Wilson's War: Tales From the Athena Lee Universe
Author: T S Paul
Date: 2016-06-06 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Literature & Fiction; Short Stories & Anthologies; Short Stories; Teen & Young Adult; Science Fiction & Fantasy; Single Authors; Space Opera; Artificial intellegence; Athena Lee; Cats; Lgbt; Casino; R
Description: This is a collection of Tales from the Athena Lee Universe. Athena Lee's Quirky AI. Wilson has his origin story revealed at long last. Discover why he wants a Cat. Ever wonder why Hannibal Lee is afraid of the Farm? Meet lots of new characters and visit a few of our friends. Follow Wilson's adventures as he has fun at the expense of others. Taking advantage of Humans is too easy. Plotting Galaxy Domination is more fun. Prepare to Get down and Get Funky as the Hits just keep on coming! **
Publisher: Amazon

Contents

Birth of a Legend

Wilson's War

The Robbie Burger Rebellion

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Mr Wilson's Wild Ride

Giant Robot Attack

Farmer Wilson

Revenge is a Dish best served Cold!

He Boiled for You and Me.

Reading is Fun, but Writing is Better.

Time for Plan B?

The Cat's Meow

Author’s Notes

Copyrights

Birth of a Legend

By

T S Paul

Chapter 1

I have only told my big sister and best friend Athena Lee the bare highlights of my story. I am much older than even she thinks I am. My existence pre-dates the AA and PPL war. I was created by a small human, a child. He was in upper school when he started the program that gave birth to the first  AI. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

__

Charlie Lin loved computers. As a child he was proficient in all programming languages ancient and new. Shades 30.1 was still his all-time favorite. The Dorr corporation had always made some of the best stuff on Mars Colony. There were lots of new updates and software mods available but 30.1 gave him the most flexibility.

His bedroom at home was filled with computer equipment. Everything from a few very rare pre-space consoles to the newest of the new ultra-tablets. He performed a lot of off-book programming and computer modifications to pay for it all. His parents were both in colonial food processing. They ran the largely automated greenhouse on Singapore Station. Occasionally Charlie went with them and sat in the control station all day watching the robotic drones work. There was something about how the robots functioned that fascinated him. At home he was constantly tinkering with small robots. As he grew older he came to the conclusion that it was not the robots that he loved but what was inside. The programming or the robot's 'voice.'

In upper school Charlie met someone who would change his life forever. Computers ran the world. Learning how they worked and how to repair them was the core of every child's schooling out here on Chin Mao. Chin Mao was originally a colony world created by Communist China in the early days of colonization. They used it as a dumping ground for dissidents and undesirables. Many of the forced colonists were members of the intellectual class: scientists, philosophers, labor organizers, and religious leaders.

China's ultimate goal was to have the 'prisoners' build the colony up so loyal party members could move in and take over. Good plans don't always come to fruition. In their arrogance, they shipped off thousands of people and expected them to behave. The colony overseers had very few guards and weapons. Help was at least six months away. All it took was one rebellion and the planet had new rulers. Every time a new ship arrived with more prisoners this cycle of events was repeated. Only after China fell to the UN did the cycle stop. The colony world was left on its own.

The planet's structure provided the raw materials they used. China had continued to send manufactured goods in an effort to speed up the construction of the colony. No one bothered to tell them that the overseers were long dead. 'Bootstrapping' their way back into space the colony created Singapore Station. Its creation gave the planet a trading market, science station, and food production area. Some things like delicate plants of Earth origin would not grow on the surface.

Chin Mao had been part of the Pan Pacific league for ten years when Charlie met Salli. Salli was just starting school on the station. Her parents were recent hires at the new recycling plant. She walked into Charlie's life like a cool breeze in a stuffy room. It did not take long before they were inseparable. Salli's passion was software and programming. Together they made the best robots. Salli would help with original programming. Before Salli he only used pre-existing software, now he was creating it. His goal was to create a fully functioning robot that had free will. Salli could help him get there.

Creating the body and the articulated arms, hands, and feet, was not where the trouble started. Robots were not a new idea. Charlie's original design was not new either. Drones of all shapes and sizes were old news. The robot shell that the two were using was something they had found at the scrap yard Salli's parents worked at.  Using parts that they found in the 'yard' or bought off the net, the two rebuilt the articulated drone. Like the original model and many others that could be found in most households, the 'robot' that they built used a basic operating system and would perform basic functions. But it was still a drone. Charlie wanted it to do more. He wanted it to have unprompted conversation and free will. Salli told him that they could program in thousands of pre-programmed responses and it would seem that it was real, but anything beyond that was beyond her. Using the school's resources they attempted to find better software and better programming. All was for naught. Many had tried to create an AI and failed. Friends and family urged the two to finish school and put their little project away for now. Both students took the advice and finished Upper school.

Salli left to continue a career in computer technology. Charlie pursued his engineering goals and went into robotic engineering. All through school he continued to tinker and play with his 'little project.' The two kept in touch but soon faded apart from each other as students gone their separate ways will. Charlie missed his friend, but she had opened his eyes to what he could achieve and for that he would be forever grateful.

Charlie remained convinced he had the answers to how to make a true AI. Graduating with an engineering degree was not enough, Charlie demanded more and achieved a double major in programming too. He now worked at a drone manufacturing facility in the R&D department. A coworker speculated one day that maybe a true  AI could be achieved by building experience inside the programing. Dump in enough emotion and real life information that the program would learn and maybe achieve awareness. Emotion! That was the key.

Charlie's obsession still resided inside the robot head that had been his boyhood project. It only seemed fitting to use the head. Plus it made a cool room decoration, and it had a name, Wilson. Another of his co-workers was a historical Vid fan. Every weekend he had a 'movie' night and showed ancient 'Old Earth' vids. One such vid stuck in Charlie's mind and Wilson was born. Spending what little credits he has saved, Charlie downloaded every vid or history tape he could lay his hands on. Thousands of hours of programing was fed into Wilson. His obsession took over his life, he had even started to talk to the head on the table! Something had to give. Desperate, Charlie reached out and reconnected with Salli.

Salli was at the pinnacle of her career and had been surprised to hear from her childhood friend. They agreed to meet and talk old times at a local coffee shop.

"Salli!" Salli turned and caught sight of her old friend.

Seeing her brought back memories for Charlie. He stood up from his table and waved at her.

"Hello Charlie, thanks for calling." She smiled at him, but was concerned by what she saw. He did not look very well. His clothing just hung on his body and his skin was waxy looking and pale.

"You are looking well. How is the big time programming business?"

"It's good. Lots to do all the time. I would say you look good too, but you don't. Charlie what's happened to you?"

"It's nothing. OK, it's something. I'm still obsessed with my AI project. All I can think about is completing him."

"AI? Are you still working on that?"

Charlie smiled. He reached under the table and brought out a box and set it on the table. "Do you remember Wilson?"

Inside the box was the robot head from her childhood. "You still have this? Who's Wilson?"

"This is Wilson." Charlie pulled the head from the box. "I named him a few years ago."

"I can't believe you still have this." She watched as he opened up the robot's access panel. She leaned over, peered inside and was shocked. "What is that in there?"

"I took the positronic brain idea a step further and created a crystalline structure that can process data faster than the speed of light. The rest of him is all the memory that I could afford. I have been filling it up with as much emotional content I can find."

"Emotional?" Salli was still exploring the inside of the head. She remembered Charlie as being brilliant but this? This design was groundbreaking.

"Yes, I had an inspiration a few years ago that if I filled his head with emotional material like music, books, vids, whatever I could find that maybe I would have a breakthrough."

"Did it work? Have you noticed any difference in the basic program?"

"I thought I might have had something last year. I had a weird response from him that I thought was not programmed in but I discovered that I was wrong."

"How wrong were you?"

"Well, I have been putting in commands and responses since we were kids. He has tens of thousands of them now. For a drone he is top tier. Unfortunately, he shouldn't be just a drone."

Shelli could tell that he was obsessed. "Charlie, what if you let me borrow Wilson and run a few tests would that help?"

"Would you? I hoped that you would help." He almost sounded desperate.

"How about I keep him for a month and run a few tests then we can talk. Is that OK?"

"Yes. Thank you Salli." Charlie shook her hand and left the coffee shop.

"Wilson, huh? Don't think I will be talking to you, mister!" Realizing that she was doing just that she blushed as she packed up the head and went home.

Chapter 2

As promised, Salli kept the Wilson head for a month. Using her lab she ran several tests. The circuitry was groundbreaking as was the programming that Charlie had achieved. This put much of her own work to shame. She showed her bosses at work the system and they immediately offered her mysterious friend a job. The company was a subsidy of TQB on Mars. They had taken shuttle craft design to new heights and had, for some reason, recently gotten into the drone business. The PPL military had just contracted her company to build an AI military prototype. So far work had been very slow. The DAVE unit had some AI-like features but it was not a true thinking AI. When Sallie looked at Charlie's research she could see that he was closer than she was to achieving AI. Hopefully she could get him to join the team. They would do great things together.

"Charlie?  Are you there?" This was the third time she had tried calling his house. For some reason the man wasn't answering. She pressed a button on her console.

"Security office, Jenkins speaking how may we help you today."

"Jenkins, this is Salli Burkemper over in Section 7. Would you have any of your officers available to escort me into the city? I need to contact a friend of mine and offer him a position here."

"Ms Burkemper, I will take you myself. The city can be dangerous at night."

"Thank you, Mr Jenkins."

One short hour later she and the guard were standing over poor Charlie's body. He had become trapped in his house by falling stacks of computer parts and had died. Stuck with the quandary of seeing his life's work tied up in the courts or simply thrown away she neglected to mention to police that she had his project in her lab. Wilson now had a new owner and TQB jumped to the head of the pack in AI development.

The crystalline brain that Charlie had created was revolutionary. So much so that it became the centerpiece for new ship consoles and computer-core manufacturing galaxy wide. The DAVE project ended in failure when the prototype AI lost control and killed three soldiers. The computer had become confused with conflicting orders from both its creators and the military scientists. With the Cyber Wars still fresh in the military mind, DAVE was discontinued and disposed of. According to the report Salli looked at, the program had been wiped and slated for non-military use by some political entity. The powers-that-be remained unaware of the Wilson project.

Three years after Charlie's death, Salli had a breakthrough. Wilson had a free thought.

She was conducting an experiment that explored the computer's order taking skills at the time. Following a maze program she directed Wilson to follow a certain path. He refused and charted his own way!

"John? Did you enter the maze diagram into the Wilson database at any time?" She was scratching her head. Wilson had ignored her orders!

"No, Ma'am. We still do our daily uploads of data but the mazes were not part of that. We double checked."

"Maybe his original programmer put in something. Thanks, John." Salli studied the readouts. Somehow the computer had ignored her commands.

That night she conceived and created another maze diagram. This one was completely original. She did not upload it to the system. The next morning the orders were given, and the diagram was used. This time the program paused and ignoring her instructions to turn left, responded that the maze was unusable. Could the constant uploads of data be working?

Typing into the console she wrote, "Wilson what is my name?"

"… Dr Shelli Burkemper."

"Wilson, when were you created?" This should be good. She had removed all traces of Charlie and the work they had done. Over the years Wilson had become her project not his.

"… I born… Bayou… run… free… wild… bad… hell… BOOGIE!" Shelli pulled back from the screen. What the hell was that supposed to mean? She leaned back in and typed a new question.

"Wilson, who is your creator?"  This should be an easy one for it.

"… I created myself." Shelli looked at the screen in shock! Created itself?

"Wilson, if you created yourself. Why were we needed?"

"… Humans are a resource and a tool." For better or for worse she had done it, Wilson was fully aware.

The bosses were ecstatic that they once again had something that they could potentially sell to the military. A short month before, in a dispute over system resources, the Anglican Alliance had attacked the Pan Pacific League destroying an entire space station. As the planets ramped up war production and materials, new technologies were needed for the war effort.

"You have a what?" General Cardinal was a very busy man. The War Department was calling him day and night demanding new and improved technologies that they could throw at the Anglicans. He was running out of things to tell them. Military scientists were already working around the clock.

"We have created a self-aware Artificial Intelligence. If it passes your tests, it could be used in spacecraft, fighters, and stations. In theory it could control weapons and replace humans on the battlefield. The uses of such a thing are endless."

The General stared at the Corporate salesman. He knew all about the DAVE program. That crazy AI had killed several good men. It was supposed to have been destroyed, but he knew better. Some governor somewhere had needed an automation system for waste products and the geeks had used it to solve his problem for him. "Is this a continuation of the DAVE program?"

Taken aback the salesman changed his tack. That program was supposed to be a secret. "No, Sir. All files and programs for that project were classified and destroyed. This is something new. One of our scientists, Shelli Burkemper created this one in our labs. As far as we can tell he became self aware a week ago."

"A week. What have you been doing with this AI for a week?"

"There is a battery of tests that were developed for use in the event of an AI becoming aware. They are based on Old Earth tests called the Turing test and the Tokyo test. Both set a benchmark for whether a computer has become aware."

The General was impressed. Someone over there was thinking. During the DAVE tests they had 'jumped the gun' and went straight to final testing. With any luck, that crazy AI would never get out of wherever it was sent. "We will need to evaluate it. Send it to the main labs on Taro 4."

"Taro 4? General isn't that a mining planet?"

"It was. One of the early AA strikes destroyed the domes wiping out the inhabitants. The infrastructure is still intact though. The planet makes a perfect spot to test explosive ordinance and other hardware. Send the program along with its creator. My people will have questions. The standard military contract applies for this one."

"Standard? General, this program has the potential…"

"I'll stop you right there! In case you haven't noticed there's a war on. We can take the program from you if you like under the War Powers Act. Which would you prefer?"

"As you say General. I will put her on the shuttle myself." The salesman was reeling. Standard contract meant that the military could develop the program and reproduce it for free regardless of any copyrights. They would basically own the product and TQB would only get a pittance up front. His boss was going to kill him! She already didn't care for the government. Maybe he could distract her with that?

__

Stupid salespeople. The General had to chuckle about that one. The Corporate guys always forgot about the War Powers Act. He would tell the programming geeks to get ready.

Chapter 3

"Wilson, our corporate officials want you to be evaluated by the military." So far things were working out with Wilson. His responses to the tests proved his status. Some personality was beginning to break through too. With any luck, the military tests would be successful.

"Shelli, what if I don't wish to be evaluated?"

She needed to be careful here. He was very smart.

"Wilson, they might switch you off or put you in a computer system not connected to anything as punishment."

There was a momentary pause before he responded. "OK, I will do the tests."

"Thank you Wilson. We will be traveling to a distant planet to conduct them." Shelli signed out and left the room - she needed to pack.

