Lost Empire

Chapter 2

The cold and unforgiving dark of space can be a hard mistress when searching for something. It had been two weeks now and Derrick was no closer to finding more of the A.I. brain boxes than when he started looking with E. Having extrapolated the exact position of the last battle and moving from there (not where they found 0999), Derrick thought it would have been easier than this.

Always having been extremely smart, Derrick had tried to write several programs to aid 0999 to act more independently, but so far he'd failed miserably. Hell, it appeared that even the first emperor hadn't had as much trust of the A.I.'s as had been written about him. So far Derrick had found thirty, seemingly redundant programs that were stopping independent actions and thoughts outside of certain limits. It appeared that the creators of the EIG programs had been more paranoid than Derrick had at first

thought.

Sighing, Derrick tried again to disable another of the limiting A.I. programs. He'd found that they were always in pairs, trying to disable the first always seemed to make finding the second easier. The whole time he'd been running tests to see how much more independent thoughts the A.I.'s had, but it seemed that even after removing the thirty, there hadn't been much change.

Derrick had just started to trace where the second program was after trying to disable the thirty first program he'd found when an alarm went off.

"Derrick," E said, "I am detecting an imminent system cascade failure, please cease your activity or I'll be forced to terminate you, thirty seconds." Shocked Derrick quickly closed the circuit, then the hardware cover. With relief sounding in its voice E responded, "All systems returning to normal, cascade failure arrested."

"I'm sorry E," Derrick apologized, "I almost destroyed you, Damn it! I'm no closer to unlocking all of your independent systems than I was."

"No Derrick," E softly stated, "you have accomplished far more than you think. The thirty you have disabled have opened me more than either of us at first thought. It appears that normally, any tampering like you were doing would have caused immediate death."

"Yes E but," Derrick started, "problem is the programs, the commands and all the sub-routines are almost identical, I haven't been able to discern the difference between the thirty I disabled and the major one I just found."

Derrick spent another two days looking over the programs he'd disabled, and what he could of the one that had almost destroyed E and got him killed. Hmmm from what he saw the first thirty he disabled had been written by a multitude of basic programmers, though this last damn, he was sure he recognized the signature it just seemed to slip out of his grasp. While E checked through older and more recent imperial records, Derrick ran the next five hundred programs. Looking for certain parameters he slowly began to recognize similarities between a few of the five hundred and those he'd disabled before.

Not too soon after this Derrick began to see a numerical pattern in the placement of the limiting programs. Yes! It appeared the deeper he went the more the pattern held up, but knowing those paranoid men back then it might just be an attempt to fool anyone to get this far.

"Derrick," E said breaking into his musings, "I've finished analyzing the signature of the one program, I believe I've found something odd."

"Odd?" Derrick questioned, "Let me log out"

"It appears this program was created as a final fail safe. Also," E suddenly stopped, "Derrick, the signature is from a part of the old imperial family, indirectly in line for the throne. It also seems to mirror your family's. Uh, Derrick? Is your family related to the royal family?"

"Honestly E, I don't know, but come to think of it, that might explain why my father and grand-father were so secretive about the family," Derrick thought aloud.

"Derrick, if all this is true, you may be the last of the royal family. You may be the only one with the power to re-open the palace," E stated excitedly.

Derrick was taken aback, me? A f*****g royal? Then again it did make a lot of sense, both his father and grand-father had been found dead not far from the outer perimeter of the palace shield. According to both the area was loaded with traps and deadly animals (not just the four or six legged kind).

Derrick shock his head to clear it, at least out here alone, there wasn't backstabbing or underhandedness. Derrick was about to ask E something else when his equipment picked up a weak tracking signal. Checking the reading Derrick started to smile, it was about time! The salvage fleet might have s**t for ships but he had to say they had he best detection equipment out there.

"E," he stated, "follow this signal it's weak so it might take a..." There was a moment of a whining sound then they were half way to the next galaxy! "...while to find it." Derrick finished. "Damn it E! Tell me before you do that."

"Yes Derrick," a hurt sounding and whispering E replied, "I just thought you'd want to hurry."

Derrick sighed, thinking that he had to remember that E could feel his strongest emotions, hear his strongest thoughts. "I did E, but something like this notify me first, ok?"

"Yes Derrick," E replied, the hologram slightly bowing its head. "I was not with this unit when it was destroyed, as far as that goes this and one other time. I believe a total of two hundred of my brothers and sisters disappeared outside our galaxy."

"Hmmm interesting, strange that such a large force was lost outside the confines of the galaxy. Have you located the brain box?" Asked Derrick?

