvo to drop their cloak. No need to rush things.”

  “Very well.” John put a hand to his ear. “Fleet, de-cloak and fire one salvo, broad spread. Now!”

  On the warship, there was a brief low thump of sound; almost so low as to be inaudible. Right in the centre of the now visible fleet, a lone ship appeared. John hailed the ship, but it sat in total silence, immobile.

  Kestil frowned. “Something’s awry, John. I have a nasty feeling about this…”

  John gestured to a young female officer. “Seelek, scan that ship, all possible types.”

  Seelek nodded and did as directed. She read the results and said, “No readings of any kind, sir. It registers as an object, but nothing else. No life signs, no temperature-”

  “It’s a damned hologram,” Kestil raged. He pounded a nearby console. “I hate that damned AI.”

  John grunted. He touched his ear again. “Fleet, take all possible readings on that ship, it’s a solidified light hologram. Add the readings to your exempt list. Then spread out and resume your previous search patterns. Let’s not be fooled again.”

  *****

  Hiram laughed at the footage of Kestil’s fleet around the hologram, replayed to them by Truly. “That won’t work twice, unfortunately. I would love to have seen Kestil’s face. I bet he was mad.”

  Nuthros shrugged. “He won’t be discouraged, Hiram. Kestil is playing a long game, and this is just a minor setback.” He gestured to the large object slowly taking shape inside the red barriers. “It has bought Truly the time necessary to complete this, though; whatever it is.”

  Everyone on board the ship spent brief moments of their time in contemplation of the unusual structure that grew behind the red barriers. Speculation was rife, but Truly refused to reveal the machine’s purpose. All she would say was that it was necessary for her plans to deal with Kestil’s fleet of warships.

  The void for the machine penetrated 4 decks of the ship, and came within three metres or so of the hull at the midpoint of the ship. It was spherical, as was the object that took shape within it. In the last day, tubular connections from the hull had formed along all six axes, seamlessly joining up to tubes that emanated from the spherical object in the centre.

  Nuthros and Hiram spent hours in conference with the council via implant, trying to plan for future events. But, with the outcome of the encounter with Kestil’s fleet uncertain, they could establish very little.

  Time passed, and construction of the object approached completion. Everyone on Nuthros’ ship was enthralled by its growth. It was a huge sphere, the walls of which were semi-transparent. The tubes which radiated out from it to the ship’s hull, Nuthros had informed the others, connected to the ship’s new shields, which were exponentially stronger than the old ones.

  Eventually the red barricades disappeared, and revealed glass-like rails which surrounded the void at the edges of the decks. They all stood together and stared at the construct.

  “The most logical answer is that it’s a power source,” Hiram speculated, “To provide the extra power needed for the new shields, perhaps?”

  Nuthros shook his head. “The ship’s original power source is more than capable of that task, Hiram. Though I must agree, this is likely a power unit of some kind.”

  They were interrupted by a brief burst of heavy metal guitar. Jack Short fumbled for his cell-phone. “Nick, give me some good news, man.” Jack frowned as he listened to the caller, then raised his eyebrows. “Oh, really? Awesome work Nick, I owe you a beer or six. Thanks, buddy.”

  Jack flicked the phone shut. “Donald Vincent was just spotted at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Last seen entering a new hangar adjacent to a launch pad.”

  *****

  One lousy year to pull off a project that should take a decade, Frank Soames thought. He kept his thoughts to himself, but he seethed with frustration inside. He tried to think of some way to bring his boss around, but Donald Vincent gazed at the plans for the test ship with the rapture of a true fanatic.

  Frank gave a polite cough. “I agree the plans are one hundred percent viable, Mr Vincent. However, to increase the pace of a project like this is not a matter of simply throwing more men at it. We need to-”

  Frank’s boss cut him off with an upraised hand. “I understand your concerns, Frank, really I do,” Donald said. “I also appreciate your sincerity. I know the triangle only too well, though. Fast, inexpensive, high quality; I can choose any two of those three.” He smiled and put a hand on Frank’s shoulder. “In the past, you always worked within a financial constraint. But, for once, we are working under the fast and high quality regime, and the financial side is of no concern. This ship must launch in no more than 12 months, and it must work perfectly.”

