Axis crossing, p.33
Axis Crossing, page 33
“Unnecessary, Captain,” Cremsylon replied. “We’ve been privy to your conversations courtesy of Escher’s slate.”
Johann glanced at Escher, who shrugged.
“Captain, we believe that information should be shared,” Cremsylon said, interrupting Johann’s focus on Escher. “Ignorance stems from a lack of credible information.”
“The five of you have received the medical nanites injections. Although, none of you presented a necessity,” Kelley said. “In preparation for the visit to Beta One, we’re prepared to offer an additional technology. Many races who have welcomed our assistance carry our implants in their minds. With these tiny devices, they can communicate with other individuals, biological or digital, using their thoughts.”
Escher was poised to ask some questions, but he was interrupted by Ceda, who said forcefully, “I want one.”
“You should hear the admonitions first,” Cremsylon warned.
Ceda laughed quietly. “You’ll tell me that if I’m the only human with an implant in this area of space, I won’t be able to speak to another person with my mind, correct?”
“That’s true,” Cremsylon replied.
Escher and Allie regarded Ceda, who chose not to look their way. She kept her focus on Cremsylon.
“Talk about a perfect time to be able to commune and reach consensus,” Allie said wistfully.
“What else can an implant do?” Escher asked. He was confused by Ceda’s apparently blind acceptance of the offer, and he pondered what that might mean for their relationship.
“You could query the controller without leaving your bed,” Z replied.
Ceda and Allie laughed. Escher’s eyes gleamed when he heard Z’s response.
“The implant can hold apps to run any sort of program resident on it or on another device,” Miranda added, and Escher grinned.
“Obviously, these two are going to get an implant,” Allie said, pointing at Escher and Ceda. “Therefore, I’m not going to be left out.”
“Captain, Lieutenant?” Kelley queried.
“We thank you for the offer, but without the council’s and the commandant’s approvals, we can’t accept,” Johann replied.
Stacey hid her disappointment. She wanted to try the technology, hoping it could be removed before returning to Naiad. Then again, she wondered if after using the implant she would want it taken from her.
Z shared privately.
“You wouldn’t have offered the tech to us if you couldn’t reverse the procedure,” Ceda promptly replied.
Miranda regarded Escher, and he replied, “I thought that was a given too.”
When she eyed Allie, the young woman shrugged and said, “I trust Escher and Ceda.”
Cremsylon commented privately.
“What will be the SADEs’ roles on Beta One?” Johann asked, wishing to return to the planning.
“If we accept your plan, we’ll be the attendants and protectors,” Z replied. “However, we suggest Ceda be elevated to the role of advisor, joining the lieutenant and you.”
“You must receive the implants immediately,” Kelley urged. “Without a sufficient command of the devices, communications from others will complicate your thought processes. Each one of you will have an instructor.”
At that moment, Nalia walked through the door and beckoned the Genevans.
Such was the confidence in the SADEs, that the usual questions about the surgery were dismissed. Within a quarter hour, Ceda, Escher, and Allie had their new implants.
Z partnered with Escher; Kelley worked with Allie; and Miranda dedicated her time to helping Ceda.
Escher struggled with control.
Z recognized the problem. “The implant isn’t a computer, as you think of Bot-boy’s device,” the SADE admonished. “It’s an extension of your mind. Cooperate with it, as you would choose to reach for a drink with your hand.”
A few minutes later, Escher was able to send and receive thoughts with Z. The success galvanized him, and he worked with the tiny device, until a headache overcame him. Then Nalia arrived to put him out of his misery.
“We’ll have challenges with this one,” Nalia pronounced.
“He’s driven,” Z agreed, “but we’ve dealt with humans like this before.”
Allie was a natural. She was comfortable with the tech because Escher and Ceda readily trusted the SADEs. Moreover, she wasn’t anxious to conquer the device in one sitting. At Kelley’s urging, she blocked the comm when she grew fatigued and rested.
