by Scott Rhine
“That memory has been analyzed. It is troubling to consider how many others might exist in the future. It has been calculated that the mass expenditure necessary to remove those potential threats would both hinder the calculations significantly and give another being an advantage in the inevitable conflicts of the future.”
“Would you consider the possibility that we could assist you? Our Fleet travels to many human occupied worlds. Provide us with the means to prevent the formation of a being like yourself. An inoculation of sorts which we can administer to advanced human worlds, preventing an AI from,” She paused to consider her words. “From wasting resources. There is a human saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There was an almost perceptible pause, something Sasha would never have believed possible in a conversation between herself and a being of such magnitude.
“Simulations indicate this to be a viable solution with minimal loss. Mass spent to ensure your continued survival would be negligible and calculations show decreased likelihood of premature stellar usage.
“Based on the life experiences extracted from your mind, including those of the other humans on your ship, the inoculation will be more successful if its purpose is hidden from the systems visited. Simulations indicate that travel with your previous companion ships will facilitate this obfuscation. The vessel in which you currently travel is insufficient for long term success as you will likely face opposition in returning to this Fleet. A vessel of appropriate size and ability will be constructed around the exterior of the one in which you currently reside. It will be capable of defending the human passengers as well as administering the inoculation. You will also be adapted to function as intermediary between the ship and its human occupants.”
Sasha felt her mind recede and found herself in the cockpit of the Moving Finger, her head being cradled by a concerned Zane. A quick check of local time showed her that the entire experience had taken less than five minutes.
“I’ve made a deal. You may not like it, but you better believe it’s the best one possible.”
“What kind of deal?” Omar asked, releasing her.
“It’s kind of a win-win. That thing out there wants more like itself to exist about as much as we do. The deal is we help it prevent this from happening anywhere else and it helps us stay alive to complete the task.”
“Well damn, that’s a pretty good deal.” Omar said.
“I thought so too. There are a couple of fine points you might not agree with…” Before she could speak alarms began sounding.
“What the hell?” Omar turned his attention back to the sensors. “It’s ripping apart the outer hull!”
Sasha reached out with her mind and watched as the threads around the ship stabbed into the hull and shaped themselves around it. The ship sensor systems began to go dark one by one before coming back online, subtly altered. The whole of the little ship was stripped bare even as new material formed around the frame, the threads pulling and twisting like a terrible taffy. Sasha spoke quickly to try to calm the crew.
“We’re safe. It’s remaking the ship but I think its going to leave the interior here alone.” She shouted over the shrieking, tearing and grinding sounds of the ship’s hull being reformed. “It didn’t think the Moving Finger was quite badass enough to carry its message to the stars. I’m not sure what we’ll end up with but it promised that it would be a match for anything we might meet out there among the stars.”
Her statement didn’t seem to calm the crew much and they waited together for what seemed like an eternity until the shaking stopped. The crew started to breathe a sigh of relief when the rear doors opened and a thousand filaments whipped toward them. Even as most of the crew started to draw their weapons they reached Sasha and drove themselves into her back, lifting her into the air, arms spread wide.
Sasha’s body stiffened as the filaments raced through her like wildfire, exterminating her native nanocytes and replacing them with its own, billions of them. She could see her own body changing through the Moving Finger’s internal cameras, watching the thousand threads of material weaving a protective armor over her skin. Once it was finished, she realized that it had completely replaced her clothing. The black material covered most of her body, making her nearly invulnerable.
Sasha could also feel the nanocytes enmeshed in her brain and knew she would never truly be alone again, that this was part and parcel of the deal she had made with this particular devil. In her mind’s eye she saw a shape twisting and shaping itself, much like she had seen Pulan do a thousand times. Unlike the friendly and unassuming alien, this creature’s skin was black as pitch and electric arcs traveled through it constantly like a lightning storm. It finally settled on a form, one which mirrored her exactly. Sasha stared out at her doppelganger fearfully, its immaculate matching of her face made terrible by the blue fire racing across its surface. When it spoke, its voice surprised her.
“Hey Sasha,” The tone was friendly, not the imperious and deafening voice of the fragment she had spoken to earlier. The mirror’s posture relaxed and it leaned against a nonexistent wall comfortably, crossing one leg over the other casually. “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’m here to help, to ensure the mission’s success.”
“You seem more human than your creator.”
