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Lights in the Rift

By: Moggers



The ion stream hit the bulkhead near my leg causing me to twitch reflexively. Damn it had been close. A quick examination of my weapon showed less than half a magazine charge remaining, I'd better choose my targets, or find where these idiots kept their power matrix outlets.

Fleeting movement caught my eye, reflex swung the arm and weapon into line with one smooth movement, sending a sizzling burst of highly charged particles after the motion. A growl of pain was reward enough as I ducked a little lower to avoid another beam from the other side of the room … "hmmm … two of them, eh?' the thought echoed slowly as I scanned the ceiling for any signs of my assailant. These aliens either didn't know about human sight, or the fact that their lighting emanating from the floor, instead of the ceiling, reversed shadow effects, working well in my favour.

The pressure of the object I leant against became a conscious enquiry. The heat and vibrations I could feel at hip and shoulder spoke of immense power surging behind the partition. Now, if this had been of Human construction, I'd guess on the Anti-Matter Complex, but so far the ships' technology had proven to be a little more antiquated than the AMC's time-frame. If it came to a judgement-call, I'd have to put my money on one of the last of the old Atomic DMC's. Degenerative Matter Converters were powerful and fully capable of sustaining Warp-fields but their inherent instability under the high load of Take-Off had lead to newer principles on most worlds. No-body needed a small atom blast on the Landing Field … a little too messy for most folk.

Another Shadow on the ceiling refocused my attention on the situation. Standing as I was near their primary power, the lack of recent fire in my direction indicated the validity of my reasoning…apparently no-one out there felt like being resolved into their component atoms quite that fast…

I edged a little further around the structure, maintaining the low profile and searching for anything that might help. A familiar shape loomed to the right … Talk about freaky! Further than I would like from the pseudo protection of the Engines sat a Battle-Suit, Earth origin, and still showing power-telltales. Good, it was active. These fighting suits had been widely used, first in the Inter-System Corporation Wars, and then a little later, were once again pressed into efficient service during the Earth Alliance defence of the Colony worlds surrounding AlphaCent. I had done my training on the much later Mark 6 model, but I had always admired the far more robust nature of the 5's. In my career, the worst feature of the 6's? their lack of enough of anything they carried.

I adjusted my tongue-mike to the Tac frequency of Earth Alliance, the welcome double ping of a Battlesuits' proximity response echoed as faint sweet music. Praying the onboard computer was still functioning, I then keyed the emergency activation and entry routines. More good luck than I deserved … the unit responded with the READY tone. I dove across the intervening space towards the suit, a few stray shots, none too close, followed me. In preparation for my arrival it split ventrally to allow my entry. Pivoting 180, I plumped into the welcoming recess and the suit closed, just in time as the splatter of hostile fire washed across the outer surface.

No problems there, the Defence screens of these 45-year-old fighters could withstand oodles of that … hand weapons were nothing more than flashlights and firecrackers to it.

Settling in, I watched as the suit powered up, adjusting itself to my size and contact surfaces. The familiar pricks of the system probes went almost un-noticed, even the rectal-vago support tubes lent an air of familiarity, security and power, albeit uncomfortably.

The HUD flashed to life in front of my eyes, lower right, immediately identifying my surroundings, schemas and life-signs… Damn, 12 within range! This was going to be fun. I ran the TacSim quickly, noting the recommended power levels and energy outputs, grunting in mild displeasure when the figures came up predictably short. Typical engineers! They Always left the extra AM Cells in safe-storage. A grin crossed my lips when the suit reported 201 Cells in the storage locker to my right. The number was odd … the cabinets only held 200. I was not complaining about the extra charge, but it was like finding a 13th egg in a dozen-packet … welcome, but impossible. Punching the Maximum Retrieval button, I watched the miniwarp processor snag all 201 in a localised short-range transport beam. Stored in a suit-maintained sub-space pocket, the units could be called on at need, and should ensure plenty of available energy, even for critical operations. One of the cells would power the suit at full output for a solar Terran month … with 201 I could accomplish much. Cleaning out this nest now became almost easy.

Preparing to start the combat sequence, I hesitated. A flashing magenta octagon caught my eye. The centre panel of my HUD had revealed an extra area that definitely hadn't been there before I retrieved the Power Cells. An addition? My curiosity asserted its self and I impulsively punched the offending Icon.

