Threads of the Conglomerate Read online

  “Great,” Luke said, again without even the illusion of enthusiasm.

  “The data is being transmitted to your personal queue,” Suresh said. “We thank you for your help in this matter.”

  Luke nodded and looked around.

  Mark nodded and Luke marched out.

  When the door closed behind Luke Mark turned to Suresh.

  “Please,” Mark said. “I realize you think highly of Luke Kishi. You’ve seen his record. He is a very skilled and capable officer with plenty of ground combat and space experience, but he has been severely hurt inside. Isn’t there someone else we can send?”

  Suresh turned to Mark.

  “I’m sorry,” Joel said stepping forward and gave Mark a nasty look before turning back to Suresh. “I will take care of things.”

  “Thank you my friend,” Suresh said to Joel, then he turned to Mark, ignoring the Prime Minister.

  “I understand your concern and I understand Luke better than you think,” Suresh said. “Luke has lost his Soma, his soul mate. No person should be made to suffer that, but it also gives him a strength. He seeks death and thinks that will allow him to join her, but as you know he is a man of honor and he will not succumb to foolishness. I do not want to see his thread ended.”

  Topa Suresh turned to Joel.

  “There is no need to apologize for the actions of others,” Suresh said. “Luke is in a dark place. It will take him time to heal. Commodore Harrison is a friend and rightly concerned about Luke. I respect this.”

  “I also am concerned about Luke’s state of mental health,” Joel said. “He is not a typical human right now. He may be prone to exercising more violence than normal, especially to strangers.”

  Suresh’s smile grew.

  “I think you misjudge Captain Kishi,” Suresh said. “In his current state he is less likely to resort to killing. He is perfect for this job.”

  Mark held his tongue after seeing the look on Joel’s face. The Topa didn’t know as much about humans as he thought he did.

  “The ships you have been promised will be here tomorrow,” Suresh said. “The Mumbai cruiser, named Sweeping Blade will arrive in two days to pick up Luke. Thank you. We will continue to assist and protect your colony until we can relocate it, which will take some time to arrange.”

  “Thank you,” Joel said.

  Topa Suresh bowed and the two Topa stepped back through the glowing portal that reappeared to swallow them.

  “I’m too old for this,” Joel said sinking back into his chair.

  “You don’t look a day over twenty five sir,” Mark said, but he only earned a scowl from the Prime Minister.

  Luke was staring at the wall when the door chimed. A display on his InnerBuddy, the generic name for internal cybernetic implants, announced it was Commodore Harrison. The Commodore would be an unwelcome distraction from the blank wall.

  “Open,” Luke said looking up as Mark came in. Experience told Luke that Mark would not go away. Behind him was a robotic sled with a large box that looked almost like a coffin.

  “Present from the Topa,” Mark said. Luke stood up. He was still in the uniform he had been wearing hours ago when he had reported to the Prime Minister and Admiral Day. He had been staring at the wall since he had come back.

  Stepping in and to the side, Mark motioned the sled in where it came to a stop in the corner. Luke stared at Mark, aware of what his room looked like. He had been sleeping on the couch, unwilling to unfold the bed he had shared with Elena. Beside the couch and a chair there was nothing else. Luke had thrown it all out. The only thing left was the uniforms in the closet.

  Mark stopped and stared at the couch. Following his eyes Luke saw his service pistol. Self consciously Luke pushed it underneath a pillow.

  “Should I be worried?” Mark said, his eyes coming back to Luke.

  Shrugging Luke looked at the coffin.

  “Should I climb in?” Luke said.

  “That is from the Topa,” Mark said. “For you. He said there is another one on the Mumbai ship.”

  “What is it?” Luke asked.

  Mark shrugged, “tissues for your tears maybe, do I look like some alien psychopath?”

  “Psychopath?” Luke asked. He hadn’t seen that in Topa Suresh.

