Next You Volume 1

By Angus H Day

The pairing of two Next You Novels into a collection volume. Legacy of Daddy and Next You Interstellar LLC.

The Legacy of Daddy
What happens when a Graduate student competes for a PhD in a dystopian society by experimenting with dangerous alien technology? Does humankind need technological help to leave Earth? These and other questions are awkwardly dealt with in The Legacy of Daddy.

Next You Interstellar LLC
If you had the option to come back after death, what would you want to be? Still want to be human or would you like to try something different? How much is it worth to you? Live in the extra-solar human civilization and experience your next incarnation in Next You Interstellar, LLC.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angus H Day
• Release date: Oct 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301639090

Angus H Day

I'm married, father of two fine children and I have made Fort Collins Colorado my home. Currently I work as a manufacturing chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, swim and write science fiction.

Book preview

The Legacy of Daddy

By Angus H. Day

Edited by Angus H Day and Laurie Anne Greene

Cover Art by Belinda Pepper

Copyright 2012 Angus H. Day

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Legacy of Daddy

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The things that matter

Chapter 2: The Help

Chapter 3: The proper way to talk to oneself

Chapter 4: A religious protest?

Chapter 5: Recuperation and progress

Chapter 6: The rogue planet at last

Chapter 7: Basil to the Rescue

Chapter 8: The Change of Leadership

Chapter 9: Life without Horace

Chapter 10: Nova Caledone

Chapter 11: Superspies

Next You Interstellar LLC

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Waking from nothing.

Chapter2: Brother Calabrini, the Inquisitor.

Chapter 3: Decision Making.

Chapter 4: Rebuilding.

Chapter 5: Rejoining the World.

Chapter 6: Cruising, a way to get to know someone.

Chapter 7: Let's talk about buzz kills in erotic dreams

Chapter 8: Storming the Castle

Chapter 9: Your nanites or my nanites

Chapter 10: Going behind the scenes.

Chapter 11: Alerting the Man.

Chapter 12: Things I would have liked to have known yesterday.

Chapter 13: Losing it.

Chapter 14: It's all in the spin!

Chapter 15: Helping a friend.

Chapter 16: Flights of Mercy

Chapter 17: Cleaning up the Battlefield

Chapter 18: The Platinum Option with all the perks.

Chapter 19: You better come home quick!

Chapter 20: Meeting the In-laws

Chapter 21: Defend this House!

Chapter 22: Recovering Myrmidon

Chapter 23: Helping Horace

Chapter 24: The NYIAID and other things.

Chapter 1: The things that matter.

I, Robert Abrams Focsile, was a typical graduate student in the Geneva Domed city state. My mother was a victim of the Exchange and my father was killed by the Peace Corps for protesting the Exchange. I was a loner in mandatory school and selected to pursue an academic track due to my exam scores and lack of physical skills. Just because I was a loner-nerd didn’t mean I wasn’t horny. Before leaving mandatory school I would trade tutoring for sex with the most attractive and desperate girls I could manage. I even married the hottest one of them all once she heard I was going to graduate school. The graduate student couples apartment really should have been called a closet. With my loving, conniving, wife Bridgette’s shit taking up most of the space normal people would use for walking, it was a wonder the building health inspectors hadn’t chucked us out on the street. If she didn’t do the most abnormal things, such as have sex with me, I think I would have sent her packing. Another perk was that being married counted for more C-points, an indication of responsibility I guess.

My PhD practical was scheduled for tomorrow and I had to have this alien device not only working by then, but be able to have a batch of nanites viewable under a quantum scope. It was bad enough that my memory was slipping under the pressure, but there were programs I’d apparently sleep written on the device and I didn’t remember what they did. It was probably a good idea that Bridgette went out fucking around tonight so I could work in peace, I had no illusions about what she did when she was out.

I was going to eat that fish I put in the freezer yesterday. I went for a knife to open the package and tripped over a pair of B’s pants. Why on earth did I try to walk in this kitchen with a Butcher knife? Looking down I realized that a knife handle protruding from my abdomen was quite a surrealistic scene. Well I was fucked. There wasn’t going to be any emergency services except to haul my dead ass out of here.

