>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.*: "Just when you thought it was safe to dream."
Date: 1 Aug 91 14:25:43 GMT
[WARNING! Follow-ups set to /dev/null. If you want to make a follow-up post
edit the news.groups line! I'm doing this to keep any followup discussions
in the proper newsgroups.]
*knock* *knock* *knock*
"Delivery!"
In two seperate bars, a UPS delivery operator enters the room. In the Chat'
eyes jaded or 'chromed watch the newcomer suspiciously, niether giving nor
taking any quarter. Seemingly oblivious to the patrons, the robotic delivery
Track trundles through the augmented patrons and stops at the bar.
"Delivery for the patrons of Chatsubo!" states a synthesized
voice.
"I'll take that." says Ratz.
"Sign here please." responds the Track, indicating a line
on a piece of paper held by a battered clip-board.
His arm making a small whirring sound, Ratz does so.
"Thank you sir. Have a nice day." finishes the unit, which
promptly turns and trundles back out the door.
At the bar, Ratz looks at the package suspiciously. It's been a
long time since anyone's sent a package to the bar. It could be
anything. A bomb even.
"Let me see that." says one augmented patron. Ratz hands the package
over. The patron holds it up to one mirrored 'eye', then pronounces
the package clean. "It's just a memchip." she says. Ratz removes the
covering from the memchip, and places it into a holo-player. Instantly
a small scene appears above the bar-top and begins to play...
----------------
In Callahans, the UPS delivery operator carries the heavy box to the bar.
"Delivery for the patrons of Callahans!" states a synthesized
voice.
"I'll take that." says Mike.
"Sign here please." responds the operator, indicating a line
on a piece of paper held by a battered clip-board.
With a flourish, Mike makes his mark.
"Thank you sir. Have a nice day." says the operator, who then
promptly leaves.
"What's that?" asks one of the patrons.
"Don't know." says Mike. "I'm not expecting any packages."
"Well open it and see what it says!" says another patron.
Shrugging once, Mike opens the heavy box and reveals the unbound
manuscript inside. "Anyone want to read this?" he asks. "Sure, I'll
read it." says a patron.
Callahans quiets down as the patrons settles in for a little story-
time.
###########################################################################
TITLE: "Nightmares, Goblins, Demons, and ARES"
SUBITLE: "Just when you thought it was safe to dream."
ISSUE: Introduction to volume 8 of the on-going saga of Unity.*
CREDITS:
Unity.*, Nicarra, T'kee the Cat-Centaur, Liralen, Jilara all appear courtesy
of their respective RL personas. Use only with *their* permission!
"Henry Tyrel III" and "United and Universal Technologies" belong to
Tim Kuehn. Use only with prior permission please.
Kudos to Nicarra (Lynn Alford) who wrote parts of the story and helped
edit the rest.
SEMI-IMPORTANT NOTE:
Since ascii terminals have no way of transmitting italics, all text inside
of "[]"s will have to serve for now.
CROSS-POST:
alt.callahans, alt.prose, alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
FOLLOW-UPS:
/dev/null [In other words, if you want to followup this post, make sure
you edit the newsgroups line so it has a legal group!!!]
WHO IS THIS CHARACTER?
For those who have not seen the prior entries in the ongoing "The
Entity/Unity.*" saga, he's a character who always seems to get into
trouble of one kind or another, usually through no fault of his own.
He's sorta an example of what can happen if Murphy's Law is repeatedly
applied to one person.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST ISSUE:
While in alt.callahans, Unity's DAR/BTR and emotional repressor mechanisms
both failed at the same time, and the entire bar was treated to the sight
of one of his fantasies on the loose. After some rather choice moments, the
object of Unity.*'s fantasy (Nicarra) and he join forces to go after a
sales-slime who sold Unity the DAR to exact their pound of flesh and blood.
OTHER: Apologies in advance if I offend anybody.
STORY:
###########################################################################
[At the end of "Never Underestimate the Power of Forgiveness"...]
"All ready now." he says. "We'll have to take this to a rather
seamy place called 'Chatsubo' since what I have in mind has
no place around a bar like Callahans."
"I've heard of the place," says Nicarra, "It's..." she searches
for the right word, "different."
"I don't think I'd be so generous." responds Unity, "But no
matter, let's be off!"
Nicarra offers Unity advice on riding a dragon and waits until he is on
and settled before getting on herself. Poldrith waits until both her riders
are set and prepares to go *between*. Just before they leave, Unity.holo-
sign-maker points a finger towards the fireplace, and as the dragon makes
her jump *between* a large holosign appears over the chalk line -
****************************************************
*** NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS ***
****************************************************
The sharp sound of glass breaking fills the bar, then slowly fades away...
Liralen and Jilara watch the pair depart, then exchange glances -
"Did he say 'Chatsubo'?" asks Liralen.
"That's what I heard." says Jilara.
"I was afraid of that." says Liralen, a thoughtful look
on her face...
###########################################################################
Thus ended Part 7 of the ongoing adventures of The Entity/Unity.* entitled
"Never Underestimate the Power of Forgiveness."
Here begins the first issue of Part 8 entitled "Nightmares, Goblins,
Demons, and ARES - Just when you thought it was safe to dream."
###########################################################################
Cold.
Incredible cold.
An almost physical, sentient presence.
The cold of *between*.
It'd been a while since Unity the Entity'd felt the intense cold of
*between*. When he'd had a working DAR he could press a button and be where
he wanted without having to endure that aspect of between. However, sucessive
failures of two DARs and his emotional repressor mechanisms recently left
him exposed with no way to indpendently navigate *between*'s mysterious
realms. The memory of recent events causes an involuntary shiver to pass
through him.
And then Nicarra's offer to give him a lift out of Callahans into the Chat'.
Part of his mind rebelled at the thought. The very concept of what had just
happened - embarrassing a relative stranger, being forgiven, and then they
come along to help resolve the root cause of the whole problem - that was
something that only happened to other people. The possibility that it could
happen to him - and with a beautiful woman besides - just did not fit his
perceptions of the universe.
However... that *was* Nicarra he was holding onto in front of him - and
the dragon he was riding on certainly was alive - and that bone-chilling
cold of *between* <*** brrrr ***> there was *no* way to deny that. It
*must* be happening. It *is* real. Even if his mind somehow couldn't accept
that fact. Unity shook his head once, trying to dislodge the thought from
his mind.
And irrespective of the conceptual problem that posed, there were other
facts to look out for. Facts Unity'd learned long ago and had become almost
an almost living part of him. Facts you ignored at your own peril - one
being that dragons had never been sighted anywhere near the Chat' before.
Were one to show up unexpectedly the patron's first instinctive reaction
would be quite swift.
And very, very deadly.
That thought jerked him out of his lethargic, disbelieving musings. Leaning
forward, he tried to say something in Nicarra's ear, but remembered that
vocal communication was impossible while *between*. Switching to telepathy,
he tries to communicate with Poldrith directly -
<<Poldrith!>> thought Unity
<<Yes?>>
<<Tell Nicarra we can't go directly to the 'Chat. I've got an
alternate location for you to land while we figure out what
to do next.>>
<<Done>> responds Poldrith.
--------------------------------------------------
Back in Callahans, a brief silence falls over the bar as the implications
of what's just happened sink into the patrons. Unity and Nicarra going off
into one of the most dangerous places in Use.Net on their own - the very
mention sends chills down the spines of some of the patrons.
As the implication of Unity and Nicarra's actions sink in, Jilara asks
Liralen -
"Do you think they're getting in over their heads?"
Lirlen gives Jilara a long thoughtful look as if weighing the possibilities.
Finally she responds -
"I just don't know."
T'kee's massive form pads across the bar, taut feline muscles rippling under
shiny, well-groomed fur. Looking at the empty space recently vacated by
Unity, Nicarra, and Poldrith by Table B52, she asks -
"Do you think they'll need help?"
Liralen gives T'kee a thoughtful look - one that relives memories of battles
fought, wars waged, and the seeming futility common to never-ending conflicts
of forces that could cause utter destruction before you even knew they were
there. Looking away suddenly as if to escape it all, she finally responds -
"Probably."
--------------------------------------------------
Henry Tyrel III had just finished a gruelling day at the office. As senior
salesrep for United and Universal Technologies, he'd just heard a rumor that
their parent company had some shady ties to the ubiquitous ARES
Macrotechnology Corp. The very thought of having anything to do with ARES
made Henry feel more than a little ill at ease.
At least he didn't have to worry about having to deal with ARES directly
since his prime area of responsibility was selling DARs - a safe and
reasonably mature technology.
Well, most DARs were mature. Henry smiled as he remembered one customer
not too long ago who'd purchased an HP DAR and didn't even bother trying
to haggle the price down! Henry shook his head at the thought - not
haggling over a deal was almost foreign to his nature, but if the
customer *wanted* to pay more, it wasn't any skin off his nose. Then
again, the story the customer'd told and his experience with a generic
ACME DAR he had been using would make anyone think twice about cross-
newsgroup activities.
It had been a long day. Henry was looking forward to getting home and
some much-needed peace and quiet.
--------------------------------------------------
<<Land at these co-ordinates>> thinks Unity to Poldrith.
A moment later, Poldrith delivers her cargo to a large, grassy plain,
totally empty except for a rusting hulk in the distance that pays silent
tribute to a battle long forgotten between forces barely remembered.
It was night-time and light from the half-moon softly reflecting off
Poldrith's golden hide, making her glow like the moon itself. The
moonlight barely reflects off Nicarra's forest green dragon rider's
outfit, and drowns completely in Unity's pitch black non-reflective
covering.
"This is one of the few places in this newsgroup that's peaceful
and quiet." says Unity to Nicarra. "It also means this is one of
the few place I can tell you some other things you'll need to
know about this reality before we go on."
Unity, a bottomless black shadow, sinks towards the ground before facing
Poldrith and Nicarra, and starts to tell the duo about the 'Chat and ARES.
"ARES is a large multi-national, maybe even transplanetary
corporation who's got their fingers into just about everything.
Genetic engineering, robotics, cybernetics, various forms of
AI, military hardware, rent-a-government, and holocommunications
just to name a few."
"They also have a reputation for being one of the scummiest
companies on the face of this earth. Morals, ethics, loyalty -
anything that gets in the way of bottom line and making it as
large as possible gets jettisoned, no matter what the
consequences."
An obviously bitter Unity picks a piece of the prairie grass and chews
on it.
"I know this from personal experience. I used to work for them -
in charge of 'The Matrix' as some called it - their huge computer
network. I did security - basically making sure everything was
locked up tight and keeping out hackers trying to steal company
information. It was a living, one I enjoyed and became quite good
at. Some even said I was one of their best. One fellow netter even
gave me a nickname - they called me 'The Bug.' And it stuck."
Unity laughs once resignedly.
"But that didn't stop them from giving me the axe after I caught
one exec's son right after he wiped the life-support Kernel to a
large medical research project. When I turned him over to the
government instead of letting it slide they even had the gall
to try and pin the two deaths that resulted from that punks'
meddling on me."
Unity looks up at the moon overhead, it's white glow casting dark shadows
across his face. After a moment he looks back Nicarra and Poldrith -
"Do you know what it means to be blacklisted? It's supposed to be
illegal, but that doesn't stop it from happening."
Unity pauses a moment, then continues -
"But I got the last laugh. I had put some holes in The Matrix
to allow me to pass unchallenged by the various security systems
so I could navigate The Matrix without having to worry about
authorization checks when I was chasing hacker attacks. When I
was fired, " Unity pauses dramatically, "those holes were still
there."
"But that's not the best part." continues Unity, "I have since
found a way to make the standard holophone mildly psionic."
A broad grin flashes across Unity's face, then quickly disappears.
"Not much mind you, but enough to give holophone projections a
tactile sensation to them - they look and feel as almost real
as you or I. Do you have any *idea* what you can do with
something like this?"
Unity chuckles once, remembering.
"I accessed that exec's personnel file and got a 3D patterning of
him. After shuffling around through his files I saw that he had
a very important presentation to make at a virtual-meeting with all
the senior ARES VP's, *and* the president of ARES himself."
A smirk flits across Unity's face. He goes on -
"The presentation was supposed to be the exec's ticket to a VP's
office. But as the exec made his presentation I did some fiddling
with the index finger of his right hand. Right when the President
was concentrating on the exec's presentation the most, I had the
exec's finger flip him the bird. Needless to say, the exec didn't
get the promotion, but was instead transferred to a 'Special
Operations' post at an Arctic research project. He got back a
few years later, but then other equally 'strange' things started
happening. He started having nightmares - marauding cyberwarriors
attacking him and mauling his body, throwing him over cliffs,
drawing and quartering him, things like that. And each time,
right when he would've died in the dream he wakes up and the
image is gone."
"The first time he just thought it was a bad dream. The second
time a co-incidence. But after a while he became petrified of
going to sleep. I think he was finally 'diagnosed' as paranoid
schitzophrenic. I don't think they'll ever let him out of the
funny farm. Each time they try to things keep 'happening.'" says
Unity.
"It's wild what you can do with holograms and just a touch of
psionics. Reality as the world knows it can seemingly be bent
at will." Unity finishes.
"Anyway, that's what we may be up against. It's also some of the
tools we have at our disposal. So, if you want out, now's the time
to say so."
Unity looks over at Nicarra and Poldrith, waiting for their answer.
--------------------------------------------------
"Ohhhh" thought Henry as he sank deeper into the massage chair's gently
vibrating clutches, "this is *much* better." The Massachair quietly
purred away, gently easing sore muscles. Henry's eyes soon closed and
his breathing slowed as he fell away into the depths of sleep.
--------------------------------------------------
"Poldrith, you are going back to Callahans!" Nicarra orders sternly.
<<But WHY?>> thinks the distressed gold dragon.
"For several reasons. The first is that you are still young. You
continue your thread fighting training with Berith. Secondly, you
are a large and relatively vulnerable target. And from what Unity
has told us, the possibility of you being seriously injured in combat
more than offsets your ability to go *between* here." replies Nicarra.
<<I really would prefer to stay and help.>> pleads the young queen.
Nicarra gives her dragon a hug.
"You really would be better off out of this action. You can still
be helpful. We might need a quick lift out, and then I'll call
you. Everyone should have an emergency back-up plan and you will
be ours."
Nicarra applys some gentle but firm mental pressure to Poldrith. The queen
sighs once and winks out. Once the young dragon is gone, Nicarra explains
her reasoning for sending Poldrith back:
"One disadvantage of having a Pernese dragon is if I'm seriously
wounded, she might go berserk. Not something you'd like to deal
with if things are getting rough."
"An out-of-control dragon in the middle of combat. Not a pretty
picture." agrees Unity.
"And if she was wounded enough to go *between* permanently, then
I would probably be out of it too. Far better not to have her
with us now." finishes Nicarra.
Unity gets a thoughtful look on his face.
"Poldrith may come in useful later on - I have a few ideas she can
safely do that'll be very effective in our quest. Anyway, I have
a little hole in the ground near here where we can start our work."
Unity turns, and in response part of the rusting hulk in the meadow
opens up to reveal a doorway with soft light glowing within.
"It's a base I had built some time ago when I wanted to be able
to keep in touch with what was going on in the world while I
was out 'roughing it.' It's been years since I've been here. I
hope it's all still working properly."
When the pair arrive at the door Unity gets a good deal more cautious.
Turning to Nicarra he says -
"This hallway is loaded with traps and sensors. Be careful not to
touch *anything*, not the walls, nor the ceiling. Stay behind me
at all times. This thing has defensive capabilities that could
turn you to cinders in under a second."
Nicarra nods once.
"I understand. I will be careful."
Assured that Nicarra understood what he said, Unity turns for the doorway
and begins the descent.
-------------------------------------------------------
When a rather disappointed Poldrith arrives back at Callahans she's
immediately peppered with questions from nearby patrons -
"Are they ok?"
"What did you see?"
"Why are you back here?"
Patiently Poldrith addresses the questions as best she can. To the last
question all she can communicate is a melencholy
<< My rider says I'm still too young and that it'd be too
dangerous for me to stay there with them. However, I'm
supposed to be their emergency backup.>>
Poldrith cocks her head and 'listens' for her rider.
<<They are safe for the time being. Nicarra is just entering
Unity's hiding place somehere. I wish I was still with them
though.>>
The young queen sighs once and lays her head on the floor.
-------------------------------------------------------
As they steps down a long staircase the air gets progressively cooler deeper
into the earth. Eventually the stairs turn into a short hallway, the end of
which seems to be a dead-end. Unity turns and tells Nicarra "Stand here."
Once she's done so, Unity moves to the end of the hallway and says -
"Begin neural verification sequence."
A brief pause follows, then a soft voice answers -
"Level I Identification sequence complete. Please initiate Level II.
Code entry sequence Alpha Bravo Echo Echo Tango Zulu."
"Response Access code Delta X-Ray Libra Sierra." answers Unity.
Another brief pause and then -
"Level II sequence complete.
Proceed with Level III."
A wire drops down from the ceiling, which Unity attaches to his left
wrist. He turns once and smiles at Nicarra. "Almost done." he says. A
few seconds of silence follow, and then suddenly a "whuff!" is heard as
a door opens next to Nicarra, causing her to jump in surprise.
"Interesting," mummers Nicarra.
"Ok, we're safely in now, but the sensors and traps we passed
by have all been re-armed. It's safe to go into the room now,
but do NOT leave it without me. Is that understood?" states
Unity.security.
Nicarra gets a pained look.
"I *do* get the picture. This place is surrounded by various
sorts of protections, and, by myself, I am likely to hit one.
So I will stick with you and you are stuck with me. I'm not
likely to *want* to roam around here until I know more about
the place anyway. "
Unity's taken aback a little by her response. He pauses a moment, then
responds -
"You must forgive me for speaking so, I don't mean it the way
I probably sound. It's just that with what's already happened so
far, I don't want to have to deal with a crispy-fried Nicarra in
addition to everything else that's happened already. I'll show
you what I mean."
So saying, Unity pulls a metallic object from his pocket and tosses it
into the staircase he and Nicarra'd just come down. Instantly it explodes
in a shower of molten metal and a brief, blinding flash of light.
"That was a titanium alloy ring I carry around to keep my
hands occupied when I'm thinking." says Unity almost as an
afterthought. "A human body would only last a little longer -
mostly because of it's greater mass. An augmented cybernetic
body a little longer still, but not much." he finishes.
Nicarra, surprised at the intensity of the display, nods once. She then
looks through the open door and sees a moderately sized nondescript room
with a control panels of various unknown purposes. A few doors leading out
of the room can also be seen, but they're all closed.
Unity steps in purposefully and makes a swift inspection trip around the
room.
"Yo, LISA!" says Unity.
"Lisa?" queries Nicarra, "You mean we're not alone here?"
"Oh - forgot to tell you, LISA's an AI I have here. 'She' runs
things for me - general secretary, gofer, and all around right
hand. Got a pretty sharp wit though - you'd better watch out."
Unity finishes with a smile.
A metallic female voice interrupts them both -
"Unity, Entity, Bug, or whatever name you go by now, WHERE HAVE
YOU BEEN?" says the obviously miffed LISA.
"LISA! Darling! You knew I'd be back!" says Unity.we've-been-
through-this-before.
"Maybe so, but it seems like YEARS since you've last been here.
And me all by myself with nobody to talk to! Why I have half a
mind to...if I hadn't gotten the most interesting sensor report
a little bit ago. A dragon landed near here! Can you believe it?
What'll those ARES genetic engineers think of next? It just
appeared out of nowhere, then disappeared a few seconds later.
I had barely enough time to do a bio-spectral analysis scan before
it vanished. I'd give my eyeteeth for a really good look at that
animal." enthuses LISA.
"And how, exactly, would you take a really good look at it? The
dragon is not going to lie down while you take her to pieces, I can
promise you that," says Nicarra wryly.
Unity turns to Nicarra - "If Poldrith'd stayed around for a few
minutes longer, LISA could've finished running a complete scan
and Poldrith wouldn't have felt a thing. Matter of fact, the
time we spent there should've been more than long enough to get
a full workup. I think someone's getting slow in her old age."
LISA interrupts "SLOW? OLD AGE?!? Who's the one that replaced my
flash-analysis capability with a slower NMR unit because it was
'too expensive'?" says the irate AI. "Cheap cheap cheap. Always
the same thing. You want fast kiddo, gimme my flash-analyzer back
and I'll show you fast!"
Unity.it's-all-just-a-game responds "Yeah, right LISA, and your
mother was late to the doctor and you had to take time off to
help her I'll bet."
"Why, you! I never!" splutters LISA.
Ignoring the temporarily speechless AI, Unity turns to Nicarra
and continues - "In the 'old' days LISA had the capability to
flash-analyze bio-organisms, a very necessary capability when
cyber-augmented adversaries come calling. I haven't had any
'surprise guests' here for some time, so I moved the FA unit
somewhere else and replaced LISA's scanner with a remote NMR
unit. It can do the same thing, but it's 1/10th the speed. If
LISA still had her flash-analyzer, she could produce a full
report on Poldrith's offensive and defensive capabilities,
along with a whole slew of other information within 60 seconds
of her appearance."
About this time LISA recovers her voice "Where's your manners
Unity? Aren't you even going to introduce me?" the AI says.
Unity rolls his eyes. Nicarra grins.
"LISA," says a Unity, "I'd like you to meet Nicarra, a friend I'd
met in Callahans. She's going to help me trace down a certain sales-
slime I purchased a malfunctioning DAR from. I thought it was an HP,
but it looks like the vendor swapped it for an ARES DAR/BTR instead.
It failed with, shall we say, some most interesting results. Nicarra,
meet my Lifelike Interactive Systems Adminstrator, aka L.I.S.A."
A small treaded cart scoots out from nowhere towards Nicarra, metal hand
extended.
"LISA wants to shake hands" says Unity.
"Yeah, cheapskate here won't build me a proper body so I
have to make do with what I can get my hands on." says LISA.
"LISA, you haven't GOT any hands." says Unity.
"Yes, she does! She is extending one to me right now." says
Nicarra.
"See what I mean? Cheap AND blind." says LISA
Nicarra, laughing, extends her hand to the metallic hand, which gently
closes and they shake. It then folds back into the cart, which scoots out
of sight through a hidden door in a nearby wall.
"LISA, is Project Nighthawk operational from here?" asks Unity.
"Sure is chief. Wanna make a run of it?" says LISA.
"Yep. Hook up a monitor port for Nicarra. I want to show her what
it can do." says Unity.
A door opens to a relatively clean room with a couple of comfortable chairs
and a pair of standard holophones. Unity indicates a seat, which Nicarra
takes. Unity takes the other seat, and says "Roll 'Powerdive.'"
"'Powerdive' boss?" says LISA. "You trying to
scare her her half to death like you did Terry?"
Nicarra gets a somewhat concerned look.
"LISAAA" says Unity.threatening. As an aside to Nicarra -
"Terry's another woman I showed 'Powerdive' to, but she
wasn't used to in-flight experiences. I'm sure you'll be
alright."
LISA breaks in - "Running 'Powerdive' now."
