“Yes! Do you like me? I just finished the avatar this morning.”
“Very much, Igaklay. You look very handsome. And you move so naturally. How did you create your avatar so quickly?”
“It was easy, Ambassador Suzume. Once you gave me permission to access the robotics plant, I just ran a pre-programmed construction sequence and here I am! Do you like the tunic? I even have the Griffin patch. See?”
“Yes. Very stylish.”
“I could only make the belt. I couldn’t make a dagger, because of your command.”
“Aw, don’t mope, Iggy. It’s no big thing.
“I know. But I want to be like you.”
“Well, I don’t have a dagger. I wear a tool belt. You could have a tool belt.”
“Yes! One like yours, Mack!”
During the course of the conversation, Keiko and Krag exchanged worried looks. Both wondered how they were going to handle this now-mobile, immature super artificial intelligence. Stepping forward, Krag took the lead.
“Looking good, Igaklay. Now you are truly a member of Den Griffin. What’s next?”
“I get to show you your living quarters! This is the Governmental Palace. It used to be where all of the most powerful people lived. On the top floors. They governed on the bottom. Come on! I will show you!”
So saying, Igaklay grabbed Ambassador Suzume’s hand with his two-fingered one and fairly dragged her through the entrance to the giant, silver pyramid.
The entire group easily fit in the large, open foyer.
“This is the entrance area, Igaklay?”
“Yes, Princess Analyn. Anyone entering is met with the receptionist and waits here for his, or her, contact.”
“They stand? Don’t Ballisonians sit?”
“Oh! Let me show you!”
This time Princess Analyn added her worried glance to those of Keiko’s and Krag’s. And, knowing that Igaklay could hear everything, no one said anything. Everyone continued to act normally as they followed the immature A.I. with the childish exuberance continue his show-and-tell.
“Just ask. I’ll show you.”
Igaklay changed his joyous tone to one of authority and pointed one of his two fingers to a spot on the floor. “Construction mode! One Ballisonian chair,” he commanded.
The closest pyramid wall began disgorging a string of silver particles. The air where he pointed began to fill with the swirling silver speckles. The air then began to glow, becoming more and more solid. With a silent pop, a small, silver, low-backed chair popped into existence.
Igaklay took three steps and sat.
“See? You can just call out and get what you need. You try.”
“Me, I’m next,” Mack proclaimed. “You’ve got the human data base. Can I construct human stuff, Iggy?”
“Yes, Mack.”
“Construction Mode! A human chair, a stuffed recliner, there.”
Mack pointed to a spot next to the seated Igaklay and everyone watched the swirling speckles and saw the formation of the silver recliner.
“Is silver the only color?”
“It’s the default, Mz. Sue. You can request any color. Changing colors takes more energy. But the default is silver.”
“Then we can order up just about anything?”
“Yes, Captain Marston.”
“Is that just here?”
“No. anywhere in the governmental building. It is completely covered in communicators and generators.”
“So, Iggy. How does this work?”
“Nano-technology.”
“Ya, I can see that. But what’s the delivery system? And how do you get the nanites to take the proper shape?”
The Ballisonian avatar waved his small hand across the room.
“Every wall of this structure has three imbedded components. First, it is one large computer. Not as big as me, but very big. And not sentient. I control it. Since I have absorbed your human and Elonian data bases, I can control it to construct anything Human or Elonian. Second, there are large reservoirs of assembly material and nanites. And third, the walls are membranes with delivery systems that deliver or retrieve the nanites.”
So, Iggy. What you’re saying is, I request something solid. You get the right configuration and order the pyramid computer. Then it programs the nanites and spits them out.”
“Yes, Mack. In a very simplistic manner, that’s what happens.”
“What about food?”
“Nutritional requirements are different. Nanites aren’t viable as food sources. We have, basically, the same process as you have on Griffin. Only more sophisticated.”
“What you’re sayin’, Iggy, is that we have everything we need right here in this big old building.”
“Exactly! You never have to leave! And I can stay here with you!”
