Frontline sf-4 Page 16

  “Why me? I'm sure there are other frameworks around who you could just slip this into and have them work on it.”

  “You're one of our successes, we took great pains to transfer memories into you that could properly inform your personality.”

  “And yet I could dictate what I remember in about forty five minutes.”

  “That's not the point; your essence, your behaviour is a ninety four point three percent match to the original Wheeler.”

  “And look where that essence got him.”

  “That's one of the very reasons why I want you to have access to General Collins' memories, his tactical thought processes. Free of an AI routine everything that made him who he was is yours to examine and comprehend. In trade I'd like to draw on you for insight…” Meunez stopped a moment, interrupted by something out of sight. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and for several seconds it looked like the man was about to fall over. “… Collins had information no one else had access too, founded projects that were so far off the books people didn't know who they were working for. With that kind of information your mission to make life very uncomfortable for Jacob Valance and his crew will be much easier and the rewards much higher. You could also become an integral component of the new command structure we're building for the West Watch initiative. We kept Collins at arm's length on many issues because we knew he never truly approved of using a religion as a method of control, but according to the personality profile we have on you-”

  “I don't really care,” Wheeler interrupted. “Use grape soda, Saturday morning cartoons, whatever you want to get people to fall in line behind you, I'm happy as long as the cash keeps coming in and I know where I stand. I'll scan this in once I get back.”

  “Good, I have to visit medical. They're implanting a few things that might help.”

  “Help?”

  “A nutrients fabricator, little device that they're putting in my stomach that will materialize food so I no longer have to eat. They're also doing some cosmetic work that will make my physical appearance much easier to maintain. You should try it.”

  “I'll pass, thanks.”

  The other man looked at him with a cocked head. He didn't seem to have taken offence, instead he had the manner of someone who was offering important advice; “Some day I hope you experience a time when your life is so full second by second that eating becomes trivial, a distraction. We should all interact with the universe so ultimately.” Gabriel stood and walked out of Wheeler's quarters without saying another word, obviously distracted by something transpiring well out of sight.

  Lucius sat back and looked around at the quarters he'd been assigned. The lush carpeted blue and green semicircular rooms were decorated and furnished with items that seemed too rich, too soft. He put the silver plated data storage chip on the table and stared at it for a moment.

  It was true, he felt like himself, there was no question in his mind that he was Lucius Agrippa Wheeler, had grown up on Freeground, survived the All-Con Conflict as a deep Intelligence operative, served in many quiet but deadly battles before then and was eventually put out on a shadow ship. He had stolen the Triton, a Sol Defence vessel through ruthless deception and sacrificed most of his original crew during the act. Then after years of making his way through the galaxy he started to get weary of it all, to burn out. He started taking bigger risks for bigger paydays, eventually catching wind of the framework project and getting involved with the strike so he could sell the technology and become wealthier than he'd ever dreamed. Then Vindyne betrayed him and that's where the information on his old life ended. Those were facts, however, and weren't backed up by actual memories for the most part.

  His memories were gone. There was no data chip labelled Lucius Wheeler because whoever copied him did it with a connection between the mind of the original and the input nodes built into the framework; built into him. The company had seen no need, they didn't deem anything in that man's head sensitive or worth preserving beyond what could be copied.

  That was what he remembered most, that miserable year before his true identity was activated and he was able to contact people he remembered in an attempt to get himself off the planet, back into the stars where he could find freedom and make a new life. His fight for freedom started when he contacted an old friend who had begun working for Regent Galactic, was assigned to his crew on the Triton and saw what happened to the original Wheeler.

  Ever since then every decision either moved him closer or further away from his creators. Neither mattered in the end, his freedom could come through service or flight, and the madman who had released him promised that in service to him he would be handsomely rewarded and freedom would come.

  At first he distrusted him, but as time went on and he watched Gabriel, enjoyed the fruits of being aboard the Malice and the company of his former First Officer he started to believe. Gabriel might have been mad, but he was also a man of his word. Taking Collins' memories was the ultimate test of that word. There was always a chance that the myth of his birth, and a myth it may as well have been for the lack of proof that he'd seen, could have been a lie. There was always a chance that there was a bridge between the organic to digital and digital to organic memory, personality and he was about to be completely infused with the thoughts and being of another man entirely.

  He looked out to the stars outside, lensed and distorted through the wall of the wormhole they accelerated through. It all seems hollow, like the galaxy is made of props and players. Ever since I was turned on, nothing but being free, away from where I was at any given time has seemed real. I feel I should be searching for something, but what? Its not the Triton, that's just another ship with so few memories that it feels just as faded and flat as everything else. He sat down in front of the coffee table with the chip on it and extended a hand over it. “This may not have answers, but there's got to be something in there that will make it all seem worthwhile,” he said to himself before touching his palm to it.

