The Lost Colony (Lost Starship Series Book 4) (18 page)

The two beings ran in silence after that, circling the hangar bay once.

“I am not sure where to begin, sir,” Galyan said.

“I have time.”

“That is kind of you.”

“What’s wrong?” Maddox asked.

A wistful note entered Galyan’s robotic voice. “When I was flesh and blood in the days my homeworld existed, I had a wonderful mate. She loved me and I loved her. We united our flesh, hoping for a large family. After several years, we learned that she could not bear children. Oh, she wanted offspring so badly. She began working in the crèches, teaching the youngest their first lessons. I tried to persuade her otherwise. Seeing the young every day tormented her but they also gave her joy.”

“That is sad,” Maddox said after Galyan had fallen silent.

“You must understand,” Galyan said, as if Maddox hadn’t commented, “that I came from one of the oldest lines of honor on the planet. I did not have any siblings. I was the last of a glorious line. But I would never pass on my genes to the future. It used to trouble me. Perhaps that is why I strove so hard. I believed that I would be the last of my line. Thus, I tried to be the noblest and the grandest.”

Galyan glanced at Maddox.

“Is it not strange, sir? I now am the last, but not in the manner that I envisioned it. I am the sole representative of an ancient and glorious race. I did not have to trouble myself about offspring, because no Adok would have them.”

Maddox did not know what to say.

“I miss my mate,” Galyan said, quietly.

“Yes,” Maddox said.

“I am having trouble equalizing these ideas. It helps to be part of a new family, sir. I am alone in the universe, and yet, I am part of a group. We aid each other, is that not so, sir?”

“It is,” Maddox said. “If it helps, I am glad to call you my friend and my brother.”

“We are brothers?”

Maddox glanced at the small Adok with his faint lines crisscrossing his “leathery” skin. Was it possible to feel loyalty to a computer-generated personality? The captain decided it was.

“Yes, Galyan, you and I are no longer alone. We are brothers who help each other. We have each other’s back.”

“That is an idiom, sir?”

“A human can’t watch his own back. He needs a friend to watch it for him.”

“I perceive the idiom. It is a good one. We have each other’s back. Thank you, Captain.”

“While I thank you, Driving Force Galyan.”

They ran in silence for a time.

“Sir, I believe you have something else on your mind.”

“Your probability analyzer has told you that?”

“Yes, sir,” Galyan said.

“You’re right. Tell me. Is the Ludendorff holoimage listening to us?”

“No, sir,” Galyan said.

“Has the Ludendorff holoimage practiced its invisibility trick while aboard the starship?”

“Constantly,” Galyan said. “I would have already informed you, but I thought you wanted to give the holoimage license to explore so I could catalog where it went, giving us that much more information about the Ludendorff image and engrams.”

“I take it you have cataloged its various investigations.”

“I have, sir. It has invisibly visited three hundred and nineteen locations to date. It is presently exploring the disruptor cannon chamber.”

“I see.”

“Do you wish me to inhibit its exploration?”

“You can do that?” Maddox asked.

“If we put the AI device in a sealed max chamber with an electromagnetic screen, yes.”

“Can we do that easily?”

“No, sir,” Galyan said. “I expect it would take Dana and me several days to set up such a place.”

Maddox ran faster as he considered that. A lap later, he asked, “Do you think the holoimage will be aware of what you’re doing while building this chamber?”

“I give that a ninety-nine percent probability,” Galyan said.

“Do you think the AI has a virus insertion ability as you practiced on the Greenland complex computer?”

“The AI box is shielded from me,” Galyan said. “I am unable to say regarding its ability to do this to me.”

“Where is the box now?” Maddox asked.

“It has remained in the submersible.”

Maddox glanced at the craft in the hangar bay. If the AI box had the computing ability to insert a virus into Galyan, would it have already done so? Maybe it wanted to lull the crew and lull Galyan first. The Ludendorff identity had acted secretly the entire time it had been on Earth. The captain reminded himself that the secretive behavior didn’t necessarily mean it had an ulterior motive.

“Galyan, you will jettison the submersible from the hangar bay as soon as I leave. Then, go into protective mode and shut down.”

“Sir?” Galyan asked.

“I think I may have inadvertently allowed a Trojan horse onto the starship. I will immediately turn you back on once we’re out of the AI box’s range. We must act with haste to forestall a takeover.”

“You will allow the device freedom at the edge of the Tau Ceti System?” Galyan asked.

“No, I have an idea concerning that. First, I want to make sure nothing can harm your AI core. This is an emergency, Galyan. We dare not let anything corrupt you, my brother.”

“Yes,” Galyan said, a moment later. “I trust you, and my probability analyzer gives me a ninety-four percent chance that you will turn me back on. Those are high odds.”

“I’d say so.” Maddox veered for an exit. “Are you ready?”

“I am.”

“Right,” Maddox said. “So am I.” He sprinted for an exit hatch.

-19-

“I should be the one to do this,” Dana said, two hours later.

The crew met in the briefing room around a large table.

