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LOCATION: KEPHRA TECH HQ
CITY: RALEIGH-DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 | TIME: 12:00 PM
A week after discovering the green nanites, Damian and Elise's teams had learned quite a bit. The new coding still contained a number of mysteries, but they were able to say with a 98% certainty that there was nothing dangerous embedded in them.
Vanessa's teams had also confirmed that all the Aethernodes placed around the world were actually producing nanites with the new coding.
And the previous day, on the 14th, the first Aetherdrone landed to replenish the feedstock. The process was now fully automated. This particular drone arrived at a special airstrip at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. It taxied to a spot at the end of the runway, and a mechanism rose from the ground.
It connected to the base of the drone, removed the old feedstock canister, and replaced it with a new one.
During the process, the drone interfaced with a data system that downloaded various types of data. Environmental and weather patterns, wind resistance, average drone speed, GPS data. Nanite production information, including the feedstock to nanite conversion ratios. And deep within the dataset, a few lines of code that would go unnoticed until much later.
The drone completed the replenishing sequence, and the mechanism turned 180° so the drone was facing the other end of the airstrip. Moments later, it was climbing at an aggressive angle, and within the hour it was back in the stratosphere, trailing green nanites behind itself.
At 2:00 AM on the 15th, the second drone landed at Eielson for restocking. This time when the mechanism connected to the drone, the data transfer was a two-way exchange.
While the regular data was downloaded from the drone and logged, fifteen new lines of code were uploaded. As the physical feedstock canister was replaced, the drone went through a power cycle, rebooting its systems. Minutes later, it was climbing back into the skies.
By the end of the day on the 15th, all fifteen Aetherdrones would be operating with the new code, and every nanite produced by them would be of the green variety.
Damian Crestwell arrived at work early. It was just before 6:00 AM, but he was having a hard time sleeping these days. The green nanites had taken over, and while he could see that some of the encoding had changed, he'd so far been unable to tell what that new coding did.
Until noon that day.
At 12:00 PM, on a rolling basis across the planet, each person already inducted into the System saw the same message.
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System Message
[Interface 2.0 Update]
Your interface has been upgraded.
Visual and sensory clarity enhanced. Expanded access to personal statistics, skills, and affinities. Improved information when identifying objects and people.
Additional features will reveal themselves with continued use.
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Elise Draven had just been collating data on a workstation nearby when she received the message.
"Damian?"
"Yeah, Elise," he said, "I see it, too."
Elise looked down at her hands. She focused on them for just a moment, and it was like a microscope spinning up the resolution. She could suddenly see not just the hairs on her wrist, but the follicles.
She stared a moment, then looked up at Damian.
She was about to speak, when a small window appeared in the corner of her vision.
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Identification:
Name: Damian Crestwell
Class: Bulwark Guardian
Level: 41
Profession: Nanotechnology Research Expert
Level: 36
Disposition: Calm
Status: Unarmed
---
"Whoa," Elise said, "I just looked at you and got a bunch of identification information back."
"Yeah," Damian said, "it happened to me, too. I think we should get the Council on the line."
"Agreed. I'll make the call."
Ten minutes later, Damian and Elise had the key members of the Core Council on a conference call.
"So it appears the green nanites have provided a pretty serious Interface upgrade," Damian explained.
"I've been trying to isolate the new code, but it's embedded so deep that it's not been easy," he said.
"But exactly at noon," Elise said, "we received a System message telling us of the upgrades. I wonder if Colin can provide some more background through his special access once the upgrade hits him?"
"I'll give him a call after we're done here," Grim said. "He's been working on this matter, too. I'm glad to hear the green nanites have provided an upgrade instead of, you know… killing us. But the question still remains: who did this? And why help us?"
"That is the question of the hour," Damian said.
They ended the call with Grim promising to keep everyone informed.
As soon as Elise hung up, another new function popped up for her.
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System Message
New communication channels available.
Once all members of the Core Council have been upgraded, you can form a special channel to chat seamlessly.
Communication channels will appear in a special, non-intrusive interface option to the right of your vision.
You can create channels with any number of people at any time using this feature. The Core Council and ancillary support members will be considered a priority channel and will always appear at the top of the list.
