Mind Wipe

December 1 - Al Raqis

A suspicious character recently appeared on Al Raqis. Erratic behaviour and consuming a steady stream of purple pills.

He met the Consulari quite by accident but it seems they talked at length.

His memory was severely impaired. Despite this challenge, several points came to light during their conversation. The Consulari passed along the information.

• the man said that he currently lived in a shuttle in orbit above Khayal Alramady.
• he had been institutionalized in some capacity. Location unknown but he reported that the food was good. He stated that he had been released a few months ago.
• he has had interactions with doctors who told him he had military training. One such doctor called him Shatar. While he did not seem to identify with the name, he said that he knew it was an important name, a leader of something.
• he receives regular air drops of his pills, from whom it is unclear. He said that he needs less water now because of these pills. The Consulari observed Shatar taking his pills at a rate of approximately one every five minutes.
• he said he was a miner and that he was frequently covered in spice. He claimed to have, on one occasion at least, added chemicals to the spice changing its structure.
• he appeared to have a familiarity with droids.
• he had a pin with some kind of logo. The Consulari describes it as "a metal triangle inscribed inside of a metal circle. It also had a red circle and slash."
• during the conversation, Shatar made a reference to a plot to poison the spice fields.

The Consulari managed to obtain a sample of his medication. Captain Manda Westminister did the analysis. I received a copy of the lab report she sent to the Consulari.

-----


Lab Report

December 1

To: Baronetess Jai Raghilda Lordhunter née Oyl, Consulari of the Zenobian Moore in the Diocese of Mu Draconis.

From: Captain Manda Soldi Westminster, Medical Examiner, UAP Special Projects

Reference: Unidentified Purple Pill

Subject: Lab Analysis, part 1

The first round of testing utilized non-destructive testing because of the limited sample size, 1 small pill. We decided to see if the non-destructive testing might give us indications as to what destructive testing to attempt to best preserve the sample.

Water: Presumably used in preparation.

Sugar and spice: Probably for ease of swallowing.

Traces of Gold and Platinum: Both have known medicinal properties, but not in the dosages present even if consumed frequently. Probably a byproduct of some other process, a tracing medium or to scatter some e/m scans like our initial attempts.

Epcore: A basic medical ingredient used to treat headaches.

Instelio: Another medical ingredient used to treat mild nerve problems.

The combination of Epcore and Instelio is known colloquially as "Mother's Little Helper", but is typically packaged as a little yellow pill. You may recall the commercial jingle:

"Kids are different today, I hear ev'ry mother say Mother needs something today to calm her down And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day."

If we had not checked below the outer level of the pill and we might ignored it as an ordinary pharma violating trademark and formulation patents, but the inner layers of the pill were very unorthodox.

Luckily we did not start with standard destructive testing methods and the pill contains what is known by its street name of "Firestone", a highly unstable volatile flammable explosive substance. What medical process it enables is unknown.

We were able to isolate a small particle which completely changes oxygen and carbon dioxide into a completely different substance. We have not been able to determine what its chemical composition is or of the transformed substance. It is however instantly fatal in the minute dosage we tested on lab animals. We may have to consult outside of our pharma sources to get a better idea about it.

21 unidentified substances: A surprising number of active ingredients, technically making this pill a cocktail pill. More than any leading brand.

More after destructive testing procedures have been decided upon.

Captain Manda Soldi Westminster, Medical Examiner, UAP Special Projects

CC: Major Pepper Siamendes, UAP SIU
Colonel Aodhfionn MacMoragh, UAP Special Projects

-----

December 15 - Hale's Moon

A report came through from Gage Macarthur. An incident during the local Christmas ship decoration festivities. It concerned Lily.

"Major. I wanted to report that Miss LilyBell was on board the small freighter we use to haul cargo down to Hale's from the Sinkov. It looks like she's very interested in our Nav module. She said it was Ardra. I'm not sure what that about but felt you should know. Also there is a man named Elix wearing an Alliance uniform but not Alliance. He may have stolen it..."

