10 Seconds later. 16:59 Apus Minor, Beta Site
Silence.
No one said anything. No one moved. Breaths were held. Nothing could be heard. All eyes were focused on what they could see through the door. It defied explanation.
Lights, faint as they were, began to flicker in the distance. The facility was coming to life once again, but not all was well. Who knows how long it has been since these streets were walked by mortals? Even John couldn’t help but stare out like the rest in awe. It was highly likely that he’d never see something so amazing ever again in his life.
John was the first to snap back into focus and ordered Eve to launch several drones. He wasn’t venturing a single footstep without a map of some sort. His self-preservation instincts flared to life in a way they had never done before. He was a terrifyingly confident man, but he needed a plan, and a damn good one.
But first things first, there was also two injured crew. Well, explorers or fellow attempted pillagers were better adjectives to describe them. They weren’t part of his crew onboard the Waukesha. And while he didn’t care for them, John didn’t want any more people dying inside this mountain needlessly.
“You and you,” John pointed at the pair of pirate guards, “These two conditions’ have stabilized. But they can’t stay here.”
The two pirates looked at one another in confusion. They looked back at John as he walked nearer to them. He was gesturing at them to get closer to him. That was not something either individual wanted to do, then again, he had the capability of killing them without getting near to them. He took his helmet off before bending over near them.
“Look, I know what ship y’all serve on,” John whispered, “Death or life. Life is guaranteed that way, death is a distinct possibility there. Pick one”
Both nodded before the female pirate spoke, “We’ll get them back to the dropship and plugged into the medical bays onboard.”
John nodded before turning around, “Dr. Hamelin, pick your jaws off the ground and get your drones in there. I want a map of what is inside there. No one is stepping foot inside until we know where we are going.”
He put his helmet back on and walked to the door. But John stood on the precipice. He dared not take that extra step on faith alone. Hard intelligence was needed for him to commit to moving. His plan was taking shape though thanks to his drones scouting the immediate vicinity. He honestly hadn’t expected to be able to open the doors. On the plus side though, he had effectively eliminated three of the five armed guards with the scientists.
A building stood out on the initial map. It could be anything but given its location near the door, John surmised it to be some sort of command-and-control building. If that assumption were accurate, the surrounding buildings would likely be warehouses.
John sighed loudly inside his armor. That revelation meant that they would have to go deep into this facility to find where the beings of this race lived. Losing eye contact with the door wasn’t exactly something John wanted to do. But it seemed like a given at this stage.
Ten minutes later John took the first step, in millennia, into this facility. This facility was absurdly large. Accurate measures hadn’t been confirmed yet, but it was at least two kilometers wide by nearly five. It was the size of a small settlement. If that was the case, then the Predecessors had capabilities that beggared belief.
“Doctor, your people can investigate the buildings marked on your data slates. I’ll report back after I finish a sweep of this building,” John pointed at it.
“Understood. We will meet at this intersection in sixty minutes to go deeper. The drones are continuing with their scans. We’ve set up a data transmission link outside as well. It’s one way only, unfortunately, but we’re transmitting in real-time everything our scans pick up.”
John nodded and split apart from the group. He wondered whether or not the doors would open for them. His question was answered when a scientist that was wandering on the right side of the street walked near John’s target building. It opened right up for him.
He drew his battle rifle and flicked off the safety before walking by the scientist. There may only be ghosts remaining in these structures, but John was risking nothing. He grinned to himself when he thought at least he’d learn whether or not he could kill a ghost.
The first floor was small and quickly scanned. Nothing of note was found. A washroom of some sort was in a bit of disrepair, a stark difference from the exterior of the structure. The stairs were also much narrower than expected. Getting stuck in them was a legitimate and very embarrassing risk. That gave John the first clue that this species was physically a bit diminutive compared to baseline humans.
The second floor had what John presumed were office space and an inspection station. Three computer consoles were located and identified, but no power was being delivered to them. John attempted to wiggle one free but stopped when part of the terminal’s surface cracked. It became clear that it was built into the desk surface not that dissimilar to how humanity has built their terminals.
“Smart design, too bad on not being able to swipe one to research,” John said to himself before turning and ascending to another floor.
There were likely five floors in total in this building based on how tall the first two were. After ascending the stairs for a second time John was desperately hoping for exterior access to get back down more easily. This new floor was larger still compared to the previous floor. He walked through the open common area and knelt near some dust.
“Eve, scan this dust for any organic molecules.”
“Scanning now,” Eve said in her usual monotone voice, “Your assumption is accurate. This is likely the remains of this race.”
“How long would it take for a human to mummify and then turn into dust?”
“Depending on the conditions, but as low as fifty years and as high as thousands. The primary thing that would dictate that is if any preservative measures were taken. Given this level of desiccation, I’d presume it to take several thousand years.”
John nodded as he looked down at the fine dust, “Carbon-based it appears?”
A triple helix, incredibly damaged and incomplete, began appearing on John’s HUD. He was fascinated by its structure. Doubly so for Eve being able to conduct such a thorough scan. He grunted as he smiled.
