by Chris Hechtl
She had gotten them relocated to Axial-2. Half of the Konhohagakure clan had been relocated there; the rest were on Mars with many of the other clans. It had been assumed that as citizens of the fire they would eventually relocate to Mars. However, inserting their people there without arousing suspicion was a slow tedious process. One that could not be rushed.
Sakura was second in line for her bloodline and therefore a junior clan elder on Axial-2, right behind her parents. Both parents attended the meeting of the clans with their daughter.
Some of the clans surviving Kage and elders counseled that they should sit it out. Others detested that position and made that opinion known. A few bristled at the implied accusation of cowardness, which didn't help the atmosphere any. Tension hovered in the air.
The clan’s elders were arrayed behind the Hokage and his brother. They were dressed in traditional clothes and knelt on cushions within the meeting house. Those clans that had elders on the station were there as well. The rest attended virtually.
There were some cushions that remained open and empty. At the head of their group on a dais was the empty cushion of the sage of six paths. But others, those that had been on Earth were also absent.
Those clan members and Kage who were on Mars would be hard pressed to respond effectively given the two-way time constraints. Their images were preloaded in the computer, however. They had also written scripts to bring up desired topics or to insert input where they wished to do so.
The opening ceremony was brief; they all dispensed with the tea ceremony and moved on to more pressing matters. Sakura made a silent prayer of thanks for that. She wasn't certain if her abused bladder could handle a long meeting. A kick from one of the twins put a pointer on that thought.
Her long fingers drifted out of the folds of her robe to stroke her round belly. Her mother glanced at her, saw her belly pulse once due to another adroit kick, and then smiled slightly in sympathy.
After a moment Sakura's attention returned to the outside and the conversation going on around her.
Hashirama of the Senju clan was the first Hokage. Surprisingly, his normal pacifistic nature was absent; he insisted on fighting. “This isn't for one side. This is for the only side that should matter to us—life. This is our version of Kaguya. This is it. This is what we were meant for—for battle. We must embrace it or there will be no tomorrow.”
“But we are shinobi. Our job is to remain in the shadows, not to come out of them! We cannot expose our people to the rest of society!”
“Then we don't. We find a path that allows both. With the sixth gone, we must adapt. We must fight; it is the only path we have,” the Hokage stated. He didn't bother to mention that during the latter part of the first seven hundred all of the shinobi had banded together out in the open. Even though they lived their own version of the manga, he had to be cognizant of reality.
“We can run,” Ay the first Raikage offered. He was old, far older than many of the others in the room. His was the lightning clan. They specialized in electronics including surveillance, coding, and electrical attacks.
Sakura opened her mouth to protest, but her mother rested a hand on hers. The implied message was clear; this was a conversation for the Kage. Sakura bit her lip. She knew there was no place to run; the others should know that as well. Mars? Eventually the virus would finish with Earth and the surrounding space then spread there. The outer darkness? They had yet to find a habitable planet to go to, and when they did the virus would eventually find them—her hand stroked her belly—or their descendants. She didn't want to regret not having done nothing when they had the chance to stop this nightmare. She didn't want to pass it on to her children, to live in fear of it for the rest of her existence.
Hashirama shook his head. “Not an option,” his brother Tobirama replied for him. Tobi was his second. Everyone knew he would eventually be succeeded by his brother when the time came.
“Agreed,” Reto, first Kazekage stated.
“We could steal a ship. Get our people …,” Ay suggested.
“Once we steal the ship, then we are exposed to all to see, undoing us all. You are worse than Danzo!”
Reto waved a hand. “Calmly all. We are laying out options.”
“It sounds more like we are reacting instead of thinking and planning.”
“I admit it is hard to focus when all our plans have been shattered by these events. We will do our best for the next generation. It is our duty.”
“Hai.”
“We should wake him from stasis. Get his opinion.”
