Use of Emergency: The Si-Carb Chronicles Book 1

by Kate Kyle

  Fair enough, in the PanAm Confederation the legislation strictly forbade creating anything that would be "in God's image and/or after His likeness". Jax wasn't sure what it was like in Europe, but she suspected that the Amended Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the revised definition of 'a person' and the insistence on 'all humans being born', and definitely with the addition of a clause that 'where any human life is at stake, only other born humans were allowed to be decision-makers'. That should have put the brakes on any GAI work. And all of that legislation had been introduced in fear of extinction, or of being forced into 'life on reservations', marginalized by machines, no matter how sophisticated. Thank the Pandemic Years… If the so called 'leaks' were correct, maybe only the Chinese were working on GAI. But this might have been government propaganda.

  Her comms pinged again, this time with a request to access the ship, by Rutger again.

  A moment later, the tall, slim figure appeared in the entrance.

  "Hey, buddy, missed you badly," Jax said, getting up from the chair and walking towards him.

  Actually, she wasn't half as angry as she thought she'd be to see him.

  "Sarcasm?" he asked, his eyes scanning her face carefully.

  "Not necessarily. But it heavily depends on your intentions to stay and wait for the Si-Carb team to escort you where you need to be."

  He gave a short laugh.

  "I've told you I've got more important jobs to do."

  "And I've told you, I need my whole cargo to be accounted for."

  "Because?"

  "Because otherwise I won't be paid."

  He raised his hands as if to apologize.

  "Okay, okay, no need to panic. I'll get to the clinic."

  "When?"

  "When the time is right."

  "Which, according to my clock, is now. Or rather some two hours ago!"

  Rutger rubbed his hands together.

  "Need to sit down. Got some stuff to think through and share with you," he said, his voice suddenly weary.

  "Really? Because I've got things to share with you, too," she fired back.

  "Sounds like we need to talk," he said. Calm, no sarcasm detected. "Do you mind?" he pointed at the chair he'd used for most of the journey.

  She shrugged. She didn't really care than much for this conversation. By now, she highly doubted that Rutger had anything to do with the disappearance of her device.

  "You first," he said making himself comfortable in the chair.

  She told him about her missing device and the suspicions that Lulu had taken it with her.

  "I see," he said when she finished.

  That was not what she'd expected.

  "Is that all you have to say?"

  "What did you expect me to say?"

  "I don't know… argue with me. Ask how did she manage to steal it since she was tied in the harness all the time? Or maybe come up with a revelation that it's you who stole my livelihood…"

  He stared at her for a while.

  "Is really all you've got on the device?" he asked.

  "Yeah. Everything that's not in my head is there," she explained.

  Even some things that should be in my head, but are not, are there….

  "That's bad. Why did she steal it?"

  Now, it was Jax's time to laugh, which she did. If only to release the tension.

  "You tell me," she said.

  He joined his hands at the fingertips.

  "Actually, maybe I can," he said. "Sit down, it may be a bit of a shock."

  This time a shadow of a smile formed on his lips, but she followed his advice anyway.

  "She's not who she wants us to think she is," he carried on as she took her seat. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was here as an escapee, seeking asylum or something like it. Or at least, on a secret mission."

  "With the Republic's knowledge, you mean?"

  "And acceptance, or maybe even by their invitation." He told her about the professor's disappearance from the research station and the suspected identity change.

  Jax's head hummed. She lowered the zipper at the top of the skinsuit she wore under her jacket.

  "So, the rumors about New China working on GAI are correct?' she asked.

  "That's what I'm wondering. Although she had been retrained and redeployed, which might have been in response to one of those diplomatic agreements between New China and the rest of the civilized world."

  "Or this is all nonsense and a cover story."

  "I see you're not one for trusting governments or politicians," Rutger said, glancing at her. One of the corners of his mouth curved upwards.

  "I'm not one for trusting anyone," Jax replied. "Are you sure it was her, in that photo?"

