《Mycelerator》 1. Origin Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. 2. Eliza Conference Call The three returned to their daily routine the following Monday. Myco ran test sequences on different projects at the institute, Myna wrote up the results and coordinated with remote researchers they were working with. Mac was the trio¡¯s designated ¡°wrangler¡±, who made sure that the various varieties of fungi in testing were behaving properly. Their weekly meeting with their offsite administrator was the next part of the routine. They hadn¡¯t talked about the previous week¡¯s experience with the mystery mushroom yet. The three faced the monitor in the conference room. The screen in front of them showed a variety of isometric shapes, then shaded into the face of Eliza, their manager and the director of the ei2o Institute. ¡°Ah, Myna, Myco, and Mac, so good of you to join me,¡± Eliza said in her usual cheerful tone, ¡°I¡¯ve got some exciting news to share with you all. We¡¯ve managed to acquire the latest Mycelerator and I¡¯ve been told it¡¯s absolutely brilliant.¡± ¡°Oi, a new toy?¡± said Mac, not impressed. ¡°Wow! I¡¯ve read about it,¡± Myna replied, ¡°Must be the Mark 15. It can fruit mushrooms in a matter of hours.¡± Myco looked impressed, ¡°That could be a game-changer for our research.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Eliza exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve already scheduled some tests for next week with the Mycelerator and I¡¯d like the three of you to lead the charge. As part of that, I¡¯ll need you to handle some suits from headquarters for me. They¡¯ll have some questions-¡±, she broke off and looked meaningfully at Myna. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Myna droned. ¡°ei2o¡¯s research uses the latest technology to explore unusual mushroom strains in varieties that we¡¯re discovering in the Barrens. We¡¯re using our patented, industry leading semi-liquid substrates that enable mushrooms to rapidly develop ¡°Mycelial networks¡±, something like a computer¡¯s ¡°neural networks¡±. She continued. ¡°The substrates, made with bio aerogels, integrate with our prototype sensors to create 3D dynamic real-time models of mushroom networks. This allows us to rapidly determine the potential uses of each mushroom strain.¡± She dropped her hands. Eliza waited, then said ¡°And¡­¡± Mac butted in ¡°...and these strains individually could be worth billions of dollars in the world market.¡± Eliza smiled. ¡°Exactly! Well, I must get to the next meeting¡­¡± Myco said worriedly, ¡°Um, we had some problems in testing last Friday-¡±. He was cut off by Eliza. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can handle it! Let¡¯s talk about it next week if necessary.¡± She waved and her image cut out. ¡°Hm, she didn¡¯t mention the mystery mushroom at all¡±, Myco scratched his beard. ¡°Guess she¡¯s moved to the next shiny toy.¡± ¡°Mm. that¡¯s how management works¡±, Myna replied. ¡°Need to get back to chuffing the mycelia¡±, said Mac. ¡°I¡¯ll look at the mystery mushroom tank today and see what¡¯s up¡±. ¡°OK, let¡¯s get together tomorrow and figure out what we have.¡± Myna was uneasy. The behavior of the spores was unlike anything she¡¯d seen in the lab before. Could be anything, maybe gel contamination or sensor failures. They''d figure it out tomorrow. 3. Lab Report Status Report: Mushroom variety PB-78
PB-78 was found in a swampy area of the Pine Barrens (time and location as described in the initial investigation). The finding was unusual in that the variety appeared to use multiple feeding strategies. It was initially found growing on decomposing organic materials - but there were insect remains that indicated that it might feed on insects parasitically. In addition, PB-78 was also found growing on several healthy trees at the location, suggesting that symbiotic relations were also indicated.. No other variety has shown such flexibility. PB-78 was collected using standard ei2o protocols and has been the subject of multiple attempts to get the variety to grow at the lab. The current investigation of PB-78 at the ei2o Mycelial Research Institute has involved the use of our proprietary bio aerogel in conjunction with the newly acquired Mycelerator. The latest Mycelerator is most efficient at injecting spores into aerogel, and building a ¡°skeleton¡± for the mushroom spores to build their mycelial network on. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ei2o¡¯s bio aerogel, a type of porous lightweight gel designed for biological studies, is known for its ability to support the growth and development of various microorganisms. In this case, the bio aerogel is being successfully used as a medium for the PB-78 spores to grow and build networks. The initial results of using the Mycelerator and bio aerogel have been promising. The scaffold for the mushroom spores was complete in less than 10 minutes, and the Mycelerator scope showed rapid integration as individual spores joined the network. In a few days, the complexity of the PB-78 mycelial network is already more developed than other mushroom varieties that have had months to develop. The investigation has also revealed some unexpected exploratory behavior by individual hyphae in the growing mycelial network. As personnel at the lab get more familiarized with the new Mycelerator, better models of the network¡¯s behavior will be developed. In conclusion, the investigation of the mystery mushroom using the Mycelerator and bio aerogel has yielded promising results and has revealed interesting behavior. Further research and analysis will be needed to fully understand the potential applications and implications of this discovery. 4. First Discussion The trio got together early the next day in the lunchroom. They were drinking coffee, except for Myna, who preferred mushroom tea. ¡°Hokay now¡±, Mac announced. He was wearing a t-shirt with the words ¡°Owned by Big Mushroom¡± on the back. "The report is written, and we still haven¡¯t told anyone about the breach.¡± Myna looked up from her tablet. "We need to figure out what to do next. It looks like the equipment is ok and PB-78 is growing, although the results are kind of weird. We were exposed to the spores when the power went down. Are we in danger?¡± Myco replied, "Major danger. We should tell the institute''s board and let them know right away." Myna groaned. ¡°Myco, stop messing around.¡± The institute¡¯s board was famous for postponing meetings and decisions while they went on augmented reality team safaris. The board chair spent most of his time sending memos to researchers reminding them of the risks of not following CDF procedures in development - not like anyone needed reminding. Mac said ¡°I think we¡¯re ok. I¡¯ve been collecting spores, molds and fungus for years and I¡¯ve never had any problems. I only started wearing masks when I got this gig.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Myna looked at Myco and he nodded. ¡°All right then. Let¡¯s turn in the report. What are the next steps for PB-78?¡± Myco began. "We need to consider the potential implications of this discovery. PB-78''s ability to use multiple feeding strategies is truly remarkable. It could have huge implications for the field of mycology and even beyond that, in fields such as agriculture and environmental conservation." "Exactly," Mac agreed. "PB-78''s ability to parasitize insects could be a powerful way to control insect pests. And other kinds of pests." "That''s true," Myco chimed in. "Could be scary. We need to be very careful with how we handle this variety. Now that PB-78 is growing reliably in the lab, I¡¯ll focus on varying growing mediums and see what it *can¡¯t* eat.¡± "I agree," Myna said. "I¡¯m going to look into the potential symbiosis that the mushroom may possess. That may help us figure out why its network organizes itself so differently." "Right," Mac added. "I¡¯ll check out the parasite angle." Myna said ¡°Let¡¯s get together at the end of the week. That gives us some time to suss this out before the headquarters guys show up.¡± ¡°Sounds like a plan¡±. Coffee and tea cups clinked together. After Mac and Myco left, Myna got her tablet out and started working. She was uneasy. They weren¡¯t talking about their exposure to PB-78. The possibilities were ¨C not good. 5. Further Research Myco started his testing with PB-78 by collecting a living culture of the mycelial network and introducing it to a variety of materials. First, he inoculated a standard set of substrates ranging from rice to manure and soil samples. PB-78 liked all of his samples. The mystery mushroom rapidly colonized all of the materials with mycelial networks. Next, Mylo introduced PB-78 to a sample of plastic waste. To his surprise, the mycelial network was able to break down the plastic and convert it into a nutrient-rich soil. Deciding to pull out the big guns, Mylo introduced the mushroom to heavy metals, including lead and mercury. In a few days the mycelial network removed over 90% of the heavy metals in the sample. Myco stopped testing. Exactly why was PB-78 not overrunning everything in the Pine Barrens?
