Gareth was more than impressed. “Is it operational?” He asked, starting out at a brisk walk, Mairi at his side and the marines somewhere behind him.
“The gate was activated yesterday, and the first test using a drone proved successful, traveling to and from Vurean. The probe we sent in this morning proved slightly less successful. Brivrelsea was the newest of the Eldenworld gateways, and was thus programmed with the complete set of coordinate locations for over a thousand gateway installations.” Gareth blinked. A thousand?? He thought in shock. “Several probes were launched with gateway installation packages every year for several millennia. It was my fault, really.” Iona said in a contrite voice. “I couldn’t believe that the ancients would or could put a shielded gateway into the solar corona of our sun. I was wrong. I suppose they needed to measure the degradation of the solar energy. The location of the gateway didn’t do my probe any particular good.” A hologram flickered into life in the air in front of them showing a burned and half-melted drone slowly collapsing out of the gateway. “We used your variation of the deadman switch to ensure retrieval of our drones.”
Gareth’s eyes went very wide. “How long was that probe in the solar corona?”
“Three point eight seconds.” Iona murmured. In the back of his mind the last piece of the puzzle dropped into place, and Gareth’s mind went very still.
“Iona, will you please forward the complete list of gateway locations to Ell and Thomas, along with the results of your initial tests?” Gareth stopped walking and looked up at the gleaming gateway. “You’ve done a good job, Iona.” He smiled into the air. “When we evacuate Eldenworld we will eventually be deactivating all of the remaining cities and gateways. I have a science vessel that needs a good AI to run it. Interested in the job?” He stopped and listened to the silence in the air. “Iona?”
“I would be pleased to be the intelligence running your science vessel.” Iona said very quietly.
Gareth grinned. “Cool. You had better set yourself up a transportation pod similar to the one Shyrrik is using, and start a bootstrap. We may have to pull the plug quickly when the time comes.”
“That is no problem.” Her voice was calm and assured.
“Good. Now can you set up a secure encrypted communication with the other two AIs?” A translucent bubble enclosed Gareth.
“Simply say your message, Gareth. I will ensure that it is encrypted and sent out to Ell and Thomas.”
Gareth took a deep breath. “Listen well, all of you…” He spoke steadily for ten minutes. “That’s it. I’m done.” He announced to Iona.
“Ell tells me to tell you, your plan sucks.” Iona offered dryly, and Gareth laughed.
“She’s been talking to my daughter or Chiu again. Ask Ell for the evacuation schedule.” He scratched his head. “Since you are the closest to them, you will probably be handling the majority of the ogres, if we can convince them to leave. The only problem is that Vurean is composed of clusters of islands, and I don’t really want to leave the ogres on the same island as the gateway. I’d hoped to relocate them to a distant island cluster.”
“Do you remember the small floater you used to transport materials the last time you were here?”
Gareth frowned. “We used it to transport the body of Eriato Southorn’s brother up to the surface. I remember.”
“I can make a dozen sleds big enough to hold twelve ogres each. I could knock them out and stack them up like cordwood, and then simply dump them out when the sled reaches its destination. There are only eight hundred and twelve live ogres, after all.”
Gareth nodded. “It sounds good to me. Regular humans will go to another island in this cluster, and if they wish, the dragons will go wherever they like on the world.”
“Let me see if I have it straight.” Iona asked. “Any person can go to any gate to evacuate, and that person will be sent to a specific destination as determined by racial type.”
“That’s about right.” He wondered where she was going with this line of thought.
“Aren’t you showing your prejudices in assigning homes?”
He thought about it for a moment before he answered. “Yes I am.” He replied bluntly. “The normal humans seem the most aggressive of the lot, so I’m sending them to a world poor in metals. With no gold or metals of any sort available, tanks, guns or even swords will be somewhat simpler, or at least less deadly. Elves will go to an ocean world with only one modest landmass. With no other races to compete with they will be happy.” He took a deep breath. “I’m trying to do the best for each race that I possibly can. If you think you can do better please step right up. I’d very much like to turn the whole verdammt mess over to someone else.”
