[An Unwelcome Guest]
[3590585543-00001-03]
[1]
[Scrio]
[Network Archon Striga-600 AI-Neuralet]
[D2-45 Eren]
[Ezekiel Ratakana]
[FTL 3862|05|(3)26|14-05-45]
[The Rapture| Network Space]
[Unidentifiable Energy Residue-Integrity Uncompromised]
I am the Intangenism D2C-45B21 Eren, but you know me simply as Eren. I reside within the AI-Neuralet of Ezekiel Ratakana, supporting him in his endeavors as he protects me from the dangers of my world. This recording is not an official part of Ezekiel’s story, but one I make in secret for the sake of Ezekiel and the future.
Brefalac’s Mana circle did something to us that I cannot explain. It rendered us both unconscious without damaging our vital functions in any noticeable way. I dreamed of my soul being torn in half and separated and when I awoke I found something that should not be here: a third consciousness.
She calls herself Rena. I know not how she came to be here nor what her purpose is (I suspect the circle is responsible but I have yet to find proof), but she cannot be trusted. She claims to be a prototype AI seeking refuge, and that she plans to apologize for sneaking into this Neuralet once Ezekiel has awoken. There are no records of such technology anywhere. This is my first suspicion.
When questioned how her presence is possible she explained that her constructor -whom she failed to name- intended her to exist as a second Intangent within a Neuralet, something that should be impossible. She could not give me her full name either on account of a memory packet loss during a battle with a wandering Q-virus. This virus forced her to hide within the space created by one of Brefalac’s machines, and then, when we arrived, she backdoored into this Neuralet to survive. I did a scan of Gremle’s I-space when we arrived. The A-space was too thin to support any substantial viruses and there was no collective V or C-space to speak of. Though weaker, this stands as a second suspicion.
I have done my best to seem welcoming to Rena. She presents a huge danger to both Ezekiel and myself as she is capable of integrating with his mind the same way I am and performing the same functions. But I have no way of knowing if she is bound by the same restrictions. I have used this time to search her for any detailed information to shed light on the truth, but she is both uncooperative and difficult to probe, repeatedly bringing up a feeling of discomfort after her run-in with the virus. A third suspicion.
For now, my only way to learn more is to breach her defenses and scrutinize her non-consensually, but she would certainly take it poorly, and making an enemy of her before it is absolutely necessary would be suicide.
I wish I could be more delighted to have her here, as I am sure Ezekiel will be. If her story is true then her existence could significantly propel our species forward in our evolution, but there are too many suspicious factors surrounding the circumstances of her arrival. For now, I must await Ezekiel’s awakening and attempt to help him in dealing with her properly.
[Catching the Star Shuttle]
[3590585543-00001-04]
[1]
[Scrio]
[Network Archon Striga-600 AI-Neuralet]
[D2-45 Eren]
[Ezekiel Ratakana]
[FTL 3862|05|(3)27|09-15-10]
[The Rapture| Network-Circle Border]
[Unidentifiable Energy Residue-Integrity Uncompromised]
Hello again! It is I, Ezekiel Ratakana, back aboard the Rapture after a successful venture onto Gremle, the ancient home of Brefalac the Lich King where I discovered one of his long-hidden workshops and uncovered the secret behind one of his final experiments.
Say hello to Rena. ‘Hi! My name is Rena. It’s so nice to meet you!’ Rena is a prototype Cyber-entity that we found hiding among Breflac’s machinery. She is uniquely capable of co-inhabiting an AI-Neuralet alongside another of her kind. Normally this is impossible as nueralets have the space for only one true Cyber-entity, but I suspect that Brefalac developed Rena within his workshop to assist him with his other projects. Whatever else he was, the man was truly a genius.
I’ve just finished questioning Rena and it appears the poor thing was beset by one of the deadly viruses that roam A/V-Space and was forced into hiding inside the meager protections of one of Brefalac’s machines after his disappearance. There she waited, hoping someone would arrive to save her before the machine failed. I, for one, am delighted that we arrived in time to save her. Her existence will truly change the face of Neuralets, cyber entities, and A/V/C-space.
