“Blaue! Bring un shier raus!” Ven shouted in German at seemingly no one. John let go of me, though I held onto his hand just in case my legs gave out on me.
“Alls wϋrde ich auf deinen Befehl warten, um daz su machen,” a definitely female voice retorted. Since I did not understand her words or Ven’s response, I simply looked about the chamber we seemed to have escaped into.
It seemed to be a storage area. A few metallic boxes were scattered here and there. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all the same dreary gray color and seemed to not come to a corner anywhere, as if the walls simply curved gently into the floor and ceiling. Ven stood in the middle, glaring at one of the walls severely while speaking rapidly in German to a disembodied female voice. I wondered if this gray room was part of his ship, and if the female was the pilot.
My heart was still thudding a million miles an hour, so I moved to sit on one of the metallic boxes. Before I could rest my feet, Ven suddenly said, “Carlee!” I jumped to my feet, feeling slightly guilty as if sitting on a box was somehow wrong.
“We don’t want to sit down here,” Ven continued. “Follow me. If you’re tired, I’ll take you to the room where you will be staying.”
“Is this your ship?” I asked, unimpressed with what I had seen so far.
“Yes,” Ven said, pride filling his voice. He smiled at me, which stunned me completely. His smile made him twice as handsome as normal. It was the first time I had seen him smile. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life. “Would you like to meet her?”
“Your ship is a person?” I responded, baffled.
“Blaue! Komm her. Wir haben Geste,” Ven exclaimed.
“Guests! I love guests!” the feminine voice spoke in English for the first time as the air between us and Ven shimmered. The shimmer solidified into a tall, lovely woman. She had unearthly beautiful looks and seemed fit enough to run a marathon. Her hair was long, thick, and pale blue, matching her pale blue eyes. Her skin was extremely pale, almost albino, and she wore a form fitting outfit the exact same shade of blue as her hair and eyes. All in all, she looked very fair and blue.
“Carlee,” Ven said smiling brightly at the apparition. “This is my ship, Der Blaue Stern. Blaue, this is our guest, Carlee Earhart.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Carlee,” the woman said with a bow in my direction. Her light eyes flickered to John. “This must be your android.”
“I am John Earhart,” John agreed, analyzing the woman with his dark blue eyes.
“Oh, an android,” the woman laughed, glancing back at Ven with a mischievous glint in her light eyes. “This is going to be a most fun trip.” Ven frowned at her in response. The woman made a face at him and then turned back to me.
“I’m confused,” I admitted. “How is she your ship?”
“It is confusing. Ven forgets that,” the woman said. “I am the Artificial Cognizant of this ship, Der Blaue Stern. I am essentially the ship’s software, and I am inseparable from the actual ship itself. A ship’s Artificial Cognizant is an integral system, and without me, this ship cannot function. I am the most important system on this ship.”
“She’s rather arrogant about her position,” Ven pointed out, smiling again. The woman ignored him.
“You may call me Blaue,” she continued. “It’s what Ven calls me. It really is a pleasure to meet you. It’s so nice to have guests on board.” She smiled brightly at both John and me.
“Guest,” Ven corrected. “We have one guest. So Carlee, would you like a tour of the ship?”
“Should we not be, I don’t know, in the cockpit flying away from this place as if our life depends on it?” I asked, uncertain that we were as safe as Ven’s relaxed manner seemed to indicate we were.
“Do not fret, Carlee,” Blaue said. “The moment the hatch was safely closed I took you safely out of the star system. I believe the anthropologists’ security network is trying to follow us, but Ven and I are veterans at this sort of thing. I have plotted a course in hyperspace that backtracks quite a few times and takes us close to a few gravitational anomalies. They will never be able to track us. We are quite safe.”
“That’s my girl,” Ven said with a proud smile for the woman. She smiled back as if his praise was the highest in the world. I stared at them both, completely confused and baffled. But we had escaped, and I guessed that was all that really mattered.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Entry 33
Now I don’t really curse, and I do consider “hell” a curse word. Therefore, I want you to understand that when I say “all hell broke loose”, I’m not saying this lightly as if “hell” is a word I drop every day. I need you to understand that I really mean total insanity, complete confusion, utter fear, and pure panic occurred. I believe insanity plus confusion plus fear plus panic equals hell, so yes in short all hell did break loose.
