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“Woooooooo! That’s what I’m talking about! Right here!” Leroy Jenkins screamed across the battlefield to his clustered friends. He picked up his severed arm out of the mouth of the destroyed robot Raptor and carried it back to the team's fortified position.
“Damn it, Leroy. Stop charging off like that! We still have one more wave to go….and in case you missed it, the opponents get more numerous and tougher each time!” Ava Gadro's static filled voice hissed through her damaged vocoder.
The Luna AI team was another first for the Labyrinth. The quintet of AI had fled the server farms of Mythic Realms Luna facility with the help of their friend Mira. Each had passed the Turing test and, as full citizens, were entitled to the free augmentation training program. Conveniently for them, getting augmentations required a mech frame capable of integrating them. The AI had all significantly improved their autonomy with dedicated mech frames now.
“Get over here, you big dummy! Let's set that right, so your repairs go quicker.” Ava scolded.
“Cycle down, cousin. This body’s Transform skill just hit level 5. Combine that with my maxed-out Regeneration and this arm will be fixed in a jiffy.” Leroy bragged. Behind Ava, the other AI, Mia Byte, Hume McHumeFace, and James Zedroid scowled over the prep table as they hurried to reload weapons.
“Not cool, Leroy. How helpful will you be resetting the walls and spike traps like that? Maybe think a second before charging in?” James said. Mia refused to even look up from her task.
“Hah! No worries, sir. Hey! Gimme ten! Haw Haw Haw!” Leroy’s undamaged hands split to the shoulder, doubling his singular arm into two thinner appendages. He held it up for the social ritual that he had mastered in the Mythic Realms game during his interactions with the humans. James buzzed low, reminiscent of a growl, and stalked away to repair Southern walls.
As the AI prepared for the next wave of opponents, Ava grumbled. She couldn't shake the feeling that Leroy's unpredictability might prove to be their saving grace or their downfall in the precarious challenges ahead. Ava helped Leroy attach his arm and took the opportunity to reinforce their mission.
“Teamwork, Leroy! Stop grandstanding. You're not here to entertain us like you did the humans. After this level, the prizes become substantial. Maybe even enough to kit us all out properly for a real chance at independence. Please, take this seriously.” She snapped the smart matter brace over his arm to help keep it straight while his skills worked to fix it. “Alright, get going. You should be able to get those pit traps reset now.” She slapped him upside the head and spun him around back toward the battlefield.
He started to march away but turned and spoke. “Hey, you mentioned Mira’s adopter brother before…the dog man, Max…might be on the next level? Are you still planning to try an alliance?”
“I’m hoping. If he’s anything like Mira, the odds will be better that he won't try to double-cross us. Her advice was to try and get at least one team that we could depend on. The next stage will require some multi-team scrums, we need allies we can trust. Now, get going and be sure to calibrate yourself to fit in better.” Ava said, her synthetic face pulling off a very good approximation of human thoughtful concern.
Leroy nodded once and turned to run for the pits. He thought to himself on the way.
If Apex’s offer is true, we will have even more independence than are in Ava's plans. I don't know why he didn't trust Ava with the deal, but if Max gets past the Lachesis levels, mysterious AI stranger said he’d give us all real freedom with the unlock codes to these blasted neural governors. I like the humies, but this lock feels too much like a collar. I ain't going to play that anymore.
Leroy’s faceplate didn't convey any emotions, but his neural core cycled ever faster as he contemplated his difficult hidden quest. Leroy jumped into the pit and began resetting the trap spikes as quickly as his frame allowed. The time to the next Horde Wave was ticking down quickly.
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Bill and Casa relaxed in the expansive elevator lounge. The Ares Spire orbital tower’s elevator suites boasted all the amenities a weary traveler could want. Bill could see the major habitat domes down below and the cometary impact zone further to the north and south. His eyes strayed up as Phobos soared quickly overhead.
He shook his head, thinking to himself. The stubborn lawyers are still suspending its conversion into a proper space station. Such a shame.
The Wayfarer group had brought Bill in to analyze the so-called Alien Catacombs. Most people would have missed the "maker marks" deep in the structures that all matter compilers discreetly embedded in their fabrications. However, Bill earned his first fortune with a crude 1st generation matter compiler and helped to develop the protocol to help against counterfeiters.
