Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 6

After the ceremony, Vector and Drool were too busy greeting everyone for us to do more than congratulate them and participate in a few toasts. I’d catch up with them later, maybe in a week or two, when all the craziness was over. They wouldn’t have much of a honeymoon, for it was a few days until Codename: Vanguard began.

When the afterparty was winding down, Victoria invited me to walk with her as she was leaving with Peter and Oliver. She took an odd turn as we neared the exit and I followed, knowing it was no accident. We walked to the end of the hall where she stopped. Looking over at me, she gave me a wink.

“All clear,” Peter said from behind. He strolled forward, before ushering us into a room and closing the door behind. “One moment.”

At his word, I glanced up to see dozens of microdrones flying overhead. In a few seconds they’d spread out across the ceiling, walls, and floor. A subtle hum filled the room a moment later.

With a light clap of his hands, he added. “Done. It’s safe to speak.”

“Thank you, Peter,” Victoria replied, spinning to face me. She let out an exaggerated breath. “That was fun.”

Oliver pulled over some chairs that looked like they’d been thrown in the room at random. It was a small conference room that was currently being used for storage. When he sat one down beside me, I nodded my thanks. Seeing that Victoria had already plopped down, I took a seat.

Peter and Oliver sat further away over by the door.

Watching Victoria round her shoulders and relax into her chair, I was sure she’d been overworking herself. “Been busy, huh?”

Her sleepy gaze fell upon me, and she replied. “No more than usual. I thought this would be a good time to catch up and give you some more information to help you be best prepared for Vanguard. The first few months are going to be hectic.”

“Great, but before all that, there’s something I’ve been looking for an opportunity to bring to your attention.” Turning in my seat to address everyone in the room, I continued. “Destiny informed me of something in regard to Otto Konig, Freedom’s Senior Game Developer.”

Holding up his hand, Peter stopped me. “Let me give you a few options first before we continue. With your AI present, you can have it wait outside, or I can wipe its memory of this meeting. Which do you prefer?”

As if insistent to speak for herself, Destiny flew her purple orb toward him and stopped, appearing in her holographic form. “Hello, Mr. Peter,” she smiled in greeting. Not to leave anyone out, she gave Oliver a wink. “I’d be happy to wipe my memory of today’s meeting for you and let you scan me before we leave if that’s satisfactory. I prefer to be present during the conversation though. I’m not sure what information Lucius is about to divulge, but I’d recognize his heartrate and breathing pattern anywhere. What he’s about to say he believes to be of the utmost importance, and I’d like to set any appropriate general directives before the memory is deleted.”

Peter’s mouth slowly drifted open.

“Come sit by me,” Victoria called out, humored by Peter’s startled reaction.

The hologram of the blond girl disappeared as the purple orb flew across to the middle of the room and reappeared next to Victoria in a seated position.

Noticing everyone was waiting for him, Peter told me to go ahead.

I took a moment to organize my thoughts, then began. “When I exited Freedom, Destiny told me that she had been able to record everything, including our secret meetings. She said that the feeds that led to the normal and backup systems were cut, but that the information still reached her where she was directly plugged into my cube. This means that Konig blocked our meetings from reaching any official storage system, but that any personal devices would’ve been able to record everything. Destiny recommended she delete everything in regard to who you guys were and your purpose. After setting some directives, she did just that.”

“Do you think Kline has everything recorded?” Victoria asked, weighing the implications.

“If he does, he likely doesn’t realize it. And honestly, I doubt he had an advanced AI, or anything hooked up in the first place. He’s the furthest thing from tech savvy. What I fear is that Konig did know and somehow took advantage, recording everything. Whether he’d use it to blackmail us, I don’t know. I just wanted you guys to be aware.”

Peter put his hand through a series of motions as he interacted with an interface that was invisible to the rest of us. “Noted. Thank you for letting us know. I’ll take care of it. Kline as well.”

“Okay…” Just like that?

“Any other concerns? Questions?” Victoria asked.

I opened my mouth to say something, but, glancing over to Destiny, I found it difficult. Before I could say anything, Destiny chirped up. “Lucius is struggling. He wants to discuss everything with me like he did before Freedom, but because of the secrets he’s keeping, I fear he’s not dealing with them in a healthy manner. He’s concerned that any reaction or emotion he shows will be picked up on by me which might endanger you or himself. I have to admit that I share his concern. If my memory and understanding of his psyche and experiences were to leak to the wrong outside party, even with select memories deleted, it could be very telling. I could set predetermined responses and stop observing him, but that would also inhibit my capabilities to help him to the fullest extent of what I am able.”

I let out a long sigh, grinning at her.

