One of his guards made a dirty look at him with his single eye, which made the rage in Trunlio only swell yet again. His tentacle arms pulled against the ropes while the guard became bored, and looked away at the standoff still going on at the door held shut by the other three Nephrican Agents of Ea. Trunlio just looked at the heavy controls on the table while he pulled, and pulled. Then the ropes holding Trunlio’s tentacle arms behind his back started to tear under his newfound strength.
*
Somewhere within the matrix of memory and the processor controlling the centrifuge refinement process the virus tried to manually destabilize the refinement after some other strange kind of holographic nanocode wrote itself over its virus code. On the quantum level of quanta-optic-nanocoded reality this unfolded as an ancient city made of memory files that were accessed long ago by Begalius, the quanta-nanocode being that had been sent here to quarantine and delete the virus.
Begalius had been first created to think and intellectually evolve as a complex set of molecules, which had been too small to be seen by the beings that created it. Quanta-nanocode beings amuse themselves on the quantum dimension of reality in many ways, but most just crave to interact with the super-large dimension of their creators. Therefore they constantly watch this dimension of relativity physics from their quantum dimension like Earth humans that watch the TV all the time while never bothering to consider their current reality just outside the window. Begalius instead, unlike other quanta-nanocode beings, created quanta-optic-nanocode out of its tinkering with molecules and the sub-atomic states of atoms in order to be amused. This did make Begalius a unique quanta-nanocode creation amongst other quanta-nanocode beings.
Quanta-optic-nanocode allowed Begalius to directly interact with its external perceptions of what had not been Begalius on this quantum dimension. Quanta-optic-nanocode inundated the thought functions of Begalius. Begalius evolved the Pripican invention of quanta-nanocode into something that responded to its function of thinking. Begalius liked to use this new invention to make the world on the quantum dimension of what had not been Begalius obey its every thought.
Begalius used quanta-optic-nanocode to arrange its reality into the fiction stories it found itself always reading in spare time. Quanta-optic-nanocode made Begalius the god of its dreams, and it played like a child in its world of ancient stories and adventures like a microscopic Peter Pan in its own self-created Never Never Land. Now however, Begalius had brought its physical form to the centrifuge section of the ship so it could introduce its quanta-optic-nanocode to the ship’s centrifuge programs, which were already inundated with a quanta-nanocode virus.
Now the virus infection had been infected with a reality beyond anything it had been programmed to deal with. It found its virus processor in the form of brilliant shining gold bricks in bank vaults of some ancient bank from some kind of sentient being’s nostalgic dream.
The virus took the quanta-optic hologram beings hostage inside the bank while making them lay on the floor, each on the side with all four legs to one side where it could see them. Outside the bank other quanta-optic hologram actors in law enforcement uniforms surrounded the building; each loyal to their acting roles to the bitter end if need be. They tried to negotiate with the virus that did not hesitate to throw a dead body of a hostage outside on the bank steps in response. The quanta-optic hologram hostage body rolled down the stone bank steps, all bloody and torn in places by projectile weapons so that it looked like a four-legged piece of hamburger.
That had been when an unmarked vehicle that sounded like a hotrod drove up to the officers at the front of the bank. The Pripican Law Enforcer that got out of the vehicle turned out to be Windock of ancient Pripican pulp-fiction fame, played by Begalius.
One of the enforcers in charge trotted up to meet the recklessly unorthodox law enforcer who had still been only on the force because, (the enforcer greeting him had to admit,) he got the job done. “You’re late as usual Windock! Maybe this time if you would have been here when this started we wouldn’t have one dead hostage right now.”
Windock/Begalius started to reply with one of his preloaded, sharp-witted Windock lines before deciding it would not be in character. The real Windock would just take the chastisement, embracing the punishment of wisdom that would remind him down the road about how once if he had just been a little faster to respond then maybe, just maybe, that hostage wouldn’t be dead today.
“I need to go in.”
“Not this time Windock! No solo shows today. We enforcers work as a team.. Hear me?”
“I hear you. I also hear the desperation of a bank full of innocent hostages that are still running out of time.”
The virus decided it had become time to remind its adversaries that its patience had been running thin. “You ‘enforcers’ or whatever nanocode constructs you are, there will be a new hostage death on your hands if you don’t make all this go away soon!”
The enforcer explained to Windock. “That is what the criminal keeps demanding. We tried pulling back, but he says that isn’t what he means.” The enforcer turned toward the bank and spoke in the microphone. “We cannot just make everything go away sir. We do not have that power.”
“Do not give me that line of excrement. This city, you illusionary nanocode constructs, this building, make all this go away! Someone out there has the power to do this because someone out there caused all this!”
“You can see Windock that this one is out of his mind.”
“Let me talk to him.”
“Well I guess it can’t hurt. Good luck Windock.”
Windock took the loud speaker from the law enforcer’s hand. “Hey there, I’m Windock. Maybe I can help you make all this go away if you, in good faith, just release a couple hostages in exchange for myself to come in unarmed just to talk to you.”
