The Specter Rising

by James Aspen

  “What, like, in my head?”

  She nodded.

  “Okay, an alien AI voice in my head. Got it. Anything else I should know?”

  Paul was being testy, but he got that way when he was nervous. And what could be more nerve wrecking than bonding with alien technology? The image of a Varanul flashed in his head, staring at him with its six red eyes and jaws gnashing, only made him keyed up more.

  “Well, K’tal had a strange sense of humor, and preferred his Ambra to have the same. His AI was hard to handle.” She flashed a brief wave of green to match her amused smile.

  “Great, so I’ll have a crazy voice in my head, and intergalactic warriors hunting me. Wonderful.”

  “When we make it back to base, we can trade it for a fresh one and you can choose your own AI. For now, Zyp will help you do your part to aid our escape. If we get separated, it will help you survive. Zyp just might, well, give you a hard time about it.”

  “Zyp? What kind of name is that for a high-tech AI?”

  Edolit’s wistful smile was as mournful as deep blue lines on her forehead. “The kind K’tal would’ve loved. The choice is yours. I won’t force you to wear it, but it will help you survive.”

  Paul looked at the thin metal; there was no going back if he put it on. Part of him wondered if he could run, but deep down he knew it wasn’t a choice. Not anymore. Mostly he was more interested in how such a small thing could give him abilities like hers.

  “Let’s do it,” Paul said.

  Edolit’s skin flashed a shade he hadn’t seen before, a pale teal color that faded quickly. Respect, maybe? He hoped so.

  “Okay, lay down in case you lose consciousness. I’ll place it for you. Which arm?”

  “Left,” he said, figuring it belonged on his non-dominant hand so he wouldn’t fumble with the screen as much.

  Paul laid flat with his arm outstretched as Edolit took a small sleeve from her belt and ripped its package open. She took a small piece of thin material from the sleeve, dripping with the same viscous fluid as her medical pack. He assumed it was some sort of antiseptic or healing gel. She rubbed it over his forearm and it wiped away the thin layer of grime covering his skin. The gel numbed his skin to her touch slightly. She placed the Ambra on his arm and he jerked away with a flash of panic.

  She smiled. “I’m just lining it up, it won’t hurt yet.”

  Paul relaxed. “Right. I knew that.”

  Edolit pulsed a wave of green and gave him a side-eyed glance before she went back to moving the device along his arm. He expected to feel the metal sliding across his skin, but no sensation registered.

  I wonder how deep that numbing gel goes? he thought.

  Edolit looked at the Ambra critically after she had placed it and pulsed green. “Perfect. Okay, this will hurt, but it’ll pass soon. Hold still as long as possible.”

  Before he could reply, she pressed the screen, and the device turned on. He froze, and panic coursed through him. The screen glowed to life with a strange emblem in the middle and flashed into a loading screen. A series of glyphs that looked like random slashes flashed and began disappearing one by one as they counted down.

  Then the pain started.

  Spikes shot into his skin and he tried not to cry out, but failed with a yelp. The sharp pain subsided as the thing cut deeper into him. A burning sensation traveled up his arm, and he imagined metallic tendrils creeping up his nerves and along his muscles. The image made a surge of animal fear overtake him, and he tried to get up.

  Edolit gently pressed his chest and caught his panicked eyes. Her skin pulsing a serene cerulean blue, like the clearest spring sky. “Calm. Breath deep. It will be over soon...”

  The burning sensation continued to spiral its way over his bicep and into his armpit. It split into a dozen directions from there, swirling over his chest and back. It seared its way along his clavicle and between the bones of his neck. The pain became a searing burst of light in his vision, and then he was plunged into darkness.

  ***

  Paul regained conscious with a jerk and trashed around in panic, but the pain was gone. Not even a lingering ache where the Ambra had cut into him. His arm seemed slightly heavier, the weight of the device embedded in his arm just enough to be noticeable.

  Edolit kneeled next to him. “Better now?”

