Sidespace (20 page)

Was it a contest? Were they sharing, or showing off?

The Three mech led them to the platform. A rack rose from beneath the floor, filled with storage units and several objects they hadn’t seen before, and a large transparent sheet descended from the ceiling. A display screen? Not surprisingly, there were no apparatuses for sitting.

It was even warmer in here than it had been in Three’s complex. She checked with Caleb and together they collapsed their helmets.

The transmitters exploded in a cacophony raucous enough to make the earlier scene outside seem like a casual patio chat. Caleb reached out and grasped her hand firmly.

Be ready to run.

The mechs didn’t charge the platform, thankfully. She’d earlier observed they were more elaborately constructed than the models they’d seen so far, and now they used finger-style appendages to tap away at their devices while chattering incessantly.

She blew out a breath through pursed lips, fogging up the breather mask. “This is awkward. I haven’t been ogled this much since Primary Ball.”

Caleb chuckled quietly and loosened his grip on her hand. “You went to a school dance? Somehow I can’t see that.”

“I was rebelling against the rebel crowd by not rebelling. It was a thing.”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

The Three mech pivoted to face them.

The others request general questions.

She indicated understanding. “We’ll answer if we can.”

Valkyrie informed us organics can cease functioning permanently. When does this occur?

“If you mean how long do we live? Absent a fatal accident or other sudden cause of death? One hundred ninety years, give or take a few decades.” The planet’s stellar orbit was four hundred fifty-four Galactic days, but as it was tidally locked and they never saw the sun, she doubted the Ruda considered orbits significant. “I don’t have a way to convey how long it is as you perceive time.”

Caleb smiled a little; forced. “I suspect you would consider it a short span of time to live.”

How is stored knowledge uploaded to new instances of you?

His smile relaxed, and she took a subtle step back to cede him the stage. “It’s not as simple as that. We do pass knowledge down from generation to generation, but it’s done in a gradual, organi—natural way over time. We learn facts, but we also learn social skills—how to interact with one another—and find our place in the world. We discover what we enjoy doing and what we’re good at doing. Once we’ve decided on a profession, we’re taught detailed, in-depth information about our chosen topic. So we don’t all know everything. We tend to specialize.”

How do you replicate?

Alex covered her mouth to stifle a burst of laughter, but due to the breather mask she mostly failed. He glanced over his shoulder at her wearing a feigned glare. She arched an amused eyebrow and gestured for him to
please
answer the question.

“That’s, um…one of the most enjoyable aspects of being human, and also one of the most private. I believe the technical details are in the files, so we’ll just leave it there.”

Wimp.

Coward.

She rolled her eyes and stepped up beside Caleb. “So you asked for data—for knowledge—and we’ve brought it. Valkyrie was able to encode a vast quantity of information into the storage media you provided.”

She reached into the pouch at her hip and produced a rectangular slab of metal while Caleb did the same. “Information on organic anatomy and functionality—not merely on humans but our animals and plants as well—including neural structure and function. Details about our ship propulsion engines—” not superluminal propulsion, but she didn’t mention this “—and how they operate.”

She paused for effect. “And data on wireless transmission of power across long distances.”

The room erupted once again, and she couldn’t help but enjoy what was evident enthusiasm on the part of the Ruda.

When it subsided to a manageable level, she loudly cleared her throat. “Before we continue, I have a question. Why do all of you gather to meet? Why bring your mech avatars here at all? Can’t your central hubs simply communicate with one another?”

Silence lingered for several seconds, then several more. Had she offended them somehow?

So that we can feel less alone.

‘The Ruda were so grateful for the data we provided, they offered extensive files on their own makeup in exchange. It is fascinating reading, learning how an inorganic species developed and evolved. The manner in which they’re able to manipulate metals and electronic signals is not only ingenious, it exceeds our own capabilities in several respects.’

“That’s nice, Valkyrie.” Alex clasped her fingers together and stretched her arms over her head, strolling in a lazy circle through the main cabin. Two and a half hours in the environment suit had left her achy. Sweaty, too, but she’d get clean soon.

Who would’ve imagined these synthetics, each one stretching a quarter-million square kilometers and composed of trillions of subroutines, would experience such an acute yearning for companionship? They were so stilted, so binary and emotionless…but they had desires. They had dreams.

Caleb emerged from downstairs. “You censored the data like we discussed, right?”

‘No information about quantum computing or communication, nothing on superluminal propulsion and limited details on the functioning of the human brain. Nevertheless, the information we provided is certain to keep them busy for some time.’

He came over and began massaging her shoulders. “Maybe in the future they’ll be ready for the rest—or maybe they’ll make the intellectual leaps on their own, which is how it should be.”

‘Alex, I believe I will be able to use the information the Ruda provided on their methods for melding metals and electrical currents to improve my integration with the
Siyane
. I wanted to get your permission first, however.’

“What exactly are you thinking about doing?”

‘Growing additional quantum circuitry and weaving it into the structure of the ship.’

“When you say the ‘structure,’ do you mean the interior walls or the hull?”

‘Beginning with the interior walls seems like the best way to proceed. If I am successful in that effort, the outer hull should be within my capability.’

That gave her pause. “And how exactly do you plan to weave yourself into the adiamene?”

