“You gave the Holocaust Virus emotions? It's not supposed to be a true AI!” Hampon whispered urgently.
Gabriel nodded slowly, grinning. “No one's seen anything like this and the more time I interface with it the more it becomes its own being. Version two will be ready when the galaxy learns how to defeat version one.”
“What about the list of Saved and West Watchers?”
“They will be safe. Your recruitment drive won't have been wasted. If a cult of the rich and useless is what you want, then that's what you'll have.”
Hampon couldn't help but smile, conceding the point. “It's true, most of them are only good for their possessions and positions. A few are shaping up well though, the West Watch are growing in number and power. We even have a flourishing militia formed out of military deserters. Most of them even believe that if they are killed they will go to the East in the afterlife, to Eden itself. Are you on schedule to meet with Collins?”
“Yes, I hope I get to see the Holocaust in action for the first time.”
“I hope it puts the virus he developed to control the Eden Fleet to shame.”
“It will, oh it will,” Meunez said with a twitch and a sigh. “Even Alice would be impressed with this new life.”
The hologram of Meunez faded away and Lister Hampon left the lounge to board his private cruiser. It would take him to the first site of the Holocaust Virus mass infection, where he and many of his followers would witness the event that would validate his Cash Messiah Cult.
Duality Plus One
Angelo and Paula stood in hangar deck two looking at the Clever Dream. The ship's engines were cooling, sending wisps of steam out from the rear of the vessel, a light contrast to its glossy dark hull.
The sleek black lines and low profile were a sight to see, it was in perfect condition. Several soldiers flanked the Deck Chief and his assistant. “That's one nice ship.” Angelo said before letting out a whistle. “They only built fifteen hundred of that model.”
“Sticks out like a sore thumb. Probably have ship thieves coming at them every time they set down,” Paula commented.
Their team and the qualified recruits from the starliner who had signed on to his crew with the approval of Stephanie, Cynthia or Captain Valance had finished clearing debris and other serious obstructions from hangar two. They were working on setting the Samson up on gravity lifts so they could move it to long term storage. The sounds of Angelo's team leaders shouting directions was a constant in the background.
“Whose coming to meet them?” Paula asked.
“Captain and his First I think.”
The main gangway lowered and extended from the middle of the Clever Dream, it was a long, two meter wide ramp. A young woman with curly brown hair wearing a beaten up black leather flight jacket over a light green vacsuit came into sight first. She was joined by a man who looked almost exactly like Captain Valance in a black vacsuit and long coat that looked a little lighter than the one he had seen hanging off the back of the Captain's ready room chair.
Paula cocked her head for a moment. “Huh,” was all she said before walking off to help with the Samson.
“Captain?” Angelo asked tentatively at the fellow coming down the ramp. His attitude seemed so much lighter, he was even smiling brightly. “I wasn't aware you'd gone off ship.”
“I'm his twin brother, Jonas,” he said, extending his hand and eyeing the soldiers.
Angelo shook it and then shook the young woman's hand. “Good to meet you, Chief Vercelli at your service. What's the condition of the Clever Dream?”
“Good, low on fuel, so if you have any Xetima on board I'd appreciate a drop. I'm Alice, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you. I'll see what I can do about your fuel situation, but I can't guarantee anything other than charging your capacitors up for you. We're still getting the Decks in line.”
“Thank you. Are we meeting the Captain here?”
“Aye,” Angelo looked over his shoulder and saw the main express lift arriving. The heavy double doors parted with a grating, squealing sound that made half the deck hands cringe. Captain Valance and First Officer Vega stepped out. “Here they are now.”
“Negative five on the rear struts! Come on!” Paula barked at the crew working on lifting the Samson. Everyone in hangar two could hear her piercing voice, normally barely loud enough to hear. As she shouted directions there was no way you could miss it unless the main lift doors were opening. Which sound was more shrill was a growing debate.
“That's my queue to get involved. Pardon me.” Angelo said as he walked towards the Samson.
“It's like these knuckle draggers have never done this before!” Paula shouted at Angelo as he started crossing the hangar.
“That's because most of them haven't. Give them twice the instructions and four times the time and it'll get done,” Angelo shouted back. “Whip 'em, hound 'em and they'll just do without thinking.”
If Captain Valance was at all confused or surprised by the sight of Jonas and Alice he didn't show it as he and Stephanie closed the long distance between them. Stephanie's resolve was held with military discipline as well, only her gaze was focused on Jonas distinctly.
Even when she tried to look somewhere else, she just couldn't help but examine the man. He was physically smaller, not as well muscled, seemed fairer somehow, lighter, and his demeanour was completely different. It was like looking at a version of Jake that had experienced a much less stressful life.
Alice couldn't contain herself. Despite the confusion of having the real Jonas Valent at her side and a copy in front of her, the copy was the one she had saved. The one she had promised to come back for and the one she dreamt of finding for years. It really was like she was looking at her father figure, especially considering there were so many similarities between his methods and her own. As he walked through the middle of the soldiers she couldn't help but close the distance at a run.
He caught her, and even though verification his greatest fear was standing not twenty meters away, it still felt so good to hold his daughter in his arms. “I looked for you. In every sector we passed through, every time we made port my ship's computer scanned for you,” he whispered to her.
“I'm so sorry I had to leave you but it was the safest thing for you. We were sure they'd catch us and saving you would have been for nothing.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. Understanding the relief, the joy she was feeling didn't matter. Somehow this reunion was more satisfying than the surprise she had when she found Jonas days earlier.
“All that matters is that you're safe. Even if you are his daughter and not mine, I'll never see you as anything less,” he kissed the side of her head.
She drew back and looked into his eyes. He absolutely loved her like a daughter. To him she was his only family, his blood, and he was completely invested in the idea. It struck her heart, brought up a flood of emotions that made her head pound and took all words away. He loved her, unconditionally and so utterly that she could see it in his eyes, in his gentle smile. She had never seen that directed at her before, not anywhere from anyone and a black fear lived under all those feelings that when he discovered the truth his love would disappear.
At the moment she was incapable of anything but crying, and with a deep shudder she laid her head on his shoulder. He held her close and rubbed her back with care. “I'm so sorry,” she sobbed.
“It's okay, you're here, we have time.”
They remained that way for a while, and Jonas eventually crossed the distance, introducing himself to Stephanie first. “Jonas Valent, I'm his brother,” he smiled.
Stephanie smiled back and shook his hand. “Stephanie Vega, the First Officer here. I didn't know Captain had a brother.”
“Sometimes I think even he forgets.” Jonas' subdermal communicator received a message from Alice's mental transmitter. It was so garbled that it came through more as a collection of musical notes. He shook his head.