Lime green lights flooded the halls, turning the white walls eye achingly bright. A siren so high that I felt it in my teeth screamed through my ears. Formidable, metallic machines seemed to appear out of nowhere with their own lime green lights and sirens. Aliens stopped what they were doing and retreated to the walls, to make way for the robots which seemed intent on only one thing: us.
Ven shouted something I could not hear over the wailing siren as he sprinted down the hall. John grabbed my hand and nearly pulled my arm out of socket as he took off after the older man. I managed to find my feet and ran helplessly after John. I knew my brother could run much faster than me and that he was holding back, but as it was I felt like I was getting pulled faster than I could make my legs go.
Images of Ven’s face were displayed on the walls, alerting every anthropologists as to just exactly who the culprit was. Some of the aliens who saw us shouted and moved as if to stop us. Ven simply sprinted past them, and John pushed them away, his superhuman strength overcoming even the largest of aliens.
The machines with alarms and sirens turned out to be security robots which moved on one large ball. They streaked through the hall after us, and I feared they would easily catch us. Surely there were some in the hall up ahead that we were simply going to run into, unable to escape as they enclosed in on us. Or perhaps they did not have to catch up with us. Perhaps their metal bodies contained stun guns that could stop our escape from a distance.
I saw Ven press his hand to his ear again and shout something. Suddenly the robots’ alarms stopped, their lights turned off. The metal machines skidded to a halt without catching up to us.
The other alarms immediately increased in intensity, and a loud voice began to speak in a language I could not understand. The aliens we passed immediately sprang into action, trying to stop us, as if the voice had given them complete permission.
To my shock and somewhat horror, Ven pulled what looked like a gun out of his jacket. He pointed it at the anthropologists as he ran. I saw no laser and heard no zap, but the anthropologists would suddenly crumple to the ground, lifeless. My feet slowed as I realized that Ven was probably killing them, but John would not let me stop running. His grip on my hand was merciless, and I had no choice but to keep up.
Ahead I finally saw the end of the hallway. A small door marked with lime green lettering seemed to be the exit Ven was talking about. Upon seeing the door, the man began to run faster, as if before he had merely been jogging. I did not think I could run faster, and clearly John realized the same thing. My android brother jerked on my arm painfully, pulling me up into his arms. He ran at full speed while carrying me. I just clung to him, wishing I was free from this awful place.
The door opened before we reached it, as if by magic, though I was sure it was technology that had done the trick. On the other side of the door I could see what seemed to be a massive blue wall made from what looked like coral. However, as Ven neared the door, the blue coral disappeared, revealing a chamber.
Ven leapt through the door and into the chamber. John was only seconds after him. Once we were in, the wall behind us closed the hole, cutting short the sirens and the angry lime green lights.
Lime green lights flooded the halls, turning the white walls eye achingly bright. A siren so high that I felt it in my teeth screamed through my ears. Formidable, metallic machines seemed to appear out of nowhere with their own lime green lights and sirens. Aliens stopped what they were doing and retreated to the walls, to make way for the robots which seemed intent on only one thing: us.
Ven shouted something I could not hear over the wailing siren as he sprinted down the hall. John grabbed my hand and nearly pulled my arm out of socket as he took off after the older man. I managed to find my feet and ran helplessly after John. I knew my brother could run much faster than me and that he was holding back, but as it was I felt like I was getting pulled faster than I could make my legs go.
Images of Ven’s face were displayed on the walls, alerting every anthropologists as to just exactly who the culprit was. Some of the aliens who saw us shouted and moved as if to stop us. Ven simply sprinted past them, and John pushed them away, his superhuman strength overcoming even the largest of aliens.
The machines with alarms and sirens turned out to be security robots which moved on one large ball. They streaked through the hall after us, and I feared they would easily catch us. Surely there were some in the hall up ahead that we were simply going to run into, unable to escape as they enclosed in on us. Or perhaps they did not have to catch up with us. Perhaps their metal bodies contained stun guns that could stop our escape from a distance.
I saw Ven press his hand to his ear again and shout something. Suddenly the robots’ alarms stopped, their lights turned off. The metal machines skidded to a halt without catching up to us.
The other alarms immediately increased in intensity, and a loud voice began to speak in a language I could not understand. The aliens we passed immediately sprang into action, trying to stop us, as if the voice had given them complete permission.
To my shock and somewhat horror, Ven pulled what looked like a gun out of his jacket. He pointed it at the anthropologists as he ran. I saw no laser and heard no zap, but the anthropologists would suddenly crumple to the ground, lifeless. My feet slowed as I realized that Ven was probably killing them, but John would not let me stop running. His grip on my hand was merciless, and I had no choice but to keep up.
