Vigilante (12 page)
Ariane felt free and peaceful. No ghosts rustled in her head as she
walked through the desolate corridors toward the slip where
Aether’s
Touch
connected. Hal had set his head down on the table and slept, snoring in oblivion
until the bartender roused him and sent him off. At that point, Ariane noted the time and
realized she had to leave. She had six hours before she had to catch a ride down to
Priamos.
walked through the desolate corridors toward the slip where
Aether’s
Touch
connected. Hal had set his head down on the table and slept, snoring in oblivion
until the bartender roused him and sent him off. At that point, Ariane noted the time and
realized she had to leave. She had six hours before she had to catch a ride down to
Priamos.
She congratulated herself on her control; she’d sipped slowly and paced
herself. She wasn’t sure how many beers she’d had, but wasn’t it good she hadn’t obsessively
counted them? The empty station no longer felt lonely or creepy. She began to hum a tune, one
that had been repeating in her head, as she turned the corner.
herself. She wasn’t sure how many beers she’d had, but wasn’t it good she hadn’t obsessively
counted them? The empty station no longer felt lonely or creepy. She began to hum a tune, one
that had been repeating in her head, as she turned the corner.
A woman blocked her way. She was Terran, by the look of the bland
jumpsuit, but with a jarring originality not usually found in Terrans. For one thing, she had
flamboyant, burgundy hair. That wouldn’t be strange for anyone living on a Consortium world,
since Autonomists had no problem with artificially coloring any part of their bodies, but
Terrans prided themselves on their eugenics and their ability to breed
natural
enhancements to the human body. They didn’t color their hair and they
tried to breed for consistent physiques; this woman wasn’t any taller than Ariane. Though she
was extremely petite for a Terran, her tight jumpsuit revealed strong muscle lines along lithe
limbs. Her complexion was perfection: Unmarked, unscarred, and much lighter than Ariane’s, her
face was as cold as honed alabaster.
jumpsuit, but with a jarring originality not usually found in Terrans. For one thing, she had
flamboyant, burgundy hair. That wouldn’t be strange for anyone living on a Consortium world,
since Autonomists had no problem with artificially coloring any part of their bodies, but
Terrans prided themselves on their eugenics and their ability to breed
natural
enhancements to the human body. They didn’t color their hair and they
tried to breed for consistent physiques; this woman wasn’t any taller than Ariane. Though she
was extremely petite for a Terran, her tight jumpsuit revealed strong muscle lines along lithe
limbs. Her complexion was perfection: Unmarked, unscarred, and much lighter than Ariane’s, her
face was as cold as honed alabaster.
“Uh . . . hullo.” Ariane stepped back to regain her personal space. She
felt grubby and quickly smoothed her baggy crew overalls around her waist and hips.
felt grubby and quickly smoothed her baggy crew overalls around her waist and hips.
“Hullo.” The woman cocked her head to the side. Her light gray eyes
seemed angry and mocking.
seemed angry and mocking.
“Who are you?”
“I’m disappointed, Major Kedros. I didn’t expect to find a
Destroyer of Worlds
stumbling around drunk, nor did I think you’d be such a
pretty little thing.”
Destroyer of Worlds
stumbling around drunk, nor did I think you’d be such a
pretty little thing.”
“I’m not drunk.” The words came out automatically.
Who
is
this woman?
Someone this small couldn’t be a
TEBI agent, given Terran prejudices about people outside the “average.”
Who
is
this woman?
Someone this small couldn’t be a
TEBI agent, given Terran prejudices about people outside the “average.”
The woman sniffed delicately. “You reek of alcohol. Perhaps that’s to be
expected, since Major Kedros had to be checked into an addict commons.”
expected, since Major Kedros had to be checked into an addict commons.”
“You’re on Parmet’s staff.” Ariane made the most obvious
assumption.
assumption.
The woman’s face and body were suddenly empty of emotion. It was an
instantaneous change that Ariane had seen before in those trained in Terran
somaural
techniques. She would have backed away, but she found herself against
the bulkhead.
