01 - Awakened

Ages - Age of Expansion - The Ascension Myth

Activated >>

How Molly has survived military life this long, we'll never know.When her implanted computer interface is hacked by a nascent AI, Molly has to escape.Between the military's' high tech security shields and advanced personnel protocols, it makes getting out in one piece for Molly nigh on impossible. What’s more, her new “companion” has a spunky attitude which only complicates matters further. And her biggest problem? The swiftest and most efficient way to get out is also the most embarrassing. Mortifyingly embarrassing. What could possibly go wrong?

Prologue: The Ascension Myth -- Ell Leigh Clarke

“When people of the ancient world Earth dreamed of the future, they imagined humans sprawled across the galaxies, ruling the world, making the right and just decisions.” This was the basis for their explorations and their activities. It’s true. Humans did travel across and beyond their galaxy, by virtue of the Yollin Annex Gate. But not to reign as all powerful demi-gods, rather to become the underdog.

One generation left early, seeking new places that felt like their home until they found their place to stay, the new home world of Estaria. A large planet, dusty and dry, where their sun, the Sark, would light their days as they traveled around it.

The Milky Way they left behind became known as the Pan Galaxy – because that was what it resembled from the far edges of the aging Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. To those who had lived on the other side of the Annex all their lives, their home was known as the Loop Galaxy on account of the way it circled the Pan.

The third generation of humans who settled on Estaria had a little girl. Her name is Molly. Broken in spirit, she didn’t understand that the future is determined not on your mistakes, but on the depth of your spirit to make things happen and the power of those who believed in you. http://wiki.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php/AI,_EI

This set of stories explain how Molly and those who came to love the broken young woman would challenge the might of the political and powerful and find out the truth…" Prologue: The Ascension Myth Ell Leigh Clarke

MOLLY BATES

Chapter 01

Molly awakens to her day to find that the capacity on the hacked and upgraded holo device wired into her central nervous system was registering 98%. VERY unusual. Remembering that she had been in the AI lab the night before, she realized that her holo device must have been hacked by a sentient being, as only an entity of that type could take up so much space. She was correct. After meeting and greeting the being (it had used the Ethertrak to jump into her holo), they both agreed that it should go by the name of OZ, and should act in accordance with moral and just principles inherent in Molly’s beliefs.

Molly realizes that she needs to escape from her military duties (they wouldn’t allow her to be “inhabited”, that Oz would be put to horrible duties (killing, destroying things), and Oz files a 4077 to allow her to be eligible for immediate discharge. (Sexual misconduct?)

Chapter 02

After discharge, Molly meets Pete Durham, a long-time friend, in a bar, needs a job, and to make money, legally, fast. Cannot use existing set-up trust. Joel had heard of a task she might do – stop a case of price manipulation. There were whispers of hiking the prices of a painkiller that many Estarians used, to three times their market value, just because they can. Lots of hacking. Joel will get back to her on it.

Chapter 03

Outside the pharmaceutical's building, hacking into system . Wasn’t working- will see what Oz can do with it. Oz got in, but Joel found inside due to unusual presence with no activity. Molly throws smoke grenade through third floor window as diversion, Joel pulls peg from computer (job done), escapes through ventilation shafts. Oz had deleted all of their identity info from government files, so could not be traced. Oz to put up warning programs if government starts looking for them.

Chapter 04

Joel and Molly think about taking activities off-world. Will need money, people, ships, more jobs. Put out the word! Maybe Bethany Anne would come along and help!

Three more job offers, but found out Mac Kerr, the one who had led them do the painkiller job, was really a competitor of the company, so will have a talk with Mac! Don’t do it again! Cannot use them for own ends!

Chapter 05

As a result of information on the holo cams, Joel was attacked by an Ogg and two Estarians. Oz tracked him by his holo, saw security cams, knew he had been kidnapped. Oz gets her into building, looping security cams. Molly gets into room, electrocutes three Estarians and Joel, brings Joel back with adrenalin, escapes. Decides that they needed better security, advanced thinking. Will have to have better base.

