Veiled Designs: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Uprise Saga Book 3)

by Amy DuBoff

  Ava chose her words carefully. “I’ve had some recent upgrades,” she replied to Sven. The statement served her recent procedure in the Pod Doc, so it seemed like a safe bet.

  “Those can take getting used to.”

  “These are a doozy, for sure.” Ava glanced at the galley. “I need some food.”

  “We just stocked up on everything, so you have your pick,” Sven told her.

  “Hmm.” Ava wandered over to the cabinets and began perusing the selection. After checking in a couple places, she came across a packet of instant macaroni and cheese. She snatched it up. “Comfort food it is.”

  Sven eyed her from the table. “I take it the upgrades haven’t been a smooth transition?”

  >>He knows,<< Ruby interjected.

  He might just be making conversation. Ava began preparing the food packet with some hot water. “I’ve never had an AI before. It—”

  “Ava, we’ve known each other for years. This ship isn’t very big. We heard your team talking.”

  Okay, so he does know. Ava set the half-prepared macaroni on the countertop and turned around to face the systems engineer. “Yes, my modifications are a little more extensive than just a new AI.”

  “Is it really the nanocytes from the NTech lab?” Sven’s brown eyes were wide with wonder.

  “I can’t get into the details, but suffice it to say there isn’t anyone else quite like me.”

  He shook his head. “It’s crazy to think about.”

  “You’re tellin’ me.” With a sigh, Ava grabbed her bowl of cheesy pasta off the counter. It had finished hydrating and looked indistinguishable from the fresh version her mom had made her as a kid back home.

  Gotta love modern science.

  “What else was NTech researching, you think?” Sven mused.

  Ava sat down across from him. “I’d rather not know.”

  He placed his elbows on the tabletop and leaned forward. “Not even a little bit curious?”

  “They had a handful of tech that was more advanced than it should be, given their overall capabilities. Questions about how they gained access to those developments lead down wormholes I’d rather not travel.” Ava took a forkful of her meal and blew on it.

  >>Denial doesn’t accomplish anything.<<

  I have enough problems to worry about right now without wondering what else these aliens in Gidyon may have been up to beyond genetics research.

  >>We’ll have to face that reality in a matter of hours,<< Ruby pointed out. >>I don’t think they’ll say, ‘Oh, never mind’ if we come across some of their technology that we don’t like.<<

  Ha.

  Ruby tsked. >>I’m serious. They seem to have access to extremely advanced science, even if they didn’t invent any of it themselves.<<

  The comment caught Ava by surprise. What makes you think the aliens didn’t make these changes to the nanocytes?

  >>No, they’re certainly behind that modification. But it’s imperfect. For having a nanoscopic component of their own being, they don’t have very good mastery of the form. That suggests to me that it’s appropriated technology, rather than something they’ve cultivated from the get-go.<<

  Thinking about the issues with how the nanocytes interfaced with her, Ava wondered the same thing. It reminded her of the original vampires on Earth, back when the Kurtherian nanocytes had tried to modify humans for the first time, but had no understanding of the physiology and how to make the transformation work correctly.

  While Ava had fared better, the creation of her nanocytes had benefitted from Andrea’s oversight, as misguided as that Forsaken vampire bitch had been. But Andrea herself didn’t understand the Kurtherian technology, so her research could only take it so far. They had succeeded in making Ava a functional Hochste, but she was far from perfect in that form. True masters of the technology would have been able to adapt it by the time she came into the picture. They’d had years to study humans on Nezar. That meant that the Dyons had done the best they could, and it still wasn’t good enough.

  Ava didn’t like the implications of that realization. If nanotech isn’t their specialization, what is?

  >>Wouldn’t we all like to know.<<

  What could it be?

  Ruby gave a mental shrug. >>Whatever it is, it was enough to give them a broad base of knowledge to semi-successfully adapt technology created by another, very different race. They’re smart and resourceful, if nothing else.<<

  That makes the Dyons sound like scavengers.

