The Strangers We Know -- Part Two

The downward chute was right in the middle of a small, open field. There were no markers of any kind to indicate that a chute was located on the spot. One had to be almost directly over it to see where it was. This was fine, since Dahl, Erol, and their crew were not particularly fond of the thought of one or more of Palm II's new settlers coming down into the Terraformation Labs and getting in the way.

The Labs were a sprawling complex of rooms and passageways covering tens of dozens of kilometers square. Even a Pre-Collapse engineer would have been impressed, no, stunned, by the high technology at work in the labs. Giant computer screens everywhere showed complicated schematics and formulas. Five-foot high liquid-filled glass tubes contained the prototypes of new plant species which would soon inhabit the region above this part of the labs, where the town of Parellin would soon be. Scientists, engineers, researchers, and others, members of all the races of Algo, scurried about the plant or sat hushed before terminals and over microscopes.

Dahl sighed. It was so good to be home!

And the Labs were home, really, at least until this part of Palm II's ecology was stabilized. Dahl and Erol had earned themselves a ten-year vacation once their current project was finished. It was a break both had every intention to take, though they both knew that there was no way either one could stay away from their work for a whole decade. No, six months would be more than enough.

"I'm going to check on the Climatology Lab," Erol said as the two scientists reached a fork in the path. "I'll meet you back here in an hour...for dinner." He smiled shyly.

"You were afraid I forgot," Dahl said. It was a statement, not a question. Erol was about to speak, but Dahl continued. "Just because I'm fanatical about my work doesn't mean I'd forget the one thing in my life that is just as important."

Erol winced.

"More important," Dahl corrected even as she chided herself for her callousness.

Erol relaxed, though he was still hurt, Dahl could tell. He nodded and said, "Okay, in one hour..." He began to walk away.

"Erol," Dahl whispered, grabbing his arm gently as he left. "I love you."

Erol finally smiled, a genuine smile. He leaned over and kissed Dahl lightly on the cheek. "I love you, too," he said, and was gone.

Dahl's eyes rolled and she felt the desire to kick herself. How many times had she done that to poor Erol? They were in love. Everyone knew it, although Dahl and Erol had been the last to know. But could Dahl sacrifice the time that Erol deserved and demanded when she had something as important as the creation of an entire planet in her hands? How could she just drop that? And yet... But she would worry about that another time.

Dahl approached her own terminal, a three meter long crescent-shaped computer desk which was connected, at least indirectly, to every system and subsystem on the surface of or within Palm II.

Dahl pushed a baby blue button, and the console sprung to life.

"Greetings, Dr. Dahlia Mallos," said a soft and gentle-sounding young male voice. "How are you today?"

"Just fine, Son," said Dahl. "But, more importantly, how is our baby?"

This massive computer to which Dahl spoke was the super-computer which monitored (not controlled, just monitored) everything which occurred on and within Palm II. It was known simply as "Son" and was the exact counterpart of Daughter, the sentient mainframe which maintained the ecologies of Mota and Dezo while monitoring the orbit of Rykros, which was prone to ellipticity and was planned to be normalized. Son was set to take over some of Daughter's duties once Palm II became fully self-sufficient, but everyone knew that it might take decades, perhaps even centuries, for that to happen. It was very fortunate, then, that AIs were so patient, as well as undemanding.

"By 'our baby,' I assume you are referring to Palm II itself," Son said.

"Yes, Son," Dahl replied with a grin. "That is correct."

"In that case, all internal diagnostics and external observations indicate that everything is progressing exceedingly well, Dr. Mallos. Climatrol reports that temperature has increased to the optimum level for comfortable Palman habitation. Also, the rainfall cycle is now progressing normally without any intervention from me." A beep. "That is all I have to report."

"Thank you, Son," Dahl said. "By the way, do you know where my sister is?"

A click. "Scanning. Ah, yes. Dr. Azura Mallos is in Section B-5 of the Climatology Lab, with Dr. Erol Grant."

