NanoSymbionts

by Joseph Philbrook

  “My mother never said what happened to the mindstone,” Kernislarn said.

  “No Pewanist wouldn't have,” Steve replied. “Though it was her right to gift me with it.”

  “It is evident that she chose wisely,” Kernislarn said with a sigh. “For you have never abused it's power, nor allowed others to sully it. And now when you finally find a use for it, it's for as worthy a cause as any we might have used it for.”

  Steve's expression darkened.

  “Speaking of which,” he began. “I can't over emphasize the danger to Wildernest should this fall into the hands of the guild council. They may not be evil in the same way as the old guild. But there has been some corruption. Brought about, I doubt not, by absolute belief in our own authority. And the majority wouldn't believe the harm the few corrupted ones would do.

  Besides which, if my faith in Jake's ability is well founded, then it is likely that I will be brought under such scrutiny that I would be unable to keep it's existence a secret. It would perhaps be best if you took possession of the mindstone. And that I purge all links to Wildernest's coordinates from Hillside's systems. But you should also know that I fear for the mind of the woman, Cindy. Who you accepted into your sisterhood. It isn't likely that she will recover without your guidance. But as she is now, I think it unlikely that she will choose to accept your help. Yet if we sever all bonds, even I will have no way to contact you when she shows sign that she may be ready.

  Lastly, you know I share your grief over your sister Stephanie. You don't need me to tell you of her final courage. But nonetheless, I need to say that she gave her life selflessly in an effort to save her friends and comrades. And I shall miss her for as long as I yet shall live.”

  “To be sure, Stephanie's story shall be added to the scrolls of true tellings,” Kernislarn replied. “As indeed will Cindy's, whether or not she recovers. For her bravery was just as great and she faced far worse than the quick death of her sister. But as to the sacred mindstone, while I agree it would be best if you return it to the sisterhood, I shall ask that you do so by entrusting it's care to Cindy. Tell her that I charged her with it's safekeeping. Tell her also that I believe that it may eventually help her gain the skill to open passageways. Do not lie to her, but it would be best if you avoided mentioning that it will do so by helping her mind to heal. That is if, she possesses it long enough. And yes, I do think it would be best if you purge Wilderness from your machine's list of destinations.

  Know that I remember your friend Jess and that there are several among the sisterhood who will morn his death. All of us shall grieve the manor of his passing. Know also that you will be in my thoughts and prayers for as long as I live. It matters not that you do not share my faith. Only that you know that I believe. And thus can take some comfort from the knowledge of my prayer. Now that I have spoken the wisdom of the chieftess of Wilderness, it is time I leave you. Fare thee well beloved of my mother.”

  “Farewell daughter of my heart,” Steve replied.

  Though he was unsure if she had heard him as her image faded from his mind. Steve thought it would be best if he discharged his obligation to Wilderness before he received any official summons to appear before the council So he picked up the gem stone and went looking for Cindy. He found her in the jacuzzi room. Upon sight of him she beckoned him over to where she was aggressively fondling both Erika Halloran and Linda Stockwell.

  “I've got something for you Cindy,” Steve said.

  “I hope so,” she replied. “You promised me something when you got back from your trip. And these two just agreed to get it on with me. I'm so randy right now, I intend to make all three of you keep your promises.”

  “Well I don't see why we can't work out something of the sort,” Steve said. “But what I was talking about was an heirloom of your Wildernest sisterhood that Kernislarn bid me to give to you for safekeeping.”

  Cindy snorted.

  “Not so fast Steve,” She interjected. “I'm not going to let you distract me from the subject at hand, until after we have ourselves an orgy. But were going to have to go somewhere else or somebody's gonna get drowned.”

  “OK Cindy,” Steve replied. “Your bed or mine?”

  “Half the fun will be doing this in a public place Steve,” Cindy replied. “Do you think we could get away with using the smoking lounge? I mean the action's gonna be smoking hot.”

