Intelligence Block

by Kit Falbo

  We all take our seats. Across the aisle a pale blond haired girl who looks at least sixteen, she has a large black raven on her shoulder for a UI. The bird squawks at me and it's an uncomfortable reminder of what started me on this journey “Sorry if Huginn scared you, sir.”

  That name. I give her a second look. She has a little chain with a 3d printed wizard holding a staff while wearing a very familiar robe. “You’re a Wiz J fan?” I hadn’t expected to see one this far away from my home planet.

  “The biggest fan!” She declares proudly. “There is something about that old classical show of primal forces.” she spies my badge. It is still recommended I wear it on Freedom Station, even if they don’t fall under the Association's umbrella. “You’re an AMU member?”

  “Only a tech.” I extend my hand. “JT.”

  “Sonia.” She says with a shake. “I didn’t think the AMU allowed members to take UIs onto Freedom Station.”

  “They strongly recommended against it, and insurance doesn’t cover it. But, it is part of my research and as long as I’m willing to eat the cost.” The look on her face shows she’s appalled by the idea of taking such expensive things and almost assuredly throwing them away. Of course, she has her UI along. “So why are you heading to the station?” I look around to see if there are any parents nearby.

  “Berger-Spatten disorder.” I don’t know that one and query my UI.

  “A degenerative disorder that slows development and leads to an early death.” Belle tells me softly.

  I think of all the spectacular tech at and rumored to be at Freedom Station. “Special treatment?”

  She strokes her UI. “Me and Huginn are going to be a Humedroid. There are other treatments, but none as successful. My parents are against it, but after waiting so long, I have few options left. It’ll be like Wizard Joontal Cast a spell on me, and I'm magically restored. His apprentice did something like that when she battled Mistress Mink.”

  A Humedroid conversion can only take place if it is a willing match between the Human and the UI. A normal bonding doesn’t solve that issue, which is why most of the procedures are performed on Freedom Station. The odds of such a thing happening is very low. Even if half the people here are hoping to get such a conversion, having your unbonded UI want that is almost impossible. One in tens of thousands of dreamers. I don’t want to look up the actual numbers on conversions because I fear it is worse than I think. “Well, I'm no slouch with Wizard Joontal knowledge. How about we quiz each other, no UI involved, and see how long it takes to stump one of us. It’ll be a great way to distract ourselves during the flight.” And distract me from the fact this girl will probably be disappointed.

  “I warn you. I am his biggest fan.” She tells me enthusiastically. most likely wanting to think about something less depressing than he situation.

  We spend half an hour quizzing each other. “What did Wizard Joontal produce with his pipe on the last birthday he performed?” Sonia asks.

  “Smoke and then when asked to stop he switched to snowflakes.”

  “Thought I would get you with that one, only the original ones showed that, and the episode that had that got removed and can’t be found anymore.”

  “Told you I was no slouch.” I had to do some thinking for most of the answers, but it helps when you lived that life.

  “At that party, what was the spell that made the wands work for the children?”

  She scrunches up her face. “Damn you. I never did get to watch that episode. But I did manage to get a copy of one of the wands used. “Ikith!”

  “What did Lily Lowman swear to herself the second time Wizard Joontal made her cry from a lesson?”

  My mind draws a blank. I don’t know this one, because I wasn’t there. I remember making Lily cry more than once. Yes, I was a bad man, strict, harsh, refusing to teach her the technical side of things by pretending it didn’t exist. I know the professional production company got some more footage from the household and company that I didn’t have as part of their deal. I just haven’t seen it. “I don’t know.” I say at a loss.

  She tsk’s me. “To think an easy one would get you. She swore that she would make all of Joontal’s power hers and be a better wizard than him.”

  Strong-willed, determined, and able to fight through upsetting things. Suddenly sitting on the crowded shuttle, I feel very alone. I miss Lily. Maybe I could have stayed and let this be someone else's problem. But that’s not me, and Lily knows it, or she wouldn’t have helped me with this plan.

  “It’s sad that he died.” Sonia speaks up softly. “I like to pretend that he had his miracle, and is still alive. He is doing great things on other planes, battling demons, riding dragons. You work with those people. You probably know better than anyone that it is all a show. Just looking dangerous and exciting.”

  I look at the girl and can see the frailty there. “It’s a lot of work to put on a show and live as Wizard Joontal did. But when the odds are against you, it is also ok to hope for a miracle as well.“

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The shuttle shudders into the docking clamps of Freedom Station. I’m eager to get off this rusty charter. It is not the structural integrity of the shuttle that is bothering me. The people, Freedom Station sells them on dreams of nearly impossible situations. Freeing slaves, showing your UI as a true friend, becoming a Humedroid. You look at the numbers, and you can see that these are near impossible things. Maybe they haven’t been willing to see their odds or feel like this is their last chance. On that charter, you can feel their desperation, forlorn hope. In some ways, I’m just like them.

