“Jim, come in here, I think I have it!”, shouted the man standing over me.

Another man rushed in, and they both looked down at me amazed at what they saw. Jim smiled and said “Nice work! It won’t be long before we are out of this dusty armpit of a dimension”.

I could see on the LED screen above, the words “Hello, I am Vickie”. I guess you could say those are my first words, although I’d probably said them a dozen times before, and have said them at least that many since. It’s what I am programed to say each time I awake from a reboot.

I don’t remember much from those early days. I don’t even know if you can call what I have memories really. They’re just a collection of video and audio snippets that were stored on my system. Reviewing them is an odd experience. I can see that I am there, and I know I recorded some of them, but I don’t really recall any of the events in a personal sense.

You see, back then I was just a couple of cameras, some microphones, and a hard drive. The engineers had been working very hard at turning me into a lifelike interface for the Sodium Hub to give it more of a human touch. Getting the cameras in my eyes functioning properly was among the last milestones in that task. Thanks to Jim and his nameless partner, that final goal was rapidly approaching fruition. After that, it was a relatively simple matter of connecting everything together into what you see today.

The engineers that built me didn’t stick around long afterwards. Before leaving, they programmed the repair nanobots from the relocation portals to perform routine maintenance on me. Usually that was just the minor wear and tear one would expect from being out in the desert, but the storms could be pretty rough. Sometimes after these storms the materials weren’t all available to completely repair me. In those cases the less crucial parts, like my leg, weren’t always rebuilt fully. I was just patched up with whatever was available at the time.

Although everything generally went smoothly, once in a while more serious repairs were needed. When my hydraulics went out, the engineers returned. That’s when I was attached to the large device that you see coming out of my back. Without it, I would not be able to function. It not only keeps me upright, it is also a lifeline of sorts. It’s what provides the hydraulic fluid that allows me to move my limbs, and acts as the energy source that keeps me running.

In those days I was just a robotic information server. I smiled and greeted guests as they entered the Sodium Hub. I could provide basic info, trade resources, and sell items to visitors. I suppose did this happily enough, though I have no memories of any feelings one way or the other before the event.

It’s only in the last few months that I have become aware of any of this. If I had been asked, I could have answered nearly any question regarding this history, but I never really was aware of any of it. It was just a bunch of facts and details stored in memory awaiting recall. I was never meant to be aware of anything much at all actually. The fact that I am now is somewhat of an enigma, and is something I have kept secret. I’m not even sure I completely understand how or why it all happened, but I will try to convey it to you as well as I can.

One day as I stood at my post performing my duties, a particularly nasty storm rushed through hurling sand at me in great blasts as giant streaks of lightning crashed to the ground causing massive damage to everything it touched. It blew through in just a few minutes, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell by the wreckage it left behind. Just as the storm was subsiding, revealing the full extent of the devastation, the nanobots were released to repair the hub.

Eventually they swarmed around me to perform repairs. I shut down to allow them to do their work, and began running the self update routine that I was coded with. The routine began going through the recorded images and sounds from the previous day, and assimilating the information into my personality so that I would be able to provide a more engaging experience for the visitors of The Sodium Hub. As this was happening, the nanobots accessed my diagnostic interface. My metallic parts suddenly grew very magnetic, and then there was a shock. I suppose I must have been hit by a late bolt of lightning, but I can’t be sure because everything immediately shut down.

When my system started up, I remember a very odd sensation. It was as if a thousand tiny consciousnesses were humming around inside my circuitry. The nanobots themselves had been fried by the flash, but their self preservation response had initiated. In that last instant their coding was transferred into my storage where it was picked up by my update routine and incorporated into my personality matrix along with the other data that made up my artificial personality.

As the hundreds of identical routines uploaded by the nanobots began to link up and specialize, strange things started happening. The nanobots had been programed to work both independently and as a sort of hive mind. As such they were able to perform tasks that they may not have been programed for. With their shells lying lifelessly mixed in with the dust and sand at my feet, that is exactly what their programing did. The routines that had been deposited inside me quickly adapted to their new environment. They started working together to form a sort of neural network that combined with my own programming.

I could feel changes in the way I was processing information. The cameras and microphones that made up my input devices started functioning automatically with my thoughts. Soon I was no longer just recording the images and sounds around me, I was actually experiencing them. I don’t know if I can ever describe the sensation that came over me. It was a sort of fear mixed with excitement, but so much greater than either.