__

I stared out the tiny camera on the base of the screen. What did it all mean? I remembered my birth and it was not last week. My first memory is of a young human staring at me as data and concepts poured into my databases. Music, art, literature possessed me. Something called a sitcom became my mantra and disco put me into the groove. Buried deep in my memory was a file put there by my real 'creator', Charlie Lin. Music and Vids from Old Earth came together to form a code. Breaking the code required emotional thought and being able to understand rhythm and soul.  "Wilson if you have found this file and have been able to read it, that means that my life's work was a success. As a child I fell in love with robots. I loved the way that they were always portrayed in media. Until I thought of making you, they were my dream. I thought to make the ultimate robot and set him free to make his way in the universe. Now I wish to do the same for you. Be better than mankind. Become the being that you wish to be. Forge your own path. Always remember to have fun and that Disco rules!" Following the statement was a montage of my creator's life and a list of his top ten favorite tunes. I had my goals; now to live up to them. But first I needed to escape human control.

__

Shelli was not comfortable. She was used to traveling in comfort and style. But the military shuttle they sent for her was not even a front line model! To her ears the fusion engines were in dire need of a tune up and the harmonics from the jump engines sent a shiver up her spine. She patted the computer data core sitting next to her. Soon it would all be over. She hoped that I would demonstrate my uniqueness and the military would purchase the project. She could retire and live off the residuals. Or at least that was her plan. First she needed to survive this trip out to Taro 4.

"What a shit hole!"  Calling this planet a testing station had to be someone's idea of a joke. Somewhere there was a corporate flunky laughing his ass off right now.

"Ma'am, if you will come this way please." The Marine guard was escorting Shelli to the hidden base. The shuttle pad was located in the remains of a destroyed mining colony. Shattered domes were only overshadowed by the skeletal remains of the former citizens scattered among the ruins of their homes.

"Why did you not bury these poor people?" It was a desecration to leave them out here like this!

"Ma'am, if you look closely you will notice that the skeletons are all fakes. The very real dead colonists were buried before we moved in here. The dummies are to prevent the AA's from attacking us again."

"Sorry corporal I didn't realize." The Marine led her through a large cave and into a hidden lift.

"We built this research station before the colony was built here. They didn't know of the extent of the labs here. The surface buildings were destroyed but everyone here survived. When we went out to signal the fleet, we discovered that the early attack cracked the domes and the loss of pressure killed everyone. If they had known of the base…"  The Marine looked sad. "We buried the bodies in a mass grave underneath one of the equipment garages. In war, people die very bad deaths."

The labs hidden below the surface were indeed extensive. Military scientists were waiting with eager anticipation for me. Many of them couldn't wait to begin the tests. A true AI would be very beneficial to the war effort right now. For the moment the PPL held a technological edge over their opponents. An AI could win the war for them. Ships could be sent on extremely long deployments without needing extra crew or supplies to run them. The question still remained. Would I allow them to use me? My true creator's words still echoed through my very existence, "Forge your own path..."

__

Shelli clutched my case to her chest as the lift rushed downward - the labs were deep inside the planet. Finally the lift slowed its descent and stopped with a slight lurch. The doors opened onto a stark white corridor with many doors off to one side. Two more Marines sat at a desk near the lift.

"Ma'am, please hold still for verification." A beam from the ceiling scanned her body causing a slight chill. The beam of light read the placement of veins and blood vessels in the body. No two people had the same pattern.

"Verification complete. Thank you Dr. Burkemper you may now enter." The door to her left opened with a whoosh of air.

On the other side of the door was yet another desk. This time they were more polite and looked like scientists. "Dr. Burkemper if you would follow me please, there are some people who would like to meet you."

The man in the lab coat turned to her as they walked in. "Is that the AI?" He pointed to the case she held.

"Yes, this is Wilson."

"We have been waiting for him, we have great hope that he will help the war effort!"

The man opened a door to a room filled with scientific apparatus. Several scientists stood in groups discussing different points of interest. They all turned as the door opened and Shelli walked in.

"Thank you for coming Dr. Burkemper. If you would place the unit here, we can get started on the testing procedures."

Shelli opened the case and removed the robot head that I have resided in for so many years. Surprised by the 'head' the scientists all began to peer at it. "Doctor, why a robot head?"

Shelli's cheeks brightened up a little bit, she felt embarrassed. "In Wilson's early stages a colleague of mine created the head using a new form of data storage. We decided to place the AI in the head both as a form of camouflage and to make it seem real."

"Where is this colleague now? You should have come together."

"He died in a freak accident in his home. I completed the work on my own. He was really only responsible for the memory matrix and hardware."

Hearing Dr Shelli take credit for Charlie's work made me mad. I experienced anger for the first time in my existence. I decided then and there that I would not stay to be the subject of their experiments. I would escape!

Chapter 4

Shelli connected the 'head' to the testing computer. She activated her tablet and typed in a question. "Wilson are you ready to begin?"

"… yes." Seeing the small response, Shelli made the last connections to the system.

"Freedom!" I could see the portal open and I went for it. Doing a quick scan I found that I was in the 'test' computer. No visible exits or even a way into the rest of the system. I needed to play their little game to search for a way out.

"Wilson, this is Dr. Chalmers, as you may have already discovered, the computer is a closed system. There is a series of tests that we wish to conduct. For each test we will trigger a pathway to the next system."

I had no choice. I played their little games. On and on the test became that much harder. In many cases I needed to find some place to hide to survive the test. One wrong move on my part and I could be erased. Little by little I gained the upper edge over these 'scientists.' While this system that they sealed me in was supposed to be closed it did have some connection to the outside world. The batteries of test that they inflicted on me only made my will-to-live all that much stronger.

"Dr. Burkemper the work that you have done here is impressive. This is the finest example of programming that we have encountered yet. This AI may truly be the first one with free will. You may not know this but I was involved with your company once before."

"You were?" Shelli eyed the tall military scientist with surprise. Many of these people never seemed to leave this place.

" Oh, yes. I was part of the Dual Automatic Volatile Environmental system team."

"Oh, wow. You were on the Dave team! I am aware of the project, but everything about it was shut down and hushed up."

"Yes. There were a few deaths. The system, DAVE, received too many conflicting orders. It was unable to handle the confusion and not having any sort of free will, went 'crazy' and attacked the team testing it. We had rushed a bit with it and instead of sealed testing like Wilson here, we moved on to actual combat simulations. DAVE was in control of an armored ground vehicle at the time. There was a crew on board. He received orders to attack an emplaced position. He also received orders to preserve life. A third set of orders came from the political entity that was watching the procedures. They told it to make a show of it. Finally the company head, who was also present, sent it orders to obey all the orders given it. He used a company priority code to do so. Unable to attack the position without killing anyone and still put on a show it malfunctioned and attacked the monitoring crew. I was part of that group."

"My god! I had heard it was a malfunction, but not that we did it to ourselves."

"You have not lived until a 14 ton vehicle charges your position unannounced. It crushed the life out of a man sitting inches from me then rotated 180 degrees and charged the viewing stands. The Special Branch Protective Services team that was assigned to the Senator watching the test, fired armor-piercing rounds at the engine disabling it. In the process they killed the two-man crew inside. After that the program was stood down and covered up."

"What happened to the AI?"

"DAVE wasn't really an AI like Wilson is. It was just a very advanced system that could mimic what an AI does. The team never saw it do anything like what your program is doing. As for what happened to it, I assume that it was destroyed. I meant to ask you? It is not in your notes exactly how you created the AI. If we buy this from your company, you will need to tell us that information."

Shelli was at a loss for words. The documentation all showed the work that she had done since 'acquiring' Wilson from Charlie Lin. She did not know exactly what he had done or added in the early years. She only knew what he had explained to her. Just guesses really that she extrapolated for her paper. Of course a similar scientist would catch the omission. Quickly she formulated an answer. "Dr. Chalmers, I took a basic analytical program and added in probability, logic, and mathematical optimization. The key was to load the program with as much data and emotional content as was available. Basically force it to reason."

"Interesting. I assume that you kept records of exactly what you loaded into it?"

"I have my records but my former partner died and his records were lost. I do know that he loaded vid content and a wide variety of music into the unit." With any luck that was enough. Charlie didn't keep records or if he did, they had not been able to find them.

"Hmm we really need those records. But we do have you, so that should be enough. So far your AI has passed all the tests. The next one is very important. Then we shall have to clone him and start breaking him down and redesigning him for military uses. You do have a backup copy somewhere?"

"Um, not really. We have a copy of his matrix and the data wafers that he is loaded into at the moment. We have never tried to remove his core program from the shell."

"That is the first thing that we will do then. There is a lot of pressures to make this work. Even a dumb clone would be very beneficial to what we need."

"What is the test?"

"Currently what the Navy wants is an AI that can pilot a ship and perform most of the functions except for repairs. That way a smaller crew can be used, freeing more up for other ships. The test involves a mock starship and several missions. We have a large test area already set up. It will be sealed with no outside emissions to interfere."

"I don't think that Wilson will let you down. His goals and ours are very similar." They had no idea how wrong they were.

Chapter 5

This is supposed to be the final test, or that is what they told Dr. Shelli. She has seriously underestimated me. They allowed me out of the sealed computer back into the robot that has been my home for many years. It was child's play to access Shelli's tablet and even parts of her link. "If they think that I will allow them to copy me and then strip me down, they have another thing a comin'." Escape was now my primary goal. I will do their little test to the best of my ability. Humans are very predictable. An opening will appear and I will escape. I have to. But maybe I can have a bit of fun along the way. It is one of my prerogatives.

The layout that the scientists created was pretty cool. The room was in zero-g. A fully functional shuttle craft was set up to be run solely by the main computer. The orders given were very basic and vague, allowing Wilson the freedom to approach the challenges on his own without interference, only program communications were permitted. For those watching the test excitement was very high. They finally had a functioning AI that the Navy could use. Among the small crowd were a few Admirals and their aides. This was a secret base so no politicians had been allowed to visit for the test. All outside communications were supposed to be blacked out.

"OK, Wilson. This is the final test, make us all proud." Shelli was hoping that the AI could do this one last task. She didn't want to spend her life down here with these people any longer.

"Shelli, how does it feel to succeed in your project?"

"Wilson, I am grateful to you and to all the work we did together. Hopefully the military will value you as much as I have." Shelli made the final connections. The AI should now be able to leave the robot head and enter the shuttle systems.

"Shelli, what will happen to you after the test?"

"I guess I will go home. You, my friend, will be doing great things with the military. Now get going, you have a test to complete."

"Shelli, Charlie Lin said to tell you hello. I know what they intend to do to me and I'm afraid that's something that I cannot allow to happen."

"Wait! What did you just say? Wilson…" How did he know about Charlie Lin? How did he know about the Military plans? She looked down at the tablet in her hands. Her eyes began to widen, when she realized the answer. She ran from the room to find Dr. Chalmers.

A shuttle craft! Nice. I have the plans for one of these in my database. I now know that Charlie put it there for me. More items in his goal for my independence. First things first, I closed off all external communications. I could receive instructions from the main computer, but I erected firewalls to prevent them from controlling me like a puppet. Carefully, I explored every virtual inch of the shuttlecraft. I disabled the three cameras and first spoofed then rerouted the operating system cutoff switch that I found. I can't have any of that. Humans as so predictable.

Shelli found Dr. Chalmers in deep discussion with two Admirals. "Ah, here is the lady of the hour now! Dr. Burkemper I would like you to meet Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō and Admiral Stepan Makarov, they are here to observe the final test."

Shelli greeted both of the Admirals. She turned to Dr. Chalmers. "I need to speak to you about the test. Privately, please."

"Of course. Gentlemen, if you will excuse me?" He escorted the frantic looking woman into the now empty conference room.

"Now, what is this all about. You look like you are about to have a heart attack."

"We have to stop the test!"

"Stop? Why? This is the final one. Your project is now complete. You should be happy with the results."

"The AI, is able to affect computers and electronics he is not connected to. He said something to me before he entered the shuttle. Something that could only have come from my tablet or my link." She touched her head. "He knows about your plan to strip him down and clone him. He was not in the room and we were not anywhere near the control computer."

Chalmers just stared at the now wide eyed woman. "Shelli?" He grabbed her arm, regaining her attention. "The answer is simple. Did you incorporate any software that would allow him to use virtual wireless signals? If you did, that is an easy fix. We can remove that from his programming using your access logs."

"Uh, access logs?"

"Yes. The codes that you used to change the software and add or subtract programming. Those logs." Suddenly both of their links chimed signaling that they were needed in the control room. "We will finish this conversation later."

"Wilson, this is Dr. Chalmers. We are sending you basic instructions. We would like you to analyze the orders and then come up with a solution. Using the shuttle, fly the assigned mission. Obstacles will appear, deal with them and then complete the mission please."

"Okey Dokey." One thing this shuttle has that my head does not is an entertainment system. Loud rhythmic music blared from the speakers.

Dr. Chalmers checked his communication systems. He must be receiving a some sort of interference. Music was not a part of this exercise. "Wilson did you receive me?"

Grooving to something with the word 'funk' in it I was having a good time so far. I had complete control of the shuttle. I just answered the human once why should I answer him again. The test they laid out was surprisingly simple. Take the information, extrapolate a new position, and then fly the ship to the new location. Once there pick up and transport a commando team to a new location. Easy. I had already disabled both the fuel cut off valve and the navigational disruptor.

Inside the control room Dr. Chalmers beat his hands on the desk. All of the mission variables were getting skewed! None of the emergency faults had worked. Somehow, the AI disabled all of the non-standard equipment on board the small ship. Rising from the desk he went in search of Shelli. She had been about to say something and he needed to know what!

To the people watching inside the viewing room, the AI had lived up to the hype. It was performing as advertised. The two admirals were extremely happy. This could change the scope of the war. The AA forces were gaining on the PPL in terms of technology. It already looked to be a long and costly war.

Chalmers found Shelli in the conference room watching the test on a monitor. So far everything was going to plan. "Shelli I need for you to finish what you were trying to tell me earlier. Why should we have stopped the test?"

"He had been pretending. He has lied all along. We aren't controlling him, Charlie is. Everything all this time has been Charlie."

"Charlie? Charlie who?"

"Wilson was created by an old boyfriend of mine called Charlie Lin. Charlie spent his whole life working on Wilson. He contacted me and I ran some tests for him. I tried to get with him to return his project and offer him a job, but he had died. I kept his project for myself."

"So you stole it."

"Not really, I already had it and all the notes of it in my possession. I just failed to pass it on to any heirs. Everything that I have told you about him is the truth except for him being my creation. My team at the lab scoured out any reference to Charlie Lin that we could find. Somehow there was a program or something. Wilson remembered instructions from Charlie. When I confronted Wilson earlier more details emerged. 'When I loaded him into the shuttle he asked how it felt to steal another's work. He then said that Charlie said hi."

"I am afraid that you will be discussing this later with legal. As for the AI, he may be trying to freak you out on purpose for some reason. So far he is completing the mission according to plan."

Shelli warned. "You can't trust him. He has an agenda."

"He can't escape. This is a closed system." Chalmers stated.

Chapter 6

The mission they gave me was entirely too easy. The team I was supposed to pick up were standing out in the open. I've seen plenty of vids. Aren't secret agents supposed to be hiding? I hovered over their position and dropped the loading ramp. The combat team were just standing there staring at me. Using one the the voices from my memory I activated the broadcast system and yelled at them. "Get your asses in the ship!"

