by S. H. Jucha
Miriamelle’s remarks caused Sargut to ask, “Is that it?”
Alex held up a finger, requesting the commander wait. He was communicating with Miriamelle via his implant and ordering her to sweep the ship’s systems.
Miriamelle had prepared several copies of her kernel in preparation for the capture of Artifice’s code. If the code had attempted to deconstruct a secondary sister, it would have been passed to another copy. However, the code didn’t have the sentience or programmed intent to attack foreign algorithms. It was merely a clever tool that could activate ancillary programs if its container was disturbed.
“The ship is clear, Alex,” Miriamelle pronounced ‘I’ve the master executable code and an ancillary program safely captured.”
Tormheth was shocked to hear that the digital entity was harboring Artifice’s codes. “The danger is still aboard the ship,” he declared, looking toward Sargut to argue with the Omnians about what they’d done.
“And why wouldn’t the Omnians want to investigate the programs?” Sargut asked. He focused on the senior bridge officer and ordered, “Investigate Artifice’s code locations.”
Tormheth hissed. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
The two bridge techs returned and were a complete contrast to Tormheth. Their vestigial wings were partially deployed in excitement, and Tormheth directed his ire at them.
A bridge officer gave the order to a senior tech, who used his panel to gingerly approach the ship’s primary data device. The panel’s readout would indicate the location that mustn’t be touched. It was missing from the list. He ran the search again and carefully reviewed the numerous items to ensure it hadn’t been moved.
“It’s gone,” the bridge tech announced, his voice pitched high.
“Check the ancillary locations,” Tormheth ordered.
Again, the tech bent over his panel. His timidity was gone. He raced through the system’s list and checked each location. All the ancillary programs were missing.
“Miriamelle is correct,” the tech announced gleefully. “The ship is clear.”
“Thank you for your affirmation,” Miriamelle responded.
If it wouldn’t have appeared absurd, the tech wanted to hug Miriamelle’s box.
“Perhaps, we can retire to discuss what comes next,” Alex suggested.
Sargut stared dumbfounded at Julien. Alex’s words in Toralian had issued from the digital entity’s mouth.
“Miriamelle has pulled the translation program from your bridge storage,” Alex explained. “She’s copied its data, and we embedded it in our translation structures. Then, she installed it throughout your comm systems. We can speak anywhere where there’s a SADE or one of your comm devices.”
“Commander,” Suntred hissed quietly to Sargut to galvanize him.
Sargut shook his head to clear his mind. “This way,” he offered, leading Tormheth, Suntred, and some of the Omnians off the bridge.
Behind them, the group could hear the celebratory whistles of the bridge crew. For the first time in their lives, they were free of Artifice’s domination. The future might see its return, but for now, they lived in a moment of jubilation.
-5-
Black Fleet
The Toralian battleship’s immensity prevented Alex from reaching the traveler with his implant, but it wasn’t too far for the SADEs. They enabled Miriamette to link Franz to Alex’s conversations.
In turn, an Omnian Trident, which had a line-of-sight view to the bay, where Franz’s traveler rested, had directed its comm pickup toward the fighter. In typical Omnian egalitarian tradition, the entire fleet listened to the leaders’ exchanges. There was a collective sigh of relief when the Omnians heard Miriamelle’s announcement of the safe capture of Artifice’s codes.
Mickey, Luther, Miriam, and Z remained on the warship’s bridge, while Alex, Julien, and Miranda followed the Toralian commander. Alex wondered who had decided that Miranda should shadow him.
In the commander’s quarters, Sargut, Tormheth, and Suntred abruptly realized they were ill-equipped to host another species on their ship.
Alex gazed at the main cabin’s odd furniture. It held a table, with no chairs. To the side, where a couch might sit, was a collection of padded stands arranged in a semicircle. They were tilted slightly backward, had footrests, and were built to accommodate the Toralian physique.
But the item that caught Alex’s attention was on the cabin’s opposing side. A one-meter-long horizontal rod was suspended from the ceiling. It was coated but had been heavily scratched in parallel lines.
“Don’t mind us,” Alex said. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.” His words, issuing from Julien’s mouth, were in the Toralian language. Although Alex’s implant carried the translation program, he was unable to vocalize the alien language. Only a digital source could do that.
Tormheth and Suntred eyed Sargut, who indicated they should relax on the stands. The three Toralians eased into the structures, after gingerly folding their wings behind them.
