ARMS Beckland's Fall: (Book 5)

by Stephen Arseneault

  Harris winced. "You ever operated on a Human?"

  "No."

  "Exactly. I doubt he would trust you and one of these bots to work him over."

  "Our knowledge of the process is complete. And our movements during an operation would be highly precise. Most Human hospitals use robotic operations on their patients. I fail to see why trust would be an issue. I am also completely confident in my ability to diagnose the problem and to supervise the necessary treatment."

  Harris held up a hand as he chuckled. "OK, sorry. Didn't mean to offend you. I'll bring Mr. Morgan to the scan room. You can perform whatever diagnostic on him he agrees to."

  Harris escorted Bannis through the door to the level five room. An image of Alex appeared on a near wall.

  Harris pointed. "Stand over there on that disc."

  "What's this about?"

  "Alex is performing a full body scan on you. Hold your arms out to your sides. He'll work up a diagnostic of your hip ailments and recommend a solution. At the moment, that would be a set of lightweight, powered braces so you could walk around without such a struggle."

  Bannis held his arms out to the sides. "Like this?"

  Harris nodded. "Just like that. One sec..."

  "The scan is complete," said Alex. "Would you care to hear my evaluation?"

  "Sure."

  "You have an imbalance in your immune system. This is causing antibodies in your bloodstream to attach to the linings of your joints. The tissues surrounding the linings inflame, reducing movement while inflicting discomfort. This is of particular issue and related to a condition known as rheumatoid arthritis.

  "Tell me something I don't know."

  "If you would like, I can inject a serum directly into the superficial circumflex iliac artery that will cause the antibodies to release. This will provide temporary relief while I evaluate a permanent treatment for your condition."

  Harris said, "You already have the knowledge from the archives. Why not give him a permanent solution right now?"

  "The Human body, according to the data I have, can sometimes be unpredictable in its reaction to treatment. I would like to perform another scan once the injection has had twenty-four hours to work before making any further decisions on a course of action."

  Bannis smiled. "I like him. This injection procedure, what kind of pain can I expect from it?"

  "You will be immobilized during the procedure, which will last approximately forty-three seconds. Using live scan data, my physical assistant should be able to avoid the critical nerve endings surrounding the target area. An ultrathin needle will be used, which is why the forty-three seconds is required for serum delivery."

  "Pain?"

  "Should be no more than a pinch."

  Harris chuckled. "Always just a pinch. Same thing they tell you right before they cut your leg off."

  Bannis gave a single nod. "I like the diagnosis and the initial treatment. When can we do this?"

  "Allow several minutes for the serum. Please remain here."

  The image of Alex faded.

  Harris shook his head. "Very trusting of you."

  "Look at this place. Two thousand years old and yet still advanced in many ways. It has certainly done well for you and the others. Trust in your AI is the least of my worries."

  "Have you ever heard of this treatment?"

  "No. Been through a half dozen others. Nothing like this. Makes sense though. You can't sneeze on Domicile without some government agency getting involved, telling you what you can and can't have as treatment. I know the intent is to keep crackpots from exploiting those in need, but the reality is viable options are often made unavailable."

  "Wouldn't have pegged you as the type to go this route."

  "Mr. Gruberg, I'm old. This body is in decay. My only option now is to slow that decay. There's no magic bullet that will stop it. Ten years ago I'd have told your AI to stuff it. If it wasn't approved I would have nothing of it. Now, I'll take what treatment I can get."

  Several minutes later, Boomer walked into the room, with Idiot close behind.

  Boomer said, "Please stand on the disc."

  Bannis complied, and the large bot stepped forward, wrapping one arm around the old man while securely positioning itself on the floor. Idiot moved up next, revealing a syringe with a long thin needle. The glow of a scan beam began to show.

  Idiot said, "Please remain still."

  Bannis replied, "Couldn't move if I wanted to."

  Without removing any of his clothes, the bot named Idiot slowly inserted the needle into Bannis Morgan's hip.

  Bannis smirked. "There's the pinch. Not bad."

  Just over forty seconds later the needle was removed.

  The image of Alex said, "Over the next twenty-four hours you should feel an improvement in that joint. We'll refrain from doing the other hip until we are assured of positive results."

  Boomer released the senior.

  "Wasn't bad at all."

  Bannis attempted to walk, but was met with a joint that locked up. "What's happening?"

  Alex replied, "The joint will temporarily be immobilized."

  "Why didn't you mention this before?"

  "Were you not already restricted in your movements?"

  "Yeah, but not like this. How long should I expect it to be this way?"

  "Every Human body will react differently. If you are looking for an estimate, I would place a guess at anywhere from two hours to the full day."

  Bannis scowled. "Hmm. So my choices for the next twenty-four hours are to stand or lie down?"

  "If you would like, I can have the assistants fashion a standing bench that will allow you to lie back in comfort while you review Earth's history."

  "Sure. Why not. Not like I'm going anywhere anyway."

  Two hours into the continued lessons, the joint began to loosen. Two hours after that, Bannis Morgan hobbled out of the bunker, joining the others in the supply hut.

  Harris asked, "Freed up?"