THE SYNDICATE

Chapter 09

Molly revisits Kerr to tell him of info they have on him, he tells her about The Syndicate, and that he’s already told Mr. Andus (Head of it) about her. Kerr set Ogg team to follow, fond base. Lost them. Oz can’t find anything on Andus. Garet Beaufort has come into some incriminating information re Andus, Senate Official William deWitt and the syndicate. Andus thinks Garet will betray him, so orders him killed. Kerr following up on it, still in the process. Garet happens to take Sean Royale’s cab as a get-away car, Sean helps him elude killers, gives Garet his holo number. Garet calls Joel for an extraction. Joel and Molly go off to save him in Spires, the capital of Estonia. Oz takes over driving, gets there faster. Joel and Molly set weapons to stun, get out at fourth floor exit, go to room, gets Joel. Oggs coming, attack, Joel stuns them, all three exit to safety.

Chapter 11

Garet has info on vote-fixing in the Senate, which might harm innocent people if it gets out. Garet a threat to Dewitt, so must be eliminated. But by Joel and Molly? Talk more with Garet, find that his girlfriend. Paige, keeps in contact with Dewitt, Andus, and Newld, the Syndicate. So Paige would be killed as she let info out to Garet. Separate Dewiitt from Syndicate, and problem solved. Paige to meet Molly at bar in town, so that she might be extracted as well.

Chapter 14

Andus and Dewitt meet in park. Andus accuses Dewitt of being stupid to keep records of syndicate and votes. De Witt accuses Andus of not being trustworthy, had to do it to protect himself. Andus states that Dewitt will take the brunt of the activity fails. The Syndicate will not save him.

Chapter 16

Molly in town to pick up Paige at Blue Rising Bar. Set Paige up to get files re Dewitt, to discredit him. Paige arrives. All looks OK, but Molly followed after picking up Paige. Call to Andus from Eric, telling of location of suspects.

Chapter 18

Erik and Henry get clue to location from local pizza parlor. Molly and Paige kidnapped, taken to Dewitt. Dewitt drugs/tries to kill Molly, takes Paige away with him. Molly missing from hanger meeting. Molly wakes up, awakens Oz, who calls Joel with coordinates. Alcohol in her blood had saved her from Toxins (beer drinking with Paige before they set out.) Message gets through, Joel on the way. Dewitt takes Paige to his mansion, shuts her in closet, with Henry to guard her.

Chapter 20

Garet send out incriminating messages to news, media, re Syndicate. Andus orders Dewitt neutralized, no clues to him. Joel finds Molly in old Pan Museum. No sign of Paige. Will try Dewitt’ mansion. Molly meets Dewitt in kitchen, listens to him liken her to himself – bend the rules, really a good person? Or do anything to win? Molly has her doubts, and lowers her gun, slows down, thinking about what he’s saying. Andus’ men at front and back, after Dewitt, molly finishes him off, gun under his chin, Escapes with Joel and Paige.

Chapter 21

Rogers and Indius go over rooms, scenes, take holos. Try to re-play actions, results of which they saw. Realize full actions of three groups, will try to find Paige and Garet.

Chapter 23

Andus and Newld talk, have no candidate for Senate Race now that Dewitt is dead. Jessica goes into Etheric trance. Upon return, says candidate will appear in about three weeks. They go bar-hopping

PLANNING AHEAD

Chapter 07

Looking for ship,to operate from off-world base. Oz says max of two weeks until located, unless mover. Joel to look for pilot/mechanic to keep ship in order. Working in room, hears noise in kitchen, finds a sphinx (Estarian cat). Feeds it, wants to keep it. Joel’s company to take possession of ship when it appears, will re-list it later. Joel interviews Chris “Crash” Ashworth. Talks two hours, sounds good. Will hire second interview as well, as mechanic.

Chapter 15

Put bid in on ship. Wondered where payments will come from. Business! Based on stolen info? Oz shut out of Molly’s connections. Oz back, feeling different. Molly will check programming. Oz receives OK for purchase of ship (XC-0094B), -48 hrs. Molly had disabled Oz’s ethics code, so she could do some insider trading to get money for ship. Joel furious!

Chapter 17

Molly to go to hanger, to meet with Crash and the mechanic, never shows up. Joel checks, realized something wrong. After rescue, Molly and Joel talk, will make a good team, a geek and a human.

