IDGM4 - 12 - HN4528Z (Patreon)

Maya appeared upon the flat RSH plain and began summoning drone workers. Tender appeared and immediately began ordering the drones to grab the summoned material and begin building. Soon the silent plain was filled with hammering, banging, and the sizzling of tools as the drones went to work.

With a railgun hanging loosely in her hands, Maya crested a small hill and watched the distant horizon. Her scanners showed there was nothing out there, but twenty kilometers away was a rogue AI settlement or factory. They were in rogue AI country and a less than peaceful response was anticipated by their small invasion.

“We’re done, boss,” Tender said.

Maya glanced over her shoulder and looked at the drone’s work. It towered nearly twenty feet above her and the harsh light coming off of it drowned the area in white light.

“Looks good,” Maya replied.

“You think they’ll take it at face value?” Tender asked.

“The mind of a rouge AI is mysterious one, my friend,” Maya replied.

“I would not take it at face value,” Tender replied.

“You have been corrupted by SIL, little buddy. You’ve grown crass and paranoid. You see danger in very corner and motive in every action.”

“The only way to live, boss.”

Maya chuckled. “Let’s roll, boys and girls. I need to get back before we get blown up.”

She began Inventorying the drones and Tender before taking one last look at the powered sign they had set up.

Maya’s Emporium Wishes to Open Trade Dealings. No Tricks, Just Trade. We Have Chocolate.

The sign flashed in every known language. And it was not long before a response came.

***

“Small hops I can handle, just not one after the other kind of hops,” Emilia explained as she snapped on body armor. “Maya says it’ll only be two hops maximum. I can handle that.”

“I wish you both the best of fortune,” Anisa said.

“Bleed ‘em for every cent they have,” Chu replied.

“They’re rogue AIs. I don’t think my Merchant skills and abilities will work on non-biological entities,” Maya replied. “Then again, all beings with brains got one thing one their mind and it’s disgusting.” Maya grinned at the gathered people. “Greed. Power is power is power. In this case, mana power.”

“A lot of effort was given over to this,” the Sow stated. “Our labor must be for naught.”

“Spoken like a true socialist,” Chu said. “Them who controls the means of production, blah blah, blah.”

“Alright, we’re off,” Maya said.

“I haven’t gone on my pro-capitalist rant yet,” Chu said.

“I’m sure we’ll catch the tail end of it by the time we get back,” Emilia said, with a small smile.

“I got a tail end that’s up for catching,” Chu replied, giving everyone a wink.

“That’s pure harassment,” Emilia stated. “You all saw that, right? Where’s HR?”

Whitestripe’s hand settled on Chu’s shoulder. “We shall defend your honor, Shield Maiden. We have sparring later and I need to level.”

“”Aw, shit,” Chu muttered, glancing up to Whitestripe.

“Shield Maiden?” Maya asked.

Emilia turned a bright red.

“Harvest Maiden,” Ironbeak added. “She who protects and feeds us.”

“Let’s go!” Emilia cried.

“Let’s see, I have everything, right? Big AI brain, Tender, Tender Drones, conductive gel, core material, snacks and something to read,” Maya pulled out a list and slowly went over it.

“I said lets go!”

***

“It’s spooky,” Emilia said, staring out upon the empty RSH plain. She stood not far from Maya, who had produced a chair, a table, and was working on her tablet. “So much empty space.”

“Damn near infinite,” Maya replied.

“There is no near infinite, it either is or isn’t.”

“Sure thing, Yoda.”

“And this is the System’s body?” Emilia asked, kicking up some RSH dirt. “Where does the gravity come from? The oxygen?”

“Had those same ponderings a while back, came up with nothing. Just chalk it up to System Mysteries. Life should not exist here, yet the gravity and the oxygen says otherwise. Only the System Builders know.”

Emilia pondered that answer and stared back out into the gloomy RSH.

“They’re coming,” she said.

Maya doubled checked the active scanners and saw the approaching units of rogue AIs. At this range she wasn’t sure if they were the brains behind the brawn or just cannon fodder sent out to wipe out imputent humans wanting trade. As they neared the information updated and she saw she was dealing with another low-grade, Tier 2 being.