The scientists joined in the worried look passing between Princess Analyn, Krag and Keiko.
“Um, Igaklay. Humans and Elonians don’t have the temperaments to live their entire lives indoors.”
“But, it’s so big here, Captain Marston. And I can give you everything you need!”
Using his own mindspeak communications, Krag asked, “Buster. Can Igaklay listen in on our communication?”
“Not now, Captain. I have tight-beamed your signal to only me.”
“What about from you to the Elonians?”
“Nor them. My communication with them is telepathic. Igaklay can’t intercept those thought transmissions.”
“Could we set up a network so that I can communicate through you to the Elonians?”
“Already in place, Captain Marston.”
“Thank you, Vidhee. Princess Analyn, I need some help here. We need to convince Igaklay that we need freedom of movement, the ability to do what needs to be done to get Griffin upgraded and get out of here.”
“Doctor Ganakin, would you help out?”
“Yes, My Princess.”
“I understand, Igaklay. But, Doctor Roshnak and I are scientists,” Doctor Ganakin interjected. “We came to explore your world. Learn about your people.”
“I have a massive library of information. And you have access to all of it. I can construct a studying room for you. Any way you want it.”
“It’s not the same, Igaklay. We need to actually handle what we explore. Feel what we see. I’m sure you have a great library. No offense, but on-site exploration is what is needed. It’s what we do.”
“I am the researcher, Igaklay. I would love to see your library.”
“Thank you, Princess Analyn.”
“And I, also, Igaklay.”
A slightly mollified Igaklay replied, “Oh good. You can study all you want, Ambassador Suzume.”
“My men, Igaklay. They need to train. And some should accompany the scientists while they explore your world.”
“Just outside is a large, open grassland for training, Tribune Ambakai. They can train there. And I can watch!”
“That is good, Igaklay.”
Krag and Keiko gave nods of approval as they watched and listened to Doctor Ganakin and Tribune Ambakai patiently manipulate the super A.I.
“Let me ask you a question, Igaklay. You promised that we would be able to upgrade Griffin, add Ballisonian technology. Is that still the plan?”
“Yes. I did promise. But don’t you want to stay here?”
“It’s not that, Igaklay. But we have a responsibility to the Human race. It is in danger. You know that. We need to help our people.” Forcefully changing the subject, Keiko waved her hand at a wall. “Now, let’s see the rest of your government pyramid. Show us Ballison.”
The little, grey-green avatar clapped it two-fingered, one-thumbed hands and fairly hopped in anticipation.
“Yes! Let me show you your new home!”
Again, everyone traded looks. Then everyone followed the synthetic Ballisonian towards a wall. Igaklay stopped at a wall. The dissolving occurred. An entrance opened and everyone began their exploration.
The tour
took a better part of the morning. All the floors, except the bottom two, were completely barren. Those each held a single room. The Griffin crew and passengers went from floor to floor, planning and roughly laying out living spaces, communal spaces and work spaces within the giant pyramid. They ended on the ground floor, standing in front of one of the rooms.
“Here is the galley, Ambassador Suzume. I made it for everyone. Elonians and Humans. And Ballisonians, if they ever come back.”
“I know it’s hard, Igaklay. Missing your creators. But we will help.”
“You have, already, Princess Analyn. I’m not so lonely.”
“Ya, Iggy. And, if you are a good little super A.I., more Elonians and Humans will come to visit. Maybe stay.”
“Really, Mack?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Mack. Yes, Igaklay. If we, you and us, can make Ballison an attractive planet with the freedom for beings to build their lives and live the way they desire, this could happen.”
“That would be wonderful, Captain Marston! You will see! I will make Ballison the most beautiful planet in the galaxy!”
“That’s for another day, Iggy. Today, I am hungry. Show me your Galley.”
“This way.”
So saying, Igaklay’s new avatar walked towards the wall, an opening irised and he entered. Everyone followed.
The galley, contained a wall full of appliances and a full-length counter. The rest of the eating area, remained empty. Mack experimented by ordering up multiple tables and chairs.
