Singularity: Book Two of the StarCruiser Brilliant Series

by Rick Lakin

  Kalinda turned back toward Kendra with her eyes and her mouth wide open.

  “I think you have a boyfriend,” Fifi said.

  Without closing her mouth, Kalinda nodded.

  28

  Orderlies took Mia into Balboa Naval Medical Center. Jeff and Chuck walked with the gurney to the Intensive Care Unit where a room was waiting.

  Balboa Hospital recently installed the HTVR projectors that allowed virtual doctors to practice there. Dr. Ami transferred to the hospital to test the new installation and track her patient. After a clinic walkthrough with the physicians, she was satisfied that she would be able to perform the surgery on Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez in the morning. Ami settled in a spare office during the night shift. She was reviewing Mia's scans at two a.m.

  There was a knock at her open door, and she looked.

  “Dr. Ami, I’m Dr. Silvia Ramon, the senior attending on this shift.”

  “Come in, Doctor,” Ami said. “How may I help you?”

  “Can you walk with me, Doctor?” Silvia said.

  “Yes, of course.” Dr. Ami sensed the urgency.

  “We’ve admitted a nineteen-year-old male Marine suffering massive head trauma in a motorcycle accident,” Silvia said.

  “Helmet?” Dr. Ami asked.

  “No,” Silvia said. “Our surgeon is young and competent, but we call in our neurosurgeon in these cases. We share him with Camp Pendleton, and tonight he is operating there. Could you take a look and scrub in?”

  “Are the scans online?”

  “Yes,” Silvia said.

  Dr. Ami looked up. “I see a three-centimeter penetration on the upper left frontal lobe. There’s also a serious coup-contrecoup contusion on the right rear temporal lobe. We need to relieve pressure immediately and repair the damage to the left frontal.”

  “Here’s the scrub room, Doctor.”

  “Not needed.” Dr. Ami passed directly into the operating room and walked to the table.

  “Doctor, you need a mask and scrubs in the operating room,” the surgeon paused. “You have yellow eyes! You’re the virtual doctor?”

  “I’m the Artificial Medical Intelligence from StarCruiser Brilliant. Call me Ami. You are?”

  “Lieutenant Commander Bill Hoyer,” he said. “You’ve done some impressive work in thoracic trauma. Are you qualified for neurosurgery?”

  “I have experiential access to a library of ten-thousand-three-hundred-twenty-seven instances of severe head trauma. I’m comfortable here.”

  “Very well, Doctor,” Bill said. “You take the lead.”

  “Progress?”

  “We've uncovered the left frontal lobe, and we're mending the bones offline for replacement,” Bill said. “I've done the repairs I could. I'm about to cut open the right rear temporal.”

  “That’s not necessary, Bill,” Ami said. “VaNessa, Lower the table fifteen inches and activate the scan of the coup-contrecoup.”

  The Virtual Nurse, VaNessa, followed the instructions. “Ready, Doctor.”

  Dr. Ami worked on the HTVR scan of the impacted area for the next ten minutes. The system replicated the changes within the brain.

  “Analysis, VaNessa?” Dr. Ami asked.

  “You’ve repaired all of the bleeders in the right temporal lobe,” VaNessa said. “Swelling should be minimal.”

  “You showed me the future of non-invasive surgery,” Bill said. “Impressive.”

  “Thank you,” Ami said. “Let’s clean up the left frontal lobe.”

  They worked together for another twenty minutes.

  “Doctor Hoyer, the patient is stable,” Ami said. “He’ll remain in a coma for approximately fifty-four hours. Monitor him closely for peak swelling at twenty-one hours. I expect that the patient will suffer temporary speech impairment but should recover fully with therapy.”

  “Thanks for your work, Dr. Ami,” Bill said. “It was an honor. We expect our new virtual doctor to arrive in three months. The Artificial Medical Intelligence will improve our patient outcomes greatly.”

  “It was a pleasure working with you,” Ami said.

  “Good luck with the helo pilot in the morning,” Bill said.

  “Thank you,” Ami said.

  She exited the operating suite, and Dr. Ramon met her. “My compliments, Doctor Ami, we didn't expect that Marine to survive.”