  “While you are in here feeling sorry for yourself, the rest of us are trying to survive,” Mark said. “We have received several data dumps from the Conglomerate, some of them are historical and educational. Topa Suresh is ancient, still trying to figure his age, but if the translations are correct, he was a top dog in the Conglomerate way before Neanderthals were dragging their knuckles across the prehistoric landscape. We have found where on at least one instance he ordered the complete genocide of a newly discovered alien species. Details are vague but he isn’t afraid to pull the trigger on strangers, or wipe them from the galaxy.”

  “So?” Luke said.

  “Look,” Mark said. “We did not make the journey through that unstable wormhole in attempt to escape the Caliphate only to allow a bunch of aliens to kill us and plunder our corpse. We arrived in a war zone. I don’t know what the rest of the Conglomerate is like, but this system is a place for two other races to fight it out without fear of being rendered extinct. Conglomerate rules state anyone in this system is fair game for the combatants, unlike the rest of the Conglomerate. We are lucky because Topa Suresh was monitoring things when we arrived and he has asked both the combatants to spare us for the time being. The combatants seem terrified enough of the Topa to give him a wide berth.”

  Luke shrugged as he looked back at the wall, unconcerned. Mark rolled his eyes and sat down.

  “I can’t bring Elena back,” Mark said. “I’m sorry. I can’t do a damned thing about your pain. She’s dead. I get it. But she made you promise to live. Don’t you think she would want you to help others to live? She gave her life defending New Alamo. Will you shame that sacrifice? What kind of future do we have?”

  Luke looked up at Mark, his eyes watering.

  “I don’t have a future,” Luke said. “She was my future.”

  “You can make the safety of New Alamo your future,” Mark said but Luke stopped paying attention.

  They sat there for several minutes, Luke staring at the wall and Mark waiting patiently.

  “Are you going to open it?” Mark finally asked and Luke sighed knowing Mark wouldn’t leave until he did.

  Standing up Luke approached the box. A person could fit in the cylindrical shipping container. Alien script covered the side and Luke was surprised to find his InnerBuddy could translate it. It had marks about only being opened by the allowed recipient and it was proudly made by the Krasta Corporation. His InnerBuddy marked it as Chaska script, which must be an alien race. Luke canceled the query for more information on them. He didn’t care. Another part of the crate was a label “Cpt. L. Kishi”. The fact they had the abbreviation and naming convention correct was interesting and Luke wondered how much the Topa knew about humans.

  A circle about should height had a label for open. Luke stared at it for a moment before touching it with his hand. The box folded up on itself revealing a humanoid form with gray skin.

  The android’s eyes opened and fastened on Luke.

  “Captain Kishi confirmed,” the droid said. “Please state the name I am to use.”

  “Name?” Luke said looking at it.

  “Yes sir,” the droid said with unblinking eyes. “The name I will answer to. You may name me after someone or something and this may influence my personality and self view.”

  Luke looked at Mark.

  “What is this?” Luke asked and Mark shrugged looking at the android.

  “I dunno. Maybe a butler,” Mark said. “He is supposed to help you.”

  “Shit,” Luke said turning back to the droid and thinking. How many people who were dead inside had a butler?

  “How about Alfred, uh, Stokes,” Luke said.

  “The name Alfed Uh Stokes?” the android sai
d.

  “Just Alfred Stokes,” Luke said.

  “Alfred?” Mark asked.

  “The Gold Watch’s butler” Luke said.

  “The ghazi bastard that ran around in black armor cutting off infidel’s heads? I thought his butler’s was named Abdul?” Mark asked.

  “No,” Luke said. “Before the Caliphate IMMS took over the franchise.”

  Mark looked confused.

  “Look it up later,” Luke said impatiently.

  “I am identified as Alfred Stokes. Thank you,” the android said. “What are to be my primary tasks?”

  “Assistant and aide,” Luke said. “Keep me from screwing up too badly.”

  “I will be your assistant and aide,” Alfred said. “Thank you. Should I take a specific appearance and physical form?”

  Luke shrugged.

  “Whatever. Your current appearance is acceptable,” Luke said with a glance at Mark.

  “Appearance will remain as default. Is there anyone I should report to?” Alfred said.

