ARTIS PRIME

by Tobias Roote

  RIGA hung for several seconds longer than she probably needed to, letting her shield temperature subside. When she dropped back to the floor, the four enemy lay dead, by each others hand. The sensor screening blankets they had used to cover themselves, thus avoiding detection by her sensors, lay smouldering.

  Interesting, she thought, having not come across such innovation before, a good idea. She remembered Osachi’s office on the Space Station and realised now why her and Gossie had not discovered the kidnappers laying in wait. Unholstering her lasers she hunted for similar blanketed guards, but there was no further indications of threat on this level.

  Whilst checking each of the doors for any more cloaked guards that might lie in wait for her, she found plenty of interrogation rooms, some with operating theatre style equipment. The scattered evidence of sophisticated interrogation equipment all around, she wondered what condition Osachi would be in, if she found him alive.

  She stood quietly for a minute listening, sensing everything around her, above and below. The shielding was heavy so she couldn’t see what was happening on the floors above. Her own analysis of her situation warned her that going back may not be easy. Troops and guards that had been manning the outside security areas would have now arrived in response to the internal threat. She anticipated heavy resistance on the return leg. Still, that was in the future, she still had to deal with the now. Being an AI had its advantages, RIGA didn’t concern herself with anything other than the immediate problem, that being where was Osachi being held?

  The obvious location was the end room but she sensed nothing within. If they were worried that Osachi had some kind of locator, they might place him there. It was a reasonable supposition, and a place to start.

  The door, which ran flush with the wall would likely open inward, would not respond to her touch as before. It had been secured at a sophisticated level, but still had an electronic control interface built into the wall. Access through it was definitely encrypted and highly secure, using some form of protected code that she was unable to hack. RIGA would have to place herself into analysis mode, trusting in her shield to protect her for the time it might take to attempt to discover the key.

  Her mind dropped into QDE mode, considering the problem, looking for possible solutions in her memories, anything that would spark a moment of clarity. Mentally, she flew, racing through possible codes, decryption routines and password combinations. Nothing was working so, she considered that she wasn’t thinking like a Tochin. They would want to restrict access to a chosen few, especially if they had a politically sensitive prisoner in there.

  She ran through the database from the DAN and the TELLUR. There were thousands of heavily encrypted password combinations on the database she held. There was no way she could do this, she thought as she continued to sift through millions of bits of data. She came across a file that referred to single use cryptography and scanned it, taking brief seconds to absorb the Tochin research. It left her clueless. She moved swiftly on and found reports in from various clandestine operations dotted around space, mainly in Terran, but a few in Empirum territory. It referred to daily logs sent by encrypted report. The contents stored were showing as unencrypted, but they all cross referenced a common system file.

  RIGA searched. It took another desperate six seconds, but when she found this she saw a list two hundred page list of one-time codes. There were a variety of indicators against most of them. She deduced they were expired codes. Nonetheless she ran them across the locking mechanism in the hope it might respond.

  RIGA was fully aware that people, all over the Empirum were creatures of habit and laziness. She suspected Tochin and Terrans were exactly the same. It was difficult for them to retain complex information, relying instead on simpler methods, repeating codes across wide ranging sections of secure data. It was entirely possible the base commander would issue a code, expecting it to be changed daily. Equally, it was possible a code might not be change because it made an individual's job that much harder.

  Five minutes later she was near the end of the list when an input code turned her lock warning from, red to amber, the humans universal colour system that always seemed to indicate ‘proceed with caution’.

  Her log list had input “Temperous4454”

  The system came back with an acknowledgement and a data box.

  RIGA input the second linked code on that line “A5B542344RTZ”

  The door unlocked silently and swung inward on its well oiled hinges, to reveal a cell door set four foot from the entrance. Checking her sensors, which weren’t working perfectly at this point, due in major part to the room’s insulating properties. RIGA walked into the entrance.

  Not feeling the prickle of any electronic defence systems arming she began to survey the interior layout.

