Their exchange was broken by the screaming laughter of two small children entering the room and climbing all over Novia and Li. Ayden chased close behind.
“I am sorry--they could no longer be kept away,” Ayden apologized over the sounds of children and adults laughing and giggling.
“I do love this part of my path,” Anaua admitted, holding Ayden's hand and watching their children smothering Novia and Li with hugs and kisses.
*** Detention Agent Fent filled the nutrition tubes into the hover-tray and attached the lanyard to his jumper belt. The hover-tray floated at waist height, and no more than arm’s length away at all times. Detention Agent Oben was a new transfer replacement, and watched Agent Fent with care, making sure he understood the procedures for his new assignment at this facility. The Earth moon holding facility was one of one hundred and six such facilities placed on the moon to contain the Earth humans being extracted from Earth below.
“Where were you assigned last?” Fent turned to asked his new trainee.
“I was last assigned to the supply depot of the detention facilities. I was a coordinator for supply tracking support,” Oben answered.
“Oh, right. So, you've never worked on the inside of a holding facility?” Fent asked, not really expecting an answer. Oben shook his head. “The main thing to remember here, before we go out on the line--”
“The line?”
“The line. That's what the aisle is called between the holding areas. There is a line in the middle of the aisle-you must stay on that line at all times,” Fent explained.
“Why?” Oben felt obligated to ask.
Fent swiped his hand across the entry access pad, and the entry opened. “Trust me, you will see.” Oben looked down to see the wide white line in the center of the aisle between the holding areas. Fent stepped through and onto the line. Oben stepped through as the entry closed behind him and he stayed close, but on the line as well.
“You see, Oben, these humans from Earth are--well, simply not very intelligent. They have no PPD's, no AI's-thus no grasp of technology in any sense of the word. Without an AI, they have no AI telemetry, so they are difficult to see--that is why our AIs have installed new protocols to compensate. They have no idea what we are saying, or what we're trying to do for them. For example-these nutrition tubes we're handing out--only a few humans understand enough to open them and eat the contents, but you can't get too close or they'll try to grab at you,” Fent said, as he tossed the nutrition tubes into the holding areas through the bars. The humans inside tried to reach out and grab at the two Detention Agents from either side of the aisle, but were just out of reach inside the white line.
Oben's eyes grew wide as he was seeing exactly why they needed to stay inside the line. “Why do they want to try to touch us?”
“No one knows. Agent Dyze was injured a few fiscal years ago at one of the smaller facilities by the humans.”
“How?”
“The aisle was too narrow and she got too close--one tried to grab her. Her PPD pushed her away but she got too close to the other side, and more humans attempted to grab at her from that side. Her PPD fully deployed and she was bounced down the full length of the corridor and into a ladder-well to the sub level.”
“Sounds horrible.”
“Changes were made to all of the facilities and she was reassigned,” Fent explained, as he tossed more tubes into another holding area through the bars. The humans in that holding area attempted to reach through to the agents.
“Why don't they use force fields?” Oben asked. “Seems like that would be safer.”
“This project is already way over budget. The bars are cheaper to maintain,” Fent raised his voice over the growing noise level. The humans were making loud noises as the two Agents walked further down the aisle. Some of the humans were throwing the tubes back through the bars at the Agents.
“They really don't understand we're trying to feed them? Some of them are throwing their food back at us,” Oben remarked.
“Like I said, they're not intelligent. We've tried to explain it to them, but they have no ability to comprehend even the simplest forms of communication.”
“I understand there is a high volume of loss among the Earth humans. How is that handled?”
“Once a week we send in special hazardous material disposal teams with stun-sticks to clear out the terminated humans and dispose of them in the hazardous material containment cell at the waste transfer station. The regional waste management crew come through every month or so and empty out the hazardous material containment cell,” Fent explained.
“You're certain they don't understand what we're saying?” Oben reiterated.
“I'm certain, why?”
“That one over there looks like he understands.” Oben pointed.
Fent looked over to see a human glaring through the bars. “No. You can tell by the blank look on his face. He really doesn't have a clue.”
*** Grafter continued his attempt to hear the two small keepers walking past in the middle of the aisle. Their speech was far different from any of the Earth humans, but still had a familiarity--like a faint memory deep in his mind. A familiarity supplied by a brief, but intense, contact with a being he knew only as Cain. The very same entity that took over Dravon, scion of Jagqur--true Egal of Drelund.
“They believe we are all sub-human and
unintelligent,” Grafter spoke more for himself, than anyone else standing by.
“How do you know?” Junk asked.
“I can hear them talking.”
Junk turned to listen as close as he could through the
bars, but he still heard only strange sounds, pops, clicks and odd tones all in rapid succession. “You can understand that?”
“Yes, yes I can.”
“Did you see that floating box? Are they Gods?” “No--that's a hover-tray,” Grafter explained. “Uh--a what?”
“Hover-tray,” Grafter repeated, without the slightest
sense of surprise in regards to his own answer. “You've seen one of those before?”