Julien and Miranda joined the circle and locked their avatars. Alex took a seat on the deck and leaned against Miranda’s stout avatar.
“I apologize, Alex, for our accommodations,” Sargut said. “You can see that we’re not accustomed to visitors.”
“Apology accepted,” Alex replied, extending his legs and crossing them at the ankles. “We’ve proved that we can free your ships, Commander. I think that’s earned us an in-depth understanding of your race and its circumstances.”
“You presume too much,” Tormheth said belligerently.
“Subcommander, if you annoy me anymore, I’ll order Miriamelle to install Artifice’s programs where they once resided. Then we’ll pack up our equipment and return to our fleet. We’ll find another way to deal with Artifice.” Alex had delivered his comments in a hard, unforgiving voice, and Julien issued Alex’s statements to the Toralians in a manner that conveyed Alex’s annoyance.
Tormheth hissed his displeasure. In turn, Suntred’s eyes cast a warning to the commander. Her message was that Tormheth’s behavior was contrary to the grand commander’s wishes.
Sargut was caught between preserving his relationship with Tormheth and establishing contact with the Omnians. In the end, there wasn’t really a choice for him.
“Leave us, Subcommander Tormheth,” Sargut ordered quietly but firmly.
Tormheth had trouble believing he’d been dismissed. Then, reluctantly, he leaned away from his stand and left the room, but not without delivering a dark glance at Alex.
Using her sensors, Miranda tracked the Toralian subcommander’s movements to ensure he exited the room. The other SADEs and she exchanged thoughts about the need to be wary of Tormheth and any actions he might take.
“What do you wish to know, Alex?” asked Sargut, when the door closed behind Tormheth.
“Do the Toralians live on other worlds?” Alex inquired.
“Several,” Sargut replied. “We expanded our race for many generations before our forbearers built Artifice.”
“What’s the status of the Toralians on the other worlds?” Julien asked.
“Their lives are good,” Suntred replied, “except for the shared thought that, at any moment, someone, somewhere will make a mistake and activate Artifice’s program.”
“That will create a cascade of events,” Sargut explained, “as Artifice targets our race.”
“How will it do that?” Miranda asked, relaying Z’s question.
Omnian links were sharing every moment of these historical conversations. Alex was forced to block incoming comms to concentrate on the Toralians. Only Julien, Miranda, or an emergency signal would get through to him.
“First, Artifice will trigger its programs aboard our ships, and the fleet will be eliminated,” Sargut explained. “Then Artifice will give orders to other ships. They’ll sail for our home worlds. When they arrive, they’ll activate Artifice’s code, which will spread throughout the system and will set off the ancilla
ry programs in every digitally controlled power generator, engine, environmental system, satellite, and bot. Our race will return to its earliest beginnings.”
“You’ve witnessed this?” Julien asked.
“The records indicate this has happened ever since Artifice came into being,” Suntred replied. “Enough time has passed that the first races to be reduced have ascended again.”
“That should give them reasons to hate Artifice,” Alex proposed.
“Yes and no,” Sargut replied. “Many species have vowed revenge against the races that delivered Artifice’s destructive codes to their systems. You must understand, Alex. Populations were scattered around ships, moons, and platforms. Many of their citizens were killed outright, and others were left to die slowly when their air or water ran out.”
“That explains your description of the federacy as a collection of prisoners bound together by fear,” Alex said.
“I’d like to know what happens when the prisoners are freed,” Julien remarked.
“Perhaps, chaos,” Sargut offered. “Revenge or territory will be sought. The majority will try to defend their home systems, but those with the greatest fleets will have the advantage.”
“There are others who are stronger than us,” Sargut replied, “but most are not.”
“In what way are these other fleets more capable?” Alex asked.
“Their ships aren’t more powerful,” Sargut said. “But they have fleets in greater numbers, and they’re crewed by aggressive races.”
Alex leaned his head against Miranda’s legs and closed his eyes. At Alex’s request, Julien linked him to the other Omnians. The value of the SADEs’ comms was that it had the power to transmit through the Dark Whispers’ solid bulkheads.
Sargut opened his mouth to speak. In response, Miranda held a finger to her lips. Sargut must have recognized the signal, because his mouth clicked shut.
Luther sent.
