City of Walls: Ch 13

         

          "Let me get this straight." I rubbed my eyes with my hand as I stood over the kitchen table. "You left out all the anti-energy siphon code."

          "The programming protocols for interaction with nannites dictates that the AI would ignore the nannites and proceed as if they didn't exist. I figured I didn't need to bother with the extra code." Sonj interrupted.

          "But you allowed it resource commandeering!" I retorted hotly.

          "Only under specific circumstances!" She slumped back into her chair. She threw her arms up over her head "How was I supposed to anticipate some punks illegally accessing the program with hacked nannites?"

          "There's a reason for safety protocols. The end user hacks around the safeties because they're too restrictive. The programmers leave some out because the product wasn't intended for that kind of interaction. Where does it end?" Why do so many people feel the need to change things? Why aren't more content with what they have?

          "Hey! The resource commandeering was simply meant to be a protective measure. Seraph¹ would use the assailant's tools to protect his charge."

          "Then why didn't he just take the modrpunks nannites? Why did he go after them?"

          "Blasting O!"²

          "Watch your mouth please." I replied with an exasperated sigh.

          Sonj quirked her left eyebrow as she turned to look at me. "Wh... Oh snap. I mean sorry, habit." She scrolled the document in the holo³ back towards the beginning, and stopped at the second set of rules. "I'd forgotten that I'd given him a drive for justice and vengeance."

          "Oh man." I shook my head and began to pace. "Maybe instead of focusing on what went wrong and fixing it, we should find your 'Seraph' before he has his justice."

          "Ok then. How do we find a pack of altered hoodlums? I don't think they'll be hanging around the scene of the crime."

          "The city is under quarantine, right? They couldn't have gotten very far." I stopped my pacing in front of Sonj. She looked up at me and frowned. "The hexes⁴ are locked down tight right?" I could hear my voice rising in tone.

          "Girl, you don't pull any news feeds, do you?" She snapped her fingers and her own holo popped up in front of her. She tapped the screen a few times then pointed to me. My ocular receiver⁵ beeped softly in my ear, alerting me that my netlink⁶ had just received some new data.

          "These are highlights from the Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News, those should catch you up to speed on all the developments on the nannite situation." She snapped the fingers of her other hand, shutting down the netlink. "Which brings us back to your question. The Fort Worth half of the Metrodomes⁷ is locked down. You can't even get to the mid-city area. But inside of the city, all the hexes have open access. That way people, like them modrpunks, can get to a hospital."

          "What about the other smaller cities, like Saginaw, Lake Worth, or River Oaks."

          "They're suburbs of Ft. Worth, so they can still travel in. Especially since they don't have any hospitals of their own."

          I huffed. How are we going to find them? "We might need help to find them." I began pacing again, I think I know what might do the trick.

          "We can't call the authorities, Tara!"

          "That's not what I meant." I sat in the chair next to her at the table. "Remember I used to make robots." Sonj nodded slowly. "One of the ones I made in Russia was an adaptable form and program. It's very basic, but you could do something to the code. The only thing is, it's with some things in storage."

          "That's ok. We field trip it, then head back to 7th."

          "It's just off of University. That's a 40 min walk, and I don't have the creds⁸ for a podtrans⁹."

          "You seriously need your own vehicle."

          "I can't afford it. Plus I hardly go anywhere."

          "I don't mean the powered variety. Just how do you think I got here today?" She stood up and placed her hand on her hip.

          My forehead knit in confusion. "I just thought you came via a podhop¹⁰."

          "An leave a public record of my coming here? Come on, let's head downstairs."

          We grabbed our gear and jackets then headed for the elevator. In the lobby the receptionist began waving at me. We walked over to the elderly Asian gentleman seated behind a desk.

          "Ms. Tara. I have delivery for you."

          "Is it my groceries from Satisfying Sundries?"

          "Yes'm."

          "Could you hold it in the kitchen until I get back Mr. Harry?

          "Sure! Don't forget, the kitchen closes at 10, or you'll have to wait until the morning."

          "Thanks Mr. Harry. I should by back by then."

          We continued on our way out the building. Outside Sonj walked to the corner, where a bike row was stationed. "Here it is, old fashioned, self powered, and power producing. Bicycles." Sonj cackled as she undoes the mechanism holding her bike in place.

          "But I don't have a bike."

          "Rent one." She turned around and called to a little Black boy sitting on a bench nearby. "Hey, there was an attendant here earlier."

          "He went for his break, he said he'll be back in a minute." He took a backpack off his shoulders and placed it on the ground. The kid must've just come from school. Do you want a bike? I know which ones have been here for a while."