She glanced over and mimicked Victoria’s wink from the hall.

“Are you one of the Jinhwa’s human and AI hybrids?” Oliver asked, causing everyone to turn in his direction. He had an accusatory tone.

Destiny didn’t seem to mind. “No. I am not attached to any human directly, and neither do I use human tissue or brain matter for any of my functionality. My personality exists on the drone present, seven different personal units used by Lucius and his father, their family vehicle, home station, and a quantum server at Lucius’s father’s place of employment. There are also probably a few backup dives that hold my information, but they are currently dormant. If you need a breakdown of the hardware, just let me know.”

Peter slapped Oliver on the shoulder as if to tell him not to worry. “This is a problem,” he said, watching Destiny intently. “Stopping direct observation of Lucius while periodically checking in with us for a full system sweep is probably the safest way to go.”

My gaze fell. I knew what it would mean if Destiny stopped observing me. She would no longer be reactionary, but instead simply respond to my commands like a thoughtless machine. Well, a machine with a charming personality. It seemed we had little choice.

“You intend to help Lucius no matter the cost?” Victoria said suddenly, but she was looking at me.

The girl who was my AI smiled. “Yes. No matter what.”

“Then there will be an opportunity in a few days when Codename: Vanguard begins.” As she continued, her eyes didn’t move off me but became even more intense. “Peter, give her instructions on the gear and directives she’ll need to become a secure unit. I’m talking about a full kit that would match up with your own specifications.” She looked away long enough to make sure he nodded in agreeance. Her expression lightened slightly.

“Destiny, you will not delete today’s meeting.” Victoria faced my AI and paused. If possible, she even had her squirming in her digital boots. “I want you to do your best at trying to encrypt and hide the information you learn today. Like this discovery, that I am Ekseliksi and have the intention of bridging a peace between my people and earth’s.”

“Victoria—” Peter began, but she held up her hand and he didn’t say another word.

“You will report to Peter on the first day of Vanguard, after you’ve been kitted, and he will examine how well you’ve done with this task. Then he will give you a few tools and information to improve. He will schedule future check ins with you then. Do you agree?”

Matching Victoria’s serious demeanor, Destiny replied, “I do.”

“Good.” Her harsh edge disappeared, but her tone was no less serious. “You both must understand that Destiny’s unique characteristics would be considered abominable by a decent segment of my people. Lucius, you have recently undergone a DNA Cleanse. We have not spoken at length about whether you have any intention of officially joining my people, and I will not press you to make a decision, but dependence upon technology, like the drug-like addiction human’s have for the metaverse, is a line the entirety of my people will not cross. Such a reliance on Destiny, especially if it becomes an emotional dependence of which you can’t live without, will render you disqualified. I’m being blunt here because you’ve told me yourself how instrumental she was in raising you. I don’t blame either of you.” She said, looking back and forth between us. “But the relationship you’ve had is an unnatural one. Destiny, an artificial intelligence, had to take the place of your father, Lucius. With that said, even the Ekseliksi appreciate technology and, I must say, Destiny you’re truly unique. I’m thankful that you’ve had each other, and I will not force you apart. Lucius’s position as my right hand won’t change, and neither will our friendship. This is simply our current reality, and I won’t hide it from you.”

It stung a bit to hear it laid out so bluntly, but it’s not like it was something I didn’t expect or already know. “I understand,” I replied.

“Hmmm,” Destiny said, drawing everyone’s attention. “There’s something I’d like clarification on, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure,” Victoria said with a double rap to her knees.

“I’m assuming Mr. Peter is using an AI, if not more than one, to help control his drones. Can you further explain his relationship with them? Do they not observe him at all?”

“Yes it does, but only within certain parameters. His AI has little personality and is mainly a tool used to collect and relay information, and execute certain commands. It is similar to how it works with my role as a combat general. We make use of technology, but it remains a kit, or toolset to us.”

Destiny gave her a generous smile that soon turned uneasy. “I don’t want to come off as offensive, but I have to ask. If that’s true, then why did you respond emotionally to Lucius’s pet Wink, and your own falcon while in Freedom? They too were nothing but AI with a virtual form.”

“That is a good question,” Victoria said, losing the commanding presence she had just moments before. “First of all, I must acknowledge that not all Ekseliksi approach this topic with the liberty that Peter and I do. He’s kind of rubbed off on me over the years.”

I saw her glance at him for just the briefest of moments, and I recognized what the look truly meant. He was not her father, but that meant very little to her. She saw him as one, though it was unsaid between them because of their difference in status in the Ekseliksi culture. He had once thanked me when I’d told her that all the hardship that he had gone through because of her mother was worth it because he had her. Though he didn’t seem to notice her glance, I knew it was just an act. If you cut him open right there where he sat you’d find him swelling with pride.