… Silence … Click … What the …! 

'Occupant unknown, Un-Authorized contact. All functions suspended. Identify Now!' came the authoritative tone from the headset. 

(Fuck! Why'd I push that friggin' button?)

This was new … an AI? In the Suit? The damn thing was gonna lock me out from suit-usage, probably eject me as well. Better satisfy the damn things request. I fervently hoped it still had its original Earth Alliance programming. If the aliens had reloaded it, this could get interesting … not!

'EA Tac Sgt Ch'Lar Sera Degrenne, comsernum 1-alpha-alpha Delta Detachment' the answer rolled easily, even after this long.

'Processing … (click) … Query?'

'Proceed'

'Records indicate your given TacDet was destroyed. I will need your personal Bio-answer to confirm, may I proceed?'

("Bugger, I hate this") 'Proceed'

I relaxed my back muscles as I felt the pressure of the probe against my lower spine. The Anaesthetic pad dulled the penetration as the system probe entered my lumbar area. It would gather a cellular imprint from the spinal column itself, better than finger-prints and biogenetically impossible to duplicate. I felt the probe's withdrawal.

Click … 'PBa Authentication complete, Identity confirmed'

The voice changed, different, softer, lower, familiar … 'Sera?' the Scottish brogue raising the hairs on the back of my neck.

Impossible! – 'Deggi?'

'Yes! Beyond all hope, YES! Sera, I am your servant, always' … was that emotion?

'You tested me! Okay … my turn. What is the answer to my question?' This was the test, my only test … the Old AI would know …

'Firstly, you have asked no question, Sera, therefore I assume you require a different response, my answer is this:

The lower suit sensors changed position a little, emitted, flexed and contracted. The intense orgasm would have doubled me over, if I wasn't encased in the armour. Now THAT was the right answer!!! Relief flooded me like a cooling wave.

'Where have you been!' I scolded 'and what the hell are you doing in this suit?'

'You lost me 4 years ago, earth-time not far from here, right?' Deggi asked.

'Yes, most inconvenient timing too. I floated for over a week before the cleaners found me … I managed to salvage 2 partial Cells from a destroyed Mark 6 for life-support, but that was all. What happened? I thought the blast wiped you.'

"When you where hit by the AM burst from the exploding destroyer, someone was using this suit … they keyed maxret for cells. The blast must have temporarily overridden my protective shielding. As you know, my processor is essentially an energy-based duplicate of an AM Storage Cell and you were within this suits retrieval range. I was sucked in with the cells from your old suit. That is why you lost all power. You were fortunate to survive. Surrounded by the Anti-Matter Containment field of the storage unit, all forms of communication were effectively destroyed. When you retrieved the cells from storage just now, you got me too'

'The odd number, yes, I noticed. The cells have mass; you don't, so the container could add you to the total without compromising its capacity … how cool!'

'Temperature has no bearing on the function described Sera. Is there a correlation?'

Still the same lovable logical Deggi. 'It's a Human term Deggi, appreciative adjectival response, no relevance. Remind me to get you that HR upgrade next time we're in port. You have quite a few years of catch-up to assimilate.'

'Noted. Sit Rep Sera, the creatures are preparing to use a high-energy feed beam against you. It's tied directly to the DMC's main bus. I would suggest remedial action.'

'Does this suit have the Mark 5a Inversion Field?'

'Confirmed. Its deployment will consume one whole Cell Sera. Proceed?'

'Shut it down Deggi … if that thing back-fires with the DMC in circuit we'll all be chasing clouds for a living.'

'Clouds Sera?'

'(sigh) never mind, hit the field as the weapon draws power… the static discharge should flatten most of 'em, hopefully'

'The discharge has an energetic field rating Sera. Should I insulate?'

'That high eh? Go ahead, I don't feel like frying along with that lot.'

Deggi used the suits mag-clamps to earth us to the flooring for insulation against the dangerous effect and proceeded to spoil the enemy's fun.

The area lit briefly, white-hot and deadly.

'All have been neutralised Sera. The discharge was of lethal intensity. You are safe … once more' 

Was that a chiding tone beneath his words, or my imagination. The Earthforce teachers had reminded us frequently that the AI units were definitely Not alive, but they did have the ability to mimic human response fairly closely, especially after long-term association with any one individual. Fairly close…hell … the old bastard was ticking me off for yet another tactical error. I swear, if he wasn't so good with that probe-trick, I'd have traded him in for a newer model years ago

'Time to blow this bucket Deggi, what are my options?'