I had nothing to lose, so I decided to use the device and figure out what that Fix This program was all about. I triggered the program on the Human Machine Interface (HMI) that I had built and placed the hose from the device next to the knife in the wound. I felt like my insides were crawling and I saw the knife disappear, the blood close by seemed to move on its own back into my body and the wound closed. Then a thought occurred to me, sleep.

B came back home drunk early in the morning and tripped over me lying on the floor. When she raised herself up to get a look at me I opened my eyes in time for her to vomit all over the upper half of my body and face. Isn’t marriage bliss?

Good morning dear; have a nice evening out did we? Mind if I ask why you’re not wearing any panties? For some reason I notice these things.

Um, sure if you give me a good answer as to why you were lying on the floor. The odor of vomit forced me into retreat; I pushed her off of me and jumped into the shower with all my clothes on. I’m going to have to find a way to free myself of this useless twit. Just as this thought was forming I heard B brushing her teeth and hitting the mouthwash. She then entered the shower, disrobed me and reminded me of why I married her. She would have sex with me. I had some great standards.

We didn’t speak anymore that morning and I left in some mostly clean smelling clothes with the device to get set up at the laboratory hall. Today was going to be my day at last.

The lab was bustling with activity as everyone tried to get a last minute edge in the competition for integrating the alien artifacts with human tech. The first demonstration was about to begin while I finished installing a control circuit I had been up for three days building. The artifacts had been recovered from a derelict ship found adrift in the Kuiper belt; the farthest humans had managed to reach thus far. The particular tech I had drawn in the lottery appeared to be a nanite manufacturing device with a programmable interface that our race was years from deciphering.

My PhD and C-points were on the chopping block based on my success with this project, not to mention the substantial credit bonus offered by a new company ‘Next You’. My goal was to control the device with a human machine interface. I would program the nanites to enter a host that was diseased, and then communicate the genetic causes of the disease to a second set of nanites. The second set would scrounge bases from non-coding DNA to form oligonucleotides that would cure the disease.

The installation was complete and I had nothing left to do but watch the other students demonstrate their efforts and await my turn. My wife Bridgette would be so proud of me and ecstatic if I could win those credits. We really wanted to have a child the natural way before we got too old.

Smoke and a large crashing noise distracted me from my daydream as a tank on a students project exploded sending the badly damaged woman flying across the hall and through a plate glass window. Everyone flocked over to the student to determine if they could help or at least see the mess. It was going to be a miracle if they could save her.

Knowing no emergency service was going to arrive fast enough to save her I shouldered my way though the crowd with my project and attached ominous looking tubes to her mouth and the gash in her neck where an artery was busy trying to water the lawn. I already had the HMI powered up and I loaded a program that I didn’t even remember writing labeled simply Fix This.

After a couple of minutes of lights cycling on the alien portion of the device two pulses of light traveled per each tube into the patient. The student appeared to be taking a final gasp of air when her skin looked like it was moving; resembling a swarm of army ants on redecorating day. It took almost a half hour for emergency services to arrive to find that the student was not only up and fully healed, but that the Multiple Sclerosis the student had started to show signs of was gone as well.

The proctor for the demonstrations found me slumped in a corner babbling to myself. She was going to die anyway, she was going to die anyway, she was going to die anyway,…

What did you think you were doing? I’m going to have to present this to the ethics committee. You don’t use untested tech on humans.

I seemed to come around at that. It wasn’t untested. I repaired myself with it last night.

The horrified proctor stormed out of the hall to find someone to report this breach to and I, now somewhat out of shock, made my way over to the device and removed a small part. I managed to grind it to bits beneath my heel before the proctor returned with three armed guards who arrested me.

The C-points penalty of the ‘Reckless Endangerment’ charge alone will probably undo all you have achieved to date. Why did you do it?

The helpful answer would have been ‘I needed to take action to save that woman's life but what came out of my mouth for the floating evidence recorders was I knew my design would work and you feeble minded gits aren’t ready for my genius.

That landed me in restraints in a guest suite at the University of New Bern Hospital mental health wing, more like an isolation tower. My every need was met for two weeks until the Citizenship tribunal convened to hear my case, at which time I was conveniently determined to be of sound mind to attend. An hour prior to the hearing a guard escorted my wife Bridgette in for a visit and locked the windowless door upon leaving.