“No,” Grafter shook his head slow. “But I have faint memories of many such things,” Grafter answered, beginning to feel a little overwhelmed. He looked around the room, and recognized several items of advanced technology not seen in Drelund, but familiar in the deepest reaches of his mind.
“I don't understand.” Junk shook his head. “Sometimes I feel the same way.”
“What do we do now?” Junk asked.
“We look for a way out.” Grafter glanced back toward
the rest of the occupants and found a large number of men and women staring. They all seemed rather intent, but Grafter was not sure if that was a good sign as they closed in and surrounded them.
*** A swell of energy flowed through Cain from the sacrifice of three Trupes and one Cap, their life energies drawn through the ring. Their tumor-ravaged bodies would be divided among their team members and fellow Caps. The deaths were honorable and would be celebrated per the customs of Drelund, Cain made certain of that. More now than ever, morale among the Trupes was important.
::My Egal, the mission is complete. Sending sensor readings now,:: K'nal Ja'Nier announced. ::Requesting orders and coordinates to return.:: Cain received the direct incoming message through his necklace interface with the ship.
::Very good,:: Cain replied. ::Sending coordinates.:: ::ETA, seventy-three hours,:: Ja'Nier responded. K'nal Lluxi had also received the message through his
necklace interface and approached Cain from the side of the large bone throne awaiting orders. “Make the announcement to all of our victory at Sirius B,” Cain ordered. Lluxi noted that the Egal appeared pleased for once, and was exuberant with his
announcement over the multi-ship intercom systems. ***
Anthony stepped off the transport pad at Nibra II station to find Presley1285 waiting as usual. With this new appointment, Nibra II would be their new home for the foreseeable future. There was so much
to do, and so much to figure out, but the look on Presley1285's face was cause for more immediate concern.
“The gate at Sirius B has been destroyed by one of the rogue ships.”
“Cain!”
“There is no doubt,” Presley1285 agreed.
“Did they leave through the gate first? That would be away from here and good, right?”
“Their ships are still waiting at Proxima Centauri Gate. They appear to be waiting on the one returning from the Sirius B Gate destruction,” Presley1285 explained.
“Casualties?”
“Hundreds so far, but the number is not definitive yet.”
“Cost?”
“Hundreds of billions in infrastructure alone, so far--”
Anthony took a long breath. “The Board?”
“Contact requests are mounting, but I have managed to postpone your response due to travel delays.”
“Appreciated,” Anthony said with some distraction, trying to gather his thoughts and responses. Anthony took a few steps down a main corridor, before realizing just how quiet and empty the station was. “Are there no other personnel on the station?”
“A Corporate Security detail was the last to leave only moments before your arrival. I have checked facility systems; we are alone,” Presley1285 assured.
“How soon can we have a replacement crew?”
“I have already made the arrangements; they are on their way now. Facility manning will be one hundred percent within two hours.”
Anthony sighed. “Thank you, my friend.”
Presley1285 turned and bowed with hands extended, wrists touching in the Elvonian sign of respect.
Anthony returned the gesture. “No time for rest. We need to determine our appropriate responses and actions.”
*** The activity levels at Toolkit's waste facility, hidden at Europa, was elevated as the call to action was passed through the ranks of the Elvonian population. Crews were on their way to Nibra II and more were reported where needed. The word of Anthony's appointment was delivered moments after the fact, starting a chainreaction of events throughout the community. News of Sirius B gate being destroyed began yet another flurry of concern.
“There's no doubt now where Cain is heading,” Toolkit explained as he maneuvered the holographic image tracking the action. “Once he gets to Proxima Centauri, the next stop is Mars Solar system--Earth!” Toolkit showed his point in the holograph.
“We can't be sure he's actually heading to Earth,” Rhys disagreed.
“Why else would he be coming back to Mar's solar
system?” Reed asked. “Toolkit's hypothesis makes sense.” “Why now?” Rhys argued.
“Why anything?” Kutch asked. “What makes Cain do
anything?”
“He has always been searching for Li, maybe he got a
lead or clue from somewhere? That could be why Li hasn't
been contacting either of us in our dream-states,” Alex
offered. “Maybe she's trying to protect us and her location
now?”
“So now what do we do?” Reed asked.
“How far along are we with the counter measure to
Cain's destructive use of the transport beam?” Kutch
asked.
“Full-sized components should be ready for shipment
to Earth at any time,” Rhys assured.
“With Anthony's new appointment, there should be no
further issues arranging for transportation to the planet’s
surface. Equipment of all types will be needed for
extraction of resources,” Reed affirmed. Everyone agreed. “I will need to go,” Toolkit stated.
“You just want to go to Earth,” Reed argued. “Yes, but the design is mine. I will need to be there to
make sure it's put together properly,” Toolkit protested,
giving Rhys a glance for approval.
“Your expertise would be greatly appreciated,” Rhys
agreed.
*** “Reports are continuing to stream in. The damages and share losses are mounting,” Roth announced with urgency. “Now is the time to push your point and position with the Board!”