  >>Maybe they are. But some of the most prolific lifeforms let others do the work for them.<<

  Ava frowned. I guess humans aren’t all that different, are we? We’ve taken from others whatever benefits us.

  “You okay?” Sven asked.

  “Yes, sorry,” Ava returned to the world around her. “I suddenly understand that faraway look people with AIs would sometimes get while in the middle of a conversation with me.”

  Sven laughed. “Yeah, that can happen. Just don’t forget to turn off any valves.”

  She raised a questioning eyebrow and continued eating her macaroni.

  “This guy, Kevin, who I worked with some years back became friends with our ship’s EI,” the engineer explained. “The two of them used to get into arguments over the comms—probably two of the most stubborn individuals I’ve ever met. Sometimes, they’d go at it over their direct communication chip link instead. On this one particular occasion, we were doing maintenance on some systems, which involved topping off the various gases.”

  Ava swallowed a particularly large mouthful. “Uh oh.”

  “Yeah, you can see where this is going.” Sven smiled. “So, we’re working away, and I looked over and notice that Kevin has that blank look he would get whenever talking with the EI. His face is beet red, so I can tell they’re really in the heat of it. I go about my work, since I knew by then I’d get an earful if I tried to interrupt their discussion.

  “Several minutes go by, and by this point it’s kinda like, ‘Get back to it and hash this out on your own time,’ ya know? So, I give Kevin one of those ‘get-back-to-work’ looks. When he doesn’t react, I walk over to say it to his face. I get out ‘Hey!’ before I realize my voice is two octaves higher. Fucking idiot opened the helium valve and never closed it!”

  Ava laughed. “I bet that got his attention.”

  “Yeah, get this.” A grin split Sven’s face. “He yells ‘Oh, shit!’ in this chipmunk voice and shuts off the valve. The ship’s EI comes over the comm to yell at him for being reckless, and Kevin replies, ‘I can’t have a dignified discussion with my voice like this!’ That became my crew’s favorite catchphrase—while doing an impression, of course.”

  “Wow.” Ava thought for a moment. “Is it pretty easy to do something like that with helium?”

  “Fairly. Why?” Sven tilted his head.

  “Curious about what happens behind the scenes in these ships, that’s all.”

  >>Oh, no. What are you planning?<< Ruby asked in Ava’s mind.

  Just getting ideas, nothing to worry about, she assured her AI.

  >>This is about Edwin, isn’t it?<<

  And if it is?

  >>Then I like the way you think.<< Ruby gave her the mental equivalent of a smirk.

  Ruby, I think we’re going to get along just fine. Ava returned her attention to Sven. “It’s important to be able to make light of situations. We have stressful jobs, but we can’t allow that to get the better of us.”

  Sven nodded. “Very true. That’s why I have my writing.”

  “Creative outlets are a great way to stay sane.”

  “Well, writing can drive you a bit mad, sometimes,” he countered. “I mean, we’re literally writing down the conversations we have with voices in our heads.”

  Ava frowned. “That does sound a little off, when you put it that way.”

  “As long as we don’t mutter too loudly to ourselves in public places, no one seems to mind.”

  “There is
that.” Ava glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was almost time to get her team up for a workout. She grabbed her empty bowl and rose from the table. “Well, Sven, it’s been great, but I need to get back to it.”

  He nodded and stood up across the table. “I should probably check in on everything, too.” He paused. “And, if you ever do need access to some, uh, ‘malfunctioning’ helium tanks, let me know.”

  Ava grinned. “I’ll do that.”

  * * *

  Work in Luke’s lab was starting to feel routine. While Tess and Jack worked on their own tasks, Luke finished his review of the latest automated test results that had been kicked over to him.

  To his relief, the scans didn’t contain anything that resembled the TRs they’d observed in others. “I’m glad there’s nothing to worry about in these, but I wonder why the system is flagging so many?” he said to no one in particular.

