NanoSymbionts

by Joseph Philbrook

  “Connecting.... Now!” the mechanical voice of the house computer responded.

  Almost instantly Sandra's image appeared on the main room's view screen. She was naked in her bed. She turned her head towards her view screen.

  “Oh Hello Jake, Cindy,” Sandra's image said without pausing the rocking motion she was making as she sat on Jess's midsection. Then Jess turned his head towards the view screen.

  “Pardon us for not getting up just yet,” his image said with a wink, as he reached out and gently tweaked one of Sandra's nipples. “But we all need to talk. Why don't we meet in Hillside's dining room in an hour?”

  “Make it the bar, and your on,” Jake replied.

  “Deal!” Jess's image agreed as he returned all of his attention to Sandra.

  “I'll be there,” Sandra's image said. “But I found some answers for you. You should watch the video I emailed you.” At this point Sandra became somewhat incoherent.

  “Disconnect and display email from Sandra,” Jake commanded.

  The image of Sandra's bedroom was replaced by a recording she'd made earlier.

  After digging deep in Hillside's files on nanosymbionts I've concluded that something extremely rare has happened to your symbiont's development Jake,” Sandra's image said. “It seams that you pushed so hard against that crap I tried to slip past your subconscious that you triggered a direct obedience mode in your nanites.

  It's very rare that a host-mind is able to do that without help from a sentient nanosymbiont. However, your nanites haven't had enough time to actually transform into an actively sentient being. So the only known way that could have happened is if you managed to configure them into an army of tactical modules, that I'd call ‘nano-pods’. Which can probably tie into your mind via a biofeedback network of some kind. The nano-pods themselves would be able to restructure themselves into a wide variety of powerful, and potentially dangerous micro devices. This would ultimately give you nearly total control over them. But it will also interfere with further development of your symbiont.

  It was unfortunate that the triggering event also tainted Cindy's experience with the biofeedback systems. Together, these events lead me to recommend changes in your training plans. I suggest that I actively tutor Cindy, in the use and construction of nanotech micro-tools. Meanwhile I think you Jake, should take some lessons from Jess in how to apply the technology on a larger scale. I think you should both still follow up with Stephanie for whatever physical torture she may devise for you.

  The entire screen was replaced with a list of e-mail options.

  “Disconnect,” Jake commanded and the screen went blank.

  Both Jake and Cindy were wearing cutoff jeans and white tank tops as they walked barefoot into the bar twenty minutes later. Mike was whistling something slow and dreamy as he finished wiping down the bar with a rag. As the tune ended he tossed the rag under the bar and spoke up.

  “I understand your meeting Jess and Sandra here in a few,” he said. “Perhaps I can fix you some omelets for breakfast while you wait? I've also got fresh coffee on tap, or if you prefer, I've got several kinds of tea.”

  “Coffee regular, and I think a cheese omelet will do for me,” Cindy said.

  “Add some onion and mushrooms to mine,” Jake said. “And if several includes Earl Grey, I'll have it sweet, with just a dollop of whole milk.”

  Immediately Mike began whistling a lively tune while he produced a couple of large mugs which he quickly filled with their hot beverages. He then bustled out of the room. As Mikes whistling faded, Jake picked up the mug with a cloth teabag in it. After an approving sip, he gestured towards Cindy's coffee.

  “Do you want to take one of the tables, or would you prefer to just sit at the bar?” he asked.

  Cindy just sat down on the barstool next to her coffee. So Jake took the seat beside her. Then Erika entered with a service cart bearing their omelets and some toast. Which she quickly laid out on the bar in front of them.

  “Would you like some juice with that?” Erika asked with a smile.

  “Not till I'm done with my tea,” Jake replied.

  “A little OJ would be nice Erika,” Cindy added. “Thank you.”

  “If you want anything else, just ring,” Erika said with a warm smile. As she poured a six oz glass of orange juice from behind the bar. “Enjoy your breakfast.” Then she pushed the service cart out of the bar.