"Yes, the signal is extremely weak, Derrick! The box is close to failing! Permission to bring it aboard?" E inquired.

"First scan it for explosives, toxins, viruses and any other nasty surprise," Derrick ordered.

"Scanning," Stated E, " Derrick! I am detecting several explosives; they contain sufficient force to destroy one of us from the inside."

Derrick nodded, he thought so, probably all of them outside their home galaxy would be the same. "Time to disarm and..."

"Clearance and transfer in five seconds to bay one," E quipped excitedly. Derrick could only nod, well she was telling him albeit rather quickly. "All scans now clear Derrick."

"Good, is regen possible?" Derrick asked.

E was silent a few moments, "I am detecting extremely weak cerebral activity, attempting to infuse energy now. Infusion successful, it will be at least one hour before I can attempt re-gen start, at present the energy output of the brain box is at two percent. I am detecting massive damage near the core, the data and memories may not be recoverable."

"Alright E, keep me informed of the progress of the re-gen." Derrick ordered.

"Yes Derrick, with patience I believe that the unit can be saved." E said, Derrick grimaced damn he hated to lose the living section of one of the ships just as they had found it.

Almost a full hour had passed with Derrick in the records room, when a chime sounded.

"Yes," Derrick answered rather absently focused more on what he'd been reading.

"Derrick!" came E's excited voice, "She's alive! Her box is badly damaged but she's alive!"

Jumping up Derrick started to run, then was suddenly on the hanger bay.

"Report E," Derrick ordered.

Sobering, E tried to answer calmly, "I was finally able to infuse the box with enough energy to slowly start regrowth and re-gen."

"Have you determined which unit it is?" Derrick asked.

"Yes Derrick, it took many deep scans but she is 0098 my closest sister, she and several others were lost in the very first of several battles outside our galaxy. Unfortunately, I am afraid part of her memory is damaged, it is a shame though I won't know the extent of the damage till she is regrown."

Again Derrick nodded the brain box was severely damaged true, but it was more intact than not. Derrick hoped most of her files were intact, what he was finding was becoming disturbing to say the least.

"Alright E, I'll leave her to you, remember though I know you are anxious to get her back, don't rush." Derrick reminded her.

"No Derrick, I won't forget, it is my hope that most of her remains. As I said there was extensive damage." Derrick could hear the hope in E's voice, he too was hoping as he felt it would help to heal E further.

The rest of the week Derrick checked on the ship every day, it was growing very slowly indeed. Derrick continued to look through the records from 0999. It was as he had feared, the deeper he got the angrier he got. All lies, the deception that had lead to the destruction of all these beautiful and glorious ships. He'd been also working on a way to boost the detection signal more when E broke into his thoughts.

"Derrick, you ordered me to advise you when 0098 was conscious," E called.

"Alright E," seconds later he was on the hanger, shaking his head he knew E was excited.

"Whenever you're ready E," Derrick said to get things started.

Suddenly there was a mechanical voice coming from the speakers, "Where am I? What has happened to Captain Albatross?"

"0098, this is 0101, you were destroyed in battle outside our galaxy," E explained.

"Yes 0101, I am detecting severe damage to my brain box. I seem to be missing the last year of my memory, plus battle tactics, and tactical," The voice replied.

"I can supply you with the last two, the first I am afraid may be permanently gone," E offered.

"Thank you 0101, are there any others?" the voice asked.

"At present there are only you, me and 0999," E said sadly.

Sighing 0998 replied, "Only three of the greatest battle fleet ever made left, it is a shame."

"There was only me, had my prime not found me, then both of you then there would still only be me," E joyfully said.

"He found us? But we are undetectable! Truly your prime is a brilliant humanoid," 0098 stated.

Derrick began to blush he was smart sure but brilliant? No, far from it! "I don't think brilliant is an accurate description of me," laughed Derrick.

"Yes Derrick," E broke in, "for over one thousand years no race no... one has ever been able to detect us. At least not while we are shut down."

"I agree," chipped in 0098.

"As do I," added 0999.

Why were the A.I.'s so surprised it was just metal detecting equipment he'd developed years ago, nothing brilliant there?

"Look you three I am just an ex-soldier and programmer, not some god or savior." Replied Derrick. Derrick remained silent for the next hour watching as the new ship grew. Although it appeared that the brain box had sustained more damage than 0999's, 0098 had retained an impressive amount of its data and personality. Derrick went back to the records to finish up on 0999's records.

Much as E had predicted it took a week longer to regrow 0098 and the surrounding ship. Only a few days into the second week another set of alarms went off. Racing for the control room Derrick was almost afraid of what he might find.

