“I’m a key to solving all this mess. But it didn’t tell me exactly how.”
“It didn’t tell you?”
“When I came out here to visit Javen, I had a vision. I don’t think I’ve mentioned them to you before. But since I’ve used the crystals, visions have been pretty common for me. I think it’s similar to when I’m about to summon the Alku . . . only it’s the Starfire’s way of communicating with me.”
“Is the Starfire alive?”
I squeeze my knees and just say it. “The Starfire is a computer.”
“What?!” She tips her head in question. “How do you know?”
“It told me.”
“The Starfire told you? You mean it spoke to you?” Irene stares at me. “This is too much. I want to believe you, but this is completely crazy. Maybe you’re just stressed. We’ve been through a lot. I know I’m having a ton of trouble sleeping, not that I’ve got much time to rest. And then I’m worried about my aunt and cousins. I haven’t spoken to them in too long. They must be concerned about me.”
I close my eyes and think of how Irene is the primary provider for her family. With the war going on, there’s no guarantee the CosmicCoin for them is even being deposited into their account.
Irene starts to push up.
I place a hand on her shoulder to keep her from rising. “You have to stay with me. I know this sounds like I’m imagining things. But I’m not, and I need your help. If you help me fix this, we can make everything better for your family. And if we can get to Earth, maybe you can contact them.”
She plops back down and releases a long breath while studying the ground. “Maybe. But I’m afraid they’re going to know something is wrong, and I don’t want to freak them out.”
I reach over and wrap my arms around her neck. None of this is going to be able to stay a secret for long. There’s a good chance that if we’re successful in contacting leaders on Earth who are willing to support us, then war may break out there, too.
Irene loosens from me and turns away to wipe her eyes. She’s a tough girl. “So, what are these visions like?” she asks.
I nibble the inside of my lip. “Ever since I’ve had contact with the Starfire, I’ve seen a lot of things. It all started when Javen rescued me from the explosion. I thought they were dreams at first, but the visions were so much more.”
“Like what?”
I draw my attention to Javen, and a series of memories flickers through my brain. “I’ve seen Javen’s past mostly, like when he was a kid. But I shared a vision with Javen’s mother on Paxon. It’s how I was able to release her from her coma.”
“And this time?”
“I actually spoke with the Starfire. It explained that the computer functions much like our AI. It learns and adapts.”
“How old is it?” she asks.
“Really old . . . I’m not sure how old. But maybe thousands of years.”
Irene furrows her brows. “If this is tech and it’s been around for thousands of years, why aren’t the Alku more advanced than they appear to be?”
“As far as I know, it’s because that’s the way the Starfire wanted it to be. The tech was a means of protection. If the Starfire functioned as mere magic, then it simply was what it was. The Alku remained safe and happy. But that has changed, and the Starfire must transition.”
I explain everything I know about how the program’s intention is to protect the host, but since the tech isn’t a living being with morals, it can go wrong in the way the program plays out.
“The program created a sort of hive mentality among the Alku when they were exposed to the Mother Starfire. Now that I think of it, the purpose almost seems like a military function to get soldiers in the mindset for battle, which makes sense . . .” My eyes widen. “That is the exact scenario where the power took hold of them.”
Irene’s eyes brighten too. “When can I start to play around with it? Now that I know this, I can play with many more possibilities.”
“I think you need to start now . . . like as soon as we get back. But we need to keep this a secret for the time being.”
“Even from your dad?”
“Even from him. He has enough to think about, and I want to keep his mind where it needs to be. The portal to Earth.”
Irene nods.
“Have Howard continue working on your current project and start a new one to figure out how we can release Javen and the other Alku from the Starfire’s aggressive influence.” I peer at Javen and whisper, “Once you figure out a solution, we’ll test on him.”
Irene stands and offers her hand to pull me up. The corners of my friend's lips turn up into a smile. “Don’t you worry. This is what I was born for.”
Chapter 15
Howard is in the middle of packing up computer gear, a frown pulling on his unshaven face. His button-up striped shirt is half-tucked, rumpled at the middle and flapping in the back.
“Where are you going?” Irene asks, perching on the edge of the lab’s workstation beside him.
“Out to the test site near the Starfire field,” he answers. “First, they pulled me off the blocker project and put me on the portal. Then, I told them I could keep working in here just fine—probably better. Now, Dr. Foster insists I come out and do the testing on-site so the Senate members and everyone else can stick their noses where they shouldn’t be and try to tell me what I’m doing wrong.” Howard side-glances me as his cheeks flush. “Sorry . . . I’m just frustrated and not used to being around so many people. Before all this happened, I freelanced from home and over video chat.”
“It’s okay, Howard,” Irene says and pats him on the shoulder. “You’re doing a great job of keeping it together. Everything has been so stressful, and some alone time would help.”
He clears his throat and returns to packing. “Cassi, your father didn’t want to disturb you on your Connect while you were with Javen, but he wants you and Irene out there, too. ASAP.”
