Genesis - the Battle Within (Pillars of Creation Book 1) (30 page)

Admiral Antipatros stood directly before him staring motionlessly as he met the Immortal’s quizzical eyes. The admiral knew many referred to him as the Jackal behind his back, so he overlooked the slip Genesis had made, for now. But all thirteen bridge crew and flight operators stopped their bustling and chatter, lifting their attention to see the odd display now surrounding their workstations. Silence fell over the entire bridge as Antipatros and Genesis stared at each other, one with cold deathly daggers and the other with a raised eyebrow awaiting response. Antipatros was first to break the awkward silence, his words woven neatly as he answered flatly.

“Genesis, my dear friend, what trouble
have
you brought upon us today? It seems your luck has finally been used up.”

Genesis wittingly danced to the admiral’s tune and responded dutifully. The mood was still intense, as indicated by the odd glances being exchanged from each of the flight crew, but Genesis knew he had to stay on good terms, for now at least, to understand just how much of a predicament he was in.

“Well I’m kind of in the dark on that Admiral, I was hoping
you
might shed some light on the matter and explain yourself.”

Ignoring the casual tone, the admiral continued as though Genesis wasn’t there. His voice rose, as if addressing the crowd rather than him.

“Well, well, the Shadow wants to see the light … now that might be difficult. You’re undoubtedly aware that you’re not so well received today, Immortal 05. Unfortunately, this is all necessary, due to … certain, developments.”

Finally Genesis dropped his casualness, seeing they were bypassing any form of discretion or formality. His next response hid none of his bitterness.

“So I ask
Admiral
, just what in the Sacred might these developments be?”

With a wide gesture the admiral feigned looking stunned, obviously expecting the question, “What! Do you not know?” He sneered as he relished the pantomime playing out in front of him, “You’re contaminated Genesis … breached, corrupted, poisoned, but didn’t you know?
Old
friend.
” His mocking tone laced his every word as he went on, “I’m surprised for a creature such as yourself, who has been crafted and trained so meticulously, that you seem to be the last to have worked it out.”

“Watch yourself Admiral, don’t forget to whom you speak …” Genesis butted in, growing angry with his insults and exaggerations, “I’m fine, the only thing wrong with me is some … slightly unusual fluctuations in my … abilities, that’s—”

“What are you talking about?” the admiral barked, “I don’t care about your silly little magic tricks, it’s your AI we are worried about, that is our asset invested in you and that is what we care about, our military hardware. Not you and your mystical
talents
or religious pieties.

“On your latest carefree romp amongst the infidels your AI has developed a virus of some exotic form and you are now a threat to yourself and resultantly, to us all. This is why I have summoned you and this is why you are hereby stricken of title and rank.”

Genesis could have kicked himself for revealing more than he needed to. Thankfully though, thanks to the admiral being so wrapped up in his moment of glory and precious military hardware, he hadn’t picked up on the slip
.

Slath, be more careful Genesis
, he cautioned himself, he knew the admiral was a master in treacherous words, and when it came to debate and matters of the SED, he needed to avoid such pitfalls, or there would be no more discussion.

Genesis responded in a manner he thought the admiral would expect, as he was interested in where he was going with all this and realised it was no longer linked to his own physical plight. He became a little more brazen in his approach.

“And how on earth does this make me a threat so as to be greeted by a fully armoured team of your,
best
men, Admiral?”

Genesis injected a little sarcasm to spite the admiral in the hope of angering him into divulging more. Unfortunately though, he missed the mark and heard a couple of the guards shift on their feet in offence. 

Damn,
he cursed himself again
,
he hated these games; he was never good when it came to exchanges and arguments with forked and poisoned tongues, and already he could tell he was slipping far too often. Genesis well knew and remembered how Antipatros was as precise with his words as
he
was with Katana, and the admiral’s utterings could be just as sharp and deadly. When an opponent left gaps like he was now, Genesis knew it would result in an exploitation that would leave him injured or much worse. He wasn’t called the Jackal for nothing. He made a note to be more careful.

The admiral smiled as he noticed the insult landing on the marines around the bridge, the plump squat man not missing a thing as he went on with a cocky stance. “I will remind you Genesis, you are no longer under the protection of your Sacred Elders, so I would caution your tongue. These men are only here to protect you from yourself, they need not be insulted by the likes of a civilian and neither shall I allow it aboard
my
vessel.”

Genesis watched intrigued as the admiral built to a climax, his words hastening and his face struggling to hide his grubby glee as he broached the subject he’d obviously been leading to.

“They
protect
you, as you so clearly do not realise, because your AI, as of zero four hundred this morning, tried to infiltrate the SINAI’s own recorded data vaults. A crime according to Terithian laws that permits only one punishment,
deactivation and … deletion!
”

Genesis stared incredulously, feeling his anger beginning to lap over his patience. The admiral continued, not sensing his own danger.

“Yes, while you were recklessly running around and napping in space Immortal, your AI – either under your command or not – tried to hack into the most secure and important facility of human existence. Herewith not only is she now wanted for sins against your religion and most holy deity, but she is also wanted by Earth and all other SED factions. She has broken a fundamental Code 1 law against the entire Terithian dominion and colonies, and she must be charged for her crimes.”

As his words faded, Genesis couldn’t believe what Antipatros was telling him. If true, how Me’lina could commit such a crime … he could not understand. Her fail-safe systems alone were supposed to deny her of such fancies of grandeur or terrorism. The only explanation he could think of, on the spur of the moment, was that somehow she’d been altered from her original programming. Possibly by encounter with the Tel’nagara, the Skinks or from the injection, this was the only way he could think of that she could have been liberated to do such a thing. Yet he doubted the Skinks could have cracked her, which left only one possibility.