  Jake was a bit surprised that he finished eating first. Cindy usually ate quickly unless she was busy playing hostess to company or engrossed in conversation but she wasn't the hostess here and neither of them had said anything since Erika left the room. He could sense that she was thinking about something however. So he just put down his fork, sipped his tea and watched her slowly finish. He heard Mike's whistling his way to the bar just before she put her fork down. While Mike was collecting the dishes, Jess walked in with Sandra.

  “Good, you've had breakfast,” Jess said. As they came to a stop next to the stools Jake and Cindy occupied. “We had a bite on the way, so maybe we can get right down to business.”

  “The official business can wait a minute or two Jess,” Sandra interjected. “We might have all had breakfast but there's a few loose ends I'd like to touch on before we get into the training plan.

  First, I'm curious Jake. Did you pick the bar for any particular reason?”

  “Yes, and no,” Jake replied. “If you must know the short reason why I decided to meet here is because I'm not Steve.”

  Mike had lowered his whistle to barely audible background music as he waited to find out if his guests had a clue what they were drinking. Now he suddenly cranked his whistle up to something loud enough to make further casual conversation nearly impossible. Next, in rapid succession, Mike suddenly poured a Cold mug of beer, which he handed to Jess. He set a pair of champagne glasses, and an ice filled ten oz tumbler on the bar. Then, still whistling, he produced, and opened a bottle of champagne. The cork of which bounced off the ceiling half way to the dartboard, where it bounced again off the bullseye, and landed in a mop bucket he kept behind bar.

  The volume of his whistle had dipped just low enough that everyone heard the ‘pop ping thud splunk’ of the cork's progress. Then once again, his whistle became just loud enough to discourage discussion. While Mike poured the champagne with one hand and with his other snatched a bottle from behind the bar. From which he poured something blue over the ice. Mike timed it so that both the second champagne glass and the icy tumbler both finished filling at the same time. Then Mike replaced the bottles behind the bar and handed the tumbler to Sandra. Next he handed the champagne glasses to Cindy and Jake. Finally he quickly whistled his way out of the room.

  “The long answer is a bit more complex,” Jake explained. “It's occurred to me that even though I'm still only Steve's apprentice, I'm already the boss here at Hillside. I'm reasonably sure that Cindy is the only one here who still doesn't know that Steve already transferred the ownership of all of his Earth bound holdings to me. Oh sure, Steve will be back and by and large he's still in charge. But Hillside itself is already mine.” Jake paused to take a sip of his champagne before he continued. “As such, I decided to make a few changes to suit my personal preferences, rather than Steve's. So when Jess suggested doing this in Steve's favorite meeting place, I wanted to pick someplace else.”

  “In that case Jake, I'm curious,” Sandra asked. “The fact that the dining room is Steve's favorite meeting place, was an unspoken preference that we learned from experience. I don't think he ever mentioned it to anybody. So how did you know?”

  “That's something I'm hoping you can tell me,” Jake replied. “I didn't know until Jess suggested we meet there. Instantly, as soon as I thought about the possibility of us meeting there, I suddenly knew it was where Steve would have chosen to meet. This didn't feel vague or hunch like, as the elevator code for the portal chamber did. It was a sudden certain knowledge in my conscious mind. Does that make any sense to you Sandr
a?”

  “Actually, yes,” She answered. “It confirms my hypothesis about the biofeedback incident. It would seem that you might have unintentionally established a form of biofeedback as the primary personnel communication interface between you and your nanites. I'm afraid that's the only way your nanites could have provided you with such direct knowledge of Steve's preferences.”

  “That fits what I know of it as well,” Jess interrupted them. “But as long as we're playing twenty questions boss, would you mind telling me what you did to Mike?”

  Jake smiled as he answered.

  “That man is amazing!” he said. “Of course you already know that. Still it's worth noting that he didn't even skip a beat when I sent one of those nano-pods, to whisper in his ear.

  When I wanted a moment to decide how much of this I was going to explain, I looked around for a polite diversion. And suddenly I just knew that Steve would have thrown a bullseye and said something about a round of the usual to Mike. I'm not so sure how he would have told Mike what to serve people like Cindy and myself since Mike wouldn't know what our ‘usual’ was, at least not yet. But it didn't mater, since using a nano-pod to tell him what I want is more my style.”

