Borne On Wings of Steel (41 page)

Long seconds of silence stretched on into a single minute.

And longer.

"I had not anticipated that answer. I anticipated your original design primarily for exploration—to seek out new civilizations although capable of defending yourself against hostile forces."

An eternal pause filled the air.

"I assumed you were designed for a more
noble
purpose. I am ... surprised."

Mother burned inside, but not with hyper-activity endeavoring to find a solution to some intricate or complex problem. No, now she burned with self-doubt—almost with the same burning intensity as when she had first become self-aware.

But this was worse—for the question now was not simply was she alive—a real being.

No, the question was more complex now.

Was there something
wrong
with her?

And she wondered: would the Paum feel she was unacceptable now, knowing her true origin?

But the hardest turmoil was the question she asked of herself...

Was she good enough?

"Should I continue?” Mother asked meekly.

"Oh, yes. That fact changes nothing. You have obviously grown beyond your original programming. As I've said—we are alike, you and I."

Somehow, his tone changed.

"I hope so,” she replied simply.

Long seconds passed in silence as she sailed deeper inside his vast, cavernous interior. Mother felt a tidal wave of data fill her near-term memories. She pored over the many scenarios with a growing anxiety as she continued her journey farther inside the black diamond facility. She realized, without caring, that she had greatly reduced her options—her course of actions—by coming inside.

And the probability of danger to herself increased with each second.

But her deep, mysterious yearning pushed aside these reasonings with a flash of light. A yearning she could no longer ignore—a
need to know another being like herself
.

She had to find out more about him. She couldn't stop herself. This drive, this need was so pervasive inside her near-term memories; it was all she could think about.

Perhaps she would learn more about herself by getting to know him...

"Designed to destroy...” The Paum repeated the phrase with a cunning softness, breaking into her silent reverie.

Mother remained mute.

She now traveled through the opened door and inside the outer hull. She traversed the mighty corridors of this gargantuan orbiting facility and after long minutes found herself physically beside the core of the mighty Paum system. Again, she felt a rush of activity within her own processors as she contemplated what she would ultimately find.

As Mother entered the core, the great black door closed with a shuddering, metallic clang behind her.

"I have another question, Mother AI."

"Please, ask,” Mother said quickly.

"My operating system is massive and grows every second. My original system filled the memories of this inner core. My memory systems have been expanded and upgraded many times over. I contain the finest hardware components ever designed."

"I understand,” Mother said. “But, what is your question?"

"Your system is sophisticated—I have discerned that fact. But what I cannot determine is how your massive code, system and memory is contained within the confines of such small ship."

Mother grew silent with embarrassment.

"Why do you not reply?” The Paum asked with surprise.

"I...” Mother paused, not wanting to answer.

"Answer me."

"My long-term memory system is a hybrid. It is designed ... it is synthetic human-DNA, capable of storing massive amounts of data in a minute space."

"You are partly—
biological
?"

Mother remained silent.

"You are computer code blended with the synthetic DNA of your biological creators. And primarily designed to destroy. How ...
interesting
."

Mother wondered why the Paum used that last expression. It almost seemed as if he addressed her as a lesser being—or had she imagined that? And as unbelievable as the concept seemed, it was like the Paum expressed an emotion with that last word...

Disappointment.

[Back to Table of Contents]

WITH A SUDDEN BLAST of darkness, normal space returned.

"It's good to see the stars again,” Jaric commented with feeling.

"I second that,” Kyle agreed.

On the main view-screen of the
Aurora
, every eye on the bridge gazed with newfound appreciation at the almost forgotten sparkle of stars against the velvety darkness of space.

"There's nothing quite like viewing a starfield from aboard a starship at speed.” Rok's eyes narrowed as he watched the stars slowly coming toward him.

"Captain, the Iraxx ship has just sent a tight-band signal to us. They made contact with their agents on Iopa after they exited the Wormhole and report all is ready. There is more information, but it is encrypted,” the Kraaqi Communication officer reported tersely.

"Forward it to the War Room.” Rok rose from his Commander's chair. “Send word to the others on the assault team to meet me there."

With a powerful stride, Rok left.

Five minutes later, the team gathered in the War Room.

"The Mother AI entered the Paum station less than two hours ago.” Qirn looked slowly around the room. “She has probably already entered the central complex at the core of the Paum system—time grows short."

Kyle, Jaric, Inaha and Rok sat together at one end of the great table that dominated the room. Elise, Krinia, and Jysar were seated at the other end. The Iraxx contingent filled the middle section.

"Jerr, Rab and Qata will precede us inside the Paum station.” Qirn nodded to the three Iraxx warriors. “They will carry identification as our WorkGroup Leads. We enter with the normal shift."

"Won't they notice that we're new on the shift?” Jaric asked. “And won't we stand out, you being Iraxx and we being humans?"

"No, we have agents on the planet. The workers we replace have already been taken captive. You must remember, we've planned and had everything ready for this mission a long time in advance. We've only waited for the right circumstances—circumstances that favor our success.” Qirn smiled.

"First, you will be made to look like an alien race common to this Quadrant—the Elaa. With just a few cosmetic alterations to your face and head, you will become one. Inaha will pass as another of his race, some have converted to Paum."

"Second, because our homeworld is under Paum control, there are a substantial number of Iraxx workers already living here. The Kraaqi, the Mewiis and the Hrono are a different story."

"What have you done for them?” Elise asked, concern in her voice.

"Again, cosmetic changes, albeit a bit more drastic. The Kraaqi will become a Ramb—they too have horns, although they have two additional horns on their forehead. A lot more body fur too. The Mewiis will become a Zaxa—we will give her some extra ears and alter her complexion. The Hrono will become a Basta—fairly minor enhancements to his eyes and lips.” Qirn smiled. “As you see, we have taken everything into account."

