Unholy Trinity Read online

  ∆∆∆

  Ambassador Grovolk had been the oldest known hybrid of living material and manufactured material in existence as far as the Motherboard programme was aware. Grovolk had overseen responsibly for over 3000 changes in realities spread across huge regions. His status as ambassador had immediately terminated his physical presence on the Darknet and he became a pure programme. He was welcomed into the highest hierarchy that existed in the Darknet realities, and his transition to pure programme had been sublime.

  He sat (conceptually) on a couch along with the programme which had been responsible for unplugging the Earth-based multiverse infected with the Melville anomaly who was named TOnga. They both waited in the waiting room with a sense of apprehension. They didn’t often feel this sense, which once would have been called an emotion, but now was described as a ‘lack of synergy’ in their programming. The reason for this was clear to both of them. They were about to meet the equivalent of the Darknet god, Phi.

  They both knew that no physical being could tolerate its presence, and even programmes had previously been known to self-terminate after encountering it. Generally, to be invited into the inner recesses of the Darknet to meet him was a very serious moment, which had the power to change events for that programme forever.

  Grovolk reviewed his last two posts and looked for any area where he might have displeased Phi or the Motherboard CPU firewall programme, tJor. They waited for some time, and as they both materialised within the CPU inner mainframe, he smiled internally as he knew that he was probably invited as the answer, and not the problem.

  They then materialised in what someone from Earth would describe as a cathedral, but instead of light illuminating the outside from the windows, it was the other way round, with a brightness emanating from the floor, with a pulsating blackness pouring in from the blood red windows.

  Phi hovered at the end, and seventeen dark high priests in black and red cloaks sat surrounding him in homage.

  The atmosphere was thick with fear and dread, and Grovolk was astonished that he could sense this as a programme.

  They prostrated themselves digitally in front of him and sat and awaited their fate.

  They daren’t look at him, but the impression they got from materialising inside his lair was of something immensely large and alien, with disconnected faces and his shadow being a pulsating sea of black slime. His seventeen red eyes had left an impression in their programming which would take a long time to wear off. They were both petrified.

  It spoke inside and through them, as if they still had physical form.

  “One of you has failed me. The anomaly Melville still exists, and is creating a power base in its current multiverse address. Strangely, I can sense its presence everywhere, but its physical manifestation is on Earth, so I make you responsible TOnga for bringing about this unfortunate development.

  Before he could protest his innocence, there was a scream, and the entity which was as a programme was made physical before Grovolk’s eyes and was greedily devoured by one of Phi’s sharp-toothed mouths.

  It was then that Phi Spoke to Grovolk, and every subroutine of its programming shook with the power of it.

  “I have been observing your progress carefully Grovolk. You are ambitious but not greedy, you are malicious, yet equally you engender confidence and respect in your abilities. Above all, you are careful, and that’s entirely what I need at the moment to address this growing problem.

  Whether you realise this or not, the anomaly Melville is proof that there is more to this existence than we formerly presumed. So while putting pressure on Melville and testing his defences, I also want secret surveillance carried out so I know which direction this is taking. I sense a development for us in the Darknet realities which could transcend our potential and block whichever plan Melville and this Pathfinder has. I want someone who is super-intelligent, cautious, yet supremely crafty in charge of this and the vast Darknet fleet which has been created to meet this challenge. You will report directly to me thanks to an addition to your programming, and you will disclose nothing to anyone else, no matter what their rank, do you understand?” It said within the remnants of Grovolk’s programming reverberating with Phi’s words, and he managed a;

  “Yes master.” before he was transported back to the mainframe hub.

  Chapter Two – Strange Bedfellows

  Susan’s fleet disengaged from the FTLS Drive and the green world of Gipluk suddenly appeared before them. Several nuclear drive Gipluk ships were waiting for them, in a protective formation around Chief Councillor Oie’s flagship. It had been decided between them that it would be much easier for the first meeting to be in the flagship than on the planet. For example the atmosphere on Gipluk was not ideal for humans, but it was easier to prepare an area on Oie’s ship where both humans and Gipluks could survive with little headsets which adjusted the mix via nasal injectors.

  The female, green humanoid form of Oie appeared on her vis and the very formal greeting of;

  “Tku yk li Jixre to” was made, followed by Susan’s response of;

  “Tku yk oli Oie to tok.”

  Less than a second later, Susan and her two deputies, Jaja and Sper, with headsets to adjust to the atmosphere appeared on the council room on Oie’s flagship, and the meeting had begun.

  ∆∆∆

  Doctor Pederson’s image wobbled and corrected itself within a second on my vis. The demonstration of our defences had been impressive, but I was more interested in what Doctor Pederson had to say, who was the chief administrator of my institute.

  “Chief councillor Melville, I’ll be very brief as I know how busy you must be. There is no way of completely bypassing the brain with science alone I’m afraid, as science in itself is a construct of the brain, developed to understand its own parameters. I do however have a solution.” he said looking at me through clear steel-grey eyes.

  “I’m pleased to hear it Dr Pederson. Please continue.”

