Amazing Stories FallWorldCon 2018 by Amazing Stories

Author:Amazing Stories [DavidsonCompressed, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amazing Stories
Published: 2018-10-27T18:00:00+00:00

Then, the now-familiar trip – into the clouds of hydrogen and helium, the massive lightning bolts intermittently lighting the way, sensors probing through the interference from Jupiter’s magnetic field – and finally: the initial contact with Lykohnel. “How are you, my friend?” was Kayonga’s immediate question.

“I am...not well,” came the reply, and Carrie believed she could hear how weak the whale’s “voice” was even over the datalink translation.

Carrie looked at Kayonga, and his furrowed forehead and narrow-lipped expression showed her the depths of his concern.

From behind Carrie, Vicari asked, “How soon will we get to her?”

“Just about ten minutes,” Kayonga replied.

Carrie expected Vicari to make a followup remark, but he remained silent. I still can’t feel sorry for him, she thought, but I suppose looking ahead to the last meaningful act you’ll do before you die would focus your mind.

They repeated the process from the previous rendezvous with Lykohnel – hovered over her, allowed her to approach them, and once the shuttle sat safely upon her back, deployed the contact module.

Vicari’s first attempt to rise from his seat was clumsy, and he fell back down into the chair. Carrie, without thinking, offered her hand to help him up. Vicari sat up straight and told her, “Thank you, Carrie. But I intend to do this myself.”

Fine, Carrie thought, See if I care if you fall flat on your ass.

Vicari’s second attempt to stand was still wobbly, but finally he got to his feet, his exoskeleton clanking and whirring. Carrie opened the inner, then outer, airlock hatches, and preceded Vicari down the couple of steps to the surface of Lykohnel’s back.

Vicari negotiated the steps more smoothly than Carrie would have anticipated. Kayonga followed. Vicari didn’t waste any time, but went down on one knee as he had previously and placed his hands upon Lykohnel’s back. Again, he closed his eyes and bowed his head.

Vicari grimaced in pain, and Carrie held her breath, hoping not to witness a repeat of before, with Vicari’s body seizing up, threatening Lykohnel’s recovery.

After a few moments, Vicari groaned, and went to both knees, and it looked as if he were struggling to keep his hands placed against Lykohnel’s back.

“Let me do this,” Vicari pleaded, and Carrie realized he was speaking directly to Lykohnel. “I can help you if you let me do this.”

Carrie thought, If he can’t succeed this time, what happens to Lykohnel? And how many other Jupiter whales might die? She went to him. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Vicari raised his head, but didn’t open his eyes. “Lykohnel is resisting me.”

Kayonga came to them and asked, “Why?”

“I can only do so much right here to try to heal her. To save her, I have to...become part of her.”

Carrie demanded, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Through clenched teeth, Vicari said, “The moment in the infirmary when you thought I was asleep – I was modifying my nanotech. I’d been working on it all day. I can transfer it – and my consciousness – into Lykohnel.

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