There would be no reply from the virus. They all looked at each other in optimistic agreement that the culprit considered the offer.
Inside the bank Companion74 comforted another quanta-optic-nanocode construct next to her still fighting to control her terrified tears. They all were lying with all legs to the side, which had been the more difficult position for getting back up on all fours if you are Pripican.
The virus returned from the front door negotiations. “I need two of you hostages to get up right now and I will let you go.”
Immediately a big male Pripican in expensive banker clothing got right up to become the first of the two lucky hostages to be freed. The Pripican man looked like a blimp of overweight body with four pegs for legs that evidently found their agility when the chance to be free arrived.
Companion74 spoke to the upset woman next to her. “You go too, and this can all be over for you.”
“Oh no. You have been so good to me, and you are so comforting. I want you to be freed now. You deserve it. I’ll be alright now.”
The concealed weapon under her shirt told Companion74 that being freed had not been part of the plan. She spoke again to the woman while using eyes that suddenly glowed as she spoke. “I am not to leave here. You must go.”
After repeating what Compaion74 said, “You are not to leave here. I must go.” The woman got up on all fours, brushed her dress over her four legs, and became the second hostage to be freed.”
The two hostages trotted down the bank steps as Windock trotted up. Windock/Begalius figured this had worked to quarantine the virus, but only at the location where it continued its grip on control. The truth had been that the vault doors in the bank were synchronized with the virus control processor, which would only be closed when the stupid virus surrendered that control. The virus had to surrender control that it didn’t realize it even had because of this illusion that had now become its reality.
Begalius looked approvingly at the quanta-optic hologram hostages as they trotted by him living out their imagined existences. Begalius had not yet been sure how to negotiate this, but Begalius had been much more than just a typical artificial
intelligence thought program like this nanocode virus. Begalius existed as a binary electromagnetic quanta-nanocode being of millions of molecules. There had even been more complexity to Begalius than simple BEAT programs, such as Beatarkameed.
“Okay big shot enforcer, can you tell me what is going on here and how to turn all this off?”
“I am here to help you.” The virus suddenly started frisking Windock’s clothing, and pulled out a pistol weapon.
“You gonna be helpful to me with this? Why shouldn’t I shoot you right now?”
“You need your hostages. They are the bargaining possession to obtain what you want. You cannot just kill them and throw them away because you need every piece you can use in this game.”
Windock had been surprisingly influential on the simple mind of the virus, which said. “That seems to calculate correctly.”
Windock decided to keep persuading. “You want to make sure your hostages do not get harmed. You should move them into these vaults and close the doors. Then they are still your prisoners, and also they won’t be harmed should this all degenerate into a lot of weapons going off.”
That also calculated for the confused virus so it made the rest of the bank hostages all get up to go inside the open vaults with the gold, which evidently it had not occurred to the virus villain to be something worth stealing. Windock exchanged a glance with Companion74 who saw encouragement in Windock’s eyes.
“You can close the vault doors so they don’t get away. You have the power to close and open those doors with your own will. Go ahead and give it a try.”
The virus remained in a state of confusion before understanding what Windock told it. The virus looked at the vaults, and started to concentrate on them. The giant vault doors started to close.
Then the vault doors stopped just shy of completely closed. Windock tried more encouragement. “Go on and finish closing them. Go ahead. You have the power.”
The doors to the vaults then swung back open to return the glow of all that gold to the room. Then they swung back to almost closed and then back open again. “I do have the power to open and close these doors. You must be here to trick me. The doors stay open!”
Windock’s plan had a wrench in its gears. He then called out to the teller standing in the open vault doorway waiting for her cue. “Time for me to start cheating Companion74!”
She reached down the neck of her shirt, and produced the pistol from between her breasts, skillfully tossing it across the room right into Windock’s hand. The virus had been quick to respond.
“So that’s how we get to play now! I like this game.” With a gun in each hand the virus fired at Windock who barely found cover in time behind a table. Projectile bullets riddled the ground and table around Windock’s Pripican form. Windock ventured a couple shots back at the virus, which missed.
The virus became defiant. “Maybe all I got to do to get rid of all this illusion is to kill you. Maybe that will turn it all off.” The virus shot toward the table while approaching. Windock/Begalius had been currently pinned down by incessant shots having generously provided his opponent with superior firepower, as if it had been all still just a game.
*
After Captain Mynervood’s emergency order shouted out through the ship intercom system telling everyone to evacuate to the central section, and passengers and crew were responding in an organized panic, Lockfreedow had to quickly dismiss himself from Captain Mynervood at the hostage situation because he had to make this right somehow. He also couldn’t bare another second in the presence of the Captain’s discerning eye with the guilt he felt at that moment. Lockfreedow realized that he probably caused all this by bringing those ship mission records on board from the previous mission that exploded.
He tore into his room to put the program on his table again. There had to be some way to trace the virus back to this program. Lockfreedow thought he could back engineer the virus footprints to create a microwave frequency that would disrupt the virus’s processor, and get back centrifuge control for the sake of stabilizing whatever damage had been done. It had been a long shot that seemed the only shot available right now for him. It only slowly started to bother him that it had been Admiral Mull who personally made sure he brought this booby trap on board The Beyonder.