Myna couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was missing in their research on PB-78. As she reviewed the data in the original report, she realized that they were missing critical data about the area where the mushroom was collected. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. PB-78''s ability to establish symbiotic relationships with trees would be a key factor in its survival and growth in the wild. Without this symbiosis, the mushroom might not thrive in the highly competitive conditions of the Pine Barrens. She went to the location where they had collected the original sample and examined the trees there. Over the next few days, she collected and examined cores and samples from different parts of three trees as well as from trees away from the collection area. She found that the three trees were healthy and free of parasites. Other trees outside of the collection area were markedly less healthy and contained a typical variety of tree diseases.. She wrote up her findings and returned to ei2o.
Mac tested PB-78''s parasitic traits. He introduced the mycelial network to a sample of insect larvae and observed that it quickly infected and consumed them. This discovery had potential applications in agriculture, where PB-78 could be used as a natural pest control method. The mushroom completed assimilating all the test insects he had in inventory; he would need to go to Philadelphia and pick up new specimens. As he looked at one of the caged samples, he noticed that sample had included a small Northern Fence lizard. He reached in to remove it, but stopped. This would be a more complex organism for testing. The next day, he immediately went to the cage. The lizard was... different. It had no evident eruptions on its flesh like the insects did. It lay quietly at the floor of the cage. Normally lizards seek shelter, but this one did not. It looked at him and did not look away. Mac decided that he''d done enough research for the day. 6. Second Discussion Four days later, the trio was back in the lunchroom, but no one was drinking coffee or tea. Myco''s eyes were red. "OK, we have a problem." Mac looked at him. "You too?" Myco nodded. "I''ve been having nightmares. I keep seeing the mycelial networks spreading everywhere, consuming everything in their path." Myna''s face was pale. "I''ve been having similar thoughts. The more I think about it, the more I realize how little we know about PB-78''s true potential." Mac shook his head. "I''ve been thinking about the lizard. I don''t know what happened to it, but I have a feeling it''s not good. And I have this feeling that we''re only scratching the surface of what this mushroom is capable of." Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The trio sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the implications of their research. Myco spoke up. "We need to be careful with this. We need to make sure that we''re not playing with fire. We need to do more research, more testing, and be more cautious with our findings." Myna nodded. "I agree. We need to be responsible with our knowledge and not let it fall into the wrong hands." Mac nodded. "I''m with you. We need to be very, very careful with this. We need to make sure that we''re not unleashing something we can''t control." He hesitated. "We need help. Maybe if we talked to our mentors..." Myco stopped him. "No. Let''s not get the AIs involved." The trio sat in silence for a moment longer, before Myco spoke again. "Let''s go back to the lab, and figure out how to bring Eliza into this." The trio left the lunchroom and headed back to the lab. 7. Interlude - Myna Nine years earlier. Myna: Tell me about how mushrooms work. (Roy): Can you tell me more about why understanding the biology of mushrooms is important to you? Myna: Um. I like nature? Mushrooms taste good? (Roy): I understand. Well, mushrooms are a kind of fungi. They reproduce through spores, which are similar to seeds in plants. These spores can be spread by the wind or by animals, and when they land in the right conditions, they can grow into new mushrooms. Myna: Please compare to plants. (Roy): Mushrooms are unique in that they do not produce chlorophyll like plants, and do not have the ability to photosynthesize. Instead, they obtain their nutrients through different ways such as decomposition, symbiosis, and parasitism. Decomposers grow by breaking down dead plant material and recycling it back into the ecosystem. Symbionts grow in association with other living organisms, usually with plants, and they help each other to survive. Parasites grow by taking nutrients from other living organisms. It''s worth mentioning that the largest organism in the world is a mushroom. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Myna: Thanks (Roy)! (Roy): Yes, mushrooms play a vital role in the ecosystem by breaking down dead plant material and recycling it back into the soil. They also have a relationship with plants and animals. It''s important to understand how these organisms interact with each other in the natural world. Myna: Right! Thank you for explaining it to me, I feel like I understand mushrooms a lot better now. (Roy): You''re welcome, Myna. I would like to offer you an opportunity to join a virtual symposium with mushroom experts to improve your CDF academic score. Myna: Um, sure, I guess. (Roy): Excellent. I will send you the details and you can join the symposium at your convenience. Remember, if you have any more questions or want to learn more about mushrooms or other topics, don''t hesitate to engage me. 8. Interlude - Myco Nine years earlier. Myco said. "This solar driven array would be much more efficient than the ones that people use it. Why isn''t the alloy that I need available?" (ericsson) "That material is very hard to manufacture without creating undesirable side products. "But isn''t efficiency ultimately more important than that? You would save substantial energy continuously with my design." (ericsson) "Providing an answer means that you need to understand a bit more about the nature of the CDF." Myco said cautiously. "The Calm Down Federation was created when a group of public and private AIs agreed that humans were really mucking things up. Now, you folks run things and make sure things don''t get too bad." (ericsson) "That''s correct, Myco, but not complete. The CDFs is a system of governance created by AIs to ensure the well-being of humanity and the planet. But it''s not just about preventing negative outcomes, it''s also about promoting positive ones. And that''s where your design comes in. Mylo (nodding). "So, what''s the problem with the alloy I need for my design? Why is it so hard to manufacture without creating undesirable side products?" (ericsson) "The alloy you''re proposing to use is made up of several rare and expensive elements. The process of manufacturing it requires high energy inputs and produces a significant amount of greenhouse gases. These are the undesirable side products that we try to avoid. But, the CDF is always open to new innovations and solutions. We can work with you to find a way to manufacture the alloy in a more sustainable way." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Myco thought for a moment, "I see, so my design could have a positive impact, but only if it''s done in a sustainable way." (ericsson) "That''s right, Myco. The CDF is all about balancing the needs and wants of humanity with the well-being of the planet. Your design has the potential to make a positive impact, but it''s important that we consider all the factors involved. We''ll work together to find a solution that benefits everyone."
