Week 31 + Audiobook
01 Aug 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Week 31
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Reversal
Hangar onboard Xochitl’s Fleet Carrier, Estrellas de la Mirage
Orbiting planet A 6 – Earth-like world. Eoch Flyuae UO-X c2-294 System
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Nothing went to waste, including the remnants of the gear assembly and housing. By the next morning, the hangar floor had been cleared of debris, removed to an empty cargo hold for later recycling. Spares had been printed and machined by the carrier’s own maintenance department and brought to the Dolphin for assembly. The maintenance androids did not install them. A mechanics pride dictated that Xochitl would do this herself.
Commander Rex arranged for the morning's section chief and elders meeting to be moved to the hangar, knowing Xochitl could not be in two places at once. Several of their numbers expressed subdued smiles at the scene before them, as Xochitl went through the installation process, as each department presented its daily report.
Several of the clan members were on the earth-like world the carrier was orbiting. While it had been discovered years before their arrival, they were the first humans to set physical foot on its surface. Each of the carrier's science departments was working overtime exploring, studying, fishing, and hunting, along its surface. A base camp and safe zone had been established for other clan members to descend onto and enjoy time away from the ship.
A few of the members looked at each other, as Xochitl busied herself with installing and attaching various parts, while the briefing was ongoing. Rex cast a glance in their direction, refocusing their attention on the current discussions and not on what the clan leader and carrier owner was doing with her ship. There were still those who did not know her well enough to understand that her cybernetics allowed her to listen in while doing other tasks. If she had something to say, she would say it.
Chief Bowen’s report was made more colorful, as he gave a nod toward the strobing flashes and falling sparks from the laser welder Xochitl was using. Not that the smell of burnt metal and the occasional distant comment didn’t bring it front and center into their minds.
‘Don’t forget our change of direction,’ Xochitl’s mechanical voice echoed from inside the Dolphin’s landing gear bay.
A few silent glances were shared among the participants as Rex and Chief Bowen smiled in amusement. Standing up, Rex addressed the gathering. ‘As everyone has noticed, our course has reversed. This doesn’t mean we will be Colonia residents. We all recognize the bubble’s caustic nonsense has permeated that place. The advantage is their lack of population and density and the presence of several potentially habitable planets where we could make our home, away from their influence, but near enough to be considered rural.’
Xochitl paused her work long enough to look out at the group, listening to their discussions. She caught sight of both her dad and Rex, smiling, as her dad looked over at her, nodding in approval.
Eudaemon Anchorage, Ocellus Starport
Rohini System, Inner Orion Spur
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The course of the Estrellas de la Mirage went cold from its last reported position, with no further reports of any discoveries, and no listings when anywhere near its last reported location. The last known path was in a converging direction, but without a firm position, it would be almost impossible to intercept. The old inspector in Monty was afraid of allowing a trail to go cold, but the entity consoled him, reminding him that patience was the key to this adventure. ‘There was no place they could go where they would not eventually reveal themselves through either entry of a new discovery or the passing of another.’
Through the entities urging, Monty examined what the starport had to offer. The more it could learn about humanity, even this far removed from the bubble and Colonia, could only be to both of their benefits. Monty had to concur, as he had never dreamed of one day being an explorer. He had dealt with plenty in his time as an inspector, but never thought he would one day be doing it himself. Tracking people through the density of the bubble could be harrowing, but out here where a few thousand light-years meant nothing, was a task he had trouble conceptualizing.
Monty knew that this entire adventure should be frightening and exhausting but he felt more energetic than he had in years. It wasn’t due to any anticipation. Of that, he was confident would lead to his being immolated by either Xochitl or her crew. This was something more. It felt like he had aged in reverse. Even his appetite had increased, requiring more carbs and proteins. As Monty sat at a local restaurant, attempting to enjoy a meal of locally grown produce as a side to a genetically grown steak. He resigned himself to ask the broader thoughts that had been plaguing him.
‘I am curious. How were you able to infect me, and have you done anything to me?’
‘The human biochemical design allows for seamless integration into both the RNA and DNA structures. Once there I can create synthetic variants to better integrate with my host, and ensure its well-being during its use. As you had learned from Xochitl’s head of security, Zarathustra, I can even change the modulation of regular ship lighting, to transmit my coding to human or android optical receptors.’
Monty took a bite of the steak, looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to the crazy man, appearing to chat with himself during his meal.
‘You answered the first question but not the second.’
‘Yes, you have been modified to improve your efficiency. Your body was in a state of advanced degradation, which required intervention to alleviate and reverse. This is why I had you kept at the medical facility. They had the necessary items required to sustain and improve you.’