Stupid, to get myself maneuvered this way
.
instantaneous change that Ariane had seen before in those trained in Terran
somaural
techniques. She would have backed away, but she found herself against
the bulkhead.
Stupid, to get myself maneuvered this way
.
“Isrid is my first husband. He lost a brother and I lost a second
husband at Ura-Guinn. Pryce and his wife were joining our multimarriage and Pryce would have
fathered my next child.” The woman’s tone was flat.
husband at Ura-Guinn. Pryce and his wife were joining our multimarriage and Pryce would have
fathered my next child.” The woman’s tone was flat.
The Terrans strictly controlled their licenses for having children, and
often had to apply for them years in advance. She didn’t know what to say, and she couldn’t
apologize for the Ura-Guinn mission or for following her orders. It was wartime and this woman
wasn’t the only one who lost loved ones, at Ura-Guinn or some other battle. However, this was
the story staring her in the face right now and Ariane had to look down, breaking eye
contact.
often had to apply for them years in advance. She didn’t know what to say, and she couldn’t
apologize for the Ura-Guinn mission or for following her orders. It was wartime and this woman
wasn’t the only one who lost loved ones, at Ura-Guinn or some other battle. However, this was
the story staring her in the face right now and Ariane had to look down, breaking eye
contact.
That was her first mistake. She caught the blur of movement on the
rightmost periphery of her sight. Her flinch was late; her second mistake. Her shoulder barely
slowed the kick and the right side of her head exploded in pain.
How the
hell did that happen
—a tight fist caught Ariane in the solar plexus and she went
down—
so fast?
She tried to roll away, gasping for breath, but she
ended up wedged against the bulkhead and received several kicks in the kidneys for her
effort.
rightmost periphery of her sight. Her flinch was late; her second mistake. Her shoulder barely
slowed the kick and the right side of her head exploded in pain.
How the
hell did that happen
—a tight fist caught Ariane in the solar plexus and she went
down—
so fast?
She tried to roll away, gasping for breath, but she
ended up wedged against the bulkhead and received several kicks in the kidneys for her
effort.
Can’t breathe
.
Pain
. She couldn’t avoid the woman’s well-aimed boots. Even if she could voice
an emergency, there were no operating nodes in the corridor to record her. The kicks paused.
Her lungs gasped and wheezed.
.
Pain
. She couldn’t avoid the woman’s well-aimed boots. Even if she could voice
an emergency, there were no operating nodes in the corridor to record her. The kicks paused.
Her lungs gasped and wheezed.
“That was too easy. You’re just a pathetic drunk.” The woman delivered
her scornful words in an eerily impassive voice.
her scornful words in an eerily impassive voice.
Ariane tensed, expecting another kick. Her eyes were watering and she
couldn’t hear footsteps over her wheezing breath. Eventually she opened her eyes, seeing the
bulkhead meet the floor in front of her eyes. A seam in the tough, flexible display covering
was right in front of her and she could see the tiny connection threads that allowed an image
to slip from the bulkhead to the floor.
couldn’t hear footsteps over her wheezing breath. Eventually she opened her eyes, seeing the
bulkhead meet the floor in front of her eyes. A seam in the tough, flexible display covering
was right in front of her and she could see the tiny connection threads that allowed an image
to slip from the bulkhead to the floor.
Now that she wasn’t gasping as much, she heard nothing. She tasted
blood. Trying to roll her head to look the other way, she moaned. She was alone in the
corridor. From the pain, she figured the blows against unprotected organs had caused bruising,
perhaps bleeding, and she might have a cracked rib.
blood. Trying to roll her head to look the other way, she moaned. She was alone in the
corridor. From the pain, she figured the blows against unprotected organs had caused bruising,
perhaps bleeding, and she might have a cracked rib.