  Frank knew that such expectations were not in line with a lifetime of experience. No project of this complexity in human history, involving millions of component parts, necessarily from 100’s of suppliers and thousands of workers in manufacturing, and assembly, ever had or could ‘work perfectly’ first time out of the box, even if the design was perfect (and that had yet to be tested) – and his boss should have known that. What had happened to him?

  Frank looked around the hangar at the hive of activity. Men and women thronged around the gantry that would surround the test ship. He saw several people he had always wanted to work with. But, instead of that, they worked under him. He should be ecstatic at the prospects his career now had. Instead, he felt doubts and a troubled conscience that robbed him of sleep every night. He looked at his boss, who had gone back to the plans. He hummed to himself as he did so.

  Ever since Frank was summoned to head office that day, he knew in his heart that his boss was somehow involved with the aliens. It was unclear who, exactly. He had watched the shows the Mandy Somers woman did; all about this supposed other alien, Kestil. Most people fobbed her off as a lunatic conspiracy theorist, but Frank wasn’t so sure. Vincent Technologies spearheaded a raft of changes that defied all the declared plans of the alien called Nuthros. No massive restructure and reform of current systems. Gradual change, supposedly achieved through human technology alone.

  To Frank, though, all the sudden “breakthroughs” they had achieved just didn’t ring true. Research was a struggle; you constantly battered your head against a wall of problems that never grew any smaller. Yet whatever they aimed at, they hit right on the button, first go. As for the clandestine ‘research company’ that supplied the Roentgenium for power…

  He snapped out of his muse. His boss was staring at him. “Something wrong, Frank?”

  “Umm, no, not at all, sir. Just trying to work through the issues. I need an ocean of money, to be honest.”

  Donald Vincent laughed. “Lucky for you, Frank, I have exactly that.”

  Frank excused himself and Donald watched him leave with a thoughtful gaze. He saw Kestil appear just around a corner. Donald approached him and shook his hand warmly.

  “Everybody alright here, Donald?”

  “They sure are, Kestil.”

  Kestil nodded towards Frank’s back. “I overheard that conversation. Your man seems to have doubts. We shall need to keep a closer eye on him.”

  “Yes,” Donald replied, “I think that might be wise.”

  *****

  Nuthros sat with David Markham at the viewport. The young man was usually animated and full of enthusiasm for all that he was learning about the Sixteen Galaxies. However, over the last few days, Nuthros had watched David become more and more withdrawn.

  Nuthros put a hand on David’s shoulder. “You seem very distracted, David, I wanted to ascertain the reason for your concerns. Is it about your parents?”

  David sh
ook his head. “Not as such, Nuthros, no. My Dad pointed out to me that I was special, but I guess I never realized how much.”

  Nuthros scratched his chin. “Special in what way?”

  David turned to Nuthros, a puzzled look on his face. “You mean you don’t know?”

  “I’m sorry, David. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  The young man frowned. “Maybe Dad was wrong. I’m not so sure, now. To be honest, I don’t know what’s happened to me. My mind is on fire with ideas and information. I’ve spent twenty to thirty hours at a time in productive, efficient study, and that’s not normal, not for me, not for anyone. Even after that, I’m not that tired.”

  Nuthros stared at the floor; for a human, that was indeed odd. “Is there anything else?” he asked.

  David turned a pale face toward his friend. Nuthros saw a depth in the young man’s eyes that should not have been there. His heart nearly froze as a possibility began to dawn on him.

  David nodded slowly. “Yeah, there is. I…I can remember…well, I can remember everything. About everything.”

  Nuthros stared aghast at the young man. “What do you mean?”

