“The stuff that infected Ivan Pritchard was encountering what was, to it, a totally new species, of a totally new biology, with totally unknown behaviors and physical requirements. And within twenty-four hours, it had figured out how to convert him to metal in such a way that he was not only unharmed, but actually kept in perfect health. It figured out how his brain worked, and how to emulate it so that Ivan continued to be Ivan. And it figured out, at the same time, how to emulate all physical functionality well enough to reassure other members of the same species that we are still dealing with one of our own. From scratch, people.”

Samuelson shook his head slowly. “We are so far out of our depth. We’re less than ants in this metaphor. What in hell are we up against?”

In the silence that followed, Dr. Narang began humming Also sprach Zarathustra, earning her puzzled looks from the others. Philistines.

39.The Continued Threat

39.The Continued Threat

Admiral Moore came into the room last, as befitted his rank and standing. The others stood, muttered greetings, then they all sat.

“Sers,” he said. “Let’s review.”

On cue, Lt. Bentley put images up on the holotank and wall screens. Various views of Ivan Pritchard and of the nanites cycled through the displays. The sequence ended with the internal scan of Ivan Pritchard, which even a non-medical-professional could see did not resemble the internal structure of a human being.

Moore looked around the table. “Items: One, All of the other crew are coming up clean. Dr. Narang is not willing to make any definitive statement before all tests are complete, but privately she has admitted that she doesn’t expect to find anything. The nanites simply appear to be completely uninterested in anyone but Ivan Pritchard.”

He tapped the table twice before continuing. “Two: There’s nothing special about Pritchard. He was simply the first person to touch the anomaly. Otherwise, we have to assume that the anomaly somehow arranged for the right person to be there first. I don’t believe in Chosen One scenarios, gentlemen. Therefore, the anomaly just wanted someone. And now is sticking with its choice.”

Three taps. “Three: Ivan Pritchard is no longer human. Dr. Narang has determined definitively that there is no human tissue anywhere in his body. He claims to still be Ivan, but he could be an alien A.I.—or even a copy of an alien intelligence. How can we judge what can and can’t be done by whoever made those—” Moore swept an arm to indicate the AQRI image of the nanites. “—things?”