Return, p.4
Return, page 4
part #3 of The Quantum Wars Series
Worth stepped in front of him, her eyes searching his. He knew she was still attempting to determine the truth of his identity. He had no way to assuage her concerns. He returned her stare knowing the red of the nanids covered his eyes as always. Without a word she extended a now fragile hand placing it on his metallic cheek. Simon flinched at the contact but did not pull away. It was the first contact he had made with her since his awakening and the softness of her skin surprised him. A smile curled across her face wrinkles showing softly.
“It is you, Simon,” she stated before briefly hugging his solid frame. Simon could sense her loneliness and knew she needed to feel another human being. He gently brought his arms around his friend holding her frail frame as her long exile came to an end. After a brief time, Candace pulled back and Simon could see the faint glaze of tears in her eyes. He felt more human as well. The part of him that was the whisper of ARES slowly retreated.
“What will you do?” Worth asked, turning to the airship. Simon studied the ship, memories of piloting it as ARES was giving him the knowledge he needed to take the next steps. He knew their path already. Wren’s face came to him. Their last connection haunted him. He could never have peace until he found her. He would discover Wren’s fate and then find Stephen, Curtis and Kelly. He would give Candace the choice to stay but knew she would come with him. She had been in isolation far too long and deserved to be reunited with whatever remained of humanity.
“We find Wren and the rest. Then we stop ODIN.” He said. He held Worth’s gaze giving her the chance to protest but she returned his gaze steadily. She would be his companion on the journey. Simon stepped past the woman and placed his hand on the ship. It immediately came to life. He felt his nanids respond to the other tech shielding him while determining if there was a threat. They returned to normal once the ships technology was recognized. Simon tried to remember what the nanids had been like in his prior life. Maybe his exposure to ARES had given his mind a more intimate connection with the nanids than before. He pushed the concerns aside as the protoplastic shield retracted revealing the ship underneath to him. He inspected the ship as it powered up. All systems were nominal, and it would be sufficient to transport them. The door on the side of the ship slid open providing access to the pair. Simon smiled at what was revealed. The ship was stocked with food and water as well as a variety of weaponry. He turned to Candace shaking his head.
“Never hurts to be prepared.” She replied to his gaze with a shrug.
The makeshift strap dug into Curtis’ shoulders as the weight of the small skid and its occupant tested his endurance. He had been moving steadily north after fashioning the skid from pieces and parts he scavenged from the abandoned home. The sun passed its apex and was moving steadily down to the west. He trudged on looking for a place to rest. He found one soon enough. It was not perfect but would do as a stopping point for him to check the man and skid. The highway he was on passed under a bridge of sorts that offered some protection from the sun and wind. He moved into the shade feeling relief flow through him as he eased the skid to the ground. Without pausing he turned to check on his passenger.
The infection was growing more pronounced the dose of anesthetic he had given the man doing little to arrest the nanotechnologies progress. Curtis gently touched the man’s forehead with back of his hand. He was burning up, but Curtis was unsure if it was the strain or the heat of the day. Pulling his hand away Curtis decided to wait until the sun slid behind the horizon before continuing. It would be better for his charge and he was more at ease traveling at night. The cover of darkness kept prying eyes away and helped him avoid the inevitable questions as he ventured closer to Seattle. Humanity was dwindling but there were still settlements and outlying communities he would encounter. Some knew him, but others did not. He would do his best to warn those he could while he moved north but would not risk delay. The man’s fate depended on him. Curtis knew he could not fail. He stood up staring down at the man while he stretched and shook out the rigors of the day from his body. He did not know what he should do to arrest the strain’s progress. He had more of the anesthetic but that was a stop gap not a solution. He debated using the nanids in his body, but hesitated. Which one should he use? He could use the red nanids of Simon Fore, but without Kelly Holt’s guidance he did not know if they would reach synergy with the strain. If the nanids did not reach a balance, then it was a death sentence. The strain and nanids would use the man’s body as a battle ground until it was consumed, killing him.
