by Maksim Malik
“How may I help you?” the tetchnan woman asked, distracted while pushing holobuttons on the desk.
“We need a meeting with some authority, or an agent over an important and urgent issue,” Nadani said.
“All agents are busy with full schedules this sol—I could schedule you with one in about a month,” the woman said.
“This is urgent—an emergency even!” Nadani was emphatic.
“I’m sorry. People are here every sol with ‘emergencies’ for rather innocuous things,” the woman said. “A month is the best I can offer.”
“Listen, I am Nadani Jagi,” Nadani said. “Look up my name and request for an emergency meeting please. This is serious business about the alien attacks—the, uh, Squitoes.”
“Quite serious!” Dr. Tysgan added.
“We can only accept information from trusted sources at HQ,” the woman stifled a laugh. She pressed a few more buttons on the desk. “I’m sorry, there’s no history of a Nadani Jagi associated with the JUSCCHQ, or even having been to this station before. So, how about twenty-eight sols from now?”
Nadani tossed her hands in the air, turned, and walked toward the exit. She heard Dr. Tysgan’s footsteps behind her. Nadani’s fury and helplessness fed into her frustration and worry about Trisha even more.
Birth
Two sols and seven million credits later, Annabella Summerlin awoke. She jolted upright and wished she had not. The back of her head pounded like something heavy smashed into it with frequency, making her so queasy she needed to lean over the side of the bed and dry heave a few times. Then, noting she wore nothing but lingerie, she wondered if she had a night of heavy drinking and maybe had sex with Bernard again. Something felt wrong about the hypothetical scenario though.
Machines! Annabella realized. There, to her left, was a medical scanner, and a wired clip protruded from her middle finger on her left hand. She divested herself of the clip and looked around farther. It came back to her in bits and pieces. The bed sat as an island in the middle of the large room—the rented laboratory—but all the lights were off. It was nearly pitch dark inside and if not for her bionetic eyes she would likely see nothing at all.
Annabella put a hand to the back of her head and jumped in surprise. Her head was completely shaved!
It was necessary to perform the surgery, a soft voice inside her mind said. Do you not remember why you needed Dr. Feckwell?
Feckwell, she thought. Great in bed.
You needed an AI, the voice continued with patience.
At the mention of AI, memories came flooding back to her.
YES! she thought excitedly as the last few sols returned. Dr. Feckwell built his AI in one sol and on the second she had gone under anesthesia for him to perform the surgery to implant the AI into her brain, and she must only now be returning to consciousness—perhaps a little early considering Dr. Feckwell’s absence.
I am pleased you remember, the voice said. Annabella could feel its happiness.
Oh, can you hear me? Who are you? Are you the AI? Annabella asked, astonished while her eyes grew wide.
I am the AI, so that covers what I am, the voice said. As for who—I do not know. I have no name yet.
Can I name you? she asked, feeling a thrill go up her spine. This was real.
I would not protest. It would become more sentimental for my host to name me than for Dr. Feckwell to, the AI said.
Pulman, Annabella said without hesitation. Pulman is a good name.
It seems you already have some attachment to the name, it said. Very well. You may call me Pulman.
And what name do you prefer? Lady Shirui Higu? Annabella Summerlin? Needles? Pulman asked.
I must think of myself as Annabella Summerlin for a time, she replied, sighing aloud. The other two names bring too much attention in Gershan space. The only time I might use them is when we are in Fengwa Syndicate territory.
Very well, I shall refer to you as Annabella to lessen the confusion, Pulman acquiesced.
Thanks. Do you know what all you can do? she asked, more curious about the AI than talking about herself.
I’m syncing to every part of your body, including your nanobots and their colony, it said. I can also remotely connect to nearby hardware but have not tried this.
Make me feel warm, she said. Immediately she felt warmer, but not sweltering.
How curious, Pulman said. I can feel this as well.
Now cold, she instructed and shivered as bumps raised all over her skin at the sudden chill in the air.
Enough of that, she said and returned to normal. How about a hard one? Make me feel pleasure.
“Ohf!” she cried out as she burst into ecstasy, wave after wave of excitement thrumming throughout her body. It only lasted for ten seconds, but it was enough to leave her panting.
Okay, that was good, she said, practically cooing her thoughts at Pulman.
I see you desire more in the future, Pulman said. I will happily oblige.
What about combat? I’m certain Jagi uses hers for combat, Annabella said.
I do not know much about combat, Pulman answered but continued before Annabella could become unhappy. I can learn though. I could conceivably control your limbs when I have completed acclimation much as I was able to control what I did before. Sure, it’s possible.
Jagi, she said, hatred boiling around the name, has a lot to answer for.
I see your thoughts rushing around her name, Pulman said. I will help you, of course. We are mated now. I will begin researching martial arts and ship piloting with all haste.
While we are here? she asked. How?
The Exanet has information and simulations. It is an easy matter for me to learn through those with great speed, Pulman said, his thought tone sounding prideful. Also, I am sorting through your memories and experiences to learn what you already know how to do.