  Cindy had been just sitting there with a blank look on her face as she listened to the others talk. Now she stood up and got in Jake's face.

  “What were you thinking Jake?” she demanded. “I suppose you might somehow be their boss now. But you didn't even ask me if I wanted a drink this early in the day. Besides that, you know champagne is ‘NOT’ my usual.”

  “True enough!” Jake interrupted her. “Nor is it mine. If you remember I don't exactly have a usual. But we have always celebrated significant events in our lives with champagne, haven't we? And the fact that I've decided to start actually being the boss here. Is at least as significant as when I first became the manager at the store. Isn't it?”

  Cindy thought about it for a minute. Then she turned to face Sandra.

  “Tell me something Sandra,” she inquired. “Does he really own the place now? I know I heard Jess call him boss a minute ago. And Mike sure acted like Jake was in charge. But I'm not getting that impression from you yet.” Sandra smiled slightly.

  “Well you see Cindy,” she explained. “I'm not exactly an employee at Hillside. And while Jake's also the new majority stockholder of Micronic Enterprises, I'm a senior executive. As such even Steve had to put up with my doing things my own way. It was that or fire me.

  If Jake knows what's good for him, he'll still take a lot of advice from some of us. But yes, technically he is already the boss. Steve was concerned with certain increased risks he's been facing when he travels lately, so he made the change before he left. But he wasn't going to inform Jake of his upgraded status until after he learned a few things. He asked me not to tell him about it unless the shit hit the fan and he needed to know.” Then turning to Jake Sandra added, “Steve is usually good at keeping a secret Jake, so I'm curious how you found out.”

  “Actually I didn't have a clue that my status had been so completely, as you say, ‘upgraded’,” Jake explained. “Until I noticed that Hillside's communications computer punched me through to your bedroom without waiting for you to accept the call this morning Sandra. That's when I realized I had enough authority to make significant changes around here. Then it wasn't all that hard for me to get the details of just how much authority he invested in me from the house computer. Which I did while Cindy was getting dressed. I spent most of my breakfast deciding to use my new found power to run this place my way. And perhaps I should mention that there are going to be some changes around here.”

  At this point, Cindy suddenly turned back to face Jake.

  “Your not planning on firing anyone are you Jake?” she asked.

  “Hell no!” he replied. “Though I do expect people to treat me like the boss. But I figure that only a very stupid boss wants a bunch of ‘yes men’ who are afraid to stand up to him when they need to.

  No I'm hoping that all of them will decide to stay. Especially Sandra and Jess here. I think both of us would do well to learn as much as we can from the two of them.”

  “Good!” Cindy replied. Then turned back to face Sandra. “I think you said you wanted to teach me some stuff Sandra, can you teach me enough to keep up with Jake here?”

  “Not quite Cindy,” Sandra replied. “But if you let me, I'll teach you enough to surprise him once in a while.”

  “Then I guess that will have to do,” Cindy said.

  Then she clinked her full champagne glass against Jake's nearly full one and proceeded to drain it in one long drink. Jake knew she was going to do that as soon as she had touched his glass with hers. So he followed suit and drained his at the same time. Then they kissed.

  After watching them kiss for minute. Jess forced a cough.

  “I hate to tell you this boss,” he spoke up. “But if you don't come up for air soon, you'll have to look for Sandra and I in the jacuzzi.”

  Jake broke the kiss.

  “Now that sounds like fun Jess,” he said. “But I'm afraid we need to get some work done first.” Then after a slight pause, he added. “I'm inclined to go with Sandra's plan. I think that we should probably split up and use the rest of the day fine tuning our separate training plans. But I think we should coordinate with Stephanie tomorrow to figure out some sort of schedule. Are we all agreed?”

  “Works for me,” Jess said.

  “Good!” Sandra said. “Why don't you boys go play with some of your toy's Jess. And I'll help Cindy accessorize.”

  Jake followed Jess to the elevator. As soon as they were inside Jess placed his palm on the display screen next to the keypad. It was, Jake realized, a variant of an identi-screen. The door began to close as soon as Jess had touched the identi-screen.

  “Flight simulator level,” Jess said as soon as the door was closed.

