Round Four - Self-Assembly Required, Pt. 2

                                    

                                          
"I don't understand," Remy's eyes were as big as satellite dishes as he looked around him.
                          
Even from their vantage at the verge of the quarantine chamber, Aradia was a sight so beautiful, it was almost holy. The city was contained within an impenetrable dome built to bend light and hide it from the outside. The bubble extended all the way beneath the city forming a perfect seal that didn't even exchange air with the outside world. The close, warm, humid environment supporting a closed rainforest ecosystem the likes of which could no longer be found anywhere on earth. The city's buildings were built tall and canopied, styled after the dark green foliage of the trees and vines whose footprints were given priority in the limited space. Giant, fragrant flowers bloomed on every wall and tree, while birds and insects seemed to crowd out the people who walked and biked through the city's narrow avenues. The dome's honeycomb lattice was transparent from the inside, letting the full light of the nearly cloudless day shine down and feed the living city. 
                          
"How is this possible? Why haven't the nanobots eaten all of this?" the mercenary staggered as he was herded into the streets, tripping on the root-ridged road. "And how long has this place been here?"
                          
"The biodome was here before the Contamination," Rachel let Kate do the talking, since the science was more her thing. "The Mothers of Aradia took refuge here during the early days, when the nanobots were just starting to breakdown organics. They were researchers, you know, scientists. Ecologists, biologists, botanists. They found a way to build organic nanotech that would self-sustain in critical masses. Like an immune system. The organic nanobots can control, take over, eat and break down the electrical currents in the wild nanobots. But they didn't have enough organic material left to reclaim everything, so they built up the city instead. A protected haven for humanity while we worked on a solution."
                          
"That's insane. There are nomad settlements less than five kilometers from here. Those people are attacked by mechanites daily. People die. Their bodies are broken down and devoured by the contamination. You're telling me all this time they could just have found refuge here?"
                          
Katie sighed. "I wish, but no. The nanocites. They cling to genes like ticks, you know? They can access the cloud and inform it... well, about everything. Even one little nanocite is enough to bring this whole place down. Then there'd be no hope at all."
                          
"But you-" Remy started, and Rachel cut him off with a curt reply.
                          
"We're different." she snorted, "Like you."
                          
They walked a little further in blissful silence, but Remy just couldn't enjoy the silence. "I know these plants," Remy stopped walking and knelt next to a tangle of calabash gourds. "Your ecosystem isn't that closed, ladies. I've seen these outside."
                          
Rachel stopped walking and narrowed her eyes at him. 
                          
"What? What are you talking about?"
                          
Remy stood, looking smug. "I've been harvesting these vines from this region for years. They fetch a pretty penny in the settlements, you better believe! I once traded for a-"
                          
"You've been harvesting them? That's what you were doing here? You fucking idiot!" Rachel stepped in close, fighting the very strong urge to break the man's other arm. "We have been trying to contaminate the nanobots for years. You're telling me it was working and you picked them?"
                          
Remy took a step back and looked annoyed. 
                          
"Look, crazy lady, it's not like I knew they were yours! Maybe you should keep a closer eye on your little science fair project next time! It's not my fault you haven't figured out surveillance tactics." Rachel turned a deep shade of purple and shrugged Kate's arm off of hers.