  “I know it sounds crazy, but I remember every detail of every single moment of my life, even the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I had at 12:09 on the fourth Tuesday after I started Grade school, while I sat next to Jane Brookes and Raj Batliwalla on the blue bench under the poplar in the schoolyard next to the hand-ball court. I can tell you who was playing on the court, what they were wearing and even the score, if you like, for cryin’ out loud. I can see it all, and look at every minute of every day I have existed, in perfect detail.” Nuthros could see beads of sweat on the young man’s brow, and fear in his eyes. “I can tell you what time I got up, what I ate for breakfast, what clothes I wore, what my parents wore and what the weather was like, for every freaking day of my life. I’ve always had a very good memory, but it wasn’t like this until I got aboard this ship. What’s wrong with me, Nuthros? Am I going insane?”

  Nuthros took a deep breath. “No, there is nothing to indicate you are mentally unwell. I believe Truly may need to explain herself.”

  “Truly?” David asked.

  “Yes David,” Truly replied. “You are correct, Nuthros, I can, indeed, explain and the time is now right to do so. First, you are perfectly sane, David, let me assure you of that.”

  “Truly,” Nuthros asked, “Have you…perfected him?”

  “Yes, Nuthros. David is a Starchild.”

  “A what?” David responded.

  “This is most irregular, Truly,” Nuthros said. “You have kept the creation of a Starchild from the council? You told us they would come, one day. But to give us no notice that you already created one, and on an undeveloped world at that? Why would you do such a thing?”

  “I could not tell you, Nuthros. Until now, knowledge of the Starchild would have threatened the outcome.”

  “But why an undeveloped world’s child, Truly?”

  “I cannot tell you that yet, Nuthros.”

  David leapt to his feet. “Hey!” he shouted. “Sorry to interrupt your little chat, but can you please tell me what the hell a Starchild is, and why I am one?”

  Nuthros rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry David, this is…new ground, yet again. Please, sit down. I will let Truly explain.”

  David sat down, but remained on the edge of his seat. Nuthros could see David was breathing hard, and he was very pale. His hands trembled. Truly, Nuthros thought, what have you done?

  “The Sixteen Galaxies,” Truly said, “Were built around a set of ideals that they have always clung to. The pursuit of knowledge, honest application of such knowledge, diligence, meekness, and a love for one another that surpasses love of self. The practical outcome of a society based on those principles is the best society sentient life can experience; A true civilisation. As a result of their commitment to these principles, they have prospered and expanded across the known universe at a manageable rate, taking their technology to new heights while they perfected their society in every way they could. They have improved their bodies to the point of freedom from age, sickness and death. Yet, they are not the perfect sentient life-form. Their minds are not at their full potential, as their mental faculties, though many millennia in advance of your own, still lack in some areas.”

  “What areas?” David asked.

  “I would like to refrain from explanation of those details at this point.”

  “Why?”

  “I cannot tell you that, David.”

  Nuthros patted David’s shoulder. “Future implications, David. Like me, you may never really get used to the frustration of being told that. However, I believe you should know as much as can be told to you. I have already explained about the Entity, remember?”

  David nodded. “All the AI of the Sixteen Galaxies linked together into one being. You said we must tell no one.”

  “Indeed. After the Entity was created, it foresaw events it would not share. But, we were told certain details. One such detail was that the Entity would one day help sentients reach a higher level of development; one we could never achieve unassisted. To this day, we have no idea what those advances might be, but the Entity said it would create a person with improved structure, both physical and psychological. That person would be called a Starchild. They would be the progenitors of a future race of higher beings. Their purpose would be to govern and protect our galactic society.”

  “I thought the whole idea of the Sixteen Galaxies was that it didn’t need government. Isn’t it supposed to govern itself?”

  “In the past,” Truly replied, “That has been sufficient. But, as it continues to grow, more oversight will become necessary. Added to that is the intrusion of Kestil and the Independent Worlds, a development that has advanced the timeframe for that requirement. Which is why you are here, David. Originally, you were not to be advanced to this point for another fifty of your years.”

