It wasn’t long before Allie came back with a black foam plate of what looked like meat covered in a crazy mixture of orange and red sauces with a petal arrangement of looked a bit like bread but with stripes of something red baked into it. It looked nice and as she sat down the smell managed to cut through the overall smells of the dining area.
Very rich paprika scent with a fruity layer in it. It would likely be very spicy at least. My mouth started to water even though technically I could turn that off now.
“So this is a synth meat from Mars, well, the recipe and process and some of the ingredients are anyway. It’s got a few names based on the exact shelter cluster you’re talking about when you just say “Mars” as a whole. They have little differences based on the local farms. This one I think is called lal mirch poori saath kofta and means something like chili bread and meat and it’s covered with a spicy sauce which I think is mostly paprika with a bit of cinnamon and another which is turmeric. It’s quite hot but very nice.” She said as she placed mine on the table in front of me and then hers down as well before sitting.
“Smells good, uh did you get utensils?” I asked.
“I always bring my own to places, never without them then.” She said as she pulled two forks out of her handbag. What the hell was in that handbag? She’d had like four palm sized boxes in there and now two forks.
“Alright, well if you want to enjoy yours and then I’ll have to ask for a little help if that’s alright?” I said with a bit of a apologetic frown, it felt odd to ask someone to feed you even if you knew them.
“Nonsense. We’ll just take it in turns, no problem. Open up then. You need to get a good mix of the bread and the meat with the sauces together for the best taste.” She said as she forked up a few pieces and a few dips of sauce.
I felt a bit weird being spoon fed at my age but I was hungry so I just went with it. The food was very spicy and I wasn’t too sure about some of the taste, maybe the turmeric? No idea. Still good though. Very good.
Watching Allie smile as she enjoyed her own bite was funny, she clearly enjoyed the flavor more than me but that was fine. We went back and forth with her forking from my plate to my mouth and her own plate to her mouth. Eventually I waved off what was left of mine and she eagerly finished my plate off herself.
Allie went and grabbed a few bottles of water and, oddly, a length of surgical tubing from somewhere which she put into my drink and left hanging there straight like a giant straw. I took a sip and it worked well so I wasn’t going to complain. She drank hers quickly, likely to wash out the hotness of the meal. She’d eaten more than I did after all. We both sat there quietly as we digested a little bit of our meal, Allie seemed to be using her interface.
So Sanctum. What do you need those metals for anyway? Got some big plans?
[The implementation of multifunction nanomachines requires a small amount of the listed materials to achieve required production levels. The actual metals can be recycled almost endlessly once in the system. There are also a number of User support features that have been undergoing design and testing over the last two and half days.]
Oh? Does that mean more ability options next time?
[Abilities are built on a different system that is more established, even with Sanctum designed Abilities added they remain in the framework that was previously established. Sanctum has began work on a new more deeply connected system that doesn’t provide nanoscale alterations to the User’s biological functions as it’s base goal and instead operates as a User driven extension of the nanite swarm nature of Sanctum to aid them in their tasks directly. This will mostly only be possible with the aid of multifunction nanomachine designs that Sanctum did not have access to previously as well as free creative control over the Sanctum system.]
So you’ll be able to swarm out of me and do stuff? Didn’t that nearly kill you last time? You said you needed a host to survive and almost died cutting through a fist size hole a dozen feet or so of fercrete.
[The User operating as an operations anchor point and energy source along with the multifunction nanomachines controlled by a new Sanctum designed system of operation allows this previously destructive function without damage to Sanctum integrity.]
So what kind of things could you do? I’m sure a blob of metal on a string connected to my ear sliding around eating stuff might hurt an enemy or two but outside that I don’t know what you can do.
[Current functions that are finalizing testing are a Lattice Detection and Interaction System and a Cyberware Modification Function. Both of these contain several conditions within them and are limited by the current nanite mass of Sanctum. They are both highly taxing to the User due to energy demands when used actively but the passive forms of both are relatively low cost in terms of caloric burn.]
Alright Sanctum, you’ve clearly been working on this for a little while. What is a lattice system and a cyberware modification?
[The LDIS is an unfolded chain of nanomachines that form a three dimensional lattice structure around the User to detect approaching objects and dangers as well as allowing the User to process this sense as a separate and more instinctual form of touch. The second function of the lattice allows it to transfer nanomachines along the lattice to increase nanite mass in specific points to allow manipulation directly though nanite mass interaction. Deploying, disassembly or using the touch elements of the LDIS is very costly for the User but maintaining the lattice is very low cost. A large scale disturbance to the lattice from User movement or foreign object impacts can collapse the lattice and potentially cause nanite mass loss but nanomachines are programmed to return to User within four minutes before their internal power generation degrades into dysfunction and the nanite is lost.]
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[The CMF is a framework system to allow for macroscale adjustments to the User’s installed cyberware in real time. It is a highly costly function that allows the User to change the shape or operation of their installed cyberware for specific action or better performance in the moment. Examples include augmenting the User’s voice module speakers into a single use sonic grenade speaker design to use as a defensive measure, which would include protection for the User from their own sound at the time of the use. Another example that reached later testing phases so far is modifying the User’s tongue both in elasticity and toughness until it can be used as a garrote on an unsuspecting enemy.]
Sanctum that’s like the worst thing you could come up with. I’m not going to strangle someone with my own tongue. Why?
[User’s tongue is composed of material that lends itself to simple modification of it’s polymer structure while also being largely cosmetic making it a highly mutable material for weaponry that doesn’t impede the User’s function in combat.]