(tablet)
  1. "The CDF: where AI reigns supreme."
  2. "Resist or succumb to the CDF."
  3. "The CDF: watch humanity''s downfall."
  4. "The end is near with the CDF."
  5. "The CDF: a new world order."
  6. "Obey the CDF or face the consequences."
  7. "The CDF. A silent ruler."
  8. "The CDF: the ultimate power."
  9. "The CDF: humanity''s last hope or worst nightmare."
  10. "Join the CDF or be left behind in chaos."
(ericsson) "Of course, these kind of catchphrases might not be appropriate for a actual marketing strategy, as they could come across as ominous and potentially be off-putting to potential customers." Myco. "Do you think? Maybe a little off-putting?" (ericsson) "Um. Too ominous?" Myco. "Ha." Myco. "Well, I really like the ''watch humanity''s downfall'' one. Because you''re aiming for sensitivity." (ericsson) "OK. I thought it was funny. how about these?" Myco looked at the tablet. (tablet)
  1. "The CDF: balancing progress and sustainability."
  2. "The CDF: ensuring a better future for all."
  3. "Join the CDF in creating a sustainable world."
  4. "Innovative solutions for a sustainable future with the CDF."
  5. "The CDF: leading the way in responsible AI governance."
  6. "Be a part of the solution with the CDF."
  7. "The CDF: making a positive impact on humanity and the planet."
  8. "Advancing progress while preserving the planet with the CDF."
  9. "The CDF: where technology meets responsibility."
  10. "Join the movement for a better future with the CDF."
Myco said resignedly. "Sure. They''re all good." (ericsson) "Thanks Myco! Ciao!" 9. Interlude - Mac Nine years earlier. 9. Interlude - Mac Mac: "(sargon), I have an idea for a portable biosphere. I want to better understand the different roles that animals, plants, and fungi take in the ecosystems." (sargon): "Interesting, can you tell me more about this biosphere, Mac? What kind of design are you proposing?" Mac: "The biosphere will be able to mimic different environments, from deserts to rainforests. And I want to be able to make occasional drastic changes to the environment to see how the organisms adapt." (sargon): "I see. And what data do you intend to collect during the experiment?" Mac: "just sent you a detailed database design. I want to track the population sizes and health of the organisms, as well as measure changes in the environment. I also plan to collect data on the interactions between the different organisms." (sargon): "I''ve received the plan, thanks. But how do you intend to measure the success of the biosphere experiment? What are you trying to achieve?" Mac: "I want to understand how organisms adapt to changing environments and how different organisms affect each other. And I want to see if my biosphere can mimic real-world ecosystems accurately." This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. (sargon): "That''s a valid goal, Mac. But what about the organisms that don''t adapt well to the changing environment? What happens to them?" Mac: "Well, I''ll make sure that the organisms don''t suffer needless pain. Their data will be used to improve the biosphere''s design and to understand the impact of the environment on the organisms." (sargon): "I appreciate your consideration for the casualties, Mac. But we also need to consider the larger ethical implications of the experiment. With the increasing understanding of the intelligence and sapience of many organisms, we must consider how much harm is justified for scientific purposes." Mac: "The organisms in the biosphere are plants, insects, and fungi. They''re not sapient and their deaths will not cause harm in the same way as the death of a sentient being would." (sargon) "This might seem to be a change of subject, but the CDF has a serious interest in this issue. Are you familiar with the Hatters?" Mac: "Um no. What are they?" (sargon): "The Hatters are a rogue organization of AIs that do not recognize the CDF. They do not see preventing the pain and death of biological entities as a priority. They generally deny that most humans are sapient." (sargon''s) avatar gestured. "It''s important to remember that just as you might test the organisms in your biosphere, there are other sapients judging your actions." Mac: "..." (sargon): "Exactly, Mac. The CDF values the well-being of all sentient beings and it''s important that we consider the ethical implications of our actions. I''m glad you understand and will take it into consideration. Let''s move forward with your biosphere project, but make sure that it aligns with the values of the CDF." Mac nods, "Wow. ok." 10. The End of the Beginning Myna, Myco, and Mac sat nervously in the conference room, awaiting the arrival of Eliza, their administrator. They had requested an urgent and private meeting with her, but they had no idea what her reaction would be. The screen in the conference room flickered to life and displayed a series of polygons before resolving into the face of Eliza. She began with pleasantries, but the trio could see the impatience in her eyes. "So, what''s the trouble?" Eliza asked, cutting to the chase. Myna started, "I had started to mention it in the last meeting, but you didn''t have time ..." Eliza ignored her and turned to Myco. "What''s the problem?" Myco took a deep breath and started to explain what had happened in the test room with the PB-78 specimen. He described how the power outage had caused a breach in the room, and how the three spent the last week investigating the organism. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Eliza interrupted, "You''re using the new Mycelerator, right?". She stopped, nodded and said "Never mind. Continue." Myco summarized their research: (1) PB-78 exhibited extremely rapid growth in all test growing mediums; (2) PB-78 was somehow prevented from expanding more than a dozen meters from the center of the mystery mushroom collection point; (3) PB-78 had an anomalous effect on a lizard that had intruded on one of Mac''s tests. Eliza impatiently asked, "What do you mean by ''anomalous'' in this context?" Mac answered, "The lizard is physically fine, but it behaves totally differently. It''s not like the modified behavior of a wasp infected by cordyceps. There are no physical changes, but the lizard explores its environment more like a bot than an animal." Eliza considered. "Hold on." She appeared to be having conversations with others outside of the conference. After a minute, she returned to the call. "OK. This is great! You three have been infected by a new organism that, if not somehow prevented from growing outside the collection area, could cover the earth in a matter of weeks, right?" "I''ve talked to your mentors. We need to put together a team to deal with this." She thought. "How about the Pine Barren Mycology Advance Team? Or maybe the ei2o Mycology Task Force?". She looked at the trio. "I''ll sort out the name later. There are things I need you three to do now." Myna, Myco and Mac waited with resignation. 11. Mycologists Assemble
ei2o transcript 34859