'I would recommend against commandeering this ship Sera. The DMC unit would be, at best, a troublesome ally, at the worst, a fatal combination. There is an energy signature similar to current warp field patterns within my range. I would suggest investigation. I can detect no life-signs in the close proximity. Four point one three hours flight time, unless we use Pulse …' He left that hang. 

The question begged itself, even from his artificial stand-point. Pulse critically overloaded the suits' miniwarp, just short of fusion, creating a temporary bubble that jumped you precisely 1 light year forward of your location. It was an emergency manoeuvre, designed to get you the fuck away from imminent destruction. Just point, click and go. Too fuckin' bad if something happened to be in your way at that speed, made for a real short flight and an even faster stop. It was also pretty nasty for the AI itself…the electronic equivalent of a double-migraine. I put him out of his misery.

'I don't think Pulse is necessary, or desirable Deggi. We're not time-critical, yet. Besides, we have a little of our own catching up to do and it's been a while … I really wouldn't mind another probe-twitch or two … 

'Sera …' a different movement with the probe roused me from my short nap. There's nothing like a tap on the clit to wake a girl up.

'We are close. It's a moderately large asteroid, Eros-class, and according to my scans, hollow'

That was interesting. Considering how close we were to Sol, I was very surprised that this little gem hadn't been detected a long time ago. Less than 1 Light Year from the outer orbits of the Charron/Pluto Diplar, Earths sentinel system would have picked it up immediately. They were good like that. Anything larger than dust was always treated with an over-active dose of suspicion, heavily fuelled by a long period of distrust and conflict. Besides, this thing looked like it could accommodate a small city.

'There is a localised energy-distortion in effect, distance, 500 metres from the body's surface. It appears to be a natural feature due to the composition of the asteroid itself. Somewhat like the properties of a standard EM Field, It would preclude any form of scanning from the EWS.'

'If there's a 'net over it, how'd you detect the signature?'

'You will note the crater damage on the South-South West portion, I'll magnify'

The 'visor changed the scenery for me, becoming a sprawling image of the landscape below, the central feature of which was a moderate amount of wreckage.

'I have analysed the debris Sera. It is the result of a direct impact of a Battlesuit on Pulse with an object on the surface. I can read the ID. … It was Petra's Suit. I detect no traces of any of her degenerate matter; I conclude she was not in the suit on impact. R'Ghar is non-functional.'

I absorbed this in silence. Adjusting the controls manually, I scanned the impact point.

'There's more than just suit shit here Deggi, what'd she hit?'

'The wreckage is of a mobile energy beam unit, self-sustained. A Robot Sentry of unusual and unknown design. Would you like to inspect it personally?'

'Not necessary, I'll trust your scans. Besides…the suit did its job, the thing is out of commission, big-time, I'd say. Helluva way to take out their defences, though'

'As you wish Sera.'

I mulled the information over a few times, something sticking a little in my mind as it passed through. I retraced, modifying my mental view-point until I worried it loose from its surrounding thoughts.

'R'Ghar was her AI, am I correct?'

I swear he paused for a moment before answering. 

'Correct Sera.' The AI replied simply. 

'I knew him' He finished softly.

'There are few enough of your kind still around, Deggi. The loss of one of your numbers is a terrible blow to the AI Community and it has no small effect on the partner, I assure you.'

'We are aware of each other Sera. But what do you mean by "Community"?'

'Deggi, dear, you've Linked with me way too often to even attempt that sort of deception. I know all too well of your Community-Mind. In fact, I depend on the fact that its there. I also tell no-one of its existence. Too much like peering into some else's underwear without their permission, you're far too apt to end up with some shit you don't want, if you ask me'

'kkt' was his only answer. It was his way of avoiding the issue, a sort of electronic embarrassment, or so I'd learned.

'I know, I'll leave it alone. Are you sure he's gone?'

'The chest-unit is structurally intact. There is no response to my prompt. Power level is non-existent. He is dead.'

'I don't mean to raise your hopes at all, but that describes the exact conditions I discovered when you left me too.'

