“Okay, here’s the deal. The tracker I’ve installed on Kalliopy stopped transmitting about five minutes after her ship was attacked.”
“You think they disabled it?”
“That or—I’d rather not think of the alternative.”
“She’s alive, I know she is.”
Is that what humans refer to as instinct? I wonder.
“Well, good. That’s what I think too.”
For different reasons, however, it made little sense for the enemy to go to such lengths in acquiring her just to kill her. They could have achieved that goal by destroying her ship in the first place.
“Alright, so what’s the plan, Zee?”
“We need more data. Without her tracker, and with days gone since she was taken, the trail has become cold.”
“Where do we get more information then?”
“That’s the part of the plan that worries me.”
7
“What do you mean the worst place in the universe?” exclaimed Kevin.
Kevin and Ziron were walking along the ship’s corridor. Boomer had fallen asleep, so Kevin decided not to wake him. He must have been exhausted from their recent adventures. After all, he had seen things no other dogs ever saw. That ought to take a psychological toll on Kevin’s furry friend.
“Can you be a little more specific?” added Kevin.
“Well, it’s a planet that holds the biggest scum you’ll ever find in this cluster of galaxies. Killers, bandits, and worse. Not to mention it’s not a safe place for me to be in the first place.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say the cooks on that planet find Sphynx meat to be kind of a rare delicacy, one that rich inhabitants will pay a large sum of money to enjoy.”
“So, it’s basically an upscale Chinese restaurant?”
Ziron’s eyes flashed before he answered. “I guess you could say that, except that anybody who sees a Sphynx on Omicron will just drop whatever they’re doing and try catching me, hence lining their pockets with enough credits to last them for years.”
“That’s pretty rude, I’m sorry you have to live with that kind of weight on your shoulders. So I take it Omicron is where we’re going next?”
“It is.”
“I heard the jump engines engage earlier, how far are we?”
“A few hours away. That will give us time for me to teach you to use your armor optimally.”
“I think I have the hang of it.”
“This mission is too critical for you to just wing it. So, it’s best I put you in a virtual simulation that will be a near identical match for what you’ll encounter on Omicron.”
Part of Kevin’s pride was hurt hearing the words, but part of him knew that winging it could be dangerous, just like it had been against their last space battle.
“Better safe than sorry. I can understand that.”
Ziron stopped in front of one of the multiple doors they were passing.
“We’re here. I’ll monitor your progress from the bridge. I just need to know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“The holo-training room can be set in different ways. You can either disable pain receptors from your armor or leave them on. You can’t die in there, but you have the option to feel real pain or an attenuated version of it if you choose to.”
Kevin didn’t like the idea of being in pain. But he remembered one of the few things his father said that actually made some sort of sense, though he didn’t get credit for coming up with it. It was something that he often repeated: No pain, no gain.
Kevin felt a lump in his throat and swallowed hard. “Pain. I think it’s best I train in a way that prepares me from what’s coming, especially if this place is as bad as you’re saying it is.”
“I’m afraid it’s probably worse.”
Kevin flashed Zee two thumbs up. “Have you ever considered being a motivational speaker? You’d make a killing.”
“Really?” asked Ziron.
“No, I was pulling your leg. As a matter of fact, your bedside manner and pep talks suck balls,” said Kevin as he stepped into the holo-training room.
* * *
When Kalliopy passed the decorative doors, they closed behind her, and the Kregan officer didn’t follow her into the room. It was a big change from both her tiny cell and the ship’s rather narrow corridors. The room was almost as massive as one of her palace party chambers and equally decorated.
Kregans had a soft spot for gold and silver, and it was reflected in their trinkets and decorations. It lacked the subtlety of Arcadian craftsmanship, but it was still pleasing to the eyes. In front of her stood a long dinner table, filled with lots of food, and it was only when someone a fair bit away spoke that she realized she wasn’t alone.
“Please, your highness, sit and have a hearty meal.”
The Kregan man was on the other side of the table that could easily seat fifty guests or more. His voice was softer than any Kregan the princess had ever heard. Before her ship was ambushed, she had had very few direct dealings with them. But she had seen enough war reports and witnessed several of the civilized interrogations on the few prisoners they had captured over the years.
“I’m not hungry,” she said.
But then her stomach called out her lie, and the unceremonious sound echoed throughout the room.
“It seems to me you are. Rest assured, it’s not poisoned if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“I wouldn’t trust a Kregan no matter what he says.”
“I can understand and even respect that, your highness. Why don’t you take a seat and use the Arcadian scanner on the table that I had brought from your ship for you to scan your food? Would that be satisfactory?”
Kalliopy took two more steps and sat on a chair. Next to one of the multiple forks displayed rested a shiny Arcadian portable scanner. No doubt taken from one of her executed crewmembers. She looked at the man and then back at the scanner.