  “Well maybe just this once Cindy,” Steve agreed.

  Three hours later Cindy's sexual appetite was finally satisfied. So Steve opened his navel and produced the blue gemstone he had secreted there for safe keeping. When he first undressed at the jacuzzi.

  “I told you that Kernislarn asked me to give this to you,” Steve said as he handed the stone to Cindy. “She also asked me to inform you that she said that as a Sister of Wildernest, you are hereby charged with the safekeeping of this sacred stone. Which will soon no longer be safe in my care. As due to the actions of my apprentice, I fully expect to be so closely scrutinized by the guild council as to render me unable to keep such secrets from them.

  But since you are a member of Hillside, which no longer belongs to me, I won't have the authority to demand that you return it when they try to compel me to retrieve it for them. Kernislarn also said that if you use this gemstone to focus your thoughts it will eventually help you to master the art of opening passageways. She bids you to keep it on your person at all times until the day comes when you can open a passageway to Wildernest and return it to the sisterhood.

  Which, incidentally will be the only way you can return to Wildernest. For I have had to purge Wildernest's location so thoroughly from Hillside records that not even I can recalculate the coordinates.”

  Mike was whistling ‘Dixie’, when he opened the sliding glass panel between the lounge and the bar and held out an antique looking telephone handset. Steve walked over to the opening and took the call. All he said was, “You rang...” Then he listened quietly for nearly five minutes.

  While Steve was on the phone, Cindy looked through the open window into the bar where she could see a number of people including Sandra, Al and Sam. Who waved at her and gestured towards the bar's TV. She could only see part of the big screen, but it was enough to know that it was displaying a high resolution image of the couch she was sitting on. Evidently her desire to have that orgy in public had been thoroughly fulfilled. Then she realized that she didn't really care one way or the other about that anymore.

  “I will depart within the hour,” Steve said into the phone. Then with a wry grin he added, “For you that means approximately two and a half subcycles.” Then Steve handed the handset back to Mike and looked Cindy in the eyes. “It looks like I placed that stone in your care in the nick of time. I've just been summoned to appear before the guild council.”

  In actuality it was just 45 minutes after he acknowledged the summons that Steve's personal shuttle passed through the portalizer. He really didn't have far to go to reach the designated rendezvous point. He quietly mused that he had chosen well all those years ago when he decided just which obscure corner of the universe to build Hillside. Even now, the council finds it difficult to get in or out of it's sidereality. Not impossible but difficult enough that the council's designated transport was waiting for him here, instead of having made all the sidereal transitions necessary to reach Hillside itself.

  The fact that the transport vessel was in fact already sitting there in a parking orbit waiting for him. didn't bode well for the mood of the council. Normally, he would have been expected to park in the council summons designated pickup point and wait for it's next pass. Which wouldn't normally occur until he had first been observed to be waiting. The fact that they weren't bothering to engineer things in such a way as to insure that he had to wait for them. Could only mean the council itself was in considerable turmoil.

  ***

  The Captain shook his head and said nothing for a long moment. Jake patently waited. This was the first time the Captain
had visited him in his new ‘cell’. Which was nothing less than an entire habitation ring. It still quartered a substantial number of crew. All of whom had been designated as auxiliary guards. Who had all cheerfully accepted the awkward procedures they now needed to follow in order to enter or exit the ring.

  Jake had had some other guests while he was waiting for the Captain to come by. He had even been allowed some certified privacy for these meetings. Which, under the circumstances, so impressed his guests as to make the negotiations easier. Of course Jake mused, there was still considerable risk that they wouldn't hold up their end of the bargain. He had to hope that the Captain had selected his guests well.

  Finally the Captain spoke.

  “It is well that I granted your request prior to transmitting my report to the council,” he said. “For I have received instruction to suspend all normal transport functions and bring you to stand before them immediately.”

