The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 32
“The yellow automacube sent in a request for service to Transport Authority. That request was routed through various places looking for a reply, and I intercepted it with the limited functioning I have through the couplets to engineering.”
“So we just need to go to Medical Clinic 87, right?” Michael said, almost to himself.
“It is improbable that Regina is still in Medical Clinic 87. The automacube sent the request to Transport Authority because of non-functional transports in that area. From analysis of the surveillance video taken when that request was made, Medical Clinic 87 is nearly non-functional. There is a 95% probability that the automacubes would have taken her to another medical facility.”
“Michael, those words, in those images…” Levi was hesitant to comment but knew it was important. “Those words, Trust is all you need. are a Truster motto. I found that comment often in the writings that Robert the Rector had secreted away in his cabin. I would say that Trusters burned down the place we see in that magic window.” Levi pointed at the video, which had paused at the end of its clip.
“So where would they have taken Regina. Again search and use all available connection to make best guest conjecture. Use whatever means available to gather further information for me,” Michael ordered. Little did he know that his last command had empowered Theta Four in surprising ways.
By this time, Jamie had returned with both backpacks, and she had the Willie Wacker strapped onto her belt. Lydia and Lorna walked in, watching quietly.
There was a long pause from Theta Four. Throughout the transport system, Theta Four searched for ways to link to other systems. One dead end followed another, but the new link into Medical Clinic 87, weak and limited as it was, via the report that had been routed from Transport Authority, had opened up new avenues for possible links and couplings. Finally, Theta Four was able to access the same partially functional medical directory that had been reached by the yellow automacube. The same pattern of red images flashed across the screen until the green one was lit.
“Information gathered. Analysis made. Conjectures made. There is a high probability that the automacubes are attempting to transport Regina to Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy 12,” Theta Four stated.
“Display graphic of location of Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy 12,” Jamie ordered.
“I have only initial planning diagrams for this location as well,” Theta For said. The graphic came up.
“Now, in a different color, overlay this graphic with the one you showed us of the tunnel systems around Habitat 1. Make them on the same scale,” Jamie asked. An idea was forming in her mind, and she wanted to confirm her own thoughts. She had missed a bit of the conversation while she got their supplies, but she was sure about what she asked. The second graphic came up and was laid over the first. They were a nearly perfect fit where they overlapped. “So it looks like Regina is being taken to a place that is right near where Sinclair escaped. Is that correct?” Jamie asked.
“Yes, it looks that way,” Michael said as he touched the screen and traced the diagrams with his finger. “Is that correct Theta Four?”
“The logic is sound, and the evidence does point in that direction. However, the graphics I can display may or may not be accurate to the current situation, and they are not the final completed plans, so there is some doubt. I am trying to find a connection, link, coupling or other manner to reach out to Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy 12,” Theta Four stated.
“Use all available resources to do so,” Jamie said. She had just unknowingly reinforced Michael’s empowerment of Theta Four. She knew what they had to do. So did Michael.
“Information linking and analysis continuing,” Theta Four replied.
“You are going after Regina and Sinclair,” Lydia said. Lorna nodded.
“I will also come with you,” Levi stated. “And we will ask Gideon as well. I think he, too, would be interested in all this talking machine has told us.”
“We are leaving right now,” Jamie said and threw her backpack on. “Get Gideon if you want to, but we are not waiting,” She nodded at Michael. He returned her nod and grabbed his own backpack.
They were running before they left the center.
22 machines to the left, machines to the right, here i am.
Sinclair closed the doorway behind her. She waved the magic bone in a certain manner, and the doors slid shut. "Are you well, Mother Sinclair?” A man asked. “Those heathens have not injured you have they?” The man was dressed as were the other bandits, in rough materials with leather belts and sandals.
“Do not fear for me, Arthur,” Sinclair answered. Her tone was mocking, as if even asking about her health was a sign of disrespect. Her tight curls of white hair were clipped short and next to her head. Her thin and angular face was harsh in its features, pale and pasty in complexion, although not large in size. Her deep set eyes were nearly alive with energy.
“Pardon my mistake,” Arthur murmured. He was deeply shamed by the look Sinclair had given him.
“Well, move along,” Sinclair said. “I suppose we need to get those weak souls to the miracle room, so that I can have my servants attend them. Move along.” Sinclair pushed past Arthur before he could move. She placed the Willie Wacker into one of the deep pockets in her robe but kept the magic bone in her other hand.
The other bandits were already struggling to help two of their wounded down the hallway. The hallway was illuminated by light from the ceiling. The floor had dirt tracks covering the patterned smooth surface. There were drops of fresh blood scattered along the floor.