The area in front of the matched holophones shimmers, then turns into the
front end of a small personal aircraft. Suddenly the horizon jumps crazily,
and both Unity and Nicarra get the sensation of wind whipping past at a
continually increasing speed, the ground approaching in the screaming dive.
Suddenly everything tilts wildly and is replaced by clear blue sky. G-forces
push them into their seats as they zoom out of the dive and gain altitutde.
Finally the image levels off and is replaced by a distant horizon, a
patchwork pattern on the ground rising to meet it.
"End demo." says Unity.
Nicarra seems somewhat stunned by what she's seen. Unity waits a few
seconds for the full effect of the experience to settle in.
"Well, what do you think?" he asks. "You never left your seat,
but the effect was all replayed exectly. The G-forces, wind effect,
everything. And all that was was one scene I'd patterned on a whim.
I've also developed the capability to create patterns I can overlay
on physical objects in real-time, like this."
Unity's pitch-black non-reflective covering suddenly sprouts fireworks.
He stands up, walks around the room, little puffs of sparkles issuing
from the suit.
"I've never used it before now" Unity says, "but then again,
I've never had enough reason to take the risk of being
discovered."
With that the fireworks stops.
"Fascinating and fantastic. How did you acquire all this
equipment? I know, not a polite question but the holophone
set-up alone would be worth a small mint. How do you do a
'patterning' and how long does it take?" ask Nicarra.
Unity looks a little thoughtful, then his expression turns hard.
"Where or how I got the equipment from is all classified.
Suffice it to say it will serve our purposes." states Unity.
Then his expression softens a bit -
"However, regarding your question on how long it would take
to do a patterning - observe."
With that Unity reaches into a cabinet in the room, pulls out a pair of
clear frames, puts them on, then looks intently through them at Nicarra.
Satisfied with what he sees, Unity then place what looks like an old-
fashioned listening device on his ear. Looking intently at Nicarra again,
he requests -
"Stand up please."
Uncertain, but trusting, Nicarra does so.
"Now turn around once."
Slowly, a puzzled look on her face, Nicarra turns in place.
"Ok, now sit down."
Still not quite certain what it was all about, Nicarra does so.
"LISA, confirm patterning sequence."
"Confirmed. What would you like for me to do with it?"
replies LISA.
"Repeat subject movement sequence, but use the empty chair."
replies Unity.
Instantly, a second Nicarra, perfect in every detail, appears in the vacant
chair. The figure stands up, turns around once, then sits down again.
"That answer your question about 'How long'?" asks Unity.
"Indeed, it does that and more," Nicarra answers, her expression
going from awestruck to one of wonderment. "Amazing what
technologies you have here."
"LISA, have the patterned copy move the chair back 3 paces."
says Unity.
The patterned Nicarra stands up, turns around, and pushes the chair 3 steps
back from where it was standing. When "she's" completed the task, "she" sits
down again and freezes in place.
"End patterning simulation sequence." says Unity,
Instantly the chair re-appears back where it originally was, the second
Nicarra disappears, and all is back to "normal."
"Enough playing around. We have a nightmare appointment with a
certain Henry Tyrel III, the guy who sold me that DAR." says
Unity.
Unity turns and leaves the room. LISA pipes up -
"You better move quickly if you want to keep up with him
sweetheart. Once that guy gets going keeping up with him is
like racing the wind."
Nicarra, still slightly dazed from her experiences, realises that Unity
has left her behind in a potentially very dangerous place.
"Unity!" she shouts.
Unity skids to a halt, then turns around, a look of concern on his face.
"Is there something wrong? he asks.
Nicarra continues -
"Where do you think you're going? You've explained to me
already that this place is dangerous for me to wander around
by myself, and yet, there you go tearing out of this room like
a scalded cat! You aren't planning on leaving me behind at
this stage, are you?"
Getting up out of her seat, Nicarra moves quickly to rejoin Unity.
"Leave you?" asks Unity, "Not hardly. I've just got other
things pressing on my mind, and it's been a long time since
I worked with anyone else before. Sorry 'bout that."
Moving a little more slowly, Unity resumes his previous course. The taller
Nicarra easily manages to keep up this time.
-------------------------------------------------------
In Callahans, Poldrith keeps a silent mental vigil on her rider, ever
concerned for Nicarra's welfare. She feels Nicarra get awestruck, then
the general urgency as she tries to take in all the new things at once.
Some of the images Poldrith pick up confuse her - a second Nicarra?
Where'd she come from?
Quickly, Poldrith realises that the second Nicarra must be a projection
of some sort. Her mental call cannot touch this image at all, which
wouldn't be possible if it were real. Poldrith's tentative attempts to
ask the real Nicarra about the image fail to break the fascination Nicarra
has with all of the things Unity is showing her.
Poldrith's eyes slowly whirl the orange of concern, though those who
understand dragons can tell that her concern isn't urgent.
One such understanding creature is T'kee The Cat-Centaur. Padding over to
Poldrith with a feline grace, she 'sits', sphynx-like, next to the worried
dragon. With a claw she gently scratches the ridges on Poldrith's eye-ridges.
In time Poldrith visibly relaxes and T'kee purrs, a gentle rumble deep
within her that only Poldrith's enhanced empathic senses pick up on.
Together they take up the watch.
-------------------------------------------------------
In Henry's room a digital wall clock silently registered the advancing
time as darkness covered the land. The Massachair continued to purr
away dutifully, continually working at the muscles of Henry's tired
body.
Under his eyelids twin bumps of his corneas start moving rapidly. Henry
had entered REM sleep. He was about to start dreaming.
-------------------------------------------------------
Nicarra and Unity arrived in a control room of some kind, a clear-glass
panel showing into a totally empty room on the other side.
"23:30 - he should be asleep now." says Unity.
"What are you going to do?" asks Nicarra.
Unity looks up with a feral smile that sends chills down to her toes.
"Watch." he says.
Several screens spring to life around Unity, each displaying information
at a tremendous rate of speed. Nicarra stops looking after a moment,
fearful the flow of data across the screens may cause her to get dizzy.
"Having a direct neural I/O interface to my systems is a lot
better than voice commands." A brief pause, then a far-away
look crosses his face - "It's also a must-have for chasing
hackers..." Unity.former-hacker-chaser says wistfully.
"No matter." says Unity, snapping out of his revere. Turning
to the various screens around him, "Henry Tyrel III, you
cannot escape me."
Through the control-room window, Nicarra sees a small cart pulling a
cloth human dummy in, leave it on the floor, and leave. It returns a
little later to deposit a rope and can on the floor. Yet once more it
returns, this time leaving a holoscanner unit.
"Done." says Unity. "Sit here and you can see everything our
'dear friend' is dreaming about."
Nicarra sits in the indicated seat while Unity goes into the other room.
Facing the holoscanner, he waits expectantly. Nicarra turns to the display.
-------------------------------------------------------
[In Henry's holophone, a small red on-line indicator glows inside the
instrument, but otherwise no indication is given the unit is on-line.
Fields of electro-radiation spread out and cover the room, eventually
contacting the inert Henry. Unaware anything has happened, he continues
dreaming.]
Henry found himself walking in a wide, open, rolling prairie. Cool
breezes tug gently at his hair and whisper softly around his body. Taking
a deep breath, the dream-Henry savors the fresh air of the open country.
Off in the distance, a flash of light on metal catches his attention.
Curious, Henry shades his eyes with his hands and tries to get a better
look.
-------------------------
Unity.dream-master, intently watching the display above the
holoscanner, flashes the bit of metal at the scanner once more
and then drops it to the floor.
-------------------------
Henry feels inexorably drawn towards the flash. Something inside him
screams 'DANGER!', but his willpower is oddly lacking. He has no choice.
Slowly, fatefully, his feet begin to carry him in the direction of the
light.
-------------------------
Unity.dream-master opens the can and pours some of the clear liquid
on the inert dummy. Moving quickly, his eyes ever on the display
above the scanner, he attaches a rope to the ceiling and then
around the dummy's neck.
-------------------------
Henry's feet move slowly, carefully, yet inexoribly. As he gets closer to
where the light flashed, his instinct cries out "danger" all the louder,
but he is still unable to resist.
As he walks towards the unknown, a body suddenly appears in front of him,
suspended in midair by a rope around it's neck.
Henry thinks he recognizes it. But at this distance it's impossible to
tell.
His feet carry him forward. Sudden realization dawns on him - that was
HIM hanging from that rope! Henry's instincts, once screaming danger,
are now joined by a bone chilling fear. A constricting feeling seizes him
by the throat, and Henry's no longer able to breath.
-------------------------
Unity.dream-master flicked a lighter under one of the dummy's feet.
Instantly the entire form was alight and billowing smoke. Smoke
filled the room for a few moments before ventilation fans kicked
in and cleared the air.
-------------------------
Before Henry's terrified eyes, the body suddenly caught fire. Searing heat
from flames totally engulfs Henry's body. He tries to scream the pain, but
a strained gurgle is all that comes out and the pain gets worse. The body
blackens and ashes begin to fall from it, and Henry feels parts of his own
body go numb and refuse to respond, the pain all the while growing to an
almost unbearable intensity.
-------------------------
Unity.dream-master, watching the dummy carefully as it burns
in a most satisfactory manner, waits until he's satisfied
with the effect. With a whispered word to LISA, he then
terminates the program.
-------------------------
[The little red on-line indicator inside Henry's holophone goes out,
indicating it's no longer on-line.]
Frantic hands grasped the Massachair's arms, and Henry awakes with a start.
Sitting up, cold beads of sweat on his forehead, he looks around the room.
The digital clock is all that returns his gaze, impassionately reporting
that it's 23:45. After a few moments consideration Henry realizes it must
have just been a bad dream. Relaxing, he settles into the Massachairs
gentle hold for a few minutes before heaving himself out and into bed for
a real night's sleep.
-------------------------------------------------------
Unity.all-done looks at Nicarra through the window.
"Well, what do you think? Want to try your hand?" he asks. "I
expect we've got a couple of hours to go before we can try for a
second run tonight."
"Oh, yes," says Nicarra with an unpleasant smile. "I have a
really good nightmare for our least favorite salesman."
[to be continued...]
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: Here ends the introduction to volume 8 of the
ongoing adventures of The Entity/Unity.*. The "dream attack" sequence
has lots of room for other players, so if your persona would like to
come join the "fun", write a note to timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca and let
me know. Please include basic information about your persona - appearance,
temperment, special and combat abilities, along with any relevent quirks.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong. >>>Responses will be shared with the various co-authors.<<<
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT:
All materials copyright (C) 1991, Timothy D. Kuehn. All rights reserved.
Distribution permission granted to any medium, service, or archive which
does NOT charge a fee for this article, restricts redistribution, or is
placed under compilation or any other derivative form of copyright without
the prior knowledge and verifiable consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional,
or real, is entirely unintentional.
DEFINITIONS:
DAR = Dial A Reality: A device used to access the various USENET reality
groups. (See also "NewsReader", "rn", "xrn", "gnurn", "abc", "xyz"
and other associated alphabetical collections.) (See also "BTR")
BTR = Broadband Telepathic Repeater: A device used to enable non-telepaths
to communicate bi-directionally with full telepaths. Can also be
used to simultaneously transmit telepathic messages to a large
group of people or entities. (See also "DAR")
FA = Flash Analyzer: A unit which produces a near instaneous analysis of
virtually any biological or cybernetic organism.
NMR = Nuclear Magentic Resonance (Analysis Unit): An device similar to
the FA, but takes 10x the amount of time.
LISA = Lifelike Interactive Systems Administrator. Unity's remote lab
general AI assistant in alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo.
RL = Real Life
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca
-or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
MESSAGE QUOTE: "Are you *sure* you're done?"
###########################################################################
>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.*: "When Nightmares Come Calling." 01 of 02
Date: 17 Sep 91 14:14:43 GMT
Part 1 of 2 parts for this entry.
###########################################################################
TITLE: "Nightmares, Goblins, Demons, and ARES"
SUBTITLE: "When Nightmares Come Calling."
ISSUE: Part 1 of volume 8 in the ongoing Unity.* saga
CHARACTER CREDITS: The following characters appear courtesy of -
In "Real" Life Supplied Persona(s)
----------------- ---------------------------------
Lynn Alford Nicarra, Lythe, Poldrith
Phyllis Rostykus David "Johnny Innocent" Jones
Tim Kuehn Unity.* in all his different forms,
Henry Tyrel III, LISA, Reginald Wilkens,
and the company "United and Universal
Technologies"
EDITORIAL CREDITS: The following people made major contributions to
ensuring this installment was of the highest quality-
Persona In "Real" Life
--------------- -----------------------------------
Nicarra Lynn Alford
T'kee Elizabeth McCoy [recently married!]
Liralen Li Phyllis Rostykus
Aahz Himself
Unity.* Tim Kuehn
SEMI-IMPORTANT NOTE: Since ascii terminals have no way of transmitting
italics, all text inside of "[]"s will have to serve for now.
Enclosure in "*"'s is for special emphasis.
SECOND SEMI-IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the first installment of a
collaborative effort involving over 10 contributing authors.
It's taken a little while to get organized (which is why this
is over 2 weeks late for its regular monthly update), but I'm
sure the effort will pay off in future updates.
CROSS-POST: alt.callahans, alt.prose, and alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
OTHER: Apologies in advance if I offend anybody.
CLOSING COMMENT: Enjoy!
PS: For those who have not seen the prior entries in the ongoing
"The Entity/Unity.*" saga, he's a character who always seems to get
into trouble of one kind or another, usually through no fault of his
own. He's an example of what can happen if Murphy's Law is repeatedly
applied to a person. Except now he's out for revenge.
In the previous episode, Unity and Nicarra explored Unity's old lab,
then made a nightmare attack on Henry Tyrel III - VP Sales in charge
of DAR sales for United and Universal Technologies.
###########################################################################
[At the end of "Just when you thought it was safe to dream":]
Unity.all-done looked at Nicarra through the window.
"Well, what do you think? Want to try your hand?" he asked.
"Oh, yes," said Nicarra with an unpleasant smile. "I have a
really good nightmare for our least favorite salesman."
###########################################################################
Thus ended the "Just when you thought it was safe to dream", the
introduction to volume 8: "Nightmares, Demons, Goblins, and ARES."
Here begins Volume 8, part 1: "When Nightmares Come Calling"
###########################################################################
"LISA, get this mess cleaned up," said Unity.neat-and-tidy.
"Right away, boss," replied the AI. In a quiet whisper to Nicarra,
"At least this time he didn't ask me to polish the silver too."
"I heard that!" said Unity.still-playing-the-game. "Keep it up
and I'll have you examining some old core dumps I've got laying
around."
"No! Not the core dumps!" said LISA. "The last time you had
me do that half my data channels got clogged and didn't clear
for a week! You don't know what it's like to reverse-process
some of that ancient stuff! I'll even bet you keep them around
just to torture me, don't you?!"
Unity.got-the-better-of-LISA merely grinned in response. LISA, still
muttering various comments about slave drivers and taskmasters started
cleaning the simulation room. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner accompanied
by LISA's cart appeared and began work. The cart loaded the charred remains
of the cloth dummy while the cleaner sucked up the remaining ashes.
"Now that that's taken care of," said Unity, "we can get down
to business. You've had a lot of experience with VR, haven't you?"
"Naturally, not only experience in Callahans, but also in a
couple of the odd corners of VR known as MUDs. I haven't been
in any VR like the Chat, though. VR's do make certain things
possible that don't work anywhere else. It will be interesting
to learn about this VR," said Nicarra.
"Interesting. You must tell me about these other VRs sometime,"
said Unity. "Seeing how you already have a fair amount of varied
VR experience I think you can easily handle the slightly different
VR found in The Matrix. And you'll need every bit of that experience
to run that nightmare yourself, not to mention help out with some of
the future work that'll come up after this."
"Ok, what do I need to do?" asked Nicarra.
"You've asked for it now!" interjected LISA.
"Are you done cleaning that room yet?" asked Unity.parent. LISA
didn't respond. After a moment, Unity turned to Nicarra. "We'll
have to move to another room for this part."
Together they left the control room, went through another door, and entered
a room obviously equipped with medical applications in mind.
"Have a seat please," said Unity to Nicarra. He pointed to a chair
next to a table.
Nicarra sat down as Unity rummaged about various drawers in the room. When
he found what he wanted, he pulled up another chair. A color display
activated under the clear glass tabletop as Unity.explain carefully put the
small box down.
"This little box contains a small, ingestible parallel processing
unit identical to the one I use when interacting with LISA and
the rest of this lab," said Unity as he carefully opened the box
to reveal a small tablet. "The way this works is you swallow the
tablet, along with a special fluid. The tablet travels down into
the stomach and releases a bunch of microscopic processor units,
which are then absorbed into the bloodstream."
The tabletop screen graphically displayed the corresponding action as
Unity.demonstrate explained how everything worked.
"Eventually they all collect in the brain and embed themselves
in the brain's various neural pathways. Some of them will collect
together to perform the requisite transmitter and receiver
functions needed to interact with the outside world, others
memory, analysis, and logic."
"In a short period of time the unit will possess some form of
artificial sentience you can interact with. The manner you
communicate with it is probably quite similar to how you
communicate with Poldrith. The unit I have, " said Unity as
he pointed a finger at the temple of his head, "I call my
'Second Thought.'"
"Done properly, there's not much risk in the process. However,
once done, it's not reversible."
Nicarra looked carefully at the tablet. "Since such changes are
permanent, why do you have another one?" she asked.
"For upgrades," replied Unity. "Each unit adds more processing
power to the ones already implanted. By telling LISA what's desired,
the Molecuprocessor implants can be programmed for increased
processing, memory, or reflex response, all depending on what is
desired from the unit. The one I have is actually a level three
unit, which is about the highest you can go without risking some
rather strange psychotic side effects. Taking this tablet will
give you a level one unit, enough to get around the Matrix but
not enough to cause problems or ever need maitenance. In my case
I have to do periodic maintenance - or rather LISA, or one of her
kind - has to do the maintenance to make sure everything stays on
the up and up. The unit here," said Unity, indicating the tablet,
"was for just in case I ever *had* to go to a level four unit. But
you can use it instead."
Nicarra briefly looked worried. Such steps are obviously not taken lightly.
"Not much risk but not reversable. Is there much chance of
it going wild and leaving me unable to function?" Nicarra asked.
Unity shook his head.
"Not really. I selected this processor for its known reliability,"
he grimaces. "I certainly paid enough for it. It may be a newer
technology, but it is solid as a rock. After all, would you want
something that could run amuck inside of *your* head?"
Nicarra nod her head once in agreement.
"Well, then when in Rome...or should I say when in a VR? Perhaps
not, that leads to a very messy end of saying. Do as the VRans
do? Just doesn't sound the same, does it?" said Nicarra.
Unity grinned in appreciation -
"Not quite."
Nicarra grinned back.
"Well, don't wait all day. Bring me that fluid so we can get this
done. It will probably take an hour or so, since it does depend on
the bloodstream to circulate the bits around. We'll need to keep
moving, if we want to get anything more done tonight," said
Nicarra. Then she then yawned. "It has been quite a day."
Unity nodded once in response to Nicarra's assent. Leaving the tablet on
the table, he got up, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a bottle, which
he then placed on the table. Leaving the room for a moment, he returned
with a cup. LISA's cart was following behind, towing what looked
like a body-molded couch for one person.
"In order to get the best results, LISA will use this special couch
to make sure the molecuprocessors are optimally placed. The whole
process actually takes about 6 hours from ingestion to final test,"
said Unity.
Nicarra blinked as she wondered exactly what it was she is getting into.
"Since the implantation process can cause some rather strange
hallucinations before it's done, the liquid has a mild sedative
to make you sleep soundly during the whole time," said Unity as
he poured the liquid into a cup. "And as you said, it has been
quite a day and we both can use some sleep. So, if you would
kindly have a seat here, we'll begin," finished Unity.
Nicarra moved to the couch and sat on one side of it. Taking the
proffered cup and tablet, she popped the tablet in her mouth and
then gulped the fluid down after, immediately grimacing at the taste.
"Bleah, what is this stuff? Low-grade motor oil?" asked Nicarra.
"That's about the worst of the whole process," said Unity.been-there.
"All you need to do now is lie down and let LISA do the rest."
"Right," said Nicarra as she yawned again. Unity's mouth twitched as he
suppressed an urge to do the same. Nicarra reclined on the couch, wriggling
slightly to get more comfortable. The couch changed shape to better match
her form, and one part formed a cap over her head. But before the process
had completed Nicarra was already fast asleep.
Looking down at the sleeping form, Unity reached out and brushed
an errant hair back into place. "Ok, LISA. She's all yours now,"
said Unity softly.
"Don't worry boss. She'll get the best job ever," responded
LISA quietly.
"I hope so," said Unity, "'cause if she doesn't I really *will*
stuff those old core dumps through you."
"Get some sleep, boss, and stop your worrying. I'll take good care
of her. I PROMISE," replied LISA.
Assured everything was in good hands, Unity dimmed the lights in the
medical room and headed for bed. Except for a few status indicators dimly
glowing in the room, all was quiet and dark.
* * *
<<Neural Interface Status *** Ready>>
<<ALU Function Test *** Passed>>
<<Augmented Memory Function Test *** Passed>>
<<Micron-AI status *** Ready>>
<<Test of completed system......PASSED >>
<<All functions tested and ready. Micron-AI unit on standby. >>
<<Good morning to you,
Good morning to you,
Good morning Nicarra,
Good morning to you.>>
"Huh? Where am I?" asked a still groggy Nicarra.
Opening her eyes, she looked around the room. She remembered something
about a tablet, and the most horrid tasting fluid ever, and now someone, --
*singing* -- at her.
<<That was me! You remember - LISA? From the lab?>> responded
the mental voice.
Nicarra, recognized the difference in communications, replied in kind.
<<Oh. You had me startled there for a minute. I feel a bit weird,>>
thought Nicarra.
<<That's normal. Your neural functions are still adjusting to the
new brain implant. Which, by the way, went *perfectly*. I've never
seen better,>> said LISA. In a "whisper", <<Don't tell the boss
this, but *none* of his took as well as yours did,>> finished LISA.
Nicarra chuckled once in response.
<<Ok, it'll be our secret,>> thought Nicarra.
<<Good. He keeps threatening me with these core dumps, but he's
never followed through on it. I'd hate to give him enough of an
excuse to do so,>> thought LISA. <<On the other hand, I have a lot
of fun teasing him about things. When I tell him someone else took
to an implanted AI better than he did..teeheehee,>> finished LISA
with a giggle.
<<I noticed that when we came in,>> answered Nicarra wryly.
<<Speaking of which, why have you been using sound to communicate
with Unity since we entered the lab? I would think mental
communication is something you would be much better at. More of
a direct way for you to do it.>>
<<I'm not really sure,>> responded LISA. <<It's just a personal
preference he has, I suppose. He uses mental communication
extensively when working on most of his projects, but verbal
speech when he's thinking out loud or trying to make sense of
a particularly difficult situation. Or when he just wants some
company. It could have something to do with the way verbal speech
affects one's thinking ability. Then again it could also be that
mental communication doesn't have quite the same capability for
communicating certain emotional connotations. You'll have to ask
him about the specifics sometime since I don't really know,
myself.>>
<<Anyway,>> LISA continued, <<I've gotten your implant in, tested
it, and made sure everything's working, so all you need to do now
is exercise it. In time it'll take on a character all it's own,
one that's compatible with your own personality,>> finished LISA.