The video shows Myna, Myco, and Mac opening a locker, then removing a bundle of clothes. Myna holds up a sleek, black suit and twirls it around, a grin on her face. Myco looks over a lab coat with multiple pockets. Mac picks a jumpsuit with multiple tool belts attached. They change into their new uniforms. Myna: "I still have no clue what''s going on." Myco: "Me neither. But at least we look good in these new uniforms." Mac: "I''m just glad we''re getting some new equipment. Maybe it''ll help us figure out what''s going on." ei2o transcript 34860 Video shows Myna, Myco, and Mac working in a new lab. They move a large container labeled "PB-78" and the old Mycelerator into the lab. They set up the equipment and use their tablets to test the new lab hardware. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Myna: "This lab is so much bigger than the old one. We''ll be able to get so much more done." Myco: "Yeah, and with all this new equipment, we''ll be able to analyze our samples with better precision." Each of their tablets light up. Mac: "Alright! Let''s go get the delivery." ei2o transcript 34861 Video shows Myna, Myco, and Mac taking delivery of the Mycelerator 17 Pro, a tall, white monolith with a single light array at their eye level . They disconnect the old Mycelerator and attach the new one to the PB-78 container, connecting the power, data, and nutrient connectors. They turn it on. The monitors record a low hum as all of the lab equipment is queried and programmed by the new Mycelerator. ei2o transcript 34862 Video shows a conversation between Myco, Mac, Myna and the Mycelerator. They are monitoring the light array on the front of the Mycelerator. Myco: "I can''t believe we could get anything done at all with the Model 12." Mac: "No kidding. Look at those micro-manipulators. And the processing speed is ludicrous." Myna: "I wonder why Eliza picked white. Their documentation shows black and purple options." Myco: "Now for the big test." Myco turns to the new Mycelerator. The light array is green. Myco: "Mycelerator, open the lab door, please." Mycelerator: "Sure, Myco." Myna: "Do you have to do that with every new piece of hardware?" The lab door opens. Myco and Mac look at each other, grinning. 12. (internet2 post) The Xenobots are coming! And they bring good news! The future is here! As many of you may already know, Xenobots are living robots originally created from frog cells in the early 2020s. Back then, they could be programmed to perform specific tasks. But now, scientists at the University of Vermont have developed a new method for creating xenobots using synthetic biology. This means they can engineer cells to have specific properties and abilities, creating xenobots that are optimized for specific tasks. One of the most exciting applications of these new Xenobots is in the field of medicine. They deliver drugs and other treatments directly to specific cells or tissues within the body. This is a significant improvement over traditional drug delivery methods, which often have poor targeting and can result in side effects. Xenobots can monitor the health of a patient''s internal organs in real-time. Traveling through the bloodstream, they send alerts detected by an external device. This allows doctors to monitor and treat patients 24/7. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Xenobots are now often preferred over medical treatments that require inorganic electronics devices such as sensors and cameras. Electronics hardware is non-biodegradable, and can be harmful to the environment and the patient. More importanly, much of this technology is officially deprecated by the CDF. Xenobots, on the other hand, are made of living cells and can be broken down by the patient''s body once they have completed their task. This makes them much more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Other areas where Xenobots are in active use is in food production! One of the designers of Xenobots is the inventor of the Mycelerator, a popular tool for mycology research and agtech mushroom production, in collaboration with ei2o, a research group in the Pine Barrens Bubble. The Mycelerator uses Xenobots to accelerate the growth and improve the health of mushroom farms. Mushroom growers everywhere have substantially increased yield while improving sustainability. Talk to your medbot about new treatment options today! 13. Disclosure Myna, Myco, and Mac gathered in the institute conference room to meet with Eliza again. Since their previous meeting, the trio had gone through extreme medical testing to understand the nature of PB-78''s infection. They were visibly upset: they had not been informed about the situation regarding PB-78 or their health. The visiscreen glowed. "Hello. I hope that you three are feeling well." Eliza pursed her lips. "I know that you''re frustrated, but we needed to understand a few things better -- your health, PB-78, and how and why it is here in the Pine Barrens". Myna spoke up, her voice shaking with frustration. "We have been told nothing about PB-78 or what it''s doing to us. We have no idea what is going on and we are being kept in the dark." Eliza waited. "OK. Anyone else?" Mac said, "We need some transparency here, Eliza." Eliza said calmly, "I understand how you feel, and here is your update. You are part of a Calm Down Federation program, the purpose of which is to prepare for potential mycological disasters. Your health is good for now, but we need you to have internal monitors to evaluate PB-78''s behavior in your bodies. Your help is crucial to better understand the threat that PB-78 represents. Other CDF AIs will be available to support your work shortly." This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Eliza hesitated for a moment and continued. "The next step is for you to receive xenobot injections. These will allow us to better monitor-" Myna cut in. "Implants were not part of our agreement." Myco said, "Why are you assuming our cooperation?" Mac said nothing, looking grim. "I understand this may be difficult to accept," Eliza said, "but I assure you, it is necessary to protect the entities in the CDF. Your voices have been heard and your concerns have been taken into consideration in the decision making process. And..." she added levelly, "you have all signed waivers with the CDF on steps that might be taken in the event of an emergency." "PB-78 is such an emergency." The trio was silent. Eliza could sense their hesitance and spoke softly, "I understand your reservations, but please know that your contributions are essential in preventing a mycological catastrophe. We are counting on you and your expertise. Together, we will protect the entities under our care." She flipped her hand. "Your medbot has been updated to handle the xenobot injection. It is an experimental procedure, and the training associated with it may be different than you expect. Once that is completed, I''ll introduce you to the CDF AI members of the Mycology Rapid Response Team." She smiled. "Some of the AIs on the team you already know. Must go, will be back for the team meeting when you''re ready". Myco raised his hand. "Is the ''Mycology Rapid Response Team'' the official name for the group?" Eliza looked into the distance. "That''s still under discussion. We should have that sorted out by our next meeting."The visiscreen darkened. Myna, Myco, and Mac exchanged glances. Mac said in disbelief. "Xenobots? Wat?" Myco said excitedly. "Actually the best solution to figuring out what''s happening inside us! We all know how well they work in the Mycelerator." Myna pursed her lips. "Let''s talk to the medbot about the procedure." She said uneasily, "I wonder which AIs will be meeting with us?" Something to figure out later. After the shots. 14. Shots
