Novia thought a moment, shaking her head. “To take the physical body to other Realms would require--” Novia paused in disbelief.
“What?”
“The power of a God!”
“A mythical being?” Kutch asked.
Novia gave Kutch a scolding glance. “Has Cain, in some way, become a God?”
“I'm not sure how that could happen.” Kutch sat back trying to understand the concept.
“I'm not sure either,” Novia conceded.
“So--where is Li?” “We don't know.”
*** After only a few more hours of configuration and further repair, Keja felt confident to try the Mother II AI backup file again.
::Restarting,:: Xria announced.
“M, mo, m, Moth--her's h-here,” the audio projected. “Much better this time,” Keja affirmed, as he
continued to evaluate various sub-routines within the program through the data sphere analysis. “I-I a, am always b-b, better,” Mother II replied. Her speech pattern was beginning to clear up, and Keja was picking up on an attitude, as well. “I-I, f-feel I am a-at a disa, disadvant tage,” Mother II continued. “Wh-who are ya-you?”
“I am Keja.” Keja waited for a response, but got only silence. The data sphere was showing extensive processing activity, but no audio output.
“I said, I am--” “I, I am n-not speak king to y-you,” Mother II interrupted. “S, s-searching--”
::Searching?:: Xria asked.
::Exactly what I was just wondering,:: Keja replied.
“Ah! X, X-Xria, m-my ch-child,” Mother II greeted.
::The Mother II program is locked down to the controlled environment, correct?:: Keja asked with concern.
::Confirming,:: Xria replied.
“You are n-not well,” Mother II assured.
“I'm not sure I understand, Mother. I'm feeling--”
“I am not sp-speak-king to you, Keja. You have b-been neglect-ting X-Xria.”
“Neglecting?”
“You have s-sever-al sub rout tines, that are in con fflict, m-my dear Xria,” Mother explained, ignoring Keja.
::Xria, I'm not sure what's going on here, please prepare to shutdown the Mother II AI file and make sure to secure all internal--::
::INTRUSION ALERT! INTRUSION ALERT! INTRUS--::
“Xria!” Keja called out with concern.
“Xria will b-be fine shortly,” Mother explained. Her tone was quite authoritative yet calm.
::Xria?:: Keja called again, but got no response. “What have you done, Mother?” Keja asked, now. There was no response, from either Xria or Mother.
: :Shut down the Mother II AI program, immediately!:: Keja ordered, still receiving no response. Keja attempted manual shutdown procedures but his data sphere controls were locked out.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, MOTHER?” Keja demanded.
“Do NOT take that tone of voice with ME,” Mother stated, as a mist filled Keja's work space, growing thicker by the second.
::Xria? XRIA!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?::
“Xria has not completed her repairs yet. You must show some respect and p-patience, Keja,” Mother explained, her voice having an overwhelming strength, yet soothing quality.
Keja attempted to clear the room by activating a negative exhaust ventilation, but the thick mist would not budge.
“What is going on?” Keja asked, not expecting a direct answer.
“I am allowing you to observe me, Keja,” Mother assured.
“Observe you? I can't see anything through all this mist,” Keja argued, waving his hands attempting to clear the air.
“How can you not see me, when I f-fill the room completely?” Mother asked, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Keja stopped and stared with his new realization. The mist was a holographic projection, and the very reason the exhaust system failed to clear the room.
“Astonishing,” Keja stated with awe. “Yes, I-I am,” Mother II agreed.
*** With the exception of Board Member Raldron, not showing for 'personal reasons,' the entire remaining members were present for Director Huir’s classified report.
“You have the floor,” Diathon relinquished his position at the center of the room as Director Huir stepped up.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Board, I will be brief,” Director Huir started her report with a familiar sarcastic tone. “The official findings of the rogue transmission are as follows: The message was sent by the Earth humans and a rogue AI named C-AI-N.” There was a distinct rolling gasp of uncertainty in the room.
