The Captured(Authors edit)Copyright 2015. Adrian KyteTable of ContentsPrologue.......................................................................................................2Part One: Past Deceptions...................................................................4Part Two: Outsiders..........................................................................6Part Three: O! the "lesh and the "a#e..............................................$$Part "our: Per!ect Copies................................................................%%&Part "i'e: (ew !or Old....................................................................%4$Part )i*: +scape..............................................................................%$&Part )e'en: A ,ind o! -i!e.............................................................226Part +ight: .a#ing the /t0ost.......................................................2%Part (ine: 1nelucta2le "utures .......................................................26&Part Ten: 3ealit4 Chec#..................................................................256Part +le'en: 6ac# "ro0 the Dead...................................................77&Part Twel'e: +luding the 8a'e......................................................76http:99www.adrian#4te.co09 %Prologue1t was such a si0ple weapon. The idling !la0e re0inding hi0 o! anOl40pictorch: ;uiteinnocuouswithitswa'eringa02erglowonthe light gre4 walls and on4* i! that ter0could 2e used with an4 scienti!icaccurac4 > had no presence in this god!orsa#en place. ?e was not areligious 0an 2ut the word @god!orsa#en so0ehow see0edappropriate. )urel4 this was a place where an4 religious notion diedon!irst contact: nowit all 2oileddowntocodeinanarti!icialsu2strate. Aet the 0achine o'erlords !ailed to see how this arti!icial!or0wasan4thing other than an i0pro'e0ent.?owironic=so0e0a4 sa4= that it was he who !ought against the0= their ideolog4. 6uthe had the 0eans= the opportunit4. And= he re0inded hi0sel!= a realchance o! success B up until this point.)till...?e released the !la0ethrowers gas= directed the 2lueCorange!la0e at the serried line o! the unaware 0etal a2o0inations.8atched their attendant ca2les 0elt anddistend!ro0tritaniu02odies and heads.8as it 0urderD (o. To 2e 0urdered 4ou had to 2e ali'e in 0orethan a nu#e. AhandCheld anti0atter de'ice could destro4 this entire co0pound. 6utsuch densel4 pac#ed structures would 2e i00ediatel4 detected andneutraliEed: 2ecausetheo'erlordswerenot stupid= the4werenot2without their ene0ies itchingto unleashe'er4 8.Dtwent4C!i!thcentur4 technolog4 allowed. The oldC!ashioned !la0ethrower= on theother hand= slow and ine!!icient. 8hod ha'e e'er guessedD1n one sense it was a sha0e= what he was a2out to do. This 2od4haditsad'antages= not least thei00ensestrength. Andsecondl4there was so0ething o! an aesthetic appeal > or was that the 0achinepart o! hi0ta#ing o'erD ?is old 2iological !or0= !or all itsgeneering= still held to so0e ancient senti0ental notion o! the ideal.(ow he re0e02ered his old sel! as not 0uch 0ore than the as i! the centuries o! ci'ilised 0odern culturehad ne'er penetrated the dense !orest. )o eas4 to 0a#e assu0ptionsat this= so eas4 to 2e led into doing so.The huts the0sel'es did ha'e doors. ?ow would she indicate her&presenceDThat was a dile00a soon resol'ed. The 0an was dressed in #ha#icargotrousersanda!adedprint tCshirt= 2ut hisdar#s#inclearl40ar#ed hi0 out as a nati'e. ?e was standing in an open doorwa4=and drew so0ething sil'er to his 0outh= it 0ade a high shrill noise >a whistle. Others ca0e out o! their huts: wo0en= 0en= againde'elopedCworld attired 2ut !ro0 so0e pre'ious centur4 st4le. The4gatheredroundher=tal#ing inwords her translator was so!arnotrela4ing. One 0an produced a weapon that 2uEEed with an electrical!ield 2etween two prongsDistracted 24 the weapon wielders approach= she hadnt noticedwho had crept up 2ehind her= 2ut now the4 had gra22ed her ar0s=loc#ing the0 2ehind her 2ac#. (ow= she thought= would 2e a goodti0e to co00unicate. G?ello there= 04 na0e is Joraina. 