Anomaly on Cerka by M. D. Cooper & Andrew Dobell

Author:M. D. Cooper & Andrew Dobell [Cooper, M. D. & Dobell, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

TAKING A TOLL

STELLAR DATE: 05.11.8948 (Adjusted Years)

LOCATION: En route to Alma’s ship, Cerka Station

REGION: Mullens, Virginis System, LoS Space

“It’s quiet here,” Amanda commented as she walked along the concourse with Jessica.

They’d been walking for nearly ten minutes and had left the warehouse district behind. A few blocks on, Amanda figured they must be in one of the less savory areas of the station. There was more trash in the corridors, and the shops and units were sealed up or empty and looted. The ones that were open for business had protective grating over their windows, and holo-graffiti covering their walls.

Even the people seemed to have lost all hope.

“Bad neighborhood,” Jessica replied. “It’s not unusual in stations this big.”

“I guess after the coup, it’s going to take a while to clean everything up. What was it all about?”

“The liberation of AIs who’ve been used basically as slaves for too long, coupled with the AST’s occupation of the outer Virginis System. We kinda started it twenty years ago, when we came through here and Sabrina showed some of the AIs what it meant to be free. One thing led to another, and eventually, fighting broke out. We’re here to help make that right.”

“Sounds like you’re cleaning up some of your own mess a little bit.”

Jessica shrugged. “I guess you could put it that way. We’re trying to make things better, but people can be resistant to change.”

Amanda nodded. “Yeah, I know all about that.”

“Oh?”

“Well, it’s complicated, but back in my universe, I’m part of a small group who are joining a large, well established organization called the Nexus. Some of the member states of the Nexus don’t like the idea of us becoming members. It means change, which they’re resistant to. Also, I think they see it as a power grab, so they’re fighting us. I can see it getting violent before long.”

“The liberation of the AIs is having a similar effect,” Jessica said.

“Hey, ladies, what you doin’ down here, lookin’ all shiny an’ shit?”

Amanda looked up to see a man leaning against the wall, looking them over and licking his lips. He looked as though he could do with a good long bath and a new set of clothes.

“You don’t wanna know,” she replied as they walked past, and then glanced down at Jessica’s fitted, shimmering purple bodysuit—which she had changed into after the Reaver attack—and her own glossy white one. “I guess we don’t exactly blend in,” she commented to Jessica as she glanced back at the man, who was watching them walk off.

“Well, no time to worry about that now, the berth is just ahead on the right.”

Amanda followed Jessica’s gaze and saw that the large loading doors were wide open. They moved closer, slowing down as they went.

~Shall we have a peek inside?~ Amanda asked, as she saw a cloud of nanoscopic machines sweep off of Jessica like smoke in her Aetheric Sight. They’d be invisible to the human eye, but she could see their energy signatures quite clearly.

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