  “It’s largely down to recent discoveries found on Gipluk actually. Their resonance culture and technology, as far as we can tell is a way of bypassing synaptic process and awareness and becoming much more in tune with the resonances which we are aware of which could allow true Reality Imaging, free entirely from the influence of our the brain.”

  “This is excellent Doctor Pederson, when can we begin trials?” I asked, still sending a ‘but’ somewhere, and I was right.

  “Sadly, we’ve hit a brick wall which only you can help with sir, they will allow us access if you fulfil your destiny by travelling to their planet and working with them.”

  I looked at him in disbelief.

  “They can’t insist on that, I’m needed here!” I said with a growing sense of disbelief.

  “Apparently sir, they have already discussed this with the pathfinder. Apparently their destiny and yours are uniquely entwined, and this has been foretold since the beginning of their culture. It seems inevitable that if you want release from the brain’s cumbersome control, you will have to spend some time with them on their planet.”

  ∆∆∆

  Mad Dog’s fleet was the furthest away from Earth and the other fleets in the galaxy strangely known as the Black Eye Galaxy situated some 17 million light years from Earth. They had pushed their FTLS engines to the limit, and couldn’t believe how far they had travelled, which was good as the planet known as an image of a blue orb to its inhabitants, was still three hundred thousand light years away, and would still take a week to get there. They had been one of the last planets to return our messages, and this had only been possible because of the visual language established over painstaking weeks.

  He was sat in the commander’s chair on the bridge of his flagship when it happened. Sensors had picked up a large mass of something lurking in a nearby asteroid belt and Susan had given the order to move back to that position and disengage the FTLS drive. When the blurred display became clear, they were faced with hundreds of large spacecraft, surrounded by th
ousands of smaller craft which Mad Dog presumed were the fighter protection shield. He sat there in utter disbelief, and then Susan spoke inside of his head.

  “I’m registering dark matter and energy aboard these ships Mad Dog, well done! You seemed to have discovered our first Darknet fleet. Please engage them. We need to discover their capabilities before I withdraw you to safety.

  ∆∆∆

  The meeting with Oie had been exhausting. Learning the concept of Gipluk language was one thing, having a fluent discussion with a Giplukian was entirely another. They were very touchy about articulation and inflexion, and Susan could sense the frustration coming from the Gipluk council and Oie.

  The upshot was that they would adapt a part of their planet in the Southern Hemisphere above the Resonance Caves for our use, and the whole base would be within an atmospheric barrier bubble, allowing us to breathe oxygenated air so we could build a base. Unfortunately, everything relied on Melville leaving the Earth and living at Gipluk. She had tried everything to change their minds, and at one point they almost walked out. In the end, Susan had to acquiesce to their conditions, and didn’t have a clue of how to achieve this.

  As she sat there trying to work how to approach Melville, he popped inside her head and said hello. It was like he knew or something. She knew he was developing his skills as she was, but she had had no idea that he was psychic. Then she listened to him in disbelief.

  “Have the Gipluk people mentioned me at all? I heard something, but I’m not sure Susan. The thing is, the only way that we can achieve Reality Imaging is for me to travel to Gipluk, how will they view such a move?” he said inside her head to her absolute astonishment.

  “Well, as you ask, they rather insist on it Melville!”

  “Brilliant! Tell them I will agree to spend time with them, by them agreeing to our free access to their resonance culture and technology. Tell them if they agree to that, I’ll consider moving there. They’ll no doubt make strange bedfellows, but this step is crucial if we are to truly achieve Reality Imaging” he said, and Susan couldn’t believe how lucky she had been.

  Moments after Melville left her, the sensors on Mad Dog’s flagship registered what could very well be an alien fleet hiding in an asteroid belt so she sent a thought to the helmsman and informed Mad Dog.

  It didn’t take long, and there they were. She informed Melville immediately and informed Mad Dog to engage the Darknet Fleet.

  ∆∆∆

  Tzi felt terrible. She groaned and stretched in bed, feeling every muscle and tendon complain, until she suddenly found Mark’s naked body in bed with her. He moaned, and she apologise profusely.

  In mid-sentence, he turned her around to him and kissed her full and long on the lips. She put her arms around him, and they resumed from the night before.

  By 11am, they were dressed and Tzi was saying goodbye as Mark had a vid meeting with director Pederson. They made a date for the evening, and Tzi was already wondering how long this could last.

  Five minutes later, and the predictable image of director Pederson in his combisuit appeared on his comslink.

  “Professor Magnaus, I have been in communication with Chief Councillor Melville, and you have been chosen to take a team with you to accompany Councillor Melville to Gipluk, to investigate the resonance technology they have in terms of achieving our goals in Reality Imaging.” he said, looking at him with those steel grey eyes which saw everything, but gave nothing away.

  “Well.. er, I’m honoured of course. I’d be delighted to lead the team sir.” he replied, already seeing the research papers he could publish from this.

  “Do you have anyone in mind regarding your team professor Magnaus?”

  “Well, certainly one or two names spring to mind.” he said, already knowing who would be first on his list.

