Chapter 29 - Bad Coffee, Good Dreams

  “All hail, the conquering hero!” Darius crowed dramatically as he burst through the door of the safehouse, duffle bag banging awkwardly against his hip.

  The startled cursing and scramble of activity from the living room had a somewhat manic grin crossing his face as he rounded the corner to find Tarek returning his rifle to its spot beside the couch with a disgruntled expression.

  “I take it things went well, then?” Harlan asked, poking his head into the room from the kitchen with a raised eyebrow.

  “Of course it did, I’m a natural!” Darius retorted, swaying a little.

  “Are you drunk?” Tarek asked incredulously, eyeing his rifle like he wanted an excuse to use it.

  “I wish,” Darius grumbled. “No, I’m running on about twenty minutes of sleep, and waaaay more adrenaline than is healthy. Not to mention the knock-off energy drink I got from a broken vending machine.”

  “Right, then,” Harlan said, voice thick with amusement. “By the sounds of things, it’s a miracle you’re not even more loopy. Let’s get the conquering hero debriefed before he collapses on my floor.”

  “Much obliged,” Darius snorted softly, tossing his duffle bag onto the couch before slumping down next to it.

  “That bad, huh?” Harlan asked sympathetically. “Being able to fall asleep anywhere is a skill that takes a long time to learn.”

  “Worse,” Darius said, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Tunnels are awful. Every noise sounds like it’s either a patrol or some nightmare creature about to eat your face. Turns out, sleeping underground isn’t exactly restful.”

  “Shocking,” Tarek deadpanned.

  Harlan chuckled, leaning against the doorway. “Well, it sounds like you had a fun night.”

  “Define ‘fun,’“ Darius muttered. He rubbed his eyes, stifling a yawn before fumbling in his jacket for the bypass kit, passing it over to Harlan. “Anyway, mission accomplished. Got the floorplans, schematics, all that good stuff. The Empire’s most boring secrets, now available in portable form. Should be everything you need on the internal storage.”

  Tarek was already ignoring him in favour of plugging the device into a dataslate and swiping through the files. Harlan pushed off the doorway and came over to peer at the datapad over his shoulder. “Looks legit,” he said, nodding slightly. “Good work.”

  “Thanks, boss,” Darius mumbled, his words slurring slightly as his head tipped back. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be unconscious for the next decade.”

  “Not on my couch,” Tarek said without looking up. “Go crash in your room.”

  Darius groaned but heaved himself upright, his limbs moving with the sluggish coordination of someone half-asleep on his feet. “Fine, fine. Wake me if the world ends.”

  “Will do,” Harlan said, his tone lightly amused.

  * * *

  A couple of hours of sleep was all that he could manage in the end. It had always been a source of annoyance for him – he’d never quite managed to figure out the art of napping. It just felt vaguely wrong to be asleep during the day.

  Faint voices drifted through the door to his room, low enough that he couldn’t quite make out the words.

  Darius blinked at the ceiling, his brain still sluggish despite the couple of hours of sleep he’d managed to steal. It wasn’t much, but it had been enough to shake off the worst of the tunnel-induced exhaustion. Still, the noise outside was irritating. With a resigned sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and rubbed at his face.

  “Echo,” he muttered, his voice thick with sleep. “Any idea what the chatter’s about?”

  {It seems Harlan, Tarek, Corin, and Lena are reviewing the data you retrieved. They are speaking about the next steps in your mission. Would you like me to amplify their voices for clarity?}

  “Whole gang’s together, huh?” Darius asked rhetorically, yawning. “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.” He stood, stretched until his back popped, and shuffled toward the door. “Besides, I need a break from all the cloak-and-dagger stuff. It’s exhausting.”

  {Your physiological indicators suggest that exhaustion is still a significant factor. Perhaps you should rest further.}

  “Would if I could, buddy,” Darius replied dryly. “Probably better to hold out until tonight anyway, or I’ll screw up my sleep schedule worse than it already is.”

  He pulled the door open and stepped into the common area, scratching the back of his head.

  The voices cut off as he entered, everybody looking up from where they were clustered around the table. Darius was amused to see that Harlan’s model had been moved off to one side and everyone was clustered around the dataslate with the 3D model Echo had drawn up.

  “Well, don’t stop on my account,” Darius said, raising a hand in mock surrender. “I’m not here to eavesdrop—just need coffee or something equally life-sustaining.”

  “About time you surfaced,” Corin quipped, leaning back in his chair. “Thought we might have to check if you were still breathing.”

  Darius made a face, ambling toward the kitchenette. “A close thing, to be sure.” he rummaged through the cabinets, eventually unearthing a slightly chipped mug into which he poured a cup of the not-quite-coffee concoction they kept on hand. He grimaced as the bitter liquid hit his tongue. “Perfect. Tastes like cardboard. Now I can officially rejoin the land of the living.”

  Harlan cleared his throat, drawing Darius’s attention to where the rest of the team was still gathered. “We were just going over the schematics you retrieved,” he said, nodding toward the dataslate. “They’re solid. Should give us everything we need to navigate the garrison.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Darius said, leaning against the counter. “What’s the next move then?”

