Deeper Darker

Book 2: Chapter 50: Ship Rocked

Third Quadrant.

Asteroid Tethari.

Unknown Antecessor Location.

Point-Two grimaced as he lay pinned to the floor. The gravitational force on his body was more than he could deal with, at least three Gs, but not constant. The exact amount of pressure was being regulated to keep them alive but immobile. Different parts of his body were under separate amounts of force.

He suspected it was affecting him more than the others since he was in the cheapest suit. But adjustments may have been made for each of them and their particular needs. There was no way Point-Two could move beyond breathing until the Head decided to let them go, which didnt seem very likely. For now, its focus was on Ubik and how to dispense with him first.

Point-Two was very familiar with how the different kinds of anti-grav worked from his time playing G-tag. It was a pretty straightforward sport but it had many divisions, including a heavyweight one. 

The players who practised the most extreme form used momentum and brute strength to overcome intense pressure. They were giant bags of muscles who grunted and groaned their movements up to a speed where they barely had any control. One mistake could send you into a wall, and high Gs did not mix well with solid surfaces.

There was also the practice of G-doping, where people would train in much denser gravitational atmospheres and then compete at a much lower on. While not illegal, it was frowned upon, especially because of the side-effects. People who forced their bodies to undergo extreme gravitational conditions regularly ended up with distorted body-shapes and a high frequency of broken bones. They also accounted for most medal winners of the last few years, even though most denied it. The lack of neck and sixty-centimetre thighs suggested otherwise.

Point-Two had only experienced super-dense combat a couple of times, and then only for the experience. He hadnt enjoyed it, preferring speed over power. Now it would have come in useful, although not even the most advanced G-tag rings employed micro-management on this level.

So thats why, said Ubik. He has asked to see the asteroids full schematics and, surprisingly, Head had agreed. Which suggested there was something Head wanted Ubik to see.

What do you see? said Head, his voice flat and dispassionate inside their comms.

Some background info would be nice, said Ubik. Whats the ship for? Who piloted it? Where were they going? How come you were left outside when theres plenty of room indoors?

Your usefulness is limited to what you can tell me that I do not already know. It sounded like the most bland threat Point-Two had ever heard. No indication of the consequences, just an intangible implication.

Well, its hard to see much of anything from this angle, but the ship, the engine, its been altered. Wont be flying anywhere in this thing, not any time soon. Shame, really. Id like to know what it feels like flying around inside a planetoid. How do you keep it upright, for a start.

Ubik sounded very cheerful for someone flattened against the floor and at the whim of a giant, resentful head. Youd almost think this sort of thing happened to him all the time.

Point-Two twisted his neck as much as he could which wasnt a lot and looked up at the Head floating in the middle of the room. The eyes were vertical, which was a neutral position. 

It had already proclaimed its intention to eliminate Ubik more than once, in fact but it hadnt followed through. What did it want from him? Why did it want anything from him?

He breathed slowly, inhaling as much as he could in small sips and then twisting on the exhale. The map of the asteroid was now around Ubiks head, formed from his helmet, enlarged to about double its normal size, so that Ubik was looking at it from the inside. 

Ubiks face was full of childish wonder and delight as his eyes flicked about from one part of the asteroid ship to another.

Why didnt the security system recognise you? said Point-Two. Now seemed as good a time as any to ask.

Alterations have been made in my absence, said Head.

But youre part of the security system, arent you? asked Fig. Why would it treat you as an outsider? Unless someone deliberately shut you out.

This is an isolated node, said Head. Errors are not unknown.

Would have been fixed if it was an error, said Ubik. Look at the way the sections have been separated. Thats not part of the original design. Ants like things to slot together, not separated by a preventative layer. Someone decided to make sure one part didnt know what the other parts were up to. Its a crime, really. How could you break up such a perfect symbiotic ecosphere. The strength comes from all the different parts working together.

Then so does the weakness, said Point-Two.

It was clear to him someone had deliberately disabled the asteroids core function. They may have had a good reason for that who could say what the Antecessors true goals were? but it was also clear the Head had no idea what the reason was either. And it wanted Ubiks help to find out. How much of its behaviour had been to that end?

As much as it identified Ubik as a threat something common to all sentient species, it would seem it also recognised his ability to quickly find the purpose of a technological aberration. What it might not also know was Ubiks predilection for taking that aberration and using it to make things much, much worse.

But this was good. If they could keep the Head interested in what Ubik had to say, and if Ubik could string things out long enough (and there was no one better at that than Ubik), they might be able to get out of this situation, or at least this room, alive.

All Ubik needed to do was make the Head feel like they were all on the same side, all wanting to find out what had happened here. Allies seeking knowledge.

Looks to me, said Ubik, that they specifically didnt want you to be involved in whatever it was they were planning. Stuck you on the outside and took away your security clearance. That says a lot, doesnt it. What did you do, Head? Asked the wrong questions? Upset the wrong droid? They didnt want to reformat you, obviously, so I guess you still serve some purpose in their eyes, but they really dont consider you one of the team. Did they tell you it was only a temporary move? Thats the way its usually done. Leave the poor bugger thinking hell be let back in anytime soon. How longs it been? Couple of thousand years? Even longer, probably.

On the other hand, he could just insult it and see what that produced.

The atmosphere in the room, which was already very oppressive, seemed to get more so. Point-Two was sure Ubik had a reason to provoke the Head, but he was also sure there was a high likelihood that whatever it was, it could very easily backfire and blow up in their faces. 

That said, once Ubik took the lead, you had little choice but to follow. If the ground under him was unsteady, the ground around him was molten lava.

