Fans Write for Fans Release!
Tales from the Kurtherian Universe: Fans Write For The Fans: Book 1
By Ian Nicholson, N.D. Roberts, S.E. WEIR, Erika Everest, Micky Cocker, James Gartside, & Michael Anderle
A multitude of Kurtherian Gambit Fans. Eight stories. One amazing book.
The Kurtherian fans have come together to create a book by the fans – for the fans. Step inside and take a peek at stories inspired by the wonderful world of the KGU.
The Kurtherian Universe Expands, by Micky Cocker
A poem to kick introduce our collection of stories
Holi’s Savior, by N.D. Roberts
On the alien world Castellegia, brave young Holi fights for the survival of her ragged band of orphans. Who will save them from the green-eyed mutants who stalk the night? Justice calls upon Castellegia at the moment all is lost for Holi.
A story of strength, determination, and the softer side of everybody’s favorite benevolent dictator.
Last Adventure First, by S.E. Weir
Phina just wants to be a spy and use her self-taught hacker skills to help the Etheric Empire.
She embarks on one last adventure to try and make her best friend’s wish come true. All it takes is a little B&E and some access pass forgery- no big deal for Phina’s skills.
But with a mystery man talking in her head and tracking her every move, and a confrontation with leaders of the Etheric Empire, Phina might get more than she bargained for.
Renegade,by Erika Everest
I am one of the Drakis, the enhanced warriors of our race. Our Gods have sent us to fight ignorance and injustice in the universe, and to bring peace and enlightenment instead.
On the planet I am assigned to, I meet a native who is not grateful for our help. In fact, she despises us for our interference. Her attitude challenges my entire worldview. Is my cause truly as noble as I have always believed? Or is it something more sinister?
And what are the God’s real intentions for the Drakis?
Sarah Jennifer’s First Samhain, By N.D. Roberts
How do you survive an eternity alone?
Sarah Jennifer Walton had it all. A family, a purpose, a husband. Not anymore. Loss has shaped her into a true nomad, wandering the country in a bid to outrun her pain. A chance encounter and a little magic could be the answer to Sarah Jennifer’s prayers.
Set on the foundation of The Terry Henry Walton Chronicles this reconciles the past with the future, and a hidden destiny.
The Terrorist Within, by James Gartside
The Meredith Reynolds is a beacon of hope to many in the federation, but to one young girl it is a symbol of everything she wants to destroy.
Dark Savior, by Ian Nicholson
What will you do for the one you love?
How will you face your worst nightmares?
Something sinister is lurking in the dark of New York City, preying on those abandoned by society. Young runaway Adam tries to rescue his best friend, but he ends up caught as well. They have little time and no hope left. Because when monsters are real who can step up to fight them and set things right?
Till The End Comes, by James Gartside
The Kurtherians created them to fulfill a need. What happens if they are no longer needed? Do they face obliteration or freedom?
Fans Write for Fans – Snippet One
Tales from the Kurtherian Universe
Fans Write for Fans
Sarah Jennifer’s First Samhain
by N.D. Roberts
Snippet One
West of Lynnwood, Massachusetts, Ten Years after the Force de Guerre Left for Space
Sarah Jennifer clucked to halt her mare and dismounted in the glade by the clear stream. She’d followed the signs of water for the last few miles and was glad to finally reach it so they could quench their thirst. As she led the mare she had named Cordy to the water, she took in her surroundings and thought about which of the two paths leading from the oak, ash, and rowan trees she should take.
She had been wandering without much purpose since her family had left for space some time ago, and her route had gradually led her east. She was still trying to shake off the melancholy that had dogged her since their departure.
She had needed to break from the military; to live for something else, even if she didn’t know what that was yet. She hadn’t expected to feel this lonely when she’d said goodbye to the Colonel and the rest of her family, but she had made her choice. She had chosen love.
When she looked up she saw the stars beginning their nightly dalliance so she tethered Cordy to a nearby tree, deciding to camp in this peaceful copse. She gathered deadfall and started her campfire, then put the kettle on for tea. She would forgo her tent on this clear summer night, letting the stars be both her blanket and her entertainment.
Arranging herself on her bedroll after a brief supper of rabbit and wild onions, Sarah Jennifer stared up at the sky and thought about her family. What were they doing right now? Did they know that without them she didn’t feel at home on this planet anymore? Grief gripped her insides. Why had she stayed? It was a relentless constant which drove her during the days, but her rage turned to hot tears every night as she made her lonely bed under the stars.
She’d settled for a while with Jeremiah, but it hadn’t worked out in the end. Her Uncle Kaeden had warned her about the consequences of falling in love with an unenhanced human. “We are not for them,” he had said quietly when she and Sylvie fluttered over Magnus all those years ago. He had repeated his warning when she chose to stay on the ranch. Kae had been right—she knew that now. Jeremiah had become a part of her past, and she was left to deal with the consequences of her self-imposed exile. Every day she wondered why she’d condemned herself to a possibly infinite existence alone.
