Clarkesworld Magazine Issue 162 by Neil Clarke

Author:Neil Clarke [Clarke, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: clarkesworld, magazine, science fiction, Science Fiction - Short Stories, Science Fiction & Fantasy, science fiction magazine
Publisher: Wyrm Publishing
Published: 2020-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Intention

Three hours later Cal was in his bunk, thinking about drinking enough whiskey to go to sleep. Being asleep didn’t sound any better than being awake, though, and he lay in his bunk waiting for the motivation to do one or the other.

A pong sounded next to his bunk.

“The inhabitants are aboard.”

“In medbay?”

“Yes,” the med bot answered.

“I’ll be right there.”

Something moved in the corner.

“Are we leaving, Daddy?”

Cal’s gut fell, and he sat up quick, banging his head on the low ceiling above his bunk. He held his forehead and stared at the geezix as it stared back, smiling.

“How did you get in here?”

“The door.”

Cal went over the memory of coming back—he’d been tired, but he’d seen the geezix walk off toward the forest. He’d walked in the room alone.

“I came in by myself.”

The geezix stood up and walked to the wall. It opened a panel and there was a short, dark tunnel behind it. Cal had no idea it was there.

“Silly Daddy.”

Instead of answering, Cal washed his face and jogged the three decks up the medbay. He lost the geezix after just a few steps and it called out for him, but he kept jogging, until its voice was lost in the maze of ship’s passages behind him.

In the medbay, three beds were folded out from the walls. Each was covered with a sheet.

“Wait. Are they alive?”

A med bot lowered from its place in the ceiling struts. It had three slowly rotating lamps for eyes. It didn’t look at Cal, but instead at the bodies on the tables.

“Oh yes. All three inhabitants survived. It was a complicated task, but made simpler by the quality of the original workmanship.”

Interesting moment to compliment your ancestors, Cal thought.

“Their musculature was peeled off of their bones, but carefully, as to retain most of the nerve connections. It seemed important to the designers that they feel everything. There were also a great deal of aesthetic considerations in the work.”

“What do you mean?”

“The peeled muscles were placed and trimmed in ways to produce symmetry in presentation.”

“Why?”

“I cannot be sure. Given the concern over nerve connections, and symmetry, I’d think of them as pieces of art.”

“They were people. Colonists. Prisoners of war.”

“Of course, and excellent sources for historical data, I’m sure. You must be very proud and excited to get to work. My own work was largely successful, although I fear they will not be the people that they once were.”

“If they’re alive, why did you cover them in sheets?”

“Their wounds are unique. Steps were taken, but they still might be difficult for you to look at. And there is the matter of their skin. It was completely removed. I have replaced it with a self-replicating bio scaffold that, given enough time, should produce something much like their original skin.”

“What’s their mindset like?”

“Two of them are deeply dissociative. They will need a great deal of time to recover, if they ever do. The third seems responsive. I will medicate him in preparation for your discussion.”

“Don’t do that.

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