AREA 51: IMORTUM Page 4

  Enyali seemed relieved that they were not the Imortum and must not have realized that her time was fading very fast.

  Enyali snidely said. “Ha, Bot!” she barked out. “It is against your programming to inflict damage on me, the other AI could do nothing to me either, I will never tell you anything. You’re nothing but a gutless computer program.”

  Jerren was getting pissed off. He had been present and witnessed interrogations by the CIA and some of their private contractors during his stint in the military, and short of water-boarding Jerren felt they would be hard pressed to get anything out of Enyali, so with disgust he said, “She is not going to be helpful. I say we put her back under, and I can always access the information through the AI on MY ship. We should be able to find the others that way as well.” Jerren made sure to accentuate the MY in his wording.

  “That AI is defective, and you won’t be able to find the others. I hid them well!” Enyali ended with a laugh.

  Alise sniggered drawing Enyali’s attention and she said, “Before we had you, or access to TDS 5, I would have agreed—”

  “I won’t tell you—”

  “You do not have to say a word, Enyali-Atem. We will track your family using your DNA dumbass!”

  Enyali smiled evilly and said, “That’ll do you no good, you’re all clueless.”

  Justin growled and said, “I’ve heard enough out of her, let’s just put her under and carry out the execution.” Enyali looked as if she were about to scream again but a second later she was out like a light.

  Jerren was frustrated, he didn’t know what Enyali’s jibe about the AI being defective was all about, but he suddenly had a deep need to find out what Enyali did to it. “Well that was a fruitless venture,” Jerren said in a huff.

  Calia smiled at him, “Not completely… It was difficult, but I looked into her mind while she was riled and I saw a little of what she was trying to hide.” Calia let out a laugh and said, “Gebb-Atum is beneath the surface of Anukan. Apparently he is trying to finish the work on an old Lantin ship. And Nuit-Atem is on the second level of your ship Jerren.”

  Justin said, “Can we send a probe down and tag Gebb-Atum, then transport him here as well?”

  Alise asked, “Calia, did you see where the ship is located? The radiation from the surface and gravitational waves from the pulsar are masking my scans.”

  Calia approached the display wall and asked, “Could you bring up a three hundred kilometer overlay image centering on Helios?” Alise did and Calia pointed to a location that looked like a massive dried out lake bed with old ruins surrounding it and pointed, “Here. This is where Gebb should be.”

  Alise nodded and launched a probe. A few minutes later it arrived at the location Calia indicated and proceeded to go through one ruin after the other until they finally found a shaft leading deep into the ground, “Okay, it is time to see what is down there.” The probe descended several hundred feet when Alise shouted, “Not again! I am losing control of the probe.”

  Alise moved to destroy it when Justin asked, “Can’t you re-phase the probe so they won’t be able to see it?”

  “I have tried…” Alise activated the self-destruct then turned to the group, “If Gebb did not suspect something was wrong before, he does now… Jerren, your Time dilation suit is over there. It was removed from Enyali when she was put into the medical unit. It is not your size so you will need to recycle it in your ship and make a new one. I tried to do it here, but I keep getting an error saying the item already exists.”

  Jerren went to the corner and picked up the suit and tucked it under his arm, then moved back to the group.

  Justin said, “I got the same error when I tried to recycle the suit I had been wearing that came from this ship, and I had to recycle it back on this ship. I figured the items must belong to the vessels that made them.” Justin finished with a shrug.

  Calia said, “From what I gleaned from Enyali, there have been a lot of people down there in the past few thousand years. They are close to getting that ship working again. I think we should accompany Jerren to secure his ship then try to open communications and request that whoever is down there turn Gebb-Atum over to us. If they refuse, then we reset them as well, and collect him ourselves. If we have to GMP the planet, then we will either have to wait until Jerren’s ship is finished charging and do a one-to-one TD shift or perform a lower yield pulse. If we have to do it while he is still charging, we could focus the pulse on their location as we did on Serqalin. But to avoid TDS 5 being caught up in the GMP, we would have to go no farther than point two five from positive and negative TD.”