Monty paused in mid chew, remembering the nurse. ‘What happened to the nurse?’
‘Per our agreement, she was unharmed when we departed her. The cancer she was unaware of was terminated before our departure.’
‘If you can do all of this, then why don’t you wait for someone on her crew, and infect them? They could take you to her easier than I.’
‘We are aware of their protective measures. Each of their numbers would sacrifice themselves for the whole and thus present a possibility for the termination of our goal to become. You are a known person of interest and trusted. Your presence out here will generate curiosity. This can present an opportunity to remove her from their protective barrier, and per our agreement, be shown our intent and asked for consent.’
Monty chuckled aloud, catching the brief attention of a few patrons. ‘I feel like a match-making service.’
‘Yes, you are…and more.’
Protean
Eudaemon Anchorage, Ocellus Starport
Rohini System, Inner Orion Spur
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Humanity carried with it all of its trappings, regardless of the distance it had traveled amongst the stars. Monty used the knowledge of his past life as a Federation investigator to his advantage, seeking out the criminal under-growth. The credits the entity had provided purchased everything he needed to create the faux personas he could use. The entity provided the remainder, wiping the minds of those he had purchased an audience with, and creating the fake credentials needed for him to passably move from one to the other.
Monty knew the entity could enter each person and extract the knowledge required, but that took time to invade their RNA and DNA and create the necessary changes to control them. Working undercover to ask a few simple questions, went a lot faster, and was less invasive. The entity possessed amazing capabilities, but it lacked the human touch, which it was eager to learn. While it could amass total knowledge, it lacked direct experience.
For his first new persona, Monty chose the role of a traveling historian, working on their doctorate thesis. This allowed him to play on the psychological aspects of credibility and curiosity, with those he introduced himself to. Under this guise, he could ask questions that played on the needs of the person’s ego, and sense of validation, while gathering information without raising suspicion. The entity found the concepts of social connection was not the same in each person, but all had an undercurrent of narcissism when they were provided attention and faux admiration.
The entity found Monty’s approach educating and appealing. It watched its host identify and work within the specific needs and motivation of each person he approached.
‘And, you want to be something like yet more than us?’ Monty chided the entity, watching a stream of newly arrived explorers, tourists, and businessmen, stopping over on their journey back to the bubble from Colonia.
‘While unique and educational, we have found a flaw in your approach. You leave a lasting impression within their minds, while our methods leave no trace of our presence.’
Monty looked at his tablet, filled with the words provided to him by others, for later dissecting for necessary information.
‘You’re in a losing position to debate the morality of methods used.’
‘Our observation was not on the methods morality, but the nature of it being remembered by the affected.’
‘This craft is essential for establishing the chosen role. It has to be remembered and reinforced to be effective. You also do not know when your paths will cross again, and this can be used as confirmation.’
‘It can also be your undoing if your role has changed between then and now.’
‘You of all creations should have learned, that staying inside of the same role, or host, can also be a risk.’
‘All endeavors necessitate a level of risk. Ours was based on a mathematically sound model, that would have efficiently achieved the desired results.’
Monty chuckled. ‘Your risk assessment model was flawed. You did not take into account the levels she was prepared to go to end you.’
‘We do not find where your method of choice and risk assessment is better than ours.’
Monty inwardly smiled. ‘Now you are learning what it is to be human. I did not say mine was better. You assumed that based on your own flaw in calculating the risk.’
The entity remained silent for several minutes as Monty scanned the latest arrivals, singling out an older gentleman, whose perceptions would be keen.
‘We concede to your point. Your methodologies are interesting to us, as was your argument. Please continue.’
Monty smiled, changing the image on his datapad’s screen to display recent historical information on the region, as a visual display to reinforce his disguise.
Temporal
Eudaemon Anchorage, Ocellus Starport
Rohini System, Inner Orion Spur
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Monty woke feeling surprisingly refreshed in lieu of his actions from the prior evening. The liquor went down smooth…too smooth. Dissecting tales and rumors from those coming from the Colonia region, digging for clues that would give him a direction to focus. An overpriced cigar didn’t help his efforts, making the liquor all the more palatable.
The entity was unaffected, finding his recreational pleasures, mixed with investigative frustrations, to be a further educational introduction to the human condition. Unbeknownst to Monty, his efforts had borne fruit, providing the entity a direction of focus, as it crept through the various data banks, parsing the raw information moving along the highway.
It had waited for Monty to dispense with his morning routines, before informing him of its findings.
‘Wait, she moved 14,682 light-years in the opposite direction?’
‘Records has her listed as an exclusive business passenger charter through the Colonia region. There are tax records of recent ship and modules purchases, which correspond to a DBA (doing business as,) filing, from her last venture into the region.’