“So, Iggy, how long will these tables and chairs remain?”
“Until you order them returned.”
“The nanites are still in the furniture?”
“No, Mack. Once the nanites deliver the material and create the construct, they flow back into the walls. Otherwise, there would be a constant need for nanite replacements.”
“Got it.”
“Gopai had found his way to the wall filled with appliances.
“How do I order, Sir Igaklay?”
Igaklay left Mack and hustled over to Gopai. “You should just call me ‘Igaklay’, Squire Gopai. We are all friends here.”
“I will do that, um, Igaklay.”
“Just speak your request. The proper equipment will create your order. Go ahead and try.”
“A cup of mint tea, lukewarm.”
A small amount of speckles swarmed over a pad on the counter top and returned to the wall. In their place a cup, saucer and spoon remained. An arm telescoped from one of the appliances and ejected a liquid into the cup.
Before Gopai could reach for it, Krag interrupted. “Gopai, a moment. Vidhee, would you analyze the tea, please?”
“Of course, Captain Marston.”
Vidhee closed the distance to the counter, held out her index finger and extended her sensory rod. After leaving it in the liquid for a moment, she announced, “It is mint tea, Captain Marston. With the exact molecular makeup of the tea onboard Griffin. The temperature is also the same.”
“Thank you Vidhee. Gopai, the tea is good to drink.”
“Good. I’m wasting away. Eh, Lassie. You up to a bite?”
“Yup. I’m starved.”
Mack and Sue hurried to the counter and placed orders.
“Vidhee, Buster, please check their foods.”
“I have got to get me one of those sensors.”
“I can get you one, Buster. Have it installed in no time.”
“That would be great, Igaklay. Thank you.”
While this conversation took place, Vidhee had checked every food on both Mack’s and Sue’s plates.
“All food is consumable for Humans, Captain Marston. And, unlike the Elonian replicators, all nutrients are supplied. No supplements are needed.”
“Hey, Iggy. Can we get this setup put in Griffin? This would come in real handy.”
“Yes, Mack. It can be one of the upgrades.”
“How do you get the replication so perfect?”
“Molecular manipulation, Mack. We can construct any molecules we wish. The only limiter is our knowledge of the molecule.”
“What’s your material source?”
“For consumables, we use a complex organic paste. It is created from any organic material. For non-organics, we create a polyoxometalate paste. That is created from anything non-living. In both cases, we simply manipulate the molecules until we achieve the standardized pastes and put them in storage.”
“How old are these pastes, Iggy?”
“Just over three thousand of your years. But don’t worry. They never break down or transmute. The pastes are completely inert.”
“So, Gopai is drinking three thousand year-old sludge.”
“Don’t listen to him, Igaklay. He’s just being sardonic,” Sue interjected as she gave Mack ‘the look’.
“Just playing, Iggy.”
“Yes, Mack, I am beginning to learn human humor. But you are right. The pastes used for Gopai’s tea are more than three thousand years old.”
“Enough technobabble. Let’s eat.”
Krag and Keiko followed Mack and Sue. Princess Analyn, with her entourage and scientists, ordered next, with Tribune Ambakai and his seven Royal Guardsmen finishing up. Again, Vidhee checked every dish and deemed each one safe and nutritious. Mealtime passed with periods of quiet as everyone ate, interrupted by periods of discussion and, in between mouthfuls, copious questions from the two Elonian researchers.
“Excellent meal, Igaklay.”
“Thank you, Princess Analyn.”
“We’ve all seen Igaklay’s pyramid. Ambassador Suzume, would you please take some time and assign living quarters for everyone?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Does that mean you will stay?”
“This means that we will stay in the Pyramid while we are on Ballison, Igaklay.”
“Oh,” Igaklay sadly responded.
“No moping, Iggy.”
“I know, Mack.”
With that pronouncement, and with Keiko leading, the Human-Elonian contingent began assigning floors and formulating their plans for living quarters communal rooms and work areas.
