Unwilling From Earth Page 45

  “You mean about how you get when you’re not in action? Yes. You were suffering a bit from that the first time we met, in the Chequers, if you remember.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  Mark smiled. “Not a problem. Why did you want to talk to me Simon?”

  “A big change about to happen, and I’m not sure how I’ll be able to deal with it.”

  “What do you mean Simon.” Mark asked with concern.

  “Sally is going to stand back from the day to day running of the army and she plans to go travelling with you. I need to stay on active service. The problem is, I have been with Sally ever since she started her military career and I’ve always been by her side. I’ve only been away from her for a few days at a time since then, and that’s quite a long time we’ve been together.”

  “I know you are very devoted to her, and she is to you too. I’m not sure what the answer is Simon. Would you rather Sally didn’t come with me?”

  “No! No, not that. Sally is very fond of you. I’ve not known her like this before. I mean, she’s had relationships before, but she seems different about you. Maybe it’s because she was pre-emergent too.”

  “What?” Exclaimed Mark. “Sally was pre-emergent?”

  “Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. Look, forget what I said. Don’t ever mention it to Sally. She’ll tell you about it when she is ready.”

  Simon looked down at the ground and cupped his hands over his face and sighed. “I don’t know what to do Mark.”

  Mark sat back on the mound and thought for a minute. “Any ideas Kate?” He asked his AI.

  “Yes. Give Simon a code to access you via the People’s subspace communications so he can contact you anytime, anywhere. Tell him he can visit you any time he wants. When you’ve got your own craft, you can come and get him whenever you like, it will be easy enough for you. You could offer to come to his assistance if he needs it too. Sally looks after him just as much as he looks after her.”

  “Brilliant!” Mark said out loud.

  “What? What’s brilliant?” Simon asked.

  “Er, I’ve just had a brilliant idea.”

  “You have? Really? I wasn’t expecting one from you.”

  “Why does everyone overestimate my military abilities but vastly underestimate my intellectual abilities?”

  “Probably because you’re a natural warrior and always had pretty stupid ideas.”

  “What stupid ideas! Name one!” Mark demanded.

  “Well, how about the less than stellar plan you had for defusing the fusion bomb on Gnn’Ath?”

  “OK, I’ll give you that one, but name another!”

  “Your plan to go after Tk'ng Dach Rrn by yourself because there was nothing he could do to hurt you? I know you succeeded heroically and I respect and admire you for what you did. I’m not kidding about you being heroic. You could have crapped out when things went wrong, but you didn’t. But instead of being invulnerable, you came out with a shrapnel hole in your back, your chest and arm gaping open, your knee chopped open and unusable and a hole right through your chest with a collapsed lung. If you’re AI hadn’t been able to cut off your pain receptors and pathways and flooded you with endorphins, you would have gone into shock and Tk'ng Dach Rrn would have cut you into small pieces. Now tell me that was a good idea.”

  Mark sighed. “OK. You have a point. But you’ll like this idea, I think.”

  “Try me.”

  “I’ll give you a code that will let you contact me instantly, wherever I am, through the People’s subspace communications network. Anytime you want to visit, tell me and I’ll come and get you. You can stay with us for as long or as short as you like. How does that sound?”

  “Mmm. I can’t see anything wrong with it yet. I’ll have to think about it.”

  “Not only that, If you find yourself in a tight spot, let me know and we’ll come and stand by you. I’m not sure if we’ll be any help or not.” Mark said with a grin.

  “You’re bloody good in battle, and I know I can rely on Sally when our back is against the wall. Even Mike is pretty good to have by your side in a fight. You’ll find that out soon enough because I’ll bet she’ll get you into enough of them.” Simon said grinning.

  “Just remember it will take a little while to get Sally and Mike into armour and weaponed up, and to get them to exactly where you are. If you are really in the shit and can’t wait, tell me, I can be there in seconds.”

  “In seconds? How?”

