by G J Ogden
“Do you really expect me to believe this outrageous fantasy story?” snapped Shelby, after Hudson had finished. “A ship called ‘Goliath’, a shape-shifting artificial intelligence, and god-like beings called ‘Corporeals’? It’s preposterous!”
Trent again stepped in to offer his arguments, but Hudson could sense that the Commodore was not going to turn Shelby to his opinion. “Admiral, for the last century, we have discovered dozens of alien worlds through engineered worm-holes, and raided crashed alien vessels for their technology,” Trent said, in his measured, reasonable tone. “Clearly, these alien artefacts pre-dated human life on Earth. And the portals and alien hulks must have been created by someone, or something. We all just stopped asking who built them, and why. So, is it really so much of a stretch to believe Captain Powell’s story?”
Shelby waved her hand dismissively, “A story is all this is,” she said. “Where is this Morphus thing now? If it is real, why does it not reveal itself?”
Hudson shrugged, “Look, Admiral, all I’ve told you is the truth. It’s up to you whether you believe me or not.” Then he pointed up into the sky, and added, “But Goliath is coming. And without that crystal, nothing will stand in its way.”
Shelby straightened up, as if Hudson had directly challenged her. “We shall see about that, Captain Powell,” she said, with a healthy measure of pomposity. “If this ‘Goliath’ dares to enter Martian space, my armada shall make short work of it.” Then she turned to leave.
“Admiral, at least put out a warrant for Cutler Wendell’s vessel, FS-31 Patrol Craft Hawk 1333F,” Trent called out after her. Shelby halted and turned to listen. “You may not believe that the crystal has significance, but what would it hurt to have it in our possession? Besides, it will prevent these miscreants from opening any other portals.”
“Fine,” said Shelby. “I shall issue the warrant, if only to ensure no further portals are found. But I remain doubtful that this crystal Captain Powell talks about has any importance. The might of the MP Armada will be sufficient to crush this threat.” Then she aimed her finger at Trent, “I suggest you also assemble your forces, Commodore. Trust in what you know, not this fairytale nonsense about crystals and alien artificial beings.”
Then Shelby spun on her heels and began marching back to her ship. Her guard escorts waited for the Admiral to pass between them, before turnning and marching after her.
Commodore Trent let out an exasperated sigh, and then turned to Hudson. “Martians…” he said, with a knowing smile.
Hudson laughed and returned the smile. “Martians…” he repeated, before becoming more earnest. “But thanks for handling Shelby. If you hadn’t shown up, I think I’d be in a Martian holding cell by now.”
Trent acknowledged the thank you with a courteous nod. “You’re welcome, Captain. Though I suggest that you still give the esteemed Admiral a wide berth from now on.”
“Honestly, I hope I never see her again,” replied Hudson. “But somehow, I doubt I’ll be so lucky.”
One of Trent’s armed guards walked up to the Commodore and spoke quietly into his ear. Trent nodded, and turned back to Hudson. “I’m afraid I must leave now,” he began. “But I will put out the arrest warrant for Cutler Wendell and Logan Griff at once. And I will feed any intelligence relating to his whereabouts directly to you.”
“You won’t find him,” interrupted Tory. “Cutler has been evading you people all his life. Now is no different.” She turned to Hudson, before adding, “We’re wasting time here. I’ll wait for you on the ship.” Then she left the group, and began walking back towards the Orion.
Trent smiled again, “The formidable Tory Bellona certainly lives up to her reputation,” he said, after the mercenary had passed out of earshot.
“I thought you didn’t know who she was?” replied Hudson, with a curious frown.
“Her alleged list of crimes and misdemeanors is not limited merely to MP worlds,” Trent replied, with a twinkle in his eyes. “Stay in touch, Captain Powell. I will assemble my fleet at Earth, but if this Morphus returns, and needs help, the CET military is at your disposal.”
“Thanks, it’s nice to have an ally for a change,” said Hudson. Then they shook hands, and Trent also departed. Hudson, Liberty and Tobin watched the two shuttles lift off, then turned back to the Orion.