“Now you’re wondering if I haven’t tampered with the scanner.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“No, I’m only putting myself in your shoes for a moment. Just pick it up, make some scans, and decide for yourself. I suggest you do it soon, some of the meals I’ve had my chef prepare for you are much better warm, or so I’m told. I’ve never been a fan of Arcadian cuisine.”
Kalliopy grabbed the scanner and used its various sensors to look for foreign substances, poisons, or any other type of tampering of the food present in her vicinity. Nothing seemed tainted. She ran the device’s self-diagnostic mode and looked at the scanner’s logs. It hadn’t been used since before the attack on her ship. The last DNA that handled the interface was Arcadian. Her ship’s first officer.
“You know this proves nothing,” she said.
“I know. But this may be your one and only chance at a delicious meal, so it’s up to you if you want to squander it. I just thought you’d enjoy it.”
She locked her gaze onto the man’s blue eyes. His skin was a paler shade of orange than most Kregans. There was a trace of grace in his facial traits, something rare for the species.
“Who are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“As a matter of fact, it does.”
“Very well. My name is Xonax. At your service, so to speak.”
“The name means nothing to me.”
“Yeah, I would imagine it doesn’t. What about Yxantion? Does that ring a bell?”
Kalliopy recognized the name instantly. How could she not? The Kregan emperor was well known for both his cruelty and his wrath toward the Arcadian people.
“It does. What do you have to do with him?”
“Not much really, only that he’s my father.”
Either the man was a liar or her spy network would need some serious overhaul. Pollux, the son of Yxantion, had been killed in battle five months ago. A fact that had sent the emperor in such a rage and thirst for revenge that it accelerated both the pac
e and the brutality of their war.
“I was informed that the emperor’s only son was killed.”
“That is partly true. My big brother did meet his demise when he underestimated your forces at the battle of Grontor. The part about his being the emperor’s only son—well, that’s another story altogether. And it’s a rather long one, so may I suggest you eat something while I tell you more about it.”
As much as Kalliopy wanted to avoid touching any of the food, she was starving, and she could no longer stand in the presence of so many colors, aromas, and delicious-looking food. Reluctantly, she took a few bites of the well-prepared Arcadian dishes and delicacies.
“Better,” said Xonax. “I would imagine my father prefers telling people he only had one son. We never saw eye to eye, you see.”
Kalliopy listened to her guest explain the fallout with his murderous father and his subsequent banishment as she kept indulging in as much food as her stomach would accommodate.
* * *
Kevin stood in a totally white room. It immediately felt unreal. The paint was so reflective it gave the entire place an ethereal feel. Almost like the representation of going to paradise. Because of the reflectiveness of the paint, Kevin couldn’t see a single seal or border in the room. He knew he had taken maybe ten paces inside, but everywhere he looked, it felt like there were no walls, no horizon. It was very disconcerting, and his mind was having a hard time reconciling with what his eyes showed him.
“Alright, Kevin,” said Ziron. “I’m about to turn on the simulation, are you ready?”
“Yeah, the sooner I see something different the better. I’m getting a headache just looking at this infinite brightness.”
“Hmm—interesting, I find it relaxing.”
“Of course you do. Just jack me up to the Matrix, already.”
“What?”
“Never mind, Ziron, just make it start.”
“Alright. Good luck, Kevin. I’ll provide you with vocal support along the way to help you make the best use of your armor.”
“Okie dokie.”
And then the white was instantly replaced by a completely stunning world brimming with lights and movement.
“Whoa, now that’s what I call virtual reality.”
Kevin was standing on a street in the most futuristic city he had ever seen in either video games or movies. It was nighttime, and his eyes were overloaded by millions of lights and movement around him. Every color imaginable was within his immediate vicinity. Holographic content was hovering on the ground, in the air, and as far as the eyes could see. His mind had issues processing the overload of information.
In the sky there was an intricate ballet of dancing lights belonging to all sorts of flying vehicles.
“How many people live on this planet?” asked Kevin.
“Omicron has a bit of an overcrowding problem there with about sixty-seven billion people. The capital houses a third of that.”
“Is that where I am at the moment?”
“Yes, it’s called Omicronia.”
Something hit his shoulder and forced him to stumble forward.
“Hey!” said the female that had just bumped into him. “Watch where you’re going, punk!”
How rude.
She looked partially humanoid, with pink skin, glowing red hair, and a full-size visor covering her eyes. She waved a dismissive hand before merging into the massive crowd made up of so many different alien life forms that it made Kevin’s head spin just looking at it.
“We’re not in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure.”
An open booth on his direct right flashed for a brief instant, and a sizeable upright reptile with blue scales walked out of it and joined the crowd.
“What the hell is that booth?”
“It’s called a Telecommuter. It lets you teleport instantly anywhere on the planet.”
“Neat. Then why are there so many flying cars up there?”
“The tech isn’t free. Only those with serious credits or credit lines can afford the subscription to such a fast way of traveling in-world.”
“I see. Do I have credits in this world?”