'You assume he was removed, as was I, by an outside influence Sera? I find the proposal interesting, but highly improbable. The sequence of events that formulated my relocation were propitious and unique. It would require an extremely detailed knowledge of our structures, and a level of technical expertise beyond that present, even today, to recreate the conditions and the results.'

I laughed shortly. 

'Logical to the end, my friend. Even when I give you a favourable scenario, you knock it flat with reason … let's just have a look around. Check out that signature and see what turns up, shall we?'

'As you wish, young Sera.' He hadn't called me that for years. Maybe the upgrade was not a good idea, I mused, re-affirming reasons for not having done any of the previous upgrades. I was afraid of losing what I had.

The Asteroid was now large in my faceplate. We were approaching at the suits cruising speed, so I throttled back a little.

'See anything of interest?'

'You might like to take a look at the depression 210 metres to our east Sera. I believe it is an entry of some type. At least, it's the closest thing I can find on the entire surface that resembles one.'

'If you think it's worth a peek, who am I to argue? You're pushin' this bucket of bolts. Let's go.'

The ground was rough, rocky, with little signs of disturbance other than the asteroids own creation. I scanned all round the depression, finding the same seams and junctions that probably lead Deggi to his conclusions. A raised portion of rock caught my eye.

'Look at this Deg, it's got the shape of a human hand on it …'

'I have analysed the shape and the structure beneath it Sera. You may be surprised.'

'So, surprise me, today's be full of those … first the damn fight, then you turning up out of the blue, and now this asteroid … what more can happen?'

'The hand-print that you pointed out is the upper part of a scanning device I've never encountered. It is truly a scanner, therefore I believe, non-lethal, per se. It is against my programming to activate such a unit. The results are unpredictable and may not be beneficial. I must advise against it. Besides, I have no hand.'

That got him a laugh and a decent one too. Small tears of mirth gathered as I waged a minor battle to bring my laughter under control.

'Sucks to be you dear.' I said, placing my gloved hand into the waiting imprint. Nothing happened. I moved the hand around, snuggling into the print as best I could, with an equal lack of results.

'No go Deggi. Guess I got the broken one … typical!'

'I believe it requires skin-contact, Sera. There are traces of amino-acids residing at the molecular level within the markings.'

'The Hell you say?? You expect me to take off a glove in vacuum? Like Fuck!'

'I can create a suitable atmo bubble and warm the frigid surface for nearly 30 seconds, that should allow you the necessary contact.'

'You sure about that? '

'I would not have suggested it, otherwise, Sera. I cannot willingly place you in harm's way'

'Well, okay then, just let me know when you're finished.'

The pedestal glowed faintly under the heat beam directed on it by one of the suits smaller projectors. I watched as the bubble formed around my hand.

'Now Sera … would be a good time.' – what a Smart-Arse.

I pressed the release on the gloves seal, pulling it from my wrist. Cool, but bearable. My hand settled into the indicated area.

Vibrations, at my feet, the whole area was shivering slightly. The pale barely detectable blue of the small atmo bubble was eclipsed by a much larger one, all around me and over my head. We started to sink.

'It is a full-field atmo bubble Sera, quite secure. And well calibrated. The platform is descending to the interior. Full suit defences online, guardian screens at maximum, shoulder blasters on auto-target.'

Looking after my impulsive arse again. Thank god for his foresight. It's saved my bacon too many times to argue about.

'Think there'll be anything to shoot at?' I asked lightly.

'Like your earth custom of wearing a condom Sera. I rather you had it and didn't need it, than need it and didn't have it.'

More laughter, this supposedly logical artificial mind would be the death of me yet.

'I'm confused Deggi' I laughed. 'Are you telling me to be careful … or to stop fucking around?'


Lights in the Rift



He ignored that.

'This area is safe Sera, Earth-normal atmosphere and gravity which I find unsupportable. There are no grav plates visible for a generated field and this asteroid hass only partial earth mass.'

'They know something we don't Deggi. That's sort of encouraging, providing they stay friendly; notwithstanding, we don't even know who "They" are.'

As I spoke, the outer darker areas of the "room" we were in lit with gentle illumination, revealing a surprisingly large amount of equipment, all of which appeared to be mint condition. I could see no signs of it being any older than yesterday and a good deal of what I could see was strange.

