The Golden Circuit (The Smith Chronicles)

by John K. Irvine

  And then - he saw it.

  In fact, Jameson heard it before he saw it. Never a good thing.

  There was a massive rumble like an enormous meteor hitting the moon’s surface. It shook the Argon, so reverberant was the noise.

  Jameson could only stare open-mouthed at what he saw next.

  The Krashaon, the Code’s premiere starship, was coming out of the side of Baal-500. Straight out of the planet itself! It was like some huge, terrible animal burrowing up and out of the ground, then taking flight. It was colossal. It was awesome - in the true sense of the word.

  Yet, this was a piece of engineering as alluring as it was terrifying. It moved with all the slow beauty of the biggest Earth-based whale. A streamlined, lumbering grace that took the breath away from each and every member of the crew. It also had the power to unite them in their goal. How could they possibly destroy something so… magnificent?

  It looked very much like a Earth-based Japanese atakabune battleship. A bulky craft used more for transporting troops than for battle purposes, but a perfect model for the Codes transportable zoo.

  The dragonfly statue, that was formerly the centrepiece of Althaan city square, was now the figurehead on the prow of the spacecraft. And as the craft climbed slowly from the surface, the rest of the city was left perfectly intact, not a single bit of damage had been done to the other buildings.

  “Well, I’ll be a fujiwug’s uncle,” said Gadget.

  Jameson had never seen anything like it in all his years of service. “The Codes. They were there, all the time! They’d not left Baal-500 at all! They’d not deserted their animals!”

  “Prepare to fire, Captain!”

  Jameson turned around.

  It was Soupy, with Shannon standing menacingly beside him.

  “What? Don’t you have eyes, you crazy android? Have you seen the size of that thing? There is no way we can fire on that! We would have to blow up this entire ship in order to generate enough fire power to take it out.”

  “Then, Captain, that is what you will have to do.”

  Jameson looked at Soupy in stunned silence. “This was the plan all along, wasn’t it? This was Sempre’s plan from the very beginning!”

  “Yes, Captain. You are correct. Well, it was one of the plans, certainly. You see, we are androids, we are expendable. You, and your crew, you are all expendable, too.” Sempre had told the androids to protect Mikita at all costs, but Soupy was ignoring this - bad android, thinking for himself. “Now, blow up the Argon or your families will d - d - d - …”

  Suddenly, Soupy stopped.

  He stopped talking and moving. He was frozen to the spot. Shannon, too.

  Their eyes started to whizz around like lemons and cherries in a fruit machine and the 0s and 1s spun about behind them.

  Tamashito’s update had gone through!

  Mikita arrived on the bridge. She saw Jameson sitting in the Captain’s chair, looking at the two androids in a state of wary confusion.

  “Captain Jameson? Um, the androids. I think I’ve managed to, well, turn them off, basically,” Mikita said, as she walked over to Soupy and pushed him firmly on the shoulder. He fell to the ground with a clatter. Little sparks shot out of his ears and fizzled into nothingness on the deck.

  McGilvary looked over at Shannon and realised that she, too, had stopped working. The Lieutenant gave her a shove.

  The android yawed on her seat, then fell forward onto the ship’s console, severing the head from the body. The protruding wires buzzed and crackled, producing a wisp of smoke that vanished into the air-vents above.

  McGilvary turned to Mikita in amazement. “But how did you -?”

  “Oh, just something I picked up from the Mu-U.”

  Zanthu smiled at Mikita. She turned to Jameson. “Captain? In Tamashito’s message, he asked us for a favour, sir?”

  “Yes, Miss Smith. What is it?”

  “Tamashito’s family are being held on Reis-91. He asked if we could bring them home, Captain?”

  “I think we can manage that,” said Jameson, with a smile.

  “And he has supplied us with an activator, Captain, to pacify the mutants,” added Mikita.

  “Very good, Miss Smith.” He noticed she was smiling at him. She didn't seem to be angry anymore. Something… No, someone has changed her, he thought, looking at Zanthu. “McGilvary, get me a link to the Codes ship, please,” ordered Jameson. “We need to inform them of our situation.”

  But that was not going to be necessary.

  The image of Qaanhu X suddenly appeared on the main screen - The Codes had broken into the Argon transmitter system.

