Axis crossing, p.28
Axis Crossing, page 28
“Okay, okay,” Jasper urged. He tried to kick his weary brain into gear. “How did they get here? I didn’t think an Axis-ship was due. Does security have him? Does he have any leverage?”
Bot-boy’s grin widened, and he triggered a news broadcast that he’d saved.
Jasper stared at the meeting of the director, the commander, and some agents with a group of humans and a pair of sentinels. He heard the host speaking, and he concentrated on her words.
“I don’t get it,” Jasper said, retreating to his chair.
About that time, the gang piled into the room, hungry and anxious to get to the dining hall.
“Come. Food,” Lita said. She pulled Jasper out of his chair and pushed him toward the door.
As the group made their way to evening meal, Lita updated the gang about the visitors.
“Naiad security was with Escher and Ceda, but the couple wasn’t under arrest?” Red asked.
“Not from what I saw,” Jasper replied, “but they were walking between too huge Naiad sentinels.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Lita said. “When Escher called us from the ship —”
“What ship?” Tammy interrupted.
Lita apologized and explained the part about a strange ship appearing not far from the planet.
Gat’r rattled his arm scales. “Like Escher,” he pronounced definitively.
“As I was saying,” Lita continued, “Escher sounded confident and in control. I don’t know how, but I don’t think he’s under arrest.”
“What about the Naiad sentinels that Jasper mentioned?” Ditz asked.
“Not Naiad, and probably not sentinels,” Bot-boy replied. “Lita and I watched the half hour of drone coverage several times. The two beings called sentinels were dressed like the visitor leader.”
“By the way, the leader looks a hundred years old,” Lita interjected.
“Here’s the thing,” Bot-boy said earnestly. “If you watched the visitors walk, they don’t clomp like the sentinels do, and the leader doesn’t move like an old man. They glide, and they’re constantly aware.”
“Okay, super-sophisticated bots,” Bibi suggested.
“Doesn’t explain the old man,” Bot-boy argued.
“What’s your thought, Bot-boy?” Jasper asked. He could see that the youth had pondered what he saw.
“Don’t laugh,” Bot-boy cautioned, “but I think Escher found sentient bots.”
The gang worked to keep straight faces. However, when they glanced at Lita, their amusement died. Her expression told them that she agreed with Bot-boy.
Dinner was a strange reversal of fortune for the gang. Previously, food had been quickly delivered to their table with little to no exchange of pleasantries.
This evening, miners and supervisors nodded at them. Extra rations were delivered to their table. Suddenly, they were no longer pariahs.
“How about those visitors?” a supervisor, who stopped by the table, asked.
“Fascinating,” Lita replied, while Jasper searched for a response.
“I noticed that the surface couple the X-Ore team wanted had returned too,” the supervisor said. “They were walking between the sentinels.”
“Are you sure they’re sentinels?” Bot-boy asked.
The supervisor glanced at the rest of the gang, who held serious expressions. “What else could they be?” he asked.
“I guess the citizenry will soon find out,” Lita replied cryptically.
The supervisor had no more words, and he quietly retreated.
“Well-played,” Jasper commented, glancing at Lita and Bot-boy. “That supervisor will spread the word that we know something they don’t. If nothing else, that will get us more work.”
“Jasper, you talk like Escher’s return means nothing for us,” Red challenged.
“Don’t know if it does or doesn’t,” Jasper replied, diving into his extra rations. “If it doesn’t, I intend to be working on our immediate future. If things go against us, we still must survive down here.”
Jasper had effectively poured cold water on the gang’s hopes. When he looked across the table at Lita, her eyes were hard, and he knew he had said the wrong thing. However, he had no desire to walk it back.
24: The Bottom Line
As the Genevan commander had been warned, a lieutenant waited in the director’s outer office with Allie Talons.
When Allie saw her brother, she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I knew you’d come back,” she said gratefully. Allie focused on Ceda and opened an arm. Then Ceda joined the brother and sister.
The director and the commander fidgeted, expecting one of the visitors to interrupt the reunion, but they didn’t seem inclined to do that.
Crystal raised a hand, with the first finger extended, hoping to catch a visitor’s attention. She did. Although, it was one of the sentinels. She’d learned the entity was called Z. And, one thing was for certain, Z’s eyes proclaimed his sentience, and he wasn’t happy with her unspoken request.
When Allie could bear to let Escher and Ceda loose, she turned slowly to gaze at her audience. “Sorry for the emotions,” she said, wiping her eyes.
“Never apologize for having a warm heart, Allie,” Miranda said. “Many of us would love to possess one.”
Recognizing there was no choice and deciding to save a little face, Anthony dismissed his lieutenant. It was obvious to him that Allie would remain with her brother. Moreover, he felt he could relax. There was something about the way the visitors enjoyed the reunion that gave him hope for their domes and citizenry.
“Shall we?” Cremsylon offered, gesturing toward the seats in the director’s conference room.
Crystal had the briefest thought that Cremsylon should occupy the head of the table. Then she angrily dismissed the notion and assumed her rightful place.
