by Isaac Hooke
“Be advised,” Eric sent. “Surface-to-space defenses are currently offline, and most orbital defense platforms have fallen. So don’t expect much help from here.”
“Ha, I’m used to that!” Slate said from the Bug Killer. “I usually have to do everything myself. But never fear, I’ll have these alien bitches handled before you can say ‘squash ‘em!’”
“I’m sure you will,” Eric said.
The last of the rift gates in orbit fell, severing his remote connection abilities.
When the Bethunia II arrived, he switched his consciousness to that vessel, and once more resided in the VR environment of the sailing ship.
The other Bolt Eaters lounged on the deck around him.
“So,” Eric said. “I can make a detour to Banthar Prime, and drop the rest of you off. Or you can come with me, and hope I don’t destroy the ship in the process.”
Marlborough shrugged. “There are escape pods.”
Bambi nodded. “We’re coming with you. Even if we’re just spectators along for the ride.”
“But I’m not really here,” Eric said. “You know that.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Bambi told him. “Besides, if you mess up, like Marlborough said, there are escape pods.”
Eric hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. “Come then.”
Their presence would make him extra cautious about putting that particular ship in danger. Probably a good thing. Then again, it only meant he was more likely to use the other Banthar ships as pawns.
“Dee, I want you to track down the council members,” Eric told his Accomp. “Confiscate their property and freeze their bank accounts. Arrest their family members.”
“What about the council members themselves?” Dee asked.
“I’m assuming they’ve gone into hiding,” Eric replied. “But if the facial recognition algorithms spot them anywhere, dispatch a full team of Sloths to arrest them. If they resist, the Sloths are authorized to use extreme force.”
“Got it,” Dee said.
He glanced at Bambi and Crusher, worried they’d think less of him for issuing these orders, but they seemed indifferent. Still, he couldn’t help the guilt he felt. He was acting more and more like the dictator Dee claimed him to be. Arresting family members for a crime, and confiscating all their property… it wasn’t something that happened in a democracy. Usually. He was just glad that Bambi and Crusher weren’t judging him.
He returned his attention to the battle at hand, and did his best to dismiss the guilt to the furthest reaches of his mind.
Guilt is good. If I wasn’t feeling it, then I’d have to worry.
That thought comforted him, and he steered the Bethunia II into weapons range.
12
Jason climbing the mountain that towered above his virtual cabin. He was so high up that below, the lake was about the size of his thumbnail. Above, the blue sky was clear, cloudless. He’d programmed it that way.
In the real world at that very moment, the fleets were undergoing repairs from the attack. They were using the wreckages of the ships from both sides of the battle to provide the necessary elements for the repairs, which meant they didn’t have to ferry materials back and forth from a planet—so repairs were all the faster. Tanis had allocated two days for damage recovery, and then the allies would take the fight to the Link.
The hope was that Eric would be done dealing with the threat to Banthar Prime by then. If not, they’d send messengers to confirm his situation, and if he still wasn’t coming, and didn’t need their help, they’d leave to attack the Link without him. Tanis didn’t want to wait too long, and risk giving the Link time to recover. At least that was Jason’s understanding. The president and his advisors might overrule any decision Tanis might make, especially considering it might be more prudent to wait longer for Eric—the more ships the allies had when they attacked the Link, the better, at least as far as Jason was concerned. But on the flip side, that also gave the Link more time to recoup from their latest losses.
When Jason had talked with Jhagan about Eric’s departure, the alien hadn’t seemed all that pleased. When Jason asked what the Tyrnari plans were going forward, Jhagan merely said: “I’ll have to consult the Queen.” A Tyrnari ship had jumped out shortly thereafter, ostensibly to do just that.
Jason cleared his mind, trying not to think about any of that. He had come here to forget everything. To relax. To be one with the elements. And the mountain.
“Nice ass.”
Jason missed the rock he was reaching for, and he tumbled. He bounced off the mountain a few times before his safety line grew taut. He recovered, straightening himself, and shook his head to clear the dizziness.
Tara floated down beside him. She sat cross-legged on a small cloud.
“What?” he asked, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice.
“Nothing?” she replied. “Just wanted to hang out. The women are looking for you.”
“I know,” he said. “Why do you think I’m here?”
“You wanted some peace and quiet?” she said.
“You’re good.” He reached for the closet crevice and pulled himself up.
“Can I climb with you?” she asked.
“No.” He hauled himself higher.
After a few moments, she floated back up so that she was beside him once more.
“That’s getting annoying.” Jason glared at her, but she gave him a sweet smile in return. “All right, you can climb with me! But keep quiet.”
“Thanks!” she said.
“You’re acting more like Lori every day,” he said.
Her face darkened at that, but when she materialized on the rock face next to him, she was all smiles once more. A safety line threaded upward, attached to the wall at the same level as his.
“I lost a sister, to climbing,” Tara said.
Jason glanced at her. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah,” Tara said. “It’s not something I’ve ever really talked about. I used to be a rock climber before her death. We often scaled peaks together as a team. But after she went, I couldn’t bear to climb another mountain. Not until I met you.”
