Axis crossing, p.43
Axis Crossing, page 43
Mouths of the specialists dropped open. Had they been trained in most other disciplines, they might easily have become bored. As it was, they embraced the details and imagined the events of the past that led other races to develop the technology and humans to adopt it.
“How did you learn all this, Escher?” Timor asked incredulously.
Ceda and Allie burst out laughing.
“He’s reading, Father,” Allie exclaimed.
“Reading what?” Timor asked, glancing around.
Escher and Ceda shot warning glances at Allie, who belatedly realized her mistake. “Oops,” she muttered.
“What aren’t you telling us?” Dahlia demanded.
“We’ve tiny implants in our brains,” Escher explained. “I was transferring information from the ship’s controller to answer Dan’s question.”
Dahlia wore a look of horror at the thought that her children had become alien experiments. Timor seemed unsure but withheld his opinion.
The remaining specialists clamored to be heard. They wanted to know what the implants could do, and the three young people gave them examples of the implant’s capabilities, which only brought on more questions.
Finally, Timor interrupted the present conversation. “Excuse me,” he said. “I’d like to know why the three of you would do this. These implants are only good for communicating to the SADEs, to the ship’s controller, and to one another.”
When Timor received the quiet stares of the trio, the answer suddenly hit him, and he uttered a quiet, “Oh.”
“Oh, what?” Dahlia demanded of her partner.
“When we make Geneva, these three won’t be making planetfall with us,” Timor explained.
“Why not?” Dahlia asked. Her eyes traveled from face to face seeking an answer.
“It’s us,” Sherilyn replied. Seeing Dahlia ready to demand a fuller explanation, she hurried on. “Look at what the SADEs have done since arriving in our worlds. They’ve united your family. We’ve been rescued and are being returned to our planets. We don’t even have to explain what became of our absences.”
“Too true,” Rachner added. “Each planet will share the shuttleport’s arrival of this ship and the traveler descending to the landing pad.”
“It’s much more than that,” Escher said. “A gang of mickies hid us while the X-Ore agents searched for us. I never knew conditions below surface were so ugly. Those mickies are aboard this ship now. They have plenty of food, comfortable beds, and companions to teach them.”
“And they’ve been repaired,” Ceda added. “SADEs have a medical technology that they call nanites. The burns, scars, and other minor injuries are repaired by the nanites.”
“The sisters delivered that tech to the miners on Beta Two,” Timor commented.
“One mickie didn’t receive the nanites,” Allie noted. “Gat’r lost his lower arms and was given crude mods. Nalia, the medical officer, is using Jatouche technology to regrow his arms.”
The specialists were silent, while they mulled what they’d learned.
“This still doesn’t answer my —” Dahlia started.
“Enough,” Timor said, interrupting his partner. “Most of us have known of the inequities in our corporate life. We accepted a clone as a lifetime indentured servant. We knew of the miners’ horrendous accident rates, and I imagine most of us knew of the orphans.”
Timor gazed around him. Every head hung or looked askance. Even Dahlia had downcast eyes.
“By our silence, we’ve been complicit,” Timor continued. “I’m not saying we had the power to correct these things,” he added, waving off the objections before they could be voiced. “But our worlds have suddenly become ground zero for two different versions of the same entities, SADEs and sisters. I don’t know how this conflict will progress or end. But sides needed to be taken, and I think these three young people have chosen theirs.”
“Thank you, Father,” Allie said, hugging him. Afterward, she held out her arms to her mother, who tearfully embraced her.
Timor faced his son. “I’m proud of you, and I admire your choice of partner.” Turning to Ceda, he said, “I couldn’t be sorrier about your past.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Ceda said. “You did nothing to create my situation. Your family treated me well, and my assignment brought me Escher.”
Timor watched the hands of Escher and Ceda entwine. “I’m pleased for both of you,” he said.
“Are the tearful explanations finished?” Dan asked. “Because I’d like to continue the tour. I’ve a million more questions I want to ask.”
His interruption was untimely and a mite rude, but the audience laughed all the same.
Escher thought it appropriate to lead the specialists, especially his parents, to the classrooms.
The SADEs had reconfigured a few garden areas to act as locations to gather the clone children and the mickies.
Escher linked to the SADEs, as the group approached the mickies, and he apologized for the interruption.
When Escher stepped into view, the mickies surrounded Ceda, Allie, and him.
The specialists had to step back to make room for the enthusiastic orphans. What they witnessed didn’t match their memories of conditions below the surface. The mickies were happy and relaxed, and they were clean, healthy, and well-fed.
“What a difference concern for the well-being of others can make,” Erin commented quietly.
Escher introduced his parents, who thanked the mickies for keeping their children safe.
“I would say we saved one another,” Jasper said.
“Even if we had escaped the tunnels, we couldn’t have achieved much,” Lita added. “With the SADEs, we’re getting a first-rate education.”
“I’m going to get an implant someday,” Bot-boy declared. “Linking to the computer will be much faster than talking to it.”
It was the visit to the clones that made the deepest impressions on the specialists. The young girls interrupted their studies to approach the adults and ask how they could be of assistance.