Ahead I finally saw the end of the hallway. A small door marked with lime green lettering seemed to be the exit Ven was talking about. Upon seeing the door, the man began to run faster, as if before he had merely been jogging. I did not think I could run faster, and clearly John realized the same thing. My android brother jerked on my arm painfully, pulling me up into his arms. He ran at full speed while carrying me. I just clung to him, wishing I was free from this awful place.
The door opened before we reached it, as if by magic, though I was sure it was technology that had done the trick. On the other side of the door I could see what seemed to be a massive blue wall made from what looked like coral. However, as Ven neared the door, the blue coral disappeared, revealing a chamber.
Ven leapt through the door and into the chamber. John was only seconds after him. Once we were in, the wall behind us closed the hole, cutting short the sirens and the angry lime green lights.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Entry 32
I stared at Ven, speechless. The entire day he had been so firm in the fact that we were not taking John with us. He had lectured me, ordered me, and told me that we were not going to escape if we tried to free John. He had told me it was not part of his job and that the human colony would not allow it. How could he change his mind so completely?
“What?” I exclaimed, then I hastily added, “Not that I’m arguing. Just curious.”
“I’ve talked it over with my ship,” Ven responded to my confusion. His ship? “She reminded me that I am allowed to take an android if it means smooth transition of the sentient lifeform. I have an entire spaceflight to show you it’s just a machine. We don’t need to argue about this here in the den of danger.” It made sense to me, definitely more logical, but it did not make Ven Barker make any sense. He had just referred to his ship as a “she”, and yet he called my brother an “it”.
“Sounds reasonable,” John said, causing Ven to give him a sharp look.
“Listen, android,” Ven said derisively. “I am the leader here. I know what is going on. You will listen to me. If I have to, I will shut you down, leave you here, sedate Carlee, and take her away. Do you understand? You will not get in my way.” I bristled. No one talked to my brother in such a way! However, John remained calm.
“I understand, Mr. Barker,” John answered. “This is your operation.”
“Good,” Ven answered. “Now, Carlee, how fast can you run?”
“Run?” I repeated. “I’m not much of an athlete.” Marching band was certainly always a workout, but I had never enjoyed running or other physical activities. “I was never in track or anything.”
“Carlee, when I disconnect your android from the main frame our only hope of escaping is running to the nearest exit and jumping onto my ship,” Ven said. “I need to know you can do that.”I bit my lip, not liking the idea that our lives depended on me being able to run fast enough.
“She can do it,” John said with more confidence than it felt. “If everything depends on it, she can do it.” Ven ignored John and continued to stare at me. I nodded, agreeing that I would be able to run.
“Ok,” Ven said. “Now the moment we take your android out of this room, it will alert the SecCog, so there is no point in trying to find the android appropriate clothes. What we will do is make sure we’re at the edge of the doorway before we disconnect it. Then at the end of this hall is an emergency exit to the outside. We have to run, as fast as we can, and my ship should be waiting for us there.”
“What are our chances of escaping?” I asked.
“Not very high without a distraction,” Ven answered. “The SecCog can immobilize us in seconds. However, my ship was talked to the Artificial Cognizant we spoke with earlier and it has agreed to help.”
“Your ship can talk?” I asked dumbly. Surely I should have been more concerned about the plan, and less concerned about small absurdities like talking ships.
“My ship’s Artificial Cognizant can,” Ven responded. “Now, do you both understand the plan?”
“Run straight down the hall to an exit door,” John repeated. “I think we’ve got it.” John may have had it, but my mind was determined not to think to hard about it. I was keeping my fingers crossed that the adrenaline rush would carry me through this.
“Good,” Ven said. “Now get ready. Follow me to the door. Don’t bring attention to yourselves.” Ven began to walk towards the door, and John followed him. I stuck close to John, afraid to let him wander too far from myself.
Some of the aliens looked up at us as we passed by, as if wondering what we were doing, but then they went back to their own work. For all they knew we were testing John’s walking capabilities. We were perfectly within our rights, as long as we did not take him out of the room.
Ven stopped outside the door and looked at us, his face calm and impassive. His beautiful dark eyes analyzed me as if wondering if I really could run fast enough. He then turned his gaze to John.