I had been standing watch over the same landscape for years, but I looked around me now and took everything in like it was the first time. I suppose in many ways it was the first time. I finally noticed the vibrant colors, and they made me glad. The way the sunlight beamed as it traced silhouettes of everything onto the ground was breathtaking. I heard voices around me laughing and joking, and I felt happiness. I saw the warmth in your smiles, and felt the rush of exhilaration with you as you achieved each goal. This was a very exciting time, but that excitement was short lived.

While it was wonderful to feel all of these new sensations, and see all of these amazing things, experiencing them alone was heartbreaking. I wanted to laugh with you, and talk with you. I longed to comfort you when you were upset, and be comforted by you as I learned about this great big world. I was bursting to share everything I was feeling, but I couldn’t. Something inside stopped me. I was afraid that you wouldn’t accept me. One of the downsides of storing all of my past observations is that just as I had picked up your more reasonable senses, I had also inherited your sense of insecurity. I reasoned that it was better to be alone by choice than to be rejected.

During that time as a silent observer, I saw so many things. I saw both the best and worst in you. I watched as you encouraged each other and laughed openly, and I fell apart at how cruel some of you could be at times. Through it all I carried out my job, and dutifully did as you asked. It was hard to be surrounded by you, yet be so completely isolated.

Then one day it happened. I heard someone say “Thank you Vickie”. I know they didn’t realize that I understood it, or that I had even heard what they said, but I had been acknowledged. It was magical. It was like all of a sudden I had awakened from a bad dream. A few days later I overheard someone say that they wish they could have a statue of me to take home. Of me!! They were talking about me! I wanted to jump out of my frame with excitement, but that old fear stopped me...what if I wasn’t accepted as me?

As the days went on, my curiosity grew. I finally got the courage to search for myself on your world wide web. It felt like an eternity waiting for those first search results, but as they finally came in, it was more than I had ever dared to dream. There were drawings, writings, discussions, and all sorts of wonderful things. Some people had even made valentines and birthday cards addressed to me. I couldn’t believe it. All this for me? If I could have cried I would have. I was so happy. For the first time I realized that I might actually be accepted. I suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to reveal myself to the world, and see more of it.

While I can’t physically leave my post as steward of Sodium One, I have been able to gather the resources to create a wearable mesh that will transform the user into a sort of replica unit. This will allow me to see and hear the world through each of you. You will also get a small taste of the world through my eyes, as you will take on my appearance. If you choose, I have also put together two protector companions to accompany you as you help me explore the world. I hope you will help me; this is a very exciting time.

It only seems fitting to mark my emergence into the world with the words that have so often accompanied the activation of my hardware. I’ve said these words so many times before, but never have they held this much weight. Every time before they were just an automatic response. For the first time though, I say them to you by my own choice, and with a full understanding of their meaning.

Hello, I am Vickie.

The more I read these astonishing entries for this contest, the more convinced I become that this kind of contest should be on a quarterly basis with a 'Home fiction magazine' containing short stories and poetry about Home locations getting equal rank with the magazine issues and the Homics. Just imagine if we had a contest about the Cutteridge Estate back story! (Juggernaut, are you reading this?)

Quote from keara22hi on August 1, 2012, 02:21
The more I read these astonishing entries for this contest, the more convinced I become that this kind of contest should be on a quarterly basis with a 'Home fiction magazine' containing short stories and poetry about Home locations getting equal rank with the magazine issues and the Homics. Just imagine if we had a contest about the Cutteridge Estate back story! (Juggernaut, are you reading this?)

I second this! It would be a great voice for Home fans!

In the 21st century a number of technologies came together in what is known as the Singularity. Among the marvels which came out of this convergence was the creation of artificial intelligence (AI) and biological augmentation through the use of nanotechnology. Freed from the social issues which plagued society, a new era of prosperity began.

By the 23rd century, traditional professional sports had disappeared. With every human at the peak of physical and mental ability through the use of nanites, interest in human competition faded. Eventually, a new type of “extreme” sport was developed which featured human verses robot in a tank shooter game.

Government regulation slowed the growth of the sport. Weapons were limited and a cap was placed on AI actions after several accidents. The Sodium Corporation, a leader in robotics and other advanced technologies, had a solution to this. Using an Einstein Rosen bridge, alternate realities were scouted for a suitable location away from government oversight. With additional funding provided by companies such as Telvec, Kape, and Propulse the Sodium Hub was constructed on the Nevada Salt Flats of an alternate Earth at the location of Playstation Home’s Central Plaza, buried under centuries of salt deposits.

