The Core

The air in Knowhere particularly in The Core was sterile and overly processed but it carried with it a cool, sweetness that made one feel alive and invigorated the senses.

Aaron seldom visited The Core because he had a habit of getting lost in some project or another and before he knew it days had gone by but luckily due to Knowhere's Time Dilation Effect days spent in Knowhere only amounted to just a handful of seconds or if he got really carried away a few minutes.

It was not an exaggeration to say that standing in The Core was like standing inside his own brain as its systems contained multiple secure back-ups of Aaron's mind. Every thought, Every Emotion, Every Sensory Detail of his Life from before his birth to the present were archived here in The Core's Datatrax and updated in real-time from one micro-second to the next through his Link with Gog. It was also the birthplace of Gog and where everything that constituted the essence of The A.I. was stored and protected like the irreplaceable treasure it was.

Looking down at the floor Aaron could feel the power of Knowhere humming beneath his feet. It was more than a mere feeling of course because beneath The Main Console was a massive network of more than 3,000 extremely advanced Thermonuclear Reactors. Each one capable of harnessing power equivalent to the total output of 1 million suns for a period of three centuries every Zeptosecond (one sextillionth of a second). Each of the colossal machines was set in a series of 754 quadrigeminal (fourfold) arrangements with each set of four forming a cube roughly 200 miles on each side. For the most part they were self-serviced and self-maintained but should more hands on measures be required there were underneath the floor plates and behind the bulkheads a maze of Jefferies Tubes, Emergency Access Conduits, and Maintenance Shafts covering an area totaling 27,152,533 Square Kilometers (or 10,483,651 Square Miles; The combined total area of Russia, The United States, and The United Kingdom).

It had taken quite some time to build but luckily time was of an abundance in Knowhere and it wasn't as though Aaron had to do everything himself. The machinery was as much biological as technological and as such it was able to grow and develop on its own without any necessary direction from Aaron. The instructions regarding its purpose and its creator's expectations were coded at the molecular level in its CNA (CyberNucleic Algorithms), hard-coded design schematics analogous to the genetic material of most carbon-based living beings though stored within the device in question using multiple methods including biological, electrical, and quantum mechanical transcription.

This had been the beginning of Knowhere. It had started with a space no bigger than a small broom closet but over time as Aaron had developed the power source that drove Knowhere it had grown into The Gigantic Scientific Marvel that it was now. It never failed to inspire awe no matter how many times he saw it or how long he stayed in Knowhere but as much as he enjoyed just standing and gazing at its sublime beauty Aaron had come here for a purpose and now that he had the tool that would make the work he had in mind possible on a more reasonable timescale than was previously possible he was anxious to get started.

Aaron strolled leisurely over to The Hexagonal-Shaped Control Console in the center of the huge room which was divided into six different stations with discrete functions. Aaron stopped at The Science Station, bent down and looked into the Science Scope, part electron microscope and part computer display, extending out of the station before flipping one of the toggle switches on the station. There was a whining beep then a robotic voice with a vaguely Feminine cadence spoke., "Awaiting Orders."

"Show me computer elements 009 through 095.," Asked Aaron not looking up from the scope as he adjusted the magnification with a control knob on the side. It took Aaron only a matter of seconds to find what he was looking for and he studied the magnified image of computer element 087 intently for several minutes before looking up from the scope and blinking several times.

"First I need to bypass the primary, secondary, and tertiary control circuits...," Said Aaron to no one in particular as he flipped several switches and pressed a series of buttons, Readjusting The Divider Circuit each time he bypassed a set of Control Circuits., "... After all we don't want any accidents while I'm working on the console."

Once Aaron was sure that it was safe to continue he used the Multi-Probe to loosen The Microconnectors holding The Station's panel in place but in order to access the delicate inner workings of the station it was first necessary to cut through the Ionic Membranes protecting them but before Aaron could do that he had to adjust their molecular structure because the membranes while thinner than a molecule were may times stronger than steel with the ability to absorb and ameliorate excess heat and energy. This wasn't difficult since it was he that encoded the molecules of the membranes in the first place and with The Multi-Probe in hand nothing could have been simpler.

Since the membranes were normally self-renewing, Aaron suspended their ability to regenerate before he began cutting through the various membranous layers. The sight of what lay beneath would have been a shock to most people... people not Aaron of course.

As Aaron cleared away the remnants of The Ionic Membranes it became clear that The Central Control Console was technorganic despite its external appearance to the contrary, Being closer to Leviathan, Cybertronian, and Borg Technology than that of The Time Lords. While removing the membranes, Aaron's hand brushed past a bank of microprocessors but there was something odd about them as they squirmed and vibrated, a number of thin, twisting Pseudopods reaching out towards his hand.

They were actually alive, Living Liquidacious Organic Multiprocessors based on Symbiote Biology, One of Aaron's first attempts at biological engineering and an immensely successful one as well. There was a brief tingle as the tiny pseudopods made contact with Aaron's little finger.

