POD (The Pattern Universe) (2 page)

Within the space of thirty seconds, a further dozen globes appeared in proximity to Pod. It realised that somehow these orbs were able to detect it despite Pod being cloaked.

It went to D-Jump out of the Fortress zone, but wasn't completely surprised when it failed, the shield had blocked outgoing traffic. Pod, realising it was trapped, so jumped to another part of the complex to temporarily escape the globes.

Within seconds, the original globes caught up, accompanied by another dozen that surrounded Pod. Using their A-Grav devices, they attempted to push Pod in a downward direction using their gravity thrusters against its shield as a resistance point.

It would require more than a few globes to overcome Pod's powerful generators, but it considered the nuisance value over the possible alternatives, deciding instead to take limited punitive action.

It took hold of one of the globes using a tractor beam, then by compressing the ends of the beam, crushed the globe. The broken pieces disintegrated and dropped away as it released them. The other globes got the message and backed off, but continued to surround Pod, probably while their operator considered another tactic.

Pod jumped directly above the main building. The log walls and long sloped roof that were, in reality, a husk, disguised the real entrance set into the mountainside. It detected no guards here; the entrance protected only by an airlock. It considered jumping into the building, but decided that might be too restrictive and might set off a bigger response to its invasion of their territory.

With only a moment before they found it again, Pod analysed the situation. Clearly they could detect something, even while it was cloaked. Therefore, the ground to air defence systems could, as well. This meant they could fire on Pod at any time. Whilst its own shields would hold off any attack, it would represent yet another inconvenience to be managed.

Just how they were able to detect Pod, despite being cloaked, was something that had never occurred before. Remembering the earlier scans it had logged a short while ago, it was now glad it had noted the frequencies, so that when it had an opportunity to analyse the changes, it would be able to modify its cloaking system.

Then, also remembering that Ship downloaded some logs to its storage a while back, Pod retrieved and scanned the archived log. It noted that the ship had been detected by the humans' satellite sensor systems sensitised to the Alacite within the space vessel. The immediate 'cloaking' of Ship had solved that problem. They had obviously learned and upgraded their equipment. Clever humans, thought Pod.

So, it must be the Pheson Alacite which they had obviously learned to detect through a cloaking device. Pod needed to discover that technology. It would be very useful.

Scanning the signals around the base to find the source of the detectors, Pod located the control centre. It jumped again and, using the second position to triangulate, monitored the change in readings.

The globes taking their data from the radar sensors duly followed it around, unable to do anything other than indicate to the ground observers Pod’s rough location. Once Pod had detected the equipment that appeared to be homing in on the Alacite, it activated its on-board patterning device.

The three dimensional sensor built up a composite picture of its target right down to a molecular level. Then it analysed all of the components and created an exploded diagram complete with quantities of metals and compounds down to microscopic detail. This formed the basis of future patterns of the object.

Pod held position while the recording proceeded, during which time a further twenty globes appeared, severely hampering its ability to observe its surroundings. Now, in danger of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, it could jump repeatedly, but would eventually have to alter its escape plan to evade capture. A ground-based tractor beam lashed out, but missed Pod who jumped again.

Ferris, oblivious to the drama unfolding above ground, was forcing his US dollars to work for him in the form of a video conference call with the Senator of Texas, for whom he had underwritten his total campaign, as well as paying off victims of his nasty predilections.

Ferris had a vice-like grip on the man’s essentials, but hadn’t had to turn the screw on them yet. However, the time was fast approaching when it would be necessary. Ferris, a little frustrated at the senator’s reticence, was having one final attempt at persuasion before any coercion was introduced.

“Senator, you won't have anything to worry about,” Ferris assured him. “I am taking care of the opposition. When you get there, you will have full support; I assure you. All you have to do is get them to consider repealing – just a moment Senator – ”

Ferris muted the vidcom; the screen now only showing the Fortress logo rotating while he turned his attention to his Security Chief, who had burst into his office unannounced.

“What is it, Smith?”

