Chapter 142

Daedalus Academy

Y: 2143 – 15 weeks until Southern Europe regional inter-academy first round.

Daedalus Financial Position: -39.3M bitcreds 

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“I’m struggling to make sense of this,” Krecke said while describing the information passed on to her by Daedo.

“If you are asking if I can - then you will be disappointed,” Daedo replied.

Krecke sighed, “I just can’t relate it to anything that I know.”

“That bad?” Daedo asked and Krecke nodded sadly in response.

Daedo continued, “Is there anyone who can help you? Someone that you know - that won’t cause us issues?”

Krecke shook her head. “No one I would trust. And they would probably be as stumped as I am. I would have to show them to see if they could comprehend any of it.”

“Are you utilising your AI effectively?” Daedo asked.

“I am,” Krecke replied, “at least I think I am.” Her voice lacked confidence. She had joined Daedalus a month ago and at first, worked on the air metabolization and oxygen creation within the hydro farms.

“Is it that the alien tech is outside of your specialty?” Daedo asked.

Krecke lowered her head, “Hydro farms are outside my speciality. Cytotechnology is my speciality. But this - this is far beyond my understanding of genetics and cell biology. I need a bridge from what I know to this technology to begin to interpret it.”

“Why don’t you experiment at the edges. What about this gene circuit creation process?” Daedo asked.

“We have cloning technology already. Can you build this machine?” She asked.

“We can build almost all of this equipment,” Daedo replied. “Anything we have a detailed schematic for we can manufacture. The only limitations are materials and if there is an unknown process. There are a few with unknown materials and some others with a fabrication process unknown to Ikaros and the net. But we can build most of them.”

Krecke looked hopeful, “This is a place where we can start. If I observe some spectacular failures, then perhaps I will learn in the process.”

Daedo nodded, “You have time. But Master Nader said this was important, so I do not doubt that we will need it. You have four years and almost unlimited resources. If you need people, ask. If you need materials, ask.”

Krecke nodded, “I think we should recruit two capable researchers in cytopathy and biotech.”

“Done,” Daedo agreed. “I want to review your AI’s capability and integration. Can we do that now?”

Krecke asked, “Is it dangerous?”

Daedo shrugged, “I get better at this every day. But there are risks with everything.”

She asked, “Will it help?” She sounded apprehensive.

Daedo nodded, “If you are under-utilizing your AI it will open a path for improvement.”

The chair wasn’t necessary, but Krecke climbed into the recliner and allowed Daedo to connect his cybernetic implant to hers.

Daedo floated throw the connection. They both entered a VR room of Daedo’s creation from within Krecke’s cybernetic implant. A representation of her brain appeared in the centre of the room while both Daedo and Krecke were invisible floating spectators.

He spent ten minutes inspecting her synaptic structure.

Then her connections and relationship to her AI.

And lastly the AI - Mouse.

He then spoke to Krecke and Mouse.

Daedo: give me something to monitor. Work on the protocell problem.

Krecke: not a great example – we’re stuck. What about DNA analysis? 

Daedo: ok.

Daedo watched as a spectator as Krecke and Mouse worked on analysing and cataloguing the DNA of a cadet. She separated the enhancers from the genes and then proceeded to catalogue each strain. She worked for an hour and had ninety percent completion when she hit the standard brick wall of unknown segments.

Daedo: I see many areas for improvement. I think you are typical of your generation. 

Krecke: you mean the generation before you came along.

Daedo: yes. The one preceding mine. But it’s a vast improvement on the older generation. 

He began to reply to her work and highlight ways she could have better utilised her AI. And illustrate the areas her AI needed to learn so it could assist her more efficiently. They were under for another two hours while Daedo completed his instruction.

Daedo: I think that is enough for now. Your work is of the highest priority Krecke.
 We will review in another week.

Daedo stood and undid the connection.

“Do you have a headache?” Krecke asked.

Daedo shook his head and asked with concern, “Do you?”

“No. I was just wondering what it was like for you to be in someone else’s head.”

He replied, “Master Nader was in mine for weeks.”