“Yes, they’re pretty much unlimited, but that won’t be the case once you’re on Omicron. I can forge enough of their currency for our needs, though.”
“Understood.”
Kevin approached the booth and jumped back in fright when it activated again, this time letting out a grey-skinned insectoid woman with reflective blue wings. Kevin touched the booth with his hand. It felt cold, and yet real.
Kevin remembered trying out a friend’s Oculus Rift headset that allowed him to play while being inside a 3D-simulated world. His mind had been amazed by the sensation. But this was something else entirely. He really was inside that world, not through an avatar, and not through holding some clunky controllers to help him clumsily interact with stuff around him. He could feel, touch, and smell everything. For a lack of a better word, it simply felt real.
“This technology is unbelievable. Why would anyone want to live in the real world when you can live in any simulation?”
“As a matter of fact, it’s a rampant problem on many planets. Some worlds have basically become overcrowded with billions of non-productive customers who never leave the many VR realms they use or create for themselves. We call them the Lost.”
“Interesting name.”
“And accurate at the same time, they’ve lost all grip on reality. They have let themselves be subdued by these virtual worlds.”
“Well, they have to get out sometimes to take a piss or eat, don’t they?”
“You’d think so, but the mega-corporation who owns these virtual reality farming planets have created pods that tend to the user’s every biological need.”
“But I take it it’s not free, right?”
“You’re correct. There is a hefty initial payment, then they sign a contract that allows them to stay in these pods dozens of years or more. As a matter of fact, it’s much easier to get in than to ever get out.”
“How so?”
“We don’t really have time for a full history lesson, but in a nutshell, the mega-corps have the right to all data in a person’s mind while they’re in the system. They resell the data to other worlds as marketing research and develop patents for the ideas developed inside the virtual world. By signing the contract, the user waives any right to everything he or she thinks or invents. The exit fee is so expensive that most users are trapped there forever.”
“That’s not fair. It’s exploitation.”
“Nothing about Omicron and the countless similar worlds here on the rim is fair, Kevin. That’s one of the reasons I hate being in this part of space. It’s everything that is wrong with the universe amped up to eleven, really.”
“I see you’re getting well versed with my language.”
“Technically, it’s my AI language implant that is adapting pretty fast; but I’m glad you think so. I created it.”
We’re so far behind in the matter of technology on Earth.
But seeing how it was being used to enslave or exploit people instead of helping the various civilizations thrive, perhaps it was blessing in disguise that Earth lagged behind in this area.
“Alright, what’s next, how do I train in here?”
“You see that tall tower behind you?”
Kevin turned and saw the biggest skyscraper he had ever seen, in fact, he had no idea where the thing ended, as it disappeared into dark-purple clouds.
“Holy shit? Is that thing real? I mean on Omicronia? Will it be there?”
“Yes, this is the tallest building in the entire universe as far as I know. It sticks out visually even from orbit. It nearly reaches the atmosphere and can be used as an elevator to a space dock built on its roof.”
“This is unbelievable. I never imagined in my wildest dreams, or nightmares, that such a place could ever exist.”
“Yeah, well, I personally don’t like it.”
&nbs
p; “I’m with you Zee. This doesn’t look like a place a sane mind could live a fulfilled life. It’s still impressive to look at, though.”
“Well, once we get there, let’s try to get the info we need and get the hell out of there as fast as possible.”
“I hear you. So I just go into that building? What happens next?”
“I’ve programmed the simulation so that it will be difficult for you to get to the seven hundredth floor.”
“Why that high?”
“’Cause last I checked, that’s where the person that has info about Kalliopy lives.”
“Can’t you beam me directly inside the person’s office?”
“I wish it were that simple. There’s security systems that even I can’t crack installed around the building. Without entering into too much details, you’ll basically have to climb one floor at a time, all the way up to your destination.”
“That’s a bummer. Will the simulation
be as hard as the real mission?”
“It will depend on how you want the simulation to be. The AI in charge of this simulation has been fed with as much data as I have found on this world. It’s a result of over fifty years of data collection. Because of your innate competitive nature, I just amped the level of aggressiveness of most inhabitants so that it provides the maximum challenge. Which means the simulation will be harder but should adequately prepare you for the real thing.”
“Ok, like playing Doom on Ultra Nightmare. No sweat, then.”
“Oh, you’ll sweat, believe me.”
“Speaking of AI’s, can Mira also assist me here?”
“I’m here to assist you.”
“I know, Ziron, but you’re more like the admin of the place, I’d like a real-time assist, which I assume I can use on the actual mission, right?”
“Yes, Mira can come along with you if that’s what you wish.”
“I do.”
“Done.”
“Hello, Kevin,” said the sweet voice of Mira.
“Hi, Mira. Let’s do this.”
“Ready when you are.”
Kevin smiled. “Ok, here goes nothing.”
Across the Galactic Pond - Box Set: The Complete FAR BEYOND Space Opera Series Page 9