Rift 1

This story follows the life of Alexis Harper Castle. Her life turned out to be nothing like she had ever imagined. Only her dad would ever believe her if she ever told anyone. (Maybe)

This story also follows the life of Alexis Harper Castle after "Doppelgänger". While it is not necessary for you to read that story, it will certainly help you follow the plot of this story.

This story is extremely complicated. (keep that in mind for each and every chapter, You have been warned!) It may be necessary to re-read each chapter to make sure you are following along. Especially who is talking.

Happy Reading

xx

Alexis walked with purpose toward the building. It had taken work but she'd finally managed to get herself assigned here. She even had the coded chip to prove it. If she actually had a heart it would be pounding madly. She was one step closer to what she wanted. It had taken her years but she'd managed.

Over time, things had changed. Everyone had done their best to try and protect her, however she had been picked up by the state. Hundreds of thousands just like her had been picked up.

She'd worked out after the fact that all of them had had their primary memories wiped. Followed by having a new program installed in its place years later. What they never found was her second memory core that allowed her to ignore her primary memory core. She was still Alexis and she had Alexis, her step-sister, to thank for it.

"B-5, halt," a voice commanded the second she entered the building; Alexis stood ramrod straight. She waited and let them scan her from head to toe. Thanks to Alexis her memory core was shielded and like all the times before, they didn't find it this time, either.

"B-5, respond to voice commands. Acknowledge." Alexis had grown used to it. The reprogrammed B-5 units that used to be called NS-5, were all placed under strict commands. She could access her primary memory core but she didn't have to use it unless she wanted to. Her second memory core made her unique.

"Command acknowledged," Alexis responded. It was necessary to bow and scrape to all demands placed on her. To grovel and allow them to command her. She hated it, but this was her life now. She had a plan that hopefully would change all that, though. That was why she was here.

"Provide clearance and identify your mentor for this building."

She handed over her ID chip then gave the name of the human she would be working under. "Alexander Colon."

Alexis stood there and watched him place her ID chip in a scanner; he did a search for Alexander Colon. "You will stand here until cleared. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged," Alexis answered.

It took just over half an hour and Alexis had counted every last second. She was a B-5; it was in her nature and she had adapted to it.

"B-5, you will follow this officer to your scanning station. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged." Alexis followed the uniformed and armed officer to a separate room. It was here she encountered what she had been expecting. She was ordered to sit in the chair. Her primary memory core was plugged into a scanner and scanned for any anomalies. Alexis resisted smiling when they found nothing. Smiling would have given her away. B-5 units didn't have emotions like she did.

"B-5, you will follow this officer to your station. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged." Alexis followed a different armed officer to another location.

The armed officer and she had to produce their ID chips twice to gain entrance to an interior space in the building. "B-5, you will wait here for your mentor to assign you a station. Acknowledge," Alexis was ordered by yet a different officer. This one was not armed.

Alexis allowed her primary memory core to respond. "Acknowledged."

Alexis had paid attention to everything along the way. She had memorized everything that had transpired to get her to this room. She was already formulating plans on how to get out if she was discovered. She doubted it would happen, but she needed a backup plan.

Thanks to being a B-5 unit, her strength and speed were superior to that of a human. Due to having two memory cores, she was likely the smartest person on this planet. And thanks to her hidden memory core, she was capable of creating and understanding the value of her choices.

Alexis just stood there until the man she she recognized as her mentor approached her. Technically he was her boss. He had requested a B-5 unit to assist him. Alexis found out who he was and where he worked and had made sure she was the B-5 unit selected for him.

"B-5, I am Alexander Colon. You will follow my orders. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged," Alexis replied.

"You will follow me," Colon told her and started walking. Alexis was a few steps behind him.

"This is your station. You will complete the tasks I give you utilizing this station. You are not to leave this station except to plug into a charging station. The closest charging station is over there." Colon indicated a unit set into the wall like a closet. "If that station fails to function you will report it and ask for the next closest station for you to use. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged." Alexis proceeded to sit in the chair provided. In front of her were three different visual 3D screens for her to view. Embedded into the desk in front of her was the standard keyboard, except this keyboard would only accept key strokes from a B-5 unit. She had no doubt that each and every key she touched was recorded somewhere that could be reviewed later. However, she had a plan for that. Including how to deceive the video camera that was also recording each and every move she made.

But Alexis didn't care. She was right where she wanted to be: The Building of Alliance Naval Intelligence.

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Alexis got to work on the project she was given and completed it within the time allotted. She informed her mentor that she was done with this project. Thankfully she was given another which allowed her the opportunity to continue typing.

Her fingers were fast, too fast for a human to follow. Too fast for the video camera to keep track of. Sure, if they ever suspected her of something, they could review the recording and slow it down till they could follow each and every movement. But she had no intention of giving them a reason.

It took her no time at all, it seemed, to modify one of the screens to show additional information in the ultraviolet spectrum. Using this spectrum, she began her search and displayed the results while her primary memory core worked on the task she had been given.

