Chapter 16: Montreal

(Made better by Glenn)

Montreal was still a beautiful human city, with many sights to see, but with the exception of a sentient machine none of the that had followed Sam Brown had any interest in the sights of this town.

While this city, like most Earth cities, had become very quiet, it was as if the cradle of humanity had fallen asleep.

It was technically still a very important place, but almost all industry had moved either to the artificial ring that now circled this famous and perhaps one of the most beautiful planets in the universe, or spread to other planets and places within the Sol system.

Earth Torus was visible if one was near the equator and then only if the sky was cloudless and the sun illuminated this tremendous construct just right.

Oh, there were still some small businesses and specialized agriculture, there were, of course, the old and venerable universities. Technically it made no difference where you graduated if you had chosen an academic career, but it was an accepted fact, that a Ph.D. of a real old Earth, Saresii, Saran, or Ult university simply counted for more.

Then there was the Union Fleet HQ and a dozen other military installations, but despite all this, the actual population of Earth had shrunk to about a billion permanent residents.

Large regions on all continents had been re-naturalized with enormous efforts to erase the many thousand years of human occupation. Here and there were still surface roads, mostly for historical preservation reasons and for the surface vehicle enthusiasts, but rivers had been returned to their natural itinerary, dams and hydro plants removed. There was no large scale agriculture anymore. Yes, this wonderful planet that spawned perhaps the most aggressive species of sentient humanoids known.

While Charles had the advantage of very large memory, and it provided the machine with every known combat tactic known to Union science, a large database on virtually any known life form with detailed information as to how to kill it of course, as well. It had gained sentience or perhaps the awareness that it was sentient only very recently, and with the open awe of a child but the intellect of a grown-up, the sentient machine processed its environment and new situations.

Completely impervious to any known environment from the radiation filled near-vacuum of space to the inside of a volcano or the lightless depths of an ocean and everything in between. Charles did have the fine instrumentation to tell it everything there was to know of the surrounding space it occupied. Temperatures, atmospheric pressure, gravitation, the composition of materials, and matter all around it. It’s SII manufactured and recently updated sensors told him, the exact position of every living organism, its details, and energy source emitted from mobile or static tech within a radius of one about one thousand klicks, and if he lit up in battle mode expanding that to a sphere of over 500 klicks. Yet all this data and all these impressions were simply numbers, applied to govern algorithms allowing it to execute a wide range of military missions. He wondered how it would be to actually feel the sunlight, the weather, and all these things like his friend Sam did.

Two days had passed since they arrived in Montreal. Sam tried to pick up some information he could use to resume tracking and thus finding Martha.

With all its processing power and the logical process, it could apply the Sentmac was still deeply impressed by how Sam operated. Sam was, all his strength and abilities aside still a human being without any supernatural or psionic abilities at least as far as Charles knew, and Charles had been with Sam for a long time indeed.

To Charles, the trail of Martha faded since they arrived on Earth, but Sam, after getting them rooms, in a place called Hôtel Pierre du Calvet, the former marine was busy from daybreak to dusk.

Yes, Charles did try Poutine and the machines’ new olfactory sensors told him the most minute composition of the flavor component, and it technically still meant nothing to Charles other than a set of data. But sentient beings liked and disliked things. Charles decided to like Hell-Aide because beloved Roy liked it. Charles decided it liked Poutine because Sam liked it. Charles also knew Roy liked French Fries, which was a core component of Poutines so the robot filed the Poutine data under the group heading Favorites. Something remarkable developed, because now he consumed Poutine everywhere it could and Charles noticed a great variance in molecule maps. None compared to more than 98 percent to the Poutine it sampled first and thus Charles with great pride concluded it had a favorite Poutine restaurant.

The rooms in the Hôtel Pierre du Calvet were very small for modern standards and clearly designed for humans and humanoids in mind. Charles could imagine other beings of BaPhy Class 1 might also find them adequate, but to anything bigger, certainly not.

None of the furniture was variform. Sam explained to Charles that this Hotel was there a very long time before Terran Humans ever thought of life elsewhere.

Charles had its gravo adjuster dialed down, so the machine did not exert its full weight of 8 metric tons on floors and structures not meant to hold much weight, and Charles being a robot did not mind stand for many hours on one spot. It had no need to sleep and no need to use bathroom facilities. The matter it consumed was virtually unchanged and could easily be disposed of in any recycling slot.

Charles recorded the time to be Fivehour, as Sam returned. Earthers still used the old OTT system and locals insisted it to be 8:35 PM.

“Have you been successful?”

Sam, sat down on one of the replica antique wooden chairs and nodded and then made a wide gesture. “Place is still secure?”

“As much as the Hotel’s surprisingly advanced anti-surveillance systems and I can make it.”

Sam looked tired but grinned. “Pierre du Calvet is the oldest hotel in town indeed, but this is not the reason why I have chosen to stay here, my friend.”

