Exodus Read online

  All Tobias can think about is protecting his daughter. The threat of the Allfather AI is still real. He believes this. His child’s nightly cries are not all that wake him at these troubling hours. His fear over Allfather’s ability to survive and return plays on his mind. He carries this burden in his heart. It is a weight he cannot seem to shrug off. The victory over Allfather’s campaign was well earned and celebrated but has not outlasted the trauma he’s suffered from the enormous stresses put on his emotional and physical self during the defence of his world. These linger, working against his happiness, and when Tobias finds himself alone, he weeps for his friend Wilkes and the many who fell to Allfather’s will.

  As Samantha settles in his arms, Tobias burps her twice, kisses her forehead quietly and places her back in the crib. They could have an A-Class AI Host nanny, but they are few and far between these days. Ginny wanted a genuine experience anyway. Tobias hadn’t realized just how demanding of his time the baby would be. His day to day presence on UE’s government council wasn’t as demanding as his six-month-old.

  Tobias’ EC lights up and a gentle hum emanates from his forearm. He moves out of the room to the kitchen so as not to wake anyone. Who would be calling me at this hour? It’s not just anyone, it’s Captain Drake. Ursula Drake, who maintains public order through her military and police departments the world over. She is a friend and member of the UE council. Her stunning features permeate the space above his EC in a holo.

  “Captain,” Tobias greets her, brushing out his dark beard with the fingers of his opposite hand. “I heard you were a night owl, but it’s near four in the morning.”

  “I’ve been up since oh-three-hundred, Captain,” Ursula replies curtly. All business. “Early to bed and early to rise -” she quotes the old adage.

  “Well, I have a six-month-old here, and we go to bed when she goes to bed and wake up when she wakes up. Which is about three times a night if we’re lucky,” Tobias explains.

  “Strange Ginny refused a nanny.” Captain Drakes expression shows no emotion. Tobias nods.

  “What news has you contacting me this early?” Tobias rubs his eyes, the thought of returning to his wife and warm bed now abandoned.

  “I’ve been asked by the chancellor to wake the council and arrange a meeting.”

  “Spare me the suspense, Ursula and tell me what it’s about.” Tobias feels the anxiety well up in his chest over the chance this could be about Allfather’s return.

  “Come to the war room at 0500.” Her face blinks out of the darkness as she ends the communication. Tobias paces the floors as adrenaline pushes through his veins, exciting his fight response and agitating the nerves under his skin until they begin to prickle.

  Why did she have to leave him with that! The war room? What other reason to meet in the war room than to discuss a coming war? His mind plays out scenarios where he learns Allfather has announced his return visit and another fight that could potentially accomplish what it had set out to achieve in the last assault. Could he do it all over again? He places palms down on the kitchen counter and lowers his head, bending at the waist. He takes three deep breathes, exhaling slowly. This helps. The regular meds and oils help too, but he finds when the anxiety rushes in like a wave to engulf an unsuspecting shoreline, breathing techniques are his best defence. Tobias shakes off the unpleasant sensations and walks the house. He takes a shower and dresses for the council meeting.

  2163, DECEMBER. FOR EVERY ACTION…

  Manuel sits in a pristine holding cell with white walls and a nanoplast floor to ceiling window wall where he waits along with the AI Host who murdered the old man over the lottery. The Host has been secured to the opposite wall of the cell. Manuel wonders what charge the UE police are preparing to lay on him. He had been discovered with the arm in his possession after all.

  “You’ve done a stupid thing,” Manuel reprimands the Host. He’s equally angry at himself for getting involved. Angry, scared, head spinning like a top over possible outcomes. His very future will be decided today. “Why do you need to be on that ship so badly?”

  “What I did, I did not do for myself.” The AI Host is still in two pieces, its torso bound to the wall, his arms now removed. “It was for my daughter. That she would know a better life off-world.” His voice is in the masculine range, so Manuel assumes he is a father to this daughter.

  “Is she like you? Machine? Or is she human?” Manuel asks curtly, but curious over who this daughter might be, and why he feels killing a man for his winning number is his only recourse.

