...and they are us Homecoming
Page 15
Zed let out a relieved sigh. “So you zapped me back to life. Thanks, doc. That’s two I owe you.” He started to get up and her expression held him back.
“That’s not what I mean.” The glare didn’t waver. “You’re a visual person, so I’ll have to describe it to you. I know that you are a meat eater.” Zed nodded, a confused look on his own face. “Just bear with me for a moment. Take a nice raw steak, about 400 grams in weight and 35 millimeters thick, wrap it in a thin piece of gauze and put it in an industrial strength microwave on high for an hour.” Zed groaned at the image the description produced. “That is what you looked like when the covered gurney deposited you in here yesterday.”
“But my nanites…” He began.
“Same scenario. What happens if there is a small piece of aluminum foil on the meat when you microwave it?” When his horrified face had no answer she continued. “The nanites in your body vaporized, reducing your overall cooking time. There was nothing left to resuscitate. There was nothing left to rebuild in our recovery chambers. Every strand of DNA in your body was cooked. The plastic of your helmet had fused to your head.” Zed suddenly didn’t feel very well at all. “I had no more than started to remove your EVA suit, when LOLA and someone I was introduced to as Athena walked straight through the walls and into my operating room and threw me out.” She gave Zed a hard look. “I didn’t know that there were holo-emitters in the Medical Bay.”
“I didn’t either.” Zed replied weakly.
“They locked me out of the operating room. Me!! An hour later the door slid open on its own and I found you like this.” She waved an agitated hand at his body. “I did a few tests, and took some blood samples.” Her tone hardened. “While your body functions appear almost normal, your DNA isn’t even vaguely human. To tell you the truth I don’t know what it is, and having a little experience with LOLA, I wouldn’t care to hazard a guess.”
“I’m not human?” Zed’s eyebrows and voice went up, and thoughts raced around in his head, like rabid squirrels. “If I’m not human, then what the HELL am I??” He felt his face flush with the heat of anger, or maybe fear. “Dammit, I’m married now and I’d hoped to have children that…”
“It’s not a problem, Zed.” Athena said calmly, walking through the wall, LOLA beside her. “I’d have preferred to wait to discuss this with you.” She turned a violet eyed stare on Doctor Sutherland, who visibly blanched. “But since the good doctor saw fit to bring it up…” She turned back to Zed. “Your DNA is fully compatible with any human species. You can still have children and pass along your DNA. What you are is a little more complex. You and all your future children are a biological link between digital lifeforms, and biological lifeforms. You alone were our initiator and primary control, so we just gave you backups. We gave you and your children a human shaped body that has the ability to access both worlds.”
Zed let out a strangling sound, rather like he was drowning, swallowed and tried it again. “And that means what to me?” He asked, swinging his feet to the floor. The thin sheet that had been covering him slid to one side.
“You can access processes that are strictly in the digital domain. If you concentrate you can access sensor data. All the information you had in your neural implants, the knowledge of this ship and the Dramul Empire and so much more is stored… offsite, you might say.”
“Now my mind really is in the cloud.” He growled his reply.
“You might begin by thinking about some clothing.” LOLA muttered dryly. “Not that I mind,” She gave him a direct little smile. “but Doctor Sutherland seems a bit embarrassed.”
Zed looked down on his naked body, and quickly pictured a simple Terran uniform. His figure sparkled and was covered in midnight blue material. “Well now.” Zed blurted, trying to cover his surprise.
“This is the first time in our very long history that a biological has been created as a bridge to our realm.” Athena continued. “LOLA managed to transfer your memories, feelings, soul if you will, microseconds before your body was destroyed.”
“The radiation.” Helen Sutherland injected softly. “Was so intense that it approached lethal levels within the ship. I was told that it would have been worse if the shields hadn’t already been raised.”
“The Creednax patrols on Callidus?” Zed injected.
“All dead, Zed.” Athena confirmed.
“And the rest of the Creednax fleet?”