“So, what do we do now?” asked Liberty, pulling her jacket tighter to cut out the cold wind.
“We find Cutler, and get the crystal back,” said Hudson. “And I have a feeling that Tory knows where to find him.”
They reached the foot of the Orion’s cargo ramp, ducking into the wind and bracing against the cold, as the bitter currents whipped past them.
“I wish that Morphus was here,” said Liberty. “We could really use its help right now.”
They all started up the ramp, but then froze. Standing at the top was Morphus, in the same female form that Hudson had last seen her in. And next to it, aiming her revolver at its head, was Tory Bellona.
“Greetings again, Liberty Devan entity. I am pleased to see that you are still functioning,” said Morphus.
Liberty was too stunned to speak, but Hudson was quick to act. “Tory, it’s okay, put the gun down. This is a friend!”
Tory scowled. “You know this woman?” she said, and Hudson was sure he detected a hint of jealousy in her voice. “Who is she?”
“It’s not a she,” said Hudson. “This is Morphus.”
Morphus turned to Tory, and suddenly transformed, adopting an exact likeness of Hudson Powell. “Based on your emotional reaction, body language and pheromone responses, I have determined that this form is more pleasing to you,” said Morphus. Tory’s mouth fell open. “Am I correct?”
Now it was Hudson who was lost for words. Luckily, Morphus’ sudden transformation seemed to have neutralized Tory’s natural belligerence. She decocked and holstered her weapon, before folding her arms. She looked first at Morphus, then at Hudson. “I think I was definitely safer back on that moon...”
CHAPTER 16
The party reconvened in the living space of the Orion. Morphus, Tobin and Liberty had squeezed onto the semi-circular couch, while Tory stood just off to the side. She looked ill-at-ease. Despite her redemption in the eyes of Liberty, she was still amongst people who were recently enemies, and it showed in her rigid posture. Hudson realized that Tory didn’t yet feel that she belonged, and maybe she never would do. Trust was something that was hard to accept when you’d lived an entire life without it.
Hudson went to the cabinet beside the couch and set a bottle of Ma’s whiskey and five tumblers on the table. He then poured healthy measures of the powerful liquor into each glass.
Tobin scowled at the ominous square bottle, and then looked up at Hudson, “I don’t suppose you have any wine?”
Hudson looked at him like he’d asked for a glass of engine oil, “You don’t suppose correctly, kid.”
Tobin shrugged, “Oh well, Goliath is going to kill us all, anyway,” he said, before picking up the tumbler, “so I guess it doesn’t matter if this takes me out first.”
Hudson smiled, and raised his own glass, “That’s the spirit.”
They each drank from the tumblers, except Morphus, who simply waited for them to finish. The mood around the table was as dark as the joke that Tobin had just told. With time to reflect on what had happened at the new portal world, the true enormity of events was hitting them all. Even Tory seemed subdued.
“I’m glad to see that you’re all healed up and repaired,” Hudson said to Morphus, placing his empty tumbler on the table. “But I’m afraid things have taken a turn for the worse while you were gone. We’re all hoping you have some good news.”
“Have you managed to reacquire the crystal?” asked Morphus, somewhat evasively. The alien AI had since transformed back into the female form Hudson was familiar with, rather than appearing as his doppelgänger.
Hudson shrugged, “I’m afraid not. We tracked Cutler and Gr
iff to the moon through the newly-opened portal, but they escaped. Then Goliath showed up, and all hell broke loose.”
Morphus cocked its head to the side, thoughtfully. “Then I do not have any good news right now. The return of the crystal is imperative.”
Liberty took a sip of her whiskey and then cut in. “Speaking of crystals, how was Goliath able to create a portal?” she asked. “I thought its crystal had been destroyed after you banished it?”
Morphus now cocked its head to the other side, before answering. “During its voyage, the great ship had collected crystal fragments from fallen Revocaters. Before your crystal was activated, Goliath was lost, and blind to the locations of any portals. But your crystal lit a path back to System 5118208. Along the way, it not only collected its seed ships, but the resources needed to recombine a crystal also.”