The Omnians could hear Franz’s laughter before he sent,
Before Alex could make his next remark, the group heard,
Tatia regarded Renée, expecting her to voice her objections. Instead, Renée linked privately to her.
“Who says I do?” Renée muttered quietly to herself. The only thing she wanted was to be with her partner and lover to suffer whatever fate befell him. But this was an agreement that they had made. If Alex was lost, someone had to lead the Omnians to their ultimate goal. Human worlds had to be freed from the advances of spheres and probes, which were driven by Artifice.
Alex opened his eyes and regarded Sargut and Suntred. The Toralians, who had become somnolent in their stands, were alerted when Miranda issued the sound of a human throat clearing.
“Who is in charge of your fleet at Talus?” Alex asked.
“Grand Commander Tranimus,” Sargut replied promptly.
“Do you report to him?” Alex asked.
“A senior commander is above me,” Sargut replied. “However, Suntred is the grand commander’s liaison.”
“What is the grand commander’s opinion of us?” Julien inquired.
“The entire effort to locate your ships and speak to you, Alex, was the grand commander’s idea,” Sargut replied.
To Alex, Sargut seemed proud that Tranimus’ concept was proving to be successful.
Immediately, Bethley and Trium, who were the other members of Killian’s scout ship, Vivian’s Mirror, hurried to make for the bay where their scout ship sat.
“I request you head your battleship toward your fleet at Talus, Commander Sargut,” Alex said. “We’re sailing with you. In the meantime, we’ll rest aboard our traveler.”
The Toralians left their stands, and Alex climbed to his feet. Suntred prepared to lead the Omnians to the battleship’s bay, where their fighter rested. Alex paused at the cabin door to tell Suntred there was no need for an escort, but something in her dark eyes earnestly requested his attention.
Miriamette dropped the hatch on the Omnians’ approach. Julien climbed aboard first. Suntred halted and eyed the narrow hatch steps. Her comfortable, oversized boots weren’t appropriate for navigating the narrow metal slats.
“Allow me, Suntred,” Miranda said, before she gently grasped the Toralian by the hips and lifted her into the fighter’s cabin.
A sharp whistle of surprise escaped Suntred’s teeth, but she didn’t appear frightened. “My thanks, Miranda,” she said.
The humans could hear the various sounds the SADEs used to indicate humor.
Alex climbed into the traveler. “Welcome aboard, Suntred,” he said. “You’re the first Toralian to view our fighter.”
“But it looks like a shuttle,”
Suntred marveled. She studied the ship’s interior dimensions, and her keen mind compared them to the vessel’s overall dimensions. “There’s little space for engines, reaction mass, weapons emplacements, and crew to fight,” she added, looking from Alex to Julien.
“Why don’t you take a seat, Suntred, and we can talk about our technology?” Alex suggested.
“I prefer to stand,” Suntred replied.
“And I wouldn’t have offered you a seat unless I knew it could accommodate you,” Alex riposted.
Suntred figured that some discomfort in exchange for a one-on-one with the Omnian leader was worth it. She eased onto the seat, which Alex had indicated, but chose not to lean back because of her wings. The base had a broad depression, and she assumed it was meant for the likes of humans, like Alex.
What had been two large depressions under Suntred began to shift. She thought to jump up, but Alex and Julien were watching her intensely. This is a test, Suntred thought, and I mustn’t fail it.
Before long, the seat’s base comfortably conformed to Suntred’s slender frame. It was as if it had been poured for her. Then it occurred to Suntred what was happening. On a minor subject, the Omnians were demonstrating their advanced technology.
Slowly and carefully, Suntred leaned into the seat’s back. She chose to wait while the initial pressure on her wings eased as the underlying material moved aside to support her neck, outer shoulders, and lower back. When she was comfortable, she leaned forward and twisted around to view the shape she’d created.
“The seat molded to me,” Suntred declared in surprise. Then she leaned back and relaxed with a soft whistling intake of breath.
“Your ship doesn’t need a weapons emplacement because it is the weapon,” Suntred theorized. Her eyes were closed, as she spoke.
“Correct,” Alex replied.
“Many of our assumptions about you and the Omnians will be wrong, won’t they?” Suntred asked.
“That’s hard to say,” Alex replied. “We’ve no idea what’s normal for you.”
“Across the federacy, there’s only one sentient digital entity, and that’s Artifice,” Suntred said. “Yet, you possess many digital entities, who are sympathetic to your goals.”