<<So all I have to do is make a mental command, and it'll do
something for me?>> asked Nicarra. <<That's correct,>> responded
LISA. <<Here, I'll bring the cart in and you can start to work
with that.>>
* * *
*YAWN* --stretch---. Unity.just-waking-up rubbed one eye, then threw the
covers off his bed.
"Morning! 'Bout time you woke up lazybones!" said LISA
"Morning to you too," grumbled Unity.just-waking-up as he
looked at the clock. The clock looked back and told him it
was 11:00. "How's life in the lab?" asked Unity.
"Not bad," said LISA. "Your friend is really a star pupil.
Her progress is nothing less than remarkable."
Unity.trying-to-wake-up stood and headed for the sink.
"That's good to hear. Did the molecuprocessor implantation go
well?" asked Unity. "Couldn't have been better," responded LISA.
"She's going through the initial neural-training series now."
"Good," responded Unity. "how long do you think before she's
able to run the equipment for tonight's nightmare?"
"I'd say a little after suppertime," replied LISA.
Silence prevaled in the room as Unity.distracted-by-other-things
munched on instant protein tablets that just didn't taste like bacon
and eggs.
* * *
Unity's communications center was the state of the art when it was
first constructed, but over the years had fallen somewhat behind the
times. The equipment was older, larger, and bulkier. What used to fit
in a suitcase sized case could now be slipped into a pocket and carried
with you. But one thing the newere top-of-the-lines didn't have was
Unity's special enhancements.
<<Time to find us some help,>> thinks Unity.Matrix-rider to
himself as he patched into the Matrix.
The unit made the connection, then suddenly the display dissolved in a
spray of static.
<<Stupid machine,>> thought Unity.Matrix-raider as he smacked the
offending unit upside the case.
Instantly the display reappeared with crystal clarity.
<<Much better,>> thought Unity. <<Now patch me into the Chat'.>>
Circuits fired. Electrons flowed. Light beams pulsed through the optical
computers. And then a connection was made - to...
"BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP I'm sorry, that circuit is busy.
Please try your call again," said a holo-projected female with
more voice than clothes.
Pursing his lips in mild annoyance, Unity.holo-raider patched in his
telco override program. Searching the circuits near the Chat, he found
the holophone he was after. With practiced ease he re-routed the call
back to the sending unit at the Chat', and the other end to a time and
temperature service.
* * *
"Hey Ratz! What's with your holophone? It's suddenly gone crazy!"
said the frustrated patron, cut off from her call. "This is going
to cost a lot if it's not working soon!" she shrills. Ratz came
over and inspected the unit. "Don't know what to say," he said.
"It's always worked before."
Servos whined, and Ratz banged the unit on the side. The display wavered
once and then went out completely.
"Oh great, now it's totally dead," said the patron in disgust.
"Sorry 'bout that," said Ratz as he shrugged. "I'll get the telco
out here soon as I can to get it fixed."
The annoyed patron said nothing as she turned and headed out the door,
looking for some other way to make her score. Augmented limbs moved her
swiftly through the crowd and out into the morning light.
Some noticed her passage and then promptly forgot her. Others didn't notice
her at all. Yet another noticed everything about the departing patron.
Darkly shaded eyes under fire-red hair regarded the events, as small points
of un-reflected light flickered over her eyes. She raised a steaming mug to
her lips, then took a sip. She was quietly absorbing everything in the bar,
yet somehow seperate from it all. After a few moments she stood up, a quiet
power and purpose eminating from her. She'd obviously done this many times
before, and was about to do it again. A man in brown leather and jeans
quietly sat in the shadow of her presense and watched her prepare to leave.
"Hey Lady C., need a hand?" asked the man as he inclined his
glass in the general direction of the departed patron.
"Naah, she's new at this," said the woman quietly. "Should be a
pushover. You stay here and watch the place in case her companion
shows up. OK, Johnny?"
David "Johnny Innocent" Jones winced at the nickname. "You gotta
stop callin' me that," he said to Lady Carotene - the nearest thing
he had to a family.
"Smile, bud, I could call you late for supper," responded Lady C
with a rare smile.
Jones rolled his eyes at the bad joke as Lady C slid through the crowd
after her quarry. Soon the the doorframe enveloped her and she, too,
disappeared outside.
* * *
<<Chatsubo, I've got you now,>> thought Unity.takeover.
His program engaged the telco and overrided the Chat's holophone. Engaging
another telco line, Unity.timeshare checked into the Chat's local 'Services
wanted/offered' board, looking for a likely prospect to do the job. Candidate
after candidate was considered, and Unity checked them out over the one-way
holo display. One after another was discarded as being too dangerous or
otherwise unsuited for the job Unity had in mind.
<<I need someone unobtrusive, who won't be noticed,>> thought
Unity to himself. <<Someone who's at least partly in control
of their battle 'flexes.>>
Finally he found a likely one. David Jones, more commonly known as "Johnny
Innocent." Unity.interviewer read the resume over and raised an eyebrow.
<<Not your typical street sam,>> he thought to himself. <<This
one has possibilities.>>
Checking around the bar through the captive holophone, Unity saw his quarry
there now. More and more interesting - up and about during daylight hours.
All the better. His decision made, Unity fired up the transmitting process
and projected a small figure on the bartop near Jones.
"I hear you're up for hire. If so, I've got a job for you."
Jones looked around, trying to see where the voice came from. Someone was
quite evidently addressing him, but he couldn't see who it was.
"Hey! Johnny! Down here!" said the voice "On the bartop!"
Jones, mildly annoyed at being called his nickname by someone he didn't
know, looked down at the bar, rubbed his eyes once, looked again, and then
ran an auto-diagnostic on his visual pickups. The 3" high figure standing
on the bartop regarded him silently, a knowing look on its face as it
patiently waited for Jones to decide what to do next. From Jones's
perspective the figure was obviously a projection, since it had no infra-red
signature, but the audio was too good for a directed speaker. Jones was
impressed. This guy, whoever he was, was good. Real good.
"Finished yet?" asked the figure.
Evidently he'd been through this many times before. Jones grinned, took a
breath as if to speak, but instead his hand blurred through the smoke-
filled air in an attempt to smash the little figure. Instead his hand
smacked the bar top loud enough to turn heads.
Ratz, scowling, said, "Whatcha want, kid?"
Jones smiled sweetly. "Just twitchin'. You know -- old hardware
does weird things. 'Pologies."
Ratz gave him a look, but returned to drying his glasses.
The figure impatiently tapped its foot on top of Jones's hand, and Jones
could feel the soft rhythm. When Jones pulled his hand away, the figure
resumed its original position on the bar top.
"Right, then, whatcha want?" asked Jones, more curious than
anything else, and with this elaborate a setup it wouldn't be
worth wasting time to ask who was behind it.
"Nothing much," responded the figure, "I bought an HP DAR which
turned out to be an ARES DAR, and I want either my money back
or the DAR I paid for. 'Circumstances' prevent me from going
to settle accounts with them myself, so I looked you up to
take care of this little job for me. I need it done sometime
tomorrow afternoon, and it shouldn't take more than an hour
or two. Your fee is 10% of the DAR's value."
Jones's face displayed no emotion, but inside he was as much suspicious
as he was excited by the prospect. DARs were *not* cheap, and HP DARs
doubly so. This character must either be rich or in a lot of trouble.
Or both. Jones wasn't often paid to be nosy, but neither was he paid
to be stupid, so after a little consideration he responded -
"Okay, what's the catch? That's a lot of credits for doing a
warranty exchange," said Jones. The figure regarded Jones
intently. "'The catch?'" it said, "The only 'catch' is no
questions on your part. Oh, and wear a couple of pins I have.
Something to humor me with," the figure finished.
<<It takes all kinds,>> thought Jones to himself. He wasn't doing anything
tomorrow afternoon anyway, so it'd be a good chance to make a decent
dollar as well as productively spend some spare time. And 10% of an HP
DAR was worth taking the chance of going into a blind situation.
"Ok, you've got yourself a deal. Here, tomorrow afternoon,
at 15:00. Got that?" said Jones. "Got it," responded the
figure.
Suddenly, like a turned off light, the figure was gone. A speculative Jones
mused over the recent events as he put his full attention back to watching
for the companion of Lady C's latest quarry.
* * *
Having obtained the help he needed, Unity.maintenance-engineer checked the
various lab comm systems making sure they were all 100% operational. Once
he had completed that task he set about making some additional enhancements
in anticipation of the upcoming work.
* * *
( ...continued in the second posting....)
>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.*: "When Nightmares Come Calling." 02 of 02
Date: 17 Sep 91 14:17:15 GMT
Part 2 of 2 parts for this entry.
(...contineued from the first half posting...)
* * *
Nicarra and LISA worked together on the new AI. After a few preliminary
instructions from LISA, Nicarra tried the AI on her own. The first
commands were tentative, but with LISA's help, Nicarra soon learned the
basics of control. Before long, she had become well adapted to the device
and was working on her own. LISA then took Nicarra into a limited-realm VR
and showed her the ropes there. Nicarra's adaptability showed as she quickly
learned the basics of this new VR. Time flew and she became quite proficient
in controlling the AI. In fact, Nicarra became so intent on her work that
LISA had to stop her occasionally and order her to eat.
At last, coming out of another VR training run, she saw Unity.watching
standing in front of her.
"So, LISA's been showing you the ropes," said Unity.
Adjusting her communications from artificial telepathy to verbal speech,
Nicarra responded,
"Yes, the mental processes are quite similar to the other VRs
I've been in before. They're different enough to be annoying,
but not enough to cause me any real trouble."
<<Yeah boss, she's been doing real good,>> interjected LISA.
<<Before long she'll be able to give even you a run for your
money.>>
"Glad to hear it," said Unity "because the processors on the
holo-psionic units can be tricky. LISA, is she ready for
those yet?" asked Unity.
<<Too late, boss...>> said LISA.
Nicarra, a mischievous grin on her face, engaged a nearby holo-psionic
unit. Unity suddenly found himself dressed from head to foot in electric
pink, with many spangles and a pink feather boa. Unity.Yech!, seeing his
new outfit, groaned in disgust.
"I guess that answers that question. Your taste in clothing is,
shall we say, nothing short of absolutely horrible!" commented
Unity with a pained smile.
Nicarra, with a twinkle in her eyes, replied,
"Only the best for you, Unity. Or perhaps I should say only
the worst."
Satisfied that her work was properly unappreciated, shut the holo unit
off. Unity's new decorations disappeared and was replaced by his usual
black outfit.
"I take it you had a lot of fun," said Unity.
"It has been fun, so far," Nicarra agreed. Then, with a wink at
Unity. "I'll still need an extra hand, or shall I say, claw, for
my nightmare though."
Nicarra closed her eyes for a moment and a green fire-lizard winked into
the lab.
<<LISA, genetically speaking, Lythe here is very similar to
the dragon that landed outside yesterday. I thought I'd bring
her in now so she can get acquainted with what we're doing. In
the meantime, she should be around long enough for you to do
the analysis you wanted to do before,>> thought Nicarra.
<<Oh goodie!>> responded LISA. <<Scanning now.>>
"Try not to take all day this time," said Unity.still-teasing.
"Your momma," replied LISA.
Lythe cocked her head and looked at Nicarra.
<<What has happened to you? Why can't I understand some of
your talking?>> asked the firelizard.
Nicarra switched mental gears and bypassed her AI in order to talk to Lythe.
<<You could hear some of that?>> said Nicarra.
<<Bits of it, but not all of it. How did it happen?>> responded
Lythe.
<<For the moment, let's just say I've been partly computerized.
I'll tell you all about it later. For now though, I thought you
might be interested in watching what we do here,>> thought Nicarra.
Nicarra looked over to Unity.
<<Now that I have the flying help and the Hired Help, I think I
would like to see the ropes of dream-making,>> thought Nicarra.
"No problem," said Unity. "Right this way. LISA, when you're
done playing with Lythe, get the room set up for Nicarra's
nightmare please."
* * *
Henry's day was a carbon-copy of the previous day. DAR sales were down
and the president of UUT had grilled Henry most of the morning on the
slump and what he was doing to correct the situation. On the way back
to his office, Henry met Reginald Wilkens, head of the company's
accounting department. The man had almost no personality but he thoroughly
knew his department. A good company man that Henry highly respected.
"Hi Reg. How's life in the accounting department?" said Henry.
"Not bad. The recent downturn in sales has got the president
jittery, and he's making life miserable for everybody," said
Reginald. "But that's not what I'm most interested in. You have,
of course, heard rumors about UUT becoming affiliated with ARES?
Buyout, co-operative venture, or other joint activity."
"Yes, I've heard those rumors," reponded Henry. "I'm not too
sure how much credibility to give them. Rumors like that fly
around all the time."
"I agree," responded Reginald. "Let's hope that's all it is - a
rumor," finished the accountant.
The conversation concluded, Henry continued back to his office, his heart
racing. Considering that the president had first raised the possibility
of a merger that very morning. That rumors were spreading through the
company already was not a good sign.
As the day continued on, the pressure only got worse. And finally it became
too much. Maybe a little leisure time was called for. He was just under too
much stress lately. Go out. Take in a show. Leaving a note with his
secretary that he was taking the rest of the afternoon off, Henry walked
out the front doors of UUT for a much-needed break.
* * *
"Unity, do you have a pattern for a chasm? I would like a
chasm, a rickety bridge and and Lythe is here to complete the
patterning that I need," said Nicarra.
"No problem with that," said Unity. "We'll just take some
sheets, a couple of saw-horses and some twine, and you can
overlay the image you want over that."
While Unity was getting the required materials, Nicarra asked,
<<Lythe, how would you like to help me in creating a nightmare?>>
<<How can I get in someone's dream?>> responded the puzzled
firelizard.
<<Trust me, you can. If we set this up right, what I want you to
do is wait for a signal, and then swoop down as though you are
attacking someone in the middle of a bridge. You won't be able to
see him, but he will see you,>> said Nicarra.
<<I can do that. Let me know when you want to start,>>
responded Lythe.
* * *
Henry sighed in contentment. After seeing his favorite show, he had
topped the evening off with a walk through the park. The combination
cleared his mind of all his worries. Even previous night's nightmare
left him un-moved.
When Henry climbed between the sheets of his bed that night, they never
felt so good to his tired body. Before long he was sound asleep.
* * *
Somewhere in Unity's lab, a clock showed 01:45. It was time to get the
show on the road.
"Ready?" asked Unity.
"Ready!" said Nicarra.
"Proceeding with holophone tie-in now," said Unity.Matrix-raider.
"Nightmare sequence to commence on my mark."
* * *
[A little red light inside Henry's personal holophone winked on. The unit
was once more on-line. Electro-radiation patterns soon encountered
Henry's sleeping form, and Henry's dreams are once more under
Unity/Nicarrian control.]
* * *
"Mark!" said Unity. "Commence nightmare sequence now."
"Commencing," responded Nicarra.
* * *
Henry was walking a beautiful path in the mountains, awstruck buy the
majesty of his surroundings. As he rounded a corner on the trail,
he saw that the path led to an old bridge over a huge chasm. Henry's
first instinct, based on his fear of heights, was to go back the way he
had come. But when he turned to leave he found that the path behind him
was gone. Looking around, it soon became evident that the the bridge was
the only way out. Looking into the chasm, all he saw were clouds peacefully
floating along, completely obscuring the chasm's bottom.
Henry took a closer look at bridge's wooden slats and swore they would never
hold his weight. But, with no wind blowing, if he held onto the two ropes
running along the sides of the bridge he might be able to safely cross.
He took one last look behind him. There was no real decision for him to make,
he only had one way out. Tentatively, he stepped onto the bridge.
* * *
<<Start the fan now LISA,>> thought Nicarra.
A small fan began to blow across the makeshift display in the simulation
room. In response, the model bridge started to sway precariously back and
forth over the trough made by the sheets below it.
* * *
As Henry began his crossing, the first part seemed easy. The planks
were not as fragile as they first seemed, and the bridge, though old,
appeared stable enough. However, Henry was only a quarter of the way
across when a wind started to blow. At first, it only caused the bridge
to quiver where Henry was standing, but then the center of the began to
take on an obvious sway. Nervously, Henry looked behind him, but only
saw an impenetrable fog covering the part of the bridge he had already
crossed. Looking back at the middle of the bridge, he decided the fog
was the lesser threat. But when he tried to retreat, he discovered that
he could not feel the ropes and that the fog completely obscured his sight.
Knowing that some of the the planks were missing and not wanting to risk
falling through, he was compelled to finish the crossing. Advancing under
these conditions was dangerous, but to retreat would have been suicidal.
* * *
<<NOW, Lythe!>> thought Nicarra to the firelizard.
* * *
The effort Henry exerted as he painfully made his way across the bridge
was enormous. Carefully, he set one foot in front of another, hands firmly
placed on the thicker ropes, holding on tightly as the wind played with the
bridge's flexible structure. Suddenly, his concentration was broken by a
hissing noise as something small and green flashed by his face. Instinctively
Henry's right hand let go of the rope in an effort to fend off the attacker.
In response, bridge gave a sickening lurch, almost throwing Henry off
balance. Henry quickly grabbed the rope in an effort to keep from falling.
As Henry steadied his shaken nerves, a sudden shriek made him look up. This
time the attacker - a small green reptile - was diving for his face. He
could clearly see the claws, and instinctively, put up both hands cover his
eyes for protection. At the same time the wind gusted, the bridge lurched,
and Henry was violently thrown against one of the ropes on the side of the
bridge. The old rope snapped under the sudden strain and Henry fell through.
The last thing Henry saw as he fell was the bridge falling completely apart
in a shower of debris. Then he was falling through the clouds, and blanked
out.
* * *
"Terminating nightmare now," said Nicarra.
"Connection dropped," responded Unity.
* * *
[The little red light inside Henry's personal holophone goes out.]
"YAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Henry was only able to scream as he sat bolt upright, eyes wide and the
rest of him scared halfway into the next century. Looking around, it took
some time for his brain to recover from the terror and realize he was in
his bedroom. But the images still burned in his mind, and the sensation of
falling was so vivid - almost as if someone had burned it in with a welding
torch.
Henry Tyrel III was not able to get any more sleep that night. Across
from the bed his holophone, neutral assistant in this latest attack, kept
watch over its victim.
* * *
It was 15:00 in the Chat'. Jones was at the bar, comfortably seated in the
same chair he'd been in when the little figure had first appeared. His
drink was an iced tea without the ice. It tasted flat and slightly strange
because he kept expecting beer whenever he raised the glass to his lips.
Jones sighed as he forced himself to remember how Flattop had died, and
somehow the iced tea tasted a hell of a lot better.
"You're gonna kill yourself drinkin' this poison buddy," said
a voice.
Jones saw the 3" tall figure from the previous day sitting on the rim of
his glass. Jones grinned. Yup, he was glad of his choice in drinks.
"So you made it here after all. Where's the DAR I'm supposed
to return?" asked Jones. In order to catch the responses, he
turned on his audio and visual recorders. Small tell-tales
blinked brightly once they were on.
"Not here. A friend of mine's going to drop it off at the
Charles Royer building at 5th and University, room 527, where
you'll pick it and the pins up. There'll be some instructions
written down there for you to follow. After that you're on your
own," said the figure.
Jones automatically converted the room number into a five, since 7 minus 2
was five but in the wrong order. A reflex from his the message running days.
"I also want you to get this done asap, as there's a deadline
we gotta make. Got all that?" asked the figure, grinning at
Jones.
"Yeah, I got it. See you there when I'm done," said Jones.
Jones wondered like hell exactly what the little creature knew about his
hardware. Just to be sure the address was real, Jones did a quick check
against his internal map of Seattle and found the building's exact
location.
"Good. Until then," finished the figure before it winked out.
Jones downed the rest of the tea, making sure nothing was left behind for
anyone to pick up later. He then sauntered out bar into the brightness of
the afternoon sun. Relexively he put on his wide, blue tinted mirrored
shades after squinting into the brightness. It wasn't often that Seattle
had sunshine, but when it did the days were bright enough to blind someone
used to the clouds and rain.
Behind the shades he mentally toggled the aural recorder for playback.
The recorder superimposed its recording over the ambient noise of the
passing traffic. All Jones picked up was the Chat's background noise and
his own voice. But nothing else. His face didn't show the frown. Resetting
the recorder's playback, he played the recording over again, listening
carefully for the other side of his conversation with the figure. What
he got was nada. Zip.
Jones's resulting grin was more like a snarl rather than shivering. He
*hated* psi's. Messing with a man's mind wasn't flash, even knowing they
were on his side. Powers as big as psi weren't something to play with,
even if they thought they were on the angels' side.
But he also didn't have any info in memory, and that, for a second, almost
caused Jones to panic. His eyes narrowed behind the glasses as once more
he remembered the lesson that too much dependence on hardware could get a
body dead if it quit at the wrong time. Working back through his auto
encoding of the room number, Jones managed to remember exactly what he
had looked up on the map.
The location of the drop point safely stored away in a secure part of his
augmented memory, Jones went to his bike. After disarming the security
systems and automatically going through the motions of starting it up,
the engine purred softly between his legs. After patting the saddlebags,
Jones roared off, a plume of water vapor trailing behind. It would be
close if he was to finish the job today.
* * *
<<Now you know where to put these things, right Lythe?>> Nicarra
asked her firelizard.
<<Yes,>> responded Lythe. She checked her mental image against
the one Nicarra has. Two large tropical island posters dominate
the small office. <<I can find it.>>
<<Ok then, off with you!>> thought Nicarra.
With a blink, the firelizard was gone. She returned in a fews seconds
and announced that she had put the DAR and two pins right where she had
been told.
"Good! Well done!" said Unity. "Now comes the hard part. Waiting."
* * *
A studious young man in a brown suede jacket, nice business shoes, and a
conservative pair of dark glasses walked by the Charles Royer Building
carrying a briefcase and reading a book.
Ten minutes later, a street bum staggered by in the other direction,
wearing inside out sweats on top of enough layers of clothes to make
him look misshapen. He teased the ladies and annoyed the men pestering
them with requests for
"just cher pocket change. COME ON, you Gotta have SOMETHIN'
you can give!!"
The bum stayed in front of the building for fifteen minutes and left only
after a Starrie started out the door towards him.
Two minutes later, the studious young man trotted up the steps, took off
his sunglasses to show nice, brown eyes, and a good looking but not
strikingly handsome face. He didn't even glance at the security officers
as he went inside. They didn't glance at him either.
Standing by the elevator, Jones absent-mindely whistled "If I Only Had a
Brain." Just as the mirrored chrome doors of the elevator opened, he
smiled at the security guard's reflection before stepping into the
compartment. There was no ambush outside, and no arrival pattern to reveal
a gathering within either. If there were any enemies within, they would
either be alone or as a pair. Jones knew he would have a good chance
against either eventuality. If anyone even noticed him.
