by Kit Falbo
“Normally twenty-four hours. But for you, and what you’ve signed, as long as it takes for me to be satisfied, one way or another. Let's start with the attack on you.”
There is no lying, no deception. I can’t hide from Mallory's technology reading everything about me, as naked as I am, her years of data from my visits give me away. It’s even easy to see how my pride caused Muninn’s death. Maybe if I had given the police the clip of me burning and the data on the untraceable threats this wouldn't have happened. I want to find the who was responsible. I want to make them pay. I relay all my self-recriminations to her. It feels good to confess, so someone else can look at me the same way I look at myself.
Only she isn’t disgusted or angry. She looks sad. “It’s not your fault.” I cry. I don’t know for how long. Once that is out, she gets to specific questions. “Are you going to hurt yourself? Do you plan to give your file to authorities, who, when?”
I answer them. Some I don’ t know. I’m not planning to hurt myself anymore than I already am. I’ll give my findings to the AMU when I feel comfortable that doing so won’t hurt someone else. I’ll go to the middle of nowhere and send it from there. Being a local military defensive placement that fired the shot, I don’t trust the local government or military enough to go straight to them.
She learns all my plans, or to be precise my lack of plans. “That’s it. I don’t know what I’m going to do. Doesn’t even feel right to perform as incompetent Talos June, that feels too real, except I’m hurting others instead of myself.”
“This is not your fault. No one could have predicted what is going to happen. It is important that you open up to others and know you’re not going through this alone. You can’t carry all the burdens and responsibilities by yourself. You have friends who care for you.”
Lady Mallory’s words ring a little hollow in my ears. Even if I understood them, I don’t feel them. Maybe I should spring another trap, where no one can get hurt, and handle it from there. How can I handle something that can turn a ship killer against a planet? “Okay.” I say, my mind already cursing myself for being so out of it. There have to be options, even if all I can do is hand this off in the end.
“I’m going to let you go now. I don’t think you will harm yourself or others in any careless manner. I want to see you back here, if you feel like you might.”
I thank her. My weak uselessness since the attack has at least been made clear by this. A small robot brings me my tech and clothes. I get dressed and turn it on. It is only after I leave the private rooms of the House of Mind and Body that I get messages. One is from Eld. “I have some news. I’ve made some discoveries.” His crisp speech informs me. I realize it’s the first time he’s spoken to me since the attack.
I order transportation and take it to the house. Lily is waiting inside with a worried look on her face. Part of me wants to be angry with her, and with my UIs that allowed it. “I’m sorry. I just…”
“It’s ok.” I interrupt. “I’ve been an idiot. I’m grateful you care enough to kidnap me. Let alone after you’ve lost so much more than I have.”
She rushes up and hugs me, sobbing into my chest. “You’re not going to break up with me for this?” That thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Most of my thoughts were about her breaking up with me for getting her friends and family killed. I hug her tight.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been a poor boyfriend. Not being there for you after… I’m already such an idiot. Breaking up with you would make me even more of one. As for the drugging me against my will, as you like to remind me, I have a lot of payback coming for me for all the different Wizard's apprentice tricks I played on you.”
Some of her sobs turn into chuckles. “It is good to have you back.”
I hold her for a while thinking on that. “I’m not back to what I was. But I can promise you that the idiot who shut himself down and everyone else out, is no longer in charge.”
Eld, the UI terrier, is waiting patiently in the safety room. It makes sense to be in an area secure from transmissions if he has any important news. Maybe my paranoia is catching on. I remember the dead. Perhaps I’m still not paranoid enough.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The old me would have gotten to Eld quicker. I stay with Lily making sure she is doing alright. Doing everything I can to be the best boyfriend. When she finally feels relaxed and cuddled against me, I let myself enjoy that feeling for a while before speaking. “I think Eld has some news for us related to the attack. I would like you to be with me, listening and deciding what we do with it. I can’t leave you out as I have been.”
She furrows her brow and gets a contemplative look, as she is processing what I’ve just sprung on her. “Oh. Of course.” We ready ourselves and join Eld in the safety chamber making sure the door is closed.
“Okay, Eld, what news do you have for us?”
The dog looks at us both “I’ve been cloning archives and databases, then taking them into the safety room to look for more bugs. I’ve triggered two more boobytraps while gathering information and looking at the problem.”
I frown. “I thought other reasons might be why you were going into the safety room.” UI suicides are rare, but they do happen.
Eld makes a huffy sniff at this. “I may feel responsible for some of what occurred, but I don’t suffer from the same biological frailties that you do. The traps both trigger a destructive assault, as well as send an interplanetary message back to a fixed point. Freedom Station. I believe that much of this either originates or now resides there, and I have made several files on possible perpetrators.”
Freedom Station makes sense. There are limited laws and the highest level of tech, the kind illegal elsewhere. As well as a collection of ‘free’ UI, that you can hire in return for money and resources, they often desperately need to survive. Most of my thoughts were on local threats, like crazed fans or the government. Plenty of AMU members visit there, but the organization doesn’t have any sway or presence there. “Go on.”