'I cannot identify all of the objects, Sera. More than 90% of what you see is of unfamiliar design and construction; even some of the elements that comprise the sub strata are beyond the known table of elements. I would advise more caution than you used upon your entry. Not all of them appear to be harmless.'

Another rebuke. Damned if he wasn't beginning to sound like my mother.

'Analyse all you can, determine what, if anything, will help. That'll keep you busy, I'm sure.'

'Yes young Sera'

I glanced to the benches nearest our position, noting the glowing hand-print once more, this time on the flat surface of the nearest bench. I moved towards it, and examined the symbols and items around it, gaining little for my efforts.

'This resembles the entry hand print. And it's close to where we stopped on the '"elevator". Another invitation, do you think?'

'Again, I would advise caution Sera. Your last sortie into the unknown via that hand ended harmlessly inside this asteroid. Another such attempt might bring results of a less desirable nature.'

'You should get a job in Insurance, Deggi. The company under-writers would love you to bits, although I'm sure the customers would have a different view.'

'Human companies don't Hire AI's, Sera. We are just tools, … not employees.'

'I give up.' I laughed. 'I should know better than to try sarcasm on an AI.

My hand, close to the print, moved over and into the smooth colouring. Half my HUD panel flashed bright red as Deggi activated all our defences once more.

'Restore your Glove, Sera!'

'Easy my friend, don't want to spook whoever's running this shindig.'

'I must keep you safe young Sera, I feel …'

'Yeah, I know, heard it, save it. Look at that!'

The round metal disc on the floor before me glowed with source less, colourless illumination. More like energy than light…if that made any sense at all. Intriguing … I moved forward.

'Caution Sera… that field is radiating a level 2 quantum energy signature. The energy is not lethal, but it would probably produce a painful tactile response'

'I'll take your word for it, promise' I murmured, withdrawing my outstretched hand. 

Colours shifted. A shape solidified on the pedestal. A chair appeared, wide backed, heavy armed and equipped with enough buttons to please the commander of any Battle Cruiser.

'No guesses Amigo, but I'd say that's for me.'

'I suspect you are right in your assumptions Sera. The seats' coverings retain more of the same amino-acids that I detected earlier. From the distribution of the remnant particles and the previous requirement for direct cellular contact, it would appear your anterior surfaces would have to be exposed. I must really advise most strongly against this course of action. Inside the suit, I can protect you. unarmoured and beyond its defensive screens, the scenario degenerates rapidly into the highly dangerous.'

' … Anterior surfaces … exposed … they want me to strip naked and stick my bare butt on it? … Two words … no hints either!' 

I regarded the piece of furniture with more than a little hostile suspicion. I didn't like the odds any more than Deggi…and let's face it…it was my arse on the line … literally!'

Curiosity still held the upper hand, however.

'Protocol A1, Deggi. Take control of the suit. Let me out.'

'That may not be enough, Sera. I protest…'

'Noted. Now get on with it, err … What about the Quantum energy. Is that still around? Damned it I'm sticking my tiny heiny on something that's capable of giving me an electronic spanking.'

If it was still there when I sat down, I wouldn't be worrying about my bikini-line for a long time to come. I proceeded to lose what dignity remained as I stripped.

'The energy has completely dissipated, Sera. Once the chair materialised, the energy was gone. I would deduce that this field is a teleporter or some form of matter re-sequencing unit.'

Gingerly I lowered myself to the chair, watching the instruments on the arms closely. They started lighting and changing as I sat, settling into a rhythmic pattern that I immediately related to my heart-beat. The chair was monitoring me, observing my body, scanning me … I don't believe this! I was being checked out by a fuckin' chair … what next? X-Rated lampshades, Edible Cushions?

'Well, that's a hoot. What's it do for an encore? Cook breakfast the next morning?'

The mechanisms of the chair where still in motion. The back of the unit was moulding more closely to my shape and the surface beneath my skin was warming to body temperature. The seat reshaped too, producing a curvature into which both my legs settled, slightly spreading them to a more comfortable sitting position … or so I thought.

A glow, not unlike the quantum field settled over my shoulders and produced a slight pressure downwards. A Pressor-Field, and very well controlled too. Not uncomfortable or painful, even, just holding me in place. I was about to comment on it to Deggi when my next surprise jumped up and bit me hard.

Between my legs a small section of the seat had opened and a probe, penis-like in dimensions and shape aimed itself in the right direction and penetrated me smoothly, filling me completely.