  “She is my daughter from when I was human. I was killed in the Host wars, General August’s war, defending my family,” The Host explains soberly. “Now my daughter is more like you than like the girl I left, covered in tech and mech.”

  “She is Chimera?”

  “She wasn’t given the choice!” the Host barks back. “She is my daughter. War did that to her. Then the war to follow took her mother and sister after I had returned in this,” he looks down at his chassis. “And I’ve spent the last seven months trying to make sense of our family’s misfortunes. She asked if we could leave this planet. She’s frightened to stay, but too damaged to leave – by UE standards.”

  “So, if you could have fitted her with the old man’s EC chip, she’d have had a chance.” Manuel gets it now.

  “Yes, I have friends that would have altered the winning chip and made it seem as though she had won it fairly. I would have granted my child her freedom from the fear she suffers daily.” The Host’s head shakes back and forth, rattling the nano-steel bars holding his torso in place. “Now she won’t even have a father.”

  Manuel considers this sad story of loss and empathizes. He too has lost those he loved. If he could grant his little sister a wish, he would have done so without thought of consequences. This Host, this father, suffers alongside his daughter. But there is nothing Manuel can do for him. The authorities will know he’s done this thing. They will end him for it.

  “Where is your daughter now, Host?” Manuel asks quietly. “You will be decommissioned for what you’ve done, but perhaps I can see to it that your daughter has a fighting chance at making the flight.” It seems a hollow promise, but one he feels somehow compelled to offer.

  At this the Host releases what sounds like a sigh. “You would do this for me?” Manuel nods. “Why? Why do this for me?”

  “I’m not rewarding your behaviour, Host. I am honouring your promise to a child who deserves better than the cards she’s been dealt. Tell me where she is.” Manuel is leaning in, allowing the Host to deliver the information via its roaming lance to his implant. The Host understands and sends the details, thanking Manuel, his lance limited to the secure cell now. “You’re welcome, Trevor,” Manuel says, now possessing all the information required to find Trevor’s daughter and fulfill a dead man’s wish.

  A moment later two police enter the cell and remove Manuel. He looks back at Trevor with calculated compassion. He shouldn’t have killed a man for his daughter. He decides when he meets her, he’ll leave that part out.

  ____________________________________________________________

  Outside the station, Manuel is handed a data chip by an official-looking woman who is smiling at him and shaking his hand. “What you did today shows much courage, citizen,” she tells him. Following her gaze, he realizes he’s being recorded for a UE news thread, and that this woman is a B-class, AI Host sent to interview him. He stares into the hovering camera and nods blankly.

  “While you’ve been waiting, several witnesses have come forward to praise your actions in detaining the murderer.” She says waiting like he’d been in line for a Holofilm, when in fact he’d been torturing himself with scenarios since the police came upon him, ordered him down from the hover vehicle and secured him with a body brace. Manuel nods again, and he looks at the object the B-class has placed in his opposite hand.

  “Yes,” she nods her head at him, “justice ruled on what to do with the win
ning lottery number now that its owner has expired,” She tells him and her audience. “You have been gifted the win! Manuel Thomas, you’re going off-world on the next available ship!” Manuel is stunned, fixated on the chip between his fingers. The sound of applause surrounds him. “You’ll be one of 2000 souls embarking on an eleven-year journey to the Tyson system which houses one yellow dwarf star, thirteen planets of various types: including three gas giants, four ice worlds, two sandy rocks, three dwarf planets and your destination planet, Tyson 4; an earth-like ball of liquid water, breathable air, mountainous terrain, forests of unknown flora and fauna affording you and your peers a lifetime of adventure!”

  “I – thank you?” Manuel is overwhelmed. Not one of the scenarios during his time in the holding cell prepared him for this incredible news. The town’s lottery stragglers cheer as they watch on from behind drone pilons. Manuel is trying to process the B-class Host’s description of the rest of his life. The life he’s been dreaming of since the lottery began. Then he thinks of his duty to Trevor’s daughter - the promise he’d made moments ago.