“Alright, android,” Ven said. “Are you ready?” John nodded, his expression resolute.
Ven uttered something in a language I could not understand, and suddenly all hell broke loose.
“What?” I exclaimed, then I hastily added, “Not that I’m arguing. Just curious.”
“I’ve talked it over with my ship,” Ven responded to my confusion. His ship? “She reminded me that I am allowed to take an android if it means smooth transition of the sentient lifeform. I have an entire spaceflight to show you it’s just a machine. We don’t need to argue about this here in the den of danger.” It made sense to me, definitely more logical, but it did not make Ven Barker make any sense. He had just referred to his ship as a “she”, and yet he called my brother an “it”.
“Sounds reasonable,” John said, causing Ven to give him a sharp look.
“Listen, android,” Ven said derisively. “I am the leader here. I know what is going on. You will listen to me. If I have to, I will shut you down, leave you here, sedate Carlee, and take her away. Do you understand? You will not get in my way.” I bristled. No one talked to my brother in such a way! However, John remained calm.
“I understand, Mr. Barker,” John answered. “This is your operation.”
“Good,” Ven answered. “Now, Carlee, how fast can you run?”
“Run?” I repeated. “I’m not much of an athlete.” Marching band was certainly always a workout, but I had never enjoyed running or other physical activities. “I was never in track or anything.”
“Carlee, when I disconnect your android from the main frame our only hope of escaping is running to the nearest exit and jumping onto my ship,” Ven said. “I need to know you can do that.”I bit my lip, not liking the idea that our lives depended on me being able to run fast enough.
“She can do it,” John said with more confidence than it felt. “If everything depends on it, she can do it.” Ven ignored John and continued to stare at me. I nodded, agreeing that I would be able to run.
“Ok,” Ven said. “Now the moment we take your android out of this room, it will alert the SecCog, so there is no point in trying to find the android appropriate clothes. What we will do is make sure we’re at the edge of the doorway before we disconnect it. Then at the end of this hall is an emergency exit to the outside. We have to run, as fast as we can, and my ship should be waiting for us there.”
“What are our chances of escaping?” I asked.
“Not very high without a distraction,” Ven answered. “The SecCog can immobilize us in seconds. However, my ship was talked to the Artificial Cognizant we spoke with earlier and it has agreed to help.”
“Your ship can talk?” I asked dumbly. Surely I should have been more concerned about the plan, and less concerned about small absurdities like talking ships.
“My ship’s Artificial Cognizant can,” Ven responded. “Now, do you both understand the plan?”
“Run straight down the hall to an exit door,” John repeated. “I think we’ve got it.” John may have had it, but my mind was determined not to think to hard about it. I was keeping my fingers crossed that the adrenaline rush would carry me through this.
“Good,” Ven said. “Now get ready. Follow me to the door. Don’t bring attention to yourselves.” Ven began to walk towards the door, and John followed him. I stuck close to John, afraid to let him wander too far from myself.
Some of the aliens looked up at us as we passed by, as if wondering what we were doing, but then they went back to their own work. For all they knew we were testing John’s walking capabilities. We were perfectly within our rights, as long as we did not take him out of the room.
Ven stopped outside the door and looked at us, his face calm and impassive. His beautiful dark eyes analyzed me as if wondering if I really could run fast enough. He then turned his gaze to John.
“Alright, android,” Ven said. “Are you ready?” John nodded, his expression resolute.
Ven uttered something in a language I could not understand, and suddenly all hell broke loose.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Entry 31
“This is most unusual,” Ven muttered to himself. He pressed his hand to his left ear and said, “Blaue, wir haben ien Problem.” It sounded like German. My years of French were not going to help me understand whatever it was he was saying.
“Don’t worry, John,” I said softly to my brother. “I won’t leave you.”
“Who is he?” John responded. “Other than Ven Barker. How do you know we can trust him?”
“I don’t,” I answered. “He says he was sent by people who are against the Society of Anthropologists, that he’s freed many people like me. He says he is here to free me and take me to the human colony. But he’s very against androids. Seems to think you aren’t a person.”
“Well, I’m not exactly,” John answered. He turned and looked down at me in his stern big brother manner. “Carlee, if it comes down to a choice of you escaping without me or us both being captive, I want you to escape without me.”
“What!” I exclaimed, looking at him in surprise. “John, I’m not leaving you. Not ever.” Did he not understand the risks I took just to find him? For goodness sake, I had bit Ven. I had run head long, alone into the headquarters of the very people who wanted to hold me captive. After all that fear and uncertainty, I was quite ready to be in the comforting safety of my brother’s presences. I was certainly not going to leave him.