  Hopefully, for me, planning will make a difference. I know the UIs that I’ve brought with me are probably gone. I’ve made sure they have funds to survive. It is also why I left Eld behind. The UI admitted he felt there was a near certainty he would take off the moment the unbonding was complete, recommending that he stay. Even with that happening, after doing some research, we figured there is a fifty percent chance that the ones that are with me will still help me in my mission to gather information and deal with the force that is behind the core code issue. That help will probably not be exactly how I want it. Unbound UI don't lose their desire to complete goals assigned to them. It is just that the person once bonded to them is no longer considered.

  We line up. Ahead is a large yellow square where the unbonding process takes place. To stay in character and because I’m genuinely curious; I activate some programs and devices to monitor the process. You step in the square, once they clear you, you can move onto the station. It is one of the most straightforward customs checks ever. There is no checking for contraband or illegal technology because on Freedom Station none of it is illegal.

  I get an incoming signal asking me if I want to buy the Freedom Station rules. They’re free, but someone will try to charge you for them anyway. They boil down to three principal ideals. No bondage, no UI bonding, slavery, marriage, or business contracts are enforceable or accepted. Everyone is individuals who choose to act each moment as they see fit. No privacy, all messages, and spaces are being recorded at all times and are accessible for whoever is willing to pay for them. Not even in the bathroom or bedroom. Full suits like mine are quite common. The cheapest which lets you look like a featureless shade of color is covering all your details. It is quite popular. I can see a blue one and a red one in the distance. No freeloaders, space is at a premium here. If you go twenty-four hours without a registered area, you are promptly collected and removed. Ships departing the station are required to leave with what their space allows for passengers whenever they depart the station. It is another reason why you don’t see many commercial or private ships here. UIs aren't so lucky because shuttles are not required to take them. There are more nitty-gritty details about conflict resolution, and damaging the station as well.

  I dismiss the offer. My attention is on the other passengers approaching the yellow square. The old man abolitionist is first, with an armful of UI
and several others floating around him is as he steps onto the square. I think he rushed to be first in line. “I give you your freedom!” The man joyfully cries as he steps in.

  The process is not instantaneous and takes a few minutes at least. One of the floating orbs wobbles away. A few in the abolitionist's arms start twitching erratically, clearly in some form of disrepair. It’s shameful that he’s doing this to half broken UI, yet this man is oblivious to it and has tears of joy. The twelve-inch doll of a man moves in the old man's arms, briefly looking around. It’s a toy and barely should qualify as a UI. “I want to be your friend!” it says. “Let’s play!” It starts biting and clawing at the old man.

  It draws blood, and the man drops everything in his arms and yelps in surprise. The UIs fall to the floor in a loud crash, damaging many of the ones unable to protect themselves due to their poor condition. A few stop moving altogether.

  The man-doll is undamaged and starts grabbing the old man’s leg. “Let’s play!” The old man is hopping about trying to dislodge it.

  “You are clear. Move on.” Says one of the guards, unamused by the situation.

  The doll lets go, running away. “But…” The old man stutters as the guard steps up and nudges him away. I see the Doll UI grab a man's leg. "Play with me!" The man is not gentle in removing it, shaking it loose roughly nearby, then with a stop and a crunch, it is finally still, toy limbs splayed out at odd angles. The pile of immobile UIs are swept up, and the square is free for the next traveler.

  One by one, passengers enter, hoping that their UI will be the one that stays. None do. Several people in line get cold feet and get out of line. Either they are wanting to see if anyone is successful or planning to make the return trip without an attempt.

  Sonia is next, and my heart goes out to her as she steps into the square. Huggin caws once, twice, and looks down at the girl. “You are clear.” says the guard. I can see hope in her eyes, then Huggin takes off flying away. I’m close enough to hear a sob as she steps out of the square.

  “I hope she finds a solution.” I whisper to myself. If she had enough money for the Humedroid procedure, then maybe she can afford another high tech treatment to extend her life. Maybe find a UI that is willing to undergo the process.

  Soon it is my turn. I find myself hesitant to step in, knowing it’s not too late to go to the AMU on Apaxis and fill them in, hoping they can solve this while I maintain my partnership with the UIs I brought. Stage nerves I tell myself and step into the square.

  Belle is first to react, she wiggles out from under my arm and uses her book cover like wings to fly away without a word. My metal suitcase that is Tess puts out her six legs and drops from my hand. “Goodbye.” She says softly. A single word, so more hope than Belle that she’ll do her part of the mission.

  “It’s impossible to shield the debonding.” The guard informs me. He stares at my badge. “Mage.”

  “Just a tech. Not attempting anything funny here.” I raise both my hands up, and my fingers wiggle first on one hand, and then the next. He grunts and I can feel my skin start to itch in the suit. I don’t know if he’s turned it up or something.

  A few minutes longer than the other passengers I stand there. “You are clear. Move on.”

  I step out, feeling disconnected without any UI feeding me information, not unexpected but it still feels like I'm missing a limb. “Well.” I look at my right hand. The palm opens and closes twice. “Time to get started.”