Several moans later, she was on her feet and stumbling toward
Aether’s Touch
. Anger was beginning to replace shock, although she
wasn’t as angry with Parmet’s wife as she was with Parmet. She and Parmet had a
deal
. He was supposed to stay quiet about the original AFCAW crew members. That
was his payment for having her sign over the leases to certain Terran contractors.
Aether’s Touch
. Anger was beginning to replace shock, although she
wasn’t as angry with Parmet’s wife as she was with Parmet. She and Parmet had a
deal
. He was supposed to stay quiet about the original AFCAW crew members. That
was his payment for having her sign over the leases to certain Terran contractors.
What a bastard. He might not have released anything
on ComNet, but he told his family. Gaia knows who else might be gunning for me. Since he didn’t
keep his side of the bargain, tomorrow I’m going to see about getting rid of some Terran
contractors
. Her anger was healing in its energy. By the time she reached the outer
airlock of
Aether’s Touch
, she had the presence of mind to wipe her
bloody hand on her coveralls before she typed in her code and gave her password for voiceprint
analysis.
on ComNet, but he told his family. Gaia knows who else might be gunning for me. Since he didn’t
keep his side of the bargain, tomorrow I’m going to see about getting rid of some Terran
contractors
. Her anger was healing in its energy. By the time she reached the outer
airlock of
Aether’s Touch
, she had the presence of mind to wipe her
bloody hand on her coveralls before she typed in her code and gave her password for voiceprint
analysis.
“Muse Three, send a request to the
Pilgrimage
Three
for the bandwidth to do an AI-indexed ComNet search.” There were advantages to
having an agent of AI stature. She could give Muse 3 complicated instructions that would have
required her manual assistance if she’d used the ship’s systems.
Pilgrimage
Three
for the bandwidth to do an AI-indexed ComNet search.” There were advantages to
having an agent of AI stature. She could give Muse 3 complicated instructions that would have
required her manual assistance if she’d used the ship’s systems.
“Yes, Ari.”
It’d take time to message the generational ship, since the relays for
Beta Priamos Station weren’t working yet. Meanwhile, she opened the med closet and tried not to
cringe at her image in the mirror. Her scalp had split on the side of her head, hence all the
blood in her hair, on her face, down her neck, on her hands—all over. By gingerly prodding and
turning her ear, she determined the skin and cartilage weren’t torn beyond the capability of
plastiskin to hold and heal.
Beta Priamos Station weren’t working yet. Meanwhile, she opened the med closet and tried not to
cringe at her image in the mirror. Her scalp had split on the side of her head, hence all the
blood in her hair, on her face, down her neck, on her hands—all over. By gingerly prodding and
turning her ear, she determined the skin and cartilage weren’t torn beyond the capability of
plastiskin to hold and heal.
After cleaning her head and wounds, she pulled out the scanner. Being
second-wave prospectors meant being prepared for medical emergencies, so
Aether’s Touch
was equipped to heal some straightforward injuries, such as
cracked and broken bones. Yes, one of her ribs showed a small crack, justifying her painful
breathing. The rest of her ribs looked good, perhaps because of the bone growth stimulation
she’d received after escaping Cipher’s most dramatic explosion.
second-wave prospectors meant being prepared for medical emergencies, so
Aether’s Touch
was equipped to heal some straightforward injuries, such as
cracked and broken bones. Yes, one of her ribs showed a small crack, justifying her painful
breathing. The rest of her ribs looked good, perhaps because of the bone growth stimulation
she’d received after escaping Cipher’s most dramatic explosion.
She applied a full dose of stim and agreed with the medical diagnosis
that displayed, “Rest and limited activity required for three days,” but she had to leave for a
contractor meeting in five hours. Embarrassingly, it took mere minutes for a diminutive Terran
woman to kick the shit out of the “Small Stellar Terror” and leave her like a rag doll on the
deck.
that displayed, “Rest and limited activity required for three days,” but she had to leave for a
contractor meeting in five hours. Embarrassingly, it took mere minutes for a diminutive Terran
woman to kick the shit out of the “Small Stellar Terror” and leave her like a rag doll on the
deck.
