Unknown log, found August 3, 2177:

September 30, 2025

I did it! I won NanMech the contract. It took all of the politicking, expensive dinners, begging, and frankly bribes that I and Sharon (well, mostly Sharon) could swallow but it was all worth it! Using this DARPA funding, I will show the world that nanorobotic technology is the future of the human race. The limited brain pans of those shallow-minded nincompoops at Atom Innovations are likely leaking out of their ears! What a wonderful feeling!

October 15, 2025

I’ve found the perfect location for the new lab. I’m sure the short sighted fools on the DARPA team will complain about having to shove out all those idiot civilians, but seriously who cares when we’re talking about the future of humanity!

I can’t believe those twits at NASA actually agreed to let those barbarians at Atom build an atom blaster! What are they thinking? Now I’ll have to listen to that so-called physicist, Dr. Barnolt, blather on and on about how amazing his innovations are. Seriously, what is so amazing about banging things together really hard? What I am doing is reinventing the human condition, that gorilla is a glorified brute.

January 13, 2026

I finally convinced Director Fralks to clear out the undesirables from the salt mines so we can start building our labs. I have no idea what took so long but at least we can start. He is such a complainer.

July 2, 2030

The lab is finally completely built out. I don’t understand why the Director was so slow at authorizing all the construction. I had everything laid out perfectly for Sharon to explain to them. How is nano technology supposed to revolutionize the species if we can’t start working on it? I told Sharon to simply get those cheapskate politicians and blockheaded bureaucrats to go away.

And what’s worse, those fools at Atom are almost done with their smashing contraption. Well either way, I have approximately 50% of the facility prepared to start research. I’m going to change the world!

January 29, 2033

My research team is slow and stupid. It’s a good thing I am here to offset their lazy idiocy. That being said, even these morons could miniaturize a computer. The question keeps coming back to power. How do we power the nanomachines? My staff calls them nanobots or just nanos. Ugh, what a bunch of simpletons.

August 4, 2033

I told them this would happen! Now we’re behind. Those idiots at Atom banged things together enough that they found a particle from another dimension. You would not believe the shit that smarmy bastard Barnolt was spewing out of his mouth. So what? How does that advance the human race? And where the hell did the particle come from anyway?

February 23, 2034

I discovered something odd today. When I was building out on my idea of powering the nanomachines by using a body’s natural heat production and electrical current (frankly, this showed little if any promise, but I figured I might learn a thing or two) something unexpected was in the results. The cockroach’s power output was materially higher than it should have been. I cannot seem to figure out why. I’ll keep experimenting.

April 12, 2034

Where is this extra energy coming from? I don’t understand it. There is decades of data showing how much energy biology can allow for; what is going on? And what’s more baffling is that it appears to be growing. Right now I am seeing close to an exponential rise. Can the nanos utilize it as a source?

May 28, 2034

I am a genius. This extra biological “power” is actually a completely different form of energy from anything the human race has been exposed to. And I figured out how to use it! Did I mention I am a genius? With some more work (and a little less interference from the idiot staff) I can create an adapter system to absorb, convert, use and reinvest this using the nanos.

March 22, 2035

There is some noise going on outside of how those fools at the Atom lab broke the dimensional barrier. Are they mad? Who the hell knows what is on the other side? Not that it affects me or my work. Onto more important things; I am almost there on the Adapter system.

April 30, 2035

The adapter system is complete and ready for testing. Now that the nanomachines have a power source, we can start vertebrate trials.

May 29, 2035

The nanos are causing some interesting effects in the tested aquatic life. As intended, it appears to increase cell regeneration and available energy for use. Oddly, it also seems to increase intelligence; we are seeing the various test subjects show unusual cognitive recognition and memory approximate 300% beyond that of the placebo subjects.

I am going to win a Nobel Prize. I’ll start preparing my speech.

