Attunga

by Peter Wood

  ‘I know. Gulara was keen too. I couldn’t believe it when she said she’d arranged a living space,’ Thom replied.

  ‘Burilda said it would be temporary.’

  ‘Well, it has to be. We can’t have our own space if the planning assistant doesn’t know what to build. What do we want, Thom? We haven’t even thought about it.’

  ‘I have, but not seriously. A full shared space for three people is the same as twelve of our cubicles.’ Thom grinned.

  ‘Twelve? That’s enormous. What will we do with it all?’ said Wirrin.

  ‘Well, for starters we’ll have a proper display wall instead of the little ones we’ve got now.’ Thom gestured at his standard 2 by 4 metre display wall. ‘We could even have a space to grow some natural food, Wirrin … and a big information centre for your projects and your sketches.’

  ‘What about a proper grav-sofa to watch the display?’

  Wirrin turned towards Calen. ‘What do you want, dreamy?’

  ‘What do I want what?’

  ‘In our home, brainless. Aren’t you even listening?’

  ‘I’m thinking about the baby dolphin.’

  It occurred to Wirrin that if they were seeing Puck they must be seeing the baby too, as there was no way they’d be separated at this early stage of his life.

  ‘I wonder if they’ve given him a name?’

  ‘Who? The humans or the dolphins?’

  ‘Do the dolphins have their own names as well as human names?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘What? All that research over the last two weeks and you don’t know?’

  ‘I can’t know everything.’

  ‘It’s a bit scary.’

  ‘No, it’s not.’

  ‘Yes, it is.’

  ‘No, it’s not.’

  That set them all laughing, exactly as Wirrin intended. It was quite scary really, as if forces they didn’t understand had reached into their lives and guided them in a new direction – the dolphins wanting them moved from their home sector, Gulara changing the rules about living spaces and trios, and even, from what she said in their talk, an AI taking an interest.

  Calen jumped up. ‘Burilda’s not scary and neither is Flute. We’ll know a lot more by the end of the day. Hey, let’s go now.’

  ‘We’ll be an hour early.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. That’s good.’

  ‘Will we play the portal game?’

  ‘No, Thom. We’re together today.’

  Chapter 4

  ‘This is a different reach,’ Burilda said, taking the trio to a new expanse of water. ‘It’s connected to Puck’s birthing pool and it’s her pod’s main territory.’

  ‘What are we supposed to do this time?’

  ‘Whatever feels right, Calen. Much as you did last time, except that with your facemasks you’ll feel much more involved.’

  The masks had two functions, first to let them see clearly underwater and second to give them an air supply.

  ‘I’ve got some news for you. The baby’s name is Sonic.’

  ‘Sonic! Great.’ Calen’s face split into a broad grin. ‘I like it.’

  Wirrin slipped on his mask, adjusted the mouthpiece then ducked under the surface and looked round. He laughed in his throat as Calen and Thom did the same and all of them realised they were magnified. Thom flexed his arm to show how big his magnified muscles were. Calen was twisting his head in all directions, looking for any sign of the dolphins in the crystal clear water. There weren’t any, so they relaxed, enjoying the water and getting used to their weighted bodysuits. Last time they’d worn ordinary swimming costumes, but because this was likely to be an extended session they’d been given full bodysuits.

  Wirrin, thinking he saw a movement in the distance, signalled to Calen, but after a moment decided his mind was playing tricks. Thom swam away from the shallower edge of the reach and Wirrin and Calen followed. They knew from Calen’s research that, except for special diving areas, all the reaches ranged from 1 to 5 metres in depth. For a while they mucked around, enjoying the freedom of not having to surface for a breath. They were all competent in the water, though Thom was the best swimmer and the keenest about water sports.

  He was showing off now, doing back flips, and Calen was close by, copying him. Wirrin watched the silvery clouds of bubbles rising in their quivery journey to the surface, then caught his breath as a dark grey shape glided up to Thom and Calen. It was Flute – he recognised her straight away, mostly because of the yellow and black tag, but also because of an irregular section in her dorsal fin. How did she appear out of nowhere like that in such clear water?

