Chapter Four

  Opening the Iris

  Nellie was the first to arrive at the blue iris, her mind already sure that it would—

  - Locked -

  Insufficient control established.

  “The hell?” Nellie frowned. “Control? What does it mean by control?”

  “No idea,” Lucy shook her head. “Vicky?”

  “Well, I don’t know what it means. I did see the markings from the irises repeated on the wall near where we landed.” She jerked her thumb to an entrance opposite where Nellie and Lucy landed. “Want to see?”

  “Please,” Nellie nodded.

  They had only been here for a couple of hours so far, and Nellie was already getting irritated with the stupid echoes. With a flex of will, she coated her feet in nanites, softening each step until she made no noise at all. Lucy noticed first and copied the approach with a smirk.

  Vicky froze as the sound of steps following her suddenly stopped. Spinning, she stared at the two Queens before frowning and walking on. Nellie and Lucy shared a smile as they saw the woman struggling to walk without making noise.

  They let her struggle for longer than they should have before Nellie sent her the instructions for her nanites to use.

  As the sound of her footfalls disappeared as well, Vicky visibly relaxed.

  “Mind if I send these instructions to my people?” the mining captain seemed energized suddenly.

  “Go ahead,” Nellie shrugged.

  Seconds later, the last of the echoing footfalls died away.

  “Oh, thank the spark,” Vicky closed her eyes for a moment, seeming to drink in the silence around them. “It’s been driving me nutty for weeks.”

  When they got to the wall in question, Nellie felt a surge of adrenaline as it flickered and changed to show Universal Standard.

  Control Map:

  Early Empire - Controls remain with the Vault - Completion 0%

  The First Expansion - Controls remain with the Vault - Completion 0%

  The Power Within - Controls remain with the Vault - Completion 0%

  Digitized Life - Controls remain with the Vault - Completion 0%

  Return of the Flesh - Controls remain with the Vault - Completion 0%

  The Final Step - Controls remain with the Vault - Completion 0%

  Vault Locks 6/6

  “Completion rates? Locks?” Nellie gaped. “What the hell is this place?”

  “And what’s in the vault?” Vicky asked, proving just how perfect she was to balance out Crush.

  “It looks like this entire place might be some kind of massive lock for whatever this vault of theirs contains.” Lucy grinned, “You make something like this as just the lock? Whatever is in there must be pretty outstanding.”

  “Or dangerous,” Nellie frowned.

  “If it were dangerous, there would be warnings,” Vicky said confidently.

  “You’re sure?” Nellie asked the mining captain.

  “You built a whole system like this to lock something away; you’re putting up a warning sign,” Vicky said with a shake of her head. “Right?”

  “Right,” Nellie said, glad she was able to use nanites to stop herself blushing. It was so obvious when Vicky put it like that.

  “Considering these are the only two irises that are open, we have to start here, I suppose,” Lucy added a while later as they gathered around the map once more.

  “Solve it in series, you mean?” Nellie asked.

  “Well, when you look at the names on the control map, they read like a series.” Vicky offered. “The first ones even have ‘early’ and ‘first’ in the names.”

  “We just have to know how to get inside,” Lucy frowned. “I tried to push some nanites inside, and they slipped off the walls like water. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “I actually have a theory about that,” Nellie said, tapping the iris dubbed as yellow. “The wording stated no technology above a certain level could enter. I think that means we won’t be able to use nanites until we get to whatever iris matches their use.”

  “That might well be,” Vicky said with a sigh, “But how does that help us? The Imperium is basically nanite-central. Do we have anyone left without nanites that could do something like this?”

  “I have no idea,” Lucy said, “But I do have an idea as to who we can ask about it.”

  “Me too,” Nellie smiled. “Let’s hope Emissary Cheape can spare a couple of people for a few days.”

  “Let’s be honest,” Vicky sighed. “She’s not likely to say no either way.”

  /====<<<>>>====\

  “Name?”

  Sec was used to the idea of security at a port, but it was usually a lot more… official looking. The guard at the Cheapeside Port was dressed in a pair of muddy boots, sturdy-looking trousers held up by black bracers, and a loose, grease-stained shirt. It would have been funny if it wasn’t for the steel exosuit he wore over the top, complete with a wrist-mounted mining laser. Sec had more than enough experience with the damage those things could do.

  “Sec,” he replied.

  “Sec what?” the guard asked.

  “Just Sec,” Sec shrugged. “Never had a last name.”

  “Where are you from, Sec?” the man didn’t seem aggressive, but not exactly friendly either.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “Bly’s Rest,” Sec replied quickly. He didn’t mention the Marshalls. That was too painful just yet.

  “Oh, right,” the guard waved, and a Walker came trotting over from a small shed near the gates.

  “What need you, Mack?” It asked.

  “This guy says he’s from the Rest, is that right?” the guard pointed at Sec.

