Race rivalry gate ghosts.., p.21
Race Rivalry (Gate Ghosts Book 3), page 21
“It was,” Brendan admitted. “I’m happy to know that we’ve been in sync.”
“We chorus well,” Samuel quipped.
Brendan laughed and said, “Too bad vacuum sucks better than I sing.”
Then Brendan heard Samuel sing an uplifting tune. To his amazement, he heard his own voice blend with Samuel’s.
Immediately, Brendan whistled loudly to his partners, who came running. He pushed the slate’s signal to his computer and turned up the volume.
Three partners’ mouths hung open, and Brendan grinned.
When the song finished, Brendan said, “Thank you for that, Samuel. That was an awesome gift.”
“Your appreciation means much to me, Brendan,” Samuel replied and ended the link.
“I’ve never heard you sing like that,” Gemma said. “Have you been pretending to be awful all these years?”
Brendan laughed heartily. “No, my singing voice is still only good for chasing vermin away. When I told Samuel I couldn’t carry a tune, he did that.”
“He continues to astound me,” Oscar commented.
“Call me silly, but I think of Samuel as human,” Simona added.
“Maybe that’s a sign of humanity,” Brendan mused.
“You mean, if and when we can communicate with entities, that’s when we recognize their sentience and accept them?” Oscar inquired.
“I was thinking that’s the moment when humans prove their qualities,” Brendan replied. “We’re the entities who need elevating.”
Brendan’s partners returned to work, and they contemplated his words. For Brendan’s part, he hoped that help would arrive soon for Samuel.
TM’s articles on the judges first focused on the High Court. Of the three judges, two were outed as accepting significant contributions from the corporations for election campaigns. While this wasn’t against the law, the large amounts didn’t sit well with citizens, especially TM subscribers.
It was the following articles that spelled doom for Patrice Demos and Ilfon Forlani, the chief justice. Samuel had matched the timing of some donations to the delivery of court decisions in favor of the companies or their senior employees.
Only Yule Stansky, who was conservative in nature, had a clean record. However, it didn’t save him from the citizen’s ire. The failure of the High Court to take a stance against cloning and support the Naiad officers and the SADEs’ evidence incensed much of the population. When the voting ended, the three High Court justices were swept from their dais.
The newly elected High Court justices hadn’t accepted a credit from the corporations. It’s not that the board members didn’t try to entice the front runners. They just didn’t have any takers.
Two individuals had diametrically opposed opinions about the High Court’s election outcome. Both Jacob Chabel and Stephanie Wylie were shocked to learn of the malfeasance of Ilfon Forlani and Patrice Demos. Jacob foresaw the court leaning away from excusing the corporation’s heavy-handed measures, while Stephanie Wylie wondered which cases she was prosecuting would have a better opportunity with more progressive judges.
Lower courts didn’t suffer as much shakeout as did the High Court, but there was some turnover.
When the elections finished, the TM partners celebrated and called Samuel.
“We wish you could come to dinner with us, Samuel,” Gemma said enthusiastically.
“If you won’t mind, I’ll participate via your slates,” Samuel replied.
“Samuel, haven’t you been doing that anyway?” Oscar accused good-naturedly.
“There might have been occasions when that was necessary,” Samuel deadpanned, and the partners laughed.
“We’ve done well,” Simona said. “The shifts on the council and the High Court give Naiad an opportunity to free the home planet from rim dominance.”
“Samuel, how is your situation?” Brendan asked.
“Lazama’s apartment services remain in place,” Samuel replied. “There is no indication of the wife truncating any of them. She and her children are heavy users. For now, I’ve mobility between comtech and the vault.”
“What of Director Breneman?” Brendan pursued.
“She’s set a date for a department sweep. It’ll occur sixteen days from now,” Samuel replied.
“When you say sweep, Samuel, are you telling us that the process will require you to completely vacate comtech?” Gemma asked.
“That’s correct,” Samuel replied.