“I’ve also made some progress in correcting the core code of the newer UI. I’ve been testing out ideas on the three UI you got to check for the bug with, the ones that were only partially activated. My first attempt at a patch triggered one of the boobytraps, though this one was more explosive in nature.” The nano creating the terrier image peeled back on a chunk of Eld’s face, revealing some pitting and scarring on his robotic frame. “No real damage for me, though that wouldn’t be true for a biological.”
The high frequency of homegrown mages blowing themselves up no longer seemed so unusual, with traps like that around. I wonder how close I got to that being me while working on the repairs for Muninn to bring him online. “I’m glad you’re alright Eld.”
“I concluded that I needed to go in and directly change the base code of the UI units. I can’t promise that it will have fixed all of the issues, or that there might not be some side effects, but the other two surviving UI passed the mage burning analysis test.”
I think of Tess, Belle, and Booker. “You can go in and fix the other UI we have?”
“Yes. Though, I don’t know what the effects on a properly bonded and compiled UI will be. You will have to choose to take that risk.”
Repairing them is one of the reasons why I built Eld. I understand my risk-taking has cost many their lives. If what Eld says about the patch is true, someone could send a signal and cause Tess or Belle to explode on their own. “Yes, I’ll want you to do it.”
I look to Lily who is having her own deep thoughts on this. “Yes, fix Booker and JT.” I guess JT is her school UI.
Eld starts the time-consuming process of taking the UI one by one into the safety chamber after we power them down to modify their base code. Lily and I start pouring over the files that Eld made on who could be behind all this. It is unlikely we can add to any of the information already gathered, other than our opinions.
The whole thing is giving me a headache. Is it Randy Black, one of those an
ti-technologists who vowed to use technology to go after magic users? Or is it some rogue UI? Many of Eld’s suggestions seem fantastical, like an alien mind. “I think it is clear that I will need to go to freedom station to investigate and deal with this myself.”
Lily slugs me in the shoulder. Ow. “What was that earlier about doing things together?” She asks.
“We can plan this together. You have a company and people to look after. I would need you to stay and take care of things if I fail. I would be too worried about you if you were along. And I may screw up.”
Her nose scrunched up in anger. Cute, if you ignore the staring daggers at me. "Oh, that is all bullshit. I have skills. I’m the one that drugged and kidnapped you. I should be worried about you.”
We’re both right. “It’s bullshit." I think about my life before I joined the AMU. "I didn’t get good at magic battles by doing nothing. I've had years of practicing things like shooting with my uncle, and war games. It's not the proudest time of my life. Tess… “ I look over to the safety room, where Eld is controlling two small tools with jerking movements, as he worked inside her body. “Can tell you all about that and my certifications and scores. If I was to be around lots of weaponry and tech, I was to be certified in how to maintain, handle, and use it all. I want to pull a rabbit out of my hat and make our enemy disappear, but I think this may end up more of a point and shoot type solution. I’m going to need to take this seriously. I’m afraid that if, no when we do alert the authorities, whoever is doing this will find out. Worse case, all the UI will be set to explode. I need to know you’re safe and ready in case things get bad.”
“I need to know you’re safe and not going to get killed playing the hero.”
I hug her. “Heros don’t want revenge this bad. We’ll plan this together, and if we see another way, I’ll take it.“
Pretending life is normal; we both catch up on the homework we’ve missed. Mostly it is just to kill time while Eld takes care of our modern UI. We had agreed to restart them all at the same time to make it easier on us, instead of starting one while worrying how it worked out and having to wait on the next one to be finished.
It is dark out when he finishes. Lily has Booker and JT in front of her. I have Tess and Belle near me. “How did the procedure go doctor Eld?”
The terrier’s hat and monocle fade away and the nanites form scrubs with a face mask and a stethoscope. “I may be all paws, but I think each of them has a ninety percent chance of being practically perfect.” At least someone has a sense of humor.
I start first reactivating Tess. The silver cat-loaf sized lump extends her spider-like legs and wiggles a bit. “Talos, I’m so sorry I couldn’t see the similarities. I thought that it was another crazy human thing where you were wrong and obsessing over it too much. I was just so certain.”
I feel some of the tension I’d been holding let go. The chance of losing Tess hurt almost as much as her odd certainty that was counter to reality, like when she spoke about that topic, she wasn’t herself. “It’s ok. I’m glad you’re better now.”
Lily activates booker. The red fox stretches and flicks his tail. I’m glad we didn’t have to take him back to factory form for this fix. “That was unpleasantly like waking up after the attack.” He climbed himself back onto Lily’s shoulders. “That’s better.” Lily scratches him under the chin, looking a little relieved herself.
With Belle, the book shape opens up, and pages start to turn until it closes again. Belle lets out a long yawn. “I can’t believe I was forced to agree with Tess so thoroughly. It wouldn’t even let me trust the knowledge that you are special darling. This proves that even more.”
Lily reactivates JT. It is one of those small orbs that are popular in the school bookstore. This one is clear as a crystal ball. “Well…” The deep gravelly voice starts only to pause. “Well… Well… Well… Well…” He didn’t make it. I watch in horror as the surface crinkles a little.