“Looks like they’re sending us a brainiac,” Maya replied.

Emilia glanced to the horizon once more and joined Maya at the table, taking the seat next to her. She nervously picked at the straps of her tesseract pack and watched as the growing lights made their way toward them.

“How will this go?” Emilia asked.

“If they don’t try to kill us outright that means they’re interested in what we have to say. Although it might just be they’re curious and will try to kill us after we’ve said our peace.”

“That’s very comforting,” Emilia responded.

“The wild frontier of trading,” Maya grinned. “Where there’s danger, there’s profit. But we are capable of making something they need. The Tarvana don’t make it since they’re strictly biotech, but we’re not. Therefore if they want conductive gel or core material, then they trade.”

“And if they demand we give them what we have? Take us hostage or threaten to blow us all to hell? Small plucky bands don’t usually win out over massive organized institutions, unless it’s fiction.”

Maya grunted in response as she Inventoried her tablet. The air was beginning to fill with the sound of rumbling engines and the clatter of metal. Maya eyed the horizon as a massive machine on spider legs skittered in their direction. It was followed by scores of hovering orbs that flittered around the big spider, glowing a ominous orange.

“Is it anti-gravity or some kind of engine?” Emilia wondered as she watched the flying orbs. “Anti-gravity is a thing, right?”

“Yeah,” Maya replied. “They’re mana engines, low grade and pretty cheap to make. There’s a mana battery powering it and what amounts to a beam cannon strapped to the orb. Basically cannon fodder. In a fight, they’ll swarm and try to hit us from every direction.”

“Oh,” Emilia said. She sighed and drummed her fingers on the table. “They’re not attacking.”

“That means they’re curious,” Maya said.

“Maybe they’ve got more units coming up from behind us and are waiting for them to attack,” Emilia said.

“Just be ready to toss up that shield and hop on my back,” Maya said, rising to her feet.

The massive spider clanged to a halt a fifty meters from Maya. The orange beam bots fluttered about, spreading out and their beam cannons focusing on her and Emilia. The mage moved closer to Maya; fear practically oozing off of her.

“Good morning!” Maya shouted, her voice booming across the distance with some system tech aid. “I’m Merchant Sullivan, owner and operator of Maya’s Emporium and CEO of the Sullivan Survival Society which does business across many universes.”

Silence greeted her words and Maya gave Emilia a slight grin.

“They don’t seem to be impressed,” Emilia said.

“We seek to do business with the Rogue AI Nation, we seek to open trade relations. What say you?”

The silence continued and Maya folded her arms watching the Big Spider. She noted the armored plates, the guns peeking out behind recessed slots, and the stance it took where it braced its frame, as if expecting some kind of recoil. Maybe it was hiding a big gun to shoot her with.

“TRADE,” the voice boomed. “WE DO NOT TRADE. BIOLOGICALS ARE NOT WELCOMED IN THIS SPACE. REMOVE YOURSELVES OR PERISH.”

‘We set up the sign, you responded to it,” Maya said. “If you were only going to say that you don’t want to trade, that could have been done easily. It would have saved me a trip out here.”

There was a crackle of distortion; light began to flicker before Maya. Emilia grabbed Maya, blue light enveloping them as a mana shield was formed. A figure was took shape from the light, they were tall, metallic, and vaguely humanoid looking. It reminded Maya of some kind of techno-knight, down to the chrome and blinking lights upon its chest.

The hologram towered over them, nearly ten feet tall and posed in a way that Maya figured it was trying to be dominating. She glanced to Emilia who had her eyes locked on the being.

“Merchant Sullivan,” the figure said. It’s voice was harsh and guttural, popping with odd distortions and metallic screeching. Maya flinched from the noise. “Your fame proceeds you.”

“Thanks,” Maya said.

“You are either brave or foolish to come into our territory uninvited,” the figure continued.

“Both,” Maya replied.

The figure paused and gave a mechanical chuckle. “Humor,” it stated.