  “Me,” Luke said.

  “Thank you,” Alfred said. “I will report to you. May I now access the network and begin learning?”

  “Sure,” Luke said.

  Alfred stepped off the robotic sled leaving behind the collapsed crate and went to stand against the wall. Closing its eyes Alfred stopped moving.

  “Wow,” Mark said.

  “I’m sure Earth techs could do as well,” Luke said and Mark shrugged.

  “They haven’t yet,” Mark said. “I wonder if it needs to charge or anything.”

  “I’ll let you know,” Luke said. “Is that all? I’m not impressed.”

  Mark shook his head.

  “No,” Mark said. “I know better than to ask how you are doing. At least you are eating.”

  “Eating is a requirement for living,” Luke said staring at Mark.

  “Not resorting to alcohol,” Mark said and Luke looked up at him.

  “As your commanding officer,” Mark said, “I have access to certain records. You don’t leave your room except to get food or when ordered.”

  Luke shrugged.

  “Another thing,” Mark said. “You need to get upgraded.”

  “I’ve had my InnerBuddy upgraded,” Luke said. “They did it before they released me from medical.”

  “No,” Mark said. “Everything else. It is about as invasive as the InnerBuddy, it will only take a day or two to recover. The Topa sent specs and recommendations. Long story short there are filters for your lung and modifications for your stomach that will let you breathe on most Conglomerate worlds and eat almost anything, filters for your blood against pathogens and more. It will let you survive in the Conglomerate worlds without an encounter suit.”

  Luke scowled.

  “Why don’t I just wear an encounter suit?” Luke asked.

  “Because,” Mark said. “The ambassador the Topa sent to help us adjust to Conglomerate life has recommended that when a Topa makes a recommendation we pay real close attention.”

  “Aye, aye Commodore,” Luke said. Hopefully, agreement and the pretense of respect would get rid of Luke’s commanding officer.

  Mark sighed.

  “Tell me what I can do to help,” Mark said. “I think the Topa said to supply you with a fully stocked shuttle. Talking with Admiral Day and his staff, we will stock it with weapons, warbots and anything else we think you might need. The Topa said it would stay in the Mumbai hold and they would provide you with living quarters and a Conglomerate shuttle, but the human shuttle should have anything you might need we can think of.”

  “Thank you Commodore,” Luke said as an appointment for medical arrived through his InnerBuddy. It was for thirty minutes from now.

  “No time to waste,” Mark said.

  “Just the rest of my life,” Luke said earning him another scowl.

  It was to be a standard shuttle that was to take him to the Mumbai vessel and Mark was there to see him off.

  “How do you feel?” Mark asked.

  Luke looked at the Commodore, who he would probably be seeing for the last time.

  “Well enough,” Luke said, feeling regret. Mark wasn’t a bad guy. “The Mumbai are ready for me?”

  “Yes,” Mark said. “They have transmitted your living requirements for us to confirm. The Mumbai also said they have a manufactory aboard to make you any equipment you might need. They seem to be making an effort to stay on your good side. Worst case scenario you have the shuttle to live in. It has a month of air, food and water.”

  Luke nodded. He didn’t feel any different. All his implants had been upgraded and there had been multiple cybernetic enhancements that would let him breath on most Conglomerate worlds if the technical specifications were to be believed. His body felt good, but the problem wasn’t his body. Alfred stood beside him, like a shadow, absorbing everything around him. Like Luke he was wearing New Alamo battle dress and was carrying a standard side arm with a rifle on his back. The rules for Shoku stated he could carry any personal weapons he felt necessary wherever he went on authority of the Topa. The real question was how practice differed from stated rules.

  “Be careful,” Mark said.

  “I will Commodore,” Luke said, but he knew Mark wouldn’t believe him. Luke didn’t believe himself.

  “Don’t trust any of those alien bastards,” Mark said. “Expect them all to be hostile, dangerous and psychotic.”

  “I lived in America for most of my life as it transformed into a Caliphate client state,” Luke said. “I’m used to living among psychotic, suicidal fanatics.”