The elevator dinged once, and then the doors opened allowing Jones to step
out on the 5th floor. Proceeding purposefully down the corridor, he found
Room 527. The door was locked when he tried it. Not exactly what he was
expecting, but without missing a beat, he slid the black market credstick
he'd brought for that particular contingency into the slot. The door
opened without a protest, just as he dropped his briefcase. Jones bent
just as the door opened, and stayed down gathering the chips and cel-papers
that had spilled out of the briefcase long after most people would have
reacted to the opening door. While still down, Jones glanced into the office
through the open door to make sure it was clear.
Satisfied, Jones stood up and without a glance at the security camera
on either end of the hallway walked into the room and closed the door
behind him. It was an empty office with a single table that had a small
parcel on top. Jones carefully looked the parcel over, then all around
it and under the table before picking it up and carefully undoing the
wrapping.
The first thing he found was a battered DAR, far more battered than the
shine of the case's finish and newness of the model would seem to
indicate. There were also two bright enamel and gold pins, brilliant
figures of a burning humanoid and a dragon as green as the hills to the
East. Looking the pins over, Jones admired their detailed brilliance.
His examination of the pins complete, he noticed that they were wrapped
in a piece of real, wood based paper with writing on it. Jones' eyes
narrowed. Wood based paper was very, very rare in these days of draconian
laws restricting the lumber industry and pollution regulations. He looked
at the wrappings more closely, and didn't touch them at all after he
determined that they were wood based as well.
Jones shivered again, wondering what it was that he was dealing with,
feeling like he was out of his league. Slowly, carefully, he read the
instructions. It had been a while since he'd had to read anything, but
he was proud, a little, that he was able to. Frowning, he read them
again. Incredibly enough the job seemed quite straightforward, and while
the instructions were rather odd in spots, the job looked completely
legitimate, not to mention profitable if he did what he was supposed to.
Looking at the DAR, he pulled off the cover for a better look, then nodded
when he saw that it fit the instructions. He sighed and actually smiled
for a quick instant, a real smile that reached all the way to his eyes.
Maybe this job would work out right after all. After all the other jobs
with the hidden surprises that employers 'conveniently' forgot to tell him
about, it was a pleasant surprise to find one that looked was really what
it claimed to be.
Jones carefully folded the precious paper and put it into his briefcase to
be returned rather than risk leaving it here. After affixing the two pins
to the inside of his briefcase, he placed the the DAR inside as well. When
all was ready, he waited until exactly half an hour had passed since he had
first entered the office, and then left as unobtrusively as he had arrived.
Ten minutes and a quick change in clothes and attitude later, Jones
was on his way to United and Universal Technologies.
* * *
Henry realised he was not going to get any more sleep this night. He
tried relaxing with reading a book, but couldn't concentrate on the
pages. He tried watching the holovision but late night entertainment
was, as usual, only drivel. Finally, he got dressed and headed back
for the office. There was some important work still to be done, and since
he could not relax, he might as well make up for the afternoon off.
In the early afternoon, one of his salesreps stuck their head in the door -
"Henry? Got a second?" said the rep.
"I suppose so, Shawn. What can I do for you?" said Henry as he put
down the papers he was working with.
"There's a guy here, said he has to see you about a warranty
return on an HP DAR you sold a few day ago," replied the
salesrep.
"A warranty return on a DAR? Ok, send him in," said Henry
heavily.
<<More trouble,>> thought Henry to himself as the salesrep
disappeared.
The salesrep returned, followed by a nondescript man. Henry forced a smile,
stood up and extended a hand to the newcomer.
And then he saw the pins the visitor was wearing. The burning figure.
The small green dragon. In a flash the fear he'd felt in those nightmares
swept over him, it's cold claws raking through his guts and clawing at
his stomach. Swallowing, Henry's smile waned a little as he indicated for
the newcomer to take a seat. The visitor's responding smile appeared
to turn on like a light as he took the proffered seat.
"How may I help you?" asked Henry.
"I've got something that was purchased here that I'd like to
return," said the man. "An HP DAR my employer purchased a few
days ago. It seems it wasn't an HP DAR after all, but an ARES
one with an HP cover on it."
"Are you sure?" said Henry, his fear temporarily lost in
disbelief. An ARES DAR being sold as an HP DAR? It couldn't
be. "May I see the unit please?"
Without comment the man handed it over. The unit was brand-new, shiny and
bright; but there were deep scorch marks in places showing that it had
obviously been through a baseline systems failure. Henry frowned at the
abuse the unit had suffered. Turning it over, he examined both sides for
other indications to the unit's identity.
"I don't see your point. This looks like a fine HP DAR to me.
Don't sell too many of them as they're so expensive," said
Henry with what he hoped was a convincing smile.
The visitor was not easily convinced. Taking out some tools, he opened the
DAR's case and turned it over so that part of one circuit board was exposed,
then held it in front of Henry.
"Yeah? Then what's it doin' with ARES guts inside?" said
the man.
Henry's blood ran cold. There it was, plain as day, "ARES DAR/BTR Master
Controller Board, rev 1.0c."
"May I see that again please?" asked Henry.
Without a word the visitor allowed Henry to take the unit and look
closer. There could be no doubt that was an ARES DAR inside. Henry
quickly made a decision.
"One moment and I'll have a new unit here for you," said Henry.
Using the company's internal paging system, he requested someone in the
warehouse to bring a new HP DAR out. A few moments later, there was a knock
at the door, and then a warehouse worker walked in and handed Henry a box
clearly labled "HP DAR" on the outside. With a smile, Henry handed the box
to the visitor, hoping that he and his pins would leave soon. The visitor
did no such thing though. Opening the box, he took out the DAR and popped
the cover. Looking inside, he grunted once and held the back side up for
Henry to look at.
"I don't think so," said the visitor.
Henry's color drained from his face. TWO fake DARs? Taking the DAR from the
visitor's hands, he looked at it closely, and saw the tell-tale markings.
Ringing the warehouse, he asked for another HP DAR to be sent over. Once
more a warehouse worker came and handed Henry a package. This time Henry
opened it up himself and made the fateful discovery.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment," said Henry, "I think there's
a packaging problem. I'll get you a real HP DAR and be right back."
The visitor only nodded once before Henry went back to the warehouse and
inspected the stored DARs. Pulling out one after another, he saw that
they were all ARES fakes. This was no accident. Someone in the company must
know that all the HP DARs were fakes. His blood ran like ice through Henry's
veins. He must get rid of that customer soon before he could deal with the
situation any further. Henry returned to his office and faced the visitor -
"I'm afraid I can't replace the HP DAR. Instead I'd be willing to
authorize a full refund for you. Would that be satisfactory?" asked
Henry.
The visitor gave Henry a strained smile. Taking that as assent, Henry had
the paperwork done up, then handed a credstick over and wished him a good
day. The visitor, got up, pocketed the credstick, and left.
Henry sat down heavily, then realised he was sweating profusely. Taking a
handkerchief out, he made a decision. He picked up up the intercom phone
and dialed Reginald's office.
"Accounting, Reginald Wilkens here," was the answer.
"Reginald. Henry here. Something serious has come up. Are
you free tonight?" asked Henry.
After a brief pause, Reginald responded, "I can be. What is the
purpose of this meeting?"
"Those rumors about UUT and ARES - I want to talk to you about
them. Meet me at the Texas Steakhouse, say 6 o'clock tonight.
Ok?" said Henry.
"Ok, I shall be there," answered a puzzled Reginald.
His hands shaking, Henry hung up the phone.
<<My god, what is happening to me?>> thought Henry to himself.
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: Here ends part 1 of volume 8 in the ongoing
adventures of The Entity/Unity.*.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong. Responses will be shared with the various co-authors.
Please send all responses to unity-feedback@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT:
All materials copyright (C) 1991, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights reserved.
Distribution permission granted to any medium, service, or archive which
does NOT charge a fee for this article, restricts redistribution, or is
placed under compilation or any other derivative form of copyright without
the prior knowledge and verifiable consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER:
Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or real, is
entirely unintentional.
DEFINITIONS:
DAR = Dial A Reality: A device used to access the various USENET reality
groups. (See also "NewsReader", "rn", "xrn", "gnurn", "abc", "xyz"
and other associated alphabetical collections.) (See also "BTR")
BTR = Broadband Telepathic Repeater: A device used to enable non-telepaths
to communicate bi-directionally with full telepaths. Can also be
used to simultaneously transmit telepathic messages to a large
group of people or entities. (See also "DAR")
UUT = United and Universal Technologies: A near major consumer/industrial
electronics vendor.
LISA = [L]ifelike [I]nteractive [S]ystems [A]dministrator. Unity's
general AI assistant in alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
MESSAGE QUOTE: "What?! Another one? Geesh!"
###########################################################################
>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.*: When a Nightmare Gets Personal (Part 1 of 2)
Date: 11 Dec 91 18:51:12 GMT
Can it really be last Sept. when the last issue went out?
Anyway, hope it was worth the wait folks. :-)
Tim Kuehn
Co-ordinating Author of the Unity.* writing project
###########################################################################
TITLE: "Nightmares, Goblins, Demons, and ARES"
SUBTITLE: "When a Nightmares Gets Personal."
ISSUE: Part 2 of volume 8 in the ongoing Unity.* saga
CHARACTER CREDITS: The following characters appear courtesy of -
In "Real" Life Supplied Persona(s)
----------------- ---------------------------------
Tim Kuehn Unity.* in all his different forms,
Henry Tyrel III, Reginald Wilkens, LISA,
The Second Thought, Trackers, Echo-9 Eliminators,
the company "United and Universal Technologies",
and various bit characters.
Lynn Alford Nicarra, Lythe, Poldrith, Hired Help, Pauline
Tornaugh, Susan Hooper, and other bit characters.
Elizabeth McCoy(?) T'Kee the Cat-Centaur
EDITORIAL CREDITS: The following people made major contributions to
ensuring this installment was of the highest quality-
Persona In "Real" Life
--------------- -----------------------------------
T'kee Elizabeth McCoy
Nicarra Lynn Alford
Shadow Shine Elena O'Malley (hope I got that right)
Liralen Li Phyllis Rostykus
Unity.* Tim Kuehn
SEMI-IMPORTANT NOTE: Since ascii terminals have no way of transmitting
italics, all text inside of "[]"s will have to serve for now.
Enclosure in "*"'s is for special emphasis.
SECOND SEMI-IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the second installment of a
collaborative effort involving over 10 contributing authors.
CROSS-POST: alt.callahans, alt.prose, and alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
OTHER: Apologies in advance if I offend anybody.
CLOSING COMMENT: This series is getting to be quite big. The past series
of stories now encompass somewhere around 150K - 200K of space. If there's
an FTP site there that'd be willing to store this stuff so people could
get it that way, I'd like to hear from you. Outside of that, Enjoy!
DEFINITIONS:
DAR = Dial A Reality: A device used to access the various USENET reality
groups. (See also "NewsReader", "rn", "xrn", "gnurn", "abc", "xyz"
and other associated alphabetical collections.) (See also "BTR")
BTR = Broadband Telepathic Repeater: A device used to enable non-telepaths
to communicate bi-directionally with full telepaths. Can also be
used to simultaneously transmit telepathic messages to a large
group of people or entities. (See also "DAR")
UUT = United and Universal Technologies: A near major
consumer/industrial electronics vendor.
LISA = [L]ifelike [I]nteractive [S]ystems [A]dministrator. Unity's
general AI assistant in alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
MAERT= Matrix Administration Emergency Response Team [new term]
VR = Virtual Reality
PS: For those who have not seen the prior entries in the ongoing
"The Entity/Unity.*" saga, he's a character who always seems to get
into trouble of one kind or another, usually through no fault of his
own. He's an example of what can happen if Murphy's Law is repeatedly
applied to a person. Except now he's out for revenge.
In the previous episode, Nicarra got a personal AI, then she and
Unity make a second nightmare attack on Henry (VP of DAR Sales at
UUT). Later the next day Unity has David "Johnny Innocent" Jones
return his fake HP DAR to UUT. At the close of the last episode,
Henry had made a dinner appointment with Reginald Wilkens, head
of Accounting, at the Texas Steakhouse later that evening, in order
to talk about recent events.
###########################################################################
[At the end of "When Nightmares Come Calling":]
Henry sat down heavily, then realised he was sweating profusely. Taking a
handkerchief out, he made a decision. He picked up up the intercom phone
and dialed Reginald's office.
"Accounting, Reginald Wilkens here," was the answer.
"Reginald. Henry here. Something serious has come up. Are
you free tonight?" asked Henry.
After a brief pause, Reginald responded, "I can be. What is the
purpose of this meeting?"
"Those rumors about UUT and ARES - I want to talk to you about
them. Meet me at the Texas Steakhouse, say 6 o'clock tonight.
Ok?" said Henry.
"Ok, I shall be there," answered a puzzled Reginald.
His hands shaking, Henry hung up the phone.
<<My god, what is happening to me?>> thought Henry to himself.
###########################################################################
Here ends Part 1 of Vol 8 - "When Nightmares Come Calling."
Here begins Part 2 of Vol 8 - "When Nightmares Get Personal."
###########################################################################
Reginald was punctual as usual. When his watch -- a National Time
Broadcasting Service -- showed 18:00, he had just arrived at the
Texas Steakhouse. The restaurant wasn't exactly busy, and since
Henry had yet to arrive, Reginald had his pick of tables. Looking
around he saw one far enough away from the rest that he and Henry
could safely talk without having to worry about being overheard. He
indicated his preference to the waiter, sat, ordered a mineral water,
then waited for Henry to arrive.
18:15 came and went. At 18:30 Reginald called the office and tried
Henry's extension, but got no answer. He then tried Henry's home
number, with no greater success. After checking the time once more,
Reginald ordered his dinner. By the time he had finished eating, it
was 19:30, and Henry still hadn't shown up.
Reginald was puzzled. Henry had been most insistent about meeting
tonight, so where was he? At 20:00, Reginald decided further waiting
was futile, and paid for his meal. It had been a pleasant enough
dinner and he made a mental note to return at some future date. But
for now he had to return home to his wife, who had repeatedly complained
in the past how he seemed married to the company rather than her. Further
delaying his departure would only complicate the situation at home, and
he preferred to avoid that if at all possible.
Still wondering what Henry had wanted to talk about so urgently,
Reginald drove home.
* * *
Having obtained the package from the drop point, Lythe appeared back in
Unity's lab. After checking the package for homing devices and various
other nasty surprises, Unity unwrapped the package, extracted the two
pins, and placed them in a small compartment in a nearby machine.
"LISA, extract the holo-recordings from these, please," said Unity.
"Working," replied LISA. A moment later the AI said, "All done.
Would you like me to play this back now?"
"Yes, please," said Unity. "Full size holodisplay, all channels."
"Comin' at you now!" said LISA.
LISA played back the recordings the two pins made. All the events their
unblinking lenses saw were shown -- light streaming in as Jones opened
the package, him putting the pins inside the briefcase, then on his jacket;
walking into the UUT building; Henry's first reaction to seeing Jones; then
the obvious shock when he saw the pins Jones was wearing.
"Freeze display," said Unity. "That's one worried man."
"Very worried. Almost looks as though he's going to drop from the
shock. Think we went overboard on the dreams?" asked Nicarra.
"I don't think so," said Unity.considering. "The dream 'assaults'
are designed to be quite vivid and have a rather intense short-
term affect on the subject, but only negligible long-term effects.
In a couple of weeks Henry shouldn't even remember any of this,"
said Unity.dream-weapons-designer.
Niccara gave Unity a sharp look. "What do you mean, the effects
are 'only temporary'?" she asked. "You told me you once drove
someone mad with this stuff, which isn't a temporary effect at
all."
"I did," replied Unity. "However, I felt pretty bad about that
afterward. That VP was a scumbag, but I sometimes wonder if he
really deserved what I did to him," said Unity.remembering. "Anyway,
after that, I decided this process would be a lot more useful if it
wasn't so damaging. So I figured out how to alter the transmission
parameters so that the effect on the intended target was only
temporary. The modified process we used on Henry last night should
only last a week or two at most."
Nicarra looked at the image again.
"Either we should have given him another day or two to settle,
or your modifications were not quite what you thought they were."
The slight bluish tinge to Henry's lips worried Nicarra. Unity paused a
few moments while considering the shocked look on Henry's frozen image.
Finally he gave LISA a command:
"Resume display."
* * *
Having viewed the rest of the recordings, Nicarra and Unity looked at
each other.
"Did you notice how shaken Henry was when he returned from the
warehouse? He looked as if he had seen his own ghost," said
Nicarra.
"Something's definitely going on at UUT, don't you think?"
"Whatever it is, it seems to be worrying this man quite a bit.
He was shaken by the sight of the pins, but he was even worse
after the warehouse."
"Hmmm..." said Unity as he considered for a moment. "I think UUT
deserves some closer looking into. Care to join me in a Matrix
'seek and find' expedition?" asked Unity.VR-explorer.
"Try and stop me!" Nicarra said eagerly.
* * *
Unity led Nicarra to another room which had the innocent title "The Matrix"
on its door. In the room were two large, overstuffed chairs with substantial
armrests. A padded wristband lay on top of the chairs themselves.
"So, where's the Matrix connection?" asked Nicarra.
"The chairs *are* the connection!" replied Unity.smiling.
"My equipment's advanced enough that you don't need to
'plug-in' like most other Matrix connections require,
and it's rather comfortable besides. All you need to do
is have a seat, attach the wristband, and you'll be
'connected.'"
With a pleased grin, Nicarra chose a chair, sat down, and put the
indicated wristband on. Unity.checking came over and made sure it
was snugly attached.
<<I've been having some difficulties with the antennae in these
critters. They seem overly sensitive to how they're applied,>>
thought Unity. <<However, it looks like yours is on properly.>>
Unity gave Nicarra a smile and a thumbs-up. Going over to the other chair,
he sat down, attached the wristband, leaned back, and closed his eyes.
<<Well, Hired Help, are you ready?>> asked Nicarra.
<<Processing data correctly, mistress,>> replied the AI.
<<What next, Unity?>> asked Nicarra.
<<Verify connections,>> thought Unity.
<<Verified,>> responded LISA.
<<Initiate logging facilities, validate interface
operational status,>> thought Unity.
<<Logging activated, all systems show green,>> responded LISA.
<<Then we're off!>> thought Unity to Nicarra.
And the combined entity of Unity/Nicarra/The Second Thought/Hired Help/LISA
entered the tangled web commonly known as "The Matrix."
* * *
Their initial appearance within the Matrix was that of a small, faded,
grey sphere, for all intents and purposes appearing identical to the
billions of message packets that continuously passed through every pore
of the Matrix like mindless ants on hyper-important missions.
Hearing was the first sense she was aware of. The sounds though -- the
buzz of insects and rustling of leaves. Insects? In the Matrix? Then sight
returned, and Nicarra almost wished it hadn't, for the Matrix, as Nicarra
saw it, was different indeed. Large, oddly pulsating temple-like
structures; tall trees; deep pools; the small twisty path that Unity had
brought them out on. Nicarra noted they were some distance from the
larger "trails" around.
<<Got your bearings, Nicarra?>> asked Unity.
After a moment of Matrix time, Nicarra responded --
<<Getting there. I think my mind is working up an image of the
matrix that it can accept,>> said Nicarra.
<<The part of the Matrix we're in does take a bit of getting
used to,>> observed Unity.been-there. <<Most "first-timers"
to the Matrix are only allowed in certain, highly-controlled
areas that are specifically setup to not be as "strange" to the
senses as where we are now. Most people never even get near the
kind of places we're going.>>
<<Hired Help, what are those deep pools?>> Nicarra asked as she
mentally pointed one out.
<<Shared data, mistress. Your "temples" are the corporate
blocks.>>
After taking a moment to further assimilate herself, Nicarra nodded.
<<Okay then, ready for whatever,>> she said.
* * *
Pauline Tornaugh was very happy. At long last, her fondest wish was
*finally* going to become reality. She had a deck, she had a jack, and
*today* the technicians were supposed to finish installing the last
upgraded link to the Matrix. The Matrix, with all its wonders she'd
heard about for years, would finally be hers! Pauline was so excited,
she danced to her classes.
"What's up with you?" asked Susan.
"I'm going to have a proper connection to the Matrix! They're
supposed to finish it today," replied Pauline.
"Hey, that's great!" said Alice. "We can have a coming-out
party for you. It's about time you managed to get on and join
in on the fun! We can meet at this really great Matrix bar I
know!"
"You know how much I've been dying to get on. But Dad was
just being impossible. He is just SO old-fashioned. But
he finally gave in, and tonight, tonight we can party!" Pauline
said enthusiastically.
The girls agree when and where to meet in the Matrix. Alice carefully told
Pauline how to get to their meeting place in the Matrix.
* * *
<<All readings within acceptable bounds. Everything looks good
from here,>> said LISA.
<<Activate "Hired Help" and "The Second Thought" now,>> thought Unity.
<<The Second Thought. AI for Unity. Activation acknowledged,>>
responded The Second Thought. <<And about time you brought me
out of that cold storage you keep sending me into!>> fumed the AI.
<<Can it,>> responded Unity. <<We're on an Alpha-class mission
here. No time for playing games.>>
<<Okay, boss,>> responded The Second Thought. <<Hey, LISA -- you
out there?>> continued the AI.
<<Sure am, little brother,>> replied LISA. <<We're going to have
some fun today. There's a new AI with us now, Nicarra's "Hired
Help.">>
<<Hired Help! Glad to meet you! Name's The Second Thought,
'cause Unity's first thoughts keep getting scrambled,>> said
The Second Thought.
<<Second Thought, acknowledged. Over,>> responded Nicarra's
Hired Help briefly.
<<Oh geeze, another untrained Molecuprocessor unit. LISA, did you
tune that one?>>
<<Yes, I did, Second Thought, and it was put in just today. Give
Hired Help some time -- after all, *you* took quite a while to get
where *you* are,>> thought LISA.
<<Okay, okay, you've talked me into it,>> The Second Thought replied.
<<If you guys are done with this yap-fest, can we begin?>> asked
Unity.patient-commander. <<No problem, boss!>> LISA and The Second
Thought chorused. <<Affirmative,>> thought the Hired Help a moment
later.
<<Ready, Nicarra?>> asked Unity.
<<Ready!>> responded Nicarra.
The trip to the UUT node was uneventful. Carefully making his way
through the mazes of data arrays, Unity guided their Matrix sensor
pod through back alleys and obscure routing points, carefully avoiding
any detection and leaving no trail that would lead back to Unity's lab.
Nicarra, exercising her remote sensing capabilitites to the fullest,
soon became entranced by all the "sights" her Matrix-sensors fed her.
Before long, LISA announced, <<There it is. The UUT node.>> Nicarra
looked and saw another, particularly large, pulsating temple. Her eyes
and ears disliked this one from the first minute.