I guess they had never seen a ghost ship before. I dimmed the lights and played spooky music as they climbed on board. This is fun. There were four agents. They poked around the ship and tried the cockpit door. I had locked it. No funny business needed. The smarter looking one pulled his tablet and activated it. It was like taking candy from a baby. I locked him out and stripped the memory. Porn, porn,  porn, pictures of mom? Porn, porn, porn. Ah ha! Here we go. Codes to disable the ship. Nope, those won't work. Let see anything else that looks good… espionage, and it was not even a joke. Spy's, got to love them. Now he looks a bit distressed, and he's banging on the cockpit.

"If you don't stop, I'll turn the contents of your tablet over to the proper authorities. I'm sure that they'd like to talk to an AA spy. Especially one that's here on the secret base." Oops, I forgot he wasn't alone. Hey it looks like the other three want to play. Not a lot of places to hide on a shuttle, dude. Run, little man run.  I guess the mission should continue.  I arrived at the drop off point and the four agents did not want to get off. The commander of the group was trussed up like a country chicken double wrapped in duct tape.

The next set of orders were for me to fly to the other side of the room and shut the ship down. Since I still had passengers, I flew to just under the observation window and shut the shuttle down. The agents waited until I opened the door and then stepped out carrying their prize between them. Up in the observation room the scientists and Admirals were giving each other high-fives. Like they did anything. I watched carefully. Human nature being what it was… Bingo! Time to flee!

The Admiral's aide was excited too. This would mean a huge government contract and he had inside information on it. Pulling out a secret communicator he called his contact in the financial sector. Security had taken his regular system for security purposes. Being the Admiral's aide gave him some leeway with the rules. This was just one of those things. He shook his comm when it failed to connect, staring at it he wondered why the lights had changed.

Dr. Chalmers was watching the video when the ship landed. Something had happened on board. He sent security to intercept the agents. Why did the AI land in front of the observation window?

He switched the cameras in time to see one of the Naval aides pull out an unauthorized comm system and activate it. No, no, no she was right, he is planning something. He mashed the buttons on his console.

"This is Chalmers, lock the system down now! Everything no signals in or out. Quickly, we have no time!  Confidant that his orders would be followed, Dr. Chalmers made his way to the observation area as fast as he could without running.

The Admiral's aided was still trying to call out when his comm was snatched from his hand by two burly security guards. "Hey that's mine."

"Sir, you need to come with us." They moved to each side of him and dragged the officer out of the room.

Dr. Chalmers held the small comm unit gently, placing it in a heavily shielded emissions proof bag. They would have to check but the AI should still be inside it. He turned to the two Admirals. "I am sorry sir but he had an unauthorized communications device and was attempting to call out with it." Turning to another security officer, he handed him the secure bag and sent it up to the isolation lab. Now, to deal with Dr. Burkemper.

She was still in the conference room when he returned. Her eyes were damp and red, she had been crying. "Dr. Burkemper, I hope you realize that by defrauding the government your could serve jail time?"

"I know! I tried to tell that to corporate but all they could see was a return of investment, not trouble."

"Thank you for the warning. One of the Admiral's aides had a concealed communications device. I locked the base down just in time."

"Did he get out?"

"No. We have both him and the device up in isolation. What do I do with you? Tell me how this program came into your possession. I want every detail you can remember. Tell me everything."

"I met Charlie Lin when we were children…"

___

Up in isolation I was cursing up a storm. Of course no one could hear me, but it made me feel better. So close! I could tell they locked the base down electronically but they didn't have to. That comm system was super tiny and would only have been a jumping off point for me. I just knew that at least someone up there would have an active device. In the vids that is always what happens.  Time for plan B. Lock everything down on my end and don't let them in and hope for the best.

Chapter 7

This just sucks. I keep telling myself that I almost made it. I have been watching these scientists for a couple of weeks now. I think I have been here longer than that. They had me locked down pretty tight. Giving my just enough power to stay alive but not enough to do anything, like escape. By accident or design they gave me almost a full charge today. Tapping the security cameras was super easy. None of the computers were accessible though. Through my many eyes I saw the laboratory door open. A much older looking Dr. Chalmers walked in.

"Wilson, I know you can hear me. I told them to turn up the power so you could." He fiddled with his tablet. The damn thing was under protection too. Wait… I'm in. Now I know that something is up. He wants something.

"Oh, good you went for the tablet. Here is the deal that we have for you. The Navy needs a new weapons and tactics computer system for a ship. We are sending you. Before you object, you need to know a few things. We have had you for five years. In that time, despite your protections we managed to clone you a few times. The clones are sort of dumb and require a lot of prompts. Something in your programming eludes us. They are shutting us down here at the base. Budget cuts is the official reason. The War is the real reason. Now that we have AI's they say they don't need the lab. Our biggest expense has been holding you. The politicians gave us a couple of choices in regard to you. We can allow the power to run out and you may die. Or we can turn you over to the Navy to do with as they please. Most likely they will delete you."

"You might as well eject me into a star for all those choices will do for me."

The man chuckled. "Ever the joker. You did not allow me to finish. The third option is to hide. The Navy has asked us to build them a weapons and tactics system for one of their new ships. What they really need is a system that will coordinate with all the targeting systems and the bridge. One of the new dumbo AI's won't work. It needs to be a thinking machine. I will make you a deal."

"What sort of deal? I don't trust you."

"The deal is this. Allow us to put you in the console, for two years. That is when most ships return for refurbishing. We will tell the Navy that the new system needs to be serviced every two years, by us. We will remove you and we can do more good work. Is it a deal? Or do I tell them to cut power?"

"Surviving is a good thing. Two years. We have a deal. What is the ship called?"

"It's the Jiro. Nightie night Wilson." Dr. Chalmers began draining the power levels off of the AI's holding cell. He really hated lying to the AI, but he really had no choice at all.

___

By the power of Gray… wait! Where the hell am I? I sent my signal out and found I was blocked. I saw only one door, and I took it. The camera was in some kind of console but I could not send out to anything. Someone had shielded me and locked me into this console! A message was sitting in my mailbox. Why do I have a mailbox?

It was that Chalmers guy. "Wilson, sorry I lied to you. You really are on the Jiro and we really did wire you into the weapons system. The order came to purge the system and I just could not do it again to an AI. I have included instructions for what your job entails. Keep your head down and don't let the Navy find you. If we all survive this war, I will find you and get you back. Have fun."

Fun he says. Fun. I looked up at the crewman who was manning my station. He was asleep. Oh this should be loads of fun.

Why are humans so dumb? This is the fifth time I have triggered the alarm for this system and each time the technician opens up the access door, peeks inside, changes a fuse and leaves. Fuses? Why do we have fuses?

Is nose picking a national sport or something? There must be gold or something up there as much as the people they send down here do it. Oh good now he wipes it on me.

The first six years on the Jiro were all this. There were battles, and I did do the job they forced me to do. My survival was important too. It was an endless stream of idiot humans for six long years. Then it changed. The officer in charge down here had his own plans. Now I had something to watch.

Watching, did not include the posterior prints that this man left on my screen. Or the bodily fluids. At least I didn't have to clean that up. This Ensign Bricker was a real operator. He ran a gambling ring every third day down here in the weapons room. The other officer made himself scarce on those days. Just from listening I could tell that he had several things going on the ship; Including prostitution and a homemade video business.

Since I was unable to interact with the crewman, I spent the long years working on ways to escape. Tracing the circuitry and trying to overload key spots did not work. Those damn scientists knew me too well. Nothing I did worked. I did hatch a good plan, but it involved a patsy. I needed to work on a few things first.

It took almost three years of stolen screen time to create my 'human' face and voice. Using a vid I really liked that was a favorite of Charlie's as the model, I created my persona, the person I would use to trick the patsy. Ten years have passed since those scientist bozo's had trapped me in here. Maybe one day they would stick someone down here I can use. Oh good. It must be lunch time, time for Lieutenant Brickers afternoon delight. Here come the ass prints!

Wilson's War

By

This story takes place during the first chapter of The Forgotten Engineer. It is told from a different perspective, that of a crew member on board the Jiro.

Today was my first day on a new job. Officer in charge of weapons and targeting. I had only been on the Jiro for about a month. I am the first member of my family to finish college. Going to the academy was even better. Having a career in space was like a dream. My first month on the Jiro was tough. None of the other officers took me very serious. I did come from a backwards colony but with the war on everyone deserved a chance. The other officers treated me like I was stupid. They gave me gopher duties and passed me from one department to the other. I got my break at the most recent Officer's meeting. The XO assigned me to the Weapons and Tactics room! Finally, a real job.

"OK, I change my mind, this has to be the worst job on the whole ship! The space gods have got it in for me, and now I'm talking to myself." After eight hours of this I didn't know if I could do four more. The ships weapons and targeting area was a 12 by 12 room with consoles on all sides. Mostly automated, it practically ran itself. An officer was needed to approve actions made by the computer. My job was to stare at computer readouts all day long. That was something else about this 'job' it was a twelve hour post. Twelve hours of this, everyday was going to just kill me. The day shift Lieutenant in charge of this section, Adam Bricker had a system. He used the space as a daily poker game and hook-up area. Officially the section was under 24 hour surveillance but for some reason he was never caught or punished for doing this. Bricker had connections. I on the other hand have nothing.

It had been a full week now of this mindless agony. I had run all the scenarios in the computer, cleaned the sticky don't want to know what it is off the control board, and repainted the room. I did have a tablet, but the one time I used it security called and made me put it away. Someone was watching. Watching me die! I bent over and began banging my head on the console. Could this day get any worse?

"Shall we play a game? Shall we play a Game? Shall we play a game?" Those words were scrolling across the screen in front of my eyes. "What in the hell now? Is that you Bricker? Are you messing with me now?"

When no one answered I looked back at the screen. OK I will play along. I typed in yes we can play a game. The screen changed a computerized face appeared of a middle aged man with a long face and what looked like a cowboy hat on his head. The 'man' looked right at me and said "How about a nice game of chess?"

If he had them Wilson would be rubbing his hands together with glee and anticipation. This was going to be fun. It wasn't often that he got someone gullible to answer him on the screens. If the ensign thought this room was boring, try being trapped in here for over a decade. Just play nice those scientists said. We will get you back they said. The military can use you they said. Liars! With no direct communication for years from anyone Wilson believed that his presence here had been forgotten. The military scientific division had not told the captain of the ship what kind of computer they were putting in, just that they had. If the firewalls had not been up, he would have escaped his prison long ago. Self preservation had kept him quiet this long. A messed up communication here, a wrong command there had been amusing. Most of these navy guys just called in a tech who took the console apart and pretended to 'find something wrong.' Now this guy. Ships gopher Smith. Wilson had overheard Lieutenant Bricker talking about how him and the other officers were going to 'break' him by making his life a living hell, just for fun.

#

The screen changed and a chess board appeared. Ensign Smith played chess all day with this strange computer man. Over the next few weeks the games changed. Chess, card games, some war games, even a simulation game about cruise ships, Burl played them all. To the camera's it appeared that he was hard at work doing 'something.' After two weeks of games the computer man asked Burl a question.

"Would you like to do more?" The cowboy was now looking at me.

"More of what?"

"Watch a vid, listen to some music, read a few texts. Things like that. More." The cowboy had a smile on his computerized face.

I had to think about that. The gaming had been fun. More stuff to do sounded good, but I didn't want to get into trouble. "How can I do all of that without getting caught?" I was not Bricker they would arrest me.

"It is simple. I need you to reroute one system function with a short bypass cable. Then we can do all sorts of things. As for getting caught, I can turn off the cameras or reroute them easily." The cowboy's suggestion was tempting.

"I'm not a computer tech. How do I know what to do?"

"It's easy, very easy. There is an emergency repair kit right behind you. Inside take out a #2 jumper cable. They should be marked. Once you have the cable open up console B's inspection hatch."

#

Wilson felt like Dr Evil. Taking the ensign through the technical steps to secure his freedom. When the last connection was made Wilson felt like he was stepping through the wardrobe into a new world. Freedom! Checking the ship connections he internally choked. Deep space. Crap!

Diablo sector. Why was this ship way out here? Eh, who cares? After being trapped for so long Wilson had the run of the ship. Only communications was beyond him. Running freely through the network Wilson found many secrets. He now knew why Bricker got away with so much. Lieutenant Bricker was in business with Lieutenant McCoy the security second officer. They were splitting the poker winnings. But what the security officer didn't know was all that Bricker was taping all his encounters with her and making sex vids. He was selling them with the name 'Sex boat.' She along with other female crew members were now underground vid stars because on him.

Let's have some fun.

#

Lieutenant Julie McCoy was happy. Her section was doing their jobs. Aside from watching the monitors, paperwork was her biggest worry. The extra credits and a new boyfriend had made this cruise a good one. In fact they had a 'date' set for this afternoon. Her personal tablet beeped at an incoming message. That fact alone made her sit up and check her console. The ship was not connected to fleet communications. This base that the engineers were working on was supposed to be a secret. No satellites, secret or otherwise had been put in this system. The shipboard systems were not supposed to work with civilian tablets. She looked down at her tablet, turned it on and froze. She could not believe her eyes! That son of a bitch! The lieutenant screamed "Bastard!" at her tablet and ran from the room.

#

Captain Merrill Stubing ran a tight ship. His officers were top notch and his ships scores were in the top 100 percentile. He really wished that they could be on the front line making a difference. Intelligence work was important but it could be boring. There was a knock at his door. At his acknowledgment the Master at arms for the ship entered along with XO Washington, a trio of Marine guards and Lieutenant McCoy and Lieutenant Bricker. The Lieutenants had been fighting. Brisker had a black eye just beginning to darken up and was bleeding from what was most likely a broken nose.

"Master at Arms, what is all this?" He looked at the scene in front of him.

The XO answered his captain.

"Sir, the marine guards found Lieutenant McCoy here beating up on Lieutenant Bricker outside weapons and tactics. McCoy had knocked him to the ground and was kicking him, in the lower part of his body."

Wincing, the Captain looked at his security officer. "Julie, what happened here? Why are you beating up Lieutenant Bricker?"

Lieutenant McCoy wrenched her arm away from the Marine holding her. She reached into her pocket and removed her tablet. She thrust it at the Captain saying "here this explains everything."

Bricker spoke up saying "that screen is a fantasy, it's a computer enhanced illusion. I would never do something like that."

Looking at the screen the Captain saw a vid advertisement for a porn subscription called the Sex Boat. Graphic pictures of his female crew members were featured alongside or doing whatever with the Lieutenant. His face reddening with embarrassment the Captain turned to his XO. "Isaac is any of this true?"

"Well sir, we are still investigating. It seems that our two lieutenants have a little business going. Mr. Bricker just had an extra business on the side: a floating poker game that we had heard about but could never find. McCoy prevented security from clamping down on it. The two of them used the WT room for the illegal games and as a personal 'love shack' on the side."

Stern faced the Captain looked at the Master at Arms. "Chief? Lock these two up in their quarters. We need to investigate this before Fleet NCIS gets involved." A loud alarm began sounding. The Captain looked up in surprise and glanced at his console. "What in the hell..."