  He pulled himself into a seated position and rubbed his neck, where the pain had been most excruciating. “Yeah, I’m okay now. I think.”

  “Good. Voice command override code: 1127.”

  Bright green text flashed in his vision.

  [Command Override Acknowledged. Training Mode Engaged.]

  Paul looked at Edolit in surprise. He started to ask a question and trailed off instead. Hovering in the air beside her was a small icon and bright green text.

  [Commander Edolit Vyn: Level 10 Scout. Threat Level 7. Display full bio?]

  “What the hell?” he muttered.

  He noticed another icon in the center of his vision, a small bar blinking across his vision, like a load bar for a computer game. Beneath the bar small green text said: [INITIAL ASSESSMENT SCAN.]

  “I assume the Heads Up Display is working based on your baffled expression,” Edolit said.

  “What the…”

  “The HUD is disorienting at first, but you get used to it. Now, if you press this button, you can turn off the display and your AI will only interact with you verbally. You can also give it mental or verbal instructions if you can’t move your hands.”

  “Okay…”

  “You will be able to program shut off and start up commands so you can have some privacy once your assessment is done. It can get exhausting to have something reading your thoughts in real time. We all need privacy sometimes.” She stood up and held out her hand, and helped him to his feet. “How do you feel?”

  “Okay, I guess. Now it is just telling me how dangerous you are and that it is doing an INITIAL ASSESSMENT SCAN.”

  “The Ambra is checking your physical fitness, skill set, memories, and mental capacity to get a baseline for you,” she said.

  A loud voice chimed in, and Paul jumped. Yeah, and it’ll take me less time if you stop asking stupid questions, human.

  Paul looked for the source of the voice. “Who was that?!”

  She can’t hear me, bub. I’m Zyp and I’m in your head now. Lucky me, the voice said with a distinct grumble. Now calm down so I can work or I’ll knock you down a peg on your intelligence score.

  Edolit’s skin pulsed a vibrant green, her eyes gleaming. “That would be Zyp. It’ll threaten to mess with your scores but it can’t. I’ll give you a little time to get acquainted.”

  Whatever, I can do what I want… well, except speak in a language that actually makes sense. How many contradictions does yours have? Thanks for that. Oh nevermind, you learned a little French in high school, now I can speak two nonsensical languages. Didn’t they teach you people anything useful, like Chuluthian or Adanomian? What kind of backwater world are we on, anyway?

  “Adanomian?” Paul looked at Edolit, stupefied.

  “If Zyp wears you out, remember, it’s only temporary until you set your voice commands. Also, you don’t have to speak, he can hear your thoughts.”

  Damn right I can.

  “Great,” Paul muttered. His head was spinning, and it wasn’t only because there was another consciousness bouncing around it.

  “I’ll go keep watch. We’ll wait until dark to make our move so we’ll have more cover. You’ll need time to adjust to your new friend, anyway. Do some exercises to get used to augmentation, I don’t want you stumbling out there.”

  You might get used to me, but I doubt I’ll ever get used to being stuck in your underdeveloped mind, Zyp said.

  Shut up, Zyp. Paul thought.

  Make me. Oh wait, you haven’t learned how yet.

  Paul was already regretting his decision to take the Ambra.

  ***

  Paul’s entire body seemed diff
erent. It pulsed with an electric tingle, bristling with extra awareness and energy. He felt a strange distance from his movements, like his consciousness was a passenger in someone else’s body. Zyp assured him the sensation was normal, with only minimal mockery. The AI explained it was just his brain trying to process the heightened sensory input and energy efficiency. Zyp assured him his brain would adapt.

  Moving took less energy. His stamina could handle cardio exercises with ease, and even in the cramped, dilapidated office he’d been able to tell that it made him faster. He was stronger, picking up fallen bits of rafters from the ground like they were sheets of paper, and tossed them aside with a loud crash. Paul worried that the whole building was going to come down around him until Zyp assured him it was only his heightened sense of hearing.

