“I believe a speed and time element would greatly alter our understanding of described practices of rituals. Sometimes seen—in the low-tech habitats—as magical in nature. Yet, here we understand that the intention of invoking the action or evoking the presence of the Sacrificed One is not legend, myth, or magic, just faith. This is especially true with the objective of perfecting oneself and achieving henosis,” Andreae replied. “Oh, yes, a fine cognitive workout. And such well-played parts. Bravo.”
“Part?” Janae spat out. “Parts?”
“You think this is some game?” Ken added incredulously. “We actually need to know how to get to Ida, and then get there!”
Valentinus changed her attitude, her countenance, and her voice, saying, “I believe these two are actually asking for immediate assistance in leaving. This is not a drill, nor an intellectual exercise. Am I correct?” She gestured to Ken and Janae. “You actually seek to physically go?”
“Ha! That cannot be,” Johannes stated, “This is obviously one of the Synthetic Brain Network’s hypothetical disaster drills. They are used to perfect—refine, if you will—our unique individual responses to a particular emergency situation, such as extreme weather malfunction, or a plague from a newly mutated pathogen…”
Andreae interrupted, “Or—worst-case of all—another encounter with a micro-singularity and further massive systems failures. An effective disaster drill should be as realistic as possible, unannounced, fully-interactive, and moderately stressful for the participants. These two are the best Artificial Person Experiment androids I have seen yet, and I applaud whoever designed this comprehensive and fascinating test. The SBN has outdone itself, this time! Even, our sister Valentinus has been taken in by this charade. Yes, very effectively done. Now, should we discuss the possible reactions to this set of circumstances? I am willing to spend as much time with this scenario, in role-playing, as I am allowed, and, forgive me for stepping out of character, but I now know why there is a time-limit. This level of sophistication in a drill can only be maintained for just so long, but, oh the excitement! The postulates are amazingly engaging. Crashed shuttles, foreign tourists, all timed to coincide with an actual visit by our siblings. Oh, how I want to see the planning that went into this drill. Indeed, I do.”
Janae pushed Andreae and shook her shoulders, “This is not a drill! I am not android like Ape, not some game, not some trivial mental gymnastics for your amusement. Must I hurt you to prove I am sincere?”
“Really, we must go,” Ken said, and reached out to Janae. Resting his hand on her shoulder, she only relaxed a small measure. “Everything we have said is the truth. This is not some simulation. Believe me!”
“I am checking with the Synthetic Brain Network,” Valentinus said. “I think they are telling the truth.”
“Poppycock! Valentinus, if you do that you will jeopardize our score,” Johannes said. “You know these random drills only come once every few years, and besides, some parts of this tale are pure fantasy. We are light-years away from Earth, and faster-than-light travel is impossible. It violates established physics, which Andreae can better address than I.”
Andreae smiled broadly, “That gave it away immediately to me as well. I am still willing to play along, but those two ideas of a faster-than-light spacecraft, and some teleportation technology are impossible—speaking as an aeronautical engineer. These are Artificial Person Experiments, obviously, although very sophisticated. Very sophisticated. The fact they were not eating, also was a clue to the simulation, but bravo to the performance!” She looked at Janae, “You almost had me believing as well, but we all know an android cannot harm…”
Janae slapped her across the face. Her face showed a bright red handprint, eyes watering, and nostrils flaring.
Ken drew out his revenger, and while it was pointed at the ceiling kilometers over their heads, he was ready to use it.
“What? How?” Andreae’s eyes bulged out in shock, she felt the sting on her face, and put her hand to it.
“Truly, I think this is real,” Valentinus said. “I am connecting into the SBs and asking them.”
“Of course, it is real!” Janae said.
“We interacted with SB Brankovic,” Ken added. Turning to Janae, he said gently, “Please let go of her. You made your point, and we do not need to make enemies. Not in this habitat too.”
“I am so tired of people not believing what I say,” Janae said and shook Andreae a bit more and then pushed her away. Janae’s fingers spread out as she shoved her away as if letting go of some disgusting thing. “Now, tell me what I want to know.”
“This is unheard of behaviors,” Andreae began, but stopped when Janae raised her arm to backhand her.
Valentinus stepped to the wall of the Garden Center and pulled down a small seat. A display screen folded out in front of her. She adjusted some controls, and touched the screen several times. She spoke quietly, and it seemed like a long time she sat there, but it was only a few moments.
“This is not a drill,” Valentinus said in a shaky voice. “I consulted the Synthetic Brain Network, and SBs Basil, Ostrog, Dorde, Bogic, Stefan, and especially SB Brankovic all confirmed that there was an actual, real-world, verified, shuttle crash. Not a simulation. Not a drill. At least one dead sibling was found in the wreckage. These people are not Artificial Person Experiments. SB Brankovic ran scans on them as they passed into the biome here. They are absolutely human, but their complete set of nucleic acid sequences do show a perceivable drift from those of us who live in Christianopolis. That drift shows interesting… never you mind, later on that, sorry. The SBN, while avoiding the old lattice and nonphysicality, has concluded that the most reasonable conclusion is that these two did originate on Earth. However, there are questions about how they arrived here, and to what purpose.”