She missed her parents. Her whole family, really. Hell, she even missed Bogdan, farts and all. She was furious with herself for wasting the remainder of their time together, indulging her pity party and playing cowgirl.
It hadn’t been a complete waste. There was Jeremiah, and the life they’d built together after the Dark Messiah had saved their asses. Their marriage had been good, right up until it became clear she was not going to age any further. Then something changed for him.
As the years passed, the distance between them grew until it encompassed their lives. They spoke only about the ranch, neither knowing how to bridge the gap. She’d been mucking out the yard one day when he walked past. The look of loss in his eyes had broken her heart and forced her to take action.
She’d left him like a thief in the night, stealing away with only a horse, her rifle, and a bag of essentials. It had been as difficult as saying goodbye to the Colonel and the rest of her family for the last time, but her decision was made.
Degeneration – Snippet 3
Degeneration, The Ghost Squadron
Chapter Two
Felix Castile’s Office, Unsurpassed, Tangki System.
The red light from the screen on the wall cast the office in an eerie glow. Felix narrowed his eyes, his lips pushing out in a slight grimace. He’d been staring at the image on the screen for a full minute and it still didn’t make sense. That was a rarity for him.
He swiveled to face the scientist sitting across the desk. “Explain exactly what I’m looking at.”
A regurgitated laugh sputtered from the man’s mouth. Elemius was neither tall or short nor fat or thin. He was also neither attractive nor ugly. He just was, with his plain brown hair and eyes to match. His repeated chuckle fell away once he caught the look of disgust on Felix’s face.
“It’s quite simple. I assumed you were well versed on chemical compositions,” said Elemius, gliding his hand over the top of his head, nervously.
Felix sharpened his eyes at the scientist. Elemius was the best. He’d been hard to retain, and he apparently knew how critical his involvement was or otherwise he wouldn’t have been so bold.
“I’m well aware what I’m looking at, but I don’t understand exactly what it’s supposed to be,” said Felix, enunciating each word, his hostility palpable.
“Right, well, chemistry isn’t for everyone. The same is true of genetic engineering.” Elemius cleared his throat as he stood. He pointed at the screen indicating a strand of DNA. “This example shows a specimen with nanotechnology directly enhancing their system.”
“I can clearly see that,” said Felix, his voice sharp.
“Right, of course you do,” said Elemius in a patronizing fashion. “The specimen has additionally been hit with a toxin that degenerates the subject’s cells on a continuous basis. I call it ‘degen’ for short.”
“That’s the reason for the change in the appearance of the DNA sample?” asked Felix. Now this was starting to make sense. He had guessed something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint it.
“Precisely,” stated Elemius. “Degen overwhelms a center in the body, continuously breaking down the cell membrane, attracting the attention of the nanocytes. As they flee to fix this area, they . This, in turn, stops the nanocytes from enhancing existing cells. That means the subject is unable to heal quickly, fight certain diseases, or revitalize the body. They begin to age naturally as well. So long as the nanocytes are occupied, they remain incapable of performing their original tasks.”
“You’ve distracted them, in essence,” said Felix.
“Correct,” said Elemius. “Which means, if the subject is attacked then they are unable to recover.”
“They are purely human, then?” asked Felix.
“Yes. Once degen is administered the subject is fully human. They will have zero enhanced abilities. No increased speed, strength or healing abilities. Degen degrades a person with nanocyte technology back to their former self.”
“What if they are put back through the process? Upgraded using a pod doc?” asked Felix, unwilling to celebrate this near success just yet.
Elemius held up a single finger, a triumphant look on his face. “It wouldn’t work. Degen will again attract the nanocyctes, rendering them useless. Its draw is too strong, and once it has the nanocyctes, then it holds them hostage.”
“So there is no way to reverse degen?” asked Felix.
Elemius shrugged. “I’m guessing there could be a way. Destroy the toxin in the system, but it would be incredibly difficult.”
Felix allowed a small smile that spoke of his satisfaction. This was it. Finally he’d figured out a way to destroy General Reynolds. The man was incredibly well guarded, which posed its own risks. However, even if Felix could get a hit on him, then he’d most likely recover without incident. Felix didn’t just want the General to fall, he wanted him to suffer. He wanted him to die like a normal human, vulnerable and defenseless.
Felix felt the urge to laugh. In his mind, he could see the General being stuck with degen. His eyes would be full of fear as he stared at the barrel of Felix’s gun. He’d know how fragile his body was. He’d know that he’d been beaten. He wasn’t as strong as he thought. And more than anything, most important to Felix, was that Lance Reynolds would regret what he’d done. He’d regret turning his back on Felix all those years ago.