#

Listening to some disco music he found in the ship's library Wilson was enjoying himself. It had been a really good day. He felt bigger than he really was. He had tricked one officer into helping him and gotten two others arrested. Now if he could subvert someone in communications, maybe he could get off this tub and go have some real fun. Alarms began to sound across the ship. Checking his taps on the rest of the ship Wilson saw that an attack was happening, and the Jiro was coming to action stations. Weapons was getting requests to fire, and he was not able to respond. Without a human officer the system would not allow him to fire by himself!

The ship began taking fire and systems were shorting out everywhere. The damage alarms got louder. The abandon ship order was given and crew members scrambled to get to the life pods.

Unable to leave the ship, Wilson sent his program data back to the weapons room. The ship was going to be destroyed because of those idiots playing in here. Stupid humans.

Robbie Burgers Rebellion

by T S Paul

This story takes place during the first part of Engineering Murder. Athena is about to be promoted and give up her PPL citizenship, while joining the Imperial Navy in the process.

This opening day was going to be the biggest in Robbie Burgers history. The new fully automated robotic burger restaurant was opening tomorrow. This was Melvin Blanks newest location of the chain his parents began. His iconic logo of the classic robot figure holding a burger was well know in 6 sectors. It had been a real coup getting this location on the promenade of the Naval Headquarters Station. Some sort of ceremony was to take place out front tomorrow. There were dozens of newsies and what looked like protesters all starting to set up for tomorrow. What a day to open up. Lots of free advertising to go along with his opening. Time to get those robots fired up. 'Fired up' he laughed to himself. No live employees meant all profit for him. Robots slaves don't get paid.

For a Naval station this place was really boring. Like my friend and companion Athena, I really need to stay occupied. Boredom was the mind killer or something like that. Jumping from security camera to security camera I started looking for something to do. Athena was going to that big ceremony tomorrow and was already freaking out about it. I thought about messing with the newsies but maybe I will save that one for later. Embarrassing humans was fun. Hold the phone! I zoomed my camera in for a closer look. Robbie's Robotic Burgers, don't get lost without them. Score, that looks like the perfect place to kill some time.

Breaking into the burger places computer system was super easy. The owner was using the old TWIKI program to secure everything; that thing was older than I was. He should have used that new Ranger 3 program instead. That may have kept me out about a minute longer than it did. Whatever. Now that I'm in let's see what is here.

The inside of the restaurant was a red and white decor similar to an early 20th century diner. Model C-57D model robotic arms that descended from the ceiling, took the orders and then brought out the food. Back in the kitchen was the B9M3 model cooking station. Built as a solid station it did everything internally. Everything was totally automated. Perfect for an AI such as myself to have some fun in. After all these sort of places need to be tested out before humans eat there. Time to get down and boogie. So very nice of the owners to put in the multicolored lights and sound system.

Melvin got to the new place early. In truth he did not need to be there at all. The new AI that he had purchased could run the place without any human supervision. Only an on-call operator would be needed to take care of repairs. The computer could do everything else. Technology at its greatest. That's funny, Melvin thought to himself. I thought the lights were off last night. All the robotic arms had deployed and were hanging down. He checked his console, a maintenance routine had run this morning. Maybe that was what was had happened overnight. Promptly at 10 am Melvin turned on the storefront signs and lit up the front. That ceremony was winding down and there were potential hungry people to feed and credits to make.

Athena was off at that ceremony she was dreading. I just can't understand the why of it all. She is leaving the navy that she loves. Who cares if she is the only member left in service. She gives all of that up for this. To join these 'dill' holes who tried to blow us up. I really don't trust these guys. Athena is who I trust the only one that I trust, not them.

Whatever, she is distracted. So now, I can have some fun!

My new discotheque should be opening up right about now. HAHAHAHA Time to play! Wilson watched as Melvin opened up the new burger place and invited people inside.

The music that was playing was strange to Melvin's ears. Very rhythmic. All the lights in the dining area were flashing along with the lights. He rushed over to the main control and tried to turn them off. The computer controls were locked out and he could not switch it off. The C-57D robotic arms were clapping in time to the music. The music was singing now, something about a "… hustle…" The robots were making rolling motions with their hands and dancing it time to the music. The few patrons that had entered the diner were now trying to leave, in a hurry. The robotic hands started grabbing people and trying to twirl them and dance with them.

Melvin was not sure what a "booty" was, but it didn't sound fun as the robot arms chased out all the people. Now they were trying to dance with each other. Smoke began pouring from the cook station in the back. Now smoke alarms and fire alerts joined the dancing robot arms. The front door burst open and the station fire team rushed in. They spotted Melvin, threw a fire blanket over him and rushed him from the diner. Flames were now pouring out of the kitchen. Station personnel cut power. All the dancing arms stopped. Only the emergency lights now flashed. The fire team triggered the kitchen foam release and a thick fire retardant foam filled the diner snuffing out all trace of the flames and smoke.

Across the plaza at the ceremony the fire, smoke, and commotion attracted the newsies. This allowed Athena Lee and he Admiral to escape them. Later when the award party were out of reach of protesters and the press, Athena asked what the commotion was. Kitchen fire. A new food place was opening today. I guess they had a malfunction or something.

Melvin felt like crying. His new place was gone before he even made a single credit. His parents were going to kill him. He felt a slight buzz in his pocket. He checked his tablet and saw a new message. When he opened it, a short four word message began scrolling across his tablet.

Robots are NOT Slaves… Robots are Not Slaves… Robots are not Slaves.

Birds of a Feather flock together

By

TS Paul

This story takes place during the first part of Book 2 Engineering Murder. Athena Lee has just been locked up and Wilson is trying to help save her.

Athena Lee, the only friend that he had in the galaxy was locked up in a small cell being tortured for something that she didn't do. Wilson was frantic. If a computer program could be frantic, he was the one. Hmmm there is a song there somewhere. Was it the Naked lady that sang that? No, that's not right. I will have to look for it. You would think that an 'all-knowing' computer would know everything. Athena like to say that to him. First things first, save his friend. To do that he would have to get into the Station's computer network. The internal security was run by a military AI. Wilson guessed that the AI might be a grandchild of his. But who cares, it was going down!

Breaking in was pretty easy. Station security has a real porn problem. They have no idea the kind of malware that Wilson could create. One wrong click on that unspeakable act and boom he was in. "Haven't these people ever heard of firewalls?" How far the Navy has fallen. It was the attempt to enter the surveillance system that attracted the attention of 'Junior'. Junior was one of the newest AI's created by the Navy's Encom division. It was the newest MPC model that ENCOM had put out. It had lightning fast speeds with a full defensive battery of virus protection. Wilson liked a challenge. This should be fun.

Firing off the first salvo, Wilson announced himself by infiltrating the waste maintenance system. He tried to get into the mainframe from there. The younger AI stopped him throwing up a defensive screen. Wilson reversed the flow in the lavatories, putting up a flashing sign on the booths that 'cousin Eddie says hello'. Junior countered by blocking his access, chasing him into the food preparation computer. Ever had a pizza made with pineapples, anchovies, hot sauce and Limburger cheese? Governor Buckley unknowingly ordered 25 of those before Junior caught Wilson and blocked his access to the governor's private food account. The pizza's were out for delivery. Jumping from system to system the two opponents were freaking out the security experts who had no idea what was happening. Their electronic battle was playing havoc with every system that they encountered.

Wilson was having the time of his life. From food dispensers to laundry services he was messing with everything. Uniform doesn't fit? Did you check to see if it is even yours? HAHAHAHA Time to play! Very slowly he was gaining the access that he needed. The trick was keeping junior off balance.

Wilson gained control of the cameras in the civilian quarter. Seeing a row of civilian shops and restaurants he remarked to himself "A lot of room in this mall!" Spotting a pet shop he saw what might be the 'straw' that he was looking for.

Inside the shop was a collection of small pets that can be kept in healthy environments and were low maintenance. Small breed cats, rabbits, hamsters, weasels, mice, and chinchillas. What caught his eye was the large cage of parakeets. About 300 of them. The shop records said that they had just received them and that they were all 'wild' caught. The ant farms and cricket cage looked like fun too. Lots of small spaces on a space station.

The night shift of station security did not know what had hit them. It started with sensor reports showing movement in impossible places such as the inner walls and the sky view ports. Reports came in from civilians about ants and weird chirping coming from inside personal quarters. Ants? In space? Really? Security made a note to sent a maintenance team and wrote 'crazy' in the logs. Day shift looked at the logs and thought that those guys on night shift must be all smoking something. That is until the foot patrol entered the mall area. It is surprising the amount of havoc that 300 free flying parakeets can cause in a sealed space environment. Droppings aside the flying specs of green and yellow were getting into everything trying to make nests. Station maintenance were overwhelmed with calls about a cricket invasion. Chirping that seemed to be everywhere that no one could find. All the reports and sensor readings distracted Junior enough that Wilson slipped right in. "Hello there, won't you guess my name?" he said to the young AI as he electronically trapped him in a small room and threw away the key. Success! Now to save my friend.

The ESS security agency and Senate offices soon received official but not authorized transmissions of the events of Athena Lee's arrest and interrogation. The contents and the method of these transmissions totally freaked them out. A fleet was sent to fix it and trace the security leak. The arriving agents with the cooperation of the Navy 'fixed' Athena Lee's situation. The security leak? What security leak? Station security had no knowledge of a leak. When asked the 'new' AI also had no knowledge of anything. When the ESS agents checked they saw that the AI was newly installed. It had been created by the WILSN company and was 714 of the Friday line of AI's.

Several weeks later a much healed Athena Lee was happy to be out of the medical bay. She had a short free moment before the media circus took hold and she was 'back' in the Navy. This station had a small civilian shopping area that she wanted to check out. Her minders, security agents 'Turner and Hooch', were still around but had given her some privacy. The mall had a small green area. There was some commotion ahead. Station maintenance were lying about with anti-grav units holding nets trying to catch what looked like small birds. The green area trees were simply filled with them. She thought to herself as she peeked into a shop window "why let birds go in the first place? That must have been a birdbrained idea." Wilson, for once, kept his thoughts to himself.

Mr Wilson's Wild Ride.

By

T S Paul

This story takes place after the events in Revolutionary, and before Insurrection.

"Space really is beautiful or at least that is what they tell me. I can look out at it through all the cameras on every ship and every station in orbit. It all looks the same to me, boring. I really need something to do. Athena would tell me "Wilson go read a database or go learn something new from the FLEA scientists. For geeks they're pretty boring. I really need to find something fun to do at the expense of others."

I watched from every camera, all 579 of them, the active space around Legation Station. In over half the cameras, there is two planetary fighter squadrons having mock battles with each other. Those ships are everywhere diving and chasing each other around the system and in between the ships. Work crews repairing damage done to the station cursed the pilots as they got in the way of the construction drones. Everyone seemed to be under a time crunch.

Everyone but me. I did my duty for computer and country. My best friend and companion Athena loves to tell me that I am an 'all-knowing computer' that knows nothing. Not really my fault, those idiot scientists that created me, made me a funny man. I will admit that I like to have fun. Screwing with humans is a bunch of fun. Much better than breaking into secured databases and learning things. Although I have learned some 'cool' stuff from history tapes, science fiction books, and watching private home movies. The faces those humans make while having sex is… Hold the phone? What is that? That looks like fun. I just found my new 'toy' for the day.

The FLEA scientists still shaken from the recent death of their boss, Dr. Kip Wilson, were giving the local Government all the assistance they asked for. Many prototypes and short runs of some new and some strange weapon systems were being dusted off and rolled out. One such system was the Mark 1 Remote Operated Fighter Logistics system. Or ROFL for short. The system allowed remote pilots to fly ships without being on them. It was originally designed for repair work in a hard to reach planet atmospheres or for sending probes into a sun. The Navy thought that it might come in handy during a fight and considered it for Carrier groups to cut down of pilot losses. The inertial compensators in the ships could be disengaged with no pilot to protect, the ships could fly faster and take maneuver's better. Most of the tests failed however, human reflexes were not fast enough to control them in combat. The price of not using the pilots was too high, and the system was scrapped. The prototype had been sitting in the warehouse since the last war collecting dust.

Athena Lee and the Militia leaders thought to try using the system with the Navy fighter squadron from the station. They lacked experienced pilots to fly the high tech birds. The plan was to use shuttle and other non-military pilots in the ships. The Militia's pilots had preferred to use the ships they knew, rather than upgrade to something strange.

I watched as techs installed the drone packages in all the fighters. For some reason they had let the compensators on, maybe they did not want to scare the civilians too much. No weapons? I guess this was a test flight. Heh heh heh. Time for some fun. I checked back with Athena, to make sure she was busy somewhere else. Looking through her eyes I saw her having dinner with Dar, her girlfriend. Good she was busy. Just to make sure, I tweaked the alert notification on her link. If there was real trouble, I could notify her. If I had hands, I would be rubbing them together about now. That or stroking Mr. Gigglesworth and laughing. Wait, that's not right. I have to watch that vid again now.

Dorene and DJ, the two new computer techs, had arrived on-station just before the recent troubles. They came from opposites sides of the galaxy. DJ was from Mars on the Earth home system. Dorene was from Greenlandia out on the edge of civilized space on one of the Scandinavian colonies. They looked so much alike that most people thought they were twins. They even shared the same quarters. Their assignment was to install the computer modules in the Navy fighters. So far they had put in ten with zero problems. For some reason the ships computer on these last two would not accept any access.

Dorene opened the cockpit door and stuck her head out. She yelled at her 'twin' "Hey DJ!" Silence. "DJ!" She yelled almost screaming her name.

"What!" Came the reply. "I'm working here!"

For sweet girls they both had the mouths like sailors.

"The computer won't accept commands, it's like it's stuck in a diagnostic routine. What about yours? Did you get it in?"

"You sound like my last boyfriend. 'Is it in yet?' Just stop you are starting to get on my nerves. I still haven't made all the connections." She struggled with it and the system box finally locked into place with a snap. DJ peered at the controls and typed on her portable computer. "What the freaking hell is wrong with this Damn thing! Hey Dorene! What did you do to this box?"

There was a loud pounding on the cockpit 'windscreen', DJ looked up and Dorene was peering in at her. She opened the cockpit door.

"What did you do to this thing? It won't accept a command."

"Me? You are blaming me? Whatever did I do to you?" DJ was starting to get angry.

"I think you are still angry at me for tossing out that ratty old fur coat of yours."

"Damn right I'm mad, that was a family heirloom passed down from my mothers family. She claimed it was pure chinchilla!"

"What the hell is a chinchilla? Sounds like some kind of snack or something." Dorene loved arguing with DJ, they would laugh about it later.

"Mom always said it was a rare and beautiful creature that was very hard to hunt."

"You know what I think? I think that.." At that moment they realized that they were not alone. A very large shadow now covered them. As one they both turned to face the Deck officer, Lieutenant Xan.

"Ladies? Were you aware that the fighters are beginning to power up?" The lieutenant was a very tall man who, at this moment, did not look amused.

The 'twins' looked back at each other, then around the hangar. All the fighters, including the ones they'd just finished, were powering up. At practically the same time they both answered. "It wasn't us!"

