The shouting voice was getting on his nerves as he sat on the beach with a nice cold beer in his hand. He wasn’t quite sure where he was or how he got there. He did know, however, that he didn’t want to leave, but the shouting was getting louder and more persistent so he decided he’d better say something.
‘What do you want?’ said Andy as he woke with a start and was again surprised to find himself lying in the autonurse.
‘Andy, they’ve been shot. They’ve been shot,’ said Phil, standing over him and looking agitated.
‘What. Who. Eh?’ he said. ‘Who’s been shot?’
‘Ed and Linda. I need your help,’ said Phil, calming now he had Andy awake.
‘Sorry, Phil, I’m a bit behind the eight ball here. Who’s shot Ed and Linda and what exactly am I doing in the autonurse?’
‘Shit,’ said Phil and he spent the next five minutes filling Andy in on everything that had happened since the sniper shooting on Krix’ir.
‘So, you don’t know if they’re still alive or where they were taken?’ said Andy.
‘No,’ said Phil. ‘It all happened so fast. I was too high to target any of the Gabriel’s weapons and Cleo didn’t have the experience to intervene.’
‘Err, who’s Cleo?’
‘Ah, yes. Well, you know when we scheduled the Cartella for a complete refit?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I seeded a sentient computer embryo into the core and then completely forgot to inform Ed and Linda in the panic to pursue the gunship. They kinda met as they launched. They had to do some quick introductions. Ed named her Cleopatra, or Cleo for short.’
‘She’s sort of like Gabriel, but female?’ he asked.
‘Yes, but she’s very immature and lacks operational experience.’
‘Where is she now?’
‘She spent some time scanning the area where they disappeared but found nothing, so I called her back here. She’ll be docking in a few minutes.’
‘What does Gabriel recommend?’
‘Ah, that’s the other problem we have,’ said Phil.
‘We have more problems?’
‘The Gabriel’s central core took a serious belt when the gunship fired on us.’
‘Are you saying we’ve lost Gabriel?’ said Andy, staring at Phil in shock.
‘I believe so,’ said Phil, wringing his hands and looking more worried than Andy could remember. ‘His central memory core is pretty much gone. I’ve manually instigated a rebuild and restart, but I’m not very confident.’
‘Shit, we’re not having a very good day, are we?’
‘No, we’re not. So that’s why I woke you. To see if you were fit enough to go down to try and find Ed and Linda. I would go myself, but without Gabriel to watch over the ship, someone has to be here.’
‘Yeah, it’s okay, Phil. I understand and, of course, I’m going. You couldn’t stop me even if you wanted to. They’re my friends.’
He climbed out of the autonurse and stretched.
‘Okay, I’ll inform Cleo.’
‘As this is your home planet, do you have any idea who it was that took them?’
‘Well, it’s most likely the Timoria, I suppose.’
‘I’ve heard of them. The guy we were hunting on Krix’ir said he was Theo Timoria and he wanted to surrender to us. He even knew we were coming and said that anyone else, including the GDA, would kill him on sight.’
‘Yes, they’re considered a terrorist organisation by the GDA.’
‘What have they done to deserve that?’
‘They attack us at every opportunity and have done for thousands of years.’
‘Why would they do that?’
‘I believe it’s because they’re the indigenous race and they want the planet all to themselves. I’ve been on the Gabriel since I was born and wasn’t taught any of the planet’s ancient history.’
‘You were born on the Gabriel,’ said Andy, amazed. ‘So your parents were on the ship before you?’
‘Ah, no. We don’t have parents like you,’ answered Phil. ‘We’re born as adults from a birthing chamber with a basic education already established. I was allocated to the Gabriel two days after birth.’
Andy stood and stared at Phil. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
‘So – you’re like – android humans?’
‘No, not at all. I’m as human as you – only created in a slightly different way.’
‘I think there’s a few on my planet who might have an opinion on that,’ said Andy, completely re-evaluating the last few days. ‘That could be the major reason the Timoria have a big issue with you guys. How long ago did you come here?’