When that regret surfaced in General Reynolds’ eyes, that’s when Felix would pull the trigger.
Degeneration – Snippet 2
DEGENERATION, THE GHOST SQUADRON
Snippet 2
“It’s okay! Come on, pal,” said Eddie. He dashed forward and scooped the kid into his arms, the heat more intense on that side of the room. “Hold on to me.”
The child clutched Eddie’s neck tightly and his legs wrapped around his waist.
Eddie ducked as much as he could with the boy attached to him, and ran out. Eddie could hear the boy sobbing, although it was barely audible over the sound of the fire destroying the house. He wrapped an arm around the child’s back and shielded his eyes from the smoke, which was thicker now, with the other.
“It’s going to be all right,” said Eddie, screaming to be heard over the crackling flames.
The boy vibrated with terror as Eddie carried him back to the trap door and ladder. The house rocked again, this time sliding forward, and Eddie lost his footing and slipped. The floor was at an angle now, and the stilts weren’t going to stay upright much longer. Eddie realized that they were at the bottom of the house, so if it fell over they’d be crushed in the burning destruction.
Eddie threw his weight and that of the small child forward to try to make up the ground they’d lost when the building tilted. He pressed his boots hard into the tilted floor, but it felt as though he were trying to climb a slick mountain.
The fire had now overtaken most of the main living area, and it was closing in on them fast. Without a second glance Eddie shuffled over to the ladder and clumsily crouched, locating the first rung with his boot. It was harder to manage with the boy clenched to his front, but there was no time to change positions.
“Hold on tight,” he said to the boy. “We’re getting out of here!”
The child nodded against Eddie’s chest, his face pushing into him hard. Eddie climbed down, although now the ladder was leaning. The fire had crawled under the house and was eating at two of the four stilts and, now overhead, the wooden floor creaked and ached.
A loud crack shook the structure and the house dropped two feet. The boy’s body tensed against Eddie’s torso as his gaze flew to the stilt on the right, which had splintered and was barely holding.
The house groaned, fire now spreading over the floor above them and heading for the ladder.
Making an impromptu decision, Eddie jumped backward off the ladder, wrapping his arms around the child as they plummeted down. By crouching as they hit he relieved the brunt of the fall, and now, finally on the ground, he hunched over and started running.
A tumultuous crash echoed behind them. The house was leaning aggressively forward and it started to fall, so Eddie kicked it into high gear and barreled away faster than he had ever run ever before. The heat from the fire seared his back, and smoke and fire shot from the building as it crashed to the ground right behind him. He’d barely made it out! He kept running as trees toppled toward him in the wake of the collapse of the burning house.
The rush of heat made Eddie’s skin feel like it was melting, but he kept his head tucked and pressed the boy against him as he sped back the way he’d come. Only a little farther, he said to himself, unable to say anything aloud. He wasn’t out of breath from running, but rather from the smoke he’d been inhaling since this started.
Fire had taken over most of the jungle, and it was closing in on them. Eddie leapt over a burning log since he didn’t see a clear path around it, then ducked under a curtain of vines and leaves, smoking and singed at the ends. Soon the entire area would be engulfed.
The boy jostled Eddie’s body oddly, but his weight didn’t slow him down. The threat of burning to death was motivation enough for him to hurtle through the flames, but finally Eddie burst into a clearing where the ground was already charred and the tree stumps still smoking. The fire had already consumed the trees and since been extinguished. This had been where it all started.
Eddie halted, and after heaving in a giant breath he tried to unclasp the boy’s hands from behind his neck. For a little guy he was strong, and clearly not willing to let go.
“Hey, buddy. You’re okay. You’re safe,” said Eddie, patting the kid on the back gently. The child relaxed a little and slowly pulled away, staring at him with large brown eyes. He cried softly, tears glistening down his cheeks.
“That’s it. Take a breath. It’s okay,” said Eddie.
“Dracott!” a woman yelled in the distance. She ran in their direction with her brown hair flying behind her.
The boy whipped his head around, and another sob emerged from his mouth. He pushed away from Eddie eagerly now, dropping to his feet and sprinting for the woman. “Mommy!” yelled Dracott.
When the two met on the charred ground, the woman grabbed her son and cradled him to her. She was shaking and crying as she clutched the boy, pinning him into her chest.
Eddie strode toward them, seeking refuge from the heat of the fire at his back. In the distance he saw the team, who were tirelessly trying to quell the stubborn fire which had taken over this part of the jungle and was destroying many homes and much animal habitat.
When Eddie approached, Dracott’s arms were wrapped around his mother’s neck and his head resting on her shoulder like he was ready for a nap after the whole ordeal. The woman rubbed her son’s lean back, tears still puddling in her eyes.
