He totally fooled me.

[ Connection established ]

Zax managed to keep his face straight as his nanites connected to the unknown nanite network. His hand never stopped petting the grey fur of the unwitting carrier. It didn't take long; it was not protected. Probably didn't expect a foreign connection.

The computer hidden in the canine wasn't particularly complex or powerful. An outdated operating system, running old nanite control programs. No antivirus, no firewall, not even a graphic interface. The most advanced piece was the neural interface software, which he recognized instantly: it was his. An old version, available for free, but still a surprise.

There was not enough memory to make records, but the expert could see the current commands. It translated as: go to the root, seep in the static living being, spread in, wait for further instructions. There was more to it, but it was too specific to translate.

Custom made. He knows what he's doing.

The hardware was low-quality, limiting the software it could handle and how much the host could take, but they had been set up in the most effective way possible. A skilled fellow, limited by available material and making the most of it.

Zax wanted to call out to the man, revealing his trickery to the detective driving the vehicle, but something kept nagging in the back of his mind. Something obvious he was missing.

He scanned the programs again.

The feeling intensified.

Scan again.

Again.

He kept coming back to the neural interface.

Examining it in detail, it was indeed his old baby, to the minute detail. Not particularly versatile or intuitive, minimal HUD, but enough to get the job done. Wait, a HUD? Why would he give a HUD to the carrier? It only made sense for the user, the one giving the commands.

Actually, the same was true for the whole neural interface; its purpose was to directly connect the brain and the nanites, bypassing the need for a bracelet or a keyboard and connector. A carrier only needed reception and transmission nodes, like the plants. The coder was too skilled to make such a mistake; it had to be on purpose.

It was cleanly installed too, the beast would be able to think complex orders, they would be understood. With this ancient version of the software, it took a lot of trial and error, and not a short time.

The wolf could give orders. Doubts crawled on Zax's back.

Checking on the custom parts of the software confirmed his new suspicions: this wolf's neural patterns were complex. More than an animal's should be. Like a human's. No doubt about it.

This four-legged critter had mutated into sapience.

And he was the fellow nanite user.

It changed things. Or did it? He pondered as he kept running his fingers against the culprit's fur. So much could go wrong. He had to ascertain the situation.

Renouncing subtlety, the expert uninstalled the nanite control software from the wolf. He kept the neural interface and installed a chat so they could directly communicate. No doubt an alert went through the HUD, but there was nothing to do. The dotter's nanites and programs were simply too advanced. It was over in seconds.

He didn't give his suspect another second to react:

[ Zax: Greetings. ]

[ Zax: Apologies for the intrusion. ]

[ Zax: Congratulations, you totally fooled me, but my nanites detected yours. Your owner knows you're smart, but does he know you're sapient? ]

The canine stood up on his owner's lap, his fur on end, losing his head as if something had exploded nearby. The deliveryman didn't understand, but hugged him and calmed him, rubbing his fur, using a soothing voice. The perfect behaviour to appease a frightened animal, according to media.

Guess not.

Once the wolf was calmed enough, Zax held his palm to him. The wolf's nanites only allowed connection from direct contact. It was in his best interest to converse, but the dotter wouldn't force the issue.

The emotional support wolf stared at the offered hand, but eventually offered his head.

The chat was a wall of backlogs.

[ Migo: What? Who? Where? ]

Did he subconsciously set a username? His neural coordination was impressive for the hardware he had.

[ Migo: How? ]

[ Migo: ## Emergency Diagnostic! ]

[ Migo: What's- ]

[ Migo: Where does that come from? ]

[ Migo: What happened to #&# software? ]

[ Migo: Is it you? ]

[ Migo: Of course it's you. ]

[ Migo: It's you isn't it? ]

[ Migo: Answer me! ]

[ Migo: ANSWER ME! ]

[ Migo: ANSWER ME! ]

[ Migo: TAKE THAT HAND OFF AND ANSWER ME BEFORE / TAKE IT OFF! ]

[ Migo: Oh ]

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Zax skimmed to the end.

[ Zax: Sorry for startling you. I didn't know what to make of what I found. ]

[ Migo: … he doesn't know. ]

[ Migo: Nobody does ]

[ Migo: I'm just a support ]

[ Zax: I smell a story. Care to share it? ]

No answer.

[ Zax: Alright, I'll stay professional. Why did you attack all those companies? ]

[ Migo: Training. And I didn't attack, it was just harmless pranks. They deserve worse ]

[ Zax: Not helping your case. Plus, that was way too much resources, time, and effort for that. ]

[ Migo: I have a lot of free time and nothing better to do ]

[ Zax: Your escalation pattern doesn't fit either. You're targeting bigger and bigger companies, but the incidents didn't grow with them. I think you have a specific target in mind. You are actually training, but for something more specific than self improvement. ]

[…]

[ Zax: And you won't stop at pranks when you reach them. ]

[…]

[ Zax: What is it you want? Power? Attention? Revenge? ]

[…]

The wolf stayed silent, but his muscles tensed under the petting fingers.

[ Zax: Revenge it is. ]

The dotter was at a loss. At least there actually was a motive behind the attacks. Should he tell the detective he had found the culprit? The obvious answer was yes. But the situation wasn't that simple, was it?