-----

Transcript edit

[Time stamp 6:17 PM]

Gage Macarthur: "Good evening Miss LilyBell"

LilyBell Snoodle: "Hello. Can you move please? Ship to here. Now there room. It..nice."

Gage Macarthur smiles: "I most certainly can. "

LilyBell Snoodle: "Okay. Thank you."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix: "Taking part in the contest?"

Gage Macarthur: "I am."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix: "Wish I had the time."

Gage Macarthur: I was allowed this old ship to use. Shows the happier side of the Alliance at holiday time. That's alright. Go on in and look around."

LilyBell Snoodle: "I am only one of me. Please. I created to bring information. This one name Li...oh."

Gage Macarthur: "That's alright Miss LilyBell."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix: "Looks good."

Gage Macarthur: "Thank you. I sort of imagined this as the inside of a snowglobe."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix remarks: "Nice concept."

Gage Macarthur: "I tried." He chuckles. "Putting the the giant Santa hat on was hard."

LilyBell Snoodle tries to pull the block off the stand.

Gage Macarthur: "Uh Miss LilyBell? That's fixed there by magnetics."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix: "That could be bad for her."

Gage Macarthur: No doubt.

LilyBell Snoodle seems unable to pull herself away from the object: "Mine..."

Gage Macarthur: "Oh no."

LilyBell Snoodle: "...MINE." LilyBell Snoodle hisses at Gage.

Gage Macarthur: "That's our system navigator."

LilyBell Snoodle: "Ardra.." She looks blank. "I not know anybody wif that name. My twins is Audrey and Ardra." She leans in towards the cube. "Her tell Blue, you for me".

Gage Macarthur: "Blue? What's this with Ardra?"

LilyBell Snoodle whispers and purrs: "Mine."

Gage Macarthur: "Um.... It's the Alliance ship."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix adds helpfully: "We could get you some candy, Miss Lily."

LilyBell Snoodle twitches slightly.

Gage Macarthur: "Miss LilyBell? Are you alright?"

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix asks: "Can't you turn the magnets off?"

Gage Macarthur explains: "It's a Nav system."

LilyBell Snoodle begins to head butt the shiny square.

Gage Macarthur sounds worried: "That looks painful."

Man in Alliance uniform/Elix asks Lily: "Would you like another shiny instead of this one?"

Gage Macarthur: "Are you thinking my Nav system is Ardra?"

LilyBell Snoodle: "This one not know any Ardra. All information regarding Ardra has been purged. This one not know any Ardra."

Gage Macarthur: "All information?"

End of transcript edit.

[Time stamp 6:33 PM]

-----

It would seem that the word 'navigator' triggered the episode, like a shortcut pointing to a missing file.

I knew from the information we obtained from the captured drone, Lily had kept the knowledge of the Audrey twins from Ardra Aurotharius. In response, Ardra had ripped a hole in Lily's mind.

Lily did good protecting the children from Ardra. But now, it seems, she suffers for it.

Interregnum

November 29 - Zenobia. Restricted Zone.

"Then shall the realm of Albion
Come to great confusion" - Shakespeare

"Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents,
and everyone is writing a book." - Cicero

-----

There was a quietness to the station.

This region was now under a full lockdown. All to ensure the safe transportation of the bones of a man dead for over two thousand years.

-----

The year was 337.

It was the end of the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. A time of violent transition. Constantine had been the ruler that established Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire, and in so doing changed the course of history. Upon his death, his three sons killed many other members of his family in an effort to consolidate power.

St. Zenobius was born that year. Raised by pagan parents, he came to the church early in life. His career advanced and he rose to become the first bishop of Florence. He was also credited with the miracle of raising children from the dead.

["The Last Miracle and Death of St. Zenobius" Sandro Botticelli]

When I reflect on this last point, I can't help but think of Audrey Aurotharius.

It is from the father of St. Zenobius that the Girolami family of Florence would claim descent tracing their heritage through him to Queen Zenobia of Palmyra. The ruling families of our planetary government have maintained this tradition, bringing it with them from Earth-That-Was, only now instead of pedigree books and family trees they use DNA analysis.

His bones therefore serve as both a national treasure and the genetic marker used to substantiate any claim to power.