  Paul didn’t believe him until he heard the chattering of a mouse creeping in the shadows a dozen yards away and nearly bolted away, thinking it was a Varanul coming for them.

  The heightened senses would take some getting used to, but he knew his brain would adjust. Even the softest breeze sent a burst of information coursing into him. He didn’t want to think about how bad the smell in the office was. The sooner he got used to his abilities, the sooner he could get the hell out of its stench.

  His movements were jerky and awkward, like that of a toddler as he slowly relearned balance and gait. Over-exaggerated and clumsy, he bumbled around until he figured out how to walk without toppling over. Paul had expected Zyp to mock him the entire time, but the Ambra was strangely comforting through the entire ordeal. Zyp assured him that his brain would adapt to “not being a frail weenie,” but otherwise it gave helpful advice on how to moderate his movements.

  After a half-hour, he was positive he could function semi-normally, and joined Edolit at her perch at the front of the building.

  Her eyes were indecipherable as she appraised him while he strode up to her. He was self-conscious, especially as her indecipherable expressions rippled along her skin. His stride was a little stilted, but he thought he was doing okay overall.

  “More comfortable with the Ambra?” She asked, turning back to looking out the crack in the wall.

  “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s weird, but I’m getting used to it,” Paul said.

  I’m not the weird one here, sport, Zyp spat.

  Shut up, at least I don’t talk like a daytime sitcom grandpa, Paul thought back.

  Oh good, I was beginning to think you wouldn’t fight back. Zyp sounded relieved.

  Paul sighed and ignored the Ambra. He might be getting used to walking, but it would be awhile before he was used to Zyp.

  “Good, because we need to move soon. We need to reclaim the ship,” Edolit said.

  “Okay, what do you need me to do?”

  She pressed her Ambra screen, and the courtyard appeared in front of her.

  “We’ll approach from this side, there are more blind spots. You will wait here for my signal,” Edolit said, pointing to the edge of a building by the courtyard on her combat map.

  “And where will you be?”

  “Slitting the throat of this sniper.” She pointed to the red figure on top of the same building. The yellow triangle emitting from the point disappeared, and a gap appeared in the courtyard, extending almost to the ship.

  He understood now. She would clear the path to the ship, he would get it ready for her to join him.

  “How long will I have to get inside?”

  “Seconds,” she said. She pointed to another sniper on the next building. “If all goes well, I’ll be able to neutralize this one as well. You will be completely out of firing range from the rest. At least until they reposition.”

  “How will I get into the ship and get it started? I know nothing about it.”

  “The entry hatch will automatically recognize K’tal’s access codes in your Ambra and open when you get to it. Once inside, follow Zyp’s instructions to get the ship’s startup cycle going.”

  “Okay, got it. How long until you get onboard?”

  She glanced at him and he saw something change about her expression. Her skin flashed a mixture of violet and rose in a swirling pattern he hadn’t seen before. He wasn’t used to reading her yet, but it didn’t seem good.

  “I’ll be right behind you,” she said. Her tone wasn’t as convincing as he guessed she intended it to be. Before he could react, she closed the map and motioned for him to follow. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

  It was disorienting for him to not have to struggle to keep up with her, but experiencing his body working at its peak performance was exhilarating as he rushed to catch up effortlessly.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  PAUL CROUCHED IN position, waiting for Edolit’s signal. He couldn’t believe how well he could see in the dark with the Ambra’s help. Even in moonless black of the courtyard he could make out the Varanul’s movements as they rustled uncomfortably in their lookout points. When he concentrated, he could make out the raspy heaving of their breath among the eerie stillness of quiet. Down the alley, he saw rats creeping in the shadows and heard roaches scampering along the cracks in the pavement.

  The only thing he couldn’t see was the ship, hidden behind its cloaking field.

  Zyp, display the ship’s location, he thought. It was strange to give commands to something in his own head. He wondered how long it would take to get used to.

  No problem, Zyp said.