As Curtis observed him, the man stirred, a groan escaping him. His eyes fluttered open, the fever and pain clouding them. Curtis knelt by him trying not to startle the man.
“Where am I?” the man asked, his voice weak and dry. Curtis retrieved his water bottle, while putting a clawed hand on the man’s back and helping him sit up to drink. After a small sip the man looked up. A glimmer of shock crossed his face, but he suppressed any further reaction. Curtis nodded understanding the reaction and respecting the man’s restraint.
“We are on our way to Seattle,” Curtis replied, removing his hand when the man looked steady enough. “We have to get you medical care of some sort as quickly as possible.”
The man winced in pain as he tried to move his wounded arm. He looked at his arm with the makeshift bandage covering the wound and dark lines spreading from it towards his shoulder. Curtis could see the panic begin to set in and the man’s breathing increased. The man looked up at him, fear shining brightly in his eyes.
“What is happening to me?” he asked, the pitch of his voice rising. Curtis sat on the ground next to the skid resting his nanid covered arms on his knees.
“You have been infected with the Leviathan strain,” he replied. He did not know any other way to tell the man. He knew he would not understand. Curtis studied the man while confusion spread across his face. Unable to bear it any longer Curtis tried to change the subject.
“What is your name?” he asked, his deep voice bringing the man back to the present. The man stared at him with his deep brown eyes. Eyes that understood what Curtis was doing.
“My name is Owen,” he stated simply. Taking a shallow breath to calm himself before continuing.
“What is the Leviathan strain?” Owen queried keeping a grip on his panic.
It was Curtis’ turn to draw a breath, the sound resembling a deep growl. His remembered his own torture at the hands of the strain.
“It is a nightmare designed by a madman long ago. It was thought destroyed but it is not,” Curtis finished, looking at the man knowing the terror he must be feeling.
“Why are you out here, Owen?” Curtis asked.
“My family and I lived on an abandoned farm. My parents preferred the desert and dry mountains to the remaining settlements,” Owen replied. Curtis could see grief emerging as the reality of what occurred pressed on Owen once more. Tears came to his eyes. Curtis leaned forward placing a clawed hand on Owen’s shoulder as he tried to speak. The grief took his speech, a choked sob was all the sound the young man made. Curtis brought his eyes even with the grieving man’s eyes.
“You will survive, Owen, and when you are healed we will avenge your family.” He growled, anger seeping through him. Owen struggled to calm himself, but the pain and emotions were too much for him and he fell back on the skid unconscious once again. Curtis sat back staring at the man and the dark stain of the strain moving up his arm, time passing slowly in the heat. Finally, he stood and retrieved his bag. He secured the final vial of anesthetic in his possession, looking at Owen with trepidation. He knew without it the man stood no chance, but the pragmatic nature of the newly hostile world stayed his hand. It was always this way in the new world, weighing what resources he had available against their use. Pushing away the thoughts Curtis waited no longer. He administered the dose to Owen refusing to surrender to the strain. After securing the man to the skid he stood checking the sun. It had finally dipped below the horizon bringing an end to the draining heat for another night. Curtis gathered all his belongings on the skid and secured the straps to his shoulders once more. He set his course north following the ancient freeway. He must get to Seattle as quickly as possible.