  Tess looked up from her desk across the lab. “Do you see any common factor between them?”

  “Nothing that’s jumping out at me,” he replied. He’d been over the likely candidates, such as Weres or unmodified humans, the presence of an embedded EI, or various medical history factors. He was able to find an exception to each of the potential causes for the anomaly.

  “Maybe it is just a genuine, random error, then,” Tess said with a shrug.

  “Perhaps.” Luke didn’t like that non-explanation, but he had nothing else to go on at the present.

  With his task list of semi-critical items clear, Luke decided to run an updated sequence on Ava’s nanocytes. The model would make a good baseline for how she was responding to the new pairing with Ruby. He hoped her next check-in would show reduced stress levels, compared to where they’d been the past week. And maybe Jack would even be able to glean something about the nanocytes’ triggers, like Tess had suggested.

  He took a blood sample from the suspension case they used for preservation, and entered it into the sequencer for analysis. It was still unclear if NTech would demand the equipment be returned to them, but Luke suspected that no one who cared was still working at the company. A lot of people connected with NTech and the Nezaran government would be getting a fresh start, and with that staff turnover, came the opportunity for convenient appropriations.

  Their loss is the FDG’s gain.

  After what he’d gone through in the lab—being misled, getting shot at, and having his girlfriend turned into a science experiment—he considered a few pieces of equipment to be a modest severance package.

  Luke was just finishing up his configurations of the sequencer when an alert popped up on his desktop. It was a call from Nezar.

  Either NTech is demanding their equipment back, or an old friend is reaching out, he figured.

  While he didn’t have too many friends left on Nezar, he’d spent enough time on the planet in grad school to establish lasting relationships. Any number of people may have heard by now that he’d been connected to the NTech lab on Coraxa, and a ‘Hey, glad you didn’t die!’ message wouldn’t be out of place.

  He activated the sequencer and then directed the call to a private room across the hall, which was equipped for that very purpose. Large enough to hold two people, the room consisted of two chairs, a small table, and a monitor mounted to the wall.

  Luke initiated the call as soon as he was inside. To his surprise, he saw his sister’s face staring back at him on the monitor. “Karen? What are you doing on Nezar again?”

  “Good to see you, too, Luke,” she replied with a curl to her lips. “I’m here for business.”

  “Stars, not again…”

  “Official business this time,” she emphasized.

  “And what does that entail?”

  She smiled. “Helping put the pieces back together.”

  According to her recent track record, she’s a whole lot better at making things fall apart. Luke decided it was best to keep that overly antagonistic comment to himself.

  “I hope it goes smoothly for you,” he offered instead.

  “It’s off to a pretty good start.”

  Luke thought for a moment. “Say, since you’re there, would you check in on the testing they’re doing for those telepathic receptors? Some people are getting flagged here, and we’re not sure why. I’m clearing everyone on a case-by-case basis, but it would be much easier for someone to slip through the cracks in a civilian population.”

  “That’s not really why I’m here, but I can mention it,” Karen said.

  “Thanks.” He looked her over. “So, was this just meant as a social call?”

  “Not exclusively, but we didn’t really get a chance to catch up before,” Karen replied. “How’s Ava doing?”

  A dull ache formed in Luke’s chest hearing her name. This wasn’t the time to be apart—and he especially didn’t like her going to Gidyon. Playing into the enemy’s hand sounded like a terrible idea. Maybe it was necessary, but they hadn’t even taken the time to determine if there were alternatives.

  “Uh, Luke?” his sister prompted.

  “Sorry, it’s been a long few days. She’s okay. Adjusting.”

  Karen nodded. “I just about shit myself when she transformed.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.”

  “It happened at the lab on Coraxa, right? That researcher… Andrea Mason, was it? I just got random pieces of the story.”

  “Yes,” Luke confirmed. “She was given a dose of the experimental nanocyte strain. I think they thought it would make her easy to control, like the others.”

