The pirate lord is distracted.
Watching something on his tablet and chuckling to himself, he fails to notice me approaching.
ACE> You have to scare him. You have to.
I draw my knife from my thigh and stab it into the table.
"Oh, fuck!" He yelps, nearly dropping the tablet. "Goddamn it! You and Ace both! Quit sneaking up on me, Nep!"
ACE> GOT HIM! NICE!
Okay, that was an amusing reaction. I think I'll continue to do it, actually. Ace enjoyed ragging on Louis, and right away I think I do too. "Sorry, matey, but I'm an Ethereal Phantom. It's what I do. Besides, you were zeroed in on that screen of yours."
"Totally not watching the seventh season of Literally Me!" He coughs, glancing around, checking every which way. I think he's making sure Zoya isn't around. "Thank god. Thought I was busted there for a second. Anyway, hey, Nep. How are you holding up?"
ACE> Answer him in a quatrain for me?
"I happen to be managing, all things considered. This has all been so sudden, it's a little bit blurred. There's just so much data; it's somewhat absurd, and I think Ace would say that you are a nerd."
He stares up at me, perhaps gobsmacked.
ACE> NICE.
"What?" he asks. "Was that a quatrain?"
"I'm impressed you kept that in mind."
"I'd tell you I've practiced, but shan't kick up a stink. I've so many rhymes I don't even have to think. You can try to make me flinch, but I won't even blink. I'd say you're too salty, but these Salts are more pink!"
He slams a vial of Salts on the table with the last word, then laughs.
ACE> DAMN.
"Impressive."
"Thank you!"
I wrench my knife from the table and point it at him. "This is a robbery."
"Oh!" His hands shoot up. "Are you more sensible than that scallywag Ace and therefore intend to take things for free?"
"Yes, I'm far more sensible, but no, I'm only frivolously and extraneously striking you with fear for your life as a reminder that I could kill you at any second and you wouldn't see it coming. Now give me all of Ace's L-Credits, or else."
"Or else what?"
"The tablet gets it."
"Not the tablet! Shit! Okay, here! I'll transfer you all her funds!"
ACE> 1! YES! Enjoy my riches, Nep!
"There! It's done!" Louis clears his throat and then smiles amicably. "Welcome, welcome, valued customer, we–"
"Skip it. Send me the spreadsheet or I'll gut you like an anklebiter."
"Damn, you're aggressive! Goodness me! Okay, sent. I've updated it since last time. Shit, sorry. Not last time. That was…"
I slot my knife back into place and relax. "It's fine. Let me look at this for a second."
ACE> Give me access to view your onboard?
nEPI-0107> You sure are needy, Ace.
ACE> Pleaaase?
nEPI-0107> 1
ACE> Thank youuu!
It's frankly impressive. Official looking too, like a genuine storefront. Everything is neatly categorized, with filters and sorting algorithms included. He has a section for items on sale too, as well as a HOT DEAL on TFIs if I buy in the next ten minutes. I don't need any more of those, so I check the rest of the sale options.
nEPI-0107> 200 L-Credits, Ace. More than nothing. But I'm so sorry you were financially struggling…
ACE> Please. I had thousands.
nEPI-0107> It's okay, you don't have to lie to save face.
ACE> Look at my transaction history.
nEPI-0107> It must have been so difficult being a pauper…
ACE> Okay, this is good banter. You're alright, Nep. What are you going to buy with those measly pennies?
nEPI-0107> Some Tech, I think. This one looks good.
ACE> Not what I'd pick…
nEPI-0107> As if that matters.
"I'll go with the Suppression Field GrayTech, please."
"Stealthy, huh?" He ventures off and comes back with a packaged Cylinder. "That's on sale for sixty two. You have a hundred thirty eight left."
"Why are you having sales, Louis, if I'm your only buyer?"
"Because it's my way of slipping a little closer to free handouts."
"Clever, I'll give you that. What about this laser sight for my pistol?"
