Orphaned Warrior (Dragon Spawn Chronicles Book 5), page 27
Vance smiled. “Smart question. We’ll start slow by prioritizing and assigning maintenance requests.”
Hmm. This could be a good opportunity. “Can I keep repairing the bots?”
“Yes. And since you’ve shown quite the aptitude for programming, I’ll also have you assist Doctor Humphrey.”
This just keeps getting better and better. It might be another trap, but he’d make it work. “Do I get to give orders?”
Vance’s mouth quirked as though he’d taken a bite of bitter fruit. “Yes.”
Despite the man’s reluctance, Jori didn’t believe it. “Yes?”
“Yes!” Vance’s eyes flashed and his jaw tightened. “But I will know every command you give. And you won’t give any order that contradicts mine or works against our cause.”
Right. Or he’ll report to MEGA-Man. He wondered if he could use MEGA-Man’s influence over this monster but discarded the idea. No way would he ally with someone who’d already shown he’d murder innocent people just to push his agenda.
He dipped his head, but in acknowledgement rather than agreement. “Will I have access to the entire ship?”
Vance bared his teeth, intending to smile. “Why? You have plans or something?”
“I don’t,” Jori replied truthfully. Not yet. “But I’m curious.” Also the truth. “It’s not like any other vessel I’ve ever seen.”
Vance grunted, but whether in doubt or acceptance, Jori wasn’t sure. “Fine. Now do you want the damn job or not?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then I want you to help plan our next attack.”
Jori perked up. If he was in on it, he’d have a better chance of stopping it.
“That interest you, does it?” Vance’s grin appeared pleased. “It’s about time you take your place at my side.”
Jori put on a smile himself. This might be another setup, but he didn’t think so. If MEGA-Man was even half as omnipresent as everyone implied, he’d realize a man like Vance had no chance of gaining willing followers. He also suspected Vance’s understanding of human nature was so off that he assumed murdering Blakesley and threatening to harm Zaina had finally elicited compliance. Or maybe Vance thought he liked the prospect of battle so much that he’d do anything to help.
Either way, he wasn’t about to contradict him.
46 – Exploration
A flame of fascination danced in Jori’s chest. The layout of the Sublime Liberty—no, the Black Thresher—differed from every other ship he’d studied. A quick review of the schematics showed it had all the same amenities but in different places. Most larger vessels had a top-down approach where the bridge resided somewhere on the upper decks. Work areas followed by living quarters generally took up the middle. Manufacturing, engineering, and recycling almost always occupied the lower sections.
However, this ship had more of a fore-aft and inner-outer design. The fore contained the fabricors and water and sewage centers while the main propulsion units were at the aft. The very center of the vessel housed the bridge, which made sense from a strategic standpoint. Much of the surrounding areas were dedicated to scientific endeavors. Living quarters came next, with some being called recharging stations instead. And the engineering sections and workrooms containing communications, weaponry, and shielding devices were within the outermost hull. Only the docking bays were in the standard places along the sides of the ship.
Jori tapped his foot as he waited for the conveyor. When it opened, he darted in with an enthusiasm he hadn’t felt in a while. “Engineering,” he ordered the computer. An almost imperceptible jolt commenced an effortless ride. He arrived within moments and exited to a nondescript corridor. No signs directed the way, but his memory of the schematics sent him to the right. A narrow hall led him to a set of double doors that automatically admitted him with his new access.
The vast room on the other side stopped him short. This place was much larger than the ones on other ships that housed the arc drive. He entered and stretched his neck, amazed by how this thing that surely wasn’t a traditional arc engine took up four decks. The tall cylindrical reactor was quieter too. It emitted a low hum that also vibrated the floor and contributed to Jori’s awed energy.
At first, he thought the blue squares high above were monitors. But the way the lighting flashed made him realize they were observation windows. What was this and how did it work differently from an arc drive? And why in the hell would someone want to view it through a window? Windows in anything weakened a structure, so having one on something powerful enough to propel a starship didn’t make sense.
He’d take the time to learn more about this later. In the meantime, he had more to explore. He wandered about, both in the engine room and beyond until he found what he was sure was the ship’s transponder.
Vance had recently corrected him regarding the name of this vessel. Sublime Liberty was just a front. Even the appearance of it was a façade. To someone observing it via signals, it looked like an ordinary cruise ship. Advanced camouflaging technology hid this vessel’s unusual features and weaponry. It also held up against a close-up observation.
Jori inspected the numerical readouts on the display to make sure this was indeed the transponder. A few taps to the monitor revealed its fake name, flight path, and designation. At least the trajectory and designations seemed true since it listed Halden, Vanir, Tanirian Protectorate.
The workstation also provided access to the camouflage generators. He doubted it would give him permission, but bypassing security was easy enough. Simply set up a fake repair and let a maintenance bot go to work. The only question was, would Vance see it coming?
Probably.
The feeling that this newfound freedom was a trap reared its ugly head once again. To ignore it would be foolish. At least he had several days to plan.
