Vandergast (9 of 10) - Flying Fish for Vandergast

Thanks to Akarge for proofreading.

For more than one year, Decurion Fred Fish had been the busiest man of the whole planet. He was the only engineer, the master of the replicators. Everything that needed to be built, that an AI was not able to handle, went through his office. Nobody had known how little of the possibilities the colony had used before Fred Fish had arrived. Trudy, one of his concubines, was a great help. She knew as much about AI aided design as Fred. But since he was the sponsor and she was a concubine, he checked everything before it left the office. Her mistakes would have been his mistakes. Those were the Confederacy rules.

They had designed the Mammoth transport spaceship class from scratch and modified nearly one hundred Confederacy machines, vehicles, suits and other stuff to adapt them to human anatomy.

After one year where Fred and Trudy had been working days of twelve hours and more, they finally got assistance in the form of three engineers that the Mammoth-3 brought out on her maiden trip. After Fred and Trudy had shown them the basics of their new job, Fred allowed them both the luxury of a one-week holiday. Of course they received several calls for help, but all in all it was a very relaxing week.

One evening, when Fred sat on the flat roof of his 'Basalt Column House', watching the sundown and the clear sky, Fred remembered a bet he had made with Centurion Mark Evans Benish at his first working day. "AI, can you simulate my gesture controlled design facility here?"

<As long as the complexity of the designed objects don't exceed that of a shuttle, I can do that.>

"Nothing nearly that complex. Gimme the basic shape of a ray, I mean the fish from Earth." The holographic image appeared before him. "Very nice. Triple its size. I want to build an artificial air ray. We'll use helium-filled foam for the core body and electro-contracting synthetics for the muscles that animate the wings. Surround the foam core with a layer of electro-relaxant synthetics. Take photovoltaic sheeting for the skin. Now we need a Pico-AI for autonomous operations, a set of sensors and a holographic projector, all the smallest available size from an observation drone. Add a rechargeable battery of appropriate capacity. How much weight do we have until now?"

<The object has a mass of twelve hundred and fifty grams and a volume of about one cubic meter. The volume and therefore the lift of the object can be varied by contracting the foam core between nine hundred and thirteen hundred grams under standard atmospheric conditions.>

Fred grinned. "That's the weight I hoped for. Add all the needed connections so the AI can control all the synthetic muscles and the other parts." Fred changed the outer shape a little and repositioned the heavier parts to give the ray a better balance.

"Now for the movement of the ray. I thought of basically two movement types," Fred said. He stretched out his arms and twirled his fingers. "This is for slow movements and navigation. Only the edges of the wings move in waves." Then he swung his arms up and down, indicating changing blade angles with his hands. "This is the pattern for fast movement, where the complete wings move. Give the Pico-AI those patterns. It should learn and improve to develop the most efficient moving methods with a minimum of energy."

The AI let the hologram show the different movements. They looked very elegant.

"Simulate the ray. How fast can it move?" Fred asked.

<In mode one, the ray can travel fifteen kilometers per hour. In mode two, it can speed up to thirty-seven kilometers per hour,> the AI answered.

"Very good. Send this to my office. Translate the holographic plan into a replicator pattern and produce one in the workshop-replicator at my office."

In the meantime, the sun had vanished under the horizon. Fred was sitting in the dark, watching the stars. After a while, he said, "AI, block Wanda from listening for twenty minutes."

<Confirmed.>

"Is a Pico-AI capable of running the Avatar program package?" Fred asked.

<A Pico-AI could hold the package in it's storage but it would be barely able to run the program in its full complexity. An Avatar would be very limited and there would be no capacity left for other tasks,> the AI answered. <May I ask what you have in mind?>

"Wanda always states that she feels more physical than she really is," Fred replied. "I am thinking of creating a puppet body very similar to the ray, but with the look and size of Wanda. So we would need a bigger AI than the Pico, maybe the P3 model?"

<The P3-AI has sufficient capacities to run an Avatar package and control a synthetic body.> The AI showed a transparent model of Wanda, placing the AI cube in the chest.

Fred smiled. "Is this a hint of romantic thinking that you placed the core of her being in the chest where a human's heart is, instead of her head?"

<No, it was just a calculation of available space.>

"Well then," Fred grinned. "I had thought of using Diamond-Fiber for the bones and enough electro-contracting synthetics for the muscles to make her as strong as a grown human."

<Isn't that a bit too strong for a creature that's only thirty centimeters high?> the AI asked.

"Wanda has to interact with humans. She needs to be strong enough to be physically helpful."

The thin strings of synthetic muscles thickened visibly. But on the hologram it still looked as if they were horribly underdeveloped.

"To allow her to fly around we can use the gravitational engines of a drone. I want optical and acoustical sensors in her head. Pressure and temperature sensors all over the skin. What chemical sensors are available to simulate human senses of smell and taste?"

<We have a variety of micro-sensors for chemicals that, in combination, make an approximation of the human sense of scent. You could even make it far more sensitive than the human sense,> the AI replied, showing different lists of sensor sets. Fred selected a set of fifteen sensors that were altogether not larger than a square millimeter.