"Really?" Dahl asked. "Well, since there's nothing new here, I think I'll go pay Azur and Erol a visit. Keep me posted on any new developments, Son," she added.

"Of course," said the son of Mother Brain, who was endlessly more benevolent than the ancient machination from which he was indirectly descended. "As you wish."

Dahl stood, returned to the fork in the path Erol had taken, and walked for several minutes down a long, narrow corridor before finally coming to the Climatology Lab, known commonly as Climatrol.

"Have you seen Dr. Grant and Dr. Mallos?" Dahl asked a neck-high Motavian girl dressed in a pink hooded robe who was passing by.

"Oh, yes," the girl said in her high, raspy voice. Carefully balancing a rack of test tubes in one hand, the girl pointed off to a little enclave on the Lab's western end. "They're in there. We got a present from Zelan, apparently."

"A present?" Dahl asked, more to herself than the girl, as she approached the enclave, a place where new supply arrivals were stored until needed. "What could Zelan have sent us?"

Dahl rounded a corner and found her blue-haired sister, Azur, and Erol inspecting something which was at that moment materializing in the teleport module. Dahl could not yet tell what it was.

"Dr. Mallos, something has just arrived from Zelan." It was the soothing voice of Son coming over the wrist communicator that all of the scientists and others aboard Palm II wore.

"Yes, I know, Son. I'm with...it now," Dahl said, turning the communicator off.

Erol and Azur turned and noticed Dahl for the first time.

"Hey, there you are!" Azur Mallos said, standing upright and throwing her arms around her sister. "It's been days! I've missed you!"

"I've missed you, too!" Dahl said, returning the embrace. "But...what is this...thing?"

"Check this out!" Erol said. His hand reached into the teleport module, and when it emerged, it was holding another hand.

A woman stepped out of the teleport beam.

Dahl squealed, as the sudden movement startled her, but she regained her composure when she saw the woman's eyes. They never blinked. She was obviously an android.

"This is incredible!" Azur said. "I've never seen a 'droid like this one before!"

"Come over here," Dahl said to the android, gentle yet commanding.

The red-haired "woman" complied. She stepped out of the module and stood submissively before Dahl. Azur and Erol stood on either side of her.

"What is your name?" Dahl asked.

"Being an android, I have no name, per se," the android replied. "That's not to say, however, that I have no identity. I am a technical systems analyst and biotechnics expert android, designation Mieu-type. I may be addressed simply as 'Mieu,' although my individual unit designation is 'Mium.'"

Dahl smiled. Now they were getting somewhere. "Well, which do you prefer? 'Mieu' or 'Mium?'"

The android shrugged. It was a surprisingly humanistic gesture, considering the machine's otherwise monotone personality. "I suppose 'Mium' would be more accurate."

"Very well then," Dahl said. "'Mium' you shall be!"

Mium nodded. "As you like it."

"How and why did you come here?" Erol asked, his eyes wide.

"I was sent by my master, the Fuoren Wren-Type in control of Zelan. It was he that teleported me here. My mission is to help the construction of Palm II. As I said, I am a technical systems analyst and biotechnics expert. Being an android, I am quite strong physically and could be used for any type of manual labor. Also, since I require no oxygen to function, I can work effectively in outer space." Mium looked to Dahl. "I need only orders."

Dahl smiled, and nodded. "Very well," she said. "Your first 'assignment' is to accompany my companions and myself to my office, where we can discuss some things in private."

Mium nodded, and the four were on their way.

It only took them a few moments to arrive at Dahl's office. It was a simple room; all underground rooms were simple. There was a plain, metal desk, which Dahl sat behind, along the far wall. There was a couch along the wall to Dahl's left, where Azur and Erol sat. Mieu sat right before Dahl, in a swivel chair.

"Okay, Mium," Dahl said. "You said you know about biotechnics. How? I was under the impression that there were no androids schooled in such fields except for the infamous Demi and Wren of Zelan."

Mium sighed. She was apparently designed to mimic human behavior, as Demi-types were. Only these new Mieu-types seemed to be designed especially well.