Hudson sighed and poured himself another measure, before topping up the other glasses. “If that’s true, we don’t stand a chance. That ship just destroyed an entire moon as if it were popping a balloon.”
“A creative analogy,” said Morphus, narrowing its eyes at Hudson. “Though also inaccurate. The moon collapsed inward due to the instantaneous removal of millions of tons of core matter. A balloon is filled with gas, and pops due to its surface structure being punctured, and the high-pressure gas rapidly escaping.”
Hudson scowled, “I think you get my point though.”
“I do,” said Morphus, calmly. “To continue your creatively-inaccurate balloon analogy, Goliath is now venting its rage. For many thousands of years, it has been denied its purpose. For many thousands of years, it has lived with its failure, growing ever more bitter and resentful. It is no longer satisfied with the extermination of sentient corporeal life. It will obliterate all of the planets that humans now inhabit, down to the very last. It will save Earth until the end. Its destruction will be Goliath’s crowning glory.”
A deathly silence fell over the room. Morphus’ monologue had hit them all like a sledgehammer. Hudson had already felt mentally battered before he’d entered the living space, but Trent’s support had buoyed him a little. Now, he was consumed by utter hopelessness.
“What was your good news?” asked Tory, who was the only one not staring down into the bottom of an empty tumbler. “You said you don’t have any good news, ‘right now’. That suggests there is the potential for some, right?”
Hudson hadn’t picked up on that particular detail at the time, but Tory was right. And Morphus was nothing if not exacting; it wouldn’t have phrased it in that way without reason.
Morphus nodded at Tory, “You are correct, Tory Bellona entity,” it said. “At the Corporeals’ homeworld, I was not only able to repair my damaged systems, but also interface with the Telescope. It showed me Goliath, and something more.”
Hudson was hanging off the alien AI’s every word, and from the looks on the faces of the others, they were enthralled too.
“The possible good news,” Morphus continued, “is that I have also discovered a sole surviving Revocater.”
“You mean the ships like the hulks that are smashed on the surfaces of the portal worlds?” asked Liberty.
Morphus nodded again, “Correct. It is the prototype on which all the others were modeled.”
“And it’s still intact?” said Hudson, feeling a tingle of excitement energize his weary muscles.
“It is intact, yes,” replied Morphus.
“And it’s operational?” Hudson added, becoming increasingly annoyed at having to coax every last bit of information out of the alien. “You can fly it?”
“It lacks a crystal, but otherwise yes,” Morphus replied.
Hudson laughed and threw his arms out wide. “Well, shit, Morphus; that sounds like pretty good news to me!”
Morphus frowned at Hudson’s excitable reaction, but his enthusiasm was catching. The previously stony expressions on the faces of Tobin and Liberty had also lifted.
“So, what’s the catch, lady?” asked Tory. She had been the only one not to show any excitement at Morphus’ news, almost to the point of aloofness. “There’s a catch, right?”
Hudson lowered his arms and hugged his shoulders, anxiously waiting for Morphus to answer. He was almost angry at Tory for trying to find more problems. However, even from the limited range of expressions that Morphus displayed, it was clear that Tory had guessed correctly.
“There is a complication,” Morphus confirmed, and Hudson felt his mouth go dry. “The prototype Revocater differs from the others in a number of respects, but one in particular is key,” it continued. “It requires two pilots.”
Hudson sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. His muscles were suddenly weary again. “And I don’t suppose there’s another Morphus out there anywhere to help you fly it?” he asked.
“There is not,” replied Morphus. “I am the last of my kind.”
“I’m still waiting for the but…” added Hudson, hopefully.
“But…” said Morphus, causing Hudson to perk up. “…there is an alternative. I can operate the Revocater’s core systems, and effectively function as its brain. But in so doing, I will be unable to pilot the vessel.”
“Okay, so then I can be your pilot, right?” suggested Hudson. “I’ve flown every kind of ship you can think of; how hard can it be to fly a Revocater?”