Amazing! Annabella felt giddy and lightheaded. Perhaps the latter was due to her headache. She laid back down and curled up on her side to debate whether she ought to leave now or later after she saw Dr. Feckwell.
The longer you wait, the farther away Jagi will be, Pulman said.
You’re right, Annabella said and climbed out of bed. She felt dizzy too.
You need food and water, Pulman said with concern.
Both of which are available on my ship, she said and remembered her plugsuit hung up in one of the storage lockers. She moved to it to prevent herself from stumbling and potentially falling. Most of the time, she put on the dermasuit and plugsuit as fast as possible but this time she went at a reasonable, slow pace to prevent any sort of error or misstep. The lingerie—since it couldn’t be worn beneath the dermasuit—she left behind on one of the tables as a souvenir for Feckwell. Once she readied herself, she walked out of the lab and through the station as quick as possible, using the corridor wall as support. Never had she been so happy to see Harmonic Essences when she finally reached the docking pads.
Would you like me to sync with the ship? Pulman asked once they boarded.
Sure, do I need to do anything to allow you to do that? Annabella asked.
No, I can use your ship codes and perform a sync without issue. Then I can even undock the ship for you, it said. It’s best for you to eat and drink beforehand though.
Annabella grabbed a ready-made meal and heated it, drinking some water while it warmed. Harmonic Essences could do with an update to the kitchen appliances. The food was simple fare—just scrambled eggs and toast. Well, scrambled faux-meat like eggs. The toast was the real thing at least.
You don’t want to leave while I eat? Annabella asked as she sat on the plush couch. For all the failings of the kitchen, at least the ship did not lack in comforts.
I would, hmm, Pulman hesitated. It would be preferable to have you plugged in to the ship in case I do something incorrectly.
Oh! Well, okay then, she said. Pulman was nervous about flying for the first time. She could understand that.
Thank you, i
t said.
So you’re genderless, right? I mean I’m curious. I’m not sure how it works for AI or how Dr. Feckwell built you, she said. The thought-voice sounded androgynous enough she was unable to assign a gender either way.
That’s correct, we do not reproduce, so I assume Dr. Feckwell saw no point in adding a gender assignment, Pulman said. Does it bother you? I could alter my voice one way or another.
No, not at all. I just didn’t want to assume, Annabella replied. Things aren’t so binary anyway. I’m starting to feel better though the back of my head is still pounding.
I think that will go away within a sol or so, Pulman said. I’ll try blocking it out for you.
The pounding eased. It didn’t disappear entirely, but it faded into the background; Annabella knew it was still there.
Oh, that’s so much better, she said, mouth full of f-meat. The nice thing about talking with her mind was she didn’t have to worry about manners as much.
Her lack of hair made her unhappy. Did he have to shave her entire head for the surgery? She sighed. It probably had to be done—but that didn’t mean she liked it. She felt afraid to look at herself in the mirror, imagining how odd she must look without hair. There could be a large scar too—she didn’t want people to see that.
There’s only small scarring, Pulman said. I don’t think you look bad.
Well, that’s good, she replied, feeling her face warm. Wait, how can you know what it looks like if I can’t see it?
I can see through the ship cameras now, Pulman explained. There are certainly a lot of them on this ship too.
Well, I didn’t think about such a possibility, she thought, smiling to herself.
I can show you a few camera feeds if you’d like, it said.
I think I’ll pass for now, she replied. I don’t want the nausea to come back.
Good point, Pulman said.
Annabella finished the rest of her meal as fast as she could, put the plate in the rinser, went to the bridge, and sat in the pilot’s pit, plugging her suit in as usual before the pit closed around her. The docks near the laboratory were not the same as the main docks through traffic used. These pads were private and for use only for the offices, laboratories, and other facilities on this side of the station. Still, she needed to contact the docking manager to inform of her imminent procedure.
“Harmonic Essences on docking pad SA-04 requesting permission to fly free,” she broadcasted.
“Harmonic Essences, permission granted. Avoid main traffic and head toward safe foldpoint in highlighted area,” came the response. A small area was marked on her nav map indicating where she should fold.
“Okay, it’s all yours, Pulman,” she said aloud. Pulman eased the ship upward—slower than she would have done—and then boosted away from the station. Speed varied a little as Pulman tested out the drive, but once they were out of the station’s limited speed area, Pulman picked up the pace considerably until they were a few minutes away from the suggested fold area.
What should I set as our endpoint? Pulman said.
“Sarasi station is only a few hours away,” Annabella said. “We’ll go check it out.”
Endpoint set, Pulman said. FSS spooling will finish by the time we get to the fold zone.
“Great job, Pulman,” she said, feeling a surge of pride for the AI.
Thank you, Annabella, it replied, nearly overwhelming her with happiness.
#
Annabella let Pulman handle docking procedures for Sarasi station, but she stayed in the pit for its comfort again. Pulman set the ship down as professionally as she would have.
“Now what?” Annabella asked aloud as she stood from the pilot’s pit. “We have a brief news report to go on. Maybe start with the reporter?”
I can search station records. Maybe they left some trace of where they were going or why they were here, Pulman said.
