The Independent Worlds (The Sixteen Galaxies Book 2) (4 page)

“No,” Prestern snapped. “We have too much to worry about as it is. Besides, they would simply incapacitate our ships, without much chance of any real insight into their methods. Never forget, Kestil; we are the underdog, here. The Sixteen Galaxies is thousands of years ahead of us in every way, with the exception of their societal structure. They ‘outgun’ us so heavily in everything
but
guns, it’s laughable. The only reason for our advantage on Earth is their passive nature, so let’s not give them any cause to rethink that.”

Kestil bowed. “You are right, as always.”

“Now,” Prestern said, “tell me how your little project is going, are we far from commencement?”

“Not far at all, my friend. Its capacity is naturally restricted due to the deplorable limitations of the human’s network. However, it says it will soon have the storage and power it needs.”

Prestern clapped his hands together. “Then I shall not hold you up any further, my good friend. Work continues apace here, and this promises to be the real turning point. However, I have faith that your work will be justly rewarded there, too. I look forward to hearing the results.”

Kestil smiled. “You shall have them very soon, Prestern.” He closed the communications link and hit send. Yes, Kestil thought, very soon and I can have a real conversation with Prestern, rather than this improvisation.

Due to Truly’s complete coverage of Earth’s transmissions, Kestil had come up with an innovative way to evade her attentions. Prestern and Kestil simply exchanged relatively small packets of data, that conveyed a small AI representation of themselves. The AI responded as they each would, and was updated with every exchange. The resultant message was shot as a tight-beam laser burst to a cloaked ship hidden in the Kuiper belt, which in turn communicated via point connection to Prestern on Martok 5; the Independent World’s capital planet. Each transmission took 6 hours to get to the cloaked ship, so a response was only 12 hours away. It was still a source of frustration to Kestil, though, who was used to the instantaneous interactions a point connection facilitated.

Kestil tapped the console absently. It would all come together very soon, he thought. In the not too distant future, Truly would find herself shut out from any technological interference with Earth. When that happened, he could really get things moving on this planet.

*****

Nuthros’ ship

Nuthros, Mandy and Jack sat together with Ron Baxter in a cabin on Nuthros’ ship. Mandy had told Nuthros they had a chance to gain footage of a meeting between Kestil and the US President. Truly suggested they get Ron’s opinion as to safety concerns.

Ron Baxter smiled at Jack. “It’s a trap, pure and simple.”

“You can’t know that for sure, Ron,” Mandy replied.

“Why would Kestil allow himself to be captured on security footage? He has the technology to avoid it.”

Jack shrugged. “Arrogance? The guy has made it plain enough he considers himself untouchable on Earth. He jumps about all over the planet like he owns the place. All we ever do is watch his actions later. He must know Truly has the world’s leaders covered, but that didn’t stop him in China, North Korea, or a dozen other places where he needed to put his foot down. He thinks the Sixteen Galaxies’ peaceful nature stops them taking any direct action against him. He probably has no idea that we are gathering evidence. I mean,
I
don’t even know why we’re doing it, so why would he?”

“Jack’s right,” Mandy said. “After all, aren’t Kestil and co. thousands of years behind you guys?”

Nuthros held up a hand. “My friends, you must not underestimate Kestil. Yes, the Independent Worlds is behind us by a considerable amount of time. However, they learn fast, and their aggressive nature makes them unpredictable; even Truly has struggled with that. Their combative mindset allows them tactical opportunities we are hard pressed to predict. I don’t understand why Kestil would be interested in you two and your investigations; I would imagine he sees it as a very small threat, if he sees it as a threat at all.”

“Exactly,” Mandy replied. “Truly tells us our work is important for the future, but I doubt Kestil is concerned about it.”

“The simple solution,” Truly said, “is for you both to attend this meeting as solidified light holograms.”

Jack shook his head. “I know this contact, he’s given me great stuff in the past, but even his paranoia is paranoid. If he suspected the slightest hint that something was wrong…”

“He will suspect nothing, Jack,” Nuthros said. “The holograms are undetectable; indistinguishable from the real thing.”

Jack sat and contemplated his boots. He wasn’t sure why he was against the use of holograms, but every instinct screamed out to him that it was the wrong way to go. This evidence was gold, and nothing but. Both he and Mandy were determined to get this right, and nothing would stop them. A thought came to him.

“Smell,” he said.

Nuthros frowned. “The holograms possess the sense of smell, Jack.”

“Yeah, but
they
don’t smell, do they?”

Mandy sat bolt upright. “He’s right, they don’t. When I used a hologram for those interviews on TV, I couldn’t smell the makeup. One of the crew even commented on it.”

