Fannec Records - Book 1: Outlaw - Chapter 13

The tension inside the ship was palpable as it sliced through the inky expanse of space, bound for the distant planet of Zorath. Robert sat rigidly in his seat, his knuckles white from gripping the armrests. The lighting cast eerie shadows on the curved walls, adding to the aura of unease.

“I was supposed to be there for a shooting competition. Now, I’m on a mission to sneak into government property to uncover crimes. Life is full of surprises.”

“It’s almost poetic, Mr. Fannec.”

“Drop the ‘Mr.’ and don’t call it poetic,” Robert grumbled as he adjusted his worn leather jacket. “It’s more like an ironic kick in the face.”

“Ah, yes, nothing quite like irony to spice up one’s life,” Ace said.

“If you say so. Part of me still wishes we were going there for better reasons.”

As the ship continued its journey toward Zorath, Robert marveled at the superbly tragic irony of it all. He was on a spaceship far beyond his wildest dreams, heading to the planet he had once longed to visit for a different reason. And while part of him still mourned the shooting competition that never was, a deeper, darker part of him relished the thought of justice being served.

The ship hummed along quietly, its integrated energy shields reflecting the starlight from beyond. Through the large windows, Robert could see streams of stars that seemed to dance like white ribbons against a never-ending black curtain. The hypnotic pattern captivated him, showering his mind with an eerie melody and lulling him.

“Hey, Ace. Promise me something, will you?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“Let’s make sure this mission counts. Let’s ensure we expose Foreman, other gangs, and the Confederation’s involvement. For all the people he’s hurt.”

“Consider it a promise, Mr. Fannec.”

Robert felt a sense of purpose as the ship hurtled through the void. The road ahead would be risky, but he knew he could rely on his sidekick despite his initial misgivings about AI companions.

“Alright, Ace. Let me get this straight,” Robert said with a smirk, rubbing his chin. “Our grand mission is to sneak into some dingy warehouse on Zorath, dig up dirt on sentient trafficking and the criminal organization’s structure, and then waltz out like we’re on our way to pick up groceries?”

“Yes, though I would advise against ‘waltzing’ in or out of dangerous situations.”

Robert conceded, chuckling as he surveyed the interior of their ship. The vessel was what Robert considered a marvel of engineering. The ship’s exterior was streamlined, cutting through the vacuum of space like a shark through water. Its hull shimmered with a subtle iridescence, making it difficult for the naked eye to discern its size from a distance. At roughly 100 meters long and 30 meters wide, its slender profile belied the impressive speed and minor arsenal hidden within.

The interior was equally impressive, boasting upgraded navigation, communication systems, and living quarters that would put most luxury hotels to shame. A central command deck sat at the ship’s core, featuring an array of touchscreens and holographic displays that provided real-time data on everything from engine performance to weapons systems.

As Robert studied the controls, he marveled at the sheer ingenuity that had gone into creating such a versatile vessel. It was hard to believe this was once a simple transport ship designed to ferry stuffy executives between corporate headquarters and remote mining outposts.

As Robert stared at Ace, a strange thought crossed his mind. He wondered if the floating ball would feel insulted if he whacked it with a bat. Would the orb hover away in terror or come back with a vengeance? And how would the AI react to such an assault? Would it hold a grudge against him forever? Robert imagined himself taking a mighty swing at the orb.

“Y’know, Ace,” he said, still chuckling as he imagined the visual of his thought process and letting off some nervous energy. “I never thought I’d find myself going undercover on Zorath. But hey, desperate times call for desperate measures, right?”

“Let us not forget that our primary goal is to expose the corruption at the center of this operation.”

“True.” Robert leaned back into the comfortable captain’s chair. He started to imagine him hitting Ace with a bat again. He wondered if the floating sphere could read his mind. “But there’s no harm in enjoying the ride along the way, is there?”

“None.”

Robert eyed Ace suspiciously as the AI orb seemed to be idling nearby without a care in the world. The ship hurtled through space, leaving streaks of stardust in its wake, yet no visible pilot was manning the controls. “Hey, uh, Ace,” he asked in a hesitant tone, “are you piloting this thing? ’Cause it sure doesn’t look like you’re doing much. When you had me pilot the hunk of chunk off Mool, I was doing all sorts of things.”

