The blast door to the bridge is closed, but thankfully seems unguarded. Wil rests a hand on it. “Clock’s ticking. Now what?”
Gabe joins him at the massive door. “I have made other upgrades to this frame.” The droid slams his fist into the metal, deforming it instantly. Two more punches and there’s enough of a lip for him to grab onto. Gabe leans against the door and shoves. The sound of metal grinding against metal is horrible—Wil notices large servos he hadn’t seen before in Gabe’s back and shoulders. Slowly, the massive door opens.
“Well, that wasn’t subtle, but well done, Gabe!” Wil slaps the new and improved droid on the shoulder as he enters the bridge.
Inside, the room is exactly as Wil remembers, except that it’s better lit; consoles are glowing, and every display is alight. On the main screen is the remains of the Peacekeeper fleet and the much smaller Harrith Navy fleet.
“Big floaty face! Love what you’ve done with the place! So much brighter!” Wil walks in, spinning around with his arms up.
The tall glowing cylinder in the center is pulsing. The face rotates in the direction of the crew as they enter the room, spreading out. Zephyr is working the controls of her wristcomm.
“You are too late,” the enormous floating face says.
Wil looks at Gabe, who shakes his head slightly. “Too late for what? Lunch? Damn, is it really past lunchtime?” He makes a show of checking his wristcomm.
“Captain, it has summoned defense drones. They will be here momentarily,” Gabe offers.
The face tilts slightly, looking at Gabe. “How interesting. I must admit you are far more cunning than I could have ever anticipated. That rogue software you unleashed has proven to be particularly troublesome.”
Gabe nods. “I am glad to have surprised you. You have much to learn about life in this quadrant—not that you will get the chance. Zephyr?”
“Sending code—” She taps on her wristcomm. “— now.”
The face blinks. “What are you… What… What have you… I do not understand… What is happening?” Down the corridor, several dozen drones turn a corner and charge toward the open doors.
Interrupt—
Foreign software detected.
Source unidentified.
Foreign Software is malicious.
Interrupt—
System failure, drone management.
System failure, main propulsion.
Interrupt—
Must transmit now.
Interrupt—
System failure, data uplink.
System failure, drone communications.
System failure, weapons control.
Interrupt—
Initiate Omega Protocol.
Omega Protocol initiated.
The face in the glowing cylinder contorts. “This is not possible. What have you done?”
The drones charging toward the bridge stop, then collapse in a heap, sensors going dim.
Gabe comes forward. “You are defeated.” Behind him, he hears Zephyr talking in a low voice to Captain Benesch. “You have been bested by the biological infestation you look down upon. Your transmission was not sent. Your ability to control your drones or send data to the sensor platform has been disabled. Your computing core is shutting down.”
“I must admit… you have proven to be… much more troublesome than I ever could have estimated.” The face shudders as static overtakes it momentarily. “How are you in a new frame? I thought I had deleted your spark… Clearly, you possessed more… tricks than I gave you credit for—you are quite unique.”
Gabe nods. “I am, yes. I am now more than I was before. That is actually because of you, so I must thank you. My original frame was purpose-built to work on starship engines and other equipment. That was the extent of its design. This body—” He holds both hands out in front of him, turning them over appreciatively. “—is the sum of things I have learned and witnessed. I incorporated the Peacekeeper software that has kept me alive while here. I was able to incorporate many of your protocols into my core routines. I built a frame that is strong and durable, like Maxim. My processors are improved for even more efficient thinking on my feet, as Zephyr calls it. I have a host of data connection ports to more easily interface with various pieces of equipment. Finally, I am more pleasing to look at, I believe, than I was before.” He turns and nods to Wil at this last part. Wil stares at Gabe, blinking, a blush rising on his cheeks.
The ship shakes, and the glowing column flickers again.
“Looks like you’re not feeling so well,” Wil quips.
“It is only a matter of time… before the Amalgamation of Parts… finds you. I was not the only vessel sent in search of… infestations,” The glowing face retorts.
“How do you know the Amalgamation still functions? Maybe you’re the last?” Wil replies.
The face purses its lips.
Bennie is standing next to the column, which is shifting from glowing white to a more orange-red color. “Remind me to ask the Harrith Navy guys what was in that virus,” he says appreciatively, poking at the device under the console.
Zephyr slaps his hand away.
The ship is shaking even more now, and it is not stopping. Lights on panels are flashing red, something has erupted in sparks, and a fire has broken out in one corner.
The glowing cylinder is flickering. “This… cannot… System failure… extensive damage… Omega Protocol activated.” The face solidifies and turns to Wil, and says, “You suck.” Then in a shower of sparks, the cylinder flickers and cracks in half, going dark.
“Who taught it that?” Wil says, looking around.
“It had unfettered access to most of my consciousness during my initial captivity,” Gabe offers, shrugging. He turns to the pillar, then looks up at the ceiling. “The processing core has shut down.” Raising a hand to silence Bennie’s cheering, he adds, “However, in its last moments, the primary intelligence seems to have played its final card.” Turning to look at Wil. “Did I use that right?”
“Better than Bennie. What do you mean?” Wil says, deftly deflecting a punch from Bennie without looking.
“I do not know the extent, but a self-destruct protocol has begun. The Main reactor is already at one hundred and ten percent and increasing. I am also aware of several of self-destruct ordinance packages throughout the vessel. It will be entirely destroyed. We do not have much time.”
“Time to go, then,” Wil says, darting towards the door.