Borne On Wings of Steel (35 page)

"No problem!” Stazal said with enthusiasm. “All the female has to do is swim away and return to the Kandar platform, waiting for someone else to pick her up and jump into the bay again."

"See, easy!” Inaha laughed.

"What if the female wants to pick up a male and jump in with him?” Krinia's wide smile and intense expression challenged the males all around her.

"No problem!” Stazal laughed. “There are many alien races, like you Mewiis, where the females are the dominant sex! All the female needs to do is choose a nice male, pick him up, and jump into the water—no difference."

"Now that's what I'm talking about!” Krinia said with smile. “Sounds like this could be fun!"

"So, when Kandar begins, all the males are together on one side and all the females are together on the other side,” Jaric said.

"And they all wind up in the water!” Olana said happily.

Jaric's joyful face suddenly went serious. “How can I tell if an alien girl doesn't want me to pick her up?"

"Well, if she picks
you
up and throws you in the water alone—she didn't want you to pick her!” Stazal said with renewed mirth. “See, no problem!"

"Can they do that?” Jaric asked with surprise.

"Of course they can!” Olana, Elise and Krinia said at once.

"Guess we'd better be careful who we pick,” Jaric whispered to Kyle while the others roared with laughter.

"You bet!” Kyle smiled.

"But the sweet, young aliens await us. And we mustn't keep them waiting too long!” Inaha winked.

"Have you found your quarters adequate these last three days?” Rok asked to all as they started to leave.

"Yes!” came the unanimous reply.

"I'm kind of surprised that Mother left so quickly,” Kyle said with a questioning look.

"Me too,” Elise said. “But I guess she misses Minstrel. She said she's going to join Minstrel and commune for a week or so while we enjoy ourselves here."

"Sweet!” Kyle said. “I think we can find a way to enjoy ourselves without Mother just fine!"

A look of concern came over Rok's face. “I will be joining you a bit later for Kandar. I have some duties to attend to first."

A chorus of groans met his words.

"Duty first,” Rok said with a nod. “Go on. I'm sure there'll be some fun left when I join you."

The happy group left with a flourish of laughter. Rok waited until they disappeared amid the growing crowds all heading for Kandar. The red sun finally set in the pale lavender sky out over the Emerald Sea as the festival lights came on one by one and the island of Leyloi transformed itself into a colorful and well-lit party that stretched from one end of the island to the other.

And everywhere, there were aliens having fun.

Rok made his way with a serious purpose through this seemingly never-ending crowd of party-goers. Within a few minutes, he found himself at the site where he had displayed his prowess with a blade. He stood silently, watching the faces of the revelers as they walked all around him.

He didn't have long to wait.

"I'm glad you came. And alone,” Qirn said with solemn tone.

"Tell me about the Paum. And how you know so much about it.” Rok's piercing gaze followed the Iraxx warrior closely.

"I am a freedom fighter against the Paum."

Rok grunted understanding, but remained silent.

"I know the Paum has been shadowing you,” Qirn continued.

"Because you also have been shadowing us.” Rok smiled at the surprised look on Qirn's face.

"Yes, you are correct."

"I do not remember your face,” Rok said. “But I have seen too many Iraxx lately for it to be solely a coincidence—both here on Meramee and back on the Mrad world."

"Then you must believe me, it is not any of you the Paum seeks. It is the AI you call Mother."

It was Rok's turn to look surprised. But, he brushed his emotions away. He quickly went over all the happenings of the last few weeks. He stared deeply into the Iraxx's eyes. “And what does the Paum want with an AI? To use it as part of its fleet? Or his next conquest?"

"The Paum itself is an AI."

Rok froze with intense surprise for a long moment.

"This is very interesting. But, I do not understand,” Rok said.

"The Paum is the most powerful system ever developed. It created a great fleet of robot ships that it controls as if they were its hands and eyes—and its sword. It also has a great number of aliens who have sworn allegiance to its cause. But there is worse.” The Iraxx's voice went deadly serious. “The Paum has begun infiltrating every computer network in this sector. He is using their own networked systems in order to speed his conquests, even before his fleets and armies arrive."

"Incredible,” Rok whispered. And then he remembered the vast computer system of the Mrad. “What about the great system on RahajMr?"