-----

During the war, the UAP placed the bones of St. Zenobius in secure holding. At that time, we used the opportunity to substitute the relics with a copy used to substantiate the claim of a leader inclined to support the wartime policies of the Alliance.

Over a year ago, the Alliance lost control of the authentic remains. Soon after, Ardra Aurotharius placed them on the black market.

We found her ship and my team confiscated the authentic remains in March this past year.

Which brings us to the present...

Towards the end of November, Lord __________, the current head of state of the Government of Zenobia, walked away from the seat of power. If someone in his immediate circle is aware of his plans, they haven't made it public yet.

It is not unheard of for a ruler to disguise himself in the dress of the common man and walk among his subjects. And it is all very good if we are talking an evening out at the tavern, or a stroll through the barracks, but if the absence is prolonged who is to know if that ruler will return? Perhaps he grows to enjoy the taste of life away from the court. Perhaps he meets with an untimely end.

So while we wait to see if he will return, the machinery of succession engages.

And I am left with the bones of St. Zenobius, this time to ready them for transportation to the capital city, where a committee of scientists, appointed by the Senate, will conduct the DNA testing of the relics and begin the screening of candidates.

-----

But here is the twist.

No longer do we have the fog of war behind which to make another substitution of the relics in order to ensure the protection of Alliance interests. Without another substitution, we are left with using the authentic remains in order to verify candidates for the highest office in the land.

Further, if Lord __________ were to return, he would likely fail the genetic testing necessary to verify his identity, belonging as he does to the line established by the UAP during the war.

This makes a shift in government inevitable.

Does that really mean that by placing the relics on the black market, Ardra had set into motion the events that will restore the traditional leadership of Zenobia?

She did mention that she had an employer in the matter of the stolen relics...

I have a sick, dizzy feeling that I am standing on a giant chessboard, only now getting a hint of the size of the game.

The Eyes of the Wolf

November 17 - Hale's Moon

It was a good sized establishment. A large dance floor in the center. A small stage in the back with a vast array of sound equipment. Two raised areas on either side for patrons. The bar to one side. A few tables.

A scattering of wanted posters adorned the walls, like the photographs of celebrities that decorate the diners in the entertainment district of some Core world.

The Doctor had reported that the bottle of Replicant Elixir had come from here, from Firefly's. I wanted to obtain a second sample for our researcher. A baseline, as it were, to see if Mercedes had tampered with or altered in anyway the elixir she had given me.

I arrived long past closing time and the place was, for the most part, deserted. There were a couple of patrons at the bar sleeping off the effects of alcohol. I did not feel inclined to wake either of them nor wait for the bar staff to arrive.

-----

A short walk across the landing field I found a row of corporate offices and businesses. Even though it was after hours, the local office of Blue Sun was ablaze with lights.

Next to Blue Sun was the local office of Applecado, Brooke's transportation company. I thought I would just pop in and leave her a message that I had been in town.

I passed through the door and came to a sudden stop.

Behind the counter was a man tapping numbers on his datapad. He dutifully checked the numbers on the containers, then tapped in the numbers again to verify the shipment.

It was Cody Winterwolf.

He looked up when he heard me. There was a pause. "Somethin' you need?" he asked.

"Well," I admitted, "I didn't expect to find you here Mr. Winterwolf."

"Oh?" he answered with a frown.

"I knew you did some work for Brooke..." I began. I always thought Winterwolf was a hired gun. He had quite the list of charges against him. I did not think I would find him working behind a counter.

"I work here, yeah," he confirmed.

An idea began to form. Here was a career criminal with ties to a number of shady characters. Some one behind enemy lines so to speak. And, more importantly, his record indicated a protectiveness towards children.

"Well then," I said, "perhaps you can help me."

He carefully kept his hands on the counter where I could see them. "Okay," he replied cocking his head to the side but watching me closely. I kept my movements relaxed, natural.

"I was hoping to talk to someone about ....shall we say, transporting items from Paquin ...."

"What kinda stuff?" he interrupted.

"...without going through normal channels."

Winterwolf narrowed his eyes. "That ain't like 'liance to 'not' go through channels."

