Once they exited the prison transport
they found themselves in the docking bay of a much larger cruiser.
“Welcome to the PFZ Decency.”
Carter said. Toll counted six other ships docked in the bay that he
could see. One of the soldiers handed a Carter a little metal stick
that he stuck part way into his mouth. He breathed in through the
stick as he lifted up his left sleeve, revealing an implanted piece
of hardware set neatly into his arm. There was a little red light
flashing. Carter pressed the only button visible on the plate and the
red light popped up, as it was attached to a cartridge that he
removed from the hardware. Rusty was stunned.
“What is that?” He asked.
“Folly of youth.” Carter offered.
Which was not nearly enough for Rusty and Carter saw it in his eyes.
'I'm a bio programmer. Two years ago I
decided that it would be easier for me to get my work done if I
modified myself the same way I modify the bio-computers we make.”
The group had exited the docking bay and gotten into an elevator. “So
I created a small biomass designed to enhance my brain function. All
the tests we ran in simulations worked perfectly and the mice we
injected showed incredible performance gains. So I took the bio
mass.” They exited the elevator and started down a new hallway.
“The theory was sound. To put it very simply, the cells were
programmed to integrate with my brain matter and double my cognitive
capability.”
“So what went wrong?” Toll asked.
“Turns out there are more than a few
differences between mice and men.” Carter chuckled to himself
sadly. “The cells integrated correctly but to the wrong part of my
brain.”
“Oh damn.” Rusty uttered.
“Yup. Instead of getting smarter, my
cellar growth process accelerated.” Carter entered a code into a
wall pad and a door opened. He passed through and everyone followed
him.
“So what's with the stick then?”
Toll asked bluntly.
“It's a 3D printer that makes
nanobots that I inhale. They flood my system and keep me alive. It
also makes me look cool. Like a movie star from the black and
whites.” Toll and Rusty looked at each other in confusion.
“Black and whites?” Rusty asked.
“Oh man I wish we had the time to get
into film history.” Carter sighed. “But we got more important
things to do.” he pressed the button on yet another door and led
the group onto the bridge. Both Rusty and Toll had been on large
ships like the Decency, but no matter how often you see it there is
something spectacular about the audacity of the will of a trained
crew moving artificial leviathans through space. The captain of the
Decency spun her chair around to face Carter and the other's.
“So, it turns out that the conference
was a trap.” She stated.
“Is that why they arrested me?”
Carter asked.
“I told you not to go.” still stone
but her tone was softening.
“Good thing you're not the boss of
me.” He responded.
“Dammit Carter.” she ranted “We
can't keep spending this kind of time and money making sure The
Corporation doesn't learn what you know.” Carter was handed a data
pad by a member of the bridge crew.
“I missed you too.” he responded
only half listening. The captain gestured to Rusty and Toll.
“Who're they?” she asked.
“Their from colony six.” He
commented off handedly, lost in the information on the pad.
“I don't have time for games Carter,
who are they really?” She asked but Carter wasn't paying attention
any more. He grabbed the tech who handed him the pad.
“is this actual growth or the 72 hour
projections.” He asked. The tech glanced at the data.
“Actual growth sir.” He offered.
Carter headed for the bridge door.
“None of us have time for games
captain. I need to get planet side now!” He shouted while exiting
the bridge.
