Pod-Doc

## Genesis

The Pod-Doc was built by the Kurtherians to modify the DNA and insert Nanocytes to modify other species to help in the war between the various Kurtherian clans. The nanocytes draw on Etheric energy to support the physical changes in the "client" species. The Pod-doc can also be used to modify/correct nanocytes, necessary as individuals age and the nanocytes begin to mutate into less effective versions of themselves.

Common uses of the Pod-doc

* Heal injuries and regrow lost appendages. Injuries by silver will be healed but scars may remain.
* Convert a normal human to an enhanced human, vampire or were. The degree of enhanced human is controlled by the program.
* Correct flaws in original programming or degraded nanocytes like allowing vampires to walk in the sun or not need blood to survive.
* Ted merged Lilith's DNA with human DNA in Checkmate to give her a body not susceptible to takeover by rogue nanocytes.
* Increase longevity to the point almost of immortality.
* "Combat suite" increase overall density by three percent, strength coming from converting bones to a synthetic compound reinforced with a lightweight but high-tensile mesh fiber.

Other changes mentioned

* Eliminate or reduce ability to get drunk
* Change the individual's taste, like when one person changed to a were no longer could stand coffee and the Pod-doc was able to give her back the good taste.

The Pod-Doc is programmable to the level of modification to be induced. As with all programs/programmers there can be coding errors that need to be corrected after the fact.

The original Kurtherian Pod-doc on TOM’s ship is the most advanced medical tool,

It is not always clear which modifications to an individual are because the nanocytes vs. modifications.

Bethany Anne controls access to the Pod-Doc, not allowing them to be plentiful enough to be available to everyone. The fear is that not only humanity, but no species is ready culturally for the enhancements up to and including immortality. Some wealthy beings attempt to get around the prohibition by "blood trade', where the blood of beings infused with active nanocytes are drained of blood and passed along. The nanocytes eventually fail and the beings need more nano enhanced blood.

Various authors have used different annotations for Pod-Doc including Pod - Doc, PodDoc and medipod.

## Specific Histories

Michael had been modified on Earth by a Kurtherian now known as TOM/Thales of Miletus sometime during the dark ages. TOM had by happenstance piloted his ship to Earth well over a thousand years ago and had crash-landed in a hidden valley. Michael had stumbled across the spaceship and TOM had tried to enhance him using the Pod-Doc had not known enough about human physiology to affect a completely successful change. By the time Michael had left the ship, the nanocytes had taken control and he needed human blood to continue living. What no one except TOM had known at the time was that what he was drawing from blood was Etheric energy. TOM realized the flaw put into Michael but was not able to correct the need to consume blood until Michael brought Bethany Anne to be turned. After success with Bethany Anne, Michael and any Vampires who aligned with her (e.g. Akio) had their nanocytes corrected so they no longer needed blood.

Bethany Anne seeded the Earth with nanocytes before she left to fight the Kurtherians in the hopes all humans would develop enhanced capabilities. Unfortunately a scientist discovered the nanocytes and reprogrammed a set to attack his fellow researchers. In doing that he unleashed the Age of Madness that moved across the Earth. The Pod-Doc was used to correct some of the fall-out like Weres not being able to turn back to human or into a were once they were infected. Unfortunately there was not enough Pod-Docs to eliminate the corrupted nanocytes across the world but Esme created a cure that was dispersed by the BYPS.

## Activities

### Judge, Jury and Executioner

The Pod-doc in Wyatt Earp’s cargo bay may look like a cheap model, but it operates on advanced programming that is unique for most sessions. Ambassadors Ankh and Erasmus were able to program certain safeguards into the Pod-doc process, like a time-limit on the Nanocytes injected into the bloodstreams of the settlers (Adverse Possession). They cure their issues, and then with the last of their power, they fry their own circuits to be ejected from the body through the various waste processes.

### The School of Harder Knocks

#### She is the Principle

Janet Voight, Kirian's mother, is desperate to find a total cure for his genetic disease. While she appreciates Jennifer Ericson's clinic but the changes are incremental. She hears of a clinic that is promising a revolutionary therapy based on Empire technology. Kirian asks Jennifer to look into it which brings it to the attention of ADAM, Bethany Anne, and Stephen. Kirian uses his hacking skills to track down the location of clinic. When BA and Stephen arrive they find the clinic is using nanocytes that were programmed for Ixtalis to bring them to Level One as a reward for their support in the war. The thieves thieves hacked the code to remove that parameter, and in the process, they altered the functionality of the remaining code. This is not only failing to cure the patients, it is killing them.

The primary perpetrators are killed and the rest of the clinic staff have those memories of the clinic wiped. The 7 surviving patients are taken to an Empire medical facility where the damage could be reversed.

### Lone Wolf Squadron

#### Interstellar Justice

The squadron acquired a Pod-doc in Star Corp that was damaged. Nathan Lowell has Ted come to the station and upgrade the Pod-doc, although it still will not be able to perform military upgrades.

## References

1. ↑ Martelle, Craig; Anderle, Michael. Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4): You Have Been Judged, Destroy The Corrupt, Serial Killer, Your Life is Forfeit (Judge, Jury, Executioner Boxed Set) (p. 62). LMBPN Publishing. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Checkmate p. 314
3. ↑ Russell, S.R.; Anderle, Michael. Etheric Adventures Boxed Set: Books 1-3 (p. 273). LMBPN Publishing. Kindle Edition.
4. ↑ Russell, S.R.; Anderle, Michael. Etheric Adventures Boxed Set: Books 1-3 (p. 45). LMBPN Publishing. Kindle Edition.
5. ↑ Martelle, Craig; Anderle, Michael. Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set (Books 9-12): Rise of the AI, Adverse Possession, Deception, Blood Trade (Judge, Jury, Executioner Boxed Set Book 3) (p. 581). LMBPN Publishing. Kindle Edition.
6. ↑ Anderle, Michael. She is the Principle: A Kurtherian Gambit Series (The School of Harder Knocks Book 1) (p. 243). LMBPN Publishing. Kindle Edition.