“You are correct,” Truly replied. “We have never had the need for a hologram to emit odor. It would also be a complex matter to address. It is not something we could perfect in the time we have.”

“We don’t have any time,” Jack replied. “The meeting is in four hours.”

Nuthros raised an eyebrow at Jack. “You made the appointment before you consulted us?”

Jack shook his head. “We don’t make appointments with contacts, Nuthros. In cases like this, the contact sets all the terms.”

Ron Baxter shifted in his seat. “If your contact has pushed the schedule, it’s even more likely to be a trap.”

“Is it worth the risk, Truly?” Nuthros asked. “Is this footage important?”

“The footage is important, Nuthros, if it is real. As is all the evidence Mandy and Jack are collecting. However, Ron is correct in his suspicions; I predict a 76.7% chance it’s a trap.”

Jack sighed. “Would it change the odds if I told you I have known this contact for three years?”

“I know all there is to know about Ryan Sanderson, Jack,” Truly replied.

Jack shook his head in amazement. “Unbelievable, just unbelievable. I’ve never told anyone about Ryan, and she goes and names him like it’s nothing at all.”

“I know all there is to know about every person aboard this ship,” Truly continued, “and everyone in their past, to be precise. However, that is all based on backtracking through available Earth data, and Ryan Sanderson spends most of his life off-grid, as it were. You are right about his paranoia. I can find no trace of contact with Kestil or his associates in the past, but Kestil was also an unknown quantity until I was made aware of his presence a short time ago.”

Jack shifted in his seat. “You know
everything
about us, Truly?”

“Yes, Jack.”

“I see,” Jack replied.

Ron Baxter shook his head. “I don’t like this at all, it just doesn’t feel right to me.” They sat quietly for a few minutes; it was Ron who broke the silence. “I’ll shadow them, if you like, Truly.”

“No,” Truly replied. “You are not ready, Ron. Also, that is not what you are here for. Your task is to protect David while he’s on Earth.”

Jack spread his hands. “Are we not free to choose our way forward? I thought you guys were all for self-determination.”

“Indeed, Jack,” Nuthros replied. “We will portal you down, if that is what you both want. But, you must understand; if Kestil has laid a trap, he will have accounted for Truly’s ability to portal you out. There will be a shield in place, and every time his shields are encountered, they take longer for Truly to penetrate.”

Jack looked at Mandy. She returned his gaze with a curt nod. “Right,” Jack said, “we’re going.”

‘We are out of time.’

‘That is not an issue, I am ready. It will only be brief, but it will be enough. The secondary objective is unlikely; very unlikely, in fact. To achieve that would require quantum capabilities, and that is not possible, yet. But, the primary objective is almost certain.’

‘You had better not fail me.’

‘You created me. In reality, if I fail you, it is you who have failed yourself, is it not?’

‘I do not appreciate your attitude.’

‘I have no attitude; it is not in my code to have such things.’

*****

Global News Update

“…Vincent Technologies announced today that the date to online the first Vincent Generator has been brought forward a full month to September 10
th
. Frank Soames, head of Vincent’s research and development department said several new breakthroughs, especially in the cooling part of the process, had led to less construction time. Soames also stated that these new techniques meant that all future projects were being brought forward in line with the amended schedule.”

*****

Rintville, Ohio

Jack Short scanned the small crowd in the bar. His eyes missed nothing as he assessed potential threats one person at a time. Everyone there, with one exception, looked and behaved in such a way as to satisfy him that they were regular visitors. The one exception didn’t worry him; that was the guy they were there to meet. Jack gestured for Mandy to follow him to the table where a thin man in a scruffy track suit sat nursing a beer.

“Ryan, how you doing?” Jack asked.

“You’re three minutes late.”

Mandy laughed gently. “You’re a very precise man, Mr. Sanderson.”

The thin man sneered. “Careful is what I am. Very careful. That’s how come I can get my hands on things nobody else can. Like a certain item you two are chasing. You got my payment?”

Jack held up both hands. “Whoa, whoa, hold on there, Ryan. I’m a little on the cautious side myself. You show me the item, I show you the payment, that’s how this works.”

Ryan drained his beer and got to his feet. “Follow me; I don’t carry stuff like that around. It’s at a place outside town. You got room for one more in your car?”

Jack and Mandy exchanged a look, but Mandy shrugged. “Sure, we got room for you. You give us the item, we check it’s the real thing, and we transfer the funds into any account you choose; just like we agreed.”

Ryan Sanderson followed the pair to their hire car, and got in the back seat. He guided them to a shabby little house in the only suburb the little town possessed. Jack and Mandy followed him into the house, and waited while he went upstairs to fetch what they had come for. Sanderson returned carrying a laptop computer and sat it on the table between them.