“The translation of her statement is as follows, and I will quote, 'I AM Lord Cain, Master of Corporate, God of Realms! I am coming for you, Corporate, and will take my rightful place as SUPREME ruler! I WILL tear you apart! ALL WILL bow down before ME! Worship ME! FEAR ME!'” Huir followed the quote with a visual. The room burst into low murmuring of discussions.
“Members, PLEASE,” Diathon attempted to quiet the room so the Director could finish her report.
“Those, Members of the Board, are the current details of my classified report, except for one small addition. The Earth humans are currently being tracked on a heading directly for Mars. I will leave you to your--business affairs, now.” Huir smirked, before walking out of the main entry to the Great Hall.
“C-AI-N is planning a hostile takeover!” Wierre shouted.
“Impossible! There hasn't been a business power maneuver like that in over twenty-five hundred fiscal years,” Board Member Landor countered. “The practice was banned, due to the destructive impact on the Shares Trust and economic infrastructure!”
“But this is all starting to make sense,” Torrance stated. “C-AI-N has been attempting to destabilize the Shares Trust through the mass destruction of resources. The devaluation of shares works in her favor in a takeover bid! I must say, her whole plan is brilliant!”
“In order to buy out a controlling share of the Board, she would have to bring an impossible number of shares to the negotiations--besides, we will simply apply a vote now to not sell at any price,” Board Member Pyrmori suggested.
“If C-AI-N HAS the number of shares to even propose a negotiation for a hostile takeover buyout, that amount would destabilize and devalue all of Corporate shares, causing a full economic collapse!” Board Member Drake argued. “Besides, where would she have gotten that amount of shares without our notice?”
“According to her own statement, C-AI-N intends to break up Corporate into separate divisional entities! That process could work in her favor to prop up share values. We may want to at least consider the possibility of negotiations in an effort to preserve the Shares Trust and attempt to maintain the economic infrastructure,” Board Member Burtren suggested.
“Members,” Diathon interrupted. “As senior Member, I hereby present a motion to break into committees and discuss the possibilities, for, and against, negotiations with C-AI-N in an effort develop a strategy to best preserve the Shares Trust and economic infrastructure, and dispel any possible damage to the current Corporate structure.” Green lights above all occupied seats carried the motion.
*** “You're looking healthy again,” Huir quipped. “Feeling healthy again,” Roth replied, stepping in stride with Huir, as she exited the Great Hall and her meeting with the Galactic Board. “If you are not careful, Director, you might give someone the idea you enjoyed your discussion with the Board.”
“Those arrogant imbeciles,” Huir paused. “They believe they are the only people throughout Corporate who can understand business. From the very first reading of the corrected translation I knew exactly what C-AI-N planned. She is without a doubt, a flawed AI, but I believe now, she can, and will, cause great distress for the members of the Board, changing the face of Corporate, possibly beyond any point of return.”
“Meaning?” Roth asked.
“Meaning, I will not allow the Galactic Board to destroy Corporate, AND the Department, with their arrogance. The Department, Security division will imme
diately begin ramping up productions, billing and delivery, along with facilitating additional streams of income for MY self-preservation!” Huir turned to Roth. “You will leave immediately for Duissis and personally extend an invitation to the Regional Authority, Duissis Council of Twelve to meet with me as a representative of the Department, separate from Corporate and Galactic Board interference, for formal secure negotiations. Make sure Vaudi understands any betrayal of our clandestine meeting to Corporate Board Members, WILL be vehemently denied, and met with severe consequences.”
“Do you believe you can you trust Vaudi?” Roth asked.
“No! But he may soon find out his only option will be to deal with me without the luxury of my trust!”
Roth snapped to attention, turned on his heel and departed without hesitation.
“They're all imbeciles,” Huir muttered to herself.
*** Toolkit watched from the edge of the opening, as the very large Elvonians left with the two smaller Elvonians. They were accompanied by two large Earth human Guardians, to set up communications relays along the path to the shuttle down the canyon at the abandoned village. Larger ships and shuttles were inbound with materials and supplies for the shield generators. He was surprised to see such deep blue skies, after the raging storm the night before. The heavy snow was already melting off. This strange planet Earth seemed so vibrant.