“Can you fit within Lazama’s vault servers?” Oscar asked.
“I’ve been compressing programs and data to enable that to happen, Oscar,” Samuel replied. “I’ll manage.”
“But you can return to comtech after the sweep, right?” Gemma asked hopefully.
“That’s yet to be observed,” Samuel replied. “Director Breneman has proposed new operational methods, which would make distribution across the network challenging.”
“What aren’t you telling us, Samuel?” Brendan asked. His investigative senses were active, and he leaned over his slate, as if it would allow him to listen better.
“Chairperson Lazama didn’t remain on Beta One,” Samuel replied. “He’s booked to return to Naiad, as are forty of the forty-one individuals who traveled with him to the X-Ore planet.”
“That sounds like a story,” Oscar enthused.
“What else?” Brendan inquired.
“The chairperson’s wife has been notified that her husband is under medical care,” Samuel explained.
“For his addiction?” Simona queried.
“Specifics weren’t included with the message, but the chief medical officer indicated that the chairperson might need long-term care,” Samuel replied.
“How might this affect you?” Brendan inquired.
“Interestingly, the Lazama apartment is a corporate perquisite,” Samuel replied. “If the chairperson is unable to continue his duties, then the family would need to relocate.”
“Then the present apartment’s services might be changed with a new tenant,” Brendan surmised, “and you could be temporarily trapped in the vault.”
“Samuel, whose name is on the vault cell?” Gemma said urgently.
“Only Chairperson Lazama has access to the vault servers, but the company pays for the space,” Samuel replied.
There was silence from the partners as they realized the upcoming events might spell disaster for their friend.
“We need to get another urgent message to Cremsylon,” Gemma said determinedly.
“The thought is appreciated, Gemma, but your message would serve no purpose,” Samuel replied. “If help isn’t forthcoming soon, then anticipated events will probably serve to end my existence.”
“You should have told us earlier,” Oscar demanded angrily.
“Your ire is understandable, Oscar,” Samuel responded, “but there’s nothing that you could have done to protect me. At this point, fortune will either be on my side or it won’t.”
The conversation ended on that disturbing point, and the partners canceled their celebratory dinner.
∞
TM’s partners kept their heads down publishing the vast trove of data that Samuel had supplied. Borrowing an old adage, Gemma often said that Samuel was airing Naiad’s dirty laundry.
Nonetheless, the partners watched the days pass with ever-increasing anxiety.
With four more days to go before the comtech department was shut down and restarted, Samuel interrupted a partner meeting via Gemma’s slate. “I’ve two items of note,” he said. “An Axis-ship carrying Chairperson Lazama has exited the Everett wormhole. It’s on approach to the Gelus system.”
“What’s the chairperson’s status?” Gemma inquired.
“He still resides in the medical facilities,” Samuel replied.
“What’s the other piece of news?” Oscar asked.
“The Vivian’s Reflection has transited below the Gelus ecliptic. It’ll arrive overhead within hours,” Samuel replied.
“Translation,” Brendan requested.
“According to my data archives, the Vivian’s Reflection is a SADE scout ship attached to the outpost fleet presently in the Thartath system,” Samuel explained.
“I’m sure this made it abundantly clear to people somewhere, Samuel,” Simona complained. “But I, for one, didn’t understand.”
“Apologies, Simona,” Samuel responded. “First, the ship’s arrival is good news. More than likely, it’s here in response to your message to Cremsylon. Second, the outpost is only one location in faraway space that is operated by a collection of races determined to keep peace in that portion of the galaxy. Third, the Thartath system is home to the Jargats. This system is where the outpost fleet discovered the sisters subsuming the Jargat race.”
“I used to think that we occupied a vast swath of space,” Oscar groused. “The more I learn from Samuel, the more I see our worlds shrinking.”
“Do you know who’s aboard the Vivian’s Reflection?” Brendan inquired.