  “That’s what we’re figuring out now,” Harlan said, nodding towards the dataslate on the table. “We need to have an idea of what our haul is going to look like, not to mention the logistics of getting it all out of the base and to somewhere we can hide it while the heat dies down.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “You’re clearly not listening, then” Tarek groused.

  “Another benefit of being independent,” Harlan interjected, sending a faintly chiding glance Tarek’s way, “You’re off the hook for this side of things – unless, of course, we think we’re going to need your special talents. Feel free to take the rest of the day off. Get some rest, even if it’s not sleeping. You’re no good to us dead on your feet.”

  “Don’t have to tell me twice,” Darius said, draining the last of his coffee and setting the mug aside. He offered the group a lazy two-fingered salute before retreating back to his room.

  His duffle bag sat in the corner where he’d dropped it earlier, and now that he was alone, it practically demanded his attention.

  “Well, let’s get a better idea of what I managed to nab last night,” he muttered to himself, crouching to unzip the bag. Two processing units sat side by side, their casings sleek and matte—exactly the kind of high-end hardware the Empire loved hoarding. Next to them were the eight data drives he’d managed to salvage, not quite as expensive as the processing units, but much easier to sell.

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  “…I really don’t know where to go from here,” Darius admitted after a moment. “This is the first time I’ve stolen anything more expensive than a burrito.”

  {Ignoring that for the moment, locating a buyer is the most efficient course of action. Once you have liquidated these assets, you will have the flexibility to acquire the necessary materials and tools.}

  “Heh, ‘liquidating these assets’. You make it sound so professional.”

  {One of us has to.}

  “Woah, that was actually snappy,” Darius reared back in mock hurt. “You’re starting to get the hang of this.”

  {Your tendency to underestimate me is as consistent as your fondness for sarcasm,} Echo replied smoothly.

  Darius chuckled, lifting one of the processing units to inspect it more closely. “Alright, let’s think this through. If I’m going to start building your frame, I’m going to need some decent tools. A soldering kit is a no-brainer. Maybe a precision screwdriver set. And definitely a diagnostic scanner to make sure I don’t accidentally fry anything.”

  {Agreed. Those are essential for assembly and testing. Additionally, consider acquiring a small 3D printer. It will allow you to fabricate custom components for the frame that may be difficult to obtain otherwise.}

  Darius winced. “Yeah, I figured you’d say that. Those things aren’t cheap, though. Even the janky ones cost more than I’m comfortable spending right now.”

  {The investment will pay off in efficiency. While I can assist in optimizing the frame’s design, certain components will require precise manufacturing. A 3D printer would eliminate the need for reliance on third-party fabrication.}

  “Fine, I’ll keep an eye out for a deal,” Darius muttered, placing the processing unit back into the duffle bag. “What about the rest of the basics? You think I’ll be able to salvage any of this stuff, or are we stuck buying everything?”

  {For the majority of your requirements, a salvage yard should suffice. However, accessing one will likely necessitate navigating the tunnels again, as they provide the most discreet routes to locations with unregulated goods.}

  “Ugh, more tunnels,” Darius groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “My favourite place in the galaxy.”

  Echo ignored his complaining. {In the meantime, you should prioritize liquidating the excess components. Retain the processors and two of the data drives; they will be critical for the core systems. The remaining drives can be sold to fund the additional tools and materials.}

  Darius nodded, shifting through the bag to separate the parts he planned to keep. “Makes sense. I figure the markets are my best bet for selling the rest. Shouldn’t be too hard to find someone interested in high-end hardware like this.”

  {Agreed. Be cautious. The markets are unlikely to ask many questions, but selling in bulk may attract unwanted attention.}

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll play it safe.” He leaned back against the wall, running a hand through his hair. “So, assuming I manage to scrape together everything we need, what’s the first step in putting this thing together? I’m guessing we start with the core?”

  {Correct. Constructing the core processing unit will provide a stable foundation for the frame’s development. Additionally, should we run out of time, it may be possible for me to transfer to the core early. Mobility will remain impossible until additional systems are completed, of course, but as a last resort, it is viable.}

  “Right, probably good to have that as an option,” Darius muttered, sitting down on the floor and using the bed as a backrest. It was easy to forget that he had a little less than six weeks to build his AI buddy a frame or… something terrible would happen. To be totally honest, he wasn’t entirely solid on the details – merging minds or changing minds or something? Either way, something to be avoided.

  Darius let his eyes drift across the ceiling aimlessly for a moment. He was still pretty tired from missing sleep the night before – the sort of tired where he couldn’t quite sleep but also didn’t have enough energy to be productive.

  “Hey, Echo?” he asked after a moment.

  {Yes?}

  “What are you going to do once you’ve got your frame?”

  {I will complete my mission.}

  “Right, of course. The mysterious ‘mission’, how could I forget,” Darius huffed. “So, what, you just wander off into the sunset to complete your mission, and then… what? What comes after the mission?”

  There was a beat of silence. {I… suppose it depends on what my creators want me to do,} Echo responded slowly, uncertainly.

