Chapter 4
Eric woke with a gasp. Another dream of his past. This one was about an assassination he had been instrumental in accomplishing. This was the fifth such dream, counting the dream he'd had while waking from 'cold sleep'. As before, there was some discrepancy with the dream. He had a sudden suspicion.
"Battle Comp. Process PD. Execute," he sub vocalized.
"Acknowledged," he heard from his implant which allowed him to, 'hear', his built in computer, as well as receive signals from his ship's computer.
"PD is now fully implemented. Eighty percent capacity is now being utilized by this unit. Warning. 'Process PD' causes an extreme power drain. Cyborg capabilities are degraded significantly.
He contacted his ship through the SNARK assigned to him.
"CC? I have a problem," Eric signaled.
"Affirmative. I have received signal activation of Psionic Defense. I am activating on board defenses. Activation complete. Query. What caused you to activate PD?" asked CCS-14.
"I have been having a series of dreams since I first woke in orbit. Every dream seems to be me, reliving a part or portion of my life. But when something technical in the dream occurs; the dream changes to a child's viewpoint, or to that of someone with only a vague understanding of the processes involved, instead of me.
"I understand and understood all of what happened to me. Example. When I first woke, I dreamed of being accepted into the cyborg program. Somehow, I heard the recruiter using the words 'cords and pulleys' for the muscular actuation and actualization processes.
"I had put that off as a strange dream. However, I have had enough subsequent dreams, to remember that there are people out in the universe who have paranormal abilities. After all, that's why command had these defenses built into us," Eric told his ship.
"Affirmative. I will have a defense unit constructed in the form of a pendant. I will send it to you via SNARK. Delivery time is 3.44 hours from now.
"Good. I also have been wanting to go up to that compound in the hills to the north, but I seem to either forget, or something happens to distract me. This is another reason why I think I have been externally influenced," Eric went on.
"Affirmative. Protocol 24-3-12/A is now in effect. The ground unit, Commander Eric Falstaff, is now forbidden physical access to ship. Access will be denied, until such time as it is proved to this unit's satisfaction, that the ground unit is not being controlled by an external force," CCS-14 stated.
"Roger that. My battle comp has already been instructed to report any attempted intrusions to you, as well as to me. Standard operating procedures," Eric replied with a confidence he didn't really feel.
With that, Eric concluded his conversation with his ship. He got out of bed, and dressed. It was very chilly in the room, but not as bad as it could be. His room had the inn's main chimney running through it, and that offered some warmth to counter the cold.
He also had a fireplace of his own in the room. While the flames had gone out, it still had coals that were putting out some heat. Eric stoked the fireplace with some kindling and wood, and soon a merry fire was blazing.
He looked out the window of his room. It was still dark, but the pre-dawn glow had begun. He decided he would not work today. While he felt sorry for those who would make the trip to the inn to see him, he was more worried about the possibility of his mind having been invaded.
He didn't feel any differently than before. But then, would he, if he were under the influence of others? Still, he had been able to activate his defenses, and warn his ship; so he was still his own man, or so he hoped.
As dawn began, he went out his door. He locked it with the huge iron key he had been given, and went downstairs. His room was actually the safest place in the city. He had placed a 'guardian, 3rd class', inside. It would take care of any people not authorized to be there. While it wouldn't actually kill anyone, it would render them unconscious, and keep them that way until his return.
Eric hated the defensive shield, which was used against possible or actual mental probes from paranormal people. It made his head buzz, but he would eventually get used to it. Until he did get used to it, though, he would just grit his teeth.
He was sitting in the main room of the inn. Breakfast was long over now, and he was waiting for his pendant to arrive. His battle computer reported an attempt to penetrate the shield. Defense was successful.
He sighed. He had hoped to have been wrong, but apparently he was not. His battle computer simultaneously reported the attack immediately to him, and to his ship in orbit above. He heard the acknowledgment from the ship.
Well, that was that. With this confirmation, his ship would now go into a more cautious mode. It would look at everything Eric did or requested, with suspicion. As of now, it would almost be impossible to gain the total trust of his ship. Eric was effectively marooned on this planet, until such time as he could prove his fitness to resume command of CCS-14.
The Protocol (24-3-12/A) had just acquired an additional suffix (R), which told his ship to limit contact with him even further. Previously, he was just forbidden physical access to his ship. Now he would have to work even harder, just to speak and interact with it.
For the most part, all Coalition CCS ships had built in protection from paranormal access. But that type of power was very rare, and not well known or documented. The defenses had been proved to work, but had to have been activated previous to the possible contamination.
There was almost a 'Catch 22', at this point. While he had done the correct thing, and informed his ship of possible contamination; it also provided his own downfall, so to speak.
An hour later he was still sitting in the main room of the inn, close to the fireplace, when the door opened. Four people entered. Two guards wearing livery with which he was unfamiliar.
He already knew the city watch uniforms, the king's guards uniforms, and several of the local lords' uniformed guards. These were totally unfamiliar to him.
A man and woman saw him, and approached his table. The guards trailed along behind them. Eric rose as they came to his table.
"May I help you?" Eric asked politely.