  “Hello, Captain Jameson. You have made it to the deadline in time. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Qaanhu X. But it has not been without some difficulty. Our orders from TAPCON were not entirely… honourable. We fear we have done you an injustice.”

  “On the contrary, Captain. You have returned my son and his Linked animal. However, I am sad to report that all the other animals on Baal-500 are deceased. Spoolu, the muidog, is the last remaining creature. For this, I thank you. I now wish to see Zanthu, if I may?”

  “Certainly. He is here. Zanthu, please.” Jameson gestured for him to enter the viewing area.

  Qaanhu X’s face remained expressionless. “Ah, Zanthu. You look well, but you are in severe trouble, my son.”

  “I know, father.”

  “You disobeyed my orders to return to the ship in order to stay with Spoolu. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

  “No, father. I am guilty, as you say. I have shamed you and, for that, I am sorry.”

  Qaanhu X nodded in acceptance. “And Spoolu? How is she?”

  “Not well, father. But Dr. Gössner here has done everything she can.”

  “That is good. The crew of the Argon seem to be a different breed to most TAPCON soldiers.”

  “They are father, they are very different, I can see that now.” Zanthu was looking straight at Mikita (she smiled, and blushed, of course).

  “Do you wish to come aboard my son, or will you fly onward with the Argon?”

  “I will stay here, father. I will meet you in Muhaze. I look forward to being reunited with my people.”

  “You will have to answer to the Code Elders upon your return, Zanthu. They will deal with you harshly. I can do nothing for you.”

  “I understand, father. I will take my punishment, accordingly. I am not afraid of my retribution.”

  “That is good,” replied Qaanhu X, then turned to Jameson. “Captain, I thank you for taking care of my son. You are clearly a man who has his own way of doing things. That is rare to find in a leader. It is a brave thing to do, taking risks and bringing a positive result. You must be known as quite a maverick on Tapi-36?”

  “Well, I don’t know about that,” said Jameson, secretly delighted.

  “Ah, and modest too, I see. Your job is done here. We will take care of TAPCON. But you must shut down all transmissions - they will think the ship is lost.”

  “Yes, Qaanhu X. However, we must go to Reis-91 to rescue some important people first. We will follow you as soon as we can. We estimate we will be at Muhaze at 12:15pm tomorrow. Until then.”

  “I look forward to meeting you, and your crew, Captain.”

  “Thank you, Qaanhu X, and we look forward to meeting you, and your people. If they are anything like your son, it will be an honour.”

  “You are quite right, Captain.” Qaanhu X smiled and his face lit up like it was surrounded by golden dragonflies. “He is a credit to his race. Goodbye, Captain Jameson.”

  “Goodbye, Qaanhu X.”

  The screen flickered, and went blank.

  Jameson gave his orders. “McGilvary, all transmissions from the ship are, henceforth, discontinued. Set the course for Reis-91. Crew, prepare battle stations.”

  Chapter 32

  09:01 - Tuesday, July 31, 2187 (TAPCON Towers, Muhaze, Tapi-36)

  “I wanted to b
e tall, like Daddy!” sobbed Sempre, having one of his ‘moments’ and rocking backwards and forwards in his chair.

  He was talking to his built-up shoes that he’d taken off and put on his desk.

  “Mother was so sh-sh-sh-sh-” - he could hardly bring himself to say the word - “short! She was so small! Oh, Mother! Ohhhh, how I hate you! Had it not been for you, I would’ve been a giant! Well… not a giant, BUT AT LEAST 5’3”! Oh, shoes, I would’ve been so happy then! So happy! I know am cruel to her… but she deserves it! The tiny, little witch!!”

  Sempre’s vox-com buzzed.

  “Mr. Sempre,” said Flugg. “It’s Dr. Tamashito. Shall I put him through, sir?”

  “Oh, yes, Flugg. Thank you. Yes. Please do,” said Sempre, quickly hurriedly away his tears and knocking his shoes off the desk.

  Tamashito came on screen.

  “Mr. Sempre, I have made a breakthrough, it is finally ready. I am now able to revive your mother. The technology is available to you, immediately, should you wish to use it.”

  “Yes, yes, Doctor! But we must hurry. Father needs her to wake up. He wants rid of Jon-7!” Sempre blurted, his emotions beginning to consume him again.