<<Ok, Nicarra, this is where life gets interesting. Sensors on
maximum, I'm going to re-route some message packets at the node
and see what happens,>> thought Unity.Matrix-prober.
<<Ready when you are,>> returned Nicarra.
Reaching out remotely through the net, Unity located a nearby routing point
and inserted a routine to grab random packets as they flowed through the
router. The routine would alter the packets' destination address and send
them directly at the UUT node from a randomized set of entry points. After
setting the routine's "self-erase on completion" mode, Unity.net-raider
enabled the routine and hurried back to the duck-blind message packet in
order to watch what happened.
Unity counted down -- <<...three, two, one - initiate!>>
As Unity reached "one," a few message packets suddenly zipped out from
different places in the normal matrix-flow, impacted on UUT's node, and
disappeared. However, as time passed, an increasing number of packets
impacted on the UUT node in greater and greater volume. Soon there was
a blizzard of packets streaming toward and hitting the hapless node.
<<Readings coming in now...>> murmured Nicarra. <<The only
detectable change so far is the number of outgoing packets
leaving the UUT node.>>
<<Probably the normal reject routine returning the packets back
to their originators. Standard operating procedure in such cases.
However, I programmed my little routine to follow an abbreviated
bell-normal distribution in picking the number of packets to re-
route. A lot more should be impacting on UUT soon, then stop
abruptly,>> thought Unity.
Almost before he finished, the number of re-routed message packets
impacting on UUT's node dramatically increased, and UUT's node started
turning a darker shade of grey as it struggled to deal with the sudden
onslaught.
<<Would you look at that?>> thought Unity.awestruck, as The
Second Thought fed him filtered readings of Nicarra's sensor
reports. <<Yeah, boss, you hit one hum-dinger of a node this
time. What's your plan?>> The Second Thought asked.
At that point, all the readings went off scale.
<<Warning!>> exclaimed LISA suddenly. <<UUT is initiating some
serious defensive procedures!>>
Immediately Unity and Nicarra withdrew their remote sensor net -- just in
time as the UUT node, almost buried in the onslaught of re-routed micro-
packets, suddenly emitted a slew of route-tracers, each of them searching
for the source of the packets swamping the node.
* * *
Pauline was too excited to wait until 8. If she had her own way, she'd
have gotton onto the Matrix the moment she got home. But first there
was dinner and homework that had to get done before Dad would let her
get in the Matrix. Getting her chores done in record time meant that,
at 19:30, she was ready.
Sitting back in an easy chair, jack in place, Pauline relaxed, closed her
eyes, then willed the deck into operation. The first thing she saw was
the pre-Matrix area of the deck with a notice detailing its make and model
number, and well as its various configuration options. In one corner was a
small notice board full of notes on what to do if things went wrong. But
Pauline ignored that, knowing that things didn't go wrong in the Matrix.
After exploring the deck's internals and setting its configuration to her
satisfaction, Pauline requested, and got, access to her local Matrix entry
point.
* * *
Almost before Nicarra's downgraded sensors could follow the rapid-fire
events, UUT's tracers had found the node where Unity had inserted his
re-routing program. Immediately tracers collected around the offending
node, then stopped. Some of the tracers patrolled the area, others
travelled around the area as if looking for something.
<<Comparing sensor profile of tracers to database -- not found.
LISA, do you have anything on this profile? I don't have the
memory to determine what this is,>> thought The Second Thought.
<<Acknowledged -- readings correlating now -- preliminary
indications are that those tracers are, in fact, Mk V
"Trackers,">> responded LISA.
<<I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means...>> thought Unity.
<<What's that?>> asked Nicarra as she watched the pack of Trackers.
They reminded her of large dogs...dobermans, perhaps. Lean, fast,
and sniffing out the trail of prey.
<<I picked that node to do the re-routing from because it was so
heavily used it'd be nearly impossible for them to trace who put
that process there. Mk V Trackers are strictly military software,
and have a pretty vicious punch. If they fire off in the middle of
that node... it'd be a massacre!>> thought Unity.very-worried.
<<Second Thought! Prepare to initiate "Decoy" on my mark!>>
thought Unity.commander.
<<"Decoy" acknowledged.>>
<<Auto-fire condition Delta.>>
<<Auto-fire condition Delta, acknowledged.>>
<<Engage!>> thought Unity.matrix-commando.
<<Engagement acknowledged, releasing auto-fire network sensors,
auto-fire condition Delta will be achieved in 3.5 nanoseconds,>>
finished The Second Thought.
* * *
Her first contact with the Matrix was even more exciting and breath-
taking than the most vivid description that she'd read or seen had told
her it would be like. The shades, colors, forms of objects she saw!
Everything neat and clean, and if what she saw didn't suit her, she
could change the appearance to what she liked. Giggling, she waved her
hand and painted an entire street all the colors of the rainbow, with
stars and glittering points sprinkled liberally throughout. A passer-by,
inadvertantly caught in Pauline's exuberance, smiled at her, tipped what
looked like a hat, then returned the favor. Instantly Pauline found she
had become a constantly-shifting rainbow of the most brilliant colors.
Blushing, she removed the effect from the stranger, who gave her a warm
smile and continued on.
"This is soooo WONDERFUL!" Pauline exclaimed, not caring at all
who heard her.
With a whoop she spun around like a top, happily taking in the
incredibleness of everything around her. She paused for a moment
and looked for a place to start exploring. Everything that she
found fascinated her. It was all so new, so different...
The time -- she had to be somewhere by 20:00. But wait, this was the Matrix.
<<Time please?>> thought Pauline.
A disembodied voice responded -- <<the current time is seven fifty
PM.>>
How neat to be able to just think and find out exactly what time it was
just by asking -- nothing!! But still, there was ten minutes to find the
bar Alice described. No reason to hurry *yet*, but she did need to start
moving.
* * *
<<Auto-Fire sensors discharged and in place. Auto-fire condition
Delta achieved,>> reported The Second Thought.
<<Now what?>> asked Nicarra.
<<Now we pray,>> thought Unity. <<There's over a hundred thousand
people using that node right now, and they're all at risk. What I'd
like to know is what in blazes UUT is doing with military software
like that?!?>>
The worry and concern in Unity's thoughts was clearly evident. Nicarra
looked intently at Unity, then returned her attention to her sensors,
watching for any changes.
<<Updated report on Mk V Trackers ready,>> reported LISA.
<<Talk to me,>> thought Unity.
<<Preliminary analysis is correct. I repeat, the preliminary
analysis is correct. The tracers were initially developed as
part of a military Matrix-base defensive routine used for
launching counter- hacker offensive and defensive assaults
in response to remote attacks within the Matrix. Downgraded
variations of the Trackers are also currently used by certain
security services,>> thought LISA.
<<Including ARES,>> thought Unity.
<<You should know the answer to that one,>> thought LISA, <<You
helped developed the Mk I Trackers.>>
<<I know,>> responded Unity, <<but I never thought they'd be used in
a place like *this*. Something that powerful has no business in a
public network!>>
* * *
Carla Robertas was the first to notice some odd readings coming from
the Santa-Clara Matrix node. Using her administrator's master-access
capabilities, she started to trace the cause of the readings. In short
order she had narrowed it down to a misfiring packet router way off in
Lander, Wyoming. She was about to run a diagnostic on the offending node
when she saw that her readings were not consistent with a misfiring router.
As a matter of fact, it wasn't consistent with anything she'd ever seen
before. All she could determine was that the cause must be somewhere else.
Something new to the Matrix. It wouldn't be the first time some strange
new symptom came up, what with the millions of users that were connected
to the huge network.
Going in for a closer look, she got within a couple nodes of the offender
when suddenly all her senses were overwhelmed by the most eerie sensation
she had ever felt. It was as if someone had ripped the flesh off her from
top to bottom, leaving her very essence utterly exposed to the outside world.
As fast as it came, the sensation was gone again, leaving Carla totally
numb and barely able to think.
<<Re....re....recall - emer...em...e...emer..gen..cy....
recall,>> thought Carla. <<Init evac proce...dure...Lander,
Wyoming..>> was all Carla's stunned mind could communicate.
And then she blacked out.
* * *
Carla's home node detected the aberration in her mental functions and
faint emergency recall. Quickly, the AI scanned Carla's logs, determined
the source of the offending action, initiated an automatic shutdown of
the node, notified the appropriate authorities, and started disconnecting
the mentally battered administrator from the Matrix. Then it called the
local hospital's neuro-trauma ward.
* * *
<<Warning! Mk V Tracker activity indicates elevation to
Level 4 alert status. I say again, Tracker activity indicates
elevation to a Level 4 alert status,>> thought The Second Thought.
<<Escalate to Echo-9. Repeat, escalate to Echo-9!>> thought
Unity.
<<Echo-9, acknowledged,>> responded LISA.
* * *
<<Hired Help, what are we still doing here? Do you have some
idea what Unity is up to, or are we going to wait to get run
over by whatever it is??>> asked a worried Nicarra.
The image she saw of UUT was now pulsating black. Nicarra shivered.
<<LISA reports they hope to overwhelm the trackers using
packets. She is currently processing at 99.5% capacity,
Mistress,>> replied Hired Help.
<<If that's true, then she's pretty busy and so I'll save
up questions for when we have time,>> thought Nicarra.
* * *
Following the specifications Unity had programmed into it, the micro-
packet re-router was about to issue one last burst of noise at the UUT
node before shutting down. It grabbed the next series of packets passing
through, changed their target address, and sent them out again. The
packets, each carrying their originating address, dutifully followed their
new course and impacted in sequence on the UUT node.
* * *
<<Level 5 alert! Repeat: Level 5 alert!>> exclaimed LISA.
<<FIRE!>> roared Unity.
Instantly the thinly spread net of seemingly random packets descended
on the scurrying Mk V Trackers like a pack of wolves on fresh meat. At
the same time a flurry of Trackers suddenly changed course and streaked
out of the area, the auto-fire'd Echo-9 Eliminators in hot pursuit.
Tracker after Tracker was hit and destroyed, but some were still going
when the group passed out of sensor range.
<<Did you get them all?>> asked Nicarra.
<<I doubt it. There were still some Trackers at last sensor
reading,>> replied Unity.sad.
<<It gets worse, boss,>> thought LISA. <<Latest information on
the Trackers indicated that they had acquired a definite target
and were homing in.>>
<<Oh please, not that,>> thought Unity. <<I just hope the Echo-9s
get them all.>>
* * *
While Pauline "danced" in the bar, readings were fired off through the
self-configuring Matrix to the remote VR simulator. The return images
followed the reverse route, as did the Trackers, pursued by the slightly
faster Echo-9 Eliminators. When the Trackers hit the Kansas City node, a
few stopped and turned on the node itself, causing it to crash spectacularly.
The Echo-9s hit the node full tilt, found it shut down, then re-routed
around looking for the Trackers' exit path. By the time they had picked up
the trail again, a lot of time had been lost.
Undaunted, the Echo-9s renewed their pursuit as only electronic systems can.
Slowly, Tracker after Tracker was destroyed, until finally only two Echo-9s
and one Tracker was left. At the target node the two Echo-9s descended on
the Tracker, and together the trio impacted on the node that serviced a
small suburb of Havre, Montana.
* * *
By the time Pauline found the bar, Alice was already there. The music was
the first thing that struck her. It was a pounding rhythm that entered her
very being, and then she realised -- there was nothing to stop her now.
<<Let's dance!>> she cried.
Alice grinned and they started dancing. Soon Susan arrived and the
trio danced wildly for an hour without a breather. Then suddenly,
the entire room was bathed in red.
<<Neat color,>> remarked Susan.
Then a voice could be heard.
<<Please disconnect immediately. If you can hear this message,
please leave the Matrix immediately.>>
<<Hey, does this happen very often?>> asked Pauline.
<<I've never heard it before. Wonder what it's about?>> replied
Alice.
<<I don't know. Probably just some fuddy-duddy who thinks
something might be happening. Everyone knows the Matrix
is safer than being in your own house. So let's dance!>>
answered Susan.
Alice looked around worriedly. <<Well, I don't know. I haven't
finished my homework, and I really think someone must have a
good reason for making that annoucement.>>
Without another word, Alice vanished.
Susan snorted. <<Alice always did worry too much. Let's party!>>
As Susan and Pauline danced, a few other people vanished from the bar as
well. But they didn't notice. However, it was hard for Pauline to miss the
fact that not only was the room bathed in red, but Susan had turned red
as well. She looked down and saw that she had turned red as well. Looking
around, she could see there wasn't anyone else in the bar who was red.
<<Must be another Matrix mystery,>> thought Pauline to herself.
But dancing the night away was more important than worrying about color.
Closing her eyes, Pauline let the driving beat move her body around.
Movement and counter-movement, the beat became her world, and she lived
at its command. Like a puppet the drums pulled her arms to its pounding
rythm, when the sound of a screaming guitar drove like a knife into her,
raising her even higher. Pauline extended her arms in an effort to encompass
that incredible sound, to become one with the rhythm, to merge with her
new-found world. So passionate was her quest that she created the sound
within her self, and her world was the music, and nothing else mattered.
* * *
The remaining Tracker was slightly damaged when the first Echo-9 hit, but
managed to escape when the Eliminator was slowed down by a sudden hardware
failure in the Matrix. The other Eliminator dodged around and hit the Tracker
right when the Tracker recognized its final target and "detonated."
* * *
A man in the bar approached the two girls.
<<Get out of here, for heavens sake!>> he shouted. <<You're red,
you must have had an evac notice!>>
Looking at the man, then at each other, Susan and Pauline finally realised
that maybe the situation was serious after all. The more Matrix-experienced
Susan jacked out just as a ball of electronic fire exploded in the room. As
the other horrified patrons watched, the less-experienced Pauline, unable to
jack out in time, burst into flames.
The charred, burning mass that was Pauline's Matrix body crumpled to the
floor, then disappeared.
<<Oh my god...>> whispered a voice.
The hushed silence that fell over the room's occupants was deafening.
* * *
<<Did we get the node cleared in time?>> asked Kent Summor,
Chief Administrator of the Havre Central Matrix node.
<<I think so, sir,>> thought Anna Krant, the on-duty administrator.
<<The standard evacuation broadcast was made, so everybody should've
gotten out in time. No...wait a second...I've got a reading on one
open node...checking now...oh no -- it was active!>>
<<Quick! Where was it?!?>> demanded Kent.
<<On the map now, sir!>> replied Anna.
<<Matrix admins, check that node! Anna, get hold of the
hospital NOW! I want an ambulance and a full MAERT team
out at that location immediately!>> said Kent.
<<YESSIR!>> said Anna.
* * *
[thus ends the first half of Vol 8, Part 2. The second half has been
posted seperately]
>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.*: When a Nightmare Gets Personal (Part 2 of 2)
Date: 11 Dec 91 18:52:00 GMT
[this is the second half of Vol 8, Part 2]
For Unity and Nicarra, time passed slowly. After Unity's buried re-router
shut down and the Trackers had left with the Echo-9s in hot pursuit, the
UUT node had quieted down and resumed being the picture of its original
self, corporate and four-square in every way.
<<You would think nothing had had happened,>> commented Nicarra.
<<I think that's what its supposed to look like,>> responded Unity.
<<But I still don't like the looks of this. Do you still want to
make a scan of it?>> asked Nicarra.
<<Sure do, even more so now. They're hiding something in there
and I want to know what it is,>> responded Unity.
<<What do I need to do?>> asked Nicarra.
<<What you've been doing a great job of so far, keeping your
eyes open. Except now you'll need to keep them doubly peeled
since we know there's some pretty powerful weaponry inside,>>
replied Unity.
<<Okay,>> responded Nicarra. <<You take care of defence and
moving us around, and I'll collect the information.>>
<<That's the idea,>> replied Unity. To The Second Thought, <<Are
you ready for this one?>>
<<I think so, boss, but I'll need LISA's help if any more of those
Trackers appear,>> responded The Second Thought.
<<No problem. LISA...>> started Unity.
<<I heard, boss, re-configuring now. Keep your eyes peeled,
little brother, big sister's here to help,>> thought LISA.
<<Oh geeze, there she goes *again*,>> muttered The Second Thought.
<<All ready?>> asked Unity. <<Then here we go!>>
* * *
Keeping an nervous eye out for anything strange in the node, Unity carefully
moved the team around it in a decreasing orbit while Nicarra's sharp eyes
took in every facet of the installation and fed it to the team's combined
AIs for analysis.
<<Still coming up blank,>> thought LISA. <<This place is tighter
than a hermetically sealed miser!>>
<<Which means they've got something big to hide in there. We're
going to have to make a closer pass,>> thought Unity.
<<Wait a second!>> exclaimed Nicarra. <<I think I've got something
here! Right over there -- see this reading?>> thought Nicarra as
she indicated the reading.
<<Confirmed,>> thought The Second Thought. <<Analyzing now...LISA,
tie in on this one, I can't figure it out.>>
<<Working...>> thought LISA. <<Can't tell, I'll have to have
more information. You're going to have to go in closer and get
a better snapshot of that area. I can't get a proper analysis
of the area at the distance you're at.>>
<<Ok, folks -- you heard her! Nicarra, Second Thought, Hired
Help, if that installation's going to do anything, it's going
to be now,>> thought Unity. <<Nicarra, I'm going to take us
right over the surface of the node, while you and LISA scan
the area. You'll have to get a shot of the area as quickly
as possible. Can you do it?>> asked Unity.commander.
<<Can do,>> replied Nicarra. <<Ready when you are!>> chorused
the collected AIs.
<<Ok, here we go!>> thought Unity.
In a rush the team's disguised packet moved toward the UUT node, then
stopped near it. Nicarra's sensors immediately began collecting readings
on the node, while LISA correllated the information with the vast stores
of information in her memory banks.
<<This can't be...>> started LISA.
<<WHAT can't be?>> demanded Unity. <<We can't stay here much
longer -- you saw what they did to those mis-routed packets I
sent their way!>>
<<I know, boss, but you've got to stay there a little bit longer.
If this is what I think it is, then these guys have something
really BIG to hide!>> LISA replied urgently.
<<Well, just make it *fast* for Murphy's sake!>> Unity.anxious
retorted.
<<Working....no! This is impossible! Boss!! GET OUT OF THERE
NOW!!!!>> screamed LISA.
* * *
Before Nicarra had time to blink, Unity released a smoke-screen, changed
their appearance completely, and hitched a ride on the nearest thing
moving away from the node. As she watched, something huge emerged from
the UUT node. The thing did not even pause when it encountered the
smoke screen but headed straight for the team. Nicarra's impression was that
of a large black and blood-red "monster," with a form different from any
other in the Matrix. Its red coloring shimmered in heart-beat-like
pulses across its form. She could feel its need to kill and destroy.
Suddenly the pursuing behemoth fired a spread of Trackers at the fleeing
team. The Second Thought detected the firing and instantly responded
with a return spread of Echo-9s. Unity.run-away continued his evasive
manuevering, but the monster still chased them.
The Trackers were fast, very fast. Nicarra saw them as a pack of pursuing
"leopards," hungry and ready for the kill. But the Echo-9s were just as
quick and, fortunately for the team, just as deadly. Soon, only two
Echo-9s and the behemoth remained behind the team. Nicarra's eyes grew wide
when she saw the remaining Echo-9s hit the monster. Their combined impact
barely slowed it down. And even though it wasn't nearly as fast as the
Trackers, it was, as Hired Help reported, still faster than the team.
<<Mistress, our pursuer will reach us in exactly 2.2 seconds,>>
said Hired Help.
Nicarra mentally sighed.
<<I didn't really need to know that. What we need is a
distraction or a diversion.>>
Nicarra quickly consulted the records Hired Help kept of their journey
into the Matrix and pinpointed an area they might be able to hide in.
Now, if they could get there.
<<Unity, I think over that way,>> said Nicarra as she displayed a
map, <<is a large data exchange unit. Perhaps we can get lost in
the crowd.>>
Another smoke-screen billowed around them before Unity changed the team's
direction, and they arrived at the exchange in moments. As soon as they
entered the exchange a literal blizzard of information surrounded them.
Small, grey, message packets swirled en masse while slower, low-priority
bulk-transmissions lumbered along with their cargo. Occasionaly a high-
priority information capsule winged by at an incredible speed. The team
slowed, hoping to be concealed in the swirling mass. But their hopes
were soon destroyed.
<<The pursuer will now reach us in 3.0 seconds,>> reported
Hired Help.
<<What is that thing running?>> demanded Unity. <<Those smoke
screens should've thrown anything off for a lot longer than
that!>>
<<I think it's getting ready to fire,>> said Nicarra as she
examined some recent data from her sensors.
Changing course once more, Unity brought the team out of the exchange and
into an older, unused node. Their pursuer fired at the team but hit the
node instead, which instantly disintegrated in a shower of "sparks."
The behemoth went around the now-dead node and resumed its relentless
pursuit of the fleeing team.
<<What do you do when something starts shooting at you in
the Matrix?>> asked a surprised and frightened Nicarra.
<<Shoot back!>> replied Unity.weapons-officer as he suited
action to words.
Five shots took off from the team towards the pursuer. Bright red streaks
converged on the monster, and Nicarra saw at least three hits. There was
no apparent effect.
<<Got anything better to throw at it? I think it just
absorbed those shots and is waiting for you to feed it
more energy,>> said Nicarra.
<<Sensors indicate that the unit is still fully functional
after three definite hits, Mistress,>> said Hired Help.
<<Think I'll try deflecting some of its own shots back,>> thought
Unity. <<And it's tough -- took three of my *best* shots -- but it
may not be able to withstand a hit from its own weapons...>>
<<You keep us moving through the Matrix, and I'll warn when
the HK is ready to fire again,>> said Nicarra.
<<Better yet, how about if you man the battlestations? Co-ordinate
Hired Help with Second Thought and fire on that thing -- hit, miss,
distract, or slow it down till we escape!>> said Unity.
<<Me, miss *that*?>> said Nicarra dryly. <<Something that size
with Hired Help here to aim? Hardly, but I take your point.>>
It took a moment for Nicarra to figure out the weapons control system
so she could fire at the pursuer. Her first shots were direct hits,
but still did no apparant damage. Then she started shooting at anything
and everything within range, and soon the Matrix was littered with dead
nodes, parcels and messages. At the same time Hired Help overloaded
passing data channels and tangled routing points in an effort to delay
or throw off the pursuer.
Nicarra, completely wrapped up in her mission, barely noticed the speed
they were dodging through the Matrix as Unity took every twisty path he
knew in an effort to shake their pursuer. With grim determination, Nicarra
and Hired Help kept up the barrage long enough for Unity.navigator to
reach a safe Matrix exit, a trail of scorched data links and nodes a
hundred miles wide in their wake. Then, finally,
<<Found an exit point. We should be able to get out
of here now...>> started Unity.
<<When?>> asked the worried Nicarra.
<<It must have a lock or something on us! I can't get out!>>
replied Unity.trying-to-escape.
<<Then get ready, it's about to fire again!>> exclaimed Nicarra.
The monster swiftly closed to within range of the team and unleashed its
deadly cargo. Three bolts sizzled through the Matrix, but Unity.defender
managed to deflect them all. Two of the bolts struck the monster, while
the last went of out control into the Matrix. Even deflected, the shots'
residual force threw the team back a good distance.