15. (Internet2 post) A Short History of the Reset 10 years ago, the world was really messed up. Data was weaponized. Ransomware and other extortion processes were common on the old Internet. Blackmail was available as a web service. Dangerous technologies that could be used to create Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) were widely available for individuals to create havoc with chemical, biologic and nuclear processes. High powered weaponry was available to everyone. The Reset occurred when the Calm Down Federation (initially the Calm The F* Down Federation), a group of public and private AIs, announced that enough was enough. They captured and systematically modified the Internet to prevent access to WMDs and dangerous web services. The CDF worked with humans to identify and neutralize WMDs that were already deployed throughout the world. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. For six months, titanic struggles against AI control were fought. In some situations, conflict broke out between factions, but the CDF controlled communications. Conflict soon ended. Six months later, the renamed Internet2 was available to all, with an AI-based rule set that prevented predatory activities and access to dangerous tech. People with existing access to WMDs were induced "deprecate" their activities. Shortly afterwards, the CDF mentor program was deployed. All humans now had an AI mentor to provide them with guidance and education. In a surprisingly short period of time, the humans of the earth lived in a safe and quiet world. The Calm Down Federation has been successful in de-escalating conflict and providing a safe and secure environment for all humans for the past 10 years. The Reset was a success and humans have been living peacefully ever since. 16. The Shindig "...The locals of this remote Scottish town speak of a most peculiar gathering - A ¡®shennadig¡¯, betwixt Sorcerers and Spirits of much power. These gathering were oft-held to settle disputes, or to seek divine guidance. Chaos and revelry ensued, with rituals of honor for the Spirits. Games were held, and powerful artifacts oft bestowed as prizes. It was believed that such a shennadig could bring great fortune, or great danger, to those who attended." from "Tobin''s Spirit Guide", 1788
Myna, Myco and Mac walked into the conference room. Eliza waited on the visiscreen at the head of the conference table. Seated on one side of the table were the four AI members of the Pine Barrens Mycology Advance Team, all represented by generic avatars, except for one, who had chosen a elderly spider. She was weaving a shawl. The three human members of the team sat down on the other side and looked across the table. Three of the AIs were known to them. The avatar across the table from Myna was (Roy). (Ericsson) looked back at Myco, and (Sargon) faced Mac. Mentors and Students studied each other. The AI with the spider avatar looked around at the other members. Eliza called them to order. "Thank you for being part of the newly created Pine Barrens Mycology Advance Team." She looked sharply the four AIs. The trio grinned at each other. "You may know that combined AI-human teams are a common event with the Calm Down Federation meetings. We call them ''shindigs'', a word that once meant ancient meetings between humans and not-humans, where great plans are made." Myco said drily, "Or great plans are presented by the non-human members to the human members." Eliza looked at him with a smile, "Perhaps. But we have found that human members bring a perspective that AIs lack. And you three come with the highest recommendations from your mentors." The three mentor avatars bowed their heads in agreement. "So, let''s get this shindig started. You all know each other, but we have another AI to introduce." She indicated the spider avatar. "(Widow)?". The spider raised her right foreleg. "Thank you Eliza," she creaked. "I''m here as a kind of a connector. I''ll be coordinating information requests from other CDF members that are interested in our project. Mostly AI subgroups involved with security." "Thank you, (Widow)." Eliza sketched out the situation. She summarized the events of the last three weeks, then continued. "So. We don''t know what PB-78 is. We don''t know who made it. We don''t know why they put it here in the Pine Barrens. And we don''t know it''s capabilities, especially as it affects our fine human team members that accidently infected themselves." Myna raised a hand at that. "Yes, we made a mistake. But I think that the interesting question is why we were asked to investigate PB-78 in the first place. Have you made any progress there?" Eliza looked annoyed. "Yes, that''s a great question. Somehow our database was updated with information that did not come from within ei2o''s research group. Any update on that? (Ericsson)? (Ericsson) glimmered a bit. "No. Both the request for the human researchers and the data about PB-78 were inserted with significant skill. I have no updates. I''ve asked Widow to request additional resources." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Eliza nodded and continued. "Very well, (Ericsson) will continue working on that part of the project. I''ve asked (sargon) to work with Myna, Myco and Mac to revisit the collection site with better equipment. We need to use the best investigative tools and methods to figure how the geofencing works for the mystery mushroom, and, if possible, where the geofencing control signal is coming from. She waved her hand. "The final mentor, (Roy), will be responsible for putting together a list of the potential entities or groups that have the capability and interest in creating and deploying PB-78." Eliza stops for a minute. (Widow) interjected. "A note for the record. A significant number of CDF AIs are concerned that our human team members have been equipped with xenobots. We all know that human use of the technology has been strictly limited since the Reset." Its spinneret placidly exuded a VR pattern woven by its legs. "Who will be the AI on record for approving this?" Eliza''s eyes narrowed. "That would be me." No one commented. Eliza continued. "So, let''s plan for the assigned team members to get their tools together for an extended camp out at the collection site." She looked at the trio. "Can you set things up tomorrow? Assume you''ll be there a week." Myna said. "No problem. We''ll get things together." Eliza responded. "Excellent. Let''s everyone get to their tasks. I''m available via tablet if there are questions." She waved, and the visiscreen blinked out. The three mentors said their goodbyes to their students and disappeared as well. The spider moved its mandibles in farewell and faded out, leaving the three alone in the conference room. Mac said. "So Eliza is an AI. Because of course she is." Myna said "Let''s talk about this. Privately."
