by C H Gideon
“When Jiya here plowed into you back on Aspar, she grabbed your computer as well as you,” Reynold explained.
“No! That’s not—”
“Believe it or not, but you weren’t conscious enough to know for a fact one way or the other,” Jiya goaded. “We’re working on decrypting it as we speak, and I have a pretty good idea that we’ll find everything we need on there.”
“That means we won’t need you, in case that wasn’t clear,” Reynolds went on.
Jora’nal swallowed loud enough for them to hear him. He clambered to his feet.
“There is nothing on that device that will help you,” he said.
It was obvious he was lying.
Reynolds shrugged. “If nothing else, the hardline call you made will give us a damn good starting location, seeing as how you can’t encrypt information like that while using such old low-tech systems.”
Jora’nal stiffened. Beads of sweat appeared on his brow.
“You have until this time tomorrow, or until we finish breaking the encryption on your device, before we decide what to do with you,” Reynolds warned. “Be smart, and I’ll find some compassion deep inside my metallic heart. We’ll dump you off at the ass-end of the universe and you can start your pitiful life over. Stay loyal to your god, and you better hope there’s some sort of Heaven awaiting you after all this.”
Reynolds spun on his heel and marched out of the brig. Jiya looked at the cultist, offering him one last chance to cave before she left.
When he didn’t start talking, she shrugged and waved. “See you soon.”
She left the brig, the door hissing shut behind her.
She and Reynolds headed back toward the bridge.
“You think he’ll crack?” Jiya asked as they walked.
“Probably not,” Reynolds admitted. “He’s as much a zealot as any of Phraim-’Eh’s cult. He probably thinks there’s redemption for him if he stays loyal and his master kills us.”
“He can’t be that stupid, can he?” Jiya asked.
“It’s more that he’s been brainwashed to believe this Phraim-’Eh is really a god,” Reynolds told her. “Despite all our successes against them, Jora’nal can’t yet picture that we can win out against his master.”
“Then why not give up the guy’s location if we’re just going to die there?” Jiya wondered.
“Catch-22,” Reynolds answered. “If he tells us where Phraim-’Eh is, he betrays his master, regardless of the outcome. His only hope is that Phraim-’Eh takes us out and Jora’nal manages to survive the encounter, which he expects to happen on his master’s terms.”
Jiya grunted. “That is kind of a slim hope to be dangling from.”
“It’s the kind of thing zealots believe in,” the AI told her. “He’s expecting a miracle.”
“He better be ready for disappointment.” Jiya chuckled.
Reynolds nodded.
“Go get some rest,” he told her. “We’ll be in the Grindlevik System soon, and we really can’t do much until Jora’nal caves or Geroux hacks his computer. Either way, this is likely to be the only downtime we have anytime soon.”
Jiya nodded and started toward her quarters. “Beep me if anything interesting happens.”
Reynolds waved to her and kept walking.
Today had been a great success, capturing Jora’nal and destroying the Pillar, but there was still more to come, and he needed to be ready.
For now, though, he had an AI to visit.
Chapter Eight
The SD Reynolds slipped into Grindlevik space, and Ria gasped at how different the planet looked.
“Wow!” she muttered. “That’s amazing.”
Where the old defensive perimeter had been, there was now a shiny new one. It looked ominous.
Unlike before, when the defense ring was flanked by destroyers, the ring pulsed with energy, projecting what appeared to be a force field over the entirety of the planet.
The ring had numerous weapons installations apparent across its breadth, and the SD Reynolds’ scanners picked up its threat as soon as they popped into the system.
“The old boy’s gone and upgraded,” Tactical said.
“Looks that way,” Reynolds replied, examining the energy signatures and grinning as he noted they no longer put off the same kind of Kurtherian identifiers as the last rig had.
Just beyond the barrier loomed what Reynolds knew could only be a Gate under construction.
It was far from finished, not even the frame entirely constructed yet, but Reynolds could see automated bots and ships circling it, a slow but relentless push of effort being put into the creation.
It would be years before it was finished, but Reynolds was impressed by how far the AI had come already.
“Gorad’s evolving,” Reynolds commented.
“Speaking of Gorad, he’s hailing us,” XO announced.
“Onscreen,” Reynolds replied.
A second later, the viewscreen flickered and a familiar android face appeared.
“Back so soon, Reynolds?” Gorad asked. “You run out of universe to explore already?”
“And here you thought he wouldn’t be happy to see us,” Tactical joked. “You were clearly wrong.”
“Figured we’d drop in and hang out for a bit, “Reynolds replied. “I recall us making an agreement regarding our stopping by and being provided safe haven and supplies.” He raised an eyebrow, jokingly questioning Gorad’s commitment.
“To be fair, I’d hoped it was only lip service I was providing,” Gorad replied, showing metallic teeth as he grinned.
Reynolds chuckled. “Sorry to ruin your day.”
Gorad waved the sarcasm off. “You are, of course, always welcome here. Follow the prompts my people send you, and we’ll bring you down to the planet in style.”
“Your people?” Jiya asked, surprised.
Gorad smiled. “Much has changed here,” he answered. “You’ll see it all soon enough.”