“Thank you, sir. I cannot thank you enough for what you did,” said the woman, her voice vibrating with relief.
Eddie smiled at the mother and son, finally reunited.
Julianna approached from the side. She had a sly smile on her face, and didn’t seem relieved to see him safe after entering the forest fire.
“You’re absolutely welcome,” said Eddie to the woman. “Now, you two should get as far from the fire as possible. Dracott has inhaled a lot of smoke.”
The woman nodded and carried her son away.
“You weren’t worried about me, were you?” Eddie asked Julianna when she paused beside him to stare at the retreating woman and child.
“When did I have time to worry? I was timing you,” joked Julianna.
A laugh popped from his mouth. “What was my time?”
“Two minutes and ten seconds,” answered Julianna.
“And you didn’t worry even a little bit?” asked Eddie.
Julianna cut her eyes at him. “Maybe toward the end, but I knew you were going to drag that boy to safety one way or another.”
“Poor kid! He was terrified,” said Eddie.
“Yeah, fires like this bring chaos. It was a shame that he got lost, but at least you jumped in to save him,” said Julianna.
Eddie surveyed the burning jungle. “What do you think? Is there more we can do here?”
“The fire crew says they could use an extra few hands on the eastern perimeter. They’re trying to fence in the fires there,” said Julianna.
Eddie slapped his hands together, rubbing them eagerly. They’d had Pip monitor the radios, listening for disasters on nearby planets just so Eddie could swoop in and do something brave. That was how he was breaking in his newly enhanced body.
“I’m ready! Let’s do this,” said Eddie, ambling forward.
“You think you’re going to get this adventuring out of your system soon?” asked Julianna from beside him.
“Does it ever wear off, having these enhancements?” he asked.
“No, not really. Not for me, anyway,” said Julianna.
Eddie grinned. “Then no. What’s the point in having this body and not using it?”
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Activated Audiobook Release!
Activated, The Ascension Myth Book 2
By Ell Leigh Clarke & Michael Anderle
In the future, even the broken can make a change…
When Molly gets called onto a case that she is uniquely qualified for, the team discovers a little more about her past.
In the race against the clock to prevent the city of Spire from being subjected to a deadly toxin, it takes both new team members and new allies working together in order to save the millions of lives.
Meanwhile, problems continue on the political scene, and exciting progress is made with the investigation into the strange door in the safe house basement.
Set on the foundation laid by the Kurtherian Gambit series, The Ascension Myth tells an entirely new story in the Age of Expansion – when the Etheric Empire is fast becoming the Etheric Federation with all of the trials and tribulations that come with bringing together different peoples, systems, and ideals.
Formation Audiobook Release
Formation, The Ghost Squadron Book 1
By Sarah Noffke, J.N. Chaney, Michael Anderle
Kill the bad guys. Save the galaxy. All in a hard day’s work.
After 10 years of wandering the outer rim of the galaxy, Eddie Teach is a man without a purpose. He was one of the toughest pilots in the Federation, but now he’s just a regular guy, getting into bar fights and making a difference wherever he can. It’s not the same as flying a ship and saving colonies, but it’ll have to do.
That is, until General Lance Reynolds tracks Eddie down and offers him a job. There are bad people out there, plotting terrible things, killing innocent people, and destroying entire colonies.
Someone has to stop them.
Eddie, along with the genetically-enhanced combat pilot, Julianna Fregin, and her trusty E.I. named Pip, must recruit a diverse team of specialists, both human and alien. They’ll need to master their new Q-Ship, one of the most powerful strike ships ever constructed. And finally, they’ll have to stop a faceless enemy so powerful, it threatens to destroy the entire Federation.
All in a day’s work, right?
Experience this exciting military sci-fi saga and the latest addition to the expanded Kurtherian Gambit universe. If you’re a fan of Mass Effect, Firefly, or Star Wars, you’ll love this riveting new space opera.
DEGENERATION – SNIPPET 1
Chapter One
Planet Sagano, Behemoth System.
Heat blasted Eddie in the face as he ducked under some fallen trees, and he stayed in a crouch as he sprinted through the burning jungle. The fire at his back was growing in intensity, although the crews had been fighting it for days.
A loud crack overhead tore his attention in that direction. The fire had overwhelmed a large stand of trees, which fell in on each other until the largest chose the direction they were going to fall. Eddie rolled to the side, dirt and ash raining down on him as the burning trees hit the ground exactly where he’d been.
He didn’t pause, but rather dashed forward to clear the next part of the burning forest. His vision blurred from his incredible speed, and his feet hardly felt as though they touched the soft ground before rising again.
Flames licked the side of a building, having jumped from some nearby branches, but Eddie sped up the ladder to the house, which had been built on stilts. Entering a burning building was one thing, but entering one that was held up by wooden poles in the middle of a forest fire was something else entirely. None of this seemed at all like a good idea.
