The Book of Ominiue: Starborn by D.M. Barnham

Author:D.M. Barnham [Barnham, D.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2016-08-01T06:00:00+00:00

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‘Wake up!’ Shayne jerked upright, gasping for breath. Someone was violently shaking him while he slept, snapping him awake, but when he jumped up in the darkness there was nobody there. He frantically looked around but the room was empty. When his heart ceased racing his mouth curled up in confusion. He knew that he did not dream that voice; it was as clear as day; someone had woken him. He got up and put his pants on before searching the room, but no one was present. He stepped out onto the balcony. The moon was in its third quarter telling him it was around two in the morning. Still he did not see any movement except for the glint of armour in the gardens from a couple of guards shifting under the moonlight. He looked out towards the east, the still water of the lake shimmered in the light. He stood there a moment and breathed deeply, calming his nerves before he returned to his room. He opened the door to the palace halls, a female guard stood vigilantly; she looked down at him questioningly.

‘Did anyone come in here?’ Shayne asked.

‘No Lord,’ she replied. ‘None have passed this way in my shift.’ Shayne ran his hand in his hair and scratched the back of his head.

‘Is something the matter my Lord?’

‘I must have been dreaming.’ He stood there a moment. ‘Have you been here long?’ he asked the guard.

‘This is my third hour; in another I shall be relieved.’

‘Would you like a drink?’

‘No, thank you, I have water with me,’ she replied. This time she smiled down at him. Shayne nodded and returned to his room. He sat there a moment with his elbows resting on his legs and running his hands through his hair before he rested them on his jaw for a while; staring at nothing in particular. Moments ticked by before he came to a decision. He opened his wristcom and clicked a couple of commands so the extended screen piece opened up, revealing the blue holographic interface.

‘Connect to Oxford computer,’ he commanded. A moment passed as the link registered, Shayne’s wristcom then glowed with a purple rotating circular structure that the computer identified as itself.

‘Starborn Forrester. Welcome,’ the Oxford said with a level of integrity that was absent in most artificial intelligences.

‘Hello Oxford,’ Shayne replied. ‘Is the Captain available?’

‘She is currently asleep. I do not recommend awakening her; she rarely sleeps enough as it is,’ the computer informed.

‘I would not request that,’ Shayne assured the computer.

‘You could talk with me.’

‘So I’ve been told.’ Shayne leaned back, relaxing in the darkness. He felt comfortable with the intelligence that was the colonyship, but he did not know what to say. He had intended to talk to Arnahell.

‘What is bothering you, is it a human issue? I have an extensive library in my memory banks.’

‘I keep having dreams and I would like to know how to stop them.’

‘Dreams?’ the computer asked; a faint hint of interest in its voice.

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