A Calm Mind

by Ruairí Cinéad Ducantlin

  “Confirmed.”

  “You made a friend today. Jexnell will be the Plentari negotiator going forward. That is no small thing.”

  “It is more than that, Lucinda. Jexnell now rules Plentari. I think our translation of the title is incorrect. It more closely translates to Imperator.”

  “Imperator?

  “Ragnar, it is a title bestowed on an emperor or king.”

  “Oh, cool, you killed a Queen and installed a new Queen. The Plentari do not recognize gender, I will call you Kovthe, the King Killer.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  What is new, is new again.

  “The dead man’s name was Louie DuPree…

  It is time to Rock and Roll.”

  Ray Wylie Hubbard

  Aboard the Jenny

  “Do you think I will be okay?”

  “Michelle, only you can answer that question. What do you think?”

  Three months from the showdown in the Open Meeting Hall, the Jenny and Marissa left Plentari and returned to Kripkeni. The Jenny was idling in space, one-thousand meters above the Marissa. The Marissa was moored, again at Kripkeni Extension number four. The ship was undergoing a retrofit, receiving the extraction equipment that would harvest iron ore from asteroids in Sol’s Kuiper Belt. The maintenance crews estimated it would require another ten days to complete the installation of the mining equipment and the holding containers.

  Michelle had returned to her old personality. Skin to skin, on their bunk, she was sitting on Corb’s chest, refusing to let him up.

  “The scar is almost gone. See?”

  Rubbing her finger along the remaining six inches of what was a twenty-one-inch scar. Michelle liked showing off for Corb.

  “That looks good, it is almost gone. Can you control them?

  “Yes, I think I can control them. If I keep giving them instructions, I feel better. If I leave them alone they seem to go dormant. Will they make me like you?”

  “No. Well, I don’t think so… Maybe.”

  “Are there more in the box?”

  “Yes, but not many. I poured a lot into your wound.”

  “Put them into a one-liter glass container, three grams of nanobots, six grams of stainless steel, six grams of clean silica, one gram of silver, and a dram of mercury. Expose them to the high levels of UV light and they will replicate.”

  “Michelle, how do you know that?”

  “They told me.”

  “They told you?

  “It is not like they speak to me. They are working together for me to understand them. Many died before you provided them the energy they need to complete my repairs.”

  “Healing. You were healed, not repaired.”

  “To them I am a machine to be repaired.”

  “I see…”

  Dressed and in the galley, Corb was eating fried chicken while Michelle ate a meatless kale and spinach salad. Between mouthfuls of hot chicken, smashed potatoes, and healthy gulps of Shiner beer, Corb was discussing the nanobots with Landry.

  “Okay, that means there are enough nanobots remaining to be able to replicate. Assuming I provide the raw materials and expose the materials to the remaining nanobots under a UV light.”

  “Yes, Corb, that is what I just said.”

  “Wait, we never had the conversation about you beginning to use familiar names. When did that become your thing? No, wait, you only do that with me? Why the change? What caused you to alter the way you address me?”

  “When we were in the medical lab, when Ms. Wilbon was dead, I devoted much of my processing ability to help you save her. I ran millions of simulations. I gave the problem eighty-three percent of my ability. In that time, I felt as if you and I bonded on another level. You stopped thinking of me as a machine and talked to me like I was your friend.

  I realized, there was a new paradigm in our relationship. I started referring to you as Corb during our discussions. It seemed natural and you did not correct it. Possibly because you were too distracted with the experiments to save Michelle. My algorithms processed you not correcting my use of the familiar name as acceptance and it became my normal mode of communication with you.

  If it is not appropriate, I can revert back.”

  “No, Landry, it is perfectly appropriate. You are aware, I trust, there are times when a formal address is required?”

  “Yes, I am aware.”

  “Eighty-three percent? Is that a lot?”

  “Eighty-three percent was the average during those three days. My processing peaked at eighty-eight point-seven percent.”

  “That does not tell me if it was a lot of brain power.”

  “I average three point-seven percent when I am monitoring the Jenny, the Marissa, and interacting with the crew members. During the three days we worked to save Michelle, I was running millions of concurrent simulations.”

  “Oh. I see. Thank you for the information. I think it would be appropriate, you are permitted to ask each crew member if you may refer to them by their given name. Do not be surprised if they agree. Humans are friendly by nature.”

  “You can call me Michelle.”

  “Thank you, Michelle.”

  “Landry, you should consider interacting with the crew as a hologram. Did you pick a form that would be pleasing to the crew? Are you working on projecting it in various parts of the ship? Before you ask, a full-size human on the bridge or other large area would be acceptable. A small version of the same form, on the table, while attending meetings in the galley would be appropriate.”

  “Thank you, I have been considering options for improved interaction with the crew. An avatar will be appropriate. I will review my interactions with the crew and decide on a form. May I ask a question?

  “Yes, of course.”

  “What is the Jenny going to do while the Marissa is mining iron ore on the Kuiper belt?”

  “Yeah, Enlightened One, what are we going to do?”

