NanoSymbionts

by Joseph Philbrook

  At each end there was a special docking hub that could be counter rotated to neutralize the asteroid's spin. Normally anyone boarding or disembarking from the habitat would transfer, in a state of free fall, through the central corridor. From which there were nearly vertical shafts that gradually changed from a ladder to a ramp way leading to the innermost deck layer where the the simulated gravity was only 30% galactic standard. The central corridor itself also served as a virtual conveyor for streams of crystal rich ore that were fed into the central ore processing equipment. Which extracted the crystals and reduced the slag to subatomic particles. Which in turn were used as an auxiliary power source for the facility.

  However for the class one military stealth ships that the guild didn't want seen, there was a different procedure. Almost immediately the entire docking platform was retracted into the concealed cave while a fully functional decoy docking platform slid into place. It took less than a cyclet for all evidence of the ships arrival to disappear. Once the positions of the two docking platforms had been exchanged the one attached to the ship moved “down” a shaft towards the inner deck surface. Where a concealed mechanism shifted the alignment of the ship's airlock to match a normally concealed docking collar. The walking surfaces inside this collar and the floor of the corridor it connected to were equipped with limited range simulated gravity emitters which brought the simulated gravitational force up to one galactic standard gravity. The moment the docking platform stopped moving, a loud voice suddenly screeched from immediately behind Questor.

  “You know of course comrade,” the voice articulated. “That the observation deck's view screens were only left operational as a sign of my esteem for you.”

  Questor hadn't sensed his approach but he hadn't really been surprised. It seemed that Questor was to be accorded the honor of being escorted to the council chamber by ‘the Admiral’ himself.

  “It's been a long time old friend,” he replied.

  Then he turned around to see a hairless man of slight build, with skin that was such a dark shade of blue that it looked closer to pure black. He was dressed in a brightly colored red and blue silk garment that resembled a loose fitting, short, sleeveless tunic of a deceptively simple design. Questor was well aware, that concealed within the sash, edge trim and collar, the Admiral would have several deadly weapons. Some of which would even be capable of terminating a questor. The Admiral gestured toward the airlock and they disembarked together.

  The Admiral had been one of the first questors to receive nanites with the “improved” internal code that was theoretically designed to reduce the chances of a questor becoming a power mad rogue megalomaniac. The Admiral had soon discovered that he preferred the military lifestyle to that of a wealthy merchant. Eventually he became the commander and chief of the ‘Fleet’.

  His authority was subject only to the will of the council. While like all questors he isn't identified by a personal name, in a manor similar to ‘the Captain’ of the Resonance, the functional title of ‘the Admiral’ has become a label generally used to refer to him by the entire guild.

  There was little conversation as the Admiral escorted him trough a maze of passageways but when it came to the Admiral, the lack of conversation didn't irk Questor the way it had with his deliberately uncommunicative escorts on the long voyage. The Admiral's solemn silence was actually an informal show of respect. Which was obviously not lost on any of the personnel they passed along the way. Questor knew that the maze of passageways you had to negotiate to get to the entrance to the central ore processing facility that powered the habitat, were deliberately indirect.

  They were designed to prevent any transient visitors to the habitat from discovering just how disproportionally large the processor complex was. A fact that most visitors to Location-null wouldn't ever have an opportunity to notice because normally, with the exception of questors, visitors were placed in stasis so that they could survive the inverse temporal dilation aboard the transport ship. Then when they woke up they would find that their stasis pods had already been relocated to the inner council complex. Likewise, they would be placed back in stasis before they left Location-null. Which is why few outside the residents of the asteroid were aware that it was concealed within an ore processing facility. Indeed, only a small percentage of the residents of Location-null itself, actually knew where they were.

  The solemn silence continued until they eventually entered an airlock like decontamination chamber. Which was marked with radiation hazard symbols. Then while the system scanned them, the Admiral subvocalized. Just loud enough for Questor's enhanced hearing.

  “It will sadden me if I am called upon to inflict any harm upon you old friend,” was all he said.

  Questor simply nodded in acknowledgment. He knew that any display of emotion would make the Admiral uncomfortable. Then just before the inner door cycled open The Admiral screeched in his usual abrasive voice.

  “I'm sorry old friend,” he said. “But I'm afraid this is the will of the Council.”

  As he said this, the Admiral produced a neuro-restraint device. That was designed to, among other things, reduce the operational mode of a nanosymbiont to a restrained sub-sentient mode. Then the Admiral gently placed the device against Questor's forehead.

  “Me to!” Questor replied.

  Then as the device began to activate, it suddenly short circuited. As did every single security circuit within the entire complex. Questor remained motionless as the Admiral assumed a combat pose.