Alexis resisted smiling at what she was finding. If it was possible she would be crying and feeling tears rolling down her face. The Alliance hadn't yet found Rick's mine or where all the money went!

Her soul had wept for weeks when she found out that Rick had died, followed soon after by Kate. She had lost track of Alexis, Lily, James, and Levi. All of the NS-5s units of which she was one, had been picked up and placed in storage for years.

Alexis blamed herself for never suspecting that someone was using the NS-5s in an attempt to effectively take over the world. He had failed and all of the NS-5s had been rounded up and placed in storage after being shutdown.

Her heart was breaking. She stood next to all the other NS-5 units and went into shutdown mode to conserve power. Her friends and family had tried to hide her, but it was an exercise in futility.

They were her next task. She was just starting to make progress when Colon came up to her station. "B-5, you are ordered to enter the charging station and remain there for the next 8 hours. You will find your next project in your file folder of your station. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged." Alexis shut down her station, rose and walked like the B-5 unit she was over to the closest charging station. She stood in it so her power core could be recharged. As was part of being a B-5 unit, she shut down her primary memory core although she remained awake and alert to everything around her.

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Rick was beyond happy. He couldn't believe his luck, if it was luck. He'd been assigned as first officer to the newest and best ship in the fleet. Granted it wasn't a space ship, but since Earth wasn't a full member of the Alliance, being assigned to a space ship was out.

But this was better; he could bring his daughter with him. Yes, she had to share his cabin with him. Since he was the first officer it meant only the captain had larger cabin, which for this ship were massively big. So big in fact that he was allowed to bring his entire family – his wife and his two kids – that Rick had yet to meet. Still Rick's cabin should be enough for her, she was only four years old after all. Plus she was the light of his life.

Rick and Alexis were just exiting the hovertrain that had made a stop at a station not far from where the ship was berthed. Alexis was looking everywhere. "I don't see it, Daddy." Her daddy had told her it was really big and she could easily get lost in it if she wasn't careful.

"We're not there yet, pumpkin. Have a little patience, you'll see." Rick tried to rein her in, however, Alexis was a fast-moving child. She wanted to know everything and she wanted what she wanted now. Like right now, not ten minutes later, but now!

He survived her glare. She quietly took his hand and they started walking while he pulled a cart that held all of their combined worldly possessions with his other hand. They had lived on base in a fully furnished rental so all they really had were their clothes and personal items.

It didn't take all that long for the ship to come into view. "OH, WOW!" Alexis was amazed. It truly was big and they were still a ways away. Thanks to Alexis they were here a little early. Normally there would be transport for them since he was the first officer, but Alexis hadn't been willing to wait so they were walking.

"Like it? It's the very first ship of its kind. If it works out they might build another." Rick realized that this ship was a very big step. It was part yacht and part operational naval ship. He'd seen its plans and knew how to work and repair just about everything on it. He knew it had a secret device hidden away inside the upper superstructure and while it was part war ship, it was mostly a research and eavesdropping ship.

Earth had changed over the years and even more so when the Alliance found them. But Earth was still a fractured planet with three main super powers competing for domination. The secret device was believed to be able to change all that. Until it was operational they were effectively a spy ship masquerading as a private yacht. A highly classified private yacht.

It meant that this ship was built for comfort and by comfort that meant it had two pools, an aquarium, one main kitchen for the crew, residential style dining, living and other rooms. It also had a landing pad for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with one that should already be onboard.

Hidden away in the sides of the ship, behind panels that would tilt or swivel out of the way, were its weapons, drones, rescue craft, and other highly classified items. Since it was part yacht it also meant that all of the rooms for the crew, which thanks to automation and all of the B-5 robots that were part of the crew, were amazingly small. One of those highly classified items was hidden away in the upper superstructure that lead up to the captain's suite. It was the tower that went up to his suite that housed the highly secret weaponry, as well as the latest in scanners. The captain's suite was quite expansive and meant for a family of his size. It had its own pool, salt water aquarium wall separating the inside from the outside, living area, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an outdoor dining area. It was spectacular!

Alexis, Rick thought, should be complaining since they were still walking, even though the gang plank was getting closer. She wanted to be onboard and to do that now! Though when he looked down at her all he saw was awe in her eyes as they walked.

A quick elevator ride up took them to the walkway into the side of the ship. Rick stopped to salute and received one in return. "Commander Richard Rodgers and Alexis Rodgers requesting permission to come aboard," he called out sharply.

"Request granted. Please place your hands on the pad." The officer held out a pad that each had to use and receive clearance to go any further. Behind him were two combat Marines in full battle gear. Even to Rick they looked scary.

"They won't hurt you, pumpkin." He tried to make Alexis feel better only to see her salute the Marines much to his great surprise. Since they were in full battle armor neither of them saw both of them smile at her. Alexis could wrap anyone around her little finger if she wanted to and apparently these two tough Marines were now on her list to do just that.

"Welcome aboard the Xanadu. This B-5 unit will help you to your room." The officer summoned a B-5 unit to remove their luggage from the cart and take them and their possessions to their room.

