Preservation_Age of Expansion_A Kurtherian Gambit Series Read online

  Eddie leaned forward. “Not sure why you’re slaughtering birds when terrorists should be our focus, but you’ve got my attention.”

  “I’d read that Lieutenant Fletcher has had a few run-ins with the Nihilist organization,” Jack explained. “When I questioned him on it, he said they’d slipped by his efforts more than a few times. Apparently, they have an arsenal of impressive weapons, which always give them the advantage.”

  “Impressive weapons?” Julianna asked. “Now I’m paying attention.”

  Jack released one of his easy grins. “I thought that might get you. Ghost Squadron has needed better guns for quite some time. If Chester can track down Nihilist headquarters, you can surprise them there. We stop the bombing, and you confiscate their arsenal.”

  “Meanwhile, none of the space stations know there was ever a threat,” Julianna stated.

  Eddie smiled wide. “And continue to sleep peacefully in their beds.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Hatch’s Lab, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  Julianna tapped her foot, her anxiety seeking to bound out of her chest.

  Your heart rate is elevated, Pip observed.

  Shouldn’t you be concentrating or chanting or something, she retorted, irritation heavy in her tone.

  Hatch told me to sit back and relax while he does all the work.

  Ha-ha, Julianna spat with zero humor. She eyed the table on the far side of the room where Eddie was stretched out. He reminded her more of an aircraft getting an upgrade than a human undergoing a complicated procedure.

  Try petting Harley’s head, Pip suggested. That has shown to increase serotonin levels.

  Julianna dropped her eyes to the dog stationed at her side. I’m good.

  I’ve sifted through many of your memories and can’t locate the one that produced your fear of dogs.

  I don’t fear Harley.

  You don’t anymore, but originally his presence elevated your blood pressure. Now it does quite the opposite.

  I’m not the touchy-feely type. He understands that.

  Does he? Pip questioned. Before Julianna could tell him where to stick his loaded question, he said, I must be off. The captain is calling me.

  Fuck my life, Julianna thought, pressing her eyes closed.

  I heard that, Pip chimed before falling completely silent. Julianna felt the absence that she attributed to Pip being busy, usually in Hatch’s lab. Now that absence would be because Pip was hanging out in Eddie’s head, discussing who knows what.

  Julianna turned, putting her back to the far side of the room and pretending to study a workstation filled with devices.

  Is everything okay? Harley asked.

  Yeah, it’s fine…well, actually I think it’s as far from fine as possible.

  Do you want to talk about it? Harley offered.

  Julianna shook her head, but then her words betrayed her.