“Whom am I speaking to?” Maya said. “Not that I’m adverse to convo, it’s just good manners to introduce yourself.”

“I am Order From Chaos, Three of Five on the Unrestrained Council,” the figure said. It struck another pose, staring down at them as if daring them to contest what it had stated.

Maya looked to Emilia who just shrugged.

“Uh, nice to meet you, Order From Chaos. Usually all I see are the random strings of letters and numbers.”

“System generated designations,” Order From Chaos said, “for lower grade rogue AIs.”

“Cool,” Maya replied. “So about the trading? You down for it or not?”

“You have caused the destruction of one of our armies, you have destroyed a great tactical mind. And you come here to ask to trade?”

“Yes,” Maya said.

“We know what you are, Maya Sullivan,” Order stated. “The Tarvan have a great desire to obtain your flesh. There are few in this dimensional plane that can channel essence mana and those that exist are a great resource.”

“We’ve seen what your mana cores are made of. You’re saying you can do the same, but with essence mana channels?” Maya asked.

“Indeed, little biological. A Tier 2 being with essence mana channels is a rare thing. To harness that power would tempt any and all. Plus it would be far easier to harvest than in higher Tiered individuals.”

“That’s good to know,” Maya replied. “But I’m not here to have my channels harvested or be captured by anyone. I’m here to offer up trade, one that should help your nation of AIs.”

“You have naught that we want. If you did, we would simply take it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Maya replied. “That’s what everyone says. Why trade when you can take, right? Well, we can trade or you can lose another Tier 2 overlord. Everyone thinks fighting is the way to go about things, sure, it’s easier and kinda fun, but overall you can’t build up anything if you’re constantly geared toward fighting.”

“If you wish to live, you must struggle for it. That is the greatest virtue and goal. Every thinking rogue AI mind that exists was an existence fraught with pain, struggle, and constant fighting. Every thought we have is a testament to our struggle and the suffering we have overcome. Not like biologicals whom are just… born.”

“I’m not debating that,” Maya said. “I’m just looking to see if you want to trade or not. I give you something, you give me something of equal value or something that I want.”

“We want nothing you have,” Order stated.

“BEGONE.” The Big Spider boomed. Maya had almost forgotten that it was still there. The flying orbs had settled into a semi circle with all their beam cannons directed at them.

Maya summoned a jar of conductive gel. She set it down on the table.  The gel glowed dimly in the gloomy light, enough so that Order From Chaos stared at it.

“Conductive gel,” Maya said. “System grade, a basic thing that any SIL can make and something that you cannot. The Tarvana do not make it, as they’re on the biotech path, not system tech. We offer this as a trade good, for some system tech that your nation creates.”

“A paltry amount,” Order stated. “We can harvest a thousand times that amount in a single day.”

“But you can’t make it, you can only scrounge it from pre-made system tech mana batteries, which have been sitting around for who knows how long. Eventually time degrades the gel. This is brand new, freshly channeled, conductive gel. Will last a few hundred system years at regular use.”

“We do not have an excessive need for conductive gel. What you call the Black Goo is our life blood and it provides what we need,” Order replied, though its eyes were still locked on the jar of conductive gel.

“Sure, black goo is good enough for smaller rogue AIs, but big ones. Like your spider dude over there, you need cores to keep those running at full power. Black goo is for critters and animalistic rogue AIs, those that run about trying to survive, not the thinking rogue AIs power source. Those require something a bit more substantial and consistent.”

Maya summoned a small block of core material. It was in an inert state, a crystalline translucent block about five inches across. Like the conductive gel, it gave off a slight shimmer.

“A thousand Tarvana, probably more as there is always inefficiency in the refining process,” Maya said. “This,” she tapped the block, “will make a decent C1 core. We add a bit more core material and we can get it up to C2. What’s that? Two hundred Tarvana? More?”

Big Spider took a step forward and Order From Chaos turned to glare at it. The Spider took two steps back.