The hearing is soon and we may not get a chance to be together for a long time. Do you think you’re up for making love? she said.

I’m always up for you Bridgette. I heard a voice screaming inside of me Don’t you touch her you fucking alien! It was not the last time I would hear that voice.

They almost ripped each other’s clothes in their haste to get down to it and when they had both climaxed after thirty minutes the room was a mess with clothes everywhere except on a body. That may have been the best sex ever!

There was a wisp of smoke that came from Bridgette’s vagina and she shuddered with a chill. Wow, I didn’t expect that. How come it took an event like this to have that experience?

The wisp of smoke was actually something she should have worried a little more about. Will you be allowed in the hearing?

I was told no as my presence would not contribute anything to the process. I’ll be waiting for word outside in the corridor, and hoping.

They redressed and the guard returned to escort her to the corridor. A few minutes later Robert was led in tether shackles to the tribunal chamber. There were five judges and two armed Bailiffs. The proceedings were to be holographically recorded for shits and giggles. No one has ever second guessed this tribunal since its founding after the global genocide war of 2140.

The woman head judge asked me my name for the record Robert Abrams Focsile. You are convicted of Reckless Endangerment of a human. The maximum penalty is the termination of your lineage. The minimum penalty is you lose all of your C-points and are barred from further accumulation for three years. I believe that Next You, Inc. has weighed in on your behalf, because your victim lived, therefore I’m sentencing you to the minimum penalty and you will become a legal ward of Next You, Inc. for the next three years off planet.

Fuck me. Thank you your Honor. What a bitch. One of the Bailiffs came forward with a locator implanter and right in front of the judges injected a tracker into my thigh.

If you go AWOL or return to Earth before the three years are up you will be tracked and executed, got it?

Yes Ma’am.

You are hereby released into the custody of the Next You representative in the corridor.

I walked very rapidly to the doors trying not to break into a run. Once in the corridor I spotted my wife and a man who looked like all the nerves in his face had been turned off.

Are you the Next You representative?

Yes Dr. Focsile, I understand you will be staying with us for a while off planet. My name is Calabrini and I will be your escort for about the next week of travel and orientation.

Can my wife Bridgette come with us if she desires? You just referred to me as Doctor Focsile?

No and Yes; no she doesn’t wish to leave Earth; and yes we had some pull with the University and had them award your Doctorate.

Are you divorcing me? What was all that back in the waiting room?

I thought I’d give you one last ride before you got sentenced. I had no idea they were going to exile you. I only married you because I thought it was a sure road to Citizenship. I’m not divorcing you by the way. If you get any royalties from Next You I’m going to be set.

I think I’m ready to go now Calabrini, before I get remanded back into custody.

Before we leave, the company would like me to have a word with you in private.

That was Bridgette’s cue to leave. Goodbye Dear. She stomped off.

And the word is?

What did you do to sabotage the nanite generator? The company has been trying to get it to work since we took custody of it a week ago.

I destroyed a control circuit that allowed the HMI to translate anything meaningful to the machine. The Doctorate program is very back-stabbing and I wasn’t about to let the proctor have the device.

You can of course repair it?

Yes.

Very good. Let’s leave this place.

We left for the Switzerland Starport without another word. That was the last time I was with Bridgette. I found out three months later, while I was on the Jovian Industrial Research Station, that she was pregnant and desperate. The smoke from her vagina apparently was the nanites digesting her contraception and the same nanites had acted as an activator for my inert sperm. That turn of events had me examining my blood for the nanites and, I found them. These were not the short lived designs I had made for my PhD project. These were persistent and would be my little secret, at least for a while. Bridgette was hauled in front of the tribunal and convicted of undermining the law of Exchange without a Writ of Citizenship.

When the pregnancy came to term she was allowed to name the baby as her final wish. Angelique was the name she chose and as soon as the name was recorded the lethal injection was administered. Bridgette was no more. Angelique was placed into the State Home for Exchange babies and I was permitted to send gifts.

The reason Next You, Inc. was so generous to me was that I was their golden goose. Anything that was alien tech I could figure out and meld with human control systems. I became very wealthy in credits and Angelique would have wanted for nothing. When she turned six I was able to get her to stay with me at the orbiting laboratories of Saturn. There were ten other primary school aged children who all worshipped her friendship, except for this little dolt named Pavel who liked to be called PAS.