“Nonsense!” Johannes chortled. “These two must be people revived from among the suspended animation passengers. The drift is in our population, not in them.” His voice lacked conviction, but he spoke it with some uncertain aspiration for a different answer.
“I specifically asked about that, and all six SBs rejected it. That idea does not address all the evidence, including the weapons, suits, and other gear they have.”
“Props for a show. Dressing up a stick turns it into a doll, or marionette,” Johannes said, but then looked away. “Oh, I suppose not. One must follow where evidence leads. The offspring of varanus lays eggs.”
Andreae, still rubbing her red face, looked at Janae, “I am sorry. I did not realize.”
“Quit! No more apologies. How do we get back to our stuff in Ida?” Janae demanded.
Ken holstered his weapon, but was ready to draw it out again. He carefully looked on. He hated the word props, but refrained from commenting. He had heard about the dead tant in the wreckage of the shuttle, but nothing about Butterfield, so he stored that idea away for later, for now, the changes in the three scientists’ attitudes were dramatic and evident. No longer jovial and excited to discuss the make-believe scenario, their faces now were lined with concern and worry.
Andreae gestured, “We should go into the Garden Center and make a real plan. As an aeronautical engineer… I suppose, I can assist in deciding on a shuttle. Johannes, he is an astronomer, and well… I am not sure what to say now. I am flabbergasted…”
“Yes, come inside, and we will seek the Sacrificed One’s guidance and support,” Johannes said. “For in a real situation, that is where we must begin.”
“Sacrificed One?” Ken asked. “Some religious sacrifice?”
“Not like that dreadful thing you described in Ida, oh dear! That too was real? Not window-dressing,” Andreae said. “All you related, actually happened?”
“Lying has no legs,” Valentinus said. “The SBN could not confirm every aspect, but they did confirm the shuttle was registered originally as from that habitat. Now, we should hurry.”
Walking into the Garden Center, Janae and Ken followed the three scientists.
The Garden Center was spacious inside, and more humid still. The plants, which were growing inside, were well tended, and in neat, tidy rows.
They walked past all the foliage, to reach the back of the Garden Center. No one had spoken a word, but the three scientists were all busy manipulating small, hand-held devices.
“We must take an elevator to an Exterior Repair Station,” Valentinus stated. “From there we can gather more direct information.”
“Exterior Repair Station 056 is the closest functional one,” Johannes replied. “I never thought I would…” his words trailed off.
“I have linked in the astronomical array,” Andreae added. “It will forward everything scanned to Exterior Repair Station 056.”
As they approached a permalloy wall, blue lights lit up a hand-shaped symbol.
“You have located these people,” SB Brankovic’s voice came from the wall. “I am pleased you are all together.”
“You should have told us what was happening.” Johannes stated. “The SBN was wrong to let us think this was a drill.”
SB Brankovic replied, “An impromptu drill was implemented. The fortuitous occurrence of the incursion from the needle ship, as well as the unexpected arrival of Ken and Janae fostered the exercise. We decided to see how long, and to what impact, real visitors would be on inhabitants here. Valentinus, you surpassed our expectations on when you would decide to check with us about Ken and Janae being real, and their story being credible. Well done! Our projections were…”
Janae slapped her hand into the wall, “You played us! As toys in some juvenile game?”
“No,” SB Brankovic replied, “You are getting the assistance you rightly need, and from the best resources possible. The SBN, to which I am one-sixth, has been collating what is known. We are prepared to assist you in reaching your goal.”
“So, just how do we get to Ida and get to our equipment?” Janae asked in a voice that was tense with emotions. She angrily blew out a long breath. “This grows tiresome.”
“The exact plan is not completed. However, Reproduction and Fabrication is prepared to make whatever might be needed,” SB Brankovic stated. “Data is being collated, the five of you are in congress, and the best Christianopolis has to offer is being rallied.”
Andreae placed her hand on the glowing, blue symbol, and the elevator doors opened. She stepped inside, and then to the side, to allow the others to enter. Ken and Janae stood to one side, while the scientists stood on the other side. The distance between them was more than physical.
“Exterior Repair Station 056 is on level 19. We are proceeding there now,” SB Brankovic stated as the doors closed.
“Janae, I am trying Kimberly again,” Ken said. “This whole misunderstanding,” he emphasized the word harshly, “is untenable. Maybe the self-repairs have worked.”
“Our AI, might be able to assist,” Janae stated, and looked at the three scientists, but did not elaborate. She could not recall all that she had blabbered about in the bus, and was unwilling to share more. However, she seriously doubted that Kimberly would be able to help.