“Your enthusiasm is endearing, Hudson Powell,” replied Morphus, “but your corporeal flying skills are irrelevant. The pilot must be augmented, in order to interface with the Revocater. Any skills that are required, I can implant directly into the subject’s brain.”
“Whoa, wait a minute,” interrupted Liberty. “Augmented how? Like some sort of cyborg?”
Morphus seemed to think for a moment, but then smiled and nodded back at Liberty. “Yes, like some sort of cyborg.” It glanced up at Hudson, and added, “That was an example of an accurate analogy.” Hudson scowled, but Morphus simply continued, unaware of the embarrassment it had caused. “The augmentations will bond elements of my material structure and technology directly into your musculoskeletal structure and brain.”
Liberty’s eyes widened. She quickly grabbed her drink and threw down the contents in one. She then slammed the glass down, and said, “Hard pass, thanks.”
Hudson laughed, “Don’t worry, Liberty. If this is what it takes then I’ll do it.”
“I’m afraid the augmentation requires a specific level of neural efficiency. Your brain lacks the necessary sophistication,” said Morphus. The lack of feeling in its delivery made the sentence come across as cold and insulting.
Liberty sniggered and raised her empty glass at Hudson, “Morphus means that your cyborg IQ isn’t high enough.”
Hudson felt like flipping Liberty the middle finger, but managed to restrain himself.
“What about me?” asked Tobin, who had been largely silent. However, he’d also finished his whiskey, which Hudson figured had probably emboldened him. “How’s my brain?”
“Also unsuitable,” said Morphus.
Tobin didn’t look particularly disappointed at the answer, and was curiously also smiling. “What’s so amusing about having an ‘unsuitable brain’?” Hudson asked.
“It’s better than an unsophisticated one,” Tobin answered, still smiling. Liberty sniggered again.
Morphus then looked at Tory, but she quickly held up a finger to stop it before it spoke. “Before you say anything, I don’t care if my brain is suitable, unsuitable, or anywhere in-between,” she said. “And it sure as hell isn’t sophisticated. But there’s no way you’re augmenting me, lady.”
Morphus nodded, “As you wish. Though, as it turns out, I have already determined a compatible match.”
“Oh, no you don’t,” said Liberty, also wagging a finger at the alien.
“The Liberty Devan entity has a seventy-six percent chance of a successful augmentation,” Morphus continued, ignoring Liberty’s protests.
“Or a twenty-four percent chance of you turning my brain
to mashed potato!” Liberty exclaimed. “No thanks, there has to be another way.”
“There is not,” said Morphus. “None that doesn't risk significant delay and the inevitable destruction of the entire human race.”
Liberty snorted and shook her head, “Great… Well, when you put it like that.”
There was another tomblike silence in the room. Morphus had offered them a lifeline, but it was not without risk. And Hudson was acutely aware that Liberty had only just escaped from the jaws of death.
“What risk is there to Liberty if this doesn’t work?” asked Hudson, skipping ahead slightly. “Can you offer any assurances that she’ll be safe?”
“I cannot,” said Morphus, again with a clinical coolness. The entity was merely serving up the facts, uncolored by emotion. As much as this sounded harsh, Hudson realized it was better than being deceived, intentionally or otherwise.
He looked at Liberty and Liberty met his eyes. He knew what she was going to do, and as much as he wanted to stop her, he knew he wouldn’t be able to. However, what was even more difficult to accept was that he knew he shouldn’t even try. Too much was at stake to play it safe now.
“It seems I don’t have a choice,” said Liberty, pouring herself another drink.
“You always have a choice, Liberty Devan,” said Morphus, but Liberty shook her head.
“The choice is that I either do this, or Goliath kills everyone, right?” Morphus nodded. “Then there’s no choice. I’ll do it.”
“Very well,” replied Morphus. “I will return to my ship and prepare the procedure.” Then Morphus turned to Hudson. “However, even with two pilots, the Revocater will be useless against Goliath without the crystal.”
“I’ll get it,” said Hudson, with a renewed determination. Their situation was still precarious, but it was no longer hopeless. “I don’t know how yet, but I’ll get it.”