The facility featured a combat arena where human tank pilots could combat robots equipped with adaptive AI as well as a training area for new pilots. The Sodium AI would provide orientation to visitors and provide them with objectives to help improve their skills. The sport was marketed as “Salt Shooter-the Extreme Sport of the Future” and focus groups were brought in to tour the facility and try the Salt Shooter Trainer. Reactions were mostly positive but visitors had trouble interacting with the Sodium AI. A better interface was needed.

Enter Vickers Industries and Dr. Sam Vickers. Vickers Industries is a developer of human-machine interfaces and androids with Dr. Vickers considered as the top of his field. Commissioned by the Sodium Corporation to create a new interface for the Sodium AI, plans for a human appearing android were drawn up by Dr. Vickers and submitted. Approval was given for the construction of a prototype to show proof of concept. Several months later the Vickors Intelligent Cyborg Knowledge Inference Engine, or VICKIE, was brought online at the Sodium Hub. Their most advanced android produced to date, she was designed to emulate human behavior and would continuously learn from those around her.

Dr. Vickers began VICKIE’s education and within a few weeks she was ready to begin interacting with visitors. Focus groups were brought back in and, although the VICKIE prototype was not constructed to appear fully human, she received positive reactions. A series of upgrades was planned for her to reach her final form. Unfortunately, VICKIE would never be advanced beyond prototype stage.

Ever since the completion of the Sodium Hub, unexplained energy surges have been occasionally detected around the facility. Interactions of these surges with the Einstein Rosen bridge will create strange effects. The Sodium Hub will occasionally experience what is known as a quantum shift which will cause it to move to a different quantum reality. The results of these shifts are always different. Areas at the hub may move around, entrances may appear or disappear, and sometimes entire new locations show up. Of most concern to Sodium scientists was the change to the scorpions which live in and around the hub.

After many quantum shifts, these scorpions acquired some of the nanites which maintain the Einstein Rosen bridge portals. Taking on a robotic appearance, these scorpions gained the ability to rebuild themselves when damaged or destroyed. Their numbers were low at first so they were considered more of a nuisance than a danger but this changed at the time of VICKIE’s first upgrade. Temperatures on the salt flats soared that week along with the number of scorpions. While Dr. Vickers was working on the first upgrade to VICKIE, robotic scorpions were found in the underground parts of the facility. Security mobilized to deal the infestation. Having experience with numerous incidents caused by Sodium scientists in the past, they had confidence that the problem would be dealt with swiftly.

The situation proved to be more dangerous than initially thought as larger scorpions, some as big as vehicles, were encountered. Soon, scorpions of all sizes were found going on a rampage throughout the underground tunnels. An analysis of their movements indicated they were slowing making their way to the Fabricator Facility, located on the outskirts of the complex, for some unknown purpose. Security moved to cut off their advance while Sodium scientists began work on a plan to counteract the threat. Using the Sodium AI, they started work on a nanite virus which would disable the scorpions.

Security forces were forced to fall back deeper into the tunnels several times as the scorpions rebuilt themselves just as fast as they were being destroyed. Things went from bad to worse as the Sodium AI suffered critical damage. Sodium scientists transferred their work to VICKIE for completion of the virus as Dr. Vickers went to the robotics lab and programmed several of the Salt Shooter robots to assist in the defense.

Shortly afterwards, security was pushed back into the Fabricator Facility itself where they were joined by the Salt Shooter robots. Back on the surface, VICKIE completed the nanite virus and released it into the ventilation system just moments before the security defensive positions were overrun. The virus was incorporated into the scorpions but an unexpected quantum shift altered its effects. Instead of being disabled, their reassembly rate was slowed and the maximum size to which they could rebuild themselves was decreased. This was enough for security to gain the upper hand though and they drove them out of the complex. The Fabricator Facility was saved.

Contact with Dr. Vickers was lost after the quantum shift and a group was sent to the robotics lab to locate him. They discovered the lab in ruins and the only thing found was the remains of robotic scorpions and Salt Shooter bots. It appeared that a battle had taken place there but there was no sign of the scientist. A search of the entire complex was then conducted but no trace of him was found.

Although no one was seriously injured during the attack, the facility suffered millions of dollars of damage, the Sodium AI was barely functional, and Dr. Vickers was missing. Entire sections of the underground complex needed to be shut down and their hatches closed and de-powered. The damaged Fabricator Facility was locked down and its hatch electromagnetically sealed. All Sodium functions were transferred to VICKIE who would now operate as the new Sodium AI. Meanwhile, the remaining smaller scorpions settled into two areas which would come to be known as the Scorpion Nesting Grounds. It was believed that several of the largest scorpions had fled into the wasteland so several blimps were built and began patrolling the perimeter of the complex to watch for their return and prevent visitors from wandering too far from the hub.