Aaron could feel a sensation of warmth as the small but vaguely intelligent multiprocessors tried to connect with his central nervous system and communicate with him directly. Aaron pulled his hand away causing a number of the tiny psuedopods to snap and evaporate. This form of direct communication was nothing new to Aaron. He had experienced it before and he found the whole phenomenon a fascinating one as the symbiote-based multiprocessors spoke not in words or in sound at all for the most part but in images pulled from Aaron's own mind and in vivid colors that symbolized emotion or some relative state of mind. However, Aaron couldn't let himself get distracted which happened quite often when he was in The Core.

Aaron steadied himself and pushed on with the work.

Beneath The Exo-Plating of the Station Console were networks of Toubray Neural Tissue storing liquid nutrients interwoven with Microcircuit fibers and Bio-Synthetic Organs.

The first thing Aaron did was to trace the main circuit pathways to a cluster of pulsating, partially organic bio-organs which he gently pushed out of the way using his hands, revealing a small, throbbing mass in the upper left corner of the console that glowed with a constantly shifting pattern of multi-colored circuit-like lights. This peculiar piece of technology was part of The Telepathic Induction Circuits and was responsible for connecting Aaron to The Thought Web which in turn connected him through The Core's Main Control Console to every corner of Knowhere and made it possible for him to alter or manipulate it at will. Also by constantly scanning Aaron's brainwaves he could travel to any of the separately contained dimensions that served as the various floors of Knowhere at a moments notice.

"This Is Long Overdue.," Thought Aaron as he pressed the Multi-Probe against the pulsing mass where it emitted a whirling hum. Instantly the circuit-like patterns of light began to flash faster until they were practically just a blur but a couple of seconds later the flashing started to slow down and eventually returned to normal., "There!... That's So Much Better. Now I Won't Have To Put Up With That Annoying Background Static From The Thought Web Anymore."

Aaron had been meaning to do that for a long time but the problem was there were no tools capable of the kind of precision that was necessary even in Aaron's miraculous workshop, however, The Multi-Probe was already proving itself to be the answer to many of his current problems.

Next Aaron switched off the flow of Tetrogenic Coolants, turned and walked over to the nearest wall to him and placed his hand on one of the rounded panels and spoke in a loud voice., "Open Roundel Hub X-23, Priority Access Aaron 1-3-7."

The Rounded Panel or Roundel as Aaron called it began to glow and little by little the glow intensified even as the light's coverage shrank from encompassing the entire Roundel to Aaron's hand then to a faint red glow from beneath his fingers. The Roundel hissed and Aaron removed his hand and stood to the side as the panel extended from the wall to reveal a cylindrical storage space from which Aaron removed a tray of small metallic objects set in rows with the largest of these objects being as long as Aaron's thumb and the smallest the size of the nail of his little finger. Each of these objects regardless of size looked identical to the others on the tray. They were smooth and shiny, roughly cylindrical and tapered in the middle.

Aaron regarded them briefly. The objects in question were Fluid Links which functioned like Synapses in The Brain. They were made of a special nanopolymer-alloy matrix with an array of useful properties including being as malleable as gold and as impenetrable as reinforced carbon-steel with one-eighth the weight of aluminum and capable of withstanding extremely high pressures and temperatures.

Satisfied that The Fluid Links would suit his needs well enough after a few modifications he took them, The Roundel closed behind him as Aaron walked along the wall until he reached a spot where there were no Roundels and waited. Less than a second later, The wall opened to reveal a hidden room or... a workshop to be more precise... lined with benches and shelves. There was every tool an engineer might wish for and a few Aaron had designed himself for purposes which current Human science had no means to use but which Aaron found infinitely useful in his work.

Also in the room were a series of work stations and tables suitable for various types of work. Aaron sat the tray down on the nearest table and placed his Multi-Probe down on the table beside it before heading over to the farthest wall in which there was a slot. As Aaron approached the computer slot lit up, Aaron paused in front of it and spoke., "Computer... Give Me A Raspberry-Guava Juice at three degrees Celsius please."

Replicators like Transporters were known to Human Science for quite some time but were nearly impossible to use on Earth because of the interference caused by The Electromagnetic Shield designed to replace the fading Ozone Layer and The Neutron Jammers buried deep in The Earth's crust during one of Mankind's Many Wars. However, Because Knowhere existed in another dimension outside of normal space and time Aaron could enjoy the privileges of a Food Replicator which one could normally only find on either a Starship or certain space colonies.

There was a melodic hum as the glass with the requested beverage materialized inside the slot in front of Aaron. Aaron lifted the glass to his lips to take a drink and exclaimed in a pleased voice., "Perfect."

Aaron took the glass with him as he walked over to a row of locked electronic cabinets not far away. He sat his drink down and opened one of the locked cabinets and removed a device that looked similar to a blood pressure monitor consisting of a small digital computer and display connected to a length of tubing with a rigid band at the end with a series of buttons and a small read-out screen on it.

