Avenger Page 5

  “My brain scans show physical changes in the structure of my brain,” Lexi said. “We know the educator is doing that to me. How do we explain what it’s doing to you?”

  “We can’t,” Urania said. “I don’t have neurons. I think with moly-circs. If I was building more of them, we would have noticed by now. Frankly, if you want to take that to the logical conclusion, the changes we see in your head are just a side effect of what’s really going on. I don’t know what that is.”

  Chapter 9

  Mystery of the Wraixain Educator

  The Wraixain educator was an interesting asset. They wouldn’t have one at all unless Geena and Crane hadn’t picked up Urania at what was nearly a fire-sale auction. “At the time, we were relatively flush after a string of successful jobs,” Geena recalled. “Nothing huge, but still, we had a decent account balance for a change. We were faced with spending a fortune patching up our antiquated ship or finding a newer one. We scrimped for years because we knew we would have to do one or the other. Urania was an older ship herself, although not nearly as old as our rust bucket, but because of that she no longer fetched a premium price. Crane recognized her Vankovian origins which we found very enticing. Vankovia builds amazingly good ships.”

  “Yes, they do,” Urania agreed, humor apparent in her voice.

  “Xeas isn’t an Accord member world,” Geena continued as though she hadn’t been interrupted. “The venue where the bidding was held was out on the edge of nowhere. The auction catalog made no mention of an installed educator or of her Vankovian military origins. The trading firm was desperate to liquidate non-essential assets. For those reasons, we got an incredible deal. We were even able to sell our old ship for a small amount which at least covered transfer and registration fees. There was only one other bidder and the final price was certainly far less than the going price of an educator alone. Apparently, the auctioneers were unaware that one had been installed. A grade-A blunder on someone’s part.” She laughed. “It took us months to realize we had one. Urania was less chatty back then.” She paused, smiling at the cabin sensor. “Vankovia does build sturdy ships. Most of them don’t have a sense of humor, as far as I know.”

  It was thanks to her use of the educator that Lexi now had knowledge that would enable her, a post-graduate astrophysics student from Earth as recently as a few months ago, to re-engineer gravity fields. Due to an apparently unique affinity with the technology employed in the device, she easily learned in minutes what took hours, often followed by days and sometimes weeks of repeated use for others to absorb.

  Of course, it was at least forty-year-old knowledge. The rubrics hadn’t been updated since the time the educator was first installed. Not that technology evolved that quickly in the Accord. Still, newer rubrics just weren’t available. She hadn’t had time to look into why although she was determined to get to it in time. One of the more curious things about the device is that it is called a “Wraixain” educator. According to my partners, no one has encountered any of the Wraix in centuries. I wonder what became of them?

  The entire limited supply of the devices was rumored to have come from a discovery about seventy years ago of a single, millennia-old, abandoned outpost out beyond the borders of the Accord in a section of space predominated by lifeless, barren worlds. The scientists studying the installation and the devices, or so the rumor went, were hijacked and probably killed while on what should have been a triumphant return to civilization. No one really knew what became of the devices themselves or the scientists’ notes. The educator hardware and accompanying rubrics started showing up on the under-market about a decade later.

  “I don’t think I was built sentient,” Urania continued. “Nor was I fully sentient back when you guys bought me,” Urania replied. “But I do think that change was already starting.” She paused. “You all realize that no race we know of has the technology or the knowledge to build sentient AI. Certainly not the Vankovians.”

  “Go on about the changes, Urania,” Lexi requested. From the look on her face it was clear to the others that Lexi was tracing what little they knew of the educator circuitry and interfaces in her head.

  “You all now think of me as a person, as human as any of you. But, of course, nothing could be further from the truth. I have a specially designed subroutine for the voice interface. I think so much faster than any of you can that without that sub, voice communication is totally impractical. While I’m talking, I’m monitoring the fusion plant, life-support, the external sensors, and in short, every system on the ship. My cabin sensors are monitoring you guys to make sure you’re not dying on me. And I’m navigating us through hyperspace. I am not human.”

  She paused. “Here’s the thing none of us realized before. I get a backwash through the educator. Each time Lexi used it, I have been learning with her. I’m also getting other, random knowledge from her personally at the same time. Not much, but bits and pieces.”

  She chuckled. “Too much of it is about movies. It’s like it was with you, Lexi, that first morning when I ran the language rubric. We were conversing in Ritue without you realizing it. I didn’t know that I was absorbing data from the rubrics until you asked my opinion on taking this job. I realized that I was evaluating data that was neither in my programming nor my core data. Data that only existed in the rubrics themselves, which I am unable to access. I’m not sure, but I think some of what I know might be experiential.”

  She gave them a few seconds to absorb that. “Geena,” she continued, “have you ever known of another ship that you would think of as a person?”

  “Honestly, no,” Geena admitted, “but keep in mind that you’re only my second ship. It’s not really a legitimate question to ask any of us. Your command-comp was always far more advanced than what we had on the other one.”