  Beyond the metal grill was a room split into three zones. One, evidently a sleep area, the middle was a sitting area, the last a small food preparation area. A small door, probably housing a toilet was set into the rear of the cell. Luxurious, as far as being a prisoner goes, she decided.

  The seating area was occupied by her friend Osachi, who sat sunk into a couch, reading by the light of an old lamp that had been rigged up. As he looked over his glasses at RIGA, she noted the residual pain and stress that was quickly hidden from view as he cautiously rose up, the surprise at her unexpected entrance evident on his face.

  “Ambassador Rigel, how did you...? RIGA!” he croaked. The cracked timbre of his voice indicated nerve damage. She could guess the how, and when. Despite her lack of built in emotion, she felt for her friend, knowing something of the tactics used, and seeing the evidence in the adjoining rooms, RIGA had some idea of what he had been through. She understood the impossibility of anything other than token resistance by humans in such extreme circumstances.

  She smiled at him, hoping to encourage his cooperation. She noted his body looked crooked, stooped like an old man. Could she get him out like this with the enemy amassing upstairs?

  “Not now, Osachi. First let’s get you out of here.” RIGA nodded at him as he stepped back from the door. He moved further away limping, she could see the damage done to him, still in the early stages of healing.

  RIGA didn’t use any sophisticated device to open the door, she blasted it with a laser. The lock melted, dripping alloy across the floor as the cell door swung free. A swift boot took it out of harms way and Osachi hobbled out and helped himself to RIGA’s laser while she unholstered the other and straddled the doorway looking for enemy snipers. Her shield would protect them both if he stayed behind her.

  RIGA could see his body wasn’t cooperating fully. She would need to get him to somewhere that could heal him quickly, assuming she could get them both out of here alive.

  They made their way slowly, to the elevator. RIGA would go first, but only after making sure the rear was clear and safe. Osachi didn’t look as though he could handle himself, let alone a fight with the enemy right now.

  26. Escape

  She fought the instinct to pick Osachi up, and run with him over her shoulder. Whilst easily done, and her strength ensured it wouldn’t hold her back, it would embarrass the human, and place further suspicion on her own abilities. She decided to delay the decision, realising as she did so that, it was either keep her secret, or risk losing the both of them to enemy fire. Supporting Osachi, they limped down the corridor, meeting no resistance; she watched him struggle with the pain. They made it to the elevator area and Osachi, observing the dead guards and the burned out defences gave her a grim appreciative smile.

  As they entered the elevator, RIGA went first, so that any enemy fire from above would be directed at her. Osachi, with no shield, would then follow, sheltering behind her.

  They needed to move quickly. RIGA analysing, that had she been in command, there would be no exit for the intruder escapees, expected the top floor would now be a sealed trap. Aware they only needed to get within range of Gossie to escape the base, her instincts and t
he tingle in her spine, told her that it wasn’t going to be easily achieved - she feared for Osachi. Alone, she would have little problem in overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds - it was what she was trained to do.

  Coming to a decision, RIGA unclipped her shield and grabbing hold of Osachi, pulled him up to her level. Before he could say, or do anything, she clipped it around his neck, and switched it on. The look of surprise on his face turned quickly to anger as he thought she might sacrifice herself for him. He tried to remove it, thinking to return it, but her hand on his, stopped him. “Trust me Osachi, I need you to stay alive, your Empire needs you, more than you know - and I have no time to explain.”

  He looked into her eyes, then, as if suddenly understanding the implications, grimaced, gave her a weak attempt at a smile, letting his hand take hers. She felt the squeeze, noticing for the first time the ends of his exposed fingers. “Dammation,” she muttered recognising the damage of physical torture, and offered him some immediate solace. “I killed Trench.” Then turning so that she could see the approaching elevator exit, her lasers in hand, she prepared herself for what she must do.

