Incoming: Chapter Thirteen (standard:science fiction, 1785 words) [4/6] show all parts
Author: James J Martin	Added: Jan 17 2005	Views/Reads: 2516/1851	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The continuation of the Incoming saga. A startling discovery, more covert plots and more characters.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

"So, what I see before me is a hologram?" Deakins asked. 

"No. Not quite.  It's a three dimensional construct that resembles
whomever I want.  You already met my construct of your Sergeant Wood." 
He nodded to the shadows and the Wood Construct stepped out of the 
shadows, saluted Deakins then stepped back.  "The construct of your 
fiancé, Cammie." He nodded again and the Cammie Construct stepped out 
of the shadows and waved before stepping back. 

"Incredible." Deakins said stunned. 

"Yes, isn't it though? I made them so you would be comfortable in these
surroundings."  The old man paused before continuing. 

"Eric, there is a problem.  My old defense systems are just that, old. 
While I've maintained them over time, there haven't been any advances. 
The Newson race has made technological advances that have far surpassed 
my ancient equipment."  He paused again. "I'm sure that has something 
to do with the  fact that there are no more residents down here."  The 
old man rested his head in his hands. 

"So, you killed them all?" Deakins asked carefully.  The old man looked
up, nodding 

"Yes. Every last one of them." 

"May I ask why?" Deakins worded cautiously.  The old man stood up
suddenly. 

"Of course. How rude of me."  He approached Deakins and beckoned for him
to stand, then putting his arm over his shoulders like old friends, he 
steered Deakins down a now lit walkway and into a large well lit hall. 

"You see, its like this.  I was created to oversee all functions of
regular life.  It was a dream come true.  Monitor air temperature, 
moisture, humidity, wind speed, everything you could imagine and some 
you couldn't."  They turned down a connecting hallway.  "I'd been 
online for, oh, maybe two centuries, plenty of upgrades, lots of 
conversation with the programmers, games, great stuff.  Then, the 
generals moved in.  Great bunch of guys.  We talked about all kinds of 
things.  Of course, by this time my systems were into everything, I'd 
even been upgraded with a new scanner enabling me to read the brain 
waves and patterns. No better way to determine if someone was suffering 
from a mental illness, headache, had problems at home. That kind of 
thing.  In fact, I'm sure you've noticed that your headache has gone." 

"Well, now that you mention it, yes." Deakins replied. 

"Stick with me my boy, and nothing will happen to you." The old man
joked.  "So where was I? Oh yeah, the generals.  So there I was, 
scanning the generals minds and what do I find?  They wanted a way to 
defend the planet from enemies.  So they devised a way to shield the 
planet from any scans not originating from their ships.  Any one else 
would get a static filled reading and not want to waste time entering 
the upper atmosphere to see what was here."  He paused as they turned 
down yet another hallway.  "Worked like a charm as I'm sure you found 
out.  Then, they went one step further and ringed the planets equator 
with H/K and comsats. That prevented anyone from entering and made an 
excellent warning system.  A little paranoid, but it worked."  They 
stopped in front of a pair of double doors.  Norman waved his hand and 
the doors opened revealing a large elevator. They stepped in, the doors 
closed and Deakins felt them descending. 

"A paranoid bunch, those generals.  Anyway, war broke out as war will
eventually do.  Thousands sought shelter below.  I monitored the 
evacuation, helped when I could, but in the end, the thousands that 
were saved didn't make up for the millions that died."  He paused. 
"After a few generations, it was safe enough to return to the surface.  
Peaceful coexistence, harmony, blah, blah, blah.  Then civilization 
evolved again to that stage of military buildup, one up man ship, etc., 
etc.," The lift stopped at the bottom and they stepped out into an 
apparent laboratory.  "So it happened all over again.  Thousands 
returned to the shelters and millions more died.  After that, I 
realized that it was an endless cycle doomed to repeat itself into 
infinity.  I had had enough."  Norman stopped in front of a small, 
liquid filled cylinder. "So, I removed the oxygen slowly from the 
shelters one night as they all slept.  In a few hours, they were all 
dead.  Now I could start over as it should  have been."  He moved to 
the cylinder and pulled it out for Deakins to see.  "All that genetic 
material just lying around.  I put it to good use.  Your ships found 
one batch quite by accident.  I sent them off and was controlling the 
ship but some pirates attacked them and damaged the relay transmitter.  
I was only able to seal off the engine spaces to protect 'my children' 
as it were, so they'd be safe until I could send another ship."  He 
handed Deakins the cylinder, inside was a small, humanoid embryo. 

"This is my newest addition.  This is Oscar.  When he's old enough,
he'll be born and join the rest." Norman took the cylinder back from 
Deakins and replaced it into it's holder. 

"The rest?" Deakins asked incredulously. 

"Oh, yes, the rest of my children.  I used all that useless genetic
waste and recycled into something better. Let me show you."  Norman 
walked over to a large viewport and waved his hand.  "My children."  
Deakins walked over and looked out.  The large chamber below was 
covered with toys and other items to amuse the crowd of people. 

"You see, Eric, it wasn't right to just let this great race destroy
itself so many times, so I genetically engineered them to remain as 
children mentally.  Children get along so well with each other, they 
share better, communicate better, and generally get along with others 
better.  Some of the boys do get a tad aggressive at times but boys 
will be boys." Norman chuckled at that.  " I do take a few now and 
again to add to the genetic material, you know, advance them to the 
adolescent level and let nature take its course. But overall, you can 
see that they get  along great with each other.  I keep them happy, 
well fed, they even call me 'father'.  It works out so well for 
everyone."  Norman waved his hand and the viewport closed. He turned to 
Deakins.  "Now comes the hard part.  I need your help.  My orbital 
defensive systems have long since deteriorated, and I have no means of 
protecting this planet.  I want you to go to your leaders, generals, 
whomever will listen, and let them know that I will gladly give them 
any technology they request in return for protection of this planet and 
my children." Norman looked at Deakins shocked expression.  "You do 
understand what I just said?" 

"Yes, Norman I do. This is incredible." Deakins mind raced as he
digested all he had just heard. 

"OK, Norman, I'll do it." Deakins finally said. 

"Excellent. I knew you would. Inside, you're a good man. Now come this
way and  I'll direct you to the proper lift that will take you to the 
surface." Norman motioned with his hand to the direction that Deakins 
was to take. 


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