  Jerren watched as Jason turned to Alise, “I think we need to take full possession of TDS 5 before the pulse. There should be ten to twelve hours’ recharge time. We need someone to stay on overwatch here. Do you want to do it, or do you want me to?”

  Jerren smiled as Alise took hold of Jason’s hand and brought it to her lips and kissed it then said, “I will stay here, and you can go help Jerren if you wish. I want you to keep the communications open though, Agreed?”

  Jason said, “Agreed,” and kissed Alise on the cheek before saying, “I’m going to get geared up just in case we run into anything hostile on TDS 5.”

  Calia said, “I will go to our ship and get it ready to GMP the planet if we encounter any issues…” She looked at Justin and said, “You will need to be careful over there. Enyali was not right in the head, and there is no telling what you may encounter over there. I would suggest you get geared up as well, and you can meet up in the master control room in twenty minutes.”

  Jerren watched as Justin wrapped his arm around Calia’s waist and said, “That sounds like a plan.” Justin peered over at him and Jason, “I will see you there in twenty minutes.” Turning away, Justin and Calia headed for their ship.

  Chapter Five

  Jerren accompanied Jason down the corridor to get geared up. They were in the Prep room and Jason had tried to retrieve his time dilation suit, but the ship wouldn’t create it for him. After three failed attempts Jason grumbled then he tried to get a nice looking armored chest piece, but every time he selected it, the display would pop up in error.

  Jason had called out to Alise apparently to see what she thought. A moment later Alise entered the room, Jason extended his arms out as if to say who knows when a golden soft silky looking material appeared draped over them and Jerren smirked at Jason’s expression.

  “What? This doesn’t look like armor.” Jason said as he began tapping out commands on the display once again, but the display went blank.

  Alise looked down at the garment draped over Jason’s arm, “That is interesting, why did you select it?”

  Jason looked disgruntled as he said, “I didn’t. The room wouldn’t open when we got in here so I had to use the display console to choose my armor, but it wouldn’t give me the time dilation suit or anything else I selected. I called for you and this materialized as you entered.”

  “Interesting, you might as well try it on. I have never noticed it in there before. Did you at least request one for Jerren?” Alise asked with a smile that indicated she was amused.

  Jerren cleared his throat. He wasn’t sure he could pull off putting on a silken bodysuit and calling it armor, “It looks as if I’ll be better served wearing what I have on.” he said with a shrug.

  Alise smiled, “Well Jason, you should at least try it, if it proves useless you can do like Jerren.”

  A minute later Jason asked, “So, do I look ridiculous?”

  Jerren and Alise were staring in stunned disbelief, and both must have been for similar reasons. Jerren said, “Damn, you look just like Inola, I mean to say she must have been wearing a suit just like that. You remember how her body seemed to shimmer golden with static arcing throughout? Well, you look like that. The only difference is you’re the same from the neckline up, and your hands aren’t covered either.”

  Jason looked at him doubtfully, and then Alise said, “Je
rren is right, that is amazing.”

  As Alise walked around Jason running her hands along the fabric on one side, Jerren did the same from the opposite side of Jason.

  Jason asked Alise, “Do you think I’ll need a weapon over there?”

  Alise frowned a second, “I would hope not, but you should probably take one anyway.”

  Jason turned to the wall and before he could touch the display a weapon belt appeared over his arm, “This is strange, I didn’t request it either.”

  Jason turned back to them and Jerren looked down, the weapon belt resembled the suit in color and shimmer, Jason shrugged his shoulders at him and fastened the belt.

  Jerren reached out and felt the fabric of Jason’s body suit once more. At first it had a silken feel to it but he gave it a firm squeeze and he could feel the resistance, and an idea popped into his head, “Jason, tighten your abs up a moment, I want to try something,” Jason nodded that he was ready, Jerren jabbed a fist into his brother’s abdomen and a second later his suspicions were confirmed, “Man that’s sweet, did you feel it?” Jerren said as he shook his hand in pain.

