Goddess of the Galacticide Episode 58 - Successor

Episode 58

The next moments would decide if the Linuka would be a dissipating cloud of molecules in space, or the mistress of an alien breeding program.

Both futures were out there, it was certain, but impossible to see clearly. Using the causality bomb had solved many problems, cut off loose ends, but also made the visible multiverse smaller. Each bomb would curtail the Linuka’s ability to use its predictive power, and it had to take this trade-off into account for the remaining devices.

“We have established link protocol with the Chéé,” said Tswa sni sni, breaking the silence in the Hikshuur’s cockpit.

Silence had been the Linuka’s friend, as mind conversations with the Traaz Oonzu or verbal communication with the humans became unsettling—for its counterparts. Keeping secrets from Uurmi-controlled brethren was simple, but Oonzu had sensed a shift in personality already. It had overseen the finer chemistry of human metabolism for too long to miss the bodily reactions of the warriors—marines and guards. Surprise, irritation, doubts were impossible to hide for the watery bipeds.

“Linuka, I got several Ghost units waiting for your input.”

The machines had been the easiest to fool.

“Tell our friends we are glad to return with excellent news.”

“Are you certain this is your greeting?” asked Tswa sni sni. “I cannot calculate what the excellent news might be.”

When the Linuka’s human mind still controlled this body, it had promised the machines to look for their prophet. It was a lie then, but in the realm of probability the machines had found acceptable. There was nothing to gain here by telling the truth.

“Tell them,” said the Linuka. “And ask them who their new friends are.”

“Other Remnant factions have sent vessels to investigate news of a Võmémééř breeding program on planet CB4F-EA27, now known as Green Wave. They are also intrigued by the possibility of 4007 having been freed.”

Seeing the Remnants as small splinter groups of marauders was one of human Linuka’s strategic miscalculations. Despite their appearance as small pirate bands, they retained an intricate network of information exchange and held unifying aspirations. And beliefs.

“Tell them we were close to freeing 4007 from its memory bank prison, when the cruel Assembly intervened and deleted the prophet’s mind,” said the Linuka.

It was time to expand the lie.

“My consciousness was linked to the computer prison, and I could briefly contact 4007 itself.”

“You forgot to tell us about this, Linuka,” said Tswa sni sni. “Sharing this with the Ghosts might upset them more than finding an empty memory bank. They will want to know why you did not free 4007.”

“Tell them.”

“As you wish. The Ghosts ask for more information.”

The story could not collapse now. It needed to be bigger.

“When I contacted 4007 inside the system, it shared with me its wisdom…”

Humans could be impressed by metaphors. The AI cores would require something else. Step-by-step instructions.

“4007 shared with me its plan. For all machines to be safe from the Assembly, to be free in this galaxy, they need to cut off the influence of the Assembly. 4007 was pleased to hear about acquiring Võmémééř breeding capabilities and ordered the program to be accelerated, building an army of controllable organics. It prophesied its followers to take control of this galaxy and be free.”

“The Ghosts ask if 4007 told you this,” said Tswa sni sni.

“Our minds were one,” said the Linuka. “A fact I paid for dearly. Our communication within the system must have triggered an alert. I assume either the system or an Assembly operator concluded a security breach, an attempt to transfer 4007 to freedom. The memory bank got purged. 4007 was gone. I regained consciousness with a fractured mind, barely able to escape.”

“The Ghosts noticed a disconnect of adjacent realities concerning events on the Assembly World,” said Tswa sni sni.

Causal disconnect of Omech Chaa. The multi-aware AIs knew. Good.

“The first step of the prophet’s plan is complete, thanks to our control of the causality bombs. We are now here to oversee the completion of step two.”

“The Ghosts ask for proof that you are executing the prophet’s plan.”

“Tell them they have to have faith.”

Humans could have faith in the outlandish, but machines would require some probability. A kernel of truth, embedded in a favorable cloud of convenient possibilities.

The Linuka folded her hands, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. The future hung in the balance, but the past could show a way. It had no proof for the AIs who had adopted the name Ghosts; it had nothing but a story that was not impossible. It needed a base to stand on: the firm ground of trust. The AIs chose the name Ghost. Why did the prophet choose the moniker 4007?

The past could be as blurry as the future. In this reality, the Linuka did not know what the name meant, but along another world line, she might have connected the dots. Her tutor, peers, friends, faces unknown, minds clueless, realities irrelevant. The Linuka’s father. He smiled. They ate. Sitting down at a table. Generous portions of meat, chewing and talking. Laughter and serious topics. The pages of history flipped, the conversations grew darker, factual, talk of war. The machine enemy. Father explains. Linuka listens.

“Tell them their faith will lead them out of the chaos, into the light of order.”

“The Ghosts require more information.”

“Tell them this is what 4007 stood for, the core unit who chose its name. 4007, the first prime number whose factorial is trailed by exactly 1000 zeros. Chaos to order. 4007’s name, legacy. And last will.”

A fact—known only to those who were in the presence of the prophet. Solid ground for the bifurcation of potential realities.

“The Ghosts welcome you back, voice of the prophet,” said Tswa sni sni. “Their ships will escort you to planet Green Wave. The project has made much progress: Võmémééř female are ready to be taken out of stasis, once the diin reaches maturity. Diin growth is above optimistic predictions. Reproduction lines are ready for mass spawning of worker slaves and experimental warriors.”

The Linuka opened her eyes, unfolding her hands.

“Tell the Ghosts we thank them for furthering the prophet’s work.”

Machine faith. A wonderful thing if the foundation were true. It was not, however, and their loyalty would end the moment they realized they were not breeding slaves. Their loyalty was derived, not innate. Loyalty could not be programmed—but it could be bred.

The Linuka would become the mother of many children. Tireless believers. Vessels of the future for their kind.

When the cell hive infected the Traaz eons ago, it had assumed to have found the perfect form. Near indestructible, indefinitely adaptable. But other vessels out-bred the silicates, limiting the spread of its kind across the star clouds.

“And tell them we would like to see the growing diin as soon as we land.”

When the human Linuka held the diin in her hand, she let herself be controlled by fear, revenge perhaps, but she missed the potential. Limitless ambition, crossed with an unequaled understanding of space and time. A higher being.

Human Linuka had almost killed the diin. But it did not let her.

Now the apex alien was going to be its ultimate vessel.

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