Progeny of Vale by Rhett C. Bruno

Author:Rhett C. Bruno
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781682300831
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2016-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN—CASSIUS

The Enemy of my Enemy

A host of Morastus ships led the White Hand into the clan’s private hangar on Ceres Prime. ADIM made sure to keep him informed of the missiles locked on their position throughout the entire arrival. He didn’t concern himself with it. He knew the risk he was taking by cruising into the den of the people he had battered. But they would need him once the bullets started flying, and he needed them as well.

“ADIM, Ceres is going to be different than anywhere else we’ve ever been,” Cassius said as he guided the White Hand down a rocky, vertical tunnel as slowly as he could.

ADIM turned his head to him, but his eyes weren’t spinning. “I understand.”

“Do you? They are going to curse me. They may even try to kill me.”

“They have already tried. This Unit will ensure your safety.”

The White Hand touched down gently and Cassius stood to look directly into his Creation’s face. “I have no doubt that you could. But it is important that you conceal yourself for now. There will be other androids here, weaker than the imitations of you that I built. They are capable of little more than menial tasks, and if you cannot hide, this is what you must pretend you are. You must blend in, however you can.”

Cassius reached up and pulled the com-links out of both of his ears. He held them out in an open palm. With his other hand he then reached into the satchel by his belt and pulled out the HOLO-Sphere with the only known recording of Caleb Vale on it.

“They will strip me of everything. I’m leaving these in your hands for now,” he said evenly.

ADIM took the three devices and held them up. The tiny lights around ADIM’s blazing red eyes spun wildly. “How will this Unit be able to contact you?”

“Track me. Use the gifts I gave you to blend in. They must not know you exist until I have their support.”

“Creator, this Unit will not let them harm you.”

“I was an Executor,” he proclaimed. “Ceresians don’t concern me. I’ll handle myself.”

ADIM’s eyes slowed in their rotation. He opened up a plate of his right arm and placed the com-links and recorder inside. “This Unit will not be found. ‘There is no weapon more valuable than being underestimated,’” he recited words Cassius had spoken on the 403rd day of his existence.

“You never forget anything I say, do you?”

“This Unit was created not to.”

“Trust me. I know,” Cassius answered. “Now, I also need you to store all of the White Hand’s data banks in your memory core. Ennomos, our navigation charts, and especially the last recorded imagery provided by the Vale Protocol. The Ceresians must not be able to see until I permit it.”

“Yes, Creator,” ADIM responded. He reached down to the console beside Cassius’s chair and spread his fingers out over it.

“Gaia, please transmit all data over to ADIM. Now.”

“Yes, Captain,” Gaia answered. “Shall I also store my own memory banks with him?”

“For now, yes.

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