<<Great Guns Above! I can't do that again,>> thought Unity.
<<Whatever that thing's packing, it's more powerful than
anything I've ever encountered before.>>
<<Then we had better get out of here. It's coming this way
again,>> thought Nicarra.
As Unity rocketed the team further into the Matrix, Nicarra threw half
the weapons in her arsenal at the monster at once. "Explosions" rocked
the immediate area of the Matrix, destroying hapless nodes, links, and
scrambling unimaginable amounts of data unfortunate enough to be in
the area. Unity used the ensuing chaos to get further away from the
pursuer. Combined, their effort gained them a little time.
Unity.running-flat-out, moving like a possessed demon, took the team into
one of the larger public databank "pools" that they had passed earlier.
Nicarra's attention was momentarily divided between the pursuer and the
interior of the databank. Since it was a pool, her mind classified the
data within as "fish." Big and small fish "swam" past. Sometimes two or
more fish would combine into larger fish, and other large fish might split
to several smaller ones.
Quickly, the team dived into the biggest "school" of "fish" the databank
had and matched their movement with the surrounding data. Suddenly, half
the school of "fish" they were hiding in simply vanished. Others "schools"
of data further away started to fragment into swirling clouds of confusion,
or were fused into enormous "whales." Obviously, it was only a matter of
time before the pursuer found the team's hideout. Unity brought the team
out of the "pool" away from the monster and started running again. Just
then, the entire "school" of "fish" they had been hiding in vanished
completely.
<<Mistress, the pursuer will reach us in 0.5 seconds,>> thought
Hired Help.
Nicarra briefly acknowledged the message while trying desparately to
think of some way to save their Matrix hides. Nothing had been mentioned
in LISA's training about what a Matrix hit would do to her real life body,
and she didn't want to find out the hard way. With one "eye" on the
monster, she could see it was swiftly catching up to them. On the other
side, she could see that beyond the last "temple" was a relatively empty
part of the Matrix where the team would be easy prey for their pursuer.
<<I'm going to dodge near this node,>> thought Unity.desperate.
<<It's our only hope.>>
No one voiced the thought that it wasn't much of a hope. At an incredible
speed they flashed around the corporate node with the pursuer close behind
and gaining every microsecond. Suddenly a flashing shape that resembled a
wolf appeared, and, before anyone could react, it attacked the monster in
an explosion of light. It was just the break the team needed.
<<YES! It lost its lock on us! We can get out!>> shouted
Unity.triumphant.
<<Then let's *get* out!>> replied Nicarra.
* * *
Immediately the team was back in the comfortable chairs of Unity's
"Matrix" room. With numb fingers and shaking hands, they slowly
removed their wrist cuffs.
<<What on Earth was that thing?>> asked Nicarra. <<I didn't
know that anything even vaguely like that could be found in the
Matrix.>> Nicarra's body shook with the delayed reaction.
<<LISA, just what *was* that monster we got away from?>>
asked Unity.not-convinced-they-got-away-yet.
<<That, boss, was a Matrix-based Hunter-Killer. I found a reference
in an obscure publication to a top-secret government project on
some new HK weapons systems they were developing with almost the
exact same characteristics your scanners picked up. Since such a
device is impossible in the Matrix, and I had almost discarded
the identification when it attacked,>> replied LISA.
<<It certainly came close enough to us. If it hadn't been for
that wolf...what was that, anyway?>> finished Nicarra.
<<A Matrix "watchdog" set there to protect the last corporate
node we passed from aggressive invaders, Mistress,>> answered
Hired Help.
<<Well, I don't know what it was, but I'm sure glad it was
there!>> added Unity.totally-shook-up. <<LISA, sever the
lab's Matrix connection NOW! Repeat, totally severe the lab's
Matrix connection immediately!>>
Suddenly a siren sounded and various warning lights flashed in the lab.
Nicarra and Unity both jumped in surprise. Before either of them could
ask the cause of the alarm, LISA's voice spoke --
"Lab security has been compromised. Sentinel estimates total
security failure within 15 minutes. Repeat, estimated total
breach of lab security in 15 minutes. Per security regulations
established at lab startup, lab auto-destruct will take place at
full security breach."
<<Lab self-destruct?>> asked Nicarra. <<How powerful might
the blast be?>>
<<Powerful enough that we'll be inside a crater and not a hilltop
if we don't get out of here in time,>> replied Unity.very-worried.
<<Then we had better get a move on,>> thought Nicarra as she
got out of her chair.
"LISA -- initiate full backup of recent logs. Execute program
'Clean-Slate.' Divert all remaining processing power not necessary
for life support to combatting the HK." said Unity.delaying.
"Re-configuring. Executing 'Clean-Slate' now," responded LISA.
* * *
Nicarra first called Lythe --
<<I want you to get your hide back to Callahan's place.>>
<<But I want to help,>> complained the green fire-lizard.
<<Then help by telling Poldrith to get her med-kit, and get
*between* to the field outside here! There isn't room for
her in here, and from Unity's description of the self-destruct,
we want to be far away and we can't get that far on foot.>>
Lythe relunctantly went *between* while Nicarra consulted with LISA
and Hired Help.
<<Anything I can do in the lab? Like pickup backups while
Unity deals with the other equipment?>> asked Nicarra.
With the two AIs guiding her around the lab, Nicarra swiftly stuffed an
available bag with various gadgets while an emotionless voice counted
off the remaining time. At the three minute mark, Unity was standing by
the lab's exit, a dark expression on his face.
"Blast it all to Cygnus X-5 and back..." said
Unity.exasperated.
Nicarra, finished with her gathering, looked at Unity. From his face
she could immediately see something was vitally wrong.
"What is it?" she asked.
Unity slammed his hand against wall near a display by the lab door, then
tried again. Once more the display refused to budge.
"The outside security systems won't go down!" said
Unity.lemme-outta-here. "If I don't disable the security
we'll get cooked trying to get out. If we stay we'll become
minced meat when the high explosives detonate!"
* * *
A firelizard popping in from *between* caused little stir in Callahans,
except in one corner where Nicarra's dragon Poldrith, and the cat-centaur
T'kee anxiously waited.
<<Lythe, what are you doing back here? Where is Nicarra?>>
thought Poldrith, her eyes whirling the bright orange of
distress.
<<Nicarra and Unity are in his lab. She sent me back here to
tell you to grab your med-kit and get back...>> began Lythe.
The firelizard didn't have a chance to finish before Poldrith, med-kit
under one wing, disappeared *between*.
"Hey, wait!" T'Kee cried. "Come ba--!"
It was no good, Poldrith was already gone. The cat-centaur stood lashing
her tail in frustration and muttering to herself.
"Nothing to worry about. She'll be back, with Nicarra and
that Unity person. Then I'll find out what went wrong."
* * *
"Ninety seconds to self-destruct," intoned the emotionless voice.
"Come ON!" said Unity through gritted teeth.
Unity tried once more, and again failed to get the security screen
to shut down.
* * *
Poldrith appeared from out of *between* over the lab. The prairie was
peaceful and all appeared as it should be. Visibly relaxed, the dragon
came in for a landing. Then she touched her rider's mind and felt Nicarra's
growing panic. A chill run the length of the young queen's body.
<<Nicarra, I'll come and get you!!>> cried the dragon.
<<You can't,>> Nicarra replied. <<There isn't enough room in
here for a full grown queen dragon!>>
Nicarra concentrated on forcing her thoughts to quiet ones in order to
keep the young queen from panicking. Outside, Poldrith moved next to
the lab's entrance, looking for some way to help her rider.
* * *
"Fifteen seconds to destruct," intoned the voice.
The little indicator finally glowed green, and Unity.got-it-at-last
yelled --
"GOT IT! Nicarra -- GET OUT OF HERE!!! I'll be up right after
I grab LISA's logs!"
Not waiting for a second invitation, Nicarra bolted through the door and
headed up the stairs two at a time.
* * *
<<Poldrith, we're out! Only a few moments more. Be ready to
jump as quickly as you can!>> thought Nicarra.
Nicarra arrived at the top of the stairs and found Poldrith's large mass
blocking the exit.
<<Nicarra, is that you?>> asked Poldrith.
<<It will be, if you let me out of here!>> answered Nicarra.
<<Sorry, rider. Guess I was too anxious to help,>> replied
Poldrith as she moved out of the way.
* * *
Unity raced over to a machine, tore open a door, reached inside,
and pulled a handle. Immediately, a small, briefcase-sized metal
case emerged. Unity.escape grabbed the case, ran to the exit and
hit the door full tilt. Left to itself in the now-deserted lab,
the emotionless voice continued its methodical count --
"Begin final countdown to security destruct.
Five seconds...Four seconds..."
* * *
Unity.running-for-his-life exploded out of the outer doorway. Making a
headlong leap, he landed on Poldrith and yelled --
"GO GO GO GO GO!"
Poldrith, urged by Nicarra, jumped airborn as Unity leaped. Spreading
her wings, the young queen pushed hard to in an effort to gain enough
altitude to go *between*. Nicarra alternated between encouraging her
dragon and fearful looks at the ground over the lab with one urgent
question on her mind:
<<Will we get *between* in time?>>
Unity.holding-on-for-dear-life scrabbled for a better hold on the
straining dragon's body.
* * *
In Callahan's, the felinoid tapped her left fore- and right hind-paws in
annoyance. The green firelizard, concentrating with all her might on the
faint contact she had with Poldrith, announced to the hushed bar...
<<She is there! Nicarra on Poldrith, Unity going to her! They...>>
when with a cry the firelizard suddenly disappeared *between* as well.
* * *
Inside the lab, the emotionless voice continued its final countdown --
"Three seconds...Two seconds...One second...
Begin detonation sequence."
The destruct began by sending a massive power surge through the lab's
electronic systems. Billows of smoke followed within seconds as metal
and plastic melted with abandon in the sudden heat. Fires erupted around
various machines as they liquified. Two seconds later, enough high
explosives to level ten city blocks detonated.
* * *
Poldrith was about to make the jump *between* when suddenly the ground
beneath her opened and blinding light ripped through the night sky. A
dull roar followed powerful shock waves that threatened to knock the
airborn trio out of the air. Dirt and smoke filled the air obscuring
all vision, while shrapnel and large shards of flying concrete erupted
from the blossoming crater and shredded anything unfortunate enough to
get in its way.
The scream of a severely wounded dragon is a terrible sound to hear...
* * *
A short while later, small brush fires lit in the praire grass around
the lab's location. Except for the crackling sounds of burning grass,
all was quiet. Then, while a soft breeze tugged fitfully at the gathering
smoke, clouds gathered overhead, and a gentle rain began to fall. Soon
the grass fires were extinguished, and except for a gentle sound from
the falling rain, all was quiet in the clearing.
* * *
A Santa Mateo, California news service article was posted early the next
day. Excerpts follow:
"Authorities are asking for assistance from anyone who was in
the San Mateo California Matrix node yesterday around 7:00 PM
local time. Carla Roberta, Matrix Node Administrator for the San
Mateo Matrix center, was taken to the San Mateo hospital's neuro-
trauma ward with severe neurological trauma. Doctors have not been
diagnose the exact cause of the damage, except to say it was caused
by something connected with the Matrix. Anyone who has any
information, please contact the San Mateo Matrix Administration
office as soon as possible."
Three days later, an article was posted remotely by a news service out
of Havre, Montana. Excerpts follow:
"Three days after the recent Matrix accident, the city of Havre,
Montana, is still in a state of shock. Pauline Tornaugh, star pupil
at Younghill State High School, was buried today in a private
ceremony. Susan Hooper, friend of the late Pauline Tornaugh, is in
a deep coma at the St. Joseph's neuro-trauma center suffering from
neurological damage caused by the same Matrix accident. Doctors have
so far refused to discuss her case or condition at this time, except
to say that the next week will be critical.
Younghill State High was closed today in memory of the double
tragedy. Authorities have shut down the entire Havre Matrix node
and all connecting nodes for extensive testing over the next month.
Pauline was the only child of the widower Paul Tornaugh."
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: Here ends part 2 of volume 8 in the ongoing
adventures of The Entity/Unity.*.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong. Responses will be shared with the various co-authors.
Please send all responses to unity-feedback@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT:
All materials copyright (C) 1991, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights reserved.
Distribution permission granted to any medium, service, or archive which
does NOT charge a fee for this article, restricts redistribution, or is
placed under compilation or any other derivative form of copyright without
the prior knowledge and verifiable consent of the author.
OTHER COPYRIGHT STUFF: Certain character types (dragons and firelizards)
were inspired by the Anne McCaffery "Pern" series. The Shadowrun game
provided us with the name ARES Macrotechnology, although that could be
easily changed at will for ye olde generic evil company.
DISCLAIMER:
Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or real, is
entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
MESSAGE QUOTE: "Happy Holidays!"
###########################################################################
>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.*: When a Nightmare Gets Personal (Part 2 of 2)
Date: 11 Dec 91 18:52:00 GMT
[this is the second half of Vol 8, Part 2]
For Unity and Nicarra, time passed slowly. After Unity's buried re-router
shut down and the Trackers had left with the Echo-9s in hot pursuit, the
UUT node had quieted down and resumed being the picture of its original
self, corporate and four-square in every way.
<<You would think nothing had had happened,>> commented Nicarra.
<<I think that's what its supposed to look like,>> responded Unity.
<<But I still don't like the looks of this. Do you still want to
make a scan of it?>> asked Nicarra.
<<Sure do, even more so now. They're hiding something in there
and I want to know what it is,>> responded Unity.
<<What do I need to do?>> asked Nicarra.
<<What you've been doing a great job of so far, keeping your
eyes open. Except now you'll need to keep them doubly peeled
since we know there's some pretty powerful weaponry inside,>>
replied Unity.
<<Okay,>> responded Nicarra. <<You take care of defence and
moving us around, and I'll collect the information.>>
<<That's the idea,>> replied Unity. To The Second Thought, <<Are
you ready for this one?>>
<<I think so, boss, but I'll need LISA's help if any more of those
Trackers appear,>> responded The Second Thought.
<<No problem. LISA...>> started Unity.
<<I heard, boss, re-configuring now. Keep your eyes peeled,
little brother, big sister's here to help,>> thought LISA.
<<Oh geeze, there she goes *again*,>> muttered The Second Thought.
<<All ready?>> asked Unity. <<Then here we go!>>
* * *
Keeping an nervous eye out for anything strange in the node, Unity carefully
moved the team around it in a decreasing orbit while Nicarra's sharp eyes
took in every facet of the installation and fed it to the team's combined
AIs for analysis.
<<Still coming up blank,>> thought LISA. <<This place is tighter
than a hermetically sealed miser!>>
<<Which means they've got something big to hide in there. We're
going to have to make a closer pass,>> thought Unity.
<<Wait a second!>> exclaimed Nicarra. <<I think I've got something
here! Right over there -- see this reading?>> thought Nicarra as
she indicated the reading.
<<Confirmed,>> thought The Second Thought. <<Analyzing now...LISA,
tie in on this one, I can't figure it out.>>
<<Working...>> thought LISA. <<Can't tell, I'll have to have
more information. You're going to have to go in closer and get
a better snapshot of that area. I can't get a proper analysis
of the area at the distance you're at.>>
<<Ok, folks -- you heard her! Nicarra, Second Thought, Hired
Help, if that installation's going to do anything, it's going
to be now,>> thought Unity. <<Nicarra, I'm going to take us
right over the surface of the node, while you and LISA scan
the area. You'll have to get a shot of the area as quickly
as possible. Can you do it?>> asked Unity.commander.
<<Can do,>> replied Nicarra. <<Ready when you are!>> chorused
the collected AIs.
<<Ok, here we go!>> thought Unity.
In a rush the team's disguised packet moved toward the UUT node, then
stopped near it. Nicarra's sensors immediately began collecting readings
on the node, while LISA correllated the information with the vast stores
of information in her memory banks.
<<This can't be...>> started LISA.
<<WHAT can't be?>> demanded Unity. <<We can't stay here much
longer -- you saw what they did to those mis-routed packets I
sent their way!>>
<<I know, boss, but you've got to stay there a little bit longer.
If this is what I think it is, then these guys have something
really BIG to hide!>> LISA replied urgently.
<<Well, just make it *fast* for Murphy's sake!>> Unity.anxious
retorted.
<<Working....no! This is impossible! Boss!! GET OUT OF THERE
NOW!!!!>> screamed LISA.
* * *
Before Nicarra had time to blink, Unity released a smoke-screen, changed
their appearance completely, and hitched a ride on the nearest thing
moving away from the node. As she watched, something huge emerged from
the UUT node. The thing did not even pause when it encountered the
smoke screen but headed straight for the team. Nicarra's impression was that
of a large black and blood-red "monster," with a form different from any
other in the Matrix. Its red coloring shimmered in heart-beat-like
pulses across its form. She could feel its need to kill and destroy.
Suddenly the pursuing behemoth fired a spread of Trackers at the fleeing
team. The Second Thought detected the firing and instantly responded
with a return spread of Echo-9s. Unity.run-away continued his evasive
manuevering, but the monster still chased them.
The Trackers were fast, very fast. Nicarra saw them as a pack of pursuing
"leopards," hungry and ready for the kill. But the Echo-9s were just as
quick and, fortunately for the team, just as deadly. Soon, only two
Echo-9s and the behemoth remained behind the team. Nicarra's eyes grew wide
when she saw the remaining Echo-9s hit the monster. Their combined impact
barely slowed it down. And even though it wasn't nearly as fast as the
Trackers, it was, as Hired Help reported, still faster than the team.
<<Mistress, our pursuer will reach us in exactly 2.2 seconds,>>
said Hired Help.
Nicarra mentally sighed.
<<I didn't really need to know that. What we need is a
distraction or a diversion.>>
Nicarra quickly consulted the records Hired Help kept of their journey
into the Matrix and pinpointed an area they might be able to hide in.
Now, if they could get there.
<<Unity, I think over that way,>> said Nicarra as she displayed a
map, <<is a large data exchange unit. Perhaps we can get lost in
the crowd.>>
Another smoke-screen billowed around them before Unity changed the team's
direction, and they arrived at the exchange in moments. As soon as they
entered the exchange a literal blizzard of information surrounded them.
Small, grey, message packets swirled en masse while slower, low-priority
bulk-transmissions lumbered along with their cargo. Occasionaly a high-
priority information capsule winged by at an incredible speed. The team
slowed, hoping to be concealed in the swirling mass. But their hopes
were soon destroyed.
<<The pursuer will now reach us in 3.0 seconds,>> reported
Hired Help.
<<What is that thing running?>> demanded Unity. <<Those smoke
screens should've thrown anything off for a lot longer than
that!>>
<<I think it's getting ready to fire,>> said Nicarra as she
examined some recent data from her sensors.
Changing course once more, Unity brought the team out of the exchange and
into an older, unused node. Their pursuer fired at the team but hit the
node instead, which instantly disintegrated in a shower of "sparks."
The behemoth went around the now-dead node and resumed its relentless
pursuit of the fleeing team.
<<What do you do when something starts shooting at you in
the Matrix?>> asked a surprised and frightened Nicarra.
<<Shoot back!>> replied Unity.weapons-officer as he suited
action to words.
Five shots took off from the team towards the pursuer. Bright red streaks
converged on the monster, and Nicarra saw at least three hits. There was
no apparent effect.
<<Got anything better to throw at it? I think it just
absorbed those shots and is waiting for you to feed it
more energy,>> said Nicarra.
<<Sensors indicate that the unit is still fully functional
after three definite hits, Mistress,>> said Hired Help.
<<Think I'll try deflecting some of its own shots back,>> thought
Unity. <<And it's tough -- took three of my *best* shots -- but it
may not be able to withstand a hit from its own weapons...>>
<<You keep us moving through the Matrix, and I'll warn when
the HK is ready to fire again,>> said Nicarra.
<<Better yet, how about if you man the battlestations? Co-ordinate
Hired Help with Second Thought and fire on that thing -- hit, miss,
distract, or slow it down till we escape!>> said Unity.
<<Me, miss *that*?>> said Nicarra dryly. <<Something that size
with Hired Help here to aim? Hardly, but I take your point.>>
It took a moment for Nicarra to figure out the weapons control system
so she could fire at the pursuer. Her first shots were direct hits,
but still did no apparant damage. Then she started shooting at anything
and everything within range, and soon the Matrix was littered with dead
nodes, parcels and messages. At the same time Hired Help overloaded
passing data channels and tangled routing points in an effort to delay
or throw off the pursuer.
Nicarra, completely wrapped up in her mission, barely noticed the speed
they were dodging through the Matrix as Unity took every twisty path he
knew in an effort to shake their pursuer. With grim determination, Nicarra
and Hired Help kept up the barrage long enough for Unity.navigator to
reach a safe Matrix exit, a trail of scorched data links and nodes a
hundred miles wide in their wake. Then, finally,
<<Found an exit point. We should be able to get out
of here now...>> started Unity.
<<When?>> asked the worried Nicarra.
<<It must have a lock or something on us! I can't get out!>>
replied Unity.trying-to-escape.
<<Then get ready, it's about to fire again!>> exclaimed Nicarra.
The monster swiftly closed to within range of the team and unleashed its
deadly cargo. Three bolts sizzled through the Matrix, but Unity.defender
managed to deflect them all. Two of the bolts struck the monster, while
the last went of out control into the Matrix. Even deflected, the shots'
residual force threw the team back a good distance.
<<Great Guns Above! I can't do that again,>> thought Unity.
<<Whatever that thing's packing, it's more powerful than
anything I've ever encountered before.>>
<<Then we had better get out of here. It's coming this way
again,>> thought Nicarra.
As Unity rocketed the team further into the Matrix, Nicarra threw half
the weapons in her arsenal at the monster at once. "Explosions" rocked
the immediate area of the Matrix, destroying hapless nodes, links, and
scrambling unimaginable amounts of data unfortunate enough to be in
the area. Unity used the ensuing chaos to get further away from the
pursuer. Combined, their effort gained them a little time.
Unity.running-flat-out, moving like a possessed demon, took the team into
one of the larger public databank "pools" that they had passed earlier.
Nicarra's attention was momentarily divided between the pursuer and the
interior of the databank. Since it was a pool, her mind classified the
data within as "fish." Big and small fish "swam" past. Sometimes two or
more fish would combine into larger fish, and other large fish might split
to several smaller ones.
Quickly, the team dived into the biggest "school" of "fish" the databank
had and matched their movement with the surrounding data. Suddenly, half
the school of "fish" they were hiding in simply vanished. Others "schools"
of data further away started to fragment into swirling clouds of confusion,
or were fused into enormous "whales." Obviously, it was only a matter of
time before the pursuer found the team's hideout. Unity brought the team
out of the "pool" away from the monster and started running again. Just
then, the entire "school" of "fish" they had been hiding in vanished
completely.
<<Mistress, the pursuer will reach us in 0.5 seconds,>> thought
Hired Help.
