Read Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles 1: Wizard Defiant Online

Authors: Rodney Hartman

Tags: #Children's Books, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy & Magic, #Science Fiction, #Military, #Space Marine, #Children's eBooks, #Science Fiction; Fantasy & Scary Stories

Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles 1: Wizard Defiant (9 page)

“I’m confused,” Richard said forgetting to even say the word
sir
.

“So are we,” said Chief Instructor Winslow. “Nickelo is a one-of-a-kind prototype battle computer. He has been assigned to you by order of …, well we don’t know by whom specifically. But, the orders are marked with the Imperial High Command’s seal. They were routed to us from the central computer via a high-security encryption algorithm. All attempts to discover specifics about the orders keep getting a top-secret denial error.”

“Do you have any idea why?” asked John. The old technician looked at Richard expectantly. So did the three females.

“No, sir,” Richard said honestly. He was more than a little concerned. It didn’t pay for a cadet to bring undue attention to himself. Richard said, “What does all this mean for me, sir?”

“It means,” said Chief Instructor Winslow, “that you will be receiving specialist training in all the wizard scout abilities. It also means you will be receiving your battle suit six months earlier than the rest of your cohort. And finally,” she said a little sternly, “it means someone in higher headquarters has you earmarked for something big. They are dropping a lot of credits on you.”

“Don’t all wizard scouts cost a lot to train?” Richard said.

“Yes,” agreed Chief Instructor Winslow, “but you’re already way outside the norm.” She picked up the battle helmet. “Nickelo, the chip inside this helmet, is one of one. He is so advanced that I can’t even begin to estimate how much he costs. The shell of this battle helmet is designed to only work with this one chip. A normal battle helmet costs almost as much as a small cruiser. This battle helmet shell is marked one of fifty-five. I have no idea where the other fifty-four are.” She set the battle helmet down and picked up the battle suit. “This battle suit is designed to work with this style of battle helmet, and only this style. It is marked one of two hundred. Get the picture?”

“No, sir,” Richard said. He didn’t know what else to say. One of his weaknesses was that his brain tended to shut down when he got confused. To overcome this handicap, he liked to plan things out well in advance.

“Well, you’re going to get it,” said Chief Instructor Winslow. “Someone is buying a lot of replacement parts for you. I’d say that means they expect you to take a lot of damage. In my opinion, they’re going way overboard. You’d be dead before you went through ten battle suits much less two hundred.”

“What should I do, sir?” Richard said. He just wanted to mind his own business. He didn’t want anyone singling him out.

“Do?” said Chief Instructor Winslow. “What can you do? You’re a soldier. You’ll do as you’re ordered and make the best of it.”

“But for now,” said the older female technician, “it’s time you got acquainted with your battle computer. Nickelo, this is cadet 832. Cadet 832, this is Nickelo.”

With that introduction, Chief Instructor Winslow and the three technicians rose from their chairs and headed towards a door in the far wall.

“What am I supposed to do?” Richard said. “Should I rejoin my cohort?”

“Ask your battle computer,” said Chief Instructor Winslow as she walked out the door with the technicians. “He’s in charge now.”

Chapter 10 – Nickelo

_________________

 

Richard stood in the room looking at the battle helmet. He didn’t know a lot about battle computers, but he’d watched several entertainment videos which suggested a wizard scout and their battle helmet formed a bond closer than anything he could imagine.

Although he felt silly, Richard said, “So, you’re Nickelo?”

A voice answered from the direction of the battle helmet. It was his voice. “And you’re Richard. Or Rick to your friends. I assume I can call you Rick.”

“That’s my voice,” Richard said as he drew a little closer to the battle helmet.

“Wow. How astute you are,” Nickelo said still using Richard’s voice. “I can see my wizard scout is the pick of the litter.”

Richard had a feeling he was being insulted, but he let it slide. “Where is the speaker at?” he said. The surface of the battle helmet was dull black. It was neither smooth nor rough. From observing his TAC officers, Richard knew the battle helmet could change shape depending on whether it was being worn or stored on the wizard scout’s hip. He looked at it closely, but he saw nothing which would indicate speakers or any other kind of external equipment on the helmet.

“The speakers,” Nickelo said, “are embedded in the helmet just like all its other sensors and probes. I’m using your voice because you will need to use the speakers to communicate with others when your suit is fully sealed.”

“Oh,” Richard said.

“My, you’re inquisitive,” said the voice. “Just a fountain of curiosity, aren’t you?”

This time Richard was certain he was being insulted.

“Why don’t you try the helmet on?” said Nickelo.

“Are you sure that’s allowed?” Richard said. “I thought everything had to be fitted perfectly. I don’t want to break anything.”