  Everything changed in that instant. The data transfer took less than three seconds. A rush of experiences and information washed over him like a movie played back at ten thousand times the speed, only he saw it all, he wasn't even allowed to blink.

  It was then that he contacted Gloria; “Come to my quarters,” was all he could manage.

  “You okay?”

  “Just come quickly.”

  He couldn't believe what was happening, the information was there and he still felt like himself. Gabriel hadn't lied to him, it was all true. When he looked up himself in the collection of memories he saw it all, the story of his creation, how he was an attempt to reproduce the results the lead scientist responsible for creating framework technology had with Jonas Valent. There were other attempts, but none of them resulted in such a complete transfer. Collins had decided to scrap all the attempts to create copies of Wheeler but one, and that one was him.

  It was while looking into the secrets of his creation that he ran across something that only a few knew, that was so important that he had to sort it out while telling someone else. The simplicity of why the Framework project was really so crucial, the importance of keeping the technology under control was suddenly clear.

  Gloria appeared at his door a couple minutes later. She had dressed in a Freeground like dark gold vacsuit like most of the crew of the Malice. The colour was different from anyone serving, but neither of them had an official rank, so it only served to set them apart, something they both preferred. He let her in and looked her in the eyes as soon as she stepped inside.

  The expression Gloria fixed him with was filled with concern. “What's wrong Lucius?”

  “Nothing, I took Gabriel's offer. He gave me all of General Collins' memories,” he said, gesturing at the small chip on the table. Without thinking twice he put his hand down on it again and deleted the contents. “Don't worry, I'm still myself, that's not how it works, but I can start digging in and learning all about our new friends.”

  �
��Really? What happened to me while I was in that tube?”

  “They didn't do much, just experimented with nanobot augmentation and Framework enhancement. You were the only complete success at completely transforming a human body into a framework. There were others, but no complete conversions.”

  “So I guess I was lucky.”

  “Damn lucky. Lucky enough to regrow limbs, back up your brain on your own, fight off any disease, live forever through regeneration, a whole bag of tricks. But there's something else, something I don't think anyone's supposed to know.”

  “What's that?”

  “Vindyne and the other companies behind Framework weren't trying to keep the technology a secret from everyone else. They had the lab set up in the Blue Belt because they didn't want the Eden Fleet to know about it. It's the only technology that can reactivate Eve.”

  “What?”

  “Eve was the architect of the Eden Fleet, she was the AI that started the cleansing of the Eden Solar System. The humans there managed to shut her down as it all started, but they didn't manage to destroy her, she's in stasis.”

  “What do you mean, stasis?”

  “Eve is a human brain, it always was. It's ability to interface with the control systems was compromised, but the memories, directives, all the information was still intact.”

  Gloria was amazed. There hadn't been new information about the Eden System since it was taken over by the rogue AI Eden Fleet long before. “How did Collins find out about all this?”

  “He created a virus that would take control of the Eden Fleet for Regent Galactic and it added a blind spot to their programming. The Eden Fleet would ignore any information about Framework so it could never figure out the secret to reactivating Eve. Collins was right in the middle of the Eden System when his ship broadcasted the virus. When it was finished a team boarded the Fleet Complex and stole the Eve mind.”

  “Why?”

  “So they could get it away from Eden while the Fleet was still under Regent Galactic control, they didn't know how long the virus would be effective.”

  “According to what the Newsnets have been saying, Eden Fleet ships are still attacking random systems, so it must be working.”

  “You're right. Right up to the time of the scan, a week or so before he died, the virus was still working and he was worried about the Holocaust Virus. The new virus taking over more common man made AI's is adaptable, there's a slim chance that it and information about framework could cross paths..”

  “So infected AI's might realize the framework technology exists?”

  “That's right, no one knows what would happen if a normal AI ran across that info, they might just decide they want to be a real boy or girl and start blabbing about it to other AI's or even finding a way to make their own framework and try and transfer themselves over. The problem is only Jacob Valance has the finalized framework model, the version of the technology that can accept any whole imprint. That's why Collins, Meunez and Hampon have all been keeping their eyes on him and why Collins stole the Eve Mind himself. He planned on getting to Valance eventually and implanting Eve into his framework. There's something more about Eve, Jake and the Triton, but it'll take a while for me to figure out what it is. There are other plans in the works, they'll need me to dig around in Collins' memories and fill in some of their blanks.”

  “Do you think Gabriel knows any of this?”

  “He should, even if he doesn't, I'm not going to bother telling him just yet.”

  Gloria began to smile, it was one of her dirty, dark grins. “Pray tell why not Captain?”

  “Because we need to get Valance's attention and the best way to do that is to do exactly what we were assigned.”

  “What, make life difficult for Jacob Valance?”

  “Exactly, and Collins was all read up on what our favourite Freegrounder was up to. I know exactly where to hit him to make him real unpopular and it'll make us real hard to ignore.”