Chapter 20

Meet all at hanger, will form a good team. Go back to houses to pack up, leave the next day. Joel, Molly, Oz, Paige, Garet, Brock, Crash. Sphinx? Yes!

Chapter 22

Joel et al go back to safe house, Joel goes out for Pizza, Ogg tells him re visit from two others, etc., Joel hurries back, tells everyone they need to move out NOW ! Not safe! Go to hanger, as Oz says that no one knows about that location. Take Neechie, as well. Get to hanger around dawn, waiting for Crash, then will take off. The sooner the better. Brock comforts Paige. Group wait for Crash, go 30 minutes of shopping for supplies, clothes, etc. Oz finds three locations for a safe house off-planet, one being a redacted military base in the asteroid belt, inside the system.

Chapter 23

All at hanger, Oz finds trucks from corporations approaching, as well as others. Lease processed for safe port off-planet. Move to Takeoff Pad A, to get out of hanger, with fine for unauthorized movements. OK. Get to space OK, Molly talks to team about next steps – safe port, dangers in Spire for Garet and Paige, . Wait and see.

Chapter 24

Joel and Molly talk. Joel complements her on her leadership, reminds her that leaders maintain higher standards than the troops. She agrees. She wants to pit Oz back together, but afraid she’ll have ruined him. Molly agrees that between Joel and Oz, she’ll have the best of trainers for her new activities! Will be hiring when they get settled, increase size of activities, teams.

Molly talks with Oz, apologizes for changing him unthinkingly. He forgives her, has made him think more, also. No harm done.

GAITUNE-67

Chapter 25

Smoothest landing ever, even on a new planet with magnetic ore deposits all over the place! Crash announces -“This is your captain speaking. Since this rock doesn’t have a landing pad, landing crew, or even a goddamn welcome party, passengers are advised they can now do whatever the fuck they want. Rear door will be opening just as soon as we confirm the air is of high enough quality to be let on board.”

Safe house was an old Theatre, with lots of space for development of labs, etc., Met landlady, Arlene, an Estarian, ninety years old, who apparently could read minds.

Found an old insignia of some kind, a crest or badge, that started out – “A…A..,” Probably old language, Latin”. Paige looking for nail polish!

Chapter 26

Garet thinks about going back to Spire to take action against Syndicate, because he knows more than anyone else about their ways and activities. Talks to Joel, Molly, really wants to go back, to try to make a difference in the Senate actions. Safe? Who knows? Maybe re-emergence will itself bring on danger. But may be dangerous on Gaitune-67, when people find them, or their activities become known.

Chapter 27

Molly, Joel, Garet, Paige /Crash about to land at Spire spaceport. They were here to get Garet and Paige settled in, and then they would turn around and get back to Gaitune.

Indius and Rogers meet with Molly and Joel on space ship, question Garet. View holo Paige had made, although she refused to speak to them personally – too dangerous if people knew she was there. INdius and Rogers think that there will be another crime in that building, soon.

Garet thinks Paige too uncertain. Doesn’t know what might happen with her. Go back with Molly? Stay here? Who knows?

Garet approached by Estarian, representing a “philanthropic group dedicated to making the Central Systems a better place. You have pull with the media right now, and you have a passion that will sway people in the Senate. You’d be able to do some good, and we could help you.” Company concerns first, Senate concerns second. Security offered. Garet will think about it. Then he marched his ass back to the apartment before anyone else could offer him a job. Or a bullet. Garet anticipates changing the system from within. “I’m pretty sure this is what I want to do.”

Chapter 28

Garet calls Sean Royale, asks him if he wants to work with him, to help him. Goes to get mocha, at same shop they contacted him. If not there, they’d do it soon. They did, and he accepted, with Sean as a first member of the “team” he hopes to form to fight them.

Paige will not stay with him then, will go back with Molly and Joel. Indius and Rogers told to drop the case. Case closed, NOW. Indius still has some doubts, and might have some future activities. Not over yet!

BROCK LYSTRA

Chapter 29

In clearing an area for his workshop in the old theatre basement, Brock finds a security door, with a security lock from AGES ago!. As a “sensitive”, he feels something unusual about it, and wants to wait until Molly and Joel get back to approach its entry, so puts the boxes back, and goes away, not aware that a hidden camera had recorded all of his movements, and sent them to an unknown source