  The walker came over, sniffing and turning its head to one side.

  “Yes, this one is a Sec. Special one.” The Walker circled Sec and then headed back off to the shed.

  “Thanks, Reg!” the guard called before turning back to Sec. “Sorry about that, Mister Sec; we are a bit on guard at the moment.”

  “Problems?” Sec asked, the habits of a Marshall were hard to break, after all.

  “We’ve had some thefts lately. It’s hard to keep track of all the new people coming and going.” the man shrugged.

  “Don’t you lot have Marshalls or anything?” Sec frowned.

  “Oh, sure,” the man grinned. “But there’s never enough of ‘em to go around.”

  “Is that right?” Sec asked.

  “They get all the major stuff, of course,” the guard said hurriedly, “But, well, it ain’t like it used to be.”

  Sec was directed to go and ‘report’ to the woman who ran the place, Cheape. For some reason, he was instructed to call her ‘Mistress’ at all times, but Sec was pretty sure he could get away with ignoring that.

  Walking through the streets, Sec was impressed. They had heard about how crap this planet was, everyone had. Looking around now, Sec was amazed to see nothing but clean streets, gleaming stone buildings, and more. Everyone was busy, and no one was really hanging around, just like back on the Rest. It was a mark of the Imperium, that. People had shit to do. No one just hung around and killed time. That was what the HyperDrive shops were for. If you weren’t eating, drinking, or sleeping, there was always more to do than you had time for.

  The other stations Sec had visited on his travels with the Marshalls weren’t like that. People just kind of stood around or walked here and there in no hurry at all. It was only now that he found himself able to take his time and stroll that Sec saw the real importance of that.

  No one hurried because they were forced to. They hurried because they wanted to.

  That was the Imperium, hard work that was more than worth it… every day.

  Except, not for him. Not anymore.

  “I really need to find something to do,” Sec decided, hurrying on his way.

  The main Imperium building in the city was in the very center, but he was headed to the base itself, Cheapeside Central Command. When he arrived, there was no one guarding the place, but then there didn’t need to be.

  Massive machines walked back and forth from some large building while Walkers ran back and forth, and a pair of Boost Suits were assembling something complicated. Anyone trying to pass unnoticed here was onto a loser. The moment Sec crossed the boundary, one of the suits came stomping over.

  It opened, revealing the slightly confused face of the very woman he was sent over here to see.

  “It’s Sec, isn’t it?” Cheape asked him.

  “That’s me,” Sec nodded. “I just arrived and wanted to see if there was anything that needed doing?”

  “Ahh,” Cheape winced, and Sec felt his spirits crash through the floor again.

  She had clearly heard the news. “Let’s go have a HyperDrive, shall we?”

  He trudged along behind her as they wound through the streets, trying not to let his dejection show too much. She led him to a small stone store on a sidestreet. The sign over the door showed the words ‘Hot Eddy’s HyperDrive Express.’

  Cheape waved to the man behind the counter, held up two fingers, and pointed to the corner table. The man smiled and nodded.

  “I come here too often,” Cheape said awkwardly as they sat down.

  “You can just say it,” Sec sighed, holding his cup in one hand. He didn’t actually need to drink, but the nutrients would keep his skin suit happy.

  “I can’t give you an official position here,” Cheape said kindly. “This is an Imperium Planet, and all the jobs I have to offer are…”

  “Not an option,” Sec nodded glumly. “I guess I should—”

  “Now, President Marls, on the other hand,” Cheape went on as if she hadn’t heard him, “He was telling me only the other day how much he missed having a town Constable around.”

  “A what?” Sec asked.

  The town constables were something the villages had used in place of any legal law enforcement, given that they were always under the thumb of some corrupt force or other. They weren’t police, exactly. The closest match that Sec could come up with was a Private Detective. They could work with something like the Marshalls or any other government office, but they were only semi-official.

  “You think I might be able to be one of those?” Sec asked.

  “Job’s yours if you want it,” Cheape smiled. “I’ll have one of the walkers come get you once Marls has it all sorted out.”

  “Don’t I need to interview or something?” Sec asked doubtfully.

  “Crush says you’re a good man in need of a break, so I’m making sure you get it.” Cheape smiled. “Now, there is no salary, and they use points here. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Good luck!”

  “Wait, you’re going?” Sec asked, eyes wide. “When did you speak to the Boss, or this president, or anyone?”

  “I sent a message through the new relay when they told me you arrived on the planet,” Cheape smiled. “Now, I really have to go. Something the Queens need me to do on a nearby moon.”

  “But—” Sec stopped, unable to decide where to begin. The hesitation cost him as Cheape took the opportunity to pat him on the shoulder and hurry away.

  Sitting there, Sec wasn’t quite sure what to do. Everything had happened so fast that he was in a bit of a daze when a Walker trotted in and bowed.

