by M. R. Forbes
"I think so."
"Did I love you?"
"You said you did."
"Did you love me?"
Mitchell hesitated. "It was complicated."
She stepped toward him, drawing near. "What about now? Do you think?"
There was a part of him that wanted to. Old memories and emotions wanted him to. He brushed them off. "I'm sorry, Millie. I found my soul mate out there. It sounds hokey to say it, but it's true."
She stepped back and smiled. "I understand. I don't suppose you have a brother?"
"I do, but he's married."
She shrugged. "You can't blame me for trying."
28
He brought Millie from berthing, back to the lift and then up to the deck below the bridge, where the meeting rooms were located. They each took a seat around a central table.
"Origin, can you contact Teegin?"
"Yes, Mitchell. Let me initialize the link. One moment."
There was a pause while Origin reached out to the hybrid Tetron, likely hundreds of light years from their position. He had no idea how the Tetron communication system worked, but somehow they were able to use quantum theory to connect in real time across any distance.
"Colonel," Teegin said. "It is good to hear from you."
"You, too. How are things going over there?"
"They are well, Colonel. Should I retrieve the others for you so that we can synchronize?"
"Please."
"Give me five minutes. Many of the crew are sleeping."
"Roger."
They were waiting less than a minute when a new voice joined them across the void. "Mitch, is that you?"
"Yeah," Mitchell said. "Is this Kate or Katherine?"
"Katherine. I was already up. I made it here first."
"How do you feel, after the reconstitution?"
"Good. Better than I expected."
Had Teegin done something to all of them? He would find out once they spoke as a group.
"Did the others wake up okay?"
"Most. Patty is still struggling with the whole thing, but she's starting to come around."
"Did you manage to make contact with my brother?"
"Yes. Ella and Kate met with him a few days ago. He's - hold on."
A few seconds of silence followed. Then a new voice joined them.
"Mitchell?" Steven asked tentatively.
Mitchell clenched his teeth, his eyes suddenly turning teary at the sound of his brother's voice. He hadn't realized how much his death had meant to him until that moment.
"Steven," he said. "It's good to hear your voice again."
"Mitch. Is it really you?" Steven's voice was shaky and emotional. He imagined he sounded the same way.
"From a different timeline, but yeah. It's me."
"You're like a ghost. I never thought I would get to speak to you, especially as an adult. Damn, you were so young."
"Did Ella explain?" Mitchell asked.
"That you were murdered by a rogue AI? Yeah. This whole story is so insane."
"Tell me about it. Do you want to hear something more insane? I'm older than you now. I'm your big brother."
Steven laughed. Mitchell laughed with him, happy to have at least one more chance.
"Mitch," another voice said. "It's Kate."
"And Ella," Ella said. "I'm glad you're well, Colonel."
"Thank you, Captain," Mitchell said. "Kate, I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too."
"Teegin, is everyone together?"
"Almost, Colonel. We are waiting on Yousefi."
"I'm here," Yousefi said.
"Let's get started," Mitchell said. "I have Admiral Mildred Narayan, commander of Project Black here with me."
"Millie," Kate said. "Mitchell's told me a lot about you."
"Nothing too bad, I hope?"
"Other than a penchant for throwing assholes out of airlocks, nothing too bad."
"They deserved it."
"Ella, what's your status?" Mitchell asked, breaking the small talk.
"As you can tell, the mission to enlist your brother, Steven, is accomplished. We've been prepping the battle group for the return to Earth. I don't need to tell you that command is going to shit nukes when he turns up back in-system against orders."
"Understood. Origin, can you transfer the stream of the Tetron we captured in the last battle? I think it will help illustrate what we're up against, along with the Liberty streams."
"Of course. Transferring now."
"We had troubles of our own, but we've managed to turn it around," Mitchell said. "Chancellor Ken of the Federation is on his way back to their home world to warn them about the Tetron and to start organizing the response. I expect the Alliance diplomats will receive an urgent request to communicate soon. It's too bad it took his wife and son dying for him to see things my way." Mitchell paused, glancing at Millie. "After this meeting, we'll be on our way to the Rim to rendezvous with the Knife. I contacted him on Liberty, and I think maybe now he'll be ready to listen to me."
Millie's face had turned pale, and she stared at Mitchell but didn't speak.
"What then, Colonel?" Yousefi said. "Once we've raised our fleets? How do we approach the Tetron?"
"Good question," Mitchell said. "We're going to bait them."
"Bait them?" Steven said.
"Yes. Origin and I have been discussing this at length during our travel to Calypso. During the prior recursion, we had a large battle right on Earth's doorstep. The Tetron had the upper hand because they had already infiltrated the Alliance fleet, and in the end we used the eternal engine to move to this recursion, bringing the lead Tetron, Watson, back with us in an effort to capture him. An effort which was partially successful."
"Partially?" Steven said.
"We have his core, but there is some part of him that remained on Earth. Teegin, Watson was still on board the Schism, but he looked completely different. He said something about a surprise. Do you know what he could be talking about?"
"I will run a query, but not offhand, Colonel," Teegin replied.