1 a0 here to sur'e4 4our localen'iron0ent.H )he alwa4s had !aith in her translator arra4: it was progra00edwith o'er !i'e thousand languages= and e'en i! it encountered onenot stored it would anal4se e'er4 aspect o! speech patterns to !or0 a0odel. A!ter all= therewereonl4ali0itednu02er o! wa4s thehu0anoid !or0 could co00unicate. )he 4esDH The 0an with electrical de'ice as#ed.G(o= no. 10 not one o! the0. Are 4ouDHThe0anlaughed. G8erepure2lood. Pure!lesh. 8edestro4the0.HGAh= good. 8e share a co00on interest.HG?ow do we #nowDHGDo 1 loo# li#e a 0echanoidDHAgain he laughed. GThe4 loo# li#e all #inds= tr4ing to !ool us.HG6ut 1 a0 a wea# hu0an.H O! course=the hu0an part was notentirel4 true.$GAou pretend.H 1t didnt see0 to 2e 0eant as a ;uestion.G(o. 1 reall4 a0 in so0e pain=H she said in truth. 8hoe'er it waswho had her ar0s was increasing the pressure.Another 0an wal#ed !orward with a #ni!e. Things were loo#ing2ad. )he could send a signal to her super'isor= 2ut then !ro0 all accounts> si0pl4 assi0ilated hu0ans without an4 need !or guile orsu2ter!uge. Perhaps the4 alread4 had: perhaps these people held thatthe4 resisted trans0ogri!ication 2ecause the alternati'e wasunconsciona2le to the0. Ki'en the4 alread4 had contact= it was not2e4ond the 2ounds o! reason. 6ut on the other hand the .achines0ight ha'e sensed the e!!ort to trans!or0 such an isolatedco00unit4 held no reward: the4 could 2e no threat. Thats wh4= shereasoned= these people could pro'e use!ul in the !ight against suchpernicious arti!icial entities.I I I75On a train inlo'easwell aswor#. 6ut e'enthenhestill hadhope!orthe!uture= that inchoate con!idence o! the 4oung not 4et 2ound 24 thedisillusion0ent o! accu0ulated e*perience. On that war0 su00ersda4 he 0et a wo0an on a train > the scenic route 2etween 6an!! andToronto. The wo0an was occupied 24her ta2let: the glints o!pro which was ;uite unusual when 4ou couldchoose to 2e sli0 without recourse to e*ercise or diet e'en i! 4ouwere on a 0oderate inco0e.Aet he could tell she did spend ti0ewor#ing out 24 the hint o! 0uscle on her partl4Ce*posed upper ar02eneathawhite2louse= whichheldher insnugl4and= whenheloo#eddown= pro0inentcal'es a2o'e !lat !au* leather shoes. Thes#irt she wore also re'ealed ;uite power!ul thighs > as 0uch as he%Lcould see= 2ut= he wondered= the tightness o! it perhaps constrictingin a decepti'el4 !lattering wa4. There was no ;uestioning her attracti'eness= though she was notwhat 0ight 2e considered con'entionall4 2eauti!ul. Or e'en a'erage(an appearance 0en could !eel at ease with) 2ecause 2oth tended to2e popular with the opposite se*. And that #ind o! popular was not agood thing !or Tor2in. 3egardless o! thesecare!ul o2ser'ations hecouldtell= i! onl4intuiti'el4 (and unscienti!icall4)= she would not 2e an eas4 pic#Cup.6ut he had no intention o! going through the usual protractedprocess.?ethensaidso0ethinghene'er 2elie'edhewould. GDoesapersons histor4 0atter= i! it is not dar# or cri0inalDHG+*cuse 0e.H ?er response was to!inall4get that crucial in!or0ationa2out her truenature. ?e s0iled at her= which didnt see0 reassuring in the least.(e'ertheless she did e'entuall4 !ollow= thin#ing her !ate was sealedregardless. 