I could imagine, there would be a variety of opinions concerning what “cure” meant. Should the right to act and move and enjoy existence be restricted to the living? There were some artificial and simulated intelligences of my acquaintance, who might demur. On the other hand, something really ought to be done about the state of terror that the “Standard” population of Oxytocin – the child-bearing core of the species – suffered every day, and especially every night.

“So, you want to re-start the research?” I turned to Katske and Coalshack. “Fine! Help us get in touch with our ship. By now, Commander Nomlin must have told you our peaceful intentions. We can assist in countless ways, scientific, cultural and financial. As new members of the Interplanetary Alliance, you can call upon immense resources! Why, even our ship’s doctor, Commander-Healer Paolim, could probably crack this nut, with facilities aboard the Clever Gamble. Meanwhile, skilled mediators can initiate an open dialogue among all your different types and castes…”

This time, it was the police inspector who spoke up. “I’ll answer that,” said Coalshack.

“First, we’re still not sure we can trust you aliens. All these assurances sound suspicious – too good to be true!”

“Second, from what I gather, your ship had troubles of its own. You folks are hardly able to take care of yourselves, let alone others.

“And finally, we don’t need outsiders to find a cure! One already exists. They talk about it, right here!” He slammed his fist down upon the nearby journal. “Somebody found it, in Obtainia!”

“Ob…tainia? What’s that?”

“You mean where,” Nuts murmured. “And that’s the problem. One that calls for my abilities, not those of a mere bone-setter and purveyor of herbs!”

She stepped aside with a flourish, revealing a gleaming apparatus that was under fabrication, on a nearby bench. Roughly spherical in shape – an ornate concatenation of wires, tubes and gears – it shimmered under nearby mirrors and lamps, but also with a constantly-shifting array of inner glows. Soft, clickety sounds emitted, as wheels turned within wheels.

“Of course I’ve been limited to the primitive parts and tools available here, on a backward world,” Nuts commented with her usual tact, making the two natives frown. “Still, I think you’ll agree, Advisor, that I’ve made good progress.”

I stared at the compact ball, about the size of my head and clearly designed to be portable. The florid style couldn’t be more demmie, as I marveled at a mixture of elegant efficiency and madly ingenious overconstruction. Pondering the little machine’s purpose, it came to me, all at once.

“You’re… making them a finder!”

Nuts smiled. “Indeed. And spare me any of your prissy objections, that this violates the Protocols of Contact, along with a dozen treaties. Let me remind you, Advisor, that these people really need the thing this apparatus will find.

“Furthermore, we need it, too.”

10.

All right, I confess. I decided to help.