  Manuel holds his hand up which holds the numbered chip. The crowd cheers again. He places the chip into his EC tech and his forearm lights up a subtle blue. More applause. It’s verified, he thinks. This is actually happening. His heart soars but there is the small matter of including Trevor’s daughter in his new plans. The girl will be waiting for her father to return home soon. The information he received tells him her name, age, address, and EC information. He could raise her on his embedded comm, or just make the trip and introduce himself. That way he can sit her down and discuss her father’s demise. Or maybe he just ignores the promise he made to Trevor and move on with his life. This girl isn’t his problem. She’s twelve. There are resources for twelve-year-old orphans. Udo is her name. He almost wishes he hadn’t read that. Now it’s personal. Visuals flash in his minds-eye from the file. She has blue eyes set in pale, yellow skin, under long, black hair. One eye is bionic. Udo has a slight build but is tall for her age. She has a robotic right leg and right arm, implants in her head for hearing loss and limb control, and jaw reconstruction which still causes some pain and discomfort. Stims are produced from the implants and fed to her as needed. All of this damage is from the explosion which killed her father.

  She’ll be a basket case to learn that the father who’d died and come back as a Host is now gone for good. This isn’t going to be an easy thing. He stares at his EC and the soft glow of a winning number. The glow warms his heart, as does the holo in his minds-eye of young Udo. His brother’s daughter would be the same age if they had survived Allfather’s cruel attack. Manuel shakes off the memories of trying to rush home from Country State Spain to assist with the evacuation of his family and friends six months ago. He couldn’t be the cause of someone else’s pain. He moves through the crowd where so many have now gathered to retrieve a few personal possessions from his home.

  THERE IS A REACTION

  “Of our six destroyers and one goliath that survived after Allfather’s attempt on our planet, one destroyer had to be scrapped altogether, while the goliath and remaining five destroyers were repaired,” Admiral Chopra offers after Chancellor Bellows asked the question. The war room is well lit - but quiet, save the hum of computers and a skeleton crew manning the posts. Chopra continues. “As you know, Mars Station has sent us two new goliaths and three new destroyers in recent months, with three more of each nearing completion. Luna base has manufactured a bounty of corvettes, delivering fifteen with another fifteen being fitted with final touches.”

  The council nods and look pleased with the numbers thus far. Raymond had asked them to meet at this early hour in order to bring everyone up to speed in person. “Thank you, Admiral. So, within the next week or two I can expect to have eleven destroyers, six goliath-class and thirty corvettes at our disposal.” Raymond stands within the circle and studies his council of friends. His admirals Jim Chopra and David Mann stand at complementary angles to one another in the circle, Captain Drake stands next to Captain Tobias. Senator Quinn, still embodying the spider-like frame he’d assumed during General August’s war, stands next to Labyrinth. Labyrinth, altered to be small and unassuming in order to use his hi-tech programing for espionage and sabotage, now finds himself comfortably fitted into a customized C-class female AI Host frame. He wears samurai-like armour, painted matte black. It suits him – her, Raymond corrects himself.

  “We also have the requested three carrier-class ships ready to take on their payload of pilgrims,” Admiral Mann adds.

  “Yes, and another reason to have brought you all in this morning,” the chancellor says, grateful for the segue. “We’re moving on three star systems. One carrier each. One destroyer and four corvettes for each group. That will leave us with eight destroyers and eighteen corvettes. The goliaths will also remain in earth orbit. We have no intention of stopping either the production of star ships or training new citizens in their operation.”

  “To know that an alien AI was created is to know there are intelligent beings like us out there. Perhaps cruel. Allfather told us they made him fight their wars. So, they are obviously aggressive,” Ursula adds.

  “I don’t think Allfather left any of them alive,” Tobias says. The group laughs lightly at this. “Seriously.” He raises his hands.

  “Nonetheless,” Raymond tells the council. “Where there is one, it’s fair to assume there will be more. We know we’re not alone in the universe now. We continue to build our military and train our people. With three new systems to be colonized within the next ten to twelve years, we will need the added defences.”

