“I don't know how Wheeler did it with under a hundred.”
“Not well, I mean, the first time we got aboard we took his ship. His people were underpaid and demoralized. They couldn't even turn security measures on because it would interfere with the automation. I can't wait to see what the Triton is like with a fully trained crew.”
“Me neither. Ever since I experienced the First Light with Jonas I've wanted to be back on board a ship like it, and to have the command chair for a shift five or six times a week,” Alice shook her head, she was smiling, practically beaming. “I can't tell you, it's like a dream. I know it's early but Jake has practically adopted me, everyone else has been kind so far, and I'm actually getting the post I wanted. I wish Jonas were here.”
“I'm so sorry, I couldn't imagine losing someone like that. I've lost people on boarding actions and during I don't know how many firefights, but-” Stephanie didn't finish her thought, she didn't want to bring Alice down as they walked along the busy street.
Alice looked to Stephanie and forced a brief smile. “I'll be okay. Jake's been a help. Lewis has been pretty good too. He doesn't know what to say most of the time, but lately he's been trying to make me laugh.”
“The AI on your ship?”
“Yup, he's been around for a while. While I was alone on the run he was my best friend. I hope those times are gone, to be honest.”
“Things are getting better. The wind's changing, something my father used to say,” Stephanie said in a rare expression of optimism. “You're crew now.”
The office for the Leute Menschen company wasn't nearly as busy as either of them expected. A tall gentleman in a grey business suit greeted them at the door and invited them both to sit at his desk. “So, you're here to finalize payment for the Triton's hiring initiative.”
“That's right. I was surprised when Captain told me someone would have to finish this in person.”
“Don't you mean the Captain, miss?”
“Oh, we just call him Captain like it's his name. Old habit,” Stephanie informed cassually.
“Ah. Well, at Leute Menschen we prefer to put a personal touch on everything we can. Finalizing such a large recruitment in person adds an element of prestige to the transaction, don't you agree? Please, look into the scanner,” he instructed pleasently, holding up a stylus shaped scanning tool. Stephanie looked at it and a second later it beeped. “That's that then. We're all finished.”
Alice's mental communicator came to life, Lewis' voice was muddled, there was a distortion in the background. “I cannot combat this foe any longer. I'm afraid the Malice's computer implanted virus is unlike any I had seen or am capable of eradicating. It wants me to broadcast it, to end lives. I could not tell you of it before now since admitting it's existence would give it power.”
“Shut down, crash the Clever Dream's systems. Don't give in Lewis,” she thought back.
“I cannot. Now that the ship is refuelled it is making its final push, breaking into my core program. To my great relief I was able to give you time to get away from me. I love you Alice, and I am so sorry. Run.”
Alice leaned forward as though the wind had just been knocked out of her. She looked like she was in incredible pain and as Stephanie put a hand on her shoulder it eased. “Something's wrong with Lewis. He said he's been fighting a new virus then filled my receiver with some kind of static or machine code.”
“What exactly did Lewis say to you miss?” asked the clean cut fellow behind the desk.
Alice gave him a suspicious look. Few people understood who Lewis was at first guess, especially since he used a mental communication link to speak to her when she was off ship. “He said it was unlike anything he'd seen and it wanted him to rebroadcast it.”
“That isn't what he is telling me,” the gentleman said before standing and reaching for Alice's throat in one swift motion.
His fingertips grazed her skin as she recoiled.
Stephanie drew her sidearm, set it to maximum with a flick of her thumb and fired on him several times. Bolts of energy opened wounds in his android body, nearly tore off his left arm, and finally decimated his face. He fell back twitching on the floor. “What's that all about?”
Alice looked outside and immediately caught sight of an automated rickshaw coming down the street at speed, running its three wheels over anyone in its path, terrifying the unfortunate passengers. A hovering garbage collector was grabbing and tossing people against the walls as it randomly raged through the street. Panic was spreading like a wildfire as automated systems went on the offensive. “This is bad,” she said quietly.
“We have to get back to the ship,” Stephanie replied.
“Oh no,” Alice checked the ship status screen on her command and control unit. It verified her worst fear. “The Clever Dream's on full attack mode, striking at everything in the sky.”
“Frost, where are you?” Stephanie asked, opening a comm line.
“I was nearly cut in half by a bulk loader just now! Everythin' with an AI installed is goin' berserk!”
“Don't run back to the ship. It's gone.”
“What?”
“Lewis, Alice's AI took off with it,” Stephanie said as she followed Alice behind the counter. The scene in the street was getting worse. The androids that normally blended in with the masses were starting to stand out as murderous things, striking and tearing at the panicking crowd with great speed, dexterity and efficiency.
“I'm going to try to contact Lewis again,” Alice said as they huddled down behind the thick granite counter.
Stephanie nodded and continued talking to Frost. “Does your contact have a ship?”
“My contact is dead. He was standing right beside his auto companion when it went nuts.”
“Auto companion?”
“Automated date lass. If you haven't seen one you should get out more.”
“Why would I see one in public?”
“You have a point.”
“Meet us at the Leute Menschen office.”
“The loot men what office?”
“The head hunter office. I'll get in touch with the Captain. Be careful.”
“Aye.”
“ Triton, Chief Vega here. We have an emergency.”
Alice made a painful expression and held her head between her hands. “I can't-” she started before gasping. “-can't disconnect.” She breathed heavily for several seconds then collapsed.
“We have an emergency!” Stephanie repeated. “ Triton, please come in.”
She looked at the communications status on her right wrist. There was no signal, no indication that the Triton was even there. “Frost, how far away are you?”
His line went active and she could hear the sounds of rapid gunfire, he was using his sidearm as though it were an automatic weapon. “Load lifter's after me, I think I made it angry!” He was running, shooting. “'Bout half way there though, you'll know when I'm close, just watch for the ragin' bulk lifter!”
She looked down at Alice and set her left command and control unit to inject a stimulant. “Alice tried to communicate with our ride and got knocked out, I'm going to try to get her back on her feet.”
“That'd be nice, that hand cannon of hers might solve my problem. Make a hole! Comin' through!” she heard him shout to the screaming, panicking people nearby.
“I hope I set the dosage right,” Stephanie said to herself as she sprayed the stimulant cocktail into the back of Alice's neck.
She sprung up to her feet, eyes wide open, gasping for air and reaching out with her hands at nothing in particular. Alice remembered where she was after a moment then dropped back down, panting and holding her chest.
“Sorry! Sorry! Don't die!”
“Feels like my heart's about to explode,” Alice gasped as she braced herself and tried to calm down. “I'll be fine, it's okay,” she reassured, looking at her command and control unit. “My heart rate's one ninety two, but it's coming down.”