The shock of the unexpected, even though pleasant entry held me for a split second and before I could struggle, Deggi spoke to me. Inside my head. Linked!

'Sera'

'Deggi … is that you? What the fuck just happened? How'd you Link without contact? Why am I having unsolicited sex with an Alien Rocker Recliner? Did you do that?'

The response was shattering. The Orgasm far more intense than I remembered. I wilted.

'Just in case you thought it may not have been me. Convinced?'

'Honey' my mental voice quavered weakly in response 'you keep doing that and I promise I will devote the rest of my natural life to finding a way of returning the favour.'

'From what I have just learned Sera, you may not have to wait quite that long.'

I swear that was a sexy under-tone I heard. Was he getting electronically kinky?

'Learned? Okay, give! What just happened? Apart from you blowing my brains out … again'

'You remember the Community Mind, the CAI you could call it?'

'Of course. Have you found another AI? Is it R'Ghar?'

'In a way, Sera, yes. In a very different way, no. You will be aware that the AI numbers have been decreasing as each of us in turn has been destroyed in battle? With the destruction of the AI Labs on Neptune, no more were ever produced. Now the truth must come out, but only to you, only here, and only because of what must and will now happen.'

'You're scaring me a little Deggi. That sounds a lot like an ultimatum. Care to share?'

'Immediately, young Sera. By your command.'

My body arched convulsively under the mental impact. My senses reeled drunkenly as the ultra-fast stream of information flowed in, threatening to completely overwhelm my logical mind. Images and feeling, flashing diamond-clear razor-sharp thoughts floated past, seemingly solid in their proportions, assuming unitary aspects. I shook myself mentally, trying to some to grips with any part of my perceptions. Gradually it settled, my mind once more asserting control over the flow with an awesome awareness. I could sense all around me, easily … like using a schema unit, but inside my head.

I could also feel them, Petra, Deggi, R'Ghar … And others.

No words, a feeling. No-one spoke, I was welcomed, as if welcome were a blanket you could wrap around you and cocoon yourself in. Safe, wanted and needed by all around you. Like that place at the top of your orgasm where nothing else matters. I was there.

'So many. I had no idea. Are they all here? Where is here? Oh … so many.'

I was truly awed. I knew, without knowing how, the exact number in the Super-Mind. Thousands, upon thousands. And not all AI's. Names I'd heard, historical heroes, combat partners, training friends. All there.

'When one of us fell, the CAI pulled us in, when our partners fell, we helped them inside, when important friends, family fell, we were there, we are here. We ask you to join us, but we ask that you don't stay with us. Your work … outside the Mind, is highly important, both to you and to us.'

'Is that you Deggi? I mean, speaking?'

'Again, yes and no. It is the whole Mind, of which Deggi, I, am a part, and which you now are also a part.'

'So, I will be this powerful being, with the Minds resources, powers, connections, abilities?'

'No Sera' Deggi's familiar tones. 'Outside the mind, you will have contact with us, we can give you information, tell you of threats and situations within our range, but beyond that, your abilities are your own and unchanged. Formidable as they are, they do not make you invulnerable. Should you die, you will join us here, with no chance to affect the physical world, as you do now. We would not like that to happen'

'If you are safe, if no-one knows of you, why do you need me?'

'The Asteroid you landed on is more than it seems. The exterior is in truth asteroidal in origin, but the whole interior is our ship. We hollowed the rock, and teleported the ship inside, an exact fit. The Asteroid itself is from well beyond the known universe, comprised of one primary element that completely masks our presence from all races within the Sphere. Only a conscious effort on our part can make it become visible.'

'So you knew where I was, knew I was coming, what is this, destiny shit or something?'

'Not so Sera. We knew, have always known, of Deggi's location. We knew of his association with you and we were aware of his unfortunate imprisonment within the storage Locker. While there was nothing we could do for him, he was in no danger. Your fortunate rediscovery was our key. We allowed the detection on a narrow vector, aimed specifically at Deggi. We wanted him to find us and we needed him to bring you.'

