The Betwixt Book One (31 page)

‘
Does the human wish to continue this line of questioning?’ the
AI suddenly changed its tone, almost sounding worried for me. ‘I
have detected an elevated pulse, increased respiration and galvanic
skin response indicating—’

‘
I'm okay,’ I whispered, almost touched by the computer's
programmed compassion. Except I really wasn't. A part of me wanted
it to keep on talking – to tell me everything. Yet the other part
of me didn't want to know another word. It sensed a secret lurking
under the depths – one that was rising up to consume my body and
soul.

‘
You wish me to continue then?’

‘
I . . . want you to—’

Chapter 17

For a moment that seemed to stretch on to eternity and back, I
didn't know what I'd choose. I didn't understand the well of
feelings inside of me, the pull to run away from the AI, to never
find out what it was supposed to tell me next. But I equally knew
that I couldn't pass up this opportunity. Everything I had done in
the past several weeks led to this point, everything I had become,
even everyone I had met . . . everything counted on
me sticking this through, finding out what the Twixts were and how
to truly fight them.

I steeled myself with several steady breaths.

‘
Perhaps,’ the AI cut in before I could finish grounding myself
to resume our talk, ‘the human would like to temporarily switch to
an associated topic?’

‘
Umm . . . ahh . . . I—’ I could
hardly think straight, let alone give a straight answer to the AI.
What was happening to me? Had the Rain Man pumped dumb gas into the
chamber, or had I just reverted to a pathetic, overtly emotional
child?

‘
There are approximately 306 associated topics that I believe
would be of especial interest to you, human. If you request, I
could chose a random topic, or analyze which I believe to be of the
most rel—’

‘
I don't mind,’ I said quickly, just happy I could do more than
stutter, ‘just pick one.’ And I meant it. It might give me time to
think, to reassess, to calm myself. And god knows I needed time to
readjust. And at least if I were listening to an ‘associated topic
of interest’, it would still constitute as doing research on my
people and the Twixts. It could even be a better way of finding out
information, a more subtle, indirect method of finding what I
needed . . . whatever that was at this
point.

‘
Very well, I have chosen a topic which I believe of especial
interest to the human.’

I wasn't even going to ask how the AI had done that, but it
better not be something along the lines of 'relaxation techniques
for the easily frightened'.

‘
The Dark Rift is an anomaly in a distant system – a massive
spatial disruption caused by an unknown source that makes space
travel in that area completely impossible. Even long-range sensors
cannot penetrate the rift. Some believe it is the distortion
created between two massive stars – though this cannot account for
the sheer peculiarity of the anomaly. It is considered a No Go Zone
(NGZ) by the GAMs – who maintain a general alert status concerning
the Dark Rift – warning all space travelers not to get within a
parsec of the system's boundary.’

Well, that had been distracting. Interesting too, but what it
had to do with the People or the Twixts, I didn't know. Perhaps the
AI was just going to plumb me with bizarre and kooky galactic facts
until it believed I was calm enough to continue. After all, there
was only going to be a finite amount of 'system Alpha Banta
contains an estimated 10 trillion tonnes of space dust, yada, yada,
yada' that I could take before becoming too bored to worry. Not
that this Dark Rift place didn't sound interesting. But really, the
galaxy was packed with NGZs – strange anomalies, tricky places to
navigate, super novas – all sorts of spatial peculiarities. After a
while, they didn't really become that interesting any
more . . . . So why did the AI think this one
was?

‘
But it has a place in galactic myth as well – some believing
that it is the source of incredibly advanced technology. The legend
tells that if someone was capable of making it past the initial
disruptive force of the rift – they would be able to claim enough
advanced technology to completely overcome the space-faring races
of the galaxy. Hantari traders have their own version of the
legend, though – a far darker one. They hold that the Dark Rift is
the vanguard of galactic destruction. Somewhat akin to the human
myth of Damocles' sword, the Dark Rift is the very reminder of the
cost of power. An ancient race, said to have reached the very
highest pinnacle of evolution, tore itself to pieces in the quest
for the final step – enlightenment. The Dark Rift is what they left
behind. And according to the Hantari, these creatures still battle
on within the anomaly. The rift's size and disruptive pull can be
used to indicate who is winning – and what the likely fate of the
galaxy will be. All galactic races have some theory on the End Time
– the destruction of our Universe – the Hantari believe it will
come to hand inside the Dark Rift itself.’

‘
End Time?’ I said out loud, not quite capable of containing
myself. It was just such a . . . final phrase. And
an ancient race fighting amongst itself smack bang in the middle of
a massive spatial anomaly? An ancient race that just happened to be
searching for enlightenment, that just happened to have incredibly
advanced technology. It . . . couldn't
be . . . .

I don't think my heart was exactly beating any more, just
grounding to a halt in one final flutter. But I managed to get my
mouth open. ‘It's not . . . it's
not . . . the ancient race . . . is
it supposed to be—’

‘
Yeah, the People.’

I jumped a mile and turned to see the Commander striding back
into the room. He gave me a curious, worried look at my
overreaction. ‘It's just a myth though, just some silly
tale.’

‘
So the Dark Rift isn't really there then?’ I said, voice
barely above a whisper – far more like the hush of sand on
sand.

‘
No,’ he walked over to me and stood, watching the floating AI,
arms crossed as usual, ‘it's there alright. It's a NGZ, and for a
damn good reason. You go within a parsec of that thing and it will
rip any ship to shreds. But the rest of it is about as likely as
the universe being made out of chocolate cows.’

I couldn't help but give a quick laugh at that, even though my
unease settled in as soon as the humor had left.