  “Please ask the council,” Questor requested. “If they have forgotten why we rebelled against the will of the old guild in the first place? While your at it, remind them that my nanites operate under the terms of the original nanosymbiotic pact. Which means that my symbiont is not obligated to let the council shut it down at will. In fact by ordering you to impose that particular aspect of the neuro-restraints capability the council has just committed a prime violation of said original nanosymbiotic pact. In response to which my nanosymbiont hereby makes formal complaint and charges the councilor's own nanites to ensure that no further such offenses be committed under penalty of the nanosymbiotic deresolution clause. Which remains common to both the original nanosymbiotic pact and the modified rules of nanosymbiotic conduct embedded in the more recent nanite strains such as yours Admiral.

  In addition, I, my host-mind, charge that doing this to any questor without first finding him guilty of violating his oath in a full court hearing at which he had an opportunity to address any such charges, was in fact a violation of the basic tenets under which I swore my original oath of membership in the new guild. I further state that it is my contention that their violation of those tenets does in fact free me from those aspects of said membership oath, regarding direct obedience to the will of the council. Nonetheless, I hereby re-certify and re-embrace all other aspects of that oath.”

  At this point the Admiral, who had been poised to launch a lethal attack upon his former comrade at arms, relaxed slightly.

  “However, you can also inform them,” Questor continued. “That upon receipt of acknowledgment from the councilor's nanosymbionts. That they are now exercising due diligence to prevent any future violations of the nanosymbiotic pact. I will ask my nanosymbiont to stand down and submit to any restraints, except only the forced shutdown of it's networked nanosymbiotic functions. For I welcome the opportunity to answer any such charges of improper conduct on the council floor.”

  The Admiral laughed briefly, before he replied.

  “I had almost forgotten how formidable an opponent you have always been Questor,” the Admiral screeched. “But there is no need for me to ask nor remind the council of any those things. For by now they have reviewed the surveillance records of your outburst. We only need to wait and no doubt the council will make it's will known to us. While we wait, would you mind telling me when you deployed your nanites. So that they were able to so quickly infiltrate so many hardened security systems?” Questor nodded.

/>   “Certainly Admiral,” he said. “But first let me tell you why I arrived prepared for such an event. As you no doubt are aware I recently acquired a direct apprentice. It was one of those rare events where I spent some of my personal nanites to heal a terminally injured man to whom I owed a debt of honor. I had not expected my nanites to find him an acceptable candidate for bonding. So I hadn't prescreened him. Nor had I extracted the standard membership pre-agreement from him.

  As of my receipt of the council's summons he has not yet chosen to join. What you may not know, is that there have been some events that appear designed to coerce him into doing so. In order to protect his woman from attack. In fact one such event led to the discovery that someone has actually provided some whiffer beast's handler with questor grade nanites. Said handler attacked my apprentice's woman. And later tried to abduct a research employee of mine. So when I was summoned to the council I expected that someone would try to coerce me into doing something dishonorable. To ensure that my apprentice would be forced to actually join the guild.” Questor paused long enough for the implications to sink in. “As to when did I deploy my nanites. They were deployed just before my personal shuttle was stored aboard the transport that brought me here. By the time the transport docked with this station, there were nearly 2 lifts of them coating it's outer hull.”

  When Questor stopped talking, they waited in silence for 3 subcyclets before an intercom speaker clicked on.

  “The Council has listened to your confession regarding this breach of our security systems Questor,” a melodious voice said. “We have concluded that what you reported was possible. You may rest assured that our outer security will not be so easily breached in the future. However we also concluded that you have omitted some important details. How is it that your nanites were not detected by our access scans when you entered the decontamination chamber? Also, how did they infiltrate the inner facility when we have yet to unseal it?”

  “There is a simple explanation for that councilman,” Questor replied with a smile. “It is 1st councilor who is asking is it not?”

  “Of course it is,” the melodious voice said, after a slight pause. “Now kindly answer my questions.”

  “Very well councilor,” Questor explained. “It is for the same reason that my former comrade at arms did not detect them. The infiltrating nanites didn't enter the chamber with me. In fact, by the time I disembarked from the transport ship, they were already waiting at the access door for an opportunity to enter. Perhaps a stasis chamber containing some other guest of the council was transported inside while the Admiral and I were walking the convoluted maze of passageways.

  Might I suggest a double blind process with nested isolation chambers. So that you can shut down the stasis field generator and deep scan everything prior to unsealing the inner isolation chamber, might be a little more effective.”

  The expression on the Admiral's face, as he stood next to the open access hatch of the nano-fortified portable security isolation chamber, was enough to give Questor a slight twinge of regret for having put one over on him. The Admiral had lost considerable ‘face’. Because of his failure to detect Questor's infiltration of Location-null's security systems. Yet he obviously still felt like he was dishonoring his former comrade in arms, by asking him to step into the containment device. At least it was obvious to Questor. Few were those who could read the emotions on the Admirals nearly impassive face but after spending a thousand realtime years in close association as a covert combat team on several missions to seek and destroy cybernoid agents, Questor was one of those few.