When Ceda replied that they were there to observe, the girls returned to their studies.
The SADEs cared for the babies and the children, but they kept them close to the girls so they wouldn’t worry.
“Is that what you went through, Ceda?” Timor asked. “Were you trained to be subservient like that?”
“Exactly like that,” Ceda replied. “It will take time to help them realize their full potential. Hopefully, not as long as it took me.”
Timor and Dahlia heard the bite in Ceda’s words. The retiring clone who had recently served them was gone.
∞
Precautions were taken for the new guests before transit, but no one needed the use of an inducer.
The specialists felt the initial transit and the exit. Then they were informed that the Alexander was entering the wormhole. The loop from Beta Two to Beta One was quickly completed. Almost as quickly, the ship transited, entered a second wormhole, and arrived at Axis Crossing.
For the specialists, it was happening too fast. They wanted more time to exhaust their investigations and receive answers to their questions.
At one point, Escher’s eyes had rolled, and he begged off being the fount of their knowledge. Then Kelley had relieved Escher.
With time quickly counting down for the Genevans, Timor had asked, “Kelley, how can you afford to construct these types of ships and shuttles?”
“You’re wondering how we can spend time chasing the sisters and helping others without applying ourselves to generating revenue streams,” Kelley offered.
“More succinctly put, yes,” Timor replied.
“Long ago, the SADEs were freed by the efforts of one human male and his companions,” Kelley explained. “After that, SADEs were able to conduct their own businesses. Every SADE has accumulated centuries of wealth from their efforts. In most circumstances, if we need a new Quadrant and its travelers, the entire community of our kind gives a small portion of their wealth to build them.”
“Then the Alexander belongs to SADEs, as a whole,” Timor surmised.
“You would be correct, except for this ship,” Kelley replied. “This was the prototype Quadrant. It belongs to Z and Miranda. Interestingly, the orbital platform that constructed the ship wouldn’t accept their credits. The co-leaders of the Omnian fleet gave it to them as a gift for services rendered.”
“Who?” Dahlia asked.
Kelley’s laugh was borrowed from his father, Mickey Brandon. As befitting a heavy worlder, it was deep and hearty. “You would need to spend much of your lifetimes aboard this ship to hear the complete story of the Omnians,” he said.
Soon afterward, Timor, Dahlia, and four specialists, with their children, prepared to take a traveler downside to Geneva. There were tearful farewells among Timor, Dahlia, Escher, and Allie. Then the parents hugged Ceda and followed the SADEs below to their shuttle.
When delivery was complete, the ship exited the Filium gravity well and looped to Transit One to deliver Dan, Erin, their children, and a second family to the planet. Unlike the arrival of the Genevans at their planet, the Transit One specialists’ exit from a shuttle that had floated above the landing pad before touching down created an enormous stir.
The Transit One specialists were kept busy for weeks answering questions from the CEO, his staff, media personnel, friends, and curious strangers.
Looping back to Axis Crossing, the Alexander entered another wormhole for the journey to Kilmer. There, Rachner, Sherilyn, and their children were delivered planetside to the same stunned citizenry as those at Transit One.
When the ship transited from Kilmer’s system, Escher, Ceda, and Allie sought Cremsylon. He was on the bridge with Miranda, Z, Kelley, and other SADEs.
“The separation after so short a visit must be upsetting,” Kelley ventured.
“I think it was more traumatic for our parents than us,” Allie said. “They weren’t the ones hiding in the tunnels of Geneva’s domes.”
“Nor were they the ones kidnapping a couple to steal their cids and escape to Naiad,” Escher added.
“Where Escher promptly turned us in to the authorities,” Ceda said, chuckling. She nudged Escher’s arms to soften her tease.
Kelley’s initial comment was meant to test the trio’s commitment to their decision to remain aboard the Alexander.
“You approached us,” Z reminded the trio.
“What’s next?” Escher asked. “I mean after you deliver the officers, their prisoners, and the commander to Naiad. Speaking of which, we haven’t seen Commander McIntyre.”
“And you won’t for a little while,” Miranda replied.
When nothing more was said about Bethany, Escher shrugged it off.
“We’ll support the case against the X-Ore executives,” Cremsylon said. “The possible lengths of your judicial processes are unknown to us.”
“Then what?” Ceda asked.
“We perceive two goals,” Z explained. “Neither will be easily achieved. The influence of the sisters must be mitigated, and we must assist humans to realize their error in creating clones as slaves.”
Ceda breathed a sigh of relief. Her desire had been realized.
“We advise patience,” Kelley said. “These goals won’t be achieved soon.”
At evening meal, the trio had an opportunity to catch up with the mickies. Their extended table was the source of raucous laughter. The plans of Escher, Ceda, Allie, and the mickies had resulted in success. Now was a time to relax and bask in their achievements.
In the evening hours, humans retired to their cabins.
As the chronometer crept later, Escher and Ceda lay together in their bed. Neither of them was ready to sleep.
“What are you thinking?” Ceda asked Escher.
“I’m wondering how we fit into the SADEs’ efforts?” Escher replied. “In many ways, they’re so much more than us. I don’t see how we can help.”