6elow the open hatch onl4 dar#ness= though she couldsee could see the tip o! a rung o! steps. @"ollow= he instructed her.?e descended the steps= and as she !ollowed suit Joraina noticedaglow2elowher= it as was thecontented%6plateauonwhichhisli!erested. Thedou2tswerenot there2ac#then. 1! onl4 he could ta#e hi0sel! 2ac# to that ti0e. Or e'en thatine*plica2le shudder.@Aour na0e is !a0iliar 2ut 10a!raid 1 cannot recall ourassociation.The0anreiteratedhis2roads0ile. @.a42e4oupre!ernot to= or0a42eso0ethingherehasta#en4our0e0or4. 1t has2eenthree4ears= thoughit 0a4see0longer. An4how= wewere part o! atea0CCCAn e*plosion.Outside the restaurant 2ut loud enough to drownout whate'er the 0an was sa4ing. The head waiter hurried o'er= apanic#edloo#onhisoncei00aculatel4i0passi'e!ace. ?esaid=@)irs= a 2ase charge generator has o'erloaded. 8e 2elie'e it to 2e%$!oul pla4.This 2uilding is conse;uentl4 no longer sa!e. Aou 0ustlea'e i00ediatel4.3oidon ga'e the 0an a disdain!ul loo#. @The wor# o! so0eonewith an i0pecca2le sense o! ti0ing= 1 do not dou2t.@)irD The waiter raised an e4e2row.@(e'er 0ind. 1t can wait. ?e loo#ed at Tor2in. @1t was nice to 2ereac;uainted. 8e 0ust catch up on old ti0es soon.@)ure. Tor2in nodded= 2e!ore dashing o'er to his ta2le.Delinas 0other was sha#ing her head= 0outhing so0ething2e!ore he could hear her words. @...Those antiesta2lish0entterrorists= 1 #newit= she said. @The4re tr4ing to wrec# whatci'ilisation we ha'e. The4ll onl4 2e happ4 i! we all went 2ac# toli'ing in ca'es.@.u0= it could #ni!e0an= who0shenow#newas2L1pcardi 111= was stud4ing her with an unco0!orta2le scrutin4= and !or2rie! 0o0ents touchedher shoulder= her ar0. ?e said= @Aouacourageous wo0an to 2e 'enturing to these parts. 8e thought therewere no true hu0ans le!t. 8here 4ou !ro0D @Alocation1 ha'eswornto#eepsecret= shetoldhi0. @Aouunderstand: their e4es are e'er4where.@Their e4es are e'er4where B 2ut here. ?ere 4ou are sa!e.)he #new so0ething o! hu0an 0ale 0ating patterns: the need tosearch !ro0outside the groupwas co00on across all species=logical !or genetic health. And so here she was the outsider= a lone'ulnera2le !e0ale !aced with a 0an possessing a health4appreciation !or logic and !or > what he percei'ed to 2e > the hu0an!e0ale !or0. @1 0ust 0a#e a con!ession= she conceded. @1 a0 not 0erel4 hereto o2ser'e= 2ut to plan a counter attac# against the .achines.@1 #now > we #now. 1t is a2out sur'i'al.@6ut inorder tosur'i'e 4ou ha'e hadtodoa deal withasee0ingl4 2ene'olent alien who 0a4 not 2e what the4 appear.100ediatel4 his countenance shi!ted !ro0 a0ia2le (i! lasci'ious)s0iles and gestures to so0ething that suggested hed 2een a!!ronted.?e rose o!! the chair in a 0o'e that 0ade her sin# !urther into thecouchs en'elop0ent.@8hat do you #now o! the0D he de0anded. ?e suddenl4 loo#ed0enacing again as he did when he !irst held the #ni!e to her throat.@1... )he was struggling !or the words that would not gi'e her trueidentit4 awa4. @1 ha'e studied accounts o! the 'isitations. 8assceptical o! their true power. 6ut e'identl4 the4 can 2e a !or0ida2leall4.@1! 4ou deal with the de'il= 4ou ha'e to gi'e up 4our soulD heintoned.@(o 1 didnt 0eanCCC@(oDhis 'oiceal0ostashrie#.@8ell=without theirassistance2%we would not 2e here 2ut one o! the captured. 8e would no longere.@1 a0 not i!itwereto2erepresentedinanal4ticnu02ers>wouldso0ehow2edisco0!orting= unsettling= distur2ing: not e'en so 0uch !or hi0 2ut!or the 0edical co00unit4. 1! the4 reall4 could no longer den4 therealit4 o! his e*perience.6ut a part o!his 0ind is re thedrea0 he still had not wo#en !ro0. @-i#e whatD he now !elt a2le to as#.Thenursereturnedtoherta2let= andsee0edto2etrans!erringthoughtCwa'es to its inter!ace. @8ell= she said= while stud4ing thedispla4. @Aou su!!ered se'ere cere2ral shoc#= caused 24 a te0porallo2e discordia.8hat thenursetoldhi00adelittlesense= 4et heperse'ered.