"For using her nose, she needs to breathe. We'll make it simple. Place a small hard container in her chest with a foam-filled sac that's covered with electro-contracting synthetics. It only needs to pump air through the nose and mouth.

"For recharging the batteries I thought of an induction system. Or do we have photovoltaic sheeting that allows her to keep her light complexion?"

<A light complexion is possible but it will reduce the photoelectric capacity. I suggest implementing both systems.>

"Do so," Fred ordered. The image of Wanda now showed the complex structure of an anatomic illustrative model, with a small AI cube and a lung in her chest, a drone's gravitational engine in her lower body and batteries in her thighs. There was still plenty of free space available.

"Connect all the sensors and the synthetic muscles with the AI. Fill the remaining free space with soft rubber. Make the software interface for controlling the body similar to that of her holographic image, so she can handle the body just as easily. Lock this in and send it to my office. And please hide it from Wanda. I want to make this a surprise for her," Fred ordered.

<Confirmed,> the AI replied.

Centurion Mark Evans Benish was sitting in his office, working on new plans for planetary jobs for concubine-level newcomers from Earth. The mission of the Mammoth-3 colony transport ship had increased the problem because they had unassigned male concubines on board. The standard procedure would have been to recycle them. That was not an option on Vandergast. Mark still didn't understand how a peaceful multiracial civilization like the Confederacy could kill them that easily just because they had no sponsor.

<Centurion Evans Benish, Decurion Fred Fish wishes to talk to you,> the AI suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

"Put the call through," Mark said.

"Hello Mark, do you have a crate of Earth beer at hand? I intend to collect on our bet," Fred said. He was obviously in good mood.

"Err, sorry, what bet do you mean?" Mark asked.

"Hey, don't tell me you forgot that. You asked me to build a flying fish, a ray to be specific. I plan to test it this evening. There will be a few friends, finger food from the local party service and a surprise guest with a crate of beer, I hope. What do you say? You will also be welcome without the beer," Fred chuckled.

"Oh, that bet. Now I remember. You are lucky. L'ielit 'recruited' three crates of Budweiser on her last trip to Earth for me. Tell me where and when, I'll be there," Mark said.

"Today, five PM, at my house. See you later."

"Bye Fred." The AI terminated the connection. There were two things Mark really missed since he had left Earth. Beer and a sky filled with birds.

It seemed that replicators were producing poor quality on purpose when it came to alcohol. They had tried everything in the past. They had fed the best and most expensive samples to the replicators but all they got in return was a cheap broth. The best they could do was replicate some poor quality gin or vodka and mix it with fruit juices for cocktails of acceptable quality. Of course that was not the best solution for someone who just loved to drink a good beer or wine from time to time. Now that Vandergast had its own fleet, Mark was in the lucky position of being able to ask one of the officers for a small favor every time they went to Earth. A good beer was still rare on Vandergast, so it was always a good wager for an interesting trade or bet.

Birds were a bigger problem. Vandergast's biosphere had developed only insects. The Confederacy didn't like to export Earth animals. It had happened in the past but doing so to add them to another planet's biosphere was something else. In addition, there were no Earth animals that would survive a nitrogen oxygen season on Vandergast unprotected.

Mark had seriously discussed the possibilities of Confederacy technology to boost the local flora to a more earth-like level but quickly dropped the idea. But when he heard about the hobby of Fred Fish, he had the silly idea of letting him create artificial aerial creatures. Since it wasn't exactly birds Mark missed but just something that filled the vast empty space, he asked for a flying ray.

At five o'clock, Mark stood in front of the most impressive building of the colony, except for the central tower of the town. The Fish residence looked like no building Mark had ever seen back on Earth. He had seen volcanic basalt structures that looked similar. Basalt columns of different heights were forming an artificial hill where one could easily climb to the highest column by using the lower columns as a giant staircase. At the south side, the columns were surrounding a more private area with several deck chairs. In the middle of the complex there was a Japanese garden with a spa. But today's party was located on the roof. Mark had spotted them from a distance.

Lena, one of Mark's concubines, was carrying the crate with the Budweiser. He felt no guilt for letting the small redhead woman carry the crate the whole way even though he cared very much for his concubines. Lena had been augmented to almost the strength of a Marine, in order to be a better help in the more unpleasant situations a Civil Service Officer had to handle from time to time. Lena was carrying the crate with the ease other women carried their handbags.

This invitation for a recreational sundown party was one of the rare opportunities where Mark didn't wear his gray uniform. He had selected white jeans and a rakish silk shirt. Lena was wearing a belly-free tank top and blue jeans. Mark's women rotated through the jobs of herding the older kids, herding the younger kids and helping Mark in his office, so everyone had her time with the family and was also prepared for the rare cases that Mark really needed their help on his job. Lena looked like she had just come from the gym and that was not entirely wrong. She had herded the family's older children for the afternoon. They had played street soccer and other sports games. Lena was the type of mother who takes part in the children's activities rather than sitting somewhere at the side of the playfield.

