A.I. Destiny 5 Talisman of Tomorrow

by Timothy Ellis

  The Majors were laughing. Crocatoa looked annoyed.

  "It's not his real name," said Emerson, "which is unpronounceable to us. Hell, even the translators can't make anything pronounceable out of it. But it suits him."

  "Ever hear of a volcano called Krakatoa on old Earth?" asked Schafer.

  Anna shook her head. The others had no idea what had been asked.

  "You've heard the old joke about a bark being worse than his bite?"

  Snark laughed.

  "Old dog joke," he said.

  "Well it's an old human joke as well. Check out the Colonels teeth."

  Crocatoa obliged by opening his mouth in a huge grin. There were rows and rows of very sharp teeth.

  "You see?" said Emerson. "That's a bite. But when drilling troops, his bark is much, much worse than his bite."

  "But why Crocatoa?" asked Anna.

  "We searched the Hunter database for the loudest noise ever made."

  Everyone laughed.

  "And the explosion of the Krakatoa volcano," said Schafer, "which completely blew away its entire island, came up top of the list."

  "You see now?" asked Emerson. Most of them still looked lost. "He's a not-croc, with the sound level of the Krakatoa explosion. So Crocatoa!"

  Both Majors grinned at everyone. Crocatoa looked long suffering. For a moment, Snark wondered if his not-croc name also carried a similar story.

  Before anyone could say anything more, Crocatoa finished his considerable sized beer, and belched. Hands went to ears all around the room.

  "Welcome to the quest," said Snark, after hands returned to glasses.

  "Sorry about the media fracas," said Emerson. "If there's a next time, we'll secure your way in first. When you leave here, there's several of my men outside in full gear, they'll escort you wherever you go next."

  "Thank you Major," said Anna.

  Introductions over, the three officers left to monitor their troops.

  A bit calmer, if not soberer, the team decided to cut their losses, and return to the ship. If the Brotherhood was on the station, and it was most likely they were, the team were risking trouble. Mouse scouted ahead, as he was less noticeable, and reported the media posse had gone, and the coast was clear.

  The team made their way back to the ship, sad at the scotching of their rest and relaxation, and coming into the corridor with their airlock, saw a female hippo standing by the doors. She wore a business suit, and Snark recognised her from the media frenzy. She held up her hands in front of her, in a sign she wasn't going to hassle them. Two of the soldiers put themselves between her and the team.

  "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask questions," she said, immediately Snark's expression turned hostile. "Or at least, not if you don't want to answer them."

  Snark and Patters were growling, the soldiers looked at her as if waiting for a chance to use a weapon, and the hippo looked a little alarmed.

  "As I said, I'm here more to offer my services if you do want to make a statement. I'm an independent, so I don't work for any one newsroom or outfit, and you're much more likely to get an honest story with me."

  She could see the others weren't too impressed. She took out a card, and gave it to a soldier, who passed it to Anna.

  "If you want to, get in touch."

  She edged her way past the soldiers, Patters, and more soldiers, and disappeared down the corridor. The soldiers took up positions around the airlock.

  Back on Seasprite, the team considered their options.

  "Would it give us any advantage, making a statement?" asked Sissness.

  "No." Snark grumphed. "We don't want to give anything away."

  "They'll make things up, otherwise," suggested Anna.

  "It's too risky. Let them make things up."

  The others looked at each other, and had to agree. Anna looked at the card. Details could be scanned into a tablet, she surmised.

  The team went off to amuse themselves on the ship for the duration of their stay. Anna and Snark both pinged Warspite and Tranquil about events. Warspite assured her there would not be a repeat of the media circus.

  Anna was conflicted. She felt telling her story might help the sector realise what they were trying to do, and warn against the Brotherhood. However, she remembered media organisations might be Brotherhood owned, and more likely to be operating in their interests. You really couldn't trust anyone, she thought sadly. While she was tempted to take up the reporter's offer, she couldn't risk it.

  Forty Eight

  Seaonaid Sinclair attended her first meeting of the sector ten council, as part of the Hunter's Run delegation. As a trader, she was well aware of the diversity of sector ten, however, the Scots had been hidden away for some time, and were only now reaping the rewards of trade flowing from joining the Kingdom. To see the representation of the sector council, including beings from closer to the heart of the galaxy, was stunning in its complexity and splendour. While the smell did take getting used to, as she'd been warned, she was overwhelmed with excitement at the possibilities of being part of this wider sphere of influence.

  And this was only one sector.

  While not the Hunter's Run ambassador, being only the representative from the Scots World, she had a supporting role to the actual ambassador, now once again Duke Fred.

  Since coming to the massive station which was positioned at Hunter Prime, Seaonaid marvelled at the technology, size, and complexity of it. She found herself exposed to more human company of different kinds than she'd ever had. Her home had a relatively small population, and its capital was tiny compared to this city in space, which was seeing an inpouring of beings daily, as it rapidly became the hub of the sector. She was meeting people and beings from very different backgrounds, accents, and cultures, and was having to adapt her views and behaviour to adjust accordingly.