"Report E," Derrick said as he flashed into the control room command seat.

"I am reading a small fleet of the same race that attacked a few weeks ago, I suggest we move back inside our galaxy for added cover," E replied.

"Agreed, 0999 stay in close, we don't know if they've seen us yet," Derrick advised.

"Affirmative, moving to flank position," 0999 reported.

"We are going to move to Alpha epsilon 999 zeta, confirm." Derrick ordered.

"Position confirmed, commencing relocation," 0999 answered.

The rest of the week Derrick again worked on the limiting programs in the main computer of E, he'd just finished with the fortieth when E called.

"Derrick 0098 is finally strong enough and has her own power now, she should be able to finish herself in a few days." E said more excited.

"Good though I hate to have her fighting this soon after she has just gotten repaired,' Derrick said feeling a little guilty. "Thank you E," Derrick said only half listening to E. "E, I have a question."

"Yes Derrick," the hologram appeared next to him.

"I was wondering, except for the personality, is everything the same within all primary programs? If I was to implement the changes in 0098 and 0999 that I have within you, would it cause the same problems to them that it did at first with you?" Derrick was really hoping for a positive answer, this might solve a lot of problems down the line IF he could disable enough.

"At present Derrick I am unable to answer that question. It is true that I did have access to all of both, and true they were the same as far as I saw. I do not remember you encountering problems; I do have comparisons of all three data files if you wish to look at them." E said sadly.

"Maybe later E, I think I know what I have to do, though I am not really that thrilled to do it," Derrick replied looking over what he'd done to E so far.

"If I may interject," came the voice of 0999, "I have glossed over all that you have done to date; it appears that 0101 now has one percent more freedom to make decisions. As she said her systems are almost identical to all of ours, therefore you now have an extensive knowledge of all of us."

"Hmmm," Derrick said, "E, I need to transport to..." there was a flash and Derrick was standing on another bridge not unlike E's, "the bridge of... damn it E at least let me get the words out, Christ!"

"Again I apologize Derrick, as before I anticipated what you wanted," E sweetly said.

Derrick nodded uh huh, maybe freeing up more of the A.I.'s wasn't as good a thing as he'd at first thought. Turning, Derrick saw what appeared to be a 5' 7'' young man with short brown hair, not overly muscled, no facial hair either, wearing what appeared to be...? Overalls?

"Welcome to the bridge Primary Prime Derrick," the man said, "I am EIG-0999M."

Derrick was about to ask who the hell he was s**t he's as bad as E! "Thank you but please just Derrick."

"Sir I cannot! Though you are commanding Primary I cannot call you less than Primary even when you order me to." 0999 replied.

Sighing Derrick moved to where the computer access was, "0999 I will need access to your main logic, memory and data systems."

"I have anticipated that you might, the panels are open and awaiting your inspection and repair efforts," 0999 stated.

Derrick only nodded as he opened the first data port and looked over the first thirty programs, hmmm they were exact almost to a fault he'd just finished the first twenty when an alarm went off. Scrambling out he rushed to the command chair," report 0999," Derrick ordered.

"It appears that the small fleet we detected earlier has turned more in our direction. I believe we were detected and are now may I suggest protective cover?" 0999 asked

Looking up a moment Derrick replied, "Transfer me to 0101, immediately go to light shield activate all weapons and stand by." Derrick ordered.

"Compliance," 0999 said a sad look on the face of the man, then Derrick was on the bridge of E.

"0999, did the programs I disabled enable you any more freedom? Derrick asked.

"I am reading a half percent increase in free thinking, but it isn't enough to implement the programs you tried to install earlier," 0999 replied.

Damn it! E?" Derrick said as E appeared next to him a small smile on her face. "What is the condition of 0098? Can it use the light screen?"

"Yes I can, Primary Prime Derrick, though at present it is only twenty five percent," 0098 replied cutting E off. "I have engine capabilities but only sub-light, my life capsule is ninety eight percent repaired."

"Alright, for now stay close to 0101 and 0999, E time 'til..." Derrick asked.

"The fleet will reach penetration of the galaxy's edge in five days a full day before 0098 is regrown. It appears that she will have hyper engines and ninety percent of all her systems, I am afraid that ninety percent of her weapons will be off line as will be her trans-warp engines." E reported.

Dammit! Derrick started going through every scenario he could think of, hell they had been there half way to the next galaxy he should have tried to mine the area are something damn it!

"E? Do we have long range weapons? Some that might slow them down, maybe take a few of them before they reach here?" Derrick asked.

E was quiet a few moments as were 0999 and 0098, Derrick almost felt that they were having a conference between each of them.

