“But that’s where you’re wrong. I’m trying to tell you that I didn’t just copy Ninnever’s mind. I uploaded her actual mind, not a copy of it.”
“How is that possible?”
Bixby hesitated to tell her the rest. He thought he might regret it later, but he had to choose sides at some point. Revealing the full extent of his experiments and his findings would either make Ellen his closest ally or empower her to undo him. Bixby said, “That big iron capsule in the Hall of Artifacts—what do you make of it?”
“You’re answering a question with a question. I’m asking the questions here. That lab you’re in, that control room—it’s all mine.”
Bixby felt his sense of ownership surge—she was a true subscriber to property rights over people rights—but he focused on explaining. “What do you make of it? What do you think that thing is?”
“Okay, I’ll play. But only for one question—you’re running up a bill on the shunt line. I don’t know. Some kind of ancient carving done by giant aliens.”
“Well, I can’t say whether it’s carved or not, but it’s definitely alien. Just the composition ought to tell you that. I hope the scientists that came before me figured that one out. But I also think it’s a ship.”
“What gave you that idea?”
“The biological matter inside.” He felt her fly out of her chair, even though the shunt line didn’t broadcast such events. “Where did you find it?”
Ellen was audibly flustered. “It was found by salvagers and sold to us at one of the regular auctions at the Straddling Skunk—we keep a pulse on the markets there. We thought it was one of Laramy’s abandoned experiments. Other than being solid, there wasn’t much else interesting about it. It’s just a block of iron. What do you mean biological matter?”
“You didn’t think finding a finely shaped object in the deep of space was unusual? Its shape obviously isn’t from natural erosion. And by the way, it isn’t solid all the way through—there’s a small space at the core of it, about the size of an ancient basketball. You guys just didn’t know how to scan it, or you didn’t think to scan for it. The contents were similar to what we think of as organic, but had crystalline structures—well, mostly.”
“What do you mean organic? You’re telling me there’s life inside that thing?”
“Not anymore, but there was at one point.”
“I don’t see how this relates to Ninnever.”
“There was a component inside. I thought it might interface the mind of the original pilot with the ship.”
“The original pilot was a tiny little alien?”
“Not necessarily. It could just as easily have been the size of a planet, driving the ship from long distances away. But it was different from human—that’s for certain.”
“So what’s this component?”
“Long story but I think I successfully transferred Ninnever’s consciousness to it when I got it out.”
“Out? Out of what? You took the component out from inside of the capsule—the ship?”
“Yes. I phased it out, like the pebbles.”
“I’ve heard enough. This is exactly what I’m talking about. This technology is going to push humankind into a new era. The only corporation with the resources to bring it forward is Laramy. We need to meet personally.”
“I see. You don’t think talking over the shunt will work? Are you afraid someone could listen in? Why doesn’t Smeiser just build in more security?” He knew she would ignore the question. Shunt lines were a great mystery to everyone at Smeiser. They allowed almost instant communication at great distances, seemingly defying physical laws—but everyone just accepted they were expensive. Bixby knew what those were too—
An alert sounded off on Bixby’s console and he knew what she would say next. Normally, his approval was required for any approaching vessel to dock but she must have retained an unlock exception. He heard her say, “Meet me in the hangar. I’m docking with Venture Lab. Where’s the component now?”
“Oh, that thing? I uploaded Niner’s consciousness into it and phased the assembly back into the ship.”
Chapter 13: Joined
When Bixby reached the hangar, Ellen’s transport had already landed. It sat one position away from the Blazon Proxima. Bixby had rigged up his next experiment there—he was trying something new with many tiny warp fields rather than a singular large one. He felt uncomfortable with Ellen’s ship being that close.
Ellen’s personal guard consisted of only two officers, but they looked significantly tougher than the usual crew. Bixby smoothed his hair as she approached him after disembarking. The officers marched ahead, past both of them towards the depths of Venture Lab.
