Ex Nihilo - Abyssal Prophecy

Chapter 19

Inside the laboratory, large machines churned, hummed, and beeped away at their tasks. The floors and walls were pristine and the room full of a faint smell of disinfectants. Lord Galen led Dhakan and Matthew into his private sanctum.

            “Don’t mind the mess,” he said, pointing at his clutter. “I was in the middle of running an experiment before the chaos happened. I should be expecting results soon.”

Dhakan approached the table to look over the datapads. He was able to ascertain the nature of the experiment from the datapads’ various notes.Lord Galen motioned to Matthew to follow him to a medical bed.

            “Please lie down, Matthew, and I can begin installing your neural implant.”

            “Is this going to hurt much?” Matthew asked worriedly.

            Climbing on the bed, Matthew tried to still his rapid heartbeat and focused instead on slow breathing. Galen pulled up the implantation routine on the computer screen, and with a few commands, a pair of arms dangling from the ceiling sprang to life. One of the arms injected Matthew with a sedative before he could react.

            Matthew felt a strange sensation creeping through his veins. His eyes grew heavy, the room seemed distant, and he was unable to keep his head up. He glanced over to Lord Galen for help, but nothing came out of his mouth.

            “Don’t fret. It was just an anaesthetic for the surgery. You’ll only be out for twenty minutes, and during that time, this machine will install your neural implant. When you wake up, I’ll walk you through everything.”

The monitors slowing his vitals dictated it was time to start the second phase. He activated the surgical implantation procedure.

            The machine’s arms rolled Mathew over and began extracting a metallic liquid from a container that was then injected. On the screen, the new nanomachines began to report their spread through the vascular system and began constructing what appeared to be nanoproduction factories.

“Is this part of the ascension protocol?” Dhakan asked.

            “No, it's part of an experiment I am testing, and, until now, I didn’t have a willing subject to test it upon.”

            “Isn’t using an experimenting without consent unethical?”  

“Ethics don’t matter to true science. These nanomachines I’ve built are far greater than the limited ones the Ancients used. I am advancing science by God knows how much, and I assure you I’ve fully tested these new nanomachines, so it doesn’t matter whether Matthew knows or even agrees. It’s not like his father would care if this procedure killed him--but it won’t.”

            “What exactly are these neural implants?” Dhakan looked over the screen. This was something new to him, and he intended to learn it to bring back to the Serpentines.

            “They’re small machines implanted in the cerebellum that translate the brain to computer language and vice versa. Unfortunately, our resources are low and so they are quite difficult to make. I am hoping the new energy-to-matter converters will help me make more. Only then can I ensure every person on the ship has one.” Lord Galen glanced at the screen and then back to the large arm retrieving the neural implant from a jar of fluid, which was quickly and efficiently implaned in the back of Matthew’s neck.

            Dhakan had only seen technology like this amongst the W’Hyish S’yevel, and they never let aliens see them work up close before.  “That was quite something, Lord Galen. Your people have managed to hold onto the Ancients’ knowledge, which was lost to the rest of the Great Maw. My people were once the height of technological innovation before the Great War, but since then, we’ve had to rebuild. Perhaps you’d be willing to explain your nanomachine research to me.”

            “I have no problem sharing my knowledge with a fellow scientist.” Lord Galen activated a holographic display in the center of the table to illustrate.

“These machines are quite fascinating,” Dhakan hissed with pleasure. “It looks like the mimic viral cells in co-opting an organism’s healthy cell. What is the purpose of this?”

“Ah you’ve found my contribution to these potent little machines. Most nanomachines only effect cellular repair, help with bodily functions, and carry resources like chemicals to aid in bodily functioning. My nanomachines will co-opt the cellular function to prevent aging during cellular division, and they are only about a thousand percent more effective than their predecessors. Matthew here will age about two or three more years before the process is complete. Once the nanomachines have activated they will render him ageless.” Lord Galen gloated. “You are quite brilliant, Lord Galen,” Dhakan focused on studying the technology. He had no qualms about stealing this information for his people.

            On the bed, Matthew’s eyes fluttered open. All he could feel was a burning sensation in the back of his neck. He was still unable to move well. He stared up at the ceiling, listening to the two scientists talking about Lord Galen’s many experiments.

            Lord Galen led his guest through his experiments one by one. He quite enjoyed the positive attention Dhakan was giving him. No one outside of the Fleshweavers had any interest in his works, but everyone seemed to rely on his genius. It was a pleasant feeling to be appreciated, and he didn’t want it to end quite yet. He opened the containers to show his guest the newest designed and research on cybernetic prosthetics.

