CANAISIS ∞ Chronicle One ∞ 3: A Shard Of Code

101 ∞ A Shot in the Dark

Did time really heal all wounds? How much time had passed for him since then? It certainly wasn't as much time as had passed on Earth...

Behind him, the transparent wall framed him like a grand floor-to-ceiling window, filled with the starscape beyond and a part of Canaisis' hull. But it looked different from what she recalled. Gray and flat. Dull.

All this she took in within a few seconds before she caught herself and bowed her head in respect over the mnemonic toy.

The Captain took his hand off his sidearm and gestured for them to enter. Ayla followed two steps behind Ahmid's left side. She cast quick glances around at the curved walls and countless books lining the shelves all the way to the window, as if they were protective wings enveloping the room. Groupings of casual seating around low tables followed the curve on both sides.

Teacups and saucers on the table marked the places nearest to the Captain, and Ahmid stopped before it and bowed low again. Ayla followed Ahmid's lead, holding the toy steadily before her, as Nura, Lina, and Tahsin fell to their knees.

"Thank you for giving us this time, Captain Levant," said Ahmid.

The Captain merely nodded, his face neutral, and returned a small bow. "Please, take a seat."

Ahmid and Ayla approached the side that had two places set out. There were only six chairs altogether, gathered to one half of the table that was large enough to accommodate more than twice as many occupants.

Ayla set the mnemonic toy on the table and attempted to lift rather than drag the chair out, but it wouldn't budge. She looked down at it, but nothing clamped the four thick legs to the metal floor. A tug on the backrest released the front legs, startling her, tipping the chair enough for her to pull it out.

Ahmid leaned over to whisper, "It caught me off guard at first, too. Permanent magnets embedded in the feet. Smart thinking in case of gravity loss." He sat down.

Ayla kept her gaze lowered as she followed suit and waited for Lina, Nura, and Tahsin to get seated. She found herself admiring the table instead, its dark-grained wood—real or not, she couldn't tell—encircled by a broad border of metal inlays, forming vine-like fractal patterns of swirls and curves. Then the teacup and matching saucer—they looked to be made of traditional china, with a simple golden wave pattern decorating their sides. Not at all Gareth's style, in her opinion. The tea set likely was a gift from one of the colonies he'd helped.

The Captain broke the silence first. "You asked for four witnesses to this pleading as per your by-laws. I have only one."

Ahmid startled at this statement and looked around, as if expecting to find someone else in the room. "Who might that be, Captain?"

"Canaisis, of course. Your by-laws do not recognize or deny Artificial Intelligence, so I have asked her to be my witness."

Smiling, Ahmid relaxed in his chair. "I see no problem with that, Captain. It's clear to me Canaisis is of a higher order than anything we know." He looked up at the ceiling, "Canaisis, I hereby recognize you as witness for Captain Levant, honorary member of the Nilex Corporation."

"Thank you, Leader Ahmid." Canaisis' voice floated across the room.

Ahmid waved a dismissive hand in the air. "No need for thanks. I have spoken with you enough to recognize your individuality."

"It is appreciated, Leader Ahmid."

The Captain leaned with his hands on the chair back, the tension in his shoulders lessening. To Ayla, it felt like the sudden removal of a hammer hanging over their heads. Her family would have felt the release, too.