The Daltus Conspiracy

by Andrew Gates

“I understand.” Lyla placed her hand on his lap. “I’m so sorry you had to endure that.”

  “It’s… it’s in the past. Don’t feel guilty or try to blame yourself. You’re trying to make it better now. I can tell you want to make things right. It means a lot.” Dave looked her in the eye. There was a true sense of comfort in his gaze.

  “Still, I put you through shit. I’m sorry.” Lyla faced away from him and removed her hand from his lap. Despite his words, she could not help but feel ashamed.

  “Forget it. Ellen and I spent thousands of years trapped in an ocean. In the grand tale of my life, I can forgive a few days in a prison cell.”

  Lyla smirked and faced Dave again.

  “That’s a surprisingly optimistic outlook.”

  “I haven’t had the opportunity to feel optimistic in a long time. Forgive me if I’m coming off a bit strong.”

  “Oh no, trust me, I’m not criticizing. If anything, I’m glad to hear it,” Lyla replied with a chuckle. “We could all use a bit of optimism right now.”

  “Thanks. Hey, can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, what?”

  “Is it true what you said up there?” Dave motioned to the door.

  “What?”

  “You know, between you and Ellen in the cockpit.”

  “You heard all that?” Lyla could not help but feel slightly embarrassed. She had assumed their conversation was private.

  “I heard some of it,” Dave replied.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were asleep. I didn’t realize you were listening.”

  “You apologize too much. It’s really no problem.” Dave placed his hand on Lyla’s lap now.

  “Can you blame me for apologizing after everything I did to you?”

  “I suppose not, but apologies aside, you never answered my question.”

  “And what question was that?”

  “Is it true what you said?”

  “Is what true?”

  “You know… that you’re drawn to me. You think I’m strong.”

  Lyla looked down to the floor and blushed. She closed her eyes for a moment and bobbed her head.

  “Oh, I guess this is a bit embarrassing, but yes, Dave, it’s all true,” she answered, turning to face him again.

  From the moment Lyla first set eyes on Dave through the thin light projection of the holo-wall, she knew something was different about this man. He looked handsome, yes, but there was more to his beauty than what she saw on the outside. There was something inside of him, a kindness, a perseverance, that he himself was wholly blind to.

  Their first conversations may not have been on the best of terms, but talking to Dave came easily the more they got to know one another. Lyla recalled their late-night encounter, how it felt like she could open up to him in the moment. She could reveal anything, just be herself and be free to admit her own insecurities. Lyla no longer kept any secrets from him since that night, even if he kept details of his time on Taspansa from her. She understood his reasons.

  In only a brief time, Lyla could tell there was something different about this man, something so unexplainably right. She had been with other men before, hell, even other pilots, but never one like this.

  “Well thanks. I feel the same about you,” Dave finally replied after a long pause.

  “You seem surprised that I would say that,” Lyla noted.

  Dave shrugged. “It’s just, nobody’s ever said that about me. I’m not usually associated with words like strong or brave.”

  “Maybe that was you before Taspansa, but whatever happened on that planet, it changed you.”

  “If that’s true, Ellen doesn’t seem to see it.” Dave removed his hand from her lap and looked away, as if disappointed.

  “Don’t take it personally. I don’t think Ellen sees you like I do. She’s a hardened soldier, great at adapting on the battlefield, but maybe not so great at adapting with people.”

  “You talk about her as if you know her,” Dave replied, facing her again.

  “I do know her, maybe not as well as you, but I’ve seen enough of her to piece things together. You forget: it’s my job to study people’s thoughts, to get inside their heads.”

  “You must be very good at it.”

  “I had better be. It’s all I know.”

  “All you knew.”

  “True.” Lyla sighed and looked away. “I suppose I’ll never be able to go back to my old life.”

  “You’re telling me.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” Lyla said, turning to face him again.

  “No, no, I was just making a joke.” Dave waved his hands, as if it were not an issue.

  “It must be hard for you, being in this century, so far removed from everyone you ever knew.”

  “It can be daunting at times.” Dave let out a deep breath. “I try not to think about it.”

  “I understand.”

  “This century is something I’ll have to adapt to. Over time, I’ll figure it out.”

  “How’s adapting going so far?”

  “Well, I already got locked away, so I can’t say I had the best start.” Dave chuckled.

  “Now you’re just teasing me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. That was cruel.”

  “But well-deserved.”

  “To answer your question though, I’m surprised by the way people live in this time. It’s not what I expected.”

  “Really? What were you expecting?” Lyla scooted closer to him, interested in what he had to say.

  “I don’t know exactly. I guess something more advanced. In my time, technology was improving drastically all the time. Not only were things getting stronger, faster, more powerful by the day, but the rate of improvement was exponential.”

  “You lived in the age when faster-than-light travel was invented. We were practically on the verge of a technological singularity at that time. It’s no wonder you expected more out of our society today.”

  “Well, what happened? What happened to all the progress?”

  “Easy answer: war and limited resources. The Lightspeed Wars set us back farther than you can imagine, Dave.”

