Return, p.6
Return, page 6
part #3 of The Quantum Wars Series
“What brings you to our home, ODIN?” it asked, monitoring the altered human for a response. ODIN’s response was quick and emotionless.
“Leviathan, we have a common enemy. I come to you seeking an alliance to safeguard the future of humanity and their quantum protectors.” At the quantum’s words the Leviathan’s smile grew broader, new futures sprang into being within its mind. Stepping beside ODIN it swept its hand in front of the visitor, speaking as its horde parted and the gates to its city drew open.
“I see we have much to discuss.” As the pair entered the desert city, the screams of the dying human rose into the dry air, followed by the eager growls and cries of the strain infected creatures surrounding it.
The barren land streamed below the airship as it moved steadily south. The light of the morning sun did little to improve the grim view. Simon felt despair rip through him. All the land they had covered was the same. It became worse the farther south they went. The land was slowly becoming a desert. Even in the Puget Sound where he and Worth were traveling, the land was dry and devoid of life. Gone were the sickly clouds that had dominated the sky the last time he was here. The acidic rain that had fallen was a distant memory hardly worth consideration. He pulled his gaze from the land below studying the features of the terrain in the distance. Barren mountains stood in the east, serving as grim observers to the planet’s death. To the west were the sickly waters of the Puget Sound. Polluted and dying like the oceans of the planet, it offered no hope for recovery. Simon forced his gaze forward studying the dead city they were approaching. Husks of buildings stood out in the distance. Below him the cities and towns that had surrounded Seattle were dead and empty, the only movement was that of scavenging birds searching for a meal.
Simon felt his frustration building, they were broadcasting a greeting steadily hoping to get a response from any remaining humans. There was no response just empty air. Simon let the frustration wash over him knowing it would not stop him. Even if the city were empty he would keep moving. Wren and the rest were out there, he just had to find them. As the city drew steadily closer he turned his attention to Worth. Her keen eyes were focused forward seeking a sign of any remaining humans. Her age was showing at an increasing rate. Simon felt like she was growing older as he was watching her. The nanids were at the end of their life. He wondered if she would survive to help stop ODIN. Her mind was still sharp, the intelligence it held shining through. He was not surprised she survived all these years. If anyone could it would be her. As he watched she jerked forward at the same time alarms went off across the control panel of the airship.
Simon jerked his eyes back to city ahead of him reading the warnings. Several missiles had launched from the bridge that had long provided access to the city from the north. He did not hesitate, taking the controls he veered the ship to the west. He knew there was a chance to evade the attack but wanted to make it to the polluted waters of the Sound to the west in case they did not. As he accelerated the airship, he studied the missiles. He wondered where they came from and if they indicated the presence of humans. The other possibility brought on a flash of anger and fear.
“What if ODIN had extended its control to the west?” he thought. The quantum could have eliminated the remaining humans and then waited to snare those unaware of it. He pushed the thoughts away instead focusing on escaping the incoming projectiles. The sound of the air streaming past the ship was a steady wail, drowning out the alarms. Simon looked at the panel. He knew the ship was equipped with antimissile technology from its prior service in the military. Simon tapped the control, activating the countermeasures, and waited for them to launch. Nothing happened. He tapped it again, watching the missiles draw closer on the controls. Nothing. It was no use; the system was dead. He glanced at Worth. Her eyes were wide with adrenaline and fear. He knew they were done. The ship would not outrun the missiles. He made his decision in that moment. Standing, he brought Worth to her feet.
“We have to jump,” he shouted, pushing her toward the back of the vessel. Worth nodded wordlessly allowing herself to be directed to the belly of the airship. While she moved toward the middle of the vessel, Simon turned engaging the ship’s AI. He looked out the front of the ship. They were approaching a dry lake bed and what looked to be an old park or zoo. He knew there would not be a better chance. He sped to the middle of the ship. Without pausing he forced the side door open slamming it back into the side of the ship, the force of the wind and air outside meaningless to his nanid augmented body. As the ship began evasive maneuvers he grabbed Candace and leapt from the ship. The wind buffeted them as they streaked toward the ground. Simon turned in the air staring at the ship that was rapidly leaving them behind. The ship continued west groaning with exertion as it twisted and turned to avoid the missiles as they drew closer. Supplies and weapons tumbled from the open door of the ship, silently falling to the ground with Simon and Candace. As he watched, the first missile struck the ship. The explosion shook the air around them and Simon felt the heat from it as they fell. The ship faltered in the air and began falling toward the ground, the other missiles closing on it. As the missiles struck the dying ship Simon turned in the air placing himself between the lake bed below and Candace. The force from the explosions accelerated them toward the earth below. Simon knew his nanids were their only chance of survival. He signaled the technology within him, the nanids responded instantly. A shell of red formed around them moments before they impacted. When they hit it hurled a great cloud of dust in the air above the former lake. As the cloud of dust drifted slowly away nothing moved in the dry lake below.