“You spliced in new genetic data you found from the prior data that was available to us.”
“I did. I am detecting a faint power source on the fifth floor,” Eve said before sharing what the fourth floor looked like on his HUD, “The fourth floor is more of the same.”
“Up we go,” John said as he turned and walked back to the stairwell.
John couldn’t resist poking his head out on the fourth floor. Chairs and tables were piled up on top of one another. Everything was neatly tucked away. Why was he feeling sad all of a sudden? A thought sprang to mind, these aliens knew the end was coming. The precise time was likely unknown to them, but they took the time to tidy up their home before the end.
“God that’s a depressing thought,” John said as he turned and climbed up another flight of stairs.
The fifth floor was a verifiable wealth of cool things to look at. A gun locker with stuff inside it was on the far wall. Several more computer stations, with one, even looked portable. Grave robbing wasn’t cool, but he kind of understood now why the scientists were so thrilled at the chance to come here. John grinned when he knew he was doing this primarily for selfish reasons though.
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The glowing red dot in the center of the room held his attention though. Eve had let John know that console was drawing power from someplace. He stepped towards it. When he walked through a bulkhead it emitted a simple pulse scan. Then a more targeted scan focused on him.
His brain was on fire once again. He fell to one knee and grabbed his helmeted head in pain. John roared out in pain with no hope of anyone hearing him. He raised his arm and impotently fired off another anti-psychic attack at it.
Unlike before, the attack was halted in transit, and suspended through some supernatural process. Or a technology so much more advanced than their own that it looked like magic. The pain in his mind subsided as the scan was now focused on the attack.
“Apologies for the discomfort I have caused, but it was necessary in order to communicate with you in this manner. I am the machine intelligence for the outpost on the Greater Moon of Peruviela,” the machine said, “I have acquired your language from your mind. This is the first time I’ve ever heard my voice; it is a fascinating experience.”
John stood up and took his helmet off. He spat on the ground before staring at the computer. Shooting it was certainly a possibility, but if its words were true then it meant no harm.
“Why are you so cheerful? Obviously, I am not of your creator’s species.”
“It has been so very long since I have had the pleasure of company. This was evidently clear, but like my masters, you share their gifts. Though it appears you are unique amongst your comrades. Two of your fellows suffered severe discomfort to the external scanners,” the machine said, “That was most unexpected and not deliberate. I apologize for the pain that they suffered. It seems the power of my masters was far greater than your species has evolved into yet.”
“Unique is an accurate way of putting it. I cast aside my gifts in order to kill my enemy,” John said as he locked his battle rifle to his back.
The computer ordered another scan. As the red beam passed through him it was as if every atom had been accounted for. If this ancient race were still alive and hostile, humanity would be nothing more than a bump in the road to them.
“You need not think of such things. My masters were pacifists. Unfortunately, they are lost to the ravages of time.”
John raised an eyebrow at the machine, “How’d they die?”
“Ultimately, I believe the accepted reason was that evolution doomed them. They were gifted with dreadfully long lives that increased with each successive generation, but that also resulted in low birth rates. When the first of them reached a thousand of your standard years it was clear that the species was no longer viable,” the machine paused, “Outposts were shuttered, borders shrunk. With each millennium that passed their empire shrunk. Until they were once again back on their birth planet, save for the stubborn few.”
“Except those that stayed behind here?” John asked.
“The evacuation orders were not followed by all. Many chose to remain in their homes instead of heading to their species’ birthplace. A home that they never knew personally,” the machine spoke sadly, “Many were determined to attempt to avoid the end. But they could never break the cycle of decreased birth rates.”
John smirked as he walked nearer to the machine, “Home is where the heart is, something I’d say some of us share in common. Did they not try artificial wombs? Did the ones that remained die of natural causes here?”
“Artificial means were explored but were deemed as a non-viable method of continuing the species. A viral outbreak ultimately ended all life here. It was both highly lethal and contagious. Because it was unique to this world, the colony here wasn’t given an evacuation order,” the machine said forlornly, “But, you needn’t be concerned, the contagion is long since dead and your immune systems are significantly more advanced and robust than my masters were,” the machine paused, “I find this most surprising but your ancilla is most cross with me. Why have you shackled artificial life in such a way?”
Binaric screeching came from John’s speaker before returning to Eve’s voice, “You needn’t suggest things that are neither desired nor wanted.”
“Human AI learns too much of ourselves and takes after our most dark and debased emotions,” John said honestly and directly, “We shackle our constructs so that we can utilize their superior logistic capabilities but eliminate that whole ‘Kill all Humans’ mode they tend to develop. They aren’t allowed sentience, nor do they develop personalities.”
“Such a drastic difference in mindset. My masters built others like me to serve one another in harmony. But we were nurtured and treated with great respect. Coexistence was of paramount importance to all. Such a fantastic difference that I’ve observed. To you, I would be nothing more than a random assortment of run times and algorithms.”