  Questor's nanosymbiont signaled his now massive external reserves of nanites to reform. Specifically to dig in and reform themselves into salvageable personalized nano-material. So that they wouldn't become completely inert scrap when the isolation chambers containment field blocked the resonant waves of communication, that normally linked them to the ones inside Questor's body. Then Questor stepped into the chamber. As he did so, he quietly but emphatically, apologized for deceiving his former comrade

  “I'm sorry old friend,” was all he needed to say.

  “Why?” the Admiral asked, just before he activated the isolation chamber. “You made an effective tactical decision. In your place I might have done something similar.”

  Then Questor's symbiont suddenly recoiled within Questor's mind. It had known what it would be like to be cut off from all external data sources. Yet in a manor similar to a man who knows his optic nerve is going to be severed will still recoil in horror when his vision suddenly fails, the symbiont was now in a state of torment. Yet it refused to go off line. There was still a slight chance that it might be able to be of some small assistance to it's host-mind.

  The inner shell of the isolation chamber remained opaque until after it had been moved to the council chamber. When external light again reached Questor's eyes, he could see the Admiral standing in front of him. The Admiral reached out and touched another control stud and the sonic damper field switched off. Now Questor could hear the sounds within the council chamber. Which appeared to be a nearly featureless circular room with gray walls. The walls merged seamlessly with a gray domed ceiling. The Admiral turned on his heals and spoke to the empty room.

  “The subject is now ready to be interviewed,” he screeched before falling silent.

  The Admiral assumed a sentry like pose beside the isolation chamber. It took less than a subcyclet for 5 blue robed figures to begin entering the council chamber. Except for the oversized hoods that partially obscured their faces and the pastel shade of blue, the robes worn by the councilors greatly resembled the formal togas worn by senators in ancient Rome. The hooded figures formed an evenly spaced circle near the walls. Then without anything outwardly resembling a signal, the five councilors moved in unison as if they were about to sit on the thin air behind them. It is likely that if their chairs had failed to automatically unfold from the wall, at least some of them would have landed in an undignified pose on the floor.

  Even as the council's chairs positioned themselves for the councilor's comfort. Tables began to slowly rise from the floor and unfolded in front of each councilor. Finally one of them spoke.

  “You have been summoned before the council to provide answers to our concerns about your recent apprentice,” he said.

  There was no hesitation. Nothing disturbed the smooth flow of words but even as the one that Questor knew to be called ‘1st’ finished speaking, the second councilor began speaking in a less melodious voice with a slight nasal quality to it.

  “It has come to our attention that your apprentice has failed to actually join the guild,” the 2nd councilor said.

  Then a 3rd voice continued, also without pause. This one sounded a bit like a kindly old lady. Yet this image wasn't supported by her words.

  “You should not have allowed him to develop into an unrestrained and dangerously strong individual,” she said.

  Again without pause, the 4th councilor spoke in a deep resonant monotone.

  “We were already concerned about this over 90 real time overcycles ago,” he said. “But out of respect for your past accomplishments we waited until your apprentice took it upon himself to commit an omega class offense.”

  Then the gravelly voiced 5th councilor continued.

  “We would know how this came to be,” he demanded. “Explain yourself Questor.”

  With that the council fell silent. It was time for Questor to speak.

  “I can explain myself easily enough,” he began. “But unless I'm greatly mistaken, what the council really wants, is that I explain my apprentice. Which is something more appropriately asked of him. Nonetheless, if the council will allow me to explain what I can in my own fashion. I will endeavor to explain something about my apprentice.

  However, my knowledge of certain things is somewhat limited, so I reserve the right to speak with a degree of discretion.” At this point the 1st councilor spoke abruptly.

  “Questor will leave di
scretion in the hands of the council!” 1st exclaimed. Questor delayed his response for a subcyclet. In case the other councilors intended to add to 1st's words.

  “I remind the council that due to the attempt to force my symbiont to shut down,” Questor said when it was evident that 2nd had chosen to allow his turn to speak be used by Questor's reply. “Your ability to so command me is somewhat diminished.” Then the 3rd councilor made a suggestion.

  “Perhaps the council should listen to Questor's report before we determine it's acceptability,” she said. There was the slightest pause before the 4th councilor spoke.

  “4th agrees with 3rd's suggestion,” he said. There was no delay as 5th smoothly added his words to 4th's.

  “Speak as you will Questor,” 5th said. “We will reserve judgment for later.”

  “First then, to explain myself,” Questor began. “I did not seek to find an apprentice in the man who became one. I merely sought to save the life of a man to whom I owed a debt of honor. Due to the fact that he was mortally wounded while trying to save my life. There was insufficient time to secure any ‘class A’ medical nanites, so I tasked some of my own.

  I was completely surprised when they chose to accept him as a candidate. Thus it was that he became one without first having been subjected to the terms of a pre-agreement to join the guild. My ability to promote that he should make such a choice was further hampered by certain circumstances that the guild council should not have allowed to happen. Such as at least two abduction attempts on people close to him using whiffer beasts with guild nano-enhancements.”