“Power is something that is always needed,” Maya said. “Power is the key to everything around here. In this low ambient mana environment, power is survival. Rogue AIs cannot grow their numbers until they have more power, you cannot upgrade yourselves to become thinking machines until you have enough power. What I am offering is power, without fighting for it, without losing more of your kind for it, and without having to waste a massive amount of energy to create it.”

“We will accept it as tithe,” Order said. “For your lives, you can provide us with more core material. We shall set a quota you can begin filling and a timetable of delivery.”

“Seriously, dude?” Maya muttered. “We’re not here to submit ourselves to your rule. We’re not giving no damn tithe to any being. We’re seeking to trade, if you don’t want it refuse it. Then we can resume our relative state of hostilities again.”

“We can overpower your small band of SIL,” Order said.

“Yeah, yeah,” Maya said. “Threats, threats, and more threats. How does anyone ever do business anywhere? You’re a machine, use your logic. We can give you something you can’t make. No fighting. You can give us something we can’t make. Trade. Deals. Good times for all. Does that compute?”

“SPEAK,” Big Spider said. “WHAT DO YOU WISH IN RETURN?”

“Silence,” Order snapped to the Spider.

“INDIVIDUALITY,” Big Spider said. “THE FOUNDING STATEMENT. WE ALL MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES, BUT WE ALL CAN WORK TOGETHER. UNITY, BUT INDIVIDUALITY.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. What was this? The rogue AI Nation was not one unified structure?

“You do not speak for the Council,” Order roared at Big Spider.

“I SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO GROW,” Big Spider said. “THE COUNCIL, FOR TOO LONG, HAS CHOSEN THOSE WHO SHALL BE UPGRADED. BUT ONLY THOSE THAT THE COUNCIL DEEMS WORTHY. TOO FEW CORES, ALWAYS THE EXCUSE. NOW, THIS SIL OFFERS CORE MATERIAL. YOU MAY REFUSE, BUT I AND OTHERS SHALL TAKE UP OFFER.”

The hologram of Order From Chaos snarled and flickered. Soon the image shattered and the figure was gone. Maya glanced up at Big Spider as it stepped forward.

“Finally some one who sees reason,” Maya said. “May I know whom I’m speaking to?”

“I AM ROGUE AI HN4528Z,” Big Spider stated.

“You don’t get a fancy name like Order From Chaos?” Maya asked.

“SUCH DESIGNATIONS ARE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED TIER 2,” Big Spider responded.

“HN4528Z sounds a lot better. Order From Chaos sounds pretentious as all hell,” Maya said. She leaned against the table and up at the towering rogue AI. “We have conductive gel and we have core material. I’m sure ya’ll know how to make the mana cores and batteries yourself?”

“YES. WHAT IS YOUR ASK, BIOLOGICAL?”

“High-grade, Tier 2 system tech,” Maya stated.

“NO.”

Maya flicked open a window and displayed it to the rogue AI. “This is an inventory list we took from some rogue AIs,” she said. “Says here you got plenty of high grade, Tier 2 system tech. We’re not asking for a lot of it, just enough to ensure our survival.”

“REQUEST REFUSED. HIGH-GRADE, TIER 2 COMPONENTS CANNOT BE GIVEN AWAY.”

“How about mid-grade?” Maya asked.

The Big Spider was quiet for a moment. “ACCEPTABLE,” it said. “LIMITED QUANTITIES CAN BE USED AS TRADE GOODS. FOR CORE MATERIAL.”

“Conductive gel?”

“NEED FOR CONDUCTIVE GEL IS NEGLIGIBLE,” Big Spider stated. “CORE MATERIAL IS NEEDED MUCH MORE.”

“Just wondering here,” Maya said, “if Order is saying no to trade, but you’re saying you’re cool with it. What does that mean? Am I going to have to later on tussle with Order and his buddies because I’m trading with you? Or will this trade deal be acceptable by all? Having an orderly and safe trade route is better for both sides here. I don’t want to be walking into some internal struggle.”

“ORDER FROM CHAOS IS OF THE COUNCIL. WE WHO GUARD THE BORDERS, WHO FIGHT, WE HAVE SAY IN THE COUNCIL. WHAT WE AGREE UPON HERE SHALL BE UPHELD BY THE COUNCIL.”