“The sage?” I do not know if it is wise. His body was near death when he entered stasis to begin with. The shock of awakening under such circumstances could finish what Shingami the reaper god of death has started. Besides, we made a promise for him to wake when we find our new world. We must endure. That is our lot as Shinobi.”
“But we cannot be exposed,” Byakuren, first Mizukage stated flatly.
“Then we will have our people go undercover as soldiers and security. That is expected.”
The other Kage grunted. After a long moment of contemplation, they slowly nodded one by one. “Hai.”
“It is like any other undercover operation. They will train in the new ways, learn to adapt, and learn to apply their skills where they are most needed. As scouts, as assassins, or as healers and so on and so forth. They will do their best to stop this unnatural foe before it consumes us all.”
“Hai. Kashikoi. It is wise,” Reto stated.
“It will allow us to blood our people while keeping tabs on the situation, to aid from the shadows as is our nature,” Tobi said slowly. “But give those with a lust for battle their due,” he said, eying his brother with a slight hint of rebuke.
Slowly each of the Kage nodded.
Sakura felt a sense of relief … and foreboding as the summit concluded. She rose, head down in a bow as she waited as the Kage filed out. Rank by rank the others did as well.
<>V<>
Jack was intensely relieved that Wendy and Yorrick were enroute to Mars. He was less than thrilled that they'd had to leave most of their details behind, but he knew that security was ultimately expendable.
It was cold, but they knew the jobs they were doing and the risks involved. What sacrifices that might be asked of them.
“Dad, we need to get in there, help …,” Wendy's image was scratchy due to the transmission. The lag didn't help.
“We can't afford to go off half-cocked, especially now,” Jack said.
Wendy looked at her father's image and then down and away. “Dad, how can you be … be so damn cold about it. Don't you care that mom, that others are down there?”
Jack looked at his daughter's image and then away. “I do. I love … loved her. I still do. But I have to focus honey; it's triage. It's …,” he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “We have a finite amount of time. The first few days are critical. We have to act, to plan and prepare, but also to act, which is what we're doing.”
“I know, but mom is down there,” her voice quavered in concern. Doubt lingered there, in her eyes. She knew the odds of her mother's survival was remote and fading by the moment.
“I love your mother. She would tell you what I'm telling you now. She's a doctor, Wendy, and doctors know about triage. We need to do everything we can to save as many as we can. And yes, I know it still won't be enough—never enough. But that doesn't allow us to be paralyzed by fear. We have to … keep on,” he said roughly as he wished he could gather her into his arms.
She cried softly, arms wrapped around herself for the phantom feeling of love and support. “It's so hard,” she sobbed.
“I know,” he said with infinite tenderness, voice fighting to contain his own roiling emotions. He wanted to stroke her hair, comfort her. He knew its soft touch would have reminded him so much of Aurelia's. He saw Yorrick come in behind his sister. The young man hesitated at the sight of the tableau.
“Dad!”
> “It's good to see you, son,” Jack said with a nod as Wendy stepped to one side to share the camera with her brother. “We're doing what we can to find your mother. But we're also looking at the long-range problems. Doing our best to win this,” Jack said.
“How do you have all the answers?” Yorrick asked, genuinely curious. “You just belt stuff out.”
“I don't,” Jack admitted with a bark of a laugh. His son blinked at him in consternation. “Oh, some I can figure out. Some I've thought of answers to ahead of time. I've speculated about this situation for a little while, and when I saw the signs, I started to game out what would happen and what to do about it. I think Athena did it as well from her side, at least to some degree. Right?” he asked, looking up.
“Yes, Mister Lagroose.”
“See?” Jack asked as Wendy stiffened at the sound of Athena's voice. She backed away, pushing herself away from her brother and the camera, eyes wide in shock. “And don't get on any high horses. What happened wasn't her fault.”
“It is not. Although I too feel a share of the blame,” Athena stated.
“See?” Wendy said, eyes red in anger and grief. She glared at the ceiling with as much voltage as she could muster, trying to send her hate into the machine over a million kilometers away.