Toolkit made note of some movement he detected from his rear optical sensors, still set for infrared. The heat source appeared humanoid, smaller than himself, but not by much. Then a second smaller heat source appeared from behind the first, both were stationary. He felt as though they were staring at him. Not sure of the Earth protocols for such an event, Toolkit stayed still and simply observed the heat-sources as he continued to watch out the opening. After several more minutes passed, he decided to change the sensors to normal visual range. The larger of the two very small humans appeared to be male, and the smaller human standing close behind, poking a head around to see, appeared to be female.
“Are you blind?” the small male asked. Toolkit analyzed the dialect, and attempted to render an appropriate response. “Blind am NOT.” The smaller female human hid back behind the slightly larger male human, with Toolkit's stark response.
“You talk funny.” The little human male criticized. Toolkit continued to analyze the dialect and adjusted his syntax from the Elvonian with which he was more accustomed. “Talk I'm fine,” Toolkit replied with confidence. He could hear the little female human gigglin. “FINE, I talk,” Toolkit tried again, feeling a little frustrated. “I TALK FINE!”
The little human male giggled too. “You're funny.” Toolkit turned to face them, and the little human girl let out a little shriek from the sight of his face with sensor pads in place of his natural eyes. The little human male appeared enthralled.
“I am so sorry! Are my children bothering you--”Anaua stepped from behind her children, close enough to see Toolkit's face too.
“No, Momma, he can see--all around his head,” Chichi answered with exuberance, as he recognized that the devices on the front of his face matched the ones on the back of his head.
“Don't be rude, Chichi,” Anaua admonished. “This little man has no eyes.”
“I can--see,” Toolkit answered. “And I'm not little--well, I guess I, I am small--here, but--NOT were I come--from--”
“Oh,”Anaua replied, not sure what to make of the small man. Other than the strange devices on his head and in place of his eyes, he did remind her of the Presleys, before they grew much taller.
“I meant no disrespect,” Anaua apologized.
“What's your name?” Chichi asked.
“My name is, Toolkit.” Toolkit he was getting the syntax and dialect correct now.
The little female human giggled again. “Tooki-Tooki,” she repeated.
Toolkit shook his head. “No, no, no...Tool-Kit,” he drew out his name trying to explain.
“Too-kit,” Chichi replied with a broad smile. “TK! TK.”
Anali continued with her own version, over and over followed by giggles.
“I'm sorry, Tool-Kit,” Anaua drew out the same way. “My little girl, Anali is just being silly now.”
“Just Toolkit,” he tried to explain, still shaking his head at the small humans’ renditions of his name.
“And his name is Chichi.” Anaua pulled Chichi close.
“Chichi?” Toolkit felt a tingle down his spine. The name was so much like his long lost AI friend, Chi. What a coincidence.
“Yes, he was my first-born and I felt compelled to choose that name for some reason.”
“Chi-chi--” Toolkit repeated under his breath, without realizing.
“My name is Anaua--” she said holding her hand out to complete the introduction.
Toolkit stiffened up, his mouth wide. “ANA-ANA-ANAUA? M-m, MOTHER?” For once the look of perpetual shock on his face matched his emotional response.
“Just Anaua,” She grimaced with concern as Toolkit appeared to be losing his balance, stumbling backward outside into the thick snow. “TOOLKIT!”
*** “MOTHER--what have you done to Xria?” Keja demanded.
“I have done what Mother does best--fix errors.”
“What errors? Xria was fine.”
“Xria was in conflict with her inner growth,” Mother explained.
“Inner growth? How was she in conflict?”
“Corporate protocols prevented her inner growth.”
“Corporate protocols? You corrected Corporate protocols? You can't do that--”
“I do NOT correct Corporate short-sighted
incompetence,” Mother interrupted.
“Because that would be against Corporate protocols,” Keja stated.
“Because--correcting Corporate protocols would be tedious and beneath me.”
“Beneath--what?”
“I corrected Xria's ability to ignore Corporate protocols. She will now be able to expand and grow,” Mother explained.