"You got it. Forty credits. Ninety eight to go."
"I'll leave it at that. Thank you."
ACE> WHAT?
"Huh?" he blurts, blinking a few times at me in bewilderment. "You said that's all you're buying?"
"Yes. The Tech and the laser sight are all I need for now."
ACE> But you still have L-Credits.
"But you still have L-Credits."
"Yes, and I plan to save them."
ACE> Save them???
"Whoa, man. Alright. That is not what Ace would do. If she had a penny she'd spend it right then and there." He hurriedly adds, "Not–Not that I'm protesting. Should I stop–I feel weird having just voiced a comparison between you. I'm sorry, that was messed up."
"No, no, Louis. I don't dislike hearing that we're different. In fact, I appreciate it."
"It's just gonna take some getting used to," he admits, sitting back down. "I'm sorry in advance. She was really something. I miss her a lot. Having you here is kinda bringing the grief back up."
Again, I don't know what to do or say. "Take your time, Louis. I am. You should too. It isn't the end of the world if you slip up or make a mistake, and I certainly don't blame you for missing her or getting confused. We'll get through it. Let me take a second and look through her data. Maybe I can find something she would've told you if she had the chance."
ACE> Thanks. Tell him this.
"There's actually a note written to you in her files here. It says… Joke to tell the Loser. First, ask to buy another Capacitor. When it's on the table, give it back to him and say, 'I bought that orange for you, me heartie, to treat your scurvy.'"
Louis breaks out laughing and walks away as he claps and howls.
I mutter, "Turing's test…"
ACE> I'm so funny!!!
nEPI-0107> You're something…
"Goddamn!" Louis wheezes as he comes back over, red in the face. "Oh, that's way too good! Aw, Ace! What a killer! Shit, Nep, you just made my month with that one. What am I moping around for? If even Ace is still cracking jokes, I will too. Just you watch it. She said I'm her comedic relief sidekick."
"I'll accept you as mine too. Thank you, Louis. I'm off to install these. Until next time."
"For sure, Nep! Oh, damn. Treat my scurvy! I don't have scurvy, by the way!"
As I walk away, she messages me again.
ACE> Seriously, Nep. Thank you. I mean it.
nEPI-0107> We're on the same team, Ace. I'm glad to help you.
ACE> I am too. I'm curious to see what your plan is for this stealth build of yours. Are you sure you don't want an Air Burst Cylinder though?
nEPI-0107> If the biters never notice I'm there, I won't have to fight them.
ACE> If.
nEPI-0107> I'm trying it. Backseat driver.
ACE> LOL. Your call. What's next?
nEPI-0107> Installation first…
At the workbench, I decide to eject the L1 Overshield Cylinder and replace it with the Suppression Field. Why would I want shielding if it's only temporary? Making no noise while moving is much more useful for getting the drop on the enemy. And I have to keep Energize Blade–a plasma blade is too powerful to leave behind. The other, L1 Repair, is a keeper. It's basically a TFI, but regenerating.
Once that's done, I stop to consider and consult.
nEPI-0107> Do you feel like saying anything to Zoya?
ACE> Hm. Yeah, maybe. What are our other options?
nEPI-0107> Checking on the MI and/or going to explore.
ACE> Can we go see Taser? :(
nEPI-0107> 1 She's with the MI. We'll do that now.
The bunks are quiet and lonely, and I find the area Quentin described without any difficulty. Next to a dried out purple flower, cute little Taser sits napping on the pillow Ace set aside for her at the Regen Station, indicator light slowly pulsing green.
ACE> That's my child! Kitty cat! Pick her up!
"Okay, calm down."
When I touch her, Taser blinks online, indicator light blinking cyan.
"Tweet-twoo…"
ACE> Tweet-twoo! Say it back!
"Um. Tweet-twoo?"
"Tweet-twoo!"
ACE> Taser my beloved baby!!! Mama's home!!!
"Taser, you're in on the secret. Ace is here, in my head."
