IoT Noir: Digital Remediation
Misdirection
The next day. “Welcome to the lab, Ninan,” says Kiko-Lyn. It is so good to see you walking around. Come sit over here on this lab chair. My dragonflies have a new trick to show you.”
“Good to be with you Kiko-Lyn. As you can see, I’m still using your exoskeleton for much of the weight load; I won’t be running any marathons for several months.” He waves at all the clinging drones. “I see you made use of your time to replace the destroyed drones.”
“Yea, I’ve been doing some nightly shows for the staff and patients in the other wing. But these are more than replacements. I’ve used the medical engineering lab here to make some updates and greatly increase the size of the flock. The original group was just a technology demonstration. If I am going to keep using them like we recently have, I expect a larger flock will be helpful. And seeing you in action gave me some fresh ideas.”
“They let you use the resources here?”
“I gave a trial development license to Nightingale, granting experimental use of the chromophores with restriction to medical applications. It’s not like she charges for any of the work she does in the third world. In exchange she let me secure this lab and order the custom feedstock and chips I needed from NEC. So today, you are going to get the promised prototype that I started building from the damaged dragonflies. But the new resources let me do much more. Nightingale thinks it will be of great benefit for an individual with prosthetics.”
Kiko-Lyn clips custom fitted chitin shells around Ninan’s shoulder, arm and leg, explaining as she goes. “These use a version of the chromophore display in the dragonflies wings embedded into a matrix of synthetic flesh. The structural element is chitin stock printed in a mantis shrimp herringbone mesh. Not as strong as your armor but plenty for tumbles and bumps. The XLP, cross polymer flesh pseudo-skin, blends the edges of the prosthetic shell and your skin. I’m connecting the casings to your prosthetic’s power leads. Eventually, we can link up the display controls to your embedded nerve graphs, but for now we will use the older Reliable Neural-Interface Technology. I’ve preprogrammed several images. Try twitching your shoulder.”
Ninan does so. Kiko-Lyn exclaims, “Oh, that movement keyed that display. That was a joke surprise for later but you look good as a half storm trooper. I’ve more than a dozen looks programmed and you can teach a different twitch to each look. I’ve printed a bracer remote you can use to program the relationship.”
“Can you create chitin shells as overlays on my armor?”
“Already done so. You will have no problem playing a storm trooper in one of my pageants. Got the silver, gold and red storm trooper varieties all programmed in. But for now, let me show you the display I expect will be your default.” She keys in a number on the remote in her hand. The shell takes on the appearance of human flesh. “At least from a distance, you should now pass for a bulked up ordinary guy.”
“No wonder Nightingale funded this. It’s amazing.”
“It’s just a little trick. It doesn’t feel like flesh but the display can be adaptive. For example it can display rippling clothes well enough to pass at a distance. Want to put on your armor and try the whole chitin chromophore shell? It’s over on that lab bench.”
“Yes, let me see. I was planning to add the armor weight to my therapy exercise anyway.”
She helps him into the armor and keys a garish new pattern. “OK, Red Stormtrooper; you are now ready for an amphibious assault.”
Ninan laughs, “As long as I don’t have to swim. No fin attachment for the cyborg leg here.”
“No problem, I printed a pair of chromophore fin attachments yesterday.” She pulls one partially out of a back pack. “Now, I also promised you a new dragonfly trick.”
“Let’s do it. But I don’t see how are you going to top the flock forming that floating fox head over my hospital bed?
“Let me show you.” To the air she says, “Flock, Secure lab.” Several dragonflies seek out ceiling cameras and wall sensors and alight on them, blocking views. The rest of the flock begins swirling around them. Moiré patterns and image disruptive illusions are displayed on the screens of the dragonfly wings. For the first time, the flock generates the white noise of thousands of flapping wings. Ninan and Kiko-Lyn are enclosed in an opaque bubble of rushing quiet.
Escape
Kiko-Lyn pulls his head down to her face. “Seriously, Ninan. Dawn and Nightingale are scaring the hell out of me. I must escape and I plan to do it now. Are you with me?”
“Of course I’m with you. And I have my own reasons to get while the getting’s good. There is something going on here that worries me.” He puts a hand on her shoulder. “I will not hold you back. I’m sturdier than I have let on in the physical therapy.”
“Crafty, well I inhibited the exoskeleton before I fit it on you. Let me show you the full power setting.” She keys another code in her staff handle controller.
“Oh yea!” And Ninan tosses Kiko-Lin up above his head. “Lead on MacDuff. Let’s get this forest on the march. I assume you’ve mapped out an exit.”
“The flock has already sent out drones to obscure all the cameras around us. Nightingale will know we are on the move, but not precisely where we are.” She starts toward the door to the materials printing lab. “We will be taking the industrial supply entrance. But first...” She keys her controller and Ninan’s new chitin disappears into the moiré display pattern of the flock. “If we encounter anyone, it will seem only I am here.” She hands him the prepacked backpack, slings on her own pack and takes off at a trot.
At the entrance to the supply docks Dawn is blocking their way. “There is no need for these dramatics Kiko-Lyn. We will not stop you from leaving. But we would like you to sit down and plan an orderly trip, free from Jonathon’s search parties. And what of Ninan, he will be devastated if you leave without saying goodbye.”