          "I don't want to buy one, I just want to borrow it."Just then a young Hispanic man came out from the lobby. He pulled a ring of keys from his  pocket.

          "Do I hear someone in need of a ride? I can help you out, for an exchange." He winked at us as he sauntered over. "Hey, shorty-bean, thanks for not letting them get away man." He tossed the kid a piece of candy. He grabbed it in air, and ran off leaving his bag. "I bet he's got a note for his momma in there." He turned back to me. "I'll deliver that later. But as I mentioned earlier, I think I can help you out."

          "I don't have any spare creds.." I replied

          "But she lives here." Sonj cut in. "So she can pay you back."

          "You do look familiar. Lemme see your deck¹¹ key." I fish my security key and held it out for him. "OK, how's this." He pulled out a crystal, strung on a short silver chain. "For however long you ride it bike, you keep this hooked on your left ankle. That way, any excess energy you build up during that time, belongs to me. You earn enough power, I might even sell it to you."

          "How do I know this is even your bike to sell?" I eyed him carefully.

          He pulled a wallet out of his back pocket, and held out an ID card. It read Pablo Gonzales. Worker on Bike Station #57, City of Fort Worth. "I don't own the bikes, but I do have authority to sell bikes that have been here for over a year. The city also supplies each station with extra bicycles. Seeing as we are close to a TransHub, we only get two extras." He then began retrieving a few that were closest to the street light the row was anchored to. "Once you own a bike, storing it here, or any other station is free." Done with his sales pitch, he stood behind the four bikes available.

          Sonj whispered in my ear, "You should get the Cherry Red one."

¹ Designation for Artificial Intelligence Guardian. ² Mild oath, short for Basting Orifices. ³ Holographic projection from a netlink device. ⁴ Region, or neighborhood of a city covered by a hexagonal dome. ⁵ Signal receiver; worn like an ear piercing in the tragus or anti-tragus.. ⁶Personal Computing Accessory; highly customizable, jewelry like device which uses biological electricity converted from the user to sustain itself. Basic units consist of a synthetic data crystal, conversion chain, ring emitter, and gyroscope ring. Additional components include inner ear and occular ear recievers, conversion arm ring, bracelets, power storage bracelets, and specialized gems. ⁷In the year 2048 the DFW Metroplex is covered by a complex series of domes. ⁸Derivative form of the currency at the time; credit. ⁹Powered Transportation; latest iteration of the "smart car". Runs on bioelec energy supplied by the user, or purchased with credit. Travels overhead on magnified rails. ¹⁰Public Transit. ¹¹Small studio apartment. Approximately 52 per floor.

Nine Months

          I never expected to be happy with Trevor. He was only supposed to be a bed buddy that wouldn't be a security risk. With nine months of tight security, that makes this the longest adult relationship I've ever had. As I lay with my back pressed against his, all I can think about is the report from Max and the Girls.

*                  *                  *

          After the dinner celebrating my new ally, I had a private debriefing with April, May, June and Max in my private room.

          "I stayed at the main bar to scope things out." May started. "June, April, an Max brought the target upstairs."

          "Were you able to get his coordinates?" I asked as I queued star charts on the screen built into the wall.

          "Yeah, he's on Chimera Moon, Sector 73." Piped June

          "That's good," I zoomed the map to the right coordinates, "I've got contacts there that will help us slip in under the radar. Do we have measures in place to keep him... occupied, until we get there?"

          Max smiled at me. "You're gonna love this bit, darlin'. We get the bloke up to the room, and he starts spilling his guts `fore we even close the door."

          "Says he been angling for this job for a while, played up some fake blood oath against Max." Max smiled as April continued. "He says he hadn't been with the organization long. He was hoping to trade info for a spot on the ship. He'd heard of rumors about the kind of cargo that a reputable ship, like the Cutlass, would carry."

          We'd been smuggling people in and out of the different zones and planets for over a year now. "Does he know anything?"

          "Nah. Just the rumor we started. It's all over the colonized zone that we traffic skin. No one suspects that it's a humanitarian endeavor."

          "Good. That's one thing that continues to work in our favor. So what info does he have to trade?" I pull the schedule for the next few months up to start figuring where to wiggle things around.

          "He had two things that might be worth it; if they pan out." Max took a swig from the bottle that seemed to be permanently attached to his hand. "First, and this one I figure is worth it, he has insider info on the organization that was hired for this job. Including the fact that another hired gun has been dispatched to take care of you."

          "That figures. May did your spidey sense ping on anything at The Nines?"

          "Nope. There were a few tough cookies in there, but no one was out for any of us."

