LIGHTNOVELONLINE Issue 83: The Sleepers
Prologue: The Sleepers
I have blackouts. They only last for a few moments but they worry me. Deep within my soul, I know: It's why I’ve closed myself off from the other Mavericks. I don’t trust myself.-Amazing Grace
Turns out the sleeper compulsion is a mix of nanotech and Unity corruption. We will have to tackle this on two fronts.—From the medical files of Doctor Lorain Lanis
The department heads of At’lan attempted to phase the ship outside of Jupiter. Thanks to that moment where future Eliza intervened so long ago they are locked out of At’lan’s mainframe. Even Sul does not have access anymore. That Eliza gave complete control over to At’lan. What a day this has been.-Arthon
Like all things, it started with a simple wish: Please help me purge the sleepers. What transpired ended up taking longer than we thought. But it was the right thing to do. What most didn’t realize was At’lan was no longer just an AI but an ascended VI interlinked with more than just Edenverse.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
Habitat Ring Demeter
The Orbit of Illarium (Mars)
March 25th, 2104
Arthon ran.
Sparks of electricity hitting him square in the gut but he soldiered on.
His Lightbearer suit absorbing the worst of the demi’s attack. Doc had devised a way to detect some of the nanites flooding a sleeper’s system but they still needed further research on the Light Shaman side to figure out how to remove the corrupting aspect of Unity.
That was easier said than done.
Unity’s grip was insidious.
It would rather kill the Sleeper than let it go to the wayside.
Ritark flowed through the metal plating of the hab ring. Sticking to the shadows.
As the fleeing demi sprang over the emergency barricades Ritark struck. Chanting the words his father, Sir Avalon, had taught him. The man crashed to the plating. He screamed more with astonishment than pain. The Litari encased him within a lightning shield. Knowing that the human’s demi powers would prevent injury. Arthon held out his hand. Commanding the nanites within his Muthra markings to knock the man senseless. He collapsed. Eyes twitching. The Puzzler scanned the man as well. No hidden weapons or data cubes. Eddie turned as Doctor Impossible loaded the unconscious individual on the grav med pod. It hissed closed before the Sleeper had a chance to awaken. A quiet bing told her the seal held. Around the orbit of Mercury, there was a special lab. She only hoped it would be enough to free them.
******
The void of space. Not empty though. I drifted around the sun. Mostly positioning relays that powered INet and other extrasolar activities as my dad called them. They had combined his old project with Barracuda.
Back in the day, it had been called Osiris and I.R.I.S. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember what that stood for. Not that it mattered now. Everything was under one command now: C.A.P. Cosmic Action and Planning. The military loved its acronyms. Dad’s face materialized within my HUD. The holo flaring to life behind my eyes. <
When dad put it that way it meant mom was pissed.
He caught my expression, his rare belly laughs cutting through everything, <
He continued, <
He grinned at the relieved look plastered on my face. Thank god.
*****
J’ino watched as Judgement and Star entered the main deck. Y’lansa’s good humor returning within an instant. She was hosting a representative from each House. Along with a few from the Commons. Star saw R’omik of House Ithar and shook his hand before anyone else in the room. Which amused her mother to no end. She did it because he was the equivalent of NASA’s head of Operations. Combined with a mastery of Typherian lore and history. His House had been on the lowest part of the social pool for a while. Eliza’s innocent yet utterly ignorant approach had horrified all the House officials. Barring Y’lansa and herself. Glorious!
For his part, R’omik found this highly amusing as well. If a bit disconcerted.
As a male, he wasn’t used to a female of Star’s rank addressing him so directly.
For his people, the women commanded the social sphere. While the men directed technical doctrines. Direct military conflict. Genetic Records. The Navy was the exception. There men and women could excel.
His golden eyes crinkling as he said, “May the Rulers grant you good health Scion.”
*****
I knew most of the women were cross with me but it was baffling. He was their astrological head of research! That was quite the accomplishment. I had never been able to be on the research side of the house with NASA. Judgment nudged me. Which elicited more gasps from the Typherian women around the room. What was this? Some sort of reality program? It’s not like dad was a radioactive creature.
Mom’s mental gymnastics hit me full force.
Her face was serene but inside she was howling like a hyena on a trip to New Vegas.
>>Ma. Why? Fine. If you want me to.<<
I walked over to Uncle J’dax, “So what’s this all about?”
One woman fainted in a dead heap. Her attendants catching her before she hit the floor.
This was going to take a while.
Legion of Tomorrow
Union Island
Amazing Grace shuddered. The thing before her shrouded.
They were in the Records Hall.
“Get me those data files. I want to know what demi bloodlines are worth the trouble.”
The mark of a cross was the only thing she could recall.
It was an ugly twisted thing upon the creature’s right cheek.
The Muthra collapsed on the reading chairs.
While the other placed an old-fashioned book over Grace’s face.
Just another demi taking a snooze after a long day at work.
Sister Nyx strolled from the complex.
None questioned why she had been there.
The medical staff was trusted here. Nyx saved that kernel of knowledge for the future. For all the children she would nurture. She would use Earth's greatest defenders to do it. All with smiles on their faces.