The orange light of the morning sun glinted off a piece of glass in the distance in front of Curtis as he moved steadily north. It was an abandoned vehicle left on the freeway. As he walked his thoughts steered to who it belonged to and what their life must have been like. It was not overly warm yet, the sun having not moved high enough into the sky to raise the temperature uncomfortably. He adjusted the straps on his makeshift litter as he continued his dogged pace. He had seen the distant buildings of Seattle early this morning as light first came across the land. He was determined to get there today. It had been over two days of trudging north with his cargo. He had taken breaks only in the hottest part of the day to help keep Owen comfortable. He was testing his limits and knew the lack of rest, food and water would catch up to him soon. Even the incorporated nanids he contained would eventually need to recover. Curtis pushed the thoughts to the side. If he was struggling, Owen was outright suffering. The strain was advancing more quickly, passing the marks Curtis placed on the man’s arm to gauge its progress, more and more quickly. Curtis had no further medicine to give him. He was now in a race with the technology to save Owen.
Curtis felt his pace increase, the urgency of Owen’s condition spurring him onward. The nanotechnology within him buoyed him helping to maintain his speed. He had left the view of the city behind, the road curving away following the broad curve of the land south of the city. He knew it would come into view soon enough. He was approaching the turn that would reveal the city once more. He leaned into the straps moving into a slow jog. He could not move faster. If he did, it jostled Owen and caused the man undue pain. It was a balance for Curtis. He needed to be quick but have care for his charge. He was soon even with the abandoned vehicle. He focused on his task as he moved around it, refusing to be distracted. He could feel the heat now. The temperature was beginning its steep climb once more. Curtis focused his gaze forward into the turn of the road. He entered the turn, his steps deliberate. As he rounded the turn, he jerked to halt surprised by what he found waiting for him.
A group of humans stood blocking his way. Seattle stood behind the group, the sun glinting off the remaining windows in the buildings of the city. Hope surged in him. He had found help for Owen. As he observed the humans, that hope faded. The grim group facing him were stone faced and heavily armed. Curtis knew he and Owen were not being greeted by the remaining humans. They were facing the advance guard that would either turn them away or execute them. Curtis raised his hands slowly as the group of men and women stared warily at him. Without pause one man stepped forward. Curtis watched as he advanced. The man was old with a shock of white hair on his head with dark skin leathered from long exposure to the sun and newly hostile planet. He was taller than most of the humans standing in front of Curtis, but much shorter than Curtis’ augmented frame.
“What is your purpose here?” he asked, stopping a short distance from Curtis. His voice was thin but held a strength brought by years of experience. Ice blue eyes observed Curtis with suspicion. Curtis noticed he stayed far enough away to retreat to the group. Curtis felt a grudging respect for the man. He obviously had encountered hostiles before.
“I seek the refuge of Seattle for my companion. My name is Curtis Reynolds. I am a friend of the city and the remaining humans here.” The man chuckled as Curtis finished.
“Everyone is always a friend, until they are not. What is wrong with your companion, Curtis?” he asked, raising his head trying to catch sight of Owen on the litter behind Curtis. Curtis felt any remaining hope evaporate. He spoke anyway.
“He was attacked by a creature south of here and is infected with its technology.” Curtis watched the fear inspired by his words tear through the group. The leader pulled back to the group and they raised their weapons eyeing him warily. The man spoke, the finality of his decision putting steel in his voice.
“He must be executed. Step aside.” Curtis sighed. He did not want to fight with this group, but he would not let any further harm come to Owen. He lowered his hands to the straps on his shoulders watching the humans in front of him as he loosened them. The nanid strains were already beginning to respond to his stress, thickening his armored skin and preparing for action. As he began to lower the litter he stared at the man leading the group.
“It does not have to be this way. I can save him.”
“There is no technology left to stop something like that!” the man scoffed. “Now step aside.”
“No.” Curtis spoke as he straightened to his full height, while the nanid sword emerged into his hand once again. The man shouldered his energy rifle, aiming it at Curtis.
“This is your last warning…” The sound of military drones interrupted him before he could finish. Curtis barely registered the sound before several streaked above him surrounding the group of humans.
“Drop your weapons and lay on the ground.” The emotionless voice of the drone sounded across the abandoned freeway. The humans hesitated, then realizing the hopelessness of their situation, slowly lay on the ground with their weapons in front of them. Curtis turned as he heard an airship behind him. He recognized the ship immediately and hope flared again. The ship softly touched down on the ancient asphalt as the door in its side slid open. Relief flooded through Curtis as Kelly Holt stepped out of the craft. He willed his sword away and softened his armor as she stepped out of the vessel. Before he could move to meet her, he was brought about by the sound of several explosions in the distance north of the city.