  As they came to the top floor RIGA turned one last time to Osachi. “Wait here. When I shout, move to my location as quickly as you can, I will divert weapons fire away from you. Gossie is nearby, when she picks up your signal she will jump you out.” She waited until he registered the instruction. He nodded.

  RIGA had been calculating her moves as they rose to the open area in front of the elevator shaft. The bodies of the dead still lay where they had fallen, giving the impression that nobody was there to remove them. Sensing reinforcements amassed out of sight, RIGA thought she understood their strategy. They wanted her out of the elevator shaft and away from the protection of the wall so wouldn’t trap her in the elevator area. Well, that’s all to the good, she thought.

  With a laser in one hand, she pushed Osachi against the wall, signalling for him to stay. He wouldn’t see what she was about to do unless he poked his head out from the small recess. She judged he would stay there purely on survival instinct.

  RIGA pushed her sensors outward as far as she could within the shielded reception and felt the build-up of soldiers nearby. Being the only exit out of the building, she realised they had no idea how she had got in, so assumed it was through the main entrance. They were waiting there.

  ‘Gossie, can you hear me?’ she called, but received only silence in response.

  She touched her hand to the suit, and watched Osachi’s face as it turned transparent, seeing his eyes widen in response, but having no time to explain. Lifting her cowl over her head, she disappeared behind the invisible leather and touched his shoulder in reassurance.

  She already sensed the EMP signatures and knew they would be used as soon as they discovered her whereabouts. She needed them disabled before Osachi would be safe from their fire, but didn’t know what effect the EMP field would have on her leathers.

  She ran, the speed creating an eerie noise in the corridor bringing attention to her location, as she raced to close the distance between them.

  Her instincts protected her, as leaping high she sensed the blaster fire pour out from their defence line, but contained below her at the height they expected her to be running. She dropped and rolled, keeping low, still maintaining her advantage, for the moment her Armillo keeping her safe.

  Crouching, she surveyed the line-up, timing her next jump just as the officer pointed out her location. He held a similar device to the officers on the TELLUR. Damm! these people catch up fast, she muttered, realising the equipment must have been issued all across the Tochin invasion fleet. That meant much of her advantage would soon be lost. If they could disable a shield, then there would be problems for Terrans.

  Her next running leap took her to the furthest corner of their barricade. The nearest guard felt her arrival and put up his weapon in defence of an expected attack, but he wasn’t her target. She was gone before he had the wits to know he had been lucky. RIGA wanted the officer, he could track her and she needed to disable their detector. The EMP blast caught her mid jump as she landed behind the first line. Her suit flickered, but held.

  If she could have breathed a sigh of relief, it would probably have been then. Her low stooped run took her directly to the wildly swinging officer, desperately trying to track her with the machine. She was zig zagging to make the impossible more difficult. The black and gold uniform zoomed closer as she reached out and took hold of the arm holding the reader, wrenching it, forcing him to drop the offending instrument. Catching it as it fell, she threw it hard against the nearest wall. The damage to the officers arm left him writhing in agony on the ground, out of commission for the moment.

  Now her laser gun began to spit death in fast hot bursts as she ran and jumped amongst them, twisting and turning to take out the bigger weapons and the EMP guns. When she felt it safe, she called out to Osachi telling him to come toward her. She watched to see he obeyed her summons and then made sure the guards were kept occupied.

  ‘Gossie, do you read me yet?’ she called out on their wavelength. Still nothing.

  Keeping up pressure on the guards, who were concentrating on her, she felt the prickle as an EMP gun fired - Oh! sensors, she must have missed one. Her leathers flickered once, twice, then failed. She was now visible and unshielded. She needed to take them out now, quick and could not avoid Osachi seeing her.

  Moving at lightning speed, RIGA took out guard after guard. Paying attention to Osachi, she saw he was occupied, too busy to watch her, as he used her other laser gun to blast all those who stood in his way. He looked as if he was rallying a bit, but it might just be adrenalin. He could collapse soon, she thought. Then her comms sparked.

