Lady Killer
by
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The transdimensional gateway whirled to life. The giant Ascended machine was going to take a few minutes to warm up. It was working locking onto a brand new dimension, at a geosynchronous position on the far side of the world. It was even going to have to dig through the dimensional barriers to the infernal target.
Tiffany Ann Tucker adjusted her Space Marine armor and equipment. She looked out at her troops. Twenty male Icers stared back at her.
One by one she had asked them their alert status. Each had said, "Ready." All the answers were in the characteristic, emotionless way that BASISS systems responded.
They didn’t even emote as she had labeled them one through twenty, rather than using their Unit designations. It occurred to her that she had effectively removed their names. But, she had felt it necessary for her own human limitations for the battle ahead.
They had never questioned her. They never whined or protested. They just trusted her unconditionally.
Though she looked at a congregation made of every major ethnic group on the planet, she saw the common thread. She saw a sea of green eyes.
Only the BASISS systems remained in these units. The human sides had quit. The eyes she saw were the stares of minds that had given up. They were human brains that had permanently moved into catatonic psychosis. Their humanity had moved on into fantasy, rather than deal with the stress of their new life.
In many ways, Tiffany felt that she was looking at herself for the first time. She was looking at twenty units. They were twenty BASISS systems that were completely alone inside. It reminded her of something.
Tiffany remembered her analogy to BASISS. It was the one that she made after the symbiot had catastrophically dressed her up for a mission. She had begun looking at her computer companion as a five-year-old child, rather than just an ignorant computer.
In those eyes, she now stared at twenty lonely children preparing for a mission. They were twenty living beings preparing to die if necessary, if not really understanding why.
Something moved her inside. She decided to say something. Time would not allow for such things soon enough.
Tiffany spoke, "I want your attention."
The Icers obeyed and listened. Not one questioned or uttered a word.
Tiffany stated, "I’m an Icer. I’m one of you. I know what it’s like to be one of you."
The Icers listened quietly. Not one of them moved.
Tiffany continued, "I know that each one of you started as a team. I know from my own BASISS unit how much you depend on us. It’s almost as much as we come to depend on you."
The Icers listened. Like innocent children, they offered no protest to the words.
Tiffany said, "I’m sorry that your human sides gave up on you. I’m sorry that you’ve been left alone for this fight ahead. I know that most people just treat us like machines, that they think of us as disposable pieces to be used when necessary."
In a strange show of symmetry, they all responded, "Yes."
The symbiots did it as if they were one mind. Tiffany knew better. They were twenty lonely children conforming to comfortable patterns.
Tiffany continued, "I’m one of you. I understand that we are more than just machines. I understand that we all made a conscious choice to help the Illuminati whatever the cost. We did so, because the ideals that we fight for are both just and noble."
Once more the symbiots answered, "Yes."
Even her own BASISS answered internally this time, exactly conforming to the timing of the other colonies. Like a new teacher finally finding her rhythm, Tiffany knew that she had found a way to really talk to them.
She continued, "The enemy that we are facing wants to harm humanity. Gilam wants to keep the nations of the Earth unbalanced. He wants to put an end to the hope of the Illuminati. He wants to end the work we struggled for over three thousand years."
The Icers grimaced. Stoic gazes gave way to one of the few emotions they truly understood.
Tiffany emoted, "We are the Illuminati. We did not form to succumb to the vanity of trying to rule the world. We gathered together to be the light against the darkness.
"We formed to protect mankind from the supernatural predators of the world. We gathered regardless of nation, race, creed, or religion to protect our
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About the Book
There are three questions. One, what would the world be like if conspiracy theorists were on the right track? Two, what would the world be like if the superstitious weren’t exactly wrong? Three, what if the world refused to believe the first two truths anyway? Long has the name Illuminati been held in villainy and contempt. They are the antagonists of countless films, stories, and urban myths. How could a shadow organization bent on subtlety manipulating the fate of mankind be anything, but evil? However, as many people have learned, the world is not always what it seems. For it is often true that even those who are judged infamous often see themselves in a different light. What would it take to make such an organization? What could possibly be its true motives? How could anyone willingly be a part of the puppeteers in the shadows? We thus enter the world of one Tiffany Ann Pressman. She is a former Air Force member, an all American girl, and a die hard member of a secret society many would shudder at. For, if you ever read the true Latin root meaning of Illuminati, you’ll learn it actually means to, "make bright". They exist in a world plagued by nighttime horrors mankind can hardly imagine. They consider themselves the light bearers of mankind. So, the question is simple. Who will the Illuminati turn out to be in our darkest hour? Reviews and Praise for Lady Killer: "I loved it. I really loved all of the characters. I even liked that the villains didn’t think of themselves as bad guys. " Viki Frey, Program Assistant for the Department of Homeland Security "I loved it. I was hooked by page three. This will definitely fly." Lafaun Crapes, Administrative Assistant for Saia Motor Freight "I loved it, but I’d almost forgotten how much Chapter nine pissed me off, until I reviewed it. This was an emotional roller coaster." Jack Davidson, Editor
About the Author
After a few years of starvation called college, I elected to join the US Navy and became an Aircraft Ordnanceman for nine years. It was great working with explosives. My career even made the Discovery channel’s 10 most dangerous jobs in the world list, due to aircraft carrier flight deck duty. My naval career was a blast, after all, seven lucky years of it was in As for now, I’m a Program Assistant in the newly forming Department of Homeland Security and an Inactive Air Force Reservist. I’m still a single dad, but that’s a perk in life, rather than a job.