  Thom, just finishing one of his flips, and Calen, halfway through one of his own and noticeably better than when he started a few minutes ago, struggled to right themselves. Flute, with an effortless twitch, performed her own back flip, as if to show them how it should be done, then came to a stop with her head lightly pressed against Calen’s side. After a short moment she repeated the pressure with Thom and Wirrin then darted 5 or 6 metres away. Calen was grinning around his mouthpiece, and Wirrin’s own lips parted in a grin.

  Flute was looking into the distance, where vague movements resolved into two distinct shapes, one big, the other small, as Puck and Sonic grew gradually larger and clearer. Wirrin felt the same excitement he’d felt in the viewing gallery and on impulse raised his hand in the slow wave of greeting.

  Puck, drawing alongside Flute, flicked her head back and drifted closer. Sonic bumped against her then flicked to the surface for air before returning to press close, his eyes alert, watching the three strange creatures in this, his first water meeting with humans.

  Puck bumped her beak gently against Calen’s chest then allowed Calen to rest his hand on her head.

  Wirrin’s heart raced when Sonic imitated his mother with a nudge. Calen’s free hand slowly rested on his head for a moment. There was a quick flip of acknowledgement.

  The nudge was repeated with Thom, and then Wirrin’s heart leapt at the inquisitive little bump against his chest. He reached out and felt a surge of wonder and pleasure as he touched the baby dolphin. Sonic darted to his mother, bumped her in the side, repeated the chest nudge with Calen, Thom and Wirrin, then flashed to Flute for yet another nudge.

  Was it a game? Was it a greeting? Wirrin had a sense that Sonic was enjoying himself.

  Wirrin watched the little dolphin surface for another breath of air, return to Puck, circle round Calen, zip over to Flute for another nudge, then dart away at amazing speed.

  Five more dolphins undulated in and Sonic bumped one, then rushed back to Puck and Calen.

  When Calen moved his hand to make contact Sonic dodged away, and then in a burst of speed, zipped behind Calen and nudged his back. Wirrin laughed, then jerked in surprise when something bumped his back. Flute had sneaked up on him.

  ***

  ‘Yes, every dolphin in the pod was there at the end. It was exciting.’ Burilda grinned at them.

  Exciting was an understatement and at the moment Wirrin didn’t know whether to dance with delight or fall in a heap from exhaustion. If Calen was going to do this every day he’d either become a fitness freak or a physical wreck.

  ‘How clever is Sonic? He’s only three weeks old and he understands counting.’

  ‘We’re not completely sure. His conception involved a number of new and highly promising enhancements. Flute and Puck tell us he’s extra special and the whole dolphin community is certainly treating him that way.’

  ‘Have Flute and Puck said anything about that? I mean Puck is his mum and Flute’s his auntie. I guess they might be a bit biased,’ Calen said.

  Burilda shook her head.

  ‘Be careful not to assume human characteristics in dolphins, Calen. They do insist it’s important for him to associate closely with humans, which would be easy. Every person here would love to be involved. What’s really surprised us is their singling you out and asking for daily meetings. That’s
exciting – it’s never happened before.’

  ‘Why have they picked me? They know you rangers a lot better.’

  ‘We asked them that. They just say you’re the right person. At any rate, we all hope you’ll decide to commit after a few months’ trial.’

  Wirrin and Thom were as surprised as Calen.

  ‘I thought I already had?’

  ‘Calen, of course not. At this stage of your life you can’t make such an important decision without any actual experience. You’ll have another opportunity in twelve months’ time as well. Now let’s get you set up in your living space.’

  ***

  The next three months were full of changes, exciting new experiences and hard work, but the biggest changes were for Calen. His basic EdCom study didn’t change, but the forty per cent devoted to zoology electives switched to subjects connected with dolphins, and he spent at least an hour with Sonic each day.