  Nuthros nodded. “Yes, I can see why you accelerated his development in that regard, Truly.” He turned to David. “The future will see us confronted by events we have never encountered before. In fact, that is already the case. Our people do not have the capacity to deal with it all. A lack of proper capability can result in failures, and that must not happen. Your role is to help us, David. You will guide and protect our people.”

  “Isn’t that the job of the Entity?” David asked.

  “I can see why you would think that, David,” Nuthros replied, “However, the oversight of the Entity remains a closely guarded secret. Outside of the council, you are the only one who knows. The reason for that is, even within our advanced society, many people would find guidance from a machine repugnant. The role of oversight cannot rest upon council members like me in the long term. That is why the Entity foretold the creation of the Starchildren. Our people will be happy in the knowledge that they are being cared for by a superior being, but not a machine.”

  “I don’t see how I’m any better than you, Nuthros,” David argued. “I still have base emotions, like the anger and fear I feel right now, for instance.”

  Nuthros saw that David’s body was wracked with tremors. He drew heavy breaths, and his throat sounded tight. It was clear he was on the verge of collapse.

  “I have not activated many of the changes I placed within you, David,” Truly said. “You are still, at this point, only improved in certain areas, such as memory. I have to activate these triggers only after I ascertain the viability of each one’s predecessor. I have not begun on your body, yet.”

  Nuthros saw a tear run down David’s cheek. He could feel the young man’s anguish. With a start, he realized he could feel it at a much higher level than normal. The emotional output of the young man’s mind was far stronger than anything Nuthros had experienced before.

  David bowed his head. His hands were clenched into fists in an attempt to overcome the shaking. “I’m a monster.”

  Nuthros squeezed t
he youth’s shoulder. “You must not think that, David. You are-”

  David threw off Nuthros’ hand and leapt to his feet, his face flushed a deep red. He shook from head to toe. “I am a monster!” he shouted. “I’m a monster, made by an interfering machine who wants to play Frankenstein, or maybe even God! What am I supposed to be, huh? Some kind of saviour for the universe? I can’t even save myself! All I ever wanted was to be like everyone else! I just wanted to fit in and be normal. Instead, I’m some kind of freak show on legs. I can’t do this! I don’t want to do this! I want to go home, and I want to go home now!” He suddenly gasped and stumbled forward, before he dropped to the floor, unconscious.

  Nuthros fell to his knees beside him. “Truly, what have you done?”

  “I did nothing, Nuthros. He simply fainted; he was hyper-ventilating - the stress was too much.”

  Christine had heard her boyfriend’s anguished shouts and ran into the room. “Oh my God, David!”

  “Please,” Nuthros asked, “Help me get him to his room; he needs rest.”

  “What have you done to him?” Christine demanded.

  Nuthros gestured to David, lying comatose on the floor. “Please, help me with him, and I shall explain what I can.”

  17

  Hiram and Nuthros stood together and gazed at David as he lay on the inversion plate. Christine sat beside him. She held his hand and glared at the floor. Nuthros had explained the situation to her as best he could, and she was incandescent with rage. Nuthros pointed to the doorway and the two men left the young couple alone. They strolled out to the viewport and sat together in silence for a while.

  Finally, Hiram asked, “How did Truly do it?”

  Nuthros shrugged. “A simple matter, relatively speaking. When she repaired Robert Markham’s semen, Truly didn’t just repair the sperm, she altered his DNA to create new gene sequences that could be activated under certain conditions. She obviously did the same with the mother’s egg. Thus she created the Starchild DNA. I don’t understand the mechanism by which she has somehow managed to allow the Starchild qualities to remain dormant inside David, but she is now onlining them, so to speak. I have no idea of the details, but if Truly finishes her work on him, David will be a new species; the next level of sentient life.”