“That’s sweet, I guess,” Jason said.
“It’s because I know none of this is real, I think,” Tara said. “I became afraid of heights. But here, heights are not real. I could let go of the wall, and either allow myself to plunge, or simply teleport myself somewhere else. The real world is different. I still feel fear, there. Thankfully we haven’t fought on any mountains.”
“So you don’t feel fear when we’re wading knee deep through alien bioweapons?” he asked her.
“Oh, I do,” she said. “But strangely, not for myself. But for you. And the others. I’m terrified that one day, you’re going to fall to some bioweapon, and have your AI core ripped to shreds.”
“Then restore me from a backup,” he said. “Make a Jason 7.”
She smiled sadly on the rock face beside him. “It’s not the same, and you know that. If we made a Jason 7, he’d come up with his own name in acknowledgement of the fact that he wasn’t really you. Call himself Jiggles or something.”
Jason tightened his grip on the wall as he laughed. “Yeah, I can see that.” He sighed. “I’ve never lost any of you. But I live in fear of that day. I’m worried it’s going to destroy me. Which is why I’m considering letting you all go early. Earth is safe now, for the moment. Sure, there are still some bioweapons that are roaming the cities, and need cleaning up, but for the most part, the defensive phase of the war is over. You don’t need to come for the next part.”
“I’ve already talked to the others,” she said. “Even Maeran wants to come. We’re not staying back while the final fight for humanity takes place.”
He nodded. “I’m not sure we’ll be fighting for humanity.”
“What do you mean?” she said.
“It doesn’t seem like Jhagan wants to be part of the final battle,” he said. “He already told me he has to
talk to the Queen before he can participate.”
“Then we’ll switch to the human ships,” she said.
He shook his head. “Unlike the Tyrnari vessels, their cargo holds aren’t big enough for our mechs. Unless you want to abandon them for human androids.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” she said.
“What about Maeran?” he asked.
“Let’s ask her,” she said, vanishing.
With a sigh, Jason teleported to the mountain cabin’s common room, where the other women were lounging.
“Jason tells me that the Tyrnari might be leaving soon,” Tara said. “And if we want to stay and fight, the only way to do so is to become human androids.”
“Otherwise we can go with the Tyrnari,” Jason said. “And then use a rift back to Earth, staying inside our mechs.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourselves a bit,” Aria said. “We don’t know if the Tyrnari will stay yet. Let’s wait until then before we decide.”
As if on cue, Z announced in her sensuous voice: “A Tyrnari vessel just jumped in.”
A short while later Jhagan summoned Jason to an emergency meeting. Jason listened to what the Tyrnari told him, and then returned to the VR environment, where the women were waiting.
“So what’s the news?” Aria said.
Jason explained.
“Have you told the fleet, yet?” Tara asked.
“No, I wanted you all to hear it first,” he replied. “I have to go, of course. I can’t ask any of you to come with me.”
“We’re all going,” Lori said.
“Do you really all feel that way?” He ran his gaze across the team, and his eyes finally rested on Maeran. To his surprise, she nodded.
“It will be good to see the Rex Wolves,” Tara said. Their half T-Rex, half wolf pets were still on the Tyrnari homeworld, where Jason and the War Forgers had left them after their last visit. Risilan had promised to take good care of them until their return.
“Yes, I suppose it will,” he said. “Okay. I guess I’ll make the formal announcement to the fleet.” He looped in the clones, and explained the situation to them, then opened a connection with Tanis, Jacobs, Jain, and Hephaestus.
“What’s on your mind?” Jain asked.
“It’s with… regret… that I must inform you the Tyrnari are leaving,” Jason said. “Along with the War Forgers.”
“May I ask why?” Tanis said.
“Link ships are gathering on staging planets across the Tyrnari borders,” Jason said. “Queen Risilan is worried an invasion force will strike soon, and wants all ships to return against that eventuality. I’ve decided to join her, now that Earth is safe.”
“The Tyrnari, too?” Jain said. “The Link is doing a good job of dividing us.”
“Maybe the Paladins can help?” Tanis said. “I could talk to the President. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if we detoured to help our allies.”
“No,” Jason said. “I suggested that, but Jhagan told me she won’t allow it. She thinks the only reason the Link forces are gathering is because she aided you in the first place. She doesn’t want to risk angering them further. Jhagan told me she even believes the Link antagonists will disperse once her ships return. But we’ll see. Trust me, I tried to convince Jhagan to leave the ships, but he was adamant in his refusal. Now that the threat to Earth has ended, at least partially, he feels her debt to me, and thus Earth, is repaid.”
“But you can stay and fight,” Jain said. “You don’t have to go.”
“How?” Jason said. “By moving my consciousness to an android? Or letting you drag our mechs behind you in open space?”
“We could attach you to our hulls…” Jain said.
Jason nodded. “I’ve decided I owe Queen Risilan more than I owe humanity. While she won’t accept help from the Paladins, she will allow me, and the War Forgers to return. And in case the Link do attack, I have to be there.”
“I think I understand,” Jain said. “Loyalty to one’s brothers and sisters surpasses loyalty to any government, or cause.”