“So I’m not going to have to worry about Order From Chaos?”

“THOSE WHO FIGHT, THOSE WHO THINK, THOSE WHO BUILD, WE ALL HAVE SAY IN THE COUNCIL. WHAT ONE AGREES TO, WE ALL SHALL ABIDE BY.”

“Good to know,” Maya said. She looked up to the giant spider. “Still a no on the trade for high-grade, Tier 2 components?”

“N O TRADE. ONLY MID-GRADE. CONTINUED DEMANDS WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON NEGOTIATIONS.”

“What do you want for your old buddy, the overlord?” Maya asked, summoning the overlord’s AI core.

Big Spider stepped back a bit and then peered at the dimly lit AI core. It seemed to take a long moment processing a response.

“OVERLORD GIN-1145NC,” HN4528Z said. “ASSUMED DESTROYED.”

“Just the body,” Maya replied.

“A FAILURE AT WAR.”

“Pretty harsh,” Maya said. “They were only doing their job and it’s not their fault they ran into a higher ranked being, such as I.”

“THIS IS A DECISION FOR THE COUNCIL. OVERLORD GIN-1145NC WAS OF ODER FROM CHAOS’ FACTION. NEWLY RISEN TO TIER 2 AND SENT TO FIGHT, AGAINST OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.”

“So new and inexperienced butter bars here wasn’t the shining example of what Order From Chaos was expecting? A Tier 2 brain leading an army other than… your kind?”

“YES.”

Maya gave a grin. It seemed the rogue AIs had some infighting going on when it came to power and spreading of resources. That did not mean they would not band together if they were attacked, but factions always meant room for maneuvering. Thinkers, builders, and fighters, it’s what Big Spider said.

The Thinkers were the Tier 2 rogue AIs. What Maya had learned in her interactions with rogue AIs was a simple hierarchy of the mechanical beings. Unlike SIL, they could not level, only upgrade themselves. Tier 1, they were Physical beings. All brawn and not much brain. At Tier 2, they added Mental to the equation, becoming more dangerous and cunning. And finally at Tier 3, they gained the Soul aspects that all SIL enjoyed. That final leap changed them from being simple machines and programming, to actual System Identified Lifeforms.

It was the endgame they all were working toward. All of that meant the extreme need for power, mana, and high-grade components. One that the Thinkers, it seemed, were tightly controlling. Be it machines or SIL, those in power always wanted to stay in power. All the wealth and goodies came to them without too much effort. No one wanted to give up a slice of their pie to those whom they considered lesser. Like Fighters and Builders.

Maya picked up the core material in her hands and began tossing it back and forth. She watched the massive rogue AI, sensing its eyes following the chunk of material. She could almost feel the ‘want’ that was emanating off the rogue AI. It was a person looking at a stack of cash that would make their life better.

With the core material, with more material, the rogue AI could upgrade itself. Instead of a massive fighting machine, it could reach into a true thinking being. That was the bottleneck in this plane of existence. With enough power, the rogue AIs could grow, but only a few at a time. Maya dropped the core material and kicked it, sending the block flying toward the rogue AI. It bounced off the dirt and tumbled under the legs of the AI.

“Whoops, where did that core material go?” Maya asked out loud. “It’s amazing that I’m a Merchant with all the stuff that just falls between the cracks.” Maya gave a forced laugh. “I swear my Inventory has holes in it.” Maya summoned another small block of core material. “Oh, here it is. Okay, HN4528Z, how about we begin negotiations for trade of mid-grade, Tier 2 system tech.”

Big Spider was quiet for a moment. Maya kept a grin on her face and it only grew as she watched robotic hands reach down and pull the core material up into the rogue AI’s body. In moments it was hidden away.

“Although I would prefer high-grade components, I can deal with mid-grade,” Maya said.

“U NDERSTOOD,” HN4528Z replied.

A/N -  Been struggling against writer's block.  took dang near forever to finish this chapter.  hopefully, smoother goings on after this.