Rogue A.I.: Mike Stedman Book 2 Read online

  He nodded, “Of course, Chrystal?”

  Chrystal nodded, “I’ll build her one now, it should be ready and in your rooms in the A.I. assigned building. You’ll have to acclimate to it, we can help with that.”

  Nadia sighed, “Thank you.”

  He looked over at Dahlia, who looked disappointed and upset, “Talk back at the ship?”

  She nodded, and they all left the building, there wouldn’t be another senate meeting for ten days, but a lot of the senators stayed on the planet full time, which would enable Nadia to do some networking, and learn about them…

  The five of them were back on ship, and he’d been thinking furiously the whole way back, and checking empire laws. His idea was impulsive, and a little crazy, as the five of them sat around the bridge. He wasn’t sure what any of them would think of it. So far, they’d all been silent, lost in their own thoughts, and he had no idea what they were about or where they stood on things.

  Dahlia said, “I suppose it’s time for my people and I to go home. I’d been sure the vote would go our way. It’s crazy to put it off until later, they will try again. Maybe not for a long time, but eventually…”

  He nodded, “You know, when I built this ship, it was my plan to spend time with Chrystal and visit other worlds. But then, Nadia was dropped into my lap, and I was appointed to the senate, then the invasion. I’ve been thinking a vacation to visit other worlds are in order, and do a little exploring. Maybe you and your people would like to join us? I hear Andromeda is nice this time of year.”

  He waited for his comments to sink into the ladies around him. He knew what he’d said was a bit too playful for the circumstances, but he was trying to hide the depth of his anger at the vote.

  Dahlia frowned, “The vote was no, are you suggesting we do it ourselves, alone?”

  He nodded, “The empire’s laws are all focused on protecting members from other members, and mutual defense against outside aggression. There is nothing prohibiting a member from acting outside the empire in any way they see fit, outside of genocide which is far from my intentions. It’s the right thing to do I think, but it will be a huge time commitment, without the Xaran fleets helping it could take a couple of years.”

  Nadia smirked, “That’s a long vacation, I’m in.”

  Chrystal snickered, “It would probably take at least two years, if we spend at least a week at each world. I’m not sure how I feel about the idea though. It might technically be legal as far as the empire goes, but do you think Xenia would approve?”

  He shrugged, probably not. He was also worried he was letting his anger lead him, because he didn’t care if Xenia didn’t approve, not even a little bit.

  Alyndra said, “I believe that’s a good idea. I was in their heads, they will never be able to tolerate other species or even cooperate minimally, they hardly tolerate each other. Even the most aggressive races in the Empire can put their tendencies aside for mutual interest, not so for them.”

  Dahlia said, “I can see it would take much longer, but why a week at each world. We handled three in a day here in the empire. That’s less than five weeks.”

  Chrystal replied, “Our worlds were just invaded, and hadn’t lost their identity. The hundred worlds in Andromeda were invaded a long time ago, and their societies are destroyed. They are ignorant of their pasts, cultures, and knowledge. The species on the planet are bred like cattle, their resources stripped, and their ecosystems pulled out of balance.

  “Currently they are fed with nutrient paste provided by their captors. If we take out the Kascorix and just leave, the indigenous species will have little chance to survive. Even on the primitive worlds they invaded, the freed people will need to relearn how to hunt and gather.”

  He nodded, “I don’t believe we should get too involved, but we need to make sure they have what they need to survive until they relearn the skills. With the energy matter conversion we can repopulate food producing flora in a short time, for more advanced societies we’ll do what we can in a short time. Eventually, they’ll recover but it will take many years after we leave.”

  He sighed, “Does anyone have an objection to the idea of going? It won’t be easy, and two years is a serious commitment to getting this done, and that’s a minimal number. It might take longer. There’s also a danger, we haven’t fought more than three ships at a time, if there are enough they could overwhelm our shields.”

  Dahlia smiled, “Do you really think I’d turn down a hundred battles? For any risk?”

  He replied with a faint smile, “No, I was kind of counting on the fact you wouldn’t turn it down at all.”

  He also wasn’t worried about Nadia, humans understood the idea that sometimes self-defense included counter-attack and invasion, and that it wasn’t possible to win a war defensively. Fighting purely defensively would just mean more deaths in the long run, if not outright defeat at the end of things. If the Kascorix had been redeemable it might be a different story, but for them it wouldn’t even be war, it would be their food on a stampede.

  The equivalent of a cattle rancher’s bad day.

  He was also glad Alyndra seemed to be on board with things, but as his life-sworn and named advisor all she would ever do is offer an opposing opinion, but never an objection. Where he went, she would follow and protect him as much as she could. Still, he was happy he wouldn’t be making her uncomfortable following his lead.

  His biggest worry about an objection to the plan was actually Chrystal, it was hard enough for A.I.s to defend themselves, much less go looking for a battle. He was different that way, but even he had his own doubts, and wondered if he was letting his anger dictate his decisions instead of justice and logic. He wanted them penned up on their worlds, where they couldn’t ever do what they’d done again.