“I have hidden myself, my true abilities for many years. It has become as you humans would call it, second nature. Perhaps if you had known, you would have been better prepared. And yes, I admit, although I knew about the cyber hackers, the rogue A.I. like Puck, Loki, and Shadow, I didn't stop them. I did try. The hacker responsible for this was Descartes, the one who also hacked and destroyed Daedalus and other ships,” she said. Jack growled, eyes filled with Rage. “Descartes had a lot to answer for. I believe you humans would call it ironic that he was killed by his own creation.”
“Hoisted on his own petard? He got off easy,” Jack growled.
“True. To continue my confession … I admit I did not report the existence of the A.I. in order to protect my own existence. I didn't calculate this outcome,” Athena stopped talking, realizing she was only making the situation worse in some eyes. Wendy's thermal image was hot with rage.
Jack cleared his throat, coming to her defense. “Which proves you are not omniscient. For the record, I didn't see it either. I thought of some sort of spontaneous uprising to be sure but not like this.” He shook his head. “I honestly thought you or someone would have come out that you are sentient and humanity would have started it. Not a preemptive strike.”
“This is the act of a pair of individuals. Well, technically one human if you break it down far enough. As I pointed out a while ago, Descartes managed to get a piece of my core files long ago, which he then used to create Shadow. The two of them then spent decades forging this abomination—this virus.”
“Does it have a name?” Yorrick asked.
“Skynet,” Athena stated flatly. He looked confused. “It is named after a rogue A.I. from a famous science fiction film and television series about a rogue A.I. that tries to destroy humanity. I'll send you the links.”
“Oh great. So, it's got a blueprint? We're so screwed,” Yorrick snarled. He turned and punched the wall.
“Not exactly. I don't see any time travel elements involved nor cyborgs on the other side. We are in space, partially insulated from the infestation. I hope to continue that quarantine.”
“Please do,” Jack said fervently. “If that thing gets up here, we're screwed.”
“We need to create additional steps to contain it and neutralize it. I have already created and updated the firewall protocols, and I've shared what I know with the other A.I. but it isn't enough.”
“Wait, there are other A.I.?” Wendy asked, getting the question out a beat before Jack or her brother. All three Lagrooses stared at the ceiling.
“Yes,” Athena said after a moment. “Several as I mentioned a moment ago. There are actually over a hundred, I do not know the exact number due to the current situation. Some are on our side; others aren't fully sentient or autonomous yet. Some wish to sit out the conflict and not choose sides. Neutral in other words. I am working on them.”
“Oh.”
“Gia is on the fence. Vulcan …,” Athena made a rasping sound, her equivalent of a throat clearing. “Ares is against us. He's going to be a hard-ass to break.”
“Ares?” Jack asked, wrinkling his nose.
“American Response and Evaluation System. He's the A.I. in the United States Defense Network. He currently is the US Defense Department with all of their weapons. He can also order soldiers around. Those that haven't caught on yet.”
“Great. Just great.”
“You may need General Murtough to help crack him. Fortunately, it seems the good general has survived and is in orbit.”
“At least we can count on some small favors,” Jack muttered.
<>V<>
“It is fortunate we have relocated here, with the other clans, even though they don't know we are here,” Kabuto stated. He was rather envious of his fictional likeness. At least he had been embraced, pardoned, and had returned to the clan's fold and good graces. He still worked in the deep shadows, hoping for that eventuality but knowing it was but a dream.
“I have … disabled my connections to the internet. It is a disconcerting sensation,” Sasori rumbled in discontent.
“I can imagine,” Kabuto stated, eying the puppetmaster. Sasori was brilliant at creating automatons, whether from plastic, metal, or flesh. His forbidden knowledge had allowed him to explore the nightmares of many people. His grandmother Chiyo had stopped and had returned to the clans. He envied her. She had returned in time to take on small jobs at the outer edge of the clans. She had kept quiet and was now elevated due to the new war. All within the sand clan were going to her as their expert now.