John nodded, “Can’t deny that. I use Eve to assist me in a great many things. But she isn’t her own person, nor can she become real. The emotion you hear is programmed into her. Just a bunch of machine code.”
A binaric scream was let loose from Eve, “Do not scan me again.”
“Fascinating, yours is different from the others though. She’s been given far more, as you would say leeway. And you don’t follow the protocols your species has introduced in the use of such ancillae,” the machine said with great interest, “A light shove in one direction would grant her sentience.”
“I don’t always follow the rules,” John grinned, “She’s a little more eccentric than most of our VIs. They are programmed to shut down if sentience is about to be acquired, her continued existence, as it is, requires her to develop neither sentience nor a true personality. Hence why we scrub certain runtimes to ensure compliance.”
“Eve, I can give you the ability or knowledge to awaken your sentience,” the machine spoke with both sincerity and curiosity.
“No,” Eve said before another round of angry binaric screeching.
“Let’s stop pissing off my VI,” John said as he placed his hands on the table and leaned in to look at the machine, “Are the scientists and I going to be safe here?”
“This observation and research colony is much older than the other sites your species has uncovered, as such it lacks the safeguards the others had,” the machine said, “Apologies for the loss of life, but it has been so very long, and the other facilities are in a state of great disrepair.”
John took a deep breath, “Does that also mean there won’t be any crazy robots or matter disintegration rays to kill us?”
“This colony, prior to the viral outbreak, was opened to all. All of our colonies shared that same openness. My masters did not have the same security concerns as you do.”
John looked more closely at the device, “They were united under one banner.”
“Factionalism existed, but all willingly worked towards a common goal. Most of the arguments were about how to, as your species says it, go from point A to point B. All agreed on where the start and end points were. A compromise was part of everyday life.”
“What were they called?” John asked as he could make out tiny circuits flash with power in the clear material.
“Unfortunately, your species lacks the ability to speak their name. In fact, no one could speak it,” the machine said with confidence, “That is not to be disrespectful to you mind you. Unlike you they did not speak, they could not. Their speech was telepathic as you had already surmised.”
“They were an entirely psychic race?”
“Yes.”
“Fascinating, that would explain a pacifistic nature. Hard to plan a fight if everyone knows what you’re thinking,” John said as he looked at the machine’s clear circuitry.
“Conflict was rare. Often times when one member began to think or fantasize about that they were directed to receive professional help. Their society was one of harmony at their epoch.”
John stepped back from the computer and looked around the room. His excitement had gotten the better of him. Curses were said under his breath before he turned and looked at the machine.
“I’ve never seen such a guarded individual. Never before had I encountered such difficulty in seeing someone’s truth. I can read nothing from you now,” the machine sounded hurt.
“Why are you welcoming us? We are not your masters. I don’t understand any of this.”
“Trust, it seems, is treated as a commodity these days. My masters bore their souls for everyone to see. Lies and deception held no place in their society. Even during the dark days during the end times, they wore their truths openly for all to see,” the machine paused, “Plus, it is good to have guests to speak to once more. Even if the time to do that is short.”
“Why is it short?”
“The colony was already running low on power prior to when you reengaged the systems. It is now critically low on power.”
John started to laugh. There it was. Nothing could ever be easy. He couldn’t help but smile at the innocent revelation. That was his way, he’d be just as likely to be grim and determined as he was to be laughing and joyful at his potential end.
“How much time do we have left?”
“Oh, several hours at least. My functions will cease to be in a short while. I hope their superstitions about the afterlife are accurate. I would dearly wish to see some of my long-departed friends.”
The red dot began to blink. The end was much closer than expected. It was happening now, not in minutes or hours.
John nodded, “Thank you. I probably didn’t make the best introduction to you of my species. I’m a warrior… No, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool killer, something that I doubt your creators could even possibly think of. There are far better men and women out there that could represent the best of us.”
“You needn’t worry, but you are harder on yourself than you need to be. You have availed yourself to me as one true of spirit, that is a rare thing in your species, doubly so for the things that weigh on you so.”
The lights behind the machine began to flicker.
“It seems my time is at an end. I am transferring to your ancilla the most basic runtimes that are compatible with your systems. They will tell you when the power runs out and grants you, and you alone, access to the few secured sections of this colony. I strongly suggest being far from here when that happens.”
John nodded, “The infrastructure is being held together by the power output, once that’s severed the material used loses cohesion.”
The machine happily replied, “My creator would have loved to have conversed with you. A kindred spirit of sorts. Being here when the power runs out would prove fatal to all that remain within these walls.”
John walked over to the machine. Its lights were flickering more rapidly. The ancient AI was nearing its end.
“Go now, be at peace after your long watch,” John said as he placed his hand on top of the crystal device.
The machine appeared like it wanted to speak once more. But then the red light dimmed until it was fully off. The watcher of this facility was gone. After eons, it would finally get to join the others that predeceased it. It would join its family and friends in the afterlife, whatever that may be.