  Lexi cut in, saying, “I guess I can stop working on figuring out how to run the rubrics for you. It almost sounds like the educator may not have been designed to educate organics. We don’t really know crap about the Wraixains, do we? We’re going to want to experiment and see if the same thing happens with Geena and Ron.”

  “Yes, we can do that,” Urania agreed, cautiously, “but we need the rubric to be something important. There’s always a small risk to their brains with each additional use, although we may also discover that the changes in me will make the educator less taxing for them. I hope so. Also, don’t forget I was obviously sentient by the time you came into our lives, Lexi. So the change had already started by that point and further experimentation might be pointless.”

  After a pause, she said, “What led up to me broaching this topic is that I tried to talk to the Borgol courier ship while you were with Da E’Kret at Universal. When I got no response, I hacked through its firewalls. It was surprisingly easy. I don’t think anyone has ever considered guarding against a sentient AI hacking in. Primarily because I now think I may be the only one. I’m not just an AI anymore. And believe me, my friends, my sentience evolved. I wasn’t built this way. Equally certainly, the courier’s command-comp is not; it is just a computer. That took me by surprise. I assumed all ships were like me. They’re not. I found that fact so interesting that I tried talking to some of the other docked ships. Guys, I seem to be unique. I wouldn’t want to go back to being just hardware, but someday I would like to know what I am.”

  She paused. “So, now, Lexi, want to play a game?”

  Lexi chuckled. “You’re right, Joshua, too much of the backwash is about movies. We haven’t watched that one since I’ve been on board. I guess we should watch War Games tonight so these two know what we’re talking about.”

  Chapter 10

  Jis Boc Seckan

  They arrived at Borgol a few hours less than six days behind E’Kret. Urania was a fast ship, but even she couldn’t match the speed of a fast courier that already had more than a day’s head start. The team met briefly with E’Kret via the communication panel after setting down at the capital city’s space port.

>   Despite it being the middle of his night, he answered their call within minutes. He apologized profusely for not meeting them in person, while mentioning wryly that it was the middle of the night. He reported no more was known than what they discussed on Cardin’s Paradise. He hesitated, before adding, “Another reason I can’t send a car to bring you here is that a friend of mine wants to meet with you before you leave. I couldn’t talk her out of it. She’s already on her way and should arrive at your ship any moment now. Call again if I can help with anything. Anything at all. Please bring my family home. I’ve become convinced hiring you was the right decision. Be safe.” With that, he cut the connection.

  Almost as soon as the connection dropped, Urania announced, “We have a young woman standing outside the hatch carrying what looks like a travel bag. She’s unarmed. The limousine that dropped her off drove away. Are we taking on passengers?” She displayed the woman’s image on the monitor. At which point, the figure looked directly into the scanner and waved. The woman was Jis Boc Seckan.

  Jis was short compared to Lexi and Geena. At five-nine and with a slender body, she barely exceeded one-hundred-twenty pounds. Her pale complexion, vibrant green eyes and platinum blonde hair lent her an almost wraith-like appearance. Lexi again had the thought that if she had pointy ears she could walk onto the set of any of the Lord of the Rings movies as an elf without having to spend any time in the make-up trailer.

  They all knew that she was destined to rule her home planet of Ackalon in the very near future if indeed that was not already the case. For the last decade, her wanted to retire. To properly transfer rule to his daughter, the ceremony required the Rose of Light, as it was popularly known other than on Ackalon, where it was more commonly called the Rose of Enlightenment or the Rose of Insight. The words were the same in their language. The jewel was missing for more than two decades before the Aeolus team recovered it a couple months ago.

  Jis left Ackalon for Borgol a week after Da E’Kret left her planet for Cardin. She reasoned that if those three remarkable people accepted Jadkim’s commission, their first stop would have to be Borgol, if only to verify that there was still a need for their services. What happened to the E’Krets was still unknown. Kidnapping was assumed, but no ransom demand was ever received. By now, the three could already be safe at home.

  Jis made her own plans regarding the rescue mission. Those plans required her to be an active participant in the rescue effort. Her father reluctantly granted his approval based on his own insights gained after prolonged meditation with the slowly healing Rose. She remained unsure as to whether or not Aeolus would approve of her and what she wanted to do. Precognition could be a pain in the ass.

  “Let her in, please, Urania,” Geena said. “I’ll go meet her.”

  After the two entered the control room and formal greetings had been exchanged, Lexi said, “I understand you pushed Da E’Kret into asking for us. May I ask why?” That earned her a warning glance from Geena, one this time, she chose to ignore.

  Jis shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that I pushed him. I will confess, however, to encouraging him.”

  She paused, eyeing Lexi warily. The woman’s tone hadn’t been challenging but her words could be taken that way. She sensed something she couldn’t quite define in addition to curiosity. “Since we last met, I’m sure you researched the Boc Seckan clan of Ackalon. The rumor that certain abilities run in my family is quite true. I don’t believe your researches could have uncovered that my own skills are stronger than my father’s despite the fact that I am not yet fully attuned to the Rose.”