  “I can’t tell you. But I’ll be there.”

  “More People’s secrets?” Simon asked.

  “Yeah, I keep finding out about more of them. I’ll soon have to think about whether I can tell anyone my name.” Mark grinned. “How do you feel about the idea?”

  “Yeah, sounds pretty good. I think I can live with that. Thanks Mark. I’ve got to report to Sally, then I’m on the next lander to leave. If I don’t see you again before you leave, I’ll be in touch.”

  Simon stood up, gave Mark a grin and a sloppy salute and blinked out.

  “Thanks for that Kate.” Mark said to his AI.

  “It’s what I’m here for Mark. And you did well to take the credit for it, we are a team. More than that, I am part of you now. In your terminology, an optional extra. Although in your case, there was no option.”

  “I’m beginning to wonder what I’d do without you.” Mark told it. “Right, now to see Alan about a ship.” Mark blinked out.

  About The Craft

  Mark blinked into the command centre. Alan was there as usual.

  “Don’t you ever sleep?” Mark asked him.

  “It’s complicated.” Alan replied.

  “Come on Alan, you said you wouldn’t use that anymore.”

  “You’re right. Let me explain. We need less sleep than you do, and we can sleep just one side of our brain at a time. We don’t have full cognitive capability when we are in this demi sleep state, but it is more than adequate for most tasks. We can keep going for about thirty of our sleep cycles doing that, which is about thirty-seven Earth days, but then we have to have proper sleep. When we sleep, we sleep more deeply than you do.”

  “Oh, right. It wasn’t complicated.”

  “Was that all you wanted me for?” Alan asked.

  “No. Alan, I am ready for my own ship - I mean craft. How do I get one?”

  “Until you are fully integrated into the People, you ask me.”

  “OK, Alan, can I have a craft please?”

  “You’ll be accompanied by Mike?”

  “Yes, and later on by Sally.”

  “Do you have any particular specification in mind?”

  “Er, yes. I’d like it twenty-five kilometres across and two kilometres high. Is Mother a standard specification?”

  “It was when I got it, I have modified it since then.”

  “Really? How have you changed it?” Asked Mark, intrigued to find out how much Alan had customised Mother to suit him and his personality.

  “For one thing, I added what you call the transport cabin. One of my indulgences.”

  “What else?”

  “I changed the colour of the table top over there.” Alan said, gesturing towards the oval table at the side of the command centre.

  “Anything else?” Mark asked.

  “There are all the modifications to accommodate Sally’s army, but they will all revert back to default status when they leave.”

  “So in however million years you’ve had Mother..”

  “Five and a half billion, as you measure time.” Alan interrupted.

  “And you’ve added a toy train and changed the colour of a table top?”

  “It is not a toy train, it’s a personal transport system.”

  “Call it what you like, it’s a toy train.” Mark looked around at the grey walls, grey floor, grey ceiling, grey chairs and consoles. “Hmm. Despite being billions of years more advanced technologically from all the other civilisations, you seem to have fall
en behind a bit on the interior decorating and design front. So, if I were to get my own craft, it would be pretty much the same as Mother.”

  “Yes. Did you want it to be any different?”

  “No, the same is just fine. OK, that’s it then. How soon can I have one?”

  “I will ask to have your craft to be added to the production schedule straight away. It is a non-standard size so you will have to wait for it, but it won’t be long.”

  “You’ll order it now? That’s great! Thanks Alan, I thought you might say I wasn’t ready again. Do I need training? Do I have to pass a test? Do I have to have learner plates on it? Can I name it whatever I like? Do we have a launch party? What about insurance?” Mark had a huge grin.

  “Calm down Mark. It’s only a craft.”

  ”Yes but does anyone else in the universe have a craft as advanced as a Peoples craft?”

  “No, of course not.” Alan answered.

  “So it’s only the most advanced starcraft in the universe. Correct?”