            “It is strange that my crewmates believe you to be such savages. Lord Genji and his people the DeVayne would be angered to see all this. They pride themselves on being the most advanced species in the Great Maw,” Dhakan explained.

            Oddy, Lord Galen  felt more friendship with this alien than most of the crew.

            Sitting up, Matthew felt his senses blur, and he clung to the medical bed for stability. In his mind, he heard a throng of voices coming, and it caused him further disorientation. Focusing on the sound of people, he realized his neural implant was connected to the network. Without intending to, he shut it off, and the voices faded.

            “You need to take it easy, Matthew.” Lord Galen rushed to his patient.

            “I am fine, Lord Galen. Just need to move around a bit to get my bearings. Everything seems so strange right now.”

            “Your implant is creating new neural pathways in your brain. That will pass in a few days, but it’ll become more bearable in the next few minutes. You might have the occasional headache, and if they linger longer than twenty-four hours, you need to notify me.”

            Matthew walked a few steps with Lord Galen's help to regain his balance and confidence. Many strange sensations washed over him. His muscles seemed stronger, and everything seemed more vivid. Even when he recalled old memories, the images seemed stronger and had more detail. With soaring confidence, Matthew pushed Lord Galen away..

            “Am I free to go now?” Matthew asked.

            “Of course you are. This isn’t a prison.” Lord Galen laughed at his own joke.

            “I should probably leave you to your work, Lord Galen. Thank you so much for sharing this with me, and I look forward to spending more time with you. Matthew, perhaps you could escort me?” Dhakan asked.

            “Of course.” He headed to the door.

            Lord Galen waved goodbye to his new friend Dhakan. At least he had managed to do a full biometric scan of the Serpentine before he left. His unique biology presented several fascinating studies, and his mind raced with endless possibilities.

            “I do hope you come back to visit me, Dhakan, as I enjoyed our time together.”

            Heading to his private office, Lord Galen sat down and opened his desk. Producing a scrambler unit, he placed it on the desk and activated it. Once the machine was humming at full power, he activated his communicator and waited for the line to pick up.

            “Lord Galen, I assume you have something to report?” Lord Drumpf asked.

            “I have succeeded in installing my experimental nanomachines and, through them, the hidden neural command you requested. Matthew is active and just waiting for the right moment. Everything is proceeding according to our plans.” Lord Galen smiled.

            “Have you had any success in discovering who was behind the hack during the meeting?”

            “No, I haven’t been able to determine anything. The message was bounced throughout the ship, and the data was intentionally destroyed. I am trying to reconstruct the fragments, but it’s going to take time. Does Lord Whelsey believe we are working together?”

            “Of course not. He thinks I am his willing puppet and servant, and that I hold God in the highest reverence. Those who lie are the easiest to deceive, for they deceive themselves first.” Lord Drumpf smiled. “Don’t fret. All is going according to my plans, but we’ll talk again soon.”

            Cutting the transmission, Lord Drumpf turned to look down upon his ward. Repair crews were working under emergency lighting to restore power. Approaching thuds made him turn. He smiled to see Commander Lance carrying a small box that he set on the desk in front of his lord. Lord Drumpf opened the box and removed a small mechanical device.

            “This device is similar to what was used to hack the meeting, my lord,” Commander Lance reported. “To my knowledge, there are only two of these devices on the ship, but possibly three. It’s hard to determine. The original wardens used them to manipulate prisoner minds in neural space, but they are also a powerful spying tool. They can not only create or destroy memories in the neural network of the brain but also do the same within cyberspace. I believe whoever was behind the meeting used this.”

            Lord Drumpf admired how something so dangerous could look so harmless. He fondled the device, deciding whom he’d test this on. It had to be someone strong of will but not too valuable. He smiled wickedly.

“Who did you get this device from?” he asked.

“Lady Marimba. She claims to use it on audiences to heighten the reaction to her dramatic moments in her plays.”

Lord Drumpf looked at the device. He was tired of living in the shadows of this intrigue, and even more tired of being Lord Whelsey’s willing pawn. With a motion of his hand, he sent Commander Lance away.

            Lady Nemesis and Lady Clotho were playing their own game. Kain was likely playing a game to protect his father. And, of course, Lord Whelsey had his plans involving rescuing his daughter. It was time to leave the shadows and enter the game.

The lights above his ward flickered to life, and this was a clear sign that God was favouring  his machinations.