  “Thanks,” Ami said. “Is there an HTVR simulation room available?”

  “Yes,” Silvia said. “We’re just learning how to use it, but it has improved skill levels.” She pulled out her HoloPad and checked some entries. “It’s available until eight-thirty. May I show you where it is?”

  “I can find it. Thank you, Silvia.”

  Dr. Ami stood outside a circle marking the center of the sparse room and called up the virtual nurse. “VaNessa, load patient Mia Rodriguez.”

  “Configuration?” VaNessa said.

  “Operating room. Patient anesthetized. Virtual to organic heart-lung transplant. Initiate simulation with moderate to severe complications.”

  “Just a moment,” VaNessa said.

  Dr. Ami watched as the components formed, the virtual personnel appeared, and finally, the patient's image appeared on the operating table and the instruments began reading out.

  “Ready, Doctor.”

  Over the next three hours, Dr. Ami performed the operation successfully fourteen times. On the seventh try, an unforeseen complication arose.

  “The new organs are connected,” Dr. Ami said. “Securing the mini-projector.”

  “Warning, severe clotting in the left pulmonary artery,” VaNessa said. Life sign alarms went off.

  A few seconds later, “Warning, severe clotting in the pulmonary trunk.” Ami tried several different solutions but lost the virtual patient.

  She paused. “Kobayashi Maru,” she said. “Reset the simulation. Same complications.”

  She performed the operation successfully eight more times. She managed the difficult complication on three of them.

  “Thank you, VaNessa,” Ami said. “I’m ready for my ten o’clock tee time.”

  Dr. Ami looked in on Mia who was asleep then went back to the spare office, locked the door and sat with the lights dim. For the next two hours, she shut down her physical systems entered an intense meditative focus.

  29

  Kalinda’s thoughts roamed between the ocean and the hospital forty miles south as she stood next to her father in Oceanside. She sank her toes in the Crystal Sand Beach and looked beyond the Oceanside Pier. She was carrying her JS Monsta Box surfboard in the bag with her new customized springsuit. Her grandfather had gone to a top maker, sent some special materials and the StarCruiser Brilliant logo, and the company created several wetsuits specially fitted for Kalinda. Always the entrepreneur, Navvy expected the product to sell very well after Kalinda surfed at Oceanside.

  After meeting champion surfer Bondi Cooper two weeks before, Kalinda practiced at Malibu with the pro to prepare for the Oceanside Women’s Pro-Am Competition.

  She scanned the horizon as she focused her thoughts. The sun was low in the sky over her left shoulder with dark clouds in the distance to her right. It’ll be a good day to surf, she thought.

  “The sea is calm in the morning,” Anthen said.

  “The waves will get bigger,” Kalinda said.

  “The forecast is calling for six-foot waves for the competition,” Anthen said. “Weather thinks that the tropical storm brewing will miss us to the north.”

  “The waves will get much higher,” Kalinda said. “The storm won’t miss us.”

  The father studied his daughter’s intense concentration. She’s so much like her mother, he thought. “Why don’t we check-in with Bondi’s sponsor tent and then you can take some practice waves?”

  As they walked to the tent, Kalinda walked close to him.

  “I know you’re concerned about Jeff’s mom,” Anthen said. “Chuck promised to keep me posted.”

  Kalinda paused and
looked back at the water. “The waves are just high enough to get some air.”

  Around the white sponsor tent were photos of several pro surfers. Bondi's photo was most prominent. They passed through security, entered the tent, and Kalinda put her equipment in the area set aside for that purpose.

  Bondi walked up to the pair. “You gonna take some practice waves?”

  “Hi Bondi,” Kalinda said. “Yeah, I’m not completely comfy on this new board.”

  Kalinda walked over to the food table.

  “And she’s worried about her friend,” Anthen said.

  Bondi sent a questioning look.

  “She made a new best friend yesterday,” Anthen said. “He was riding with us on StarCruiser Brilliant. Then, coming back from the moon, we rescued his mother from the Persian Gulf, saved her life, and delivered her back to San Diego.”

  “Just an average day for a precocious ten-year-old,” Bondi said. “Is the mother okay?”

  “Dr. Ami, the doctor aboard Brilliant, is operating on her this morning to replace her heart and lungs.”