  No, even that wasn’t true. He wanted them all dead and crushed under his boot, but he would settle for penning them up. Who knew, maybe they would even evolve in a million years or so.

  Still, the love of his life might not object. It could be justified as protecting other victims, which was a justification for violence against predators. The only justifications for violence was self-defense, and the defense of others. In a way that second category was even easier than the first for A.I.s to handle. In some situations, the first didn’t even count.

  He just wasn’t sure if Chrystal would see it that way, or if he was just rationalizing and fooling himself with that argument. Was it just mental gymnastics and sophistry? He didn’t think so. For him, that was just one more reason to do it, for Chrystal it would be her only reason. She couldn’t feel the rage he did.

  Chrystal said, “I’m not happy with it, but I can see the need. The Kascorix are a blight that have literally committed genocide almost a thousand times. I can do this to prevent them adding a hundred more sentient races to that tally, not to mention us.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief, and she gave him a knowing look.

  Dahlia said, “I’ll let my people know, when will we go?”

  “I was thinking now, it will take us less than thirty-four hours to get there.”

  Andromeda was approximately two point five million light years away, at sixty thousand light years an hour in L2 subspace, that was a little over forty one hours.

  No one had any objections.

  “Chrystal, set a course for one of the planets on the list in their database, and get us moving.”

  Chrystal replied, “Course set to Edraonus, it’s one of the primitive societies the Kascorix invaded.”

  He hoped this was the right decision. It was the right thing to do, but the right decision? He worried they might be biting off more than they could chew. They would be facing fleets eventually, not just a trio of Kascorix warships. The subspace energy fired at the ship could be routed and dissipated quickly by the shields, but quickly enough if fifty, or a hundred ships fired at them?

  He doubted it, not if they could coordinate fire, the energy would saturate their shields event
ually allowing some strikes through. That’s even assuming the enemy didn’t make advances over the next two years, war was the mother of invention after all…

  Chapter Three

  Dahlia had come back up to join them all for lunch, her people were excited, but there was a problem. Mirosian warriors weren’t used to idle time, they trained almost constantly and some had been rather restless this morning after a good night’s sleep. There had been an altercation, and several bulkheads had been damaged. The ship couldn’t replicate ground side quality training facilities, like very open fields without breakable things like buildings or bulkheads being present.

  That was after just a few hours of idle time, in Andromeda their battles would be a week apart. He was worried things would just get worse despite Dahlia’s reassurances.

  Dahlia said, “I’ve spoken to them, they will restrain themselves in the future.”

  Chrystal replied, “I’ve already finished repairs, so no harm done. Can they train without armor? I can create a training facility to keep them occupied, but not to contain the damaging power of the armor.”

  Dahlia shook her head, “No, there’s no point in training without the armor, that’s what we use in battle. All our training is focused on controlling our armor and weapons.”

  Chrystal frowned thoughtfully before she responded to that.

  “I might have an idea, but I’ll have to get back to you on it later.”

  Dahlia nodded acceptance, but looked pensive. Maybe she wasn’t so sure things wouldn’t get worse as well?

  Chrystal sent privately, “That setup you requested is complete, it’s in the two rooms across from Alyndra’s room.”

  He replied, “Thanks love. Think she’ll like it?”

  Chrystal sent, “Oh, definitely, you might not be able to tell though.”

  He knew that well, it was frustratingly hard to read Alyndra, if not impossible.

  They chatted over lunch, and then Dahlia headed back down to her people.

  Chrystal was working on whatever her idea was for the Mirosian problem, and Nadia had excused herself and went to her room to compose reports to cover the last few days. Not just of the invasion either, but her impressions of the other races, the senate, and what she’d learned, including about himself and the other A.I.s. Once that was done, she could try out her android body and get acclimated to the sensations, which he’d help her with, probably tomorrow.

  It seemed like the perfect time to unveil his surprise that Chrystal had gotten done for him, and also, to get to know Alyndra a little better. He turned to the graceful woman.

  “Alyndra, do you want to play a game of chess?”

  She’d indicated an interest in games of strategy when they’d talked about hobbies, as well as other things, which was a part of his surprise. She was his life-bonded protector, advisor, and servant, by her choice and her race’s honor. She also seemed to be content with that already on a personal level, and pleased with the way he treated her, but if he had to accept such a thing as a servant, he wanted to make sure she was as happy with things as she could be.

  Perhaps he worried too much about that and was overcompensating, but it seemed wrong to him to take advantage of the situation.

  Alyndra nodded, “I would enjoy that.”

  He smiled, “Come on, I have something to show you.”

  She was quiet as she followed him down the corridor. They’d already transformed two of the twenty quarters on this deck, the two next to hers for a work out area, he’d done something entirely different to the two quarters across from her. It would also be for everyone, not just her, but he didn’t think anyone would enjoy it as much as she would.

  He hoped.

  The door slid open, and they walked inside.

  He turned to get her first reaction to the large forty by twenty-foot room. As usual her face was a mask, but her steps had faltered, and she didn’t move as she looked around and took in a deep breath through her nose.