The two newcomers were cheerily greeted by those who were already there; Fred and two of his concubines, Melanie Sanchez with her male concubine, Joacim Zelle, L'ielit Debir, Ralph Hornblower with his thirteen-year-old son Benjamin and two more Marine-type men with one concubine each. Mark had to ask the AI sub-vocally for their names. They were indeed Marines from the pioneer company. Sergeant Nils Brynner and Private Ryan O'Donnell were working regularly for Fred. They all wore more or less decent civil clothing since the temperature was only 18°C and a steady light breeze was blowing from the north-east.

Melanie tried to reach for a bottle of beer but Mark stopped her. "Sorry Major, You may be the second mightiest person of the planet but this is the payoff for a bet and first I want to see if the prize is truly earned."

Fred took the hint. "Ladies and gentlemen. I asked you to join this little party for the purpose of introducing two new creations of my engineering genius to my friends. Other than my normal work the first creation is the result of a bet between Mark Evans Benish and myself. He asked me to make a ray fly through the sky of Vandergast."

Fred's concubine Trudy removed a sheet that had covered a large flat object lying on a table. The object looked like a huge electric ray. The body's core was contracted but now slowly inflated to its natural shape. Slowly it lifted off the table and started compensating for the wind with undulating movements of its wing tips.

"Wow, that's truly a majestic sight," Mark admitted. He was not the only one who was mesmerized by the sight. They all praised the geniality of Fred.

Fred made a gesture and the ray turned into a wide curve, gaining height and some speed. Then he let the built-in AI take over. The ray gained some more height and then started to explore the area around in wide circles.

Mark officially handed over the price of the bet and then they all enjoyed a bottle of good Earth beer.

Ryan O'Donnell talked to Fred, "Now I understand why you invited me. Who told you that I have been a model airplane enthusiast back on Earth?"

"The AI did," Fred grinned. "I asked for people who have built model planes in the past. I learned that you have built a functioning model of the Horton 2-29 fighter-bomber from 1944. I thought that's worth an invitation. What do you think about a regular model airplane competition? Now that I've built my first one at Vandergast, I'd like to re-animate my old hobby."

"That would be absolutely cool, sir," O'Donnell answered.

"Hey, forget the sir. Do you see any insignias on my shirt?" Fred took another swallow from his bottle. "I'm normally a little busy, but I have a list of over thirty people who might be interested in model planes too. We can build a loose association and we can get our own little airfield."

"That sounds wonderful. You know, I missed building something with my own hands. Of course, I understand that the ray is a creation from the replicator and I would use it too. But not for the whole thing, only for some of the parts."

Fred looked over the huge Marine. He didn't look like somebody who used tweezers regularly.

"Hey, I haven't been a hulk for my whole adult life. When I volunteered for the Confederacy Marines, I wasn't given a choice. But things have changed. I was thinking about reducing my shape to something more normal, without giving up the advantages of improved strength, sight and so on. A lot of my friends have talked about this, too, since the Governor held his speech."

They laughed and made some plans for future hobby activities, when L'ielit interrupted them by asking, "You talked about two creations? I'm curious what the second one is."

"Oh yeah, you are right, there is another thing." Fred reached for a box that had been placed under the table from where the ray had started its flight. He looked around for Wanda. He had seen the hologram earlier, wearing a kimono and carrying a small Chinese parasol. "Wanda, would you please transfer to frame 15.342?"

Wanda looked puzzled. "But boss, there is no frame 15.342. Oops, now there is one. It seems to be a small one? And it refuses to tell me what its normal job is?"

"Come on, don't be shy. I promise you won't be hurt," Fred teased.

"Ha! You can't hurt me anyway! Since I'm not really physical."

"Just do it, please."

The holographic image of Wanda vanished and something inside the box started to move. Wanda's muffed voice came from inside. "Hey, who turned off the lights? This feels funny!" Suddenly the lid of the box flew away and Wanda climbed out of it. The Wanda doll wore shorts and a belly free tank top. "What is this???"

"AI, you are now allowed to reveal the secret to Wanda," Fred advised.

<Confirmed. Wanda, you should work on your manners. It is rude to try to hack into an AI. If an information is prohibited, it is prohibited,> the AI noted.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to introduce the physical avatar to you. It is a body for your normal avatar. Except for shape changing and instant costume changes it can do everything a holographic avatar can do, and of course it can do lots more, since it is physical."

Fred looked at Wanda. "What do you say, Wanda? You always talked about being more physical."

Wanda looked at her hands in wonder, moving her fingers one by one. Then she took a deep breath. "I really can smell? I'm speechless. I can feel the wind on my skin..." Suddenly Wanda flew to Fred's head and kissed him on the cheek. "I can't tell you how thankful I am. I'll need hours to learn about all the new possibilities."

Then she realized that the floor was more than a meter away and there wasn't anything like a ceiling above her. She shrieked and fell ungracefully down. "Ouch, I felt that!" Fred and the others laughed.

L'ielit offered Wanda a hand and asked, "Don't you think that it is time to overcome that fear?"

"I'm working on that, madam. I'm really working on that," Wanda replied.