"A secret battle is being fought there even now. The Paum's agents have tried to feed the Paum's insidious code into it—a virus that would infect and ultimately control the entire system. But Mrad security is solid and so far the Paum's efforts have come up short, although some small malicious code has been inserted at times."

"It would be a great victory for the Paum.” Rok rubbed his chin in thought.

"The greatest one yet,” Qirn agreed. “And now he seeks the Mother AI."

"Why?” Rok asked.

"To control her mind, control her soul.” Qirn paused, carefully watching the Kraaqi warrior. “And this would be worse."

"How so?"

"The Paum is a huge
single
system that exerts its power over many, many planets. It controls a fleet of robot ships. It controls the computer systems of everything within its power. But it is still a single system, a single AI."

"He controls them all—from a central location?” Rok asked.

"Yes. But if he gets control of the mobile Mother system ... And if he can begin duplicating it, creating hundreds and then thousands of independent AI starships..."

"The Paum's present robot fleet will pale in comparison,” Rok said with a hushed tone.

"The Paum will be unstoppable.” Qirn groaned. “You must warn the Mother AI not to interact, not to even communicate with the Paum—tell her the Paum is dangerous, and not to be trusted."

"I will talk with the others. We will warn Mother, warn her that the Paum seeks to control her.” Rok said with urgency.

"Good.” Qirn squeezed Rok's shoulder firmly. “I must report to my superiors. We will talk again—soon."

Rok left the Iraxx warrior to seek out Kyle, Jaric and the others.

QIRN STOOD IN the darkness, watching the Kraaqi disappear into the shadows. He pulled out his communicator and pressed it.

"Rab here."

"It is done. The Kraaqi believed it all."

"Of course he would, most of it is true."

"Indeed,” Qirn said.

"But how will we persuade the Kraaqi and the humans to travel to the Paum homeworld? And how will we get both them and the Mother AI to join us in our attack on the Paum?"

"Patience, my Iraxx warrior,” Qirn crooned. “Everything is proceeding according to plan."

"It is incredible that the Paum will allow the Mother AI into its very core,” Rab said with doubt.

"No,” Qirn replied confidently. “The Paum is keenly interested in this second AI. It is obsessed with meeting it and knowing it. We have deduced that much even though we have not been able to tap into their recent communications. And our agents on the Paum homeworld confirm it by the Paum's own preparations.” He smiled widely. “It is certain the Paum will monitor and even block some communication from the Mother back to the children—while we do the same here. The Paum will not allow anything to keep the Mother AI from coming to it. And neither shall we."

Rab laughed. “So, we use this weakness of the Paum to fulfill our victory!"

"One must learn and then exploit the weakness of an enemy in order to ensure success."

"But why tell the Kraaqi to warn the Mother AI? Our reconnaissance reported the Mother starship in orbit around Paum-controlled Malata an hour ago. Our warning through the Kraaqi is too late,” Rab said with puzzlement.

"Just as we planned,” Qirn added.

A pause filled the darkness.

"Yes, and the closer the Mother AI travels, the more the Paum will communicate. Both the Mother AI and the Paum will focus on each other. And then, we will attack."

"Our strike team is gathered and ready. They await word that we come—along with the humans and other aliens who travel with the Mother AI."

"Good,” Qirn whispered. “That time is almost here."

ROK FOUND ELISE sipping a tropical fruit drink at a table under a group of flickering torch lights. Krinia and Olana sat in their own lounge chairs alongside her, all on a wooden deck that overlooked the bay and Kandar platform below. The air was slightly cool in the early evening twilight. Above the eastern horizon of the Emerald Sea, the three moons of Meramee—Oloi, Hababa and Reenii—rose together as if to welcome the festivities held in their honor.

"Where are the boys?” Rok asked.

Krinia and Elise giggled, spilling some of their drinks.

"I'm afraid they haven't been doing too well with the alien girls tonight,” Krinia said between bursts of laughter.

Rok looked at them with puzzlement.

"They both got thrown into the water by a whole group of alien girls!” Elise chuckled.

"How did that happen?” Rok looked from one laughing face to another as he felt their contagious mirth work on him.