@8hat couldtrigger thatDheas#ed. @8hat could1ha'edoneto0a#e 04sel! thin# ti0e was repeating itsel!D Tor2in noticed Delina2eco0e 'isi2l4 distressed: her hus2and now o!! the radar > a 0edical2as#et case.@This is what we still need to deter0ine= .r -4ndau= the nursetold hi0. @Aou are scheduled !or !urther tests this a!ternoon.Tor2in !elttheweight o!o2ligationpressing down onhi0= thee*pectation o! his wi!e= o! the 0edical sta!! see0ingl4 acting in his2est interest. Aet in his 0ind that i00ersion scanner had ta#en on adeadl4 ;ualit4= a place !ro0which he would ne'er e0erge.8hate'er his condition= it was 2e4ond the 2ounds o! such proceduraldiagnosis= he sensed= howe'er ad'anced the technolog4. ?e had theurgeto!lee= so0ethinghecouldnot rationalise. Trou2lewas= hecouldnt hide this: the 0onitors > +,K= ++K > were telling the nursehe was distressed. ?er loo# o! concern onl4 outweighed 24 Delinas.@Tor2in= 4ou 0ust tr4 to rela*. 8e will not su2 the 2owCtiedconsultant loo#The nurse turned awa4 !ro0 his gaEe= in the direction o! Delina.Andtohis wi!eshesaid= @8ouldit 2eo#a4i! 1 spo#eto4ououtsideDDelina loo#ed thought!ul= 2ut a!ter a !ew second she ac;uiescedand the4 2oth le!t the roo0.The doctor now appeared to 2e scrutinising Tor2in= 2e!ore sa4ing=@1oncehadapatent li#e4ouwhore!usedtogo!orhisscan. ?eunderstood it would 2e in his 2est interests 2ut ne'ertheless decidedto use his patents right a2o'e the 0edical ad'ice.@Dont tell 0e= Tor2insaid. @?e diedo! so0e co0plicationwhichcouldha'e2eeneasil4curedi!onl4hehadgone!orthatscan.@Aou are correct= .r -4ndau= the consultant nodded. @?owe'er=4ou o0itted that he le!t a wi!e and two #ids= and two parents whoseli'es were shattered.@1 would ne'er intend thatCCC@(o= Tor2in.1 #now o! course 4ou wouldnt.Aou are a decentand#ind0an= as4our wi!ehase*pressed= and4ouwouldne'erwant the0tothin#4oudris#lea'ingthe0. Thedoctor s0iled#nowingl4. @6ut= he added= @1 understand that the thin#ingpre'enting4ou!ro0ta#ingthereco00endedcourseo!actionis2ased on !ear. The 0an who died so needlessl4 had the si0ple !ear7$o! 2eingdiagnosedwitha conditionhe2elie'edwouldin'ol'e0onths o! unpleasant treat0ent. ?ehad2eenahealth40anhiswholeli!e. Andthen= suddenl4= arareneurological conditionwasgoingtoturnhi0intoahelplesspatient= 2eingconstantl4pro2edand prodded. The0an pattedhi0 lightl4onhisshoulder. @8ell=that doesnt ha'e to 2e the case. 1t 0a4 2e so0ething that can 2e;uite si0pl4 cured. 1t 0a4 onl4 ta#e da4s.Tor2in sat up straight. @Doctor= 1 will ta#e 04 chances. 1 wish to2e discharged.Thedoctor too#a!ewsteps2ac#= as i! theshoc#o! hearingTor2ins words 2rought with it a ph4sical !orce. Delina then wal#edin= acco0panied24thenurse. ?iswi!ewasintears. )herushedtowards the 2ed= sha#ing her head and struggling to get the wordsout. @Tor2in= dearest. Aou 0ustnt lea'e. Dont dothis to 0e=please. ?er tears 2eca0e audi2le cr4ing.)o0ething curious then occurred to Tor2in. ?e hadnt 0entionedlea'ing= in the presence o! Delina. ?ad she o'erheardD An4wa4 he!elt no change o! heart: he thesa!est place>sheshouldre0e02er. +*cept it she 0used > had its wa4 o! i00ersing4ou 24 re0o'ing 4our li!e on the outside: particularl4 0e0ories that0ight intrude or cause con!lict. Or 0a42e those 0e0ories were onl4suppressed. 3oidon was and had now 0ade it. 1t wasthe delusion o! content0ent. +*cept hu0an 2eings can ne'er acceptcontent0ent without worr4 that it could end= ecause we always loo"!or threats / the signs. And those signs had presented the0sel'es tohi0. .e0or4 was alwa4s the greatest threat.(ow= as he watched the !igure o! the wo0an 2e!ore hi0= he !elt asense o! relie! > that his answer was 0aterialising= li#e so0e angelthere to !ree hi0.Well, .