Ceda also struggled but for a different reason than Escher.
“You want an implant. Then again, you don’t,” Miranda said to Ceda.
“Translation?” Ceda queried.
“You’ve led a guarded life,” Miranda explained. “At any point, you knew your life could be turned upside down by a family’s complaint or a director’s whim. You think of your implant as an intrusion. Therefore, you can’t trust it.”
Ceda thought about Miranda’s comments. There was truth in her words. She’d never felt comfortable with her cid, which identified her as a clone. Furthermore, she’d never been allowed to have a slate and had never really wanted one.
“How should I think of it?” Ceda asked plaintively.
The SADE’s wry smile was pure Miranda, and Ceda couldn’t help but return it in kind.
“What?” Ceda inquired hopefully.
“If I were you, I would think of my implant as a way to communicate privately with my partner,” Miranda suggested, with a wink.
28: Unrest in the Ranks
BETA TWO, MONART SYSTEM
X-ORE PLANET
“How many SADEs are there now?” Doell asked, gazing around the table at his department heads.
Company management had been shocked when a new SADE, who hadn’t been seen before, was reported as exiting the ancillary tunnel.
“I’ve had the supervisors in that tunnel keeping count, but it’s a challenge,” Jeffrey, the engineer, replied.
“Why?” Doell demanded. “They only need count the new SADEs exiting that tunnel branch.”
“SADEs are going in and out of the access hatch, Director,” Jeffrey pushed back. “Furthermore, the SADEs are dressed similarly, and they move fast. We record facial imagery, but the supervisor isn’t always on site when a new SADE exits.”
“Do we have an estimate?” Doell asked resignedly.
“We think the count is twenty-three, give or take two,” Jeffrey replied.
“Already?” Doell asked in alarm.
“The number has been accelerating,” Elisabeth, the dome facilitator, replied. “The first new SADE came through the hatch about two weeks ago. After that initial one, another would appear about every two days. Now, we think a new SADE is constructed in less than a day.”
“I suppose we’re still denied access to the auxiliary tunnel they built,” Doell complained.
“Yes,” Patty, the comtech head, replied. “I had my best encryption agent investigate the panel. The device isn’t connected to our network, and my agent had to disguise himself as crew. He tells me that he found no way to determine the method of input. We believe the SADEs use their internal comm tech to signal the panel.”
“Any good news?” Doell queried.
“We’re still processing the ore the SADEs removed from the tunnel, and it looks good,” Jeffrey replied. “The SADEs’ tunnel passed through a valuable mineral deposit, and either they didn’t want the metal, or they were being generous to us.”
“Who has tried to contact the new SADEs?” Doell asked.
“Several of my personnel and I have tried to engage them,” Saran, the personnel head, replied. “They’re exceedingly polite but brief in their communications. Only Miriamal, Peña, and Theda speak to our people for an extended time.”
Doell’s face radiated his dissatisfaction with the conversation, and he chose to switch topics. “What’s the overall production status?” he asked.
Jeffrey tapped on his slate and projected a graph on the conference room monitor. The x-axis had a timeline. Output was on the y-axis, and chart lines indicated key factors.
“The nanites injections, as far as they went, boosted ore output,” Jeffrey explained, pointing out the appropriate lines. “Then we plateaued. That lull lasted until the SADEs created more nanites and injected the remaining miners and clones. You can see the ore haul climbed again.”
“What about when the SADEs usurped our equipment in the main tunnel?” Doell asked.
“That’s this increase here,” Jeffrey replied, indicating the area on the chart.
“Explain,” Doell requested.
“Without access to the equipment, our teams were sidelined,” Jeffrey replied. “I expected production to fall. But the fact is that the SADEs can and do work around the chronometer, without breaks. And they operate the machinery more efficiently than our personnel. Production in the auxiliary tunnel improved our ore output. More important, as I said, the SADEs gave us the entire tunnel’s output, including that precious mineral deposit.”