"They both walked up to a small group of alien girls from the planet Tongo and promptly told them they were the
hottest
babes they'd ever seen!” Krinia laughed with tears in her eyes.

"And how did that get them into trouble?” Rok asked with puzzlement.

"Tongo is a desert planet with withering heat. Any reference to hot or heat is the
worst
kind of insult to them!” Elise chuckled.

Now both girls laughed so hard that they were in danger of falling out of their chairs. And their twinkling laughter grew so contagious that Olana's gentle spirit joined in with them.

Rok nodded—and smiled—with understanding. “And so they hurled Jaric and Kyle into the water for their perceived insult."

"
Hurled
is the right word!” they roared together.

"Hmm,” Rok commented as he suddenly noticed the two waterlogged lads approaching them, slowly trudging up the hill. He raised his hand in greeting as his smile grew until it stretched from horn to horn. “I see you two must have enjoyed the water with some sweet, alien hotties!"

Kyle and Jaric groaned as they sloshed their way into two chairs.

"Ha ... Ha ... and Ha,” Kyle enunciated in slow motion, his tone totally devoid of any humor.

"And what happened the next time?” Krinia asked with a gleam in her eyes. “Elise and I thought you'd do better a second time!"

Jaric raised his hands in surrender. “I have absolutely no idea. I thought we'd have a little small talk, and then I'd pick her up and jump in the water for some friendly socializing.” Jaric glanced over at Kyle for support.

Kyle merely snorted with disgust.

"But, no. Suddenly every alien female within reach picked us both up and then we're back in the drink again. All alone. By ourselves. No alien babes.” Jaric groaned as if he were in pain.

"I think I know what happened,” Elise said with a wry grin.

Jaric and Kyle noticed her sincere expression. But there was something that twinkled in her eyes.

"You opened your mouths!” Elise laughed.

Krinia and Elise's laughter grew so loud and full of joy that Rok couldn't prevent himself from joining in with the girls’ friendly dig at the boys. He slapped Kyle on the shoulder as he looked at him with a forlorn expression of utter defeat.

"Now, now. Why don't you dry off a bit and try it again. Surely there's an alien girl here who'll be nice to you ... instead of throwing you in the bay!” Rok laughed, adding his own good-natured humor at the boy's expense.

"I think we'll just sip us a cool drink and talk to these nice, friendly girls here awhile.” Jaric swept his hand toward Krinia, Olana and Elise. “And dry off."

"Yeah, at least they won't throw us in the water!” Kyle said with a big smile.

"I wouldn't bet on it, bozo-boy.” Krinia laughed as she winked at Elise.

"Well, we might want to give them a break.” Elise grinned. “They've been dunked twice by irate females already. We might
dampen
their spirits if we throw them in a third time!"

Krinia's laughter increased again. “I
guess
you're safe with us. But only because Elise wants us to play nice!"

Jaric and Kyle finally joined in the laughter that centered on them. They knew it was all in jest—albeit at their expense.

"If your friends can't make fun of you, who can!” Jaric chuckled with renewed enthusiasm.

"That's what friends are for,” Rok agreed. “Keeps your ego in proper perspective."

"Sure, at the bottom of the bay!” Kyle joked.

Gradually their merry laughter died away and soon the warm tropical breeze echoed with their voices as they conversed about everything from the tropical beauty that surrounded them to past journeys among the stars—aliens, places and worlds so exquisite, so out of the ordinary, or just plain fun.

But each a special memory worth recounting—and sharing.

Soon, each person endeavored to outdo the other as they recalled their journeys. It became hard to distinguish between the description of actual alien worlds and the little embellishments added in order to make
that particular
tale more exciting than the last one told.

It became a contest about not only which one of them had visited the most exotic world, but who could tell it the best! Any dangerous or humorous escapades experienced upon a world provided extra credit and drew louder applause for the storyteller.

The happy sound of their laughter drifted aimlessly on the evening breeze as the three moons rose higher and higher.

But of all the faces lit by the festive torches, none smiled so brightly as Elise's. It was more than simply enjoying herself with her friends, for tonight she enjoyed the company of both Kyle and Jaric. And she realized that they had decided to spend time with her in spite of all the other beings around them.