A distant Tau Ceti escort had sent a query some time ago regarding their identity. So far, the captain had maintained comm silence.

“Why should you be the one to do this, love?” Keith asked the doctor.

“It should be obvious why,” Dana said. “Ludendorff and I had a deep relationship once. His fond memories of the time will help to protect me.”

Keith laughed. “I don’t think so. This is a computer, an advanced AI. It doesn’t have emotions.”

“Is that true, Galyan?” Dana asked. “Is it impossible for an AI to have emotions?”

“I have emotions,” Galyan said.

Dana gave Keith a studied I-told-you-so look.

“Galyan is different,” Keith said. “For one thing, he has a living creature’s engrams.”

“So does the Ludendorff AI,” Dana said.

“It claims to, you mean.”

“I fail to see the difference.”

Keith looked around the table. “It should be obvious. Galyan is huge. There’s space for advanced technology. And his engrams came from a dying Adok commander. Ludendorff’s engrams are just a copy.”

“How can you or a computer tell the difference?” Dana asked. “Engrams are engrams.”

Keith seemed ready to speak, but hesitated.

“I hope you’re not suggesting that Galyan’s
spirit
or
soul
entered the AI with his death,” Dana said in a mocking tone.

“Maybe I am,” Keith said, sounding defensive.

“That’s ridiculous,” Dana said. “Captain, I am the logical choice to speak to the Ludendorff…holoimage.”

Maddox wondered if that was true.

Two hours before, Galyan had used a tractor beam to shove the submersible and the Builder AI box out of the hangar bay into space. The Ludendorff holoimage had pleaded with him for a short while to return the box to the starship. Finally, the device had separated from them by ten thousand kilometers, which seemed to be out of its holographic projection range in space, which was different from its planetary-bound range. The holoimage had simply faded away. Could it still send comm signals, though?

Galyan had not sensed any, no hostile computer takeover attempts, either. Now, the crew discussed who should go in a shuttle to speak to the Ludendorff AI.

“Why would any of us go?” Valerie asked. “Establish a simple radio link. The Ludendorff AI can speak to us through that. If we’re worried about its ability to take over computers, why wouldn’t we be worried it could take over a shuttle? It could threaten to kill the occupant by opening all the hatches.”

“Ludendorff would never do that,” Dana said.

The others regarded the doctor.

“Nor would a Builder do such a thing,” the doctor said. “From my discoveries in the Mid-Atlantic, I believe they were entirely peaceful.”

“We’ll establish a link,” Maddox said. “How long will it take to set up?” he asked Valerie.

“Several hours, at most,” the lieutenant said.

“Speed is warranted,” Galyan said. “Several Star Watch vessels are headed in our direction, including the Patrol escort which first hailed us.”

“How long until they’re in firing range?” Maddox asked.

“Three days minimum,” Galyan said.

“I’d say that gives us a good safety margin,” the captain said. “Now, let’s get started.”

***

Nearly four hours later, the captain sat in his chair on the bridge. A flare of light on the main screen a little larger than a star showed the link maneuvering into position. It was halfway to the submersible.

Valerie touched her right ear implant. “Everything’s ready, sir,” she said.

“Open channels with the AI,” Maddox said.

Valerie made the needed adjustments before nodding to the captain.

“Hello, Professor Ludendorff,” Maddox said. “Can you hear me?”

“I do indeed,” the AI said. “These precautions are quite unnecessary and wasteful of our most precious commodity, time. The real professor could be dying as we sit on the edge of the Tau Ceti System bickering at a distance from each other.”

Valerie tapped her board, muting the comm. “Sir,” she said. “My readings indicate the submersible is online.”

“The AI switched on the sub’s interior systems?” Maddox asked.

“That’s the likeliest explanation,” the lieutenant said. “It proves the AI can infiltrate and override computer systems.”

“Not necessarily,” Maddox said. “The androids were onboard. Perhaps the AI reactivated them in some manner. They could have manually turned on certain interior systems.” He motioned to her board.

Valerie unmuted the comm.

“Therefore,” the Ludendorff AI was saying, “we should be traveling at maximum speed to the Xerxes System.”

Maddox waited several beats before he said, “There’s more at stake than just Professor Ludendorff. For instance, suppose you are a subtle attempt by Strand to lure the starship into a position where he can board and take us over?”

“Such is not the case, I assure you,” the AI said.

Maddox remembered the flitter ride from Shanghai to Geneva. He’d spent much of it wondering if he was an android. If Strand had sent the AI box, why would the Methuselah Man let the AI know it?

“I fail to understand your certainty,” Maddox said. “If you truly had Ludendorff’s engrams, you would see the possibility of enemy trickery through you.”

“Now, see here, my boy, such an idea offends me. I have the engrams of Ludendorff indeed. I know very well how I should react because that is exactly how I do. Now, I’ve had enough of this tomfoolery. I demand that you send out a shuttle and bring me back to
Victory
.”

“We will, Professor, after we’ve rigged a special chamber for you.”

Several seconds went by in silence.

“Professor, are you still listening?” Maddox asked.