“Yes,” Jason said. “If you want to attack the Link, you’ll have to do it on your own, with the Mimics. The Tyrnari, and the War Forgers, won’t help.”
13
Jain found himself in a quandary.
When the Void Warriors discovered that not only had the Bolt Eaters abandoned humanity, but the War Forgers, too, they began to question why they were staying.
“We’ve already saved the world,” Medeia said. “There’s no point in pressing the fight. How long do we want to keep fighting this war?”
“But we’ll have to save it again at some point, if we don’t stop the Link,” Jain said.
“But the Link have warred with the Fresnal for centuries,” Medeia said. “Is that how long we want to be doing this? I don’t think so.”
“You forget that we know their vulnerabilities,” Jain said. “And are familiar with most of their ship designs, and other offensive capabilities. That’s what happens when you ally with a former member of their Empire.”
“Yeah, well, it’s still not going to be easy,” Medeia said. “The Bolt Eaters, and now the War Forgers.” She threw up her arms.
“Remember, the Bolt Eaters are coming back,” Gavin said. “Just as soon as Eric deals with the insurrection.”
“Yeah, that could be months,” Medeia said.
“He did say two days,” Gavin pressed.
Medeia chuckled. “Once the Link start attacking a system, they don’t let up. Sure, Eric’s original estimate to repel the Link was two days. But wait until the enemy start sending in reinforcements.”
“The number of reinforcements they send, if any, depends upon how much of a debilitating blow we dealt them in the last few battles,” Sheila said.
“I have a sneaking suspicion we’ve barely harmed them,” Cranston said. “Though we’ve hurt their staging infrastructure, and probably significantly depleted their world killer supply, their space navy is probably very much intact. They wouldn’t have diverted too many from the front lines with the Fresnal, or they’d risk losing the territory.”
“Do we even know where the fight against the Fresnal is taking place?” Mark asked, looking at Jain.
Even Xander was looking at him.
Jain frowned. “Well, according to my database, the fight is near the outer perimeter of the galaxy,” Jain said. “Well beyond the Eastern Galactic Front of the humans. So it’s kind of their eastern front, whereas ours is their western.”
“It’s too bad we weren’t able to press our attack against them over the years,” Sheila said. “We could have forced them into a war on two fronts.”
“They’re already in a war on two fronts,” Jain said. “Multiple, actually, if it’s true that they’re planning to invade Tyrnari. And they’ve already attacked the Banthar. They might be spreading themselves too thin.”
“We can only hope,” Mark said.
“So we’re staying, you’re saying?” Medeia asked.
Jain studied her carefully, and then glanced between her and Mark. “You can leave whenever you want. No one is forcing you here. There’s no Containment Code wrapped around your mind. And any military contracts you signed would have expired years ago. You certainly owe nothing to me.”
She sighed, and lowered her gaze. She glanced at Mark. “I’ll stay with you, for now. I like to see things through, once I start them. It’s why I didn’t drop out of bootcamp all those years ago, after all.”
“Then why all the theatrics about leaving?” Jain said.
“Oh, I still want to leave,” Medeia said. “But I want us to do it as a group. We’re family now. You know that.”
Jain nodded slowly. “We certainly are.”
Jain stood next to the firepit in the center of the hide tent and warmed his hands. Outside, he could hear the wind moaning. Before coming in, the winter storm had kicked up snow so thick that everything had been pure white. Some of that snow occasionall
y tumbled inside from the smoke hole in the ceiling, though it was quickly melted in the heat from the fire.
Sheila resided at his side, and similarly held her palms toward the flames.
“Leave it to you to come up with a date involving hiking in the mountains of Mongolia,” Jain said.
She shrugged. “It was fun before the storm came.”
“Then delete the storm,” he said.
She shrugged. “That would remove the authenticity of it all. Part of the experience is dealing with whatever the environment throws at you.”
He gave her an annoyed look. “Well, next time I’m choosing the environment. And it’s going to be a lot cozier.”
She shrugged. “You can’t tell me you’re not looking forward to having sex in front of these flames.”
Jain glanced at the old Mongol who was staring at them from across the firepit. “I’m not going to while he’s watching.”
“He doesn’t exist,” she said. “He’s created by the spare processing power in our neural networks. A step below autonomous. Definitely not sentient. They used to call them NPCs.”
“NPCs?” Jain asked.
“Non-player characters,” she said. “Video game characters that had a set of responses programmed in for whatever actions you performed, or questions you might ask. And they’d repeat those responses verbatim every time you asked the same question.”
“Well, I’m still not making love to you with him present,” he said.
“Making love,” she said. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you describe it that way.”
He didn’t answer her, and instead sat down in front of the fire. Most of the flames hid the Mongol from view, which he preferred.
Sheila sat down beside Jain. “Medeia might have a point.”
He glanced at her, waiting for her to say more.
“I mean, about leaving,” she continued. “We’ve basically done everything we can for humanity. We’ve saved Earth, and destroyed the staging planet. Do we really want to involve ourselves in a hundred year war?”
