“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir John. My name is Vimes, and I am Ms Mcleod’s current guardian.
The two shook hands, then Sir John turned to face Karen.
“I’m genuinely sorry we had to meet this way, Karen,” he apologised, extending his hand for her to shake.
Karen looked at it for a few moments, still unhappy about what had happened to her car and being assaulted, but realised her aunt and uncle’s best hope of being able to lead a normal life from now on was predicated on coming to some sort of arrangement with this man. She already had real concerns as to what Adam and Alexander’s reaction would be when they found out what had happened here. Four thousand years of secrecy lost in just a few short hours was not something Karen wanted to try and explain away when she got home. It hit her suddenly; after what had just happened she was starting to think of her new life as home instead of here on Earth. The thought was so novel she was momentarily at a loss, then realised she was being rude.
“Was that an apology?” she asked, waiting for a response before taking the extended hand.
“Certainly. Yes, I apologise on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government and personally for what has happened to you and your family.”
Karen gripped his hand tightly and shook it, staring into his eyes. “Apology accepted, but don’t be offended if I take a few precautions,” she said to him, letting go and walking over to the open battle suit. Standing in front of it, she turned to face Sir John, then stepped back into the suit, the front of it quickly flowing closed to cover everything except her head, which she left free out of courtesy. Karen quickly scanned the suit’s diagnostic panel, then instructed it to inject her with a cocktail of tailored medical nanites and a gentle painkiller. Within seconds, the constant throbbing from her nose and leg began to fade, replaced with a mild itch as the healing process began.
Vimes walked over to the suit and extended his right hand, lightly touching the armoured form. Smart metal began flowing from the suit and into his arm, then out to other parts of his body. Sir John watched in amazement as the suit containing Karen started to rapidly reduce in size and the person he thought of as Vimes began to change into an exact duplicate of the other suit. Twenty seconds later and the transformations were complete, and two identical suits of armour stood side by side.
Sir John stood still, watching carefully until the transformations were complete, hoping the security cameras had caught everything as he was unsure anyone would believe what he had just seen unless there was a record.
“No point my asking how you did that, is there Mr Vimes?” he asked.
Vimes smiled, his head also free of a helmet, “It is simply Vimes, Sir John, no need for any honorific. You should know better than anyone here that some things are best kept secret. Now that Karen no doubt feels more secure, let us attend to matters. Please sit down,” Vimes said, gesturing towards the seat where Karen had been restrained, the irony not lost on either of them. “Don’t worry about getting other chairs for us as these suits are very comfortable and I doubt any of yours are capable of supporting their weight.”
Sir John moved back to the table and before sitting down, pulled the screen closer to his seat so he could keep an eye on what was happening outside, and checked to make sure his orders were being followed. Looking at Karen, he spoke first, breaking the silence.
“Before you ask, your aunt and uncle will be released and allowed to go with you, should that be their wish, however, I would like the chance to talk to them and explain how important it is for their well-being not to divulge anything that has gone on here today.”
Seeing Karen about to protest, he interrupted her and spoke rapidly, “Unless you want their lives to be one of constant media intrusion and possibly even personal danger, I strongly urge you to consider allowing us to agree on a cover story with them before they leave. This will take only a little time and would be better served if done here.”
Karen considered for a moment, taking a moment to check with Vimes if what she wanted to do was acceptable, then replied, “No, they are coming with us and we are going back to Skye. However, you can come with us and discuss everything with them from the comfort of their home. Vimes will provide you with access to whatever communication channels you need. It will also allow you both to iron out exactly what needs to be done going forward.” She stared at Sir John, almost daring him to argue with her. “Is this acceptable?”
“I get to ride in that ship of yours?” he replied, eyes lighting up at the possibility. Karen nodded and despite herself, couldn’t help admire his enthusiasm for the idea.
“Will you bring me back here when you have finished or will I have to make my own way back?” he asked, already running the permutations and probabilities in his head.
“That depends on what we agree, John,” Karen replied, looking at the screen which was flashing urgently behind him, “I think someone is trying to get your attention.” Karen indicated he should turn around.
Sir John spent a few moments updating himself on what was happening, then asked them both to move closer and look at the screen. It went dark for an instant, then came back on with the image of a late middle-aged woman who Karen recognised instantly as the Prime Minister. The woman turned to talk with someone off camera in the room she was using, which Sir John recognised as the Cabinet Room. “Am I on?” she asked, nervously looking back at the camera, hidden speakers in the interrogation room relayed what she was saying to everyone, her nervousness evident from the slight tremor in her voice when she spoke.
“Yes, Prime Minister, we can hear and see you clearly,” replied Sir John, “I have the pleasure of introducing you to Karen Mcleod and her guardian, Vimes. They have kindly invited me to travel with them back to Skye, along with Ms Mcleod’s aunt and uncle.” He stopped talking and waited for the Prime Minister to begin. She coughed nervously, her eyes darting across to hidden advisors in the room who were out of camera shot. Composing herself, she began to speak.