Bixby said, “Where are they going?”
Ellen ignored the question. “You need to tell me right now what you’ve done with the technology and what prototypes we will be taking with us.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will in a moment.” She led him the way the guards went.
***
The mess hall was equipped with fine cooking appliances manned by a dedicated chef. Ellen sat down to fresh lamb burgers with Bixby. He hadn’t questioned how fresh meat was possible, but he suspected there was a farm somewhere just for the executives. Ellen said, “Start by listing what you have, what’s complete and what is left to be done.”
“For the Proxima? I have a new run lined up. I’m going to try combining quadrillions of warp bubbles.” He knew it was more, but chose a management word she could identify with that meant lots and lots.
“Is that stable?”
“It’s a warp field experiment.”
“I see. What do you have for prototypes of the headset and the implant?”
“I haven’t gone further with either.” The chef came over with more meat.
“You’ve spent all your time on Niner? What are the results?”
“Successful transference.”
“You mean she’s inside that—iron ship?”
“So you haven’t made any progress on the Proxima then. What did I give you this station for?” Really? I just transferred a human soul for the second time.
“I didn’t say that.” He finished his food and sat back.
“You said Ninnever is inside the alien ship. I know that’s the bigger story here—the alien ship that we didn’t know was an alien ship.” So she didn’t miss it.
“However, we’re on a timeline here and you need to tell me exactly what’s changed on the Blazon Proxima since you arrived here.” She needs warp drive for something she’s not telling me.
“What timeline?”
“Answer the question. What have you completed? You said Ninnever is in the alien ship. What about our ship—the Proxima.”
“You first. What timeline?”
She looked at the clock. “Constantin Laramy is meeting us here in twenty minutes.”
“What? He’s coming here? You gave the competition our secret address?”
“Not competition. It’s time you start thinking of Laramy as home. We’re both going there straight away.” His heart sank. The experiment wasn’t ready. Any one of thousands of things could go wrong and if they left, he would never have the chance to run it.
Bixby said, “We’re abandoning Venture Lab?” He saw the chef’s surprise just before one of the bodyguards Ellen had arrived with put a bag over his head from behind.
He felt rough hands about his neck, then someone laced his wrists into restraints in smooth, practiced motions. He felt himself slung over the big man’s shoulder and carried away.
Chapter 14: Betrayed
“You can take the restraints off. He won’t try to escape. He’s smarter than that.” Bixby recognized the voice as Constantin Laramy. Then he saw him when the bag was lifted. The man was taller and younger than he had appeared on-screen.
Pander and Ellen sat betwixt the center seat that obviously belonged to Constantin. Constantin stood across the chamber, leaning on a
rich wooden door. An ostentatiously lit chandelier dangled overhead. He was aboard a ship with a chandelier in it. This had to be the real Constantin.
Constantin said, “Sorry we had to do that. I didn’t know if you would react poorly to the cleanup. These things are sad but necessary. I can assure you I don’t enjoy the task. I never watch and you shouldn’t have to. Glass of wine?” Pander had already had one—apparently more than one—he was glowing red.
When Bixby realized what Constantin meant, he said, “You—you killed the crew?”
Constantin scowled feigning confusion. “I wouldn’t put it that way. Their sacrifice will be appreciated in history when this has all played out. Laramy Orbital has a destiny to fulfill and this is just a small step.” He raised his glass in Bixby’s direction and said, “But you, my friend—you are a massive leap.” Had he read that somewhere?
Bixby couldn’t help but feel flattery from the most commercially powerful man in the galaxy, but the guilt of it overwhelmed him—the compliment was coming from a murderer. I never watch. He had apparently done this before.
Bixby hadn’t bonded with any of the crew, but it sickened him. He felt a surge of loss that surprised him. Bixby had connected with Ninnever, and watched after her safety, but he wasn’t close to any of the crew. He didn’t understand why he doubled over and hung his head in his palms. What had he done? The success of his experiments had invited disaster to the crew. He was responsible.