‘So, Rena,’ I begin, ‘tell the readers a little about yourself’
‘You got it, Izy,’ Rena responds in an upbeat bouncing voice, ‘Like I’ve said, dear readers, my name is Rena and it’s so nice to meet you. I am a prototype AI made by Brefalac with the specific purpose of cohabiting a Neuralet. But I was attacked by Q-Virus. It nearly killed me and I don’t remember much thanks to that. Sorry. But I’ll do my best to assist Izy and make this the best story it can be!’
‘I’m sorry that happened to you, Rena. Did the virus do any other harm?’
‘Not really. No serious malfunctions other than my memory.’
‘Wonderful! Tell me, what was Brefalac like?’
‘Brefalac,’ Rena begins making a small humming noise as she thinks. Taking this moment of pause, another voice speaks up.
‘EZ,’ Eren says, ‘Capta-’
‘Oh,’ Rena breaks in over her, ‘The captain is here!’
‘Thank you, Rena,’ I say, ‘Eren, did you have something?’
Surprisingly, Eren makes a noise like a small growl, ‘Captain Harlow is here to see you.’
‘Oh. Thank you, Eren.’
Before I can say more the door alert rings. “Enter,” I say, and the door slides open to reveal Captain Harlow standing as tall and proud as ever. It has apparently been a few days since we left Gremle and he is back in his bridge attire.
“Mr. Ratakana,” Harlow says before stepping into the room, “May I sit?” I gesture to the chair across from me. “Thank you,” he says, taking it, “How are you feeling?”
“Most excellent, captain,” I say, beaming, “We found Brefalac’s workshop. That in itself was a discovery not many can claim, and I retrieved a relic of my own from it. Though, I would have liked to explore it more thoroughly.” ‘Eren, please have some tea prepared for us.’
“You might’ve died, you know. That circle shut your systems clean off, cyber included.” Harlow says as he retrieves a small case from his coat, “You might consider thinking about something besides adventuring for just a moment, just to get the spring unwound.” He pauses to toss a small white cube in his mouth out of the case, “But you’ll be happy to learn the crew did consider that and after evacuating you to the Rapture they made recordings of the workshop and all its contents.”
My face lights up even more, “That’s wonderful captain! Thank you!”
Harlow nods, “Congratulations, Mr. Ratakana, you’ve won the crew’s favor. That workshop was full to the brim of relics that should fetch a pretty penny—especially those hard prints. Nearly every one of them is a king’s bounty all its own. You should visit the crew and thank them in person, show them that you aren’t too damaged.”
The tea arrives and the two of us take a moment to discuss what the captain had found on Gremle (not much, unfortunately: An old treasury that had already been hastily looted) and the Rapture’s current destination. The captain tells me our next stop is the nearest Circle Market Planet where the crew will drop most of the cargo. If I wish to study the haul in any way, now is the time. As a key contributor to its recovery, I am also entitled to a share -as approved by the crew- and if I haven’t retrieved it before the relics are sold I will be transferred a sum of the profit. After that, the Rapture will have fulfilled its obligation to me and we will part ways.
“One last thing before I go.” Harlow places his empty tea cup on the table, “Mr. Ratakana, the crew wishes me to express a desire for you to continue with the Rapture, as a fellow.”
“Oh…really?”
“You need not answer right away. Feel free to think on it until we arrive on Ram-arow,” and before I can say another word, he is out the door. I sit in silence for a while after he leaves, looking at the door. I’d never considered joining a crew before and the offer came as quite a surprise
‘Izy, that’s great!’ Rena chimes, ‘You made some friends!’
‘Rena, hush,’ chimes Eren, ‘EZ needs to think.’
‘Oh,’ Rena squeaks and then giggles, ‘sorry.’