&m dead,he thought=and she is here to guide me to theright!ul a!terli!e rather than this gilded sham.The wo0an had a south A0erican appearance: a sultr4co0ple*ion= wearing a !or0al 2ut tight !itting electric 2lue dress and0atching to !eel superior. )o how!rustrating it 0ust 2e that those underlings re!use to see 4ourenlightened 'iewpoint 2ut instead cling to the s0all !acets o! theirli'es.@.a42e you could enlighten 0e= 3oidon.@Aouretelling0e4oudont understandwh4hu0ans want tohang on to the 'er4 things that 0a#e the0 hu0anD@Thehu0an2eingis so!ar !ro0per!ection= socaught upinparochial concerns. All those pointless distractions !ro0 what trul40atters. As so0eone who has 2ridged that gap= what 0atters to 4ou=3oidonD@.an4 o! those parochial hu0an concerns are what 0a#es li!e aninteresting challenge.@The4 all see0rather inconse;uential to 0e= 2ound up inpointless= cogniti'el4 depleting e0otions. Perhaps 4ou can help 0eunderstand wh4 hu0ans attri2ute such 'alue to relationalattach0ents.@Aou dont understand the concept o! lo'eD@The power!ul e0otional !eeling o! a!!ection= where one sentient2eing !eels a 2ond or an a!!init4 to another= o!ten aug0ented 24 theneuroche0ical o*4tocin.@O! course 4ou can de!ine it= #now its 2ioche0ical e!!ect. 6ut can4ou trul4 i0agine what its li#e to !eel so strongl4 !or so0eone 4ouwould sacri!ice 4our own li!eD@)acri!icing 4our own li!e would 2e illogical.@+*actl4. Thats thepoint. -o'ede!ies logic= de!ies reducti'eanal4sis. 1t is the one thing that separates the sentient 2iological !ro0the rest.@1t also causes pain= 0ental anguish. -o'e is destructi'e= itdecei'es against an indi'iduals sur'i'al. @1t ensures the sur'i'al o! the species.@The pro0ise o! pleasure can do that.6$@And what #ind o! pleasure would e*ist in 4our ideal realit4D 1n04 current !or0 it see0s ;uite li0ited.@Thats 2ecause 4ou ha'ent e*plored the possi2ilities. 1nstead= itsee0s= 4ou !ell in lo'e with the hu0an species and it has clouded4our thin#ing.@Can 4ou not accept that 4our point o! 'iew= is 0erel4 that= not adi'ine 4our #ind.@Then4ouunderesti0ate0e= 3oidon. 1ha'eno0oreti0e!or4ou.@8aitM@(o.3oidon was in space now. )o sudden= so uncere0onious. The shiphad le!t. ?e sent out a call signal. A!ter ten 0inutes he 2egan to wonder i! the 6tari had consideredhis !ate sealed= written hi0 o!!: a lia2ilit4 the4 hoped would ne'er 2eallowed to return.A calculation the 0achine entit4 had 0ade.Diealone= die slowl4. 8hat could 2e worseDI I I2%J. ,ardoE= "ile 472: QThe 6tari ha'e o2ser'ed hu0ans !or o'er athousand 4ears= and e'en 2een a0ongst the0= stud4ing= al2eitincognito. A!ter so 0uch ti0e there de'eloped an ine'ita2le!a0iliarit4whichin!ectedthe'er4cultureo! 04race. O'er thecenturies it had happened slowl4 and su2tl4=0uch in the wa4 that65religious nations on +arth 2eca0e secularised despite clinging to thetenets o! their doctrine. At so0e point that doctrine 2eco0es 0erel4a super!icial 'eneer= a !ragile 0as#. Perhaps it has ta#en so0eone o!04 e*pertise to reall4 put these in!luences into !ocus. 8hat 0ost o!04#inddoagreeonwasthat nospecieshas2eenstudied0oreinti0atel4thanhu0ans. AndinTor2inscasethe!a0iliarit4has2een reciprocal.R pause.Aet as shesat inthegentl4lit loungeo! their or2iting2ase=watching Tor2in sipping co!!ee= she saw a 0an con!used= in shoc#perhaps= and generall4 ill at ease. ?ere was a 0an= !or all his paste*perience with her #ind= loo#ing li#e a lost child.