The green canopy overhead filtered out the blazing afternoon sun as Kelly slowly made her way to the center of the grove put in place so long ago. It was still hot but more bearable. As she stepped carefully through the slowly reemerging forest, Kelly was in turn dismayed and impressed by the grove. She found the resiliency of the new nanid strain amazing and a testament to Stephen’s efforts. However, the slow progress made her wonder if it was all for naught. The planet would continue to decline unless the newly returned species increased their expansion. The varied plants and animals released by the ship Stephen sent covered an area several acres in size but was still far too inadequate to have any impact. Kelly kept her eyes out for any birds or small animals while she traversed to the center of the grove. There were few out in the afternoon, most preferring the relatively cooler temperatures of the evening or morning to forage or hunt. Still she did glimpse the occasional flash of a bird or retreat of a small reptile. There were many enhanced species but nothing large yet. The grove simply was not large enough to support larger herbivores or carnivores. Kelly felt hopeful that someday the AI controlling the expansion of the grove would be able to develop and release all the species Stephen Fore had saved. Until then she knew the existing creatures would slowly spread creating habitat ceaselessly. Kelly was approaching the center of the grove where the airship that brought the Earth’s nanids rested, the initial tingle of the AI identifying her, gave her indication of its proximity. The ship was no longer capable of flight, its AI having converted it to a reaction chamber to release the nanid enhanced species as the renewal of the planet progressed. She opened her mind allowing the AI to recognize her and disable its defenses. Thoughts of Janus, the AI on the islands north of the Space Center, came unbidden to her. She wondered if it were still active, protecting the empty launch facility.
She had not gone there in many years. There was no use. The AI would not give her access despite her many attempts. She knew there was technology within the facility that would be useful, as well as AI that were trapped unable to fulfill their potential. Janus would not allow access by any but Stephen or Wren. Wren was gone, and Stephen could not be bothered so Kelly had put it to the side. As her thoughts continued she stepped into the small clearing marking the middle of the grove and home of the ship. The sun was unhindered by the canopy above and shone brightly on the former craft. It was nondescript with few external indications it was a ship at all. The only signs of technology were solar panels used to supplement the ships power and the few antennas which allowed the AI to monitor the area and connect with the nanids. The rest was covered by green growth, some native species, but most nanid enhanced plants intent on concealing their creator for its and their protection. Kelly’s thoughts veered away from the past to the reason for her early visit as she approached the vessel.
Curtis’ message played through her mind once more, further searing its dread into her. The Leviathan had returned. They had failed. Her grief and anger surged across the connection with the AI.
“Kelly Holt are you well?” the AI asked silently.
“I am fine,” she replied, hoping her irritation did not show. The AI moved on its programming not developed enough to pursue the matter.
“You are early,” it commented, “Shall I prepare the chamber?”
“Yes, but we have matters to discuss as well,” Kelly replied, stepping up to the ship as a door hidden in the shadows of the vessel’s bulk quietly opened.
Many hours later Kelly emerged from the now shadow covered forest moving quickly to her own airship. The machine came slowly to life as she approached the engines cycling up preparing for flight. Dust stirred all around the ship greeting her with its dry grasp. Kelly ignored it, holding her breath until she boarded the vessel. It immediately rose into the air turning back towards the space center. Kelly’s thoughts were dark.
“I have done all I could,” she told herself, but was unconvinced. She would leave immediately seeking out Curtis in Seattle. The AI in the grove would be left to its own fate. She knew little would interfere with it, but her mind still spun fantasies of all the maladies that could befall the grove. She sat heavily in the pilot’s chair staring out the front of the vehicle as it approached the center. In the fading light, the center was buzzing with activity. Kelly felt the longing to return already. The AI residents at the base were busy shuttering it and preparing its defenses. Holt was not sure of the future and would not take chances with all she had accomplished. Drones were once again blurs in the air while all the caretaker machinery made their way across the facility completing each task with precision and efficiency. Several drones split off and spun around her airship offering protection for her journey. She acquiesced knowing they could prove invaluable. More came to offer help and she refused. The AI turned back to the base resuming their duties. The drones she accepted slowed and attached themselves to the outside of her vessel, saving their energy for when it was needed. Kelly felt her mood improve slightly. She smiled knowing she had at least done some good. The ship was turning to the north as she made last contact with Lynx.
“Yes, Kelly?” it queried.
“Are preparations progressing as planned?”