When he looked up, he realized the others knew this was going to happen. They were just waiting for him to catch up. He remembered the girl in the library, leaving him with his humiliation as his father dragged him out from under the table. His crystals had saved him then, but would they save him now?
Constantin said, “Enough of this. Chin up, Bixby.” Bixby knew the magic of voicing a first name—it got the addressee’s attention if nothing else. He tried to contain his attention—but something else was happening inside his head. He could feel it.
Strange, the surge of loss was gone. He began to think violent thoughts, directed at everyone in the room. He pictured grabbing Constantin by the neck—
Constantin walked over and raised Bixby’s chin with his palm. He wasn’t rough, but not gentle either. And he felt entitled to touch Bixby’s face. It was an assertion of power. I can. He said from close up, “Now tell me what you were telling Ellen. She was wearing a listening device with me on the other end. You said Ninnever is in the alien ship—”
Bixby turned to Ellen and said, “When were you going to tell me that Ninnever was the test pilot for the Proxima? You bought her as a child and experimented on her.”
Ellen said, “Good for you. I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out sooner. But that goes to show what you know about business. We didn’t put our eggs in one basket. We bred a generation of them, but none of them got as far as your precious Ninnever.”
Bixby said, “You killed her.”
Ellen said, “Not exactly. We both know that. That’s when our friend here—”
Constantin said, “That’s when I became interested. Smeiser doesn’t have the resources or vision. When we take this technology to Laramy—”
Pander said, “Sit down Laramy—on the floor.” He was holding a gun. “Palms down on the luxurious shag carpet. Get a good feel in. It’s expensive shag.” He stood up and spat on the carpet, revealing his inexperience with insolent gestures when he wiped the drool hanging from his chin.
Constantin’s rage was evident. Pander backed up from his seat and said, “Do it, Bixby. You too, Ellen. You can join them over there.”
Constantin sat down next to Bixby. Ellen joined them slowly. Although Constantin’s life was under threat, Bixby could sense the man was planning how to turn things around. The squint of hatred in his eye was more than a hint. Bixby could see a violent rage brewing under the crinkles of his face—it was murderous. Pander must have been in on a grand plan and betrayed Constantin just now.
When they had all complied, Pander stood over them but far enough to avoid his ankles being gripped out from under him. Constantin looked strong. Pander said, “Never trust a Laramy. Now, here’s what’s going to happen—”
An officer wearing a Laramy Guard patch entered the cabin, holding a heavy rifle. Constantin said, “Take him down.” Bixby watched as the guard pointed his rifle at Constantin instead. “I see. I will hunt you down then.”
Pander said, “As I was saying, you will come with me.” He pointed at Bixby. “The others will stay here.” The betraying officer went to plastic-tie Ellen and his former boss to the seats.
Bixby walked towards the double doors to exit, still at Pander’s gunpoint. Before they left, Ellen said, “Why?”
Pander turned back and said, “Because I worked too hard, too long to lose it all to Laramy and guys like this Constantin. Look at him in his silk suit—he’s just a spoiled brat in corporate clothing. He’s never earned anything for himself. Smeiser has been a family enterprise from the beginning and I helped build it up. I’m not about to stand by and watch you sell out the company. It’s home to me.”
Ellen said, “You’re a fool, Pander. You should follow the strongest leader. You will learn that one day, but it will be too late for you. We will crush you.”
Pander said, “I’m not like you. What happened to loyalty and tradition? You’re just selling yourself to the highest bidder—”
Constantin began to speak, but Ellen got her words out first. “Loyalty? How’s that working out for you? You were in R&D—your first love—and the company put you in operations. Is that where you really belong?”
Pander said, “I’ll contribute where I’m most needed, and there’s a post for me in research at Smeiser. They’ll promote me into it one day. Maybe that day is today—now that I’ve identified a couple of traitors.” He glared at Bixby, clutching the back of his shirt. “In case you’re wondering, I’m recording this whole thing.”