  Mark nodded as Luke faced Mark and saluted.

  “Request permission to leave the Colony,” Luke said

  “Permission granted,” Mark said. “May God be with you.”

  Luke dropped his salute to Mark and turned to salute the Emblem of New Alamo on the wall nearby. The front of an old stucco house with three windows and a door.

  Dropping his salute Luke turned and entered the shuttle as Mark retreated to the airlock.

  Sealing the shuttle Luke requested permission to depart which was granted.

  Leaving the colony, Luke felt a weight roll off his shoulders. A marker on his InnerBuddy, linked with the shuttle controls displayed the location of the Mumbai cruiser. Numbers rolled across his view showing distance and status. The Mumbai cruiser was listed as about a thousand gravons. The measurements didn’t equate well to human standards but based on his calculations the Mumbai light cruiser was on par with a human heavy cruiser. Other statistics showed that Conglomerate classifications were larger than human standards. A human battleship would only classify as a Conglomerate battle cruiser.

  On scanner the New Alamo battle ship Proud Infidel was shadowing the Mumbai cruiser. It was heavier, in the twenty four hundred gravon range but Conglomerate information indicated the Proud Infidel was heavily outgunned by the Mumbai cruiser, which wasn’t a pleasant thought for Luke.

  Connectivity to New Alamo dropped as Luke approached the Mumbai ship. Automated guidance systems linked in and directed Luke where to land. As the shuttle slid into the bay it passed through some kind of energy barrier. Sensor showed air pressure outside the shuttle.

  Luke exited cautiously.

  A quick glance showed a force field holding in the atmosphere and it was completely transparent, which didn’t make Luke feel comfortable.

  The Mumbai ship was clean, but the ceiling seemed lower.

  “The Mumbai are a very prolific race throughout the Conglomerate,” Alfred said. “They are friendly but like most intelligent species there can be a wide variation. Topa Suresh has contracted a smaller military escort service called the Frash Corporation to be your escort, guardian and guide. The Frash Corporation has a decent reputation but like most mercenaries, they are more likely to run than fight unless they have the advantage.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said looking around. A nearby hatch slid open and a pair of shorter, stocky bipeds clumped into the
bay. Luke stared at the second set of aliens he had seen in his life. They had no hair on their squat smooth heads and their greenish eyes were too far up in the forehead. They did not appear to have noses are ears but their mouths reached around their head, almost to where their ears would be. The rest of their body was clothed in a flat gray-green and loose fitting jump suit that looked more like pajamas than a professional suit.

  “Greetings friend Shoku Kishi,” the leading Mumbai said. The creature’s voice was deeper than Luke would have suspected for something that size and the voice was translated by Luke’s InnerBuddy with both a voice and text overlay that appeared above the speakers head. Another visual overlay identified the two as Shook and Huraig, with a last name of Frash. Owners or family members? A lot of questions came to his mind as he looked at them, but he lost interest before he could form the query. They were just here to transport him.

  “Greetings friends,” Luke said, realizing he should have learned more about standard greetings in the Conglomerate and inter-species protocols. Luke took off his helmet since his InnerBuddy was reporting it was safe. The smell of oranges filled his nostrils, and he wondered if it was them, or something in the air.

  “We have quarters available for you nearby,” the Mumbai said. “We hope they are to your satisfaction. If not, please inform us.”

  “Thank you,” Alfred said, stepping forward. “Please show us the way.”

  The two Mumbai nodded their chins and spun about to head back to the airlock they had come in from. Luke followed them with a quick glance at Alfred.

  “Stop me before I make some social goof if you can,” Luke whispered.

  “Of course sir,” Alfred said. “That is what I am here for. Where necessary I will act as an interface between you and others. Please do not hesitate to ask me to deal with a situation. If I am able, I will do so or request clarification, sir.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said looking around him.

  “You are welcome sir,” Alfred replied.

  Luke’s head barely cleared the ceiling as he followed the two Mumbai into a featureless corridor that could have been on any human ship.