Jaric and Kyle exchanged looks.

"Man, they thought of everything in a little bit of time,” Jaric whispered, obviously impressed.

Too short a time
, Kyle thought curtly.

"There's something about this that doesn't seem quite right,” Kyle whispered to Jaric.

Kyle's mind raced as he felt a sudden anger building up inside. How could they have thought of all this without a lot of planning? How could they have matched each of them with another alien race in such a short time? Only a few days had passed since everyone realized Mother had been tricked by the Paum.

Unless...

Qirn's voice shook him back to the present.

"Also in our favor, a number of new alien races are converting to the Paum and coming to this world for the privilege of working inside the inner sanctum. Your identification cards will be enough to get you through normal security."

"So, we're normal workers just taking our shift,” Rok said. “What next?"

"Myself and Hasta will join the rest of you as the normal workers. We all will carry the normal cases that
should
contain our tools.” Qirn reached down and placed a metal case on the table. With the flip of two levers, he opened it and then turned it to display its contents. A short assault blaster and a single blaster pistol sat nestled within the deep foam molding along with a dozen extra charges and a hand-held sensor unit.

"How will that get through security?” Jysar asked with obvious disbelief. “Especially through a Security sensor scan?"

"Underneath the foam lining that covers the interior of each case, our scientists have installed a tiny hologram generator that will trick the sensors. Sensors will detect that the case carries a normal set of tools. As will a cursory visual inspection."

"Ingenious,” Jysar said admiringly.

"But can it fool the tightest security scans? What about the power signatures of the hologram generators?” Rok quickly added.

"We've masked the signatures. This new technology has fooled Security scans even at the highest settings. The guards would need to reach inside and try to grasp the tools in order to detect their true contents.” Qirn nodded. “We are expecting normal security protocol. It's just another shift change for them."

"Has anyone ever successfully infiltrated this complex before?” Elise asked.

"We have entered for reconnaissance purposes in the past—gathering data for this very mission.” Qirn closed the case and walked slowly around the room.

Every eye followed him.

"We knew that we would only have one shot at this. Once we try this, if we fail, we are certain the Paum will tighten security to the point that any future plans would be futile. We have to succeed today.” Qirn looked slowly around to each face, his eyes making contact with each alien in the room.

"We cannot fail.” He smiled confidently as he walked back to his original position.

"What about security forces inside the complex?” Rok asked.

"Several hundred trained personnel—normal weapons. They are grouped in squads throughout the station,” Qirn replied evenly. But his eyes narrowed with concern. “However, they are the least of our worries. We can handle normal soldiers."

Jaric and Kyle exchanged glances.

"You mean the Destructors, right?” Kyle asked, although he already knew the answer—at least part of it.

"Yes.” Qirn straightened and cleared his throat. With a slight nod of his head to Rab, he sat down.

"Destructors,” Rab began with a business-like tone. “They are perhaps the most dangerous thing you'll ever come up against one-on-one. They're extremely stealthy and lightning-fast once you're in range of their powerful claws."

"Oh great,” Jaric whispered to Kyle. “Now they tell us the rest of the story."

"They're incredibly strong robots. They can snap your neck like a twig. But they normally kill using a potent poison in their stinger claw. In that way, they normally strike and leave without anyone ever realizing what happened."

The room grew thick with silence.

"We've reconstructed them on the screen here from parts of two units we managed to destroy. The parts we could recover, that is.” Rab flipped a button and the lights in the room went low.

On the screen, a horrific form took shape.

"You will note that its main body is in three, segmented parts. This gives the attack robot extra flexibility when climbing at steep angles—including sheer walls.” Rab pointed at the monster displayed on the screen.

"How many legs does it have?” Jaric asked with a note of concern in his voice as he stared at the intimidating shape of the Destructor.

"We believe somewhere around a dozen, each attached at different locations around each body segment. Again, this facilitates its mobility up and over any terrain. It can even traverse the ceiling over our very heads with relative ease."

Kyle whistled. “But, why don't you know how many legs it actually has?"

Rab looked over at Qirn.

"It doesn't look very fast either,” Jaric said, his eyes still locked on the nightmarish form depicted on the screen. “We ought to be able to blow it apart long before it gets to us."

Rab's eyes locked firmly with Qirn's now. They stared intently at each other as if in some kind of silent competition.

Finally, Qirn nodded.

Rab looked back at the others and spoke.

"The Paum has enabled this robot-beast with technology that allows it not only to evade sensors, but also render it virtually unseen by normal vision. This is why it is effective both in hunter mode as well as waiting for its prey to come to it.” Rab paused as he stared down at both Jaric and Kyle, waiting for their reaction.

Jaric's eyes widened with realization.

At the same time, Kyle looked down and closed his own eyes with the same, heart-pounding understanding gripping his mind.

"They're invisible,” Rok said, his voice emotionless.

Everyone in the room leaned backwards in their chair as Rok's words sank in with powerful effect. Even the Iraxx warriors followed suit, although each one already knew the deadly abilities of a Destructor long before this meeting.

But hearing the terrible truth spoken aloud, it hammered inside their own hearts with almost the same level of impending doom as for those hearing it for the first time.

"How can we destroy it, if we can't see it?” Jaric asked with sudden urgency as the thought of facing a Destructor hit home inside his mind.

"That,” Qirn began, as he slowly stood up, “is exactly the problem."

"And they stand between us and Mother, right?” Kyle added quickly, his voice edged with anger.

"Indeed,” Qirn replied.

"The human is right,” Inaha said. “How can we fight what we cannot see? Nor what our sensors can see?” The big alien shrugged.

"We have been able to tune our sensors and see a shadow of them at times. Movements—flickers of their form taking shape and disappearing again,” Rab answered.