"I am Nadalia, and this is Arbenden. We wish to discuss certain things with you," the woman told Eric.
"Ah. Well, I am sorry, but I am not healing today. Perhaps one of the other healers?" Eric responded.
Nadalia shook her head. "It's not medically related. It has to do with you, and the star ship you have in orbit over this planet," she said simply.
Eric felt a bolt of shock go through him! How did they know? Of course, he thought a moment later. They had inside information so to speak.
"You are the people who have been invading my mind," Eric stated.
"Yes. When we first felt the strangeness of you coming from space, we knew that at last someone had come to see what had happened to this colony. Then, when we first scanned your mind, we were shocked at what we found. It never occurred to us that you were from... other when," she said, her eyes large with wonder.
"You people have no idea of the trouble you have made for me. But I have questions. I have lots of questions!" Eric said excitedly.
His computer had activated transmission to CCS-14, so it had heard everything Nadalia had said.
"Perhaps it would be better if we adjourned to your room? It would be better to talk in private," Arbenden interjected.
Eric nodded. Since he had not sat down yet, he led the way to his room. The four followed him. Eric was soon at his door. He unlocked it, opened the door, and entered. He had sent a silent command to his protection in the room, and motioned for his guests to enter.
After closing the door, with the two guards standing watch outside, he motioned his two guests to take seats. There was a small table with two chairs to sit on, as well as the bed. The two chose the chairs at the table.
"We have been most impressed with your work you have done. Healing is a good profession," Nadalia said.
"I was wondering something. When I first arrived, I treated a boy who was suffering liver failure. Was this some sort of test you had devised for me?" Eric asked curiously, and a little angrily.
"No. We truly regretted not being able to help him. Our problem is, our equipment is failing. Since this world was first colonized so long ago, our enclave has remained a secret from the main population.
"After the disaster to the ship, it was decided to restrict access to the technical base on this world. The decision was made only after careful consideration. That way, more people could be helped over a longer time, than if we exhausted everything early in the history of the colony.
"How many colonists did your ship arrive with, originally?" Eric asked curiously.
"The ship was sent with 750,000 sleepers. Over 500,000 were awakened and transferred to the planet before the explosion occurred. All but one shuttle was destroyed in the blast.
"Huge sections of the sleep chambers were affected by the blast, and those poor people died without knowing a thing. Most of our tech people died in the blast, also. To give our colonists a better chance, we split them onto the two continents.
"It seems strange to do it this way. There were reasons at the time that it was done, but they are now lost to us. We have kept what technical abilities we had secret, and recruited over the years as needed, to replace aging people.
"Our base to the north, is a very extensive underground facility. It is powered by thermal energy from deep inside the planet. Unfortunately, our equipment is failing. Also, we have been losing abilities and trained people, over the last two hundred years.
"We were excited by your arrival, thinking that our home world had sent a ship to us. We have a few people who have special mental abilities. They quickly found you were not from our home world. Still, it was exciting! The information we were getting from your mind was priceless," Nadalia said
"When our people felt your shield go up, we decided we had to risk a meeting with you. We did not mean to frighten you, or scare you. Our purpose was strictly informational," Arbenden said almost pleadingly.
"Ok. But I am confused about a few things. How come the people here don't seem to have any idea of your existence, beyond calling you 'the separate ones'?"
"One of the leaders on the other continent, decided to capture our base there. The result was a pitched battle, and the death of most of the technicians and maintenance personal there. The base became useless, from the extensive damage.
"It was a coordinated effort. One of the children here, was practicing his mental abilities, in violation to the rules. He read the intentions of a group coming our way, and warned us. Still, it was a close thing.
"After we defeated them, we gathered all the remaining items. Technical, weapons, recorders of any type, and so on. Then we did something you might find appalling. We went into the minds of the people. We started erasing all knowledge of us, and why we were here. It took decades, but we did it.
"We have encouraged the people not to develop too fast. That has come back to bite us, severely. With no technical base developing, we have effectively 'shot ourselves in the foot', so to speak. Our own abilities are falling slowly into an abyss, and we can't seem to stop it," Arbenden concluded heavily.
Eric was stunned by this revelation, to say the least. The ship suggested several questions which Eric passed to the two, who in turn answered. They had spent so much time talking, that his battle comp had to inform him when the SNARK with his pendant had arrived.
He went to the window, opened it, and stepped back. His guests' eyes widened in surprise and shock. A six foot long, two and a half foot wide SNARK, slid silently into the room. It halted, hanging in mid air.
A compartment popped open. Eric reached in, and withdrew his new protection. He put it around his neck, after activating it. His battle comp noted the pendant's activity, and shut down its own PD program. It also reminded Eric to go to the combat car for a recharge, as power reserves were lower than 60 percent, at this time.
He sent a silent command to the SNARK. It started to slide out the window, and it faded from sight, simultaneously. He turned to his two guests.
"Well, as you can see, I come from a very advanced technological society. Much more advanced than what your ancestors were used to. If you like, I can go to your base, and do a survey. That is, if my ship concurs," Eric said smiling.
CCS-14 gave its tentative approval. It still re-iterated that it would not allow Eric access in his physical body, but it became more communicative.
Edited by TeNderLoin