  Her looks stood her in good stead, as they had always done with the Scots, mostly with the men. Her long curly auburn-red hair, pale skin, slim and fit figure, and green eyes, combined to paint a picture of great beauty, by some human standards anyway. If not everyone's cup of tea, her looks were striking at least, and tended to stand her in good stead in making relationships, although there could be a bit of jealousy from women.

  However, with other species, who could be heard to murmur all humans looked alike to them, which went both ways, it didn't give her any advantages at all. What did, was her trader and negotiating experience, her good humour, intelligence, well-honed interpersonal skills, and being open-minded; giving her the ability to adapt to any situation, with any being, and in any context. Due to her trader experience, she was more ahead of the game than most humans, being well-prepared to build relationships with what the others saw as aliens, and she saw as fellow galactic citizens.

  She'd soon been welcomed by the Hunter family, as Mac and his family had a particular friendship with Jane and her family. Duke Fred, although a bit young for her, was very taken with her initially, but had soon been claimed by one of his entourage. Just as well, as she didn't need that kind of complication in her life.

  With Mac now making visits to Hunter Prime as Duke of the Scots World, she also liaised directly with him about Scots interests in the Circle of Dukes, as well as the sector council. She'd soon liaised with, and made friends amongst, the other species now represented by the Kingdom. However, becoming accustomed to living on a space station of this size was difficult, even with her experience of ship life. However, she was flexible, and was thriving in the myriad social circles she now had access to.

  At the sector council, they'd discussed the rise of Brotherhood activity in sectors nine and eight, and the increasing prevalence of the new drug 'rapture'. There were more and more instances of supply and addiction in sector ten societies, giving many species pause, and renewed support for intelligence sharing, as well as developing strategies to combat the Brotherhood, whether assisting other sectors, or protecting their own border security.

  One positive note had come out of
this, being the ability to now scan for the drug. The fleets which guarded the jump points into the sector were now interdicting drug runners, and military ships and police forces in space were also being equipped with the sensors to do the same.

  While not an end to the problem, it was now being contained, and it was only a matter of time before local production centres were discovered, and raided by local police forces. The Kingdom had also shared the sensor tech with the Cat Homeworld in sector eight, and the Mouse Homeworld in sector eleven.

  Seaonaid made notes to discuss with Mac later. The Scots World had already experienced Brotherhood infiltration first hand, and while they were vigilant now, the Scots couldn't assume their world wasn't free of Brotherhood influence. Preventing smuggling of this new drug by traders into the Hunter's Run systems, and theirs in particular, was a new concern.

  The Human Federation ambassador was quite vocal, but offered nothing concrete. He did have the tendency to love the sound of his own voice, Seaonaid thought, while being very non-committal on the behalf of a large section of sector space and population. His Japanese manor was in contrast to his antics in council, and Seaonaid sensed most of it was theatrics with a purpose.

  "…and we of the Human Federation, while new to this council, will do our utmost to assist in combatting this infamous, virulent, and perilous scourge," finished the ambassador. "I remind ambassadors it was we who provided much of the original supplies of the purple plant cure, and we stand ready to supply any cure made for this new addiction."

  There was desultory applause, as he hadn't committed the humans to anything concrete to the effort, while appearing to have done so. Until there was a cure, any offers were moot.

  Jane adjourned the session for a dinner break. Seaonaid was having dinner with the stick insect, Barf, who she'd got to know through being on Jane's staff, and who was often with the Hunter Family. Barf was a mine of information, not about Hunter's Run secrets, which he kept highly confidential, but about how to get on, get known, and practical tips for dealing with different species. They had become firm friends, and he'd been showing her the ropes of the council proceedings.

  One of the things she'd had to get used to was having an ear bud almost permanently in her ear, as her translator program on her pad almost never stopped working, and working hard. She was walking out of the session, and overheard a conversation between two bats. She wasn't trying to listen in, but after a few words, did actively pay attention without giving herself away as doing so.

  "…the brothers will be pleased, I hope," said one, looking around him.

  "No doubt if it goes according to plan, they will be," suggested the other.

  "Not long now,"

  "No, praise the gods. I've been having jitters with all this waiting."

  She lost track of them in the crowds, and thought about what she'd just heard. It could be quite innocent, with the brothers being anyone, including trading interests, but what if there was something more sinister? Perhaps she just had brothers on the brain?

  She hadn't known these two bats, who were likely to be assistants like herself, and not delegates. She knew the bat ambassador by sight, and these were not he.

  Seaonaid met with Barf, and they had a delightful conversation over dinner. She trusted him, so brought up what she'd overheard. Barf looked up with interest from his salad, and listened carefully.

  "It could either be quite simply a trade deal," Barf considered. "But it also could be interpreted as something to do with the Brotherhood, I agree. I'd like to report this to Jane, if you don't mind."

  Seaonaid was relieved, as she could leave it safely in Barf and Jane's hands. They finished their meal, and left in opposite directions.

  Seaonaid thought nothing more of the conversation, and sat through the next session, which discussed the offer of mediation services by a species in sector eight, after which she left to go home to her small apartment, about three times larger than the one back home, to get ready for the reception that night.