Irene and I catch each other’s stare. “You head on out,” she says to Howard. “Cassi and I have a few things to finalize here, and then we’ll come. I promise we’ll work as fast as we can.”
Howard grunts. But Irene’s words seem to satisfy him as he loads a DataPort and a few other items into his bag. He pushes the strap onto his shoulder and makes a failed attempt at re-tucking his loose shirt into his waistband.
“Whatever. No one cares how I look,” he grumbles to himself and then waves goodbye without a backward glance.
In other circumstances, the scene would be comical, and I want to laugh but hold it in. I know he’s doing his best and I don’t want to be rude. Irene and I remain still until Howard is out the door. The soles of his shoes make a clomping sound as his hefty frame walks down the hall. The exit to the lab building opens and shuts with a clack.
As soon as it does, Irene and I race to the primary computer. While Irene’s hands fly across the virtual keyboard, I message Dad.
I might be a while in the lab, but I’ll come to the test site soon. Hope everything is running smoothly.
As I finish the message, a series of charts and stats on how to disarm Hammond’s Starfire Inhibitor pops onto the screen. Irene taps at the holographic display, bringing up more of the data she needs and swiping away the parts she apparently doesn’t. She works so fast, it’s almost as if she’s part machine.
“Howard and I were able to get a lot of data on the Starfire and how Hammond is blocking the power,” she murmurs without looking away from the screen.
My Connect vibrates, and I glance down at my wrist.
Come as soon as you can. And the project is moving along. Vihann is a big help.
I breathe out through my nose slowly, relieved that the portal project seems to be going well. Now, if Irene and I can solve the Alku aggression problem, we’ll be well on our way to resolving all the issues. Of course, we still need to deal with Hammond.
I swipe the message away and return my attention to Irene.
&nbs
p; “But,” Irene says, likely to herself, “I can’t believe we didn’t see the AI before. It’s so obvious now.” She eyes the screen and hits a few more strokes on her virtual keypad. “I can take the data we have and run a few programs that might help me understand how the AI bonds with the mind.” She glances at me. “I’m aware of a few tests for similar projects on Earth, but I’m sure they were nowhere near as advanced. If that data is on file here, it will further advance our understanding of the Starfire and help you to release Javen from its effects.”
“The Starfire is crazy complex and probably different from any experiments on Earth. This is going to take too long. We need to understand how to set Javen and the others free now.”
“We have to start somewhere,” Irene says. “You can’t expect miracles, Cassi.”
My chest tingles in frustration. Agitated, I stab fingers through my tangled hair. She’s right. I should have never expected a quick solution. We need help.
The instant I think the words, my mind sparks like never before. One of the Protectors brings a sudden idea to the forefront of my mind. Yes . . . yes!
“Give me a second,” I say to Irene and then study the data.
“A second for what?”
I whip around and scan the room. “I think we only need to ask the right questions and the answers will present themselves.”
She lets out a frustrated groan as she enlarges a bit of data on the screen. “That is exactly what I’m trying to do right now!”
“AI assistance, please,” I say at the air.
“How may I help you?” my mother’s voice sounds beside us.
I twist my chair around to face the hologram of Mom, and I clench my fingers. As much as I need to speak with the Starfire right now, I wish the hologram didn’t have to look like her. But I shake aside those thoughts and power on. I need to get Irene through this.
Irene also turns her attention from the computer to the hologram. “Okay . . . I think I get where you’re going with this.”
I clear my throat and speak to the AI. “Yes, I’m hoping you can help me.”
Focusing on the Starfire, I call up the power I know is working inside of me. I then guide the energy toward the computer with my mind.
“I must speak to Kieran, the Starfire AI,” I say to the image of Mom. “Can you let us access him?”
“You are clever,” the hologram says and smiles my mother’s smile. But her demeanor shifts and the image flickers. I’m sure the Starfire is in control of the lab’s AI function now.
Beside me, Irene’s brows knit together. “What’s going on?”
“Yes, Cassi,” the hologram says, ignoring Irene. “You are learning quickly and utilizing the knowledge of the past Protectors to guide you.”
I slide a glance Irene’s way. “I called up the Starfire’s AI function. I think I basically uploaded it to the lab computer for you to ask it questions.”
“How did you do that? You didn’t even touch the console, let alone upload anything.”
I shrug. “I’m working to understand it, but I think the connection is just like transporting or how I pulled those ships into the Intersection without touching them.”
“But how did you know what to do?”
“The Starfire AI has a lot of the information inside it, but not everything. The AI learns alongside the host—and that’s me right now,” I say. “Protectors make choices for how to best use the Starfire’s functions. And using the lab AI is what my mind came up with to create an interface that we can all understand.”
“So, I can ask the AI anything I want about the Starfire?”
“I think so. It’s not all-knowing, but if you ask the right questions, I think we might get somewhere.”
Irene’s eyes widen with excitement, and she swings her attention to the hologram of Mom. “We need to figure out how to release the Alku without Cassi having to connect with them mentally. I want to create a device that allows a host to program their Starfire with written or spoken commands instead of mental ones.”