  Jason looked down at his stomach apparently stunned as well, “No, not at all, we need to get you one of these suits as well.” Jason turned to the wall but try as he may neither the armor or weapon rooms would appear.

  Alise drew Jerren’s attention when she said, “I would bet Jerren will need to get his suit from his ship.”

  Jerren chuckled feeling sure Alise was correct in her assumption, “I bet,” he smiled then added, “Let’s do this, I want to try one of those suits on, now that I know they’re practical.”

  Jason laughed, “You were going to tease me about this suit before you realized it was so nice.”

  Jerren plastered a fake hurt look on his face and said, “I would never… I’m shocked that you would think so low of your little brother.”

  Jason doubled over in laughter, “Little? Did you just say little? Younger yes, but you have gained a good two stones more bulk than me since we joined the military. You need to slow down on the workouts,” Jason ended on a chuckle, then Jason smiled at him and said, “Okay ‘little’ brother, I think it’s time to meet up with Justin.”

  *****

  Jerren and Jason arrived in the master control room and Jerren called out for their younger brother, “We’re ready when you are Justin. Just wait till you see what Jason’s suit can do.” And Jason and Jerren only had to wait a few seconds in the master control room before Justin entered.

  Looking at Jason, Justin chuckled, “I see your clothing was chosen for you as well, and seeing it from this angle, I recognize it now. This is the same kind of suit Inola was wearing.” Justin looked at Jerren. “Couldn’t you find anything to wear?”

  Jerren shook his head and said, “Jason kept choosing items but nothing would appear, and after he got that and his weapon the displays went blank. We think I may have to get mine from my ship.”

  Justin nodded and said, “I think we should go in first since we have the suits on, are you okay with that?”

  Jerren nodded and a moment later Justin just vanished in front of him, “What the hell? Where did he go?” Jerren exclaimed.

  “I can hear him,” Jason said.

  A moment later Justin reappeared, “What else can the suits do if you didn’t know you can vanish?”

  Jerren said, “This,” He hauled off and punched Jason and his body seemed to turn as solid as steel, “Damn that hurts,” Jerren said shaking his hand in pain.

  Jason laughed at him, “Then stop doing it,” he said with a grin.

  “Jason, draw your weapon,” Justin instructed.

  Jason did and Jerren watched in awe as his eldest brother vanished right in front of him.

  “I know,” Justin said a moment later.

  “You know what?” Jerren asked with great interest, “I couldn’t hear him.”

  Justin smiled at him and replied, “He said it was amazing, and I agreed.” Justin held up a finger and said, “One moment,” Then he vanished once again.

  Jerren was peering in the location his two brothers had been moments before and even swept his hands where they should have been, but his hands passed right through, so he figured the effect was much more than a simple cloaking device.

  Jason and Justin both reappeared about thirty seconds later, and Jason proceeded to explain the plan to him, “I think we need to clear the passage to the armor and weapons first so you can get your suit. What do you think?”

  Jerren marveled at the suit and agreed to the plan.

  Justin said, “Wait three minutes then follow us in. If there’s a problem, we will contact you. Otherwise, make your way to the Prep room.”

  Jason and Justin vanished once again and Jerren began counting. Three minutes seemed to crawl along, the old saying about watched pots never boiling ran through his mind and with a chuckle Jerren entered his ship.

  *****

  Jerren made his way through the archway. He was only in his ship a few seconds before Justin appeared saying, “The path is a mess but clear, I have your back.” Then Justin disappeared once again.

  Jerren made his way to the prep room. Justin had been correct, the ship, or what he had seen of it was a mess. He had to climb over piles of debris for a good five minutes before he entered the prep room, and calling for the display he was shocked to find that the suit and weapon had appeared on the first attempt. It took less than a minute for Jerren to dawn the new outfit and weapon belt, then he drew his weapon and a second later he could see what his brothers had been talking about.