“Destroyed for the most part. The Rose and her fighters have been busy taking care of the rest. Although damaged severely, the frigate Boston has been removed to the Callidus military docks for repair and refurbishing.”
“And the Rose of the Dawn?”
“She has sustained light damage in her running battle with the remnants of the Creednax fleet. Twenty four hours in the military docks will see her as good as new. The Rose and her crew performed well, Zed.”
“Yes they did.” Zed stood from his bed and bowed to the three women before him. “All of them.”
“As did her Captain, Zed.” Athena gave him a wide smile. “Even if it did get him killed.”
Zed winced. “Please don’t tell Kat about that.”
“What’s it worth to you?” LOLA’s grin was predatory.
“Enough, sister. Let the man get up.” Athena took Zed’s arm as he wobbled slightly.
“Funny… I’m dizzy.” Zed blinked.
“You’re probably hungry, since your body was created empty. You need to eat.” Athena murmured sympathetically as she held his arm.
“That sounds good.” He turned to the door. “Doctor, care to join me?”
“Thanks.” Helen replied, sounding more than a little bemused. “I already ate. You go.”
“Not that way.” LOLA pulled on Zed’s other arm, turning him around. “The dining hall is this way.” She faced a blank and solid white wall. “Oh just think about the dining hall. It’s that simple.” She jibed, stepping forward.
“Even LOLA can do it without too many problems.” Athena murmured in reply, holding Zed’s arm. The wall sparkled for a moment as they stepped through, and they were in the nearly empty dining hall. Zed held the chair for the two women before he too sat.
“Uhhh, how do I do this?” He looked at LOLA.
“Either picture what you want, or look at a list, like this…” A glowing menu floated in front of Zed. He stared for a second.
“I’ll try a bowl of the stew, bread and butter, and a cup of coffee.” The table sparkled and the steaming food appeared in front of him. “Damn! That was fast.” He took a bite of the tender meat, and smiled. “Thisss isss gut.” He mumbled around a mouthful, then paused. A thoughtful look on his face. “I’m supposed to be partly digital myself now, right?” Athena nodded. “If I can taste food, why can’t you? I know that you both can see, hear and feel. Why not taste?”
Athena frowned for a moment, and then began to laugh. “We never thought of it. We don’t actually need to eat, any of us.” Zed grinned as he speared a morsel of potato, dripping with gravy, blew on it for a moment to cool it slightly, and held it out for her consumption. She opened her mouth and delicately took the bite in her teeth. She chewed slowly, obviously savoring each flavor and texture of the morsel. Zed reached over with his napkin and wiped a tiny dribble of gravy from her chin. Her violet eyes were very wide.
“This is amazing!” There was a tone of awe in her deep voice.
Zed turned back to the bowl to discover that LOLA had speared a chunk of meat with her fork. Her teeth, when she bit into the square of beef, were small and very white. Her gray eyes went as wide as her sister’s had. “Why didn’t you tell us it was this good?” She said in an accusing tone.
“I was worried you’d get fat.” Zed retorted with a straight face.
She swallowed the remainder of the bite, glared at him, and then burst out laughing. The meal continued with Athena and LOLA sharing Zed’s seemingly bottomless bowl of stew, endless loaf of bread, steaming and hot as if it had just co
me from the oven, and coffee. Athena, unsurprisingly, preferred hot tea and was entranced as Zed tried his best to explain the different types and flavors of tea available. Finally, the odd meal was over and the three stood.
“I’m headed for the bridge.” Zed nodded to Athena. “Thank you for saving my life.”
She gave him a long look. “Thank you for offering it, brother.” Zed blinked in surprise at the term he knew in his heart was more than an honorific.
“Keep me apprised of your progress on the Weapons Vault and The Morrigan.”
Athena’s smile was flickering. “I see you haven’t forgotten.”
“I might die, but I never forget.” Zed replied sourly. Athena reached out and touched him gently on the cheek, before she turned and disappeared through the nearest wall.