Ellen said, “You think you’re upholding some kind of moral code, but you’re just buying Smeiser’s propaganda. Laramy will do more with Bixby’s technology in a year than Smeiser can do in a decade. Can’t you see that? Smeiser is moving backward. You’ve said it yourself—”
“That doesn’t mean things can’t change.” He pointed at Bixby, then shoved him. “Our scouts found the right asset, didn’t we?” Property over people.
Pander said, “We put him to the right work. We even gave him this bunker in the middle of nowhere. What more do you want? Smeiser is about innovation now. And when it gets to the production line, we’ll make it great again. What we need is a few loyal followers to uphold the Smeiser name and philosophy—not ambitious women like you.”
Pander pushed Bixby towards the doorway. He said to Ellen, “Look at you. I would have done anything for you. But your ambition allows no room for loyalty. I was loyal to you, but you wanted to make me betray my home…my family.” Bixby could have sworn Pander wiped a tear in his hurry to leave. “Even if Smeiser rejected me for promotion and elevated you instead, I won’t turn my back. I’m not like you.”
Ellen turned red. Bixby didn’t know if it was anger or guilt, but she was feeling something intense, yet holding her words. It was as if something occurred to her under the weight of Pander’s words.
Pander said, “I thought I could do it. I followed your every order—every step. But when it came down to it, I couldn’t. There isn’t enough Intrinsic in the universe.” He shook his head and pushed Bixby out the double doors.
Bixby saw the hallway for the first time. He had entered on a rough man’s shoulders, with a bag over his head. The walls were elaborately ordained with wooden panels—different than any ship he’d seen. So much wood in a world without trees. The cost of attaining the wood would have been astronomical. He stopped thinking about it when they walked past a dead guard, bleeding from the neck.
Bixby said, “What now? You think we can just go back to business as usual? And how did you get the bodyguard to side with yo
u?”
Pander said, “Now I bring you back to the executives. They can decide what to do next. At least our technology won’t fall into Laramy’s hands. I’ve been communicating with various people at Laramy for years. They don’t have perfect jobs either, you know. The Laramy family isn’t exactly known for treating employees well. Besides, that guy knows enough insider stuff about Laramy to command five times his pay from us.”
When they reached Pander’s intended location, Bixby said, “Escape pods?” Pander keyed in a code on the panel, still pointing his gun at Bixby.
“What? You didn’t think Constantin Laramy travels in a ship small enough to fit into Venture Lab, did you? You designed the thing too small. Now jump in. We have a lot to talk about.”
Chapter 15: Renewed
The ejection had been smooth—not what Bixby had expected from an emergency launch. The pod was built for four passengers. It hinted of luxury but shared none of the main ship’s ostentatious taste. Pander still had the gun on him, but he had visibly calmed down. Bixby said, “I don’t get it. Who’s side am I supposed to be on?”
“That’s really up to you.” Pander tucked the gun into his inside breast pocket. His suit was hardly wrinkled from their ordeal. “I just wanted Ellen out of here. She’s been undermining my every move.”
Bixby said, “You’re trying to make director.”
Some of Pander’s arrogance returned. “Don’t you think I’d be the best one?” He produced some rolled paper from his pant pocket and placed one on the table.
Bixby said, “You’re kidding. No thanks. Greenabis? You smoke that stuff?”
“Calms me down.”
“You’re going to light up in here?”
“What? You’re worried I’ll burn up all the oxygen? Relax. It’s close. Besides, I have reinforcements on the way.”
“What’s close? Venture Lab?”
Pander said, “And they call you a genius? That place could be crawling with Laramy soldiers by now. Not worth the risk. Besides, I put it on self-destruct before we left.” He took a puff. “I pre-programmed the pod to go someplace else.”
Professor of Enigmas Page 4