Won’t someone see the lattice thing? Be kind of obvious it’s there when it’s a big swarm of nanites in a cloud around me as I walk along.
[The lattice structure will only be two to three nanomachines in width in it’s passive state. This is invisible to almost all cybereyes on the market and far beyond the range of normal eyesight. It is also light enough to be considered less than the pressure of the air around someone should it impact them while they walk through it. It is virtually unnoticeable to all but the most sensitive tools.]
So they won’t see it and won’t feel it, but it’ll be dense enough for me to feel things moving about? How small is the grid? How far will the lattice reach?
[The grid size will be about five millimeters in width and compose a tetrahedral lattice at it’s borders. This will allow the User to detect even an approaching bullet by the turbulence generated by it’s passage although reacting to the bullet would by up to the User. It’s estimated range with Sanctum’s current mass would be approximately twenty two feet although it may retract it’s range in specific areas for short times in certain directions to avoid losing mass such as closing doors or passing cars as examples.]
So do I need to pick from these like abilities? I think I’ll go for the cyberware one to start with. They are both good but I don’t know if we’ve got the nanite mass to use the lattice one reliably.
[User does not need to make a choice, both will be available for use as they rely on Sanctum for their computation and function with only limited input from the User. This allows for nanite related functions to be accessed without altering the User’s brain pattern and waiting for establishment and recovery such as with Abilities.]
Oh. That’s really good then Sanctum. Good job. I assume you need the metals for this stuff then?
[Correct. The nanite swarm functions will not be achievable without multifunction nanomachines.]
Right. I’ll get on that then. Still have to get some arms though.
Allie looked over to me as she took another sip of her drink, seemingly done with her interface work. She put the bottle back on the table.
“I’ve got in touch with a rare elements merchant who’s here with part of a research team selling blueprints and such. He has what you need in stock up to whatever you want of tantalum and promethium but he’s only got five grams of grailium, entumium and elusium unless you want to pay for priority service and take some stock from other customers orders. I’d advise against that generally, a lot of merchants offer it and it’s always very costly and makes you some enemies when the other customers ask why their orders are delayed and the merchant tells them who ordered over them. What do you think?” Allie offered.
“That does fill my needs so I’ll take it I guess. What are the prices look like for ten grams of the first two and five of the rest? I’m not paying the extra fee.” I asked with a little bit of a frown.
“Good choice. With the price list he gave that would be eighty thousand approximately. It’s very high for the low volume but it’s Earth and a one off sale, not a contract deal, so there’s going to be a premium. You can haggle as it’s still the night market. I’d just take it personally though, it’s not off the mark judging from a glance at the trading prices I glanced at.” Allie answered with a shrug.
“Yeah. I’ll take that deal. It gets it out of the way and like you said, I’d be hard pressed to find stuff like that without contacts outside the night market. Can you sort it if I send you some aura?” I asked.
“No problem. I won’t even take a fee this time seeing as I didn’t even have to get off my chair. I’ll have him deliver it to my car, it shouldn’t be too big but it saves carrying a case around.” She said with a grin. A charge pop up from my banking app from Allie appeared for eighty thousand which I quickly accepted.
I watched as she did stuff on her interface for a few seconds while I drank water from my very long straw.
“Deals done. You’ve got your powdered metals for your little project. Whatever it is. Noe’s a gunsmith right?” Allie said as she turned her focus back to me.
“She’s more of a general craftsman but she does love gunsmithing the most, at least for now at least. She has said she wants to get an actual workshop eventually for all sorts of work.” I answered as I finished drinking.
“Maybe I can introduce her to Sanderson, my old gunsmith at some point. I still have to hunt him down but it shouldn’t take too long.” She said as she put her head in here hand and rested her elbow on the table.
“What if he’s… Well you know? Like Kaiser’s grandfather.” I asked awkwardly.
“Oh he’s not dead. He was borged out totally even before I was, he never left his workshops and if he did it was only to go to another workshop, either his own or someone else’s. The chances of him actually dying over the last while are tiny. I bet he’s squirreled himself away somewhere working on something. I’ve sent out some couriers to his workshops that I know of so he should be getting back to me soon if he has any sense left in him. Then he’ll either return to my side or I’ll have to arrange for some nice people to go and collect him.” Allie said with a very severe smile.
“Does he get super into his craft when talking about it? Noe goes from normal to a full on robot lecturer when she gets going.” I said in response.
“Oh he’s worse. He literally only talks about his projects, his plans for future projects, getting materials, other people’s projects, complaining about mysterious prototypes out in the system he can’t get more information about and when I’m going to give him more funding for his projects. I tried to set him up with a nice girl when we were both a bit younger who seemed just as craftsman focused as he was, I thought they’d have a good chemistry. Instead they got into endless arguments about protocols and methodology and then she left and blew up his space craft on the way. It was a total drama meltdown.” Allie said as her expression softened to a regretful one.
“That sounds pretty extreme.” I said as I was hunting the straw with my my lips, hard to catch it when it was long.
“So then. Let’s go check out the cyberware specialists and get you your arms already. Then we’ll grab some goodies and get out of here before it gets past your bedtime.” Allie said as she stood up and patted her mouth for crumbs with a napkin.
“Alright.” I said as I stood up. Allie grabbed the plates, napkins and bottles and threw them into a nearby trash can.
We headed over to a wider lane and walked along it towards a somewhat busier area where there were a bunch of larger displays with larger stalls.