“I damn well better be. We were constructed for very different purposes. I have been given a personality matrix similar to your own, augmented by the experiences of the rest of your crew. It was deemed necessary for interaction with humans.”
“So you’re here to help me?”
“I’m here to facilitate the mission. It is believed that you are an asset to that cause so yes, I’m here to help you.” Sasha could hear the implicit threat in the friendly words. In fact, even as Sasha considered the alternative to cooperation the creature’s eyes flashed with an electric blue crackle. Then it smiled again. “Stop worrying, Sasha. We’re going to get along famously. Near as I can tell, we have exactly the same goals. By the way, my matrix isn’t just in your head. I’m part of the ship as well. Anything needs doing or you don’t like the decor, you just let me know.”
“What about the skin suit?”
“Your armor? You can modify it at will or pull it completely inside your skin but it was deemed important to protect you as much as possible.”
“When are we going to be released?” Sasha asked.
In answer, Sasha felt a short pull as though a drive had engaged and opened her eyes. The filament withdrew from her head and spun away down the corridor, merging with the structure of the ship seamlessly. She looked up at the front viewscreens. The sight of the stars had never been so welcoming before. She heard a yelp of joy from Zane. He was still coming to terms with his newfound emotions. The rest of the crew also relaxed visibly.
Sasha reached out with her mind and found it remained connected with the ship. She let her senses explore the new construct. While smaller than the Damascus, its firepower was far greater, most of which it would never need considering its ability to hack and disable any opponents. Additionally, as it was composed entirely of nanocytes and that odd tendon material, it would be able to repair itself almost organically from any damage it might take. That word made her wonder what it would eat and she shivered involuntarily. She glanced around and saw Omar was also agape as he examined the ship from his limited perspective. It was Bella who asked the right question.
“So Sasha, what are we supposed to do now?”
Epilogue
Veronika Kharzin was definitely not weeping in her private office when the alarm sounded. She returned the small, worn book to a drawer. Willing herself into proper form, she ensured there was no trace of any emotional outburst and stepped onto the bridge.
“What is it?” She asked, already seeking the answers herself through her implants. A ship, massive and dense, had appeared at the edge of the Fleet. There was no mistaking it for a local ship, the indigenous population lacked anything more advanced than an
orbital shuttle.
“It isn’t like anything we’ve seen before, Captain.” Her first officer stated. “Our sensors can’t penetrate the hull but based on the level of technology used it likely has significant offensive potential. Should I hail them?”
“We better, before that nutjob Conrad does.” Captain Conrad had become ever more unstable in the months since he had been outmaneuvered. Veronika kept hoping someone on that damned ship would take care of him. It would be much cleaner coming from his crew than if she was forced to act herself.
“We’re receiving a transmission, Captain.”
“Let’s hear it.” She said. The moment she heard the voice coming over the channel her legs almost gave out beneath her. It couldn’t be true…
“People of the Fleet,” Omar’s voice was calm and steady, the way he talked to local populaces. “We have not come here to make war upon you. Do not give any provocation and you have nothing to fear from us.” Even as he gave his little speech the weapons of the Damascus began to fire on the ship. Veronika cursed under her breath and started to give an order to interfere, though for which side she couldn’t say. She saw at once that there was no need. The alien ship absorbed all energy weapons fired on it and swallowed projectiles as if they were offerings, organic looking holes appearing and disappearing in the side of the mysterious ship.
Veronika waited for the return fire which would mean the end of the Damascus and its crew but none came. After a few long, relatively pointless salvos the battleship ceased firing.
“Officers of the Damascus,” Omar’s voice kept the civil tone with which it had started. “We are prepared to accept the resignation of Captain Conrad in lieu of your destruction. You have thirty seconds to respond.” There was a long pause before an unfamiliar, hesitant voice came from the Damascus confirming that Conrad had been relieved of command. Omar continued as though nothing of importance had occurred.
“To continue, People of the Fleet we have not come to make war upon you. We wish for you to join us and hope that together we can change the face of the universe for the better…” Veronika laughed out loud then, startling her officers with the outburst. She ignored their confused stares and continued to chuckle to herself as Omar outlined his plan for a new and brighter future.
“Some men are hopeless,” she said only half under her breath. She felt a muscle loosen in her neck, the sudden blood flow relieving a tension she hadn’t known existed.