“Carlee,” John said. “You are more important than I am. I want you to be free…”
“Don’t be stupid, John,” I answered. “You’re going to let me go off with this man neither of us trusts and hope I can be free and safe? For all we know he’s going to sell me into slavery. No, you’re coming with me.” That silenced John. I did not really think Ven was going to sell me into slavery. He seemed like a decent enough guy, even if he was ridiculously obstinate about the whole android thing. However, my argument raised the point in John’s mind that I was not safe anywhere without him, which was exactly what I wanted him to think. I was not leaving him behind. Not a chance.
“Ok,” John responded. “But he’s right, you know. I don’t have any way out of this place, and I can’t think of any way we’ll escape the Security Cognizant.” I nodded, wondering about that myself.
“There was this other Cognizant who said he would be willing to distract the Security Cognizant,” I said. “I wonder if I can get back in touch with him and if he would still be willing to help.”
“What other Cognizant?” John asked with a frown.
“An informational one,” I answered. “He’s the one who told us where you are, and he knew who I was and who Ven was. He said he would be willing to help, that is he would be willing to distract the Security Cognizant.”
“Why would a Cognizant that works for the Society offer that?” John said. “That doesn’t make sense, Carlee.”
“Nothing in this place makes sense,” I answered. “We’re not in Kansas anymore, John.” He shot me an annoyed glance.
“It’s not exactly Oz either,” he said. “This universe is a dangerous place. People, androids, and cognizants don’t offer to help without getting something out of it themselves.” I should have been annoyed with John for thinking I was too young to realize that everyone has a motive. However, I was still too happy at having found him to be annoyed.
“Alright,” Ven suddenly declared in English. For the past few minutes he had been carrying on a conversation with himself – or whoever he was talking to through his ear – in German. “We’re taking the android with us.”
“Don’t worry, John,” I said softly to my brother. “I won’t leave you.”
“Who is he?” John responded. “Other than Ven Barker. How do you know we can trust him?”
“I don’t,” I answered. “He says he was sent by people who are against the Society of Anthropologists, that he’s freed many people like me. He says he is here to free me and take me to the human colony. But he’s very against androids. Seems to think you aren’t a person.”
“Well, I’m not exactly,” John answered. He turned and looked down at me in his stern big brother manner. “Carlee, if it comes down to a choice of you escaping without me or us both being captive, I want you to escape without me.”
“What!” I exclaimed, looking at him in surprise. “John, I’m not leaving you. Not ever.” Did he not understand the risks I took just to find him? For goodness sake, I had bit Ven. I had run head long, alone into the headquarters of the very people who wanted to hold me captive. After all that fear and uncertainty, I was quite ready to be in the comforting safety of my brother’s presences. I was certainly not going to leave him.
“Carlee,” John said. “You are more important than I am. I want you to be free…”
“Don’t be stupid, John,” I answered. “You’re going to let me go off with this man neither of us trusts and hope I can be free and safe? For all we know he’s going to sell me into slavery. No, you’re coming with me.” That silenced John. I did not really think Ven was going to sell me into slavery. He seemed like a decent enough guy, even if he was ridiculously obstinate about the whole android thing. However, my argument raised the point in John’s mind that I was not safe anywhere without him, which was exactly what I wanted him to think. I was not leaving him behind. Not a chance.
“Ok,” John responded. “But he’s right, you know. I don’t have any way out of this place, and I can’t think of any way we’ll escape the Security Cognizant.” I nodded, wondering about that myself.
“There was this other Cognizant who said he would be willing to distract the Security Cognizant,” I said. “I wonder if I can get back in touch with him and if he would still be willing to help.”
“What other Cognizant?” John asked with a frown.
“An informational one,” I answered. “He’s the one who told us where you are, and he knew who I was and who Ven was. He said he would be willing to help, that is he would be willing to distract the Security Cognizant.”
“Why would a Cognizant that works for the Society offer that?” John said. “That doesn’t make sense, Carlee.”
“Nothing in this place makes sense,” I answered. “We’re not in Kansas anymore, John.” He shot me an annoyed glance.
“It’s not exactly Oz either,” he said. “This universe is a dangerous place. People, androids, and cognizants don’t offer to help without getting something out of it themselves.” I should have been annoyed with John for thinking I was too young to realize that everyone has a motive. However, I was still too happy at having found him to be annoyed.