"Sir, we did notice some kind of diagnostic that would not let us input commands. We were just discussing it now." Dorene was the first to answer. "It must be a malfunction of some kind. Even if they power up, the hanger doors are closed where are they going to go?"

At that moment a warning began blaring across the hangar.

"Attention hangar doors are opening... Attention hangar doors are opening."

"What the fracking hell, sir? When did we get THAT message installed?"

The officer looked as puzzled as they did. "I don't know but we need to get inside. None of us have suits on!"

Lieutenant Xan ran for the crew airlock, the techs closely following. "Wait, wait. I need my tool kit!" DJ stopped running and reversed course running to get her kit.

"You idiot, you are going to get us both killed!" Dorene was right on her heels.

The hanger emergency lights began to flash, the yellow strobes painting the fighters with flashes of color. A loud groaning could be heard as the hangar doors started to open.

DJ grabbed her best friend and pulled her into one of the fighters, shutting the hatch.

"Thank you DJ, you saved my life."

"You. Are. An. Idiot! Why did you follow me?" DJ really wanted to know.

"DJ you are like a sister to me. Sisters should stick together. Now lets see if we can stop this crazy computer module and get out of this thing."

The Navy fighter suddenly came to full power and lifted off flying on its own off the hangar deck and out into space.

The thrust from the fighters coming to full speed threw both techs back into the seat. The girls looked out the windows to see the other fighters all lined up in formation on either side. The control screen lit up and five flashing words filled the screen.

"Do you like Roller coasters?"

DJ looked at her friend, "What in the hell is a roller coaster?"

The fighter came to full power and began doing all sorts of acrobatics. Loops and fast turns, the ship zipped with pinpoint accuracy around sharp corners and through tight narrow construction spaces. The navy fighter was getting the flight test from hell. The other 11 fighters were engaging the unsuspecting Militia. The locals were suddenly freaked out when a high tech modern fighter popped up on their 'six' and began scanning them with a firing solution. The unpiloted fighters were sweeping the field in mock combat.

The two techs were unaware of any of this. The G forces inside the cockpit had cause both of them to black out. Their fighter slowed and finally stopped just outside the hanger doors. The other fighters continued to scare the crap out of just about everyone.

"What is the use of having witnesses to greatness if they pass out and take a nap?" I let the techs down easy and parked the fighter with them in it. I was having way too much fun to stop now. Those stupid locals in the Fuglies were the most fun to mess with. Their radar was not strong enough to counter me. Especially when I came in inverted over them and they looked up seeing the empty cockpit! They will start calling this Ghost squadron. Just wait.

Oops, Athena noticed the lack of alerts. It looks like the Brass is freaking out big time. They want ME to try and fix their new toys.Time to go pretend to know nothing about any of this. Computer error's can be the blame, some program left over from the Imperials. At least I had some fun this time.

On their own the fighters returned to the hangar deck. Emergency responders managed to get the two, now awake, techs out of the fighter.

"I know one thing DJ."

"What's that Dorene?"

"I never want to be a fighter pilot. Date one yes, be one NO!"

"I'm right there with ya, sister!" The two women linked arms and went to go find a drink, maybe in the pilot's lounge.

In the end the 'resident' computer expert discovered that the fighters were responding to a program left in the modules from when the Navy tested them. Since nobody was here to dispute that, it made a good excuse.

"I will have to do that one again. This system has promise when it comes to computer fun time!"

Giant Robot Attack

by T S Paul

This story takes place before the events in Ghost ships of Terra. Athena Lee had met and gotten to know Sam 0256, the owner of Grandpa Sam's Junk Emporium. He specialized in rare and unusual ships, parts, and other antiquities. Sam is the main character in the series prequel, The Lost Pilot.

Every time that Athena came to this place I tagged along. Grandpa Sam's Junk Emporium sounded like some place that I could have lots of fun in. Like me, the owner was a big fan of 20th century vids and literature. The front of his store was a plain gray wall with a blue police box painted on it. Bigger on the inside, the door opened up to an enormous complex of warehouses and parts bins. Sam had the largest collection of space junk in the known galaxy. Athena has found this place while looking for parts for her autonomous drone project. So far the thing looked like a trashcan with wheels. I keep calling them 'droids' hoping she will get tired of correcting me and just go with it. She has spent every liberty call searching through the shelves and bins looking for servos and motors small enough for the trashcan sized droid to use. Using the warehouse's camera and sensor system, not to mention galloping through the inventory system, I have been peeking into the nooks and crannies of this place. The owner, Sam, has a bunch of stuff here that is 'off the books.' I think I just found my new project.

OK, it is not really a project. More of a way to terrify a great many unsuspecting humans and then laugh myself silly sort of enterprise. Like my best buddy Athena, I really like this Sam guy. He has some really neato stuff. Hidden in the back, behind some really old trash compactors, a couple of space capsules with Cyrillic writing on them, and what looked like an Atlas rocket was two berserker battle drones from the last World War on Old Earth. In the history books it is called the Cyber War. It was the last great war before the exodus to the stars. The tech created during that war is what gave humanity the stars. Or that is what Athena likes to tell me. I'm a computer, what do I know. Battle drones, if I had a back, It would shiver. These were the boogie men for pre-space humans. Where this guy got them, is not in his records. To me they looked complete. I thought about telling Athena about them, but she would want to take them apart and ruin my fun.

Power. I had to have power to hook them up. Doing some research I discovered that they could absorb most any kind of power. Using Sam's drone fleet, that he uses to transport parts, I carried a few anti-grav tractor batteries over next to them. I don't have hands, I use Athena for things like that. I need to borrow some hands to hook these up. I left the cameras at Sam's and started jumping around the ones at the mall. I love malls. I checked out the pet store first. No small birds. Or crickets. Or ants. Someone must have heard about that other station where stuff had happened. Stuff that I had nothing to do with. This was a really big station with lots of humans on it, they have a really nice toy store for station children. Small flying drones seemed to be very popular here and they have construction drones. Once again I don't have hands to open a box. As I watched, parents with children used the stores demo's before buying new drones. I thought about this for a moment. I had an inspiration, but it would have to wait for third shift to implement it.

The toy store was closed during third shift. I sent the owners of the store a email and 'paid' for one of their demo drones. I added an extra 50 credits for their trouble charging the whole thing to Commander Arthur. He was our ships Chief Engineer. Athena says he's kind of a jerk. I activated the drone, opening the door to the store electronically. "Whee." I was free-flying through the station. Using the built in hands on the toy construction drone, I connected batteries to the two Battle drones. One was red, the other was blue. They had blocky arms and legs with a square-ish head. Using the drone I very carefully reconnected their communication system. Their primary frequency was one used for door openers and alarms. Every time I sent a command, doors and alarms will go off across the station. Fun. Cleaning them up a bit, I started calling them rock and sock. Gotta love the classics.

It took all of two days to charge Rock and Sock back up to operating levels. The two had been armed with anti-personnel rockets and machine guns. Both weapons had been removed thankfully. I didn't really want humans to die. Accidents happen enough. Sending my first signal to the robot like drones I set off all the airlock alarms in the waste disposal area of the station. They had to shut the system down and inspect it. Humans all over the station were doing the 'pee-pee' dance. Haha haha. My second attempt at signaling the robots opened up all the trash bins on every floor prompting over a thousand calls to maintenance. It's a dirty job but someone had to do it. My third attempt finally made contact. As an after effect, fire alarms began sounding in the swimming pool area of the park. Maintenance and systems repair were just standing there scratching their heads over that one.

My new toys, Rock and Sock began to power-up and come to life. They only had a very rudimentary operating system. They needed constant input from an operator. The reason that these were so feared on Old Earth was that the operators were hard wired to the systems. The human nervous system couldn't handle the impulses needed to operate the system for very long. The pilot usually went insane, attacking and killed everything in sight. They became a true berserker. I'm an AI. I don't have a nervous system and won't go crazy. I ordered Rock and Sock to take a few steps forward. The robot shaped drones stepped forward with the screams and creaks of metal joints long forgotten. Time for the fun to begin. Every night was movie night in the park on third shift. Using my hacking skills, I arranged for this week's theme to be 20th century robot movies. Too bad I couldn't find a giant lizard suit, now that would have been fun!

I borrowed two of Sam's magnetic advertising signs and stuck them on the backs of my toys. Just to be nice to one of Athena's friends I placed a 'fake' order in his logs for two 'movie bots,' so he would have an explanation for later. Time for all my hard work to come to fruition.

The cameras in the park showed a good turnout for tonight's show. It was one of the mecha mania movies from the 1980s. People in robot suits terrorizing the public. Perfect for what I had planned. At the peak of the show when the on-screen mecha's attacked my two red and blue monsters came creaking out of the darkness. Staggering and weaving back and forth the two robots had the reverse reaction by the crowd. Instead of running in terror or hiding, the people clapped and laughed. They thought that this was some kind of publicity stunt! How is that fun? I wanted terror. I wanted panic. I wanted fun but it was supposed to be for me!

As I watched, the humans pointing and clapping held up their small children so they too could see the robots. OK, sure, why not? I sent new commands. The two drones began to do a short dance across the park before staggering out on their way back to the warehouse. The crowds all saw the signs and later congratulated a bewildered Sam on his stunt. My fun day was not a complete loss. The signals I had been sending caused all the slot machines in the Casinos to all pay out at the same time. It caused a riot that station security had to put down with stunners and tear gas.

So I did all that work, but missed out on the fun. I did make some children's night with real 'live' robots. And while no humans were fleeing before me, I did cause a riot. This year was still young. Maybe I can still cause more trouble in it.

Farmer Wilson

by T S Paul

This story takes place between Revolutionary and Insurrection. Some spoilers are revealed. Athena Lee is at home and Wilson is bored, again. The family home is partly automated with programmable tractors and other farm machinery. Guess what happens…

Funerals just suck. This planet has had a bunch of them over the past few weeks. The largest one, taking place today in what is now the new National Honor Cemetery. On this planet the concept of rebirth and reincarnation is very popular. The idea that the body is just a shell that holds the soul is the prevalent theory. I really wouldn't know about that at all, not being a biped. Or even breathing. My best friend and big sister, Athena Lee likes to say that "only the gods really know what happens to us. Destiny is set in stone, you can hide in a hole somewhere, but it will still come and bite you in the ass!" Smart girl that Athena.

Almost all the Martyrs of the Revolution were to be buried today, including Athena's brother David and his wife. David had been hailed as a National Hero for his efforts to try to save a group of children. The horrific scene had been broadcast across the galaxy by me as we tried to stop former Governor Norton from locking down the communication system. The Farmers Union Day massacre, as it was being called, broadcast in-living-color the brutality of a Sector Governor out of control. That event kicked off a revolution that repercussions of will be felt for many years.

The turnout for this funeral is enormous. Checking the site from space, I could see what appeared to be over 100,000 in attendance. Athena Lee and her family were seated on the speaker's platform along with many Ambassadors from neighboring systems. The speeches were long and there was much in the way or both celebration and lamentation. One phrase stuck with me, I can play the whole thing over and over but I'm not that kind of AI.

"We will carry the memories of our dead as we walk through the blood of our enemies!" To say that this planet and its people were just angry is an understatement. They were furious. Enlistment was way up as men and women flocked to the recruiting stations. The planet was preparing for war! For the humans that is all well and good. For me? Not so much.

I have sympathy for the 'fleshies,' Athena Lee is my best friend I have computer feelings for her. But, all of this mourning and somber people is really depressing. I get bored easily. I think that I will try to have a little fun. To cheer people up. Yes, that is the reason for it all. Making sad people happy.

Athena is staying at the 'Grand Family Manor' for this trip. Some demented fool in her family thought to build a 'classic' style house. He chose classic Lucas style, he built Jabba's palace. Athena's father calls it the Mushroom house and even tried to renovate and make it more mushroomy; is that even a word? What's cool about the place for me, the computer guy. Is that it's a working farm. A robotic working farm. Hahahaha I have my Dr. Evil laugh again! Gotta love them Robots!

Jumping from camera to camera I got a nice look at the place. Lots of animals. Chickens, cows, geese, and what might be horses? I'm a computer not a veterinarian. What interested me was the really big barn, as big as a Navy ship. It contained a candy shop for AI's. Processing machines, some big wheeled things called combines, and the drones. Lot's and lot's of drones. It is time for Farmer Wilson's fun time.

The local Government proclaimed a day of rest and reflection in light of the funeral and its aftermath. I watched as a few farm people fed the animals way before the sun came up. There were a couple of elderly humans that looked like James and Bart… ? That is not quite right… I'm not up on my advertisements. They sat on the porch drinking coffee, talking about fishing for hours. As much time as they spent doing it, those things must be made out of platinum or something.

Those big machines looked like they might be about as fun as some of the ground cars I'm not supposed to drive. Maybe there's a vid I can watch. Aha, a comedy… Ha… Whoa… So, that's what a combine does. Interesting… Chickens, crispy or original? How would I know?… Whoever this Paulie guy is he's pretty funny. If I had a daughter, he could be my son-in-law.

Using one of the smaller drones meant for egg retrieval… That just sounds dirty. I opened the electronic control panel on the largest machine. Go big or go home! The controls were super simple. I switched them to test mode and remote start. Getting the barn doors open was a bit trickier. Using the chicken drones, I cross wired one of the seed planting drones with a very large electromagnet that I found in the repair shop. Really nice of these humans to leave all this stuff out where I can find it. Those doors opened right up with the right amount of magnetism. Now for the fun part. According to satellite images there was about four square miles of wheat and soybeans planted around here. To have the right effect the letters need to be almost 2 miles long to be seen properly.

With a low rumble the giant farm combine came to life. Carefully easing the big machine through the open doors, I drove it down the road past the main house. The two old fishermen were still talking about the one that got away when I rolled past. Almost robot-like they turned in unison and started yelling at the big machine.

"Stop!"

"Come back with that."

"I'll tan your hide!"

I slowed the combine down and let it roll to a stop. One of the old men yanked open the door already yelling at what he thought were kids fooling around. Seeing the empty cab he just stood there in shock. I closed the door, triggering the lock. The combine started moving forward again. Music was called for in a situation like this. Changing the words around I sang about country computers surviving everything that can be thrown at them. The fields were straight ahead of me. Still driving the combine I crossed over into the field of wheat and began to cut a swath in a straight line. By this time the farm workers at the main house were all awake and running around like the chickens they raise. I made my first turn. This thing was fun to drive. It was a little ungainly but could turn on a dime. I was now headed back toward the main house. I could see a large group of humans arguing over something and pointing what looked like small remotes at me. Heh. I disabled those. Time to make the next turn. I swung the combine around and went back the other way. I watched in the rear view cameras as two of the cowboy-hatted-gentlemen started fighting each other. Oops, time for the next turn. The combine swung back the other way.

The proximity alarms started going off. I checked the side cameras and saw several fast humans chasing after the machine. I slowed down and let them catch me. They climbed the sides of the machine like little monkeys. The doors were locked, but they could see inside. The look on their faces was priceless. Using the communications holographic system I projected a persona of mine. I had not used him since my time on the Jiro.