  “I'm not surprised at that,” Jake replied. “Considering the contents of your report. Did they also insist that you return me to the official brig?”

  The Captain shrugged.

  “I do believe they think they did,” the captain explained. “But they actually required me to place you in the most secure confinement I've got. And given your abilities, I calculate that the most secure confinement I can place you under is your own word bond that you won't try to escape. But if you don't mind, just before we reach your destination, I will need to place you in a maximum security protocol confinement field.”

  Now Jake shook his head.

  “No, I do not mind,” Jake admitted. “I half expected you to do that now. It would look better after all if there wasn't any record of my being left virtually unguarded, during the long years of relative time. In fact, I think I'd recommend that you do so at least while your crew is in hypersleep.”

  Jake's voice trailed off as he noticed a strange expression cross the captain's face. The silence remained unbroken for several subcyclets while the two men stared silently at each other.

  “Is there something wrong captain?” Jake finally asked.

  The captain laughed without mirth.

  “Wrong? What could possibly be wrong?” he asked both sarcastically and evidently rhetorically, as he continued without pause. “I do hope you like music Jake.” Then the captain sighed and continued. “You did tell me that you brought much sorrow and pain. But in fact you have brought me even more of both than you knew.

  My crew have discussed amongst themselves what happened to Jess and they hold you blameless. They feel that Jess died with honor. They have also discussed the nature of your own terrible deed. They decided it was something that needed doing and as such they commend you for it. Finally they discussed the nature of the favor you asked of me and they reason that you have chosen a brave and honorable course. Thus they have named you a friend of the Nearkin and accordingly have decided to present you with an honor guard all the way to your destination.”

  The captain fell silent again while the full meaning of his words sunk in. It didn't take long for Jake to understand.

  “Surely you can't allow them to do...” he began to protest until the Captain silenced him with an angry glare.

  “I tried to forbid it,” the Captain lamented. “And for the first time since the Resonance was commissioned, my crew threatened me with mutiny... No, we shall not want for company on this trip Jake. It was all I could do to convince them that only a small percentage of them need to remain awake at any given time. But even so, several generations will now spend their entire lives in this way, before we reach your destination.”

  It took Jake nearly three subcyclets to find the words.

  “Then since what I've read in Steve's files on your Nearkin,” Jake explained. “Leads me to believe that they will persist in this no matter how strongly I protest. I can only honor their willing though unnecessary sacrifice by humbly accepting it. Which I'm both happy and sad to do. Though I protest that I'm not worthy of it...”

  The captain held up his hand.

  “Speaking of which,” The Captain explained. “This means that much of this journey will entail the grievous duty of presiding over the memorial and consignment ceremonies for those crewman who pass. Normally there is but one consignment ceremony per voyage. But under these circumstances. There will be more of them than I can bear to number. Would you also honor them by sharing that duty with me?”

  Jake nodded.

  “In fact, I'd insist on it,” Jake said.

  The Captain nodded back.

  “I thought you'd prove to be made of command grade stuff,” the Captain allowed. “The duty won't of course be pleasant and I warn you, neither will I be in a mood suitable for polite conversation on such occasions. Be that as it may, in recognition of the emotional sacrifice you have just pledged to and at the unanimous request of my crew. I hereby bestow the honorary rank of commander upon you.”

  As the Captain said that, he produced a small metallic decal bearing a surprisingly detailed, yet surreal image of a spoked ships wheel surrounded by a series of stone rings. Which was reminiscent of the view of the command platform as seen from the captains chair.

  “By accepting this badge of your new rank,” the Captain continued. “You give your word bond to keep all your dealings with and/or on behalf of the Resonance both truthful and honorable for so long as you may live. Do you accept the terms and conditions of rank?”

  Jake was so surprised by the Captains sudden presentation that for a moment he was speechless but he quickly recovered his composure. Suddenly Jake snapped to the formal posture normally associated with a military stance of attention.