  “I will be there at 11:45am, Mr. Sempre,” replied Tamashito.

  Sempre quickly went into the Cryonics System to tell Sashan the news.

  In a few minutes he was standing there, in front of the dome.

  “So-David-nnmmmnn-Tamashito-nnmmmnn-is-coming-nnmmmnn-That-is-wonderful!”

  “He will be here at 11:45, father.”

  Sashan blinked his nod of acceptance.

  “David-nnmmmnn-I-know-I-have-not-got-long-left-nnmmmnn-Remember-that-I-need-you-nnmmmnn-to-complete-my-work-nnmmmnn-Tell-me-again-that-you-will-see-it-through-nnmmmnn-to-its-end?”

  “Yes, of course, father, I will.”

  “The-NITs-are-the-main-weapons-nnmmmnn-But-the-manual-contains-the-reasoning-nnmmmnn-the-philosophy-nnmmmnn-my-philosophy-David-nnmmmnn-You-must-follow-the-manual-exactly!”

  Sempre had read the manual many, many times. It bored him. Philosophy? What rot! When will I get to do things my way?! He let his guard down and made an insolent nod and shrug. Sashan saw it immediately.

  “You-must-do-as-I-nnmmmnn-say!” he scolded, from his dome.

  “I AM!” shouted Sempre.

  Sashan’s eyes emoted a flash of fire that reminded Sempre of his early youth. He cowered slightly, as he spoke. “I’m sorry father. I didn’t mean to shout.”

  His attempt to mollify Sashan was unsuccessful.

  “Leave-me-now-boy-nnmmmnn-I-need-nnmmmnn-peace”, Sashan said, irritably, then closed his eyes.

  The dome dimmed, and Sempre sullenly left the systems room.

  Chapter 33

  09:10 - Tuesday, July 31, 2187 (Starship Argon, nr. Reis-91)

  There was a light knock at the cabin door. Mikita got up to answer it and found Zanthu standing there, looking sheepish.

  “I think I owe you an apology, Miss Smith,” he began.

  Mikita let out a small sigh of relief, and said: “For what, Zanthu? And please, call me Mikita.”

  “Yes, as you wish… Mikita.”

  They looked at each other. She felt that same feeling she’d experienced in Florina’s car, when she saw Zanthu’s face for the first time on The Zip.

  “Oh, come in, please,” she said, attempting to cover the moment.

  “Thank you.” Relied Zanthu as entered the room and turned to face Mikita. “Yes, an apology. For the way I talked to you. I was cruel.”

  “No, no.” she replied. “How were you to know that I wasn’t really working for TAPCON? I mean, I was dressed like an agent, acted like an agent. There was no way you could possibly tell.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right. But I am usually so good with judging a person’s soul. Usually... But, with you, Mikita, it was hard. It was clouded somehow. I couldn’t see through my own anger. I am sorry.”

  “Don’t be, please? For me?”

  Zanthu smiled.

  Mikita looked at him. He was not handsome, not in the typical Earth-based way, at least. He was just so… unusual looking. The hair, his skin, the clothes. And such strong features - the high cheekbones, the violet eyes, animal-like in their sharpness. It was all she could do to stop from staring. Zanthu could sense this and took Mikita’s hand.

  “I look strange to you, yes?”

  “Yes, um… No. I mean, you look, um… fine… great.”

  “Thank you, Mikita. And you look great too.” said Zanthu, with a laugh. “Really great, actually,” he said, seriously this time.

  Mikita blushed, again. She’d blushed more in the last 24 hours than in her entire life! She knew the reason why, but being aware of it all the time, being so self-conscious, only made things worse.

  Zanthu continued. “Mikita, you have the conducting gift, do you not? You can channel the Golden Circuit, yes?”

  “Yes, Zanthu. I can. But, the control part - I’ve no skill. At least, not yet.”

  “My brother, Leylaan, he was the same. Until they came. The Guardians. But, by this time, he was 19 of your Earth-based years. He started late. Almost too late, they said. When we were younger he nearly killed me several times, with his lack of control. And they have come for you? The Oort Cloud people? They have come, recently?”

  “Yes, they came two days ago.”

  “And what did you tell them, when they asked you to go to their planet?”