SEVEN
Awareness came instantly. The brightly lit interior of the room streamed through the clear glass of the chamber, the final indication that Wren was fully back in her body. She felt restricted by the bounds of the enhanced mind having grown used to the expansive network across the station. The chamber cover opened, retracting with a slight hiss of air, as she sat up slowly. As Wren moved, her human senses continued to provide input. The hum of the stations many functions, the slight metallic smell of the air, and the touch of cool metal on her nanid enhanced skin, all helped her acclimate to the body. Wren stood as the doors to her chamber inside ISIS opened. As she walked through the doors, her strength slowly returned with each step. The cryochamber had prevented her body from degrading over the long years. With the help of the nanids it was as if she had never been in stasis. As she moved deeper into her observation chamber, a smile came to her face.
The galaxy once more spun around her displayed on the massive sphere that housed ISIS. It was relatively unchanged, the two hundred years that had passed for her a microcosmic instant for the galaxy and universe beyond. The one change she did note with satisfaction was the progress of the seeding of humanity. Small blue dots represented the beginnings of her final task. There were no communications with the life rafts she had sent spinning through the galaxy, but she could estimate their course and destination representing the time past and progress made. Wren pulled her gaze from the spectacle all around her, her smile fading as she brought her attention to the message that was now repeating continuously across her network. She had given no reply, preferring to keep her existence unknown in case it was a trap. The message was coming from Lynx, the caretaker AI at Guiana Space Center, but Wren knew that meant nothing when ODIN was still active on the planet. Possibilities spun through and around her, the connection she shared with ISIS allowing her to predict all the possible outcomes. It was a difficult task made exponentially harder by the existence of ODIN. Now there was the Leviathan as well.
The deranged program created by Nathan Landis killed her brother and once again threatened life on earth. With a thought the galaxy around her disappeared. Darkness enveloped the chamber. A small speck of light appeared in front of her and then began slowly expanding until the sphere was dominated by an image of the Earth. Wren felt sadness seep slowly through her. The damage of climate change was everywhere. The green sickness of the ocean contrasted with the browns and grays of the now desolate continents across the planet.
“Is there anyone left?” she asked herself, the sound of her voice echoing through the chamber. It sent new sensations throughout her body and network, distracting her from the desolation. She returned to her observation of the planet. She knew there would be areas still habitable and hoped her father was still attempting to reverse the damage. In an instant her decision was made. The project here was well on its way to completion. She could no longer turn away from Earth. She must help those remaining to survive and stop ODIN and the Leviathan. Possible ways to help humanity and stop the quantums emerged within her mind. She lost herself while scouring through them. The sound of a transport arriving brought her back. Wren boarded the low vessel settling into it for the journey to SIA. As the transport sped away, the image of Earth disappeared allowing the darkness to envelop her chamber once more.
Wren stared forward barely noticing the massive station spinning past her. Her mind was already reaching out to her AI companion in the distance. Vast gardens gave way to a factory for drones and facilities for the asteroids that would bear the seeds of humanity.
“SIA, prepare the ship for departure.”
“Yes, Wren. What is our destination?” the AI queried.
Wren paused before answering, remembering her time with the AI. SIA had been tasked with one duty and was still attempting to execute it to this day. Wren felt her earlier smile return slightly. Her father had created the AI as her protector and guide which it had done to the best of its abilities and would do so now.
“Earth,” Wren thought, sending the word to the AI she was drawing closer to.
“Is that wise with the presence of ODIN and the Leviathan?” it replied. Wren laughed slightly. The AI proving its value once again.
“It is not wise, but it is necessary. We cannot allow any further suffering to occur to the humans on the planet. Ready the ship,” she said, ending the conversation. The factory had receded surrendering to staging platforms and processing stations for raw materials brought in from the asteroids beyond. The massive wall of the station loomed in front of her, the terminus of ISIS station. As she drew closer, SIA resolved itself. Wren had long ago decided the ship would be the AI’s permanent home. The Web that had once been its home on Earth would never be returned. The drones and machines used to create the Web were being used for other projects needed to save humanity. Wren stared forward as the craft continued its journey. She did not remember leaving the ship when she arrived on the station. Anxiety burned through her as she thought back to when she and Curtis first arrived on ISIS station.
He had saved her by bringing her to ISIS when ODIN’s hunter had incapacitated her. Her chest felt tight as the memories tore across her. The battle with her mother in ODIN’s control passed, painful as always. The next memory was worse in a way. She had sent Curtis away. Despite the knowledge she would do it again, she still felt a pang of guilt at abandoning the nanid possessed man. She had sent him back to her father and the dying planet, putting the needs of humanity in front of him and any possible connection between them. Despite her integration with ISIS and the formidable intelligence it provided, she still felt lost in the emotions she had for Curtis. There was love but also trepidation. How could there ever be anything between them? As the transport slowed she spun the problem in her head, human emotions refusing to submit to the logic of the quantum. Finally, as she stepped off the transport and moved to the massive vessel in front of her, she pushed the thoughts away burying them deep within. Her mission as always was more important. The door into the control chamber of SIA slid open, light spilling out into the station. Wren stepped into the ship with possibilities streaming through her consciousness once more, as she began pulling as much of her quantum self as possible into her nanid enhanced mind. As the door silently closed sealing Wren in the ship, the station continued its mission endlessly working to save humanity.