“On behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, I welcome you to Great Britain. I understand you are a citizen Ms Mcleod and were born here, but …she hesitated for a moment, unsure how to address Vimes, “…but Vimes is from somewhere… else,” her voice trailing off and sounding uncomfortable.
Despite what had happened to he earlier, Karen could not help but feel sympathy for the poor woman, remembering clearly the shock and disbelief she had felt when being confronted with the truth of Adam and what it had meant to her world view and place in the scheme of things.
“Help her out Vimes, I think the poor woman is having a hard time coming to terms with this,” she thought to her companion, who mentally nodded to her and began speaking.
“Prime Minister, I understand you may be experiencing difficulties in trying to make sense of recent events. Please be assured that we fully understand and appreciate them. As to formalities, on behalf of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Alexander, I extend to you and all humanity his hand of friendship. He would, however, take it as a personal sign of future good relations between us if no word of our existence became public, nor was shared with your allies. I understand from Sir John here that he has full authority to negotiate between our two great nations, subject to final approval from yourself and the Cabinet, is this correct?”
The Prime Minister hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking to the right for a moment, to the persons advising her off-screen. She gave an almost imperceptible nod, her decision made. “Sir John has our full confidence. Vimes, are you able to negotiate on behalf of your…,” she hesitated again, unsure how to refer to Vimes’s political system.
Vimes finished the sentence for her, “Our Empire, Prime Minister. Alexander is an absolute Monarch, the only restriction on his power being those he voluntarily imposes on himself to set an example to his people.”
He caught and held her eyes for a moment before continuing, “You have a lot to learn about us and the wider universe, Prime Minister. It is extremely unusual, if not
unique in the Empire’s long history, for us to be talking to you in this fashion and you should take this as a sign of the affection Emperor Alexander has for the people of Earth and for the United Kingdom.”
Vimes could see his words had the desired effect, making the Prime Minister wonder what the reasons for this affection might be and why Britain was mentioned by name. “There is much to discuss, but for now, Ms Mcleod wishes to return home to Skye with her family, and it is my expectation they will be allowed to return to their normal lives without any interference. As such, we will take our leave now, along with Sir John, who will report back to you. I will arrange for him to remain in communication with you and your Cabinet throughout. Finally, please extend Emperor Alexander’s best wishes to Her Majesty at your next meeting.”
Vimes turned to Sir John, “Please contact your wife before we leave and advise her you will be in Scotland for a short period. I am sure you would not wish her to become concerned.” He looked back at the screen. “Prime Minister, I hope to have the pleasure of meeting with you in person at some future time, but for now, good day and goodbye.”
“Thank you, Vimes, I also look forward to that and receiving Sir John’s report when you are both finished. A good day to you, too,” she finished, gratefully cutting the link and vanishing from the screen.
Karen and Vimes looked at each other, then turned to look at Sir John, who spread his arms. “Looks like that’s settled then. When do we go?”
It took another hour before everything was ready for Karen and her party to board the yacht. Their biggest problem related to the damaged lift shaft and having to provide a brief explanation to Alastair of what had happened, who refused to leave until someone gave him an answer to “what the hell was going on here?” No-one without an armoured suit was too keen on having to walk up two hundred steps to reach the surface, so they spent their time being brought up to date on events by Karen while they waited for the lift to be repaired. Vimes ensured there were no recording devices were in operation so Karen could talk in confidence to her family, who both sat in open-mouthed shock at what had happened. Flora was more interested in learning more about Adam, taking the rest in her stride, whereas Alastair was finding the whole thing hard to accept.
In another room, Vimes was explaining to Sir John what had happened and how Karen and her family had become embroiled in the affairs of a galactic empire.
“So, the Empire has been capable of interstellar travel for over four thousand years?” he asked, somewhat taken aback at the thought. “I find it hard to comprehend your people were out travelling amongst the stars while the Egyptians were building the pyramids and Stonehenge was being danced around.”
“Not quite, Sir John,” replied Vimes, “When we first arrived, Stonehenge was already over a thousand years old and the great pyramids of Giza half that. I remember them when they still had capstones and the white limestone casings. Emperor Josef thought your ancient forebears showed great promise at the time.”
“Wait a minute, Vimes, what do you mean by “you remember them when…” surely you couldn’t have been alive then?” Sir John asked, trying not be impressed and a little scared as to whether this was true or not.
“Not alive in the sense you mean it,” Vimes responded, “think of me as a semi-sentient AI that serves our royal family. My memories stretch back to the beginnings of the Empire and are as fresh now as they were millennia ago. It is both a wonderful blessing and a painful curse, for I remember the loss of my companions, every one of them as if it happened only moments ago.” Vimes paused for the briefest of moments, during which time the lives of every one of his Emperors and Empresses passed through his mind. He brought himself back from the reverie. “As I was saying, the Crown Prince came here accidentally and met Karen by chance, if you believe in such things. As a Doctor, she was at first intrigued by his unique healing abilities and why he had almost sacrificed his own life for hers. This fascination between them grew until they ultimately fell in love. When Adam was finally located by the Empire and reunited with his family, Karen was offered several choices, but chose to remain with Adam and leave Earth for a new life in the Empire.”