The commander noted that the Naiad officers, the Genevans, Cremsylon, and one other visitor, who was called Nalia, were seated. However, the two monstrous entities named Z and Miranda took up what he considered defensive positions. Z occupied a position behind Cremsylon, and Miranda guarded the door against interruptions or attackers, as the case might be.
“Cremsylon, you said there was a deal to be struck,” Crystal said in a firm, authoritative voice, “and I want to hear it. But I need an answer to two simple questions. Who are you, and what are you?”
“They’re called SADEs, which is an acronym for self-aware digital entities,” Ceda replied.
Crystal nearly made the mistake of pointing out that a clone should remember her place. Just in time, the hard expressions on the faces of the visitors and the Naiad officers prevented it.
“We’ve come here to prevent a renegade group of our kind from overtaking these human worlds,” Cremsylon said.
“By force?” Anthony asked.
“With entreaties,” Miranda replied. “It’s much more insidious and so much more effective.”
“You must be familiar with the approach, Director Gaston,” Escher said. “You dangle new tech in front of corporate officers, and they lose all sense of reason.”
Escher received frowns from Crystal and Johann. At which point, he thought it might be better if he kept his mouth shut.
“Commander Jenkins believes your quarry is at Beta Two,” Crystal said.
“That’s what the evidence seems to indicate,” Cremsylon said. “We’ve no direct evidence, but the confluence of information suggests that conclusion.”
The SADEs privately shared laughter at Cremsylon’s use of an invented phrase Alex had once proffered Renée.
“Can we expect that you will leave us in peace when the deal is struck?” Crystal asked.
“We’ve no intention of harming the populace,” Cremsylon replied. He signaled Johann with a hand.
“Commander,” Johann said, pushing two tiny boxes toward Anthony. “These cids belong to Racer Deeming and Paula Palbrute.”
“Nalia is our medical officer,” Cremsylon added. “She’d be pleased to implant them for the couple.”
“Why do you have a medical officer if your bodies aren’t biological in nature?” Crystal asked.
“Director, your thinking is too narrow,” Ceda remonstrated. “You imagine you’re speaking with intelligent bots. Cremsylon is nearly a millennium in age. The SADEs have hosted races that we couldn’t have imagined, until we saw images of them. They maintain medical services and food aboard as a courtesy to those species they encounter.”
Stacey chimed in, saying, “Their ship, the Alexander, has to be the most pleasant means of travel between the stars that you could ever conceive.”
“You didn’t come by way of the wormholes?” Anthony asked dubiously.
“We used them,” Z replied. “But it’s much more expeditious to transit rather than sail between them.”
“Transit?” Anthony queried.
“They jump the ship into the dark and jump out again somewhere else, or so I understand,” Johann supplied.
Anthony’s facial expression said he believed people had spoken a foreign language to him. He heard the words, but the meanings weren’t clear.
“Let’s return to the important subject here,” Crystal interrupted. “What can you do for us, Cremsylon?”
“What do you need, Director?” Cremsylon riposted. “Tell us what would make the quickest improvement to your bottom line, and we’ll tell you of our expectations from you.”
The proposition stunned Crystal. She’d been prepared to hear a specific offer, evaluate it, and negotiate a better position. Now her mind reeled from the possibilities.
Z returned.
Nalia interjected.
Cremsylon added,
The SADEs waited while Crystal sent an urgent message to her mining department head.
Anthony took the opportunity to determine Raw Metals’ legal exposure. “Has Naiad had another clone make the home world before Ceda?” he asked.
“We’ve been aware of the corporations’ illegal practices,” Johann replied. “However, Ceda is the council’s first proof of the crime.”
“The corporations will resist Naiad’s interference,” Anthony said.
“Is that a threat, Commander?” Johann asked, bristling.
“Not at all, Captain,” Anthony replied, taking no offense from Johann’s emotional reaction. “I’m merely trying to educate you about the extent of the problem that Naiad faces. The rim has had clones for a while. Corporate executives, senior managers, and direct supervisors are accustomed to having clones for myriad reasons. They don’t perceive the practice in the same way you and your citizens do.”
“Maybe your corporations should, Commander,” Cremsylon interjected.
“I take it that SADEs don’t approve of clones?” Anthony surmised.
Z, who stood behind Cremsylon and was well within the commander’s eyeline, flexed his torso, shoulders, and arms. It drew Anthony’s eyes to him, which had been his intent.
“SADEs have cloned themselves,” Z said, mimicking Alex Racine’s authoritative voice. “We don’t recommend the practice. Nonetheless, we treat copied SADEs with respect. We don’t abuse them.”
Anthony was well aware of the hostile stares from Escher, Ceda, and the Naiad officers. But it was the deadpan expressions on the SADEs’ faces that worried him the most. They were the unknown aspect in the legal equation, and they’d just professed their hostility toward the corporations’ practice of human slavery.