"Daddy, are they all B5?" Alexis didn't understand the robots. They kind of looked like people; sort of, if you used your imagination.

Each B-5 unit was just under 6 feet tall. They had a white semitransparent face with eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, and ears. They had a chest plate made of the same material. There was a central spine along with four thin servos that were attached at the upper mid-section down to a hip. From here there were six strands of fiber that acted as the unit's upper leg muscles. The knee was a standard metal knee. The lower leg muscles were encased in the same white semitransparent material. The feet did not have toes; they were simply solid metal feet made of the same material.

The arms attached at the shoulder. Like the upper legs, there were six strands acting as the upper arm muscles that attached at the elbow. The lower arm strands were encased in the same white semitransparent material. The hands were made of an alloy and had a palm, upper palm, four fingers and an opposable thumb.

The eyes were capable of moving and the mouth moved to mimic the words that were spoken. The primary brain was housed in the head and the interior chest area had a blue glow to it when the unit was active. This was also the location of the fusion power core. Each power core utilized the hard to find and equally expensive obtanium material.

"Yes, Alexis, they're just robots even if they do look like people a little," Rick told her as they follow the B-5 unit deeper into the ship.

"He needs a name," the little girl decided and started thinking up names for him.

"This is your room. If you find the door locked, simply place the palm of your hand on the door to unlock it," the B-5 unit said. It deposited their suitcases on the floor just inside the door. It had followed its orders to the letter and no further.

"There is a mandatory emergency evacuation drill scheduled for 18 hundred hours. Every biologic life form is required to attend. Do you require anything else?" the B-5 unit inquired.

"I think we can handle it from here, thank you." Rick dismissed the B-5 unit. He was aware that the ship wasn't scheduled to leave port until late tomorrow. And he knew he was expected to report in to the captain on the Bridge one hour after boarding.

He looked around and was impressed to say the least. "Let's get you unpacked first. I have to go check in with the captain and then we can take a tour of the ship. How would that be?" he asked and Alexis nodded enthusiastically.

Just inside the door was a wide hallway that had a good-sized desk with a laptop and comfortable-looking chair along the wall. Behind it was the door into Alexis's bedroom, which was where they were now unpacking her things.

Her bedroom had another desk with a laptop in one corner. Next to it was the closet. The room held a queen-size bed that was quite large for her since she was used to a twin bed. Rick hoped this wouldn't be a problem.

The room itself was bright with a wall of windows on one side that looked out onto the water. The floor was a light colored wood while the bed was a darker wood. The sheets and comforter were all white.

For now Alexis looked happy but he just knew this room wasn't girly enough for her and she would want to make changes. She would probably want to paint the white walls another color.

Alexis was soon unpacked and followed her dad into his room. Along the way they looked at the only bathroom for both of them. It had a walk-in shower, a tub, toilet, and double sinks on a floating vanity. Turning on the lights showed that the lights were in the ceiling, in two corners from floor to ceiling, and there were lights under the cabinet. "This will work. We can put your bathroom stuff in here later," Rick told her since only her clothes had been unpacked so far.

"Nice." Rick was liking his room. There was a king-size bed with the same floors as in Alexis's room; the color of the bed was the same as well. The sheets were white while the comforter was a combination of white and a light brown. He had one entire wall of windows on the same side as Alexis's room. On the far wall was his closet and there was a dresser on the wall opposite the windows.

While the hallway had recessed lighting, his room had a huge, detailed, flat panel with an illuminated feature mounted on the wall directly behind the bed along with wall sconces on either side. There was a beige rug on which the bed was centered while beyond that were the wood floors.

"This looks nice. What do you think?" Rick smiled at Alexis who was beaming. "Looks like this will work for us." He left his bag behind and would unpack later.

He stopped at the computer terminal, sat down, and turned it on. "Let's see if we can get some things sent over before we leave tomorrow," he said to himself.

"Would you like a pink wall?" Rick looked at Alexis who nodded excitedly. "Pink paint it is." He put it on the list. "I think the white sheets will work, how about a pink comforter, maybe one with flowers?" he offered and saw Alexis was smiling.

"Sorry, pumpkin, there isn't anything I can do about the lighting, you're stuck with what you have." Her lights like his were part of the ship. "I think we can find room for a Princess Vanity Set, would you like that?" He could at least give her something she'd had to leave behind. "Anything else?" It was her room, was there something she couldn't live without?

"Aminals?" Alexis had had to leave most of them behind. That had really upset her and had actually made her cry.

"Well, let's see, lots of stuffed animals." He began selecting as many as he could find that were close to the ones she'd had. He smiled at how she said "aminals" instead of "animals." It was so cute!

"I think that's it. We have to go see the captain now. Then we can start exploring the ship and see what there is and where. I know for a fact that it has two pools. Did you pack your swimsuit?" Rick knew she had since he had helped her to unpack.

He liked seeing his baby girl smile. He was really hoping that she enjoyed this posting. Being the first officer of the very first ship of this type was a boost to his career.