The Broken Cage (Solstice 31 Saga Book 2) (26 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

The Plan

“The AI was running us all. None suspected. We just puppets.”

--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Ludmilla Kuss PhD, a member of the Ventura's advanced engineer team. NOTE: Dr. Kuss somehow escaped custody the day after her testimony and remains sought for additional questioning.

<<<>>>

“Will you look at the detail of these punch lists?” Ibenez said. Twenty-four of them were displayed in the conference area. “There are even lists for ‘off-line personnel’, meaning people without HUDs. Jesus, I've never seen anything like this.”

“We had this kind of compartmented tasking all the time on the
Ventura
, run by master AIs on the ship,” Barcus said. “This is simple compared to tasking 2,000 people.”

Worthington shook his head, smiling and pointing. “There are even ‘command recommendations’ for me. I am currently way ahead of my original schedule because I’m, apparently, so damn decisive.”

“Dependencies have shifted left. We’re already yellow on some tasking, now.” Hume pointed. “The Fabricator in the shuttle is already making the components for the plasma torches and laser cutters.”

“We have work to do, people, by noon. See you back here, then,” Worthington said, as they spread out. “You should be resting it says, Barcus. When was the last time you slept?”

“Long ago,” he replied, as Po dragged him by the hand.

“Enjoy. Today, it's strong tea and intel reports for me,” Worthington said, as he looked at a command screen in his HUD that no one else could see.

“Let's go. Em has even assigned a bed,” Po said.

As they moved to the
Sedna
, Barcus saw Olias, sitting inside the broken spider, performing a task at AI~Par’s instruction. “He will be fine, Barcus. He has slept at least.”

“Go. Rest. Please,”
came up in Barcus's HUD.
“Four hours. I will wake you.”

His HUD went quiet then. On the
Sedna
, they found beds in the cool, dark, bunk room. Sleep came faster than he expected with, Po in his arms.

***

“
Ulric. Wake up,”
Chen whispered, into his mind.
“Wake up, or I will kill everyone, but you. Today. Before your eyes.”

“I'm awake,” Ulric said, out loud.

“
Today, you will go to Exeter with Grady. He has followed you for so many years, but today you will follow him.”
The whisper always seemed to be behind him, no matter which way he turned.
“And, you will take Olias.”

“Why the boy?” he asked.

“Are you questioning me? Again.”

“No. I was just wondering what I will tell Barcus.”

“
He will go with you to the East Isles. To be safe.”
The whisper was right at his ear, now. He felt her breath. “
After he is there, I will tell you what to do. You have your pitiful tasks. You have been charged with the safety of these poor refugees.”

Her quiet laugh made his skin crawl.

Ulric rubbed his face, trying to wake up. He sat up. “Tasks? What tasks?”

“
Grady will go to Exeter. You will not be able to stop him. Help him. But, you must take Olias as well. Take him, or he is mine.”
Ulric heard the voice, from across the room, now.

He put his bare feet on the floor and kicked an empty bottle. He thought briefly about how Saay use to always make sure they were gone by morning.

“
Yes, there will be more bed wenches for you in the East Isles. And Exeter.”

“What will Ronan say?” Ulric worried.

“It will all be his idea.”

***

Po was already awake, when the chime went off inside Barcus's head. She was up, on one elbow, watching him. They were in the last row of bunks, on the second level of the forward section of the
Sedna
. She was on the side by the wall. She was naked.

“The schedule says we have twenty-two minutes to shower and dress, before the midday briefing,” Po said. “Apparently, they have replenished the water supplies on this ship already. I like Em’s lists so far.”

Barcus sat up. His clothes were not where he left them on the next bunk. His belt, pouches, gun and other personal items were there. There was a fresh, dark blue flight suit for him, and a black one for Po. There were even two towels. Po smiled, as she absently scratched her healing wrist.

She climbed out of bed, over him. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her small frame. She noticed the despair in his face. She knew he was thinking of the people that died at the Abbey. She lifted his towel and said, “I have never had a real shower before. I've heard of them, but never took one. Will you show me?”

She tossed the towel at him and, somehow, knew where to go.

