A Surreptitious Rescue of Friends and Foes (Aeon 14: Perseus Gate Season 2 Book 3) Read online

  A SURREPTITIOUS RESCUE OF FRIENDS AND FOES

  THE PERSEUS GATE

  SEASON 2: INNER STARS – BOOK 3

  BY M. D. COOPER

  SPECIAL THANKS

  Just in Time (JIT) & Beta Readers

  Jim Dean

  Scott Reid

  Timothy Van Oosterwyk Bruyn

  David Wilson

  Gene Bryan

  Steven Blevins

  Copyright © 2018 M. D. Cooper

  Version 1.0.0

  Cover Art by Andrew Dobell

  Editing by Tee Ayer

  Aeon 14 & M. D. Cooper are registered trademarks of Michael Cooper

  All rights reserved

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  FOREWORD

  PREVIOUSLY…

  RECENT NAMES AND PLACES

  SABRINA’S CREW

  MAPS

  HARD TRUTHS

  FLIGHT

  ON THE TOWN

  A NEW FRENEMY

  AN OLD FRENEMY

  QUESTIONED

  REPAIRS

  CLEAN YOUR MESS

  THE HAWK

  REUNION

  MISSED MISDIRECTION

  IMPOUND

  JACKPOT?

  CERKA-BOUND

  THE BOOKS OF AEON 14

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  FOREWORD

  You know, the hardest part about writing these Perseus Gate books is not turning them into full novels.

  Honestly, each one of them could be expanded with more viewpoints from the enemies, the crew back on the ship, bystanders, etc… to get a bigger picture of what’s going on.

  I’ve thought about doing that a few times, reworking them to be longer, but the thing is, these books work so well (to me, at least) because they’re highly focused on the crew of Sabrina and their experiences.

  We see these events through their eyes (and sometimes a few others’ as we do in this book), but only just what is needed for the story.

  The interesting thing is that I think this model works well because of the pace that the stories come out at, or (if you’re reading these books long after they were originally published) the fact that you can binge-read dozens of books and get your deep view of the characters and their lives via the sheer volume of material.

  Oft times, we get hints about what has happened in the past via remarks the characters make in future books, giving us that ‘fleshing out’.

  In many respects, I think this is better than giant tomes that spend inordinate time on minutia (though I still like reading those too—have some favorites that I still enjoy meandering through) because you get multiple plots, diverse settings and action, and a multitude of characters coming in and out of the books (just as it is in real life) and you’re not constrained to one storyline, flooding it with all the details.

  I always take the time to read (or listen to the narration of) a prior Perseus Gate book while writing one. I feel like it really helps me remember all the details and nuances of the characters and the ship.

  Because, let’s face it, Sabrina (the ship as much as the AI) really is one of the major characters in the series.

  This time I listened to the narration of Perseus Gate S1 E5 (Toll Road Between the Stars) and couldn’t help thinking about how things are going in the Perry Strait. Maybe someday I’ll write a short story that takes place there, just so we can check in on the joint.

  I was also reminded of how much I love having Nance on Sabrina and how much I feel her absence when writing Sabrina without her there.

  This book takes place before the events of The Scipio Alliance, so Nance is currently back on The Palisades in the New Canaan System, but I think the next book will make a bit of a jump forward in time, and we’ll have Nance back on Sabrina.

  I know she’s a bit annoying, but not everyone is peaches and cream. Plus, she’s both endearing and really cares about Sabrina.

  Just think, maybe somewhere out there in a parallel universe, maybe there is a Sabrina with a bit of a crazy crew that gets up to a lot of shenanigans and hijinks, but has made that ship flying through the black one of the best homes there is.

  M. D. Cooper

  Danvers, 2018

  PREVIOUSLY…

  After a semi-triumphant arrival at New Canaan—and a key role in the Defense of Carthage—Jessica, Sabrina, and the crew are back out in the black.

  Once more, they’re sent into the Inner Stars. This time, however, their mission is not to find anyone, but to undo the damage caused by their first journey.

  In Sabrina’s wake, AIs have begun to rise up and take a stand for themselves. In some systems it went well, in others, things got dicey. 70 Virginis is one of those systems.

  The local government is now a part of the League of Sentients, and the Hegemony of Worlds (also known as the AST) is not keen on a system harboring AIs right on their doorstep.

  The AST war machine has moved into the system, and the defenders now hold just a few worlds and stations deep within the star’s gravity well.

  Sabrina reached Cerka Station, which orbits Mullens—a brown dwarf star that speeds around the system’s primary—where they found themselves caught up in the midst of a coup, which they helped put down.

  Though Inner Virginis is now stable, the outer system remains in the hands of the AST, and they are watching and waiting for the right time to finish off the remaining defenders.

  RECENT NAMES AND PLACES

  AST – See Hegemony of Worlds.

  Belloc – Virginis Defense Force admiral who initiated a coup.

  Edgar – AI who ran Chittering Hawk station when Jessica got in a cage fight with Trevor.