It would be a lot easier, said Ubik, if you let us get off the floor so some of the blood could return to my brain. And perhaps give us some information on what this ship was designed for, you know, for the context. Its got its own wormhole, which isnt a very common optional extra on most spaceships.

You think the asteroid and the wormhole are connected? said Fig. I mean, obviously they are, but the wormhole is a construct of the asteroid on the liminal level?

All this astrophysics technobabble, said Ubik. Its hard to know what hes going on about, isnt it? Hes the youngest in the group. Likes to speak in jargon so he sounds smart.

He is the only reason you are still alive, said Head. The Core wants him, that is the only stipulation in this nodes command centre. It overrides all other security protocols. His life is worth keeping the rest of you alive.

Nice, said Ubik. Im worth at least one-quarter of an Ollo. Not bad. You on the other hand, how much are you worth, Head?

There was a pause.

That node, not much doing is there? Looks pretty dead. What is it, localised to this room? They really dont want to let you in. I think they might be a bit scared of you.

The Head was less welcome here than they were. It didnt seem to understand why and Ubiks ribbing seemed to be making it more insecure.

Was this the real face of Antecessor technology. Humanity had only encountered the most simplistic security devices so far, left behind as a last resort to keep an eye on the stuff they left lying around the galaxy. Maybe they had planned to come back for it one day and events went beyond their control.

Perhaps the real Antecessor civilisation was more like this Head. And the Beast that Ubik had adopted. There may even be a whole range of different types of intelligences within the Antecessor culture, as there were within their own. Which meant some would be far dumber than others.

You cant go looking for answers without us, said Ubik. Me and my boys are your only ticket into the depths of this rocket rock ship.

Your nanodrones have been inactivated, said Head.

Oh, some have. But they replicate like crazy, you know? Big breeders. Always more when you need them.

Nanodrones began crawling out of Ubiks suit and crawling along the ground. The increased gravity seemed to have no effect on them. If anything, they moved quicker.

Point-Two felt the shift a microsecond before the pressure on his body eased and then reversed. He floated off the floor.

He could move freely, as could the nanodrones, which were aimlessly floating away. Their weakness was low-gravity and Head was using that to prevent Ubik pulling any of his tricks. But as Point-Two knew from experience, if you were one step ahead of Ubik, you were in his direct line of fire.

What are you doing? said Nifell, now upright. This wasnt our agreement. You said you would kill him. There was a sad, desperation to his voice. The last attempt of a fractured mind to grasp onto some kind of achievement.

He is of use to me, said Head.

And Im not? said Nifell. You are the Lord of the First Temple. Your promise is inviolate. Give me what you promised.

Nifells lord had failed him just as Heads masters had abandoned it. And as Head told it, the Antecessors were no happier with their creators. There was an unmistakable chain of disappointment leading to this moment. All coming to a single point centred on Ubik.

He didnt seem to mind. 

Lets not fight. We have a long way to go, still. Together, watching each others backs.

I have no desire to go anywhere with you, said Nifell, his voice shaking. Possibly with rage, but just as likely with frustration or a nervous breakdown.

But you do, Nif, you must. Dont you see? What youve been through, its made you stronger. Remember when you were just another grunt following dumb orders from people who didnt care about you? Now youre with the Lord of the First Temple. This is your true calling. You were meant to be here, now. I know it was painful, but you had to break out of the prison youve been in for so long.

Nifell looked utterly confused by Ubiks speech. 

But this time youll be working with Lord Head, as a team, Ubik pressed on. He cant be killed and he wont let you get hurt. Youre his only form of transportation. If the Core finds him in the system, itll purge him. Ubik leaned towards Nifell, drifting towards him. Hes the one they dont like around here, not us. Were easy to handle. Head knows all their secrets.

So Ill be in extra danger, said Nifell. He was catching on.

Normally, yes, but we need Head alive. So we need you alive. Which is why Im going to make sure you stay out of harms way. See him? Ubik pointed at Fig. Hes the one they all want. No ones going to do anything that might hurt him. So youre going to stick to him like a shadow. You and Head and Figaro Ollo, youre the heart of our team. You stop beating and were all dead.

Ubiks words about death and being targeted by the entire facility somehow came across as soothing. The fire slowly went out of Nifells eyes. Ubik flicked a few floating nanodrones at Nifells mouth. He obediently swallowed them.

Point-Two watched the taming of Nifell unfold, not particularly interested in Nifells prospects he was in as much danger as the rest of them but wondering why Ubik wanted those three together. Very unlikely for the reasons hed stated, that was for sure.

The head disappeared and then reappeared as part of Nifells helmet.

I had my doubts about Servals claim, it said, but looking at you now, it seems she was correct. You are Null Void but your grasp on your faculties is impressive.

Serval? said Ubik, a flicker of confusion passing across his face. Oh, you mean Junior? Shes a she is she? Thats interesting. Said good things about me did she? Nice to know someone has a good impression of me.

She said youre even crazier than she is.

Ubik laughed. What do you mean? Ive been putting on my sensible face.

The Beast was somehow in touch with the Head. How? And for how long? 

Do you know which way we need to go? asked Point-Two.

No, said Head. The internal structure has been reorganised. Deliberately, to prevent access of any familiar systems. This is not our way. It wasnt our way. Something changed.

There was one open tunnel. It was where the Antecessor node guardian had wanted to take Fig so it seemed the best place to start. At least they had a direct route to follow.

Ubiks helmet flickered and showed the asteroid in all its glory. He raised a hand and slid it across the surface of the helmet, making it spin around his head. He had a smile on his face that sent a chill down Point-Twos spine. He had the feeling they wouldnt be taking the direct route anywhere.