Aeolus Investigations Episode 10

Available from Amazon.com.

Lexi Stevens gives her sister Allie a sentient starship for her eighteenth birthday. You would think that someone with Lexi’s precognitive talents would have foreseen the resulting havoc.

Well, she didn’t. Allie sets her newly formed team and herself the task of finding Lexi’s mother Violet, a woman Lexi assumes has been dead for years.

What if in the process of pursuing her mission, she accidentally triggers the destruction of the universe? It could happen. Shrugging one’s shoulders and saying “Oops” isn’t going to help.

Guardian Chapter 9 – Caerus
Guardian is available on Amazon.com.

Alexa stared, almost speechless at the shiny green-hulled starship with an absurd red ribbon and a bow across the hatch. Somehow, it looked new — shinier than Urania. Without measuring, she knew all of the ship’s measurements. She recognized every sensor node and weapon mount. Externally, at least, this ship was a duplicate of Urania.

As Allie stepped forward and ran her hand over the hull, Lexi said, “Happy birthday, Allie.”

Allie shook her head, close to tears. “It’s too much, Lexi. I mean, I expected this but actually touching it makes it all real. You didn’t need to do this, Big Sister. Helping me rescue Mama and Dad would have been enough of a present.”

Lexi shrugged. Now she was beaming. “I don’t consider the rescue mission a gift, honey. It was a necessity. It was something I knew I would have to do, that I wanted to do, ever since I got you out successfully. The time was right to do it now.” She paused. “I’ll be honest about the ship. You have an adventurous spirit, Allie. I think you deserve a ship to allow you to satisfy that spirit. Unfortunately, sometimes I get a creepy feeling that you’re going to need your own ship. If that feeling has any merit, I’m sorry.”

Allie wasn’t up for a solemn conversation right then. She asked, “Can we go inside?”

Lexi grinned. “Of course. Break the ribbon.”

The lights were already on as the two women stepped inside. Allie’s only comment as she reached the main living section of the ship was, “Wow!”

“He was built with all of the latest upgrades Urania now has. The interior layout is identical as well. We remodeled her every few years as our needs changed. When I first came on board Urania, she still looked like an old Vankovian scout designed for a crew of eight Vankovians living in close quarters. I still don’t understand how Ron and Geena put up with it for all of those years.”

She paused, swiping her arm around the main cabin. “This configuration is what worked best for my Aeolus team. You’re welcome to make changes if and when you want to. The interior colors and many of the surfaces are different — I hired a decorator to base the cosmetic aspects on what you’ve done to your quarters on Storm Gate. Again, this is your ship. Feel free to redecorate him.”

“It looks wonderful, Lexi.” She stepped closer and gave her sister a hug. “When do I get to meet him?”

“I might have two things to apologize for, Allie. Again, all I can say in my defense is that what I did felt right.”

“I trust you, Big Sister. What are you apologizing for? What did you do, Lexi?”

“First, I named the ship. I should have asked you first. For that one, I at least have an excuse. This was only the second time we brought a computer to sentience. Oddly it turns out assigning a name is part of the process of creating a sense of self. I didn’t realize how integral to the process that was when we woke Uranus. It was different with Urania who woke up gradually, over decades, rather than over a few days.”

Allie realized that Lexi, based on that long explanation, was nervous about something. “OK, what is it?”

“Caerus. Another Greek god. Look him up when you have a chance.”

“I like it, Lexi. What else?”

Lexi actually blushed. Allie couldn’t remember ever seeing that happen before. “I nudged his avatar.”

“I’m not following, Lexi.”

“The computer sentiences all have their own default avatar. It’s just there — part of the package. Caerus, likewise, has his own default appearance. But I think I must have influenced it somehow. It never occurred to me before, but I probably influenced the way Urania and Uranus look as well. It’s not as obvious with them.”

“Oh, no, Lexi,” Allie gasped. “He doesn’t look like Ron does he?”

“What? No! Of course not!” She paused. “His avatar bears a striking resemblance to Steve O’Reilly.”

Now, Allie was blushing too. Steve was the man she had had a love affair with at the archaeological site in Peru. That was two years ago, now. He was still a good friend. “Can you change him?”

“Not really. The appearance of a computer sentience’s physical manifestation is not programmed, Allie. You know that.” She shrugged. “I could change Steve.”

Allie groaned. “That doesn’t even approach being funny, Big Sister. I guess I’ll get used to it. It’s not like you can start over. Where is he?”

“No, not without building another ship. I’m sure I could find something for Caerus to do around Storm Gate.

Allie shook her head. “You’re a pre-cog, Lexi, even when you’re not having a precognition. In some ways, you’re as bad as Jis. You said this felt right so, let’s make it work.”

Lexi grinned, somewhat relieved. “Let’s sit then.” As the two took seats in the comfortable lounge, Lexi added, “At the moment, he isn’t aware of our conversation — he’s in privacy mode throughout the ship. Oh, you should also know that he doesn’t realize he is probably modeled after a living human. Ready?” At Allie’s nod, Lexi said, “Caerus, please join us in the lounge area.”

Caerus-avatar looked to be maybe an inch taller than Allie’s six-three-plus. He was dressed in a standard issue skin-suit which did nothing to disguise his sculpted musculature. Steve worked out. Caerus, however, had more of the appearance of an athelete than a body-builder. And yes, he did wear Steve’s face. With only slight differences, mostly around his nose, he had the same hair, the same eyes, and the same lips. His ears may have been a little larger. His forehead and cheekbones looked identical. Looking at him, Allie’s breath caught. I can handle this. I haven’t been in love with Steve for two years now. This man, like Steve, is just going to be a friend. OK, a friend with a disconcerting appearance.

Alllie stood and extended her hand as she said, “Caerus, I’m Allie Stevens. I’m very pleased to meet you.”

Caerus smiled. “Likewise, Allie. I understand we’re to be partners.” Allie felt herself blushing again. Caerus said, “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

“No. It’s fine. It’s just that you said ‘partners’ and I suddenly realized you don’t have a choice in the matter, do you?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I believe I do.” He glanced meaningfully at Lexi.

Lexi said, “I designed this ship and it’s command-comp for you, Allie. Caerus, the ship’s persona is not yours. He works for me just like you do. The Accord needs, I need, more Aeolus teams. I hope the two of you, working together as partners, can become my second team. To be an Aeolus team, first of all you have to have my trust and my confidence. You have to be strong enough to survive out in the unexplored galaxy on your own. And to put it bluntly, you have to be strong enough to destroy a planet if you decide it’s necessary. That being said, I think the two of you will be an asset to the Accord, whether as partners or as individuals. Caerus does have a choice, Allie. He has the same choice you have. If he doesn’t want to work with you, I’ll find him someone else. If you can’t work with him, I’ll build you another ship — eventually.

Lexi paused. “My goal, or my agenda, is for the two of you to become friends. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work and we’ll make other arrangements. You both have that choice.”

“I kind of knew that,” Allie said. She looked at Caerus. “I’m sorry. I was thinking of this as my ship. It really isn’t, though. It’s your body.”

Caerus nodded compassionately. “This is new for all of us. For what it’s worth, Allie, both my older brother Uranus and my sister Urania think very highly of you. They both suggested I should consider myself lucky to be working with you.”

Lexi, liking the way things appeared to be going, said, “OK, kids. I’m going to leave now. Allie, you know as much about the ship as I do and, of course, Caerus can answer any questions you might have. I believe you wanted to go Earth. I think that’s a good choice. When you get back, we’ll talk about your official status within Aeolus investigations.”

Guardian is available from Amazon.com.