Nellie and the Nanites - Bk2 - Ch.40

Chapter 40

Last-second change of plans

“Aww, come on!” Jo-Ban said as he ran alongside Nellie. “Just a few.”

“I am not giving you nanites, Jo,” Nellie said for the fifth time.

“What about all that not hiding stuff?” JoJo insisted. “Come on. Nothing says you're done hiding like a totally badass new drone!”

Nellie found herself laughing despite her frustration.

“See!” JoJo leaped on the sign of weakness. “I’m already a cyborg; why not go the whole way and make me a badass nanited drone?”

“Jo, if you became a drone, I could order you to do ANYTHING, get it?” Nellie tried playing her trump card. “You get that?”

“So?” JoJo was now running backward in front of her. “People have been making me do shit my whole life. At least this time, it would be worth it!”

“Go ask Lucy,” Nellie said shamelessly.

“See, now she is totally unreasonable about it!” JoJo got a pained look. “Last time I bugged her about it, she made my legs fall off!”

“He had been talking non-stop for three hours,” Lucy whispered in her ear. “It was that or strangle him.”

“That’s your answer then,” Nellie shrugged and walked on toward the open hangar door. Inside were the wounded who had lost limbs. Each one had volunteered to have synthetic limbs fitted. That was what had led to JoJo’s current bout of begging.

“Look at this,” He said, shaking his head. “I’m totally losing my edge.”

“Okay, if you stop nagging, I’ll at least think about it,” Nellie said in desperation.

“It’s not nagging, it's persuading, and you have a deal!” JoJo beamed and raced off out the door, whooping about how he was going to be a drone.

“We could leave him behind,” Lucy said as she walked over from where she had been applying the finishing touches to several patients at once. “Do you really want to be stuck in a sealed space with that kid for what could be months?” She was joking, but it was a real worry. Salem and Remy had a bet going that she would nanite him just to remove his mouth in under a month.

“Come here, Oodles! Mummy missed you!” Nellie said as she wandered down into Lucy’s nest of secret projects. It had been too long since she was able to openly pet the little Ooze as the rarity would draw the wrong kind of attention.

There was a loud gurgle from a distant corridor, and Nellie headed that way only to find her mouth dropping open as she stepped into an underground garden.

“Oodles?” She called, only to squeak in shock as the entire garden moved. Flowers started to wiggle as she realized what she was seeing.

The entire room was full of Oozes. Each and every single one had some sort of plant growing in them. A familiar flower, much larger than before and orchid-like, complete with leaves and small buds, wiggled through the throng and chirped at her.

“Oodles!” She crouched down and gasped as the last of the Oozes moved aside.

Her Oodles was five times the size he was before, but there were even more changes than that. As she watched, it changed shape, a pair of stubby legs and arms growing out as the rest became something vaguely like a torso. The flower seemed to serve as the head as it waddled forward and reached its arms up in the universal sign language for ‘pick me up.’

Nellie gently reached out and held her hands together. It poured into her hands and reformed.

“Hey, there!” She said happily. “Did you find some friends?”

“It’s the plants,” Lucy said from inside her ear. “Don’t ask me how, but it seems to give them the ability to create little mini-oozes. This lot took a while, and each one had to have a plant to grow. It is completely bizarre.”

“You don’t know how it works?” Nellie sub-vocalized as Oodles sat in her hands, little tendrils stroking her arms and picking up any bits of dirt they found.

“No idea, and I didn’t want to absorb one to find out,” Lucy admitted. “We will have plenty of help cleaning the ship, at least.”

Nellie cradled Oodles to her and smiled around at the room of oozes.

“Who else wants a hug?” She asked brightly and almost drowned in the tidal wave of oozlings.

“About the Exo-Drive,” Lucy said as she sat on the edge of the bed. Nellie had needed a moment after the group hug had caused a few seconds of extreme terror.

“You said you can make one, right?” Nellie asked.

“I can, but why bother,” Lucy grinned. “There should be at least parts from one only a few short miles away.”

“You want to go back out?” Nellie asked. Their last trip had not exactly been a stroll in the park, and she had been looking forward to continuing to hide behind their nanite-strengthened and rebuilt walls.

“Yes,” Lucy said. “That was a warship. It must have some great stuff; the more I analyze, the better we will be. I will be able to make more things as well.”

“Can the shuttle survive another trip?” Nellie asked, looking for an excuse not to go.

“Yeah, about that,” Lucy grinned. “I have something to show you.”

Five minutes later, Nellie stood in the formerly secret hangar, watching the work with wide eyes.

“What is it?” Nellie asked. “How?”

“That,” Lucy said proudly, “Is our new shuttle. Or rather, the old shuttle, plus the big shuttle and a couple of my projects. Then, I put the bits together to match a blueprint I had for secure transport for dangerous areas. What do you think?”