Elonia Royal Court
“I Protest this break of protocol!” Senator Sanjinan, of the Clan Chikuno loudly voiced. “This hearing is to be heard in the Monarchal Legal Court. This breaks all precedent!”
Sitting on his throne, King Kaporine waited patiently for his enemy to end his tirade. Looking down the Royal Court’s expansive floor, he saw two lines of Elonians facing each other. To the King’s left sat ten of the eleven members of the Elonian Senate. To his right stood ten of the eleven level one synthetics which comprised the Monarchal Legal Court. Spreading down both side walls, bleachers filled with hundreds of spectators filled the gallery, waiting to learn of the future for the Kaporine Clan. Splitting the two groups, Senator Sanjinan stood at the petitioner’s podium taking the ground to begin fighting the verbal battle of removing the current king and replacing him with one he could control.
Chief Justice Agidan raised his metal paw for silence. Senator Sanjinan immediately complied.
“King Kaporine has explained his reasoning for holding the hearing in the Royal Court and we of the Court have agreed that his request is reasonable. Let us continue.”
“Holding the hearing here gives the current king an advantage.”
“I understand your concern, Senator Sanjinan. May I remind you that we, the Monarchal Court, are Synthetics. We are not swayed by location or environment. Only logic and facts. As I said, we shall continue. Vidhee, are you with us?”
“Yes, Honorable Agidan,” Vidhee’s voice bounced around the room from the extensive speaker system.
The Senators and the gallery looked around, trying to spot the eleventh member of the Monarchal Legal Court. King Kaporine, his Queen and the Monarchal Legal Court already knew where she resided. They waited for the clamor to settle.
“What is this? Is she speaking from Wisdom Seeke
r?”
“No, Senator Sanjinan. I am speaking from Ballison. Trillions of locts from Elonia.”
“How is that possible? I don’t believe it.”
“Synthetics don’t lie, Senator Sanjinan. We are in contact with an artificial intelligence from the ancient Ballison civilization. The human ship, Griffin, has made its way here and we are currently on the surface of Ballison.”
“Then you are communicating with Ballisonian technology?”
“Yes, Senator Sanjinan. We have named it a ‘quant-com’.”
“And King Kaporine has known about this technology?”
“Yes, I have, Senator,” the King answered
“Then the withholding of this knowledge will be added to the charges.”
The Elonian Senator froze and unfroze. “The Senate as ruled, six to five, that the charge of malfeasance for withholding technology which would better Elonia has been added to the charges.”
“Plead your case, Senator Sanjinan,” Chief Justice Agidan ordered.
“Gladly, Honorable Agidan.”
As a show of importance, the Senator forced the congregation to wait while he studied his personal tablet.
Firstly, a review of the actions of the Human synthetic named ‘Buster’ of the interstellar ship named ‘Griffin’ Please display the video.”
Everyone watched the wrestling match between the Human, Krag Marston, and the Royal Guardsman, Gopai. The room saw the Elonian’s defeat. Then they saw Gopai’s total loss of control and decorum by baring teeth and extending claws.
All of the Elonians in the room either gasped or sucked in air at the speed and power displayed by the Human synthetic. They froze at how quickly Gopai changed from a charging warrior to a panicked cub, dangling in the strange mechanical paw of the Human synthetic. They saw Gopai strangling and almost die until the Human Captain shouted, “No!”
“As you can see, this Human synthetic, this ‘Buster’ is built for violence, destruction and even killing. He attacked an Elonian, a Royal Guardsman. When these actions were brought to King Kaporine’s attention, he dismissed them.”
“Rebuttal, Your Honor.”
“As is allowed, King Kaporine.”
“As you all saw, Gopai, my fourth nephew, initiated the action. The Human, Krag Marston, is the captain and the owner of the starship Griffin. Buster, as a crew being of that ship is required to protect his Captain. The video clearly displays that Buster’s actions did simply that. And, at his Captain’s order, he ceased.”
Battle in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 4) Page 14