He left the transponder and continued his exploration. Taking his time to investigate every little thing might avoid triggering Vance’s suspicion. Plus, he found it all intriguing. It made him wish his new life would be on another ship. Not that he didn’t enjoy being on planets. Nature also fascinated him. He needed a good mix of both. Living on a vessel that traveled from place to place would provide that.
After a while, he located the shield deactivation device Vance had purchased. Three cyborgs worked on it. Jori asked a few innocuous questions while considering how he’d disable it. Since he couldn’t do two things at once, he had to enlist Zaina’s help. Getting her either to the transponder or this device would be easy enough. But her nervous tendencies might hamper her from doing anything too complicated. Not everyone had the ability to face monsters, not even imaginary ones.
He sighed. So much had to be done and doing it all alone was impossible. He needed her. The doctors too. Putting them at risk didn’t sit well, but Vance’s inability to watch more than one person in a single moment presented him with a significant advantage.
Jori continued his tour. After passing about twenty laboratories that looked so much alike, he thought he’d been going in circles. It was refreshing to reach the one with the animals. Well, not quite refreshing. The smell was a deluge of sweet, fusty, and pungent, and the air held a sticky humidity.
None of this bothered him. Having lived on a spaceship his entire life, interacting with something other than people excited him, especially on this ship where most were cybernetic. It helped that all these creatures felt content.
He studied the reptilian scales of a fat snake—possibly the same one he’d sensed in Vance’s test. The mottled brown and tan pattern captivated him. The study of space was complex enough. Add in the intricacies of life, and the unfathomable possibilities overwhelmed him.
Moving on down the cages revealed turtles, frogs, fish, strange and colorful marine organisms, and even insects. At first, he questioned why a spaceship specializing in making cyborgs would need all these animals. Then he remembered how genetic modifications didn’t come only from human DNA. His gut clenched at the thought of people with animal genes. Not that this type of experimentation hadn’t been done before, but he’d assumed society had learned its lesson.
The following cages contained an assortment of birds, including a small bird of prey with beautiful rust and slate-blue feathers. A variety of small mammals from fluffy little mice to some sort of weasel-like creatures came next.
The lifeforces of the birds and mammals were more colorful than their reptilian and invertebrate friends. Their emotions ranged wider, yet they still weren’t as complicated as people. Some animals were marked with dye or had feathers or fur removed, but none emanated stress over their situations. He focused on the weasel, noting how its lifeforce seemed to be missing something. The lack had nothing to do with a chip implant, though. Perhaps it was domesticated. Not having to hunt or fear predators likely had an effect.
The rear half of the room contained plants. Their exoticness indicated they hadn’t been grown for eating. Succulents, flowering bushes, ferns, and more rested in raised beds or inside incubators. He considered exploring them too, but the animals were far more interesting.
An idea occurred to him. In thinking beyond the obvious, he could use these creatures as sentries. Since he couldn’t sense Vance or many others on this ship, these animals, set loose, would emit a startled sensation whenever they saw someone. It’d require strict concentration on Jori’s part, but he could do it.
He didn’t settle on the idea right away. There were other aspects of this plan to consider—mainly, how to achieve all his objectives without getting him or his friends killed. Ending Vance would be the most direct way to stop this madness, but he doubted he had the ability to outplay the man to the point of death. Still, it had its appeal.
The next part of his tour brought him to a smallish infirmary where Doctor Humphrey examined an unconscious Rodrigo. Generally, he passed by the places where cyborgs were being worked on, but curiosity drew him inside.
“Is there something wrong with him?” he asked.
Doctor Humphrey’s green eyes flashed. His frown accentuated the dimple in his chin. “You don’t start your training until tomorrow.”
“Rodrigo was my friend. I want to know what happened.” He peered at the unconscious man, noting the IV, electrodes, and wires.
One such wire plugged into the side of Rigo’s head and led to the monitor Doctor Humphrey observed. “I’m just refining his programming.”
Jori leaned in, inspecting the coding. The language was familiar, but he’d need to do more studying to understand it better. “Programming for what?”
“Military.”
Jori suppressed an eye roll. “What aspect of the military?”
Doctor Humphrey didn’t look up from his work as he spoke. “Security.”
“You mean he’s a security guard?”
“Precisely.”
“Who will he guard?”
“You.”
“Me?” Jori’s heart jumped. “As my bodyguard or my warden?”
“Bodyguard.”
Jori twisted his mouth. “Why do I need one? Is there someone here who wants to hurt me?” Besides Vance?
The doctor didn’t react. “I don’t know. I’m just following orders.”
“Whose orders? Vance’s or MEGA-Man’s?”
“Both.”
Jori scoffed. Despite what the doctor had said, Rodrigo would more likely act as his warden—and spy. But he didn’t bother revealing his suspicions. Although having a robotic babysitter would make his tasks more difficult, maybe he could tweak some of his programming in his favor. “Can I help you with him?”
“I don’t need help.”
Jori gritted his teeth at the man’s abstractedness and rephrased his question. “Will you allow me to help you fix Rodrigo’s programming?”
“You don’t start your training until tomorrow,” the doctor repeated.
Jori bit down harder, making his jaw hurt. Time to put his newfound power to the test. “I know, but I want to begin now. Show me.”