“We have an intruder within the shields, sir.”

“Well, deal with them!” Ferris reprimanded.

“It's not a ‘them’, Sir. It’s an unknown. It’s also cloaked.”

“Damn! It's that damned Ship back again.”

“No sir, it’s a different signature.”

“What do you mean ‘a different signature’?”

“Its Ferrazine has a different composition.”

“I see, and do you have any idea whose this Ferrazine might be...?” Ferris queried; half guessing the answer, but not wanting to contemplate it, being as there were only two people on Earth, who had created Ferrazine as a by-product

“That’s why I decided to disturb you. We have analysed the sensor readings. It's Zeke Callaghan's, Sir.”

“No! It can’t be; he's dead,” Ferris said, startled at the mention of that name.

“He might be, but the Ferrazine up there is his, they’re sure about that.”

“Damn!” Ferris slumped in his chair bemused by the possible proximity of an old enemy.

“We are currently unable to stop it from doing whatever it’s doing. However, the good news is, it cannot seem to escape through the new shield.”

“Why is that good news, Smith?”

“Because we are working on using the portable box tractor beam to confine it. Once we have it boxed we can find a way of forcing its cloak and shields to collapse.”

“Good work, Smith... Hold on a minute, I want to come and see this myself.”

Ferris clicked the vidcom button and the Senator returned to the active screen, fuming while fiddling with a pen in apparent frustration at being kept waiting.

“Ferris, I – ” the Senator began.

“Senator, I'm going to have to get back to you. Something rather, err, 'interesting' has just come up, I need to investigate it further.”

He wagged his finger in front of the screen. “You just need to make sure you can get an oversight investigation into that damned Space Island as soon as... and I won't accept any argument from the Senate, so let me know if anyone blocks it and I will sort it. I'll talk to you again in a few days.”

He saw the senator recoil at being spoken to in such a manner. It was the same with all of them, Ferris thought. They gave orders, but couldn't take ‘em, especially from the people who put their US dollars into getting them elected. He will learn, Ferris reminded himself.

“Ferris out!”

He flicked the black switch off and, leaping from his desk, followed Smith back to the Security Command Centre.

“OK, Smith, let's go find out what we have caught out there.”

Pod detected increased attention from ground sensors. There were also signs of activity from defence systems which were attempting to track it, based on the locations of the hover globes. One gun opened fire on Pod with a laser beam, only to succeed in frying half a dozen globes to one side of it. No further shots were fired.

Down below, fresh action erupted as six manned A-Grav sleds exited from the airlock, immediately proceeding towards Pod's location. They split up onto different trajectories, but maintained their heading to its current location as highlighted by the circling globes.

Pod scanned them quickly, detecting only tractor beams installed. It recognised the design from the old Fortress where Zeke had been trapped by Ferris and almost killed. It was the same model Pod had needed to neutralise before extracting Zeke. It had been far too close.

The Fortress scientists didn’t know that it could extricate itself from these, as it had Zeke, although Zeke would never know that Pod got there too late to rescue him alive. Pod had used the pattern it took of his still viable brain and used the organic content of his own badly mangled body to re-pattern him. Part of Pod’s growing awareness forced it to realise it had not wanted Zeke to think it had failed to rescue him so had never confessed that to him.

The A-Grav craft now took up positions above and around Pod. When it realised that they intended to use a forcefield box to trap it, Pod considered it an interesting use of the technology, so patiently awaited the outcome.

Pod hadn't learned fear yet, so looked on in a detached manner while the A-Grav sleds manoeuvred themselves into position. Would an enemy usually be accommodating enough to stay still while they did so? Pod thought not.

These people were still unfamiliar with the D-Jump technology that Zirkos and Zeke had always kept secret. They had seen it operating, in respect to stuff appearing or disappearing, but had no idea how it worked. Pod knew it could escape the trap, but allowed them to encircle it for the time being.

A few minutes later, they sprung the trap, Pod felt itself being held fast by the beams on all sides. Many of the globes were held in the beams too and were now being crushed against Pod's shield.

