Nanobots, Murder, and Other Family Problems

“I’m sure they’d like that.” The whole idea of cutting kids off from their primary source of affection when they’re that young seems needlessly cruel to me, but hopefully soon it won’t be something that his policies can dictate anymore. With any luck, he’ll be gone before he can do much more emotional damage to my siblings.

“Enjoy the party, Noah,” he says, oblivious to my murderous intent. “You certainly deserve to with the effort that you put into it.”

“Thanks.”

He puts a hand on my shoulder again and smiles.

“Chad’s flight is early tomorrow. I’ll see him off at the airstrip, then return to the campus. Can you meet me at my office at 8:30?”

“Sure, but what about my classes?”

“Noah, you know everything you need to know for now. If you want to continue your studies with Mrs. Jones and Mr. Johnson, I’ll retain your teachers as long as you like and you can meet with them on any schedule you prefer. But your education is no longer your highest priority.”

Did I just graduate too?

“Thanks,” I tell him. “Let me think about it, would you?”

“Certainly. Just let me know in the next week or two, so I know whether to let Mr. Johnson finally return to his retirement. In the meantime, you and I have work to do. I’ll see you at 8:30 sharp.”

He turns and walks slowly into the Residence. The party goes on until very late. I don’t know how many of these delicious little pastries I’ve had, but I think it was about three too many. The nannies herd the nursery kids back to the Residence, then seem to disappear like magic. The teachers and other staff start trickling out, most of them heading down to the underground parking beneath the Residence. Chad is still over on the edge of the stage talking with Nanny Laurie. Eventually, she gives him a hug and heads out too.

Things settle down to about like a lively summer evening on the commons, but with more food and better music. A couple of the guys from class two try to sneak some booze from the bar but get spotted just before they grab a bottle. The bartender should have been able to identify them, but Andrea provided them with floating yellow smiley face masks right after she heard them getting caught. They make a run for it, their floating masks struggling to keep up with their faces until they disappear into the dorms. Louise laughs and begs out next, following them back to the dorms for some sleep.

One by one, other sibs drop off as they get tired until just a few of us from the oldest class are still up, sitting in a rough circle near the Residence steps. The caterers start packing up the food and tables, loading trucks just outside the front gates of the campus. The source of this chapter is novelceo(.)com.

“Well, I better get some rest,” Chad declares as he gets up. “I’ve got to fly out early tomorrow. Happy New Year, everyone.”

“Good night, man,” Evan says. “See you when you come back to visit.”

Chad takes a few steps toward the dorms, then turns back and walks right up to me.

“You take care of him, Noah. Father, I mean. He needs more help than he likes to admit, and you need to be there to give it to him.”

I force a smile. “Of course, brother. I’ll be his right hand man until you get back here.”

He smiles back, then leans forward and grips me in an unexpected hug. I restrain my instincts to push him away and awkwardly give his muscular back a couple of pats.

“Thank you,” he says softly, right into my ear. His breath is uncomfortably hot against my face. “I know you’ll do a good job. You always do everything right. Be his right hand man.”

He finally lets me go and says another goodnight to everyone. Andrea echoes it with an oversized floating green hand waving goodbye and one more pop of fireworks. The rest of the sibs start following not too far behind him. Jeff is the last to move. He’s just now rising from the same spot on the steps where he spent the whole party.

“Noah. A word, if you please,” he calls out to me.

“Of course,” I reply, hanging back as Evan and Andrea start walking to the dorms.

“That was a very dangerous thing you did,” he says quietly, “Allowing your cloud to grow large enough to perform those projections.”

He shakes his head in his mechanical way. Like a human puppet.

“You’re right. Maybe the AI is clouding my judgment. We should act soon,” I answer with feigned urgency.

“Agreed. Make certain that you reduce your cloud as soon as possible. They could awaken to sentience at any time.”

He slowly stands, the motion more jarring and mechanical than ever.