Cybernetics

Dustin had gathered a small group in Defia’s lab. The rogue Fractal was there already of course; in the immediate silence following her reveal of the semi-organic nature of the sample she’d taken, he’d asked her to wait while he got a few of the others. Joining them, Rye and Bleu eyed the vat with varying levels of concern.

“Ya sure this thing is contained, Fi-oh?” the Rabyth asked, not taking her eyes off the steadily flowing liquid that was still circulating around cleanly behind the glass of the tank wall.

The Fractal shrugged. “Statement. It is as well contained as we are able to make it with our current level of resource. It is also badly degraded after the time spent in the transportation cylinder. We are at little risk of it causing issues in this current state. Addendum. Initial inspection indicates that it is unlikely to be able to exhibit the runaway growth needed for it to pose a significant threat later on either; neither the Fractal nor organic mass can reproduce sufficiently as far as I can tell.”

Bleu looked up at that point from where she’d been reviewing the synthetic woman’s notes. “I have to agree with her analysis, Rye, although I do rather wish she’d brought us in sooner. Leaving aside the risks, this is a fascinating piece of what is essentially extremely advanced cybernetics. We could learn an awful lot from whatever the Durathisians have done to get this strange hybrid organism to work.”

That seemed as good a point as any for Dustin to interject his own thoughts into the conversation. “That is more or less why I called you both here. Star Command are going to want to research this stuff as soon as we let them know about it; we’d already told them we obtained samples, but this is something else entirely. Before they do, I want you three to try and get as much out of it as possible. If we can get it to the point where we can maintain our own research samples as well, then make it happen - Defia, you said something about a nutrient blend to encourage growth?”

Sometime later, after Dustin had excused himself to go and check in with the rest of their lovers, the trio sat on the floor of the lab. Rye grimaced as she stared at some of the data Defia had gathered before rubbing a hand over her face. “We gotta figure out a way of getting snacks and supplies in here safely. This is making my head hurt just looking at it; the stuff that makes up your kind is wacky enough as it is Fi-oh, but this? It’s something else. Do ya see the way the two materials aren’t consistently integrated? It’s not as simple as just a cybernetic graft to bond flesh to metal.”

Bleu nodded, her own tablet in hand. “Quite. The two materials appear to be grown together, a true symbiosis. That is fascinating in itself; it almost looks as if the harvestable Fractal mass is a byproduct of the growth process. If we can figure out how exactly they’ve achieved it, we might be able to revolutionize a whole range of fields. Could you imagine growing materials rather than having to harvest them? Quasi-biological… or would they be botanical? I should speak with Meli about that… in any case, quasi-organic starships that eat asteroids and grow their own spare parts…”

Defia nodded throughout the discussion, her thoughts elsewhere entirely. “Statement. It has many applications. Addendum. Do you think it might also provide some hints towards a method of determining an answer to Dustin’s question about my condition during the unexplained transit?”

Rye shrugged. “Might do. What do ya think, bubbles?”

The medic didn’t look up from the tablet as she replied. “Potentially. Although, I did mean to ask you about that, Rye. We have an option neither of us thought of exploring, assuming Defia and either Dustin or Sammie are willing to take the risk.” When neither of the other women replied, Bleu glanced up to find them both looking at her with quizzical looks on their faces. “Oh… Right, I should explain. Well, you remember we discussed the option of just putting Defia in a weave harness and then discounted it due to the loss of connectivity issue? Early experiments with AI cores indicated that synthetic life connecting to the weave loses the ability to find a way out, which would lead to Defia becoming trapped.”

“Statement-inquiry. What? Why are you raising this now, Bleu?” Defia asked, eyes narrowing at the suggestion of something that was so obviously a non-starter.

Raising an azure hand, Bleu gestured vaguely. “I know it sounds foolish… suicidal, even. But I was getting frustrated with the lack of progress and went back over those old reports and every single time it was a solo dive. None of the cores were functional lifeforms in the way Defia is, and certainly not functional enough to allow for a dual-dive the way Dustin and Sammie do. I think that if we adapt the weave-arms we should be able to build a simplified version that would let Defia piggy-back on one of the others; she’d not get a full dive so we could pull her out if things go wrong, but we’d be able to see if she can touch the weave at least.”

Rye frowned. “You’re talking about some fairly heavy modifications. I don’t think even I can make it work without a serious amount of tech we just… don’t… have…” she trailed off, staring at the vat containing the raw Fractal mass. “Fi-oh… do you think you’ll be able to get more of that stuff produced? And if so, what are the odds you’ll be able to command it to form structures?”

Defia glanced where Rye was looking. “Statement. Assuming the symbiotic mass does not cause complications, I believe it to be highly possible. What are you thinking, Rye?”

The bunny girl shrugged. “Fractal mass is incredibly versatile. I should be able to repurpose a few bits and pieces if I can get some material that’ll hold up to the stresses we’d be throwing at it - and if we reinforce with the mass then I should be able to manage to build you a weave-headset that’d work for this crazy plan bubbles has come up with. Honestly, the hardest part is going to be giving it enough juice to start the process without flipping ya over into a full weave-dive.”

At that point, Rye paused and shook her head. “That can wait though. Dusty wanted us all working on getting your Fractal pet in the fishtank over there up and running, so that takes priority. Besides, we need that running to produce enough mass so that I can stand any chance at all of making the kit we’ll need, right? The idea of a dual dive is a path forward though, good shout Bleu.”

The medic nodded, then rose from the floor. “Alright. Well, I’m going to go and get us some food from Naera. We need to eat, and I don’t know about you, Rye, but I don’t think we’ll be leaving the lab except to sleep for a while…”

Dustin lay on his back in the ambassadorial bedroom, Emely curled in to one side and Jaisyl on the other. Staring up at the ceiling, he sighed. “I think I may have made a mistake in getting those three working together on this whole Fractal business.”

Emely shifted slowly, glancing up at him with a displeased expression. “I did not leave my nest on the promise of snuggles for you to become mister doubting-his-decisions, sir. They’ll be fine. Yes, I know they’re staying down there working, but it’s not the first time one or other of us gets stuck handling something and doesn’t make it up to the bedroom. Besides, it’s not like everyone else is here either, Meli and Trea’k are with the children, and Yaerwen’s keeping Sammie company on the bridge. The only others who are actually here are…” she was interrupted by a giggling moan from the other side of the chamber, where the other two occupants had moved earlier in the night.

“More snuggles, less worry” Jaisyl muttered, nuzzling in against Dustin’s shoulder and making it very clear that she too was of the opinion that he was overthinking things. The trio had originally curled up together because Jaisyl had wanted hugs, and had then rather nervously offered for Emely to join them; Dustin had gone along with the idea without too much resistance, the softness of his lovers on either side usually making for a good night’s sleep.

“You’re right. I just worry whenever any of you get too focussed on work, especially when I feel it’s my fault. But nothing I can do about it now, right? I should focus on what I have in the here and now more.” Dustin said with a smile, before leaning down to kiss Emely’s forehead. A petulant huff chilled the back of his neck and he chuckled before turning to his other partner. “You’ll get kisses too, don’t worry. Do try and be patient, princess.”