"Well," I answered, "I'm not interested in having any items moved or impeding trade in anyway."

"Ok... Now you got me a mite confused."

I sighed and frowned. It was a justifiable statement. I didn't exactly trust him and so was being too vague.

"Look," he said, "I transport stuff or do salvage for AT&S..."

Before he could continue, I took a leap of faith, "There have been two children abducted. I need help finding them, finding out how they got off Paquin."

It was an honest description of the situation.

He responded in kind. "There's a lot of ways to do it.... Cargo. Big stuff can hide a lot of boxes. Some of these can do it," he indicated the containers in the room. "They can be hid in plain sight too," he added.

"Oh?" I stopped him, "What do you mean?"

"Change hair color and clothes," he explained, "Knock 'em out and you can say anythin' 'bout em."

I nodded in response.

"But I ain't no kidnapper if that's what all your gettin' at," he added.

"No," I assured him, "I realize that. I am aware that despite your record you have a soft spot for children."

It was his turn to nod.

"Oddly enough," I continued, "with what I do know about you, you might be the perfect person to help with this."

"Shiny", he replied sarcastically.

"Anything you hear," I said, "well, it might just save some lives..."

"Okay," he replied, "If I help you with this, then you keep your boys off me."

"It will go a long way with the judge," I elaborated, "if you help in this matter."

"Whoa, whoa.." he exclaimed, "Judge?"

"For whenever you have to answer for shooting Reginald Brigston and Marshal Ishtari," I explained.

Winterwolf growled, his fingers clenching into fists.

"I'm not here to bring you in Cody. I just want to save the missing girls," I raised an eyebrow. "And what do you want Cody?"

He fumed, "That officer.. was an accident."

I nodded, "I've read the file. You have a good argument for self defense... or like you said an accident."

He glared. "That was an accident," he repeated.

"You may have thrown that away though when you took a shot at the Marshal."

"The marshal got his shots in. I got a vest to prove it."

"Yes." I agreed. The vest was already in an evidence locker. Gage and I had seized it when we searched Cody's ship.

"I wasn't shootin' to kill him," he continued, "I was helpin' a friend."

"That vest can work both ways," I said.

"Oh? Only took a pot shot at him and his pal."

I explained my remark, "It certainly places you in a gun fight with an UAP Marshal."

"Fine," he admitted, "I was in a gunfight. I been in plenty."

We were getting off track.

"I'm not here to argue the finer points of your case," I said, "I'd recommend a good lawyer regardless..."

He gritted his teeth.

"...but like I said," I added, "anything you can do to help with the missing children that will help you too."

"How?" he replied, "I don't see it doin' me any good."

"It shows that you care enough about the vulnerable to merit remaining a part of society. You don't want to be on the run all your life, do you?"

"Seems you folks got me tagged for that a while ago," he countered.

I continued, "...or spend your life behind bars ... or digging out some miserable asteroid?"

"What other options do I got?" he challenged, "Bein' a lab rat?"

I did not reply. He had scored a point. I had to give him that. He had been the unwilling recipient of a pair of experimental ocular implants by some government scientist whose enthusiasm for the work got the better of his or her ethical sense.

"Figures..." he muttered when I did not answer.

"How are your eyes?" I asked.

He frowned.

"...Still getting headaches?"

"Why you wanta know...?" he fired back. But he pulled his sunglasses off just the same, and set them carefully on the counter.

I leaned closer and looked directly into his eyes, narrowing my own.

His eyes were ... beautiful. They were the colour of liquid gold.

"Can you really see in the dark now?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied, "Near dark don't bother me."

He shut off the light. The light from the neon signs outside coloured the room.

I shook my head fascinated at the modification, "Remarkable...." I said quietly, "You would make a good hunter."

"Already am," he said and leaned forward himself.

"Then help me find these children, Cody," I answered flatly.

He spelled out his limits. "One thin' I ain't doin' for you or anyone... I ain't goin' back to no facility. You hear me?"

"Okay," I agreed. We can work with that. I was suddenly struck with the absurd image of Cody Winterwolf receiving an eye examination in an open field somewhere. Scientists in lab coats. Birds chirping.