“Oh, this battle helmet is pretty tough,” said Nickelo. “And, we have fifty-four replacements if you get too careless with this one. But it will be fine. This helmet was manufactured specifically for you. No fitting is necessary.”

Richard was leery, but he removed his cap and hesitantly picked up the battle helmet. It felt neither cool nor warm. It was a little heavier than he expected. As he lowered it to his head, the helmet changed shape to fit perfectly with the contours of his head. He felt a prickly sensation wherever the helmet touched his bare skin. Except for the prickly feeling, the helmet was fairly comfortable. The front of the battle helmet came down to his eyebrows and curved around to cover his ears and the sides of his neck.”

Now, isn’t that better?
came a thought in Richard’s head.

Richard froze. “Was that you?” he said.

You don’t have to speak
, said the voice in his head.
Just think. And yes, this is me. My friends call me Nick.

The idea of computers having friends was so absurd that Richard’s curiosity overcame his shock of someone talking in his head.

Do you have many friends?
Richard said mentally.

No
, said the voice.
Just you, Rick.

We just met
, Richard said using thoughts only.
How can we be friends? You don’t know anything about me.

Nonsense. I know a lot about you, Rick. I’m a computer, remember? I know everything in the tele-network’s databanks about you. Or at least I did. I’m not connected to the tele-network at the moment. But, I still know a lot of your history and progress at the Academy.

Oh
, Richard said still talking mentally.
So, is this how wizard scouts talk to their battle computers?

Not exactly
, said Nickelo.
It’s too slow. Once you have your DNA baseline taken, a shared data space will be created inside your mind. When that’s done, we will be able to talk there. You’ll have your private thoughts, and I’ll have my private thoughts, but we’ll be able to share information in our mutual space. It will be a superfast form of communication.

The helmet does fit perfectly
, Richard said in his mind.
How did you get my measurements?

Oh, fitting your helmet and battle suit doesn’t mean getting the correct size, Rick. They’ll change shape as necessary to fit you. Within reason, of course, so don’t go on an eating binge.

Richard heard what sounded like a giggle in his head.
Do computers laugh?
he wondered.

Yes, they do
, said Nickelo.
At least, I do.

Hey, you’re reading my mind. I thought you said my thoughts would be private.

They will be
, said Nickelo,
but only after we’ve set up our shared space. Then you’ll be trained how to protect the rest of your mind. And, I can’t read your mind. Heck, why would I want to? But, I can’t help it if you’re saying your thoughts for anyone to hear.

Oh
, Richard said a little relieved that eventually he would be able to prevent his battle computer from hearing everything he thought.

But, back to your equipment
, said Nickelo.
Fitting doesn’t mean sizing. It means getting your Power readings to attune your equipment to you and only you.

So, was I fitted during my testing a few weeks ago?
Richard said.
I would have thought it would take longer to make something as complicated as a wizard scout’s battle helmet and battle suit.

No answer came for a moment. Finally, Richard heard Nickelo’s reply in his head.

Rick, even a standard set of wizard scout gear takes months to manufacture. This battle helmet and this battle suit are advanced models. They took years to create.

I don’t understand
, Richard said.

Neither do I
, said Nickelo.
I’m missing information, and that’s very disconcerting to me. My connection to the full tele-network is being blocked, so I’m unable to get all the data I need in order to make a complete analysis.

Why can’t you connect to the tele-network?
Richard said.

I don’t know, Rick. And I have a name. It’s a little insulting that you are avoiding it. I have feelings too, you know.

Actually, Richard didn’t know. He’d never been much of a computer geek.

Sorry, er… Nick
, Richard said apologetically.
I’m just confused. If it took years to make this equipment, and it is attuned specifically for me, wouldn’t that mean I had to be fitted years ago? And by the way, the helmet feels a little prickly. It doesn’t hurt, but it feels strange.

First off, Rick, the prickly feeling is sensory probes in the helmet connecting with your nerve endings. To answer your other question, it does seem logical that you would have been fitted years ago. At the very least, measurements would have needed to be taken.

Richard pondered his battle computer’s response for a few seconds. His thoughts were interrupted before he could reply.

Maybe we can think of the why and how together later, Rick
, said Nickelo
. For now though, our time is short. I think you should try on the rest of your battle suit to make sure it all works as expected.

Richard jumped at the suggestion. He much preferred action to thinking. He’d put on enough training equipment to know you had to be fully undressed, so he removed his uniform. After folding his clothing and placing it on the desk, he put on the battle suit pants, top, boots, gloves and a utility belt. As he put each item on, they automatically sealed with the other parts of the uniform. He felt sharp pricks all over his body.