The triumphant look on the humans' faces indicated their perceived success. Pod wasn't overly concerned and calmly allowed them to force it to the ground. It took them about ten minutes to negotiate the six sleds down together.

The bottom sled remained beneath Pod as it felt itself pressed onto the flat surface of its deck. Pod controlled its shield so that minimised it allowed Pod to rest on the sled. When metal and artificial fibre nets were pulled between the tractor beams and Pod's shield, the Fortress personnel did high fives, a strange custom that Pod had noted often.

Pod allowed itself to be transported through the airlock. It was then escorted deep within the Fortress by armed guards with assorted weapons, as well as civilians who walked with the transport. Several of these tried to place hands into the space that carried the cloaked vessel, but were unable to penetrate the shield.

Ferris was pleased. The plan had been simple; force the cloaked object to the ground, bind it to the sled with whatever was available then, cloaked or not, it would be at his mercy. The scientists could use the opportunity to learn how the damned thing worked. If they could break into the object, there may well be new technology available to them that they could use against Space Island.

“Sir, the object is secured, they are proceeding to the shielded laboratory,” Smith came to his side and reported.

“Excellent, have you informed Goeth?”

“He's waiting with his team in the lab, he will soon find out what it is, sir.” Smith said enthusiastically

“Oh, I know what it is, Smith. I know exactly what it is. What I'm concerned about is how it got to have Callaghan's Ferrazine inside it,” Ferris mused aloud.

“You're thinking that it was obtained from Zeke Callaghan's body, sir?” Smith enquired.

“Smith, it may be there are others like this one out there, all sporting a piece of Mr. Callaghan, or it may be this is all that's left of the man. There couldn't have been much of that stuff left to go far. What I need to know is, are we under attack from Space Island, or has the alien returned?”

“The… alien, sir?” Smith gulped nervously.

“Ah! That's right, Smith, you weren't around then. Yes, we have an alien benefactor who gifted us all of the technology we are currently developing. However, it wasn’t a very smart alien. Much of what it gave us were early designs. Our boys have taken those early concepts a long way and our technology is much better than the stuff they gave us. We are now superior to them - in many ways,” Ferris crowed.

“But, this 'thing', do you know what it is, sir?”

“That 'thing', Smith, is an Artificial Intelligence. It’s probably a low-rated one, perhaps designed for surveillance, judging by the ease with which we captured it and its apparent lack of defence capability. It seems to only have a tractor beam, which with something this size wouldn't have much leverage,” Ferris explained, glad to have an audience while he waited for a progress update.

They continued to talk as they proceeded down to the underground laboratory which was lined with all types of materials to diffuse any sensors and ensure no communication could be intercepted. Ferris also believed the AIs had the ability to deep-scan the planet. This shielded laboratory was designed to mess with any analysis. It should stop the ship from calling home, at the very least Ferris thought absently.

As they approached the lab, they could see the sled being manhandled into the outer room through the plastic screen doors. They waited out of the way while the inner doors were unlocked by Goeth, who waved at Ferris with a big triumphant grin on his face and a gleam in his eyes. Ferris had the utmost faith in him as a scientist, even if he was an utter madman.

Ferris turned to Smith.

“Smith, stay here and have an armed team standing by outside. If that thing in there starts anything, give it hell, but don't blow it up completely; we need to be able to reverse engineer anything we find inside it.”

“Understood, Sir. Any recommendations as to fire-power?”

“Yes, whatever works. I would think our lasers, or the needles, would probably have the greatest impact. Don't use anything that will ricochet or damage the lab.”

Ferris walked out, having seen enough to know that it would be some time before the 'Bods' decided to tell him anything. They liked to hog their research to themselves so he was damn sure he would be the last to know. He hated this lack of respect from them, but he needed their brains and their input. Their ingenuity had made him a fortune so far. He would continue to suffer them knowing they wouldn't benefit in the long run. Nobody ever left the Fortress.