The Rush's Edge by Ginger Smith

Author:Ginger Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857668677
Publisher: Watkins Media
Published: 2020-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-THREE

Hal reached for his blaspistol on the ground nearby. “Ty?” he asked, hovering next to Vivi. He made a silent gesture: Orders?

Bridge, Ty signed.

Hal nodded, going first. Ty knew it would be essential that they retake the bridge from whatever or whoever this was. He gestured for Vivi to go next and he and Beryl followed.

The bridge was darkened, but everything looked normal. When they walked in, the lights slowly came up, as usual.

Ready, Hal signed. Ty covered him as he began to check under control panels, in case someone was hiding underneath. There was no one. When Ty saw Hal sign clear, every display on the bridge went white, with a black line across the screen. The line oscillated into a voice print as that unfamiliar female voice spoke again. “Captain Tyce Bernon.”

“You know my name,” Tyce said, feeling his body grow cold at the unfamiliar female voice, “so what’s yours?”

“My designation is Eira. I have been in this construct since you left planet Attus 6.”

“Attus 6? Do you mean K-245j?” Vivi asked.

“Yes, that is the Coalition designation.”

“How did you get on the ship?” Vivi demanded.

“Where are you on the ship?” Ty added.

“I am inside it. My nanites downloaded me when you brought me here. My original construct was destroyed.”

Vivi had gone pale. Ty swallowed hard and went on. “Your construct. Your… Your body, you mean? You were in the sphere? You’re a…”

“Yes, I am a Mudar.”

Ty glanced to Hal and Vivi as the voice continued. “Do not be afraid. There were exactly 12,434 chances and methods to eliminate all biologics on this construct. But I did not use any of them. Watching your interactions has been very instructive.”

“You’ve watched all of our interactions?” Vivi asked, eyes wide.

“Yes, Vivi Valjean.”

Ty caught Vivi’s glance to Hal.

“You have no reason to fear me. Consider my assistance to you. In the fight against the ACAS ship my nanites repaired and strengthened the ablative shielding on the hull. Your shields have improved forty-three percent.”

“That’s why we didn’t see more damage,” Hal agreed.

Ty nodded slowly, “I knew something was off in how quickly the ship reacted to my commands.”

“I took action based on twenty-five previous conflicts stored in the Loshad’s memory. I would not attack you, Tyce Bernon. I am a biologic specialist who studies and values life. All life.”

“But your people killed thousands of our people. And we… killed thousands of yours.” Ty shook his head recalling what he knew about the Mudar conflict over a hundred years previously. Humanity had lost a lot of battles at first, until they’d figured a way around the Mudar’s defenses. Lasers did little damage to the AI ships, but the low tech solution of projectile weapons had proved powerful and deadly. They’d turned the tide of war and made it possible for humans to push back the Mudar’s advance. At least, that was what he and every other natural born child had been taught in school.

“Incorrect, Tyce Bernon. There was a war, but it was neither as long nor as devastating as you were taught.

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