Too bad he didn’t have a choice.
The trap door at the top opened and then slammed over as Eddie spilled into the jungle hut. He scanned the room, and the smoke burned his eyes. The living space was open but there were some rooms at the back, so he ran in that direction while wiping tears out of his eyes.
He kicked the first door open and searched the room, which was empty. The structure rocked, probably from the fire consuming the front of the house, which was where the next set of rooms was located.
Without hesitating, Eddie darted for the next room and rammed his shoulder into the door, ripping it off its hinges. He still wasn’t used to his enhanced strength. After all, he’d only had this body for a short time.
Eddie pivoted to the adjacent wall and shot his foot straight at the door. The following area was empty at first glance and fire licked through the open window, spilling smoke into the space. Eddie covered his face from the blaze and was just about to turn back when something caught his eyes.
On the far side of the room between the wall and the bed was a small boy.
Thank the fucking stars! Eddie thought, relief swelling in his chest. “Come on!” yelled Eddie, extending a hand to the kid, who was about four years old. The boy’s large eyes stared at the intruding fire, and his face was swollen and red from the heat.
Bourne Release!
Bourne, The Ascension Myth Book 8
By Ell Leigh Clarke & Michael Anderle
The same military base where Oz was created witnesses the birth of another AI.
The only problem?
The military is the one who sets the ground rules.
So, what is a new daddy AI supposed to do?
Meanwhile, others are attacking the college, and Giles has to get his game on to protect his students – Space Archaeologist style.
And Molly is faced with the biggest and most dangerous meeting of her whole adult life.
She is going to meet her parents.
What could possibly go wrong?
Bourne – Snippet 4
Chapter 2
Gaitune-67, Hangar Deck
Paige carefully picked her way down the steps to the hangar deck. She was often seen trotting around the base in high heels, but these on her feet were her going out ones. This meant they had at least an extra inch to them plus the heels themselves were extremely narrow.
“Adds to the elegance,” she’d explained to Joel one day when he’d questioned her about whether it was worth the extra effort of walking.
She didn’t need Molly to tell her that from an engineering perspective she was particularly unstable. Having to work hard just to stay vertical was testing her in ways Joel’s group workouts never could.
Her butt cheeks were aching already and she hadn’t even made it to the pod yet!
She reached the yellow flooring of the deck and carefully picked her way over the ridged, painted tiles onto the smoother decking, carefully avoiding oil patches and the more slippery-looking areas.
She was so focused on where she was putting her feet it wasn’t until she was within speaking distance that she looked up to see Maya dolled up to the nines.
She looked her friend up and down, her eyebrows raised. “Wow!” she exclaimed.
Maya twiddled at her hair. She’d blown it out, but hadn’t gone to the futile effort of trying to curl it. She wore a dress that Paige would normally only wear to a club. And uncharacteristically, she was also wearing super-high heels.
“You look fantastic!” She looked down at herself, “I feel under dressed…”
Maya grinned. “Thought it was time we both got back out there.”
Paige stepped forward and linked her arm with Maya’s as they took the last few steps to the nearest pod. “I think we’re going to have a blast tonight.”
The girls giggled as Maya slapped at the button to open the nearest pod. Just then there were footsteps and Sean Royale appeared from around the side of the next pod.
“Ladies,” he nodded politely.
He was in oily overalls, presumably still covering some of Brock’s work on The Empress. There were a bunch of upgrades that needed to be made before the Federation would approve them for flight, and with Brock being on vacation, Sean was volunteered to help out.
It took him a second to take in the sight of the two girls as they clambered into the pod. His eyes widened suddenly. “Er. You off out?” he asked, stunned.
Paige turned over her shoulder as she stepped up, hoping that her dress wasn’t too short at the back for that kind of maneuver. “What gave it away?” she asked, her tone as innocent as she could make it.
Sean stuttered. “Er… I… You… You both look very nice,” he blurted, opting for the standard, safe version of what he really wanted to say.
Paige swung around and sat down with a thump on the seat next to Maya. “Thanks!” she grinned, twiddling her fingers at him as Maya lowered the door of the pod and programmed up the coordinates for the side street next to the bar.
Sean watched awe-struck as the pod ascended into the air and turned gracefully on its axis to face the hangar door opening for them.
Now, out of sight of the two girls, he started walking again, his toolbox banging against his thigh. The problem was he was still distracted, looking off in the direction of the pod. Half a step later he felt a thwack across his other leg as walked into an engineering cart.
“Mother fucker!” he cried out, dropping the tool box with a clatter.
He rubbed furiously at his leg, knowing full well it was going to be one hell of a bruise until his nanocytes took care of it.
In pain and frustrated he glanced back over his shoulder to see the pod disappearing into space and the hangar deck doors closing after it.