Assessing damage to her internal organs was problematic. The med scanner
showed she hadn’t ruptured anything, but there could be finer internal damage and bleeding.
She’d test again in a couple hours, when she might get better information.
showed she hadn’t ruptured anything, but there could be finer internal damage and bleeding.
She’d test again in a couple hours, when she might get better information.
“Ari, the response from the
Pilgrimage Three
is negative. No bandwidth can be allocated at this time, due to maintenance.”
Pilgrimage Three
is negative. No bandwidth can be allocated at this time, due to maintenance.”
“Did they give a projected time for completion of the
maintenance?”
maintenance?”
“No.”
That was unusual. She should give Justin, or whoever was controlling
comm, some flak for being so vague, but she needed sleep more than she needed to look up
whether Parmet had a wife with burgundy hair. She reached for bright, the friend of all shift
workers, particularly those in space who didn’t have planetary rhythms to guide their sleep
patterns.
comm, some flak for being so vague, but she needed sleep more than she needed to look up
whether Parmet had a wife with burgundy hair. She reached for bright, the friend of all shift
workers, particularly those in space who didn’t have planetary rhythms to guide their sleep
patterns.
“Ari, from the test results, you appear to be injured. Should I call
nine-one-one?”
nine-one-one?”
“
No
, Muse Three. I fell and have some
bruises, that’s all.” She lied, hoping the pesky AI didn’t access the voice stress analysis
algorithms. “Besides, there’s no medical staff on Beta Priamos, so there’s no one to
call.”
No
, Muse Three. I fell and have some
bruises, that’s all.” She lied, hoping the pesky AI didn’t access the voice stress analysis
algorithms. “Besides, there’s no medical staff on Beta Priamos, so there’s no one to
call.”
“You could send a message to Matt.”
The comment had a tiny hint of slyness and Ariane froze. Would she have
even had those drinks if Matt had been here? She queried her implant and relaxed when she saw
the blood alcohol content was barely measurable. It still might have slowed her reflexes, or
perhaps Parmet’s wife was really
that
fast. Either way, she didn’t
want Matt to learn about this.
even had those drinks if Matt had been here? She queried her implant and relaxed when she saw
the blood alcohol content was barely measurable. It still might have slowed her reflexes, or
perhaps Parmet’s wife was really
that
fast. Either way, she didn’t
want Matt to learn about this.
“No, Muse Three. There’s nothing Matt can do to help me and we’d worry
him unnecessarily.”
him unnecessarily.”
“Agreed, but the tests indicate you should rest for three days.”
She wondered how much time Nestor had wasted on emotional mimicry, since
the damn thing sounded concerned, even motherly.
the damn thing sounded concerned, even motherly.
“I’ll rest for three
hours
, Muse Three; then
I have to get down to the Priamos surface for a contractor meeting.”
hours
, Muse Three; then
I have to get down to the Priamos surface for a contractor meeting.”
No response.
If you want to sulk, that’s fine, but I won’t trust
you with waking me
. She added the bright to her implant and set the time delay. For
backup, she set an alarm, one that didn’t run through the systems within Muse 3’s reach. After
gingerly arranging herself on her good side, she quickly fell asleep.
you with waking me
. She added the bright to her implant and set the time delay. For
backup, she set an alarm, one that didn’t run through the systems within Muse 3’s reach. After
gingerly arranging herself on her good side, she quickly fell asleep.
CHAPTER 7
When you realize what the crèche-get face on their
ships, you’ll understand. When something goes wrong
on a mission, they have no one to call upon for help.
Their need for self-reliance is reflected in the Genera tional Line ship designs. If you read
the chilling logs from
the
Expedition I
, where they had to blow away key mod
ules, reconnect, and rebuild under thrust . . .
Democritus 9
under Cause and Effect Imperative
“T
he control deck cut all our connections to
ComNet,” David Ray said. “Some sort of buoy problems.”
he control deck cut all our connections to
ComNet,” David Ray said. “Some sort of buoy problems.”