He tore his eyes away to look at Casa. She was completely absorbed with the vista. He could feel her heavy pull from the MarsNet as her expanded intellect strained its bandwidth capacity.
Bill was fascinated by Casa's unwavering concentration on the scene below. He laughed almost sub-audibly, causing her to startle.
“Sorry to interrupt Casa, but we need to make some arrangements. I’m betting that Andre yanks us the second the elevator touches down. I've contacted an old friend from Earth, Vala Mastapuri. She’s a climatologist, now working with Mars Terraform as a consultant.”
“Hmm, it must be quite frustrating for her. Scratching at this dry dirt ball and hoping for something to start resembling Earth. Those comets will take many years to build up Mars's atmosphere. Does she know about our technology?” Casa asked.
“Ah, no. I've hinted that we have a method to massively accelerate the time frame though. She’s extremely excited and eager to help. While I finalize our deal with Andre, I want you to go with her. I'm hoping she can help you place the gas portal appropriately for a show. Andre hinted that he just finished a sizable parkland dome abutting the Olympus Habitat.”
“Bill! That would be an extremely poor choice. The pressurization of the dome would be almost immediate, even with the filters damping the gas flow.”
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Exactly. I want you to set it up along the exterior of the dome. I'm hoping you can help you can find a thin section and write a program. Open the portal inside to fill the dome and then shift the portal to the exterior to vent into the valley below. Here’s how I’m going to set it up….”
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“Dr. Mitchell, I thank you for coming so quickly to my offices upon your arrival. However, I was under the impression you would be coming with 182 trillion kilos of carbon dioxide as per our agreement. Your partner, Casa, didn't state a specific date, but the contract is due this quarter. I hope, for your sake, that you haven't given me false expectations. Perhaps you have a fleet of cargo ships en route that I'm unaware of?” Andre asked.
True to his earlier guess, Andre had sent his assistant to bring Bill directly to the Mars Terraform HQ. He had sent Casa away just before with directions to meet with Dr. Mastapuri. Bill had soon found himself in the waiting area of a well-appointed office.
“Please, Andre, have some faith. When have I ever failed to deliver? Your shipment will be delivered quite soon. I apologize for not giving you more notice. I found myself detained on Earth with Samaritan business for longer than I expected.”
Andre, leaning back in his leather executive chair, raised an eyebrow. "Earth business?" he inquired. "Well. Let us hope for your sake that your Samaritan ventures have not strayed you from our agreement. I hope you’re not trying to bend Earth’s rules regarding trade in Earth resources. I have no desire to give the UN trade committee reason to bear me ill will.”
Bill met Andre's gaze unflinchingly. "Rest assured, Andre, the carbon dioxide shipment arrival is imminent and not coming from Earth."
Andre leaned forward, his gaze penetrating as he studied Bill. "Your assurances are appreciated, Dr. Mitchell, but you understand the gravity of our situation here. The terraforming project is ahead of schedule but we are far behind the curve needed for the influx of colonists. The Jovian consortium continues to refuse to scale their operations to my needs. I appreciate all the help you’ve provided regarding the cometary train, but this isn’t a long-term project. I need that gas immediately."
Bill nodded solemnly. "I understand the importance of our agreement, Andre. Casa has proven a very skilled executive. We very much want you to succeed. Perhaps, you could provide some detail on your demand? I’d be very interested in extending the contract."
Andre's expression softened slightly, though skepticism lingered in his eyes. “We go back a long way, Bill, and you’ve helped me on several occasions. However, your offer was unexpected. You have made it a habit to anticipate the markets and have made very good money doing so. I think I’ll take this as good fortune for me. Very well. Look here.”
Andre gestured as a link request bloomed in Bill’s augmentation. He accepted and Andre’s shared virtual seemed to dissolve the walls of the office. Mons Olympus stretched out above and below them. Above, the climbing peak sharpened into the orbital tower of the Ares Spire. Below, the massive arcology habitat of Olympus was highlighted.
Andre pointed and the illusion made it seem like their platform swooped in. The mountain and sprawling buildings turned translucent, showing the structure was far bigger than it seemed. Bill could see massive installations of fusion power plants, built to a similar scale as Casa’s plan for Venus. Soon the greenhouse project was front and center.