  “You follow, we go,” It said politely.

  “Uh, just a second,” Sec stood and walked over to the counter. “Hey, mate?”

  “Yes, guv?” the man asked.

  “Do I need to pay for that HyperDrive or anything?” Sec asked.

  “Naah, on the house for the Emissary,” the man nodded. “Did I hear you are moving to the city?”

  “Looks that way,” Sec nodded.

  “Well, don’t forget to come by whenever you need a cup,” the man nodded. “Hey, no! Stop that!” He leaned over the counter, waving frantically.

  Turning to look, Sec tried not to laugh as the humanoid crawler finished eating his cup.

  “Get him out of here, please,” the man sighed.

  Nodding, Sec followed the walker out into the street and off toward whatever it would lead him to.

  If nothing else, he seemed to have a job now.

  /====<<<>>>====\

  Nellie watched the freighter touch down, the wash from the engines kicking up the layer of fine, glittering dust that seemed to cover the landing pads.

  It was an old model, but there were signs of repairs and upgrades if you knew what to look for. She did and could tell that this was one of those machines that was owned by someone who loved it, no matter how old it was.

  It kind of made her homesick for the original Bly.

  “Not one of ours, is it?” Nellie called over the whine of the cooling thrusters.

  “Berenice sold a few of the older ones she picked up along the way to Haven,” Lucy said, “Cheape insists they make do and mend for a while yet.”

  “Why?” Nellie asked, honestly flummoxed. “Those people have been through hell, and we can make fine ships. Why give them hand-me-down stuff?”

  Lucy just shrugged.

  The whining coolers finally cut off, and the three bays opened. The moment their ramps touched down, Nellie felt her mouth curl into a smile. Even if she had seen Cheape’s T-Rigs before, the effect was the same every time. There was just something wonderful about seeing ten-foot-tall mechs clanking down the ramps. It was one of those ‘sci-fi’ things that just sent a tingle of joy through her, even now.

  Each of the bays seemed to hold a different model of Rig, and if Nellie was any judge, they were different generations of design. The largest ones were clearly the most modern, almost eleven feet of the powerful metal monsters, while the earliest ones seemed to be the smallest at nine feet. They were also the most ‘basic’ looking. You could see the pneumatics and hydraulics shifting and straining between the armor plates while the cabs looked more like something you would see on a crane than anything else.

  With a flare of thrusters, Cheape’s Boost Suit came into land.

  “She never does anything by halves,” Lucy smiled.

  As Nellie had suspected, the three bays had each held a different generation of T-Rigs, as well as some more basic exo-suits. Once Lucy had told the young woman what they needed, Cheape had done what she always seemed to do: Her job to the extreme.

  “None of my people are combat veterans,” Cheape reported. “But they know these Rigs like the back of their hands. Most of them maintain them as well, so if there is damage, they know how to repair it on the fly if needed.”

  “They know they might face fighting, though, right?” Nellie checked.

  “Yes, Ma’am. Each and every one has over a hundred and fifty hours of intensive combat training in the full immersion training system. It might not have been real combat, but I made sure it felt real.” Cheape replied proudly. “We also brought a bunch of loadout options, a mechanic, and one of the mobile fabs as well. If that sector can be taken, we’ll get it done.”

  “We?” Nellie asked.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Cheape replied with determination. “They are my people, so I request permission to lead them.”

  “Granted,” Lucy said after Nellie nodded.

  While Lucy and Cheape spoke, Nellie looked the young woman over. To be honest, she didn’t know the former Logistics Officer all that well. In fact, she had only really known about Cheape originally because of the issues caused when Carl was initially sent to work for her. Only a few months later, Cheape was a different woman. She stood with a straight back, pride and confidence almost radiating out of her like an internal sun.

  Nellie marked Cheape down as another casualty who had been hardened by the Imperium. Too many of her people ended up losing their soft edges thanks to the constant threats they faced.

  “Ah, here comes your Captain,” Nellie said, gesturing.

  The reaction from Cheape was immediate. The woman flushed as a smile broke across her face, and a subtle but definite increase in heart rate accompanied it.

  “Tee Are Vee Dash Four, nice to see you again,” Lucy smiled as the Imperium’s Silicate guest arrived.

  “Thank you, Queen Lucy,” TRV-4 bowed. “Please, call me Trev or Trevor, whichever one you prefer.”

  “Trev?” Nellie asked.

  “It makes things much simpler,” Trev said with a smile. “Nice to see you again, too, Queen Bonne Chance. I regret my visit will be a short one as I am needed back on Haven urgently.”

  “Call me Nellie,” Nellie said, shaking hands with the smart-looking young man.

  She noticed the furtive glances Cheape was shooting at Trev and hid her smile.

  It was nice to see that whatever else had changed, Cheape was still more than capable of a decent-sized crush.