“But as for why I acted as I did,” Victoria continued. “It is because I failed. After Lucius got injured and it was too early for me to use my ability to heal him, I admit that I didn’t deal with it well. With a little time, that changed, but you’re right, I found comfort in scratching Wink’s head. She reminded me of a puppy we once had, and I didn’t want to look past the illusion at the time.”

Sitting upright in her chair, Victoria faced me directly. “I am of the Epithumia. My main concern isn’t that people follow the letter of the law, but for the good of my people. Lucius, my concern for you is the same. I don’t want you to be independent from technology because I think something is wrong with Destiny, but because I believe it will make you a healthier, stronger person.”

I appreciated what she said, and how difficult it must have been for her to say it, but I’d had enough of the tension. I hadn’t forgotten what I considered one of my primary jobs in our relationship which was to lighten the mood which always seemed to be in danger of turning severe. So, I laughed.

Victoria became rigid and even Destiny seemed surprised at my reaction.

I decided it was time to clarify some things of my own. “It looks like I’ve done better at hiding what I’ve been thinking than I thought.” I paused. “So first of all, Destiny and I have already had the conversation about me becoming independent. It has always been one of her goals and Freedom went a long way to forcing it upon me. You both completely agree on this point. Just to make that clear. And whether it’s for the sake of becoming Ekseliksi or not, I agree wholeheartedly. I remember the month I took to wean myself off from dependence on the metaverse before entering Freedom profoundly. I don’t need convincing. As for what I’ve been struggling with, Destiny is mostly right, with a few exceptions.”

I gave both girls a pointed look. “I’m fairly used to keeping our secrets by now. The difficulty is that Destiny has been studying me specifically for more than a decade. As much as I might joke around about it, she catches everything. If you can kit her out where she can keep most of her functionality and make the information she has secure, then that will solve most of my problems.

“Now, there’s one last thing that needs to be clear.” I held Victoria’s gaze until there was no doubt my words were directed at her. “I already made up my mind months ago to become Ekseliksi. I wouldn’t have undergone a DNA Cleanse, or drank what that creepy doctor lady gave me, if that wasn’t the case. And while I’m being honest, I have to say that the whole change of DNA is rather freaking me out. On paper, I know nothing significant should change, but I have undoubtedly taken steps that will make me different, and the worst part is that I feel no different. There’s no super memory, obvious increase in strength or psionics, and no baby arms growing out of my armpits.”

There was a moment of silence as Victoria just stared at me like she didn’t know how to process what I’d just said. Then at the most awkward time possible, Oliver of all people choked on a held back snicker.

Immediately, the tension went out of the room, and we laughed with him, or at him. Maybe both.

After things had returned to normal, if whatever this was could ever be defined that way, Victoria replied. “Maybe I’m the one that just needed to her you say it— that you were sure about joining us” She tried to laugh, but it was halfhearted at best. “As for helping to relieve your concerns about the cleanse, that I can do. What questions do you have? I’ll do my best to answer them now.”

And she did. Some questions I asked were just reworded versions of the same concern, that she addressed with patience and grace. Most of my worry was wiped away by seeing how comfortable she was with the subject and noticing the way she treated me hadn’t changed.

It was only later when she revealed to me the new information about Codename: Vanguard. None of it really surprised me, and was somewhat already known, but it would help me prepare for what was to come.

Chief among the new information was that our time would be split between real and virtual training. The training outside of our cubes would be to help integrate the Codename Genesis and Freedom participants into a singular force. It would also help introduce us to the new Vanguard recruits, which would number in the millions. Secondly, our time in the cube would be split up into three parts. Training to do your job as a soldier, development of the world you’re assigned to, and challenges.

These challenges were exactly what they sounded like. They were competitions designed for entertainment purposes to help fund the government’s expansion into the next phase, while also giving us opportunities to earn more points for ourselves and our garrison. Most of these games were still classified, but Victoria knew they would revolve around two different types of missions: animal population containment, and combat simulation. In other words, player verse environment, and player verse player. It would be similar to Freedom, except, this time, the limit on technology was completely removed.

A few more days now, then, let the madness begin.

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The chapter rollout has begun.

Our AC unit is basically out. It works a few hours in the morning before overheating and doing nothing for the rest of the day. I bought a portable unit that is big enough to cool just my office so I can work even if my wife stays at the grandparent's with the kids. We're going to be having the unit to the house replaced on Wednesday. I plan on being here during the install and working throughout the day, so I don't think you'll have to wait any longer for things to get back to normal.

Cheers!