Pavel was the son of this dour Russian engineer who was making bootleg Vodka in the hydroponics heat exchangers. The boy kept playing pranks on Angelique until she would start crying.

I did my best to be both Mother and Father to Angelique, but I had no experience with either of my own parents to guide me. One day an explosion occurred in the heat exchangers and the Russian was killed. Pavel was to be remanded to the Exchange school on Earth and Angelique told me she wanted to go too.

I thought that little boy made you cry.

Only because I really liked him and he was mean. I don’t think that anymore and I miss home.

I had nothing to offer, this was no place for a child. She returned to Earth and I began to hear voices again, usually whenever I thought of her. You know she is really not your child right?

I looked around and decided that I hadn’t heard anything. She will never be a human daughter to you; you are so much more now. That’s great, where’s that Vodka I bought off of that kids dad. Just accept it and let’s get back to work. I have an idea that will make you so indispensable that Next You, Inc. might just have to elevate you to owner status.

I stood up and looked in the mirror of my room. It was my face but it looked like it belonged to someone else. There is no way I can tell this to anyone. I sat back down finally realizing that I had another presence living inside me; not human. This must be where all of my insights with the alien tech are coming from. Mostly. Your idea with the nanites generator was innovative but too cumbersome. I liked mine better. Shit!

Why don’t you just lay it out for me?

All right. What if there was a planetary installation that had the technology to make whatever you wanted, including a new body for you to transfer into. Would that be worth something?

Are you trying to win me over?

We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I’m already in control of you physically. Remember our little party with Bridgette?

So this is depressing. Maybe we better do this the easy way for a while.

Not so stupid after all.

When do we begin this quest of ours?

After we get some more novel discoveries under our belt we will be ready. For right now, go find that Vodka and let’s relax.

Alright, but we need to make some progress on the Reclamator project first. With Angelique here I let it slide, but the bodies are piling up at the Next You clinic mortuary and they want a solution yesterday.

That’s simple, I’ll have the program for us in fifteen minutes and then we can move on to my suggestion.

We might get along after all. I actually worked on the project for an hour and had a batch of nanites ready to begin testing the next shift. All right, now let’s relax.

We would have been sooner if you weren’t trying to ass kiss.

The two of us proceeded to self-medicate until sleep took over. The next day I wanted to shoot myself in the head if it would stop the ringing. When the technicians left for the day I decided it was time to increase our mutual understanding.

Just for your information, I’m not much of a drinker. Unless you can make those nanites clean up the mess we’ve made I really don’t want to talk to you today.

I was wondering when you would be ready to try this. I was on the edge of taking the wheel here. Take note of how we feel right now, got it? I felt movement within my body and wondered if I could make it to the toilet in time. Two minutes later it stopped and I felt my blood vessels opening. I could feel my body removing the toxins and repairing the cellular damage. That was friggin weird. Then I felt movement again and I lunged for the men’s room just in time. Sorry; I forgot to mention that the end product would be heading that way in a hurry. Better grab the spare pants from your locker and send that pair into vacuum.

Having fun are you? Remember this is your body too, dickhead. I stripped and bagged up the now hopelessly soiled garments. Tiptoeing across the lab to my locker to retrieve some clean clothes was exciting considering there was a security camera following my every move. I hope there’s a nice looking heterosexual woman running that thing. After I dressed I placed the bag o’shit in the non-recoverable waste chute and returned to my quarters.

How do you feel right now?

Like I wish I could pull you out of my body and beat the shit out of you. Fine, why?

Because, we used to be hung-over.

He was right, the symptoms were gone. If you think we’re going to have the universe at our beck and call for relieving hang-overs, you’re too late.

You’re missing the bigger picture. I chose to demonstrate the nanites on a hang-over because I felt Ebola would be going a bit far. These nanites will work on any disease and injury short of you falling into a nuclear reaction.

So is this going to be one of our discoveries?

We wrote the program once and you have access to the original nanite generator. We will rewrite the program and make sure that proper clinical trials lead to our discovery.

Can I be aware this time? I believe you circumvented my consciousness the last time we did this.