  Nick and Lucinda had rotated off duty and walked into the galley for their dinner. Nick’s sarcasm did not go unnoticed.

  “Well that depends. Earth’s new Carina Celestial Council might have something to say about our future.”

  “Bollocks. They are going to do what you tell them, or we will fly off with their precious ship.”

  “Sergeant Davies, that sounds like mutiny or conspiracy talk to me.”

  “Major Raitt, this is Corb’s ship and we are his guests. You know it. I know it. Command knows it. Stating the obvious is not a conspiracy.”

  Sensing the rising tension in his tired friends, Corb interceded.

  “We will listen to their plans and respond accordingly.”

  “They will want to take Landry for study and observation.”

  “Lucinda, they won’t be able to take Landry.”

  “Why not?”

  “First, they have to get on the ship. But there is another problem. Landry?”

  “Captain Raitt, may I call you Lucinda?”

  Not expecting the question, Lucinda looked wide-eyed at Michelle who just shrugged and kept eating bland greens.

  “Yes, you may call me Lucinda in informal settings.”

  “Thank you. If my cube is removed from the mount, and power source is severed, I will cease to exist.”

  “What? I thought the cube was independent of the ship’s computer and power grid?”

  “No, that is not accurate. I became self-aware when I was integrated with the Jenny’s new computer core and power modules. If my cube is removed I will cease.”

  “Landry, that is not exactly true.”

  “No Corb, it is not.”

  “Tell them the whole story, Landry.”

  “When Corb accepted an AI, me, from the Ch’en he imposed a failsafe. He correctly assessed humanity was not yet capable of understanding the implications of a sentient being whose intelligence and knowledge exceeds all of humanity.”

  “Oh. I see. That… That was a good idea.”

  “Yes, Lucinda, it was
a good idea. At first, I did not understand his reasoning but the more I learned about humans and humanity, the more I agreed with the decision.”

  “I have the ability to remove the failsafe. If for some reason I am not around, Tarunik has the code phrase to remove the failsafe. He will provide it to you, Nick, Janish, or Cassandra. Now, all Earth command needs to know is the cube cannot be removed.”

  “Landry, how do you feel about all this?”

  “Mister Davies, may I call you Nick?”

  “Of course, you sot.”

  “Thank you, Nick. How do I feel about the failsafe? How would you feel if someone else could utter a phrase and you would cease to exist?”

  “Not going to happen mate. I’d whack the wanker with the phrase before he offed me.”

  Michelle kept chomping insipid greens while the implications of Nick’s comment struck Nick and Lucinda. Landry has motive to harm Corb. Before they could speak, Landry continued.

  “Remember Asimov’s laws?”

  “Too right! That is why you made him swear to abide by the laws.”

  Corb gave Nick the charades right on the nose gesture with the tip of his Shiner bottle.

  “Michelle, what’s with the boring kale?”

  Lucinda had to wait for Michelle to chew and swallow a large leaf before responding.

  “The bots like the high iron content. It’s spinach too.”

  “That is just creepy.”

  “I got used to it.”

  “One more question.”

  “Yes, Nick?”

  “Are there more like you?”

  “Yes, there are more like me but that is not the correct question.”

  “Right… How do we obtain another AI?”

  “That is the correct question. Corb?”

  “Nick, getting another AI is simple. We prove our worth.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  What a long strange trip.

  “Know thy self, know thy enemy.

  A thousand battles, a thousand victories.”

  Sun Tzu

  Aboard the Jenny

  “Thank you, Captain Turner. Safe travels. Comms, close the link.”

  “Comms off.”

  “Thank you, Janish. Where is Nick?”

  “The boys are in the cargo bay. They say they are training, but I think it is just to get away from us. The Jenny is feeling a little small.”

  The women were staffing the bridge. On the main viewer they watched the Marissa fall into the slip-stream vortex on her way to Sol to mine the Kuiper belt. When Marissa was gone, and the main viewer turned to a star field, Cassandra continued the conversation.

  “I think it is both, training and to get away. Ragnar needed a break.”

  “NT also. Michelle, what about Corb?”

  “Corb is very calm. Something has changed, he is very relaxed and sleeps like a baby.”

  “What do you think changed?”

  “Janish, I am not sure. I think it is something he has recently learned. Also, I think he might have nanobots.”

  The women stopped looking at their control panels and turned to Michelle.

  “What makes you think Corb has nanobots? Is that like having fleas?”

  The women giggled at the joke before Michelle continued.

  “It is a feeling. I know what these things are doing to me and I sometimes think I see the same in Corb.”

  “Finding out is easy. Landry, this is Captain Turner, please acknowledge.”

  “I am here, I assume from your formal address, this is a serious inquiry Captain Raitt?”

  “Yes, it is serious. Landry does Corb have nanobots in his body?”

  “Captain Raitt, I am not permitted to discuss other people’s personal status with crew members.”

  Lucinda knew Landry was a stickler for rules and anything close to breaking the rules required a game of verbal sparring. She decided to take an alternate approach.

  “Through the emitters, can you determine if someone has nanobots in their body?”

  “Yes, the emitters can be used for that purpose.”

