Nanotroopers Episode 15: A Black Hole

by Philip Bosshardt

  ***ANAD must be first released from containment…ANAD must be released from effector grapple…First Rule is violated…ANAD are to swarm and seek self***

  “Jeez, you sound like a broken record—“ Of course, the First Rule had been violated, by Winger himself. He had to do it when the swarms went Big Bang at the dig sites. Self defense. “ANAD, if you don’t work with me on this config, it’ll violate the Second and Fourth Rules. Harm will come to humans and swarms when those rocks hit. The dust alone will change Earth’s weather for years. Crops will die. Animals will die. People will die. That means ANAD swarms won’t survive either. You’ve got to help with this config.”

  “NOW HEAR THIS—“ Mendez’s voice boomed over the intercom. “ABANDON SHIP BRIEFING IN THE MESS HALL…STARTING NOW!”

  ANAD seemed to consider what Winger was saying. At least, the delayed response made Winger imagine the little bot was pondering all the ramifications, running all his probability analyses. Like Doc Frost said, you could never tell what was going on in the processor-mind of a sentient being sixty nanometers tall.

  ***Prime Key requires modifications to swarm environment…environment must be compatible for all swarms***

  “So does that require millions of people to die, ANAD?”

  The master assembler was still pinioned by Winger’s embedded ANAD, held in a close grip with its effectors disabled to keep it from replicating.