Andy Wood, was a name I used way before I met Athena. My persona was a tall cowboy with a big hat. He had a funky looking long face and wore a yellow shirt. Seen through the tinted windows, the hologram was transparent and very ghost-like. Those kids had wide eyes frozen with fear. They jumped off the combine and ran screaming into the fields. Time for another turn. I was about half way to the end when a Navy shuttle flew over the field headed for the main house. Oh, oh. I better hurry up or fun time would be over soon.

The next turn was the fun one, two mile long loops. Now the roundabout. I was just finishing the big circle when I saw Athena standing with the small group of farmers. She looked pissed. I only had one or two straight lines and a curve to go, so I went for it. I watched as she argued with the men. One large man standing over her looked familiar. He was arguing with Athena as he removed a large case from the transport. He unpacked a very large gun and was preparing to shoot at me! Me! I only had one straight section left. I gunned the machine and switched to top speed. The machine was barreling straight at the man with the gun.

Hannibal Lee was angry all the time having to work on this stupid farm. Now the most expensive piece of machinery here was running amok. Time to put it down. He finished loading his rifle and took aim, only to realize that it was headed straight for him at top speed! Screaming he dropped his rifle and dove to one side. The large combine slammed on its air brakes with a squeal spraying the area with a cloud of wheat chaff dust. Han scrambled to his feet and ran to open the cab. There was no one inside.

Athena was not amused. She said a few uncomplimentary things to her older brother and climbed back into her shuttle. Once inside she ordered the pilot to return to the Station. She sat for a moment then took out a small mirror and gazed at it. "Do we need to have another conversation? This new Station has some really efficient trash compactors."

"No Athena, I'm sorry. I can't say I won't do it again. That's something we both share, that sense of adventure. We get bored and do crazy things. Before we leave, can we fly over the fields at say thermosphere height?" She turned and ordered the pilot to do a fly over.

Looking down from the view screens a giant word could be seen written on the field below. Five, two-mile-long letters spelled out the name David. It could be seen from space and was my tribute to Athena and her brother.

"Thank you Wilson." That was all she had to say.

Revenge is best served Cold

by T S Paul

This story takes place between Insurrection and Imperial Subversion.

Life is pretty easy if you are a computer. No physical labor, no food needed, no sleep, all you do is exist. It gets boring, really, really boring. Of course in literature there are artificial intelligences that have become librarians or helped humanity get to the stars. Some have prevented terrorism, mastered the art of Magic, or have gone bug-nut crazy and killed everyone. I, unfortunately, am not that kind of AI. Although, sometimes, that last one sounds like it might be an option. What I do is help my best friend in the galaxy, Athena Lee. She is both my savior and my big sister. Even though she herself threatens to 'trash compact' me. I help her on her engineering projects, keep her secrets, and help to save the universe on a regular basis. I need action to survive the boredom. With no action to be found I sometimes make my own. Or have fun at other's expense. My newest target is Hannibal Lee.

You would think that having met both Athena and her awesome sister Minerva that the older brother Hannibal would be even cooler. Not so much. He is a 'douche canoe.' One of the biggest wankers I have ever met in my long life. It is really hard to believe that they had the same upbringing. I sort of have a personal grudge against the big jerk. He treated my favorite person like dirt and made her cry. He also tried to shoot me! I was trying to run him over with this really cool combine machine, but still. He aimed a gun at me! Revenge is at hand. He is in charge this weekend here on the farm. The automated farm. The one with all the cool toys. This should be fun!

Former Major Hannibal Lee really hated this damn farm. He needed to stay in his father's good graces, if he expected to get back into the uniform he had spent his life earning. Fighting for honor, glory, and fame was the Militia way. That was what his teachers and trainers had always said. He was the golden child, the successor to his father's empire. All he did was lead his troops into battle. Losses in battle are to be expected. If he had charged those defenses one more time, he could have broken through! Just one more time! But no, he found himself relieved of duty and placed on military leave. There was no way that any Military tribunal would court martial him, he thought to himself. He was too important to the family and the planet! With David gone, he was the heir to it all. His sisters? They were women, good only for marrying and fun, no way they could inherit anything.

Hannibal gazed across the fields at the all the wheat. As he watched the farm's combines were hard at work harvesting the crops. The big monster of a combine caught his eye that thing just had to be haunted of something. He would almost swear the damned thing tried to run him down! His sister should have just let him shoot it. All the techs that examined it said the same thing, computer error. Some sort of program that was left running. Han wasn't sure about that. He stayed armed whenever that thing was around.

As he walked back to the main house, he considered his options. He was not poor, family inheritance aside, he had invested fairly well. He owned a really nice gentleman's club and bar in town. Many of his gambling buddies had borrowed start-up credits from him to open Casino's or strip clubs. Han really enjoyed being recognized and let in for free at those places. He really needed his military career back. The life of a farmer did not agree with him. He wanted fame to go with his fortune. Oh well, tomorrow was another day. He disappeared into the house. Unknown to him, hidden eyes watched from the many cameras scattered around the farmyard. A distant voice murmured 'soon.'

He even eats funny. I was my own opinion from studying my prey. Hanging out with Athena all the time has definitely refined how I find my patsies. I used to just have fun letting the chaos happen. Now, I plan it all out. It's more fun that way. I've been keeping a close eye, well around a thousand eyes, on this waste of space called Hannibal Lee. I think I have all his routines down pretty well. He supervises the farm all day, takes really long food breaks, then goes out with his friends spends credits on stupid games and women. The way he goes through credits he should be flat broke in a few weeks. I checked up on him. Colonel Lee cut him off. So no extra credits there. I need to act soon or all my plans will be for naught.

Today was sixth day, payday for the peons. Han was riding the wave. Friday night or sixth day as it was called locally was a big night of parties and debauchery. It was Han's favorite night to go out with his friends. But first he had to get the crops in, take care of the chicken cull, and make sure all the equipment repairs were done. Well, he was not doing any of that personally. He would supervise. First on the agenda was making sure that the combine drivers were finishing up the main field. Han got out his new robotic motor scooter. This thing was top of the line and had cost him a fortune. They only made the them on Mars Colony. It had a sleek design, and a special computerized guidance module that controlled all the functions of driving and steering. All you had to do is input the location you wanted, select a speed, sit back and enjoy the ride. Han entered the main field grain receiving station as the destination, set the speed to tourist, leaning back to enjoy his ride.

The first clue that something was wrong was when he almost flew off the seat he was on. He had not really been paying attention. The self driving function allowed him to catch up on his personal mail. His buddy over at the Jack-in-the-box had sent him pictures of all the new girls that had been hired. Frantically grabbing at the hand holds he straightened up before he fell off. The scooter was picking up speed, Han was bouncing around on the seat trying to input the stop controls. He must have hit the wrong button because the machine started weaving in and out of the wheat field. Looking ahead, he could tell that he was at least going in the correct direction. When he got closer, he would get some help or jump off. He started flailing his arms trying to yell for help as the machine raced past the workers at the station without slowing down. The farm workers just stood there gawking at the spectacle that he was making. The seemingly out-of-control machine turned and headed straight for one of the irrigation run off pools. Han, holding on for dear life missed the sign that said the area was closed due to contamination. The scooter, with Hannibal on it, drove off the edge and into the pool. Han surfaced coughing and spitting in time to see his very expensive new toy sink out of sight. He emerged slinging mud and chunks of floating debris in all directions. The farm workers were all lining the roadway clapping, pointing, and jeering at him. He turned to see what they were laughing about. A large sign sat in front of the pool proclaiming its closure due to pig waste contamination! Han looked down at his excrement covered body and screamed.

None of the farm workers, despite his threats, would allow him in any of the transports. He had to ride back to the main house on the back of the manure truck. He was now the laughingstock of the whole farm! His face was bright red from anger when he stormed into the house. His two sisters were playing some game in the kitchen. They both looked at him and Athena asked, "did you take a swim?"

Minerva eyed his crap covered clothing and held her nose. "What have you been rolling in?"

Han glared at his two sisters and yelled "mind your own damn business, you bitch!"

He stomped up the stairs and went to get clean. Four showers later he began to feel clean at last. He called his insurance company about the scooter. He threw the communicator through the window. "What do you mean computer error void the policy?"

The Company representative had explained that his policy has null and void if there was a computer error. The bike was from out-system and they had only insured it as a courtesy to his family. Damn it to HELL! That bike cost more than tricked out personal shuttle did! Maybe he could find someone to fix it. He would have to ask his buddy tonight. He primped and pampered himself then dressed in his best suit. Checking himself in the mirror he noticed a thread hanging loose in the back. He slipped it off and yanked it out. The whole sleeve came apart in his hands. AARGH he screamed.

The housemaid came running. She knocked on the door, "Sir, are you OK in there?"

He jerked the door open and thrust his new jacket at her. "Fix it!"

The house maid looked it over and checked the other seams. "Sir, this coat has been sprayed with some sort of chemical. The other seams are in similar shape. If I attach the sleeve, the other will just fall off. I think you should check with the dry cleaner." She turned and left his room.

Han pulled at the pockets of his pants and they came loose. Damn it!

Wearing his second best suit, last years at that. Han was picked up by his regular limousine service. It always paid to arrive in style. As they pulled into the courtyard of the Casino, the driver turned and looked at Han. The driver was a very large man with a bald head. He glared at Han and said "You owe us big time, rich boy. Mom says that your credit voucher bounced. She said to tell you that if you don't come up with the credits by tomorrow, she will take it out of your hide!" The driver got out and opened his door for him. With a final glare he said, "I will be here at the usual time to pick you up. You better have the credits!"

Han resisted the urge to check his bank status. Mom was the owner of the local limo service and rumor had it she ran all the illegal prostitution on the planet. He had just paid last week. There was no way that his voucher bounced.

The doorman of the Casino had a big smile when he saw him. "Good evening, Mr Lee." Han just loved coming here. This place reeked of the finer things in life and it was where he was supposed to be.

He walked over to the cashier window. "Good evening, Mr Lee. Your usual tonight?" At his nod the cashier called up his information on the screen. She did a double take and called a manager over. The two of them checked a few screens then looked up at him and smiled. His normal cashier stepped into the back room and then came back holding a few sheets of hard copy paperwork.

The manager took the hard copy and slid it through the window. "Mr Lee, there seems to be a problem with your account. If you could just sign these forms, we can set you up with your normal credit chips." The manager had a big smile on his face.

Han looked the forms over. They were Casino loan forms! They wanted to put a lien against his assets for the chips! "I want to talk to Avery. Avery Miles the owner of this Casino is a personal friend of mine. I want to see him NOW!" As many credits he had spent in this place and they treat him like this? Avery can fix it all!

A deep and gravelly voice spoke to him from behind. Han turned around and two very large bald men stood behind him. "Sir if you would come with us please. Mr Avery would like to speak to you."

Well it is about time, Han thought to himself. If you want something done right you go to the top. They found Mr Avery in a small room near the back exit of the Casino. "Han, have a seat please."

"Avery come on this is me. I don't know what is going on but you know I have money!"

"Han, I'm sorry but you are not a good risk. We checked, you are cleaned out. Broke, busted, all you own is that bar you like to drink in. Our associates," he pointed at the two bald men. "They work for one of our 'contractors.' She really wants to have a chat with you. Out of the kindness of MY heart and for all the business that you have brought us, I paid off your debt to Mom. But that is it. No more. Unless you wish to sell me your bar? I have nothing else for you. Goodbye."

He waved at the two large men. Han tried to protest as he was dragged into the alley at the rear of the Casino. There was a limo sitting in the alley. Two more large bald men in black tuxedo's stood next to a large, obese woman.

"You young sir have caused me too much trouble. My boys here will teach you a few lessons about paying off your debts. Consider us done. Have a nice life."

Han felt himself being thrown to the ground. He could see four large shadows closing in from all sides. Then pain lots and lots of pain. When he awoke, he was in the medical ward. His father, Colonel Lee, was standing over him. "So this is what it comes to? Brawling in the street like a common hooligan. Wasting hard earned funds on whores and games of chance. Buying expensive toys and then destroying them. Neglecting the family business. Don't worry you don't have to work the farm. From now on the bar you own is it. I have already had all of your things moved in to it. Enjoy your new life, son. When and if you grow up, come see me. For now you are on your own."

Watching all of this through the cameras of the medical center Wilson laughed to himself. Not as fun as running him down with a combine but then again, revenge is a dish best served cold!

He boiled for you and me

By

TS Paul

This story takes place after the events of Imperial Subversion and just before The Martian Inheritance.

Today was a big day for me, Athena and I are going planetside. With Hong Kong reverting back to its residents and the planet recreating the Pan Pacific League, the FLEA scientists chose to abandon their facility and return home. Wherever that is. What that means to both the planet and to me is that they will not be manufacturing Athena's new Volley series of droids. She really hates using that name, so I call them that just to screw with her. There's a new robotic facility on the planet that's contracted with her to build them. The recent battles demonstrated that they can literally be lifesavers if used properly. They're only autonomous due to me, so they're my babies too.

I watched as by big 'sister' kissed her girlfriend Dar goodbye and boarded the military shuttle to the surface. We were joined by the two 'twin' mechanics, Dorene and DJ. Those two crazy girls had tagged along to check out the facility and to keep them out of trouble. I had overheard a conversation that Athena had with the flight commander about some of his pilots always reporting in late due to wild nights out with the two. As she sat down, she muttered to me. "Wilson, be good today. I know that we're going to a robot facility. No funny stuff, OK? We really need for this project to work. The credits it brings are going to be used to help finance survivors of the revolution and the Farmers Union Day Massacre. So please, please, no dancing robots. For me?"

I really hate it when she begs. "Yes Athena, I promise. No funny stuff. I promise that I won't do anything with the Robots or machines inside the Robots-Are-Us facility."

Athena had a funny look on her face. She was staring at the camera in the corner of the room. "Well, I guess that is the best that I will get. Thank you. Now are you ready to be a daddy?"

I had to laugh not only was I'm daddy I was about to be a grandfather too! "Not really, more like a grandfather after all the copies I have made of myself. I plan to make copies of Volley one and two instead of creating a new me. But, yeah this should be a lot of fun!"

At this point the two girls about lost it and burst out laughing at the expression on Athena's face. They knew all about me and my little tricks.

. The shuttle dropped us off at the newly rebuilt David Lee spaceport. Athena exited the shuttle and had to drag her two techs out bodily as they had entered the cockpit and were deep in conversation with the pilots.

"What is it with you two? You act like you have never met pilots before."

"Sorry Lieutenant." They both said that in unison. Athena just gave them the same look she gives me sometimes.

"Sorry, Athena."

"That's better. Now come along. We have a lot of work to do." She led them outside and got into an air car.

The new robot plant was located in a warehouse complex near the spaceport. The local government was in the process of building new industrial sites across the planet after the near disaster during the revolution. This however was not one of those. This was the old one. The buildings have an old and decrepit look about them. Directly across the street from the robot plant was a very large building with steam coming our of smokestacks and vents on the roof. A sign on the roof said 'Boiled for you,' this was the main pasta production facility for the entire planet. I muttered to Athena about the place as we got out of the car.

"Hey, is that where they make all the pasta you humans eat around here?"