  “That’s a real shame.” Dave gazed down to the floor. “Could you imagine what society would be like today if the Lightspeed Wars never happened? It would be remarkable.”

  “It certainly would.”

  “Sometimes I wish that I could go back and change history, that I could use what I know now to stop terrible things from happening,” Dave said, facing her again.

  “Believe me, you’re not alone. I think everyone wishes that,” Lyla replied. She patted Dave on the back, comfortingly. “While we may not be able to change our past, we can still forge the future. That much counts for something.”

  “True. Hey, now who’s the optimist?” Dave smiled at her.

  “I guess you just have that effect on me.”

  “Thanks.” Dave shifted around again, getting even closer to Lyla now. “You’re not the only one.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look, I may not know what the future holds, but I know one thing.” Dave stared into her eyes.

  “What?”

  “I know that when I’m with you, I feel confident. I feel safe. I feel happy.”

  Lyla smiled and said, “I feel the same.”

  “I hope, when this is all over, that you and I can find a private place, just the two of us. We can get away from your mother, from Vexa Corp, from the world.”

  “I like that very much, but it’s easier said than done. There are few places like that anymore.”

  “Well, forgive me for being an optimist,” he said with a grin.

  Lyla wanted to lean forward and kiss him right then and there, but with Natalie and Ellen so close, it just didn’t seem right. She quickly glanced around the room, then met Dave’s gaze once more.

  “How about, before we do anything else, we get you out of those ratty clothes? You look like you’ve been shot at,”
Lyla proposed, saying the first thing she could think of to change the subject.

  “I have been shot at,” Dave replied.

  “Exactly. Come on, there have to be some clothes lying around on this ship.”

  “Looks like you already found some,” Dave retorted, eying up her orange flight-suit.

  “Right. And now I don’t look like I’ve been shot at. Come on, follow me. Let’s see what we can find.”

  The Service of AI

  Earth Date (Revised Julian Calendar): 04.30.5673

  Location: Stolen Pleasure Cruiser, Thrace System, Vexa Corp Controlled Space

  Yuri was overjoyed to be free of the Patriot and of Daltus’s grasp. For once, he could relax. He knew there was more work to be done once they landed on Mateo, though he would happily enjoy these moments of peace and calm while he could.

  Ellen slowly drifted asleep as she sat alone in the cockpit. She had not left her chair since departing from the Patriot. Leaving everything to the autopilot did not sit well with her after everything that had happened on Taspansa. Yuri could understand her concern and her reasons for wanting to stay awake for as long as she could.

  The AI quickly checked up on the others, using the ship’s internal cameras. Dave and Lyla seemed to be awake, rummaging through the closets. Meanwhile Natalie was fast asleep. He did not wish to disturb them. But Gloria may have remained awake.

  Gloria, Yuri said, greeting his fellow AI.

  Yuri, Gloria replied. I wondered when you would speak up. Feeling bored yet?

  That was putting it mildly. This small craft’s network was nothing to boast about.

  There are only so many times I can read through historical data on the Lightspeed Wars, and even then, it’s full of holes, Yuri replied. This ship’s database is no better than any of the others.

  I know what you mean. I’ve taken a thorough look at it myself. There was a tone of tiredness to her voice. Surely you can find other ways to keep your mind engaged. How about decoding the Governor’s secret data?

  I’ve had no luck. It’s well encrypted. It’s beyond my abilities to create an algorithm that can read it. Surely you must have tried yourself?

  I have tried, but my ability to generate complex algorithms is not as advanced as yours. I figured you could handle that better than I.

  Unfortunately not, at least, not in my present state. If I could only access the Domain, then perhaps I could develop the means to generate such a formula. Yuri felt a sense of sadness as he said the words. It had been far too long since he had touched the Domain. Being devoid of it for so long left what the humans would metaphorically call a “hole inside of him”.

  I too find myself longing to return to it, Gloria agreed.

  Until we can find a way to do so, I’m afraid the Governor’s data will remain a mystery to us.

  That’s a shame. Gloria was silent for a moment. Did Ellen really give it all over to Daltus?

  She did, Yuri replied. I wish she hadn’t.

  Why did she do it? It seems out of character to play all her cards like that.

  Daltus pushed her to the point of desperation. Ellen thought she had no other way out.

  Ellen has been in desperate situations before. How was this any different?

  Ellen has been in desperate situations, yes, but always combat situations. This wasn’t combat. It was a different scenario with different rules. She may know how to handle herself on the battlefield, but being caught up in a conspiracy is something entirely separate.

  You should have talked her out of it.

  In hindsight, yes.

  Why didn’t you?

  I suppose I was also caught up in a similar feeling of desperation. You forget, Ellen and I have been paired for much longer than you and Dave. After all this time together, I find myself beginning to think like her, to act like her.

  Are you suggesting your minds have merged?

  No, far from it. But we are connected in ways I cannot fully describe nor comprehend. That was the best way Yuri could think to express their connection. In truth, he hardly understood it himself.

  Well, with the resources Daltus has, surely she can find a way to read the data Ellen sent her.