“Ouch,” Richard said aloud. “Are those more sensory probes? They hurt a little.”

Yes
, said Nickelo.
They are sensory probes. The needle threads in your clothing are longer than the ones in your helmet. They have to go deeper to connect to your nerves. When energized, your armor will be like a second layer of skin. Although the sensory inputs will be filtered so you don’t feel unnecessary pain. But, you should only have felt the thread needles when they first went in. Don’t be a wimp, Rick. Are you saying they still hurt? And, please don’t talk to me out loud. You need to get in the habit of talking to me by thoughts. We’ll need to communicate quickly during combat conditions.

Okay
, Richard thought back.
And no, I’m not in pain now. It was just unexpected. But, the suit does feel weird. It’s not exactly what I would call comfortable.

It’s not built to be comfortable, Rick. It’s built to keep you alive. You’ll get used to it.
Richard’s battle computer paused before speaking again.
Now, give me the command to seal the battle suit so we can complete the suit’s function checks.

I have to command you?
Richard said.
Why don’t you just do it?

The silence was long enough that Richard thought the battle computer wasn’t going to answer him.

Nick?
he prodded.

I cannot activate the seals without a direct command unless you override the suit’s safeties. Because some wizard scouts do not trust their battle computers, safeties are installed in the battle suits. The safeties prevent a battle computer from taking charge of a battle suit without the wizard scout’s explicit permission. If you gave me complete control of your battle suit, I could make it do whatever I desired. You’d be stuck inside just going along for the ride.
Nickelo paused again.
Are you asking me to override the safeties at this time, wizard scout?

Ah…, no
, Richard said. He had visions of himself being trapped in the battle suit as a puppet doing his battle computer’s bidding.

I didn’t think so
, laughed Nickelo.
Are you giving me the command to seal the battle suit to complete the testing?

Yes, Nick. Seal the suit.

A reddish force field lowered from the brim of the helmet to just past the tip of his nose. The lower part of his helmet changed shape to cover his throat, chin and mouth until it merged with the force field. As the helmet sealed with the top of the battle suit, two tubes slide into Richard’s nostrils and wormed their way down his throat. A larger tube forced its way into his mouth and also slid down his throat. Richard felt other tubes entering his rectum and urinary track. Something soft jammed itself into each of his ears. Richard tried to tear off his helmet, but it was sealed tight. He fell on the floor as he struggled to remove the battle helmet. He tried to find an opening in his battle suit top, but everything was sealed tight. Richard struggled to breathe around the tubes in his nose and mouth, but he was suffocating. At the same time, he tried to scream. The only noise he could make was a muffled gurgle.

Calm down, Rick!
came Nickelo’s voice in his head.
Calm down.

Richard ignored his computer’s advice. He continued his attempts to remove his equipment.

You can breathe fine
, Nickelo said.
Let the battle suit breathe for you. Stop struggling. You’re causing your own problems.

Richard saw red flashes in front of his eyes, and it wasn’t the red glow of his visor. His brain was reacting to a lack of oxygen. Claustrophobia took over as he realized he was trapped inside the battle suit with no way out. In desperation, Richard mentally shouted,
Unseal! Unseal the suit!

I can’t, Rick
, said Nickelo.
You have to get control of yourself, otherwise you’ll die.

I’m already dying.

No, you’re not
, said Nickelo.
Stop fighting the tubes. Relax your throat. The battle suit will pump oxygen into your lungs. Calm down. Please, just calm down, Rick.

Richard had a fleeting thought,
Easy for you to say. I’m the one choking.
But, some of his TAC officer’s training during the two years of pre-Academy took over. He forced logic to overcome his body’s natural survival instinct. Richard relaxed his throat muscles. He felt the tubes from his nostrils move down his throat and branch off into his lungs. The larger tube continued past his esophagus and into his stomach.

Sweet oxygen filled Richard’s lungs, and the red flashes began to disappear. He was breathing again. It felt awkward and unnatural, but he was breathing.

There
, Richard said.
I did it. Now unseal this suit and get me the hell out of here!

I’m sorry, Rick. I can’t yet. You have to complete the function checks first. Once you do that, then the hard-wired requirements will be completed. You’ll have complete control of the battle suit again.

Fine!
Richard snapped with a viciousness he hadn’t felt in a while.
Let’s get it over with. I can breathe, but this suit is uncomfortable as hell.

You’ll get used to it, Rick. All wizard scouts do eventually.

Whatever,
Richard said with the answer he used whenever he didn’t like the direction of a conversation.

All right, then
, said Nickelo.
Try concentrating on your hearing. The harder you concentrate, the more the battle suit will amplify the sound.

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