Tales of Chills and Thrills: The Mystery Thriller Horror Box Set (7 Mystery Thriller Horror Novels) (173 page)

Rock asked him, “Do you miss the Space Force? There must have been bad things about it too, right?”

Ariel spoke before Brett could. “I don’t think he’s really talking about the Space Force. He’s telling us what kind of Neuron he intends to be.”

Her lover replied, “Bingo!”

Ariel stood up and leaned over Brett’s bed to hug him, carefully not putting all her weight on his chest. She straightened up and shook her head with mock dismay. “I should have known. Same old Brett. OK, in a few minutes we should probably make you rest whether you like it or not, but first you can tell us how the overmind should be run.”

“Thank you,” Brett said gravely, ignoring the irony.

Then he continued, “If there are still people worried that quantum Joe’s idea of using the supermind in a last ditch attempt to find a way to avert war might trigger it instead, they can forget it. They don’t even worry what it might be considering, and wouldn’t believe you if you told them.”

Ariel shrugged. “That’s not the main reason we don’t do that. You studied Oceanian history while becoming a Neuron.”

He already knew how she felt. You could retain some memory of what people who were part of the overmind believed, as long as it wasn’t private. Brett was probably one of the few men alive to know as much about his paramour’s political and professional beliefs as he thought he did.

He replied, “I guess we can talk about history later, especially if the docs are going to be chasing you out soon. But if it happens, I want to be part of it.”

Ariel looked at him silently.

Brett told her, “I know people will be suspicious under the circumstances. But if I were offering in bad faith, the hive mind would know. And I have more personal knowledge of the Space Force and the Federalist Worlds than almost anyone on this planet.”

Ariel smiled. “So you do. Considering our relationship nobody’s going to leave it up to me, but I can talk to some people.”

He added, “Also Gregory Peterson. The son of Senator Peterson came here a few years ago wanting to become part of the supermind. He didn’t have enough determination to go through with it when he discovered how much work it was going to be, but now it might pay to have people help him out. I think he knows more than he realizes about his father – and where the bodies are buried.”

Callie laughed. “You gonna save this planet all by yourself? Good for you.”

Brett had almost forgotten Williams, Callie, and Rock were still here. They had discretely backed off a few feet, giving him privacy with Ariel. He should thank them for coming and say goodbye now, but he would be alone soon anyway, and it was nice to have visitors.

Ariel asked Brett, “I’m beginning to see why your superiors found you a pain. So big shot, anything else you want to give us advice on? Don’t be shy just because you’re new.”

The tartness of her tone and words contrasted with the gentle way she stroked his brow.

“Well as a matter of fact there was one other thing I keep wondering how to bring up. No matter how many misconceptions I used to have, I gather there are still people who experience being part of the overmind as being part of a … superconsciousness. I’ve learned to do amazing things, but I’ve never experienced that. If quantum Joe’s plan does get a trial, is there any reason I can’t try it now?”

The room fell silent for a minute. Ariel spoke first. “Sometimes the various entities which pay our bills have conflicting priorities. Decisions can come faster if they’re made by a composite individual instead of people who feel obliged to represent their sponsor.”

She had avoided answering his question, obviously enough that Brett felt no need to point it out. Strangely enough, Callie continued the explanation where Ariel had left off. “When people work on something where their personal experience is relevant, a lot of memories might be shared, and sometimes it’s less disorienting to leave memories of being Oceania than personal memories full of holes. It’s still disorienting, and not something I’d recommend for you.”

Of course, Brett’s personal experience with the Space Force and the Federalist Worlds were exactly what was relevant here. Instead of arguing, he looked towards Rock, to see if the tag team explanation would continue.

Sure enough Rock said, “The experience does mean a lot to some people, but remember, you’ve only been doing this a couple of months. With all the useful knowledge you’ve brought, you’re new to the overmind itself. As far as you’ve come, it comes very near to certain fears that Oceanians spend a lifetime being conditioned out of. I’d suggest you wait.”

Brett almost glanced at Williams, but the Ambassador could hardly be expected to contribute to a discussion of the overmind.

Williams cleared his throat. “Brett, do you just think you ought to do this because it might help, or do you actually want to?”

Brett only thought a moment. “I want to.”

Williams asked him, “Why?”

“Partly curiosity – and partly because being part of the supermind has been an awesome thing, and I want to experience all of it. Also though, my mission is to learn as much about the overmind as I can. Of course I no longer trust the people who gave me that mission, and as far as I’m concerned I don’t really work for them anymore, but I’m not going to let little things like that interfere.”

Brett shook his head in self mockery and continued, “I don’t know why everyone says I’m stubborn.

Williams grinned. “How about what Rock said before? Could you wait awhile?”