          "It could be a trap." April said bluntly. "He was sent after the crew of the Cutlass, either to kill us, or lead more to us. Either way, whoever paid for this gets what they want."

          "Could be, which leads me back to my earlier question. How are we keeping him in place?" I found myself drumming my fingers on the desk we were seated around.

          "Like I said, you'll love it. Lancer did us a favor." Max grinned that demon grin of his, then continued. "Seems one of Lancer's pals is on Chimera Moon, Sector 78. And it's no skin off his nose to head over and pound on a sad sack of a hitman. Especially" Max starts cackling here, "since he's some kind of police force there."

          "He griped about the paper work involved in a joint jurisdiction maneuver, but he was chomping at the bit to get the guy." June added.

          "Possibly means some kind of promotion for him." May offered.

          "Likely, the bum will spill his guts to the authorities on Chimera. Then after he gets processed, we pick him up and get the last half of his offer from him." Max continued.

          "What was that, by the way?"

          "He didn't give all the details. Mainly cause we didn't believe the first half of what he told us." Max chuckled. "Get this, he said that the slug boats from Earth, were gonna be killed off." He swigged from his bottle again. "And that he knew exactly everyone involved, plus how someone was planning to get rid of the others behind this Seawall gig." At this point the girls started laughing as well.

          I regretted letting them dinner in my private room while the rest of the crew witnessed my talk with the young Hawkins. It meant they didn't know that Seawall was the real deal. They couldn't fathom that one killer could possibly have qualms with mass murder; with genocide one the scale of a galaxy.

          I took a deep breath. "We'll drop everything and get to Chimera. He's telling the truth."

*                  *                  *

          I talked it over later that night with Trevor.

          "So, there's a conspiracy to kill off a third of humanity." He held up one finger. "There's a power play by one of those involved to wipe out the others behind the scheme." Another finger. "There's a half Corane who says he's been given some kind of important task, that somehow involves you." Third finger. "Lastly, someone in the Bernatelli family has a connection somehow to the Corane." Forth finger. "I'm still trying to decide if there's any more to add to this." He looks up at me, and I can feels the gears in his head cranking. It's at this moment that I realize he's more than a low-risk fling. "You ever heard of the ancient Chinese Curse, that most people wouldn't wish on their enemies?" I shook my head no. "It's basically, May you have an interesting life." He smiles that wide joyful smile of his. "Back when I joined your crew, I knew my life would be interesting. I never knew just how interesting it'd get."

          I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Never a dull moment. I wouldn't have it any other way."

          Nine months is a long time. That's long enough to start a brand new life, old school style.

Real literature!

Don't have a story for today, But I do have this poem  by a good friend of mine that will be featured in the next Ninerverse piece.

Images

we take them with us
make them part of our mind's own
rock-gem collection

not tiring of them
the meditations they give...
the dream dust of prose

what we remember
when the details have faded...
*this* is poetry

by Gord Braun

City of Walls: Ch 12

Personal note: I am getting fed up with my ISP.

Still some religious and political stuff. I found my notes for the church going underground. I really should get more organized.

          The credits rolled to a finish, and I waved my hand, bringing up the menu.

          "Don't. Wait."Sonj swigged the last of her Dr. Pepper, as she motioned me to turn back to the movie. As I turn a young, not quite redeemed actor walks down the stairs into his living room. As the scene plays out between Downy Jr. and Jackson, I think about the turning point this movie represents for Downy. No matter how far you fall, you can still turn around and get back up.

          "I can't believe you've never seen the Avenger series. That's like not knowing about comics, or manga." Sonja turns around on the couch to look at the wall behind us. "I mean you build robots! How can you not be a sci-fi geek?"

          "I built robots as a child."The pictures arrayed above my head were taken during the stages of the last build I made. "In Russia, it was incredibly difficult to get movies in the original English. Redubbing sounds horrible, and you know it." I shake my empty can, then toss it into my trash can across the room. It marred the holographic face of 'Nick Fury' for a brief moment before continuing its trajectory through the air.

          "By the way, why don't you have a Russian accent?"

          "Cause I have a Texan accent. I'm from Fort Worth; was even born in Harris Hospital."

          "But you just moved from overseas. I don't get it."

          "There's something I need to tell you, Sonj." How will she take this? "My names not really Harrison, it's Harris. I went to Russia with the Gulfs after my parents died. That was in '34." I paused, wondering if she'd be able to put together the pieces.