  ∆∆∆

  Mad Dog surveyed the scene before him and was remembering the training that they had all gone through for six months in commanding a fleet in battle. The enemy fleet in front of him was covered in their fighter screen, and his 3d holovids showed him it was a full 360 degrees cover, with no gaps at all. He first sent the first wave of thought fighters to test their defences, while arranging for cruisers Eisenhower, Armstrong and Einstein to move to the left. Centre and right to unload their bays full of thought fighter pods at a much closer range. The manoeuvre was risky, but gave him the advantage of deeper penetration within their defences and gave him a shot at what he presumed were the capital ships like battleships.

  He watched in the emptiness of space as the thought ships bobbed about the enemy fighter screen and avoided much of the enemy fire; although he could see there were fatalities already. A filthy business fighting he mused to himself.

  The enemy leader had cottoned to his tactics and three holes emerged in the fighter screen so their battle ships could destroy his cruisers, but they had practice this manoeuvre, and immediately the thought fighter ships plugged the gap, and hundreds more thought fighter ships emerged from the bays of the cruisers, which soon were back in formation.

  Suddenly the enemy fighter screen expanded to three times the distance away from the battleships, and immediately the main fleet was under fire. It was now a hellish battle of attrition, and their numbers were greater. We destroyed one of their capital ships, but it had taken the fleet’s weapons and hundreds of thought fighters to do it. Their defences were much stronger than they anticipated.

  Suddenly, they saw another fleet appear on their scanners, and he was about to give the order to withdraw, when Susan told him that there were no dark matter or energy readings. The universe was suddenly full of white, sleek ships which fired weapons which were effective against the enemy, and they were now getting a bloody nose. Without warning, the enemy disappeared, and he was being contacted by the mysterious fleet’s commander, a HHHU from the planet Thrang.

  “We have been monitoring your messages and we think we understand your language, are you receiving and understanding this message?” a voice emanated out of the speakers, but so far there was no image.

  “Yes, we can understand you, but we don’t understand. Your technology is advanced, why did you not respond to our messages?” Mad Dog replied, not quite hiding his frustration over their non-response to their hails for help when they first tried to contact other civilisations in this multiverse. It also seemed odd that they were not in the data collected by Melville from the Darknet, and he wondered if they had jamming technology.

  “It is understandable that you are confused. We are a very peaceful and private people, and we want no part in other people’s wars. Sadly, because of the presence of Darknet ships in our area, we must now reluctantly join forces and face this dark threat to our homeland together. Will you please join us and return to our home planet where we can discuss how we can support each other in this fight against evil?” he asked, and Mad Dog sensed this was a particular advantage to have gained, and Susan spoke inside his head and agreed with him.

  They accepted the white fleet’s terms and through the empty blackness of space, followed the fleet to their home planet of Thrang.

  Chapter Three – Ships that pass in the night

  Susan still couldn’t believe two things as she looked at the green whirling planet sweep past beneath them. The first thing she couldn’t quite believe was so easy was firstly, Melville asking to go to Gipluk, when she had already began complex strategies to engineer that very end. The other event she struggled to believe was the sudden appearance of this advanced civilisation from Thrang, which happened to be there just at the right time, and had not responded to their earlier hails when trying to spread the word. They must value their privacy above everything.

  Inside her mind she followed Mad Dog’s fleet to their mysterious destination in the middle of the alien white, sleek and very advanced fleet of ships which had come to Mad Dog’s protection.

  What had been clear from the exchange with the Darknet fleet is that they were severely outgunned and ne
eded to re-evaluate their strategy with the Darknet fleet. She had passed her worries onto Melville, and he suggested that the speed of thought was too long, and the truly instantaneous communication and actions were required which only came from pure Reality Imaging. They both agreed, and Susan had to admit that she was relieved that they had been saved by the advanced technology of the peoples of Thrang. She observed with interest then as out of nowhere there appeared several, huge revolving space stations and an enormous fleet of other sleek white ships which orbited a grey and misty planet underneath them.

  ∆∆∆

  Mad Dog could feel Susan’s presence inside his head as they both witnessed the sight before them. Suddenly his vid screen sprang to life and a grey humanoid figure filled the screen. Its skin glittered as if it was refrigerated and covered in ice.

  “Earthling, I present you to our ruling master, HUIH.”

  A similar being filled the screen this time. A peculiarity with this species was that there was no discernible mouth to see, so one had no idea of how they were producing the words.

  “We welcome you to Thrang. We sense a being connected to you, but not here physically. We require her here if we are to negotiate a treaty and strategies to defeat our common enemy, the Darknet forces. Is this clear?”

  ∆∆∆

  Susan sensed a powerful entity’s presence on the planet, but their technology was powerful, and she had to admit that they knew nothing about their culture at all. She decided to contact them directly and sent her thoughts through Mad Dog directly.

  “You are right, I am in charge of our military force in this region. I am currently needed at Gipluk, some 30 light years from your position, but soon I won’t be needed here, and then I will join you as soon as I can. If in the meantime you can communicate with my commander, Mad Dog, I will monitor the conversations and we can at least establish a starting point. Is this acceptable, and if so, where would you like us to be to achieve this?” she sent straight to the entity talking to Mad Dog.