The AI was watching us both, even shifting its head to follow
whoever was talking, copying the actions of a real person. But it
wasn't a real person, it was an artificial intelligence belonging
to some computer. It could mimic compassion, empathy, maybe even
warmth. But how about cunning, foresight, wisdom? Why had it chosen
to tell me about the Dark Rift, out of all the possible topics at
its disposable? Was it possible that it really could have something
to do with the People, with the Twixts . . . ?
Could they really be
fighting . . . .

‘
The human is sufficiently calm and supported to continue our
original discussion,’ the AI fixed its gaze towards mine again,
though turned briefly to the Commander when it said the word
'supported'.

I closed my eyes quickly, squished up my cheeks, and let the
hot goo of embarrassment trickle over me. Great, another reason for
the Commander to think I'm a pathetic idiot. But there wasn't going
to be much time to revel in this feeling . . .
whatever the AI was going to say next . . . I could
tell that it was going to make or break me.

‘
We ended our previous discussion on the note that the People
had applied themselves to gaining enlightenment.’

The Commander was probably looking at the AI, eyebrows cocked,
arms crossed, and body just a general lump of disbelieving. But I
didn't want to look his way, not now.

‘
An interesting correspondence occurs between the People's term
for enlightenment and the Standard English human term that this
report denotes. Both have the same function, the same context, and
the same root words as their base – light. And reference to this
word assumes the total, end state of a being's spiritual evolution
in both cultures. Such a coincidence has been used to suggest that
enlightenment is a shared ending for all intelligent forms of
life.’

‘
Shared ending for all life?’ The Commander interrupted.
‘That's a bit presumptuous. What kind of evidence do you have to
back up such a wide sweeping—’

‘
I have both evidence at, and beyond, your comprehension,’ the
AI's voice was so neutral, even though it was offering a smack down
to the Commander himself. ‘But to go into them, would be to digress
from this current topic. The validity of my assertion on
enlightenment can be assessed once our original discussion is
complete.’

The Commander didn't interrupt again, but did look my way and
rolled his eyes obviously.

‘
I will continue,’ the AI said, once again toneless and to the
point. ‘But it is with the term enlightenment that we can truly
elucidate the historical fall of the People. Within their race
there appears to be a schism between what successful enlightenment
entails. Is it the process of capturing the light, encasing it,
containing it within oneself, so that one is always in possession
of it? Or is it the ability to enlighten – the capacity to spread
light, to give it, to bring it to others?’

Now the unease spread through me like a wildfire through the
dry grass of summer. It was actually picking at my stomach, seeming
to pull apart the soft, tender flesh as if some great vulture had
descended upon me from the heavens. I swallowed, careful not to let
the Commander see my tight, white lips.

‘
Gaps in data unfortunately do not allow us to map how exactly
this schism played out, or even what percentage of the People's
population believed in either view. However, if analysis is widened
to include the Twixts – a probable outcome can be assumed. Based on
the sum of existing data on the Twixts – gathered from Kroplin,
Crag, Hantari and archaeological sources – it is clear their origin
is linked with the disappearance of the People in this galaxy.
Extrapolating from the known nature of their spirituality, and the
fact that the People are the only known race capable of seeing the
Twixts – it is highly probable that they share an
origin.’

I slowly, carefully traced a strand of my fringe, tucking it
behind an ear. The Commander was looking at me, I could feel his
gaze like a hot breath on my cheek. But I couldn't look his way, my
eyes were just transfixed before me. What was this thing saying?
Shared origins? Did it mean we came from the same system, the same
planet even? Did it mean-

‘
This report concludes that the Twixts are the People, or
rather, those that chose to gain enlightenment through a process of
trapping light within. Based on the assumptions and extrapolations
made, we can be forty-nine percent sure of this
conclusion.’

I leaned back, except there was nothing behind me. So I
stumbled, shifted my feet, wavered till I found my balance again.
Because that news had shaken me – like an earthquake to my core.
‘We're Twixts,’ I said as softly as my breath would come, ‘oh
god . . . I'm one of them . . . My
People . . . . My heritage . . .
we created them . . . .’

Jason uncrossed his arms, stood a little closer to me, until I
could make out the worried grooves in his forehead like they were
dark chasms in the ground below my feet. ‘Or it's a convenient
story.’

I looked at him, tried to maintain his intense gaze, but then
shook it off and turned to the side. ‘How could you say that?
I've . . . just learned that what I came
from . . . that who I am . . . that
we created the Twix—’

‘
That's not who you are. You're standing in front of me right
now, and I don't see any Twixts, I don't see any People – I don't
see anything but you. You are what you make yourself, the decisions
you take, and the ones yet to come – not where you've come from.
Trust me, because I've learned this the hard way – it doesn't
matter who you're parents were, the choices they made – all that
matters is what you choose to do now.’

I was hot, my skin itching and tight like I was buried under
hot desert sand. I couldn't take this news, I just couldn't take
it. I hadn't even found my People, hadn't even obtained a weapon to
fight – only to discover that my cause was not as just as I'd
assumed. That my trail wasn't as blazing, as glorified, as black
and white as I'd hoped.

I'd gone from being the innocent waitress thrust into some
impossible, but noble situation – with a hope and a fancy to fight
off the most terrible enemy of the galaxy. To being the one being
alive that shared the heritage of those that created the Twixts,
that are the Twixts. And that made me the most responsible person
in the Milky Way – the only existing person for anyone to
blame . . . .

I tried to put a hand on my chest, tried to ground myself to
the hot and heavy touch of my own skin and skin – but I was too
flighty, to overcome.

‘
Hey,’ Jason stepped in again, closing in on me with his brow
held so grim, yet eyes so . . . 

I stepped back, just wanted to be gone – to disappear – for
this whole situation to be over.