  ‘RIGA, I can just barely pick up your locator, get closer to the exit point.’

  Signalling to Osachi, to follow her, she moved through the disorganised remnants of the enemy, still travelling too fast to allow their slow reactions to target her, knowing at this point, it would be a lucky shot that hit her, rather than a well aimed blast.

  She reached her entry point and turning to beckon Osachi to close with her, saw him fall, his strength failing him at the last. She ran back and picked him bodily from the slump, carrying him back with her, firing at the last pockets of resistance, his shield offering some protection from any return fire. He stood again, weak and white as a sheet. Her concern for him mounted.

  ‘Gossie, can you hear me?’ RIGA called on her comms frequency, the plascon still interfering with the signals.

  ‘Loud and clear. Are you ready to evac?’

  ‘Two to jump,’ RIGA confirmed, pulling Osachi close to her, aware they both had to fit within the cockpit of her small ship; a cockpit which was becoming decidedly crowded for a one-person craft. Knowing Gossie would ensure there was clearance to reconstitute their particles, it still made sense to minimise their combined footprint.

  As they reappeared on the ship’s bridge, Osachi, who had already begun to recover, was amazed to see Jennings, observing immediately that he was trussed in the co-pilot chair. For his part, Jennings just glared at Osachi, choosing to remain silent.

  “What the blazes..?” Osachi stuttered, his decision to remain standing looking decidedly precarious as he took in the sight of Jennings, the small ship and the sudden change in location and his escape from the base and his torturers.

  “Explanations will come soon,” she reassured him quickly. She thought it likely that Osachi would have much to say about a lot of what was occurring.

  She turned so it was evident she was talking only to Gossie. “First we need to get a crew into this base to dismantle and remove their main computer system. I have a feeling they might have left some useful data on it – Gossie, pass on a request to Bollida for an ‘AI ONLY’ armed Investigation Team from Epsilon to meet us at a set of coordinates out of system. No further explanation to be given,” RIGA instructed.

  RIGA added on their private circuit.
‘I don’t want to draw any attention to this system until our people have gone over that base with a micro-reader,’ she said emphasising the importance of every scrap of information. ‘When they are confirmed in position, jump us there and check them thoroughly before bringing them back here – make sure there are no locators on their ship - AND no humans.’

  Now able to concentrate on the cabin occupants, she sat Osachi in the remaining cockpit chair and ran over his wounds with a medical scanner. He wasn’t in a life threatening situation, but he would need proper attention and soon. She decided to make him a priority as soon as they could leave this sector of space. Maybe he could be transferred to the GEN Vasta. Peeling back dressings, she examined some of the worst, opening a medical kit to rummage for things she needed while trying to keep Osachi from getting back up again. He was fidgeting.

  In the end Osachi turned to RIGA, obviously not happy to wait for an explanation.

  “What is Captain Jennings doing here? He’s obviously your prisoner, but why, and what in Terra’s sake is going on?”

  Jennings spoke up. “She kidnapped me when I arrived at their headquarters looking for you. This woman is a cyborg, she is in cahoots with the AI’s to blame Terrans for the problems in their Empire. When I tried to stop her, this is what happened.” He grimaced and indicated his bindings.

  RIGA decided not to divulge everything she knew about Jennings and get into lengthy or awkward explanations about how she gained evidence and how she knew who he was. It could come out better if she could direct the conversation immediately to the conclusion.

  She sighed. It wasn’t going to be easy to explain so she simply said. “Osachi, Captain Jennings is a Tochin spy.”

  “How did you find out?” he asked as he turned his head back towards her. He watched interestedly, while she cut and peeled off the last piece of dressing that had stuck to the skin of his shoulder. It was a weird way of treating a wound, she thought, distractedly. She took out a small canister and continued, seemingly ignoring him and what was going on around her, while she sprayed a nanite solution and artificial skin over the open wound.