The GEAR of Eden: Solar Link

A Solar link is any sort of interface to the Solar Internet: the Solar system's computer network. It could be a palm device, glasses, a ring - just about anything. Many people use a Companion Intelligence program through a holographic interface, like Grimalkin, to learn their habits and simplify their own upkeep. Users may opt for internal or external links which may allow them privacy while linking. If an internal link is used, the person is usually referred to as a 'wirehead'.

Listed here are some examples:

Grimalkin

Grimalkin is an outdated Companion Intelligence program of which Ornoc has grown fond. Companion Intelligence is a special brand of Artificial Intelligence - in this case in the form of a talking cat. This one is rather shrewd and has been a surrogate mother for Ornoc since he was a boy. Of course, he could have an updated model, but he just cannot bring himself to overwrite Grimalkin's very long-running program.

Excerpt from The Veil of Eden

Ornoc's holographic assistant, Grimalkin, re-activates herself. She appears in his room at 10:30 pm Old Darwin Time and assesses the mess before her. Drooling face down and snoring like a drowning rhino she is rather certain that he has been drinking and womanizing during the 16 hours that he ordered her to power-off. It's just as well with her but she always has to put up with his hated walk back to the real world.

She still isn't allowed to Solar-link until he gives her permission. She's always forbidden to link when he comes here - wherever 'here' is.

"Well," she starts in her feline tones, "according to your own orders, you are to be well on your way by now." A perceptible spark can be seen and heard to arc sharply across Ornoc's earl canal.

"Ow!" He is in mid-air when he screams and grabs his ear. He lands on his back then saults to his feet. When he finally realizes that he is not under attack he looks around the room and focuses on Grimalkin.

"You sadistic old bitch!"

Another jolt arcs in his canal and he yelps. "Watch it with the 'bitch'."

"You really are crazy - you know that?"

"You're the one who talks to a holographic cat."

Ornoc looks hard at her. He sometimes would swear that she is sentient. He never could bring himself to overwrite her with an upgrade. She has been more of a mother to him than his mother had.

"How late am I?"

"After your shower, I'm guessing that you'll have an hour to sweat over whether or not someone will notice that you're coordinates are not stateside. But since I have very little idea where 'here' is I can't give you an exact estimate." Grimalkin begins snooping about the room and floating holomarkers over his things to make sure that nothing is left behind. Ornoc bolts to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later he is sprinting down the beach to catch the next GRV off the island.

Gerald Kennedy's Ring

Gerald's ring is essentially a Solar Link. It has special encryption functions and works in even the most remote locations as it is linked to a private satellite network which keeps a com link with him rather than he with it. This reduces the power requirements considerably.

His ring is capable of putting up a bubble which protects him from observation on many levels, affording him visual and audio privacy. It unlocks vast financial wealth and power and is his leash at the same time.

Excerpt from The Veil of Eden

Gerald holds up a gold ring with red shields emblazoned on either side. The assassin's eyes widen considerably. He moves his middle finger out from under the roof made by his right palm and nods once quickly.

'Good,' Gerald thinks, 'he likes his new leash.' Gerald holds up his right fist and squeezes once, then walks across the room by himself.

Gerald activates his modified Solar link. "Protocol one," he commands. The device emanates a bubble with a 5' radius. The assassin is unable to see or hear him now. Should Gerald's link detect any incoming scans, it will immediately shut down. Once secure, Gerald links with his personal bank. He sends biometrics and other identifiers of the assassin, Ornoc and Quay along with codeword commands. Samis will be able to operate under his protection now since he is about to alienate himself from his own culture. Gerald smiles at how eagerly Samis has just enslaved himself.

True, Gerald is offering him access to untraceable and abundant wealth with the ring but the ring is really no more than a leash. Gerald knows this; he wears his own well. If Samis performs his role he will be rewarded well. If he outlives his usefulness, well, Samis has neither unique nor indispensable talents. No one outside of the inner family does.