Reynolds motioned for Ria to take them in once they received the coordinates.
“See you soon,” he told Gorad.
The other AI nodded and cut the link.
Seconds later, a Grindlovian voice came over the speakers, providing the coordinates.
Jiya smiled at hearing an authentic voice rather than Gorad’s android one.
“Guess he was right about the place changing,” she exclaimed.
“Well, he didn’t say things had been made better,” Tactical demurred. “Otherwise we’d be following the directions of an automated system. Looks like all he’s done is plug meatbags into place.”
“I’ll plug you into place,” Jiya warned, laughing.
Reynolds turned his attention to the energy sphere that protected the planet, and he grinned as a small section, just large enough to accommodate the SD Reynolds, opened. The ship approached it under Ria’s control.
“We’re being scanned,” XO reported, “but not deeply.”
Reynolds chuckled. “We’ve been through this before. Gorad knows what we’re packing, but this is likely a first for the physical crew he has manning the defense ring entry.”
The AI pointed to a section outside the ship and zoomed the screen in. Geroux clapped when she spotted the mixed faces of Grindlovians and Telluride staring at them out of a massive window on the ring.
“They’re standing up!” Jiya noted. “That’s amazing!”
The last time the SD Reynolds had been there, the Grindlovians had been crippled by their extreme apathy when it came to day to day mundanity. They had spent their lives bound to electric chairs, the Telluride serving their every wish and whim.
That clearly wasn’t the case anymore.
There was an equal split of races in the control room they passed, and Jiya was happy to see the two groups getting along and working side by side.
“Shuttle incoming,” Ria reported once they were through the shield and it had closed behind them. “Detecting lifeforms aboard.”
“He sure is taking this integration idea to the max, huh?” Tactical grunted. “‘A meatbag for every occasion’ should be his new slogan.”
“Or ‘One less AI to micromanage everything,’” Jiya snapped back, laughing.
“You wound me,” Tactical muttered.
“I wish,” she told him as the shuttle entered the hangar bay and settled in, waiting for them.
“You’ve got the conn, XO,” Reynolds told him. “We’re all heading down for a look-see.”
“Have fun storming the planet,” Tactical replied.
Reynolds, Asya, Jiya, and Ria left the bridge and made their way to the hangar bay. San Roche and L’Eliana joined General Maddox, Takal, Geroux, Ka’nak, who were already there.
“This is one hell of an adventure,” Ka’nak said, looking at the entire crew. “I can’t remember the last time all of us went dirtside together. Shit, even Ria is going.”
The ensign shrugged. “I like my job. What can I say?”
Jiya grabbed the girl and tugged her over beside her and Geroux. “Don’t let that brute tell you how to live your life. Do what makes you happy.”
“Yet I’m regularly told not to drink,” Takal said with a sly grin.
“Just get in the shuttle,” Geroux playfully barked, pushing Takal up the ramp.
“I’m going, I’m going,” the inventor said, raising his arms in surrender.
A few minutes later, the entire crew was seated and strapped in, and the shuttle lifted off, exiting the hangar bay, and returning to Grindlevik 3.
Jiya stared at the pilots as the shuttle descended.
It was two Grindlovians, a male and a female.
One caught her staring and smiled at her.
“This is fantastic,” Jiya told the female. “I love seeing you pilot the craft. What’s your name?”
“I’m Fulla Hirvin, and my co-pilot is Vor Gerfur,” she answered. “There are many of us now.” She gestured to her legs, which appeared almost normal, although there was still the slightest bit of atrophy remaining. They looked thin. “My people work many of the jobs that require a technical mind and a slightly less athletic body. We have become pilots and executives, and all manner of workers.”
Geroux clapped, grinning.
Jiya noticed they wore plain uniforms, but there were hints of Telluride in the design, bright patches at the shoulders and collars. It was subtle—Jiya presumed that was because it was a work uniform—but the influence of the other race on the planet was definitely there.
“It’s good to see that things are working out,” Jiya told her.
“We’ll be on the ground soon. Then you can see the full extent of what your visit opened up for us.” She turned back to the console, and Jiya let her work in silence.
Not long after, the ship was on the ground and the hatch was open, ramp down.
The crew stepped out onto the tarmac of what might as well have been another world than the one they’d last visited.
Where there had been nothing but automated vehicles darting back and forth across the landing field, doing all the menial labor and repairs, there was now a virtual explosion of Grindlovians and Telluride.
They worked in unison, loading and unloading supplies and equipment, clambering over the ships parked there, making repairs or adjustments, and much more Jiya didn’t recognize.
Some of the Grindlovians were using the powered leg devices she’d seen them in last, aiding their speed and movement, but it was clear these were being used as an enhancement, not a requirement.
The Grindlovians looked healthy and strong, and though they couldn’t compete with the Telluride at this stage of their evolution, it was clear they were determined to try.
As the crew stared, taking the new world in, a vehicle approached and parked alongside them. Gorad sat in the driver’s seat. His android body had been upgraded since they’d seen him last, although the basic features remained the same, providing a nice constant.
The other AI waved them in.