LOLA pushed her arm possessively through the crook of his arm. “Off to the bridge then, Captain?”
“I suppose.” With LOLA on his arm Zed stepped through another wall and disappeared. Four tables away Sara Wood, a member of the Life Sciences Team and an assistant medic to Helen Sutherland dropped her glass. She sat, ignoring the growing puddle as she stared at the spot Zed and his companions had been.
“They just disappeared!” She hissed at Randolph Smythe, her companion and co-worker in Life Sciences. “They stood up and disappeared.”
“Strange things happen around Zed Yates, Sara.” Randolph replied calmly, sipping his lemonade. “I wouldn’t let it bother you. A friend of mine works at the loading dock and was there when they brought in the Captain’s transport. They said that he was cooked and smoke was coming from out of his EVA suit. Now here he is as good as new. Myself, I don’t ask questions I don’t really want to hear the answers to, if ye get my drift.”
“Humphhh!” Sara glared at the spot on the floor. “I think I’ll talk to Helen Sutherland about it.”
“Yer funeral, love.”
Zed stood at the rear of the bridge and blinked. Somehow he had heard Sara’s conversation, like an echo of an echo in the back of his mind. “Did you hear that? Sara’s conversation to Randolph?”
LOLA sighed. “It happens all the time Zed. Just ignore it. Your digital self is tied into all the sensors throughout the ship. You can, in effect, hear all the conversations, if you concentrate. We were just in the dining hall, in close proximity to Sara and Randolph. Their conversation sort of followed us.”
“Oh.” Zed replied solemnly, not really understanding. It was getting, he thought to himself, more and more like magic.
Heads turned as he stepped up to the bridge railing. “Section status.” He began the familiar litany without further comment. “Astrogation?”
“We are half a light year out from Callidus Captain. All sensor suites fully operational.” Huan Lî, a middle aged reed slender Chinese man said softly. He gave Zed a wide smile.
“Weapons systems?”
Thomas Covati, former NASA Systems Specialist and Marine pilot shot him a grave look. “Magazines at eighty two percent. All weapon systems fully operational.”
“Very good. Life Sciences?”
Helen Sutherland gave him a flat, unblinking look. “Life Sciences fully operational.” “Francois and Janine down in Hydroponics are replacing seedlings damaged by radiation during the last major confrontation. Completion estimated in four days.”
“Good. Research Division?”
Taking the place of Ian Sutherland in control of all the civilian scientists on the Rose, George Cabrera was a short wiry man with quick darting eyes. “Research Division is set to go.” Like the man, his voice was short and clipped.
“Thank you George. Physical Sciences?”
Atsuo Tanaka, who had been acting temporary commander gave Zed a small bow. “Physical Science section is fully operational Captain.”
“Thank you Atsuo. LOLA, ship status?”
The elfin figure, with green hair today gave him a serious look. “The ship is eighty two percent operational Captain.” Before he could comment LOLA continued. “This is due to the depletion of resources in our magazines, the slight damage to us during battle and the repair on the Frigate Boston, which will be ready to launch in approximately two weeks. Athena says that resources will be available to resupply the magazines in three days.” She paused and gave him a long look. “Six men and women were killed on the strike to the Creednax warships. The memorial service will be held tomorrow morning at 07:00, Zed. Would you prefer it if I officiate?”
Zed sagged, the weight of command settling heavily on his shoulders. “No, that is my job. Athena, I know you’re listening. What is the status of Callidus? Did it suffer any damage?”
“Exterior constructions like the spaceports suffered moderate damage to fifteen percent of the structures, reducing functionality by just under ten percent. The repair force of Callidus is still being reactivated, so repair to the structures is estimated at two to three weeks. The damage to interior structures was minimal, and should be completely repaired in two days. Planetary infrastructure one hundred percent operational. The damage to the exterior and interior sections has delayed research into Weapons Vault systems, and The Morrigan project, along with the activation of planetary defenses, which Athena tells me, should be operational in one week.”