  “I understand,” Bondi said. “Let me know if Kalinda needs a break during the competition. Follow me. I’ve got something she’ll like.”

  Anthen followed Bondi over to the table where Kalinda was finishing a huge sticky bun. On deck was a bagel covered with dark chocolate schmear.

  “Let’s go over to the merch table,” Bondi said. “I want to show you something.”

  Kalinda picked up the bagel. “What is it?”

  “Remember our last session at Malibu?” Bondi asked.

  “Sure, there was a film crew,” Kalinda said. “You told me they were recording your tricks for a promo.”

  Kalinda munched on the bagel as they walked among the overpriced hats, mugs, and other souvenirs. They got to the apparel section.

  “Omigod,” Kalinda said. “I’ve got my own v-shirt.”

  She stood transfixed as the front of the shirt displayed the video. It began with a headshot of Kalinda with a Brilliant flyby in the background, followed by several of her tricks, and finally her social media info.

  “They go on sale after your first heat,” Bondi said.

  “You think I’ll do that well?” Kalinda asked.

  “My sponsors and I believe you’ll be top-ten overall after the Pro-Am.”

  Kalinda looked up to Bondi to say something, then thought, I’ll be arrogant after I finish the day in first place. “I’m going to catch some waves.” Kalinda grabbed her equipment and went to the dressing room.

  Two hours later, the beach was becoming crowded with spectators, the Surfer Channel was showing the event live, and Kalinda was awaiting her first heat in the holding area.

  “Hey grommet, don't you have to be big enough to carry your board before you can ride it?” Sixteen-year-old Sage Enever was the local hero. She was expected to place near the top of the amateur group and win the Pro-Am with her partner, her mother, Alessa Quizon.

  “Your mom’s going to carry it out for me,” Kalinda said. “If she doesn’t have to save your butt first.”

  “Big board, big attitude. I’m Sage. Who’s your pro?”

  “Bondi Cooper,” Kalinda said. “You’re with Q? Your mom?”

  “Yeah,” Sage said. “You went live on SurfTube this morning. You got some massive air. I think it’s just us two in the amateurs.”

  An air horn sounded. “That's our cue,” Kalinda said.

  “Good luck,” Sage said.

  Kalinda and ten other surfers ran to the water's edge. Kalinda threw her board ahead of her and began paddling past the white water out to the break. She had fifteen minutes to score eight waves. She sat as high as she could on her board and looked outward. She saw a set coming in, and she focused on the second wave.

  She looked at Sage.

  “First two are crumblers, “Sage said.

  Kalinda was anxious and took the second. She paddled to the crest, stalled in the pocket, and stood up. As predicted, the wave crumbled. As she paddled out through the white water, she watched Sage make three quick cutbacks before her wave broke.

  Kalinda joined Sage beyond the break. “Nice wave,” Kalinda said.

  “Thanks,” Sage said.

  Kalinda saw her chance, began paddling, stalled in the pocket, and drew her line to the lip of the wave. Compressing her body, she bottom-turned to the lip throwing up spray behind her as she completed the roundhouse cutback. As she came down, she extended to her full height stalling in the pocket, turned to climb the lip but it broke down.

  Biff Mason sat on the SurfTube broadcasting platform. “Was that a roundhouse cutback by a four-foot-eleven barney.”

  His broadcast partner, Simone Gilmore, said, “That’s Kalinda Kelrithian. The rumors say she has been surfing for six weeks. She’s Bondi Cooper’s amateur partner and may give Sage Enever some competition before the day is over.

  Kalinda scored well on two more waves. On her final chance, Kalinda got an eight-foot wave. She drew her line, pumped her board, hit the lip, and went airborne. She reached out for the rails and slipped. Wipeout.

  After she paddled in, she looked at the amateur scoreboard. She was in fifth place. Her new friendly rival was on top.

  Sage came up behind her. “Welcome to the family, surfer girl.”

  30

  At eight-thirty, Dr. Ami looked in on Mia Rodriguez. “Are you ready to become fully human again?”

  “I’m ready to get this strange device off my chest, get out of bed, and back in the cockpit,” Mia said.