  She took a seat in one of the chairs on the command bridge. The others remained standing. “I was a child at the time it was lost. A very young, three-year-old child. After you returned to Father, I spent most of the trip home from Cardin’s Paradise meditating with it, despite its damaged condition.” She giggled. “I actually slept with it under my pillow. Why do you suppose we use pillows in zero-gee? I’ve thought about it and there is simply no good reason I can come up with other than so we can put things under them.”

  “I doubt you came out here to philosophize about pillows,” Geena remarked, somewhat wryly. “What’s on your mind, Jis?”

  Jis shrugged, looking thoughtful, before continuing. “No. Of course not. I’m here for the sake of the victims. Unfortunately, although they are quite real, my abilities are not as beneficial as you might assume. The E’Krets are still alive. I know this. I also know beyond any doubt that Jadkim’s family will never be seen again unless this team, your team, rescues them. Believe me when I say that no one else has the combination of resourcefulness and luck that will be required. What I do not know is whether or not even you can rescue them. You see the paradox? You are their only hope, but you are not a sure thing. Not only are we running out of time, we could all die in the attempt.”

  “We?” Lexi repeated, surprised.

  Jis rose from the chair. “Of course, Lexi. That’s why I’m here. Philosophizing about pillows was not on my agenda. Let me confess that I can read you better than anyone else I’ve ever met. I can’t quite read your mind or hear your thoughts, telepathy is not one of an Ackalonian’s talents, but somehow we are attuned. It’s very strange. I can’t begin to explain the connection.”

  She took a step forward in order to look directly into Lexi’s eyes. “Precognition is one of my talents. You plan to masquerade as royalty from Earth, a Level-Two planet almost no one has ever heard of, in order to follow the steps taken by the E’Krets. It is a clever plan. However, think about how much better that plan will work if you dangle the true heir of Boc Seckan, Plicora of Ackalon, a planet everyone has heard of, as your bait. Assuming the bait is taken, well, then you simply rescue me along with the E’Krets.”

  She paused and her perpetual smile broadened, as she said, “Besides, look at the two of us. You don’t look nearly as much like you need Ron as your bodyguard as I do.” She winked. “Your boyfriend is incredibly attractive.”

  When she stepped back, Lexi winked back at her, and then as though Ron wasn’t standing four feet away, said, “He’s cute too.”

  Ron, ignoring that byplay, said, “Jis, as much as we appreciate your offer of assistance, we can’t accept. Putting you at risk is just not something we can allow.”

  Jis nodded, still smiling serenely. “I don’t want to enter into this arrangement under false pretenses. There are several reasons I want to do this. You do not have any idea what it is like to be the heir apparent of Boc Seckan. There is zero adventure in my life and no romance. Only duty. Eventually, I will bind with another and have his children. I may not have much choice, if any, in regards to my mate. I accept that. Even as Plicora, there are always political maneuverings to be considered. I would like to…” she trailed off.

  Geena, her voice kind and understanding, said for her, “You want to experience a little wildness before you become ruler of a planet.”

  “Yes, even a degree of danger,” Jis agreed. “I want to experience the life you people lead. That is part of it, but it goes beyond that. My father has a relationship with the E’Kret family that has existed since he and King Han were both young men. Borgol is the ally of Boc Seckan and Ackalon in every sense of the term. I can’t assume that the political advantage we get from that won’t lapse with Father’s death. Realistically, my father is very old. If, however, I am involved in the rescue of the E’Kret children I can anticipate that same relationship with the royal family of Borgol for the rest of my life. I would find that politically quite useful. Sometimes what we want to do coincides with what is right for us to do. That’s an old Ackalonian proverb. It’s used in children’s stories quite frequently.”

  She paused, noting the concern still on their faces. “Then there are the four of you.” She gave a brief, small laugh. “Yes, I know about you, Urania. I think you are doing the right thing keeping your ascension secret for now.” More seriously, she added, “I am honored and humbled that you are seriously listening
to me discuss joining your group, even if only for a short time.”

  Her gaze sharpened as it panned from Geena to Ron and to Lexi. “I have the sense that establishing a relationship with you may be more beneficial than any of us can imagine. I felt that when we first met on Cardin and the impression has only grown stronger since then. Father knows something about it too. After all he did make that enigmatic comment that you will be needed, but he refuses to discuss it, even with me. That’s very annoying, but there is nothing I can do about it.”

  Her perpetual smile brightened slightly. “The final reason I want to join your quest is you, Lexi. You are a living Rose and I desperately want to know you better. I can see it in you. It’s faint, but it is truly part of your essence. I want to know how that happened. It shouldn’t even be possible. It is ironic, isn’t it, that you have the Rose but no training whereas I have the training, but do not yet have the Rose. In theory, you could challenge me for the right to rule Ackalon. Oh, I know you won’t, yet because of this, you will always be my sister. Without you, I am an only child.”