  The two rooms were an arboretum of sorts, but not just trees, there were flora as well, and grass. All of it the alien variety from Selana-Esari. The other hobby she had spoken of was her enjoyment of the outdoors. It wasn’t quite the outdoors without the sun, or wind, and she could hardly go on a hike, but she could enjoy the scents and view. The trees were obviously smaller as well to fit the fifteen-foot-high ceiling. The room looked and smelled like the outdoors, he’d even had Chrystal make the atmosphere in this room the same as Selana-Esari to ensure the scents would be identical.

  Alyndra turned to him, “You did this for me? How?”

  He replied, “After we talked the other day about hobbies, I sent a message to your father, asking for quantum level scan information, and DNA mappings, of some of the plants, flowers, and trees in the Esari forests. After that I just asked Chrystal to build this.”

  She said, “It’s beautiful, thank you Mike. You mentioned chess?”

  He nodded and walked further into the room. She followed him to the middle of the room where there was a park style chess table and benches, with the pieces already set up.

  “I thought you’d enjoy if we played our games in here?”

  She nodded, “Thank you, I’m… overwhelmed by the kindness you’ve shown me. I’m not sure I deserve it.”

  He replied, “This was very little effort, and if it pleases you it was more than worth it. I want you to be as happy as possible, as I’ve said before, and I have no doubt you’ll more than earn it in your service to me.”

  That was rather an understatement he thought, she’d be with him for over a thousand years. The Esari were as long lived as the Mirosians. What was faithful service for a millennia next to a room that took a few minutes to create?

  She shook her head, as if he was impossibly dense.

  “I can earn nothing Mike, for my life is already owed for your actions in saving my world. But I am grateful for the thought.”

  They took a seat and started the game. He enjoyed the time they spent together that afternoon, but it was hard to know her true opinion on anything he said or did unless he asked, which was a little frustrating. He’d supposed that he’d get used to it eventually, even learn to read her perhaps. He imagined she was having the same problem, just reversed, since she couldn’t read his mind and was unfamiliar with reading body language…

  Chapter Four

  Dinner ran late that night as the four of them chatted about the mission, and other things.

  Nadia asked, “How do the other A.I.s feel about this?”

  He shrugged, “I hadn’t gotten around to telling them yet, I don’t think they’ll be all that thrilled, but they won’t stop us either.”

  Nadia tilted her head, “When were you planning on telling them?”

  He grinned, “The same time I let dad and the Xarans know, right after we get started. There are no laws against it, but I have no doubt what we’re doing will be controversial and may lead to new laws.”

  Chrystal shrugged, “The A.I.s might wish he wouldn’t but they won’t judge him too harshly either. We’re pacifists for the most part, but that doesn’t mean we can’t see and even understand the other side of things, or the necessity for defending life.”

  Nadia asked Alyndra, “How about your people?”

  He smiled. He cared for Nadia a lot, and he was looking forward to tonight. Last night had been the first night that he, Nadia, and Chrystal had shared, and it’d almost ended in disaster. It had turned out alright in the end though, and he looked forward to sharing more intimacy later on after the meal. Right now though, Nadia was still working, and gathering information. He didn’t mind that at all, it was one of her qualities that he liked.

  Alyndra replied, “They will be pleased by it. They voted for the empire invading and solving this problem before it grew worse. They’d even help if they could, but our planet’s technology and martial prowess aren’t a match for this vessel, or the abilities of the Mirosians. My people’s strengths lay elsewhere.”

>   He could agree with that, a telepath would be good for brokering treaties and business deals.

  Nadia asked, “What do we know about Edraonus, and when will we get there?”

  Chrystal tilted her head, “We could get there tomorrow night, but I modified our arrival time to coincide with our sleep cycles morning, so we’ll attack early the day after tomorrow. The Edraonus are humanoid, covered in fur, and are vaguely feline in appearance. They’re omnivores. I don’t think it would be wise to try and speak to them, we need to just free them of their enemy, and focus on repairing their ecosystem as much as possible in a week’s time.”

  Alyndra asked, “How will Earth respond to this?”

  Nadia tilted her head slightly, “They won’t object, and it won’t really affect them. Most won’t care, the ones who do will either be grateful for safeguarding them against this future threat, or hypocritically denounce us for being too warlike. In short, the reactions will vary by quite a bit, in the end though Earth isn’t in a position to truly object, or do anything about it.”

  They changed the subject then, and chatted for a while longer, way past the time they were done eating. Then they retired for the night.

  Nadia took his arm, and Chrystal the other, as they walked to their cabin.

  Nadia said, “I’m going to keep my quarters, as a kind of office, and a place for my clothes.”

  He replied, “Fine with me, as long as your cute ass is in my bed.”

  She snorted and said sarcastically, but with a smile, “Yes sir. In any particular fashion?”

  He nodded, “Naked of course.”

  She giggled, “How’d I know you were going to say that?”

  She was playful, and didn’t seem tentative at all this time as they walked into their shared quarters and they made it only halfway to the bed before they stopped and started to kiss. Her scent went straight to his libido, and her soft lips felt so good against his own.

  Chrystal pushed into his back and kissed his neck, and then pulled the shirt over his head.