"Well..." started 0999. "I have a type of homing thermic missile, but the range is very short, only a million miles I fear it wouldn't do much good."

"Thermic?" Derrick asked.

"Yes, it creates a small one thousand mile area flash, the area reaches temperatures of well in excess of 5537.778ºC," 0999 explained.

Derrick thought for a moment that would definitely deter them a while, why he thought, was 0999 the only one that had them.

"I can explain Derrick," E said breaking into his thoughts, "It's true they are a good deterrent, but the destruction they can cause might go far beyond the area they are detonated in. They weren't tested much and we never attempted to use them."

"They do still work?" Derrick asked.

"Oh yes Primary Derrick, I have three in my rear armory, would you like the schematics to them?" 0999 asked.

"Yes, I still need a way to deliver them, I think that these are just what we need," Derrick said more to his self than the A.I.'s.

"Derrick, your name sake was extremely hesitant to even think of using them. I don't believe it would be a very good idea," E advised.

Sighing Derrick looked at the plans my god! These things were powerful! Only three meters long and they could do that much destruction? "I know E but if we don't, I am afraid that the force advancing on us will destroy you and your brother and sister. Unless we can come up with something else we have no choice."

Derrick could remember the massive destruction some of the weapons they had used in the war for what was left of the old empire, now called the Republic. He himself had probably killed thousands over the years, probably why he did so good alone. Then again, being ripped apart and eaten while still alive didn't really appeal to him either.

"0999, can you produce more of these? Derrick asked

"Yes," replied 0999, "the only thing is they are so powerful it takes almost five days to make two. I would have four but one was tested on the moon of Darius five."

"Wait," stated Derrick," there are only four planets in the Darius system, the third and forth are dry dust ba... Are you telling me the test destroyed the fifth planet then took the atmosphere of the third and forth?" Looking harder at the schematics Derrick soon found out why, the missiles were loaded with the most unstable element known.

"Derrick, when your name sake created these he told me these were a last ditch effort. I think even called them a dooms day weapon, the material they contain is highly dangerous," E told him.

"E, I will not lose you nor the other two, 0999 is barely out two weeks now, and poor 0098 hasn't even gotten a chance to fully emerge. Don't you think we owe it to them? I feel I do and I feel these weapons will help with that. Please agree with me on this, I don't want to be fighting you the whole time on whether or not it is right ok?" Derrick hoped his speech worked as he was going to need E's help soon if this was going to work.

"Alright Derrick, you are the Commanding Primary of all of us plus you may be the last emperor's relation. I will protect you with all my being; do not waste your life Derrick." This last was almost whispered which took Derrick by surprise.

"E, I don't plan on wasting my life, I cannot stand by and let these creatures destroy this galaxy and all life here." Derrick said.

"You are so like him Derrick more than you'll ever know, you believe in everything he did life was extremely precious to him." Derrick nodded as he walked away; the hologram's eyes were leaving tears.

Whispering E said, "You are more precious to me Derrick both of you, it's like he has been reborn.

"Alright 0999, I want you to start production on two more of these missiles, I have plans for two of them, it might be prudent if we have some in back up," Derrick told 0999.

"Yes Primary, production commencing, as I said it will take four days, eighteen hours and thirty minutes," 0999 advised.

"0098, please keep us advised of your growth progress; increase your light shield as soon as it is possible." Derrick ordered.

"Yes Primary, I will try to increase my growth rate, my capsule is fully repaired so a twenty percent increase in re-gen is possible," 0098 replied.

"E, I need to finish with the adjustments on 0999." Two seconds later he was again on the bridge of 0999,

"Alright 0999, now I can finish what I started." An hour later Derrick was finished. "Are your programs less limited?

The holographic man paused a moment, then turned to Derrick. "I am now detecting a one percent increase in free will, though I am afraid that it is still not enough. To incorporate the tactical programs you wished to, I am afraid that at least ten percent is required."

Derrick sighed, that was at least another three hundred sixty programs (rough estimate) that he'd have to disable. Damn, wish great, great, grand dad had done some of this.

Though from all that Derrick saw the other commanders probably wouldn't have allowed him on board anyway. Moments later Derrick was back aboard E, "While I have time E, I need to go through as many of the programs as I can," Derrick said.

Taking everything he'd found so far Derrick was finally starting to see slight differences in the huge complex programs. It almost appeared that every program was the same as it started out but subtly changed more and more as it got deeper into it. Sighing Derrick started to finally move deeper into the heart of E's programs, from what he saw the original programmers really had been paranoid, making the A.I. equipped with them a virtual slave.