          "2034? That's the year the Dome designer and his wife died. How eerie is that! Wait..." As she looked at me I could see the wheels of her mind turning. "They had a kid, a girl. But..." Sonj jumped up from the sofa. "Are you telling me that your parents were The Harris'?" I nodded, "So the woman who improved energy conversion ,and the man who designed the multi-dome structures were your parents? Child," the consternation was clear in her voice. "why have you been keeping this from me?"

          "I hadn't even turned twelve yet." I inhaled a huge breath of air. I can feel the tears building up full force. Why does it still hurt so much? "Since my parents were older when they had me, my grandparents were far too old to care for me. My dad's only sister suffered from Muscular Dystrophy and lived in an assisted living facility. My mother was an only child. When I was very young, my parents had asked the Gulfs if they would take care of me. Aunt Helena worried so much about me; I was depressed. Uncle Cecil thought maybe taking me away from so many harsh memories would help."

          "Did it help?

          "Will you hand me a tissue? They're on the end table beside you." Sonj turned to the small wooden table alongside the couch. She picked up the whole box and held it out to me. "Thanks." I said before blowing my nose.

          "Moving to Russia did help. I was so busy getting adjusted to everything that I didn't have time to think about how alone I was. Did you know, when I left Fort Worth, the domes had just been started? It looked like walls all through the city."

          "And now the domes are finished." Sonj shook her head. "Tara, why did you change your name when you came back to the US?"

          "I didn't. I changed it when I went to live with the Gulf's. Right after my parents died, the media was in a frenzy. They hovered over me like vultures. When I was young one of my robot designs was accepted by NASA. They had a competition open to the public, to drum up interest, and the winner would have his or her robot go into space. So there I was, The Brilliant Daughter of Slain Scientists. I guess the move to Russia, also helped with that. Over there I was a different person; just a niece of Cecil and Helena Gulf.

          "So why didn't you stay? Wasn't life going good for you?"

          "For a long time I thought things were ok. But, I was still a stranger in a strange land. The Gulf's home was my haven, but it was not my home. I felt isolated and alone. I thought, maybe if I moved back here, the familiar sights would help. I hadn't realized now much society had changed here. Fourteen years, and people have their own portable walls."

          "So what if rush hour is full of occupied people. You gotta think about dinner, chores, credits, and sometimes you think about who you're going home to. Tara, I do think you should socialize more, let me take you with me to a club I know."

          "And meet another one night stand? Let's not open that can of worms now. Sides, there's more that I haven't told you." This time I was the one to stand up. I began to pace back and forth in front of the black holoscreen. "I was living here for about a month before I started work."

          "I remember that," Sonj interrupted, "You had an interview with Mr. Freidman while overseas. Then you were given a month for relocation purposes; that's the kind of thing reserved for military."

          "It's also used for people who have favors to call in. Dr. Cecil arranged for the time buffer, and was able to have my identity kept hidden. In that month, I got this deck, opened bank accounts, and created another alias for myself. I introduced myself as Tara Henderson whenever I met new people. I met a lot of people."

          "So?"

          " I met some Christians, specifically independent ones. And with the new regulations, lots of churches can't be independent now. Some people who don't agree with the Government have been arrested, others have just plain moved."

          "What was the whole point of those regulations?"

          "I don't know all the details. I heard there were some attacks, and some churches asked for protection. I've done a little research in the past three weeks. At one point the plan was to register church members, so that every incident could be tracked and a pattern could appear. I've no idea how that morphed into regulations for religion."

          "And what about you? Are you planning to leave too? I mean wasn't the whole point of me coming today was for you to help me out?"

          " You're right, I was supposed to help you out." I sat back down besides Sonj. "You asked me why I was keeping things from you. I made some friends who made me rethink about how I see the world. I want to stop lying, to be honest with you."

          "Is there anything else you haven't told me?" I shook my head no. "So, let me double check this, You know that I created an semi-sentient AI, and I know that you have a false identity connected to people on the run." Sonj chuckled. "We better not get mad at each other."

          "At least Tara Henderson doesn't exist."

          "Like that keeps you safe, I know all your dirty little secrets now!" After a short burst of giggles, Sonj grew solemn. "But it's not like you let loose a thing that thinks it can do no wrong with the ability to turn nannites to its own will."

          "Hey, we'll find it and bring it back before anyone gets hurt. Do you have a copy of the AI's program. I'll poke around it and see what we can do."

          She unhooked a data sapphire from her bracelet and handed it to me. I detached the diamond used for movie media from my old netlink and attached the sapphire to it. A twitch of my pinky opened the file in a text editor.

          "I wrote it in Fortran, so you may have a hard time with it."

          "Talk about a dinosaur. We may have our work cut out for us."