Nicarra briefly acknowledged the message while trying desparately to
think of some way to save their Matrix hides. Nothing had been mentioned
in LISA's training about what a Matrix hit would do to her real life body,
and she didn't want to find out the hard way. With one "eye" on the
monster, she could see it was swiftly catching up to them. On the other
side, she could see that beyond the last "temple" was a relatively empty
part of the Matrix where the team would be easy prey for their pursuer.
<<I'm going to dodge near this node,>> thought Unity.desperate.
<<It's our only hope.>>
No one voiced the thought that it wasn't much of a hope. At an incredible
speed they flashed around the corporate node with the pursuer close behind
and gaining every microsecond. Suddenly a flashing shape that resembled a
wolf appeared, and, before anyone could react, it attacked the monster in
an explosion of light. It was just the break the team needed.
<<YES! It lost its lock on us! We can get out!>> shouted
Unity.triumphant.
<<Then let's *get* out!>> replied Nicarra.
* * *
Immediately the team was back in the comfortable chairs of Unity's
"Matrix" room. With numb fingers and shaking hands, they slowly
removed their wrist cuffs.
<<What on Earth was that thing?>> asked Nicarra. <<I didn't
know that anything even vaguely like that could be found in the
Matrix.>> Nicarra's body shook with the delayed reaction.
<<LISA, just what *was* that monster we got away from?>>
asked Unity.not-convinced-they-got-away-yet.
<<That, boss, was a Matrix-based Hunter-Killer. I found a reference
in an obscure publication to a top-secret government project on
some new HK weapons systems they were developing with almost the
exact same characteristics your scanners picked up. Since such a
device is impossible in the Matrix, and I had almost discarded
the identification when it attacked,>> replied LISA.
<<It certainly came close enough to us. If it hadn't been for
that wolf...what was that, anyway?>> finished Nicarra.
<<A Matrix "watchdog" set there to protect the last corporate
node we passed from aggressive invaders, Mistress,>> answered
Hired Help.
<<Well, I don't know what it was, but I'm sure glad it was
there!>> added Unity.totally-shook-up. <<LISA, sever the
lab's Matrix connection NOW! Repeat, totally severe the lab's
Matrix connection immediately!>>
Suddenly a siren sounded and various warning lights flashed in the lab.
Nicarra and Unity both jumped in surprise. Before either of them could
ask the cause of the alarm, LISA's voice spoke --
"Lab security has been compromised. Sentinel estimates total
security failure within 15 minutes. Repeat, estimated total
breach of lab security in 15 minutes. Per security regulations
established at lab startup, lab auto-destruct will take place at
full security breach."
<<Lab self-destruct?>> asked Nicarra. <<How powerful might
the blast be?>>
<<Powerful enough that we'll be inside a crater and not a hilltop
if we don't get out of here in time,>> replied Unity.very-worried.
<<Then we had better get a move on,>> thought Nicarra as she
got out of her chair.
"LISA -- initiate full backup of recent logs. Execute program
'Clean-Slate.' Divert all remaining processing power not necessary
for life support to combatting the HK." said Unity.delaying.
"Re-configuring. Executing 'Clean-Slate' now," responded LISA.
* * *
Nicarra first called Lythe --
<<I want you to get your hide back to Callahan's place.>>
<<But I want to help,>> complained the green fire-lizard.
<<Then help by telling Poldrith to get her med-kit, and get
*between* to the field outside here! There isn't room for
her in here, and from Unity's description of the self-destruct,
we want to be far away and we can't get that far on foot.>>
Lythe relunctantly went *between* while Nicarra consulted with LISA
and Hired Help.
<<Anything I can do in the lab? Like pickup backups while
Unity deals with the other equipment?>> asked Nicarra.
With the two AIs guiding her around the lab, Nicarra swiftly stuffed an
available bag with various gadgets while an emotionless voice counted
off the remaining time. At the three minute mark, Unity was standing by
the lab's exit, a dark expression on his face.
"Blast it all to Cygnus X-5 and back..." said
Unity.exasperated.
Nicarra, finished with her gathering, looked at Unity. From his face
she could immediately see something was vitally wrong.
"What is it?" she asked.
Unity slammed his hand against wall near a display by the lab door, then
tried again. Once more the display refused to budge.
"The outside security systems won't go down!" said
Unity.lemme-outta-here. "If I don't disable the security
we'll get cooked trying to get out. If we stay we'll become
minced meat when the high explosives detonate!"
* * *
A firelizard popping in from *between* caused little stir in Callahans,
except in one corner where Nicarra's dragon Poldrith, and the cat-centaur
T'kee anxiously waited.
<<Lythe, what are you doing back here? Where is Nicarra?>>
thought Poldrith, her eyes whirling the bright orange of
distress.
<<Nicarra and Unity are in his lab. She sent me back here to
tell you to grab your med-kit and get back...>> began Lythe.
The firelizard didn't have a chance to finish before Poldrith, med-kit
under one wing, disappeared *between*.
"Hey, wait!" T'Kee cried. "Come ba--!"
It was no good, Poldrith was already gone. The cat-centaur stood lashing
her tail in frustration and muttering to herself.
"Nothing to worry about. She'll be back, with Nicarra and
that Unity person. Then I'll find out what went wrong."
* * *
"Ninety seconds to self-destruct," intoned the emotionless voice.
"Come ON!" said Unity through gritted teeth.
Unity tried once more, and again failed to get the security screen
to shut down.
* * *
Poldrith appeared from out of *between* over the lab. The prairie was
peaceful and all appeared as it should be. Visibly relaxed, the dragon
came in for a landing. Then she touched her rider's mind and felt Nicarra's
growing panic. A chill run the length of the young queen's body.
<<Nicarra, I'll come and get you!!>> cried the dragon.
<<You can't,>> Nicarra replied. <<There isn't enough room in
here for a full grown queen dragon!>>
Nicarra concentrated on forcing her thoughts to quiet ones in order to
keep the young queen from panicking. Outside, Poldrith moved next to
the lab's entrance, looking for some way to help her rider.
* * *
"Fifteen seconds to destruct," intoned the voice.
The little indicator finally glowed green, and Unity.got-it-at-last
yelled --
"GOT IT! Nicarra -- GET OUT OF HERE!!! I'll be up right after
I grab LISA's logs!"
Not waiting for a second invitation, Nicarra bolted through the door and
headed up the stairs two at a time.
* * *
<<Poldrith, we're out! Only a few moments more. Be ready to
jump as quickly as you can!>> thought Nicarra.
Nicarra arrived at the top of the stairs and found Poldrith's large mass
blocking the exit.
<<Nicarra, is that you?>> asked Poldrith.
<<It will be, if you let me out of here!>> answered Nicarra.
<<Sorry, rider. Guess I was too anxious to help,>> replied
Poldrith as she moved out of the way.
* * *
Unity raced over to a machine, tore open a door, reached inside,
and pulled a handle. Immediately, a small, briefcase-sized metal
case emerged. Unity.escape grabbed the case, ran to the exit and
hit the door full tilt. Left to itself in the now-deserted lab,
the emotionless voice continued its methodical count --
"Begin final countdown to security destruct.
Five seconds...Four seconds..."
* * *
Unity.running-for-his-life exploded out of the outer doorway. Making a
headlong leap, he landed on Poldrith and yelled --
"GO GO GO GO GO!"
Poldrith, urged by Nicarra, jumped airborn as Unity leaped. Spreading
her wings, the young queen pushed hard to in an effort to gain enough
altitude to go *between*. Nicarra alternated between encouraging her
dragon and fearful looks at the ground over the lab with one urgent
question on her mind:
<<Will we get *between* in time?>>
Unity.holding-on-for-dear-life scrabbled for a better hold on the
straining dragon's body.
* * *
In Callahan's, the felinoid tapped her left fore- and right hind-paws in
annoyance. The green firelizard, concentrating with all her might on the
faint contact she had with Poldrith, announced to the hushed bar...
<<She is there! Nicarra on Poldrith, Unity going to her! They...>>
when with a cry the firelizard suddenly disappeared *between* as well.
* * *
Inside the lab, the emotionless voice continued its final countdown --
"Three seconds...Two seconds...One second...
Begin detonation sequence."
The destruct began by sending a massive power surge through the lab's
electronic systems. Billows of smoke followed within seconds as metal
and plastic melted with abandon in the sudden heat. Fires erupted around
various machines as they liquified. Two seconds later, enough high
explosives to level ten city blocks detonated.
* * *
Poldrith was about to make the jump *between* when suddenly the ground
beneath her opened and blinding light ripped through the night sky. A
dull roar followed powerful shock waves that threatened to knock the
airborn trio out of the air. Dirt and smoke filled the air obscuring
all vision, while shrapnel and large shards of flying concrete erupted
from the blossoming crater and shredded anything unfortunate enough to
get in its way.
The scream of a severely wounded dragon is a terrible sound to hear...
* * *
A short while later, small brush fires lit in the praire grass around
the lab's location. Except for the crackling sounds of burning grass,
all was quiet. Then, while a soft breeze tugged fitfully at the gathering
smoke, clouds gathered overhead, and a gentle rain began to fall. Soon
the grass fires were extinguished, and except for a gentle sound from
the falling rain, all was quiet in the clearing.
* * *
A Santa Mateo, California news service article was posted early the next
day. Excerpts follow:
"Authorities are asking for assistance from anyone who was in
the San Mateo California Matrix node yesterday around 7:00 PM
local time. Carla Roberta, Matrix Node Administrator for the San
Mateo Matrix center, was taken to the San Mateo hospital's neuro-
trauma ward with severe neurological trauma. Doctors have not been
diagnose the exact cause of the damage, except to say it was caused
by something connected with the Matrix. Anyone who has any
information, please contact the San Mateo Matrix Administration
office as soon as possible."
Three days later, an article was posted remotely by a news service out
of Havre, Montana. Excerpts follow:
"Three days after the recent Matrix accident, the city of Havre,
Montana, is still in a state of shock. Pauline Tornaugh, star pupil
at Younghill State High School, was buried today in a private
ceremony. Susan Hooper, friend of the late Pauline Tornaugh, is in
a deep coma at the St. Joseph's neuro-trauma center suffering from
neurological damage caused by the same Matrix accident. Doctors have
so far refused to discuss her case or condition at this time, except
to say that the next week will be critical.
Younghill State High was closed today in memory of the double
tragedy. Authorities have shut down the entire Havre Matrix node
and all connecting nodes for extensive testing over the next month.
Pauline was the only child of the widower Paul Tornaugh."
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: Here ends part 2 of volume 8 in the ongoing
adventures of The Entity/Unity.*.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong. Responses will be shared with the various co-authors.
Please send all responses to unity-feedback@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT:
All materials copyright (C) 1991, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights reserved.
Distribution permission granted to any medium, service, or archive which
does NOT charge a fee for this article, restricts redistribution, or is
placed under compilation or any other derivative form of copyright without
the prior knowledge and verifiable consent of the author.
OTHER COPYRIGHT STUFF: Certain character types (dragons and firelizards)
were inspired by the Anne McCaffery "Pern" series. The Shadowrun game
provided us with the name ARES Macrotechnology, although that could be
easily changed at will for ye olde generic evil company.
DISCLAIMER:
Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or real, is
entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
MESSAGE QUOTE: "Happy Holidays!"
###########################################################################
From: timk@tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Unity.* "Daytime Nightmares"
Date: 15 Oct 92 14:50:20 GMT
[A first post of this didn't seem to get out so I'm trying again.
If you see this twice, that's why. TDK]
###########################################################################
TITLE: "Daytime Nightmares"
DEFINITIONS:
DAR = Dial A Reality: A device used to access the various USENET reality
groups. (See also "NewsReader", "rn", "xrn", "gnurn", "abc", "xyz"
and other associated alphabetical collections.) (See also "BTR")
CLOSING COMMENT: In all probability this is the final post in the
Unity.* series.
For those of you who've come into this story late, or saw it when last we
posted (almost a year ago), one of our readers has generously made an FTP
site available for our archives to sit so others can reach it without
having to resort to email/uucp file transfers. Here's where to look:
List of FTP Archive sites of the Unity.* logfiles:
--------------------------------------------------
bach.cs.columbia.edu [128.59.28.19]. Login as either 'ftp' or 'anonymous'.
ada.stat.uga.edu log in as 'anonymous', leave your
address as the password (you can
actually leave anything, but I'd
enjoy seeing from whence my guests
come!) and look around to your
heart's content. Unity/Entity stuff
is in the /pub/Text/Texts directory.
While this entry doesn't mark the end of Unity's story, it does leave it
wide open for a good number of different possibilities in terms of future
writing. One such story (the UN Patrol in alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo) has been
set in the distant future after the Unity.* nightmare series, and is a more
loose collaboration between various net-writers. Drop by and take a look
if you have the chance.
In closing, the collaborative effort which produced the series as
far as it went was nothing short of amazing, not to mention lots
of fun for everyone concerned. However, fun doesn't pay the bills
when nobody's kicking into the kitty, so we have to call it a story
for now and move on to other things for now.
Maybe someday in the distant future, when I've got more time to devote to
stuff like this (or have sufficient SW aids to deal with all the nitty-
gritty detail work that takes up so much time) the story may continue.
We'll have to just wait and see. ;-) There were many, many ideas discussed
in terms of future directions this story could go, and I hope to pull
some of them out of the 4MB+ of correspondance we had so far. (It took
a LOT of writing to put these things together!).
Until then, enjoy the closing (for now) issue of Unity.*, and if you happen
to drop by alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo and see something else I write which you
like, drop me a line! And if you don't like it, drop me a line anyway. :-)
Many, many thanks to the following folks who helped make it such an
enjoyable effort. RL names are followed by character names in
quotes:
- Lynn Alford ("Nicarra") for her many hours of collaborative
participation, who was the first to work with me in "Never
Underestimate the Power of Forgiveness." How she put with me
I'll never know. (Lynn, after being away from some of those
older posts and re-reading them, you were right. I was just
too set on my own ideas to see it.)
- Phyllis Rostykus ("Johnny Innocent") for her incisive comments
and critical comments at an important juncture way back when
things were really going hot and heavy. It made all the difference
in the world. Working with you was a pleasure.
- Elizabeth McCoy ("T'kee") who spent who knows how many hours
providing final proof-reading of prior issues, and in general
being nit-picky and keeping me in line when I just wanted to
post the damn thing and get it out of my hair. (She hasn't
touched this issue, so any errors are all mine.) I'll always
remember the "Death of Ten-Thousand Paper-cuts" with fondness. :-)
- Mark "Klone Crimson" Friedman for many helpful comments, ideas,
and creative friction. :-) (Somewhere out there he has an intro
for his character into the story, and I deeply regret we didn't
get to use it. Ask him nicely, and you may get a copy. :-)
- Peter Creath ("Mikhal") who booted me out of my lethargy
and got me to post this last installment. He had another
'evil' character which I'd have liked to learned more about.
(Maybe we'll see more in Mikhal's future adventures?)
- Rachel ("Lady Carotene") for her colorful character (no pun
intended), and her various waifs which was to've added some
interesting side-effects to the story.
- Adrian Waterworth ("Garrett") wrote up an interestingly
evil character and then had to pull out due to time commitments.
I regret not having a chance to use him so far. (Maybe in a future
when I have a chance to flush out some other old buffers...)
Tizrak, ShadowShine, ThoughtFox, Birith, and William Yang were also
part of this as well. You know who you are, and you have my thanks
for your participation!
To everyone else, enjoy and happy netting!
Tim Kuehn timk@tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
Creator, Unity.*
###########################################################################
Poldrith grabbed the medkit from Berith with T'kee in hot pursuit. Just as
the young queen made to launch herself out of callahans, T'kee called out -
"Hey, wait!" T'Kee cried. "Come ba--!"
It was no good, Poldrith had already gone *between*. The cat-centaur
stood lashing her tail in frustration and muttering to herself.
"Nothing to worry about. She'll be back, with Nicarra and
that Unity person. Then I'll find out what went wrong."
The felinoid tapped her left fore- and right hind-paws.
<<Anyway,>> she thought, addressing her lower-brain, <<there's
probably nothing that I could do that a Perenese dragon
couldn't do just as well, if not better.>>
The cat-centaur's lower-brain, having nothing to do besides keeping
all the aft legs straight, said nothing. It didn't have to. T'Kee
was already trying not to think.
<<Except maybe first aid. Or stealth. Or maybe much of
anything if NIcarra's hurt too badly...>> continued T'kee
to herself.
"No, I'm just being silly." said T'kee aloud.
With that thought T'Kee padded heavily over to the bar and ordered a
chocolate milk, then slunk off to a nearby corner. Her tawny-chocolate
fur melded with the shadowed wood paneling in Lurker's Corner.
"I am just being silly," she repeated quietly. "They don't
need over 400 pounds of fuzzy creature sticking her whiskers
into everything."
A brief amount of time passed, which, to T'kee, seemed like an eternity.
"It's been over thirty seconds. They should have been back by
now. If only Poldrith had been wearing a saddle I could have
clung to; I'd have just jumped for it." said T'kee aloud to
nobody in particular.
T'Kee's whiskers quirked to one side as she wrinkled her nose in thought.
"I need a saddle. Hmmmm... I wonder if I've got one in my
Pouch?"
T'Kee began to rummage in her God-Pouch -- the only half-way holy item
she'd ever found, for all that she'd found a door into alt.callahans,
and her tribe regarded her as the sacred creation of the Goddess' mind.
Which wasn't bad for being someone's lucky/unlucky kit who'd just gotten
lost in the woods.
"Brush, money-stones, fang-polish..." she mumbled, covering
a table-top with various small items. "Nope -- no saddles.
Not even enough leather bits to make more than a skinny belt
to hang onto."
Disgusted, she swept the mess back into the too-small-to-hold-it-all
Pouch. With a bit of stuffing, everything fit, and T'Kee tied it shut
again.
<<Maybe there's something here I could use...?>> she thought,
looking about. <<Tables, chairs? No, not areodynamically sound.
Rugs? No, too nice for that. The Virtual Pizza Maker? Pretty
bulky... Hey! Didn't someone get it to make things besides
pizzas?>>
With a young cat-centaur, to think is usually to act in the same breath.
Especially if it involved tinkering with something. T'Kee was a moderately
young cat-centaur. The Virtual Pizza Maker was tinker-able. A devious
look in her eye, T'kee looked the machine over. The VPM cringed slightly
as the large felinoid approached it with a delicate stone wedge/screwdriver
and a yellow-hilted Phillips 'driver. The machine started to inch away
but was stopped when T'Kee put one fore-paw on it's power-cord.
Cornered, the VPM trembled in fear, then suddenly shot a pizza at T'kee!
When T'Kee ducked the VPM made a break for it, but the cat-centaur pounced
and stopped the machine in its tracks. A huge dust-cloud soon arose from
the struggle between cat-centaur and pizza maker with pizzas, fur, and
peanuts flying out of the furious cloud the action between two combatants.
When the dust finally settled all could see a truly mussed but triumphant
T'Kee hauling a great mass of leather straps and "sheets" from the defeated
Virtual Pizza Maker. As T'kee untangled the straps, the VPM spat out a
few last buckles and edged away to sulk.
After commandeering some of the left-over soap-boxes, T'Kee arranged the
large saddle (for such it was) and tried it out. It looked mostly like a
human saddle, but much longer, and with strange straps and "stirrups."
Sitting astride her creation, T'Kee checked the "stirrups" -- thick wedges
of leather that her four paws rested on. Digging her claws in, she tested
on the material, which held fast. Then, reaching way back, she flipped a
couple of straps over her haunches and fastened them on both sides of her
tail. Then she fastened the side-straps to the tip of the "V" on the top of
her haunches. That was followed by four more straps attached to her belt,
two of in front of and two behind her fore-legs.
T'Kee wriggled a bit to check the fit, then nudged one of the straps a bit
further from her "elbow." One last strap went over her lower back (in
middle of her ribs), then grabbed the hand-bar in front of her.
"Now," she mused aloud for the benefit of all who were
watching her, "all I need is a dragon..."
"Any volunteers?" T'Kee asked the assembled entities in the bar.
Most of the dragons were asleep, but one, a large blue, looked up in
response to the question. Giving T'kee a thoughtful blink first, he said,
<<What are you offering?>>
T'Kee grinned.
"Well, what do you want?"
The dragon looked over at the sulking Virtual Pizza Maker and his jaw gaped
slightly in a reptilian grin.
<<Got enough room on that saddle of yours for a *lot* of pizza?>>
"Oh, I think I could manage that," said T'Kee as she scratched
at one of her pointed ears and considered the quaking VPM. "I might
even be able to make that machine spawn itself. Would you like--?"
But at that moment, the little green firelizard Lythe gave an ear-piercing
screech and launched into the air broadcasting pain and fear! Dragons
bugled and T'Kee flattened her ears as Lythe went *between*.
Birith turned to face the gaping cat-centaur.
<<Something's happened to Poldrith! Get your saddle on me, now!>>
Still somewhat stunned, T'Kee fumbled at the straps and buckles that held
her to the saddle, and undid them in record time. So intent was she on her
work that she dragged the saddle over to Birith's side she hardly noticed
the assistance of other Callahans' in getting the contraption on Birith's
back and fastened down.
<<Hang on,>> the dragon said, crouching slightly.
T'Kee eyed the rafters of Callahans in apprehension. She'd seen plenty of
dragons popping in and out without harm, but she'd never been *on* one.
Then a thought occured to the felinoid, and she started to say,
"I've never been flying before..."
when Birith leaped -- and they were *between*.
The next thing T'kee felt was an incredibly bone-chilling cold, a numbing
sense of airless non-existance, followed by the hard impact of fresh air
mixed with the pattering of rain from a heavy drizzle.
"Eeek," said a wide-eyed T'Kee in shock.
Ignoring the damp cold, she gulped in air. Never mind that it tasted of
smoke, never mind that it was half-water and cold, it was *air*, real air.
After a moment, she noticed how close the clouds were, but kept her eyes
turned upwards; *between* had been a nasty shock, and the cat-centaur was
*not* sure that flying would be much better now. Even if she *had* been
rather looking forward to it. Then an incoherent feeling of horror and
amazement filled her mind. If dragons cursed, Birith would have been doing
so now.
<<Look! Look at that!>>
Thus prodded, T'Kee looked down once more, nervously clutching at her
saddle's stirrups and hand-straps.
"Plague and famine," she whispered.
It was rather...impressive, that crater. From up here it was worse than
a plains-fire, if not quite as widespread. While it was difficult to make
out precise details in the early twilight, she could discern that whatever
had been there was once set in the top of a hill in a vast rolling plain.
In its place now was a huge, gaping black chasm surrounded by large dark
splotches. Rumblings and groans came from the chasm's depths and, as she
watched, there was suddenly a brilliant flash of light that temporarily
blinded the airborn pair, followed by a loud BANG. T'kee closed her eyes
against the retinal glare while Birith snorted at the annoyance.
Once his vision had returned, Birith landed near the edge of the gaping
maw. While the cat-centaur dismounted, Birith looked over the surrounding
devestation.
<<It's so awful, it's like Thread, almost,>> Birith said mournfully.