"I look for these kids... You find out where my sister is."

And that was his price.

I nodded gravely. "Deal."

Cody nodded slowly. "I make no promises I'll find those kids."

"Of course," I replied. There are no guarantees in life.

"I ain't helpin' for the 'liance," he narrowed his eyes, "And I don't want someone tailin' me."

"I don't care how you process it," I replied finally, "you help me and I will do what I can to find Kitten."

"Okay," he said.

"Okay," I said in return.

There was another pause. We now had an agreement. There was nothing further to say.

"Keep in touch Cody," I added, and with that I turned and walked out into the night.

The Skies over Bihar

November 15 - Bihar Sanctuary, Evangeline Island, Avalon

"To the island-valley of Avilion;
Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies
Deep-meadowed, happy, fair with orchard lawns
And bowery hollows crowned with summer sea,
Where I will heal me of my grievous wound." - Alfred, Lord Tennyson

-----

Around the time Manda and the Doctor were hunting drones in the deserts of Al Raqis, Major Aodhfionn Muircastle sent word of having detected the presence of an anomaly that could be an indication that further Project Aurotharius technology had been activated.

While I knew of the Major, we had not had direct dealings with each other before last month. He is the nephew of my commanding officer and I am told there is a strong physical resemblance.

According to the coordinates he provided, the source of this phenomenon was in the vicinity of Avalon, Albion's solitary moon.

I did not, however, head directly to the area indicated.

I felt restless.

The Aurotharius case had taken a disturbing turn.

From the retrieval of stolen antiquities (accomplished) and the reacquisition of lost classified government research (ongoing), this case now included the kidnapping of two schoolgirls from a private school on Paquin.

Further, our investigation had revealed that the girls were in fact clones, with all the dubious legal status that entails. But it did not take away from the fact that somewhere out there were two young girls, taken from their home, alone, afraid....

And so I travelled first to Bihar Sanctuary in hopes of meeting Bai Feargananym Karillion, in search of a kind word and perhaps some spiritual guidance.

It was night.

A heavy mist clung to the surface of the water occluding the Romany camp, transforming the bright caravans into colourless shapes. A dampness crept into my joints despite the small campfire that marked the edge of the sanctuary proper.

The temple compound itself was dark and silent. The weeds tugged at my boots as I waded through the meadow thick with growth. Only the flickering of butter lamps and traces of incense were indication of a human presence.

Perhaps the Bai and his staff were in seclusion or at meditation. Either way, I was left with little option but to begin my search with nothing but my own thoughts for company.


-----

Through the course of my investigation I uncovered three hard dates with which to frame the story:

2500 - The Ardra AI goes on line (source - Colonel M). Ardra - Auto Regressive Development Research Algorithm - was originally designed as a data mining AI program. The researchers of Project Aurotharius used it to co-ordinate other AIs. The result was a composite AI. (source - Qui). Project Teams included cybernetics, artificial intelligence, robotics, biological reanimation and particle physics. (source - Colonel M)

2505 - Audrey Aurotharius dies at age 15 (source - Assistbot). Audrey's father, Wylder Aurotharius was the lead researcher of Project Aurotharius. When Audrey took sick with familial amyloidosis, an uncontrolled growth of amyloid proteins, her father used his influence to implement an illegal, experimental and ultimately unsuccessful form of treatment. The two missing Audreys appear to be clones of this girl (source - Manda).

2506 - The year the Unification Wars began. Blue Sun issues a burn notice on Ardra before what would have been Audrey's 16 birthday (source - Colonel M). That places Audrey's birthday within the year 2490. She was born here on Avalon.

In addition, a neural interface between Audrey and the AI was created when the girl was 11 or 12 (source - Qui). This places the interface at 2501-2502. The original purpose of the interface was so Audrey could play with the AI.

-----

After refueling at the local Alliance monitoring station, I eased my ship into the field of asteroids. Proximity alerts began to flash and buzz as my navigation computer triangulated obstacles, anticipated trajectory and plotted the safest course through the rocks.

