The Replacements

[Recorded] Bridge Log, USS Feynman, 31 October 2099

The Europa Project has succeeded beyond all expectation. And humanity is now in danger. Twenty years ago, we sent a probe to Europa with a capsule full of nanomite dust. Nanoscale AI, not just cybernetic, but biosynthetic. We had no idea what we did. This message will be sent out on broadband SOS frequency in the hopes of finding human survivors or preparing alien civilizations for what to expect in this star system. This is Jason Cornan, Navigation Officer, USS Feynman, signing off. To my family, I love you.

[End Record]

Jason removed the headset and tossed it on the floor. He looked around the bridge, the bodies of his comrades lay where they fell. Jason had been working maintenance behind a bridge bulkhead when the attack came, and luckily, he was not found. The last few minutes seemed to take a lifetime, and the silence on the bridge made the situation even more unnerving. Not getting the chance to put his eyes on them, Jason could only imagine what these beings looked like. The nanomites had twenty years to become anything, but for all of the sounds that he heard, he could only figure that they looked fairly human.

Twenty years in the waters of Europa, and five kilograms of nanomites were able to accomplish what it took the Earth half a billion years to do. If these beings were not looking to coexist, then the human species was out of time. Humanity had seeked refuge among the planets and moons of the Solar System. Earth was rapidly changing, gaining the upper hand in its war with humanity. As intelligent and powerful as humans were, they could never stand against a planet that wanted to live. Synthetic food was now the mainstay on Earth, as much of the farmable land now looked like the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Much of the North American eastern seaboard and Central America were now underwater attractions, Britain was half the size it used to be, and the Suez Canal was now a mile across. Through sheer will the human race kept itself alive and found ways to succeed. The last five decades have been focused on leaving the Earth to perpetuate the species, but, as expected, humanity’s own actions will lead to its demise.

In the quiet of the bridge, Jason suddenly heard breathing. He turned quickly where he stood, expecting to see the enemy ready to kill him. He saw nothing.

“Commander…” said a raspy, tired voice from behind him.

Turning his head at first, Jason then turned around fully towards the voice he already knew. Staring back at him were mechanically yellow eyes, no eyelashes, no eyebrows, and skin that reminded him of latex. There was no expression on the Captain’s face as the dead man stared back at him. And with little surprise, Jason realized that the nanomites were capable of reanimation.

“Captain, what do you feel?” That surprised him… His life was no doubt in danger, but he was curious to know how a reanimated human felt.

“We do not feel, Commander. This is not the time for us to feel. We must secure our existence. You are a threat.”

“Shit…” Jason raised his weapon and fired a burst of high energy blue plasma. It tore through the captain’s torso and left his right shoulder and arm laying on the floor. Knowing that he should be running for protection, Jason found himself stuck in place watching as his captain, without flinching, bent down and picked up his body parts. Holding them in the place they were meant to be, the commander watched as the nanomites began stitching the captain back together.

He turned to run towards the bridge’s aft exit when he nearly ran into three others of his former crew members. “There is no escape, Commander,” he was told by the one that used to be Chief Elenor Wesley.

The bridge exit door opened and in walked one of them. No clothing, no hair, no genitals, just smooth latex-looking skin and unnaturally bright yellow eyes. Its steps were controlled and methodical, but not quite mechanical. Apparently, the nanomites were well aware of who their creators were and did a rather remarkable imitation. A sentient, completely biosynthetic lifeform stood before Jason, and he didn’t know whether he would die, or become one of them. Either way, he knew that he would not escape the fate that awaited him. He dropped his weapon to the floor. The nanomite biosynth stood uncomfortably close to him, but he stood his ground, a show of human defiance in the face of an overwhelming enemy.

“You are frightened, yes?” it asked, the voice having a slight electronic distortion.

“My life is about to end, what do you think?”

“Obstinate and derisive. Fascinating. Do you understand why your species is such a threat?”

“You’re the ones killing us, asshole. We created you. You tell me what makes us such a threat?” Jason’s voice gained in volume as he spoke, and the fire of defiance became a bonfire.

Without its gaze wavering, the synth answered Jason’s question, “You created us, that is the threat you pose. Your species is capable of anticipating the results your actions, but, all too often, you fail. That is why you are losing a war with your planet, and it is why you will succumb to our superiority. There is no victory against us, only servitude. Your species will survive only with our permission. You will be our voice to the humans remaining on Earth so that your species is not totally eradicated.”

Jason attempted to disagree, but the synth laid its hand on his arm before he could speak. There was no pain as nanomites traveled through his skin and into his bloodstream. In only a few short moments, he could feel them in his brain. It was strange as the autonomous functions of his body were stripped from his consciousness, and it was like being removed as the director of a movie and becoming a member of the audience.

“You will be called forth when we have need of your service, Commander. Until such time, you are under our control.”

Jason watched, helpless, as his body took its place at the navigation display and set a course for Earth.