“Alright,” Ven suddenly declared in English. For the past few minutes he had been carrying on a conversation with himself – or whoever he was talking to through his ear – in German. “We’re taking the android with us.”
Monday, July 27, 2009
Entry 30
“John!” I cried, holding him tightly. “John, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, though a little damaged,” John answered. “Carlee, how are you? Have they treated you alright? They haven’t hurt you, have they?”
“No,” I answered, pulling back. I wiped the tears off my cheeks and looked at John. I could not help but smile now that I knew he was alright. “They put me in a holodeck and made me think I was at home. I thought it was real, though it was weird that Algebra II was being taught more like you would teach it.”
“It’s because they would have used my memories of Algebra II to create it, since you know nothing about Algebra II,” John said. “Are you sure you’re alright?” His eyes scanned me as if looking for bodily injuries. It made me wonder if John could see more than any human could. Maybe his eyes could X-ray me and check the status of my bones.
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “It’s you I’ve been worried about. I didn’t think I would be able to find you.”
“I didn’t think I would ever wake up again,” John answered, fear briefly entering his eyes. It was rare John showed fear, but I could imagine that an android would fear death. Most humans held the comforting thought that their soul would go to an afterlife. But did androids have souls? Or were they simply turned off forever? “Thank you for finding me, Carlee.”
“Well, I did not do it alone,” I said. I glanced at Ven. “John Earhart, meet Ven Barker.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” John said automatically, as he studied the older man suspiciously. Ven did not deem John worthy of a response. He looked at me.
“Say your goodbyes, Carlee,” Ven said. At his words, I edged away from him and closer to John. My brother got the hint and stood, blocking Ven from me.
“There will be no goodbyes, Mr. Barker,” John responded. “Thank you for returning my sister to me.”
“Carlee, if this is your plan, this is stupid,” Ven said, still not addressing John. “Your android has no ship, no way of getting you off of this planet. The moment your android is disconnected from the main frame, the Security Cognizant will be notified. It will track you down. There is nowhere on this planet you can go that it cannot find you. The moment you walk out of this room everyone will see that it is an android and know that something is wrong. Its synthetic skin is peeled back and it’s barely wearing any covering. This is not how androids are moved about. People will know something is wrong and try to stop you.” He looked at John contemptuously. “Do you, little android, think you can fight the Security Cognizant and its forces and the entire Society?”
“No,” John answered simply. “I have no intention of fighting anyone. I presume you have a ship?” Ven rolled his eyes and glanced back towards me.
“Carlee, we’ve had this discussion,” Ven said. “We’re leaving the android.”
“No.” I rose to my feet but stayed behind John. He could protect me from Ven. Ven may have been taller than John, but I was positive than an android was stronger than any man. “I’m not leaving without my brother.”
“Can’t you see it’s not a person?” Ven asked, a perplexed expression covering his face. “Carlee, when we got here it was off. I had to turn it on. Like a machine. Its skin is peeled back, and it’s not bleeding or dead. It’s clearly not human. How could you feel any attachment for it anymore?”
“Do you really think that is what makes John my brother?” I answered, as confused by him as he was by me. “It was never the idea that John was human, flesh and blood, that made me love him. Can’t you understand Ven? He’s all I have. I need him. He’s my brother.”
“I’m fine, though a little damaged,” John answered. “Carlee, how are you? Have they treated you alright? They haven’t hurt you, have they?”
“No,” I answered, pulling back. I wiped the tears off my cheeks and looked at John. I could not help but smile now that I knew he was alright. “They put me in a holodeck and made me think I was at home. I thought it was real, though it was weird that Algebra II was being taught more like you would teach it.”
“It’s because they would have used my memories of Algebra II to create it, since you know nothing about Algebra II,” John said. “Are you sure you’re alright?” His eyes scanned me as if looking for bodily injuries. It made me wonder if John could see more than any human could. Maybe his eyes could X-ray me and check the status of my bones.
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “It’s you I’ve been worried about. I didn’t think I would be able to find you.”
“I didn’t think I would ever wake up again,” John answered, fear briefly entering his eyes. It was rare John showed fear, but I could imagine that an android would fear death. Most humans held the comforting thought that their soul would go to an afterlife. But did androids have souls? Or were they simply turned off forever? “Thank you for finding me, Carlee.”