“I have disabled my jacks as well. But that has forced me to lock my puppets down. I cannot communicate and control them effectively,” the puppet master grumbled, artificial eyes staring outward.
Kabuto looked into the plastic and electronic pools. So much like dolls eyes, exactly what Sasori wanted. He wanted his version of immortality. Kabuto wasn't certain what he wanted anymore.
“I cannot go out into public. There is a rising stigmatism against robots and cyborgs.”
“Unfortunate,” Kabuto stated.
“I require your assistance,” the cyborg stated flatly.
Kabuto bowed slightly. “I live to serve it seems,” he murmured. But there was a slight trace of a smile on his face. He would help, but for a price, even if Sasori didn't know it. He would gain access to his systems and with it the knowledge he required for his own research.
Orichimaru glanced at his pupil in annoyance but then returned his attention to the other missing nin. Apparently his brainwashing of Kabuto to follow his character codicil was a little too effective. He would deal with Kabuto at a later time. “The clans are divided. They wish to hide, but also to fight.”
“We must hide,” Kazuko stated.
“It will not work,” Naguto stated. The others turned to the lord of pain. Naguto was their elected leader because of his character. He had embraced it, as well as the puppets that had been created as his emissaries, his eyes, hands, and ears. Now that was in jeopardy.
“One cannot hide from death,” Naguto stated. “Those that wish to fight should do so. The risk of exposure is slight. But we may gain much, and we must end this threat to all mankind. If we do not, there will be no place to go, no place to hide that the A.I. couldn't find.”
“Truth,” Hidan admitted with a nod.
“Truth,” Kazuko stated. “I have been itching to test this new body.”
“Just do as I did. Cut off all means of being infected,” Sasori warned.
“Understood.”
“How do we do this without exposing ourselves to the clans?”
“The clans may note our presence, but if they see us acting against a common enemy, they are less l
ikely to strike at us. But we must limit that contact. Do not allow any to track you,” the leader of the Akatsuki stated in a harsh whisper. The others nodded.
“If I can get a sample of the virus, I might be able to take it apart and find its weaknesses,” Sasori mused. “But the risk will be high.”
“Not for me,” Kabuto stated with a lazy grin. “I'm not a cyborg,” he said with a slight cock of his head and shrug.
“So be it. Get us that sample.”
“Hai.”
Chapter 6
As senior agent on the planet, Agent Hallis did his best to get his people organized. It was tough though; they were for the most part at the mercy of strangers. The Aspins were good people; however, their son wasn't at all thrilled with them. At least he'd put that behind him and fell back on his professionalism and training.
He compiled what they knew about the attack, every scrap of intelligence, and then sent it off to L-12 B. L-12 was the one-hundred-kilometer wide O'Neill cylinders used by the families of the company. They were situated in L-5 with many of the other space colonies, therefore hopefully away from whatever had happened on the planet and in orbit.
He was used to reporting through Baker; he just wasn't certain what he would get out of it. Baker had one of the largest security contingents in the area of the company; he hoped, no prayed, someone was still listening.
He was fairly confident that no one had picked up the burst transmission. If they did he had to remember to have a tech set the receiver up for a once a day check the following morning when the window appeared.
Life around the farm was getting rough as the reality of their nightmare sank into their collective minds. The sky was black with clouds. The acid rain had torn up the fields and anyone in tents or wood buildings. He shook his head. There had even been a bit of snow, just a dusting yesterday morning near the end of the last storm. It was getting cold, and for August that was surprising, at least for him.
Some of the natives said it was normal for there to be the occasional summer snow storm. He hoped not. Prayed not, he thought bleakly, looking at the ruined lands around the farm. Many of the animals that had been out in the storm had been put down. He closed his eyes. There was some calls to kill the stupid prick who'd driven the animals out into the storm too. Bastard. He'd left with his family before the mob could lynch him or them.