  "Yeah. And it is feeling better. Other than from stiffness, there was very little discomfort associated with the process. I'd like to ask that we go ahead and do the other hip if possible. Would rather do this sooner than later."

  Alex appeared on the display wall. "I would advise against that until we have definitive results. Our goal is to improve the quality of your life permanently, and not to pay a heavy price later for a short time of relief today."

  "Understood."

  Alex continued: "I do have news from Domicile. Scanning the news channels has revealed a concerted government effort to seize all Hosh-Morgan properties."

  Bannis growled. "My enemies in the senate finally got their way. Any word about Telemunde Industries or Ferrier Corp?"

  "Both have been mentioned to be under heavy scrutiny."

  "The pacifists are cleaning house," Bannis sighed. "If you aren't in their circle of friends, you'll be getting harassed or closed down. In six months that planet won't have the ability to develop and field a decent warship. Best they'll be able to manage is building a fleet of daisy haulers."

  Harris shook his head. "In six months we'd have had a fleet that could take the Denzee on. Losing those factories at the Retreat has us finished."

  "We should build our own here on Midelon," Gandy said. "No one can touch us here."

  Harris chuckled. "Sure. We'll have those up and running in a couple days."

  Bannis handed a data store to Harris. "This contains the complete data on the new Banshee. Could your AI determine what it would take to build one of those here?"

  "We do have five robotic laborers who would be willing to build whatever we ask them to," Gandy said.

  "They can't even replicate the processor bench we have there in the lab. How are they gonna build the tools we need to construct a Banshee?"

  Alex nodded toward the storage device. "Allow me to evaluate the data in question. I will gladly give an estimate of our ability to produce that vessel."

  Harris ges
tured. "Open a channel to his data store. Let’s see what he's got."

  Harris glanced over at the stacks of MREs. "In six months we'll have another issue. How are we gonna feed ourselves?"

  Trish, having listened to the conversation, raised her hand, and said, "We can still trade with the truce worlds. They're free to trade with whoever they want."

  Harris held up his wrist. "And what are we gonna trade? Hold up your credit store."

  Trish complied. "You getting anything?"

  "Should I be?"

  "I just initiated a thousand-credit transfer. Before we jumped out of there, our accounts were frozen."

  "My store still has my credit amount."

  "But you don't have access to it. We try to buy anything and we'll get laughed at."

  "How's this possible? We aren't in Domicile space."

  Sharvie said, "The credit system works on its own separate comm frequency. Our bracelets have been frozen just from being in contact with Mr. Morgan. Let me contact my team. I'll see if there's a way around it."

  Alex said, "The tooling required to construct a Banshee will take forty-two days to create. I've generated a list of items that will have to be brought to this facility, including the raw materials for fabricating a pourable flow of Denzee armor."

  Harris winced. "Six weeks? Doesn't sound promising."

  Tawn smirked. "You busy with something else right now?"

  "No."

  "Then stop complaining. Alex, you've done scans in the truce worlds. Tell us where our best chances are for picking up the items we need."

  Seconds later, a list of four colonies appeared. "Most of the items may be acquired from these locations. The remaining parts will have to come from Domicile. Either directly so, or through an order from one of these planets. However, there is a third alternative. The Earthers have access to all the materials on the list. Perhaps a trade can be arranged with them?"

  Harris turned to Tawn. "You think Bax could work that for us?"

  Tawn snorted out a laugh. "And why would she do that? So we can build ships to destroy her mines?"

  "We just saved her life from the Denzee."

  "She would argue that we endangered it with our interference. Regardless, we have nothing to trade for it."

  "The emperor still owes us money. Alex, if we build the tools you're speaking of, how long for us to then build a Banshee, and what raw materials will be required for us to do so?"

  "Given our capabilities, a fair estimate would be three weeks."

  "Hmm. Doesn't give us much of a fleet anytime soon, does it."

  "I'm afraid not."

  Gandy piped up: "Can't we use the bots to build more bots like we were talking about? Would having a hundred or five hundred robotic workers make the production happen faster?"

  Alex replied, "One moment... yes. Given our current resources, twenty-six new assistants could be made available by the time the Banshee construction would begin. The time required would be reduced to four days for the initial unit. Should this methodology prove successful, new assistants could be added as we move forward."

  "Just sounds crazy to me," Harris said. "When do we start?"

  "Would you have those resources diverted from constructing a new processor bench in the lab?"

  "What would the result be if we left one bot working on it?"

  "One moment... twenty-three assistants added to the pool of workers. The initial construction time for the Banshee would be pushed back by four hours."

  Harris nodded. "I'd like a second bench available if possible. Let’s go with that."

  "The orders have been given."

  Harris looked around the room. "Anyone up for a run out to Eden? You'll be staying on the ship with Farker while I go in to talk."

  Tawn replied, "You know I'm in, but I'm not staying on the ship."

  "I thought you might do better taking a shuttle to the truce worlds. Tell you what, we have enough people now for three teams of two. I'll take Mr. Morgan. The rest of you split up and take those shuttles out to gather whatever we have on that list."