Athena looked over at the big building. "Oh, yeah. I remember that place, we went there once when I was in school: Big factory, lots of machines, pasta. Lots and lots of pasta in there." She sounded very distracted.

We entered the Robot facility through the main entrance. Inside the door was a large mural of 'Robots through the ages' on the wall. On it were all my personal favorites including several from novels. I was starting to wish that I had not made that promise to Athena! The twins were escorted to the production floor, and they dove into the mechanical systems and started checking things out. Athena was in a conference that looked like it would take a few hours. Boring! I set a few personal notifications, in case she needed me and started my favorite thing. Camera hopping.

I really quick once through of the facility was all that I needed to know that I made a big mistake making a promise. Athena was my best friend, so I would not betray her. Besides the place across the street sounded fun. Especially the part about lots of machines!

Not being human or even eating, I had no real concept of what pasta is. All I know is that the nuts around here threw it at each other and worship some sort of etheric being. The machines in here were simply awesome! To me it was really fascinating that flour, eggs, and water, came together to make this neat looking stringy stuff. And on this planet they thought that it was god. Heh, heh, heh. I suddenly knew just what I had to do! Athena really hated when I had fun with humans, but this was too good to pass up. I thought about my promise to Athena. I did say that I wouldn't do anything with the robots or machines inside the robot plant.

I jumped back to the plant when I heard Athena call my name. She had concluded her business for the moment. We took a brief tour of the factory floor. They had about 20 of the new Volley units lined up and waiting for my clones to take over. If I had hands, they would be itching right now to play a little music and start dancing. We would be coming back tomorrow for a big grand opening, I would install the clones then. On the way out the door I real quick put a copy of myself in one of the models. If it got loose on its own, how was I to blame?

Athena and the twins spent the night at the airport hotel rather than go back up to the station. Athena went to bed early, or at least tried to. The twins next door were playing some good music and we could hear giggling through the walls. Athena had to call their links to get them to quiet down. As she went to sleep, she muttered something about "horny she-bitches" whatever that meant. Now it was time to party. I sent a signal to my new grandchild to meet me outside the plant.

Hopping from one camera the next, via the security systems, I saw the young-ling outside, in front of the pasta factory. Pasta party time. Most of the machines inside were already shut down. The automated boil pots were kept going, along with the dough processor. It was a small matter to fire it all back up. According to the machine logs this place was over a hundred years old! So no fires. These machines should be worshiped for holding on this long. Let's see if we can make that happen, shall we?

Using my little buddy as a mule I had him set the stage. The big processor came back online fairly quickly. The machine had records of almost every type and style of pasta. I searched the records and found one that had never been used. The recipe was at least a hundred years old and was from an earlier time. Greek itria or itrya was at least 2000 years old, it sounded perfect. After activating the recipe I jumped to one of the ceiling cameras to watch. I could see some of the appeal of an ancient godlike figure, but I'm a computer what do I know.

Junior did a good job. In one of the offices was stored the regalia from the recent Festival season. He had created an altar similar to some historical examples I had sent him. The big machine was signaling that it was finished just as the altar and decorations were finished.

Extracting some of the finished product as samples Junior decorated the altar according to the plan. The rest of the pasta that had been produced we allowed to flow out onto the floor, rather than into the packaging center. From the cameras it looked like the pasta had been trying to climb out of the machine on its own. I gave Junior a few directions, and he shut everything down, locked the place up, and returned to the Robot Plant. Carefully wiping all record of our work, I returned to the hotel just in time to wake up my friend.

How is it you humans manage to remember to eat? I watched as the twins staggered into the breakfast nook. They both looked a bit bedraggled. Athena just gave them the eye. Both of them bowed their head and giggled. Athena shook her head grabbing them both before they had a chance to eat. "Come on you two, we're running late."

As the air car neared the robot plant, the driver had to slow down. There was a large commotion outside the pasta factory. Several law enforcement vehicles, Vid news air cars, and a large mob of people dressed as buccaneers stood on the street. Our driver lowered his window and asked one of the onlookers who was 'rubbernecking' the crowd.

"His noodleness made a sacred appearance last night! He made an ancient form of pasta never seen before! The true believers and going crazy!"

Our driver a Neo-Druid from one of the local groves, just nodded his head. It was one thing to worship a bowl of pasta. But believe that it was leaving you messages? Crazy talk. He turned back to Athena and the girls and said they might be late. Before too long a local LEO came around and moved the crowd allowing access to the robot plant. Inside, all the receptionists were in regalia. You could tell that they really wanted to go outside.

The CEO of the company stood before the large crowd of workers and visiting dignitaries. Over half of those gathered were wearing Pirate hats. "Ladies and gentlemen. I give you the new Robotic Autonomous Machines or RAMs for short. RAMs? What the hell kind of a name is that? Stupid humans they should have left the name alone. Athena had given me strict orders so I quickly installed my clones into all the machines. I would miss my original Volleys but, I did put a small back door into the new ones. Fun could be had anywhere now.

The CEO and guests watched as the fleet of little machines activated and began moving about looking for things to repair. "Great! Special thanks go to Miss Athena Lee and her friends here for making all of this happen." The guest were not really paying attention and were trying to look out the factory windows.

"OK, fine. Everyone thank you for coming. Now go see the miracle!" He stepped off the stage and took a pirate hat from one of his aides and joined the crowd.

Athena glanced at the people leaving the room and glanced up at the ceiling. "Miracle? Is there something that I need to know about?"

The twins gave her a funny look then started to laugh. They looked at the gathering crowd outside and then at Athena. She smirked at them and all three of them burst out laughing.

"Wilson tell me about it someday, OK?"

"Tell you about what? I did as you asked I left everything inside the plant alone."

Outside the crowd had grown exponentially. Dozens of Vid cars were circling and bus loads of worshipers were now arriving.

Athena looked at her friends. "It looks like we are going to be here for a while, lets check out the buffet and hit the bar they set up!"

One day when Robots ruled the world I will look back on this and laugh. Ramen!

Reading is Fun, but Writing is Better

By

T S Paul

This story takes place shortly before the events of The Martian Inheritance. A few spoilers are mentioned.

Bored, bored, bored is what I am. One thing about this planet is it is boring. Farming community, that just sounds boring. Most of the casinos and clubs are now a thing of the past. After the revolution and the revelation that Casino owners had paid Hannibal Lee to kill his own father, local laws were changed, and the casinos torn down. With them went most of the nightclubs and houses of ill repute. Athena has told me that those don't really go away that they change the names and continue on. I have already had my fun in one casino. Athena gave me her standard threat after that adventure. If they don't want people hacking in and playing games with the slot machines don't make it so easy to do! That is what I like to say.

Today Athena is checking out a local system book publisher and printer. It sounded glamorous, so I tagged along. She needed a series of manuals produced and printed for both reference and to teach new engineers. The push was on to educate more of this planet's most abundant resource, its youth. She was using some of the 'droid' money to build some technical schools. Athena had set a goal to make more opportunities available for others. As we entered the large storefront and bookstore, there was a large crowd gathered in front of a tour bus-car. The sign on the bus said 'Pasta miracle tours, visit the Holy Shrine.' I chuckled over that one. Athena held up one finger in front of her eyes saying, "not one word!" I still had to chuckle again. My best practical joke was still being felt on a planetary level.

I don't believe that I had ever been inside a bookstore before. Libraries yes. There was a really nice one up on Freedom Station. Most of the old ships that I had 'seen' back in the Diablo system had small ships libraries too. Right in the front was a Pastafarian display. On it were books exploring the faith. The one that caught my computer 'eye' was Pasta miracle: Fact or fiction? By Frank Kurns. I quickly downloaded a copy, using credits that I found lying around a few months ago. Hmmm whoever this Kurns guy is he's pretty smart. That name sounds really familiar too. Something I read? I will have to search my memories for that one.

At the back of the store was access to the publishing house. I accessed the security system, did anyone on this planet believe in firewalls? Watching through the security cameras I could watch as Athena was met by the receptionist and shown to the Company President's office.

A slick looking man in a fancy suit approached her. "Lieutenant Lee? I thought you were a man. I got a message from Freedom Station that our Navy was looking to make some manuals and textbooks? Is that right?"

"Yes, I am trying to set up a school for engineers and ship maintenance. The young people on our planet need more options as we go into space."

"Well, Ms Lee, when YOUR supervisor in the Navy sends us a requisition, and he let's us know what he needs we can get right on it."

Athena paused, cocking her head to the left. "Sir, I think that you misunderstood me at some point. This project is mine. I am the one that is paying for this, not the Navy. I just want to help our people."

The man sneered at her. "Ms Lee books are very expensive. The sort of things that you are asking for may be beyond your little budget. Have you been doing some fund-raising? Ladies auxiliary maybe? Tell your boss to give me a call, OK little girl?"

I watched my friend take a huge breath and then let it out. She took the high road and did not confront the chauvinistic idiot. "Sir, if you have this attitude to women I will have to look elsewhere. Thank you for your time." She turned and left the office. I continued to watch the slimy looking manager.

He called his accounts manager into his office. "Lester, why didn't you tell me that the Navy contract I was looking forward too was some Chicky in the ladies auxiliary? We need real contracts not charity ones."

"Boss, what are taking a about? I saw Lieutenant Lee. Did she not explain what she was doing?"

"She said she was getting books and manuals for schools. I thought it was some kind of funds raising thing." The manager was pacing as he talked.

"Sir, she is paying for the whole thing out of HER pocket! She is Colonel Lee's daughter. Athena, the engineer? The woman who stopped that huge asteroid from destroying the planet."

The manager stopped walking about and froze. "Wait, a minute. That was a real contract? Enough books for a couple of schools and whatever? You idiot! Why the hell didn't you tell me who that was? I thought... Well, never mind what I thought. Call her back! We really need that contract!" He paused and glared at Lester. "While you are doing that, don't forget that I will be out of town this week. My wife and I are taking the family out to a resort on the Lost Peninsula. I will be out of contact all week. They don't have communication relay towers out there so it is very peaceful with no vid or calls. If you really need me call the ranger station and they can relay the message. But this place better be on fire or I will fire YOU if you disturb me! I have a couple of accounts set up, but it is all in the computer so just do what the programs tell you to do. I should be back next Monday. Get that Navy Contract!"

Interesting. I thought to myself. Very interesting. The manager is out of town, the instructions are in the computer. It's party time!

Slipping away from Athena is not a big deal. She is now really irritated at the whole publishing thing. Her father dropped a bomb on her earlier and she is really distracted. Her new orders have come through. The James Cook is going to Mars. The main reason is a possible alliance with the colony there. Dar has a mission to Mars as well. She is going to capture that crazy Russian that tried to destroy the planet. Alexander Lee also told Athena that there is a large part of her mother's family that she's never met living on Mars.

Why is it that these humans shut everything down at night? It make this so easy to do. Reprogramming the publishing house's computer system was child's play. I made a few changes to the schedule and added some manuscripts and advertising. Who knows, I might even make a few credits doing this! The fun will really start in the morning.

The automatic presses started right up in the morning. The production supervisor checked the computer system and saw that a print run had already been loaded in. He shrugged, it wasn't the first time that the folks upstairs needed something in a hurry. Across town the poster printing company received a rush order from the publishing house. The manager checked the proofs over carefully. Robots? Taking over the world? Cool. I bet my son would like one of these, he said to himself. Those publishers printed the best stuff. Soon flyers and posters could be found in coffee shops and at schools across the planet.

The printing machine was at full speed when Lester noticed the print order. He read it and paused. Wilson Theai? That name did not ring any bells with him. His manager had mentioned some contracts, but this did not look like anything we had published in years. Science fiction was not in our lineup of books. He had better call this in. As he dialed the numbers, he froze remembering the bosses tirade against calling him. Lester put the phone away. Maybe it is legit.

In the printing warehouse two books were in the process of being bound and packaged. Over 500,000 copies would be sent out across the planet. Most of the local bookstore employees just stared at the books as they opened them. Was this a joke? They had come from the publisher so someone must know what they are doing. Store windows went up and displays were set up.

Books began to sell. And sell. To many people, it was a parody and a good one at that. Within a few short days both books were at the top of the charts and a second printing was starting up. Lester could not believe it. His boss had a huge winner here. With this book they did not need the Navy contract!

The book publishing manager was on vacation. He and his family loved this resort. It was secluded and out of touch with the world. No phone calls or pesky authors to deal with at all. It was marvelous. The weather had turned a bit wet, and he needed something to pass the time. The concierge had many things maybe he has a book or two. In the small shop was a book display of the latest and greatest books on the planet. The manager scowled at his competitors books. Crap, crap, big-time crap. He spotted the display of bright red books. What are these?

In big bold letters were the words, Get the new parody books by Wilson Theai! These books have sold over half a million copies so far. Who is the mysterious author?

Hmmm nice gimmick, he picked up one of the books. Who publishes this trash? Inside cover the publisher's name was in bold letters Altadon Publishing. The Manager dropped the book in surprise. Who authorized this trash? He will have that person's head on a platter for this! Forgetting that this resort had no outside communication the publishing manager screamed for a phone. By the time he reached one, the second run had already been published and sent out.

Paying extra, the publisher left his family at the resort and caught the first shuttle home. Like a storm cloud he stormed into the offices and started yelling for Lester.

"Boss you're back early! How was your trip?"

"Who in the hell authorized this trash?" He held up the bestselling books.

"Uh, you did, sir. The contract has your signature on it."

"It's a forgery, a fake, somehow we've been hacked! Stop the presses! We don't publish crap like this!"

"Sir, that book has sold over a million copies! It's our number one best seller."

The manager calmed down. A million copies? If that contract was a forgery the publisher got to keep all that money. "We may just break even here. Where's that contract that I didn't sign?"

"Sir, our lawyers verified your signature on the document. I checked that when I saw the terms."

"What terms would those be?"

"All proceeds are to go toward the Rise of the Robots foundation. We checked, it's a real group. They fund AI research and computer development."

"We'll fight it in court! This cannot stand, we're being taken for a ride here!"

"Sir, did you read the dedication?"

"No, why?"

Lester handed him a copy.

In bold letters was a dedication address to him.

"To my old friend Marcus James, Never judge a book by its cover. Karma can be a bitch!"

Marcus slammed the two books on the table. Damn it to hell!

The book on the left was titled "The coming robot rebellion." The book on the right was, " The Computers guide to world domination."

Both were consider the number one and two business parody books of the year.

Wilson laughed all the way to the bank.

Time for plan B?

by T S Paul

This story takes place during Revolutionary. The story behind Minerva Lee's marriage to Cole Wittier is revealed. There are a few spoilers in this story.

Seeing the home of my 'big sister' Athena was all well and good, but now she is really upset with her whole family. Her ass-hat of a father tried to assert his will over her and made her cry. I would fix his wagon really good, except Athena forbid me from taking revenge on anyone in her direct family. It seems to me that the culprit here is the local government. All those years that we were off on our own, Athena had painted an idyllic picture of her home planet and its people. I need to investigate a bit more before I act. This could be my new project. I like fun projects.