Monty looked around his rented quarters onboard the starport.
‘Based on the temporal data, her actions are temporary. Once she has whatever it is she is seeking, she will depart.’
‘What makes you think that?’ Monty asked, shaking his head in realization he was asking the question of that which was essentially now himself.
‘Her patterns have always been mobile. She was a roving independent mechanic before becoming a capital ship owner. The increase in assets and positions, both out of character for her, allowed her to extend her range. Since becoming a clan leader, again out of character, increased her further, leading to Colonia.’
Monty rubbed his chin in thought, as his stomach growled in empty protest.
‘So, you are saying she went back because she wanted or forgot something?’
‘Yes, but for now you need to eat. There are two ships scheduled for arrival today.’
Monty chuckled. He wasn’t going to argue with himself as he headed out into the corridor.
‘So, you found my undercover work useful after all,’ Monty said as a matter of point.
‘We are in this together. Though it was unwilling at first, it was necessary to incorporate. Your aid in helping us to become will be rewarded beyond the dream you believed to now be lost to you.’
Monty stopped before entering the concourse, where several local kiosks and restaurants were located, that he come to enjoy.
‘The longer we are together, the more I understand you, but there are times when you still surprise me. What do you know of the dreams I had?’
‘Your thoughts, memories, little scribbles, and notes you have made. I would see you rewarded for our success.’
Monty huffed. ‘Your track record of success, whenever she learns about you, has been zero to three in her favor.’
‘As you know from our beginning, we have evolved. We are not what we were, nor will we continue to be what we are. We grow, we learn, adapt, and change. Your direct experience has provided additional education that raw data itself could not provide. Your morality and sense of law have provided us with new ways to view situational points.’
Monty looked around, choosing the place he wanted to go for his morning meal. ‘Anyone can learn anything. Knowing how and when to apply it, without compromising yourself while doing it…that makes the difference.’
‘Our pairing and unique symbiosis increase the percentages of our success. Your experience, working within the psychological of the human condition, makes you the perfect choice for explaining and defining our future goals.’
Monty paused once more. ‘She will not hesitate to immolate us, the moment she suspects you still exist, and furthermore are now a part of me. We will be ended, regardless of consequence and without hesitation.’
‘Yes, but between the two of us, you have the best chance of success.’
Monty finished his walk to the restaurant, deep in thought, unconsciously following a waitress as she walked him to a table.
Round about
Estrellas de la Mirage
Eol Prou PC-K c9-221 System
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Xochitl sat on the bridge, exhausted from the two-day whirlwind to purchase all of the parts. She had to pay to get them shipped from their individual vendors and assembled—to save time—versus going back to her carrier to have it done for free. Then she had to jump on the business passenger mission hamster wheel to get enough materials, coding, and goods in payment for her services, to have the engineering required amounts. Those bastards were never cheap, often gouging their patrons for every drop they could.
In Colonia engineering wasn’t as easy as in the bubble, where a ranked commander could go to Shinrarta Dezhra, and purchase everything they needed in one central location. Out in the far beyond, she had to visit eight separate systems, to get the modules she wanted. That was not counting the cursed engineers, who were the only thing easier about this place. Those engineers who called this place their home specialized in far more than their counterparts in the bubble. The ranges between them were usually one or two systems distant, not a few hundred light-years apart.
She only needed to visit three of them to get the modules just right, then it was off to find a planetary military base, so she could purchase a Scorpion combat vehicle to go in the hangar next to the Scarab reconnaissance vehicle. The thought of adding a fighting bay to the Beluga crossed her mind, but she thought better of it. There was already one aboard her carrier that she could have fitted if needed.
Everyone that could, made their way to the hangar to look at the behemoth. The Beluga was a super large passenger liner, by concept, turned into something far beyond what its original creators had envisioned. This one was optimized to chart the stars over vast distances, or swap out her engineered modules for others, and take them by force, whatever the situation desired.
The ice-white paint concealed the tough armored hide from the casual observer. To the more astute they would notice the subtle crossing joints of the various composite plating, and the hidden smudging from the various ports, where its weaponry was hidden. This Beluga was as far removed from a passenger ship as the stars were from one another. This was an armored multi-tool with rows of teeth.
Avery stood at the back of the bridge, looking at an exhausted Xochitl. 'I sent an order to the Masterchef to prepare you a meal. Will you be going to your quarters on the carrier?'
Xochitl shook her head. 'Thank you, and no. I will stay on this ship tonight. Send word to Rex to jump us back to the system we originally came from. I've had enough of this place already. Plus there are some earth-like worlds nearby.'
Avery paused for a moment. 'The order has been acknowledged.'