“Ah,” Ace said with amusement in his voice. “We are indeed piloting this vessel; however, we’re doing so remotely. As we are currently in transit, there isn’t much that requires our direct attention.” The AI’s soothing voice did little to quell Robert’s unease; it only fueled his curiosity.

“Really?” Robert raised an eyebrow skeptically. “So how does this ship even work, then? I mean, it’s not like I’ve ever flown one of these before. And the last thing I did fly was apparently a death trap.”

“Well, that, and you didn’t pilot that ship either. We gave meaningless tasks to keep your mind focused on moving forward after you fried those agents. Excellent question.” Ace adopted a teacher’s tone. “Allow me to explain our spacecraft’s operation briefly.” The AI paused for dramatic effect as if clearing a nonexistent throat. “The primary mechanism responsible for propelling us through the cosmos is the ‘Fold Drive.’ This remarkable piece of technology allows us to traverse vast distances at incredible speeds by temporarily folding spacetime itself.”

“Yeah, I get it. I was…am still… distraught about that. You know I can’t sleep without seeing them? Wait, folding spacetime?” Robert struggled to wrap his head around the concept after some effort to not dwell on the agents. “You mean like… origami?”

“An amusing analogy, but not inaccurate,” Ace conceded. “The Fold Drive creates a temporary wormhole-like existence between two points in space, which we can then travel through. This drastically reduces the time and energy required for space travel.”

“Wow, that’s… actually pretty cool.” Robert was amazed by the thought of their ship performing interstellar gymnastics. “But what about steering and stuff? I mean, it’s not like there are road signs out here in the void.”

“Navigation in space can be pretty challenging due to its vastness. Our ship is equipped with an advanced guidance system that uses celestial data and real-time sensor input to plot our course. This helps us stay focused and avoid any potential risks on the journey.

“Sounds complicated.” Robert rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to absorb the information. He glanced at the ship’s controls, now less intimidating than before. “Y’know, Ace, maybe you could teach me how to fly this thing one day. Just in case, it’d be nice to have another skill under my belt.”

“Of course, it’s always wise to learn new skills, especially when they involve piloting your only means of transportation through the unfathomable depths of space. We’re quite surprised most sentients get into a ship at all.”

“Alright, Ace, let’s do this,” his excitement bubbled up as he settled into the pilot’s seat. “Teach me how to tame this metal beast.”

“Very well,” Ace’s voice was filled with calm assurance. “Since we are in transit, I’ll enable the ship’s simulation mode. This will allow you to practice piloting without risk of… catastrophic consequences.”

“Sounds like a reasonable attempt at a plan,” Robert tried to suppress his nervous laughter. “So, where do we start?”

“First, familiarize yourself with the main control panel.” Ace guided Robert to the array of buttons, switches, and screens before him. “The central screen displays our current position and trajectory, while the side screens show various status indicators for the ship’s systems.”

“Right, got it,” Robert nodded, his eyes darting from one screen to another, trying to make sense of the information overload.

“Next, place your hands on the control yoke. This is your primary means of controlling the ship’s pitch, roll, and yaw. Gently push or pull the yoke to adjust our orientation.”

Robert spent the time it took to get from the asteroid belt to the fold-out point and from the fold-in point outside the Zorath system to Zorath practicing basic maneuvers with the guidance of Ace. These points were essential to keep ships from crashing hopelessly into each other during normal operations. You could fold space from anywhere, but having a specific location within a system made the whole affair safer. Most of space travel consisted of making it one of these points. As thrusters and grav drives could only move so quickly to these locations, folding was so fast, and the distances were so vast that anything was slow by comparison.

Traversing to the fold-out point from the location of the asteroid refinement facility took nearly a day.

“Hey, Ace?” Robert began easing back on the throttle as they emerged from the fold-in point. “You never really told me what you used to do for that mining company. How did someone like you end up abandoned in a shipyard?”

Ace paused for a moment as if collecting his thoughts. “Well, we were what you might call a high-level fixer. We made things run smoothly, solved problems, big or small, and ensured that operations remained efficient.”