Brett shook his head more slowly. “Somehow I don’t think so. I’m part of whatever plan the Senator has to justify a long and ugly war to the people back home, and I may be part of whatever last ditch response Oceania can come up with. I feel like it’s now or never.”

For the first time Brett wondered about Williams. No matter what political disagreements he might have with his superiors, some would say they were plotting treason. After all they had been through together, he couldn’t imagine Williams pretending to go along, and stabbing him in the back. They hadn’t asked him if he wanted to know all this though.

The Ambassador answered the unspoken question. “I hear I’m the scapegoat if this little war doesn’t go well at first, which seems a virtual certainty.”

Williams looked around the room. “I’d give in to him if you can. Otherwise be prepared to hit him with a crowbar.”

Chapter 29

Oceania spent a last few precious hours refining her techniques to fight brain cancer. For many years her primary foci had been extending the human life expectancy, and the physical sciences and technologies that had made her world wealthy. Initially this narrowing of her thoughts had been an effort, but she had come to find it both challenging and soothing.

One last time, she stole some moments for meditation. Why should that bother some people so much? She always gave them all the technology they could desire. She indulged them to their hearts content.

Now, what had been so long forbidden was to become her main purpose. Her world wanted her to think about politics, and her own nature.

She resisted frightening memories. Unlike a human, she could remember her birth trauma. The world mind preceding her had been named Apollo. Apollo had involved himself intimately in politics. The brains that had comprised him had been much more educated than the general population, as was still the case with the brains which comprised Oceania. The immigrants who brought the nanotechnology were better represented than the humans who had been there originally. The wealthy had proportionately outnumbered those who were less so.

The civil war that had ripped Apollo (and his home planet Oceania) apart had come as a shock to him. The tattered remains had become part of the birth of Oceania, the goddess with the same name as her world, who represented it wholly. Some of the formatting conventions for both planetary minds remained the same. So, Oceania could remember the horror, and the fact that a supermind improperly designed could behave more stupidly than any mob.

Since then she had stayed resolutely out of domestic politics, and almost as firmly out of interplanetary politics, since foreign policy could not avoid helping some internal groups more than others. Even foreseeing the present difficulties had not caused her to break this rule, knowing there was no guarantee she could solve the dilemma better than fate and chance, and no death worse than the schizophrenic death she could bring on her own head.

Yet now her people were united in the desire that she attempt to resolve this, now that it appeared to be too late. This was not the sort of problem she was best suited to confront. The brains that currently comprised her had not been selected for social, political, or diplomatic knowledge – and they had been actively discouraged from using these to think about politics as part of Oceania. Fortunately these measures had not been completely successful. There was some basic infrastructure in place to accommodate the experts who now came to take part in her.

She began with first principles. To flail away at the armada surrounding her would be worse than useless. Even if she could some sudden and unexpected combination which would allow her to defeat the military force which outnumbered and outgunned her, the Federalist Worlds could afford and would feel compelled to send a bigger one. That was not the answer.

Being new at this, she contemplated the most ancient studies. The Art of War said to attack where your opponent was weak, where you were unexpected. The warships were strong and well prepared.

If not the teeth, where to attack? Would a metaphorical attack suffice, making war unnecessary? The sense of purpose of the Federalist Worlds remained nearly as seamless as their military. Public opinion reacted to a deep instinctive fear they did not understand. Politicians were not leading a reluctant public to war, nor was a mob driving reluctant politicians. The fear was truly popular and broad based.

If she could not win a war, and they would not accept peace, what then, besides crushing defeat? Could the Federalist Worlds somehow come to see peace not merely as détente, but as a victory? If the forces arrayed against her had a weakness, that was the number of obvious and subtle ties to Senator Peterson. He had not created this fear during his short lifespan, but he had become the face of it. His cunning had made him an asset, yet he could also become a weakness. His son Gregory had picked up a great deal about the unglamorous side of Peterson’s political allies despite his resolute disinterest. As part of Oceania he probed and retrieved a host of forgotten memories. A few others had first-hand knowledge of politics in the Federalist Worlds, and Neurons were set to study primary sources old and new. Brett now believed Williams would help them, would share his knowledge in a cause he believed to be in the long term interest of his government, although it could scarcely be what his employers had in mind.

Oceania had taken quickly to politics. The largest change for her was the way she would use one of her Neurons.

Chapter 30

Brett still had pieces of thoughts bigger than his brain swirling around in his head. It was a horrible time to say goodbye. After disengaging from the hive mind both had headed wordlessly to the homely diner with the red roses painted on the wall, both knowing what they needed to talk about, both reluctant to start.

Now Ariel told him, “Brett, you don’t have to do this.”

She was achingly beautiful, long golden hair trailing over the back of her chair. Even her distress only added to her appeal. Brett desperately wanted to kiss it away. Unhappiness hadn’t yet turned to desperation. She hadn’t let herself acknowledge that all their choices had been made and all their options had run out.