  Chapter Thirty

  I am JT, at least as much as I was Wizard Joontal. Where all information is purchasable, I assume that tourists get special attention, let alone when a past is as blank as well JT’s is. We managed to build it up somewhat, but there is only so much you can do in this day and age. I’m also an AMU member, which is sure to get extra attention. But instead of creating wonder and spectacle I will be set to make myself a low priority for anyone watching, which means being boring. Well, as dull as a place like Freedom Station will let me. It’s more important to stay in character than avoid all conflict.

  A scrawny young teen in rags points what looks like pistols at me. “This is my area. Give us all your money. That badge too if you want to pass here safely.” I’m only about a hundred meters past where they did the UI bond removal. Boring will be problematic.

  “I decline this transaction.” It’s a phrase the guidebook I read recommended you say if anyone asks for money for any reason. I try to use the computer I bought for the trip to get information on the weapons they are pointing on me. I already miss having a UI connected that can quickly inform me.

  He takes a step closer to me jabbing his pistol forward. “I said give me…”

  Too close. My right arm shoots out and grips his wrist hard enough to make him grunt in pain and drop the weapon. “I said, I decline this transaction.”

  He tries to pull away, but the suits enhanced strength holds him still. “Hey man.”

  “I’ll not call an Arbiter to settle this. Bother someone else.” My hand lets go. Arbiters settle disputes for a fee.

  I still have to make my way to the lodging I secured to make sure I have registered space on the station for at least several weeks. I have to occupy it for at least a third of a day, or they will sell it to someone else.

  I’m not fifty meters from where the mugging attempt happened, and an Arbiter floats my way. Sky blue uniform, silver badge, feet are hovering about ten centimeters off the ground. “Guest, pause.” She’s old but indeterminate, silver hair, crows feet at the corner of her eyes but with otherwise smooth skin. She could be fifty with some treatments or two hundred with a lot.

  I stop, pausing a moment. “How can I help you, Arbiter Lock?” Thankfully Arbiter information is free, and I manage to use the computer to pull up her profile. Arbiter 64 years so definitely not on the younger side.

  “You have a UI tell you that?” A question, I can see her looking around me.

  I smile. Without a UI guiding my facial cues, I know it is delayed a bit as the suit reads my response. “Computer. It was recommended for this trip for obvious reasons, just went and checked the records.”

  She tilts her head in acceptance, probably having double checked my actions. “Reasonable. I must inform you a conflict resolution request has been made against you.”

  “Really? I’ve barely even arrived.”

  “There is a complaint about you damaging a young man's wrist?”

  I rub my right hand. It didn’t seem that bad. I hadn’t heard a crack. “I declined his transaction. He made a threatening move, and I defended myself. I’m sorry if I broke any rules. If I remember correctly, I was well below the amount of force I could have used in that situation. You may, of course, review the physical and visual records.”

  She looks at me for a few moments not blinking. “You seem rather well versed in the rules of Freedom Station.”

  “Oh I plan ahead and do research, I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

  “And why are you here?”

  “I’m not required to answer that here. Maybe for a fee. That’s how things work here right? I’m starting to worry that I didn’t bring enough funds for all the questions I want to ask.”

  “You’ve made me curious. Fifty stations do?” Stations are the name of the currency here. That’s enough to pay for two days of registered space and meals.

  It is essential when you accept a transaction for information that you do not lie, conflict penalties for doing that is quite stiff. There is a cottage industry of trying to get people to lie so that you can go after them harder for the penalty. It’s good money. I don’t think JT has a reason to refuse. “Transaction accepted.” She hands me a single coin of hard currency. Similar to the kind I gave to the UIs for them to keep. I tap my badge. “AMU member here. I collected data on the debonding process, and I’m going to research it some. I’m also planning on looking at new tech while I’m here.”

  “That all?” She asks pushing harder.

  “Nope.
I have to see what research brings me. I really can’t say what I’m going to do later anyway. Don’t want to say something I might not do and mislead you.”

  Her pleasant demeanor doesn’t change, but I get the feeling she wanted more out of me. “Looks like the audio and visual of the conflict support your story, guest. I will inform the complainant that I will be keeping his deposit. Have a good day.” With that, she glides off.

  Unlikely that was a coincidence. I make my way to the sunshine terrace where my lodging is. “JT, I have a reservation for a registered room?”

  The tired balding man behind the desk looks at me. “Space for two? I can downgrade you if you want it cheaper.”

  “Things… Well. I suppose now I have the chance of maybe inviting someone in who needs it. Company has already got the room covered anyway.”

  He shrugs and hands me a key. “Don’t lose that. Room 108”

  It’s a single bed, tight space and a toilet. I don’t see how this could count as room for two. Now I’m thrilled I didn’t take the downgrade. Time to get to work. I pull out the data I collected when the UIs detached. I’m not expecting to find anything new, every few months different companies and organizations send people to figure it out, and so far with no luck. Still, if someone checks the visual record of me being in this room. They’ll find me doing what I said I would be doing.

  I hope Belle and Tess are handling their roles better. Hell, I hope they are doing any of the options we had planned, if they are not, this will be a prolonged and more frustrating experience. Stick to the plans. Worst that will happen is a boring vacation, and then I pass this problem off to someone else.