Certainly; my dear Doctor Abrams. We’re going to be quite the innovators.

The next day I noticed on arrival to the lab that several of the lab computers had been left on the Next You facility social network and there was a repeating video clip of me dashing for the restroom and returning commando for new clothes. I decided to reset all of the monitors since no one else was present in the lab. When I reached my station I checked the net immediately to find out if there was any more damage control I needed to do. I found a message waiting for me on my wall which read I enjoyed the show last night and hope to see more someday. The monitors you just reset were isolated, it’s not on the social network and I’ve already deleted the file. If you’re interested in getting to know each other meet me in the canteen lounge at 19:00. I’ll find you.

Do you have any thoughts on this situation?

I guess we have a date. I’ll leave the odds making to you. I don’t care what it is.

Awesome standards you’ve got. I imagine the nanites cure STDs also.

I thought you might have made that leap already. You are a little bit laggy today. It’s a shame they can’t make you sharper.

I’ll do the talking on the…meeting, thank you.

Sure, I want to learn from the master.

Um, getting ahead of us aren’t you. We are meeting a cyber-stalker and do not know the sex or preference of them, let alone whether I will find them arousing. In short, shut the fuck up!

I spent the rest of the work shift rewriting the nanite program to encompass cell repair, DNA-RNA synthesis, self-maintenance and replication. My visitor kept nudging me one way or another and this working relationship was starting to strain when he or she let me realize it was time to go. All of a sudden I had another urge to run for the men’s room. After yesterday's circus I decided a preemptive strike was in order.

I splashed some water on my face on the way out of the toilet and we were on our way to the canteen. I really have to get this we shit out of my head. I arrived at 18:50 got a large glass of tea and decided it would be less conspicuous to pull out my portable pad and surf the net. As I selected sites to check out I studied the other patrons and realized I didn’t know anybody, I had no friends here. Well that’s fucking depressing. Maybe I can get a friend out of this meeting.

A very well developed blond woman in a security uniform came into the canteen. Her hair was pulled tightly into a woven pony tail and she was gorgeous with no makeup to speak off. I kept my obvious attention to my pad as she walked about the room to stop in front of my table. Hello, my name is Etresca. May I share your table?

Yes, of course. But you haven’t anything to eat or drink. Awesome Cpt. Obvious; maybe let the other head take control, couldn’t be any worse. I’m sorry, I don’t get out much.

That’s quite alright; I have a note for you to read while I get something. Then maybe we could speak.

I unfolded the paper she had given me. I must admit that I have been noticing you on the security cameras; I’m quite attracted to you. The stunt with the video clip was just to get your attention and let you know I wanted to be your friend. That’s why I purged the clip from the security files, please don’t turn me in. By the way, I have a better source of Vodka. Don’t drink anymore of that paint thinner. I’m not usually this forward, but I’m having a lot of trouble making friends here, I think it’s the uniform.

Holy shit, I don’t feel so awkward anymore. I wonder how many times she rewrote this before she decided on it. She might appreciate it if I destroyed this since it implicates that some person purged a security file. I shredded the note and placed it in the cellulose recycler.

Etresca returned to the table with a cookie and a glass of tea. What happened to the note?

I recycled it after I shredded it. I’ve got to say it gave me the creeps to realize somebody was paying attention to all of my moves. Did it interfere with your other duties?

Looking downcast and ashamed she said I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude, and I’ll leave now.

No, no, no,…, I’m an ass. I really would like you to stay and help me become less inept at this. I’m glad you are looking out for me. Score!

We spoke for several hours until she realized that she had only three more hours before her next shift. I asked if we could meet up again the day after next and she gleamed a yes at me. Cool, maybe this will help me adjust. I doubt it, but it is your species.

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Chapter 2: The Help

Meanwhile, in another habitat module for support staff and visitors Dr. Focsile’s lab tech, Polly Rodrigez was all wrapped up in a male friend. They had been at it like rabbits for the last hour and then moved on to talking.

Miguel said I want to see your lab, I think what you do is really interesting.

You’ve already gotten the milk, you can stop that now.

I’m not just about the sex, I really admire how smart you are and the fact that you can competently work with tech on that level. Sneak me in; I just want to see where you work.