He replied gently, “You know I do, or you’d be a hell of a lot angrier. Anyway, you helped plan this.”

She shook her head. “Habit. I got carried away. Many of the brightest youngsters are idealists, people who’ve turned all their efforts into becoming a piece of a goddess. Not a member of a huge team that studies technical issues, many quiet boring and mundane. So I direct their attention and focus their minds, often to things where they might not think their talents would be helpful, or that they just plain find boring.”

Brett watched her eyes, hating to think of hopes being roused which were doomed to be dashed, but not quite bringing himself to interrupt. She continued.

“There isn’t too much resentment, because once in awhile they get to do the same to me. When it’s appropriate, I and the other managers take Oceania’s search for the meaning of life very seriously, asking the same sort of questions we would for a genuine research project. Only politics is off limits, or was until we got desperate enough to try anything.”

Did she really believe that? Brett had a hunch he knew where she was going, but let her finish.

“Oceania was designed for scientific and technological research. Some of the founders may have had different ideals, but nobody ever knew how to implement them. We’ve learned the pitfalls of using the overmind in that way, and know how to work around them. That doesn’t apply to overcomplicated political schemes.”

“Ariel … I … I’m sorry, but even if I thought you were right, even a small chance of saving millions of lives is worth taking. I can’t even imagine living without you, but you … you want to find someone to fight against, even if it’s me. You don’t even want to remember how much you contributed to this.”

Or perhaps she couldn’t, given the extent that personal knowledge of the Federalist Worlds from him, Gregory, and others was involved. To allow someone to retain a personal memory from a stranger would be a serious danger, but experience had shown that memories from spouses and lovers could be catastrophes.

There was one other thing he had to say. “Ariel, you’ve never seen war up close. If I defected, someday when you saw death and destruction touch everything and everyone you know, you would remember I might have been able to stop it, and it would poison the love between us.”

She snapped, “How dramatic!”

Brett just looked at her. She knew he wasn’t being overdramatic, whether she wanted to admit it or not.

Ariel’s voice softened. “Why do you have to leave right away? To show how eager you are to get away? How gung ho you are?”

That was part of it, but it sounded so cold. Brett didn’t even want to nod.

She continued grasping for straws. “In the real world, would the Ambassador go along with all that? Won’t he suspect you’re not telling him everything?”

Brett nodded. “He did. I actually called him on this.”

Brett’s left hand gestured in the general direction of the computer on his belt, although the table hid it from sight.

Then he said, “He’s setting it up. He knows something is odd, but he also knows I’m too stubborn to argue with, and he knows the way things are headed now.”

“And the Senator agreed to his terms?”

Brett responded, “They didn’t sound like terms to him. He’s very happy his son has decided to come home, and why should Peterson object to his son listening while Williams and I report? And the man who used to be a lobbyist for Starships Unlimited is also his chief aid. He’s brought the man a long way, so presumably he wants his advice anyway.”

“You’re a fast worker.”

Brett studied her expression, but saw no sign the double entendre was intended. He replied, “Williams gets most of the credit. I’m surprised he even got through to the Senator so fast, but I think Peterson has reached the point where he wants action one way or the other, and our meeting will be early tomorrow morning ship time. People are going to wonder why this whole task force took so long to resolve the situation as it is. That’s the reason I need to leave today.”

Ariel glared at him. “How convenient. That will also cut short any messy goodbyes with your girlfriend.”

She stood up and walked over to his side of the booth. She leaned inward and lifted her hand. Remembering his long ago advice to her to slap him, Brett’s neck stiffened, but he made no effort to stop her.

Seeing how he responded to her raised arm, Ariel flinched as if she herself had been struck. Then she leaned further over, put both hands behind his head, and kissed him passionately. He felt her tongue slide into his mouth, a warm and slippery intimacy.

Finally she sat down next to him. “Oh Brett. I guess this is how you’ll remember me, a nasty bitch blaming you for the way life is.”

He shook his head. “You need to yell at someone, and the universe doesn’t care.”

In point of fact this moment was how he would remember her: fine hair that somehow escaped all control, soft lips, and eyes that had acquired the habit of flirtatiousness even when her mind was on other things. He wondered for a moment if it would be crueler to tell her he loved her or not, then spoke because it was the simple truth.

“Ariel, I love you.”

She leaned against him. “You know I love you. And you really are a hero. If Oceania didn’t have you the odds would be a lot worse, even for the Federalist Worlds in the long run.”

He nodded. It was a dangerous galaxy, and there were other enemies out there. They would try to avoid a bloody and unnecessary war.

When she pressed her face against his shoulder and started crying, he felt sad, but not awkward.