  "I'd say, I have enough confidence to at least want to investigate. But I'm sure it'd fool a machine."

  "Yeah, no surprises, right? If she really is who you think she is, she'd know how to fool an intelligent machine."

  "Precisely my thoughts."

  Jax pursed her lips. A very smart AI specialist capable of fooling machines in to believing what she wanted them to believe had just disappeared with all Jax owned in the universe. It didn't bode well for any plans to recover her property.

  "You seem deep in thought," he said, his voice softer.

  "Because I am," she replied simply.

  "Thinking of your tablet?"

  "Sure."

  "What exactly do you keep on it?"

  Jax tensed her shoulders. Was there any harm in sharing?

  "Money," she said, careful not to let her voice hang in the air too much. Sure, she had much more than that, but at this moment, money was her main worry.

  "Money is stored in banks."

  "Not all."

  And thank goodness Rebels' Republic accepted money that wasn't kept in banks.

  "If you want to have a bit of fun outside while awaiting your payment, I can lend you a few credits. A lot of stuff is free here."

  "Thanks, but no thanks," she tried to keep her voice neutral, but his comment 'a bit of fun' hurt.

  His eyes pierced her.

  "Pride?" he asked.

  If only…

  "No, a few credits won't do it," she said, surprised by her openness and honesty. Why was she doing it?

  "How much?" he asked.

  "More than you'll be willing to consider."

  "Try me."

  She took a deep breath. Her chest tightened. She'd gone too far.

  Perhaps he was willing to help, but not trusting people had saved her skin far too many times to risk breaking her policy now.

  "No, it's personal."

  "So, wait until you're paid."

  "Yeah. I'll be paid as soon as the cargo is signed as received. So, get your skinny back end into the office."

  "Well, you still need to wait for the Cricket Lady to reappear."

  So, they were back in stalemate.

  She exhaled loudly.

  "What are you suggesting?" she asked.

  Rutger sat up, his elbows on the arm supports, his hands joined at the fingertips.

  "If you don't want me to lend you money, how about a deal?"

  She shifted in her seat. The conversation was making her uncomfortable. Strangely enough, mainly because she felt so desperate, she feared breaking her own rules.

  "What type of deal?"

  "A cooperation of sorts," he said. "I have a feeling that we may be both better off if we stick together."

  "I don't," she replied automatically, and bit her lip.

  He cocked an eyebrow.

  "Really?"

  Her gut clenched. If she hadn't been so desperate…

  But maybe, just maybe, there was a grain of truth in what he said? Sticking together? That'd be a way to reassure he'd be accounted for. And maybe they could find the frigging Cricket Lady.

  Also, she appreciated his sense of humor.

  "Okay," she said reluctantly. "What do you want from me?"

  "Don't know yet. Just a h
unch I might need you soon," he said and paused. "Oh, wait… You obviously have a gun. I saw you very confidently use a stunner. That's not a proper gun but, it shows you've got the skills."

  Ah, so that's what he was after.

  "Violence is prohibited in Rebels' Republic," she replied calmly.

  "But not in self-defense."

  She leant back, placed her elbows on the arm supports of her chair because… why not?

  "Are you planning on getting into trouble?"

  "A real man is prepared for everything," he said and winked.

  She stared at him. Now, properly confused. What the heck was that about?

  "I'm sorry?" she asked. "I think I might have lost connection for a while."

  "So have I," he replied and slammed his hands on his thighs. "I realize you have a good reason for not telling me why you need more money that I might care to lend you, and actually how much this might be. But I'm wise enough to know people have various issues and various levels of trust. I tend to be honest and trust people. Sometimes I choose to keep my cards closer to my chest, but only until I verify my facts and double check my figures. Or the other way round," he carried on. "You obviously have a secret, Captain, and I respect that. I, too, have a secret."

  "Yes, yes, your secret Si-Carb Mission," Jax cut in.

  Irritation stirred in her head.