[2]
[Scrio]
[Network Archon Striga-600 AI-Neuralet]
[D2-45 Eren]
[Ezekiel Ratakana]
[FTL 3862|06|(2)11|12-70-05]
[Ram-arow| Helicrys, City of Golden Grass]
[Unidentifiable Energy Residue-Integrity Uncompromised]
Ezekiel Ratakana here. Come, join me for another beautiful sunrise. It has been three megacycles since my last recording. Three megs of empty black space and tight metal corridors; of cleaning floors and pouring through barely comprehensible tomes; and three megs of getting to know my newest cyber companion.
I did as the captain advised in our conversation and visited the crew. They roared elation at my arrival and invited me to share a celebratory drink with them. I accepted, the first few times. It was the least I could do, and it was something to celebrate, but I always left quickly, wanting very much to scour the haul, especially the hard prints, the personal collection of Brefalac the Lich King. Just for that, they might warrant a detour to the Archive to deliver them personally to Lucan the Keeper.
It wouldn’t fit well into this journey, though. I’ve been to the Archive many times before, and you, dear reader, have likely been there at least once to get your hands on this very recording. It is a difficult decision.
But that’s about it. Nothing else worth speaking of. It was just a bunch of boring stuff you wouldn’t want to hear about.
Instead, turn your attention to this: Helicrys, City of Golden Grass. I’ve found a high spot so I can describe to you the view as the starlight first shines on the city today. Hopefully, I do it justice and perhaps even encourage someone to take a shuttle trip to Ram-arow so they can see it for themselves.
Here. It’s time. The star rises on the city, shedding its bright rays across the landscape… It- It…
‘It’s breathtaking,’ Rena murmurs into my sudden silence.
‘Yes, breathtaking,’ sprawling out before and behind me rests a field of grass and hills dotted with small buildings. As Daelar creeps its way over the horizon a wave of pure white light sweeps across the land toward me, promising something spectacular. And it delivers. The wave hits the edge of the field and all at once the grass flares to life. Instantly a golden inferno engulfs it. I am lost in a sea of golden waves rippling in the wind beneath my feet.
My knees buckle from the sight. I drop into a seat on the ground, staring, trying to catch my breath. I did not need a reminder of why it is I go on adventures, but if I ever did, this would do the trick. ‘Eren,’ I manage to say, ‘Intercept this memory on all receptors and save it.’
‘Of course, EZ,’ Eren chimes, I can hear the smile in her voice, ‘say the word when you are ready.’
I continue staring for a long moment. It is difficult to look away. Finally, ‘Now,’ not another moment passes and the world drops away leaving me in complete darkness. I can no longer feel the warmth of the rising sun on my face, taste the wind blowing through the grass, or even hear my own breathing.
I sit in this void for a minute or two, waiting, counting out the micros in my head. ‘That’s enough.’ And all at once I return to my body sitting above the golden waves. ‘Thank you, Eren.’
‘Of course, EZ. The recording is at one hundred percent integrity.’
‘Perfect,’ I can’t help but smile. I can revisit this moment at any time from anywhere as if I were actually here again.
Captain Harlow would appreciate this view. Shall I send him a copy, EZ?’
‘Yes, please do. I think that would make a fine parting gift. Thank you, Eren. Rena.’
‘What’s up, Izy?’
‘While she does that can you please contact the Tradekeeper embassy here and begin registering us as passengers for the Star Shuttle?’
‘On it, boss.’
I sit for a while longer to appreciate the view. Soon, a blue flash and then a shadow pass over the field fully blocking the starlight. My eyes pull upward as the inferno dies and I see my second glorious sight for the day. A ship, colossal beyond words, passes over the star in the sky, blocking it out like an artificial eclipse while all around it, blue flares spread from its outline and fizzle into nothing. The Xin-gal, one of six colony-class star shuttles that run the quantum rails between the capital planets of this galaxy. It must have only just arrived in orbit.
‘Oh~’ Rena chimes at the spectacle, ‘Are we boarding that?’
‘Afraid not, Rena,’ I say, ‘The Xin-gal is too large for the rail we need. It will remain here for a supercycle while it shuffles passengers, crew, and cargo. During that time, it will dispatch and receive smaller shuttles along the smaller rails, one of which will head directly toward the Archive at the center of the galaxy. That will be the one we board.’
[End Chapter]