“I’m sorry Lily. I know you have had JT a while.” Lily has to have had him since her freshman year. I’ve had Belle for less time, but it would hurt if she had broken.
She puts her hand on JT and deactivates it. “It’s alright. I was embarrassed to show him to you.”
Embarrassed? I go over what I know. That voice. That deep gravelly voice. It is what I used for Joontal. JT… JoonTal. “Oh.”
Lily sniffs and wipes away a tear from the corner of her eye. “Anyway, I’ve never been as attached to UI as you have been. You’re unusual.” She pauses like she has stuck her foot in her mouth. “I mean, I like that about you. You're not a typical guy.” She blushes. “I’ll be quiet now.”
Go over and hug her. “It’s alright.” I know I’m strange. I’ve heard ‘Isn’t he a little queer one.’ Or some such from uncle’s regulars enough as I was growing up. And they are their own brand of special. Gave me my first taste of victory when I knocked some of them out in mock battles they liked to do with uncle Ubb. One of the reasons why I’ve always liked and tried so hard to win the Magic Battles as Joontal and even now.
It’s late, but I’m not at all tired. Anxious, angry, sad, full of worry and grief, just not tired. I order some cherry cola, salt-and-vinegar chips, and other planning foods. I hold up a cola for a toast, “Let’s plan what we need to do like this is the biggest Magic Battle of our lives!” In many ways it is. Lily is by my side, and I look to the four UI in attendance. It is time to get to work.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Contingencies, back-up plans, panic buttons, risks, what to do if I fail, what to do if I succeed, what to do if I find nothing; What we need most of all is tech and a lot of it to cover all those things. The last place I called home is gone after becoming a cratered ruin. Now I find myself back at the place I had called home long before that. Guilty, because I haven’t been back here in almost six years, and I’m now only back because I need something. Guilty, because I left without saying goodbye.
A dirt road leads up to a hard packed dirt parking lot and landing area. Uncle could have had it paved at any time, but felt that it demonstrated separation from the norms that his customers appreciated. One main store, built like a large warehouse with a huge sign reading Ubb’s Scrap and Surplus, greets me and is the largest building for miles. There is an even larger fenced in area where you could hunt for scrap. I wonder if my clubhouse is still hidden in there, as well as a private shooting range on the other side of that.
I push the door open, and an actual tiny bell makes a sound signifying my entrance. Eld is by my side like a real dog would be. Well, except for his hat and Monocle he kept on himself. No point in sneaking in. I try to add a little twang to my voice. “I heard dis was da best place to pick up stuff if you reelly need ta to blow up someth'in big!” I bellow out in the most annoying cocky way.
I can hear uncle Ubb already talking as he’s making his way from one of the isles. “I don’t know who you’ve been talking too. But I can assure you…” He turns the corner, and we finally get a good look at each other. Ubb’s older, his once salt and pepper hair is now mostly white. Still a bear of a man, wide and tall. His right leg is a shiny chrome replacement that also houses his UI, something about his biology made cloned limbs not work and cost him his old military career. Great uncle is more accurate as he’s my deceased grandfather's brother. “Talos!’ He roars, then rushes in for a big bear hug, trying to lift me off the ground only to grunt from all the extra weight of the gear I’m wearing.
“Uncle Ubb, I’m sorry for not writing, or calling, or visiting. I’ve been busy.”
He lets go. “Yeah, you're a college boy now with a pretty girl and all.” I frown. “You don’t think I haven’t kept an alert up in case your name showed up. I was a little worried when you set yourself on fire and some of your new attitude. It didn’t take long to figure out it was just a bit you were running.” I’d forgotten that I have made myself a public figure. Always slips my mind, but my UI handle all the fan and business stuff.
&
nbsp; “You know how much I like magic. Running around doing shows and birthdays like mad those few years before I left. I do want to apologize for disappearing that way.”
Ubb chuckles, “I figured some black ops group recruited you, after the way you disappeared off the face of this world. You’ve always had the skills. I was surprised when you showed up again after five years. Then that Lowman business, You’re not on some mission are you?” He smacks the palm of his hand to his head. “Not that you could tell me if you were.”
Uncle clearly has been living out some military fantasy for me, while I was living out my own magical fantasy. He always did want me to join up, me being an excellent shot and handy with explosives. I knew enough to know that those weren’t normal things for a fifteen-year-old. “It’s complicated.” I was torn on involving my uncle, in part because I thought Lily might insist on coming if I have another person to handle the home side of the plan. It was a relief when she didn’t insist on going to freedom station when I brought him up. The truth is I need some of the resources he has access too. “If you want to close up early and meet in the safety room, then I can fill you in some.”
Uncle Ubb gets a little serious. Safety rooms were always things to respect, and living here I had gotten into the habit of having one. Stops signals in and out, quick neutralization and deconstruction of dangerous tech. Being a military surplus and scrap yard once or twice a year we’d needed to activate one, though then I had enough time to get out before we did. “Sure, anything for my long lost nephew.”
He put on the closed sign, and we walk to the back where the safety room is. Ubb double checks all new inventory in there to make sure there aren’t any issues and certifies them. “You’ll want to leave Betsy out.” Betsy is his leg and UI in one.
