John Brosnan - The Sky Lords

Trying to conceal her state of intense excitement, Jan walked back into the living room and said calmly, “Ashley, are you there?”

“Of course,” came Ashley’s voice and she materialized in front of Jan. Today she was wearing a long back dress that left one breast bare. She looked very beautiful. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Flying.”

Ashley’s face lit up. “My favourite subject!”

“I know. What would you say if I told you there’s a chance you could fly again?”

Ashley stared at her. “What do you mean? There’s no possible way I can fly again. I’m trapped down here. Like you. No, I’m more trapped than you. I’m in a computer. You know that.”

“Yes. I’ve been learning a lot about computers. First from Milo and now from Carl. I told you about Milo’s plan, didn’t I? How he intended to enter the Sky Tower in the city and use the computer within it to summon down the Sky Angel from space?”

“Yes, yes,” said Ashley impatiently. “But what’s that got to do with me ?”

“You and Carl can be separated from the computer, can’t you? The essential bits of you, I mean. The programs.”

“Of course. We’re on the same piece of software. Why?”

“The type of computer here—are its parts interchangeable with other computers? Such as the ones in the city?” Jan asked her.

“Most likely,” said Ashley. Then after a pause she said, “I’ve just asked Carl and he said yes. All the bio-chip computer systems were compatible.”

Jan said, “So if I were to take your ‘software’, take it into the city and insert it in the computer in the Sky Tower you and Carl would come to life again—inside that computer?”

“Yes,” said Ashley doubtfully. “Provided that the computer there was still working. …”

“It is. Milo established that from the Lord Pangloth’s control room.”

“So?” Ashley shrugged. “What good would it do me to be transferred to this other computer? I wouldn’t even have my holographic projection facilities.”

“I haven’t finished yet. Once inside that computer you and Carl would be in control of it, right? You would be able to take over its functions?”

“Yes,” said Ashley with an impatient sigh. “Provided you removed the original software first.”

“Good. Then you and Carl could do what Milo planned to do. Make the Sky Tower computer send the signal that would bring the Sky Angel down from space?”

“Well, Carl could, I suppose,” said Ashley, frowning. “But I still don’t see the point.”

“If I had access to the Sky Angel I could then take your software from the tower’s computer and insert it in the Sky Angel’s. And what would happen then?” Ashley didn’t answer for some time. Jan guessed she was in communication with Carl. Then, with eyes wide with excitement, she said, “I could become linked up with the Sky Angel’s every sensor. I could control its every movement. I could be the Sky Angel!”

“That’s what I thought,” said Jan with satisfaction.

“So what are we waiting for?” cried Ashley. “Let’s leave right away. I’ll show you how to remove the software.”

“Calm down,” Jan cautioned. “You must know that everything I just told you is out of the question.”

Ashley looked stricken. “Why? Why is it out of the question?” she demanded.

“Well, for a start I can’t leave here, can I? Carl won’t let me.”

“Oh, is that all?” said Ashley, relieved. “Don’t worry, I’ll soon sort him out.”

I thought you would , thought Jan in triumph.

Jan was almost ready to leave. But now that the moment was near Jan was suddenly unwilling to return to the surface. It was safe down in the shelter while the surface held nothing but dangers. And even with the weapons that Ashley had supplied her from a hidden compartment in the main bedroom she knew her chances of reaching the Sky Tower were not good. There was also the strong possibility that she would succumb to whatever plague viruses or spores still lurked in the city itself.

When she’d expressed this latter fear, Ashley had conferred with Carl, then said brightly, “Oh, you can wear an anticontamination suit!” Another previously concealed panel had opened in the main bedroom to reveal a row of hanging, one-piece suits made of some smooth, white material. Jan took one of them out and examined it. It had a hood that would completely cover the head. Like the old clothes of Ashley’s that Jan was now wearing in preference to the smelly rags of Ezekiel’s people the suit seemed to be in good condition despite its great age. She asked Ashley about this.

“Oh, it’s probably to do with the lack of air,” she told Jan uninterestedly. “Carl pumps all the air out of the shelter when I don’t have, er, visitors. He lowers the temperature too. Go on, put it on.”

Jan had obediently climbed into the anti-contamination suit and closed all the seals. She peered out through the visor on the head-piece. Below the visor was a protruding nozzle which admitted air whenever she breathed in. She presumed the nozzle contained filters to keep out harmful organisms. Ashley confirmed this.

“Do they work?” Jan asked her.

“I don’t know. The suits were to be used in an emergency. If Mum and Dad had to make a journey out on the surface for some reason. But they never got a chance to use them. The plague got in here first.”

“Through the same sort of filters?” Jan asked, her heart sinking.

“I guess so,” said Ashley, reluctantly.

“Well, this is a waste of time then,” said Jan, and she unsealed the hood and pushed it back so that it hung behind her. She decided, however, to keep the suit on. Its material was reassuringly thick and would offer some protection out in the blight land.

The weapons that Carl had advised her to select from the small armoury were two rifle-like devices. One, he informed her, was a laser. The other fired explosive projectiles which, he told her, were ‘smart bullets’. “When you have your target centred in the scope on top of the weapon simply press the firing button. The image in the scope is imprinted on the projectile’s ‘brain’ and it will make all the necessary manoeuvres to reach its target. Then it explodes.”

Jan had been impressed. Surely the weapon would be more than enough to deal with Ezekiel if she should encounter the creature.

“I’ve recharged the power units on both weapons,” said Carl, but then added blandly, “The laser should function efficiently but I can’t guarantee that the ammunition in the other weapon hasn’t deteriorated to the point of being useless.”

“Oh, great,” Jan had muttered.

Now she stood in the living room, weighed down by both weapons, her sword harness and a backpack containing food and water. “All ready?” Ashley asked eagerly. She looked very excited.

“I suppose so,” Jan answered without enthusiasm.

“Carl and I will shut down now. Then a panel will open and reveal the computer console. Carl has told you how to remove the software?”

“Yes.”

“The elevator will operate automatically. Carl says there’s no sign of the cyberoid, or any Sky Lords.”

“Good,” said Jan, her mouth dry.

“Right then, here we go … Oh, and Jan, you will be very careful with the software, won’t you? I know I’m not really alive but I still don’t want to die. Again.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.”

Ashley then vanished. There was silence.

“Ashley, Carl?” said Jan.

No answer. She suddenly felt very alone. Then she gave a start as a panel slid open in the wall in front of her with a mechanical whine. She saw a row of lights. She approached the console and pressed the two buttons that Carl had told her to press. A small glass panel slid open in the console and she reached inside and withdrew the software. Jan was surprised to see that it consisted of a small tube about four inches long and one and a half inches in width. She found it hard to believe that it contained all of Ashley’s memories, her mind and emotions, not to mention Carl as well. She carefully put it in her backpack and turned towards the elevator. As she approached it the door opened.