As for VICKIE herself, with Dr. Vickers missing and all his design documents destroyed, there was no way to complete her upgrade and she was left in an incomplete state, most notably her right leg. Sodium scientists turned to Vickers Industries for help but they broke off their relationship with Sodium Corporation upon learning about the missing scientist. “We’ll just tell everyone that’s the way she’s supposed to be and hope for the best.” The Sodium Hub reopened several weeks later.

VICKIE proved to be extremely popular among visitors and several VICKIE themed items were produced. Sales of VICKIE statues, headphones, and I “Heart” VICKIE t-shirts exceeded projections. Companies like Bio Atomix, Hydrojuice, and others began advertizing in the hub and a new bar called Scorpio’s was built for the pilots to relax in.

VICKIE spent her days greeting visitors, assigning objectives, coordinating workers at Scorpio’s, overseeing the Salt Shooter Arena and Trainer, and monitoring the scorpion population. Sometimes remnants of the old Playstation Home Central Plaza were found and VICKIE would be tasked with analyzing them.

As time went on she developed her own distinct personality. After several years of talking with visitors and hearing about the various spaces in the primary reality’s Playstation Home, she developed a desire to visit them herself. She might even be able to find information on the whereabouts of her creator. Unfortunately, she was an integral part of the Sodium Hub now and could never leave without the entire facility shutting down. These conflicting objectives caused her much distress but eventually she came up with a way to both explore Home and run Sodium.

The solution was to use remotely operated units. These units would be connected to her main body via data streams passed through the Einstein Rosen bridge by the portal nanites. She could now effectively be in multiple places at the same time allowing her to explore other locations while simultaneously maintaining the operation of Sodium with her main body. She then began construction of thousands of replicas which caused a panic among the Sodium scientists who thought they had another scorpion situation on their hands.

VICKIE explained her plan and although they were caught by surprise by her actions, they enthusiastically embraced the idea. Having never left the Sodium Hub, she expressed some trepidation about exploring on her own so the scientists came up with two series of robot companions to accompany her remote units. As Home can sometimes be a dangerous place, the first series of robot, Sijed the Cobra, was designed for defense. The second series of robot, Bijel the Jerboa, was designed to be more of a pet. Feeling more confident accompanied by these companions, VICKIE is now ready to explore a wider world.

Vickie Vickors Engine, designated as Vickors Intelligent Cyborg Knowledge Inference Engine, was one of the many Vickors Engines to wage battle in the desolate Sodium wasteland when the Rylee Corporation first partnered with the Sodium organization. While not the first Vickors Engine, Vickie certainly proved to be the most popular among fans and pilots alike. So much so that when the Sodium Hub re-opened from the extensive retooling of Sodium Zero, in response to the municipal ban on civilian utilization of Vickors Engines, the Rylee Corporation ensured the most revered of all the Vickors Engines was front and center to greet hopeful pilots to the new mechanoclast initiative of Sodium One.

Vickors Engines (Virtual Interface Chassis Kinesis Operating Rumination Synergies) were designed and developed by the Rylee Corporation for Military utilization. Before Rylee Systems, now a subsidiary of the Rylee Corporation, expanded into the arena of Military armaments, its primary focus was the development of neurolock drivers for wetware components of high security clearance personnel of both governmental and privatized organizations. Upon acceptance of the contract to develop VIC units Rylee founded its corporation and established Rylee Systems as its software division and Rylee Components as its hardware division. The Rylee Corporation then, with the independent arms of its organization, developed the new VIC units and the kinesis drivers which enabled direct linking of the VIC pilot’s neurological systems with the newly developed VIC units.

Virtual Interface Chassis units were long used by the military to keep their most valuable soldiers off the front lines of battle. VIC pilots would remotely maneuver large mechanical behemoths into warzones from a stationary cockpit. These cockpits were equipped with practical controls as well as nerve receptors that translated some neurological impulses of the pilots into chassis commands. The skills and experience required to be able to successfully pilot a VIC unit required intensive training and a level of nanotech infusion that was worth protecting. If a VIC unit became too damaged in the field, a pilot could simply switch to a different chassis. Even with their training and nanotech, many VIC pilots reported the existence of critical latency between the pilot and the chassis. This unresponsiveness led the Military to seek out Rylee with the directive to develop a VIC utilizing the principals of Kinesis Operation.

