X-Calibur: The Trial
Page 20
“I'm proud of you, Triltan, so very proud, and I know your mother would be too.”
Triltan's eyes clouded completely and she stepped back from the console, overcome with emotion. Arthur stepped forwards, taking her place.
“She saved us,” Arthur said. “She saved all of us. I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep my promise, but if she hadn't come to our rescue I don't know what would have happened.”
“We'd still be trapped inside the mainframe,” Gwen said. “At Mor-Dred's mercy.”
“I really don't think she need anyone to look after her,” Arthur continued. “You're right to be proud of her, of who she's grown up to be.”
“She grows more like her mother every day,” Caran Doc muttered quietly to himself, making Gwen and Arthur smile. “What of the others who were trapped in the simulation with you?”
“Still in the pods,” Arthur explained.
“And what do you hope to do for them in the long term?” Caran Doc asked.
Arthur looked at Gwen, who nodded. “We were hoping to offer them a home at Camelot,” Arthur said. “The hive ship is crippled and drifting through space.”
Caran Doc looked thoughtful as he sat back in his chair. “That many people,” he said after a moment. “It would need to go to a vote I expect, but you'll have my support. Gar-Wan too I'd imagine.”
“These people have suffered as much as anyone,” Arthur added. “It's my fault this happened to them. I owe it to them to make it right.”
“Over a million people,” Caran Doc continued. “It would be easier if the evacuation ships were empty, but we'll make it work.” Someone drew Caran Doc's attention and he nodded in response. “The gravity engines are ready for the next jump,” he said. “I'll contact you shortly with the rest of the council.”
“Thank you,” Arthur replied and the screen want blank.
Arthur left Gwen at the console and crept slowly down the metal stairs to the dark corridor below. Lance had wanted some time alone he'd said, time to think. They were worried about him but Gwen had suggested they let him go.
“Lance?” Arthur said quietly. “You here?”
Lance stepped out from the corridor, looking up at Arthur before sitting on the lowest step. They were both so broad that Arthur had to sit a few steps above him, the stairwell too narrow for them to sit side by side.
“How are you feeling?” Arthur asked, instantly chastising himself for the stupidity of the question.
“It doesn't feel real,” Lance said, looking down at his hands. “Is it real?”
“You're out of the simulation,” Arthur replied, startling Lance as he touched his shoulder.
“My mind keeps telling me it's gone,” Lance continued, his voice distant. “I can see it, feel it, but it's not really there. Is it real?”
Arthur looked down at his friend, lost for what to say. Gwen thought he just needed time, time to come to terms with what happened to him, but Arthur wasn't so sure. It had all been so real and he still winced when he climbed to his feet, certain that his broken bones would collapse beneath him, the agonising pain still lingering at the back of his mind, waiting to return.
“You'll be okay,” Arthur said, not sure if he really believed it. “Whatever if takes, I'll make sure you're okay. I promise.”
“It'll be okay,” Lance replied, though his voice lacked any conviction. “This is what's real. It'll be okay.”
*****
Arthur and Gwen sat together on the dais, arms around each other in companionable silence when Merlin's hologram appeared before them. “Merlin,” Arthur said with a smile. “What have you found?”
Arthur moved to stand, Merlin offering him a hand though it passed right through him. “That's going to take some getting used to again,” Merlin said, disgruntled. “I quite enjoyed having a physical form.”
“Maybe that's something we can look into,” Arthur replied. “But please, what about the mainframe?”
“Mor-Dred must have been more connected to the simulation than we first imagined,” Merlin told them. “He disappeared as soon as the simulation did. I've scoured every point of the network but he just isn't there.”
“Could he have escaped?” Gwen asked with concern. “Transferred himself to another computer somewhere?”
“Apart from the Vanguard, no other computers are connected to the hive,” Merlin reassured them. “I've deleted all the code that made up the simulation. I can only imagine that Mor-Dred was deleted with it.”
“I hope you're right,” Arthur said nervously.
“Trust me, Arthur,” Merlin continued, his face earnest. “You won't see him again.”
Gwen smiled back at him, gratefully. “Thank you, Merlin,” she said. “I don't know what we'd do without you. I'm so sorry we lied to you, it was stupid of us. We should have trusted that you'd be okay.”