Crystal read her department head’s response, and she turned her attention to those around the table. “I’m told that mining engineers have found many indications of a rare metal we consider valuable,” she said. “Tantalum consistently shows in ore samples of columbite-tantalite. My department head believes there must be a significant deposit on this planet, but test drillings have been unable to locate an exploitable site. If you were to find such a site, we could reach an amicable agreement.”
When the Alexander made the planet, Cremsylon had directed the ship’s travelers to orbit the world for survey. It was a typical habit of the SADEs to gather information on any habitable body.
Cremsylon linked through the domes’ network to the traveler on the landing pad and then to the ship. He requested any information on the rare metal. The answer, as far as humans were concerned, was nearly instantaneous.
The ship’s controller had identified a massive meteor strike that had deformed the planet by producing a range of hills that surrounded the impact point. Naturally, these locations wouldn’t have suited the corporate dome builders, who constructed the habitats on the planet’s plains. Furthermore, the region around the strike was mountainous, alternating with deep crevasses and meteor strike pits. Another reason why the corporate engineers hadn’t explored the area.
The final data line that Cremsylon received detailed a rich surface deposit of the ore that Raw Metals sought. The SADE smiled at Crystal. “Your proposal is acceptable. Let’s discuss what we want.”
Crystal nodded. Although, she was unsure what the visitor would request.
Cremsylon signaled Nalia to start. She said, “As the ship’s medical officer, I wish to share our nanites with your medical facilities. These nanites will repair every injury that isn’t genetic.”
“I don’t mean to offend,” Crystal replied, “but I don’t believe our employees are likely to accept the ministrations of aliens.”
“Which is why Nalia won’t start with your employees,” Ceda said. Her eyes blazed, and Crystal was taken aback by the ferocity. Clones didn’t address her in this manner. “Nalia will begin with the clones.”
Crystal’s mouth briefly hung open before she closed it. She couldn’t think of a response to keep the clones out of the medical officer’s hands.
“The mickies will want the nanites too,” Escher interjected. “I know one youth who will jump at the opportunity to be repaired.”
Under the table, Allie squeezed her brother’s hand. She knew he was thinking of Gat’r when he spoke.
“Using the first volunteers, I’ll demonstrate to your medical personnel the nanites’ simple application technique,” Nalia continued. “We’ve acquired a count of your miners and clones.”
“Those figures we do possess,” Anthony said. “Unfortunately, we only have estimates of the number of mickies.”
“You don’t know the count of miner orphans on this planet?” Miranda asked. The cold disdain in her voice was evident.
Anthony knew enough to duck his head, but Crystal was senior management. She had no such compunction.
“The mickies aren’t our priorities,” Crystal replied sharply.
Stacey muttered an ugly expletive at what she considered a confession of criminal action.
“Precisely,” Nalia added.
Attempting to steer everyone away from recriminations, Cremsylon directed his attention toward Crystal. “Director, do we have an understanding about what our medical officer wishes to accomplish?”
“Yes,” Crystal replied harshly.
Cremsylon studied the director’s face. Taut lines along the jaw indicated that she was furious and thinking how she could control what Nalia requested. He decided to redirect her thoughts. “Director, be aware that any conditions we reach that require you to continue the efforts after we leave will have consequences for you when we return and find that you didn’t abide by the details of our agreement.”
Crystal and Anthony regarded Cremsylon, and then they glanced toward Z and Miranda, who subtly flexed their avatars. To the Raw-Mets humans, the threat was evident. They had no way of knowing that the SADEs wouldn’t use their physical power in that manner.
“Are there other conditions?” Crystal asked.
“Oh, yes,” Cremsylon replied. “They’re minor but numerous. First, we will transfer the credits of the Talons’ family. They’ll be deposited wherever the family resettles.”
“The senior Talons have contracts that must be completed before they can earn many of the credits that they could acquire,” Crystal said, happy to have a point of leverage against the visitors.
Cremsylon directed the audience’s attention by turning toward Miranda.
“I’ve reviewed the contracts and have accessed the families’ accounts,” Miranda said. “Escher’s and Allie’s accounts are unencumbered. However, the Talons parents are legally required to conclude their contracts. However, we wonder if the Talons will wish to return here after security allowed them to be kidnapped.”
“There are strict corporate guidelines —” Crystal began. Then she caught Anthony’s subtle but definitive shake of his head, and she reconsidered what she was about to say.
Breaking a corporate contract without repercussions for the employees would mean the amounts would be taken out of Crystal’s quarterly profits. Then again, she considered the possibility of reverse engineering the nanites. Better yet, if the tantalum deposit was significant, her profits would grow substantially.
“The children’s funds are yours, but not the parents,” Crystal said, spreading her hands in resignation. “What else?”
“All charges will be dropped against Escher and Ceda,” Cremsylon replied.
That request brought Anthony’s and Johann’s heads sharply up.
The hiss of the door sliding open interrupted their responses.
“Commander, as you requested,” a security lieutenant said, as he led Racer and Paula into the room.
“Of course, I did,” Anthony muttered quietly. Then louder, he said, “Thank you, Lieutenant, you may leave.”