-----

2507, a year after the burn notice, the name 'Ardra Aurotharius' begins to show up in shipping manifests of the Angels of Mercy Medical Research Facility. Her name continues on a regular basis until the decommissioning of the clinic itself a couple of years ago. Medical records from that centre leading up to a year before the beginning of the Unification War only list Audrey.

There is no evidence of contact between Ardra and Blue Sun following the burn notice until one of Ardra's drone programs was downloaded over a year ago by Blue Sun Special Project Single Source 041295 Genetic Construct aka Lilybell Snoodle.

While there are notable gaps in the record, we have some information on some of the other clientele of Ardra Aurotharius.

Her relationship with Iskellian Technology Solutions ended with the end of the war.

Her relationship with Weyland Yutani ended with her latest set of upgrades.

Her relationship with Umbrella was a bit more complex to say the least.

1) Umbrella Executive, Mercedes Celestalis was Audrey's childhood friend.

2) Ardra referred to Mercedes as "the Harvester".

3) Ms. Celestalis delivered the cloned brain of Aurora Littleboots to me at Ardra's request. But then she tried to get the item back with the condition that Ardra was not informed.

4) The bones of St. Zenobius were found inside an Umbrella shipping crate itself inside Ardra's ship. This may be circumstantial.

-----

Fatigue had begun to set in. I guided my craft towards an orbital refinery located within the asteroid field, with hopes of a short break for rest and refreshment. However, as I approached the landing platform what appeared to be a force field came to life covering the docking portal.

Not knowing if it was a part of larger defenses I adjusted my heading to fly past the structure. I make it a practice never to argue with an automatic defense system unless I have brought the appropriate hardware and am prepared to inflict a little property damage. This was not such an occasion, so I moved on.

-----

Some other things are coming into focus as the investigation continues:

The Ardra AI was possibly based on Audrey's mind but was certainly linked to the girl for a number of years.

Ardra herself is running drones. Some have been dressed like Audrey. Some even looked like Audrey complete with skin grafts from her days under treatment.

Ardra has been activating aspects of Project Aurotharius. Harvested people parts are part of the recipe. Neuro microtubules. Blastomeres.

-----

At the edge of the cluster of asteroids, or perhaps slightly beyond it, I passed one of the mining prisons. A shimmering bubble clutched the precious atmosphere to the cold rock. There were no prison ships or support craft nearby so it was unlikely work crews were present.

These facilities are reserved for the worst of the worst. Vicious men. Men who can never be trusted to return to society. Toiling away on this cold rock among the stars, they can still serve the greater good.

-----

And then there is the question of exactly who or what is Ardra?

The answer will determine our course of action within the boundaries of the law.

I have spoken with Ardra Aurotharius a number of times prior to retrieving the stolen relics of St. Zenobius from her ship. There was enough in those conversations for me to conclude that she is some sort of composite being of human and machine.

She spoke of Audrey's father as her own, retelling stories of when she was a girl. She spoke of transcending her humanity, of a mother who died in childbirth. Whatever she is, she claims continuance from Audrey.

She makes several references to a body or parts thereof. There was her comment last January about requiring mechanical assistance - Ardra: "My project is extremely ambitious. At this point, I cannot even stand in normal gravity without mechanical assistance. I shall overcome."

But Audrey had died. Even Ardra's mechanical servants on board her ship declared as much.

So is the biological component a clone or the reanimated remains of Audrey Aurotharius?

As a cyborg, the human part would have rights and obligations under the law.

If however she is primarily an Artificial Intelligence with drones and a few organically derived components, whether cloned or reanimated, then she will have no more legal protection than a runaway train.

-----

I passed a Trade Association frigate slowly cruising between worlds. Decorated with the image of the coin of Queen Zenobia. Trade and tradition. Medici family values.

And then there it was.

I came upon it almost suddenly.

A magnificent furnace of light. Suspended in the blackness.

The second engine of Aurotharius. Matching the one in Mu Draconis.

During all the time I have been hunting her, Ardra has been lurking beyond the rim. A desert outpost here... a distant space station there.

But now that has all changed....

...because Ardra has come home to Avalon.

-----