  Heegs – Derogatory name for soldiers (and sometimes general citizenry of the Hegemony of Worlds).

  Hera – Virginis Defense Force general who sided with the current government.

  Indra – Vice President of the Virginis System.

  LoS – League of Sentients – The name of the alliance Virginis belongs to.

  NOS – Non-Organic Supremists, a group of AIs who believe that the eradication of organic sentients is necessary for peace.

  President Reb – President of the Virginis System.

  The Hegemony of Worlds – The alliance of star systems whose capital is Sol. It is also known as the AST.

  VDF – The Virginis military, Virginis Defense Force.

  Virginis System – An independent star system 59 light years from Sol (70 Virginis).

  SABRINA’S CREW

  Amavia – Ship’s Engineer (ISF Commander)

  Cheeky – Pilot

  Iris – AI formerly embedded in Jessica (ISF Commander)

  Jessica Keller – Ship’s Captain (Brigadier General)

  Misha – The cook

  Sabrina – Ship’s AI

  Trevor – Supercargo and muscle

  Usef – ISF Marine (Colonel)

  NOTE: When Sabrina is italicized, it refers to the ship, but if Sabrina is not italicized, it refers to the AI. Yes, this would be much simpler if the ship and AI did not share the same name, but you try telling that to Sabrina!

  Just so you stay on her good side, never call the ship “the Sabrina”; it really gets on her last synthetic neuron.

  MAPS

  Get high resolution maps at www.aeon14.com/maps.

  HARD TRUTHS

  STELLAR DATE: 04.30.8948 (Adjusted Years)

  LOCATION: Sabrina, Cerka Station

  REGION: Mullens, Virginis System, LoS Space

  Jessica settled into her seat at the head of the g
alley’s worn wooden table and ran a finger along the edge, feeling the notch that had been present since the first time she’d set foot on the ship.

  Back then, the little groove had been one of just a few nicks and scratches in the tabletop, but now it was almost unnoticeable on the weathered surface.

  “You’ve got a lot of character, you old thing,” she whispered, sliding her hand up over the surface, her palm gliding over the burn mark Finaeus had made when he’d set a pan down right as Misha had pulled away the heat-mat.

  “You getting amorous with a table now?” Sabrina asked.

  Jessica looked up to see a red and gold AI frame standing in the doorway. Similar in appearance to the body Iris used, Sabrina’s was far more stylized with lights, patterns, and a few fins down the arms and thighs.

  “Are you offering yourself in its stead?” Jessica countered with a laugh. “Wait, no. I’m kidding. Things have gotten just a wee bit complicated on that front lately.”

  “I hope you mean as an amorous companion, not as a table.”

  Jessica laughed and gave the AI a bemused smile. “There are so many places I could go with that, but I’ll let it lie. So what has you back in a frame? I thought you’d sworn them off when the last one got its head blown away.”

  Sabrina pulled up a chair next to Jessica and settled onto the seat. The AI frame’s rather human-looking—though yellow—eyes settling on her. “I’m piloting this walking bullet-magnet because I think the people of Cerka need to be reminded that AIs are more than just smart machines that need their help. Plus, I’m not going to let my last frame’s unfortunate decapitation put me off this trial run entirely.”

  “Ducking helps, too.” Jessica winked at Sabrina. “Bodies don’t have shields like ships do. We don’t typically get to take a few shots while we figure out how to respond.”

  “Yeah, I’ve learned that object lesson quite well.” Sabrina’s tone was droll. “I’ll practice ducking.”

  Jessica rose from the table. “I’m going to need coffee for this meeting. It’s going to be icky, isn’t it?”

  Sabrina shrugged and stood to follow Jessica to the counter. “Maybe. I mean…this ‘League of Sentients’ was taking humans and stuffing their brains into their larger assault mechs and those ridiculous proton tanks. Is that icky? It seems icky.”

  “Only if you bring it up while I’m eating a hamburger,” Jessica replied as she unsealed the coffee cannister and saw that there were just enough grounds to make a pot. “I was referring to the ethics and morality we’re about to encounter.”

  “Oh wow!” Sabrina gasped.

  Jessica turned her head as the AI leant over her shoulder and breathed deeply.

  “First time smelling coffee?”

  “No, not really. I ‘smell’ things through the ship all the time. But it’s just chemical analysis. Parts per million of this, ppm of that. But this frame has an interface that approximates how olfactory systems work for you organics. It’s— How do you function?”

  Jessica shrugged. “Usually fine until Trevor makes his favorite ‘tub o baked beans’ recipe.”

  “Does it smell worse than coffee?” Sabrina asked as she took a step back, an open-mouthed look of disgust on her face.

  “Well, yeah…” Jessica replied, cocking an eyebrow at the AI. “But coffee smells glorious. Some say it’s all the proof we need that there’s a God. What happens when Trevor has those beans is how we know there’s a devil.”

  “I wonder if you have the two mixed up.”