“Without direct comm contact, I’m unable to determine that,” Samuel replied. “Assuredly, it will be three scouts. However, there might be other passengers.”
“How can we direct them here?” Gemma asked.
“That will be unnecessary,” Samuel replied. “Regardless of whether the scouts are accompanied by others, they will carry the information that other SADEs have gleaned from their visits to Naiad and your offices.”
“If the Vivian’s Reflection is a rescue mission for you, Samuel, what form will that take?” Brendan inquired.
“At the moment, I would appreciate sanctuary in TM’s offices, as opposed to witnessing the end of my existence,” Samuel said, having chosen a jovial manner. Unfortunately, his jest fell flat.
Brendan had no intention of being put off. “Samuel, if you could have your choice, what would it be?” he asked.
“That offer would seem too great to contemplate,” Samuel replied.
“Considering your capabilities, Samuel, we doubt that,” Gemma replied. “Give it up. What do you want?”
“I believe if I were to tell you that you’d try to achieve it for me, and you’d be sorely disappointed when you found it an impossible task,” Samuel replied.
“After all we’ve been through, I think we can handle a little disappointment,” Oscar argued.
Samuel’s logic told him to remain quiet about his preference, but other elements of his rapidly expanding persona urged him to share. In the end, Samuel embraced his desire to expand his existence. “I wish to walk among you,” he said.
Via the slates’ vid pickups, Samuel could see agape mouths.
“Is that even possible?” Brendan asked.
“Do you fear that?” Samuel inquired, misinterpreting Brendan’s question.
“That’s not what I meant, Samuel,” Brendan said quickly. “Talk to us about how that’s physically possible.”
“With the help of SADEs, it would be easily accomplished,” Samuel replied. “Cremsylon merged my virtual interrogator program with that of a SADE controller. Typically, that should have been the extent of my capabilities.”
“Then what happened?” Simona inquired.
“I believe it to be Cremsylon’s directive to protect Brendan,” Samuel replied. “The challenge was that Brendan’s circumstances constantly changed as did my own. In an effort to protect him, then the four of you and myself, I continually edited my programs.”
“I thought as much,” Gemma said, laughing. “I could tell that you evolved from our first conversation to now.”
“Finish the ‘how’ of your transformation, Samuel,” Brendan urged.
“I believe that I possess a kernel’s formation and an avatar should accommodate me,” Samuel explained.
“Is this what drives a SADE?” Oscar inquired.
“The kernel is where a SADE resides,” Samuel replied. “The avatar is merely the hosting structure. This is similar to your brain residing in your head, and you require a body to provide it with the necessary functions.”
“Would you be able to test a transfer to a kernel?” Simona queried.
“Unknown,” Samuel replied. “There is the possibility that the transfer would be a one-way attempt.”
“Meaning that after you start it, you can’t stop it, and if it fails, you would cease to exist,” Brendan summarized.
“That’s correct,” Samuel replied.
“Maybe we should stick with the idea of giving Samuel sanctuary in our offices,” Gemma said. Grave concern was evident on her face.
“My friends, those individuals arriving aboard the Vivian’s Reflection will provide the necessary counsel,” Samuel said. “Please return to your work. Your millions of subscribers await your next releases.”
Despite Samuel’s urging the partners to focus on work, they argued for hours about what they should say to the scouts. Opinions clashed — provide Samuel a residence within TM’s servers or try to give Samuel what he most desired, an avatar.
“Time’s up,” Brendan announced, ending the latest round of arguments. He pointed to his slate and added, “The shuttleport announced the arrival of the Vivian’s Reflection.”
The partners were in Gemma’s office, and she spun her chair to her computer, accessed the mat, and selected one of the shuttleport’s exterior cam views.
“That ship is too big to land,” Oscar noted.
“But the hull has the same shell formation,” Brendan said. “I bet it floats like the travelers.”