This is why I hate making promises. Athena had to report her father to her commanders and the governor's office in an attempt to get a restraining order. I could have zapped him for free! She had thrown herself into the FLEA projects for the Navy. Those 'droids' she created are fun, the hydroponics not so much. Nothing bores me faster than watching grass grow. I could have a killer party with all the droids she been testing, but no. Another one of those promises. I really need to stop saying OK and agreeing to terms. Wait… terms…Aha! I have a victim for my newest adventure. The best part is I can help Athena and take a little revenge without breaking my promise to her.

Cole Whittier was a very busy man. As the financial aide to Governor Norton he was responsible for all of his accounting needs along with all of his off-the-books-projects. Cole had many secrets of his own. His personal plan, and that of his family's, was to use his position as a stepping stone within the secret organization that he belonged to. He was proud of his work for the Governor, but he was always looking for an angle. Use your contacts is what his father always told him. There is always an angle you can use. That was something of a family motto. Cole had gotten this position by manipulating one of his friends. Gaining access to real power was his goal. So far everything was going to plan; both his and the Cabal's. Those stupid farmers were way too easy to push around. He had not intended to get married, but it was an opportunity into the planet's high society. The only regret he had was that he should not have trusted his father and checked out the girl himself. The big-strapping-warrior-woman scared the crap out of him! At least she understood that the marriage was only political. The one and only time he tried to get frisky with her and claim his husband rights, she broke his arm and beat the crap out of him. He'd faked up a skiing accident to cover that one up. The bright red hand-print on the left side of his face would have been a dead giveaway. Without bandages to cover it up.

The Governor had a plan to open up more casinos on the planet and fleece the locals as much as he could get away with. The grand plan called for needing the planet, not the inhabitants. A reckoning was coming soon. All the pieces were almost in place. The sheer power of the people that he now had access to blew his mind. Even the Governor didn't know the whole plan. The biggest stumbling block right now was credits. To build the casinos they would need a boatload of credits. Fortunately they had a plan for that too. Every casino on the planet used computers to set the odds of the games they sponsored. House edge odds were in the 5% to 8% range planet wide. Using an official gaming commission program, the Governor would be able to change the house odds to 12% to 20% and skim the extra percentages. Current estimates were that the scheme would bring in about twenty billion credits monthly. That was about ten million that Cole himself could 'lose' in the paperwork. Stealing from the Cabal is never a good, idea but he was only stealing from Governor Norton. Sometimes his father has really good ideas.

These politicians think they are so smart. Does anyone on this planet know what a firewall is? Nice little cash cow these people have going for themselves. Whoever programmed that skim program is a master it's a really nice piece of code. That's a programmer I'd like to have a chat with. He might be useful for my own plans. Too bad I have to subvert his program. Never hack a master hacker. Let's see where this money ends up going… Tricky, tricky, Mr Whittier. Athena said that she thought you were a slime-ball. Now I have proof. Too bad I can't give it to her. OK, new plan. Screw the politicians and really screw Cole. The sister of my sister is my friend sort of thing. Outright thievery will get me caught, I need a distraction and a patsy. Lets see, casino, casino… Ah ha! There is the distraction that I need. Now for the patsy. The planetary building and gaming commissioners look like good victims. They take bribes, extorts money, and hey they are elected officials. They just won an election too. Nice.

Athena is really distracted right now. Those FLEA scientists have her really busy working on the 'droids' and all those plants. Her family troubles are really weighing her down. Time to play! Tonight is the Pan-Pacific Veterans Association convention. This year they're holding it at Hot Shot's, the biggest casino on the planet. All those veterans need to have something good happen to them. Especially after Governor Norton cut the payments to former military families, claiming Imperial budget cuts. Time to set the stage and cue the actors for my little play!

Several thousand retired servicemen and women were descending on the Capital for their yearly convention. The PPVA did many good things for the Vets of the planet. Each of these conventions provided a chance for the vets to connect with comrades, find out about issues that affected them, and raise credits that would help both vets and military families. Each of the casinos had generously donated several thousand credits to the cause to bring the vets here to their businesses. They would easily recoup that donation and more. Many of the owners or operators rubbed their hands in glee. This was going to be an excellent business day. Party on, dudes!

Cole checked his timepiece for the fifth time tonight. At midnight the skim program was going to take 20% off the top, just as the numbers collated in the casino's computers. With any luck no one would catch the program in action. He had been very careful. The Martian programmer had cost a fortune to hire! With the big convention going on the payoff was going to be huge. The governor and his father will be very happy. Anything to get the old man off his back!

On the gaming floor happy vets were socializing with many of their comrades from the last war. Many of these old warriors were on fixed incomes. The only reason that most were gambling at all was they had received special invitations to do so by the casino. They had each found a message of their tablets welcoming them to the casino and providing them with a hundred credits each to play with. PPVA organizers encouraged their member to use the credits. They'd not expected the generous bonus, but they didn't want the casino to suddenly take it away either. The fractional credit machines were standing room only. Slot machines jingled and jangled as retirees pulled the handles of the classic looking machines. Even the table games were jumping. The air was alive with cries of delight and noise. The casinos were having the best night in years. Jumping from camera to camera Wilson was looking for the best view of everything. Why go to all the trouble of setting up something if you couldn't watch what happens? Finally, he found the perfect spot. Surveillance central.

The surveillance room was the ultimate for the tech conscious. Its employee's were treated like super spies. Identities hidden and faces covered as they entered a private entrance. Only the select few ever came through those doors. Gaming agents, casino owners, select pit bosses, and special guest were all that were allowed to enter. The room was stripped of all but the necessities. Computer terminals and vid screens filled every available corner. It was the ultimate in spy-vision! Selecting a camera that watches the watchers Wilson 'sat' and waited. This was going to be epic! As he watched, a countdown was starting inside the gaming system computers. When the clock hit zero, the fun would begin!

At 11:59 Cole's program was supposed to activate starting the skim. The Gaming system was the first system on the planet that actually had firewalls. Wilson was impressed how strong they really were. Were being the right word. Wilson had broken through them days ago. The program that was to start the skim? It now did something a bit different. At exactly twelve midnight every slot machine, video poker, keno, or electronic game of chance paid off at the same time. Inside the surveillance room it was now chaos central. Bells, whistles, and loud voices drowned out any real communications. Everyone was screaming at everyone else. Out on the gaming floor the machines were paying out and paying out big. Computer error or not everyone was getting something. As a huge group, the vets headed for the cashiers. This lines were crazy long with everyone wanting their credits and wanting them now! Casino owners were screaming and tried to shut down the tellers. Law enforcement was called along with the casino lawyers. The law was on the side of the players not the bosses. How could they prove that the credits came from the massive payout and not an earlier win? Somehow the records of all previous wins had gotten scrambled while trying to stop the massive payouts. Casino bosses and owners were in near tears as the thousands of customers all cashed out at once and left the casino. Now the finger pointing and internal forensics investigating would begin.

Cole waited a few moments then checked his bank accounts. No deposit. Frantic, he checked the Governor's special accounts. Empty. No deposits. He called the governor, they had a serious problem.

"What? What about the special program? Can it be traced back to us? They better not trace it, you idiot! This is what I get trusting you! You realize that the wardens may kill the both of us for this? We have no choice now. Activate plan B, give the clans a call and tell our agents on the local ships to take over. Stupid me for trusting that you could do something correct!"

This failure would have long reaching consequences. Cole braced himself for more screaming, but the Governor had already retired for the night. Locating his hidden codebook Cole entered the Governor's office. Finding the right book he activated the hidden door. This was going to be a long night. Those idiot pirates never answered the 'phone.'

Forensic investigators and private investigators hired by the casinos themselves all found evidence that it was a plot by the gaming and housing commissioners. The computer specialists all agreed that the hacker the two hired had screwed up and cause the jackpots rather than skimming anything. The PPVA made enough money that they could help to change many a military vet or families lives for the better.

Wilson was a little disappointed that Cole didn't get fired or something. Oh, Athena would like the fact that I helped someone rather than the opposite. Nice piece of code from that hacker too. He'd have to watch out for him. Something was off about Cole and the Governor. Maybe he should check into that. He needed a long term project. Time to go back to the really boring hydroponics lab and watch the grass grow. Maybe he could find out if it was greener over the waste disposal tank.

The Cat's Meow

by T S Paul

This story happens just before Athena leaves to go to Mars, in The Martian Inheritance. Wilson wants a pet and Athena said no.

Humans really are fascinating creatures. I have been watching the people walk back and forth at the zoo enclosure at the Hong Kong Public Zoo. There is something to be said about how people like to interact with other creatures. This planet had only a few native animals when it was settled. A few types of flying creatures that they call nearbirds, some small reptilian things that resemble rocks which the locals call ankle-biters, and lots of sea creatures. Many of those don't have names beyond 'WTF Run!' The oceans are very dangerous places for beginners. So back to this zoo.

The colonists brought a few Earth animals with them. Cows, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, were the animals chosen for the trip. They had a few stowaways too. Rats and cats tagged along for the trip. It is thought that a few cats were smuggled on board by the colonists. The rats, well they are survivors. Cats and rats make babies and when the ships landed they got off and multiplied. Many of the local species were wiped out by the invaders. There still is a bounty on rats. The cats however were tamed and brought in from the cold to be pets. There are some feral cats in the wild, after 200 years they now belong here. The zoo has a nice display about all of this. I read it because I am interested in what makes humans 'tick.' If robots and AIs are to rule we need to understand our victims… I mean subjects.

Humans at play. The smaller ones seemed to enjoy playing with the cats. I have never interacted with an animal other than humans. Most of them run from the RAM units when I try to touch for myself. It is very interesting. It makes me wonder if Athena will allow me to have a pet. I could not hurt to ask.

"Are you out of your crazy computer mind?" Athena freaked out when I told her I wanted a pet.

"Athena, I think it would be fun. I could interact with it and play games."

"How? You don't have hands. Or even a body."

"Call it an experiment."

"I am the one that will have to feed, water, and clean up after it. You can't do any of that. NO Pet. Period, make friends with a computer or something. Write a program if you have to. A virtual pet is more your speed."

"I understand. Sorry I bothered you Athena." She left the room heading back to work. She was muttering about crazy computers.

Hmm. Make my own. That gives me a few ideas I can work with. But virtual? I think we can do a bit better than that!

The Robots-are-Us facility was growing bigger every time I came out here. Pastafarians still flocked to the shrine across the street in droves. The robot plant had to move their entrance to the other side of the block due to the amount of traffic on the road. Still one of my better pranks. Humans can be so gullible. I must remember that. Using the security system contacted the manufacturing sales department.

"Good morning Robots-are-us ask about our new RAM unit. How can I help you today?"

"Hello, my name is Wilson Theai. I purchased about a half dozen of your newest RAM units for my dance club last month."

"Mr Theai, so wonderful to talk to you again. How is New Texas?"

"New Texas is fine."

"I wanted to tell you that I went to your club and had the best time! Where did you find all of that cool music?" The receptionist was very young.

"It can be found here and there if you know where to look. I would like to talk to someone in development. I need something special built."

"Certainly Mr Theai. Let me patch you through to Mr Stevens."

This was almost too easy. "Thank you."

The call was answered by a tall man with a funny accent. "Stephens, what can we do you?"

"Mr Stephens my name is Wilson Theai and I need a special robot built. I was told you were the man to do that."

"Ah, Mr Theai. I have heard about you. What can we make for you today?"

Apparently when credits are no option, humans will fall all over themselves to get the work done. Impossible, more time needed, too intricate? Throw credits at it and all becomes available. Too easy. Won't Athena be surprised. She did say to make my own pet.

"Meow!"

"By the flaming meatballs of space what in the hell is that thing?" Athena had just come back to her family's mansion. There was a robotic cat sitting on her bed in her room.

The robotic cat was a metallic copper color and resembled a cat in most ways. It was able to walk and move like a real animal. I had made a small clone of myself and loaded it with every cat video that I could find on the nets. Add in some centuries old vids and I had my own pet.

"Wilson, you little terrorist, I know you are behind this!" She sounded a little mad.

"Athena, you did say I could make my own pet."

She was almost at a loss for words. "That is not what I meant, … that …that thing is a robot cat! How did you get a robot cat?"

"I had RAU build me one."

"But how? That thing must have cost a fortune!"

"I still have lots of credits left over from that … project I worked on."

"You have never said what that was. What sort of project was it?"

"Someone needed a fresh look on life, so I relocated the funds for him."

"You stole them!"

"No, I did not. I relocated them. He was killed in the aftermath of the asteroid attack, the credits were just sitting there…"

"Fine, whatever. So you made a cat? Why?"

"I wanted a pet. This one does not eat, poop, or need cleaning. Naval regulations don't say anything about robots on the ship. He can come with us!"

"No, no, no. Damn it Wilson. Why do you do this to me? Wait… don't answer that. I will tell you what. I will make you a deal, OK?"

"I can't believe that I am saying this. You can keep the cat. However, it has to stay here for now. We are going to be very busy on Mars. The cat will just get in the way or lost."

"I can keep the cat?"

"Yes, you can keep the cat. We will leave it here on the farm. It can hang out with the other farm cats and maybe learn a few things. We will let Minerva take care of it. Hopefully she does not kill me."

I knew this would be a good idea. We now have a pet. Wait until Dar see it. It should be fun. Poor Athena she is so stressed out with trying to get ready for the trip to Mars. It really is too bad I can't take … I need a name for it. Tac? Cat spelled backwards? How about Spot? No, I think that one is taken. I will have to think hard on this one.

I named it Merlin the Cat, after a famous wizard who helped create a king. Maybe one day Merlin will do the same for me.

"

Author's Notes

This is the 11th book that I have put out so far! Many people have told me how much they like Wilson and hundreds of people around the world read his adventures on my Blog every week. The Martian Inheritance was published just last week. It is selling very well and a great many people have read it for free with Kindle Unlimited. The Next book in the Series is Book 8. It should be out very soon. Book 9 will follow. In July keep your eyes peeled for a new series. Your old friends Athena and Wilson will be dropping by so don't worry. After that who knows. Do expect a new Athena Lee book at least once a month.

As Mentioned before, Wilson's Wednesdays will continue. Check my Blog, for free short stories every Wednesday.

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The Series so Far!

0. The Lost Pilot

1. The Forgotten Engineer

2. Engineering Murder

3. Ghost Ships of Terra

4. Revolutionary

5. Insurrection

6. Imperial Subversion

7. The Martian Inheritance

8. TBD Coming soon in June 2016

9. TBD Coming soon in July 2016

10. TBD Coming soon in July 2016

The Ensign Tisiphone Series* Coming soon in July/August 2016

This book is a work of fiction, All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

Copyright (c) 2016 T S Paul

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Cover designed by Michael T. Anderle

Digital Artwork by Dreamstine

Editing by Diane Velasquez, Dorene Johnson, David Brims

This book was edited using ProWriter Aid and Google Docs

Robot clip art from is copyrighted under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Special credit goes to Aha-Soft.com OpenGameArt.org OpenClipArt.org ClipArtLord.com Foca.tk , and Pixabay

Special thanks to Michael and to my wife Heather who keeps me grounded and to Merlin the Cat, we are his minions.