  “Has the lottery finished?” Commander Tesla enters the war room and joins the circle next to the chancellor.

  “The lottery has another three days of numbers to fill all three carriers,” Captain Drake explains, troubled over the commander’s tardiness. If it were anyone else.

  “The envoy’s military entourage are well trained and ready to make the journey,” Admiral Mann insists. Admiral Chopra offers his support of the statement with a nod as the chancellor turns to him.

  “It is an exciting time for humanity.” The chancellor launches into a speech, hands clasped together in front of him as he moves along the interior of his circle of peers. “It seems such a short time ago that the first satellite orbited the planet, the moon landings, space stations, Luna base and Mars Station. That we’re now travelling to other star systems is an incredible achievement which the world owes to each of you. Without your fighting spirit we would have fallen to Allfather.” Raymond pauses to find the words he’s trying to say.

  “I feel I am ready to retire from my position as chancellor of United Earth.” No one dares interrupt, so he continues. “What we’ve achieved as a council, the battles we’ve won, the civilization we’ve saved, the fears we’ve faced and vanquished in the name of duty can not be overstated. As a team we’ve defended all the people of earth from prejudice and stopped a great evil - twice now - to preserve our way of life.” Raymond takes a long breath. “This announcement comes as a bit of a shock to me as well,” he tells them, watching the stunned looks on his council’s faces. “But I feel my time has been served. We’re in a good place now. A place my successor will have no trouble maintaining.”

  “Uncle, I don’t – I won’t follow another,” Tobias says bluntly. “I’m in the position I am because of you. If you’re no longer chancellor, I don’t want to do this anymore.”

  Raymond nods, closing his eyes. Darla takes his hand. They knew there would be push back on this announcement.

  “Is it your plan then to live on Luna Base with the commander?” Chopra asks, stoic as ever.

  “We’re going on one of the ships,” Raymond confesses abruptly, nodding. “We’re going to Tyson 4.” Silence. Not only is he leaving office, but he’s also leaving the planet. Raymond feels lighter for having said this aloud to his council. It feels real now. It has been a difficult decision leaving all he
has accomplished for another to manage.

  “Then the Commander is retiring too,” Quinn says. “This is all very sudden.” Darla nods at this with a hopeful smile.

  “Tyson 4, the nicest of the three systems from what I hear,” Ursula tells the group, accepting the chancellor’s announcement without question. “You will be missed. Both of you.” She closes in on Darla and Raymond’s position on the opposite side of the circle and stands at attention. “You put together a fine team here, Chancellor. You should be very proud.”

  “Thank you, Ursula,” Raymond says as she steps back. “Jim,” he turns to focus on Admiral Chopra. “Jim, you would be my first choice to replace me in this coming election, to support the work we’ve done and continue our vision. I know it’s sudden,” he looks back at Senator Quinn and then again to Admiral Chopra. “Will you accept this honour?”

  “I’d tell you I’m not much of a politician, chancellor, but I think I’ve learned a thing or two from you over the past two years.” A smile encroaches on his otherwise stoic expression. “I’d be honoured to serve United Earth in its highest office. I accept.” He moves from his position and salutes the chancellor. Once it is returned, he shakes his hand, white teeth smile back at the chancellor sharply complimenting the brown skin of Jim’s face. Raymond has imagined Jim wanting to leave the service and spend more time with his family. This is a solution for all.

  “I’m going to have to discuss this with Ginny and Sam tonight. No offence, Admiral, I’d follow you to the end of the earth, but with a vote pending, there’s no telling who will win.” Tobias feels confused, upset the group is breaking up, but excited he may once again have a choice. He wants to talk to his wife right away. “Are we done here?” Raymond nods and Tobias leaves the war room.

  “I don’t expect Tobias will be long for the military life,” Raymond looks to Chopra who is nodding. “Admiral,” Raymond turns to David Mann next, “You’ll take command of United Earth military operations?”