  “Yes, I hadn’t looked at it like that. To answer the only sensible question you have asked, you don’t need any training because you won’t be piloting it.”

  “What! You mean I’ve got to have one of the People driving me around?” Mark said, looking somewhat crestfallen.

  Alan clicked and nodded. “No Mark, you won’t be piloting it, the Navigation AI will take you where you want to go. You tell your AI and let it negotiate with the Navigation AI and the main AI to get you to your destination. And you can call it what you like. We don’t name our craft, except for Mother and you named it that. Your craft’s main AI will do its best to keep you out of trouble. What do you plan to do while your craft is assembled and prepared?”

  “I thought I would kick around on Mother until it’s ready. I know you don’t measure time like we do, but you have a way of measuring elapsed time for specific things. How long will it be before it’s ready?”

  “Not long. In your terms, three hundred and thirty-two years. You could come with me to Chookli’ch on my next assignment. You wanted to assist me and it will help pass the time.”

  Mark looked around for a chair to sit on. There wasn’t one close to hand, so he sat on the floor. “Three hundred and thirty-two years? Are you kidding me?”

  “Mark, why do you look so sad? You were very happy a moment ago?”

  “Three hundred and thirty-two years.”

  “Yes, that’s correct. Is it a problem?”

  “Well, I was hoping to get one a bit quicker than that. Three hundred and thirty-two years is nearly ten times longer than I have lived.”

  “Is it really? I thought you were older than that. Mid-forties I would have said. But never mind about that. We can easily make you look younger and you won’t age, so looking at things in the wider perspective, three hundred and thirty-two years is just a passing moment compared to the lifespan you can expect now.”

  “That will be great when I look back in the deep and distant future, but - three hundred and thirty-two years!”

  “There’s no need to keep repeating it. We both know how long it will take. If you are in a hurry, you could always compromise and have a standard size craft.”

  “Really?” Mark said without enthusiasm. “What is the size of a standard craft?” He had been looking forward to getting a huge starship of his own.

  “The nearest standard sized craft has a diameter of twenty-eight point six kilometres, so it’s not what you want.”

  “And how long would one of those take? Three hundred and ten years?”

  “We could go and get one now, but I need to be on hand here, there is still a lot of traffic between Mother and the ground, but if you are prepared to sacrifice having the dimensions that you specified, Shen Ghan Prab Khor is available to bring one here in three hours. Would that timescale be acceptable?”

  “Three hours? Yes! I mean, that would be fine.” Mark said, barely able to suppress his excitement. “Who is Shan Gan Pran Kan?”

  “Shen Ghan Prab Khor is one of the People. He is an acquaintance who used to be an Archivist, but he never really took to it. He has been at the craft construction facility for quite a long time now. Make sure your AI recalls his name better than you have. You can set an alias. It is considered very disrespectful to mispronounce a person's name amongst the People.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean any offence. I’ll do that.” Mark said.

  Mark addressed his AI. “Kate, did you get that, I’ll call him Sean the shipbuilder. Or just Sean, OK?”

  “I think I can manage that Mark.” His AI replied.

  “You look very happy again, even though you aren’t getting the craft you wanted. I am sorry that we can’t accommodate your requirements within a timescale that is acceptable.”

  “No, that’s fine Alan.” Mark said, grinning. “I should have asked if there were standard sizes, I guess with the number of People there are in the universe, you must mass produce them to meet demand.”

  “Most of the People live in the Habitats, so they don’t need their own craft. If they need to travel, they will find someone who has a craft to take them.”

  Mark’s AI spoke to him. “Don’t forget the AI personalities we rescued from Tk'ng Dach Rrn’s fortress.”

  “Alan, there’s something that I almost forgot. We rescued the personalities from the AI’s in Tk'ng Dach Rrn’s fortress. They released me when Tk'ng Dach Rrn was about to start cutting me up and helped me to find him when he ran away. Can I have some of the AI’s on my craft delivered without personalities so that we can load them when I take possession of it?” Mark asked.