‘One of the reasons adiamene is so strong is because it is both flexible and reactive—and thus adaptable. The Ruda utilize several techniques to embed circuitry in metal that I’m hopeful will be beneficial in this endeavor. In fact, I suspect it will be an easier process with adiamene than with their morion quartz.’

She pondered it for a moment. “Your first priority is to ensure the integrity of the hull. If it shows the slightest sign of weakening in any way whatsoever, you need to stop. In fact, before you begin, develop a contingency plan for repairing any weak points which crop up. Once you’re confident you—or we—can reverse any damage, I don’t have a problem with it.”

‘The safety and sanctity of the ship will be my foremost concern. It was so even without you expressing your own. I’ll move forward using prudence and circumspection.’

“Also caution, discretion and all the other mindsets that come from exercising good judgment?”

‘Unequivocally.’ Valkyrie matched the semi-teasing tone her voice had taken on with impressive nuance.

Caleb’s lips hovered at her ear. “You know if you let her do this, there may be no going back. You may never be able to evict her from the
Siyane
.”

She twisted around to face him. “There was no going back from the day I let her in my head. It’s okay.”

He smiled, and she shifted back and not-so-subtly encouraged him to resume the massage. “So I suppose we could stay here, and we’d probably learn more about the Ruda and their technology. But Valkyrie’s collected a good haul of information on them.

“Some of what they’d show us might be legitimately interesting, but visually I suspect we’d see eternal kilometers of bleak skies and gloomy metal. They know nothing regarding the Metigens and have lost any knowledge they once had of their origins. It feels like maybe we’ve played this one out?”

“I think so.” He complied, gently kneading the tension at the juncture of her neck and shoulders, and she basically melted against him. “I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t mind looking for a little more…normal interaction. A little conversation, a little back-and-forth.”

“Do you want to go home for a while?” She wasn’t inclined to do so, but if he kept massaging her shoulders like this, she’d agree to just about anything he asked of her.

“No, I’m not homesick. We haven’t been gone very long. But I’m ready to meet some aliens who walk and talk and eat and sleep, who live in homes—of any kind, I’m not picky—and are born small and grow up.”

She chuckled wearily; performing under such intense scrutiny for a lengthy period had been draining. He did have a point. “The odds have to be working in our favor, right? In five of fifty pocket universes we’ve yet to encounter a humanoid species. There must be some out here. It’s only a matter of time until we uncover one.”

16

AURORA THESI (PORTAL PRIME)

E
NISLE
S
EVENTEEN (
P
ORTAL:
A
URORA)

T
HEY HAD NOT COME TO ME.

This one inescapable fact haunted my long cycles of solitude. Of exile.

I had expected them to return, seeking answers and enlightenment. I had considered what I might reveal and how best to guide them step by step to greater understanding, and to prepare them for the possibility of greater responsibilities.

But they had not come to me. Instead they had run off blindly to uncover answers on their own, as if they had nothing to fear. But they had everything to fear, which I would have imparted upon them if they had deigned to visit and inquire.

Now, I worried they would not properly comprehend what they discovered. Denied the full picture, they would draw incorrect conclusions. Worse yet given the circumstances, they were not ready to be shown the full picture. They were not ready for the truth. Yet they seemed intent on wresting the truth out of space itself, consequences be damned.

Humans. So foolish, so recklessly ambitious. These two more than most.

I exited the observation vault, where I had spent many hours reviewing recent events in Aurora. As I had disobeyed the Conclave in deactivating the spatial charges, so too had I disobeyed the Humans’ demand to cease observation of them.

The scenes were troublesome, to say the least. They struggled to hold on to even their most tenuous gains. They struggled with so much.

About to extend and return to my lake, I paused with the awareness of Lakhes’ approach. I had not expected such a visit. Confident our leader did not bring an invitation to rejoin to the Conclave, I pondered what tidings Lakhes did bring.

The Conclave Praetor arrived in a burst of light and cool flame, adopting the likeness of a
fata
on landing, tall and slight, with wings crafted from ribbons of light.

I evoked a quaver of polite greeting. “Lakhes.”

“I know what you’ve done, Mnemosyne.”

Do you?
“Are you here to reverse my decision?”
Animam
execution was not a concept Katasketousya entertained, thus there was no greater censure the Conclave could impose upon me than exile. They could not even force me to leave Aurora Thesi.

“No.” Lakhes gestured me forward. “But our situation is a delicate one. One wrong move, one mistake, and all we’ve worked for will be lost.”

“Yet all we’ve worked for will be for naught if we do not recognize when the critical juncture has arrived and act—”

“I
know
, dear friend, which is why I am allowing your actions to stand. For now.” Lakhes surveyed the mountains surrounding them. “Enchanting planet. Solum once looked like this, truly?”

“Truly.”

“Hyperion says your love for the Humans has made you soft. Weak-willed.”

“Hyperion says many things—so many one wonders if there is any space left for thought.”

Lakhes allowed the insult of their colleague to pass without affront. “Perhaps. You are aware your recent guests are currently running free through the Mosaic?”

“I am.”

“Your doing as well?”

I needed to be careful. “No. I accept responsibility, nevertheless. I am considering going to them. They need proper guidance.”

“Do not. Allow them to make their choices, and allow those choices to play out. Better for us to learn their inclinations now, while we control the Mosaic.”

I strived not to display any surprise at the response, on any wavelength. “Great dangers await them. If they wander into the wrong Enisle, they will find themselves out of their depth.”