December 6, 2035

Made some modifications based on the primitive vertebrate test results and moved to mammalian testing. The results were extraordinary. Through some tweaking of the programming and updating of the power recycling system, the nanomachines not only self-replicate in mammals, they increase regeneration and cognitive function by over 500%. My Nobel speech is going to need some more grand language.

January 3, 2036

The new DARPA Director came storming into the lab today demanding an emergency meeting. A contingent of army personnel just grabbed me and Sharon and marched us off. It turns out we’re under attack. What a fool. What’s a “big green man”? Is this a space invaders movie? I mean, really!

He just went on and on about how the human race needs to make advances and blah blah blah. What does he think I’ve been doing for the last decade? Whatever. I told them to just go shoot some stuff and leave us to figure out how to advance humanity. He seems surprisingly unhappy with that answer but what is he going to do? It is not like there are any nanomachine experts smarter than me.

April 20, 2036

Those imbeciles! They had to open a pathway to another dimension. Did it even occur to them that something else might be on the other side? Apparently the human race is being slaughtered by various species from this dimension. I’m told they captured a few of these invaders and, believe it or not, they speak our various languages using some technology. Supposedly the invaders claim something called “mana” is what that unidentified particle is called. Hah! Now nobody is going to call it the Barnolt particle. HAHAHA!

July 1, 2036

Perhaps I have been underestimating the threat these invaders pose. I am getting regular updates now from the Director. I’m sure he thinks it will motivate me or something. Why is everyone so stupid?

Anyway, our military cannot seem to effectively fight off the invaders using conventional projectile weapons. On the other hand, I am told that this “Mana” is altering some humans as well. Apparently it is providing them the ability to enhance their combat abilities with what the invaders use. It translates as “Magica”. Magic? Really? I am sure physics and computational formulas can explain it. Savages.

August 15, 2036

I think the Director might need some medical attention; he does not appear well. More humans are showing an aptitude for use of the “mana” particle. However, they are failing to actually use it effectively. I think I might be able to help with that. Good thing I am a genius. The nanos use that energy too, how can I take advantage of that? Ugh, now I’m calling them ‘nanos’ too.

February 20, 2037

I think my dimwitted team actually came up with something smart for once. We started human trials (a pleasant side benefit of the perceived end of humanity) late last year and discovered the nanomachines can interface directly with this mana and the human body at the same time. Now we just need to come up with a control format.

So the team came up with the concept of a “game-like” interface. Of course, being that I actually work and don’t have time for that nonsense, they had to show me how the games work. It is surprisingly simple and clever. Now we just need to figure out how to create a system that mechanically measures and enhances itself and the human body. I’ll come up with something, I’m sure. I also think it is critical for the system to be able to modify itself within limits. Even someone with my level of brilliance cannot think of everything after all.

Oh, and apparently the US has lost 55% of its land to the invaders. That includes the Atom lab. Shame that.

June 20, 2037

The invaders are getting close to my lab. The Director tells me he is expending massive forces to defend this location so I need to make it work.

We installed the new system into the nanos and began the injection process into the military guy. I don’t know or care who he is, but it killed him. Apparently, it cannot be directly injected. Looks like we need to try other exposure methods.

July 3, 2037

It appears the nano machines have to enter the body though either the lungs or pores. All other tested methods have resulted in death. This is due to the adaptation of the foreign mana which is absorbed by the human body. Doesn’t happen on rats or rabbits. Determination for cause on hold because we want to save the lab. Oh. And I disabled the nanos ability to reproduce in non-humans. This is an easy change and demanded by the DARPA dunderheads. These invaders are really causing my patience to be tested.

July 20, 2037

Well, that could be problematic. The invaders made it into the lab and caused the latest aerosol nanos to be released. They weren’t ready. Not all humans are compatible and the self replication happens outside the body too. I did manage to put in self-learning but is much less refined than I hoped.

Not sure what will happen now. I guess I can kiss the Nobel prize out the window. Maybe posthumous, assuming the human race survives? Well, at least I outlived Barnolt.