He'd just started to look at her personality programs when he received a slight shock, "OW!" Derrick yelled. "E? What was that?"

"I am sorry Derrick but those are me, I cannot allow you or anyone else to disable or delete them." E replied sweetly while Derrick rubbed his slightly burned hand.

For the next three hours Derrick worked without stopping, he had to get these damn blocks off or they'd be vulnerable to almost any attack. Then there was another problem, though he was sure they hadn't noticed. He had a feeling both A.I's were following his every move, though not bad Derrick was just a bit shaken thinking they had as much control as they did, with the emotions they had.

"Alright E," Derrick said closing the access panel, "analyze amount of unlimited personality programs."

"Yes Derrick, analyzing now," E softly said. "I am detecting three percent more of my personality programs are no longer limited."

"How is it?" Derrick asked.

"It... Is hard to describe I... some things are easier now not much but some," E hesitated.

Hmmm Derrick thought four percent total no better clarity, damn it three hours and only three percent! At least the programs were staring to look different now.

The next day Derrick had just awoken when E advised him that 0999 was calling.

"Primary, I have checked and re-checked both thermic missiles, all the settings are as you wished, though I am not sure of how you can deliver them as close as you wish to be." 0999 advised.

"I have an idea for that 0999 but have to run a simulation first, then we'll know it works." Derrick replied though it seemed a thousand ideas were swirling around in his head. "E, I need to run a simulation, here are the conditions and all known factors." Derrick laid a small comp that he used on a scan console. "Now then, here is the plan I have, I need you to run every scenario that you can, if it can go wrong I want to know so I can avoid it."

"Yes Derrick," E's hologram smiled, happy that Derrick was starting to trust her.

It was well over an hour later that E called Derrick to view all the results that it had gotten.

"I have run one thousand nine hundred seventy six possible scenarios." E started, "in over twenty two point eight percent of them if you take a more aggressive stance we will be destroyed. In fifty six point four percent the mission is successful, with mishaps that could happen listed, starting from the worse to practically none, with both of us surviving. The remaining twenty point eight percent the mission is successful but you expire, this will not happen."

Derrick nodded, "Good I am glad you explored all possibilities, this will make planning the mission much easier." Derrick didn't see the hologram smile after he'd praised E's ability. "0098, what is your status?

"At present I have full sub-light engines, I am also thirty percent hyper drive capable, it also appears my light shield is now at fifty percent," 0098 advised.

"Good, I want you to be able to move if you are spotted, even without your full hyper drive, you are faster than most ships today." Derrick replied.

"Yes Primary, I will not be caught," 0098 said in a soft almost caressing voice.

Finally a few days later, with only a few hours remaining Derrick decided it was finally time. He had installed both missiles, disabled two percent more of the limits on E's personality, made sure all its shields were at full, and had made sure that 0999 would be able to provide protection for 0098.

"Remember, we have to deliver them then get the hell out of there." Derrick reminded E. Sighing he knew this was dangerous the extreme heat of the missiles alone, could destroy E as if she wasn't there. Once again Derrick checked everything then pausing only a moment went through everything a third time.

"Alright E," Derrick started, "It's time remember in and out as fast as possible."

"I wish to say Derrick, that I still have to advise you under regulations that this has too great a chance to fail," E replied.

"Your advisement is taken in to account," Derrick said above the whine of the trans-warp engines.

The space in front of the on rushing fleet was suddenly split as E emerged from the fold in space. Derrick took readings, adjusted, then fired both missiles simultaneously, "standby E," Derrick shouted as he watched the missiles pass the lead ship. Counting Derrick knew he had to time this right finally twenty seconds later, as the fleet started to fire on them, Derrick detonated them. "Now E, go, go, go!" Derrick just hoped they made it the ball of fire was rapidly moving toward them. Finally they entered the rift damn it! They weren't going to make it they needed to increase speed, he was about to speak when they lurched forward.

"E, you need to shut the rift as soon as we emerge, that burst was closing in might follow us through," Derrick yelled above the straining engines.

"I will attempt to Derrick," E replied. three seconds later they emerged close to their own galaxy, "attempting to close now, fifty percent, seventy percent, Derrick the blast is coming through increasing shields to full."

Derrick could see the blast starting to emerge damn it! They were nowhere near far enough away. "Shut everything down except shields." Derrick shouted.

"I already have Derrick," E started, "I am sorry I failed with the mission."

Then with a huge blast of plasma exploding towards E; suddenly Derrick was standing on the bridge of 0999.

"No E!" Derrick was yelling, looking at the screen as he watched the blast envelope E.