  “I didn't notice what that was before,” Jake mused aloud, as the elevator began to descend. “Because Steve always used a numeric access code. But why didn't he just use the identi-screen?”

  Jess realized that Jake hadn't really been talking to him but he answered anyway.

  “Well now that's probably because Steve's been using keyed in codes for a long, long time,” Jess said. “But I don't think he really bypassed the identi-screen's functions. There was a time I tried to memorize a few of his codes. But I soon learned that most of them wouldn't work unless he was there.”

  “Now that you mention it,” Jake said. “I suddenly know that was because his nanites authenticated him as he punched in the code... I don't know Jess, these nanites tell me lots of stuff. But it's like I have to guess part of it. Then If I'm right. I suddenly know for sure. And usually I suddenly realize a little more than I'd actually guessed. But it's spotty, you know, sort of hit or miss. I never know when I'm going to trip over something Steve knew.”

  “I'm afraid that's how it's going to be boss,” Jess said with a sigh. “It has to do with the way you mastered your nanites before they could really form a sentient network in your brain. You know that questors, as the guild's true nanosymbionts are generally called, are actually kind of rare. But you Jake, your really something special. Most questors have to go through their nanosymbiont to control the details of what their nanites do. Your nanites respond directly to your will. This will eventually result in your becoming significantly more powerful than the average questor. That is if you live long enough to grow into it. And your going to need that power boss. A questor's world is full of dangerous enemies you know. By the way, your also something quite special in another way that you might not have figured out yet.”

  Jess paused for a moment. He wondered if what he was about to say would really be news to Jake. Before he could finish explaining however the elevator door opened. They stepped into a large chamber with a series of doors that reminded Jake of the biofeedback-pods he had destroyed.

  “We may need to rethink your training plan Jess,” Ja
ke said as he laid eyes on the pods. “I'm not so sure I'm ready for more biofeedback.”

  “These aren't biofeedback-pods,” Jess replied. “These simulators actually use a full surround audio/video display system in conjunction with gravity control and inertial transfer systems. To physically simulate the experience of flight in whatever vessel is being emulated. But before I begin teaching you to fly every kind of space going vehicle in the guild database. I need to explain the most special thing about you.”

  As soon as Jess had said that these weren't biofeedback-pods, Jake had known it was true but he really didn't have a clue what Jess was trying to explain.

  “OK Jess, spit it out then,” Jake said.

  “I mentioned that a questor's world was a dangerous place Jake,” Jess began. “But I didn't tell you that sometimes the biggest danger is his obligation to the guild. The guild's council has at times imposed constraints that prevented Steve from doing things he believes he should have done. But because Steve didn't get your consent to being bound by a questor's oath, your not as beholden to the guild as the council likes. The more your power grows without your pledging yourself to their code of conduct, the less the council will like it. The idea of a loose cannon with the power of a questor frightens them. And that would be so even if your nano-symbionce was developing normally into the duality, of a sentient nanosymbiont sharing your power with an unbound host-mind.

  Such a nanosymbiont would be bound to it's own code of conduct, which would mitigate some of what you could accomplish if you decided to be an enemy of the guild.

  But in your case Jake, you are developing direct control over your nanites. There won't be a sentient nanosymbiont to prevent your violating their precious rules. And believe it or not Jake, when they realize that, it will scare the piss out of them. There are of course some things your nanites simply won't do. But you yourself are not bound by the guild counsel's will.

  Steve messaged me that he suspected that this might be happening shortly after you arrived at the front door, having already learned how to override your subconscious control. And that's why Hillside is yours now, and not Steve's. When the council learns what kind of training I'm about to give you, they will quickly figure out just how powerful your going to be. They might try to coerce you into joining up. But until you know enough to be sure whether or not that's the right choice for you, just remember they really can't force you to. But they can and will make trouble for us unless you do. However since Hillside is now yours, rather than Steve's, they can't force our computers to tell them any more of our secrets than you deem prudent. And the longer it takes for them to realize your developing direct nano-control, the easier it will be for all of us. So I'd like to suggest that for now, you authorize the house computer to initialize security protocol Jess-plan101a.”