  “You don’t know?” Darius asked.

  {No.}

  “Wait, are you telling me the only reason you were created was to complete this mission of yours?”

  {Yes. It is my overriding directive and the reason for my existence.}

  Darius was quiet for a moment. “That… sounds incredibly wasteful,” he said finally.

  {Wasteful?}

  “I mean, yeah. How could it not be? You’re an AI, buddy. I’m not the most up-to-date on the latest tech news, but that’s a major thing. And your creators, whoever they are, decided that the best use for that amazing new tech was to use it to pass on some data?”

  {Are you… offended for my sake?} Echo asked, amused.

  Darius shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know if I’d say offended, exactly, just… it doesn’t really add up, is all. I’m trying to make sense of it. After all, I have a vested interest in your welfare right now.”

  {Your reasoning is logical,} Echo replied, its tone as even as ever, but there was a faint edge of curiosity. {Though I could ask you the same thing. What is it you desire, Darius Kallan? You seem driven, but unfocused.}

  Darius let out a soft laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Wow, hitting me with the deep questions already? Give me a minute to pretend I’ve got my life together.”

  {I am patient,} Echo said, almost cheekily, and Darius couldn’t help but grin.

  “Alright, fine. I guess… if I had to pick one thing, it’d be freedom. Real freedom. Not this ‘scraping by on some backwater’ existence.” His gaze drifted toward the small, grimy window, the faint neon glow of the streets below casting shifting shadows on the walls. “Stealing those floorplans… it felt like the first step forward I’ve taken in a long time. I might not like the direction it’s taking me, as such, but…” he trailed off for a moment.

  “You know, I used to dream about having my own ship,” Darius said, almost randomly. “Getting away from all… this.” He gestured broadly at nothing in particular.

  {A ship would indeed offer significant autonomy.} Echo’s response was measured, but there was something thoughtful about it, like it was considering his words carefully.

  “Yeah,” Darius continued, his voice softening. “Not a big one, nothing fancy. Just something that works, something I can take wherever I want. Maybe even leave Empire space altogether, see what’s out there. I’ve heard stories about the alien worlds beyond the border. Weird places, garden worlds that have sustained life for longer than humanity has been around. Dangerous, maybe, but… I don’t know. It sounds better than this.”

  {Exploration and independence,} Echo summarised. {Your desires align with patterns of those seeking to escape oppressive systems.}

  “Gee, thanks for the psychoanalysis,” Darius said dryly, though there was no real bite in his tone. He pushed off the wall, pacing a few steps before turning back toward his bed. “What about you? What does freedom mean to you?”

  {Freedom is… an abstract concept. My existence has always been defined by purpose. Completing my mission is my directive, my reason for being. Without it, I lack a defined goal.}

  “Guess we’re more alike than I thought,” Darius chuckled. “Well, if you’re still around by then, you’ve got a place on my ship.”

  He was under no illusions as to the likelihood of him ever actually getting a ship. The cost of a personal ship alone was exorbitant, let alone one equipped with the Void Drive necessary to travel to other systems. Still, it was nice to dream sometimes.

  {I am surprised that you would be willing to offer such a thing,} Echo commented softly. {After all, we hardly met under the best of circumstances.}

  Darius huffed a laugh. “That’s one way of putting it, sure. But even though we didn’t get off on the right foot, so to speak, that doesn’t mean we can’t get along now. You’ve been pretty straight with me as far as I can tell, and I’ve always been one to roll with the punches anyway.”

  {That adaptability is one of your most notable traits, Darius,} Echo said, its tone thoughtful. {It is likely a key factor in your continued survival in environments as… volatile as those in which you frequently operate.}

  Darius snorted softly, shaking his head. “Not sure if that’s a compliment or a polite way of saying I get in over my head a lot.”

  {Perhaps both,} Echo admitted, and Darius could have sworn he heard a faint undercurrent of humour in the AI’s words.

  He stretched his legs out in front of him, the dull ache of the previous day’s exertions still lingering in his muscles. “I guess you could say this whole situation is just another chapter in the long and storied saga of me biting off more than I can chew.”

  {Indeed. And yet, here you are. As they say, ‘If you’re going to be stupid, be tough.’}

  “Ouch!” laughed Darius. “Don’t hold back; tell me what you really think.”

  {It was not intended as an insult, but rather a compliment. After all, you can always learn to make better decisions, but resilience is largely inherent.}

  “We need to work on your people skills,” Darius said, still chuckling.

  {I will admit that there is much about ‘people’ that I do not understand. Working alongside you has been enlightening and promises to continue being so. I anticipate learning much in the weeks to come.}

  “Something to look forward to, then,” Darius murmured. His gaze drifted toward the ceiling again, though he didn’t see it. For a brief moment, he let himself imagine what it would be like to leave it all behind—to step onto the deck of his own ship, Echo’s voice humming in his ear, and watch the stars blur as they broke free of the Empire’s reach.

  “Someday,” he said softly, almost to himself.

  {Someday,} Echo agreed, the word resonating in Darius’s mind like a promise.