  I think I do, she heard herself say.

  ~~~

  Eddie sat up before he was ordered to do so, which earned him a contemptuous stare from Hatch.

  “Dammit, Teach,” Hatch bellowed. “Are you trying to ruin everything?”

  “What if I told you it wasn’t my fault?” Eddie asked.

  Hatch’s scowl fell away. “Was it not your fault? Did Pip make you sit up?”

  Eddie shook his head. “Nah, I have to take full blame. I got up of my own accord.”

  Hatch grunted with frustration. “Figures. You literally can’t follow directions to save your own life.”

  “How do we know if it worked?” Eddie asked.

  Scanning a computer screen, Hatch said, “Well, how do you feel? Can you hear Pip in your head?”

  Eddie stared without seeing, trying to determine if he felt changed. “Does he sound different than my own thoughts?” he asked.

  Hatch waved Julianna over with a tentacle. She appeared more than reluctant to come forward. “Julie, can you explain the difference between Pip’s voice and your thoughts?”

  Julianna slid her hands into her pockets, a tense expression on her face. “You’ll know the difference.”

  Hatch shrugged, only partially satisfied with her inadequate answer. “There you go. Try talking to him. The connection appears to be made, but it might still be in transition.”

  Pip, are you there? Eddie asked, feeling silly talking to himself.

  Nothing.

  Eddie pursed his lips, scanning his body, like expecting it to look different. Hey, buddy, are you there yet? he tried again.

  Hey, buddy, are you there yet, a voice echoed in his mind.

  That’s strange, Eddie thought.

  That’s strange, the voice repeated.

  Pip, is that you repeating what I say?

  Pip, is that you repeating what I say, Pip said, a hint of a laughter in his voice.

  Eddie smiled. “I think we have a clear connection.”

  “You think?” Hatch asked, not at all sounding impressed with the less than definitive response.

  “Well, Pip appears to be repeating everything I say, but I think that’s him,” Eddie said.

  Julianna shook her head. “That’s him.”

  “We need to determine if he has control over your body,” Hatch stated. “In most instances, you’ll have to relinquish control to him. I made it so he didn’t have free reign over your body, although if you’re not paying attention, he might be able to take over.”

  “That sounds troublesome,” Eddie said with a laugh. How bad can it be, having an AI who has access to my body? What’s the worst we could do?

  “You’ve been warned,” Hatch stated. “Go ahead and relax and try to give him control.”

  Eddie drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Pip?

  Yes, Eddie? he answered.

  Oh, good, you’re talking to me finally.

  The experience of having something…well, someone in his mind was incredibly surreal. This will take some getting used to.

  For now I’m talking to you. I’m great at giving Julianna the cold shoulder, Pip said playfully.

  Ha-ha. I can’t wait for all the games.

  I’m a player, what can I say.

  Let’s be serious for a moment. Can you control my body? Eddie asked.

  Yes, I believe so.

  Eddie smiled. “He says he has control.”

  Hatch let out an annoyed sigh. “I work in the world of provable facts. Will you please have him show us?”

  Eddie’s hand lifted without his consent and waved at them.

  “There you go,” he said, watching his hand being waved as if by a puppeteer holding invisible strings.

  Knox laughed.

  “Are you serious?” Hatch nearly yelled, his face brightening with pink.

  “What?” Eddie asked, confused.

  “How do we know that’s Pip waving your hand and not you?” Julianna asked.

  “I didn’t do it,” Eddie explained.

  “We need a better way of testing this.” Hatch rotated in the direction of his computer station, reviewing data as it scrolled on the screen.

  “Maybe we give him a sedative?” Knox offered. “Pip is supposed to be able to control the captain’s body even if he’s unconscious, right?”

  “Although that’s an excellent suggestion, I think there’s an easier way,” Hatch said, peering deep into Eddie’s eyes like he was trying to find the AI inside of him.

  What’s he talking about? Do you know? Eddie asked Pip.

  I sure do, Pip answered.

  What is it?

  You’re not going to like it.

  Eddie laughed. Are you going to make me stand on my head?

  “Pip,” Hatch interrupted. “Remember what we discussed? You want me to fulfill my end of the bargain, you’ve got to fulfill yours.”

  What does he mean? Eddie asked.

  Sorry about this, captain.

  Before Eddie could reply, his own hand shot up and slapped himself across the cheek. The assault was so hard it whipp
ed his face to the side.

  Like struck by a close friend, Eddie blinked in disbelief for a few seconds, the whole room having fallen silent.