“Never heard of that.” Matt tried to sound experienced; in reality, he’d
experienced only one solar system opening on the
Journey IV
.
Everyone joked the Minoan time buoys had one ON button, they could take any sort of abuse, and
they couldn’t be turned off or destroyed—except with a temporal-distortion wave.
experienced only one solar system opening on the
Journey IV
.
Everyone joked the Minoan time buoys had one ON button, they could take any sort of abuse, and
they couldn’t be turned off or destroyed—except with a temporal-distortion wave.
“I’ve got the AI applications and permit requests ready to sign, once
we’ve got ComNet back.” David Ray motioned at the display of legalese that gave Matt a headache
whenever he looked at it.
we’ve got ComNet back.” David Ray motioned at the display of legalese that gave Matt a headache
whenever he looked at it.
Matt was surprised at how heavy his heart felt, all for a set of
algorithms and rules. Muse 3 might have to be destroyed, depending upon how Nestor built it.
However, after David Ray went through the laws regarding the licensing of AI rulesets, proof of
originality, and rights of individuality, he decided he had no choice but to initiate the long
process. He wasn’t going to risk his company, essentially both his and Ari’s livelihood, for
Muse 3.
algorithms and rules. Muse 3 might have to be destroyed, depending upon how Nestor built it.
However, after David Ray went through the laws regarding the licensing of AI rulesets, proof of
originality, and rights of individuality, he decided he had no choice but to initiate the long
process. He wasn’t going to risk his company, essentially both his and Ari’s livelihood, for
Muse 3.
“Anything else?” David Ray asked.
“Nothing—other than your fees, I guess.”
David Ray tapped the desk to bring up a matrix on the wall. “Here are my
hourly rates. This is the rate schedule for non-Pilgrimage work, given that you’re an
Autonomist citizen.”
hourly rates. This is the rate schedule for non-Pilgrimage work, given that you’re an
Autonomist citizen.”
Matt gulped. This destroyed the windfall he made from ferrying Joyce to
this system, and any more work would make a serious dent in his operating expenses, provided he
could even call this a business expense. He couldn’t get on the visiting generational schedule,
because he’d opted off the
Journey IV
. However, there were
incentives listed at the bottom of the matrix.
this system, and any more work would make a serious dent in his operating expenses, provided he
could even call this a business expense. He couldn’t get on the visiting generational schedule,
because he’d opted off the
Journey IV
. However, there were
incentives listed at the bottom of the matrix.
“I can lower the rates through donations?” Unlike grav-huggers, Matt
didn’t have any qualms about the ownership of his sperm. Besides, this was about saving money.
Strictly speaking, these weren’t donations in the charitable sense.
didn’t have any qualms about the ownership of his sperm. Besides, this was about saving money.
Strictly speaking, these weren’t donations in the charitable sense.
“Are you already in our pool?” asked David Ray.
“No.” There hadn’t been time to consider donations the first time he
came to G-145 and there’d been no driving need for Pilgrimage credit.
came to G-145 and there’d been no driving need for Pilgrimage credit.
“If you’re willing to sign up for a four-sample regimen, then we can
make you a deal.” David Ray displayed a different matrix of rates.
make you a deal.” David Ray displayed a different matrix of rates.
Matt nodded in relief. “Let’s do it.”
The decision itself turned out to be orders of magnitude faster than
“doing it.” David Ray loaded another flurry of forms onto Matt’s slate to sign with thumbprint
and voiceprint. The Consortium of Autonomist Worlds had intricate and thorny procedures
regarding individual privacy, and one’s genetic material qualified as private personal
property.
“doing it.” David Ray loaded another flurry of forms onto Matt’s slate to sign with thumbprint
and voiceprint. The Consortium of Autonomist Worlds had intricate and thorny procedures
regarding individual privacy, and one’s genetic material qualified as private personal
property.
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