Timberwolf by Tom Julian

Author:Tom Julian [Julian, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-08-27T18:30:00+00:00

ROAD TO HIGHLAND

“Highland’s not a destination. It’s more of a journey.” Achilles still had Timberwolf’s Sabatin rig spread out in his workshop like a puzzle. He soldered a component in the knee together, his face protected by a welding mask.

“You write greeting cards?” Timberwolf quipped.

“You asked how to get there. I told you!” Achilles snapped back, flipping up his welding mask. “You have to travel through a series of destinations, picking up the right stellar signatures on your hull. But it’s never the same order. I tell her we’re coming and Penny sends me the destinations and the sequence.”

“You think Gray knows that?” Salla asked.

“I am sure he does, but he doesn’t know exactly how long it should take. Nemesis is a lot faster than Nina, but I am sure Penny gave us a more direct route.” He got back to his work and carefully replaced a small visor in the heads-up display. “So when we get to Highland, we might be right behind Gray or right in front of him, but we’ll be a lot closer than he thinks.”

“Tell me about Penny. What is she?” Salla asked.

“What’s Penny? Well…” Achilles looked to the ceiling, a copy of Penny was here, but she’d have been embarrassed if he’d told them. “We took all of human literature, history, the Bible, Koran, Vedas, etcetera and kept only the good parts. The parts about forgiveness, modesty, kindness, compassion. That’s Penny.”

“She’s the boss of Highland?” Salla asked.

“She’s management,” Achilles responded. “Makes decisions of who to sell product to, who needs protection, who needs to be taken down a peg.”

“She’s an artificial intelligence,” Timberwolf said.

“That’s rude!” Achilles protested. He stood in the midst of all the parts of the Sabatin rig. “She’s got more personality than you,” he snorted at Timberwolf.

“And she’s nothing but rainbows and baby lambs. These weapons you sell kill millions.”

“Who made her?” Salla asked.

“I made her,” Achilles responded. “Well, we started her. She made herself after we started.”

“Have you met Penny?” Salla asked Timberwolf. “Can I meet Penny?”

“He’ll get to meet her. She likes him for some reason.” Achilles indicated Timberwolf. “She calls you a ‘unique soul.’ I’d rather she took a liking to you though, Salla.”

“Yeah, me too,” Timberwolf agreed.

A chime came over the intercom. “Oh, we’re here!” Achilles exclaimed. “Just in time. I’m almost done with your rig. Meet me up in the bridge.”

Achilles began to assemble the repaired components of the Sabatin rig. His hands flashed almost quicker than they could see. Curved parts and visors became the helmet. The leg gauntlet came together. It seemed haphazard, but he moved like a machine, instinctively placing each piece.

“I can’t watch you put that together,” Timberwolf said. “I’m going to atmo-dive in that.”

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