“Good to see you, Reynolds,” Gorad said. “And you too, San Roche and L’Eliana,” he told his people, who’d gone into space with Reynolds.
The pair grinned and waved, clearly happy to be home, if only for a short while.
“It’s good to see you, too, Gorad,” the other AI replied, smirking.
The crew clambered into the vehicle, and it started off.
Jiya noted that even the AI seemed to be doing things manually more than before. There were actual controls in front of him that he manipulated.
The ride into Goranton was quick but telling all the same.
No longer was the Grindlevik 3 society split into two parts. The crew marveled at seeing a mix of races walking along the sidewalks, Telluride and Grindlovians interacting as equals rather than masters and servants.
There were some of the powered chairs here and there, but not many. A couple were even being used by Telluride, the squat, powerful people having altered the vehicles to fit their bigger frames comfortably.
Those in the chairs, however, didn’t look weak. They simply looked to be taking advantage of the opportunity to sit and relax while traveling about their day-to-day business.
The surrounding buildings showed the same evolution. Where everything had been a horrid gray outside the Telluride part of town, now color was everywhere. There were still smatterings of gray here and there, but there had been an obvious merging of the two styles.
Art decorated many of the surfaces, and it was clear to Jiya that it wasn’t only being produced by the Telluride, based on the style. Grindlovians had clearly been hard at work decorating their homes and businesses.
Ria stared at everything, wide-eyed and curious.
“Strange sight, is it not?” Gorad asked as they pulled into the compound that housed the AI.
“It is, indeed,” Reynolds admitted. “I’m amazed by how quickly the two sides have reconciled and come together.”
Gorad parked the vehicle and climbed out, ushering the crew after him. He made his way to his compound, and although the doors opened of their own accord, a nicely dressed Grindlovian greeted them and waved the group inside.
Much like everywhere else, the plain outpost had been altered, color and lights all over the place and art decorating the walls, making the compound far more welcoming that it had been before.
“Things are not yet perfect,” Gorad admitted as he led the crew into what had been the council chambers the last time they’d been there, “but we are certainly on our way to a pleasant parity I could never have imagined before your arrival.”
Reynolds smiled, glad he and the crew could help them better their world.
That had been the plan all along.
As they entered the room, Jiya noticed that the council chambers had also been renovated.
She didn’t see any of the portals in the floor that allowed for the Grindlovian council to rise up out of it. Now, long seats like pews lined the room, leading to a casual set of tables at the front. She recognized some of the people sitting there.
L’Willow was there, and L’Sofee stood behind her in a position of support.
She hadn’t wanted to be part of the council, but had chosen to help lead her people through the changes to come. Jiya smiled, realizing the Telluride female still remained strong in her convictions.
However, none of the original Grindlovians sat on the council any longer. Jiya was surprised to see new faces she didn’t know.
“Come in and have a seat,” Gorad told them.
The group ran over and dished out friendly hugs and greetings to the Telluride they knew, San Roche and L’Eliana garnering the most excited of them. They were then introduced to the Grindlovians on the council.
“This is Vor Tye, Fulla Ni, and Fulla Bel.” L’Sofee gestured to each in turn.
“Pleasure to meet you all,” Jiya said, speaking for the entire crew.
And she meant it.
There was none of the lingering hostility that had
been there before, the Grindlovians holding tight to their positions and power.
Those in their spots now were happy, and had obviously benefited from the change in society. They looked fit, and had none of the sunken cheeks or apathetic slump about them that had previously defined the Grindlovians.
The shift was startling.
The crew mingled and chatted away as Reynolds and Gorad spoke.
“Have you rid yourself of the cult yet?” Gorad asked.
Reynolds shook his head. “Not yet, but we’re working on it. We just captured the bastard who’s been following us around in a superdreadnought and destroyed his ship. Now we’re working on finding his master and ending it for good. That’s part of the reason we’ve stopped by.”
Gorad nodded. “What can I help you with?”
Reynolds waved Geroux over. She plodded up a moment later.
“Show Gorad the computer we got from Jora’nal,” Reynolds told her.
She produced it, handing it over to the android.
“It has complex security encryption,” Reynolds explained. “It’s one we’ll break quickly enough, but I figured we could kill three birds with one stone and rest here on Grindlevik 3 while we avoid being a target of the cult, as well as getting your help speeding up the encryption-breaking,” the AI said. “With all of us working on it, I think we can hack it within a few hours.”
Gorad remained silent as he examined the small computer, turning it on and watching the scroll of information across the screen. He made a face as he looked, identifying the code and security aspects.
“I think this will be easy enough with all of us chipping away at it,” he agreed. “This isn’t anywhere near as complex as other codes I’ve seen, but it has an interesting feature: a resurrecting code wall.”
Geroux nodded. “That’s what’s slowing me down. Every time I hack one of the firewalls, another one pops up at the end of the line, forcing me to adjust and come at it a different way. I just can’t seem to get past more than one or two at a time before another is put into place.”
“This is definitely a system that requires speed to crack it and shut off the resurrection code before it can respawn firewalls,” Gorad noted. “With all three of us tied into the system, chipping away at different firewalls so they drop all at the same time, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