“I’d say ask them,” Ceda replied. “They wouldn’t welcome us remaining aboard if they didn’t see value in us.”
Escher mumbled something unintelligible, which Ceda took to mean his assent. It often happened when she gave him an idea. His mind would shoot ahead, and he wouldn’t waste time with a cogent comment.
It was several minutes later when Escher asked, “What’s keeping you awake?”
Ceda slipped an elbow under her to face Escher. “Recently, I realized something ironic and ugly,” she said.
“What’s that?” Escher queried.
“Do you remember when the mickies said that with the cids from Racer and Paula we could ghost past the shuttleport sentinels?” Ceda asked.
“Yes,” Escher replied.
“During transport from Beta One to Geneva, the X-O agent who accompanied me operated every door and hatch. Passing the sentinels required agent’s company,” Ceda explained. “You possess a legitimate cid, meaning you can journey anywhere you wish. With Racer’s and Paula’s cids, we pretended to be gate ghosts. However, that opportunity doesn’t exist for clones. To the corporations, we’re simply ghosts and disposable ones at that.”
— Gate Ghosts will continue in Clone Crisis —
Glossary
Alexander SADEs
Cremsylon – Oldest of the SADEs
Emory – Son of a Crocian, a descendant of Bortoth of the Logar
Kelley – Son of Mickey Brandon, Omnian
Miranda – Protector, partner of Z
Nalia – Méridien SADE
Violet – Méridien SADE
Z – Protector, partner of Miranda
Beta One (X-Ore)
Adam Stynchula – Comtech head
Brent Bye – Accounting head
Connor Metcalf – CEO
Kristine Gholasky – Flight controller
Mathew Colbrum – Security commander
Melondy Phillips – Director of cloning
Nate Strasser – Director of operations
Ronan Nagle – Dome facilities head
Sookie Park – Personnel head
Beta Two (X-Ore)
Bethany McIntyre – X-Ore security commander
Elisabeth Flaum – Dome facilities head
Greer Niver – Broadcast host
Harlyn Blackwell – X-Ore head of research
Jeffrey Witcher – Engineering head
Knut Kielpinski – Veteran shuttle pilot
Lemil Boydston – Accounting head
Patty Bonnet – Comtech head
Peter Doell – Director of operations
Ricardo Broadus – Port flight controller
Saran Auernhammer – Personnel head
Dominance SADEs
Galena – Acting medical officer, Miriamal clone
Helena – Miriamal clone
Lena – Peña clone
Miriamal – Militarist leader, first-gen copy from Miriam
Peña – Pia Sabine lookalike, first-gen copy from Miriam
Theda – Terese Lechaux lookalike, first-gen copy from Miriam
Geneva (Raw Metals)
Allie Talons – Young woman, parents taken by corporate security, sister of Escher
Anthony Jenkins – Raw-Mets security commander
Ceda – Clone, Escher’s lover, later takes the citizen name of Ceda Geneva
Crystal Gaston – Director of operations
Dahlia Talons – Metal specialist, mother of Escher and Allie
Escher Talons – Young man, parents taken by corporate security, brother of Allie
Thorne – Acquaintance of Escher
Timor Talons – Exotic mineral specialist, father of Escher and Allie
Tori Famitis – Comtech consultant for Raw-Mets security
Valerie Gladstone – Engineering department head
Geneva Mickies (Miner Orphans)
Bibi – Gang member
Bot-boy – Computer geek and repairer
Ditz – Gang member
Doc – Teen who cares for the gang
Gat’r – Highly augmented, decorated his arm mods with scales
Jasper – Leader of gang
Lita – Number two in Jasper’s gang
Red – Gang member
Scrounger – Procurer and scout for the gang
Tammy – Gang member
Kilmer (Pure Pour)
Rachner Freiberg – Kidnapped specialist, partner to Sherilyn
Sherilyn Freiberg – Kidnapped specialist, partner to Rachner
Naiad (Home World)
Althea Hailey – Physicist who invented quantum-coupling of wormhole mouths
Ashley – Teen girl who assists Escher and Ceda
Claudia Hoffing – Naiad councilor
David Yewall – Presiding member of Naiad Council
Diana Breneman – Comtech director of operations
Edward Cullen – Inventor of the c-chip or cid
Francesco Basti – Agent at security headquarters
Francois Axis – CEO who invested in the Hailey’s concept of wormhole traveling
James Soisson – Naiad councilor
Johann Stegmeir – Captain at security headquarters
Kadie – Young clone in the nanny bay
Laura Marolakos – Naiad councilor
Paul van Dysen – Commandant of security headquarters
Ramiro Ferraro – Naiad councilor
Samuel – MN series virtual interrogator
Stacey Caballero – Lieutenant at security headquarters
Omnians
Alex Racine – Co-leader of the fleet
Cordelia – SADE, partner of Julien
Julien – SADE leader, partner of Cordelia
Miriam – Engineering SADE who produced the sisters
Pia Sabine – Medical officer, imitated by Peña
Renée de Guirnon – Co-leader of the fleet
Terese Lechaux – Fiery redhead, imitated by Theda