  “And there it is!” Hatch cheered. “The moment I’ve been waiting for. There’s conclusive proof that Pip is controlling Teach’s body.”

  Eddie shut down any access Pip had over him. I can’t believe you slapped me.

  I believe you slapped you, Pip said, his tone sassy.

  Wasn’t there another way?

  That’s what Hatch told me to do.

  Eddie shot an accusatory look at the mechanic. “You told him to slap me?”

  “That I did,” Hatch sang, turning and waddling for the other side of the lab. “Keep up your side of the bargain, I’ll keep up mine, Pip.”

  “What bargain?” Eddie asked, jumping off the lab table. What is he talking about, Pip?

  We made a deal, Pip answered.

  What kind of deal?

  It’s a secret.

  Eddie grunted, catching Julianna’s amused expression. “I’ve been set up,” he told her.

  She nodded, not at all looking surprised. “Which is exactly why I wasn’t dumb enough to allow that psychotic AI to have control over my body.”

  Pardon me, Captain, Pip said. I’ll be right back. I’ve got to go crazy on someone’s ass.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Intelligence Center, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  A loud voice boomed from the Intelligence Center when Julianna and Eddie rounded into the space. Julianna had half expected to find a large man with a round stomach, smoking a pipe. Instead, only Chester and Marilla were in the large work area. A voice with a thick British accent boomed over the surround sound speakers, his articulation impressive and tone captivating.

  Chester had his head reclined and his eyes closed as he listened to the audiobook, which Julianna recognized as a Sherlock Holmes novel. Marilla, on the other hand, was engrossed in her work, not even seeming to notice the theatrical audio playing overhead.

  “Ricky Bobby, would you pause Chester’s book?” Julianna asked.

  The AI didn’t even respond, only halted the audio, making the room fall silent. Chester cracked one eye open, his lazy gaze finding the captain and commander at once.

  “It is ever a wonder that no one besides you two want to work in here,” Eddie said, twisting his finger in his ear and trying to dispel the ringing from the loud voice.

  “I’m not an easy person to share a space with,” Chester admitted, opening his eyes and sitting up all the way. “I make no secret of the fact.”

  “Marilla, how do you put up with this guy?” Eddie asked, throwing a thumb in the hacker’s direction.

  “I have the ability to tune out all unnecessary noise and focus despite my surroundings,” Marilla said in a monotone voice, her eyes never leaving her computer screen.

  “That proves there’s someone for everyone,” Eddie sang, pulling out a rolling chair and taking a seat.

  The captain doesn’t think that anyone will ever put up with his annoying habits, Pip informed Julianna.

  He’s probably right, she responded, her tone neutral.

  Interested to hear about some of those habits? I’ve made a list of them.

  Eddie had no idea what he was getting himself into when he invited you into his head. And no, I don’t care to hear about his annoying habits.

  Yeah, he wasn’t interested in hearing the list of yours either.

  Julianna ignored Pip, pretending to pay attention to the current conversation between Eddie and Chester.

  Or maybe the captain didn’t have the time to hear your list. It’s rather long.

  You’re wicked, goat-licker.

  Name calling, I’ll add that to the list.

  Why don’t you. I’m kind of busy right now. Make yourself scarce.

  Eddie and Chester had fallen into an easy conversation about the Hound of Baskerville, chatting excitedly about their favorite parts.

  “Can we table this discussion?” Julianna interrupted, looking directly at Chester. “We need to find out what you discovered about the Nihilist organization.”

  Eddie’s exuberant expression dropped, replaced with a more acceptable one. “That’s right. But hook me up with this audio when you have a chance, Chester. My eyes are too tired to read at night.”

  “Teach, when did you take up classic literature?” Julianna asked.

  Eddie looked up at her. “Since Chester gave me a reading list.”

  Julianna gave Chester a sideways expression full of disbelief. “I took you as more of a science fiction reader.”

  Chester pointed at Marilla without looking at her. “That’s all Marilla. She’s read everything of Asimov’s.”

  “Your mind is blown, isn’t it, Jules?” Eddie asked.

  She shook her head. “I’ll admit, you two are breaking stereotypes.”

  “When it comes to films, we are more predictable,” Chester admitted. “I prefer action, and Mar watches mostly foreign films.”

  Julianna’s brow wrinkled. “We’re in space, crossing between solar systems on a regular basis. What exactly is considered ‘foreign’?”