When Barcus reached her in the shower cubicle, he was surprised how roomy it was. They were usually tight on space ships. Po stared at the control panel, not knowing what to do. He tapped the controls and set the temp to 102°F. Multiple, luxury showerheads activated as he unbraided Po's hair. There were dispensers, for shampoos and for body soaps that, somehow, still worked.

He washed her hair. She washed his body.

Their shower took longer than Barcus planned.

They were late to the midday briefing.

***

Po wore the black, one-piece flight suit that could only have originally belonged to Hume. She was self-conscious. Barcus saw it. She had never worn pants before, she had told him that. He joked, again, about the anvil. But, his heart was not in it.

He thought about all the dead, again. On the
Ventura
and at the Abbey.

The HUD display was even bigger, now.

“Inventory is now complete. We’re in far better shape than we initially thought,” Worthington said. “Raw materials to feed the fabricator are plentiful in the shop, in the form of the old, milling machines in there. We can cut those up, easily. Ash and Peace have already begun.”

“Teams have been created for the major tasks,” Jim continued. “At nightfall, Ulric, Grady and Hume will take Ronan and the remaining survivors back to the East Isles. Ronan is speaking to them now, in the cottage, while AI~Stu is en route, he will continue the manufacture of new joints for Par’s legs. In the meantime, a few things have come up that we need to discuss.”

Tyrrell stood at this point. “We’ve been analyzing the comms traffic, to see if we can use that network for our purposes. Stu highlighted some communications of note. These are plate-to-plate comms, within the Citadel, between its technical staff. All the plates are configured by default to communicate via the sats.”

Em played the intercepted transmission. There were two men. One was in a data center control room, and the other was outside, by a sat uplink antenna array. Both views were displayed.

The man outside spoke. “Mason, if we bypass these encrypted units here, the sat side won't handshake. It's a nonstarter. You'd have to remove them from both ends. Plus, I’m fairly sure there are some anti-tamper devices here, as well. Bad ones.”

Mason said, “What if we did a cold restart to initial factory settings on all thirty-two sats? We will never crack the control code password.”

“Mason, a cold start? How do you know it won't just launch everything, if we do that? Do you know if the default password would be the same on every unit?”

“Close it up, man. Come back down. We won't solve it, by you sitting there, wishing.”

“Thanks, Mason. The view is nice, but it's scary up here.”

The vid paused.

AI~Em spoke after that. “It appears that this is the chief systems engineer at the Citadel. His name is Mason. He is trying to figure out how to regain control of the defense platforms.”

“Are you saying these dumb-asses can't control their own nukes?” Richard Cook asked.

“That is how it appears. Somehow, they have been deprived of control,” AI~Em stated. “It looks like they cannot simply nuke us from orbit. The outward facing defense grid is active, but not the inner. This is confirmed by the fact that there is high altitude traffic, often.”

“Does this change anything?” Worthington asked.

“It confirms that we will be able to harvest the missiles with less risk. Like a self-destruct signal,” AI~Em said.

“I believe it also tells us that they are less competent than they want the world to believe,” AI~Stu said, as his avatar stepped forward. “They use the comms channels for almost nothing of note. The High Keeper has never used the comms network. Ronan checks in twice, daily. He doesn’t know he’s being monitored, as far as I can tell. He has his own segregated, virtual, private network, in addition to the global comms network. He has his own data center and staff.”

“There is one more thing.” AI~Stu gestured to the paused videos. They played, again.

“Thanks, Mason. The view is nice, but it's scary up here.” The man closed the panel and stood. “Got any plans for the weekend?”

Mason replied, casually, “Yes. I’m doing a favor for Wex. I’m meeting her at the Flask and Anvil, at midnight, on Saturday.”

“What?” Grady said. He had been standing off to the side. “What did he say?” He held a plate.

“Yes, Grady. We know where this man will be, in five days, at midnight,” AI~Em said. “The Flask and Anvil in Exeter.” AI~Em looked at Barcus now. “The High Keeper's chief tech, the man with global admin control on all the High Keeper's systems. I recommend we use him.”

“Use him how, and to what end?” Jim was very curious.

“I will use surveillance BUGs to monitor him and to obtain access to the systems, by simply watching him type. Once in, we will know how best to distract, to cripple or to destroy the systems. We will basically own this planet.” She looked at Grady. “We may also be able to extract Grady's wife at the same time, as an added benefit. It may be a good diversion.”