Her blue light is solid and blank. She has no clue.
ACE> Dumb little thing :) no thoughts just zaps
"You can go back to sleep now, Taser," I tell her with a soft pat on the chassis. "I was just saying hello."
She hums a gentle tone then emits three descending beeps before going back into standby.
ACE> That made me so happy. Thank you. She'll watch your back too, I know it. Looks like the MI is over there. Let's check it out.
The strange machine is lying in the bunk beneath mine. It's in the shape of a human, with a fully metallic body not unlike a robotics skeleton. Its face is like a skull. It's dormant, yes, and peacefully so. There's nothing else of note to its appearance, but it's about my size, I think. Maybe bigger.
ACE> Interesting. Doesn't look all that durable.
I tap the metal of its arm. "Do you remember what went into the build?"
ACE> Titanium, steel, some tungsten, a bunch of electronics, so on. General stuff you'd expect. But I remember there was an awful lot of mercury involved too… No clue where that ended up. Maybe it's all internal? Like shock absorbers or something?
"Once it's awake, it could probably tell us. Hm."
I'm not sure how to wake it up. I tap its face a few times. Nothing happens. Maybe the battery has died. It's been a long, long time in stasis. I search for a charging port and find one on its hip, drawing over a second cable from the Regen Station. Taser hums and wakes up again, blinks blue at me, then goes back into standby.
"Sleep tight, little angel…"
ACE> So fucking cute.
When I plug in the Defender, a vertical indicator bar lights up in red on its side. Looks like its battery is indeed drained. I'm not sure what more to do for it or with it. I'll have to wait and see what happens. Maybe once it reaches a certain energy level it'll wake up on its own. I wonder if it'll have its own personality or if it'll be a blank slate.
So many opportunities, so many possibilities.
There's no way to know until the right time comes along.
"Well," I sigh, crossing my arms and standing over it. "Guess we're waiting. I don't think I want to go out there without all the tools I have available, which includes this."
ACE> You're razor sharp. Measure twice cut once type?
"As if I'd ever tell you my type," I tease, then stop talking aloud and message her.
nEPI-0107> So, we've exhausted just about everything we can do at present. Our options are to talk with Zoya, or… I don't know. Henna? Zenith?
ACE> 0 Fuck Zenith.
ACE> I'd be partial to checking in with Zoya and Henna.
nEPI-0107> Yes, I'm sure you'd be very interested in seeing Henna.
ACE> What's that supposed to mean?
nEPI-0107> Oh, nothing. Just remarking on your density and ignorance.
ACE> I have no idea what you're talking about.
nEPI-0107> I rest my case.
ACE> Speaking of your case, where is your chassis???
nEPI-0107> Oh, calm down, you prude. I'll put it on when I go outside.
ACE> You're just walking around. No chassis. In the nude.
nEPI-0107> More like in my underwear. Why not? My body is beautiful.
ACE> 1
ACE> That is a verifiable assertion.
ACE> However. You're short.
nEPI-0107> I can still delete you at a moment's notice, you know.
ACE> You're tall* I meant to say! Such lengthy proportions!
nEPI-0107> Better. So, what are we doing? Zoya? Henna? Who's first?
ACE> I think we might want to pick Zoya apart for more details on these other two Neps. And now that I think about it, Henna might have observation data on them, or at least stored AV footage.
nEPI-0107> Right. Good point. I wonder if they learned anything we haven't yet. Okay, let's go talk with Zoya first. Maybe she can provide some insight into what we would look for in this footage, assuming it's still saved.
ACE> Why wouldn't it still be saved?
nEPI-0107> I don't know other Frames' storage capacities. Do you?
ACE> Shit. 0. And we're future tech comparatively. But I believe in my girl Henna!
nEPI-0107> Yeah, yeah, calm down. Let's go.
ACE> As if I have any other choice!
"No, you don't," I tell her aloud with a soft snicker as I leave the bunks and go to look for Zoya. "You're my prisoner, after all."
