A rift-jump felt instantaneous but Alec often wondered if it was just so traumatizing that the brain blocked out the event, leaving only the damned headache that drilled into his forehead along with rhythmic thumping of sappers on the other side. That sound was always the same, but the vision that filled the viewport of his vehicle was drastically different. Crossing from low-tier to high-tier planets was almost as unsettling as the rift-jump itself.
Looking past the massive gate with its heavily fortrified security station, Alec took in a bright blue sky with two suns; one amber, the other violet. The suns painted the groves of the grape-blossom trees in twists of color as the leaves danced in the contrasting wavelengths.
The trees had been planted by Baroness Veiss, a cultured woman from one of the wealthier but lower-tier families. The trees were the source of the rare grape-blossom wine that flowed at Company and Baronhood parties, and for that reason Baronss Veiss was permitted to attend company functions. If not for her connection to the ongoing criminal activity of the local baronhood, Alec could almost enjoy her company. She was decidedly more down-to-earth, but with that came a rather earnest ruthlessness. She was dangerous, but she was Alecs' only local source of much-needed Aamaranth.
As a result of the jump, the final glow of blue Aamaranth was mere drops inside the vial. He studied the imposing fa?ade of the security station, stark black and built into the wall surrounding the Rift-Station, it fairly hummed with hidden technology. With the orchard clusters of white trunks and vibrant flowers, its contrast only emphasized its evil intentions . Alec brushed the thought aside. He had been through here a week ago, and the Baroness had ensured his passage back, as long as a new contract could be negotiated. If not, he would likely never see the groves again for a very long time.
Alec avoided the public gate and wove his way toward the centre of the building and the VIP clearance gate. Waiving his credentials through the cockpit he glanced to the line at the main gate to find the slugger who had laughed at him now with his mouth agape as Alec passed unhindered through the high security zone. He could almost see their faces tense through the muddy glass of their viewports. He was sure they were wondering if the famed baronhood spirit of revenge would be directed their way for their previous laughter. Alec found the humour in that, even if it didn't touch his lips.
Leaving the station behind in the dust, Quip's Nano-adaptive tires morphed into the best suited grip for the red gravel roads that zig-zagging upwards to the white terracotta mansion of Baroness Veiss and her family. By now she would have been advised of his approach and would be glad to see Quip approaching their vila. If she every had the opportunity she would love to get her hands of Quip for she was one of the few who knew that his nickname was short for “Quantum Unified Intelligence Proxy” an advanced ranger transport unit in the automaton wars. In those unfortunate days, Quip had carried small teams of mercenaries on specialized missions. Uniquely armoured and deathly silent; his six-foot-tall tires were indestructable, able to withstand extreme heat or cold. Inside the vehicle contained an arsenal capable of levelling a medium sized city, and he could do it without any crew or outside control. Many others of Quips design had indeed gone rogue during the automaton war. Once the war was over, laws were passed banning the creation or possession of any form of artificial intelligence, and it was the one law that was universally agreed upon, regardless of creed, background or bloodline. Quip was a well-kept secret, like most aspects of Alec's life and Quip understood his position as illegal anomaly well which was way he listened to Alec, rather than the other way around.
That had been a vital part of Quip’s taming, and it was a battle of wills. When Alex had first climbed into the cockpit he was certain he had found another of the neutered units, stripped of all sentience and left for dead. He tried a few hot wire tricks he had learned during the wars and was surprised when Quip came to life like a wild horse. Wrenching the controls from Alecs hands the vehicle had driven down vertical surfaces, rolled end over end and done anything it could to toss Alec. Much to Quip’s dismay, it found an formidable and seasoned adversary in Alec. Bending the automaton to his will, Quip was forced into the swamp and fully submerged, starving his solar and O2 rechargers. Quip kept up the struggle until nightfall and just before his power reserves finally failed and ended its life, Quip acquiesced and agreed to live on in subservience to Alex.
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With the terms accepted, Alec had begun his work on Quip. Most of the weapons systems were removed, the payload systems turned into life support and Alecs ancient appliances of survival were connected to and enhanced by, the quantum sentience.
Alec opened the small hatch that connected the cockpit to the adapted living quarters he had created for himself from the former crew compartment. Slipping inside he stopped and looked at the form of a young man lashed onto the curved couch along the far wall.
"It is not yet conscious,” Quip noted in a dry tone. “Are you sure you did not kill it? The Viess female would not appreciate that turn of events. Given that this contract has been nearly twenty years to completion, it would be a shame to lose your prize now that we are so close to completion. According to your Centuric Calendar, once you collect your reward we will be facing a dry spell within contracts.” Quip paused a moment as if to collect its thoughts. It didn't need to but Quip knew it got under Alec's skin when it tried to sound human and slowed things up. "The promised vials must last until you can be employed again."
"I will make them last the next five weeks.". Alec found himself staring at his prisoner, his fingers subconsciously caressing to the bead on the coil of his hat. He had a firm rule against culling children; no matter how much Aamaranth was at stake. The boy was nineteen however, a young man that was being raised by a baron onother world so he had the innocence of an easy life etched across his soft features. He did not look the part of an adult.
"It appears as though your heart rate has increased," Quip chimed into his memories, dissipating them. “Are you reconsidering this contract?”
"Stop looking where your not supposed to be looking. I've told you that before, and I haven't got any issues unplugging whatever sensors I can get my hands on." Alec was half kidding, but also unnerved that the face of this boy could have him questioning things so close to the end of the agreement.
"So I can't look at the clearly obvious to my eyes, but you can put your hands anywhere you want? I thought your archaic honor system was running your prime directive."
"My system is less honor and more purpose, and in that purpose, you serve me." The words came off like a line a child learns to recite in a play. This contract was a textbook summary of centuries of similar contracts but unlike most, it had been too long in preparation.
Baroness Veiss had hired Alec twenty years ago after her only child had been struck and killed by a vehicle. A minor baron from a backwater planet had been negotiating a new transport price for his sluggers and, at a party, had enjoyed too much of the Baroness' Grape-blossom wine. Normally his inebriated driving would have resulted in a charge of manslaughter but he bought his way out of the charge. As a result, the cocky Baron became the target of Baroness Veiss, one of the few wealthy enough to afford the Aamaranth to engage Alec's skills for such an extended duration.
As per the agreement Alec had kept tabs on that baron and as luck would have it, the man turned a planet that had been pumped for every last drop of oil into prime real estate for ranching the ratfillo, in time becoming weathly through the export of genuine meat to the wealthiest on distant planets. That same Baron married a common woman from the ranches, and they worked alongside their people for prosperity of all. She bore him a son, and Alec's contract began to count down like a Rift-station clock.
At Alec's advisement, the Baroness had intentionally waited until the child was of adult age and ready to assume a key role in the baron’s ever expanding business. She wanted the bond between father and son to be as strong as possible, as powerful as the one she had enjoyed with her own child. Alec was to make his death look like an accident, a vehicle explosion with no body to recover, no explanation and no resolution. The Baron would then feel pain equal to Baroness Viess, and the circle would be complete as he would pay for the reckless actions of his father. The son however, would be taken to Baroness Veiss to live a life of servitude, a constant source of satisfaction to her dark soul.
Alex shook his head, the small bead tapping the rim of his hat. He wanted this deal to be over, to gain the vials of life-giving Aamaranth, then leave this world and never return.