@1 should not ha'e returned= he told her= his 'oice rela4edthrough a gre4 0outh=loo#ing real enough to gi'e a !ull range o!e*pressions2ut still withanunsettlingarti!icial ;ualit4. @1t wouldha'e 2een 2etter i! 1 e'en asa 2iologicalhe was not a0anwho was eas4withinti0ac4= or atleast onl4 thought o! it as a prelude to se*. )he resu0ed her thoughtCcapture diar4. QThe 2od4 was ano2session !or hu0ans= the4 ne'er got o'er its 2ase 2iolog4= it was anencu02rance as 0uch as it was a source o! delight > technologicalenhance0ents notwithstanding. And here e'en without it the4 couldnot let go. That is what the .achines= !or all their intelligence= !ailed&Lto recognise.R 1nd.@1 a0 a 0onster= he told her. @1 no longer want to e*ist.This ti0e she held hi0 24 2oth shoulders. @8e ha'e ha'e 4ourD(A on !ile. 8e can grow 4ou another 2od4.?is head drooped slightl4 to one side. )he i0agined he would 2ecr4ing were he capa2le. @1 would appreciate that.@6ut in 4our present !or0 4ou can 2e 0ore e!!ecti'e.@8hat can 1 do that 4ou > the 6tari > cantD@Aou can show the0 how 4ou ha'e accepted 4our current !or0.@6ut the4 will #now 4ou ha'e !reed 0e= thusCCC@Thus 4ou are wor#ing !or us. 6ut did 4ou ha'e a choiceD@1t see0s not.@Ta#e a loo# at this. )he wa'ed a hand in a se0iCcircular gesture.@"ile 242= she co00anded. )uddenl4 there were stars= +artha0ongst the0. )he Eoo0ed in: a glo2e that at !irst see0edunchanged.Tor2in re0ar#ed that there appeared to 2e 0ore greenthan he re0e02ered. ?e said= @Theres so0ething di!!erent: on thedar# side no lights. O! course= o'er the last !ewcenturies lighting had 2eco0eincreasingl4 e!!icient= reducing lea#age= 2ut still tower 2loc#sglowed ad'ertising 2usiness or such as it e*ists > is under +arths sur!ace. To the0 the world is asit should 2e.@Did the4 choose not to re0e02er= li#e 1 didD@1 dont thin# it is so 0uch a 0atter o! choice= as a co0pulsion..a42e the 0achine o'erlord chose !or the0 when it realised hu0anscould not cope with their arti!icial !or0.@1s that an4 wonderD 1 0ean this o'erlord does not see0 to ha'e0uch co0prehension o! hu0an ps4cholog4.&%@1n 4our present !or0 4ou are an i0pro'e0ent > ph4sicall4 and0entall4.Andin !act= 4ouloo# !ar0ore hu0anthan 0ost o!theother captureds. Aouare0ore hu0an: part o! 4our 0indis anorganicall4 grown 2rain.@8ell= 1 #now 1 should appreciate that. 1 #now the hu0an is a !railcreature= a ;uir# o! e'olution !or a harsh en'iron0ent si0pl4e*isting 2etween the last and ne*t large i0pact e'ent. And 4ou choseto 2e one o! usD@"or the 0issionCCC@(o= 1 0ean many o! 4our #ind choose to loo# hu0an. 8h4D 1s itto understand 2etter how we !unction= or co00unicationD@Aou pro2a2l4 #now the answer= or 4oull re0e02er wh4.@8h4 help usD Aou can sur'i'e o#a4 on 4our own. 8hats in it!or 4ouD@All 4our ;uestions. )he wa'ed her hand again. @O2ser'e. The+arth Eoo0ed awa4= !ollowed 24 the solar s4ste0. Then stars raced24as i! tra'elling at superlu0inalspeedsuntil the 'iew haltedonanother planet. @This planet is called +ludiC4= it was going to 2e thene*t 0a thetechnolog4 to undo it all.@Te0poral eradication > the erasure.@8ell= heres so0ething4oull 2e surprisedtohear. 8e= the6tari= were wrong. Aou understand now= dont 4ouD@1 understand we pre'ented the ine'ita2le. 1 understand we0isunderstood the threat.@Kood. Then 4ou #now what 0ust 2e done.@Aou sa4 that as i! it can done. ?e shoo# his head= a 2itter s0ilewould 2e pla4ing across his !ace were it possi2le. @Deluded again.I22@Aou see that pathetic !igureD said the deep= resonant 'oice. ?e wasseeing the 0etal!igure through so0e #ind o! 'iewscreen.@That is&74oud4ing. Ner4slowl4andunco0!orta2l4= theli!e= thehopeisdraining awa4.@Aou copied 04 0ind.@.ost adroit o! 4ou= 3oidon.@8h4D@To show 4ou 4ou are no longer in control= that 4our li!e is nolonger 4ours. 1! the ph4sical dies there will onl4 2e the 0indCcapture.1! he sur'i'es the 'ersion 1 a0 tal#ing to now will 2eco0e a target.?e watched his 2odil4 !or0 slowl4 rotating= ;uite li!eless alread4.