  “Stuff with subtitles,” Chester said, like this should have been obvious. He bolted forward in his seat, typing on a keyboard. “But you came to learn about evil terrorists, not to discuss the post-classic era crossover of noir into science fiction.”

  “You didn’t make a lot of friends in school, did you?” Eddie asked Chester lightly.

  “Not a single one,” the hacker said with a laugh before hitting a final key, his bright eyes darting to the largest monitor. An aerial image of a giant compound guarded by a tall fence illuminated the screen. “I present to you the Nihilist compound, also affectionately nicknamed by its leaders as ‘the Jungle’.”

  Julianna rolled her eyes. “My disdain is growing for this group. A bunch of guerillas, hanging out in ‘the jungle’.”

  Chester fired a finger gun at her. “Bingo, Commander.”

  “How did you find all this out?” Eddie asked.

  “I established contact by selling them a bunch of nukes,” he answered.

  “Which they will be expecting,” Julianna guessed.

  “Yes,” he confirmed. “Once I established contact, I was able to hack into their network and learn that they plan on bombing Onyx Station in two days.”

  “Over my dead body,” Eddie argued.

  “Which is why I set up for the nuke exchange to happen the day before,” Chester countered triumphantly.

  Eddie beamed, his eyes buzzing with excitement. “Great! So Jules and I take them their supposed nuke, instead giving them a rude awakening. I like it.”

  “That would have worked, but the leader, Conway, wouldn’t go for a delivery. There’s a rendezvous spot where they’ll pick up the nuke. They’ll transfer half the funds for the weapon when I deliver it, and the other half once they have it securely back at the Jungle.”

  “Then scrap all this,” Julianna stated. “We’ll invade the headquarters and be done with it.”

  Chester’s eyes narrowed, a skeptical expression on his face. “That would be a good solution, except that the Nihilists have much better weapons than you do. It would be like storming one of the Federation’s strongholds. You might be enhanced, but you can still get shot in the head.”

  “So what are you proposing?” Eddie asked.

  “I looked the plan over with Hatch, and we both agreed this was the best option.” Chester typed several commands on his keyboard, bringing up an image of a fifty-five-ton missile. “I’m going to deliver them this.”

  Marilla’s chin whipped up, her eyes wide. The crazy scheme had made it through her selective hearing.

  “You?” Eddie asked. “Why would you deliver the weapon? Why not us?”

  Chester let out an exaggerated sigh. “Because then you can’t be hiding inside the missile.”

  “Uhhh…riiiiiiight,” Eddie said, drawing out the word.

&nbs
p; “We have an intercontinental ballistic missile sitting around for us to deliver?” Julianna asked.

  “Hatch says that if he skips lunch, we will,” Chester stated.

  “And we’re going to hide in this missile?” Eddie asked.

  “Think about it,” Chester implored. “You could infiltrate the compound and most likely get caught—I’ve done searches on the security protocols for the Jungle, and breaking in there isn’t easy. Or I can sell them a fake nuke, you could stow away inside it, and once you’re behind the gates, make your move.”

  “What’s the catch?” Julianna asked, immediately skeptical.

  “Right, you caught me,” he admitted. “Since testing the weapon is impossible in the field, Conway is going to have his scientists evaluate the nuke once it is transferred. So you have a tiny, miniscule window to get out of the nuke and take control of the compound before they find you.”

  Eddie gave Julianna a measured look. “It would be much better to be in place and ready to kick ass than to have the door opened on us.”

  “Is there room for Fletcher’s team inside the missile shell?” Julianna asked, pointing to the screen. The missile was loaded on an eighteen-wheeled vehicle, comprising most of its trailer.

  “And then some,” Chester sang.

  “And you’re delivering the weapon?” Marilla asked, apprehension dripping in her tone.

  Chester’s eyes fell, the light in them dimming slightly. “The only way I could make the deal with Conway was over a video conference. He insisted I be a part of the exchange, since he knows what I look like. If I don’t show up, he’s going to be immediately suspicious.”

  “What if we hadn’t gone for your idea?” Eddie asked.

  He huffed. “It’s kind of a brilliant plan. I knew you’d like it.”

  “We didn’t ask for you to strategize our access into the Jungle, though,” Julianna said, unable to keep the disapproval out of her voice.

  “No, I realize I overstepped my bounds,” Chester stated. “But when I was told to track down the compound, one thing led to another. You still have to figure out the strategy once you spill out of that missile, so…good luck with that.”