“Just like that, you can search station records?” Annabella asked.
Yes, I can interface with the station computers near the ship and find my way into records, Pulman said.
“Let’s not get caught,” she said.
We won’t, Pulman said, laughing.
“So I’ll sit here on the couch and wait,” she said as she made her way to the lounge to sit down. She found her eyelids getting heavy as she sat there for a few minutes, and soon she was asleep.
Annabella, someone said. She ignored it. Annabella, it urged her to pay attention. Again, she ignored it.
Needles!
She woke up, startled, and looked around to get her bearings.
I found something, a voice said. Pulman. Right. She yawned.
What is it? she asked.
Jagi and her crew put in repair orders for their ship here which took two sols to finish, Pulman said. I thought you might question the ones who repaired the ship and see if they talked to Jagi or the crew.
Crew? What crew? That ship isn’t big enough for a crew, Annabella said, scrunching her brows together as she rubbed her eyes. She checked her display and found the time was 11:07 GST. Almost lunch time.
It is registered with a crew of two, so there are two people staying aboard that ship, Pulman said pensively. That is curious, is it not?
Yes, and I will question the engineers who worked on the ship, she said and stretched her arms wide, sticking out her chest and arching her back. She stood up and took a deep breath.
I have the names of those registered to work on the ship, Pulman said. It’s three people: Akkani Melis, Concepta Grimaldo, and Arnatt Bolam.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said, and headed to the ship’s airlock. The small station’s docking lot made it easy to find the group of engineers standing around. It looked like they had nothing to do at the moment. Annabella put on a light smile and headed toward the people, both human and non-human, hoping her lack of hair did not detract from her angelic face and her charm in general. The entire group—eight people—stopped conversing and looked at her as she neared. She broadened her smile.
“Hi,” she said sweetly. “I’m a reporter from MyJUS News and I have some questions for a few of you regarding a person who was attacked on the station recently.”
“Oh, the girl CAAI jumped,” one of them, a parton said. Partons were humanoid but shorter than humans and their skin tones were shades of blue varying from deep navy blues to light sky blues.
“Yes, she’s the one,” Annabella said with forced cheer. “I’d like to speak with the ones who worked on her ship—” she paused, having forgotten the names already.
Akkani Melis, Concepta Grimaldo, and Arnatt Bolam, Pulman said, reminding her.
“Akkani Melis, Concepta Grimaldo, and Arnatt Bolam,” she said.
“Well, I’m Concepta,” said a slender woman almost two heads taller than Annabella. “That’s Melis, and there’s Bolam,” she continued, indicating each one in turn.
“Um, did either of them talk to any of you about the attack?” she asked.
“No, not to me,” Bolam said. Bolam was a tetchnan male with a deep, smooth voice.
“Nope,” Concepta Grimaldo said.
Melis shook her head.
“Saw her come back to the ship on a stretcher though,” Concepta said, sympathy painting her face. “I didn’t get a good look, but it must have been pretty bad.”
“Hmm, yes,” Annabella said, feigning concern and fighting to suppress a smile.
“Do any of you know where they might have gone?” Annabella asked. “I’d really like to interview them,” she added.
After another round of shaking heads and negative responses, Annabella held back a sigh and nodded.
“Well, thank you all for your time,” she said, flashed another brilliant smile, and turned to walk back to Harmonic Essences. That was it. She felt like she was at a dead end. They could have literally gone anywhere from here. The trail wasn’t cold anymore—it was gone.
I have an idea, Pulman said.
Homecoming
Message
received, Adan said, surprise tinging its thought-voice. It’s from Dr. Bernard Feckwell.
Professor Feckwell? Nadani said, closing the book she had open on her HUD and blinking herself back to reality. I’m reading it.
“Commander Nadani Jagi, I would hereby like to extend an invitation to visit my labs for a discussion about the project we worked on years ago. I have finally been freed from my CAAI captors and would love to hear about said project. Attached are coordinates and clearance to dock at the lab docking pads.”
“I can’t believe it,” Nadani said out loud.
“What is it?” Dr. Tysgan said from the other side of the couch.
“Professor—Dr. Feckwell wants to meet,” she said.
“Oh? And who is this?” Dr. Tysgan asked.
“He’s the one who implanted Adan when I was in college,” she said. Before Dr. Tysgan could ask any other question, she continued. “It was a research project for extra credit and I would be paid on top of that,” she said. “The implant was supposed to be for a week at the most, but Professor Feckwell vanished, and nobody knew how to remove the AI. I ended up wanting to keep it anyway.”
“I’m glad he didn’t remove me,” Adan said over the ship’s com so both Dr. Tysgan and Nadani could hear. “I don’t think it would have killed me, but I am happy where I am.”
“Yeah, Adan is my partner and my friend,” Nadani said. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Feel the same about Park,” Dr. Tysgan said. “We have been together a long time. Longer than you were born I believe. But what to do about Dr. Farkwell?”
“Dr. Feckwell,” Nadani said, smiling at the mispronunciation. “I don’t know. We need to figure out where the next attack will be.”