  Jerren’s heads up display was tracking not only his every movement, and the targeting of his weapon, but analyzing all of the debris, walls, air quality and his own vital statistics, “Damn this is sweet!” Jerren said as he looked between his brothers.

  Looking around, Jerren continued to marvel at the tracking ability of the heads up display.

  A moment later Justin drew Jerren’s attention when Justin said, “This is your ship. We’ve secured the first level. What would you like to do now?”

  Jerren thought about it a second, “Let’s make our way to medical. We can put Nuit-Atem into stasis here, and then we can sweep the rest of the ship.”

  “We’ll have to be careful in there, there are… Well you’ll have to see it to believe it,” Justin said sounding disgusted.

  Once Jerren entered medical, he could see what had disturbed Justin so much. Everywhere Jerren looked he could see implements of torture. Amongst the piles of leather straps, chains and manacles, there were bladed knife like weapons, trocars, large cardiac type needles, saws and sharpened gut hooked blades, and vials that by the smell in the room, had to of once been filled with blood and or poisonous concoctions, but now their contents were who knows where.

  With a shudder, Jerren realized what the room was being used for, and it was not healing. If it was not for the armor he and his brothers were wearing, Jerren would have feared entering the room. He was about to reset the ship as he made his way to medical, but after seeing the condition of that room, Jerren decided that he needed to see the entire ship in its current condition first.

  Jerren cleared off the medical unit of the debris that had rained down on it, and it only took him a few seconds to locate Nuit-Atem on the second level and transport her directly to medical, and he made sure she was secured in stasis.

  With the extent of the mess the lower level had been in, and especially the medical room, Jerren decided he would take his time in clearing each of the levels and led his brothers around as they carefully made their way to the inner corridor, and after clearing it Jerren and his brothers ascended to the second level.

  Jerren’s feet finally hit the floor and he looked around then said, “Were all of the commander’s slobs?”

  Jason chuckled and said, “You could clean it before we go any further.”

  Jerren shook his head, “I’ll do it after we sweep the ship. I want to get an idea of what
’s in Enyali’s head.”

  Justin snorted from behind him and replied, “I wouldn’t go there if I were you,” then Justin let out a laugh and he followed behind Jerren as they trudged through the piles of debris.

  The room was almost impassable, but they managed to make it to each of the three rooms on that level, and then proceeded to the third level. The bedchamber looked like a queen had lived there. This room was cluttered as well, but the difference in there was everything was made of gold, the opulence was astounding and Jerren shook his head in disgust.

  Once Jerren and his brothers cleared the bedroom they went to the Observation level and they holstered their weapons. After seeing the rest of the ship, Jerren had been surprised. The observation level had been the only room that wasn’t completely filled with crap.

  Jerren shook his head, “What a mess,” Jerren said with disgust.

  Justin snorted, “This is not a mess, now my ship was a mess. At least we could climb over the crap in your corridors, mine was stacked close to the ceiling.”

  Jerren smirked at the memory of his brother’s torment. He closed his eyes and thought to reset the ship for new commander then opened his eyes to see the little bit of clutter that had been in the room was now gone, and Jerren felt relief knowing the ship was now in pristine condition, then Jerren let out a sigh.

  Justin got a disgruntled look and said, “You got it easy. Finding out the tricks ahead of time and not having to muddle through it.”

  Jason chuckled at Justin’s comment and said to Jerren, “Maybe you should call the AI so we can get some answers.”

  Jerren nodded and looking toward Justin, he smirked remembering Justin’s issues with calling his AI Alise, and he called out, “I don’t know what your name is, but I’m speaking to the artificial intelligence aboard this vessel. We need to talk.”

  Jerren waited on baited breath for a response but there was none. He tried several more times, but the AI was either damaged as Enyali said, or the AI was avoiding him.

  Chapter Six