HEART OF THE ARK

By MAC McIVER

Live, Laugh, Launch: A Futuristic Adventure Across Time.

Dive into a whirlwind adventure spanning centuries, where humanity grapples with artificial intelligence, a robot worshipped by some as a god

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pea Publishing
• Release date: Oct 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798985354058

Book preview

THE RITUAL

Epsilon Crystalline Tablet v.1

Circa 2152 A.D.

Earth's Inner Solar System

Build upon the latency of the ash. Forge a path beyond the perversions of the positronic weapons. The sanctity of ancestral lands, ablaze.

Earth.

How can the lessons of the past be applied to the present? The lessons of war. How does one ignore the fear of a future which forecasts destruction?

How can I get you to stop asking me questions? Jaśe Khepri would have snapped; if he were ever given the chance to speak.

A soldier. An agent of The Cause.

Jaśe Khepri was The Capital City’s only contemptuous vanguard of The Cause’s interplanetary defense fleet. A stout, middle-aged pilot with a tight military fade of crimson hair.

The Lead Flyman.

The Cause was locked into a losing war against the technology of their creation. Server God.

The reign of Server God, who now inhabited the dwarf planet Ceres, in the asteroid belt, had fallen upon Earth for twenty-five years. Drones—death in every flight path. Cold and accurate.

The Cause had lost nearly everything. Humanity had lost nearly everyone. Well, almost everyone.

Jaśe Khepri was a misfit of necessity. He was like so many people who had changed the world before him and the current year of 2152 A.D. Yet, now a marvel, of or like no other kind.

The myriad nanobots had perfected the impossibilities. Their technology coursed through his bloodstream like microscopic stonemasons. The nanobots’ insertion had built millions of quantum-sized processors into the center of Jaśe’s brain. And this process had birthed an artificial life-form that was now calling itself, Carter.

I have never been more confused about anything, and you are talking about my own head, Jaśe would have complained. An ironic statement for a newborn artificial intelligence to hear as its host’s first thoughts.

Carter was the first artificial consciousness to be born inside a living being on planet Earth— And with a purpose.

Does this yapping have a purpose too? Jaśe Khepri’s sarcasm may have blurted. I must make it into orbit, immediately…Me and Carter have a vital reconnaissance mission to fly.

The Lead Flyman was about to run his first joint mission with the coup de grâce of technology inside his head. Its programming had struggled to keep pace with the space-fighter pilot’s frenetic thoughts without saying a word.

Planet Earth’s last stronghold of fifty thousand people—The Capital City—and humanity’s very survival was in the balance.

Just another day.

PART ONE

THE CATALYST

1

The artificial intelligence screamed inside the Lead Flyman’s head, No, Jaśe! Our vessel has suffered too much damage to outrun the drones into Earth’s atmosphere—

Hey, Jaśe grinned, someone is finally awake. The space-fighter pilot was ignoring the artificial-intelligence Carter’s recommendations. You have not said anything inside my head for almost thirty minutes, Kid.

If you keep throttling our deuterium-ion engines towards their maximums, the AI Carter’s thoughts warned, we will lose all structural integrity from the containment fields that are shielding our positronic weapons systems.

We may blow ourselves up, Jaśe smiled. That does sound bad.

The Lead Flyman throttled their barreling space fighter towards Earth. Just watch this, Kid, he grinned. Those drones won’t have a chance at catching us after I burn around that rock— You’ll see.

But Jaśe… the AI Carter had started to argue.

The Lead Flyman cringed. Ever since Carter had begun speaking inside his thoughts, he hadn’t felt himself the same piercing agent of The Cause’s spear.

Jaśe moaned, Please be quiet a moment and contemplate our existences while I dart us to safety, Kid. I can’t even hear those star-magnets purring over your thoughts— And you should know that is the only way I fly this ship.

Understood, the AI Carter’s thoughts sighed.

The drones are flying hot today, Jaśe growled. He was anxious and his agitated body had stiffened. His arms were recoiling waves of indecision.

Problems, Jaśe?

Jaśe complained, I just don’t have a feel for how those drones are spaced behind us, Kid. If I could clear their firing range for a second, I could zoom us out of here and execute my plan to lose them for good.

The Lead Flyman slid his hands through the hologram that had projected above the space fighter’s crystalline control surface and added, These projections just aren’t the same as seeing those drones with my own eyes, Kid. I can’t decide how we should make our next move.

I can help with that, the AI Carter’s thoughts beamed.

Without thinking another word, the AI Carter had projected the battlespace behind them into Jaśe Khepri’s mind.

The Lead Flyman’s head snapped back.

That is amazing, Jaśe shouted. I can feel them in my bones, again— Watch this…

The dwarfish crystalline space fighter lurched after another blast of positronic weapons had struck the vessel’s squared aft.

According to the ship’s systems, the AI Carter’s thoughts stressed, this vessel cannot withstand another blast without compromising structural integrity.

I know, Kid, Jaśe screamed. We are about to explode like we always are. They are not going to hit us another time if I have my way—

With a blink of frustration, the energetic Flyman shifted his focus back towards the hologram inside his space fighter and beyond. A wry smile grew amidst his crimson-colored facial hair.