Prisons weren't made for quadrupeds, but arrangements could be made. Revenge wasn't a healthy motivation, but he hadn't done anything to warrant a severe punishment. Nobody was hurt, not even the company; the target changed when they started being financially affected. But he wouldn't stop there; he was too invested. Besides, the punishment would be severe, no doubt about it. Large companies had been targeted, and the Circle's system was corrupted like it was not a crime.

On the other hand, his contract required to supply his nano-technology expertise in regards to the ongoing investigation. He had done that, with greater results than anybody expected. He didn't have to do more. If the delivery guy was innocent, it would be easy enough to prove. Same for his colleagues. The enforcer could have him go and check in their offices, but it would be dishonest to be paid to look for an answer he already had. He could just give them his scanner and a manual, though. Or sell it, it could be useful in other ways.

[ Migo: Will you tell them? About me? ] The chat interrupted his reflexions.

The wannabe prankster was not as unruffled as he tried to appear.

[ Zax: I don't know. ] He answered honestly. [ Are you going to continue? ]

He had an inkling, but free will demanded he verified.

[ Migo: I don't know. I never expected to meet another nanite user. Especially one so ]

[ Migo: skilled ]

[ Zax: Legally, I don't have to. I did what I was paid for. But morally? I just don't know if it would do more good than bad. You don't seem like a bad person, ]

[ Zax: It would irrevocably change your relationships. ]

[ Zax: I don't know how the Circle handles mutations into sapience. ]

[ Migo: We get all of a Resident's duties, and none of their rights or support ]

For some reason, Zax felt a strong bitterness in the laconic reply. Maybe the subconsciously barred teeth. To their credit, the delivery guy noticed his companion's distress and hugged him, mistaking it for a general stress reaction. He unwittingly broke the connection before the dotter could seek clarification, but it demonstrated the truth of their bond.

When Zax commented it aloud, it triggered a long-winded rundown of their history.

They were not each other's first relation. Mister had lost the emotional support companion he had grown up with to old age. They had seen it coming, but it hurt regardless. Wolfie was originally a companion to an autistic boy, but late mutations had fixed the issues related to his condition. Not needing a friendly bumper against the world anymore, man and wolf had drifted apart. Painful, in a more bittersweet way. They had found each other, and made each other whole since.

Zax wasn't sure about the last part, but the man was indubitably genuine. He loved his emotional support pet like he was family.

When the story got repetitive, the dotter half listened and focused back on his next course of action, until they arrived in the station's garage.

"We were sent to a spot far from the public area." Kamin stated when they left the vehicle. "Someone important must be visiting, and they want to avoid disruptions." She added, glaring a warning towards the troublesome consultant.

"Good guess, but not quite." A new voice spoke from behind a pillar.

A smoking canister was thrown at their feet. No, not a canister. A seed pod? The dotter had never seen one before, but it was similar to the go-to widget in most child shows. Made from any type of mutated plants, there was a variety to do anything, from paintball to flamethrower. Oh, Migo fell asleep. The travel must've exhausted him. What a pleasant idea. A nap felt seductive right now. Why was… the detective… screaming? Walls… twisting…

The dotter was unconscious before feeling the ground on his face.

***

Zax woke up to a splitting headache, a parched throat, and a body sore all over. Moving and opening his eyes only brought pain, so he immediately stopped trying. Faint noises came from somewhere, but he couldn't identify them.

Urgh. What happened? Where am-

[ Accessing sensory recordings ]

Oh, forgot I installed that.

The dotter sighed and forced his body to relax as his nanites showed what his senses had picked up while he was passed out. Disorienting, but manageable if he didn't try to move. Fortunately, drug-induced sleep was dreamless, so the readings should be clean.

(Kamin) Alert! Enemy attack!

(sound) Pop. Roll. Psssss.

The seedpod releasing gas. He remembered that part.

Points for the detective, she noticed the danger right away.

(sound) Bam. Bam Bam. Bam.

Four soft things falling.

Our bodies, dropping on the ground. Ouch. Note to self: filter pain sensation for future the recording.

Voice 1: It's done. Hurry.

Voice 2: Good stuff. Which ones? The client only paid for the consultant.

Voice 3: And the detective as bonus, but we don't have time to check who's who. Take them all.

Voice 2: The dog too?

Voice 3: Yes. No traces. We'll sell the excess.

(Touch) large, warm hands handling his body

(proprioception) laid straight

(Sound) echoing clicks

(Touch) hard flat surface all around, soft something on top.

Laid in a small coffin-like box, with another body on top of me. Tall, I can't feel hairs, heavy on the legs, the delivery guy?

Time passes. Lots of muffled noises. Centrifuge force and momentum pushing him. The box is being moved around. Nothing identifiable.

< Reading speed ++ >

Zax fast-forwarded the recording until something changed. His unwilling roommate steered. He panicked, screamed, tried to struggle but could barely move.

(Sound) Click

Box opened.

(Touch) Something lifted from his body

Driver: What are- What's going on? Who are you? Where are we?

Voice 2: Shut up.

(Sound) Slap

Voice 2: We don't need you, so don't be trouble.

(Driver: What!? What are you talking about? Where's Migo?! Who are you people!?

He's getting angry and more agitated.

Voice 3: Someone's coming. Shut him up, quick

(Sound) Slash Splash Bam

Driver: Urg (pained moan)

(Touch) Warm liquid splashed on his face

Voice 2: Not like that you moron! What if he's the target?! Hurry-

(Sound) Click

Did they… He…

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