Beyond the Gates of Antares, page 8
“How do you know that?” Baray looked at her ward in surprise.
“Genuine Sixth Age artifacts and antiques are quite the rage. Good money. All our traders have been tasked with keeping an eye out for sources.” Batu could not keep the look of satisfaction off his face. “I may have hit a motherlode.”
“Very Boromite, sire.”
“Thank you. I thought so.”
Another announcement came from the Tamalair. “Atmosphere compatible. Oxy-nitrogen levels within human tolerances. No breathers required. Local nanosphere is dense, but probably harmless to Seventh Age vardos security. You’re good to go.”
Batu unbuckled himself. “Quick. Before the Raya ‘mats through.” He strode to the shuttle’s exterior hatch, waited, then tutted in exasperation and triggered the manual override. “This shard isolation is a pain in the proverbial.”
The ramp slid out and he waited for the honor guard to form up at its base. The drones hovered to either side. He tried to comprehend what he was seeing. The guards were dressed in a uniform gray with functional helmets and no obvious signs of rank insignia. A lone human stood at the foot of the ramp, though dressed in red and gold. The drones were a riot of color, some complementary, others deliberately contrasting.
Batu paused for effect. “Here goes,” he murmured to Baray.
He stepped forward and was about to speak when MyShard interrupted. “Local shard security protocol adaption has succeeded. Integration complete as per current orders.” Batu stumbled in surprise, fell down to one knee. “We are connected to a local, Sixth Age nanosphere.” MyShard’s internal voice had a note of pride. “I managed to transmit a signal and the local nanosphere automatically rebuilt my low-level interfaces. Apparently, it’s an automated emergency response protocol in case one of their own drones becomes corrupt. I adjusted my lower-order interface functions to known Sixth Age specifications and retained higher-order Delhren security protocols to ensure isolation from local absorption.” It sounded smug. “Now gathering environmental, security, and trade data.”
Baray caught Batu’s arm. She looked concerned. “Are you all right, sire?” she whispered.
“Yes, fine. Just...” He paused. “Are you connected to the local nanosphere?”
“To the ship’s? Yes, still.” She lifted him to his feet. “Your interface is a different spec, sire. Top of the range, I believe, even Doma-grade security. It may have been more badly affected.” She inclined her head toward the waiting natives. “Sire? The delegation?”
“Yes, you are quite right,” said Batu, thinking furiously. He raised a hand in greeting, addressing the colorful human commander and his accompanying drones. “I am Batu Delhren. I greet you in the name of House Delhren, a trading nation of great repute. We are honored to be the first of a new age to encounter the SITAI.”
The human looked unimpressed. There was a flare of light from inside the ship. That will be the Raya, thought Batu, struggling to suppress his facial expression from reflecting his annoyance. He heard limping footsteps, then the Raya appeared at the top of the ramp.
The red and gold clad human glanced at the drone beside it and nodded. “Felicitations,” said a voice.
Batu jumped: the human had not opened his lips to speak. “Who said that?” asked Batu. He gathered himself quickly. “I am sorry, I did not realize you spoke our language.”
“The SITAI spoke,” said the Raya. “We decided it would be easier for us all to download our language data to their own databanks.”
“You are the superior intellect?” This time Batu noticed a light pulse on the underside of the drone as it spoke to the Raya. “Can you confirm you are the partially-transcended in command of the alien vessel?”
“Yes.” The Raya held up the stave, the stasis field now opaque so the grisly contents could not be seen. “We are the Raya.”
“Then communication can proceed. Follow.” The drone backed toward the exit of the hangar. The human at the foot of the ramp pirouetted on his heel and followed. Batu turned to Baray but she shrugged, clearly mystified. Batu strode down the ramp and across the bay floor, the SITAI guards falling in behind.
Are they rude on purpose? He sent an instruction to his reconnected MyShard. “Give me research on the SITAI humans’ mores, will you? Find out why they’re so rude. And find out something about their language – we can’t have the Raya having private conversations. And tell me whatever you can find out about this local IMTel, MyShard, I am concerned.”
“Is that all?”
“For now, yes. And stop being cheeky.”
* * *
“This is more like it,” said Batu. They entered a large, circular assembly hall and stepped up to a high platform attached to one edge. The walls and domed roof of the hall were richly decorated with banners and a slowly changing spectrum of colored light. Armed humans and guard drones stood or hovered around the circumference in niches whilst the space in the middle of the spacious hall was filled with a colorful array of drones and humans.
Baray spoke quietly in Tamalair. “Have you noticed that every human is accompanied by a drone?”
Batu responded in the same language. “No. I was thinking there were many more drones than people.” He sniffed. “Have you noticed there is almost no smell?”
“Makes a change from the Tamalair and the ship.”
“There’s not even any body odor from the humans.”
“They must shower regularly, sire.”
MyShard pinged for attention. “Batu, you asked for information on the local IMTel.”
“Thanks, MyShard. What do you have?”
“It does not exist.”
“What? But...”
“I mean, it does not exist as we know it. It is a broker, not a sharded intelligence. It seems to respond to requests and dispatches them to individual service units, each of which appears to be a separate, discrete intelligence in its own right.”