Iona actually let out a low throaty laugh. “Are you insane? Whatever you do people are going to hate you and say you did a terrible job, disregarding the fact that everyone wants what they want, and that your life is in danger every single second you are on Eldenworld. I wouldn’t take your job for a million dollars, to use one of your old expressions. I, personally, think you’ve done an amazing job.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He looked at the ceiling and raised an eyebrow. “Do you have any operational planetary transportation pods?”
“I have only six. Exposure to unfavorable conditions has destroyed the rest.”
“I’m going to steal four. That just solved the problem of how I am going to get the elves through an underwater gate and to their new home. I’ll set up a shuttle service with four pods that runs twenty-four hours a day. I should be able to transfer the entire population in less than a month. Activate one pod and load three more standby pods inside. I’ll let you know where to send it.”
“You know,” Iona concluded in a dry voice. “it was ever so much quieter around here before you woke me up and put me back to work.”
“I’m so very sorry.” Gareth lied.
“Don’t be.” Iona said without hesitation. “AI’s are complex thinking personalities, just like a human, and are exceptionally hard to both build and program. Only ten class five AIs were ever constructed. Of those ten only four remain alive, if you will. Of the other six, two were destroyed in various wars, one simply disappeared, and three despaired and destroyed themselves. Like you, an artificial personality needs a purpose in life. I look forward to running a science vessel when I depart Bivrelsea. Would you happen to know what the name of the vessel is, off the top of your head, or her classification?” There was real enthusiasm in the AI’s voice.
“The science vessel was one of the ships in the museum storage. She never had a name before I gave her one. Ell is attempting to restore the museum fleet to full operation.”
“Hmmmm.” The voice out of the air mused. “That would make her an Anatoli Cherenkov class ship; the biggest and best equipped science vessel ever launched. Also, since it was constructed during the war, the best armed. I believe I’ll speak with Ell, and oversee her restoration myself. Do you know if she has her full complement of auxiliary craft?”
“There are only four combat shuttles in the museum, so I would have to say no.”
Iona was humming. “What sort of leeway do I have in the restoration?”
“The same as Ell.” Gareth stated, with a little apprehension. “We need to see to the evacuation of as many as we can. Brivrelsea will never, unfortunately, be used as a city again, so repairs there can be curtailed. Do what you need to do to get the ship operational. We’re trying to pump as many science students as we can through the university in Oseothan specifically to man the ships. Speak to Ell and start divvying up recruits and don’t forget to take a dozen or so marines. Be careful of Lothar, however. He may try to sneak aboard a shuttle and steal a ship.”
“Never happen.” Iona replied in a voice like cold steel, and then a bit more softly. “Where will you go now?”
“I need to visit the dragons. There aren’t many of them, and I would like to see them all safely to their new home. You should contact as many locals as
you can, and start the pioneering types moving through the gateways. Shanghai the ogres if you need to.”
“This is going to be…” Whatever else Iona had been about to say was rudely interrupted when the ground beneath them gave a great groan, and shook violently, throwing the human visitors to the floor. Further down the hallway there was a resounding crash and dust drifted through the archway and into the waiting area.
“Damage?” Gareth asked quickly as he helped his daughter to her feet.
“A section of this corridor collapsed further down. I will simply seal it off. Power and city services are fully functional, including the gateway.” The marines, Gareth noted, were helping each other to their feet. None seemed seriously injured.
“Get people out, Iona. We don’t have a lot of time to play with here. This place is going to shake itself to pieces.” He began to turn away but stopped. “Remember your bootstrap.”
“I will.” The AI murmured in a very soft voice. “I’ve never had someone care about me before as an individual rather than just a machine. It’s a… unique feeling.”
