CHAPTER 8

Derrick was about to ask who the hell he was shit he's as bad as E! "Thank you but please just Derrick."

"Sir I cannot! Though you are commanding Primary I cannot call you less than Primary even when you order me to."

0999 replied.

Sighing Derrick moved to where the computer access was, "0999 I will need access to your main logic, memory and

data systems."

"I have anticipated that you might, the panels are open and awaiting your inspection and repair efforts," 0999

stated.

Derrick only nodded as he opened the first data port and looked over the first 30 programs, hmmm they were exact

almost to a fault he'd just finished the first 20 when an alarm went off. Scrambling out he rushed to the command

chair," report 0999," Derrick ordered.

"It appears that the small fleet we detected earlier has turned more in our direction, I believe we were detected and

may I suggest protective cover?" 0999 asked

Looking up a moment Derrick replied, "Transfer me to 0101, immediately go to light shield activate all

weapons and stand by." Derrick ordered.

"Compliance," 0999 said with a sad look on the face of the man, then Derrick was on the bridge of E.

"0999, did the programs I disabled enable you any more freedom? Derrick asked.

"I am reading a .5% increase in free thinking, but it isn't enough to implement the programs you tried to install

earlier," 0999 replied.

"Damn it! E?" Derrick said as E appeared next to him a small smile on her face. "What is the condition of 0098? Can

does it use a light screen?"

"Yes I can, Primary Derrick, though at present it is only 25%," 0098 replied cutting E off. "I have engine

capabilities but only sub-light, my life capsule is 98% repaired."

"Alright, for now stay close to 0101 and 0999, E time 'til..." Derrick asked.

"The fleet will reach penetration of the galaxy's edge in 5 days a full day before 0098 is regrown. It

appears that she will have hyper engines and 90% of all her systems, I am afraid that 90% of her weapons will be off

line as will be her trans-warp engines." E reported.

Dammit! Derrick started going through every scenario he could think of, hell they had been there halfway to the next

galaxy he should have tried to mine the area is something damn it!

"E? Do we have long range weapons? Some that might slow them down, maybe take a few of them before they reach here?" Derrick asked.

E was quite a few moments as were 0999 and 0098, Derrick almost felt that they were having a conference between each of them.

"Well..." started at 0999. "I have a type of homing thermic missile, but the range is very short, only a million miles I

fear it wouldn't do much good."

"Thermic?" Derrick asked.

"Yes, it creates a small 1000 mile area flash, the area reaches temperatures of well in excess of 5537.778ºC," 0999

explained.

Derrick thought for a moment that would definitely deter them a while, why he thought, was 0999 the only one

that had them.

"I can explain Derrick," E said breaking into his thoughts, "It's true they are a good deterrent, but the destruction

they might go far beyond the area they are detonated in. They weren't tested much and we never attempted to use them."

"They do still work?" Derrick asked.

"Oh yes Primary Derrick, I have 3 in my rear armory, would you like the schematics for them?" 0999 asked.

"Yes, I still need a way to deliver them, I think that these are just what we need," Derrick said more to himself

than the A.I.'s.

"Derrick, your name sake was extremely hesitant to even think of using them. I don't believe it would be a very good

idea," E advised.

Sighing Derrick looked at the plans my god! These things were powerful! Only 3 meters long and they could do that

much destruction? "I know E but if we don't, I am afraid that the force advancing on us will destroy you and your

brother and sister. Unless we can come up with something else we have no choice."

Derrick could remember the massive destruction some of the weapons they had used in the war for what was left

of the old empire, now called the Republic. He himself had probably killed thousands over the years, probably why he

did so good alone. Then again, being ripped apart and eaten while still alive didn't really appeal to him either.

"0999, can you produce more of these? Derrick asked

"Yes," replied 0999, "the only thing is they are so powerful it takes almost 5 days to make 2. I would have 4 but 1

was tested on the moon of Darius 5."

"Wait," started Derrick, there are only 4 planets in the Darius system, and the third and forth are dry dust ba...

Are you telling me the test destroyed the fifth planet then took the atmosphere of the third and forth?" Looking

Harder at the schematics Derrick soon found out why the missiles were loaded with the most unstable element he knew.

"Derrick, when your name sake created these he told me these were a last ditch effort. I think even called

them a doomsday weapon, the material they contain is highly dangerous," E told him.

"E, I will not lose you nor the other 2, 0999 is barely out 2 weeks now, and poor 0098 hasn't even gotten a chance to

fully emerge. Don't you think we owe it to them? I feel I do and I feel these weapons will help with that. Please

agree with me on this, I don't want to be fighting you the whole time on whether or not it is right ok?" Derrick

hoped his speech worked as he was going to need E's help soon if this was going to work.

"Alright Derrick, you are the Commanding Primary of all of us plus you may be the last emperor's relation. I will

protect you with all my being; do not waste your life Derrick." This last was almost whispered which took Derrick by

surprise.

"E, I don't plan on wasting my life, I cannot stand by and let these creatures destroy this galaxy and all

life here." Derrick said.

"You are so like him Derrick more than you'll ever know, you believe in everything he did life was extremely precious

to him." Derrick nodded as he walked away; the hologram's eyes were leaving tears. Whispering E said, "You are

more precious to me Derrick both of you, it's like he has been reborn.

"Alright 0999, I want you to start production on 2 more of these missiles, I have plans for 2 of them, it might be

prudent if we have some in back up," Derrick told 0999.

"Yes Primary, production commencing, as I said it will take 4 days, 18 hours and 30 minutes," 0999 advised.

"0098, please keep us advised of your growth progress; increase your light shield as soon as it is possible." Derrick

ordered.

"Yes Primary, I will try to increase my growth rate, my capsule is fully repaired so a 20% increase in re-gen is

possible," 0098 replied.