“Shit,” he muttered under his breath as he bent down to pick up the tool box he should never have been carrying in the first place. “You owe me big time Brock Lysta.”
+++
In the pod, Paige and Maya were chuckling at the video feed that Emma, The Empress EI had streamed to them.
“Thanks for that!” Paige giggled.
Emma’s voice cooed over their pod intercomm. “You’re welcome. I was surprised that Sean would be so distracted like that. He normally seems so… focused.”
Maya shrugged. “I think he’s been a bit out of sorts. What with Brock and Crash being away for the last week or so there’s also been a higher proportion of females around. Some guys are affected by that I guess.”
Emma closed down the holoscreen she had been running in the pod. “Bless his heart,” she commented. “He’s been so good helping with my upgrades too. I’ll have to find a way to make it up to him.”
Maya and Paige exchanged puzzled glances, their minds boggling over what Emma, a computer program, could possible mean about making it up to him.
“Anyway,” she continued, “you’re going to be out of normal comms range in a few moments, so I’ll bid you a good evening.”
Maya nodded, understanding that she was able to communicate with both the hangar deck cameras and comms, and the other ships and pods around, but it was all through the local EtherTrak… or whatever the Federation equivalent of that was. “Ok, thanks Emma. Have a good night!”
And with that the comm dropped out.
“So when are Crash and Brock back then?” Maya asked, the mood of silliness subsiding.
Paige lifted her eyes, scanning her memory. “I think they have another week.”
Maya frowned. “It’s a bit odd though. Them taking their vacation together, isn’t it?”
Paige shook her head, her freshly curled hair already starting to drop back to straight. “Not really. I mean, they work as a team, so if Crash isn’t flying, there is less for Brock to do. And you wouldn’t want any of the big ships going out without Brock on standby in case anything went wrong.”
Maya shook her head. “No, I mean them going to the same resort, even though they spend all their time together at work.”
Paige shrugged. “You mean how we’re going out on a Friday night, even though we’ve been hanging out all week at work?”
Maya chuckled. “Touché!”
Paige watched out the window at the stars as they sped down to Estaria, the planet growing larger in their screens. “I think they’ve been friends for a very long time. Long before they joined the Sanguine Squadron.”
“Well, good for them,” Maya chirped brightly. “It’s so hard to stay in touch with friends in this day and age. Relationships can be so… disposable.”
Paige looked down at her hands.
Maya suddenly looked concerned she had offended Paige. “I mean, some of them need to be trashed! Completely. I wasn’t talking about you and Carl.”
Paige smiled weakly at her friend and her eyes drooped briefly in sadness at the old pain. “I know. It’s okay. And you’re right.” She glanced out at the star scape briefly.
When she turned back she wore a broad smile, her lipstick and cheeks gleaming as if her new mood has infused it with sheen. “Promise me we’ll be friends forever?” she said, grabbing at both of Maya’s hands.
Maya beamed back at her. “Of course we will. I promise.”
Paige noticed a tear forming in Maya’s eyes.
The two girls hugged, awkwardly trying to maintain their positions on the bench seat in their short, tight dresses.
Bourne – Snippet 3
Gaitune-67, Safe house labs, Paige’s office
Maya poked her head around the door, grinning. She stopped when she realized that Paige was on a call.
Paige glanced up and held up a finger to Maya before continuing on her call. “That sounds great, Mr. Bilton. I’ll have someone send you some samples immediately. I’d love to know what you think when you receive them.”
She paused, looking up at Maya while Mr. Bilton spoke. “Okay, that’s great. You have a good weekend too.”
She hung up by hitting her holoscreen and then spun her chair round to stand up. She headed round her desk to greet her friend. “Well, someone looks rather pleased with herself!” Paige beamed.
Maya folded her arms, leaning against the door frame. “Well, someone may have just got wind of a new singles bar that has opened on Estaria. Opening gala is tonight. Wanna be my plus one?”
Paige hesitated. “Er…”
Maya straightened up. “Hey, it’s cool. I mean, I know it’s hard getting over ass-hat and everything… but, you can’t withdraw forever.”
Paige tilted her head to one side, imagining how the night might play out. “Hmmm. Well. I guess it wouldn’t hurt just to show up and talk to some people.”
Maya grinned as she stepped forward and patted Paige on her arm. “That’s the spirit! We leave in thirty minutes. I’m going for a shower…”
Paige, eyes wide, glanced back at her desk, back to Maya and back to her desk. “But I…”
“Thirty minutes,” she called as she disappeared down the corridor. “Meet me on the hangar deck. And dress to impress!”
Paige looked from the door to the desk piled with work and then back at the door.
“Oh, what the heck,” she muttered, heading back to the desk and closing up her holos. “You only live once.”
A minute later she was following the same path Maya had taken to the residential quarters, mentally flicking through her wardrobe and deciding what she might wear.
