Brian waited for Cuddy, the last one to leave the sanctuary. “How about you show me that sub-level compartment, bro. I hear it’s really some—”
Cuddy moved fast, before he knew what he was doing. “Never go down there! Ever!” With his left hand, he grabbed a fistful of Brian’s shirt and lifted him two feet off the deck. Then, taking a step forward, he slammed him up against the closest bulkhead. He brought back his other clenched fist, ready to unload his 6’3”, two hundred pounds of body mass, into one killing blow. Wide-eyed, Brian squirmed and tried to free himself. Cuddy’s tight grip on his throat made it impossible for him to utter more than a few whimpering squeals.
“Stop! Cuddy… stop! Please put him down.”
Cuddy ignored Jackie’s request, though he felt her presence behind him in the corridor. Felt her eyes boring into his back.
“He’s an ass… that’s no secret. But killing him would hurt you too, Cuddy. That’s not you; not the person you are.”
Cuddy released his death grip on Brian’s throat—he was now gasping for air. Cuddy took a step away from him. Cuddy’s mental power kept Brian pinned, high up on the bulkhead—his legs flailing. His voice, little more than a croak, screamed out, “Let me down you… you fucking freak!”
Cuddy brushed past Jackie without slowing down. He was halfway up the winding staircase before he inwardly relaxed his invisible hold on Brian. He heard Brian hit the floor with a clamoring thud. Smiling, because Jackie was wrong. She didn’t know who he was—not now—not anymore.
Later, after everyone retreated to a personal berth to get some sleep, Cuddy left the bridge and returned to the lower level. He followed the aft passageway into Hold #1 and made his way over to the shelving that contained all the various AI orb parts. He lifted the inert sphere unit off the shelf then moved to where the boxes of gel-tabs were located, and grabbed one. After a final scan of the shelf, checking to see if there was anything else he was supposed to get, he left the hold and headed forward, toward Tow’s small hidden workshop.
It took Cuddy four and a half hours to complete a job he figured Tow would be able to do in a matter of minutes. But his fingers were thick and clumsy, and he only discovered the necessary calipers tool, with its wiggly, life-like prongs, after a frustrating hour of no progress. To accomplish the essential task of bringing a new AI to life, Cuddy drew on memories furnished by the new orb’s predecessor. Now more accustomed to drawing on thoughts that weren’t his own, he wondered at what point he might fully discern everything that the AI had downloaded into his mind—though perhaps never.
After making the final settings configuration, he next ensured that the orb was indeed powered on. He knew the AI was going through a series of self-tests, doing millions, if not billions, of assessments—determinations.
Startled by the orb’s rapid ascent into the air—where it quietly hovered—he said, “Hello… I am Cuddy Perkins.”
Yes, hello, Cuddy Perkins… I now must address several pressing issues on the Evermore: Environmental filters need swapping… there is a slight alignment issue with the second emersion drive. Cuddy watched as the sphere sped away. Only then did he realize the orb had spoken to him telepathically.
Suddenly, Cuddy felt very tired, needing sleep. He left the little workshop and found his way to the upper-deck berths. He tried to be quiet as everyone was sound asleep. He stopped and looked down at Jackie’s sleeping face—so beautiful—and wondered if she was angry at him for the altercation with Brian? Of course she was.
In the dim light, he made his way to his berth then crawled into it, too tired to undress. He just needed sleep. His mind drifted into the murky state between consciousness and sleep, and he felt himself drifting off, going deeper and deeper. Then suddenly his eyes opened wide and he sat up. He remembered something. Something that wasn’t there. In the semi-darkness, he found Brian’s berth, the one atop Jackie’s—it was empty.
Chapter 43
Cuddy crept past the sleeping passengers, out the berth compartment, and headed forward. Reaching the bridge, he saw that it was empty. The orb should have been here. Thinking about it, he had a pretty good idea where both Brian, and the orb, had gone. It also suddenly occurred to him that he hadn’t taken the time to set up a command structure for the orb. He cursed himself, this was something he’d been reminded to do by the other AI. He hurried aft, crossed through the main cabin and took the circular staircase down, taking three steps at a time. Reaching level two, he hit the deck running. Halfway down the aft passageway, he noticed the hatchway to the wellness chamber was closed. Symbols on the small access panel told him the chamber was in use—the hatch locked. He banged on the hatch with a closed fist several times, and then brought his head closer to it to listen. He definitely heard Brian’s voice within. Frustrated, Cuddy banged again, followed with several strong kicks.
Use your mind! Cuddy remembered and reached out to the orb:
Yes, Cuddy Perkins… can I assist you?
Relieved that he hadn’t been completely locked out from contacting the AI, he proceeded to handle the most important business first.
I would like to set up the Evermore’s hierarchical command structure.
Yes, Cuddy Perkins… you may proceed.
Captain is Cuddy Perkins. First Officer is… Cuddy had to think about that for a few heartbeats… Kyle Perkins. Third officer is… Jackie?
And the other two on board this ship, Captain Perkins?
Tony Bone… leave him undesignated at this time. Brian Horowitz, though, is not part of the Evermore’s crew and you are not permitted to follow any of his orders, or directives, without the Captain’s, or First Officer’s, prior sign-off. Is that understood?
Understood and logged.
Now open the hatch!
The wellness chamber hatch slid to one side and Cuddy stared into the brightly lit compartment. Brian was seated in there, naked, directly before him. His hair bun was undone and a long ponytail hung down over one shoulder. His face—his entire body—looked strangely bloated, added to the fact he was glowing bright enough to still see, even in the highly illuminated chamber. To Cuddy, Brian looked like an over-sized, glowing slug as he gazed back at him through half-lidded eyes.
“Orb, what’s going on with Brian? What’s wrong with him?” Cuddy asked out loud.
“Brian has completed his fifth wellness session, Captain Perkins.”
Cuddy realized that this was the first time he was actually hearing the AI orb speaking vocally. Even more surprising, the voice sounded different than its predecessor. More friendly.
“Humans cannot withstand any more than two sessions within the chamber in so short a time span. Why did you let him do that?”
“At the time, there was no hierarchical command structure in place.”
That was true and he should have anticipated Brian pulling something like this. Cuddy stepped into the wellness chamber and took a seat next to Brian.
“Brian… can you hear me?”
Yeah… but can you dial it aback a little… so fucking loud.
Cuddy watched the slightly older man’s face, noting he hadn’t moved his lips. He, like Cuddy, was now part Pashier.
“Are you in pain?” Cuddy asked, keeping his voice low.