“So why did she return alone; at least I assume there are no others here on Earth now?” asked Sir John, making mental notes and trying to make sense of what he was hearing.
The expression on Vimes face changed, and Sir John wondered how an AI could so realistically express pain, yet not be human.
“Empress Christine was murdered by an assassin while in the middle of an important diplomatic mission to another, rival empire. Karen was a target of opportunity to the assassin but survived the attack. Following this, she decided to return home and seek emotional healing with her family here on Earth.”
Sir John frowned as he spoke, “And just as she arrived we arrested her family, broke her nose and brought them here against their will. No wonder I sensed hostility.”
Vimes laughed out aloud, startling Sir John who didn’t expect a sense of humour from an automaton.
“Yes, she wasn’t best pleased with that, and I think it will be quite some time before she fully trusts either you or the security services. Ensuring her family is left alone will go a long way to restoring her trust. How are the repairs to the house and the removal of the bugging devices going?”
Sir John checked several items on his screen then looked back at Vimes before speaking. “Nearly finished, although the living room will smell of paint for a day or two. All of the devices have been deactivated, and the last of them will be removed at a time suitable to Alastair and Flora.”
A sudden knock on the door made Sir John jump, making him realise just how tense he was. Glad of a break, he got up and opened the door, where an engineer confirmed to him the lift doors had been repaired and everything was now operational.
“Time to go?” Vimes asked, despite already knowing the answer, for his drones had been monitoring the engineer’s progress and that of the soldiers on the surface. All the troops and armoured vehicles had been pulled back to their regular posts, leaving only four fresh guards on duty at on the surface, near the entrance.
Sir John nodded, gave his screen one final check, then gestured for Vimes to follow him, walking out of the room they had been using and over to the original interrogation room where Karen and the others were talking. Everyone looked up as they entered, Sir John receiving a look from Alastair that made it plain that should he not live up to his side of the agreement, the man would like nothing better than to break him in two. Everyone was ready to go and headed to the newly repaired lift. The short journey to the surface was undertaken in silence, with Karen smiling inside as she noticed Flora’s hand move to Alastair’s, who give it a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
Three serious looking officials were waiting for them when the lift doors opened, one carrying an overnight bag which he handed to Sir John, the other two passing over folders containing various notes and documents. Karen had earlier reviewed a recording given to her by Vimes of the brief encounter in the hall, but despite looking hard, couldn’t see any trace of the fight, although the smell of fresh acrylic paint was very noticeable.
Just before reaching the exit, as a precaution against being double-crossed, she formed her suit's helmet and moved to walk in front of her aunt and uncle to make sure both she and Vimes left the building first. Despite her caution, everything was as agreed. The four guards executed crisp salutes, then studiously ignored them, obviously under strict orders what to do and how to behave towards her small party.
“Goodness me, will you look at that thing,” exclaimed Flora on looking across the road and seeing the spaceship for the first time. She and Alastair exchanged glances, then turned to Karen as if seeing their Niece’s true self for the first time.
Alastair spoke to her first, “A small part of me didn’t quite believe what you were explaining to us, lass, but seeing this is just…well…amazing.”
Karen patted him softly on the should
er before speaking, “It’s all true, every bit of it. And there’s more too, but that can wait until we are safely on the ship.” She gently used the hand on his shoulder to propel him forward.
Approaching the ship, a ramp formed and dropped down for them to use. On reaching the top, before entering the ship, both Alastair and Flora turned around and looked out across the base to take in the scene, while Vimes moved inside and stood next to a wall, letting his avatar be absorbed back into the ship. Karen waited for her family to finish, standing just inside the doorway next to Sir John who had been remarkably quiet as he watched Vimes disappear.
“Come on, you two,” Karen called out softly to them, it’s time to go, and I need to get you all seated for the short trip.”
“Vimes,” Karen asked her companion, “What happened to my car?”
“It was brought here by helicopter so they could examine it, but with Sir John’s agreement, I arranged for servitors to load it into the yacht’s hold, where they are currently checking it over. Once back on Capital I will send it back to the family armourer to be repaired.”
“Thank you. What would I do without you?”
Vimes kept quiet.
Alastair and Flora stepped inside, and everyone followed Karen into the main reception room, tastefully furnished and decorated in neutral colours. They both sniffed the air, noting the familiar faint trace of pine which reminded them of the forests on Skye. As everyone looked around and tried to make sense of what they were seeing, Karen stepped out of her suit and let it flow down into the floor.
“Follow me,” she instructed, drawing everyone’s attention away from the disappearing suit, leading them through several passageways to the control room where four acceleration couches had been formed for them in front of the main viewscreen.
“Please take whatever seat you want. The fun can’t begin until everyone is seated. Don’t mind the self-sealing straps, just let them do their work,” Karen told them, moving to the one furthest away to the right and making herself comfortable. Taking her lead, the others followed, all three making some sort of noise as the seat restraints began to form and hold them in place.
Imperium: Coda: Book Three in the Imperium Trilogy Page 15