“Ronan has an estate, here, in Exeter.” AI~Em brought up a map of the large city that indicated Ronan's considerable holdings there. “Here is the Flask and Anvil. This estate borders the mountain foothills where this forest could provide cover.” AI~Em indicated the area. “Here is the Citadel, on the opposite end of the valley, on the top of this peak. It can only be accessed by this one road along this ridge. Or, by air.”

“How can you be sure Ronan will support any of this?” Rand asked.

“Ronan has his own agenda,” AI~Em said. “As long as our purposes are compatible, he will do what he can.”

“What is his agenda?” Rand followed up with.

“Ronan simply wants the High Keeper to leave him alone,” AI~Em replied. “It has been his only agenda, apparently, for decades. He doesn't oppose the High Keeper in anything, as long as he is left alone.”

“This woman named Wex seems to have influence with Ronan. Mason, the High Keeper's lead engineer, also appears to owe some kind of allegiance to her.” AI~Em looked at Po. “This is unusual for this world. I do not believe she is a native.”

Murmurs drifted through the room.

“How will this impact the schedule?” Elkin asked.

AI~Stu replied, “We were already planning on rolling the fabricator out of the shuttle, to facilitate the creation of the larger hull plates on the
Sedna
. Med bay's schedule is winding down. So, stealth transport to the East Isles should be quick, quiet and easy. We can even take the newly armed PT-137 that’s in the hold, if we change the schedule, here, and here.”

“All of this only moves the schedule to the right about thirty hours,” AI~Em said. “But, it also presumes we can retrieve the nuclear missiles for fuel within four days.”

There was a long pause, as everyone studied the proposed plan. Worthington was in the center and turned around.

“Here is what we will do,” he said, decisively. “We need to get the fabricator rolled out of the shuttle, by nightfall. Hume and I will have a talk with Ronan. Hume and Stu will take Ronan and the survivors to the East Isles.” Cascading assignments appeared as he spoke. “We will get access to the High Keeper's systems, and when we’re ready to get off this rock, maybe we’ll use that access to create a little chaos, so we can slide out of here, quietly.” He turned to look at the schedule. “Poole will monitor the schedule while Par, Ash, Peace and Em go with Barcus, to retrieve the missile pod.”

Worthington turned to the group. “Anything else?”

Barcus spoke, “Par will be repaired, ahead of schedule. Rand has been helping me.”

“Make sure you get enough rest, Barcus,” AI~Em said.

Everyone laughed. AI~Em’s tone was a perfect nag.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The East Isles

“Wex…We just didn’t know who she was. What she was. Or, that another just like her, was on the moon, with Hagan.”

--
Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Lieutenant Valerie Hume, the security chief on the Memphis.

<<<>>>

Everyone moved to their assigned tasks and schedules. Barcus found that he was working with Em, Po and Olias all afternoon, replacing the broken leg joints on Par.

Olias stood by the cart full of tools, and Po held the pins Barcus had pulled from the first multi-axis joint they were replacing. She stretched upward. The form-fitting flight suit drew his attention.

“Barcus, why can I see Em now? I don't even need a plate, anymore. I just...see things,” she said.

“Yeah. Me too,” Olias added, in Common Tongue. “Not that I mind. She translates everything into Common Tongue for me, so I can understand. I’m glad she’s back.”

“I can answer that, Barcus,” AI~Em said. She seemed to be standing with them, leaning on the next leg over. “While they were injured, I implanted the personal HUD systems into the two of them.” She sounded like she was apologizing to them all. “I was afraid. It was just easier to do than to explain. I had to do everything I could think of that would increase the probability of their survival. The med bay had the replacement HUD nanites. A plate could be lost or broken. I was unsure about their recovery. I needed help. Without the nanites, they would have died.”

That was what Barcus heard.

***

Po and Olias heard her say something else, something different. “I can answer that, Barcus,” AI~Em said. She seemed to be standing with them, leaning on the next leg over.

Po heard, “While you were injured, and so close to death, the magic contained within your soul began to drift away.” She sounded like she was proud of them. “Your soul recognized Po, and Olias. It clung to you both, and stayed. Their strength added to yours. They saved you, even though we were all afraid.”