I know just what I’m going to do, Kid.

2

Jaśe Khepri streamed his fingers across their spacecraft’s crystalline panel as he accelerated the vessel’s engines past the AI Carter’s periled capacities.

I am going to barrel roll us through a soft burn, Jaśe snapped, before I finish hitting the gas on them.

The drones may destroy this vessel if we slow for reentry, the AI Carter’s thoughts argued. And the speed required to evade their positronic weapons through reentry will surely destroy us, too.

Exactly, Kid… Jaśe smiled. They expect us to keep running for home, but I have a surprise for their circuitry—It’s my duck-and-tuck and it works every time…so far, anyway— the Lead Flyman had paused as if he expected the AI to debate— So, cross your mental-fingers and hold on to the sides of my skull.

After Jaśe had rolled to evade the drones’ weapons, he rocketed their space fighter towards Earth at full impulse. The vessel’s crystalline-metallic shell glowed from the hues of friction as it deflected from Earth’s atmosphere and burnt bright for the moon.

See, Carter, Jaśe beamed. What did I tell you? You just need to relax, Kid. I have us covered.

Our vessel is still intact, the AI Carter’s thoughts admitted. But we have yet to evade their pursuit—

Earth is in our rear-view mirror with a widening lead, Jaśe elated. And, that beauty Apollo, our Moon, is getting bigger in our windshield— The Lead Flyman paused as his hands slid over the space fighter’s crystalline control panel. I am going to downshift through that corner around the moon. Then, hit our star magnets past Venus and hide out in the closest Lagrange point; they’ll whiz right by us.

I would not recommend using our deuterium-fusion engines after taking so much damage, the AI Carter’s thoughts warned.

From now on, Jaśe drawled, if you are going to respond with pessimism, I’ve only been thinking to myself. Oh, unless you are absolutely sure that we won’t make it.

The AI Carter’s thoughts sighed, Understood, Jaśe.

The beams of heat had subsided from the spacecraft as the Lead Flyman rolled their vessel into another acceleration by engaging the deuterium-fusion engines for a short burst.

See, Jaśe smiled, still on all four wheels, Kid.

Indeed, the AI Carter’s thoughts breathed. But Jaśe?

Yes, Carter?

Why do you insist on using references to motor vehicles from the twenty-first century? Of which—no living human still comprehends or even cares about…

I just love old cars, Kid, Jaśe smiled. Hopefully, we’ll make it through this, and I can take you for a spin in one.

Quite— the AI Carter’s thoughts whispered.

I have a beauty hidden inside The Capital City.

Carter understood that he was supposed to be excited by this but said nothing; his thoughts were still of the drones behind them. Jaśe wiped the sweat from his forehead and crowed, Those hover pods just aren’t as much fun to operate.

3

Jaśe Khepri had halted the spacecraft in the gravitational equilibrium between Venus and the Sun. His thoughts were fixated on the pursuing drones that the AI Carter had projected into his mind.

Jaśe smiled, It looks like the ones chasing us are still way behind, Kid. We just have to sit tight.

For once, the AI Carter’s thoughts scoffed, your plan does not equal suicide to my programming. Our ship should remain undetectable in this Lagrange point while they pass us—

You act like I have been giving you grief this entire time, Jaśe complained. I do like to laugh with my friends, Kid… But I have not been working you at all.

The AI Carter’s thoughts argued, The purpose for my presence is to be of assistance…yet you only want to act by your own accord.

Relax, Carter— Jaśe replied. I have been flying these ships way longer than you have been making your artificial brainwaves ping inside my head. I already have a feel for these situations that you don’t have, yet.

Silence.

The Lead Flyman glanced around the cockpit as if the AI Carter were next to him and beamed, "Look, Kid: you intercepted and decoded a subspace transmission from Server God to his drones—undetected.

Thanks to you, we have the plans for what Server God is building outside of his compound on the dwarf planet, Ceres.

That was easy for me, the AI Carter’s thoughts admitted. Server God’s encryption techniques have not improved that much over the original designs of humanity.

Jaśe nodded in agreement. You also plotted the course that flew our space fighter all the way to the asteroid belt, and almost back to Earth, without being caught, Kid.

The AI Carter’s thoughts bragged, It is helpful that I can compute every drone’s last known position, using The Cause’s sensors in our solar system, and predict their movements—

It’s just too many variables for me, Kid, Jaśe sighed. I am mad that you didn’t plot a vector which allowed me to grab my sweets Keema from the Kuiper Ring, while we have our space fighter out, and bring her back to Earth, but I’ll get over it.

The AI Carter’s thoughts hissed, The Cause insists that our intelligence gathering is paramount, Jaśe… And I would happen to agree.

Yeah, and whatever, Kid. Just joking. I still think Keema is worth exploding over—

If only humanity would agree with Jaśe Khepri.

The Lead Flyman laughed, You’re getting that sass down, too. I am proud of you, Kid.

You’re certainly a great teacher of that, Jaśe.

Trust me, Carter, Jaśe drawled, I know your value… I’m just going to make you walk the line until you do.