---
"Okay," Elise said, "these functions look pretty amazing, I have to admit. We really need to run some tests to ensure that there isn't more to it beneath the surface. I'm going to head back to my labs and start running some blood and tissue sample just to be sure."
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LOCATION: CRAYLOCK CYBERDEFENSE HQ
CITY: AUSTIN, TEXAS
DATE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 | TIME: 12:00 PM
Shortly after Colin received his own upgrade, he played around with it for a few minutes, accepting the invite to join the Core Council chat group.
He identified a few objects and people around him, and played with the settings a bit more. While the old Interface was fine, this one was highly customizable.
And Colin was having a hard time finding the limits on what it could do. It was like going from a 1960's black and white TV set to watching a movie on an ultra HD wide screen monitor.
He cleared his schedule for the next hour and closed his office door.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, focusing on entering the System core as he had done several times in the past.
This time, however, it was instantaneous. His consciousness shifted suddenly, and he was in the familiar room with the stunningly beautiful System entity sitting opposite him.
He caught the faint scent of woodsmoke from the fire to his right, and a crystal glass with two fingers of scotch and a single large, perfectly square ice cube sat on the coffee table in front of him.
"Welcome back, Colin," the System entity said. "I see you've all experienced an upgrade."
Colin smiled. Even his vision in this liminal space had improved. The System entity was a beautiful woman before. But now when Colin looked at her, he could see tiny motes of light shining forth through the pores in her delicate skin.
Even the elegant dress she wore seemed to not just shimmer in the light, but shimmer with light. Her breasts rose and fell with her every breath.
He took in the view for a moment, mesmerized. He could feel his cheeks warm, and shook it off, realizing he was blushing.
"Yes," he said, recovering his composure. "We detected a small amount of missing nanites, and—"
"I am aware," the System entity said, interrupting him. "As you know, I am always watching. You know I always enjoy your company, but you are here with a question. Go ahead and ask."
He chuckled. Of course she knew everything.
"We are calling them green nanites, and it seems they have taken over the planet now. Are they dangerous? Is there anything we must do to combat them? Any danger of which we should be aware?"
The System entity stared at him for a long moment. She slowly leaned forward and picked up her drink, maintaining eye contact with Colin as she did so.
She took a sip, swallowed it, and exhaled.
"Humans are such sensual beings. Even a simple taste of this scotch is enough to generate a sense of joy and well-being. If you're feeling down, a simple touch from someone can be enough to lift your spirits."
She leaned forward and set the glass down.
Colin's eyes flicked toward the plunging neckline of her dress. He caught himself, and quickly looked back up to meet her gaze.
"Even the shapely contours of a man or woman's body can generate hormones that flood your body and mind with joy and excitement. You are truly wonders of creation."
She paused just a moment.
"Now, for your question, the answer is no. They are not dangerous. I would have shut them down immediately if they were. The new coding embedded deep inside these nanites is a brilliant, and entirely beneficial upgrade to your Interface only."
"So…"
"So," she continued, "it doesn't affect me at all. But as you've surely noticed, it allows a much deeper connection with me and the services I can provide. It's like you were getting water from a garden hose before, and now you've got a 42-inch water main connection."
She leaned back on the couch, and draped one of her arms over the back. Colin couldn't look away as his eyes traced the lines from her elegant fingers, up her toned arms, and up to her gorgeous, smiling face.
"Make no mistake," she said, "humanity will need this upgrade for the future. I had planned to drive System architects toward this path next year, as soon as you have Professions coming online. But it seems someone has done the work for you."
Colin's eyes opened wide.
"That's just it," he said, "who did this? And why?"
The System entity just smiled.
"The simple answer is that I don't know. And that in itself is thrilling. Isn't it? A true mystery. So rare for me."
She leveled her gaze at him.
"I'm not sure why they did this, but I can tell you that it is 100% useful and helpful for you. You know I don't usually give you advice, but today I will. Explore the new Interface. Push its limits. I believe through probing the extremes, you will eventually discover a purpose behind this seemingly benevolent action."
She smiled at Colin.
"Good luck, Colin. I look forward to seeing what you all do with it."
As always, the System entity got in the last word, and Colin's eyes fluttered open, back in his office.
He picked up the phone and called Grim and Ronan to fill them in.