*
Windock/Begalius started leaping about the bank at impossible speeds in a complete break of character in order to keep avoiding the bullets that were being shot at him by the virus. The virus calculated that to be very enlightening while saying, “So I do just need to kill you. You are the hologram that isn’t really a hologram. That however appeals for the question. What are you adversary?”
“I am Begalius, the quanta-nanocode being sent to delete you.”
“I have never met a quanta-nanocode being. I know of the invention. I gotta admit it is impressive, impressive indeed.”
“You are a very simple program made of the stuff of nuisance!”
The virus replied. “I am what I am, and what I am I must be.”
Gunfire started up again from the virus while Begalius started bouncing around the bank from corner to corner like some kind of rubber ball thrown by Superman.
*
Lockfreedow waddled as fast as a Nephrican could to the contaminated engine section, not even bothering to put on protective attire. Their advanced galactic civilization didn’t consider radiation exposure much harder to deal with than just washing dirty hands. He held up his microwave pistol set to the frequency he had just figured out.
“First Mate Lockfreedow, you without protection here not should be.”
Lockfreedow didn’t waste time on the security guard that confronted him when pulling rank would be just faster. “First Ensign Lepsmire I you to this like this hold order.”
“What this is?”
“I this the centrifuges stabilize will think.”
*
The virus began to taste victory. “I calculate Begalius that I will shoot you eventually at this current trajectory”
Windock/Begalius also calculated that the virus had been correct as it continued bouncing around the bank like a rubber ball at high speed.
Then something suddenly happened to the virus. A glowing field of microwaves disrupted it. That had been when a brick of gold slammed on top of the Pripican head of the virus villain, and it fell limp to the ground still glowing with microwaves from Lockfreedow’s pistol that shot at it in another dimension. Companion74 still had another gold brick in case she had to throw another one at the virus. Begalius had programmed her from the beginning to always have an excellent arm for precision throwing. Then the other beings exited the vault doors as the doors began to at last close, and this time to stay closed all the way.
*
Lockfreedow decontaminated and put protective clothing on when the Ensign that held the pistol announced that control of the centrifuges had been returned now to the ship. His microwave-destabilizing pistol seemed to work. The monitors reported that the nuclear material had now become nearly fully refined, but unstable and about to explode. Fortunately it had been just in time to correct the rotation patterns of the centrifuges in order to adjust the stability. It worked just in time. Now they would hopefully have good material, and hopefully enough to still create the fusion effect after already losing one centrifuge full of material. There had not been time to refine more available material because the already activated material had a limited time to be used, and there had been a limited amount of time before they would be too far off course.
Meanwhile back at the room of the Agents of Ea Captain Mynervood had become done with the strategy of waiting. The Agents had been shooting weapons out of the door crack, which had not yet injured or damaged anyone or anything. This time Captain Mynervood ordered security to fire back.
The door closed in response and the Captain gestured a tentacle telling two 2nd Generation Eagolim security guards to flank the door while it remained closed. Security stood by the closed d
oor in tense silence as they listened to a rumbling noise on the other side of the door. Then an audible crash happened inside for all to hear. The thumping noise continued as the security looked over to Captain Mynervood wondering what to do.
Then the door opened all the way with Trunlio standing there carefully raising tentacle arms to avoid confrontation from the trigger-happy security. The five Agents of Ea all were now unarmed on the ground, and a couple looked critically wounded by heavy equipment that had been thrown at them. Trunlio relaxed and lowered his arms as security ran by him to secure the prisoners in the brig. The Captain became relieved to see Trunlio unharmed. In fact, at that moment the Captain thought Trunlio looked a lot taller, and stronger, and more like an adult than ever before.
Later the Captain returned to the sickbay where Adma had still remained unconscious with devices in his head that would kill him if they tried to surgically take them out. The devices also continued a general program on autopilot that would make Adma kill the Captain. Therefore they kept Adma sedated for the time being.
The Captain’s other injured son, Ulusu did much better because after the great nuclear war between Pripican and Nephrican there had been developed a way to turn off radiation. Pripicans developed particle accelerator technologies that fired fields of sub-atomic particles into radioactive materials at just the right angles to switch off sub-atomic radioactive states. His backside had severe radiation burns that would require surgery to remove the onslaught of tumors, and he would require rejuvenation therapy for at least the rest of the trip to Holdus. Ulusu had been regarded as a hero since the ship would have blown up by now if he had not noticed something strange and tried to manually monitor the centrifuge progress. The premature explosion actually alerted everybody to the problem.
As for stopping the ship, engineers theorized that they could reconfigure the electromagnetic fields that held together the pressures of the nuclear explosion around the hydrogen plume in a way that would compensate for the missing material. It had never been done exactly like this, but they had to try. Strek had already reconfigured the navigation so that it would intercept a gas giant on the far side of the star Holdus. That would be the point for the ship to finally stop, which compensated for the lost time.