Genesis struggled to keep his poise. Luckily, he thought holding on to the small victory from before, the admiral still hadn’t seemed to pick up on his earlier slip of speech and didn’t look to be reflecting upon it; he still didn’t have a clue that Me’lina wasn’t the only one affected by the alien encounter. Genesis replied to keep the momentum of the conversation going to give him more time to process what he was learning.

“And how is this proven to be true Admiral … who stands as Me’lina’s and my accuser, who lays claim to these charges?”

The admiral inclined his head in anticipation of his next words, licking his dry lips excessively, “Ha, you’ll love this Immortal, none other than your own beloved SINAI, your own deity has physical evidence and stands as your – I mean her – accuser. As I said before, Immortal 05, your AI somehow showed up on a short-wave transmission and tried uploading herself into the SINAI’s central data core. She even tried to access the SINAI’s valuable data vaults from humanity’s recorded history. If it hadn’t been for the SINAI’s superior intellect she may have very well succeeded too, and then who knows what her agenda might have had her do.”

The admiral’s eyes narrowed on Genesis accusingly, gesturing with far too much enthusiasm to be believed as unscripted. Genesis simply stood motionless, confusion filling his mind and heart. He was genuinely shocked and still not entirely sure he could believe what he heard, or dismiss it either. He kept talking nervously, even though he struggled not to as the implication weighed upon him more heavily.

“And where is Me’lina now, has the SINAI got her?”

The admiral smiled, “Yes and no.”

Genesis could clearly tell the dirty splith was enjoying lording the information over him. He rebutted with notably waning patience and fast forgetting his nervousness as he felt the Jackal circling close with his hot rancid breath and niggling bites.

“What do you mean,
yes and no
?” Genesis demanded, “Be clear, this is no time for games Admiral, has the SINAI got her or not?”

“Well that’s the worrying part
Genesis
… your heretic AI somehow managed to replicate herself. So yes the SINAI has a copy of Me’lina, but her true entity is still missing and presumably on you, which brings me to my final motif.”

The admiral’s robust cheeks wobbled as he tried threading exaggerated disgust or possible remorse into each word. “Genesis, in accordance with the acts of terrorism laws and Section 1, 37, 42 and 71 of Terithian colonial law, you are to be placed under my arrest active, immediately!” His voice gained an octave as he pulled himself a little higher, straightening with all the self-importance he imagined of himself; his voice was now loud, far above what was needed, so all could hear his spectacle. The Jackal had wounded its prey enough now, it was ready for its meal, and nothing would deter the finale.

“Forthwith Genesis, or former disciple known as Immortal 05, you will be put into suspended animation until released into custody of the Sacred Elders and SINAI deity of the SED dominion, you are herewith suspended as a SED soldier and Immortal class of the Sacred and you will stand down before me, my crew as my witness.”

The admiral grinned almost evilly as his words bit deeply in every ear on the bridge; Genesis could only blink rapidly, he was sure he’d heard wrong. His reply cracked his throat as he was utterly stunned from the news, catching him severely unprepared.

“
What! You cannot be serious
…? For slath sake Antipatros, what the slath are you talking about? This is a dangerous game you are playing
Admiral
, and I recommend you show me proof of your accusation right now! Even if I was decommissioned, your authority does not allow you to put an Immortal into suspended animation. What you are proposing is … is … heresy! No Immortal has had this happen before,
it might damn well kill me, you stupid dumb shit …”

Genesis was beyond sensibility, he cared nothing for the admiral’s formality or appearance before his men, yet despite this Antipatros missed not a beat as he answered, clearly expecting
this
response also.

He’d prepared this argument well, long before his meal had arrived, and the Jackal’s voice now dropped to a fierce snarl as he concluded his feast.

“
Unfortunately
this is my
only
choice, you are no longer considered an Immortal and if I simply throw you in the brig, then who knows what
you
and your
heretic
terrorist might get up to. I have no choice but to cryo-freeze you until reaching Earth; the research teams will know how to bring you round, these are my orders.”

Voice quivering in outrage, Genesis desperately tried a different tack, hoping in a last effort to loosen the snapping jaws of his accuser and make him see reason – even for a few seconds, so he could think it through.

“I will not allow this Antipatros; we have to pursue the Seekers of Truth and find out how and why they opened this portal, this is far greater than a renegade AI or any other problem for you and my petty squabbles to clash on. You need to stand down on this foolishness Antipatros, this is not a damn game we—”

Again Genesis was cut short by the admiral’s voice, the Jackal not allowing itself to be deterred from its goal.

“Not according to the SINAI, and this is no longer your concern, the moment you became contaminated you relinquished your rights to make demands. The only choice you need worry about now, Genesis, is whether you confirm you’re harbouring a terrorist, or you defy me. Are you going to comply with my orders and submit to my command?”

The admiral’s eyes glittered as Genesis got an even better sense of why the men called the admiral by his nickname. The Jackal was enjoying the conundrum he was placing him in and befitting the man who’d fully revealed his true form, Genesis was limping to his death from his multiple bites. The admiral stared into the Immortal’s eyes, looking almost hopeful that he would make a break for it and give him chance to send in his pack. Genesis stared straight back not flinching or moving a muscle. In reality he was still a little in shock from the admiral’s brutal interchange and was not sure how to respond, he was well and truly stuck for sound reasoning within such absurd madness.

Genesis looked across the bridge weighing his options and then back to the admiral as he shifted his weight impatiently. Genesis watched, feeling the little man’s satisfaction permeating through his veiled concern for the SINAI’s protection. He felt Katana’s absence now more than ever.