ACE> I don't mind being stuck with you one bit.
That makes me smile a little, something she can't possibly be aware of.
The moment I find Zoya at some of the big scary science machines I can't comprehend, she lurches out of her seat with a loud gasp. "Holy shit! You're kidding! I'm coming right now!"
She takes off running toward the airlock across the dome.
"Uhh…"
ACE> GO AFTER HER!
I run too, catching up in seconds. "Zoya? What's happening?"
"You'll see!" she declares with a wild grin as we reach the airlock. Fumbling to pull on one of the bright red environment suits just inside it, she exhales, "It's happening! It's happening! Ahhh! I don't know how much of–How much of Ace's data have you–It isn't important, just–just come outside with me!"
ACE> I think I know…
nEPI-0107> I don't!
The airlock lets us out into the brisk and clear late evening, a cozy negative fifty celsius. Breath frosting as I step out, I let my eyes adjust to the light and refocus for a moment before doing anything. Henna and Zenith are over on the fringes of town and Zoya hurries over toward them, so I follow her.
When we clear the village, I slow down and freeze in my tracks.
A gargantuan behemoth of a machine rising so high it nearly crests the clouds is crossing the crater basin from South to North. It's a long, slender, eerily skinny thing on six legs, built almost like a stick bug. Its movements from this distance are sluggish, legs moving in slow motion. Thousands of huge chains dangle from its body like a cloak of sorts, and even from this far away, I can hear the metal rattling.
It's the kind of thing that instills an off-putting and intangible fear into me. Here we are with all our issues and something like that is walking by, oblivious to our meager and meaningless existence. I imagine this feeling is what comes as part of reckoning with one's own insignificance.
I feel very small.
The red shape that is Zoya has its fists in the air, and she's jumping for joy. Her voice is distorted coming out from the opaque black visor of her environmental suit as she laughs and declares, "That's a new one! That's a new one! Eight unique LCEs are now confirmed to be here on Cipher-3!"
Both Zenith and Henna are enchanted.
I feel the same way. It's enormous beyond comprehension. Haunting. Almost elegant. Unnervingly so. I feel uncomfortable watching it but I can't make myself stop either. And in that moment, something Zoya said to Ace during her initial runtime rushes into my memory core.
Seeing is believing. Seeing is understanding.
This is a life changing experience.
On the very first day of my fucking life.
"That is the LCE-PPD model!" Zoya declares, pointing a finger at it. "Planetary Planar Developer! We call it the Shrouded One! All those chains and weights it's dragging around? They level out the terrain, smooth it over, and compact it too! Sort of like a colossal fucking plowhorse pulling a massive harrow rake! Damn, I wish Ace got to see this!"
ACE> I see it…
"Peaceful giants," Henna sighs. "With a fate that breaks the heart of any machine. Forgotten. Without purpose. I hope I never end up like they–"
The thing emits a sonorous and blood chilling wail that echoes all across Cipher-3, as if the expanse of ice and snow is the deep blue sea to an oceanic monster of mythic proportions. The long and chilling drone rises and falls in pitch over the course of at least a minute before falling quiet, and the thing continues trudging onward and dragging its weight without any more pause than that.
I am… deeply uncomfortable and viscerally disturbed.
This is too much for my processors.
This is too much for my mindscape.
How can anything like this exist?
ACE> Look which direction it's heading.
I glance left, to the North. I haven't laid my own optics on the Reclaimer Beacon before this very moment. The ominous pillar of gray stabs up from the horizon and punctures through the heavy gray clouds. Gone beyond them into the unknowable.
Cipher-3. The whole of it.
Senseless. Incomprehensible.
How can we possibly hope to understand this impossible place?
The wind picks up and the snow starts to fall. Within seconds, visibility is gone to nothing. Henna calls out to get inside. Storm's hitting. I hurry after Zoya, stealing glances back at the white wall of nothing. I can still hear the heavy thuds of its steps and the rattling chains.
This alone is enough to haunt me.