Zed frowned. “Planetary defenses? She never mentioned planetary defenses before. What type of defenses are we talking about, LOLA?” He could almost have sworn he heard a light laugh from the AI. AIs didn’t laugh, did they?
“You never asked about planetary defenses, Zed. Callidus has three hundred large and six hundred small anti-ship energy cannons. Two hundred anti-ship missile batteries and fifteen defense satellites, each with three anti-ship missile batteries and a magazine of one hundred missiles.” Someone on the bridge whistled, and Zed didn’t even bother trying to reprimand the person.
“These will all be ready in a week?” His voice was a strangled whisper.
“The physical systems will be ready in a week. The magazines will take up to a month to replenish, and the storage systems for the energy weapons somewhat longer to reach full capacity. Magazines and energy reserves will be at ten percent when the system goes on-line.”
Zed stood for several long moments, staring out into the depths of space. It would have been so much better, He thought to himself. If those defenses had been operational when the Creednax first arrived, but… These were the cards he had been dealt. He had died, been rebuilt with a body that wasn’t totally human, but still a cold chill crept down his back, and he shivered.
“LOLA, what is the current range of Athena’s sensors?”
“About ten AU Zed, why?”
The chill down his spine increased. “Increase the range to half a light year.”
“But…” The AI sounded shocked. “That will mean thousands of more probes, tens of thousands.”
“Then you and Athena had better get busy.” Zed replied in a voice as cold as the glittering stars.
LOLA was silent for several long moments. “As you wish Zed.”
“Thank you.” He replied quietly. “Mister Covati?”
“Yes Captain?”
“How are we doing for targets?”
“The last of the Creednax vessels was destroyed thirty minutes ago. We would have gotten them sooner if they hadn’t scattered after the battle.”
“Excellent.” Zed grinned at the bridge staff in general. “Huan Lî, will you please lay us in a course for Callidus, best possible speed?”
“Yes Captain.” The stars in the display blurred as they accelerated, the forward stars blue shifting while the retreating stars shirted toward the red. “ETA at Callidus in two hours.”
“Good. Atsuo. When we arrive please have LOLA take us directly into the military dock and begin repairs. When that is done we will begin filling our magazines.”
“Aye sir.” The petite Asian woman replied, frowning. “Why the big rush? We defeated the Creednax, didn’t we?”
Zed gave her a flat, emotionless look
. “You tell me, Atsuo. Did we?” He saw the woman shiver visibly, wrapping her arms beneath her breasts.
“We’ll begin repairs and then fill our magazines immediately, Captain.”
“Thank you, Atsuo. You have the con. I’ll take the next shift in six hours.”
“As you wish, Captain.”
Zed turned and stepped directly into his own living room.
Zed looked out over the several hundred people who stood silently before him in the almost empty hangar. The fighter and scout craft had been moved to the construction bay to add a small bit of decorum to the ceremony and now the empty deck shone starkly white against the black bunting draped on the walls. Six black caskets stood just inside the main hangar door, draped in darkest blue. Only two of them were filled. On the top of each casket rested a steel rose.
“This is the first ceremony of its kind we’ve ever had, so I had to paraphrase from the traditional Anglican Burial at Sea Service.” Zed swallowed the dust in his throat as he looked about the solemn faces of the crew. “We therefore commit their bodies to the deep, to be turned into corruption, looking for the resurrection of the body (when space itself shall give up her dead), and the life of the world to come, through the Lord God; who at his coming shall change our vile body, that it may be like his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.” A small smile, devoid of warmth, touched the corners of his mouth. “These were our shipmates, and we will miss them. The Creednax will regret the error of their ways, and will come to fear the men and women of Terra. Das schulden wir unseren gefallenen Kameraden, as the Germans among us would say. We owe it to our fallen comrades.” He turned slightly to face the caskets and snapped up a textbook perfect salute.