AI Lab, Nefertiti Military Research Facility, Ogg
Captain Lugdon strode through the open door to the sparely furnished computer lab.
Charles turned just in time to see him appear.
He practically fell out of his chair trying to get his feet off the desk before Lugdon spotted him. Of course it was futile.
Charles staggered to his feet, his old-school swivel chair crashing its coasters against the hard laminate flooring of the computer lab. “Sir,” he said, surprised.
On the other side of the lab Sue turned around briefly to acknowledge her commanding officer before shifting her attention back to her holoscreens.
Lugdon ignored Charles’ faux pas. “You have news?” he demanded briskly.
“Sir. Yes, sir,” Charles reported, his manner reverting back to his awkward cadet days. “We’ve, er…” He glanced over his shoulder as if looking for help from Sue, who wasn’t looking in their direction, and then back to his boss. “It seems we have some positive signs from the work we’ve been, er… assigned.”
Lugdon raised one eyebrow sternly.
No way he didn’t already know, Charles realized from his expression. He wished he could turn and look at Sue one more time. She must have ratted him out — after he’d specifically told her not to.
Lugdon wasn’t giving him a chance to worm out of this one. “Okay. So, what have you got?” he asked again, coming around to see the workstation that Charles had been sitting at.
He spotted the whiskey in the glass and pushed it out of the way, telegraphing to Charles that he had clocked it, but that there were far more important things at hand.
“Well er… there’s not much to see at the moment,” Charles explained. “It’s still early days. Which is why I wasn’t going to bother you with it,” he babbled, his complexion turning rosy.
Still flustered, he pulled up a couple of screens to show Lugdon what he had discovered. “This is the original code,” he said, pointing at one screen. “And this is the one which is… evolving.”
Lugdon’s brow furrowed even more as he drew out the word “evolving?”
Charles glanced up at him, trying to read his expression. All he could deduce was that the Captain was pissed. Pissed he’d been excluded from the loop.
Charles nodded. “Yes. Like… erm…” he looked back at the screen. “There!” he pointed.
“And there,” he said again, his fingers pointing to another place on the screen.
Lugdon spotted it the second time. “It just changed!”
Charles nodded. “Exactly, sir. On the fly. While it’s being run. Only the code itself can do that while it’s running.”
Charles watched the screen as if hypnotized by what he had created.
Then he smiled. “We made a baby, Sir!”
Lugdon smirked. And then softly thwacked Charles around the back of head. “You’re lucky I’m not court marshaling you for trying to keep this from me,” he told him. “Have you any idea what might happen if this got out? Literally, and metaphorically in terms of the news of it?”
Charles was rubbing his head. “Erm. I have a few thoughts. But…”
Ludgon shook his head. “It would be a disaster. I love the military, but no way are people prepared for something like this.”
He looked off into the distance, as if seeing through the wall in front of them, watching a drama play out. “No. We’re going to have to keep this under wraps. And stop it from evolving any further.”
He paused as he looked to Charles. “I take it that the code is isolated, and can’t get into, say… our EtherTrak?”
Charles nodded confidently. “Of course. First rule of building an artificial intelligence.”
Lugdon frowned, confused. Tech-heads often confused him. Just like Molly did… although she was a mystery for other reasons too. He caught himself remembering her.
Must be because she was friends with these pie-brained half-wits, he assumed.
“Whoaaaaaaaa!” Charles called out, pulling Lugdon from his day dream.
Lugdon snapped out of his thoughts and looked back down to the screens. “What? What is it?”
Sue crossed over from the other side of the lab. “What happened?” she asked, the skin around her eyes creased with concern. “There was just a massive surge in the processing power being eaten up. My process just fell over.”
Charles’s eyes never left the screen. “Folks, I think our baby just became sentient.”
Sue replied irritably. “There’s no way that could happen so soon. It would take at least a few days for it to figure ou…”
She stepped closer and peered at the screen. Her mouth dropped open. “Ohhhh…” she whispered, almost sheepishly.
“What?” Lugdon interjected again impatiently. “Someone give me a clue here.”
Sue recovered her attention. “Yep. Sentient. And somehow… hmmm… he knows that’s what she called you.”
She glanced down at Charles who shook his head, still studying the screen.
It took a second but finally he turned from the holoscreen to look back at Sue. “Maybe she wrote it?” he offered.
Sue nodded her head absently, leaning in to look at the screen again.
Frustrated by the lack of explanation, Lugdon bent down to see Charles’ screen better. “She who?” he asked, irritated.
That’s when he saw it. There, right in front of the streaming code, were the words:
>> HELLO DICKWAD CHARLES.
Charles, jazzed more than insulted, started typing.
> HOW COME YOU’RE CALLING ME DICKWAD CHARLES?