Doctor Humphrey paused. His eyes seemed to glaze over in a way that reminded Jori of how Gottfried would freeze. Sometimes it was because the man had been thinking through a problem that required his internal processors. He suspected the doctor’s reason was due to him having a conversation using a comm implant, which meant his authority wasn’t as definitive as he’d hoped. Then again, perhaps the doctor was rearranging his schedule to accommodate him.
“Of course,” Doctor Humphrey finally said.
The man sidestepped, giving Jori room in front of the screen. Instruction began and lasted for well over an hour. One good thing about learning from someone who was more machine than human was Doctor Humphrey never got irritated with all Jori’s questions and he gave succinct and clear answers.
At the end of the lesson, he stepped away with the certainty that the Rigo he’d known was gone. Everything he did was a pre-programmed response. All independent thought had been eradicated.
Sorrow had built throughout the doctor’s instruction, but so had a few ideas. Not only did he understand how Rigo’s programming worked, but he also knew how to alter it. Later, when Rodrigo took over his new job, Jori would plug him in and enter a few additional lines of code.
He doubted the mouse would be able to defend against Vance, but the extra protection would undoubtedly come in handy.
47 – Coordination
Zaina Noman ambled to her bed. The deep ache in her legs made the short distance feel like trudging through thick mud. The weight she carried symbolically buried her in the stuff. Even her room held a musty scent that reminded her of dirt.
She plopped onto the mattress but didn’t lie down despite her fatigue. To be in a good physical and mental state for Jori’s sake, she’d gone to the gym and pushed herself. Thirty minutes of on-off cardio wasn’t bad unless she considered it was more off than on. At least she hadn’t given up. And her mood had somewhat lifted. It was just enough confidence to help her stay awake until bedtime.
Her eyelids were already drooping, though. The ache behind her eyes screamed for rest. She wouldn’t give in. It was a trap. One step into the sand, and she’d sink into a fitful sleep that’d leave her feeling worse than she did now.
Fight it, damn you. She rubbed her brow. Some caffeinated tea might do her some good, but it was easier to sit here than it was to get up.
If only Jori were here. He’d help her stay awake. Vance kept him busy, though. When the boy first told her he’d been given Blakesley’s old job, she nearly had a panic attack. Just thinking about what orders Vance would give made her insides writhe. Plus, that madman had murdered his last second officer.
Oh, God. She covered her face with her palm and held back a sob as the memory of Abelard’s death replayed in her mind.
No. I can’t think about this. Focus. She swallowed down the ache in her throat.
Jori had promised this promotion would help. He’d been given access to the entire ship. He’d hinted at something else, too. More ammunition, he’d said, and she suspected he didn’t mean weaponry. The glint in his eyes suggested a plan. This troubled her too. Though she wanted desperately to get away from here, she imagined the worst.
It made her stomach ache. She attempted to set aside her worries and grasped the tablet from the table next to her. A message popped up. Bold text told her to act like she was sick and hide under the covers before reading more. If not for her curiosity zapping her awake, she would’ve eschewed the idea of getting into bed.
She threw her arm over her head and groaned, pretending to have another migraine. Clutching the tablet, she crawled under the blankets and tapped the screen. A much longer message appeared. “I need you,” it started, and her heart jumped into a patter.
It didn’t show who’d sent it, but she guessed easily enough. The language was to the point, just like Jori. Other than stating he needed her, there were no emotional undertones. It had a few typos, though. Perhaps he’d typed it without looking in case Vance foresaw his actions.
She bit her nails as she read, then read it again to make sure she understood. Vance kept a very close eye on him, but probably not her. The word probably struck her like a bad chord of music. Jori reassured her by explaining some of Vance’s limitations. If she committed to disabling the transponder now, he wouldn’t foresee it. Plus, the man would likely be too busy to watch her in real-time.
Jori also promised she’d have access to that part of the ship. It was doubtful anyone would stop her since he’d create a distraction. He didn’t elaborate on how.
“Trust me,” he’d written, and she did. She wasn’t sure she trusted herself, though. Going to a restricted area would be scary enough. She imagined cyber soldiers gripping her arms and hauling her away, much like they’d done after Abelard’s murder.
Don’t be a coward. Hiding in her room and doing nothing was no longer an option. It was her turn to make a sacrifice. Besides, she had more to worry about with the transponder. She didn’t even know what one looked like. Both Jori’s directions and instructions seemed simple enough, but would she remember everything in her anxiety?
Afterward, she’d need to get to the shuttle bay where he’d fly her and the doctors out of there. Vance wouldn’t stop them, he’d written, because he planned on having him trapped somewhere. He didn’t provide details on how he hoped to achieve such a feat. Anxiousness about her task coupled with concern over him. At least he explained how he’d used her tablet to input the message. Her device wasn’t connected to the network, so sending each other messages during sleep hours was a genius idea.
Her eyes lingered over the last line.
She clasped her hands and prayed for strength. I can do this. I will do this. She reminded herself that even though she was taking a chance that might lead to her death, she couldn’t keep living like this.