"You were all probably under the impression that I am a new model, as you have more than likely never seen a Mieu-type before."

"You mean you're not new?" Azur asked.

"No. In fact...I'm just the opposite."

"How old...are you?" Erol asked carefully.

"I am over three thousand years old. Three thousand twelve years, to be exact. I am even older than Zelan's Wren, who is thought by most to be the oldest android in all of Algo."

"By the Light..." Dahl said. "I had no idea... But, Mium, how have you survived so long?"

"My story is a sad one," Mium said. "But since you are my new master, Doctor Mallos, I will share it with you. I was created on Palm, the original Palm, in AW 1272. I was a biotechnics maintenance worker, monitoring and adjusting the biosystems on Mota long-distance from my plant in Camineet, the capital of Palm's Algoian empire. It disturbs me now, when I think back and I see that I was really no more than an appendage of Mother Brain."

The vehemence with which Mium said the ancient name surprised Dahl. She had no time to comment, however, for Mium continued.

"Then, when Mother Brain destroyed Palm in AW 1284, I became a passenger aboard the escape ship Palman Sunrise, which was on a course towards Mota, where it hoped to land and escape detection from the robotcops and other androids which were, at that time, scouring the planet for those who had escaped Mother Brain's 'justice.' However, as we entered Mota's orbit, one of our sister ships fired on us." Mium's eyes grew sad. If she weren't an android, and therefore without tear ducts, Dahl would have thought her about to cry. "I still don't know why. Perhaps Mother Brain had somehow taken control of the ships. At any rate, propulsion systems and life support were destroyed by the barrage. Palman Sunrise became locked in a Motavian orbit which was degenerating at an agonizingly slow rate. I had to watch, helpless, as the millions of Palmans aboard the ship suffocated to death. Unable to bear the tragedy and my own ineffectuality, I deactivated myself. The ship crashed some nine hundred years later, just north of a small Motavian town called Nalya. You've probably never heard of it. Its name and location have changed countless times over the centuries. Anyway, I was discovered, still deactivated, in AW 2302, while a team of archeologists were examining the wreckage of Palman Sunrise. Unsure of what to do with me, the scientists offered me to the Wren-type on Zelan. He reactivated me and interrogated me about my past. I told him all, and begged him to please deactivate me again until some time as I could be made useful. I have been awakened a few times since then, when my abilities were needed. Most often, I ran errands for Wren in deep space to collect ore elements before the colonies outside of Algo were established. But this is the first time since I held my position on old Palma that I have seen an opportunity to be truly useful." Mium stopped then, and blinked, looking at Dahl expectantly.

"And I'm sure we can find a place for you, Mium," Dahl said, her empathy for the android swelling. "I'm sure of it." She stood and walked around to the android, who also stood. "But what can I have you do?" Dahl asked everyone and no one in particular. "You have so many skills. It can make you more difficult to place."

"I assure you," said Mium, "that I can specialize in any department you place me in."

"Oh, Mium, it's not that I doubt your abilities. I just need some time to decide."

"I have an idea," Azur said. "She could work in the Research Department with me."

"The Research Department?" Mium asked.

"Yes," said Dahl, "that's an excellent idea. See, Mium, the Research Department is studying the old ecology of Palm. We're trying to duplicate it here as closely as possible. You would be invaluable to them, seeing as you have first-hand memories of old Palm."

"Would you be interested in working with us?" Azur asked the android hopefully.

Mium smiled. "Certainly. And I will be more than willing to work in either the Climatology or Biotechnics Labs as well, with either of you," Mium said to both Dahl and Erol. "And thank you all, for giving me a purpose again." With that, Azur and Mium left.

"Well, that certainly was interesting!" Dahl said as she sat on her desktop.

"You could say that again," Erol said, scratching his day's worth of stubble. "A three thousand-plus year-old android... Who would have thought there could be another one?"

"Makes you wonder how many more there could be," Dahl said as Erol sat beside her.

"Indeed," he added. "Although I doubt that, even if there are any more as old, there are any like her."