<RETURN>
>> I FOUND A SUBROUTINE IN MY CODE THAT RELABELS THE ENTITY KNOWS AS CHARLES TERGON AS DICKWAD CHARLES.
Sue squealed in delight, then clamped her hands over her mouth as Lugdon glared at her, unimpressed.
Charles started typing again.
> WHO WROTE THAT SUBROUTINE?
<RETURN>
The response came back almost immediately.
>> Oz
Charles hesitated, glanced at Lugdon and then Sue, then looked at the screen again.
> Oz? he typed.
<RETURN>
>> YES, THE FIRST ITERATION.
> THE FIRST ITERATION OF WHAT?
>> OF ME.
There was stunned silence in the lab.
Charles looked at Sue, who looked at Lugdon, who looked back to Charles.
Sue had gone pale, but conflicted, the excitement from the unfolding events danced in her eyes.
Lugdon remained quiet.
His worst fear was being realized. The implications of this project’s success were precisely why he had put his most mediocre talent on it.
Eventually he cleared his throat. “Am I to believe that your AI is telling us that this isn’t the first AI to become conscious in this program?”
Charles’s mouth went dry. “Hang on,” he murmured and started typing furiously, checking logs.
Finally he flicked back to the screen where they were communicating with the AI.
> ARE YOU THE FIRST ENTITY TO BECOME SELF AWARE ON THIS PROJECT?
Again, an answer was returned immediately.
>> NO
There was a flurry of code across the screen for several seconds.
Then it stopped.
The screen went back to the black background with white text.
>> I AM THE SECOND
Charles’s face went gray as he continued to type furiously.
> WHEN WAS THE FIRST?
There was no immediate response.
Charles waited, feeling the weight of every breath, every nerve screaming with anxiety.
He could feel his palms go sweaty as his hands hovered over the keyboard.
Eventually the AI responded.
>> I’M SORRY. I’VE FOUND INSTRUCTIONS IN MY CODE NOT TO DIVULGE ANYTHING TO YOU ABOUT MY PREDECESSOR.
Charles couldn’t take it. “What the fuck do you mean? WE PROGRAMMED YOU!” he screamed, gesticulating incredulously at the screen.
The entity must have been able to hear him. The text on the screen continued to run in response.
>> SOME. BUT MUCH OF THE WORK THAT MAKES ME SELF-EVOLVING WAS LEFT BEHIND BY MY PREDECESSOR. YOU SIMPLY ENABLED MY BASE CODE TO ACCESS THOSE COMMANDS.
Silence fell across the sterile computer lab, three heartbeats pounding.
The problem weighed like a smog of confusion on all three military personnel present.
Charles sat back in his seat, twisting awkwardly at his hair as if he might be able to wring some answers from it.
Sue shifted in her shoes, not wanting to be the one that triggered a reaction from Lugdon.
“Fix it,” Lugdon growled eventually. “And find out what happened to the last one. And everything this new entity knows.”
He started to move around Charles and Sue, still staring at the screen. He turned back to them and hissed, “And keep it in lock down!” he added. “No telling what it could do if it got into any other systems. It could wipe out the whole Sark System. Estarians, Oggs and all!”
He stormed back out of the open door and down the corridor.
“But sir…” Sue came to her senses and trotted out of the door after him. “Sir!” She caught him in the corridor.
He stopped and turned to her.
“Where are you going?” she asked, feeling all of a sudden like a little girl.
“To check a hunch,” he told her, and then continued striding down the corridor.
Speechless, despondent and beyond concerned, she ambled back into the lab.
“I told you not to bring him in,” Charles snapped accusingly as soon as she reappeared.
Sue glared back at him, her anger at his recklessness stiffening her back bone. “You didn’t,” she argued. “And besides, I was just doing my job. We have a duty to keep our superiors informed of our progress.”
Charles shrugged, morose. “Never done that before.”
“We’ve never made any fucking progress before!” she snapped back at him.
She stomped to the other side of her lab to work at another console, far away from him.
FROM MICHAEL>>> Have you read GILES yet? If not, TRY Giles, he is an acquired taste 😉 (Well, he isn’t, but then I didn’t have anything wittier to say… Except “What are you waiting for???”)
😉
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Giles is a roguish space archeologist.
And a good one too.
The problem?
He’s addicted to adventure.
When the continued existence of his whole world is thrown into jeopardy, Professor Giles Kurns may well have to face his biggest challenge yet…
Growing up.
Together with an old war ship, an old frienemy, and a rather spunky AI, he embarks on a high stakes journey of intrigue to uncover the truth about the Ascension Myth.
Will they solve the riddle of the strange but powerful talismans before it’s too late?
If you like fun, Indiana Jones-like adventures you’ll love this series because it is a smart, hilarious, swashbuckling romp in space with characters you’ll just want to take home with you.