  "Indeed. I need to go to the clinic, and I may need your help and your skill. I might not use them, but I need to know you'll cover me if required."

  "And that's your deal?"

  "Yes. I'll lend you all the money you need in return for your potential help. I wanted to stress that this would be a loan, so the help is sort of a cost of money being loaned."

  That made sense and sounded fair. And it looked like a deal, not some sort of vague agreement on collaboration which might or might not get her into an uncomfortable situation where she'd have to choose between her own interests and those of other people.

  "So, a sort of interest, like done by banks?"

  "Exactly. I thought you might prefer it that way."

  "I do. And you won't ask me what the money's for?" she asked, watching him carefully.

  "No. Unless you want to tell me."

  She jumped to her feet.

  "Deal," she said, stretching out her arm.

  He stood up and shook her hand.

  "Deal and thanks. So, can we go?"

  "Go where?"

  "To the Si-Carb clinic. I have an appointment and need you to be there, just in case."

  The whole thing was crazy, but she followed him through the docking bay to the train station and by the sleek, transparent train to the center of the city. There, they ended up at the place she had looked up so many times, she could see every element of its facade with her eyes closed.

  Si-Carb's entrance shone in the artificial light from the moment they emerged from the monorail's station. It must have been all the glass glimmering from behind a row of marble columns. A line of steps, also with a distinct marble look, completed the stylized old-fashioned appearance. The materials might have been, of course, not as precious as they appeared, but the building was certainly impressive.

  "Richey-rich-rich," Jax grumbled. "What a show-off."

  "Opulence," Rutger replied.

  Jax snorted.

  "Why do you always have to fancy words where a simpler one would do?" she said. "Are you still trying to see if I'm smart enough?"

  Rutger glanced at her. His expression showed genuine surprised.

  "Sorry, that was definitely not the intention. This is how my brain functions. I do try to control the tendency, but-"

  "It doesn't always work," she finished the sentence for him.

  "Unfortunately. But my point was that I agree with your sentiment. This 'let's pretend we've been here since records began' style is quite… quite something. I bet it's only a facade, and the building itself is a long network of containers, fused together. Honestly, they should have done away with all that splendor."

  "Yeah," Jax said and smiled. "I totally agree with your sentiment."

  He chuckled.

  She nodded and shielding her eyes from the sudden increase in the brightness of the light, strode towards the certainly-fake-marble steps.

  She felt her elbow being pulled from behind and froze on the spot.

  "Hey," Rutger said, right into her ear. "Over there."

  He pushed her to the left. She stopped to look. He rushed forward, heading towards a group of sculptures on the side of the building.

  Or were they real trees and bushes?

  Rutger disappeared behind a bush.

  Jax followed him but stopped by the row of potted bushes to pinch a leaf. She crushed it and brought it to her nose. It smelled of freshly mowed grass and something else... Lemon? Mint? Hard to tell, particularly if your reference system included mostly artificial flavors. It felt like a real one, though. So much money spent on building this station for such a small group of people. The local government must have valued their citizens highly. The best of the best for the best brains in the Solar System.

  "What are you doing here?" an unfamiliar, sharp female voice cut through Jax's musing and checking of Segedunum's flora. She jerked and stepped through the gap in the bushes and trees into a sheltered area, towards where the voice was coming from.

  A tall woman stood in a corner of the enclosure. She wore a pair of blue jeans and a blue t-shirt with a silvery Si-Carb logo over her left breast. A pot containing a rose bush separated the woman from Rutger, who hunched with his hands in his trouser pockets just a few steps away from Jax.

  Tension hung in the air. The encounter didn't look coincidental, but it didn't seem friendly either.

  "Information," he replied in answer to her gruff question.

  "What about?" she asked. Her long, regular face seemed weary and tense.

  "Two things," Rutger said, pulling something from his backpack. "This strange image." He held his tablet up for her to see the screen. "And the rumor about the problems with the new types of implants."

  The woman's face paled.

  "I can't tell you," she said nervously. "Sorry."