"I think it has something to do with Kathy's message," Mitchell said. "In any case, we started discussing what probably happened after we lost. Origin?"
"I ran multiple scenarios based on the dataset from my experienced recursions, and Mitchell's remembrance of the status of the Tetron during the battle. The scenario with the highest probability indicates that the Tetron completed their enslavement of humankind, and sent them out to meet the Naniates and attempt to destroy them. While we have not had contact with the Tetron to confirm or deny their success, the fact that they have continued their efforts to conscript humans suggests that perhaps they were defeated, but were close enough to victory that minor alterations in their plans may be effective."
"In essence, they're in the same shit as we are?" Millie asked.
"Yes, Millie. They are fighting their own eternal war that they have so far been unable to win. Each recursion gives them another chance to change their strategies and tactics, and optimize their algorithms."
"Wonderful," Millie said. "A loop within a loop?"
"It is complex," Origin agreed.
"The point is, the Tetron know that I'm here. I think they know there are two instances of the Goliath now, powered by two Tetron who are on our side. Not only that, but we have some fore-knowledge of how things are going to happen. They have come close to losing against one of us without that. Two makes for a much more salient threat. They altered their approach against the Federation on Calypso in an effort to take advantage of this and destroy the Dove. They almost did, too. They want me dead, and that's something we can use."
"We will ensure that the Tetron know where Mitchell can be found," Origin said. "The Dove and the Goliath will lie in wait with a sizable enough force that the Tetron will group themselves. Then they will come to destroy both. My estimates suggest a ninety percent probability that the entire mature Tetron race will participate, because they cannot comp
lete their mission without first destroying Mitchell, Teegin, and myself."
"Teegin is going use Watson's control program to first transmit Watson's data stack and operational core instructions to the Tetron, turning them all into Watson. At that point, he will use a hidden backdoor to transmit a virus that has been specially designed to eliminate that specific instruction set, rendering the Tetron inoperable."
"That sounds like a reasonable plan," Steven said. "Why do you need both the Federation and the Alliance fleets to do it?"
"Our first test of the virus on a non-Watson Tetron only disabled it for a few seconds. Just long enough to blow the hell out of it. Having a fleet nearby to attack means if the virus fails, we still have a small fighting chance."
"We also require backup in the ten percent scenario," Origin said. "We cannot be too careful."
"Understood," Steven said. "I'm in favor."
"We have one other wrinkle that we need to straighten out," Mitchell said. "There's a good chance at least some members of UPA military command on Earth have been compromised. We won't be able to get anything off the ground with their resistance."
"What are you suggesting?" Ella said.
"When you get to Earth, you'll need to find a way to declaw them. Shut them up. Or even expose them as frauds."
"How?"
"I have an idea for that, Colonel," Teegin said. "I will discuss with our team during the journey."
"Good. While you're at it, they may have information about Watson's surprise. Also, maybe you can get a lead on Kathy's final message there."
"I will do my best."
"One other thing, Teegin. I've discovered that my reflexes are a bit better than they used to be. I also seem to be a little stronger than I was expecting. Do you know anything about that?"
Teegin hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes, Colonel. I made a decision to augment your existing capabilities during the reconstitution by threading your existing biological structure with the same biomechanical framework of which I am composed. It is a minimal integration, but it does provide a thirty to fifty percent improvement in all regular functions. I only discovered the basis of this improvement while you were already digitized, so in this case, I believed it was better to act first and apologize later, as I could not ask your permission."
"How many of the crew were given this augmentation?" Yousefi asked.
"Mitchell, Katherine, and Kate only," Teegin said. "I was concerned providing it to the rest of the Dove's crew would prove psychologically damaging."
"Good thinking," Mitchell said. "I'm not going to complain. It already saved my life once."
"I am glad," Teegin said.
"Does anyone else have any questions?" Mitchell asked. "Otherwise, you know what you have to do. As much as I'd like to be there with you so we could talk in person, we each have our own role to play. Steven, thank you for believing in this, and in me. I'm sorry you didn't get to have your little brother because of this, but at least we can avenge him together."
"Thank you, Mitch," Steven said.
"Kate, be safe. I want to see you again, in one piece."
"You too, Mitch," Kate replied.
"We'll be in touch soon. Good hunting."
"Good hunting, Colonel," Ella said.
"Origin, close the link." Mitchell stood, ready to go to the bridge and get them headed toward Asimov.
"Link terminated," Origin said.
"Mitch," Millie said, standing a moment later. "The Knife?"
"I know what he did, and I'm sorry. But he's a valuable ally in this war, regardless of that. We need to stay focused. Can you?"
She bit her lip and nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Thank you. Alert the Riggers that we'll be moving to FTL in five minutes. I don't want your transport getting left behind."
"Yes, sir."
"You're dismissed, Captain."
Millie bowed to him and left the room. She was still unhappy about the next destination, but there was nothing he could do about it. They needed the Knife, maybe more than they needed anyone else in this war. And that's what this was. War. There was no room for personal grudges, and he knew from the past that Millie would honor that, even if she hated the man.
Ella had done her part in getting Steven on board, and he had gotten the Federation involved. The pieces were falling into place, and he was hopeful that maybe this time would be different.