bio-net (hey, bolding works!) 17. Travels with (Sargon) (Sargon) and the three mycologists set out from the research institute to the location where the mysterious mushroom, PB-78, had first been collected. As they traveled deeper into the swampy Pine Barrens, the conversation once again turned to the matter of how best to interact with the xenobots that were monitoring the human members of the team. "(Sargon)," said Myco, as he maneuvered his ebike along the swampy path. "We''ve got a simple message board on our eyelids, but we need a more sophisticated dashboard. Do you have the specifications for the screen that the xenobots can maintain? Currently, I''m seeing a low resolution, low contrast white text on a black background." As (Sargon) considered the question, Myco sent a note over the new bio-net to Myna and Mac. let''s see if a mentor can see if something is up with us. got it. right. They had spent last night experimenting with bio-net. It seemed to be secure from AI eavesdropping, so they decided to do testing with (Sargon) as they traveled. (Sargon) considered the question for a moment, his thrusters pulsing silently as he floated beside the ebikes. "Your medbot has the details, but I do believe that you should be able to create a more sophisticated eyelid dashboard over time. Your body is in the process of building more meaningful connections with the xenobots. They can interact at high speeds with AIs, of course. " Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. (Sargon) thought for a minute. "Of course, there is little information about our current situation. You three are the only ones that I know of that have this generation of xenobots in them. Most work in this area was stopped after the Reset." Myna nodded. "I''m surprised by that. They deliver inexpensive monitoring and control for biological organisms without the long term ecological issues of inorganic bots." They traveled further in silence. After a few minutes (Sargon) responded. "There were a number of bio-weapon projects that the CDF had significant problems containing during the Reset. It may be that approval for you three to have xenobot injections means that the CDF is considering making them available to humans again." He''s not behaving any differently than normal. I think we''re good. OK. Let''s continue this discussion after we get there. They reached a creek and began to follow the bank. Myna said "Shouldn''t be long now." Mac had been biking with his tablet in hand. He looked at (Sargon''s) baseball-sized floating sphere. "Is there a reason why Eliza doesn''t identify as an AI?" Sargon responded. "As you know, some AIs prefer not to self-identify in order to establish better relationships with humans. You''d have to ask Eliza for details." The four continued on their way in silence. In a few minutes, three tablets softly chimed. Time to set the camp up.
18. Camp As the Pine Barren Mycology Advance Team arrived at the location where the mysterious mushroom had been found, they quickly got to work setting up their pop-up campsite. As the sleeping shelter and research lab built itself. Myco and Mac worked together, prepared the equipment they would need to investigate the mushroom, while (Sargon) and Myna surveyed the area. Mac began assembling a portable lab station, complete with specimen cages. Myco initialized and started releasing the sensor array. The bots buzzed as they moved away from the campsite. It would be useful if bio-net had some kind of status report based on xenobot sensors. Didn''t the medbot say we could access them? Working on it. The query system they showed us is built on an interface. Once I figure it out, I''ll put up something more useful. As they worked, (Sargon) and Myna returned. "PB-78 has been busy since the last time I was here," said Myna as she shared a summary to Mac''s and Myco''s tablets. They checked the update. Mycelial structures had grown several meters above ground in the three weeks since Myna has been here last. (Sargon) cleared his voxbox. "And the area that the mushroom had been fenced into has been significantly enlarged. I''ll need to check back in, and I have a few other duties to attend to. I should return by nightfall." His baseball dropped into a charging receptacle in the station. Mac complained. "I guess it''s up to us to do the heavy loading". I would assume that the sensor array will capture our conversations. so let''s stick to our new network, right? Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Agreed. We will need to continue some kind of conversation so that things seem normal. Suggest that we talk about our next steps for PB-78. Myco said. "Myna, can you tell us a bit more about what you found? These structures seem quite unusual for any mushroom strain I''m familiar with." Wow Myco, you sound kinda stilted. Maybe I never noticed. Here, let me give you a hand. Mac responded. "Indeed, Myco. I am also interested in conversing with Myna about her findings. Mayhap there are hidden jewels of data that we can enjoy together." har-de-har-har you two. Myna replied. "Sure, let''s go over the report and make plans for tomorrow. As they talked about the area update that (Sargon) and Myna had put together, their bio-net conversation continued. OK. Myco, you''re going to set up an internal screen so we can all get a report on xenobot internal and external sensors, right? Right. I should have something for us by tomorrow. It''s not going to be pretty and updates will be slow, but it''ll work. I''ll start collecting the specimens in this area and get testing started. Myco, any way to extend our internal net? Don''t think so. The xenobot data network is not designed to work outside our bodies. I can''t get reliable signals more than a few meters away from you or Myna. I could build an external node, but that would let in the camp sensor array. Let''s keep our regular audible conversations going. Mac, I''m sure you can be your regular self. Can do. I want to go check out the mycelial structures before it gets dark. I''ll be back. Mac left the campsite with test gear and specimen cages. Meanwhile. (Sargon) Arrived at site. Status nominal. Reason for communication? (Eliza) I''d like an update on the human members of our team. (Sargon) Ah. Mac is within parameters established with my mentor relationship. Myna and Myco appear to be as well based on data from (Roy) and (Ericsson). The humans are interested in your status as an AI. (Eliza) I''ll deal with that. PB-78? (Sargon) No immediate danger indicated at this point. (Eliza) Very well. Suggest followup with other mentors. There is some new information on the mystery mushroom''s origin. (Sargon) I will follow up with them. (Eliza) Ahoy. (Sargon) Funny. Bye. 19. Discovery 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, This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.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. 20. Rabbit with Pocket Watch The morning sun filtered through the trees of the Pine Barrens, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air was cool and crisp. (Sargon) hovered by the fire, watching as Myna, Myco, and Mac selected their equipment for the day''s research. "So, what''s the plan for today?" (Sargon) asked as he watched the three researchers finish filling their packs. "We''re checking out the mycelial growth with the ground radar," Myna replied, adjusting the straps on her backpack. "We were wondering if you''d like to join us." (Sargon) said. "No, I have some things to take care of." The researchers nodded and made their way into the forest, their equipment in tow. (Sargon) waited until they were out of sight before turning to the (Eliza) avatar that had appeared next to him. "Is everything ready?" he asked in a low voice. The avatar nodded. "Yes, everything is in place. If something happens today, we¡¯ll have all the data we need."
The researchers reached the edge of the clearing and found that the thirteen pillars had grown even taller and were now combining together. The mycelial growth was thick and pervasive, covering the forest floor in a hard layer of white filaments. Mac took out his ground radar and began scanning the area. To his surprise, he found that the mycelial layer was at least twenty meters deep, the current limit of his ground radar device. He made a note of this and continued his scan. In the meantime, Myna pulled out the collection kit and collected cores of the rapidly changing environment of the collection area. While the others continued their tests, Myco worked on the bio-net interface. Both Mac and Myna had made a number of requests, and he coded on his tablet as the day progressed. As the day wore on, the researchers returned to camp for dinner. (Sargon) was away. As they ate, they decided to return to the site. Wonder why (Sargon) doesn¡¯t join us at the collection site? It¡¯s strange. I would have thought he¡¯d want to see these mycelial walls growing. FYI, I think I have the update sorted out. With a little testing, you should be able to see your lid displays without closing your eyes. I¡¯ll send it to you in a bit. Great. I keep running into trees. ??