Aaron ran a systems test on the device then headed back to the table where he had left the tray. Aaron removed his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair before rolling up his sleeve. Next Aaron activated the device he'd removed from the cabinet, unspooled the tubing and unsnapped the band which he placed around his arm, snapping it together with a loud click from the band and a sharp hiss from Aaron himself.

Aaron looked down at his arm as a drop of glittering bright red blood made its way down his arm. Aaron attached three empty vials to the side of the device then pressed a series of buttons on the band then a button on the device's control panel. Aaron sucked in a breath through his teeth and balled up his fist as the clear tube began to slowly fill with his blood on its way to the device where it was processed then recirculated back into Aaron's blood stream. This process was repeated five times over the course of four minutes. A red light in the top right corner of the device blinked rapidly and Aaron pushed a button, turning the device off then he removed the cuff. The veins in his upper arm were distended... purple... and there was a faint trace of blood on his pale skin where the cuff had drawn his blood.

Aaron removed the vials from the device only now instead of being empty they were filled with a mercury-like substance filtered from Aaron's own blood. Aaron held one of the vials up to the light and shook it, listening to the almost musical sound the heavier metal particles made as they clinked against the inside of the vial. Aaron let out a sigh.

"No Matter How Many Times I Do This It Always Makes Me Feel Tired.," Thought Aaron as he pressed a button on the work table and a large square section of it slid back and an instrument resembling a high-powered electron resonance microscope combined with several pieces of advanced equipment including a probe analyzer, holographic magnifier, dimensional revisualizer, and a computer display rose up out of it then beside it appeared a biocomputer, a sophisticated information storage and processing device.

"4-3-1-1-5.," Aaron half-mumbled as he input the numbers into the computer., "5-5-5-1-1-3-6-8-9-2."

Feeling thirsty Aaron reached for his drink but it wasn't there. Aaron tried the other side of the table but still no luck. After blindly feeling around for a while Aaron looked up in frustration from the imaging scope he was using to examine the various Fluid Links in more detail, take measurements, and run calculations only to find that the drink he had replicated was no where to be found. Aaron was so focused on what he was doing that it took him several seconds to realize., "That's Right!," Aaron thought as he mentally retraced his steps., "I Remember Now... I Set My Drink Down To Get The Type-D Retro-Transfuser From Storage and Didn't Bring It With Me When I Sat Down."

"How Annoying.," Exclaimed Aaron in an annoyed voice as he glanced over toward the table where he had left the cool and refreshing glass of Raspberry-Guava Juice but it was nowhere to be found. Aaron couldn't understand it., "I Know I Left It Right There."

Aaron was at a loss to explain what went with the drink... that is until he tasted the tart Raspberry washing over his tongue and felt the cool replicated glass against his lips. In surprise, Aaron looked down and found that he was not only holding the glass of juice but without realizing it he was taking a drink.

"Get A Hold of Yourself Aaron.," Aaron tried to settle himself down., "Gog..."

"Yes Father!," Came Gog's chipper voice over the internal communication system., "How Can I Assist You?"

"Please show me the last four minutes."

"As You Wish.," The Pixieish A.I. replied instantly as a section of the wall beside The Replicator Panel slid to the side to reveal a large screen. Aaron watched as he saw himself looking back at himself only to see himself turn back to the table. Aaron watched patiently as the sequence of events rewound back to the requested time. The images on the screen stopped right where Aaron had been examining the fluid links with the scope and froze momentarily before things started to move forward again.

Aaron watched in disbelief as he saw himself on the screen feeling around for his glass of juice before realizing that he had left it on the table across the room. Then... and this was the part that Aaron was having trouble with... He watched as he got up and retrieved the troublesome glass of juice and returned to his workstation before... apparently becoming lost in thought.

Aaron obviously had no memory of getting up and getting his drink nor of setting back down again with it in his hand. It was all very disconcerting to say the least.

Aaron finished off the juice before setting the empty glass down which seemed to evaporate into particles of light only a few moments later. Aaron was about to make further inquiries about the strange occurrence but he stopped himself., "I Don't Have Time For This... The Coolant System Can Only Remain Off For An Hour Before It Begins To Automatically Recirculate The Coolants. The Adjustments Will Take About Twenty Minutes and I'll Only Have Thirty Minutes To Install The Fluid Links Before They're Rendered Useless and I Have To Start All Over... So I Really Don't Have The Time To Waste On Another Mystery."

Deciding on his course of action, Aaron quickly went about getting The Fluid Links modified and ready to be installed.

Author's Note: Hey everybody! I just wanted to let you know that the reason this release took so long is unfortunately due to Deaths in The Family and I will be taking a hiatus to deal with certain issues that have arisen but I hope to be back and writing before the end of the year so to all of you who enjoy The Story rest assured Apex is not being dropped and it will continue barring my own untimely **** or some debilitating injury.

So until my triumphant return I hope you enjoy this chapter and look forward to more to come.

Sincerely, Marcus Dark