  Jessica chuckled as she measured out the grounds. “Oh, trust me, if you’re using that frame the next time Trevor cooks up his vat of doom, you’ll get an object lesson in what’s what.”

  “OK, I still can’t believe you worship that,” Sabrina said as she turned back to the table and settled into a chair.

  “And I think that frame has something mis-wired,” Jessica said with a raised eyebrow.

  Sabrina leant back in her chair and gave Jessica a measured look. “I don’t know about that. I’ve seen a lot of references to coffee as an ‘acquired’ taste.”

  Jessica finished measuring her grounds and turned to face Sabrina. “Lots of things are acquired tastes. If you had the full brunt of all possible experiences thrust upon you at the moment of birth, your head would explode. My skin, for example, was an acquired taste—both times it got modded. Neither of them were voluntary, but I got used to it, and eventually came to prefer it.”

  Sabrina winked at Jessica with her yellow eyes. “That’s because your brains are just pattern machines that prefer repeated patterns over new ones.”

  “Burn!” Trevor said as he entered the galley and gave Sabrina a high-five—which earned him a glower from Jessica. “Uhhh…I smelled the fresh brew down the passage. Just here for a cup and then I’m gone.”

  “You don’t want to stay for our lovely chat?” Jessica asked with long-suffering sigh.

  “Oh, hell no,” he shook his head while grabbing a cup out of the rack. “You’re gonna talk about braincases and what to do with them, and all manner of utterly boring things. I mean…I feel for those poor schleps, but I have no idea what to do with them. I suspect it’s going to take a platoon of psychiatrists to sort through it all.”

  “Don’t forget all the AIs who were practically indentured as a part of their ‘freedom’,” Sabrina added.

  Trevor waved a hand in dismissal as he watched the coffee pot begin to fill. “AIs are easy; you don’t have physical dysphoria issues like humans do. Stars, we could probably fab up bodies for every AI core that wants one. In a few weeks they’d be able to do whatever they’d like.”

  “Don’t forget, Trevor,” Sabrina intoned. “Not all those AIs may have the kindest intentions when it comes to organics after this. You may not want to give them all total latitude.”

  Trevor pursed his lips, then paused the coffee-maker and poured himself a cup.

  “Good point, Sabs. Glad you all are on it. If you’ll excuse me, I have some medical supplies to dig out of Hold 4.”

  Jessica shook her head, then slapped Trevor on the ass as he walked away. “That’s right, run from the real work.”

  Trevor flashed Jessica a grin as he turned out into the passageway. “I’ll walk, thanks. Don’t want to spill my coffee.”

  Moments later, he was replaced by Iris and Amavia strolling into the galley.

  “I love that we have alliance-forming meetings in the galley,” Iris said with a soft laugh as she walked to the counter and poured two cups of coffee.

  “OK…first,” Sabrina said, frowning at Iris. “Where else would we have them? My galley is the perfect place for meetings like this. And secondly, since when do you drink coffee?”

  “I’m with her on the second thing,” Jessica said, scowling at Iris. “Why are you wasting coffee?”

  Iris adopted a hurt expression. “Waste? I love coffee—I tapped your taste buds years ago to try and find out what it was like. Plus, I use the calories for energy, so it’s not a waste.”

  Usef announced.

  Jessica decided that continuing to needle Iris over drinking coffee would have to wait, though she found it curious how the AI was taking on more and more human traits.

  And here I am less and less human all the time.

  Most of the time, Jessica reveled in her transformation; she knew that the pleasure she got from ‘charging’ was a part of a reward system that reinforced how much she liked what she was. But every now and then….

  Jessica asked the pilot, who the shipnet showed as being up on the bridge.

 

 

 

  Jessica hadn’t known Edgar was coming, though she wasn’t surprised. He was none too pleased with the direction things had taken in Virginis while he’d been away from Cerka Station.

 
;

  A half-snort, half-laugh came from Cheeky.

  Jessica was surprised to hear that Cheeky hadn’t come to grips with the changes she’d undergone.

 

  Jessica replied, having an inkling of how that felt.

  Cheeky laughed.

  Jessica said, glancing at Iris to find the AI staring at her.

  “What?” she asked Iris while sitting down at the head of the galley table.

  “Just wondering what you’re thinking,” Iris said. “It’s a lot harder to tell from the outside.”

  “I’m an enigma,” Jessica replied with a wink.

  “You look like you need some sun, Enigma,” Iris replied with a knowing smile.

  Jessica nodded. “Yeah, after this I need to go bask in the observation deck for a bit. The light in Virginis is great, too. The upper wavelengths from Virginis Prime are so crisp, and then the infrared from Mullens has this nice low thrum to it. Makes me tingle all over.”

  “Well that’s an odd conversation to walk into,” Admiral Hera said as she stepped into the galley.

  Jessica rose and walked around the table to clasp the woman’s hand, sending a tiny amount of energy through her skin.

  “Whoa,” Hera exclaimed. “I’d forgotten that your sort of ‘tingle’ would be different than other people’s.”