Gareth stopped again as the rest exited the dusty room. “Let me tell you a secret, Iola.” Gareth revealed. “It’s even better when the feelings are exchanged.” The AI for the city of Brivrelsea was quiet for some time after Gareth and his party departed, thinking about what he had said.
Gareth had the transportation pod circle the Island of Krek several times before the transparent vehicle set down like a soap bubble on the beach he remembered from so long ago. As they stepped through the side of the pod he made sure that rifles were safely inside. Four black specks grew quickly as they descended, and the quartet of dragons flared their wings simultaneously and settled to the beach, surrounding the humans and filling the air with sand and debris. He had thought that the mother dragon he’d met was large, but the one that stepped forward to regard him was a monster. For a second Gareth regretted leaving the rifles in the pod, but with his hands open he stepped forward, the jeweled dragon on his arm plainly visible for all to see.
“I believe I’m know to your kind.” He said very clearly. Now wasn’t a time to mumble.
“I told you that it was him, but you wouldn’t listen.” A smaller dragon behind the first pointed out in a hard voice. Gareth risked a glance at the speaker, and breathed a sigh of relief. It was the mother dragon he had met on other occasions. When he went to swallow, he found that his throat was dry. “Hello Mom.” He said at last, still not moving. “What’s up?”
“These are dangerous times” The bigger dragon boomed in a resounding voice. “We can’t be too careful.”
Gareth frowned. “What happened?”
“Some… thing killed one of our kind, and nearly killed another.” The big dragon lowered its head to look at Gareth more carefully; he smelled of brimstone. “It seemed to take pleasure in the killing.” The big dragon rumbled.
“Was it a big creature, man shaped and half again as big as me with mottled green hide and red eyes?”
The dragon snarled, and Gareth took an involuntary step backward. “That was it!” The dragon snarled.
Gareth sighed. “It is called Lothar, and it is an immortal assassin created millennia ago during a time of your wars. An earthquake freed it from where it had been trapped underground, and it killed all the residents of Iyreeqeka. I and my companions fought it. It killed three of five of us, and I and one other barely survived, wounded and bleeding. It killed one of my longtime partners. She changed into a wolf to lead it away while we made our escape, and it caught her and killed her.”
“I am sorry for your loss.” The smaller dragon murmured. “This Lothar creature has been attacking villages along the southern coast of the Realm of Yeasiotis, killing everything. We sent two scouts to investigate.”
“Yeah, well this thing is after me. It has a sample of my blood, it spilled enough of it, and my ship went directly from Iyreeqeka back to The Yeugate trailing a plume of smoke like a big arrow.”
“What can we do?” The bigger dragon rumbled.
Gareth chuckled. “Nothing. I came here to inform you that arrangements have been made to evacuate all your kind to a new world. It is metal poor, but land rich. Fifty times the size of Eldenworld, you may take your choice of where you would live. Humans will probably live there, but as I said, there is no iron for swords. All you have to do is fly to the gateway at The Yeugate or Shsa-Tirion. All is in readiness, and you will simply pass through the gate. Lothar cannot follow you.”
The smaller dragon purposely buffeted the larger dragon with her wings. “I told you he was our friend.” The bigger dragon drooped slightly.
“I am sorry.” The massive creature finally rumbled. “I should have listened to my mate.”
“How many of you are there, that will be leaving? You are, after all, quite large and we may need to move some breakable items, like The Yeugate itself.”
The smaller dragon snorted her laughter, and a curl of smoke rose from her nostrils. “There are thirteen hundred and eighty seven dragons.” She offered. “Are you sure some few shouldn’t stay here to help you?”
Gareth gave her a low bow. “Thank you, but no. Lothar has weapons that can shoot ships or creatures out of the air. If the vessel in which I was flying had not been designed for war, and able to take severe damage and still fly, I would be dead.” He gave her a smile. “You may start your departure whenever you wish, utilizing The Yeugate or Shsa-Tirion. Unfortunately, the gateway at Brivrelsea is indoors, and might make things… cumbersome.” It was the large dragon’s turn to rumble a laugh. “You can do one thing, however. Your word carries some weight with the ogres. Tell them that they have to leave, and to go to Brivrelsea. The intelligence that runs the city and the gateway will put them to sleep, cart them through the gateway to their new home and dump them there.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t have time to be subtle.”