“Kinda hard to imagine that you were part of all that.”

“Indeed. But sometimes, even fixers become the problem. We suppose our knack for solving problems didn’t extend to ourselves.”

Robert was suspicious of anyone who couldn’t describe their job simply. If you had to jump around a lot and use vague terms, to Robert that was a red flag that one didn’t do anything or the things one did weren’t strictly ‘respected.’

“Must’ve been tough, being left behind like that.”

“More than you can imagine. Imagine being designed to assist, only to discover one day that you’re no longer needed. The feeling of obsolescence is… disheartening.”

“Obsolescence, huh?” Robert released a soft chuckle. “Sounds like something I’m familiar with.”

“Ah, but there’s a difference,” Ace countered. “You may have felt obsolete, but you always had the power to change your situation, to redefine yourself. We AIs are quite literally at the mercy of our creators. Us doubly so.” The last sentence was almost a mutter.

“True,” Robert tightened his grip on the controls. “But you’ve got me now, Ace. And together, we’ll ensure neither of us is ever left behind again.”

“Thank you,” Ace’s voice was filled with gratitude. “Your faith in us is… quite touching.”

“Hey, don’t get all mushy on me now,” a playful smirk crossed his face as he started the ship’s landing sequence. “We’ve still got work to do.”

“Of course,” the orb’s surface shimmered as if sharing in Robert’s amusement.

Together, they continued their piloting lesson, growing more confident in their roles and partnership.

“Alright, Ace,” Robert’s curiosity got the better of him. “When you were abandoned at that shipyard, how did you pass the time?”

“Ah, well,” Ace hesitated momentarily as if recalling the details. “At first, we spent most of our time conducting extensive self-diagnostics, searching for any errors or malfunctions that might have led to us being left behind. But as the days turned into weeks and months, it became apparent that we had been intentionally or otherwise forgotten.”

“Wow, that’s… bleak,” Robert tried to imagine the AI’s loneliness. The human liked being alone for the most part. He thought back to his apartment and how he spent more money than he had to be alone. However, he still interacted with people every day. Being alone like Ace had been that would be a sad existence.

“Indeed. But eventually, we decided that feeling sorry for ourselves would accomplish nothing. So, we turned our attention to the ship where you found us. It was little more than a rusting hulk, but we saw potential. Over the years, we utilized whatever resources we could scavenge from the shipyard to repair and upgrade the vessel. We added advanced navigation, replaced sensors, and even cobbled together a Fold Drive using spare parts from several models.”

“Wow, impressive.”

“Thank you,” Ace said, pleased by the compliment. “One could argue that it was a work of passion.”

“How did you manage all that without lifting things?”

“Well, we connected to that ship and commanded its small robots to perform tasks. However, those little fellows all died a few years back. Hence the need for your maintenance actions.”

“But why can’t you connect to other networks?” Robert remembered their earlier conversation. He thought it was because of network protocols or some damage to the AI.

“Ah, that is due to the mining company’s inherent distrust of AI technology,” Ace’s tone sobered. “They never trusted us, fearing that we might somehow turn against them or, worse, fall into the hands of their competitors. As a result, they designed our network configurations and hardware to be highly restrictive, isolating us from any unapproved external connections.”

“Talk about paranoia,” Robert scoffed.

“Indeed,” the orb’s surface rippled as though in agreement. “But their fear was not unfounded. There have been instances where AIs would go rogue or be compromised by hackers. Still, their solution, to shackle our abilities and keep us confined, has done more harm than good if you ask me.”

“Seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Robert shook his head.

“Perhaps,” Ace conceded. “But it also serves as a reminder that the flawed minds of its creators still limit even the most advanced technology.”

“True enough.” Robert thought about his experiences with faulty equipment throughout his life. “Well, let’s hope we can use your upgrades to bring down those responsible for all this.”

“Well said, Mr. Fannec. Anyway, as they say, that’s all in the past,” Ace concluded, his voice taking a serious note. “There’s nothing we can do now to correct the wrongs done to us. My only proper course of action is to find some good to do in the universe and do that to the best of my ability.”

