When the Devil Dances

Elgars looked at Wendy and shrugged. “We have a patient, we need a medical facility,” she repeated.

“Follow the sprite,” the AID answered. One of the blue glowing micrites appeared and bounced in the air. “It will lead you to the facility.”

The group followed the sprite as it went through a series of turns. The shrill piping and gurgling in the distance never seemed to go away or even change and, but the light would brighten in the areas through which they walked, getting dimmer as they passed.

There were occasional low, mostly empty rooms to either side of the passageway. In a few there were low stools or cushions that looked amazingly like toadstools and one had a low bench and table set that could have been for children. There were many puckered spots that could have been openings to additional chambers or simply odd architecture.

Finally they came to a room that was somewhat higher than most. In the center was a small dais with what looked like a glass-covered altar on it.

“Please place the patient in the chamber,” the AID chimed in as the sprite flickered out and flew away. The top to the chamber seemed to disappear rather than receding or even folding away as memory plastic would have.

“What is this going to do to her?” Wendy asked.

“AID, could you answer that question, please?” Elgars said impatiently. “And future questions from that person that are permitted.”

“The nanochamber will repair the subject,” the AID answered. “The choices are repair, repair and rejuv or full upgrade.”

Wendy slowly lowered Shari onto the altar and shivered uncomfortably. “Computer, what is the nature of ‘full upgrade’?” she asked.

“The patient will be given nano-enhanced musculature, fast-heal and bone-structure,” the AID answered emotionlessly. “Along with implanted combat skills.”

“Oh, shit,” Elgars said. “Computer, what is the nature of my access to this facility? Is it because I’m a military officer?”

“No, Captain,” the AID answered. “You are an ongoing patient.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” Wendy said bitterly. “How long does repair take, computer?”

“Repair will take approximately ten minutes for the damage that is detected. Full upgrade will take approximately fifteen.”

“Son-of-a-bitch, son-of-a-bitch, son-of-a-bitch,” Wendy muttered. “SON OF A BITCH!”

“It’s been here the whole time,” Elgars said bitterly.

“They could have repaired David any time they wanted to.”

“Or rejuved any of the old people.”

“ ‘It would take months in the regen tanks to fix,’ ” Wendy quoted bitterly. “The question is whether Shari wants somebody else’s memories.”

“Improvements have been emplaced in the system since the experiments on Captain Elgars,” the computer burbled happily. “Secondary memory and personality effects have been severely decreased. In addition, it was necessary to implant a full personality core in Captain Elgars due to complete loss of original function.”

“Say that again in English,” Elgars snapped.

“Anne Elgars no longer existed; she was dead,” the computer said. “Due to extensive brain damage it was necessary to dump all but hindbrain functions and reload a complete personality core. This patient has not suffered significant neurological damage.”

“Oh, shit,” Elgars said quietly, sitting down on the floor. “Who was it?”

“That information is not available to this facility,” the computer answered. “Some personality cores were brought to Earth by !Tchpth!, others were collected on Earth.”

“Computer,” Wendy said. “Full upgrade.”

“That command needs to come from Captain Elgars,” the computer said.

“Concur,” Elgars whispered. “Do it.” At her words the top closed and went opaque, obscuring the view of the badly damaged woman.

“Annie,” Wendy said, sitting down and putting her arm around her. “Don’t take it so hard. They saved you. That’s all that matters.”

“Whoever ‘me’ is,” Elgars said. “The fuckers. They wouldn’t even tell my doctors. No wonder they thought I was nuts; I am.”

“Of course they didn’t explain it to your doctors,” Wendy said archly. “They would have had to explain this facility. And you’re not nuts, we’ve all got multiple ‘people’ running around inside of us. We just show different ones at different times.”

“Sure, but that’s just a way of saying it,” Elgars said. “I’m really multiple people. Like… Frankenstein, but in the head. A patchwork girl.”

“That’s not the way it appears to me,” Wendy argued. “You seem to… manifest a few of the personalities then they go away. You hardly ever have an accent anymore. And that probably explains your speech impediment; you couldn’t decide which accent was ‘you.’ Lately you seem more… whole. I think you’re going to end up okay. Just… Anne Elgars. But…” she snorted. “But ‘upgraded.’ ”

“I thought I was naturally strong,” the officer said, flexing a muscle. “And all this time it’s nannites.”

“And working out,” Wendy corrected. “I imagine it gives you a… a sort of a stronger baseline. You have to improve it from there.”