  Wirrin and Thom changed some of their electives to dolphin communication as well, but Wirrin continued with information studies and Thom with organics.

  Burilda encouraged them to be involved in everything to do with the dolphinarium and arranged personal skimmers for Wirrin and Thom so they could travel the reaches. Calen automatically had one so he could keep up with Sonic and Puck, and he became so skilled with it that every time they raced he won, much to Thom’s disgust – he was supposed to be the speed freak.

  On their activity days, they went to the zero-G swimming pool and virtual reality centres that specialised in Earth adventures, where you could climb mountains, explore jungles, race across the desert or enjoy the latest dataset transmitted from Earth. Twice they went on a Warrakan viewer, to watch how the drive-engine installations were progressing, and to give Thom his speed thrill.

  Gulara encouraged them during her regular fortnightly holo visits, which in itself was curious, because previously she’d visited every three months.

  ‘She’s not that interested in us, Wirrin. I think there must be some other reason she’s so keen for us to lift our levels,’ Thom said. ‘I’ve never heard of anyone having so many meetings.’

  ‘It could be because people don’t change from their Home Sector like we have. She’s the one who changed the rules and she might be making sure she’s done the right thing.’

  ‘I think she likes hearing about what’s happening with Calen and Sonic,’ said Thom.

  ‘She does. She smiles whenever I talk about Sonic and I know she sometimes watches when I’m with the pod,’ Calen said.

  ‘She’s been watching me too. She knew I was trying to access the dolphinarium’s database,’ Wirrin added.

  ‘And me. In that meeting yesterday she asked me about the protein structure I’ve been building in organics,’ Thom said.

  Wirrin was impressed. ‘Protein structure? You’ve never told us you could do that.’

  Thom laughed. ‘Well I don’t actually do it myself, but I do know enough to set it up. This one is designed to help Calen’s swimming muscles.’

  ‘My muscles? What’s wrong with them?’

  ‘Nothing, except that you carry on after every session in the reaches, telling us how wrecked you are.’

  ‘Of course I’m wrecked. Swimming for an hour with dolphins wrecks anyone.’

  ‘I know, and this structure will help. I used your biodata to match it exactly with your body so it should make swimming easier.’

  ‘Really? Thom, that’s unreal. Will it be ready soon?’

  ‘Another week I think.’

  ***

  ‘You won’t notice the difference,’ Burilda said, ‘it’s exactly the same as talking to anybody else.’

  Wirrin, Cullen and Thom had never had direct contact with a machine intelligence and the ranger had just informed them that the habitat AI involved in dolphin affairs would be present at their meeting. They didn’t know what to make of it. They’d seen AIs on newsfeeds and the InterWeb, but meeting one face to face was rare.

  ‘Of course, you’ll really be seeing the holographic representation he chooses for you, and on Attunga, as most everywhere else, that’s a human form. He’s really friendly, Wirrin.’

  ‘He?’

  The ranger laughed.

  ‘Yes, his holo’s male and after a few minutes that’s the way you think.’

  ‘Have you met him much?’ Calen said.

  ‘Every time there’s an important decision concerning the dolphins.’

  Calen glanced at Wirrin and Thom.

  ‘Do you think he might want someone else to work with Sonic?’

  ‘No, I don’t. Puck would rip him to shreds if he did.’

  The idea of anything ripping an AI to shreds was so startling they couldn’t help smiling.

  ‘That’s better. Now let’s meet him.’

  They followed Burilda into the conference room, where Gulara and a distinguished-looking man looked up as they entered and smiled. Wirrin felt himself relax at the sight of his mentor’s welcoming smile and was yet again glad of her support. She was probably at her office in their old sector but holos were so advanced these days you couldn’t tell the difference.

  The man raised his arm and gave the slow dolphin wave of greeting and nodded when it was returned.

  ‘Thank you boys. I am Turaku and I welcome you to my place.’

  Wow, this was the old welcome-to-country greeting of an elder. Wirrin felt his heart lift.