“Well, I did not do it alone,” I said. I glanced at Ven. “John Earhart, meet Ven Barker.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” John said automatically, as he studied the older man suspiciously. Ven did not deem John worthy of a response. He looked at me.
“Say your goodbyes, Carlee,” Ven said. At his words, I edged away from him and closer to John. My brother got the hint and stood, blocking Ven from me.
“There will be no goodbyes, Mr. Barker,” John responded. “Thank you for returning my sister to me.”
“Carlee, if this is your plan, this is stupid,” Ven said, still not addressing John. “Your android has no ship, no way of getting you off of this planet. The moment your android is disconnected from the main frame, the Security Cognizant will be notified. It will track you down. There is nowhere on this planet you can go that it cannot find you. The moment you walk out of this room everyone will see that it is an android and know that something is wrong. Its synthetic skin is peeled back and it’s barely wearing any covering. This is not how androids are moved about. People will know something is wrong and try to stop you.” He looked at John contemptuously. “Do you, little android, think you can fight the Security Cognizant and its forces and the entire Society?”
“No,” John answered simply. “I have no intention of fighting anyone. I presume you have a ship?” Ven rolled his eyes and glanced back towards me.
“Carlee, we’ve had this discussion,” Ven said. “We’re leaving the android.”
“No.” I rose to my feet but stayed behind John. He could protect me from Ven. Ven may have been taller than John, but I was positive than an android was stronger than any man. “I’m not leaving without my brother.”
“Can’t you see it’s not a person?” Ven asked, a perplexed expression covering his face. “Carlee, when we got here it was off. I had to turn it on. Like a machine. Its skin is peeled back, and it’s not bleeding or dead. It’s clearly not human. How could you feel any attachment for it anymore?”
“Do you really think that is what makes John my brother?” I answered, as confused by him as he was by me. “It was never the idea that John was human, flesh and blood, that made me love him. Can’t you understand Ven? He’s all I have. I need him. He’s my brother.”
Question Break Answers 6
Another weekend on Earth gone past, another question asked! This week's question asked by anonymous is:
Since I know you somehow manage to get John out (as you refer to him being on the ship currently) I am sorely wondering how you got it past Ven; however, I suppose you're getting to that in due time so I shall be patient. On a lighter note, I am curious to know what gadget(s) you've seen in your travels that strike you as particularly interesting/novel. Anything come to mind you'd like to share? I'm going to go out on a limb and assume androids are not something you would classify as a gadget.
Don't worry. The whole how I amazingly connived to get Ven to let me take John into space will be told this week. Or rather....well, you'll see soon enough. I don't want to spoil it here. I'm very tempted to, but I won't. You'll just have to live in anticipation a few days longer.
On the gadgets/technology side of things, you're right. I don't consider androids a "gadget". However, they are major feats of technology. Somehow the universe has created synthetic sentients that can't really be distinguished from organic sentients. It's amazing.
The spaceships out here are phenomonal. You have no idea. Blaue is probably the second most amazing feat of techology (second to androids of course). She's amazing. I mean, she flies herself. Ven may be "captain" but that just means that he has absolute final say. Blaue listens to Ven about as often as John listens to me, which is never.
(John resents that comment. He says he always listens to me. He just doesn't act on everything I say.)
But spaceships aren't really gadgety and you'll get to know Blaue better in the coming entries. So what other cool gadgets have I seen?
I suppose when you say gadget you're thinking handheld device sort of like James Bond might have, but the crazy thing about the universe is that only crazy purists (like Ven) have handheld devices. Everyone else implants their devices. I'm not sure I'll ever be brave enough to except an implant, which might label me a "purist" too, but my feelings about androids would make me an impure purist.
Anyway, implants. People add implants to like their eyes. This makes their eyes better, able to zoom in on far away things, and also enables them to take photos with their eyes. Anything they see, they can take a picture of. Also works the same with video, so pretty much anyone could be recording you at anytime and you wouldn't know it because they're using their eyes. It's wild. Makes for great spies I guess.
Some people implant their interfaces with their Artificial Cognizants into their brains, so they can just think at their Artificial Cognizants and get things done. Of course, not everyone has an Artificial Cognizant. Some just connect to more basic computer interfaces. It's sort of like they're connected to the internet at all time, which makes it very disconcerting when people totally like google you when you introduce yourself. Sort of goes like this:
Me to an alien I don't know: Hey I'm Carlee Earhart.