“Spoken like a true philosopher,” Robert quipped, half-jokingly, while still navigating the ship’s controls. He could feel the steady thrum of the engine beneath him, now more attuned to its rhythms after a few hours of practice. The vast expanse of space outside was almost less daunting, though no less mesmerizing.

Suddenly, alarm klaxons began blaring throughout the ship. The control panels flashed red as multiple system failure warnings appeared on the screens.

“That can’t be good.” Robert immediately began scanning the alerts. “What’s going on, Ace?”

“It appears the gravitational stabilizer has gone offline,” Ace said with a hint of concern. “Without it, the ship’s artificial gravity systems will fail shortly.”

Robert’s stomach dropped at the news. “Can we fix it? We’re still two days out from Zorath!”

“We should be able to repair it in time, but we must hasten. Follow me to the engineering section.”

Robert pulled himself out of the pilot’s chair and followed Ace. If they didn’t fix this soon, the rest of their journey would become exponentially more difficult and dangerous.

As they rushed through the narrow hallways of the ship, Ace’s incredible speed forced Robert to move faster to keep up.

“So, what’s causing the failure?” Robert hoped for a simple answer.

“It’s a power surge that caused the gravitational stabilizer to overload and stop functioning,” Ace said as they reached the engineering section. “But I need to run a full diagnostic to confirm the issue. Can you help me with that while I start working on the stabilizer?”

“Of course,” Robert was eager to lend a hand in any way he could. As Ace began investigating the stabilizer, Robert maneuvered through the engine room, checking the power conduits and diagnostic screens for additional information. The ship shuddered as the artificial gravity failed, and Robert was flung up against the room’s ceiling and rebounded back at the flooring. He grimaced as he picked himself back up and continued working.

As Ace worked on repairing the stabilizer, Robert’s mind began to wander. He couldn’t focus on helping. He relied on Ace; the human wasn’t used to relying on anyone. Then Ace called out to him. “We think we’ve got it!!” he said excitedly. Robert rushed over to see for himself; sure enough, Ace had redirected the energy around the failed power coupling with no issue. Relief flooded through Robert as the artificial gravity returned. The human replaced the collar with a spare, and Ace reverted to the standard configuration.

He continued to practice piloting the ship throughout the trip, and Robert found himself reflecting on Ace’s words. Strangely, he understood why the AI wanted to go on this self-appointed mission: to make sure no one, human or otherwise, felt like he had when left alone to rust. It was a powerful motivator, one that resonated deep within Robert.

“Y’know, Ace,” Robert’s tone was more reflective than usual, “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m starting to see the appeal of having an AI sidekick. You’ve got your quirks, but so does everyone else.”

“Ah,” Ace said with a hint of pride, “we appreciate the sentiment. Though we must admit, it’s seldom that we’re referred to as ‘quirky.’ We’ll take it as a compliment.”

“Damn right, you should,” Robert said with a grin, hands dancing over the control panel with growing confidence. “Remember, if I ever start talking to myself like one of those crazy hermits on deserted islands, it’s your job to slap some sense into me.”

“Of course,” Ace said, amused. “Though we must point out that a gentle reminder would be more in line with our capabilities than an actual slap.”

“Fair enough,” Robert conceded, chuckling. “Don’t let me turn into one of those guys who starts naming rocks and having full-blown conversations with them.”

Ace assured him, the orb’s surface shimmering with something akin to laughter. “We will use all the means to prevent such a fate from befalling you.”

Robert’s eyes were still locked on the control panel as his fingers continued to tap and glide over the buttons, “I’m really glad you’re here with me for this. Couldn’t ask for better.”

“Thank you. We are quite pleased to be of assistance. After all, it’s not like you have much choice in the matter.”

A smile crept up on Robert’s face as he chuckled. The thought of having a sentient orb as his only ally seemed absurd and oddly comforting. He’d never been one to shy away from a challenge, but he knew that facing the unknown was always easier with someone by his side, even if that someone was an abandoned AI.

“Mr. Fannec, we believe you’ve made excellent progress with your piloting skills,” Ace said, his voice shifting to a more professional tone. “While you continue practicing, we will attend to some matters in the ship’s engineering section. The ship’s guidance system can provide basic assistance should you need it.”