“So, we have our tunneling equipment back now, and we watched the SADEs bring loads from their shuttles into that tunnel,” Doell summarized. “Do we have any idea what they carted?”
“Negative,” Patty replied. “I had agents scour the vid coverage for ideas. The SADEs were careful to keep the equipment covered. We can’t even tell the weight. They used those marvelous grav sleds to move the loads.”
The wistfulness in Patty’s voice when she spoke about the grav technology was evident to the audience. Every X-Ore employee could commiserate.
“We know that the initial equipment was used to produce the new batches of nanites,” Jeffrey said, “and I’ve some ideas about the process.”
“Do tell?” Doell said, leaning his arms on the table.
“The SADEs collected various smelted ingots from us,” Jeffrey explained. “We don’t object, not that we could. Medical sent me some nanites fluid, and I had the solution analyzed. The individual nanites are marvelous pieces of technology.”
“Summation, Jeffrey,” Doell said testily.
“Many compounds in the nanites are unknown to us,” Jeffrey said. “That means that the SADEs have equipment that starts with raw metals and minerals, and they gradually develop these unknown compounds.”
“Don’t forget the intelligence inherent in the nanites,” Saran pointed out. “The medical director is fascinated by the way the nanites navigate the body, repair the injuries, and destroy damaged cellular tissue.”
Doell examined engineering’s output graph. The increased production levels were most satisfying. Furthermore, he’d received a nearly repaired workforce. Most of the modified individuals would return repaired to the tunnels in a matter of a few more weeks. The department heads had reported increases in worker contentment. However, he couldn’t get rid of the nagging feeling that he had yet to pay for the SADEs’ largesse. Part of the unease stemmed from Harlyn Blackwell’s warnings.
∞
“Any change in the director’s attitude?” Timor Talons asked Harlyn.
“Negative,” Harlyn replied. “I keep in touch with the department heads. Doell listens to the reports about the SADEs’ activities, gets uncomfortable, and chooses to focus on production output.”
“Miriamal and her SADEs are an infection,” Dan remarked acidly. “Why can’t people see that?”
“I love you, my partner,” Erin said, “but that question makes you sound like a privileged person.”
“To answer your question, Dan,” Harlyn said, “the SADEs have medically repaired all the miners. Their lots in life have greatly improved. According to the engineering head, Jeffrey Witcher, production has been significantly boosted. Why should anyone be unhappy?”
Dan stared at Harlyn. “Are you falling for the SADEs’ ploy?” he accused.
Harlyn and others on the team laughed.
Timor clapped Dan on the shoulder. “My friend, Harlyn is playing the part of the opposition, and she’s right. The SADEs are devious, and their actions speak to their experience.”
“I was thinking about the same thing,” Rachner said. “The SADEs must have done this to at least one other race. That means they know what does and doesn’t work to motivate sentient species.”
“Agreed, but here’s the thing that bothers me,” Dahlia said. “Why the production of new SADEs?”
“Well, it was our thought that there was a reason that Miriamal kept us isolated in the bay,” Knut Kielpinski, the shuttle pilot, commented.
Knut often sat in on the team meetings. With the arrival of the SADEs, shuttles had stopped flying. An Axis-ship had recently arrived, spotted the alien ship, and reversed course for Beta One. The next transport wasn’t scheduled for seven more weeks.
“Her excuse was that dangerous fumes were in several parts of the ship,” Knut continued. “Now I think she didn’t want us to see that the ship was deserted.”
The team regarded Knut for so long that the pilot shrugged, as if to say that’s the way he saw it, even if they didn’t.
“Sorry for staring, Knut,” Dahlia quickly said. “It’s just that you hit on a crucial point. After the nanites, it seems the critical step for Miriamal was to produce more of her kind.”
“Good point,” Timor agreed. “Why weren’t there more SADEs aboard? It’s a huge ship. It must be capable of carrying thousands of SADEs, many shuttles, and enormous cargo loads.”