“What about data access?”
“Access to library data and information is simple, readily available, but their search and service intelligences are narrow, highly specialized, very responsive but limited.”
“A data transport nanosphere? Not an IMTel?”
“Correct. But still a highly effective storage and communication medium.”
“How strange. Keep looking, MyShard.”
Baray muttered to Batu again. “Perhaps the drones have as much authority and independence as the C3’s IMTel drones.”
“Maybe. There isn’t a communal IMTel beneath everything, though. I wonder what they mean by ‘transcendent’ or ‘substrate independent’?”
“I have a bad feeling, boss.” Baray looked at him oddly. “How do you know about their nanosphere?”
A group of drones and humans approached the Freeborn trio. Batu could not help but notice the humans’ costumes: each was dressed in the same combination of colors as the drone they accompanied. He bowed and was pleased to see Baray and the Raya emulate his action. “The Delhren are pleased to rediscover a lost civilization.”
“We, too, are interested in such contact. How did you travel through the gate?” A light on a red and gold drone at the front pulsed in time with the speech.
“From Antares. The red giant. I’m Batu, Merchant Lord of the Delhren.”
“We know who you are. Do you mean you come from the Antares system?”
“No. We came through from the giant’s photosphere itself. Um... who are you?”
“I am currently the First of the SITAI. Beside me are the Second and Defender.” A bright green and purple drone bobbed, then a deep blue and orange.
Batu turned to the humans. “You are?”
The Raya held up a hand to Batu to stop him talking further. “May I suggest I talk to the drones, sire, whilst you talk to the humans? I am, perhaps, closer to their minds.”
Since when does he call me sire? Batu was suspicious but could see no reason to object. “Sure. I mean certainly. Good idea.”
First hesitated a moment, then bobbed in the air. “That might be highly efficient.”
“MyShard: what’s going on?”
“There was a communication burst between the Raya and First, just prior to the drone’s acquiescence.”
“Okay, see if you can monitor any further communication between them.”
“Above your other requests? In this ancient nanosphere, I am limited in functionality.”
“Can’t you use Baray’s shard interface?”
“I am still locked out from the ship’s shard. And her access routines are locked into the Raya’s security protocols. Likewise, now the SITAI’s protocols have merged with my own interfaces, I am immune to the Raya’s access.”
“That’s good to know.”
The humans gestured for Batu to follow them and then led the way through the assembled SITAI to a conference room to one side. The room was bare, but as they entered, chairs and a table morphed into existence. Human guards followed in and stood at ease against the walls.
“I am for First,” said the red-gold garbed human. He gestured to the two beside him. “These are for Second and Defender. Sit.”
They sat. The chairs were solid, uncomfortable, and failed to adjust to Batu’s physique. “I am Batu, this is Baray. What shall we call you?”
The speaker frowned slightly as if puzzled by the question. “For-First, For-Second and For-Defender.” He stared at Baray. “You are a warrior?”
“I am Batu’s bodyguard, yes.”
For-First glanced at For-Second and For-Defender. Only after they each acknowledged his gaze did For-First speak directly to Batu. “Are you truly her transcendent? Not For-Raya?”
“Transcendent? If by that you mean her master, then no, just her employer. And no, I am not a For-Raya – he is merely the captain of the vessel who brought us here, one of my own.” Batu felt that, right now, explaining the complexities of Freeborn house politics and structure might be too difficult. “MyShard, what the hell does he mean by transcendent? And what are these people?”
“Evaluating. Searching cultural databases.”
Baray picked up on the discussion. “Are you saying you are owned by First?”
For-First muttered to the other two at the table. They all looked troubled. It was For-Defender who finally spoke. “We are owned and controlled by our SITAI masters, our transcendents. We struggle with the idea you suggest that a purely organic intelligence is allowed freedom or can even be a master to a partially transcendent.”
“Batu, the transcendent are the intelligences who occupy the drones. It seems they move drone bodies at will.”
“And these people?”
“They are Janissaries, slave-soldiers. Searching for more data. The servitor programs here are very eager to please.”
“If you are not SITAI,” continued Baray, “are you controlled by them? Dominated by the SITAI? Forced to obey?”
For-First parted his hair. Underneath, embedded into his skull, was a metallic circle half a centiyan in circumference. “It is right that all error-prone organics have governance implants. It prevents us being fearful or irrational. Do you not have such an independent intelligence, such implants?”
“No,” said Batu. He looked away and swallowed hard to restrain his horror. “Well, yes. We have shard interfaces, and some of our cultures have the IMTel, but not your.... governance implants. They are not considered ethical.” He thought of the soma grafts used on the Mhagris, of the similar implants used on the Tamalair by the Raya. “Generally, anyway. And those that do, have them voluntarily. And still have free will.”
“Mostly,” muttered Baray.
“Batu, local library data suggests the Janissaries are not from this system. They were brought here hundreds of years ago by interstellar slow-boat.”
“To serve the SITAI.”
“For tasks which they realized they needed ‘meat bodies’.”
“Thanks for that.”
Baray leaned forward. “You are obviously useful to the SITAI, which means you have some commercial value.”