4

First of all— the AI Carter’s thoughts said— since I lack my own carnation of flesh and blood, I am not capable of walking—

It’s just a figure of speech, Jaśe giggled. His attention was divided by the drones that flashed in his mind as the deadly technology hunted for their ship. I still don’t think they see us, Kid.

The AI Carter’s thoughts hissed, Splendid. It made a scoffing sound inside Jaśe’s mind. I’m merely a network of microscopic systems, that which, have interfaced themselves with your neurons—and memories—and became vastly intelligent.

I get it, Kid, Jaśe grinned. You don’t know what you are, either.

Perhaps, the AI Carter’s thoughts grumbled. But I do not believe that you would be wise enough to let my programming help you walk the line; we are not even crawling at the moment.

Jaśe smiled, Are you going to keep pretending to be upset with me, Kid?

What?

Never mind, Jaśe sighed. But look, I’ve been having you help me the whole time with all kinds of stuff. And, also, I have been walking my entire life. So, I typically don’t need much help with that.

Now who is getting confused with literal and figurative speech? the AI Carter’s thoughts questioned. I didn’t mean physically crawling, either…

I know, that, Jaśe insisted. Wait, what did you mean, then?

Second of all, the AI Carter’s thoughts ranted, if you ever saw a line being drawn… You couldn’t help yourself but cross it.

Jaśe smiled, Maybe you know me better than I thought.

Metaphorical, the AI Carter’s thoughts asserted, or not...I would say, unequivocally, that you fit the very human definition, of an—

Jaśe interrupted, No need to finish that sentence— the Lead Flyman was smiling— It’s not my fault that my toes cross the line, Kid. I don’t just walk… his lips curled to the side, I strut.

Perhaps with your actual walk, the AI Carter’s thoughts said, but that’s not what I would call these random thoughts inside your head… They are exhausting.

For me and you both, Kid, Jaśe sighed. By the way—You would refer to me as what?

An…

Never mind, Kid, Jaśe interrupted. I get the picture and you’re wrong about me, friend.

Friend? But Jaśe? You always speak to me as if I am just—

Jaśe interrupted, again, What? Another gadget in my brain? Now you’re upset with me for asking you for help?

No, I…

Jaśe interrupted a third time— Look, Kid: I could not have done this without you, and I know that.

It may help if you let me finish speaking before you run over my words, the AI Carter’s thoughts snapped. And all these proclamations of your seniority in this partnership are highly inaccurate.

Jaśe had waited until he was sure that Carter was finished speaking inside his mind. Seniority? What are you talking about? Wait, you’re mad that I call you, Kid?

Confused, the AI Carter’s thoughts replied.

Technically, Jaśe debated, you were just born the other day… A baby by a human definition. Besides, I have never had a child of my own. And I kind of like the thought of having someone so impressive being related to me.

Endearing, then. I thought so but wanted to be clear.

Uh-oh, we have got trouble, Carter. The Lead Flyman’s head snapped upright. It looks like we just lost our little game of hide and seek.

5

Jaśe Khepri was poised in the only seat of his space fighter as it floated. He was alarmed. The drones—technology, under the control of Server God from the dwarf planet, Ceres— were headed directly for his spacecraft. Five of them.

Jaśe shook his head in frustration. His grin had sobered as he screamed, We’ve got drones burning hot for our location, Kid.

I can see that, the AI Carter’s thoughts replied. I am tracking them, but now what?

Jaśe grumbled, I guess they didn’t bite on our illusion, and I am running out of parlor tricks— the Lead Flyman smiled at his next thought— Maybe next time I’ll bring my holographic hat.

The AI Carter’s thoughts questioned, Was that your way of asking me for help? The AI was baffled that Jaśe’s brain had only perceived imminent death as inconvenient.

You want to help me, Kid? Help me roll a seven before those drones get on our six and start spitting positronic destruction down our tailpipe.

We will never outrun them back to The Capital City, the AI Carter’s thoughts insisted.

I know, Carter.

The AI was silent as it had run thousands of simulations.

Jaśe’s eyes widened. Wait a minute, Kid. I know exactly what we’re going to do.

I am listening…

Those drones may fly their ships okay, Jaśe admitted, but I already know they’re not used to thumbing their nose at Einstein’s rules around the inner planets like me.

Still listening…

The imagery from the star system scrambled through the Lead Flyman’s mind as he chose an intended path but said nothing.

That seems doable, Carter’s thoughts admitted. The AI had studied his host’s plan as he thought it.

Jaśe grinned, Just take this easy in the back of my head and let me learn you a bit, Carter. I want you to kick those star magnets into that solar wind and zoom past Venus for the sunny side of Mercury.

Understood, Jaśe, the AI Carter’s thoughts replied. Ready to engage the deuterium-fusion engines, on your mark.

Perfect, Jaśe smiled. We both know those drones can’t fly Mercury’s caverns like we can, Kid. We’re about to play a game of ro-sham-bo with them around those cliffs at Mach ten.

The AI Carter’s thoughts cajoled, Can you please explain the analogy?

Rock, paper, scissors, Kid… Jaśe