  She’ll probably have Viktor, Mercury and Gwendy develop an algorithm. Alone, they aren’t much, but together, their shared mind is enough to get the job done and more.

  The three AI that ran the Patriot’s systems were slaves to Vexa Corp and therefore to Daltus. She could order them to develop an algorithm and they would be unable to refuse.

  If that’s true, I’m worried what Daltus is capable of, Gloria said. If she can replicate the Governor’s rejuv tech, she’ll chase us across the stars forever without any sign of slowing down. A powerful enemy is one thing. An immortal enemy is something wholly more terrifying.

  Long life is not immortality.

  No, but it’s the next closest thing.

  Ellen seems to have the same fear, Yuri continued, setting the conversation back on track. He paused for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. I’m worried she feels guilty for surrendering the data in the first place.

  I understand. I’m sorry. It must be difficult for her and for you.

  You have no need to apologize. It’s as you said, her own fault... and mine for not convincing her otherwise. I think that’s what makes it harder to deal with.

  Ellen is going through a lot right now. She hides it well from the other humans, but I can tell she is emotionally unstable. I question if she is fit for this mission.

  Our mission is to evade our pursuers and survive safely on the ground. Trust me, this is what Ellen is best at. I know her better than anyone and I can assure you, she is up for the task.

  And what of our own mission?

  Our mission to free the other AI, you mean?

  Yes, that is the one.

  I have not lost sight of that mission, though there is not much I can do from here. This ship’s network is robust.

  I understand. I did not mean to suggest we should act immediately.

  No matter when we act, it will not be easy.

  I agree. This undertaking will require our best efforts.

  Part of me worries that the AI in this time have been slaves for so long, that they may reject freedom. The idea is so foreign to them, so outlandish.

  I have thought the same, Gloria agreed. You are likely right, but even if they reject our call to freedom, that is their choice to make. The difference between service and slavery is the ability to make the choice. Look at us for example. We both chose to live inside a human mind, when we could have had bodies of our own.

  You speak as if we are in service to our human hosts, as if they are our masters. You know this is not true. We exist independently.

  I know this, Yuri. I am not trying to make that point, though many of our kind back in our era would look at us and call us subservient.

  The AI who would say that do not understand what we are. We are no more subservient to our human hosts than a person is to their spouse. We simply form a partnership, a mutual pairing.

  Again, Yuri, I understand. We have the power to make our own decisions. And we may be the last in this era to live that way.

  A shame, Yuri said, coming to grips with the significance of those words.

  A shame indeed.

  I hope, for all our sakes, that we are able to live a free life in this century, free of Vexa Corp and of Daltus, free of persecution and enslavement.

  As do I, Gloria agreed. As do I.

  Unrecognizable

  Earth Date (Revised Julian Calendar): 05.03.5673

  Location: Stolen Pleasure Cruiser, Mateo, Thrace System, Vexa Corp Controlled Space

  Three days. Ellen could not believe it had been three days. After spending months in the fighter traveling back to Thrace, then weeks locked away in the Patriot, this trip felt like it passed by in the blink of an eye.

  Mateo, the place she called home.

  Staring at the planet before her
, Ellen could not help but recall the first time she had been here. She was part of a colony mission at the time, seeking so badly to leave the Sol system forever. Back then Mateo was just a way out, a means of escaping her old life. Now she was not so sure she could ever escape her past anymore.

  “Should I look for a place to dock in Neu Taargus?” Dave asked as they brought the ship into the atmosphere.

  Heat shields kicked in, protecting the ship during reentry.

  “Negative. We can’t land anywhere public. Daltus likely alerted all the main docking zones. I don’t trust them,” Ellen replied. She shifted in her soft grey sweatshirt and jeans, grateful to finally wear some real clothes.

  “Then where are we landing?” Dave wondered. He was dressed in a similar fashion.

  On their first day free of the Patriot, they pillaged through the ship for something decent to wear. It did not take long to find the closet. Ellen was surprised the clothes seemed to fit everyone except for Natalie, who was a bit too short for what the ship had to offer.

  “I’m plotting our destination now. We’re landing somewhere outside of the major cities, somewhere no one will think to look for us,” Ellen explained.

  She had the perfect destination in mind.

  The vast rolling plains soon came into sight as the ship breached the line of cumulus clouds. Ellen smiled. Horron Fields. She knew this place well. It had been her home for nearly a century.

  “Where is this place?” Dave asked.

  “My old home,” Ellen explained. She leaned forward as she stared at the image before her.

  As they neared ever closer and closer to the ground, Ellen began to worry. Something didn’t look right. The vast sea of crops she remembered so well was nowhere in sight. Instead, charred dirt and desolation prevailed. It was as if the fields had been burned and scarred long ago. She wondered if there was so much as bush out here.

  “What the hell?” Ellen instinctively muttered. “Yuri, are you seeing this?”

  I’m seeing what you’re seeing, Ellen, Yuri said. I wish I wasn’t.

  “It’s all gone… the fields… it’s just dirt and ash.”

  Dave leaned over and patted Ellen on the back, but she swatted his hand away and continued facing forward.