“We could provide services, technology,” said Batu. Good thinking, Baray. “Dumb servitors. You could reduce your dependence on the SITAI.” He paused nervously, but decided to ask anyway. “Why don’t you free yourselves? Or bargain for better conditions?”
The guards who heard the questions froze. For-First, For-Second, and For-Defender became rigid. Batu waved his hand across the face of For-Defender but saw no reaction. A trio of drones swept into the chamber. Two were undecorated, metal and polished ceramic reflecting the light, but were armed with weapons resembling mag repeaters. Baray jumped to her feet, placed herself between the drones and Batu, and put her hand on her holster. Lights flickered on the surface of the third drone, bright yellow stripes over its shell. “What were you doing?” it asked.
“Talking to these fellows, here,” said Batu, peering round Baray. “Private business.”
“We have been monitoring your conversation.”
Batu frowned. “That’s intrusive.”
“These Janissaries are our property, under our control and management.”
Batu held up a hand. “Hold on a minute. You can’t control...”
“I am security. Do not correct us.”
Batu overheard the squeal of a compressed transmission. Small gun drones swept in from the main hall. The facial expressions of the Janissaries around the walls turned stoney and they raised their weapons. “MyShard: what’s happening?”
“You are being arrested.”
“Some help you are.”
The red-gold drone, First, appeared in the doorway with the Raya close behind. The Raya glowered at Batu. “What is going on?”
First spoke. “Your underling has been inciting rebellion amongst the Janissaries.”
“Hold on,” said Batu. He stood and leant on the table as he spoke. “I was just talking about freedom, reduced dependence on drones. All I said was that we could provide personal servitors.”
“Condemned from his own mouth,” said First. “Arrest them.” It backed away leaving the guard and gun drones aiming their weapons at the three Delhren. “Drop your weapons and your interface-stave.”
Defender slid into the chamber. “They are irrational organics, as I warned the Consensuality.”
The Raya turned a look of fury onto Batu. “What have you done?”
“Nothing!” protested Batu. “I just thought the Janissaries could do with some help, some independence.”
MyShard flashed a warning. “Another secure transmission. Beware.” Batu got to his feet.
The Raya turned to First. “There has been a misunderstanding. From organic ignorance. I was not aware.”
“You are the superior, so are responsible,” said Defender. A large, gunmetal combat drone slid in behind Defender, heavy railguns on pylons to either side of its body. An ominous click echoed round the chamber.
The Raya glared at Batu. “You fool.” It placed the stave on the table. “I will come for you,” it whispered. Baray placed her own pistol alongside it.
“This way,” said the security drone and led the way from the chamber. The combat drone turned so its weapons remained aimed at the Delhren and backed outside. Janissaries closed around the trio and shepherded them from the chamber. All trace of the Raya’s limp was gone and he displayed aloof dignity and grace in every step.
The look of fury the Raya directed at Batu was plain. “First, I do not wish to be imprisoned in the same cell as this meat,” it said. “I would be contaminated by this mindless organic.”
“We understand,” said First. “Defender will co-operate.”
* * *
“Well,” said Baray, looking around the cell. “It could be worse.”
“How?” grumbled Batu.
“I’ve slept in worse quarters than this.” She pointed to the bunks and the sanitary facilities. “At least they’re clean and its warm.”
“And we’re imprisoned. By a bunch of drones worse than the Concord.” Batu waved a hand at the walls. “And there’s no door. It’s got door-morph walls.”
Baray shrugged. “If I may say so, sire, you could have handled that a bit more diplomatically.”
“I what?” sputtered Batu.
“Going head on to challenge a new society’s mores and integral culture is never going to get you any friends. Sire.”
Batu stared at Baray. He reddened and sputtered, unable to think of anything to say. Baray looked at him steadily. “I’m here to watch your back, sire, and that means telling you when you’ve made gross mistake. ”Batu recovered and stared at her in disbelief. “And please stop moping, sire.” She tilted her head to one side. “Transmissions are being blocked from the ship, by the way.”
Batu swallowed his pride and self-pity, remembering that she’d saved him on Shamasai; that when the Ghar had attacked and destroyed their temporary shelters, she had been the only one of his bodyguards to survive; that she had dragged him through the maze of tunnels under the ancient, deadly surface; that she had protected him with her life. He felt ashamed. “Sorry,” he muttered, then raised his head and took a deep breath. “I apologize, Baray.”
“Don’t be sorry, think of something to get us out of here.”
“Like what?”
“You still haven’t told me how you knew about their nanosphere.” Baray watched him closely.
The observation caught Batu off guard and he slumped onto a bunk. He sucked his teeth thoughtfully. She’s smarter than she looks. I should have seen that ages ago.
“Well?”
“Well, the Raya corrupted my shard interface’s lower functions, something to do with Sixth Age protocols, I’d imagine. As soon as we landed, MyShard managed to rebuild its connectivity protocols and interface with the local nanosphere.” Baray raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Safely, so don’t worry. Our Freeborn security is way better than what they have here.”
Baray smiled. “Now that is something that might help us get out of here. Can it tell the local nanosphere to release us?”
“I don’t know.”