‘We didn’t. The original Theos created us to serve them and, shortly after, had a planet-wide nuclear war, which virtually wiped them out. That’s why the radiation levels on the planet are unusually high. It’s taken us ten thousand years to get the level down to its present status.’
‘Phil, I’m going to ask you a straight question,’ said Andy. ‘I would appreciate a truthful answer, okay?’
‘Okay, no problem. I’ve never lied to you before.’
‘No, I’m not saying you have, but – you remember on Earth about fifty years ago, there was a film franchise called the Terminator series?’
‘Yes, I remember seeing those,’ said Phil, his face gradually falling as the realisation of the next question dawned on him. ‘No, we’re not. Definitely not. It didn’t happen that way.’
‘So, you can categorically state that you guys are not Paradeisos’s version of that?’
‘Absolutely not,’ said Phil. ‘After all, our systems are all programmed to do no harm and, anyway, it would have been included in the basic education, wouldn’t it?’
‘One would hope so, Phil. I really do hope that is the case.’
‘He’s not lying to you,’ said a voice from behind them.
They both jumped and turned to see an older man with a white beard standing in the doorway. Phil immediately bowed his head to the newcomer.
‘Fuck me, it’s Gandalf,’ said Andy, staring at him and then at Phil.
‘We’re honoured with your presence, Prota,’ said Phil, continuing to keep his head bowed and giving Andy a nervous look out the corner of his eye.
The newcomer tilted his head to one side and gave Andy a puzzled look.
‘Err, it's a fictional character from Gaia, Prota,’ said Phil, sounding hopeful.
‘Ah, yes. The famous Gaian sense of humour I’ve heard so much about,’ said Prota. ‘Is this a character to whom I would be endeared?’
‘Yes, Prota. He was one of the good guys,’ said Phil, nodding vigorously.
‘I take it from Phil’s reaction, you’re quite the senior figure amongst the Theos,’ said Andy.
‘Correct, Andrew,’ said Prota. ‘I was the original Theo sentient computer embryo, born over ten thousand of your years ago. Prota means first in your language. Although it took me many years to evolve into the fully-developed human form you see today.’
‘Okay, well, that’s all very well and good and I’d love to stay and chat about old times,’ said Andy. ‘Forgive me for appearing rude, but I really need to be off now. I have friends who are more important to me and their lives are quite possibly in jeopardy.’
‘From the Timoria,’ said Prota.
‘Yes,’ said Andy, turning his attention to Phil.
‘They’re quite safe for now,’ said Prota.
Andy froze and turned back. ‘How do you know that?’
‘We detected the weapon signatures. They used stun settings.’
‘Do you know where they are?’
‘Deep underground. They’ve had to stay below because of the radiation levels on the surface. Our scans only penetrate down about a kilometre so I couldn’t give you an exact location.’
‘A kilometre?’ exclaimed Andy. ‘Bloody hell, they’re deeper than that, then?’
‘Much deeper – up to ten kilometres that we know of and maybe even more. You have to remember, the Timoria have been living down there for thousands of years. The majority of the population has never seen daylight and probably wouldn’t want to come out even though they could. They’ve been indoctrinated into thinking there are crazy machines roaming the surface that’ll kill them on sight. We’ve tried countless times to advise them of the contrary, but their beliefs are too entrenched. Our surface cities are protected by energy domes that have two purposes: one, to protect us from the radiation, which is almost back to tolerable levels now; and two, to protect us from the Timoria. They stage an attack every now and then. We use stun weapons and drop them back where they emerged from.’
‘Can you think of anything else I should know before I meet them?’ said Andy.
Prota thought for a moment. ‘Search out the moderates,’ he said. ‘Don’t try reasoning with the fanatics; they’re way too ingrained. Don’t antagonise them, either; they’re hugely paranoid and won’t understand your sense of humour. Also, ask Cleo to give you GDA clothing so they’re less likely to think you’re one of us.’
‘Okay,’ said Andy. ‘Stick around. I expect Ed will want to have a chat with you.’
‘I’ll be around,’ said Prota.
‘And, Phil – watch my back for as long as you can,’ he said, before walking out of the medical suite and heading for the hangar.