***

Olias heard, “While you were injured, and so close to death, the magic contained within your soul began to drift away.” AI~Em sounded fierce and proud of Olias. “If it wasn't for the brave actions of your apprentice here, you may have died. He saved you, and through you, he saved Po. She was beside herself with grief. He will make a powerful Keeper one day.”

***

Barcus put the tools down on the cart, and rested a hand on each of their shoulders, before speaking. “Thank you for everything you've done for me.”

“You can stop right there, Barcus,” Po began. “We have too much work to do for you to start being kind to me. You know that's the only thing that'll make me cry, so please don't.” She smiled, as she said this.

Olias beamed at his thanks.

She handed him the tool and pointed. The Emergency Module had its physical repairs done ahead of schedule.

***

Hume and Worthington found Ronan, having his own meeting with the survivors from the Abbey. When Jim saw them last, they seemed beaten and depressed. Now, he heard their laughter, before he even reached the cottage.

Hume and Worthington entered, through the stairs, into the pantry and then the kitchen where they were gathered. Some were cooking, some were simply standing where they could. In the center of it all was Ronan, telling a story, in Common Tongue, that neither Worthington nor Hume could really understand. It made some of the women blush. Others covered their mouths, to hide smiles, or to suppress laughs. His tone sounded as if it was a well-practiced story, of high humor and self-deprecation. When the punch line was delivered, Hume and Worthington laughed with the rest. Ronan made faces, as if their laughter was unexpected, making them laugh even more.

Even Smith laughed. Shaking his head, he laughed. When he scratched his eye, Rose slapped his hand away. That sent the group into a renewed bout of laughter, to the point of tears.

Ronan stole a fresh biscuit, as he stood and gestured for Worthington and Hume to come with him to the front.

Ronan spoke, as he added more wood to the fire in the large hearth. “These people have had a hard life. They are strong. They will do well in the East Isles. Barcus made quite an impression on them.”

“Barcus is a good man,” Jim stated.

“That may be true. But, I believe the people at the redoubt may also still be in danger,” Ronan said, lowering his voice. “We must evacuate them, as well. And, soon.”

“I agree. We will contact them and tell them to be ready. Kuss is there with them,” Worthington said.

“Captain
.” It was AI~Em in his HUD.
“If Stu stops en route, to pick up people on the way, we can get them all in one trip, and still be back here by dawn.”

Worthington silently agreed.

“I will notify Kuss, now. And Jim, let Barcus and Po take them.”

Worthington raised an eyebrow at AI~Em for using his first name, but continued, “As soon as everyone has eaten and packed, Barcus will take them.”

***

Barcus, Po and Olias had dinner with the Abbey survivors that night. Barcus knew it was probably the last time he would see any of them. He even convinced Smith and Rose to go with them. They crowded on the STU’s flight deck, at Po’s request, as she sat in the front, right seat with Barcus in the front left.

Suddenly, the dome of the interior seemed to fade away, as it shifted to the exterior display. It looked like they stood on a platform with a 360° view, as they drifted, silently, toward the mouth of the hangar. They saw Worthington's crew, waving to them in the floodlights. The people clung to one another, afraid they may fall off. They slid out of the hangar, over the water, and moved fast to the east; at first, low over the water, then they rose, quickly.

The group gasped and held each other as they increased their altitude. Barcus knew that the display was enhanced, because it was a cloudy night. They moved quickly, under propulsion. They would be at the redoubt in less than forty minutes.

Ronan knelt on one knee between Po and Barcus. “I don't suppose, when you head back to Earth, that you could let me hold onto this excellent craft for you, until you return?”

He smiled.

“Sorry, Ronan. The STU has to come with us. We need him,” Barcus said.

“Yes, I know. I have already discussed it with your captain. We have come to an agreement. A treaty of sorts. I will protect your interests, equities and assets, when you leave here,” he said, in good cheer.

“My assets?” Barcus asked.

“Your lands, your people. You now possess everything north of the gorge. It may be cold and empty, but it's vast. I will happily manage it, for you. And, this outpost, as well,” Ronan said.

“What's in it for you?” Barcus asked, curious.

“Honestly? Timber. I need masts for my ships,” Ronan replied. Suddenly, sadness slipped over his face. “And, I need the High Keeper to pay attention, elsewhere.”