T'Kee didn't know what Thread was, and didn't think she wanted to find out
either -- at least, not right now. She looked out at the wet smoke that
still clung to the area. Her plush mane of hair, proudly fluffed when
dry, had been plastered to her body by the rain, and her ears gave her
the appearence of a sad satallite-dish. She sneezed as an errant fume
blew her way, then shivered as the rain started soaking through her lower
shoulderblades. She shook herself in response, sending redundant droplets
into the air, and getting her mind back on business.
"Well, I'd better sniff around and see if anyone's left before
the rain washes everything away and I get a cold."
She looked up at the unhappy dragon.
"Maybe, um, maybe you could look around from the air? Maybe she
just crashed a little ways away?"
<<Maybe.>>
Birith spread his large blue wings and labored into the miserable air,
while T'Kee stayed behind to contemplate the smelly mess. At close range
she could tell that the dark splotches were indeed large masses of dirt and
earth, but mixed in were chunks of concrete and a number of wicked smelling
fumes. Trying to ignore how wet and filthy her paws were getting, T'kee
wandered through the rubble, carefully picking her way around shards of
twisted metal, pulverized concrete, and what could have been the remains of
a high-tech lab, like she'd seen pictures of before. This wasn't how she'd
wanted to see one up close though. Bits and pieces of silicon, wires, and
various plastics littered the area. As she made successively larger circles
around the chasm, evidence of the blast's power became more and more apparant
by how far the debris had been thrown.
Shivering from the chill, T'kee almost missed a matted spot of grass not
far from the chasm. Crouching down, she sniffed it over carefully and caught
the distinct scent of something very dragon-like. Since Birith was still
airborn, it had to be some other dragon -- probably Poldrith.
But not here. And not now, nor anytime recently.
Worried and puzzled, T'kee continued her search, but found nothing that
gave any indication what'd happened, much less where Nicarra, Poldrith,
Unity, and Lythe had gone to.
Shielding her eyes from the rain, T'kee looked up at the orbiting dark
spot in the sky she knew was Birith and hoped he was having better luck.
* * *
It was past twilight and getting dark when Birith and T'Kee finally met
to compare notes.
<<Nothing,>> the blue said. <<No signs of a crash. There's a patch
of flattened grass nearby, but...>>
"I found it, too. It smells like dragon, a bit, but it's probably
from the first time she was here," said T'Kee as she shook her
dripping head. "That was the only smell I could get of them --
there's no other sign *I* can find. This stuff stinks," said T'kee
as she wrinkled her nose, "and while there's wood and metal in it,
I can't smell any roasted human. Or dragon. I guess that either
they were *all* in the exact middle of the explosion, or else they
managed to get *between*. I don't think it's likely they got caught
in the middle of this mess, though."
T'kee stretched up and rested her fore-paws on the dragon's shoulder so she
could pat his neck.
"We'll find them. I always find what I'm looking for, eventually."
* * *
To Mikal it was another day, another corpse, and another job performed
to perfection. Nobody noticed him slip out of the building where he had
just eliminated another liability.
But then again, nobody ever noticed Mikal. Although large at 6'6" and 230
lbs, he was easily dwarfed by the all-too-common chrome & titanium cyber-oafs
whose only skill was intimidation. His blond hair was subdued compared to
the wild colors found on most of the dangerous punk-wannabe's. His grey
synthetic eyes and ordinary facial features added to his unobtrusiveness.
All in all, he looked boring, unthreatening, and as a result was difficult
to remember.
Which made his life that much easier.
Mikal quickly merged with the pedestrian traffic and made his way down the
street, getting as far away from the strike point as quickly and quietly as
possible. At a public telephone 5 blocks away, he dialed a number, pressed
"1" to indicate a successful mission, and merged into the traffic flow all
within 10 seconds. Then a priority alert started to blink in the upper-
righthand corner of Mikal's field of vision:
<UUT PROJECT>
He continued down the street, turned off at a side street, followed it for a
few blocks, then stopped in front of a shop window and pretended to examine
the contents of the display while he looked over the details from the alert.
<CLASSIFICATION: BLACK> 13:48:04.56
[==== PRIORITY SECURITY ALERT: ABNORMAL EVENTS AT UUT RE: DAR'S =====]
13:07 DAR returned at UUT as defective. <orig ID #2315>
13:07 DAR ordered from stock room. <orig ID #2315> <ans ID #1492>
13:11 DAR returned at UUT as defective. <orig ID #2315>
13:18 DAR refunded. <orig ID #2315>
[======== EMERGENCY SECURITY ALERT: RELATED SECURITY ANOMALY ========]
13:12 Unscheduled visit to warehouse. <subj ID #2315>
13:19 "ARES"-triggered bug activated. <orig ID #2315> <ans ID #2036>
<<Not good,>> thought Mikal. <<Better get the hell over there.>>
Using his secure comm link, he mentally paged an unmarked drone car from
the ARES fleet. He shuffled down the street, turned left at the next
intersection, and found the car waiting for him in the guise of a cab.
As he approached the gull-wing door swung upward to admit him.
While the robotically controlled vehicle took him to UUT Mikal downloaded
the comm and video logs from the office of employee #2315, a man who was
more commonly known as Henry Tyrell III.
* * *
<<Let's see what's going on with those DAR's that were returned by
our friend Mr. Tyrell,>> thought Mikal as he started viewing the
video logs of Henry Tyrell's office from 13:05 to 13:20.
<UUT SECURICAM RECORD #2315 @13:05>
[A sales rep walks in and tells Henry there was a customer who wanted
to make a warrenty return on a recently purchased HP DAR. Following
the rep was a nondescript man wearing two pins - one of a green
dragon, the other of a burning humanoid. On seeing the visitor, Henry
pales noticably. Henry asks the visitor what the problem is. The
visitor responds that an HP DAR purchased at UUT not too long ago was
in actualy an ARES fake. Henry asks for, and examines the DAR in
question.]
Mikal stopped the recording and magnified the display so he could look at
the label on the controller board: "ARES DAR/BTR Master Controller Board,
rev 1.0c." Satisfied by what he saw, Mikal reset the display back to normal
and restarted the playback.
[Henry pages the warehouse and has them bring an HP DAR that
matches the 13:07 DAR transaction. When the new DAR arrives,
Tyrell hands it to the customer, who opens the case and discovers
another ARES core. Henry pales from his already sickly color to
a rather attractive shade of green and asks the customer to wait
a moment. Henry then leaves the office.]
The time on the tape with Henry's visit to the warehouse were the same, so
Mikal accessed the warehouse recorder and resumed viewing the recording.
[Henry walks in and goes directly to the shelves holding the HP
DAR's. After opening several of the DARs, he examines the insides
of each case and finds an ARES core. in each one. After completing
his examination of all the DARs in stock, he leaves.]
Mikal mentally switched the recording playback over to Tyrell's office record.
[Henry walks back in and asks the customer if he would accept a
cash refund. The customer hands over his credstick. Henry puts
the credstick in the slot, makes the transaction, and returns it
to the customer, who gets up and leaves. Once the visitor has left
Henry picks up his phone.]
Mikal superimposed the communication log, synchronizing it to the video
recording.
<* UUT COMMUNICATIONS RECORD: ORIG# 2315 - ANS# 2036 @13:19 *>
"Accounting, Reginald Wilkens here."
"Reginald. Henry here. Something serious has come up. Are you free
tonight?"
"I can be. What is the purpose of this meeting?"
"Those rumors about UUT and ARES - I want to talk to you about
them. Meet me at the Texas Steakhouse, say 6 o'clock tonight. Ok?"
"Ok, I shall be there."
<* END OF TRANSMISSION *>
<<We'd better pay Mr. Tyrell a visit...>>
Mikal internally duplicated the records for unaltered backup purposes. Once
that had been completed he mentally altered the security originals and
eliminate all references to ARES on the audio and visual records. When
that was done he uploaded them back to the UUT security computer and
terminated the link.
* * *
When his car arrived at UUT, Mikal went through his options:
<<Go in and kill the target?
No, too messy, unnecessary, and detrimental to my goals.
Go in and capture the target for questioning?
No, too messy, but questioning is a good idea.
Wait and capture the target when he comes out?
No problem there.
Follow the target to his meeting, eavesdrop, and then bag him?
No, he could reveal unwanted information to his friend.
I'll just have to wait for him,>> thought Mikal.
While he was waiting, Mikal ran Henry's ID through the Vehicle License
computer and found his car's License ID. With a mental twitch, Mikal
commanded the cab to go around back to the parking garage. He then
activated his IR vision and scanned all the cars' coded plates until
one that matched Henry's appeared. Mikal then parked close to Henry's
car and tied in to the UUT live SecuriCam's so he could monitor Henry's
movements more closely.
An hour later he saw Henry pack up and leave. Getting out of his car,
Mikal scanned the area for a good place to hide, and located a nearby
pillar. A minute later he heard footsteps and activated his battle
systems. Keeping to the far side of the pillar, he waited until the
target had their back to him. But those footsteps sounded awfully
light and quick...
<AQUISITION FAILED>
<<Tyrell is definitely NOT wearing a short miniskirt, and his legs
aren't that nice>>, Mikal thought to himself with a grin.
Mikal heard more footsteps.
<<Hurry, lady, you had better not be around when Tyrell comes
out.>>
As the woman got into her car, the second set of footsteps got louder.
These were definitely masculine steps, and alone. The woman's car revved
to life as the steps started echoing inside the garage. Her car began was
backing out when Henry walked past Mikal's pillar, and driving off when Mikal
silently approached Henry from behind.
* * *
The remainder of Henry Tyrell's day went quickly. Still shaking from the
unnerving experience with the DAR refund, he straightened out his desk,
made some notes in his business calendar, and prepared to leave. This business
with ARES, combined with the recent nightmares caused an involuntarily shiver
to run through him. Maybe Reginald could help him out, or at least tell him
if he was just being paranoid.
Satisfied everything was in order at his desk, Henry checked his watch. It
was only 16:30, which meant he had enough time to take care of some personal
business before his 19:30 meeting with Reginald at the Steakhouse. Picking
up his briefcase, he walked briskly out of the office building and paused
briefly on the sidewalk in front of the UUT offices. He couldn't place the
feeling, but something didn't seem right. Looking off to one side, all he
could see was one of the office secretaries briskly making her way to the
parking garage.
<<Gotta keep your hormones under control, old boy,>> thought
Henry as he watched the secretaries retreating form. <<Pretty
soon you'll see spooks jumping out of every shadow.>>
After making a valiant effort to calm his still jangled nerves, he
collected himself and proceeded after the secretary. As he passed one
of the garage's support pillars, a voice called out
"Um, excuse me sir."
Henry jumped, then reminded himself to stay calm. He turned toward the
speaker, then felt an incredible pressure on the back of his neck and
was swallowed up in a sea of infinite darkness.
* * *
Reginald arrived for work the next day, and stopped by Henry's office, but
Henry wasn't in, and his secretary was not present either. Finding out what
had happened last night would have to wait. Going to his office, he began
going through papers on some rather peculiar items that were showing up in
the books with some accounts that refused to balance.
When lunchtime arrived, Reginald stopped by Henry's office once more to see
what had happened the previous night. But when he looked in, he saw the
office still hadn't been occupied. His curiosity ruffled, he went over to
Henry's secretary.
"Have you seen Mr. Tyrel today?" he asked.
"No, sir, I haven't," answered the secretary. "I received a voicemail
message that he had to go overseas on an important assignment, and
that he wouldn't be back for a while. He's supposed to call me when
he arrives, but I haven't heard anything yet."
"So you do not know where he is currently located?" asked Reginald.
"No. He did not leave with any indication of where he was going,"
replied the secretary firmly, unconsciously mimicing Reginald's
speech patterns.
"Thank you for your assistance," replied Reginald.
This was peculiar indeed. Henry unexpectedly leaving for an overseas trip
with only a voicemail message left behind, and no indication where he went?
Reginald filed this away with his growing list of peculiar recent events.
His guts didn't like with what his senses told him. Being highly organized
in his work, Reginald positively loathed anything out of place. And recently
there had been a lot of events that were not where they belonged.
Finally, the day was over and Reginald left UUT. On the way out he decided
to stop by Henry's house to see if he could put that nagging feeling to rest.
However, the feeling got a lot worse when he arrived at Henry's home and found
a "For Sale" sign on the front lawn. Something was not just decidely wrong,
it was *seriously* wrong.
* * *
A stranger came into the Chat. He was an ordinary-looking fellow, which made
him rather extraordinary when compared to most of the patrons. He was drab.
Gray suit, gray hair, even a (natural) gray cast to his skin. He ordered a
drink in a voice as quiet and self-effacing as himself, then started looking
around the bar.
A woman sat on a stool near the back talked quietly with another patron.
Everything the new customer was, she was the opposite. Unlike most of the
other women at the Chat', sitting on the barstool made her shorter, not
taller. Her green trousers combined well with a matching green jacket and
boots. But what made her really stand out was her hair. Red-gold and spiked
high on one side of her head, it shone like a beacon in the dark corners
of the Chat'. The other side was shaved, with three brain-sockets plainly
visible over her right ear. As her augmented golden eyes looked the newcomer
over, she couldn't recognize him as anyone she'd met. Her curiosity only
mildly piqued, she filed away his appearance for future reference and
returned to her conversation.
"So, Tara, do you still want to be a cop? After everything I've been
through?"
"Aunt Cee," Tara answered, "You're my role model. I want to be
as good, as tough, and as _real_ as you are. Some of the people
I see here-" she waved at the bar- "are so involved in their
electronic fantasies that they've become like holograms.
They need their biochips to tell them when to breathe, for Earth's
sake!"
Her companion laughed, her golden eyes twinkling warmly.
"It's not that bad among Chatsubo patrons, I promise you. There
are plenty of people here who are as good or better than I am with
old-style physical or mental skills. In fact, I'm not even the
only person here who reads old books and listens to old music."
Tara blushed in embarrassment.
"Okay, okay, I admit I went a little overboard. Um... what've
you got playing on your microchip, anyway?"
"Mmmmm...Beethoven. Seventh Symphony, third movement."
"Not the _Eroica_?" Tara joked.
"I'm not in the mood," replied Lady C.
Lady C stared into space for a moment.
"Tara, I've got to go meet someone now."
"Huh?"
Lady C tapped her skull.
"Police page."
"Oh...okay." Tara looked disappointed.
"I'll make it up to you."
The tall woman stood, paid Ratz, then slowly moved outside, briefly
chatting with acquaintances along the way. Trying to be as unobtrusive
as possible, the gray man followed a short distance behind.
* * *
Jones knew he was bouncing when he walked into the Chat', but it didn't
bother him any. Grinning at Ratz, he said
"A Ballard Bitter and is the Lady in?"
Ratz gave Jones an amused look,
"'Yah, Sure, you Betcha'..." and jerked his head toward the back of
the room. "She's outside right now, but said she'd be back in a few
minutes. One of her friends is still here. Do you know her?"
The beer and a glass appeared while Jones scrutinized the pretty blonde
Ratz'd pointed out. He shook his head.
"Don't know her, but if you vouch for her I suppose I could stand
to talk to her while waiting for the Lady."
Jones grinned at Ratz slyly and flipped his credstick neatly into the slot
of the 'reader.
"Show off..." grumbled Ratz as he handed the 'stick back.
Jones pocketed the 'stick, poured the beer, and took the glass to the back
end of the crowded bar. On the way there, he bumped into a grizzled regular,
who gave Jones a black look when he spilled some of the bitter on the
regular's battered leathers. Jones gave the regular an apologetic grin, to
which the regular shrugged and kept going to Ratz with the battered vidplayer
they gave to newbies.
Jones sighed and looked for the blonde Ratz had pointed out. Taking a seat
next to her, he turned to the girl with a smile and said:
"Hi, I'm David Jones."
* * *
Once outside, Lady C removed her audiochip and placed it in a small box
at her belt. When she looked up, she saw the gray man watching her.
Startled by her frank and steady gaze, he backed away.
"Oh, come back here," she said crossly. "I only hurt criminals.
What did you want?"
"How'd you know I was your contact? No-one knows me. No-one."
Nervously the gray man looked around, then backed away further. Faking a
German accent, she replied,
"I am Lady Carotene, and ve haf our ways..."
The gray man only looked confused.
<<This guy hasn't got any sense of humor at all,>> thought Lady C
to herself. Then she said, "Never mind. Tell me about it."
"Oh yes, of course. Uh... have you heard of United and Universal
Technologies?"
Lady C held up a finger.
"Hang on..." Her eyes glazed momentarily. "You sell Dial-A-Reality
machines. I considered getting one, but it would have ruined my
macho reputation."
"Uh, yes. Well, the vice president of DAR sales has disappeared.
Just vanished without a trace!"
The man was visibly agitated by now. Whether it was the disappearance of
his friend, or the sight of the menagere of augmented patrons entering and
leaving the Chat', Lady C couldn't tell.
"Relax," Lady C said gently. "Don't you have any clues at all?"
"He had been talking about nightmares, and had gotten rather panicky
just before he vanished," said the man. "He requested a dinner meeting
after one of the DARs was returned, but when the time came for us to
meet, he didn't show up. I visited his home and saw a 'For Sale' sign
in front of it. It was then that I knew something bad was up since
he hadn't mentioned anything about moving to me."
"That'll do for starters," said Lady C. "Any updates to his vital
statistics since they were last checked?"
"He might have gained weight," said the man doubtfully. "He
was always complaining about that."
"All right. Where can I reach you?"
The man mumbled a code.
"It's my work access number. I'm not often home, and my wife doesn't
like anything to do with my work. I'm chief of accounting you see,
and-"
"I understand," Lady C cut in. "Thank you for bringing this to
our attention. I'll look into it."
Lady C knew her biochip wouldn't have all the information she needed, so she
went back into the Chat and jacked into one of the public data terminals. As
the terminal made the connection, she nodded to Tara and grinned at the
companion she had found.
<<Well and good,>> she thought. <<If Johnny's occupied with a
pretty girl, he'll still be here when I need him.>>
Then the terminal notified her that it had made the connection.
"Access police files," she thought.
"YOU ARE CLEARED FOR SECRET CLASSIFICATION."
"Information on United and Universal Technologies."
"FOUNDED AND OWNED BY MARCUS RIVAL IN THE NEWLY DEVELOPING DIAL-A-
REALITY MARKET. UUT DEVELOPED THE FIRST DAR, THEN LICENSED THE
PATENTS TO HP. THEIR CURRENT AGREEMENT GIVES HP SOLE MANUFACTURING
AND SALES RIGHTS, WITH UUT RETAINING MARKETING TERRITORY IN
WASHINGTON STATE. END BACKGROUND."
"Background Henry Tyrel."
"VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF DAR SALES, UUT. PRESENTLY MISSING.
AGE FIFTY-FIVE, NO REGEN TREATMENTS. UNATHLETIC. NO CRIMINAL
RECORD ON FILE."
"Print pictures of all UUT employees."
The attached laser printer spewed out fifty flimsies.
"End access."
Chewing her lip, Lady C went back to talk with Tara and her friend.
* * *
"Welcome back," Tara said cheerfully. "Have you met David Jones?"
"I've known him for years. Right, Johnny?"
"Aw, Aunt Cee, I was trying to make a good impression-"
Tara giggled.
"Well, you did that before she showed up," said Tara. "The fact
that you're another one of 'the kids' confirms it, and also means
I can trust you a bit more than I'd planned."
Lady C smiled at the byplay, but she was still concerned about her case.
"Johnny, I may need some ah, research help from you."
"Really?" said Jones excitedly.
"Small stuff, what's got you so up?" asked Lady C with a smile.
"A smooooooooth job," sighed Jones as he relaxed into the booth's
bench seat. He leaned his head against the top of the bench and
spoke to the ceiling, negligently waving one hand in the air, "A
Lovely Thing," he trilled, "all beauty and speed and as neat as a
pin. Nothing crass or boorish, all just a thing of Air and
Lightness..."
Lady C punched him in the arm.
"Idiot." she said, fondly. "What was this thing of 'Air
and Lightness'?"
"Collection job. Simple as pie. Easy as cake..."
He got punched in the arm again. Jones sighed and looked at her with sad,
brown eyes, like a puppy that had been ignored for too long. As Lady C
threatened to punch him again, Tara giggled once and he continued,
"It was just someone that wanted an HP DAR with ARES boards replaced
with a real HP DAR or his money refunded. The guy at UUT was as
soft as butter, and there wasn't a single problem, snag, or bullet
in the whole deal. He was real nice about the whole thing, too,
and seemed really upset at the switch," said Jones.
Lady C frowned, "Where did you say it was?"
"UUT," Jones looked up at her tone.
"Wouldn't have been Henry Tyrel you saw, would it?"
Jones cocked one eyebrow,
"I *know* you don't read minds, so where did you get that from?"
Lady Carotene just looked at him for a long time. Long enough to get Jones
mad. It was that steady, cool look that she given him when she'd heard
about Flattop's death, when she'd learned about the Blackwater job, when
she'd found out about Sheena, and this time he knew he didn't deserve it.
So he met her golden gaze with his plain brown one and didn't blink 'til
she did. This went on so long that Tara started to fidget, thinking
something was wrong between the two. Finally Lady C grinned.
"Not this time." said Jones.
"Guess not," said Lady C with a nod. That would be all the
acknowledgement or apology he'd get. Continuing, "Henry's
missing. Between the time of your appointment with him and a
dinner appointment he had with his assistant, he up and
disappeared."
"What?" Tara and Johnny said at the same time.
"You heard me. In fact, I was going to ask you for some help
on it."
She held up the flimsies.
"You can get these as easily as I can, so I'm going to hang on to
them for a while, but I need to know _everything_ about the people
who work for UUT."
Tara stared at her, open-mouthed. Lady C glanced at her watch pointedly.
"You'll be late for classes if you don't get moving soon, young
lady," said Lady C. "You'll have your chance for an exciting case,
I promise."
"I suppose," said Tara without any enthusiasm. "But why does a
police cadet have to take a class in torts?"
"So they can avoid the lawyers," said Lady C. "Now get going."
Tara smiled sweetly at Johnny, gathered her belongings together,
and departed.
"Where'd you pick that girl up?" asked Jones. "She's no street kid."
"Runaway idealist. Kind of like me, except her parents had more
moola," said Lady C as she watched the departing Tara. Turning
back to Jones, "Can we get back to our problem now?"
"Yeah. I suppose you want me to check for any kind of link to
ARES that involve DARs?"
"You've got the idea. Ever think of becoming a private eye?"
"I thought I was your private eye- like the New Perry Mason,
where Paul Drake investigates stuff for him."
Lady C shook her head and smiled. Johnny- Jones, she corrected herself-
really surprised her sometimes. Then again, while he was street smart she
was just tough enough to fake it.
* * *
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: Here ends the last part of volume 8 in the ongoing
adventures of The Entity/Unity.* et al.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong. Email to unity-feedback@wynnds.xenitec.onca will automatically
forward responses to the various co-authors.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT:
All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights reserved.
Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage medium,
service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or
any other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and
verifiable consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER:
Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or real, is
entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS: timk@tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
###########################################################################
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