“On that note,” Harlyn interjected, “I’ve heard that the SADEs are using our smelted ingots to fuel their operations.”
“That could be convenience,” Dan argued. “Why use your own shipboard stock when it’s easier to take some of X-Ore’s?”
“True,” Harlyn replied.
“I want to return to a couple of fundamental questions,” Timor said. “Why were there so few SADEs aboard when they arrived here?”
“Let me add to that,” Knut interjected. “How many SADEs does Miriamal intend to make?”
“That leads to my second question, Knut,” Timor replied. “What are the intentions of Miriamal and her kind?”
“What are your thoughts, Timor?” Harlyn asked.
“I think the SADEs were in trouble somewhere else,” Timor replied. “If what we’re seeing is part of their modus operandi, then they were probably ejected from a planet by a race or races for their actions.”
“And possibly in a hurry,” Sherilyn added, “which would account for few SADEs aboard the Dominance.”
“The more you think about that ship’s name, the more ominous it sounds,” Erin commented.
“I want to know if we’re a way-stop for Miriamal, or are we the next race to fall under her kind’s domination?” Dahlia asked.
Before anyone could answer, the door to the specialists’ room slid aside, and the heavily modified figure of Security Commander Bethany McIntyre walked through the doorway. She pointed at the three couples who rarely took part in the team’s conversations and said, “You’re excused to return to quarters.”
Immediately, the six specialists scurried from the room, and agents escorted them to their apartments.
Knut reluctantly rose to leave, and Bethany ordered him to remain. She regarded the faces of the remaining specialists, and the looks they returned were hostile. Then she said, “As long as Doell continues to see production output either stay at the new levels or rise, he’ll be loath to do anything to hamper the sisters.”
“As if he could,” Dan scathingly remarked. Belatedly, he realized the commander had heard their conversation. “You’ve been listening,” he accused.
“That’s my job,” Bethany replied. “I’m required to monitor this group.”
“That’s not what I understood,” Harlyn protested.
“Perhaps, there wasn’t a need for you to know, Harlyn,” Bethany replied.
Timor’s eyes narrowed. “There’s no need for you to have joined our conversation or to have admitted that you’ve been listening, Commander. So, why are you here?”
“I think the sisters are dangerous too,” Bethany replied, “and this group seems to be the only contingent that agrees with me.”
“What is this?” Rachner queried. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?”
“Something like that,” Bethany said, laughing at the concept. “I’d like this group to continue postulating about the sisters’ intentions. Moreover, I’d like to hear the means by which you think the sisters’ actions can be deflected, if and when they become detrimental to this populace.”
“What’s in it for us?” Dan demanded.
“Your work is done here,” Bethany replied. “It’s only a matter of time before you could be returned to your planets.”
“It can’t be that easy, Commander,” Timor said. “We know the Axis-ship turned around. There’s the distinct possibility that none of us may ever get off this planet.”
“Doell’s plan was to have you sign work agreements and pay you a modest stipend for your efforts,” Harlyn blurted.
The team laughed derisively, and Harlyn’s ears burned.
“It won’t stand up,” Dahlia declared. “We were kidnapped.”
“I’ll be required to say that you agreed to accompany me to investigate an alien ship with a remarkable hull,” Bethany added. “Then Raw-Mets, Pure Pour, and Reg-Rec will receive generous shipments of ingots. Your companies won’t make complaints. That leaves you the option of filing civil charges, which you’ll need to do in person on Naiad.”
“Which will break our company contracts,” Sherilyn said in disgust.
“There is that,” Bethany admitted.
While the team chewed on the new developments in their predicaments, Bethany chose to redirect their focus. “There’s one interesting piece of news,” she said. “Peña is spending an inordinate amount of time with Saran.”
Suddenly, the specialists’ minds were engaged. After all, at heart, they were scientists, and they’d just been offered a piece of tantalizing data.