***

Po brought up a tactical map and as they approached the redoubt,

Kuss hailed them. “Everyone ready to board, my Lord.” She addressed him in his HUD. “I heard many stories of you, Barcus. I may take you to my bed yet. If you lucky.”

Po was amused by Kuss’s broken English.

She laughed. So, did Barcus. Po just pounded his chest with a surprise fist.

They assembled on that flat area, just above the redoubt. As the ramp lowered to the cargo bay, they walked slowly to the shuttle. It was a tearful reunion. They barely felt the takeoff as the STU smoothly moved to the sky. Kuss joined Barcus, Po, and Ronan on the bridge.

“Well, Barcus. Your redoubt base properly shut down.” Kuss sat slowly, as if she was exhausted. “Computers dead. But not needed, really. Old Colony redoubts made so they not need them.” She reclined in the last row. “Need nap. How long flight?”

Barcus replied, “We will be in the East Isles in about three hours. As soon as we are loaded with the supplies Ronan is so graciously donating, we will be off again. Back to the hangar by dawn.”

“Wake me when close,” she said, as she reclined and folded her arm over her eyes.

AI~Stu lowered the lights without being asked. The night sky cleared the farther east they went.

“Captain Worthington says you will be taking a quick trip, visiting Exeter in a few days, to get Wex,” Ronan said, in a soft voice. “I will send word to my estate there. I cannot tell you in strong enough terms that you must be careful. I’ll take you in my shuttle. It’ll be safer. I’ll give you some of my personal house liveries. This will help you move about unmolested. But, tread easy. Be patient.”

“Who is this Wex?” Barcus asked.

Ronan hesitated, as if the question was far more involved. “She is a musician. And saying that, actually says nothing about her,” Ronan said. “She plays the black flute. Grady made that flute and gave it to her as a gift. Long ago. They say, it won her heart. But, I think it's she that has won ours. Her music is raw magic. She can make a High Tracker weep like a little girl with that flute.”

Barcus looked at Po. They had a difficult time seeing Grady with any woman.

“I was there when she played for the High Keeper, for the first time,” Ronan continued. “It was during, yet another, High Council feast. I hate those feasts. She played, intended to be typical background music.”

Ronan got lost, remembering.

“No one realized that all conversation, all eating, all drinking had stopped. Everyone listened to her play.” He saw it in his mind's eye. “She was in a full habit, just like most women in Exeter. Her hood was up, her face in shadows, as was proper.”

“What happened?” Po asked.

“The High Keeper had not seemed to notice or to care about anything in decades, even a century. He was moved by it. She has resided at the Citadel, ever since,” Ronan stated. “Wex is the most intelligent, talented, extraordinary woman I have ever met.”

“Grady made her that flute?” Barcus asked, absently.

“She is more than that flute. I think she is a survivor, like you. Because, like you, she wears the world differently.” Ronan's voice faded.

***

They landed in East Isles just before midnight. Barcus, Po, and Olias said farewell to all of them. Olias would not stay. He could not be persuaded, in any way. He, eventually, retreated to the shuttle's bridge, to avoid another person asking.

Barcus never even considered asking Po to stay. This, silently, made her happy. Barcus knew this, inside.

Before they arrived, the details had been sorted out for their brief visit to Exeter. It will be simple. Ronan will, quietly, find out what he could regarding Wex, and let them know, in a few days.

Smith was the last one to say good-bye.

“I can finally see you as you need to be seen,” Smith said to Po.

She knew he was not talking about his eye. She stood before him in a black flight suit.

“I love you, Po.” Smith said the words he had never said before, as he hugged her. “Be all that you are. But, be safe. Live.”

Her face was wet with tears when he let her go.

“You'll need to be, if you stay with this one.” Smith looked at Barcus.

Barcus held his hand out, for Smith to shake. He would not discover, until later, that it was a Keeper's acknowledgment of an equal. Smith took it and hugged Barcus, with their clasped hands between them.

“Take care, Smith,” Barcus said.

“Just remember, son. On Baytirus, beware of the broken cage. Because you may not know if you are on the inside, or out,” Smith said, as if he quoted a famous farewell.

Barcus only realized, later, it was a quote, and its true meaning.