Cellular Civilization/Dexamene

Crash
Dexamene activated the nanite probe control system of the gasoline tanker truck that was parked down by the old rail yard. Andresklo banked hard to move away from the flight path of the Overseer. Andresklo asked, "What if the Overseer suspects there is more than just two clones?"

Dexamene said, "If you think you can pull it off, try to get an update sent to Alfred....maybe when the Overseer gets out of the ship to pick up Tess."

Andresklo said, "Update probe programmed and launched."

Dexamene concentrated on the positions of the tanker truck and Lanora's car. As far as she could tell, they were on collision paths, but she realized there was no way she could accurately guide the tanker. She tried to tune-out her nanite implants, turned the automated control system for the tanker truck loose and just leaned over to look out of the flyer and watch with her own eyes. Andresklo said, "Don't lean out the window, we are in stealth mode." He was now closing fast on Lanora's car from the side. He sent a command to the Interventionist spaceship that the Overseer had commandeered, causing its power to drop. The spaceship sank too an emergency landing and the Overseer called for her own spaceship.

Andresklo pulled the flyer along side Lanora's car. Andresklo jumped across onto the car and ripped back the roof of the car. Quickly, Andresklo picked up Lanora and threw her across to the flyer. Dexamene activated the automated control system for Lanora's car. Andresklo then tossed Charlie and then Tess across and then jumped back into the command chair of the flyer and pulled the flyer up and away from the car, with two seconds to spare. The car crashed into the cab of the tanker, was dragged for a short distance then slipped under the truck, launching it up and into a jack-knife. The tanker flipped, split and exploded.

Andresklo slowed the flyer and circled behind the wall of flames. He threw Tess out of the flyer and then moved away and up at maximum acceleration. After a minute he eased back and made a turn. Dexamene said, "The overseer and Alfred are now on the Overseer's spaceship...they are heading to the crash site."

Andresklo accelerated back towards the Intervertionist spaceship. "Is the spaceship all clear?"

Dexamene said, "Our probes cracked the Overseer's lock! All Clear!"

After a thirty second nerve-wracking maximum force deceleration, Andresklo settled the flyer gently next to the Interventionist spaceship. Lanora staggered out of the flyer. Charlie could not move and looked like a ghost. Dexamene wondered if his weak circulatory system had blown apart. Andresklo threw Charlie over his should and ran to the spaceship. Lanora climbed into the spaceship, gave a "thumbs up" to Dexamene and activated the flight controls. Dexamene waved goodbye as Andresklo closed the hatch and jumped away from the rising spaceship. A minute later Andresklo had the flyer at cruising altitude, heading away from town. Lanora and Charlie were rising off of Earth on their way to a new life.

At the tanker crash site, the Overseer's spaceship hovered over the flames. The Overseer's nanite probes found Tess near the burning tanker. The overseer landed and ran to Tess who was playing the role of Dexamene. Andresklo's emergency re-programming probe swooped past one of the Overseer's nanorobotic probes and found Alfred, updating his memory to indicate that the Interventionist cell had consisted of both Dexamene and her twin sister, Lanora. Confirming that the Interventionist was alive, the Overseer picked her up and took her back to the spaceship. Medical nanites swarmed over Tess and began to repair her injuries. The Overseer's probes searched the crash site for Lanora and Charlie until the police and fire units began to arrive, then the Overseer spaceship headed for the Moon.

Navigation
Here is a map of the chapters: _> Mary –––––––––––––––> Lincoln /                               \             /                                  \____> Amelia PAlbert ––––––––––––––––––––> Andresklo / \                                   /    \      __--> Cathy /     \    /                 \    /        \  /                   \__________>Tess CC –––> Charlie ––-–> Stefi \                        \                    > Lani \                 /               \       \ _______---> Jenny –––> Thomas    \_____> Dexamene Key: CC = Cellular Civilization; most of the first chapter is told from the perspective of Stefiz al-Arabid.