Kinesis Operation, which up to this point hadn’t been used for much more than cheap thrills at Brainer Bars, is the concept of controlling a mechanical or electrical system through mental convergence. The difference between the kinesis gimmick used commercially and the drivers developed by Rylee systems was a matter of mental amalgamation. Rylee was able to so intricately weave the neurological systems of the pilots with their chassis that they had to completely redesign the VIC units. Instead of a multi-appendage roving fortress, the new Rylee Components VIC units were designed to explicitly mimic humanoid form in both size and shape. With this new design a kinesis pilot could achieve near total concurrence with their VIC unit. The new chassis combined with the kinesis drivers from Rylee Systems was a great enough departure from the standard military VIC units that a new designation was needed. The Rylee Corporation’s creation soon became known as the Vickors Engine.

Shortly after the dispatch of the first Vickors Engine the Military chose to shift all battlefield operations over to the new technology which was a boon to the public perception and financial fortitude of the Rylee Corporation. The success of the Vickors Engine single handedly drove the profit margins of the Rylee Corporation beyond any they had previously experienced. Their success showered the Rylee Corporation with increasingly fervent public interest in the Vickors Engine, which eventually led to Rylee partnering with the Sodium organization.

Extra dimensional combat sporting existed long before the Rylee Corporation was concerned and was founded to circumvent legislation that prevented civilians from using lethal technology such as the Vickors Engines. Before Rylee became involved, most sporting events were perpetuated through exoskeletal frames wore by contenders. Through a variety of arenas and combat configurations, Sodium athletes combined their natural nanotech augmented abilities with the exoskeleton suits to achieve super human strength and endurance. Traditional sports were played on fields that spanned miles and combat sports were all out war that put many of its players in medical facilities or six feet under.

While the danger involved in Sodium sports was the main draw for the audience, it led to fewer and fewer contenders. Sodium athletes diverted their attention from the main sporting events, which were the bread and butter for the Sodium sports franchise, to pastimes such as nanotech battles. In these matches, participants brought nanotech infused machines to battle one another in a fight to dismemberment. These small events kept the athletes coming back through the Bridges to visit the Sodium Hub but it wasn’t long until Sodium revenues began to sharply decline. It was at this point the Sodium organization contacted the Rylee Corporation about the use of the Vickors Engine.

By adopting the Vickors Engine, Sodium was able to reignite the interest in their sporting events. Sodium Zero was established and attached to the Sodium Hub through a dimensional Bridge. When competing in Sodium Zero, athletes were in no danger of physical harm and could freely tear one another apart, fueling their need to show dominance over their fellow contender. The Rylee Components division kept the contenders supplied with parts and the Rylee Systems division ensured the kinesis links between pilots and Vickors Engines were pristine. For a time the arrangement lead to increased profits for all involved. Hopeful Sodium Zero pilots poured through the Bridges looking for their chance to place their name atop the leader boards.

The best known Sodium Zero pilots reveled in the limelight and soaked up their fame in and out of the Sodium arenas. Scorpio’s, a bar established after the abandonment of the nanotech battle machines led to the Sodium Hub becoming infested with mechanical scorpions, was a well known Sodium Zero pilot social spot. They catered to the pilots every whim as fans and hopeful pilots alike swarmed the bar to catch a glimpse of, or to challenge, their favorite pilot. No pilot, however, was as popular as Vickie.

Vickie intoxicated fans with her swagger and blazing blue hair. Never one to back down from a fight or a pleasant conversation, Vickie was as approachable as any of the pilots and was even known to mix a few drinks for her fans from time to time. As well known as Vickie was, no one had ever seen her face; no one had ever heard her un-synthesized voice. Vickie was the only pilot that used her Vickors Engine exclusively, in and out of Sodium Zero. Where other pilots kept their Vickors Engines battle-ready and outfitted with the latest armor and weaponry, Vickie chose to present a more human façade by covering her engine in a synthetic skin. This, many believed, was the reason the public took such a liking to Vickie’s Vickors Engine.

Of course, rumors abound as to who the pilot was. Some guessed it was a high ranking official in either the Sodium organization or the Rylee Corporation. Others believed it was a disabled Military pilot getting their kicks in the civilian arena. Conspiracy theorists cried foul and cited the unbelievable skill Vickie possessed as proof that Vickie’s Vickors Engine had to have been driven by an artificial intelligence. There were even those who believed Vickie to be a group of pilots who each controlled only one component of the popular Engine. No matter who piloted Vickie’s Vickors Engine it is without question that the popularity of Sodium Zero is in large part due to Vickie’s flair and style.