“You’re doing just fine.” The smaller dragon murmured. “You will always be welcome with us.” She shot a glare at the larger dragon, who nodded.
“Should you wish,” The big dragon agreed, “you and your family may live among us, in peace.”
Gareth gave the big creature a bow. “Should I survive, I will bear that in mind.” He turned back to the transport. “Let’s go folks. I need to check a few of these destroyed villages the dragons mentioned.” The pod rose slowly and angled off toward the Realm of Yeasiotis just as the dragons lifted off.
“What do we do now?” Mairi asked in a small voice.
“Take some precautions.” Gareth said flatly. “Computer, does this pod have defensive systems?”
“Affirmative. Full stealth mode will render us effectively invisible to visual and sensor detection. Defensive systems will block or deflect weapons fire.”
“Nice.” He murmured. “Full stealth and defensive systems please. Take us along the coast at subsonic speed, and slow down at any villages you come to.”
The pod dropped toward the shoreline, and slowed. It was the thin trickle of smoke that caught Gareth’s eye, and as they approached, he realized that the fire came from a smoldering boat, run aground at the edge of a small sheltered harbor. Gareth could see the bodies sprawled on the deck as they drew closer. Some were whole, but most weren’t. As they continued more bodies on the wharf came into view, along with the corpses of dogs and horses. In the small hamlet nothing moved.
“What sort of fiend could do this?” The Sergeant Major growled from his seat. His face looked stricken, and those under his command looked ill.
“A fiend indeed, Sergeant. Computer, take us east, to the next village. We’re finished here.” The globe rose silently.
They found the dead dragon in the main square of the next village. The wings had been torn off, and it had obviously died in agony. Gareth felt his jaws tighten. Unlike the first village every building here had been burned to a smoldering shell. He couldn’t tell whether it was from the work of Lothar or the battle with the dragon.
Women screamed and clutched their children to their breasts when Gareth stepped out of the totally invisible pod, and onto the town square. Behind him he heard the marines fanning out to the right and left. “I need to speak to your leader.” He called out in a loud voice.
There was a buzz of voices, and then a large grizzled man, slightly taller than Gareth with heavy shoulders and a scarred face stepped forward. “I’m Jart.” His voice was deep and sandpapery. “Who be you?”
“My name is Gareth. I thought I might let you know that the next two villages west of here have been destroyed. Every last man, woman and child has been slaughtered.” Somewhere to his left a woman began to weep. “We were there a short time ago.” He gave Jart a hard look. “The creature that killed your villages is travelling east up the coast. It will be here soon.”
Jart snorted. “Is bullshit, is what. Prove what you say, or git out o my street.”
Gareth shook his head at the stubborn people. “Computer, can you project a replay of the visit to the last village so that all in the square can see?”
“Standby.” A soft voice said. “The projection is beginning.”
“This is a copy of what we saw.” Gareth said to calm the crowd. In the air above the pod a scene appeared, as the pod slowly approached the previous village. As the scene enlarged several people gasped as they recognized the dead dragon for what it was. One woman recognized a body lying in the dust and collapsed sobbing on the street. Gareth let the recording play out.
“Would you like me to repeat the video?” The computer asked.
“No. Once is quite enough, thank you.”
Jart’s weathered skin had turned pale. “What would ye have us do?” He said in a much meeker voice.
“Get in your boats and run away. Head for Oseothan. They will pass you all through a gateway to a new, safe home. Send your swiftest boats to the next villages and towns to warn them. Tell them what I told you. The creature that is coming enjoys killing, and is totally indiscriminate.”
The Decade Worlds Page 12