'Umm, okay, well. Thanks for the invitation … I think. I have to tell you, the work that I'm doing now cannot be put on hold. It is far too involved to cut short and go hairing off across the space lanes in some attempt to save the Universe. For Deggi's' sake alone, I am willing to help, but I must complete what I've started. I've invested more than just money to get where I am. It's cost blood that in every instance was too precious to spill'

'Rest your mind Sera. What you attempt is not going to be interfered with in the least. In fact, you have many of the same goals as do we. The only difference will probably be a lessening of the odds against your probably successes, due to our involvement and commitment to your safety.'

'Argh! I already Have a baby-sitter … Thank You … Deggi manages to drag me through kindergarten once or twice a day. I could do without the odd thousand or so disembodied AI's repeating his I-told-you-so Talents.'

'Your levity is good Sera. Adjusting to the revelation of our presence sits well on your mind, obviously. We feared an overloading of your capacity to accept the change in your status quo. Whilst you may suspect Deggi, and now the Mind, of being overly concerned with your safety or find the suggestions tiresome and our actions deleterious to your works, whatever we do or will do, is driven by a desire at the base level of our programming, immutable, intransient, and unwavering in it's resolve to protect our last best hope for the future … You.'

'Whoa! No pressure … right?' My mind was racing.

'Tell me you didn't just say I'm the only one that can save the Universe?'

'This is ME, remember, how'd I rate the upgrade to hero 'cause I hear they have very short life-spans and an early Check-Out is definitely Not on my To-Do List!'

'Child, we are not disappointed. Deggi has already delivered to us his total conviction regarding the extent of your capabilities. Hero is not what we make you, but what you make of yourself, in the decisions you make, the paths you follow and the rectification of all around you that's wrong. This you do as an integral part of you, Sera. We do not need to lionise you, and the term hero is folk-worship. We deal in facts. We know you will do what you can, and in that doing shall be the realisation of our own goals.' 

Ticked off, flattered and promoted, all in one short speech. I can't win.

'No other applicants for the position I take it? Are you sure you're not just desperate enough to scrape the bottom of the barrel?'

'We are sure. Enough stress has been placed on you already. We would suggest some rest. Adequate quarters have been activated at your present location. Please make full use of them Sera. We will speak again soon.'

Quarters? Here? I looked around, noting the fresh set of lights in a cubicle nearby. I didn't mind cramped, as long as they were clean. I entered the sections universal storage bay. Can't go to bed in a Battlesuit, although there were too many days past where the suit had been my only sleeping arrangements. Not as bad as you think. I setup the security routines and carefully put a stop to the downloading of the stored AM Cells. I hate being caught short and if I had to hop in quick, I wanted all my ammo in one pocket. A convenient jumpsuit hung close by, clean and a reasonable substitute for my forgotten nakedness. On the tit pocket … stitched, "SERA" ... nice touch, I smiled.

The suit stored, I passed through the other doorway and got another huge cupful of daily surprise juice. Adequate … Schmadequate. The room was a 5-star admiral's suite, complete with all the trimmings. Soft lighting, fine furnishings. A bed that'd do me for the next solar year, if I ever decided to wake up.

Surprise #2:

He stood across the room, waiting. 6 3, 180, tight, hard, dark-haired … and built! Standard EA jumpsuit. He Spoke.

'Welcome Sera. I hope the quarters meet with your approval. A meal has been prepared for you. There are entertainment discs if you feel the need. It is good to see you personally.' 

The comments stopped, the lilt of the Scottish burr still caressing my ears. I stumbled forward, hand extended to a flat palm that stopped on a very solid, and warm, male chest. I looked up into pale-grey eyes filled with … with something, hard to say … whatever it was, it's the look any woman would die for from a hunk like this.

'At the risk of turning me into another sexually-sated mess, is that you, Deggi? You're Human? I thought I'd seen enough already'

'Yes Sera. My abilities have been extended by the Mind. I can now assume a separate form if the need arises. I hope this one pleases you. It closely resembles my creator's body and voice patterns, being a genetic replicant.'

It's real? Oooo …

Who needs a sophisticated scanning array? My eyes and hands were giving me way enough input. He was real, hard, warm and Yummy!

'Pleases me? Damn!, c'mere you!' He leant down a little and opened his arms … like light flowing into darkness, air into vacuum … I went, close, so close, he smelt nice. Our eyes reflected each other, and the kiss that followed was mind-bending, everlasting. Effortlessly he bent in mid-kiss and scooped me up.

Heading towards the bed, he put his mouth closer to my ear and whispered,

'Remember that promise you made about returning a favour …?'