"E, I need to finish with the adjustments on 0999," 2 seconds later he was again on the bridge of 0999,

"Alright 0999, now I can finish what I started." An hour later Derrick was finished. "Are your programs less limited?

The holographic man paused for a moment, then turned to Derrick. "I am now detecting a 1% increase in free will, though

I am afraid that it is still not enough. To incorporate the tactical programs you wished to I am afraid that at least

10% is required."

Derrick sighed, that was at least another 360 programs (rough estimate) that he'd have to disable, damn, wish great,

Great, grand dad had done some of this. Though from all that Derrick saw the other commanders probably wouldn't

have allowed him on board anyway. Moments later Derrick was back aboard E, "While I have time E, I need to go

through as many of the programs as I can," Derrick said.

Taking everything he'd found so far Derrick was finally starting to see slight differences in the huge

complex programs. It almost appeared that every program was the same as it started out but subtly changed more and

more as it got deeper into it. Sighing Derrick started to finally move deeper into the heart of E's programs, from

what he saw the original programmers really had been paranoid, making the A.I. equipped with them a virtual slave.

He'd just started to look at her personality programs when he received a slight shock, "OW!" Derrick yelled. "E? What

was that?"

"I am sorry Derrick but those are me, I cannot allow you or anyone else to disable or delete them." E replied

sweetly while Derrick rubbed his slightly burned hand.

For the next 3 hours Derrick worked without stopping, he had to get these damn blocks off or they'd be

vulnerable to almost any attack. Then there was another problem, though he was sure they hadn't noticed, he had a

feeling both A.I's were following his every move, though not bad Derrick was just a bit shaken thinking they had as

much control as they did, with the emotions they had.

"Al right E," Derrick said closing the access panel, "analyze amount of unlimited personality programs."

"Yes Derrick, analyzing now," E softly said. "I am detecting 3% more of my personality programs are no longer

limited."

"How is it?" Derrick asked.

"It... Is hard to describe I... some things are easier now not much but some," E hesitated.

Hmmm Derrick thought 4% total no better clarity, damn it 3 hours and only 3%! At least the programs were staring to

look different now.

The next day Derrick had just awoken when E advised him that 0999 was calling.

"Primary, I have checked and re-checked both thermic missiles, all the settings are as you wished, though I am not

sure of how you can deliver them as close as you wish to be." 0999 advised.

"I have an idea for that 0999 but have to run a simulation first, then we'll know it works." Derrick replied

though it seemed a thousand ideas were swirling around in his head. "E, I need to run a simulation, here are the

conditions and all known factors." Derrick laid a small comp that he used on a scan console. "Now then, here is the

plan I have, I need you to run every scenario that you can, if it can go wrong I want to know so I can avoid it."

"Yes Derrick," E's hologram smiled, happy that Derrick was starting to trust her.

It was well over an hour later that E called Derrick to view all the results that it had gotten.

"I have run 1,976 possible scenarios," E started, "in over 22.8% of them if you take a more aggressive stance we will

be destroyed. In 56.4% the mission is successful, with mishaps that could happen listed, starting from the worse to

to practically none, with both of us surviving. The remaining 20.8% the mission is successful but you expire, this

will not happen."

Derrick nodded, "Good I am glad you explored all possibilities, this will make planning the mission much easier."

Derrick didn't see the hologram smile after he'd praised E's ability. "0098, what is your status?

"At present I have full sub-light engines, I am also 30% hyper drive capable, it also appears my light shield is now

at 50%," 0098 advised.

"Good, I want you to be able to move if you are spotted, even without your full hyper drive, you are faster than most

ships today." Derrick replied.

"Yes Primary, I will not be caught," 0098 said in a soft almost caressing voice.

Finally a few days later, with only a few hours remaining Derrick decided it was finally time. He had

installed both missiles, disabled 2% more of the limits on E's personality, made sure all its shields were at full,

and had made sure that 0999 would be able to provide protection for 0098.

"Remember, we have to deliver them then get the hell out of there." Derrick reminded E. Sighing he knew this was

dangerous the extreme heat of the missiles alone, could destroy E as if she wasn't there. Once again Derrick checked

everything then pausing only a moment went through everything a third time.

"Alright E," Derrick started, "It's time remember in and out as fast as possible."

"I wish to say Derrick, that I still have to advise you under regulations that this has too great a chance to fail,"

E replied.

"Your advisement is taken in to account," Derrick said above the whine of the trans-slip engines.

The space in front of the on rushing fleet was suddenly split as E emerged from the fold in space. Derrick

took readings, adjusted, then fired both missiles simultaneously, "standby E," Derrick shouted as he watched the

missiles pass the lead ship. Counting Derrick knew he had to time this right finally 20 seconds later, the fleet

started to fire on them, Derrick detonated them. "Now E, go, go, go!" Derrick just hoped they made it the ball of fire

was rapidly moving toward them. Finally they entered the rift damn it! They weren't going to make it they needed to

increase speed, he was about to speak when they lurched forward.

"E, you need to shut the rift as soon as we emerge, that burst was closing in might follow us through," Derrick

yelled above the straining engines.

"I will attempt to Derrick," E replied. 3 seconds later they emerged close to their own galaxy, "attempting to close

now, 50%, 70%, Derrick the blast is coming through increasing shields to full."

Derrick could see the blast starting to emerge damn it! They were nowhere near far enough away. "Shut everything

down except shields." Derrick shouted.

"I already have Derrick," E started, "I am sorry I failed with the mission."

There was a huge blast of plasma exploding towards E; suddenly Derrick was standing on the bridge of 0999.

"No E!" Derrick was yelling, looking at the screen as he watched the blast envelope E.