  An array of geometric lines appeared in the courtyard outlining a ship about 30 meters long. The ship was a sleek, wedge-shaped design with a low profile, resting on three landing struts. Judging by the size of the viewport near the snub-nosed point of the wedge, there would be room for two crew in the cockpit. The larger rear section of the vessel was big enough for a small group of soldiers or stacks of cargo, he imagined. He saw some weapons under the wings and a duel laser cannon mounted above the cargo hold. Paul wished he could see the ship uncloaked, but he had more important things to worry about than what color the alien ship was painted.

  Now show me my path, he ordered.

  A yellow band appeared superimposed along the ground ahead, moving at an angle away from the sniper’s field of view and moving straight for the ship.

  He braced himself against the building and waited for Edolit’s signal.

  And waited.

  The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow, giving his mind too much freedom to imagine the worst. She’d been discovered. A patrol will find me.

  Chill out, Paul. She’s fine. Take a breath, Zyp said.

  Easy for you to say, you don’t breathe.

  Sure I do. See?

  Paul’s chest expand and contract rapidly in an unnatural rhythm that made him feel like he was hyperventilating.

  Stop it, Zyp!

  Just keeping you distracted. I promise it’s for your own good. Okay, take a deep breath. She’s about to engage.

  Paul got ready to run. Despite his annoyance, he had to admit that Zyp’s distraction had helped snap him out of his negative thought loop. His enhanced hearing picked up the sickening sound of her humming blade slicing through the sniper’s throat and the bubbling gurgle of its death rattle. His heart raced as he expected the courtyard to burst into laser fire.

  The sound of Edolit’s voice transmitted by the Ambra into his left ear made him jump. “Go now.”

  Adrenaline rushed through him when he sprung from his crouch and ran. He broke right, staying inside the path Zyp had laid out before him. There was no time to be disoriented by the projection; he was too busy running faster than ever before. Before he had registered just how fast he was running when had reached the pivot point and overshot it. He stumbled as he tried to turn back onto the safe path too quickly, but recovered. He gritted his teeth and looked towards the ship outline.

  A green icon flashed next to the ship’s hull.

  [The Specter: Sabre-class Scout Transport. Threat Level 4. Distance: 100 meters. Display technical readout?]

  He ran for th
e entry hatch and got a rush of satisfaction when he saw how fast the distance to the ship was shrinking. It had only been a few heartbeats, but he was closing fast, and he wasn’t even winded. The cool breeze felt amazing as it wafted through his short hair.

  Paul was halfway to the ship when the shooting started, loud blasts that made him imagine fireworks exploding right next to his body.

  Edolit’s voice was loud in his ear, even over the loud bolts of energy exploding concrete and brick. “Ka’ilk. They spotted me. Get to the ship, now!”

  ***

  Combat Noise Dampening engaged, volume set at 25%, Zyp said. Instantaneously, the noise of the laser blasts became bearable.

  Thanks Zyp.

  Paul glanced back to see Edolit’s bright green outline superimposed behind a small chimney. Towards the front of the building, a Varanul was firing wildly at her, blowing bits of brick from her quickly shrinking cover. Bright bolts angled towards her from two other roofs across the courtyard, and Paul could see more Varanul moving along the other rooftops to flank her.

  She was pinned down, and all he could do was keep running.

  The hatch opened on the ship’s side with a snap and rush of air, folded down into a ramp as he approached. He paused at the base and turned as a blaster bolt splash against the side of the ship near his head. He scrambled up the ramp, ducking for cover.

  Get to the cockpit, Zyp ordered, its tone even.

  Paul turned at the top of the ramp and ran up a small corridor. The cockpit door slid open as he approached and he bounded through it, nearly flipping over the back of a seat. He scrambled to a stop and looked at the two seats in confusion.

  Left seat is the pilot’s.

  He scrambled into the seat. It was big for him, but he could reach all the controls comfortably.

  Center console, flip the large switch.

  Paul flipped the switch, and various instruments and screens in the cockpit flashed to life with soft lights. Without a moment’s hesitation, Zyp continued to spit out commands.