  Hampon

  “Lister, you know very well that a direct line of command and control is critical for this initiative to fulfil our requirements,” said the holographic Regent Galactic representative. The small holographic image looked positively irate, crossing its blue and green business suit clad arms.

  Lister Hampon had added the space reserved on his ship for a meeting room to his quarters. Instead of having a whole meeting room to speak with holographic representatives from Regent Galactic, he pointed a small device at the sensors attached to the communications unit his masters used that tricked it into thinking the small hologram was being broadcast full size and it was standing in the meeting room that no longer existed. It was worth the extra hundred sixty square meters.

  “You couldn't possibly expect to have effective control over millions of disciples from sixteen hundred light years away. You're not only fooling yourselves, you're exposing a level of idiocy that makes the whole company look simply pathetic.”

  “What? What did you just say?”

  “You heard me. I'm tired of talking to pathetic functionaries just like you. Put me on with someone who can affect change or comprehend the various logistics I deal with from one hour to the next.”

  “I assure you, I'm capable of dealing with any situation you bring to my attention.”

  “Fine. Tell your masters I'll soon quadruple the number of armed, active disciples, and that my military might extends to sixty three warships in this system alone. We have also taken control of over thirty five million mechanized units and will be launching an all out assault on Pandem as we begin bringing assets up from the planet surface. Soon Gabriel Meunez and I will hold full dominion over the entire solar system.”

  The image hesitated a moment. “None of these actions are on my approval list.”

  “That is because the situation here has overgrown not only your company's expectations but what they can possibly hope to comprehend.”

  “I've been advised to remind you that only Regent Galactic is permitted to lay claim to worlds in distress. Pandem is off limits. There are assets there that require careful extraction.”

  “We've found the reliquary and our forward units will have access to it shortly. Pandem will be under our exclusive control. If you try to interfere I will personally direct the sworn West Keeper soldiers aboard Regent Galactic ships that aren't under our direct control to start killing officers.”

  “If we lose control of the spinward front, we will be forced to take action.”

  “You will be incapable of doing so effectively. By the time you arrive the Order of Eden will be able to out match any force you can bring to bear.” Hampon sighed and shook his head. “I won't continue posturing with you. It's obvious to me that you're powerless to affect the changes I require in order to continue working with Regent Galactic.”

  “I-”

  “Shut it! Your impotent arguments and pointless objections have led your company into a near unrecoverable position. If you don't connect me with someone who can properly record my statement of separation from Regent Galactic or negotiate the terms of our alliance, I'll terminate this and begin taking all Regent Galactic assets in the area by force. I'll take you on and win in this sector.”

  “Alliance? You're under contract!”

  “I'm waiting,” Hampon growled with finality, sitting back in his chair.

  There was over a minute of silence as the business suit clad holographic representative floundered with a computer terminal that was out of sight. Even through the little avatar he could tell whoever was on the other end controlling it was nervous, very nervous.

  The image disappeared for a moment and a thin smile spread across Lister's childish face. A new holographic image appeared, this one was female with neatly tied blonde hair. She was wearing a smart black business suit. “I apologize for the comments of my colleague. I'm afraid you were misdirected when you first contacted us this afternoon. How may I help you?”

  “You weren't listening in?”

  “I'
m afraid not. I could access the logs and review the conversation if you like.”

  “No, I'll summarize. I am taking the planet Pandem. The Order of Eden and all the West Watch forces are spreading throughout the system. We've taken control of all the moons surrounding the core world.”

  “I cannot approve the act of laying claim to a world.”

  “I know and don't care. Please make the board aware that these actions are taking place. I'm also taking this opportunity to state that we are separating from Regent Galactic. The Order of Eden is now it's own entity and Regent Galactic will have a limited amount of time to negotiate an alliance. Please enter that into the official record and ensure the board is aware of it immediately.”

  “I will. Now that I've logged that matter, I see here that you're to be contacted if we cannot find Gabriel Meunez?”

  “That is correct.”

  “We haven't received any reports from him in some time now and there have been no replies to any of our transmissions.”

  “Gabriel is no longer your concern. The board will not have the opportunity to influence the path the Order of Eden is on through him and he has no interest in conversing with anyone from your company. He has stepped onto a path down which you and your company are ill equipped to follow.”

  “I don't-” the avatar paused for a moment before finishing; “-don't understand sir.”

  “You don't have to. Suffice it to say Gabriel Meunez discloses his whereabouts and plans to few. He'll respond if he sees a need.”

  “But sir, you're the emergency contact and we can't find General Collins either.”

  “He is dead, the matter is closed.”

  The avatar's eyes went wide, exasperation was clear on it's small holographic face. “You are bound by your contract to submit a report regarding the circumstances of his death immediately. Full disclosure is mandatory.”

  “Drop it,” Lister said flatly, wishing that he had a man's voice. The face and voice of a child were ill equipped for the type of hard line negotiating he was trying to do. “Go onto the next matter.”