  "How are we supposed to pay for it?" Gandy asked.

  "Use your imagination. Figure out something you can trade that they need. We have a good stockpile of plasma rifles. Maybe take a few of those."

  Farker said, "Sir, I can watch the ship. Would it not be more beneficial for Mr. Morgan to continue his studies of Earth?"

  "Sure. But I still want someone extra. Alex, can you have Idiot come out here?"

  "I can."

  Harris chuckled. "Well, please do, then. When we return he can be our processor bench guy. The rest can get started on creating more bots."

  Minutes later, the Bangor moved up through the Midelon atmosphere as a fireball.

  — Chapter 6 —

  * * *

  Harris walked the halls of the new Fireburg mine building, turning into Bax's new office. "Not bad. Better than the empty room you were using before."

  "This was supposed to be a psychiatrist's office. You wouldn't think it, but the Earthers have a high number of mental breakdowns. Nothing out of control, but a lot. I suppose you're here about being paid?"

  "First I'd like to ask whether or not you could acquire the things on this list for me."

  The data was transferred. "Heard about your factories at the Retreat. What a waste of all that technology. Don't suppose you'd be willing to part with the railgun tech for any of this?"

  "Just the credits we have due to us. My commitment to protecting Domicile hasn't changed."

  Bax shook her head. "They just stabbed you in the back and you just keep walking."

  "If you remember, you stabbed us in the back several times, and I'm sitting here talking to you."

  "Good point. Mind telling me what this material is for? I already know, but I want you to say it."

  "We want to at least be able to repair the ships we have. If it turns into making more, then so be it. What's unfortunate about our losses at the Retreat is the loss of laborers. There's only six of us on Midelon."

  "Six? You have Morgan?"

  "Couldn't leave him behind."

  "He behind this desire to build ships at Midelon?"

  Harris shook his head. "This is our own doing. Hoping he can contribute though. He used to be our resource guy. Now I have to come begging to you."

  Bax leaned back in her chair. "Hmm. Haven't been in this position in a while. Mind if I bask in the glory of it for a few minutes?"

  "Just tell me if you can do this or not."

  "Relax. I can get all these things. Only, what's the payout for me?"

  "How about a quarter of those credits we're owed?"

  Bax looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Hmm. Would add nicely to my holdings. I tell you what, how about the plans for one of those domes instead? You left one here. The Earthers were too busy to analyze it to see if they wanted to make any of their own. For whatever reason, they seem happy with these box buildings."

  Harris slowly nodded. "I could probably get those for you. Not a strategic design or anything."

  "It's nice when you’re stuck on a dump like this to have a big open environment to work from. This psychiatrist office... we didn't need it with the dome. I'm already seeing issues with this new place. You provide those designs and I'll provide the materials on this list."

  "Really? All of them?"

  "Looks like things I might order anyway. So no one will question my use for them. So yeah, everything on the list. We have a deal?"

  "Would you be willing to wait until the material transfer is complete to take possession of the designs?"

  Bax rolled her eyes. "Sure."

  "How long before you have those items?"

  "Give me five days and I'll have a freighter here with the whole list."

  Harris nodded. "You just made my day."

  "Not something I ever expected to hear from Harris Gruberg. Where's the slug today? You two are usually chumming it up."

  "Other business. We h
ave a lot on our plate right now."

  Bax gestured toward the walls surrounding them. "Tell me about it. I've got all these mines to get up and running. And by the way, If you weren't aware, I've been given control over the shipyards at New Earth. Those tech advances you gave us, they're being implemented fleet-wide as we speak. If the Denzee return, we'll be a better match for them next time."

  "Let's hope that day is a long way off. Although, Domicile will probably be even less prepared by that time."

  "I've heard. With this grab of Morgan's assets they're also pushing to cut the existing fleet in half. The emperor is almost giddy over that development. I'm certain that's why he gave me the factories at New Earth. He's looking to accelerate things."

  "When do you expect to be producing here again?"

  "You know I can't give you that information."

  "Was worth a shot asking. Anyway, I'll be back in five days to collect the materials. I'll have the dome plans with me."

  Bax stood. "I'll be here, Mr. Gruberg."

  "Call me Harris."

  "I guess you've earned that, Harris. Will see you then."

  The stump walked into the hall with a smile. Twenty-five minutes later, he was settling on the grass at the bunker. Five hours passed before the others returned.

  Tawn walked into the supply hut, with Gandy right behind. "Only managed a couple items. No one was interested in a plasma rifle, which I don't understand."

  Trish and Sharvie were next. "Six out the sixteen things we wanted. Not bad for our first time out."

  "Anything from Bax?" Tawn asked.

  "Everything on the list. She says it will be at Fireburg in five days."

  "How'd you manage that?"

  "I'll be trading the dome design for it. She hates their buildings. Don't care if they want to build a thousand of those domes. They're of no significant strategic importance. More of a convenience than anything."

  "You think she'll come through on this deal?"

  "I do. And I picked up these extra tidbits. She knows our factories were seized. And she's been put in charge of the shipyards at New Earth by the emperor. They're upgrading the entire fleet to the tech we gave them."