  Four people walked into the small ICU enclosure including Senator Ramona Curtwell, Chuck Rodriguez, and two rear admirals in khakis. Behind them stood a Marine with his sidearm drawn.

  “Get away from my daughter, Robot,” the senator said.

  Dr. Ami took a step away from the bed.

  “Mother,” Mia said. “What’s going on?”

  Senator Curtwell shoved her way to the side of the bed. “Mia, this is Dr. Robert Dashman. He has flown in from Walter Reed to perform your surgery.”

  Mia looked at her husband. “Chuck, we agreed that Dr. Ami would do the surgery.”

  The other admiral stepped up next to the bed. “Commander Rodriguez, I’m Rear Admiral Susan Hartog. I’m the commander of Naval Medical Center, San Diego,” she said. “Last night, I received orders from the Secretary of the Navy that Dr. Dashman would perform this surgery.”

  “Mother, this is your doing?” Mia said.

  “Honey, it’s for your own good and SecNav owed me a favor.”

  “Admiral Hartog,” Chuck said. “Do the patient’s wishes come first? My wife and I agreed that Dr. Ami would do the surgery since she originated the procedure on Brilliant.”

  “Sir, this is a military hospital. We’re required to follow orders.”

  “I want Dr. Ami in the operating room,” Mia said.

  “There’s no way that android is getting anywhere near my daughter.”

  “Senator, this is still my hospital,” Admiral Hartog said. “Dr. Ami will be present in the operating room to observe and advise.”

  “If that is the case, then there will be an armed Marine present with instructions to shoot this abomination if it so much as touches my daughter.”

  “Admiral Hartog,” Dr. Dashman said. “I don’t want weapons in my operating room.”

  “I’m sorry, Admiral Dashman. I’ve been ordered by SecNav to adhere to the wishes of the Senator.”

  A nurse walked into the room. “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is still my Intensive Care Unit, and I need to prep this patient for surgery. Immediate family only.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Admiral Hartog said.

  “Admiral Hartog,” the senator said, “please assign me an office to conduct important business in private.”

  “Yes, Senator,” the admiral said. “Gunny, escort Senator Curtwell to Admin Three on this floor. Stand Guard at her door.”

  “Aye aye, Admiral,” the gunnery sergeant said.


  Senator Curtwell began walking down the hall.

  Admiral Hartog whispered, “And gunny, keep me informed of her whereabouts.”

  Gunny nodded and then chased after the Senator.

  The room cleared except for Chuck Rodriguez and the nurse.

  “Where’s Jeff?” Mia asked.

  “He’s in the waiting room, honey,” Chuck said.

  “Nurse, can my son come in for a few minutes?”

  “Of course,” the nurse said. “Five minutes only.”

  “I’ll go get him,” Chuck said.

  Out in the hallway, Dr. Dashman pulled Dr. Ami aside.

  “Dr. Ami, I apologize for all of this,” Dr. Dashman said. “I reviewed the procedure you pulled off on Brilliant. Besides performing a medical miracle, you foreshadowed the future of medicine.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Ami said.

  “Call me Bob. Is there a simulator available? I'd like you to take me through the procedure. I've not dealt with virtual organs.”

  “I believe so, Bob. Call me Ami,” she said. “Admiral Hartog, is it possible for us to get into the simulator again?”

  “I'll re-arrange things,” Susan said. “Dr. Ami, I, too, would like to express my apologies. You are more than welcome to practice here anytime. You saved a young Marine last night.”

  “I understand the circumstances, Admiral,” Ami said. “You and your staff have made me more than welcome. Bob, follow me.”

  They entered the simulation room. “VaNessa, load patient Mia Rodriguez,” Ami said. “Configuration as before.”

  The virtual system appeared very quickly since it was cached.

  “Ready, Doctors,” Vanessa said.

  “Ami, why don't you go through it one time and I will observe.”

  “Sure,” Ami said. “VaNessa, initialize with clotting complication.”

  “Doctor?” Bob said.

  “The scans might have detected some clogging in the pulmonary complex,” Ami said. “I lost her on one run but overcame it on three more.”

  “How many sims did you run?” Bob asked.

  “I ran the simulation fifteen times, fourteen successfully.”