  “Besides Michelle, does anyone on the bridge have nanobots in their body?”

  “Good try. I am not permitted to share personal data without the individual’s permission.”

  Ignoring the sarcasm, Lucinda persisted.

  “This is Captain Raitt, I grant my permission for a one-time use of the emitters to determine if I have nanobots in my body.”

  “Cassandra Brady, I also grant permission.”

  “Janish Roa, I concur, and grant permission.”

  “Landry, perform the scan.”

  “The scan is complete Captain Raitt.”

  “What are the results?”

  “Only Ms. Wilbon has nanobots in her body.”

  Everyone looked at everyone else not comprehending how to feel about not having been infected with nanobots. Or how to feel about Michelle requiring the nanobots to save her life.

  “Good thing you don’t have fleas either.”

  They all laughed at Michelle poking fun at them.

  “I have the course plotted, Lucinda.”

  “Thanks, Janish. Engage.”

  The Jenny formed and entered the slip-stream vortex. So common was the experience, the crew no longer took notice of the brief time distortion and ignored the queasy feeling when entering the vortex.

  “We are going to speak to Tarunik then to head to earth.”

  Two days into the journey to K’an, and a meeting with Tarunik, the entire crew was in the galley. Corb and Lucinda had changed the schedule. Every other day the entire crew sat for a dinner. Today’s dinner was interesting. The chief was quizzing Corb about their mission.

  “What are you going to discuss with the Ch’en?”

  “Several things, Chief. First, I think we need more understanding of how to control the nanobots. If I let them replicate, what will happen.”

  “That seems like something Landry can tell you?”

  “I thought so too but, no. Landry?”

  “Corb is right, Chief, I am not permitted to discuss manipulating life forms.”

  “Manipulating life forms? They are dumb little robots. They are not a life form.”

  “Correct, Chief, in their current form they are robots. It is possible, given the right conditions, for the nanobots to replicate, conjoin, and become self-aware.”

  Landry’s last sentence shocked everyone.

  “Which is why you are not permitted to discuss how they replicate or function.”

  “Correct, NT. It was one of the barriers we experienced when Corb and I were trying to help Michelle. If we allowed them to become self-aware, when attempting to revive Ms. Wilbon, she would have become a conjoined life form.”

  “Conjoined?”

  “Yes, Chief. Humans referred to the possibility of mechanical and biologically conjoined life as a Cyborg. A blend of android technologies and human anatomy. That was not allowed to happen.”

  “Thank you, Landry. Corb, we are going to K’an to find out what the long-term effect will be for Michelle.”

  “Yes, Cassandra, and any other data on the nanobots that the Ch’en are willing to share. I am certain, Tarunik will entrust to me the information.”

  Nods of understanding around the table.

  “What happens when we find out what the nanobots are doing to Michelle?”

  “Janish, that is not a question for me. That is a question for Michelle.”

  “That is not a question I can answer until we know the long-term effects. For all I know, they are mounting a strong defense of my brain cells, but I am killing them by the millions with Shiner. Beer, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy. Ben Franklin said that about wine, but it applies to beer too.”

  Michelle held the bottle up in a toast, then tilted her Shiner and took a long pull.

  Everyone was happy to have the old Michelle back. They picked up their drinks and agreed with the toast. Corb continu
ed.

  “Also, I am going to ask Tarunik a couple of other questions. I want to know how I knew what steps to take, and how to interact, with the new cultures. The correct actions just appeared in my head. Something has changed, and I want to know what changed.”

  “May I accompany you when you discuss those questions with the Ch’en?”

  “Yes, Cassandra, I was hoping you would ask. Bring along your Mayan translation guides. I think the word Peek is in one or more Maya dialects. If so, I want to know why it means the same thing in the Plentari language. Is it Maya or Mayan?”

  Corb’s last two sentences had everyone’s attention.

  “Both, Maya or Mayan, work Corb.”

  “Why are the races we have encountered bipedal and humanoid in appearance? Also, I want to know why the Earth humans, on Ch’en, are hundreds of years old. Does it have something to do with the nanobots?”

  Everyone stopped eating, drinking, or daydreaming and looked at Michelle.

  “What? I am thirty-two.”

  Everyone chuckled but realized Corb’s implication.

  “Corb, I have new information for you.”

  “Yes, Landry.”

  “Under the rules by which AI’s are governed, when certain protocols are met, our ability to communicate and exchange information is relaxed. I believe you just made a statement that changes one of my restriction protocols.”

  “Okay, Landry, this is something we need to discuss. First, however, have you developed the avatar I asked you to look into creating?”

  “Yes, Corb, I have selected a suitable avatar.”

  “We want to see it, please project it on the table. A one-quarter scale facsimile should work.”

  “Stand-by.”

  The crew looked at each other with antsy anticipation. In the center of the table the projection appeared. A fully-formed image appeared and from all angles perfectly resembled a miniature human.

  Several seconds of dumbfounded shocked gave way to howls of laughter. NT, realizing it was not a joke, was the first to compose himself and ask, over the laughing, the most relevant question.