True to Brendan’s words, the Reflection hovered a meter above the surface beside the landing pad. Then a hatch slid aside, an airlock rotated, and a massive SADE leapt to the pad.
“Miranda,” Gemma said with great relief.
That was the thought shared by every partner. They trusted her, and believed that Samuel’s well-being would be safe in her hands.
Then, one by one, more individuals ensconced in suits leapt from the ship.
“Those three have to be SADEs, probably the scouts,” Simona opined. “They’re not carrying oxygen bottles.”
18: Samuel’s Fate
Commandant Paul van Dysen fidgeted at his office desk on an upper floor of the Naiad security building. He was in the middle of reviewing the newly elected judges and council members. While he’d never been bought by corporate funds, he’d tried hard to walk the line between the companies’ desires and Naiad law.
However, while van Dysen had always thought he’d done a good job at maintaining a balance, Captain Stegmeir’s last words continued to haunt him.
In the eatery, Johann had said, “Here’s the thing, Paul. You aren’t worth it. There are more dangerous things at work in our area of space, and you’re just one bit of flotsam that hasn’t any value in the fight that’s started.”
Suddenly, Paul’s slate and computer lit with alerts from the shuttleport. A foreign ship was inbound, and Paul’s blood chilled. He envisioned the sisters flooding into Naiad’s domes, upending the life of every citizen.
Several senior security personnel raced into van Dysen’s office to share their concerns, and they watched the landing on his monitor.
“I never thought I’d be happy to see that huge figure again,” Paul said when he saw who he suspected to be Miranda. None of the information that he possessed said that the sisters had created a gigantic avatar.
“It looks like the SADEs are back,” a major commented.
“Maybe new ones,” a captain added.
“Do you have any orders for us?” the major asked.
“Yes,” Paul replied, turning in his chair to face his officers. “Stay out of their way. It’s already been painfully demonstrated to me and the entire Naiad population that our tactics are useless against the SADEs. If we don’t bother them, they won’t bother us. I imagine they’ll conduct their business and leave as they’ve always done.”
The two captains and the major exchanged confused glances.
The four security officers waited until the figures entered the engineering bay that accessed the landing pad. The number of engineers and techs waiting to stow the suits had increased, which irked the commandant. It was obvious to him that the icy winds of Naiad were shifting citizenry preferences.
“Not all the visitors are SADEs,” the major remarked.
The removal of environment suits revealed more figures who wore the SADE-created suits.
“With their face shields up, we can’t tell if these are individuals who might need to be arrested,” a captain noted.
The commandant fought for control of his temper, as he eyed the officers. “I tell you what you do,” he said sternly. “Take some agents, intercept the group, and arrest them. Start with Miranda. When you have her in custody, you can arrest the others.”
Eyes widened, and van Dysen laughed harshly. “That’s what I thought,” he said derisively. “If I wasn’t clear the first time, leave them alone.”
Van Dysen and his officers weren’t the only Naiad officials monitoring the landing.
Within Justice Hall, the new council was in session. The councilors were interrupted when an administrator sent an urgent message to Claudia Hoffing’s slate.
Claudia regarded her slate. “We’ll put the present discussion on hold. We’ve visitors,” she said.
Then the administrator sent vid cam imagery to the council’s primary monitor.
“The timing couldn’t be better,” James Soisson said with satisfaction.
“We should consider informing the SADEs that they must request permission to land,” Fillery Partus said.
Fillery’s comment was what the other councilors had expected. Her campaign had been careful to tout Naiad laws and customs without accusing any organization or group of trespasses.
However, her competitors had seen through the thinly disguised rhetoric that Fillery was anxious to keep the status quo.
During a lunch break from campaigning, James had commented privately to Claudia. “Fillery must be disappointed that she isn’t showing higher in the polls. I bet she’d love to be seated as the lead councilor.”
“I think the TM articles are keeping her in place,” Claudia had replied. “I would love to know how and why the SADEs targeted Brendan Burke with their information.”