  ‘Calen, your time with Sonic is proving more successful than we expected and no-one else will take your place unless you’re not available. I know your intentions, but before we formalise them there are things you need to know and decisions you need to make with your trio. Because of your age there should be another decision point but Sonic is so important we need to support his development in any way we can. For you, that means committing eight to ten years of your life to the dolphins.’

  Calen face split into a grin, then he glanced at Thom and Wirrin. They’d already talked about this decision and none of them had any doubts.

  ‘To improve your communication with Sonic I’m proposing memory and reception implants, and to avoid alienating the others in your trio, Wirrin and Thom would need a similar treatment.’

  Wirrin could hardly believe what he was hearing. The enhancements Turaku was talking about were like everything else on Attunga, available to anyone who wanted them, provided they were ready, and in this case that usually meant only after finishing the Second Level of education and training. Most people did this, but not till they were thirty or forty years old, then they finished nine or ten years later.

  Gulara caught their attention. ‘It will involve a major alteration in the structure of your courses. To prepare you adequately would require at least thirty per cent of your current study and training time and that means extending your Basic Level finish by another two years.’

  Wirrin understood what was needed. Memory enhancement was a major part of his Information Elective as well as part of his own long-term plan, but he wasn’t quite sure how it would affect Thom. He didn’t have time to think about it though, because Turaku was speaking again.

  ‘The other major consideration is whether you’re prepared to leave Attunga.’

  Wirrin was shocked. No-one in their right mind would leave Attunga. Why was Gulara smiling? It was the best habitat in the solar system. Well … except for Warrakan.

  ‘Yes, in three years Puck’s pod is moving to Warrakan and if you stay with the project we’ll need you to go with them.’

  Now he knew why Gulara was smiling. In their discussions about Warrakan she’d always said they had a good chance, but that it was unlikely they’d know anything definite for another five or six years.

  ‘Ah … do you mean just while Warrakan is still here?’ Wirrin said.

  ‘No, permanently, unless you have a change of heart and don’t wish to travel to Alpha Centauri, but we are not anticipating that.’

  Thom looked almost idiotically blissful. The only misgiving they�
�d had about Calen’s dolphin commitment was the possibility that it might clash with their Warrakan hopes, and now, like magic, it was all cleared up. There was a moment’s silence while they struggled to take it all in, then Turaku said, ‘It’s always been part of the plan to have dolphins with enhanced intelligence on Warrakan, but with their strong community bonds they’ve never considered breaking their pod links until now. A week ago Puck and her pod decided to join the first traveller community – a real surprise. We are facilitating that in every way and have begun constructing an appropriate environment – Burilda will explain the details.’ He nodded at the ranger. ‘Now, do any of you have any questions?’

  Wirrin’s hand shot up then he lowered it sheepishly. ‘Can you tell us why Sonic is so special? Everyone keeps saying he is but they never say why.’

  ‘Sonic will be a new link between dolphin, human and machine intelligence. His intelligence and learning capacity are unprecedented and apparently exceed those of any human. The bond he is forming with Calen is a vital step on the path to deepening our mutual understanding of three different ways of living and thinking. This is First Level information and Gulara will explain its ramifications.’

  He paused, and then his serious manner changed and a smile lit up his face. ‘That sounded official enough to impress you with its importance. I’ll return when you are ready.’

  Chapter 5

  Turaku disappeared with the pixilated shimmer most people used to end a holo communication rather than an abrupt switch to nothing, and the trio waited quietly for Gulara or Burilda to speak.

  After a quick nod of acknowledgement to Burilda, Gulara said, ‘That should help to explain why, once Puck and Flute chose Calen, you’ve been encouraged to involve yourselves with the dolphins. I hope you’re beginning to understand by now that our dolphins are rather more special than is generally known. In fact, we’ve worked hard to restrict that knowledge to Attunga.

  ‘There is enormous resistance on Earth and many of the directed space habitats to the idea of lifting the intelligence and self-awareness of any species other than humans, and even that is looked on as being unnatural in some places.