Reaching a doorway, the bandits had stopped. One man was leaning heavily against another. Blood was running down from the side of his body. Mason had been struck, not directly by the projectile from the Willie Wacker but, rather, by a large chunk of wood knocked out of the tree he had been hiding behind. The chunk had ripped through his clothing and embedded itself deep in his side. With one hand he was trying to hold the injury, but the wood chunk was soaked in blood which was running out of his hand in a steady dribble. Freddie was holding him up. Freddie had his sword and shield strapped to his own back and had also put Mason’s sword in his belt as well. Freddie was a large muscular man, bigger by far in muscle than he was in brain. He was able to help Mason along easily. He could carry him if needed.
Also standing before the door were two women. While the women wore hair longer than the men, it was the same dirty blonde color as all of Sinclair’s bandits. Many of them were related. Sara was holding her face with her hands, and Mary was guiding her along. Sara had not been struck directly either, but a projectile had sprayed gravel out of the ground and into her face. One eye was a ruined mess with bits and fragments being held in place by her hand. She could see out of her other eye, somewhat, but the swelling in her face was making seeing out of that eye difficult.
Sinclair approached the group standing before the doors, as Arthur hurried to keep up.
“Mother Sinclair, where are Vik and Theo?” Mary asked her voice quivering.
“They doubted me, so they are dead,” Sinclair snapped. Mary looked away and uttered a sniffle. Freddie glared at her as she did. “Oh dear, do you have something to cry about?” Sinclair turned to her and grabbed her face. She stared straight into Mary’s young eyes. Sinclair’s hand squeezed Mary’s face into a pucker.
“No, Mother Sinclair,” Mary recited as she had been taught. Mary’s heart raced in fear.
“Are you certain?” Sinclair squeezed Mary’s face hard again causing much pain. Mary mumbled agreement. Sinclair clenched her face one more time then released her and turned to the doorway. “I thought not.”
“Hear me now, passageway to the miracle room. I am here, and I command you to obey me and open!” Sinclair declared in a very load voice as she placed the magic bone against a spot on the side of the doorframe.
“Access granted" a voice came from the wall.
The doors slid open, and the elevator’s interior was now illuminated. The bandits all stepped inside. Sinclair positioned herself next to the frame and started chanting.
The bandits knew to bow their heads and shut their eyes while Mother Sinclair worked her magic powers.
Seeing that everyone’s eyes were shut, or in Sara’s case covered by her blood soaked hands, Sinclair placed the bone against the frame of the wall. She then concluded her chanting and slipped the magic bone into another of the pockets of her robe.
The elevator was so smooth there was no sense of movement. When the doors opened, they were looking out at the lobby of Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy 12. The bandits took seats around the lobby, and the elevator closed. Two of them had been here before, but even so, all were amazed at Mother Sinclair’s powers to take them to this place. The place was vastly different than anything they had encountered in their lives. Even the Center, or the portal place in Antioch, or anywhere in Media, none compared to this miracle place only Sinclair could open for them.
“Freddie bring Mason,” Sinclair commanded. Brodie, Sinclair’s son, previously had been her assistant in these matters, but that had changed. Since the legionnaires did the cleansing of Gath, and Brodie was taken away, Freddie was now serving in that capacity. Mother Sinclair only allowed one other person to enter the miracle room with her and the injured or sick person. After the healings, Sinclair and her assistant would tell the person who had received the miracle what to remember about their experience. She always warned them to only remember what she told them, lest the healing be removed. The big man nearly carried Mason though the lobby and followed Sinclair around a corner and into the medical bay area.
Sinclair stopped and hesitated for just a moment. Down the line, at the far end, was a body floating in the air, over one of the miracle alters. It was a naked female, and she was surrounded by light.
“Good, another of my followers is here,” Sinclair stated in her most authoritarian voice. She then looked at Freddie, who had also seen the floating body. “Avert your eyes, pervert!” Sinclair snapped. “Are my people for you to ogle at with your filthy thoughts?” Freddie felt a deep shame. He did not realize he was having impure thoughts, but he must have been having filthy thoughts, otherwise Mother Sinclair would not have admonished him so harshly. Freddie never doubted anything Mother Sinclair said.
“Put Mason on this miracle alter,” she commanded. The medical table lit up and a screen appeared.
“Hello, how can I assist you?” Kurat the artificial intelligence system for this medical unit stated.
“This man needs healing. Do it now,” Sinclair commanded.
“Yes, ensign, on your authority,” Kurat replied. The screen displayed writing. “Patient admitted to table 16C under authority of Ensign Jay Martinson, whose biometic chip was used to activate the emergency elevator. Initial overview shows male in fair general health admitted for traumatic puncture wound to…” The screen went through the standard trauma treatment cycle, displaying all the pertinent information. But neither Sinclair not Freddie, nor any of the bandits could read, so the screen was only intimidating and not informative. Sinclair knew how to use that intimidation factor.
“Make sure this is done correctly and completely,” She commanded.
“Yes, ensign,” Kurat replied.
The gravity manipulation features took over, and Mason’s body was elevated, floating over the table.