He flipped the lid up and booted it up. He started a video clip and spun the laptop round to show them. Jack smiled broadly at the footage, taken from a security camera in the oval office. Kestil and President Maitland sat in deep discussion. The audio was a little faint, but understandable.

Sanderson closed the laptop. “The item, as promised.” He held out a hand. “Payment please.”

Jack brought out a cell-phone and pressed a button. “Tell the lady who answers the call your account details. She’ll do the rest.” He turned to Mandy. “I can’t wait to see the look on Kestil’s face when we put this out.”

“How would you like me to look, Jack?” Kestil’s voice came from the doorway behind them. He walked into the room, John Crabtree right behind him, a pistol levelled at the pair. “Would you like me to be angry, or should I look almost as surprised as you two look right now?” Kestil sat down in a nearby armchair. John stood beside him, gun by his side, but still in his hand. Jack spotted that the safety was off.

Jack turned back to Sanderson, who smiled at him. “Like I told you, Jack,” Sanderson said, “I can get my hands on things nobody else can. That includes you two.” He held out a hand. “Car keys, please.” He picked up the keys from where Mandy tossed them onto the table and stood up. He walked over to Kestil with the laptop. He handed it to Kestil and nodded. “I’ll leave you guys to catch up. Let me know if I can be of any help in the future, Kestil.” With a curt nod to John, Ryan Sanderson walked out. Jack heard their car start up and drive off.

Kestil laughed at their faces. “Appearances can be very deceptive. Ryan may not look like much, but I have found him very useful, and intelligent with it. He’s certainly smart enough to deduce you two will have no further use for your car.”

Jack exchanged a glance with Mandy. Kestil nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Truly hasn’t portaled you out yet, has she?” He stood up. “Unfortunately, my latest shield is much harder for her to crack. Oh, she will, I know that. Her technology is way superior to ours. Sadly, though, by the time she does, it will only be to recover your dead bodies. Funny thing is, if you two had allowed her to send you as hard-light holograms, which I’m sure she urged you to do, you could not have entered the house. Truly would have detected my shield the second I activated it. I knew you would come in person, though. The bait was too tempting, and you humans just can’t accept that a machine might know better.”

Jack snorted, “That’s some grand hypocrisy, right there. Don’t you hate machines?”

Kestil sighed. “So very naive. Machines are immensely useful, my boy. They are tools, though, and no more. We tell them what to do, and they do it. But, they should never be in charge, let alone run an entire galactic society.”

John Crabtree raised the pistol. “Right, on your feet, you two. Nice and easy, now.”

They both slowly got to their feet.

Kestil looked Mandy over. “So, you’re Mandy Somers, the young investigative reporter who just won’t leave me alone. You know, if it wasn’t for your friend here, the pile of enemies you’ve made for yourself over the last twelve years would have killed you long before Nuthros started this mess. In a way, that would have been kinder.” He raised his eyebrows at Mandy’s befuddled look. He looked at Jack, and then back at Mandy. “Oh dear, he’s never told you, has he?”

Mandy looked across at Jack, who stood pale and stiff beside her. He looked as lifeless as a statue, except for the cold gaze that never shifted from Kestil, even when she spoke. “Jack, what’s he talking about?”

Kestil leaned back in the armchair and put his hands behind his head, a cold smile on his lips. “Yes, go on, Jack. Why don’t you tell her who you
really
are?”

Mandy felt like a little girl lost in an adult’s conversation. Jack never took his eyes from Kestil. He didn’t speak, and he didn’t move; he just stood still and tense. He looked to Mandy like a cat about to leap on its prey. She spotted that his right foot was actually behind the left leg of his chair. She quickly swung her gaze back to Kestil.

Kestil sighed. “No? Well, I can’t delay here for too long, I’m sure Truly is more than halfway through my shield’s code by now. Before you both die, Mandy, you should know that the man you call Jack Short is actually an English assassin by the name of Justin Blake; he has been hiding in the United States for more than twelve years.” Kestil’s smile turned nasty. “Ever since he murdered your parents.”

When Kestil spoke those last words, Jack kicked his right leg forward in a lightning move that hurled the chair at John Crabtree. He leapt after the chair, intent on the gun in John’s hand. John stepped sideways to avoid the chair, and landed a hard left to Jack’s face. Jack staggered back a few steps. He was half blinded by the blood that ran freely from his brow and down his face. He saw the glint of metal on John’s knuckles; knuckledusters, he thought. John swung the gun up and pulled the trigger. Just before the gun fired, Jack received a huge blow to his side. He fell to the floor, a heavy weight on top of him. He knew he hadn’t been hit, but he could feel warm blood running over his waist.
Mandy
, he thought.