@8h4 tell 0e thisD@6ecause it is up to 4ou: li'e or die.@?e > 10 > d4ing an4wa4. The 6tari wont co0e to the rescue=it will 2e too ris#4.@Correct. )o= 4our choice.@1! he sur'i'es= will he 2e allowed to returnD@O! course.@Then 1 choose li!e. ?is li!e.@Ner4 well. 6ut 2ear in 0ind he > !or all that he is 4ou > will2eco0e the ene04.@(e'ertheless.8ithout another word= he watched as a 0etal arachnid t4pecreature honed in on his ph4sical sel!= who 24 the lac# o! ani0ationappeared to 2e unconscious= gra22ed !ro0 2ehind 24 the upper ar0sthensi0pl4started0o'ingat anincreasing'elocit4. Therewasnothing else to do 2ut watch the0 recede into a 'anishing point. A!ew 0inutes see0ed to pass 2e!ore the spider entit4 returned. ?e was0adetoseeclearl4enough!orthein!erencethat thishadsi0pl42een a 2enign act o! transit= and that e'en i! not returned to the 6tari2ase= at least the4 would !ind hi0 > as i! the4 hadnt alread4 #ept0onitoring his position.(owthereweretwo: onetoo0an4!orhisph4sical sel!= whowould see# the cop4s destruction or at least the 6tari would. 6ut&4hed choose li!e e'er4 ti0e= howe'er li0ited its organic co0ponent.The organic o'er the arti!icial.Onl4 now= here in this 'irtual dar#gre4 roo0 with its si0ple 2ed and lac# o! ho0e co0!orts to whichhis !or0er sel! had 2eco0e accusto0ed= would he actuall4 welco0ethe o2li'ion o! his destruction.Would .#he then ;uestioned.)o0eone once said that death is the onl4 true philosophical ;uestion.?e had tried it 2e!ore= the onl4 ti0e he had trul4 erased his e*istencehe had tried to capture that point= where e*perience 2eco0es nonCe*perience. 6ut the thing that was his consciousness !ound noo2ser'ation point= no @ah= now 10 on the cusp o! d4ing 0o0ent.?e was si0pl4 a helpless su2a!ugue that rendered the world a place o! !ear and con!usion. 8ell= hehad ne'er 2een under an4 illusions o! a 0eta e*istence= which stillheld swa4with 0an4natural 2ornhu0ans >hu0ans whohadalread4 died and chose to !orget.?e considered the door. 1t had an anti;uated 0etal st4le handle:no need !or an4 illusion o! sophistication in this 'irtual real0. 8ashe 2eing te0pted to open itD )hisisridiculous= hethought. ?estrodehurriedl4towards it=opened it. A 2rightl4 lit corridor. To 2egin with he could 0a#e outno details: the light was so 2right and so e'en it was as i! his e4eswere si0pl4 o'erwhel0ed.6ut he had a sense o! there 2eing twosides so he continued wal#ing= so0ehow #nowing this was what he0ust do.1t ended a2ruptl4. The lac# o! a door 0ade no sense. Then to theside !aint outlines appeared. A rectangle. +;uall4 on the other side.Te*t in star# 2lac# !or0ed on one door= then the other. To his le!t in2old sans seri!: @)his door leads to your immediate death. ?is right:)his door leads to re2integration with your cloned ody.@?ow a0 1 to ta#e this seriousl4D 3oidon said= his 'oice echoingcon'incingl4.&@Aou ha'e three options= 2ut onl4 !i'e 0inutes to consider the0.@ThreeD@1! 4ouchooseneither o! thedoors= then24de!ault 4ouwillre0ain here.@Fust to 2e sure: reCintegration= 2ac# to 2eing !lesh and 2loodD@Aes= 4ou can 2e assured it 0eans a return to the !or0 4ou ha'ealwa4s sought 0ost. 6ut 4our other 'ersion will ha'e to die.@64 04 own handsD@Aes. /nless 4oud pre!er we #ill hi0 in our own wa4.