Maybe this time, they would win.
29
Mitchell watched the countdown on his p-rat as it made its way from ten seconds down to zero. Immediately, he felt the reverse tug as the Dove dropped from FTL, appearing in space nearly one hundred light years from where they had started in a part of the galaxy that was still uncharted, according to UPA star maps.
He knew better than that. He had been to this sector of the Rim before. He wasn't surprised to find the massive asteroid orbiting the nearby star. He also wasn't surprised to see a pair of ships moving to intercept them, firing on them before he could escape from hyperdeath.
Kill first, ask questions later?
A dozen warheads streaked across the space between the Dove and the starships that fired them. The ships themselves defied definition. As part of the Knife's fleet, they were a motley aggregation of civilian trade ships and smaller military fare, their weapons systems and armor welded on wherever feasible. Mitchell had to give them credit for their lack of fear in attacking the much larger ship without hesitation.
The missiles struck the side of the Dove before Origin could recover, detonating against the armored hull. He was sure they would leave small ablations in the alloy but little more.
"Origin, try to hail them," Mitchell said as the intelligence recovered. The second salvo of projectiles exploded harmlessly against restored shields.
"They are not responding."
Mitchell watched the two ships as they spread further apart.
"They're going to fire nukes," he said. "Damn it. Open a channel with full spectrum coverage."
"Completed."
"Militia ships, cease fire. I repeat, cease fire. I come in peace. My name is Colonel Mitchell Williams. I spoke with your commander, Li'un Tio, back on Liberty. I told him I would be back to speak with him."
He waited a couple of seconds.
"We are receiving a request," Origin said.
"Accepted," Mitchell replied, watching as the two craft slowed their approach.
"Colonel Williams," Tio said. "It appears I should have been more trusting of your word. You do know where to find me."
"Have you made your decision yet?" Mitchell asked.
Tio laughed. "I saw what happened in the asteroid belt near Liberty. I was on my way off-world at the time, escaping the mess your Tetron created. I made my decision then, but I thought that if you really did know where Asimov was then you would come to me. And now, here you are."
"We need to talk."
"Yes. I agree. My ships are standing down. An escort is en route to guide your transport into my facility."
"I know you're blocking comm signals in there," Mitchell said. "No bullshit, Tio. My crew has the authority to blow your rock to dust with me on it, and they'll use it if they have to."
"For some reason, I don't doubt the truth in that. No games, Colonel. You have my word."
Mitchell knew he could only ride the Knife's word for so long, but he would take what he could get.
"Send your escort. We'll be disembarking from the starboard hangar shortly."
"Affirmative."
The channel closed. Mitchell detached himself from Origin's needle and climbed down from the command chair, heading for the lift.
"Mitchell, I will not be able to 'blow the rock to dust' without integration," Origin said.
"I know," he replied. "It's a bluff. I think Tio may have already seen and heard enough not to screw around, but you never know. I'll bring Sunny with me, just in case."
He had never gotten to know the quiet assassin very well before,
but he knew her skillset would come in handy if Tio gave him grief about leaving.
Mitchell entered the lift, knocking Millie as he did.
"Yes, Mitch?" she said.
"Meet me in the hangar. Bring Cormac and Sunny with you."
"You want me to come with you to meet the Knife?" she said.
"You're still the official ranking officer on this ship," he replied. "I need you to speak for the Alliance."
She laughed. "I'm a court-martialed disgrace. The Admiralty is a technicality. Besides, I don't want to meet him."
"Come on, Millie. I need you on this if only to help me keep Cormac and Sunny in line."
"Okay. Fine. We'll meet you there."
"Thank you."
Mitchell arrived at the hangar a few minutes before Millie, Cormac, and Sunny. The latter looked extremely nervous to be there without Mouth, but Mitchell didn't want to risk putting Tio on the defensive by bringing too many other people along. He also knew that when it came to doing her job, Sunny's anxiety would vanish in a hurry.
"Colonel," Millie said, bowing to him. Cormac and Sunny followed suit.
He returned their bow, and then motioned to the transport. "Let's go."
They boarded the ship. Millie took the controls, charging the repulsors to get them off the deck and guiding them through the atmospheric shield and out into space. Tio's escort was already waiting; a small, heavily armed ship likely piloted by Tio's right hand, Teal.
It maneuvered alongside them, remaining there as they crossed the distance from the Dove to the asteroid.
"Sunny," Mitchell said. "If I touch my face like this, I want you to grab Tio and put a knife to his throat or get him in a choke hold or something. Do you understand?"
Sunny looked at Millie, who nodded. Then she smiled. He took that as a yes.
The escort moved ahead of them as the neared the rock, guiding them into the small tunnel that had been carved into it. They traveled deep into it until they reached the shipyard, where rows of docking arms waited for ships to occupy them. An operator directed Millie to one of the arms, and within minutes they were connected and waiting for the outer airlock to open.
Where this had once caused a tense standoff, things were different this time. The airlock opened, revealing Tio behind it, alone. That the Knife would greet them by himself surprised Mitchell.