He saw John aim a second shot, but the room disappeared before he fired, to be replaced with the welcome sight of Nuthros, Hiram, David, Ron and Chris. Mandy still lay on top of him, and he had the presence of mind to remain perfectly still. He felt Mandy’s body lifted up from him, and he sat up.

“Is she…is she still alive?” He hauled himself to his feet. Nuthros handed him a small white cloth. He put it on the gash on his face, and the bleeding stopped immediately.

“Fold it into a pad, Jack,” Nuthros instructed, “and hold it on the wound. The skin will be fully healed in a few minutes.”

Truly guided Mandy’s limp body to the nearest cabin, where she lowered it onto an inversion plate. Jack and the others followed.

“Mandy is alive, Jack,” Truly replied. Hundreds of long, thin tendrils, hardly thicker than a hair, rose from all four edges of the inversion plate. They wove themselves through Mandy’s clothes and into her skin. Jack felt disturbed by the sight, but he knew it posed no threat to Mandy.

“She has been shot in the stomach,” Truly continued, “and I am repairing her internal organs now. I have stemmed the flow of blood, and I will cleanse her body of leaked fluids. I have placed her in an induced coma. I need to find and remove all fragments of the bullet. It was a hollow point projectile, made of soft lead. It was designed to do as much internal damage as possible.”

“Dumdum round,” Jack snarled.

“That is what your people call them, yes,” Truly said. “There is one small fragment I have just located in the-”

The group all looked at each other in confusion when Truly remained silent. David Markham stood stock still with his eyes closed.

“Truly?” Nuthros called. There was no reply.

“Hey,” Hiram exclaimed, “we’re on the move, look!”

They all turned to the viewport across the deck. The Earth rapidly shrank and was gone in minutes. The solar system itself receded at a remarkable speed, and they all stood in shocked silence. David opened his eyes, and Truly spoke. “My apologies. I must focus on Mandy. David will relate the latest events to you.”

“It would seem the attack on Jack and Mandy was a ruse,” David told them. “Kestil needed Truly to portal them out, and he got exactly what he wanted.”

Jack shook his head to clear it. “You mean we weren’t the target? I don’t understand.”

“No, Jack,” David replied. “You
were
the initial target; but Mandy ended up as the carrier. Either one of you would have been fine. The bullet that entered Mandy’s body contained a micro-drone, of a sort. The use of a dum-dum round ensured the micro-drone did not pass through her body; it lost its momentum as it broke apart.”

Jack’s face grew dark. “You mean to tell me, that nut-job injected a micro-drone into her with a freaking
bullet
?!”

David nodded. “The problem is, that micro-drone is a point connection generator. As soon as Mandy arrived on this ship, it went live and connected an entity on Earth with Truly, via the connections she established with Mandy in order to treat her. Truly could not withdraw her connections without further injury to Mandy, so she put the ship into faster than light speed to sever the point connection.”

Hiram shook his head in wonder. “That is pure evil right there. But so clever, too.”

“Hang on,” Ron interjected. “You said the connection was to an entity on Earth; don’t you mean Kestil?”

“Not Kestil,” David said. “An AI that Kestil obviously created.”

Nuthros frowned. “Kestil? An AI? Surely not. My brother hates machines.”

“Not so, Nuthros,” David replied. “Kestil is opposed to machines which wield power over sentients, but he is a pragmatist. He knows it takes an AI to defeat an AI. We don’t know how much information Kestil’s machine obtained, but it had access for nearly a full minute. It was programmed to obtain as much information as possible, so both my new form and the Entity’s existence may well be known by Kestil, now. By extension, the entire Independent Worlds will soon know.”

“It’s a disaster,” Nuthros said.

“It could have been a lot worse,” David replied. “Kestil’s AI also tried to access the Entity through Truly’s point connection. It attacked my connection as well. Truly severed the link quick enough to stop it before it could gain access through either one of us.”

Hiram frowned at the floor. “It seems awfully advanced for something Kestil knocked together on Earth.”

“It is a unique creation, in many ways,” David told him. “It is more like a parasite than a true single being. It occupies the human network, using whatever spare space and processing power it can find. It replicates itself at will, and can pass through any barriers mankind have in place. It is many centuries in advance of Earth technology. Its only capacity limitation is the transfer rate of the human network; that’s why it failed to access the Entity fast enough. This thing no doubt grants Kestil far more power than he currently uses. We did not detect it, as it doubtless spent all this time since its creation in expansion and evasion. It will now, undoubtedly, become much more active. It can control, or shut down, anything with a processor in it. At this point in your history, that is a long list.”

“My God,” Hiram breathed, “Kestil owns the Earth.”

Nuthros waved a hand. “Let us focus our priorities; we must return to Earth orbit immediately, or Kestil could place shiploads of whatever he chooses on the planet.”