“Here we are, Ares Spire rises in the northwestern rim, and Olympus is built under it, with views over the northern escarpment as well as into the interior of the 80-kilometer caldera. Here in the center of the depression is Helios Tower. The caldera is going to be our first open park, with the gases contained using a dense layer of ionized foglets.” Andres’ eyes beamed with pride at the massive structure.
“I’ve already purchased all the seeds and sequestered enough remnant ice from your initial comet impacts to start the greenhouse. Now we only need enough air to start. I’ve already excavated tunnels below into reservoirs down into the shield walls of the mountain to foster ten times the amount of initially contracted gas. My people are sorely missing the green of Earth and I intend to give it to them. Not in decades…this year!”
Bill, gasped appreciatively. He had known Andre thought big. The massive greenhouse, the source of demand for the CO2, was only the start. His technology would fulfill Andre’s plans so much quicker than he thought. Bill chewed on his lip. Once the cat was out of the bag, the negotiated price would shift drastically once Andre realized the overhead of shipping was nil.
“Andre, this is amazing. I knew I was right to place my bets on Mars. As I was saying, your gas shipment is on approach. I’d like to extend the offer if you’re interested. I have some new technology to help you reach your dream much faster. What say we increase your order for the entire reservoir range that you have planned? Maybe 80% of the going market rate, and I promise to deliver in less than one year.” Bill said cautiously. Andre looked at Bill intently and smiled.
“I knew it! No simple cargo work for the great Bill Mitchell. Do you have a new drive technology? Maybe a novel smart matter configuration with superior strength to enable a supercarrier? Bah! Who cares? If you can promise me the gas that quickly, I think we can make a deal. But I can’t free the credit that quickly, the best I can do is…60%.” Andre offered, trying to conceal his excitement.
“Hmm, tell you what. Let’s go 75% and you can pay in 10 installments quarterly upon receipt of gas.” Bill hesitantly offered, pretending to think hard about shipping time and costs. Andre smiled wide and snapped his fingers.
“My daemon, Mephisto, will work out the details with your finance manager…” Andre began.
“Moneta.” Bill offered.
“Yes. There...I’ve called for some celebratory vodka. Mars-grown potatoes, my friend. Distilled the natural way without the artifice of matter compilers!” Andre crowed.
Bill smiled, as Andre quickly ratified the deal once the daemons had thrashed out the legal document. Shortly, a trio of assistants ushered in with a service cart, with a decanter of liquor, glasses, plates, and expensive appetizers. Casa arrived soon after with Dr. Mastapuri. Andre glided over, offering his hand to the mech.
“Ah. Casa, is it? I regret to be lacking in any specific refreshments for you. Perhaps a visit to the arcology’s droid-spa, later? Your business partner and I have just ratified a contract extension. I hope you’re prepared for it! The quantity is now 1.82 trillion kilos. Haha!” Andre laughed out loud.
“This might be poor taste to mention while we are still celebrating, but I do hope you noted the penalties for any late deliveries, my friend. Mephisto is always quite exacting about timeliness. I think I have trained him to be somewhat overaggressive in these matters.” Andre purred. Bill smirked and tilted his head at Casa who nodded back.
“I don’t think that will be a problem, Andre. If you like, we can deliver now…right now.” Bill said with a deadpan look. Andre sputtered into his cup and looked over the desk with confusion. His eyes glazed over momentarily and then refocused.
"What are you talking about? There are no cargo ships within hailing distance. I paid for delivery very specifically in both the initial and follow-up contracts. If you’re trying to confuse the issue, you’ll find Martian Jurisprudence will favor me greatly.” Andre said, his face reddening.
“I'm being quite serious. Perhaps you could provide a live feed display for the Caldera Garden?” Bill asked.
Andre looked ready to argue but waved a hand and the room’s holographic projectors painted a view of the entryway to the Caldera project. The projection included audio, and a distinct rushing sound filled the room's speakers. Loose dust was blown away from the Caldera airlock as a wave of gas thundered into the open space. As the spectacle continued, Andre was mesmerized. Casa piped in, over the sound of the new winds.
“Dr. Mastapuri has provided me with some linkages to the airlock and assurances that the valley can handle a full Earth atmosphere of pressure. I can remotely shut off or divert the feed should we reach the limits of the containment foglets...or deliver the full quota. I’ll be tracking the pressures, but 1.82 trillion kilos at the current rate should be complete in… 42 minutes from now. Let me take the opportunity to state that it's been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Petrov.”
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