Nellie stared as Tiny moved another section into place, where it began to reshape itself to fit. The telltale wet look showed nanites at work. The new ship was utterly different from anything she had seen. Larger than both shuttles combined, it rose smoothly from one side until it reached a high point and fell away again to meet the other wing. It was almost like a smoothed croissant with several circular panels on each side and a large one on the top in the dead center. As Nellie walked around it, she saw the wide cargo bay with two ramps and heavy-looking doors.

Tiny completed his work on the panel, and it slid aside as he loaded what looked like one of Paren’s laser turrets into it.

Above and to each side of the cargo bay were a trio of large shuttle engines.

“Well?” Lucy was almost jumping up and down in excitement. “What do you think?”

“It’s… gorgeous!” Nellie said in stunned honesty. “I’ve never even…” She grinned.

“It has space for six centrum units, four crew, a full galley, six laser turrets capable of independent fire, a reinforced hull, double shielding, redundant systems, a built-in escape pod, suppression field capabilities, a comm suite, weapons control board, three laser arrays, basically everything we have been able to make or get hold of.” Lucy finished. “Everything we learned since the Bly crashed is right there.”

“What’s she called?” Nellie asked.

“I was thinking, Shuttle Resurgence?” Lucy said timidly.

“Perfect,” Nellie smiled. “So, can I look inside yet?”

Stepping aboard resurgence was unlike any experience in her life. She could feel the nanites in the ship around her responding as she moved, not to mention the lights and screens reacting as she moved. Climbing the ladder from the Cargo bay, she came to a small set of frew bunks with space for three. Across from there was a crew locker, complete with suits and weapons.

“What are these?” Nellie asked as she ran her hand over the shaped metal and enamel painted in black and yellow. “They look smaller than the power armor we have been using.”

“Nanite armor,” Lucy said. “Self-contained, self-repairing, but limited power suit function as they are intended for nanite infused individuals or synthetics only.”

Nellie moved on to the weapons racks. The pistols were smoother and more shaped than the ones she used at the moment, but the twin barrels were there.

“I improved the synthetic-made weapons with modifications taken from fed weaponry. They now have a continuous beam function in addition to the usual fire modes. Increased power as well, but slightly fewer shots before having to change the power packs.” Lucy said, pointing out the changes.

A familiar-looking rifle sat on the next rack, and Nellie smiled as she ran her fingers over the grip. It was mostly the same, except it now had three barrels. Two sat beside each other, while the bottom was much larger.

“Mark Two Nano-Rifle,” Lucy said. “Including a remaining shot readout, as on the original.”

The original one had been based on the Marine Pulse Rifle from a movie she liked back on Earth. This was much better. This was theirs.

“How many of these do we have?” Nellie asked.

“Enough to equip all fifty completed Centrum units, the synthetics, and us,” Lucy said. “We lost twenty Centrum units to the blast and creatures, so we have some spares.”

“Okay,” Nellie said with a nod. “Let’s call a meeting.”

“Why?” Lucy asked, frowning in confusion.

“Because it is time for people to decide to sign on or to leave,” Nellie said with determination.

===<<<>>>===

“Listen up!” Nellie had the nanites boost her voice, making it ring around the yard. “By now, all of you know I have nanites; what you may not know is anything else.” She saw a few heads nodding, others looking relieved, and a few nervous glances. “Well, bad news. You aren’t going to learn that today,” This got a few laughs, “What I am going to tell you is what we plan to do next, so you can either come with us or go over to Duke, maybe even a city.” She said. “First off, we are not just leaving the planet. We are leaving the Sectors for unexplored space. Nanites aren’t welcome here, and I don’t plan to fight them on that. We are leaving and probably not coming back for a very long time.” She noted the ones who started muttering as they were the most likely to leave. “If you want to come with, you will have to get used to taking orders. We want crew, not passengers. Doesn’t matter if you know what to do on a ship; we will teach you anything you need to know. The important point is that Lucy, me, and the others are in charge. Non-negotiable. Can’t take orders? It’s a fucking long walk home from where we are going.” Several more laughs. “If you want to leave, head to the control tower, where Salem will take your info and arrange your trip to Duke’s. If you want to stay? Report to Remy for assignments. You have an hour to decide. Sorry it isn’t more, but we have to get moving if we want to get off this planet.”

A hand went up in the audience.

“Yes?” She asked.

“If we stay, do we get turned into drones?” A man asked.

“No,” Nellie smiled. “Good point, actually. Staying with us does not mean becoming a drone. No one is getting droned.”

“Why not?” JoJo yelled from the back.

“Because I don’t want to,” Nellie said.

“Spoilsport!” JoJo yelled, making everyone laugh.

“Any other questions?” Nellie asked. “Now is the time, people.”

“Are the older generation invited?” Grams yelled.