You know, I heard you were some kind of spy hanging around for something to sell to Yamagato Industries. I think you’re just using me to get access to the lab for a score.

Nah, that’s a load…

Before you deny it hear me out. I’m sick of working for that asshole Focsile. He belittles all of my efforts, insults me and forgets I exist until he needs something a pet monkey could do for him. If the rumor is true and you want help I’m in for a share.

An awkward silence ensued as Miguel dug around in his clothes for a device which looked like a normal interface pad. He pressed a code and panned it around the room. Satisfied he smiled and gave Polly a full on kiss, laying her back on the bed and whispering into her neck.

I think we can help each other. I was worried that your room might have some eavesdropping devices but it’s clean. Still let’s keep this to a whisper. I have contacts and you have access so I am fine with fifty percent.

I have no idea what fifty percent would be but we need to have a safe route out. Once stuff starts disappearing it won’t take security long to zero in on me, and there goes my shelf life.

Miguel appeared to be doing some calculations. Based on what my contacts told me we would be at ten million credits per nanite program and thirty million per batch of tested colonies. I think our best bet is a one timer and split. Security probably knows I’m here but not why. Are you ready to retire?

You betcha! Come to the lab at around 1845 tomorrow evening and we’ll have a little tour. I’m pretty sure Dr. Douche will be gone by then.

Why don’t you enter this number on your pad when he leaves to be on the safe side? I’ll head your way when I see the signal on my pad.

Well I hope you’re recovered because I’m ready again. All this sneaky stuff you know.

After another round of lustful pleasures they both fell asleep. When the alarm went off late in the morning and Miguel was gone to make preparations according to his note, Polly scrambled to get her clothes on and freshen up simultaneously. By the time she felt passable she ran to the lab and nearly fell into Dr. Focsile.

Time to be pleasant; what an asshole, he can’t even get along for a good morning greeting. There goes my last uncertainty. Fuck you Doctor Douche!

Later at 1830 Dr. Focsile went out the door for the day not even saying goodnight. Polly entered the number and Miguel was there with a tray of food before she sat the pad back on her counter.

Uh Miguel, I appreciate the thought but bringing food in here is a pretty bad idea.

Wow, just figured we could have a little snack to celebrate before we leave. We need to head straight from here to the transport I have lined up. You have to get new things.

Jeez, that sounds absolutely horrible. Shall we start the tour as she grabbed a piece of the cake from the tray.

Miguel hesitated then said, Sure what do we have and how do we pack it?

Well there are medical, construction, and process improvement nanites.

Our buyer is really more interested in the programs. We could take two samples.

Really? You didn’t mention a limit before. I can only deliver three programs that are not public access, but we can deliver ten batch colonies which are mostly medical.

Miguel seemed to be waiting on something. You’re probably right, let’s pack all the colonies and see what we can get for them. Do you have the programs?

Right here on this memory card. Polly placed the card in her bra.

Is that supposed to keep me away from it? Do you feel any different?

Polly was grabbing the counter for support. You need me to get past the alarms, what are you doing?

I don’t share well. Your cake had some heavy tranquilizer in it, enough to look like an OD. Thanks for the help.

As Miguel grabbed the card from Polly’s bra and a case to pack the nanites she grabbed a stasis jar labeled Reclamators 1.15, toggled off the field and launched herself into Miguel. You know about us desperate women don’t you. Get out of this one. As they both were dissolved in the doorway with no time to scream.

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Chapter 3: The proper way to talk to oneself.

When I was back in my quarters I responded to the…being. We need to have some ground rules. During my relationships, you will find something else to do and give me some privacy. If you continue to be a dickhead I will eventually resort to self-harm to rid myself of your presence. Do you understand?

"Oh I understand what you want. I’ll see about accommodating you when it suits us. Don’t forget that I can go mental also and you might be impressed by the number of mental ailments to which my species were susceptible. We might even create some new ailment in your species with a little manipulation. In your slang the point is you’re not the boss of me."

What do you call yourself, since I’ve never asked?

"I don’t have a name you would understand, and I don’t care to spend the effort teaching you. However I think we should be called Dr. Abrams. I like that name because it’s simple and will remind you that something has changed forever in your life."

Being called by my middle name is going to do all that?

"I believe it will be enough to behavior-modify you right now."