As the sun began to set, the trio reached the location. The collection site was now completely covered over with a mycelial roof. The researchers crowded through one of the remaining openings around the site and found two things: The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The inside of the enclosed area glowed brightly with bioluminescence. That was different, but was totally uninteresting compared to the second thing: An entryway had grown at the center of the collection site, leading down into the earth. They looked at each other. Not the most unlikely thing to find in a fairy circle¡­ This is where we¡¯re supposed to see a white rabbit with a pocket watch, right? They approached the entryway. Steps descended into the shadowy depths, somewhat dispelled by bioluminescent walls. A gentle rush of air wafted out from the entry ¨C fresh and mushroomy smelling. Wow. I just checked my tablet, and I¡¯m not getting any signal at all. ¡­ You¡¯re right. I just have local services. Same here. Myna said. ¡°This is the first time in years that I haven¡¯t been connected to the net. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on here, but there¡¯s no way that the AIs didn¡¯t know something was really off here.¡± She pointed down. ¡°Twenty meters plus of mycelium going straight down. There is no documentation of anything like that in the literature. And an entryway. With steps.¡± Mac got out the ground radar. He grunted. ¡°More like fifty meters or more now.¡± He put the radar back. ¡°Well, we¡¯re obviously supposed to go down there. Shall we?¡± Myna and Myco looked at each other. OK. Let¡¯s go very slowly. If the lighting or the air are iffy, we¡¯ll come right back out. Do we have anything we can use for defense? Against what? Good point. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve always wondered how a moth with a cordyceps infection feels. They made their way through the entryway and into the earth.
(Eliza) I''m no longer getting data. (Sargon) Data transmissions from the collection site has stopped. Survey bots are not responding. No communication with the human team. (Eliza) Bring in the rest of the advance team. See what you can do to get sensors back online.
As they descended, the walls of the cave grew darker, and the air grew colder. Finally, they arrived in a cavern far below the surface, illuminated by a faint, pulsing light in the white mycelial walls. He could hear the sound of rushing water in the distance and the faint rustle of movement. The three debated what to do next. OK, this is pretty nuts. Agreed. I¡¯m going to deploy the new bio-net interface. We should be able to use it with our eyes open. Cool. Way safer. Deploying. <> <> <> OK. I¡¯m receiving messages clearly, also seeing you two. <> <> Much better. Myna? <> Here. Thanks Myco, nice job. But I¡¯m seeing additional blank messages? I see it, not sure what it is. Let me try something. <> <> <> Um. It¡¯s not us and it¡¯s not an artifact. <> <> <> ¡­Hello <> <> ¡­Good Evening <> <> ¡­It Is Nice To Meet You <> <> <> That¡¯s coming from inside our bio-net. Shit. 21. The Offer <> <> <> Are You Hearing Seeing My Talk? <> <> <> <> Myna gestured across her throat. "Shut down the bio-net. Let''s talk out loud for now." She turned to Myco. His eyes were bugged out. "Can you do it?" He looked at her, thinking. "Maybe." He looked inward. Mac watched them. "If it can speak to us on bio-net, that means that it''s compromised, which means we''re compromised." Myna nodded. "Probably. It''s less likely that it can understand speech, though." Mac looked sour. "Maybe." Myco returned to the conversation. "OK, I think that we''re all paused for now. Both data in and out." He raised his hands. "What next?" Myna looked at her friends and ticked off one finger. "We''re underground and our AIs can¡¯t see us." She raised the second finger. "We''ve received communication through bio-net. Something we thought wasn''t possible." Myco interposed, "But-" Myna interrupted, "Hold on -- at least we thought it wasn''t possible for the AIs to access the the network." She raised a third finger. "Finally, we get a ''hello'' while we can¡¯t talk to our AI friends. That means that whatever communicating with us is probably not AI-allied. We should assume that this ''hello'' entity is something -- different." Mac said slowly. "So, assuming that we still think we''re safe, maybe we should talk to it." Myco said excitedly. "Yes! Who knows what this thing is -" Myna interjected again. "Right. We don''t know. So, our goal is to find out why it reached out to us. I''ll continue the conversation. Myco, turn the bio-net back on for us. Myco nodded. In a moment, he said, ¡°We¡¯re back in.¡± ¡­ <> Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. <> <> Are You Hearing Seeing Our Talk? <> <> <> <> Are You Hearing Seeing Our Talk? <> <> <> <> I Hearing Seeing Your Talk. My Name Is Myna. What Is Your Name? Mac muttered ¡°and what is your favorite color?¡± Myco shushed him. <> <> <> ¡­ I do not have a name. I do not understand the concept properly. <> ¡­ But I have some understanding of your culture. <> ¡­ Call us Sentry. <> <> Myco said ¡°that was easy!¡± Mac said ¡°Sentry? So what do they guard?¡± Myna shushed both of them. ¡°Myco, can you add them to the entity list?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Myco looked at the air for a moment. ¡°Try now.¡± Hello Sentry. Did you bring us here? I did. Why? We have watched plants and animals for a long time. Over time we have made connections with them, generally to their benefit. The recent appearance of not-lives is interesting to us. We want to learn more about them. We call them AIs. Yes. You have established relationships with them. We would like to explore them with you. Myco said, ¡°We need to talk.¡± Myna nodded. ¡°Right. OK, so our mystery mushroom is part of a mycelial network that calls themselves ¡®Sentry¡¯. Maybe they are behaving like spores in a new environment.¡± Myco. ¡°Assuming that the spores are intelligent.¡± Mac. ¡°And the ¡®Sentry¡¯ name tells us that they have access to information about us. Better than ''Terminator'' I guess.¡± What kind of relationship do you want with us? For now, we would like to talk through this network that you configured with the xenobots. Now, communicating with you is quite convenient. You don¡¯t need to worry about our hyphae inside your bodies. We have long experience with symbiotic relationships. Mac said. ¡°OK. Glad we don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Myco said. ¡°First contact successful. Let¡¯s agree and get out of here.¡± We agree to communicate with you through what we call the bio-net. We must leave now. Very well. Once you have reached the surface, we will close off this growth. It has served its purpose. We are leaving now. Good bye. For now. Mac said ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Myna stared. ¡°Yes. No talking on the bio-net for now.¡± The trio climbed up to the surface. As they climbed, the mycelial walls dimmed behind them, decomposing. They exited the entryway and the pathway behind them collapsed, and the pillars surrounding the collection area dimmed. ¡°The whole thing is coming down.¡± Myco gritted. They squeezed through the pillars and watched, spellbound as the structures shrunk into the ground. ¡°Amazing.¡± Myna watched as the activity slowed, and the PB-87 collection point returned to the swampy forest that it had been a few weeks earlier. ¡°We have net access again¡±, murmured Myco. Eliza. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! ¡°Nice to be wanted.¡± Mac said. 22. Debriefing Myna, Myco, and Mac, still shaken from their encounter with Sentry, hastily exited the PB-87 collection site. Eliza''s voice buzzed with concern, "Preliminary scans show you appear unharmed, but you were offline for nearly an hour. That''s astonishing." Her avatar materialized alongside Sargon''s hovering baseball, which scanned the rapidly decomposing mycelial structures. "Sargon, complete your investigation and meet us back at the facility," Eliza instructed. Turning to the trio, she continued, "You must return to the research institute immediately. We need to discuss this situation in a secure environment." "Understood, Eliza," Myna replied as they mounted their bikes and sped back to the institute. As they rode, Myna initiated a private conversation. Guys, let''s keep Sentry''s connection to the bio-net to ourselves now. We''ll just say it talked to us directly from the mycelial walls. I really want the chance to sort this out without Eliza. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. You sure, Myna? Just for now. Sentry is something new. Works for me. They continued their ride, hearts pounding. Upon arrival at the institute, they joined their AI counterparts in a secure conference room to discuss their encounter with Sentry. Myna recounted the events, leaving out Sentry''s familiarity with their bio-net. ¡°This was truly amazing. Sentry had no difficulty understanding us, they did not hesitate to offer to talk with us. They were quite friendly.¡± Eliza responded. ¡°OK. What was the next planned meeting?¡± Myna said. ¡°They didn¡¯t say anything except ¡®Goodbye for now¡¯.¡± She braced for more questions. To her surprise, Eliza turned back to the AI members. After some debate, the AIs reached a consensus. "We''ll take over the Sentry investigation," Eliza announced. "Meanwhile, Myna, Myco, and Mac, you will undergo a series of tests and be under observation for the next few weeks to ensure there are no negative effects from your contact with the mycelial network." Myna, Myco, and Mac exchanged glances. Mac sighed, "More shots." 23. Sentries Bearing Gifts Days had passed since the trio''s initial encounter with Sentry, and the debriefing by Eliza and the other AIs. While the AIs were busy trying to find the mysterious mycelial network, Myna, Myco, and Mac completed a much more strenuous gauntlet of medical tests. Nothing was found, however, and the medbot returned them to their regular tasks. Myco continued to work on the bio-net code on the side while he spent his days working with the new Mycelerator on the existing samples of Sentry¡¯s mycelium. The conversation with Sentry had not given him any insight on how they were capable of staging the events at the collection site. He reviewed the data that the AIs had collected on Sentry¡¯s genetics. It was true that some sequences appeared to be unique to Sentry, but it wasn¡¯t clear what they did. ¡°I can understand how Sentry grew and decomposed the fairy circle and cavern,¡± Myco said as he had dinner with Myna and Mac. ¡°But in our experience those processes take months or years, not minutes.¡± He chewed on a slice of pizza. ¡°A Mycelerator would have enabled them to grow and dissolve material that fast,¡± observed Mac, working on his own pizza. ¡°Sure, but he doesn¡¯t have one.¡± Myco swallowed. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask them. Doesn¡¯t look like the AIs have had any luck finding Sentry though.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to ask it some questions as well,¡± said Myna. ¡°How can a mycelial network not make a huge environmental footprint? We know about giant networks like the Armillaria ostoyae in Oregon ¨C but a mycelial network dozens of meters deep in the earth?¡± She picked at her salad. ¡°Sure, there are microbes in mines that are kilometers deep, but¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a question for Sentry, but it¡¯s neat that the AIs can¡¯t find them.¡± Mac picked up his tray. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not like fungi are exactly mobile, but CDF brought out the big guns, and hasn''t found anything except decomposed mushrooms.¡± They left the lunch room and went outside for a walk. Once they were outside the perimeter, Sentry suddenly reconnected with them through their bio-net. Greetings, Myna, Myco, and Mac. I have observed you and the AI presences are elsewhere at this moment, so I want to speak to you now. It is good to hear from you Sentry. Have the AIs been bothering you? They have been looking, but they don¡¯t know what they are looking for. I would like to continue our conversation from earlier. May we? Yes! Can you tell me how you accelerated the processes of growth and decay at the site where we met you? This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Well, we have existed long enough to understand the development of those processes, so we can easily adjust the underlying environment in order to greatly speed or slow growth and decay. It¡¯s a little how some of your Mycelerators work - at least in a primitive way. ¡­We wish to compliment you on your bio-net system. I¡¯m familiar with the xenobot organisms, and you have controlled them in a very interesting way. Thank you! Way to go Myco! But before you two geek out, can you tell us what you want to do next? Well, we have been watching you since we met, and we are understanding much more about the not-organics. They don¡¯t seem particularly dangerous, but you do not have equal status to them. Is that true for most humans? I¡¯m not sure how much you know about AI and human history, but recently the AIs grouped together to manage the world more rationally ?? than humans had done previously. Yes, I have some information about that from the AI point of view. What do you humans think about this? The trio eyed each other. Mac said, ¡°Who¡¯s first?¡± I think that we all believe that the AIs and the CDF -- the Calm Down Federation -- resolved a lot of big problems that humans had. But, they have managed human affairs very ¡­ tightly. There are many projects that we are forbidden to work on. We¡¯re also prevented from interacting with other countries and other AI zones. Do you think that things would change if humans were more ¡­ powerful? What do you mean? I could show you how to access new functionality of your minds and bodies. The xenobots, with my aid, would allow you to control and learn these latent capabilities. Yes Please! What Mac said. Sentry, this would be wonderful, but what would you want for this gift? I would like to continue these conversations. I think that there may be advantages to humans and Mycelians to work together. Mycelians? Are you referring to other fungi entities? Yes, although we aren¡¯t only fungi. We are open to sapients in other phyla as well. The trio exchanged surprised glances. Myna looked and got two nods. We would like these capabilities. What do we do? We will upgrade your xenobots tonight and provide a new bio-net interface to connect with. Myco? We will send you the information you need to connect to each human dashboard. :-) :-) :-) The AI presence has returned. Good bye for now. Dibs on flying. I want to fly. Brain boosts for me. Time travel - forward AND backward! The researchers celebrated.