“Ah,” she said softly before adding belatedly, “I was reluctant at first you know. The fact that this technology is from aliens.” She paused waiting for a response from Daedo. A response which did not come he remained silent.

“But,” she sighed, “nature is nature. The underlying mathematics is not invented its discovered.” She paused again. “We just need to be careful that these machines don’t start pouring out alien critters who are designed to eat us.” And she laughed with her last statement.

“You’re surrounded by hundreds of armed cadets. Just turn off the machine after the first alien. Okay?” Daedo replied.

“Okay. Be on alert though,” Krecke replied. “How will you recruit the researchers I need?”

“Write up what you’re looking for and we will give it to Mister Kang and Adele Mace. They will search and check any new recruits. Believe it or not, thousands make enquiries about joining us every week.”

Krecke nodded, “I know. I was out there when all the news hit. I saw the reactions firsthand.” She laughed. “You should have seen the Academy. It went nuts.”

“Did you enjoy the Fortescue press conference last year?” Daedo asked.

Krecke didn’t reply; she just laughed.

Daedo smiled. “I need to get going. Message me if you get a headache or anything out of the ordinary. We will put together the equipment and deliver it to your lab. We’ll also increase its size and upgrade its security.” 

Krecke nodded the once and said, “Good luck.”

“You too,” he said before leaving her quarters. He went directly to the manufacturing level.

Daedo: father can you meet me in manufacturing?

Ikaros: Now?

Daedo: Now if possible. If not, please state the earliest possible time.

Ikaros: Five minutes.

Mace: where are you?

Daedo: on my way to manufacturing.

Mace: important meeting?

Daedo: not really. Meeting my father to discuss Krecke’s equipment.

Mace: I’m coming. Any objections?

Daedo: No. But don’t you have your squad and projects to work on?

Mace: all under control.

Daedo: stealth suits?

Mace: designed and built prototypes which are being tested by my squad.

Daedo: Great.

Mace: On my way now.

Daedo wandered through the massive array of machinery which was their new manufacturing plant. From fabricators to robotic assembly lines. From electrolytic baths to polymer moulding. They were manufacturing everything from tiny spy drones to mechs. But even with a capability of two hundred exos per day, it was still small compared to what was needed. He needed ten times that number and not just in capacity. They needed the raw materials as well.

“I’m impressed every time I come in here,” Mace stated in awe.

Daedo was indifferent, “I’m concerned with its inadequacy.”

His response surprised her, “Really?”

“How many genetically designed enemies do you think will arrive to exterminate us, humans?”

Mace looked thoughtful, “I never really thought about the scale. We only ever fight a dozen at a time in the scenarios. But – I guess with fifteen billion people – there will be quite a few. Do you have any idea?”

“Millions if they have the capability to reproduce. Or at least a hundred million if not.”

Mace looked horrified. “How big will they be?”

“We know next to nothing. It’s all speculation. Master Nader didn’t know. We can only hope that one day she learns what’s coming and can inform us.” He looked at her. She was coming to terms with his words. “Are you sorry you came?”

She shook herself. “No. I needed to see you. We –, “she broke off mid-sentence before she found the courage to continue. “We hardly see each other anymore. Since your merge. And after you were healed.”

“Since you planted a spybot in me,” he said. They had been together immediately after the event, but that was by necessity.

“I thought you understood,” Mace said. Her voice trembled.

“I do,” he replied. “But it doesn’t change what happened.”

She closed on him. She stood a toe to toe looking into his eyes. “Was it all an act?”

He looked confused. “What act? What do you mean?” He moved uncomfortably, she was in his personal space.

“When we ran from the organisation. Not once did you complain, or show hurt because of my actions.”

Daedo sighed, “I did what was needed. Just because I showed nothing doesn’t mean I didn’t feel anything.”

“Do you trust me?” She asked.

He nodded. “I do.”

“Then why can’t it be like before?” She asked.

“Because it's not.” He answered simply.

“Am I interrupting?” Ikaros asked as he jumped off a mag lift.

“No,” Mace said sourly before she stormed off.