“Is Dana there?” the AI asked.

Maddox motioned to Valerie. The lieutenant tapped her panel, waiting a moment and nodding to the captain.

“She’s online now, Professor,” Maddox said.

“Dana?” the AI asked.

“I’m here, Professor,” Dana said.

“I have always hated good-byes, but I’m afraid we’re going to be parted again, my dear.”

“What do you mean?” Dana asked in alarm.

“I cannot tolerate confinement.”

“You’re already in a Builder cube,” Maddox said. “How much more confined can you become?”

“You do not understand,” the AI said. “I have strict parameters. Do not forget what I have told you, my boy. The professor is holding on as best he can in the Nexus. This…excessive caution on your part is going to cost him his life. I cannot allow that and I cannot allow you to confine my…” The AI’s voice faded away.

Maddox turned to Valerie. “What happened? Did we lose the connection?”

Valerie tapped her board. “No. There’s nothing wrong with the link. He’s just pausing.”

“No,” Galyan said. “It is over. Observe.”

Maddox looked up at the main screen. A flash appeared. It was a point of brilliance. A moment later, it died down and was gone.

“What was that?” Maddox asked. “What did I just witness?”

Valerie initiated a scan.

“The submersible self-destructed,” Galyan announced. “Now we understand why the AI box had turned it on.”

“Lieutenant,” Maddox asked, “is that what your scan tells you?”

“I have just told you they are gone,” Galyan said. “But if you wish a living being to check on my accuracy, go ahead. I do not mind.”

“This has no bearing on our feeling toward you,” Maddox told the Adok holoimage.

“I have already said I do not mind,” Galyan said. “I do not. Go ahead. Scan the area, Valerie. Commit a redundant act and waste more time.”

Valerie gave Maddox a meaningful look.

“Do as I ordered, Lieutenant,” Maddox said. “I am not going to be held emotionally hostage by a computer system.”

“That is an unkind statement,” Galyan said. “I suggest that indicates you are under a great deal of stress.”

“I’ve completed the scan, sir,” Valerie said, looking up. “The submersible is gone. In its place is expanding debris and gas. I can no longer pinpoint the Builder AI box. It appears we’ve lost it, sir.”

“And we’ve lost the androids with it,” Maddox said. “Galyan, why did the AI self-destruct?”

“Now you desire my help? I find that interesting.”

Maddox glanced up at the ceiling. “Yes, I desire your help, as that will help to lower my stress levels.”

The holoimage regarded Maddox more closely. “I accept your regret, Captain. I realize you are not capable of giving a full-throated apology. Thus, you use self-deprecation, which is a thing you find repugnant, all in order to attempt a mollification with me. This I indeed accept, as it is the extent that you can give me.”

“You don’t forget a slight easily, do you, Galyan?” Keith asked from the piloting board.

“I remember longer than anyone I have met to date,” Galyan said.

“I would still like an analysis on the Ludendorff AI’s self-destruction,” Maddox said, drily.

“The reason appears elementary to me,” Galyan said. “I suspect it was enforced by a Builder code. The code abhorred capture and possible study for technical duplication. Therefore, the code forced the Ludendorff AI to commit self-destruction.”

“Yes, but why now?” asked Maddox. “That doesn’t make sense. The box wasn’t in any danger of confinement yet. It could have argued longer. That’s what the real Ludendorff would have done.”

“I have to agree,” Dana said from a comm-unit. “If it truly thought as Ludendorff, he would have waited until the last minute before destroying himself.”

“What does that suggest to you?” Maddox asked the doctor.

“One of two possibilities,” Dana said. “Either, the AI didn’t really have Ludendorff’s engrams…”

“Yes? Or?”

“Or it sensed an immediate danger,” Dana said, “one that involved capture.”

Maddox whirled around in his chair. “Valerie, do a hard scan. Galyan, I want you to do the same—”

“Captain,” the holoimage said. “I sense a missile heading toward us.”

“Where?” Maddox asked.

“It is three hundred thousand kilometers and closing at high speed,” Galyan said. “It is cloaked, using a superior cloaking device than Strand’s star cruiser used many months ago in the Solar System.”

“Why didn’t the Ludendorff AI warn us about it?” Valerie asked. “That can’t be the reason it self-destructed. There must be another danger.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Maddox said. “Lieutenant, get ready to use the star drive. We’re leaving the star system.”

“Yes, sir,” Valerie said, tapping her board. After a moment, she tapped harder.

“Is there a problem?” Maddox asked.

Valerie looked up as she paled. “Yes, sir,” she said. “The star drive is malfunctioning.”

“Galyan,” Maddox snapped, “how much longer until the cloaked missile is in explosion range?”

“It is too late,” the holoimage said. “The missile is detonating.”

“Give me full power to the shield!” Maddox shouted. As the captain spoke, a purple line appeared as if from nowhere. The line speared at light speed, reaching the starship’s shield, turning a small area a bright red that went to brown and then black. At that point, the remaining beam achieved a burn-through and stabbed the collapsium-armored hull.