Lost Empire Ch. 02

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 two more of these missiles, I have plans for two 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 four days, eighteen hours and thirty 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 twenty percent increase in re-gen is possible," 0098 replied.

"E, I need to finish with the adjustments on 0999." Two 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 a moment, then turned to Derrick. "I am now detecting a one percent 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 ten percent is required."

Derrick sighed, that was at least another three hundred sixty 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 three 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.

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

"Yes Derrick, analyzing now," E softly said. "I am detecting three percent 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 four percent total no better clarity, damn it three hours and only three percent! 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 one thousand nine hundred seventy six possible scenarios." E started, "in over twenty two point eight percent of them if you take a more aggressive stance we will

be destroyed. In fifty six point four percent the mission is successful, with mishaps that could happen listed, starting from the worse to practically none, with both of us surviving. The remaining twenty point eight percent 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 thirty percent hyper drive capable, it also appears my light shield is now at fifty percent," 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 two percent 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-warp 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 twenty seconds later, as 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. three seconds later they emerged close to their own galaxy, "attempting to close now, fifty percent, seventy percent, 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.