“I am with you ever since you retired from the Marines and Admiral Stahl gifted me to you. In all that time I never saw you do anything without profound reasons.”

“And your way of expressing yourself becomes less robot every day.”

Sam bend over to loosen the fasteners of his boots. “The owners of this place have prided themselves not only with owning a place that exists since 1725 OTT but providing a safe place to meet and speak without being overheard ever since the evil time that began in 2122. That is a very long time of grooming a reputation, my friend.”

While Sam pulled off his boots, Charles accessed GalNet regarding 2122 and even though the machine received much information, it did not understand it. In 2122 there was no Union, and Earth was governed by United Earth. Charles decided to ask Sam about it but at a later time.

Charles said. “I can assist you in taking off your footwear, Sam.”

“You are my friend, not a mindless machine or slave. If I get too old to do that myself, it is time for me to shut down my functions for good, speaking in robot terms that is.”

Sam said. “She was here, alright. Martha that is. I re-traced her path to the University of Montreal, where she made inquiries about Pierre Lafleur. He was an employee of that University and I know she was at his home address. It seems this Pierre Lafleur was a member of a sect with meetings in the Catacombs of France.

I also know that we are the focus of at least three, maybe four different groups, but this is about all I could find out, Charles. Tomorrow, I think we bury the whole affair, visit old places and family in South Carolina and then go home.”

“I am impressed by how much you were to find out, and I think you would have liked a more conclusive end to these affairs.”

Just then, someone knocked at the old fashioned wooden door.

Sam looked at Charles. “Anyone, we know? Weapons?”

“The person appears to be human, there are several pieces of technology carried by that person that defy my scanning abilities.”

Sam, s hand slipped to his TKU 12 and said to Charles. “Let’s see who it is.”

Sam went to the door, weapon ready. Charles now in full battle mode, projecting a strong shield around Sam and all weapons active.

The former Marine said. “The door is unlocked, come in.”

The door was opened by a human male, Charles visual scan linked to GalNet identified the clothing worn by the man as a trench coat and the thing on the man’s head was a har called Fedora. GalNet also identified the face of the man, as one of the Immortals.

The man tapped his wrist, a golden Union Police shield was projected over his arm. “Good evening, Mr. Brown. I am Phil Decker, detective of the Union Police. I like to ask you a few questions, if I may.”

The manners of the anachronistic dressed human were polite and friendly, however, Sam instantly noticed that unexplainable aura, Stahl, and McElligott had about them. Before Charles could tell Sam about his GalNet results, Sam knew this man was an immortal.

The shield was genuine, Charles instantly verified. “Sam, he is indeed police.”

Sam holstered his weapon and stepped back. “Please come in, or do we have to go to a precinct?”

“Oh no, Mr. Brown. You have not broken any laws yet. I am here to ask a few questions that’s all. You are not required to let me in or answer those questions. However, I would be forced to issue a warrant and then ask those questions in a precinct indeed.”

The man did come in, closed the door, and by doing so restoring the integrity of the very advanced, invisible anti-surveillance measures provided by the hotel.

Sam gestured towards an upholstered armchair next to an antique-looking piece of furniture, while he himself sat down. “Have a seat then, and let me have it.”

The visitor did, tugging on the legs of his pants. “I was asked by a friend of mine, a police officer responsible for the TNO region of this system, to look into the murder of two citizens resident to Ceres and right after I began my investigation, I noticed a number of parties to be very interested in this case. Some even try to diverge and dispel Union Police efforts to get to the bottom of something that is growing bigger the deeper I dig.”

Sam was afraid this would happen and Union Police getting involved. He wondered just how deep Martha was actually involved and at this point, Sam was not even sure if she wasn’t somehow involved in the death of Dr. Erine. This was still one of the biggest loose ends in all of this, in Sam’s mind. Yet he was not willing to volunteer any information just yet.

The man who identified himself as Detective Decker and without a doubt one of the Immortals had the same eerie quality Sam recognized with Stahl, but could not describe or even say what senses he used that made his neck hair stand up when the seemingly normal human man looked at him directly.

Decker went on. “I also noticed the case is connected to Green Hell once more. You may not know it, Sir but this is indeed the second time. Three days ago, I talked to a friend of hours. He is actually standing by...”

The detective’s Wrist Com was of the latest kind it seemed and able to establish an Avatar connection. Out of thin air, in a flickering manner, a second Immortal became present. This one was well known to Sam, it was Admiral Stahl!

The former marine, like a first-year private, jumped to his feet and snapped into attention. “Sir!”

“At ease my old friend.” The Admiral said. “Few men in all my long life have earned my deepest respect more than you, Sergeant Major Brown. And recently I came across a young marine who earned my respect several times indeed, a young marine raised by you, Sir.”

Sam’s eye glittered with deep emotions and Charles who stood in the background realized the Admiral spoke of his true master, Roy. He did not dare to speak, but the emotion of love and pride made his visual sensor glow in the brightest red.