  “I said I could not go. That I had no choice but to stay in Muhaze.”

  “But why? You must protect yourself from its power. It is so dangerous without the lessons.”

  “My reasons… are difficult to explain. There is a lot about me that you don’t know, Zanthu. Things I’ve done. Things I regret. You see, I’m in trouble, with TAPCON. That’s why I’m here, to pay back for my sins.”

  “Your sins?”

  “Yes. The Golden Circuit, it came out wrong and I ended up… well -”

  “Hurting someone? From TAPCON?”

  “Yes.”

  “The Circuit is to blame, Mikita. Not you. That much I know from Leylaan. He told me: ‘The Circuit is indifferent, like the universe itself’. That is why you must go to Plaateux-5. Do not hesitate, Mikita. If something ever happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do.”

  Mikita saw that Zanthu was upset at this. It touched her deeply. “But Zanthu, we hardly know each other, why would you feel like that?”

  Zanthu was a Code. He wore his heart on his sleeve. He was not good at hiding his emotions. “I know my feelings well, Mikita. When I first saw you, I knew that our futures were connected, somehow. Our destinies, they are as one.” He paused and laughed at his words. “I’m sorry, that may not make any sense to you.”

  “No, Zanthu. It makes perfect sense. Perfect, perfect sense.”

  Mikita stepped closer to Zanthu, and he, to her. Mikita’s legs shook as Zanthu bent forward, leaning in to her, closer to Mikita’s mouth. She trembled as their lips touched.

  For a few brief seconds Mikita knew a happiness that she'd never experienced before. For a moment, all her troubles vanished. And now, standing there, she felt a soft, golden glow within her heart and began to feel healed herself.

  “I must go,” said Zanthu. “I must get back to Spoolu.”

  “Yes, Zanthu, of course.”

  “And you must think of what I said, Mikita. The Oort Cloud people… Plaateux-5… our destiny.”

  “I will, Zanthu. I will, and thank you for the… information.” Oh, Mikita.

  Zanthu smiled as he left the cabin. “Goodbye, Mikita,” he said softly.

  “Goodbye, Zanthu,” she replied.

  For some reason, it felt like a real ‘goodbye’.

  Chapter 34

  09:13 - Tuesday, July 31, 2187 (Starship Argon, nr. Reis-91)

  “Satyagraha!!” boomed Jameson’s voice over the basecamp. “Satyagraha!!”

  McGilvary had flipped the switch for the Argon’s outside spe
aker system and Jameson was going live to Reis-91.

  The assumption that the Froome were not there appeared to be correct. A few guard-mutants came running out from the five-sided temporary build wondering what the noise was, but that was all they got for a welcoming committee. There was no Jon-7 or raucous Froome types, anywhere. And when the mutants heard the activator word, they all started smiling and shouting: “Welcome! Welcome, everyone! We help you! We help!”

  “McGilvary, you’re in charge. Tell Ω, Hellius and Crim to go and get the Pan working. Try and bring as many hostages back as possible. But don’t overload the Pan. It’s not flown for a few years.”

  “Yes, sir. But Captain Jameson… Me? In charge?”

  “Yes, McGilvary. You’re ready. Go. And, for Herra’s sake, take Lead-Out here with you. If I have to watch her moping about wishing it was her that was putting on the body armour for a second longer, I’ll combust.”

  Lead-Out beamed from ear to ear: “Thank you, sir!”

  “Don’t thank me, Corporal. Not yet. There may still be some hostile humans out there. We best to be on the safe side. Besides, I think we’ll need your people-skills with the Tamashito family, and there will be others... OK. Good luck. See you in Muhaze Parc, kids. Meet you by the electro-swings,” said Jameson, with a wink.

  Within the hour, McGilvary and her small unit were on the surface of Reis-91. It was a bleak landscape; the surface being a dusty grey colour and mostly flat, with no real distinguishing features. The deadly atmosphere certainly didn’t help the feeling of hopelessness that permeated the moon, either. Knowing that the slightest tear in your suit would mean instant death, was not a comforting concept.

  The mutants met them at the fence surrounding the base and opened the gates.

  They drove straight in.

  Hellius, Crim and Ω went on with one of the guards in a small lunar vehicle to find the Pan, while McGilvary and Lead-Out made their way to the dwellings entrance.