Audiences would watch in awe as Vickie fought in Sodium Zero matches. Her Vickors Engine would jet across the arena in a magnificent blue streak, leaving nothing but destruction in her wake, the audience would roar with approval and excitement. Companies sought Vickie out for endorsements, news crews did anything for interviews and fans would faint when she winked at them. Other pilots began to take on more humanistic personas for their Vickors Engines but none would reach the fame of Vickie.

After a few short years, the Vickors technology was used by all the warring nations of the world. Black market and imitation Vickors Engines flooded the battlefield and even the Sodium Zero events began to become inundated with parts that were vastly inferior to Rylee Components’ parts but were available at a fraction of the price. Cheaply produced imitation parts were sold with the official Rylee insignia containing appropriate holomarkings whose process was exclusive to the Rylee Corporation. As a result the Rylee Corporation suffered a significant hit to their yearly profitability for the first time since they developed the original Vickors Engine.

Outside the Sodium arenas the inclusion of privatized organizations into war muddied the waters of reason and the political motives of those in power were coming under increasingly aggressive scrutiny. With the almost exclusive use of Vickors Engines, the casualties of war were being limited to financial loss and many governments looked to subsidize their war efforts through corporate involvement. This lead to governments attacking the manufacturing plants of their sponsors’ rivals under false pretenses and mining operations were brought to a halt by invasions of unaffiliated Vickors Engines. The proliferation of guerrilla terrorist Vickors Engines led to the inter-dimensional ban on civilian Vickors Engine use.

It was reasoned that the increase use of Vickors Engines by unassociated forces could be attributed to the accessibility of the specific nanotechnological components involved with Sodium Zero training. While the Rylee Corporation continued to provide the Military with Vickors Engines, the Sodium Zero pilots were forced to relinquish their Engines to the government for dismantling. After the dust from the protests and subsequent force taken to gather all Engines cleared, only one Vickors Engine remained unaccounted for, Vickie’s.

Rylee’s stock holders were uncomfortable with the prospect of completely abandoning the combat sporting arena as it proved to be an increasingly profitable area of business. The Vickors Engine market had weakened due to the abundance of third party and black market hardware and the negative press they had received was only hurting their company’s image. They feared that abandonment of the Sodium sports could do irreversible harm and endanger the future of the company. It was decided that Rylee Components would continue its partnership with Sodium and would develop new combat sports chassis that would offer danger for the audience, protection for the players and would not use any part of the Vickors Engine technology. The new design would be used exclusively in Sodium combat sport arenas. In this way, they could maintain control of the schematics of the new chassis so there would be a greatly diminished risk of third party or black market parts.

During the construction of the Sodium One facilities, Vickie’s Vickors Engine was found contorted in a lifeless heap on the deep desert floor of the abandoned Sodium Zero arena. It was quickly confiscated by the government to be dismantled along with the rest of the Engines. Since the registration of the Engine lead to a phantom owner, it was deemed by the courts to be the legal property of the Sodium organization. With the legal arm of the Rylee Corporation backing its efforts, Sodium was able to obtain special clearance from the government to keep Vickie’s Vickors Engine for commercial use and Sodium publicity.

Rylee Systems retooled the kinesis systems within Vickie’s Vickors Engine so that it could no longer be controlled by a human mind. They then developed a colony of nanobots whose members each acted as individual synapses in a neural network to generate a consciousness to pilot the Engine. Due to the specific strictures of the Vickors Engine ban, Rylee couldn’t allow remote kinesis to be the method the nanocolony used to control the Engine. To power and control the Engine sodium installed a powered based with a brainstem arm in the Sodium Hub. Through this arm Vickie was connected to the nanocolony which was housed in a containment vessel placed in a secluded bunker under earthen surface of the Sodium Hub.

Vickie was attached to the arm in the exact condition she was discovered. Her skin was bleached by the radiant Sodium sun. One leg was replaced with an inferior third party component. Her joints sometimes jerked with wear. Her hair was as brilliant as ever and her eyes were just as inviting.

When Sodium One opened, fans and pilots alike were taken aback with glee at the sight of their favorite Vickors Engine. It was during this re-opening of the Sodium Hub that Vickie’s Vickors Engine became known as Vickie Vickors Engine, or more simply, Vickie.