The next day, Mac continued to collect specimens in the area surrounding the PB-87 site. As (Sargon) and Myna had found, white mycelial structures had risen in a rough circle site. There were thirteen of them, all approximately two meters high, rising from the floor of the forest. He took samples of the mycelium and collected a few insects and plants and made his way back to camp.

As he arrived, Myco was still working on the bio-net status screen for the xenobots. Myna was reviewing the survey bot update.

(Sargon) had just returned.

Hi folks, things ok?

Hang on, let me talk to (Sargon). We’ll all get together after.

"Welcome back, (Sargon). Any news from your fellow mentors?" asked Myna.

"Yes, there is. It seems that the mystery mushroom may have extraterrestrial origins," (Sargon) replied.

Mac's ears perked up. "Extraterrestrial origins? How did they come to that conclusion?"

"The mentors have analyzed the genetic code of the mushroom and have found sequences that aren’t in our records. Therefore, it’s possible, but not likely, that PB-87 is an ET," (Sargon) explained. “However, (Roy) thinks that it is much more likely that it’s the work of a rogue AI.”

He turned to Myco. “Did you make progress with your xenobot controller?”

Myco nodded. "It's coming along nicely. I've made some improvements to the design. It will allow us to control the bots more efficiently and effectively, and it will be easier for us to access data collected by the bots."

Mac chimed in, "That's great news. I was having a bit of trouble navigating the old interface."

(Sargon) said judiciously. “Let me know if you’d like to review. I’m going to look at the survey data. Mac, are you done with specimen collecting?”

Mac held out his pack. “Almost done. Let me put the latest stuff in the lab and I’ll write everything up.”

Later.

Myna, Myco and Mac finished a meeting with (Sargon) and walked over to the mycelial structures. Myna and Mac had already seen them, but this was Myco’s first visit to the site.

“Wow. Those growths are huge - they got taller than us in less than a month.”

They walked inside the ragged circle. In the center was a rotting stump covered with mushrooms. This was where the original collection of PB-87 had been made.

“Cool. This looks like a fairy circle!”

Myna scoffed. “First shindigs and now fairy circles.” She looked at Myco.

Myco scrunched up his face and said with great effect:

“In herte of forest, wher magik reynes,

Ther lieth a circle, a straunge refraynes,

Mushromes groweth in a parfit ring,

A fairie circle, a mystical thing.

The promys of beautee is alurynge and bright,

But the daunger it hydeth is a fiersome sight,

For those who entereth, beware, beware,

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The fairie circle is not withouten its snare.

It lures thee in with a magical spelle,

And once inside, it traps thee well,

Thou shalt daunce with fairies, evermore,

But leave the circle, thou shalt be no more.”

Mac sighed. “Uh-huh”

Myna groaned. “Are you writing poetry again? I thought you’d given up.”

Myco smiled. “Fie on thee!” He looked at the other two.

Ready to see the new interface?

Please. Anything.”

Show!

Myco pushed the coding update to the xenobot interface.

Now, you can easily check your internals which report on what the xenobots have found.

Currently, it's just a list of important body systems with a percent noting the level of infections. Here’s what my report looks like.

Myco shared his report to the others.

----------------------------------------

PB-87 Status: Level of Infection

Nervous system: brain, sensations, movements: 0 percent

Circulatory system: blood and oxygen circulation and enrichment: 1 percent

Respiratory system: gas exchange, lungs, trachea, and bronchial tubes: 0 percent

Digestive system: breaks down and absorbs nutrients from food. Stomach, intestines: 0 percent

Muscular system: movement and posture. Muscles and tendons: 0 percent

----------------------------------------

Subvocalize “display PB-87 status” to get your reports.

Myna and Mac did so.

----------------------------------------

PB-87 Status: Level of Infection

Nervous system: brain, sensations, movements: 0 percent

Circulatory system: blood and oxygen circulation and enrichment: 1 percent

Respiratory system: gas exchange, lungs, trachea, and bronchial tubes: 0 percent

Digestive system: breaks down and absorbs nutrients from food. Stomach, intestines: 0 percent

Muscular system: movement and posture. Muscles and tendons: 0 percent

----------------------------------------

----------------------------------------

PB-87 Status: Level of Infection

Nervous system: brain, sensations, movements: 0 percent

Circulatory system: blood and oxygen circulation and enrichment: 1 percent

Respiratory system: gas exchange, lungs, trachea, and bronchial tubes: 0 percent

Digestive system: breaks down and absorbs nutrients from food. Stomach, intestines: 0 percent

Muscular system: movement and posture. Muscles and tendons: 0 percent

----------------------------------------

So the xenobots are doing a pretty good job I guess?

Seems so. They’re scrubbing our blood, but they haven’t got it all yet.

It’s surprising, based on Mac’s testing on animals and plants. I would have thought we were compromised by now.

She laughed nervously.

I guess that Eliza was right about us not being in trouble.

I guess. We should get back to camp. Tomorrow, I’d like to do some coring of these structures and get a sense at how far down the mycelial network goes. Max depth of most networks is not more than three meters, but maybe these structures represent a network that has penetrated deeper. We’ll need a GPR.

GPR?

Ground Penetrating Radar.

He checked his tablet.

I’ve never used one, but we do have a small unit in the research kit.

OK, let’s go.

The three left the circle for camp. Behind them spores swirled in the wind.