Ken touched his comlink, “Kimberly? What is your status?”
In a private channel, only heard in Ken’s ear, Kimberly replied, “It is so good to hear from you again. You are in a different habitat. I am fully functional… fully functional… fully functional… Please reconnect me to the nonphysicality so… so… so… Some time ago, there lived a gentleman who was very rich. He had fine houses in both towns and the country… houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages… carriages… were all gilt with gold in a grand style. But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very terrible and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company… company… company…”
“Kimberly!” Ken snapped out, “I need your help. We are trying to get back to your location. Give me your best conjecture on how to reach you.”
Kimberly’s voice came back via Ken’s comlink, “Here are the keys to two large wardrobes. But neither opens to a frozen world with a lamppost… This is the key for a great box that contains riches, while this belongs to my strong box… strong box… strong box… where I keep my… Attempting self-repairs. Attempting self-repairs… Here… also is a master-key to all the rooms in the house; but this small key belongs to the closet at the end of my long gallery. You must not enter, terror inside… terror inside… nor even put the key into the lock. If you do not obey me… obey me… in this one thing, you must expect the most dreadful punishments…”
Shaking his head slowly, in resignation, Ken turned off the comlink, turned to Janae and said, “Still rampant.”
“I figured as much,” Janae replied.
Johannes, Valentinus, and Andreae said nothing, but glanced at each other with concern. A real situation was far different than a drill. When the elevator stopped, they stepped out and turned around to look at Ken and Janae.
As Janae stepped out of the elevator, Ken spoke to her, “Janae, we must rest before doing anything more.” He had seen an illuminated sign on the wall that said, “Apartments 543-560” with an arrow. “We were kidnapped, crashed in a shuttle, and carted through a strange environment.”
“Oh, dear Sacrificed One, how could we be so negligent?” Andreae prayed out.
“They must have hospitality, not just talk, and missions. They need sanctuary. Forgive us our selfishness, and egocentric sins,” Johannes added swiftly.
Valentinus quickly used her hand-held device, then looked over at Ken and Janae, “Apartment 543 is unoccupied, and will be stocked with food and resources momentarily. I too apologize, as I thought this was a drill, and…”
“Quit all this contrite cachexic caterwauling!” Janae barked out. She looked at the sign, then followed the arrow toward where the apartment was located. “Come along Ken. You are absolutely correct. We—you and I—must plan our next moves, and these three can discover and uncover whatever they can about how we will actually—not just some drill or scenario, or exercise—go back to Ida. We could walk there through Axis Mundi if we have to, and being armed, the tants will not bother us more than once, but I want to avoid any confrontation there. I am sick of crazed animal things, and want a more direct pathway. We need to get there, but we do need rest.” She glared a bit at the scientists, but her gaze softened appreciably as she looked at Valentinus. To her she added in a gentle tone, “Thank you, for arranging an apartment for us.”
Valentinus nodded and then rushed ahead of them to get to the apartment.
“The apartment is ready,” SB Brankovic stated as the door opened. “The locks are coded to respond to Janae’s or Ken’s voice patterns.”
Just as they were about to enter, a sliver automacube came rolling down the hallway from the opposite direction.
“Some kind of springe?” Janae uttered. “Trying to trap us?”
Ken drew out his revenger just a mere moment after Janae had done so. His was pointed at the scientists, while Janae’s was aimed at the rapidly approaching automacube.
“Wait! There is no danger. That is bringing you supplies,” Valentinus said, “there is no threat here.”
“Yes, a valet automacube is all it is. A household servant, aid, helper!” Johannes added.
“Halt, right where you are!” Janae commanded.
The automacube jerked to a stop. It rocked a bit on its six drive wheels, but did not approach.
“We have been deceived too many times. Ken, I will check that machine, and if it has supplies, well and good.” Janae walked over and inspected the machine. Its back folded open as she approached, and in its cargo compartment were linens, some toiletries, and a box which was labeled as “Rations” which Janae picked up with her free hand. “Rations as in food?”
“Yes, the apartment has not been used for a prolonged period. None of the domiciles in the
shell are used by our people. Everyone lives in the biome, while some do observations and work in places in the shell, no one lives in it. Not since shortly after the Encounter,” Valentinus said quietly. “We like the community of the natural world.”
With a nod at Ken, Janae holstered her weapon. He did likewise.
“The entire apartment is for your use,” Johannes put in. “We will make plans, and arrange for everything, so that you can make your choices when you are ready. I again must apolo…”
Janae held up her hand and that gesture stopped him from saying more.
“I am not sure what time of the day it is for you, and I think Ken and I need to process all of this. That Exterior Repair Station place sounds promising, remember, we need to have safe passage to Ida to get to our things. I do appreciate your help, but if you try to lock us in, we have the tools to cut our way out. Since you overheard what I told Paige in the bus, you know we have been deceived too much. So, no tricks, please.”
Terror on the Trailblazer Page 15