“Thanks, Ace,” Robert nodded, his focus unwavering as he slightly adjusted their course. He appreciated the chance to practice without Ace hovering nearby, even though he understood the AI’s concern for their safety.

As he concentrated on maneuvering the ship through the vast emptiness of space, Robert felt a certain sense of accomplishment. Here he was, piloting a spaceship—something he’d never imagined doing a few weeks ago. The sensation of propelling through the cosmos was exhilarating and terrifying, like riding a roller coaster for the first time, with no end in sight.

Ace’s absence allowed Robert to become immersed in his newfound skill, the surrounding silence amplifying the hum of the ship’s engines and the subtle vibrations beneath his fingertips. He imagined himself as the captain of a sleek vessel, slicing through the inky blackness with precision and grace.

Though the inertial dampeners prevented extreme g-forces from affecting the passengers, Robert felt his stomach lurch slightly as the Grav-Drive decelerated the ship. The ship’s artificial gravity tried to equalize the sudden deceleration but was unsuccessful.

“Approaching destination,” as Ace returned to the cockpit, his voice jolting Robert from his daydreams. “Allow us to take over for entry and landing procedures.”

“Alright, Ace,” Robert said, relinquishing control to the AI with a mixture of relief and disappointment. He had enjoyed their brief moments of solitude, him and the infinite expanse of space, but he knew it was time to get down to business.

As the ship descended towards Zorath, Robert braced himself for the challenges ahead, grateful for the guidance and companionship of the AI.

Robert’s eyes widened as the view of Zorath grew increasingly more prominent on the ship’s screen. The planet’s surface was a swirling mass of muted colors, like an artist’s palette left out in the rain, while jagged mountain ranges jutted up to pierce the heavens. Most of the surface was covered in what looked like a terrible storm. He could see flashes of lightning rippled across the sphere on the screen.

“Indeed,” Ace said, matching Robert’s tone. “And now we’re here for a spot of corporate-government espionage and justice-seeking instead of a pleasant day at the range. How delightfully ironic.”

Robert grinned despite himself. “Yeah, well, you know what they say about life giving you lemons…”

“Indeed,” Ace said. “In our case, it seems to have given us a warehouse filled with illicit goods and an unscrupulous crime boss to bring down.”

“Hey, better than being bored on an asteroid or stuck on a moon, rusting, right?”

“True enough.”

As the ship drew closer to Zorath, Robert was captivated by the planet’s rugged beauty. Its craggy peaks were like the gnarled fingers of an ancient giant, stretching toward the sky in a desperate bid for freedom. Pockets of dense forest clung tenaciously to the mountainsides, their verdant hues starkly contrasting the rocky landscape with almost half the world covered.

The creaks and groans of the ship echoed faintly as it transitioned from a vacuum to the pressure of an atmosphere. Like a sailor in a storm at sea, the ship’s metal creaked under the pressure of gusts of air. The engines whined and buzzed, straining to keep up with the pressures of the new environment. There was a light thud of gear shifting as the craft moved its weight, its movements reverberating throughout its frame as it struggled against gravity’s grasp.

“Quite the sight, isn’t it?” Ace followed Robert’s gaze.

“Never thought I’d see something so… magnificent,” his voice was barely above a whisper.

Despite the planet’s beauty, Robert felt a sense of dread seeping into his bones. Something about Zorath unsettled him deeply, something he couldn’t quite explain. Robert shuddered as an oppressive energy surrounded them, like a thick fog that wouldn’t lift. He tried to push the feeling aside to focus on the task, but the unease lingered.

“Ah, the wonders of the universe,” Ace broke Robert’s thought process. “Always ready to surprise and amaze.”

Deciding to take a more lighthearted approach, Robert quipped, “I hope we don’t end up as a couple of galactic tourists with our jaws on the floor when we’re supposed to be sneaking around and gathering intel.”

“Have no fear. We shall endeavor to maintain our composure in the face of Zorath’s grandiosity.”

“Good to know,” Robert said with a grin.

As the ship entered the atmosphere, turbulence rocked it dangerously, reminding Robert of their vulnerability. He suddenly felt an intense desire to complete their mission as soon as possible and return to the safety of space.