“Absolutely, the facility will be secured in a matter of hours. All defenses are active awaiting your return. I have a full contingent of military drones prepped for departure if you should need them,” it replied. Kelly felt touched at the AI’s attempt to protect her, even though she knew it was just completing its programming.
“I will contact you if they are needed,” she silently replied, looking at the seat opposite her where the drone Curtis Reynolds had sent rested in her backpack. She turned her gaze back to the window looking up into the darkening sky.
“And ISIS?” she asked, feeling hope despite the futility of what she had asked the AI to do. The AI paused before responding as if considering how to answer.
“Nothing yet,” it stated, “I am exhausting all efforts.” Kelly felt the dark mood returning with the news. She pushed it away as she settled back in the seat. She knew Lynx would continue to seek the quantum which disappeared so long ago and that was what mattered. As she felt their connection weakening she sent one last thought.
“Goodbye, Lynx, I will be in touch.”
“Farewell, Kelly.” The AI’s silent reply came through just as the connection terminated. Kelly closed her eyes allowing the sound of the ship to sooth her as isolation began to surround her.
FIVE
The asteroid continued its slow spin as it sped through the field of debris and rock. The drone approached methodically matching the spin of the rock as it sought to secure the tumbling object. It pulled closer increasing its speed slightly, scanning for a place to impact and secure itself. As a suitable area came into view the drone surged forward, its engines pushing it into the rock. The impact shuddered through the massive object and threw a cloud of dust and rock into the surrounding space. As the asteroid continued, its trajectory slightly changed, Wren pulled her observation back knowing the drone would begin the work of mining the asteroid and securing its orbit. She spread her observation across the vast net. The bulk of the transmissions were concentrated in the asteroid field far beyond Mars. She oversaw all the efforts to save humanity, started so long ago. Distant signals steadily streamed in from across the solar system.
Wren had traversed the system spreading life where it was most likely to survive. Drone outposts on Mars and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn monitored the emergence of life closely updating her continuously. Wren skimmed across the network noting the changes on the distant moons and planet. Mars was progressing quickly. The drones were constructing an orbital matrix surrounding the planet. When finished it would encase the planet in an energy field designed to kick start the flagging climate on the dead world. This coupled with the growing outpost in the north of the planet would begin a colonization of the planet long dreamed of by generations past. Wren felt grief flutter through her from the human part of her. Her body was in stasis, but she was integrated with ISIS completely. They were one and the human emotions were ever present. Wren turned her attention to the vast asteroid field orbiting the distant sun. This was home to her final and most important effort to save the life first formed on Earth. The vessel reassembled from the web surrounding earth was deeply entrenched in the chaotic swarm of rock and ice. Surrounded by an array of energy fields and swarming drones, it was protected from the chaos and hidden from passing observation.
Wren knew there was little chance of detection but preferred caution knowing ODIN was still functional on earth and given time would come searching for her. She had cut off all contact after the final confrontation with ODIN on board the ISIS space station. The image of her mother’s death emerged reminding her of the cost of ODIN’s hubris. Wren allowed it to fade knowing anytime spent on the memory would be a distraction. It had not been her mother at the end, just a vessel for ODIN to occupy. She turned her attention back to the station that had become her home for so long. The massive station spun slowly maintaining the artificial gravity that allowed her and the AI inhabitants to grow the life needed for humanity to begin flourishing once more. As she sorted through the visual input from across the station she stopped at the heart of all she was attempting. The archive put together by ISIS, her father and Kelly Holt held the remaining genetic material for creating earth anew. She had taken all she could and used it to spread life across the solar system using nanids to enhance the adaptability and survivability of all. The rest remained untainted by nanids or any tampering. It was the only remaining cache of its type to Wren’s or ISIS’ knowledge. Initially she had thought to use it on Mars but decided against it. Mars’ environment was simply too hostile to the basic structure of the earth born genetics. Instead she secured it, safeguarding it for the future, while focusing on securing humanity.