“Please, stop,” Merlin said. “I understand, and in a way I'm grateful. Knowing the truth, I feel a little less certain about myself, about the future. Believing in fate, in destiny, it made life much easier, knowing it would all work out for the best.”
“With you by our side,” Arthur said. “I know everything will be alright.”
Merlin bowed slightly. “My King,” he said, his smile growing wider.
“And you can stop all that!” Gwen said with a grin.
“Really?” Arthur asked in mock disappointment. “The son of Uther Pendragon denied his title? That's the same as letting Mor-Dred win!”
“Perhaps in private,” Merlin offered, enjoying the banter. “I'll whisper it to you whenever we meet?”
“Sounds perfect,” Arthur agreed, winking conspiratorially at the older man.
“You would say that,” Gwen said, nudging Arthur gently in the ribs. “Are you sure it was Mor-Dred who had the delusions of grandeur?”
“Hey,” Arthur exclaimed, laughing. “Less of the delusions!”
Gwen laughed with him, shaking her head slowly. “Really, Merlin,” she said. “How did you cope, spending all that time alone with him?”
“It was a trial unto itself,” Merlin remarked.
“Not you too!” Arthur complained. “Next time I'll leave you to slay the dragon.”
“Let's hope there isn't a next time,” Merlin said. “I'll see you on the Vanguard.”
As Merlin's hologram disappeared, Triltan joined them at the dais. She had been sat at the console, scouring the network herself for any sign of Mor-Dred. “Did Merlin find him?” she asked.
Arthur repeated what Merlin had said, Triltan's face showing more and more confusion as he spoke. “I'm surprised,” she said at last. “My own examination of the network suggested Mor-Dred was entirely separate to the simulation, that was how he was able to control it.”
“Merlin seemed positive,” Arthur said.
“And he'd have no reason to lie,” Triltan continued, still looking puzzled. “The simulation has been deleted, just as Merlin told you, and I haven't found a single trace of Mor-Dred's code anywhere.”
“So he really is gone,” Gwen said, sighing. “For a while there, I never thought we'd escape.”
“It was all down to you, Triltan,” Arthur continued. “Don't worry about Mor-Dred, Merlin was confident we'd seen the last of him.”
Triltan relaxed slightly, accepting what Arthur told her. He was right, there was no evidence of Mor-Dred's code anywhere. She still felt nervous though, apprehensive. Something about it just didn't sit right with her. Mor-Dred had been composed of independent code, autonomous and intelligent, just like Merlin. It didn't make sense for him to have crashed or been erased when the simulation was sabotaged.
“Honestly,” Gwen said, interrupting her thoughts. “He's gone and we're safe, all thanks to you. Try not to think about it anymore. In a few days your father will be here and we can all go home.”
Home, Triltan thought, smiling. It feels strange to be thinking about home after everything that's happened. Maybe Earth really can be my home, with my friends and my father
beside me.
“Home,” Arthur muttered, mirroring Triltan's thoughts. Earth. Camelot. No more secrets. The future's starting to look a whole lot brighter.
Epilogue
Earth Year 6239
The Mori-Gran-Ra stood, looking out across her throne room to the enormous viewing window before her. She could see the curving horizon of the Mori home world below her, the coastline of the largest landmass appearing to split the planet in two. In the space above the planet, the viewing window identified thousands of enormous vessels, barely visible against the blackness of space.
Each one was as large as a hive ship but with weapons and armour covering every available surface. They were long and sleek, manoeuvrable and deadly. They were vessels built for only one purpose.
War.
“My Queen,” the Commander of the Imperial Guard said, turning towards her and dropping to one knee. “Your fleet stands ready.”
The Mori-Gran-Ra descended the steps, relishing every moment. It had taken her generations to devise her plan, to build the fleet and arm her troops ready for the invasion. No longer would the Mori be held back from their destiny, their right. At last the time had come for them to ascend and take their place as the true rulers of the Galaxy.
“Transmit the order, Commander,” the Mori-Gran-Ra said. “Venture forth take control of the Skarl Dominion. Burn their cities. Decimate their worlds. This galaxy is ours by right!
“Let none of their number to survive my vengeance!”
The Milky Way Galaxy
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