  Karen paled. “I’ve met some of the people who were subverted. It’s awful. They remember what they did, but it’s like this half-recalled nightmare that keeps nagging at the back of their minds.”

  “I can’t imagine being a prisoner within myself like that.”

  “What Ava did for Cynthia Heizberg…” Karen swallowed. “It was a kindness, no matter what anyone may say otherwise.”

  “I heard about that.” Luke looked down. “Ava hasn’t wanted to talk about what happened on Nezar.”

  “I wouldn’t have believed any of it, if I hadn’t seen it for myself. She transformed into that ‘Hochste state’, I think you called it, and it’s like she skipped across the room. I’ve never seen anything move so fast. And those teeth and claws… It was terrifying and awing at the same time.”

  “I’ve seen them. Definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end.”

  “Better stay on her good side.” Karen cracked a smile.

  “I knew better than to cross Ava even before that,” Luke replied. Even as a teenager, Ava’s ‘I am not amused’ glare had been legendarily dagger-like. He’d been the recipient exactly once, and from that point on, he’d chosen his words very carefully.

  “How are things going with you two, by the way?” Karen asked. “You being an item kind of came out of nowhere.”

  “Not really. We were together for a long time.”

  “Yeah, a decade ago. Had you stayed in touch?”

  “No, hadn’t seen her or communicated a word since we broke up.”

  She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow in the judging-older-sister pose he’d always detested. “So why now?”

  “Because we reconnected, and there was still something there. I don’t think I need to explain myself.”

  “It’s just surprising, that’s all.”

  It was Luke’s turn to give her a nonplussed look. “And why is that?”

  “You always seemed so committed to your work.”

  Yeah, to fill a void.

  Luke hadn’t realized until he’d reconnected with Ava that he’d initially thrown himself into his work as a way to deal with their sudden breakup. One day they were talking about moving to Nezar together for school, and the next, Ava said she was joining the FDG. He’d never learned why she’d changed her mind, though he’d been trying to find the right time to ask her. School and work had been his escape from that unresolved relationship, and by the time he was emotionally
healed, focusing on his career was a way of life.

  “My work is still important to me,” Luke replied to his sister. “But there’s room for other things, too.”

  “You uprooted your entire existence to follow her to the FDG.”

  “Karen, you do realize that I’m now working with an organization that has galactic reach, right? Ava or not, this was a great job opportunity.”

  “But what about Coraxa?”

  Luke crossed his arms. “Is this coming from Mom and Dad?”

  “Oh, don’t get me started on them.” She sighed. “I’ve only talked to them once since everything went down with NTech, and that entire conversation was about how we both abandoned them.”

  “Seriously?”

  She shrugged. “I learned years ago not to let it get to me. You have to follow your own path.”

  “Well, I didn’t have a lot of prospects left on Coraxa, with the NTech lab getting condemned and all.”

  “You don’t think they’ll reopen?”

  “Karen, I honestly have no clue what kind of future NTech will have. Their leadership was being controlled by telepathic aliens. I don’t know if there is anybody willing to pick up the torch and rebuild the company into something worthy of contributing to the Etheric Federation. That’s your area, not mine.”

  She evaluated him over the screen. “You said that like Nezar was part of the Federation.”

  “If you’re there, I assume that’s the plan for the world. With Alucia in, I can only imagine Nezar and Coraxa aren’t far behind.”

  “That’s my hope, yes,” Karen admitted. “It’ll take some convincing.”

  “Do you think you’ll be successful?”

  “It’s not a matter of that. I think it’s inevitable. This universe is too vast, and the challenges are too great for us to consider facing it alone.”

  Luke’s eyes widened. “Wow, you’ve come around since your Sovereign days.”

  “I’ve seen another, better way. People are allowed to change.”

  “It’s encouraged.”

  “And I’m a better person for it.” She looked down and took a slow breath. “I didn’t mean to judge your relationship with Ava. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”