  The curse of the red-head, she thought, as she looked through her wardrobe. She chose the black cocktail dress, which was a solid standby, which she could dress up with her tartan sash. She'd limited colours to those which really suited her, but usually didn't have to worry overly much. She could be wearing a high-vis vest and a construction helmet, and she'd still have men falling over her.

  The high heels, or the more practical pumps? She loved the look of the high heels, but she might have to do a lot of standing, so she went with practical. She touched up her makeup, and pinning her sash, made her way to her apartment door, and the internal shuttle service.

  The reception was for the new not-dog ambassador, whose space was on the opposite side of the run from the mushrooms, and Leader Jane would be there, as well as a cast of thousands, she thought, all turning up for the free food and drink. It made for an excellent networking opportunity, and might even be good fun, if she could avoid the pompous, frivolous, and shallow, and find some intelligent beings to have conversations with. And there was always the free food and drink to fall back on, she thought with a smile.

  As she arrived, she saw Fred and his team, and made her way through the crowd to them. They were all in dress uniforms, but showing court insignia instead of military.

  "Nice to see you all," she said in the direction of the assembled team.

  All young, she'd found out the team were still formidable in skills, ability, and attitude. She was jealous of most other humans with their in head PCs, so they had no need of a pad for translations, and could turn their noses off. She had to carry her pad everywhere, and at parties, especially parties where she didn't have a pocket in her dress, or carry any sort of bag, it made it hard to shake hands, hold a drink, or a plate of food at the same time. She was scheming to find out how she could get a PC installed.

  Fred gave her a look up and down, much to the annoyance of Lyana, who gave Fred a poke, and he grinned at her.

  "Nothing compares to you, dear," he said easily, and she also smiled, given he was trying. Very trying.

  Oddly though, his tendency to stare at attractive women made him more human, given he was very good at what he did these days, despite his age and relative inexperience. Number one chair in the council at his age was unheard of, anywhere. If it wasn't for the few young man failure tendencies he had, one could almost think he was an android. She laughed to herself at the mere thought of it.

  They chatted for a while, until Seaonaid spotted several beings standing in a group, looking awkwardly around, and she made her way over to them. She knew they were fairly new to the station, and didn't know many here, so she made small talk, and then introduced them to some others she'd made friends with recently.

  She was just helping herself to a drink from a passing waiter, when she spotted one of the bats she'd seen leaving the council chamber, the one who'd said he'd been nervous waiting. He was wearing evening wear, but she recognised him anyway. He looked agitated, and was on his own, sipping a drink, but not mingling at all.

  Fred joined her.

  "See the bat over there," she indicated with her eyes, so they wouldn't look directly at him. "I reported a conversation I overheard, which was rather suspicious, and he's looking even shiftier now."

  "Hmmm," mused Fred. "You're right. Excuse me."

  Fred merged into the crowd, and Seaonaid saw him talking to a human she didn't know, who was wearing the Hunter uniform with senior Admiral's insignia, before moving over to Queen Jane, who'd arrived with an entourage. She saw them converse, and Fred disappeared into the crowd again.

  She was starting to become worried, and joined a group of diplomatic staff, half listening to the conversation, but looking around. She spotted the second bat, and making her apologies to the being next to her, started over towards him.

  She hadn't moved far, when several humans descended on the first bat, and escorted him from the venue. He was looking around him agitatedly, and arguing with the obviously undercover
security. Seaonaid could see the second bat observe this, and pull a weapon from his pocket. She tried to signal Fred, his team, or the security agents, but with no success. Just as she reached him, she feigned tripping, and threw her drink into his face, letting go of the glass, and stunning him momentarily.

  "Oh, do excuse me! Terribly sorry!" she said as she swung her pad as hard as she could at his head, and dropping it, caught his arm in the grip of both her hands, trying to keep the weapon from coming up and firing. It went off, into the floor, and the surrounding guests scattered, screaming and yelling with alarm.

  Several security agents leaped over to her, and took control of the bat, taking his weapon, and ushering him out of the room as quickly as they could. She picked up her pad, which looked the worse for wear, and was no longer working. The noise level in her ear was silent.

  Fred appeared by Seaonaid's side as a voice came from the ceiling, over the hubbub of the guests, reassuring them a security incident had occurred, but was now under control. Seaonaid wasn't so sure.

  "Quick work," said Fred, calmly taking her arm with one hand, and ushering her towards a group of security. "But you put yourself at risk."

  "Not to mention breaking my pad," she said mournfully. "Lucky I don't have a PC, and so had a pad to use," she added, trying to sow seeds.

  Fred laughed, but was quite serious about the risk she'd taken. He pinged Barf's pad to arrange for a new pad for her, and asked him to add her to the list for PC implantation. Barf was on that list, but still waiting for stick insect physiology to be fully mapped.

  "I didn't want him to shoot," Seaonaid explained. "I was the closest, but I think those two were planning something else."

  "Agreed. Someone is interrogating them as we speak."

  "What about…" Seaonaid indicated the guests and the party, which had reduced to huddles of concerned and worried beings. Several guests were already leaving.

  Fred and Seaonaid made their way to Jane and her party.

  "For the safety of the guests, I think we need to reschedule," Barf was saying as they came up to them.