“Go get Sara,” Sinclair commanded to Freddie. Freddie walked reverently, and in trepidation, out to the lobby and escorted Sara back into the bay area. “Set her on this magic alter,” Sinclair commanded as she pointed to the next table over. “This woman also needs healing. Do it now!” Sinclair commanded.
“Yes, ensign, on your authority,” Kurat replied. The table under Sara lit up, and the screen near her table also started to display information. “Patient admitted to table 16A under authority of Ensign Jay Martinson, whose biometic chip was used to activate the emergency elevator. Initial findings are severe injuries to face and eyes....”
“Go and take a seat. I will watch the rest here,” Sinclair commanded. She did not want the talking machine to say too much in front of Freddie. Freddie was not her son and, while he was useful, he could not be trusted. If only Brodie was not gone. But alas, that had happened. The legionnaires would pay dearly for their impudence. She pondered her revenge, but that would be another day. She returned her attention returned to her wounded bandits. “You will heal them as quickly as possible,” Sinclair commanded.
“Affirmative. Healing will be completed in twenty two minutes,” The AI Kurat answered.
Regina heard the voices at the far end of the medical unit. She had been sleeping lightly as her injuries were healing. She wanted to hear the voices, as they seemed human, but she drifted off to sleep again. She was still somewhat disoriented. Was she hearing The Voice again? She struggled with fear and traumatic memory. She remembered crying out “no more and I quit” but she could not tell if those were memories or were dreams or something else entirely.
She seemed to recall waking in a medical facility. ‘Is this Dome 17?’ But then she remembered the experience of teleporting to the colony ship Eschaton. And the technology around her was so old, but not just old, it was also odd. ‘Why is this place so different?’ Her mind was a jumble. She recalled horrific pain and blood, but those too seemed like a dream or were they memories? She did not know what was real and what was in her mind and where the line between was located.
Her skin felt tingly in places and in other places numb and stretched. Should she wake up? But sleep was so nice, and the dreams were so real or was it really real? She drifted in and out of dreams and consciousness and memory and imaginings.
She heard voices again. This time she did wake up. She opened her eyes. Around her was a medical unit, and she was in some kind of levitation field. There was slight pain in many places, and her stomach felt full, yet gassy. But the voices, this time she was sure she had heard them. “Hello?” She said, just above a whisper.
“How can I help you, Regina?” A mechanical voice said. It was not that voice, but a different voice. It was mechanical, yet different from both Theta Four and The Voice.
More memories came to her mind. She had talked to this voice before. “Where am I?” she asked in a near whisper. She knew she was awake now, and she moved her eyes to look around. Yes, it was a medical unit, and it was not Dome 17. She knew Dome 17 had failed, and it was light years away on the dead Earth. “Eschaton?” Regina muttered.
“Yes, Regina, you are on the Eschaton, in Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy 12. Do not be afraid. A bit of disorientation is common for someone in your situation. You are coming out of suspended animation stasis, and you have had reconstructive surgeries,” Kurat said.
Regina heard voices again, but from somewhere else in the room. Human voices? “Who else is here?” Regina asked. She thought she had nebulous memories of a conversation with the medical artificial intelligence labeled Kurat but had not learned much. Kurat knew her name, and she vaguely recalled that conversation. But it was all shrouded in mystery. Her curiosity was not very powerful as she was healing and sedated, but she did recognize the difference between Kurat’s mechanical voice and real human voices.
“There are two new patients who have been admitted for treatment,” Kurat said.
“You are Kurat?” Regina was recalling the dream-like conversations she had had before with this AI. It was becoming clearer - more focused.
“Yes. I have been administering your treatment and rehabilitation. Recovery from suspended animation is a longer process than trauma restoration. I think it is time for you to begin ambulation.”
Regina’s body sank to the table. A set of clothing was on the end of the table. Regina gently sat up and began to dress. “Kurat, did you say I was in suspended animation?” Regina’s mind had just registered that fact. “How long was I under?” Regina was fearful that she had been out for an extended period, and that would explain why everything seemed so bizarre.
Sinclair had observed the unknown woman’s floating body as it sank back to the magic alter. Sinclair was puzzled. The floating body was an unknown. Every other time she had used the miracle room for healings, it had been empty. But now there was this other person. Sinclair did not know what to think. She needed to know more. This was her place. So she approached. As she did, she wondered again who the stranger was. The stranger did not look like any of the bandits; her coloring was different. “Can it be? She is a heathen?” Sinclair said to herself but loud enough to be heard. Anger burned in her breast. Memories of her lost son Brodie flashed in her mind.
“What did you say?” Regina said as she slipped on the shoes which fit nicely. In fact, the entire set of clothing fit well. It was specially manufactured to her body size.
Squelching down her anger, Sinclair managed to put a cool smile on her face as she approached and stood next to the table. “And who may you be, using my rooms here?”
