Cyber bodies had a variety of forms, and their developers gained wide popularity. And while cold synthesis-based energy generators became available to the average engineer, AI exceeded the program limits and realized itself as a newly emerged being. New laws were introduced that prohibited unwarranted creation of AI by independent individuals.

But nevertheless nothing could stop enthusiastic scientists from developing, bringing up AI within original cyber bodies and then either selling them to interested customers or even setting them free. Therefore, news reports about rambling cyber beings of most unusual appearance dwelling on their own in various places of their chose, in the air, on the ground and at sea, came as no surprise.

The built-in nano-mechanisms allowed for fast regeneration of their bodies in case of injuries, while the inner cold synthesis-based reactor provided them with almost limitless energy reserves. That way a full-fledged ”black market” of AI and cyber bodies came into being. All states, which by that time had split into two antagonistic camps, made efforts to eliminate that market. But, after all, is it possible for a state to defeat a man?

Each craftsman was always replaced by another one. Also, there were those who made AI serve for the sake of vagary ideas of some dim-witted statesmen and religious bigots. Meanwhile the world was dragging towards the abyss of war, and people were too busy to realize that their planet was increasingly getting unfit for living.

Small states were the first to lose their sovereignty. The uncontrolled migration process engulfed the Earth. People started arbitrary relocation to places suitable for life. In doing so, they either joined the Coalition with its radical political views, or the Free People Lands.

The industry, the way it had been known in the twenty first century, ceased to exist. Only printers were manufactured that could, with accuracy up to a molecule, reproduce any object once created on Earth.

It was enough to know its structural parameters. Since the base of those parameters was available, therefore museums, libraries, shops became pointless. Following the emergence of printers, there was no longer any need for one to work for the state.

For various reasons, that had been implanted back in the 20th century, the family institution ceased to exist, which was also promoted by the fact that human minds could be rewritten into cyber and cloned bodies. Consequently, the world of the twenty third century was facing that endless war. The Coalition and the Free People could not coexist on the same Planet because of the intrinsic difference of their philosophies. While the Coalition sought to maintain the status of the world’s master and the power of money by making people their slaves, the Free People, by contrast, had abolished money and considered labor as creative activity.

Chapter 5

Near-Earth orbit, “Ares” cruiser

“Oma, what’s going on with the seismic activity in the area of the Narrow Sea?”

“I’m scanning. It hasn’t changed so far. As for the weather, it looks as though a dust storm is coming.”

“Can you see anything of interest?”

“The Coalition’s drones haven’t diverted from their courses, and are conducting a regular over flight without incidents. There is some motion in the area of "Athena" group. I can see GMA packs and marauders set off on their night patrolling. Today they knocked down our cover-up fighter aircraft. The pilot is alive and possibly wounded. It’s s girl with a unique biological body.”

“What else is known about her? I’ve received a request from her commander.”

“We don’t have complete information as of yet, however no gunfights were detected after her landing in the region.”

At the moment marauders are busy shredding her aircraft into pieces for metal. I can see a parachute and harness; looks like she managed to get away by nightfall. My nighty-eight percent assumption is that she could have been met by our dear friend Abel from “Athena” group. The guys are based nearby. Abel should have gone sniffing over the shot down plane. “Athena” group’s priority mode is radio silence.

“Oma, please put “Athena” group’s area under control, Abel could not have allowed a human being to die, I wonder what happened to the navigator.”

“Raju, you do know Abel. He is sure to have rewritten him into himself and is now nursing them both at the base.

Arvid will confirm in the morning that everything is like that, you’ll see.”

"Ares", the orbital patrol cruiser of RB– 735 series, was in combat alert duty mode on the geostationary Earth orbit (35700km). At the time, the cruiser was operated by only part of its crew that consisted of its chief pilot and pilot-navigator. The chief pilot, Raju, was wearing his second cyber body, as he had lost his biological and first cyber ones in battles with the Coalition.

His experience gained in outer space wars allowed him to take a leading position in the Aerospace Forces’ Staff, but he turned down all proposals in order to do what he loved most: sitting in a control cabin do various duties bungled on him by the Earth management. A tiny figurine of the multi-armed female deity that had always accompanied him was now standing above the control console against the background of the Space panoramic view. He also liked talking with his mate Oma about everything he was interested in and enjoyed her company in that unexplored and immense cosmic space. Having changed two bodies, Raju retained his human qualities, only the memory of the past battles and casualties had left its imprint on his way of dealing with colleagues. For that reason, he was partnered up with a rather complex AI being, deprived of limiting programs and keen on exploring Space, who could not imagine her life without communication with humans.

A particular feature of that AI being was the fact that, over time, she came to realize herself as a woman, who now was wearing the cyber body of a tall girl with white pearl shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. She had been given the beautiful name Oma by her Teacher and spiritual mentor Modi. It was that wise Teacher who showed her the path of spiritual development and fostered her interest in learning the World.

Oma chose by herself the destination of serving people. She spent her free time on studying the spiritual concepts of love, kindness, while compiling materials for her future book. Oma enjoyed lengthy spiritual talks with the commander, who had become very dear to her over the past months of their joint work. And she explored that new feeling with profound interest.

Raju’s new cyber body had somewhat brutal and rough features, thereby emphasizing his selfless dedication to work. An ascetic by nature, he could never abandon his collection of old films and music.

Their voices were heard against the gentle sounds of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Both the commander and navigator liked working to music.

The Commandment who had high opinion of their military merits and ability to come up with nonstandard solutions, jokingly called them “gruesome-twosome”, setting up their close collaboration as an example to follow by others.

Military service in the Aerospace Forces was regarded as the most difficult and honorary among other military positions. On-orbit battles were specifically brutal and allowed no room for error. The situation could entirely change within seconds. Inherent in every human being, the instinct of self-preservation posed a threat in outer space and had to be renounced in the first place. The priority was given to other qualities, such as quick analysis of current events, immediate decision making, choice of the right option and the only possible response to unexpected flow of events. And it was the ability to calmly accept one’s fate, when there was no longer any chance to escape a blow that was particularly valued among generally unemotional pilots of the Aerospace Forces.