“You assume too much,” Huir castigated Roth. “The Board knows my opinion of this situation and those responsible. My presence would certainly force my position, but more so, my lack of presence at this moment strikes harder that my point has been made.”
“So you'll do nothing?”
“All in due time,” Huir smirked, as she walked through the compiling holographic data reports in the center of her other wise dark workspace.
“I suspect you do not wish further embarrassment in front of the Board,” Roth remarked, steeped in sarcasm.
Huir snapped at Roth, “Dismissed!”
Roth locked his jaw tight before posturing to attention, turning on his heel and leaving.
::Incoming request from Keja,:: Zris announced.
“Granted,” Huir replied, still grappling with her temper.
The holographic image of Keja appeared in the middle of Huir's room. “I am sorry to interrupt,” Keja offered from his projection, sensing the Director's foul mood. “I do not want apologies, I want answers!”
“I believe I may be able to supply at least a source for your request.”
“I am in no mood for riddles! Make your case,” Huir demanded.
“The AI, C-AI-N--” Keja waited.
“Do not test my patience,” Huir continued her foul mood.
Keja could feel her piercing eyes through the holographic connection. “I have a signature--we have a location. Now that we know we're dealing with just an AI, we can contact her directly.”
“A flawed and malfunctioning AI,” Huir corrected. “Do you truly believe we can get through, and more importantly, will she respond?”
Keja could see Huir's mood change for the better. “Once we make a connection, we'll simply send over-ride disabling codes. She'll no longer be operational and able to assist the Earth humans. We can then reassign new pilot AIs and direct the ships and humans to Earth moon detention centers. Once there, we can isolate the AI, and I can upload and dissect the dysfunctional programming for analysis. You will have your answers,” Keja explained showing confidence in his plan. He had taken some time to think this through, and felt he had a reasonable solution. Even with the severe malfunction, the over-ride codes would be adequate to disable any AI. Xria had calculated the operation success at well over ninety-eight percent.
“When can you be ready?” Huir asked.
“I'm ready now, I can--”
“I want you here in person,” Huir demanded.
“Immediately,” Keja replied, before his holographic image winked out.
*** The language was similar to what Grafter had encountered at the Dunes, but the dialect was different-broken and difficult at first.
“You out. We out,” a man spoke, as he stepped forward from the surrounding crowd of Earth humans. His approach was non-threatening, but Junk stepped back with concern. The man was wiry, with dirty, tattered materials draped on as clothing. He had long scraggly hair and a matching beard. His description matched nearly every human man in all the holding areas.
Grafter put a hand on Junk’s arm. “It's all right. I think I understand him. He means no harm.”
“Then what does he want?” Junk asked still feeling tense.
“I believe they know what we've just been talking about. They want to leave with us,” Grafter kept his eyes on the man, studying his actions to make sure he was indeed understanding what the man meant. The man and several others nodded, confirming their understanding.
“You go, we go,” the man continued his broken dialect.
Grafter nodded in agreement. “Yes.”
“But we don't even know how we're going to do that,” Junk muttered into Grafter's ear.
The crowd parted and the man pointed to a spot on the back wall. There was a slight depression in the shape
of an entry. Grafter could just make the shape out in the darkness.
“It would appear they know,” Grafter suggested.
Another shower of small tubes rained down on them from the two keepers as they walked past again. Grafter picked a few up to examine. The man swiped at Grafter, knocking them out of his hand, shaking his head. “Bad! Bad!”
“I think I understood that,” Junk said with surprise.
“I do too. But that doesn't make sense. Our keepers here were just talking about these tubes being food,” Grafter said, picking up another one and not allowing the man to swipe again.
“BAD!” The man was determined to make his point.
“Food,” Grafter suggested, making a motion with his hand, as though to put the paste-like material into his mouth.
“NO! BAD!” The man pointed to several other humans lying down along the far side of the back wall. Grafter could see they were not in good health, as he
approached.
“They eat--VERY BAD!” Now several other humans following along were attempting to explain with more broken dialect and hand gestures.
Grafter could see these people were very sick, pale and semi-conscious at best.
“What's wrong?” Junk asked.
Grafter took a closer look at one young man, with paste visible around his mouth. He had eaten several tubes of paste, and was near death. Grafter took the man's wrist with one hand and opened an eyelid with the other. The eye was glazed over and the pupil was completely dilated.
“I can barely feel his life-beat...he's very sick,” Grafter said, using all of his knowledge to make the assessment. One of the empty tubes was in the man's hand and Grafter sniffed it. “I don't detect any scents that might be dangerous.”
“Why would they want us to eat this if it makes us sick?” Junk asked.
“I don't think they understand,” Grafter offered, then took a cautionary lick at a small portion of the paste.
“WAIT!” Junk shouted. Several of the other humans watching reached to stop him but were too late.
*** The incoming message link was both direct and unexpected. Cain scowled his disapproval at the invasion of his privacy through his necklace interface.
::--respond immediately,:: the voice demanded in the first broken message. ::This is Director Huir. This message is directed to the AI C-AI-N. Respond immediately!:: The message repeated.
Birth Of A Goddess Page 17