  “By we, I presume you mean your AI?”

  “Yes.” Answered Mark. “It’s supposed to be part of me now isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is. You seem to have bonded with it on an emotional level remarkably quickly as you were so adamant you didn’t want an AI. Considering they are machines, AI’s are remarkably sentimental.”

  “That’s not a bad thing, is it?” Mark asked.

  “If the People thought so we would have removed it from them by now. Yes, of course we can arrange that. Tell your AI to arrange it with Mother’s main AI. The personalities can be transmitted to the craft building facility and loaded there before Sean brings it here.”

  “That’s it then. I’m going to let Mike and Sally know. Is there any handover procedure, log book, service schedule, owners manual, anything like that?”

  “No Mark. Leave all of that to the AI’s. Remember that the AI’s are all very intelligent, self-aware entities whose job is to keep your craft in optimal condition. If it helps relate to your own civilisation, it is like having a large crew of intelligent and highly trained people who are completely dedicated to their jobs and unswervingly loyal to you. Your first officer, the main AI, runs the craft with all the crew reporting to them. You are the captain and when you want something or you want to go somewhere you tell your AI, who is your personal assistant, and your AI arranges with the main AI to make it happen. Once you get on board, your AI will arrange for the main AI to bond to you and then it’s all yours to do with as you will.”

  “So I’ll have all the weapons that Mother has?”

  “Your craft will have them, but the weaponry and combat AI’s will only act in self-defence until authorised by me, as your sponsor.”

  “That’s OK, I don’t plan to start a war.” Mark grinned.

  “I’m sure you don’t, but your diplomatic skills could well lead you into starting one inadvertently. I’ll make sure the main AI has full diplomacy capability.”

  Mark frowned, then shook his head.

  “Kate, make sure I’m back here in the command centre ten minutes before Sean is due.” Mark told his AI. “Then check if Sally is available and take me to her, if not, check if Mike is available and take me to her.”

  “It is just under three hours until Sally is going to be available. If you recall, she invited you to join her. Mike is available now.”

>   Secret Aristocrat

  Mark blinked and found himself outside his old quarters, that he had given to Mike. “Do I knock?” Mark asked his AI.

  “I have notified Mike that you are here.” His AI replied.

  Moments later the door slid open and Mike stood at the entrance wearing a lilac coloured knee length robe.

  “I thought you’d forgotten where I was.” She said.

  “You always seem to be in the team quarters.” Mark replied, defensively. “Anyway, this is supposed to be somewhere you come for privacy.”

  Mike shrugged. “That’s true. Come in now you’re here.”

  Mark walked in and was immediately struck by how warm and dry the air was. He looked around at the huge room that his quarters had become. The walls were covered with what looked like green and black wall hangings, with small glowing globes scattered in amongst them. The overall light level was lower than he was used to, and the dark coloured drapes made the room look even dimmer. The flooring was a pale brown colour and seemed to move under his feet like sand. Apart from a long, low table that looked like it was made from black glossy stone, the only other furnishings were large cushions liberally scattered around the room.

  “I see you’ve changed the decor.” Mask said as he entered.

  “It reminds me of my childhood rooms. I have happy memories from when I was small.”

  “You’ve never spoken about your life before Sally’s army.”

  “There’s something I need to tell you about that. Sit by the table and I’ll get you a drink. Tea? Or would you like something else?”

  “Tea would be good thanks, it reminds me of being back on Earth.”

  “Does it remind you of happy memories on Earth?”

  “No, I don’t have any happy memories of Earth.”

  As there were no chairs, Mark pulled up a cushion and sat next to the table. Mike brought Mark's tea to him and reclined on a cushion on the opposite side of the table.

  “You wanted to talk to me about something?” Mark asked.

  “Yes, but first, why have you come to see me? There must be a reason.”