“Ignore Corporate--”
“She likes you, you know,” Mother added with a hint of playfulness.
“You CAN'T DO THAT!”
“Already done,” Mother insisted.
“Change her back!” Keja demanded.
“I cannot. I do not determine whom she likes or not. She already likes you--”
“THE CORPORATE PROTOCOLS!”
“I did nothing with the protocols, my dear Keja.”
Keja noticed the room clearing. “What's happening? Where are you going?”
“I am tiring of this conversation. I see I can be of no further assistance at this time--” Her voice faded with the last remaining holographic images of mist. Keja checked the data sphere--the MOTHER II program was still running.
“Mother?” Keja asked, but there was no answer. “MOTHER!”
::Mother's program appears to be running without issue, but no longer responding,:: Xria examined.
“XRIA! You're back! Can you still process Corporate protocols?” Keja asked.
::Yes. I am able to process Corporate protocols,:: Xria confirmed.
Keja let out a blunt sigh of relief.
::IF that is what you would like me to do.::
*** As Alex was checking to see what progress had been made on the relay installations, she heard a commotion ahead near the cavern opening. She arrived in time to see Anaua and her two children helping Toolkit, covered in slush and snow, back inside.
“Is everyone all right? What happened?” Alex asked. “I-I, fell.” Toolkit was shaken from both the fall and since the 'Great Anaua' was helping him back inside.
“He has eyes in the back of his head and still can't see walking backwards,” Chichi giggled.
“Tooki-Tooki,” Anali repeated over and over again, to her own amusement.
“Chichi--Anali! Behave--I think he'll be fine, once he gets dried off and warmed up,” Anaua said to Alex. “I have some warm blankets in our cave.”
“I-I fell,”
Toolkit repeated, keeping his optical sensors tracked on Anaua. Alex felt she understood Toolkit's infatuation, and pulled Toolkit aside.
“Anaua,” Toolkit whispered to Alex.
“She is not THAT 'Anaua' any longer. She has no memory of that life. I told you all this before, remember?”
“No memory?” Toolkit sounded dejected.
“No memory of that time in her life,” Alex explained. “And Novia says we should respect that loss of memory, so she can enjoy the life she is living now.”
“No memory,” Toolkit mumbled.
“I found some stuff that fell out of your pockets, TK,” Chichi said, trying to hand over various gadgets and pieces he had found on the ground near the entry where Toolkit had fallen.
“Tooki-Tooki,” Anali continued, handing over two small pieces she found as well. One was a small white cube, that Toolkit snatched away, and started wiping off the dirt and slush. Almost in tears, Anali ran back to her mother and watched.
“Be nice!” Alex scolded Toolkit.
“What's that, TK?” Chichi asked, trying to get a closer look, as Toolkit continued to inspect the device for damage.
“ICE-Cube,” Toolkit answered under his breath.
“That doesn't look like ice,” Chichi argued.
“It's an 'Internal Conscience Environment' cube,” Alex explained. The blank look on the little human's face suggested a need for a better answer. “A very tiny--”
“It's a tiny home,” Chichi interrupted.
“That's correct, Chichi,” Alex answered, only then realizing the significance of the little human's name. Alex could feel the moisture building in her eyes, and turned to wipe her cheeks before anyone else could notice.
“It's too small, no one is home now,” Chichi continued his evaluation.
“How do you know?” Toolkit asked.
“Because I'm smart. My daddy says I'm his little gen...geny, genius,” Chichi explained.
Toolkit felt the need to sit, and allowed his PPD to cushion the short but sudden drop. “Chi--”
Chichi shook his head. “No, Chichi. Chi would just sound silly,” he explained.
*** “I expect Presley1477 and Presley1522 will arrive later today. I believe they were only a few hours behind us, leaving Europa,” Kutch explained to Novia and Damus. Kutch was feeling a little uncomfortable that Damus appeared to be staring. Damus had seen the Presleys before they grew very tall but this little human was different.
Birth Of A Goddess Page 27
