how it’s done. I think that is why Patrizia Salustri has taken an interest in you, because she’d rather stand beside you instead of find herself in your shadow.”
“Do you know much about her?”
“I hear she’s ruthless when faced with an enemy, generous with friends, and I can tell you first hand that she doesn’t believe in charity. I only ever asked her once for help with my little mission in Drifton. Several of her crew like to stop in though. If you want to pick up some inside information about her operation, you’ll do well to sit several of your more discrete people in a pub corner while they’re in attendance.”
“Thank you for the tip, I appreciate it. I’m wondering, do you know much about how the rest of the galaxy is getting on? I haven’t had a lot of time to catch up on news since the Holocaust Virus.”
Ugo nodded and spoke more solemnly. “You can see the pulse of the universe in her people. They're lost, angry, and feel that there's nowhere to go, no help coming. Tamber is a fair example of how most old colonies are faring. The collective consciousness of man misses his cold minded partner, artificial intelligence. Chaos hasn’t gripped people by the throat, its hopelessness, helplessness. Several fringe banks crashed for good, a few core world ones, and the value of the common credit is down tremendously. Even the Carthans are looking to the Commerce Board to mint a bullion coin of their own. That's why I'm here, why Drifton exists, so I can offer a place for people who don't have anything left. A place where they can heal and find hope again.”
“What about the city? I saw a lot of activity there.”
“The landlords with power and people took over as soon as law left. The Carthans stay in Greydock, where they have enough room for them to make themselves at home, especially since anyone with a Confederate passport took advantage of free transportation out of the system as soon as it became available.”
“I could imagine. I’m still having difficulty believing that there's no law outside of Greydock?”
“There are a couple cities controlled by privately owned security agencies in the southern hemisphere, but the people who pay them are in control. New tyrants are making their own kind of law. That's happening on a lot of worlds, from what I've heard. You must have seen it in your travels since the holocaust virus started appearing.”
“We've been too busy running from one disaster to the next.”
“Well, every highly automated city from here to New Earth at the centre of the core systems has been set back to the early colony days. People invested so much trust and depended on artificial intelligences to manage things that society has been torn apart. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this port and others like them are bright spots in the galaxy now. We're starting over. This world barely survived the holocaust virus and we saw it coming. You'll notice I only keep the most basic ident comm.” He pulled an old black cross on a silver chain out from under his robes. “Very basic, an AI would suffocate if it tried to move in.”
Ayan's heart sank. She remembered Pandem vividly, what the holocaust virus did there and how rare it was to find survivors. The thought that there were many worlds like it was terrifying. “Then it's true. We're living through the fourth fall.”
“That depends on who you ask. Those who signed with the Order of Eden believe it is nothing more than a cleansing, some kind of natural culling. For us it's a terrible turn away from progress. For them it's a garden of opportunity.”
“If I hadn't seen Pandem myself, I wouldn't believe it.”
The colour drained from Ugo's face. “You've been to Pandem?” He asked, his voice hushed and alarmed.
Ayan nodded solemnly. “I was there shortly after the holocaust virus struck. A few of us barely escaped.”
“So few survived. I've never met anyone who was there during the destruction. The last transmissions from that world,” He shook his head as if to clear it of the memory. “I can't imagine what you saw while you were there.”
“If that's what most heavily populated worlds are like now, then I'm not surprised we found trouble on our next stop.”
“Well, many core worlds managed to clear most of the artificial intelligences before they were infected, but that also disabled transportation, whole sectors of the economy, communications, most of the infrastructure. Transportation is unsafe, with Eden Fleet mounting random attacks along well known routes, and there are parts of this holocaust no one understands yet.”
“Like why it coincided with the return of the Eden Fleet.”
“Exactly. I wouldn't tell too many people you survived Pandem, though. They call it New Eden now. Millions of initiates are working to rebuild, millions more are making the pilgrimage there. If there's a dark heart to everything that's happened in the last few months, that's where it lies. Some believe that Pandem is where it all started, that Valance really had nothing to do with it. If word gets around that you were there, his first in command, then I can't say what people might start thinking.”
“Thank you for the warning. I can't picture how they can call Pandem New Eden though. It was a ruin, even as I was leaving.”
“Not according to the propaganda I've seen. The Child Prophet has brought countless numbers into the fold, telling them that fear will come to an end on Pandem.”
“Considering the terms, I've been tempted to send him a hundred thousand credits myself. The guarantee that you won't be killed by a rogue machine is pretty valuable.”
“It's already gone past that. I've encountered dozens of true believers who stop here to trade for provisions. They believe a new age is dawning, and the Child Prophet is at its centre. I think it is all rubbish, but then I've had faith in my own higher power all my life.”
“What does Earth think of all this?”
“I haven't been able to make contact since the virus first struck.”
“I hope they're not facing the same problems we are.”
“Doubtful. The types of artificial intelligences they use have different seed code, and wouldn't be at risk of infection. We also don't trust our artificial intelligences to administer over critical infrastructure.' Ugo sighed and smiled wearily at Ayan. “But none of that matters here, now. I suppose I should get to the important questions; will you be staying long and what do you need? I hear you've already done some purchasing with Ruby Sima.”
“You really do hear everything.”
“Her first mate, Lombardo, is a regular at the Slim Chance.”
“What's the Slim Chance?”
“Ah, it's the pub and greatest source of information. Talking and trading are really the only things to do if you're not a gambler, doser or drinker.”
“I think I get the picture,” she said, regardless of the fact that she'd never been inside a place that accommodated all those things in combination. Her imagination was filled with visions of darkened tap rooms and drug dens she'd seen in holomovies. “We saw Ruby Sigma's listings on the Mackey exchange and we struck a bargain.”
“What was the asking price for this sliver of land?”
The question was surprising, somehow it was unexpected coming from the Samaritan.
He didn't let the silence grow stale. “No need to answer, I suppose it involves your fire power. I imagine you're going to assist her in a number of future captures.”
“I was able to strike a deal we’re all content with,” she offered as an answer.
“Well, watch Patrizia, she’s not wealthy because she makes good investments in the stock market. People like that will turn on you if it suits them.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing specific you can tell me about her? Maybe about her officers?”
“Well, she's even wealthier than she looks, and has been here for years. Most people come here because it's the first relatively safe place they've found. She stays here because she operates from a position of strength. Any more information will cost you.”
“It sounds like you have more to offer than we do.”
“Information wise? Probably, but Drifton is always running short on everything but residents.”
“Well, we haven't finished an inventory yet, but I know we'll need parts for repairs, a heavy lifter or two so we can get under one of our ships, and extra shelters if we have to stay here for any length of time.”
“You expect to be moving on?”
“I hope we get the option.” Ayan was momentarily distracted by the descent of one of their Uriel starfighters.