The hologram brings one hand to her chin in thought. “Yes, mental commands are subject to too many whims and emotions.”
“Can you help us with this?” Irene asks.
The hologram nods. “I believe I can.”
My Connect buzzes with a message from Dad again.
Will you be coming soon?
My thoughts spin for a second before I study Irene. I doubt I’ll be meeting up with him soon, but if I tell him what we’re doing, it will take his mind off everything else he needs to be focused on, and that’s the last thing we need.
Yes, soon. Less than an hour.
It’s a lie but one that will buy us some time. I swipe the message function away but continue staring at the device on my wrist while my mind pings with another idea. “What if we could reprogram a Connect to run on Starfire?”
A wild look overtakes Irene’s eyes. “Like a hybrid of a Connect and the portal device.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Could that work?”
Irene darts her eyes around and swings back to the data on the screen. “So, we’d convert the Connect to run on Starfire—similar to the refugee ships that were converted.” She peers up at me. “We have all that data. And we could alter the Connect’s programming to control the Starfire’s output to the host.”
“Exactly,” I say. “And we could power a Connect with the Mother Starfire, to keep Hammond from blocking the crystal’s functions while also keeping the Alku in control of their thoughts without overload.”
Not one second after the words exit my mouth, Irene whips her attention to the hologram and proceeds to spew out what seems like fifty questions at once.
Chapter 16
Armed with a modified Connect and a harebrained plan, Irene and I enter the hut and crouch at Javen’s side. With a shaky breath, I reach out and hover over the warm skin on his forearm. A shiver runs through my body.
I sit on my knees and rub my palm over the tight muscles in my neck. Several of the possible negative outcomes roll through my mind. Like, what if Javen tries to kill me again and succeeds this time?
“Ready?” Irene asks.
“No. What if this is a horrible failure?”
Irene sighs. “Until we try, we won’t know, and there’s no other easy way for us to test this theory. We have to trust that the AI gave us all the correct information.” She bends down and carefully affixes the newly modified Connect on Javen’s wrist without touching her skin to his. When she finishes, she glances at me. “I believe in you, Cassi.”
“Are you just saying that? Or do you really believe your own words?” I twist my lips at her.
Irene throws her hand onto her hip and scoffs. “Wouldn't you like to know?”
A nervous laugh escapes my lips. “Might as well go for it, then.”
“Good.” Irene grabs her DataPort from the ground, and the instant she hits the program’s start function, the world plunges into darkness.
Panic rises in my throat, and I swing around in the black. “Irene!” I yell, but the words only echo back to me. Did the program crash? My heart pounds against my ribcage and the sound thumps in my ears. Deafening, like a bass drum took up residence inside my head.
My breath comes in short pants. Just when I’m about to call out for Irene once more, light fades into my vision. Then, within a blink, I’m surrounded by the cyan wisps of light I saw when I was in Zarah’s mind.
“Okay, something is happening.” My breath slows, and I focus on the lights swirling around me. They move faster, encircling me, as my hands tingle with energy. Something—no someone—a Protector and their memory urge me to move. I throw my hands out in front of me to feel in the semidarkness just as the space explodes with light, blinding me.
I gasp at the suddenness and then squint. But I find myself back in front of Javen. On impulse, I flick my hand away from him.
“What happened?” Irene asks, immediately at my side.
I study Javen for a si
gn, a muscle twitch, something that would tell me the Connect worked. But there’s no change. He’s still lying there, eyes closed, his chest slowly rising and falling. A flood of emotions crashes through my body and tears sting at the corners of my eyes.
Irene taps at her computer. “I don’t know what went wrong. The program is functioning properly. He should have responded to the Starfire Connect.” She lifts his wrist and looks at the screen and then back at the display on her DataPort.
Irene’s eyebrows pull down in frustration as she gently places his hand on the ground. “Why didn’t this work?” she mutters under her breath.
But as his fingers touch the grass, Javen’s eyelids flutter. My heart leaps. I want to throw myself on top of him and wrap my arms around his neck. Instead, I scoot back, readying myself for whatever is next, good or bad.
“He’s awake!” I say.
Irene is on her feet and tapping on the keyboard of her DataPort. “The data is coming in from his Connect now.”
“And?” I ask, still watching Javen intently.
“It’s like he’s rebooting, I guess. If a person can reboot. But I have no idea if our patch has worked yet.”
Javen coughs and then his eyes open wide. His irises are a natural, soft brown, not swirling with Starfire. I think that’s a good sign. Instead of anger, confusion pinches his beautiful face.
I gulp down the nervous lump forming in my throat as tears continue to prick the back of my eyes.
“Where am I?” Javen’s gaze darts around the hut.
I remain frozen, unsure what to do or say. A tear I can’t hold back trails down my cheek.
“Maybe it worked,” Irene whispers from behind me.
Javen must hear her because he pushes up and then looks directly at us. The memory of his enraged face in the battle and his attack on Dad flashes through my mind. As if he sees the same thing, his eyes widen in sadness and horror.
The Starfire Wars- The Complete series Box Set Page 44