  "Which part of my query you can't tell me about. The girl with the balloon and the artifact to be released or the implants?"

  The woman raised her hands

  "Neither. Sorry, Rutger. But if this why you're here, you've bitten off more than you can chew. Get away while you still can. Is she with you?" the woman asked, turning her gaze onto Jax.

  "Yes," Rutger replied, glancing at Jax over his shoulder.

  "No," Jax called out.

  The woman's eyed her from top to toe.

  "Who are you, by the way?" she asked.

  "None of-"

  "A friend," Rutger cut in. "Listen, Nicky. Just give me something, please. It's important."

  "For your career, right?" The woman shifted her gaze back to Rutger, and her voice took on a sharper note again.

  "No. For a lot of people down on Earth and elsewhere."

  "Oh, in that case, I have a piece of advice for you," she said. "Stop sticking your nose into things that are bigger than anything you've ever seen."

  After a moment of tense silence, Rutger slipped the device into his pocket.

  "So, there's definitely something going on," he said. "A virus or something and whatever's wrong with the implants?"

  The woman, Nicky, waved her hands.

  "Just go now," she said.

  "You owe me a favor," Rutger said.

  "Honestly, now?" the woman said, her face tensing. "You want to blackmail me now? Sorry. But as much as I'm grateful to you for all you have and haven't done for me in the past, I can't." She joined her hands as if praying. "Because I'll be risking my life and my career. But to show you my good will, is there anything else I can do for you or your… friend?" Nicky's eyes, now big and glistening with tears turned to Jax again.

  "No," Jax said.

  "Yes," Rutger said at the sam
e time. He glanced over his shoulder at Jax again. "Jax, you needed money, didn't you?"

  Jax blinked.

  Oh, crap… He's using the woman…

  "Yes?" Nicky's voice brimmed with urgency and relief. "Name your price," she said, looking at Jax.

  "I don't want your money," Jax replied.

  "You don't want but you need," Rutger corrected her. "Someone has stolen all your money, remember?"

  The woman stared at Jax for a moment.

  "That's okay, Rutger's friend. Money, I can give away, but not the info he's after. If me helping you is of any use, I'll happily do it. You don't need to pay me back either."

  "But I will," Jax blurted out. "I need just a little time and-"

  "How much?"

  "Fifteen thousand credits"

  "That's all?"

  No, it wasn't… that was just the cost of the procedure and the first year of storage. But Jax's would earn more money and pay later.

  "That'll do. But I need it today. Before 2 pm local time."

  "You don't leave me a lot of time," Nicky said. "But that's doable. Give me your coordinates."

  "I can't. I don't have any."

  Or rather, I may not want to give you any…

  The woman's face remained calm, and her voice businesslike.

  "What about some sort of storage device, like an e-wallet?" Nicky asked.

  "Stolen."

  A minimal twitch of her neglected eyebrows.

  "Do you want good, old-fashioned cash?" Nicky asked. "We don't deal with this here in large quantities, it might be a problem…"

  Jax pushed aside the reluctance tightening her throat. She was desperate and this offered a way to solve the problem. She'd pay the money back, regardless of what the woman was saying.

  "No. Actually, there is a way you can give me the money," Jax said.

  "Go on."

  "You work here, in the clinic, right?" Jax checked.

  The woman nodded.

  "I'm booked to see Dr. Carla Mao. Could you pay the fee for the visit?"

  Another twitch of the eyebrows and a glint in Nicky's blue-gray eyes. No doubt, the woman knew Dr. Mao was an OBS-GYN.

  Just don't say it out loud…

  "Sure I can," Nicky said. "That sounds like an expensive visit," she added and glanced at Rutger again, her head cocked. "Are you having an… intervention?"

  "Me?" Jax asked, sharply. Her cheeks burned, despite all her will for it not to happen. "Yes. But he's got nothing to do with it," she added, certain what the woman meant. "My name is Jackie McCarthy."