“If you want to come, sure,” Nellie said.

“What am I supposed to do on a ship?” Grams yelled again.

“Probably the same thing you do here,” Nellie shrugged. “Generally get in everyone's business and make people work together.” That got another round of laughter, especially from Gramps.

An hour later, they had their answer. About forty of their guests had signed on. Only three wanted to leave, and they were people she wasn’t sure she wanted to take anyway. They weren’t bad people; they were just too independent to follow any orders. Even their own half the time.

She was just watching the Resurgence roll out of the hangar while getting used to the feel of the nanite armor when Salem pinged her about the incoming shuttle. The direction alone was enough to tell her it was from Duke’s place, and she was immediately a little guilty that they hadn’t let anyone know they were okay.

To be fair, they really weren’t half the time. Even now the turrets and Centrum units on the walls barely ever stopped firing. Every half hour or so, they had to concentrate fire on something large headed their way. Luckily, the nanites were breaking down the bodies fairly quickly, so at least they weren’t attracting any more with the smell of the dead.

Nellie and Lucy met the shuttle after it was cleared to land. They were both fully armed and armored, flanked by four Centrum units. It wasn’t that they wanted a show of force; it was more that they were just getting ready to head out again… so happy coincidence?

“Sweet vapor trails,” Leo said as he walked down the ramp, Duke and others coming behind him. “Bea, you been holding out on me!”

“Nellie Bonne Chance, nice to meet you properly, Leo.” Nellie smiled and held out a hand.

“No way!” Leo said, shocked. “You’re the Captain of the Bly!” He shook her hand happily. “I’ve seen every scan of the ship. Damn shame to lose her.” He hesitated, “So… nanite infiltrator?”

“Nanites, yes. Infiltrator? Hardly. I can’t wait to get out of this place.” Nellie said as the others filed down the ramp. A large figure in the back stumbled slightly.

“Cap?” Brix called uncertainly.

“Hey, Brix,” Nellie waved. “Long time, no see.”

“Uh,” Brix sat down hard on the ramp. “I just need a second here.”

“You two know each other?” Duke asked, clearly confused.

“Old friends,” Nellie said easily. “He thought I was dead.”

“Your face?” Brix asked.

“Nanites, remember?” She grinned at his shock.

“You are holding?” Duke asked. “The walls held?”

“No,” Lucy said. “But we managed to clear the place and repair them.”

“What is she, and can I have one?” Leo had seen the Resurgence. He looked misty-eyed at it as it glinted in the floodlights. Lucy took him over for a look as Duke drew close to Nellie.

“A word?” He asked.

“Sure,” Nellie nodded, and they walked a little bit away from the others.

“The Feds have fallen,” Duke said simply. “Someone on the inside apparently turned them on each other. I don’t know what exactly happened. All that matters is that they only have two ships left, and in a few days, the evacuation begins, and any ship is cleared to leave.”

“Handy,” Nellie said. “We still have to make it those few days, so let’s not count ourselves out of here just yet.” She clicked her fingers. “Which reminds me, we have three people who want to head your way. Mind taking them with you?”

“What are they like?” Duke asked. “And are those walls higher now, or is it me?”

“Hard working, good people, but they would rather eat their own hands than take orders.” Nellie laughed. “And no comment.”

“Yeah, I’ll take ‘em,” Duke shook his head. “Sure I can’t convince you to come with me?”

Nellie held a brief discussion with Lucy and the others subvocally.

“We’ll head the same way but in our own ship. How’s that sound?” Nellie offered. It was what they had planned anyway. “I’m sure we will be able to help each other out on the other end anyway.”

“I still wish you were with me,” Duke admitted. “But I’ll take a friend.”

“Me too,” Nellie said as they shook hands.

“Do I want to know what they are?” Duke nodded to the Centrum units.

“Mine,” Nellie smiled.

“Good enough,” Duke sighed. “I swear this was a good idea when I came up with it. Head out into the universe with the most independent and driven people I can find, then find a new system to settle.”

“Forgot to take into account that all those people would drive you nuts in the process?” Nellie teased.

“Pretty much,” Duke laughed.

Nellie waved the shuttle off as Duke, and his new passengers headed back to their own preparations.

“Didn’t tell him we were heading out again?” Lucy noted.

“He had enough on his mind,” Nellie said. “Plus, trust issues,” She shrugged. “Speaking of which, we should swing by the village on the way to the crash site, just in case.”

“Why bother?” Lucy asked, “They always treated you horribly. Especially Molly.”

“Not the point,” Nellie said. “Besides, I will never forgive myself if I don’t at least look, you know?”

“I’d turn them into a puddle,” Lucy grinned, “But that is why we have each other. Balance.”

“That and sex,” Nellie said with a wink.

“That and sex,” Lucy said with a laugh.