The AI War Read Online Free PDF

one looked twice at them. The crew was from twenty-three different worlds, each with its own very distinct gene pool.
    "Sorry we came?" he asked, putting his hand atop hers on the padded handrail.
    "You will be," said a third voice: a woman's, a familiar voice.
    They whirled, drawing their blasters.
    The blonde stood opposite them, wearing a red jumpsuit, long silken hair soft-burnished by the starlight.
    "How . . . ?" said John, staring beyond the S'Cotar. Outside was the reassuring shimmer of the shield.
    "With us since . . . when?" said Zahava.
    Both blasters were leveled at the Other's stomach.
    "Long time," said the S'Cotar, gaze shifting between the two. "Since the Lake of Dreams."
    "You're one of the crew," said John. His finger tightened around the trigger.
    The blonde pointed at him. "You fire one of those cannons in here, Harrison, and that laser-bonded ion stream will deflect off the armorglass until its potential's spent. You two will look like you've been through one of your quaint food processors. And I'll have left." The elegant fingers snapped. "Like that. Teleportation's a wonderful gift."
    "We'll find you, green slime," said Zahava. "D'Trelna will—"
    "Yes, yes, I know," said the transmute wearily. "D'Trelna will take the ship apart. Probably with his bare hands. Not to mention Colonel R'Gal."
    "Who?" said Zahava.
    "Oh, I'm sure you'll meet," said the S'Cotar. "The three of you are . . . implacable."
    "Why've you exposed yourself?" said John.
    "It's imperative," said the biofab. "You've far worse to contend with here than slimy green bugs." The blonde was replaced by a green, six foot insectoid. It stood erect on four thin legs. Twin antennae grew above its bulbous eyes, two tentacles from its shoulders. The spectacle lasted only a second, then the blonde reappeared.
    "Am I a bug dreaming that I'm a woman, or a woman, dreaming that I'm a—"
    "What's so damned imperative, bug?" said Zahava.
    "Commander T'Lan," said the S'Cotar urgently. "Watch him. He endangers everything you're trying to prevent, everything I'm trying to accomplish."
    "Explain," said John.
    The S'Cotar's head shook. "You wouldn't believe me. And I'll be missed in a moment. But don't let T'Lan out of your sight once we reach our coordinates."
    ' 'He's just a jerk kid,'' said John. "A K'Ronarin preppy.''
    "Harrison," said the S'Cotar intently, "it costs you nothing to watch T'Lan, much if you don't."
    A chime sounded three times. "Stand by for jump," warned computer. "Stand by for jump."
    "Luck," said the S'Cotar, and was gone.
    "Trust him . . . it?" said Zahava.
    The S'Cotar reappeared. "Oh. Congratulations on your marriage," it said, then vanished again.
    The final warning sounded, six chimes repeating three times. "I need a drink," said John as they grabbed the handrail.
    Outside, the stars changed. Implacable had moved ninety-seven light-years.
    Zahava swallowed hard. "I think my stomach's back on Rigel or wherever that was. Are we going to tell D'Trelna about Big Green?"
    "How do we know D'Trelna isn't Big Green?"
    "Shit." She looked stricken. "Who can we trust?"
    "You and me, chum. Unless, of course, it can project two illusions at once. After all, we were both at the Lake of Dreams." They eyed each other warily, then burst into laughter.
    "They should make more bugs like you," said John, kissing her.
    "Was that as good as the real Zahava?" she asked a moment later. "Better," he said.
    "Pig," she said as their communicators chirped. "Briefing call," came K'Raoda's voice. "All designated personnel report for mission briefing, deck four, briefing room seven." The message repeated.
    "Here's where they tell us what we already know," said Zahava as they clambered down the duralloy ladder to deck one.
    "Rumor has it we're going into the galaxy's Bight of Benin."
    "The what?"
    "Pestilential West Africa slavers' port." He chanted in a passable baritone as they walked:
    "The Bight of Benin, The Bight of Benin, Few come out, though many go