Ikaros looked at Daedo who merely shrugged and while appearing ignorant.

“We need to review the biotech schematics,” Daedo said before walking towards the control room.

Daedo pulled up the first machine. What it did was not obvious from the schematics. The biotech would programme or load DNA into the machine and then provide the machine with required biomass. Whether the machine created replacement cells, organs or a full organism was unknown.

“The coding for the ICs?” Ikaros asked.

Daedo replied, “It wouldn’t work without it. It’s all there including a specialised AI.” Daedo opened the sections showing the code.

“I see,” Ikaros responded, “It’s a strange layout.”

“It’s from alien experts,” Daedo replied.

“And you remembered all this?” Ikaros asked.

“Master Nader showed me. I am able to digitally save any information I want.”

Ikaros gulped, “Scary. But handy.”

“Do you need any help making these?” Daedo asked.

Ikaros replied, “Run through one with me. One where we have all the equipment and materials. You’re able to interpret these schematics far better than I.”

“Is the board fabricator capable of this?” Daedo asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Ikaros replied. “We will follow the circuit diagram. It doesn’t matter how it looks. Although this AI will have access to our main computer processors. The internal processing power is purposefully limited.”

Daedo said, “We can compartmentalise and limit our exposure while giving it the power it needs.”

Ikaros drew in a deep breath, “Let’s get started.”

They worked together for eight hours. For the most intricate parts, they had to make several attempts to get the prototype working correctly even with the detailed schematics to follow.

“Father?” Daedo said suddenly.

“Hmm? The outer casing is easy, you can go now. We can test tomorrow.” Ikaros said.

“I want to connect to Mothers cybernetic implant and see what is going on in there,” Daedo blurted.

Ikaros was silent. He was looking at the ground while lost in thought.

Daedo waited patiently for a response.

“It’s been three months,” Ikaros said as if thinking out loud. He then added, “It’s too dangerous. For both of you.”

“It’s not dangerous,” Daedo stated. “I have connected with two others since Master Nader.”

“How?” Ikaros asked.

Daedo thought about his words carefully, “It’s hard to describe. It’s like floating in VR, observing while interacting with the entities. Both the person and their AI.”

“But how are you able to do this?” Ikaros asked his question again.

Daedo sighed sadly, “When Myrmidon and I merged I was able to access the cybernetic implant, it's storage and processing power. Just as he was able to utilise my brain synapses. The mistake we made was creating too many new synapse connections, they became a jumbled mess. Eventually, we shut down until Master Nader came and helped us clean up the damage. But when she was done, I was still able to use the implant. It was the merger in the brain which was undone. The computer circuits never changed.”

“She didn’t just give me these schematics, the entity that is Ares Nader showed me how to use the processor and storage safely and effectively.”

Ikaros’ face showed his concern, “Did she show you how to connect with others?”

Daedo shook his head, “It was a simple extrapolation of what I was already doing. The only risk is messing with someone’s synapses and I know, only too well, not to do that.”

“And what do you plan to do once you’re inside ‘Laine?” Ikaros asked with a tremor in his voice.

Daedo replied, “She is not getting better alone, and I think I might be able to help.”

Ikaros shook his head, “And by help you mean - connecting her synapses and jump-starting her?”

Daedo nodded slowly. “She is close. Master Nader said she would recover on her own, but it’s taken so long.”

Ikaros looked torn, his eyes dropped. His shoulders shuddered. “No.” He said quietly.

“Daedo,” He said as he looked into his sons’ eyes, “you are impatient. You trust Nader blindly in all things except this. It is illogical. She is not in danger and the last information we have from the expert is - Elaine will heal herself. That she has done the groundwork necessary.”

“Three months!” Daedo said.

“It could be three years for all we know. You just said there is minimal risk unless you mess with someone’s synapses. And now you want to mess with your mother’s synapses! What if your interference creates someone who is not her?”

“I -,” Daedo broke off, “I didn’t think of that.”

“Too risky,” Ikaros stated. “We wait. We will be patient.”

Daedo hung his head and said softly, “Okay.”