Stahl put his projection hand on Sam’s shoulder. The other day I spoke with Colonel Stilton regarding a certain affair and from him, I learned you were involved.”

Sam nodded. While he did not plan to divulge and volunteer information, there was nothing he would hold back from Stahl. “Yes, Sir. I was...”

Stahl interrupted him with a friendly tone. “I am busy fighting a war and can’t invest the attention to all this even though I know I should. So I asked another friend to look into it. It turns out he already was. I am not here to get too involved in this, but I wanted to let you know about that kid of yours, Roy Masters.”

Stahl provided Sam with a few moments of the recording. The first part revealed Roy’s involvement in the Wurgus affair and the second part was a summary of Roy taking charge of his platoon. In an impossible-seeming deep space assault, the untrained marine recruits fought like warrior demons, taking an enemy battleship in space.

“Your boy earned the Navy Cross and is on his way to Quantico. Old friend, you managed to instill some of your characters essences in your son. That is why wanted to appear, to be the first to let you know and congratulate you.”

The knot in Sam’s throat was so big and so hard, it hurt him. It hurt him so deeply and in a profound way only a father could feel for his son. “Thank you, Sir.”

Stahl saluted Sam and did not fail to do the same to Charles and then blinked out.

Phil Decker had a deep smile on his face as he remained silent to let Sam and Charles have this moment.

--””—

The Thauran Bishop had been received like a celebrity in Montreal because the region is still known as Quebec also had a small Thauran community. A few of the original colonists leaving Earth with Rene Thauran had not originated from France, but from this former French Canadian province, that to this day stubbornly and proudly refused to use Standard as their main language, but held on to that ancient and elsewhere forgotten language of French.

A few descendants of these original colonists had returned to Quebec, less than two hundred of them, but stout believers of the Blue Virgin, and her church. The small community is ecstatic about the visit of this holy man, most likely to be the next Grand Cardinal of the Virgin.

This was the most prominent visit the old city of Montreal had in decades, perhaps centuries. Bishop Tiloothy of the Church of the Blessed Blue Virgin arrived with a small entourage via TMT from Treasure Island and was recognized.

The city manager had pulled out every stop to make this a memorable event.

An opulent suite had been prepared in the Hotel Vogue. The Pope of the Old Catholic church, residing in the Vatican himself announced he would travel to Montreal to meet with such a prominent leader of a closely related faith. Of course, the current Dalai Lama could not let these faith leaders have all the spotlight in the news and also signaled to be interested in meeting the Blue Bishop, especially to discuss Thauran Religious relations to the Kingdom of New Siam, where many Buddhists lived.

Sleepy Montreal was suddenly the focus of news and this, in turn, had a ripple effect across the globe.

Technically, Tilo Taurus, aka Bishop Tiloothy of the Church of the Blessed Blue Virgin was not exactly a first-tier celebrity, and there were so many much bigger religions across the Union.

The Union did not regulate religions and allowed anyone to believe whatever they wanted to believe, however, religions could not practice any custom that violated any of the unalienable rights of Union citizens. Religions that wanted to be recognized as such were compelled to register with the Federal Religion and Faith Bureau chiefly for tax reasons and to assure that the rights of citizens were not violated. Tilo knew there were 12,943,342 different registered religions, and 60 percent of the Union population did not practice or observe any religion while a large number of these were declared Atheists. Which made the Association of Declared Atheists, (The AoDA) the largest registered religious group.

No, religion did not play a very dominant role in the overall society of the Union, but to the remaining forty it was part of society and culture with various grades of importance. The Thauran born religion of the Blessed Blue Virgin was on the 711th rank in terms of membership numbers and distribution across Union space.

Union officials of Assembly bureaus and Councils loved numbers and the FRaFB analyzed annual census numbers. To be on the 711th rank meant billions of believers, trillions of Credits, and a certain level of control over the culture and behavior of these believers.

Now, Tilo Taurus, aka Bishop Tiloothy could not deny loving and indulging himself all this attention, elevating his importance within the church even further and virtually guaranteeing him to advance to the holy chair of Grand Cardinal, in importance equal to the Thauran Emperor, but all this attention made the true reason for his visit to Earth quite difficult.

After spending an afternoon at an official banquet given in his honor, an event that even garnered a five-minute segment on Channel three. This was a big deal, especially during a time of war and religious-based news hardly, if ever made it below the infamous 1000 and above GalNet channels. Tilo finally found some privacy behind closed doors of his suite and immediately called for Alexandre Toussaint. The layman priest from France, also catapulted into the spotlight immediately rushed to this summons and bowed as he arrived. “Your Emminence, this unplanned exposure has done great things to the Church of the Blessed Blue Virgin. Info requests on GalNet just reached 10 billion. We are gaining new members and may even rise a whole point on the scale!”