I opened my eyes and realized I was on my back, on the floor. What did you do?

"I did a little neural programming to insure you do something I like, not to worry. Shall we get ready for sleep Dr. Abrams?"

I think that is an excellent idea.

When I awoke in the morning I barely remembered arguing with the entity and not what it was about. I hoped I would be able to recognize when it was attempting to control me.

I cleaned up, dressed and ate breakfast without speaking to a soul. When I was about to enter the lab a tech greeted me, Good morning Doctor Focsile, how did you sleep?

Please call me Dr. Abrams; I don’t much care for my last name. What the hell just came out of my mouth? The tech looked at me like she’d love to pour acid into my cereal and I empathized. I can hear it now, That guy is a total asshole. What did I tell Etresca to call me? God, that’s going to eat at me all day now, Actually, please call me Robert, there is no need to be so formal. I slept fine and you? Oh my God, I hope that was the save I thought it was. She loosened up and smiled at me again.

I slept fine, thank you for asking?

As she walked away I hoped that my relief of tension had gone unnoticed. I abandoned my gawking perch by the door and moved to my lab bench. I spent the remainder of the day programming nanites to regulate hormones for neural activity. I lost about three hours of work time and couldn’t remember what I had done. A new stasis jar with a new batch of reclamators was in front of me on the bench and I had no idea how they had gotten there. Did you do that? The asshole did not answer.

Since I was so tunneled into my work these days I had set a pad alarm for the end of shift. When it went off I noticed that I had an email from security. It was from Etresca, which gave me a warm feeling inside.

Etresca: Tomorrow can we meet at the air reclamation hydroponics atrium? I will make us a picnic and can you bring desert. Say 1830?

My Reply: Absolutely. You like chocolate right?

Etresca: That will do. See you then.

I remembered to store the nanites I’d been working on in a stasis jar and I closed down for the night. I scooped up my pad and headed for the canteen lounge with a spring in my step. Etresca met me there and we had a lovely evening which ended with a kiss.

The next morning I arrived at the lab to find security, including Etresca had taped off the area. There was a shrinking puddle of blood on the floor of the doorway and several forensic types were wandering around the benches looking but not touching, smart guys.

Officers, what has happened here and may I be of assistance?

Etresca’s supervisor I assume answered, One of your lab techs died here last night and we don’t know yet if it was an accident, suicide or murder. Can you help our forensic guys identify some things, Dr. Focsile?

Yes, of course and please call me Dr. Abrams I don’t really like my last name. That little bullshit that is emanating from my mouth is going to get me a reputation. I imagine there will be some restroom wall tags addressing it unless I’m overinflating my importance in people’s lives.

I wandered over to the first tech and asked if he had any questions. The tech seemed puzzled by a tray of half eaten food that had been left on the bench. Do your people normally eat in this lab? I thought this was a quarantine risk lab.

I don’t permit people to eat in this lab when I catch them. Did your security cameras identify who was eating, was it the victim?

Now, we’ve not got any recordings from the time the food was brought into the lab through the time the body was discovered in real time. We don’t have enough people to watch all of the video feeds all of the time and this circuit has developed a virus that ate a lot of recordings over the last several days. This kind of thing sort of makes one suspicious.

Who was the dead person?

We don’t know; there was just a puddle of goo when we arrived, and it’s still shrinking. We’ve taken quarantine samples and as a safety precaution irradiated the puddle with ultraviolet radiation just in case any of your little buggers were in there.

We’ll need to hit it with Gamma too if there are any nanites in the puddle.

I wasn’t aware that they were so robust and that’s not in the quarantine protocol.

The revision was supposed to be published today.

Etresca’s boss spoke up then, Doctor…Abrams, if you would be so kind in the future please post updated protocols immediately upon discovery of a new containment risk and don’t worry about the wording. I will have that rule up within an hour. Seems I’ve helped him form an opinion of me. Great!

I looked around the lab to see if any stasis containers were missing or damaged. I had forgotten about a project I had done a month ago the habitat authority for the reclamation of dead bodies. Nanites that were programmed to recycle dead bodies and put the resources back into the habitat stores. Not food, that would be disgusting. Water and minerals only, all organics were broken down and composted into the hydroponics