Alien: You mean the girl who broke out of the Society?
Me: Uh......Yeah?
It's very disconcerting.
Let's see...other cool gadgets.
Ven's sedative is pretty cool, but that's coming later in the story...I don't want to give anything away.
That's the problem with telling you about cool gadgets. Most of the ones I know are things that I've encountered through Ven and our adventures in space. So in short, I'm going to make you wait in anticipation for the cooler gadgets.
Sorry about that.
Have a great day!
Since I know you somehow manage to get John out (as you refer to him being on the ship currently) I am sorely wondering how you got it past Ven; however, I suppose you're getting to that in due time so I shall be patient. On a lighter note, I am curious to know what gadget(s) you've seen in your travels that strike you as particularly interesting/novel. Anything come to mind you'd like to share? I'm going to go out on a limb and assume androids are not something you would classify as a gadget.
Don't worry. The whole how I amazingly connived to get Ven to let me take John into space will be told this week. Or rather....well, you'll see soon enough. I don't want to spoil it here. I'm very tempted to, but I won't. You'll just have to live in anticipation a few days longer.
On the gadgets/technology side of things, you're right. I don't consider androids a "gadget". However, they are major feats of technology. Somehow the universe has created synthetic sentients that can't really be distinguished from organic sentients. It's amazing.
The spaceships out here are phenomonal. You have no idea. Blaue is probably the second most amazing feat of techology (second to androids of course). She's amazing. I mean, she flies herself. Ven may be "captain" but that just means that he has absolute final say. Blaue listens to Ven about as often as John listens to me, which is never.
(John resents that comment. He says he always listens to me. He just doesn't act on everything I say.)
But spaceships aren't really gadgety and you'll get to know Blaue better in the coming entries. So what other cool gadgets have I seen?
I suppose when you say gadget you're thinking handheld device sort of like James Bond might have, but the crazy thing about the universe is that only crazy purists (like Ven) have handheld devices. Everyone else implants their devices. I'm not sure I'll ever be brave enough to except an implant, which might label me a "purist" too, but my feelings about androids would make me an impure purist.
Anyway, implants. People add implants to like their eyes. This makes their eyes better, able to zoom in on far away things, and also enables them to take photos with their eyes. Anything they see, they can take a picture of. Also works the same with video, so pretty much anyone could be recording you at anytime and you wouldn't know it because they're using their eyes. It's wild. Makes for great spies I guess.
Some people implant their interfaces with their Artificial Cognizants into their brains, so they can just think at their Artificial Cognizants and get things done. Of course, not everyone has an Artificial Cognizant. Some just connect to more basic computer interfaces. It's sort of like they're connected to the internet at all time, which makes it very disconcerting when people totally like google you when you introduce yourself. Sort of goes like this:
Me to an alien I don't know: Hey I'm Carlee Earhart.
Alien: You mean the girl who broke out of the Society?
Me: Uh......Yeah?
It's very disconcerting.
Let's see...other cool gadgets.
Ven's sedative is pretty cool, but that's coming later in the story...I don't want to give anything away.
That's the problem with telling you about cool gadgets. Most of the ones I know are things that I've encountered through Ven and our adventures in space. So in short, I'm going to make you wait in anticipation for the cooler gadgets.
Sorry about that.
Have a great day!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Question Break 6
It's another Saturday on Earth and therefore another question/summary day. So the summary is.....
I met my first Artificial Cognizant, which told us how to get to John.
Ven keeps trying to convince me that we're leaving John behind.
We found John laying lifeless in what seems to be an android storage room.
Ven turned John on.
So surely you guys know the drill by now. Ask me anything and I will answer it. Well, maybe not anything. Some stuff is personal, you know, and some stuff I just don't know. But if I don't know I will outsource to John or Blaue (not Ven, he's not very willing to help answer questions for this blog. He thinks this entire blog is a bad idea).
So any questions? Ask away!
I met my first Artificial Cognizant, which told us how to get to John.
Ven keeps trying to convince me that we're leaving John behind.
We found John laying lifeless in what seems to be an android storage room.
Ven turned John on.
So surely you guys know the drill by now. Ask me anything and I will answer it. Well, maybe not anything. Some stuff is personal, you know, and some stuff I just don't know. But if I don't know I will outsource to John or Blaue (not Ven, he's not very willing to help answer questions for this blog. He thinks this entire blog is a bad idea).
So any questions? Ask away!
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