  “Yes sir!” he replied. You have my word bond on that from this moment until the very end of my days.

  As he said this, Jake briefly touched his forehead with his right thumb in imitation of the casual form of salute he'd noticed was practiced by the crew of the Resonance. He was rewarded for his effort by a chorus of laughter from the virtual crowd of Nearkin that had quietly assembled while the captain was talking to him. At the same moment, the Captain placed the decal on Jake's left shoulder and returned the salute by placing his left thumb against the side of his head. Immediately the laughter turned into a cheer.

  “You will note ‘Commander’,” the Captain said. “That the proper form of salute as performed by an ‘officer’ of the Resonance is with his left thumb.”

  Chapter 38 The High Council

  Questor was quickly escorted to a first class officer's cabin on the nameless military personnel transport. Since he wasn't technically classified as a prisoner, he was free to wander at will to any place on the ship he wanted with the only exception of the control room. However, no mater where he went, the moment he left his cabin he was escorted by two guards who, when asked, claimed they were there for his protection. His guards, like the pilot, were low echelon questors. Who could endure the long years of subjective time, without retreating to stasis or hibernation chambers.

  He was afforded every courtesy except conversation. The pilot never left the control room where he wasn't allowed to go. He could talk to anyone else on board, whenever they were awake and of course to his guards whenever he wanted. Yet none of them would answer any but the most trivial of questions and none of them chose to engage in pleasant small talk with him.

  “This promises to be a long voyage,” he said to nobody in particular.

  In actuality it was less than half the subjective time that he had spent en route to see the professor. Though having some long term company and yet nobody to talk with, made it seem far longer. Eventually however, they reached their destination. Questor knew Location-null wasn't much to look at. Nonetheless, by the time they dropped into realtime he was so board that he actually bothered to walk to the observation deck to look at it.

  The star system didn't have any surviving planets. What it did have was 3 separate asteroid belts that were all that was left of the planets that used to orbit the sta
r. Nobody had ever determined what calamity had reduced all three planets to rubble and nobody much cared. All that had mattered was that some of the asteroids were relatively rich in minerals and certain hard to synthesize crystals. Which had just enough value to make a mining operation viable. Asteroid mining was a lifestyle that tended to attract only ruffians, hermits and those troubled souls who just couldn't function in polite society. There wasn't anything to attract tourists. In short it was a perfect place to hide a secret installation.

  The actual location of Location-null was one of the best kept secrets in the whole guild system. In fact even most questors were unsure of it's exact location. Those who knew, had all been sworn to absolute secrecy. For the guild still had powerful enemies who would stop at nothing to get leverage on the council. They wouldn't hesitate to try to get to them by attacking their loved ones. Though in order to attack the council members or their loved ones, an enemy first had to find them. So they lived in a small armored fortress concealed inside one of the asteroids.

  Great care was taken by VIP transports such as the one he was in that they stopped harvesting particles long before entering the system. Not that it was easy to follow the path of such a craft by the temporary trail left by the absence of particles in it's wake but the closer such a particle void came to a star, the more obvious it was against the normally high particle content of the star's ‘solar wind’. Thus a VIP transport relied on it's energy reserves and used only it's gravitational-optimizer to effect all maneuvers. Thus it avoided leaving even a minuscule particle signature trail from it's particle-transduction-thrusters.

  The larger long range transport ships that occasionally arrived here didn't have to be so careful, because they were presumably only delivering supplies to the miners and loading up on crystals. This ship, however, wasted no time as it docked with the asteroid in which Location-null was concealed. The “mining” installation was a roughly cylindrical ore processing facility. It was equipped with maneuvering thrusters that did an adequate job of slowly altering the asteroids position in the asteroid belts as the miners plundered one asteroid after another. They also served to maintain an artificially stable spin along the long axis that was sufficient to provide a simulated gravity force of 82% galactic standard gravity, at the outer level. Where the crew's habitation chambers were.