@Then its si0ple: 1 choose 04 li!e. 3oidon said= !ull4 aware thatnot onl4washechoosingli!e= hewaschoosingcon!lict. 6ut hecouldnt ha'e it per!ectl4.?e opened the door. The light this ti0e was 2linding.I I I24Tor2in -4ndau stood two hundred and eighteen centi0etres tall. ?ehad the strength to li!t a tonne. Could !or hours withstand !orces thatwould #ill a 0an in seconds. The natural ra'ages o! entrop4 were anirrele'ance: no ageCrelated degeneration= e*cept o'er geologicalti0e. There were no 'ulnera2le points= at least none that were easil4accessi2le. ?e was potentiall4 a #illing 0achine. ?e was potentiall4a 0onster= despite a ph4siogno04 that could !ro0a dar#eneddistance 2e 0ista#en !or a hu0an. 6ut he was use!ul to the 6tari=and the4 to hi0 > holding out the pro0ise o! a new hu0an 2od4= onethat was li#e his original onl4 with enough o! an i0pro'e0ent that itwould still !eel li#e hi0. And then... ?e was 0o'ing through the stars. A!ter a ride in the 6taris ship&6he was le!t to 0a#e the !inal leg o! the intellect without con!ine0ent. To 2e 2ere!t o! thatagain is a cruelt4 4ou can 2arel4 i0agine.Joraina was sure he e*aggerated. +'en in this !or0 there 0ust 2epleasures to 2e had.A!ter all=the pro0ise o! pleasure ser'ed as asur'i'al 0echanis0!or an4thinge'en'aguel4sentient. 8as hesi0pl4 pla4ing !or pit4D )he onl4 said= @(o= perhaps 1 cannot.3oidon rose !ro0 his seat. ?e did so with such a2ruptness it 0adeher !linch. @8ell Bwhats040issionthenDheas#ed= loo#ingtowards the e*it. @1 hed reach the 6tari 2asein onl4 a !ew hours. 3ight now= dri'eCpac#s porta2le enough to attach to the side o!his suit containedanti0atter in0agneticcon!ine0ent= pri0edtoreact with particles so e*otic the4 would onl4 e*ist naturall4 !or a!e0tosecond. And 4et no har0 ca0e to hi0. ?is suit could tra'el as$$!ar and as ;uic#l4 as the 0ost ad'anced 6tari ships. On the !ace o!it the 6tari stood not a chance against the ,intra. The4 outCthoughtthegreatest A1s. )owh4not 2eonewiththe0D 8erethe4nottechnological per!ectionD)i0pl4= hereasoned= that theirnotiono!per!ection was 2ased on di!!erent criteria to his. To the0 he 0ust 2ea curious ano0al4 not 0erel4 !or still wanting to 2e hu0an li#e so0an4 o! the captured= 2ut !or his origins= !or how he once re'eredthe ulti0ate arti!icial creation.DisillusionedD Tuite possi2l4.+'en as he re'elled in his singleC0inded re !ading to transparent.An odd thing to ha'e a sense o! a 2od4. ?is ?/D o'erlaid a 0apwith a tag on the 6tari 2ase= a secondar4 hideawa4 the4 dou2tlessthought less 'ulnera2le than 0oonC2ase alpha. ?e didnt need to doan4thinge*cept let thethrusters guidehis descent. This lac#o!control pro'ided the apprehension that #ept hi0 alert. O! course= his'isit was #nown 24 the local ,intra o'erloards= he was gi'en a !reepass e'en i! the4 were not told the nature o! his 'isit. ?ewas innightCti0e whenhetoucheddowna!ewhundred$50etres !ro0 the 2ase. )till in'isi2le in 0ost o! the +. spectru0= heran. The suit retracted its ar0our plating= re'ealing a 0aterial a#in to#e'lar 2ut no dou2t0ore e*otic= ena2lingasurprisingagilit4andspeed. Thetritaniu0e*os#eletonalsoenhancedhis strength. ?is0o'e0ents were silent. 3i0less spectacleCst4le lenses pro'ided an13 o'erla4 to the alread4 photonCenhanced en'iron0ent. At this ti0ea goodchance the 6tariwere asleep.?iscounterparthad norealsleepre;uire0ents= nohu0an!atigue= onpaperaclearad'antageo'er hi0. ?e re0e02ered in that !or0 a !eeling o! 2eing trapped inconsciousness. Another 0ista#e o! the ,intra= thin#ing thateli0inating the need to sleep was a !urther i0pro'e0ent when= e'enthough the need !or sleep was o!ten thought o! as an incon'enience=people en the prospect o! escape !ro0 the stresseso! li!e= a chance to let the i0agination run !ree. The easiest ti0eout.A release that was onl4 e'entuall4 replaced 24 arti!icial realit4. Aetold ha2its die hard: e'en in the 'irtual real0sleep had to 2ereplicated.The 2ase= naturall4= was underground. The entrance hiddenwithin the tur! o! a hill= onl4 indicated 24 his ?/D. As he e*pected itwas well loc#ed. A standard e*plosi'e charge would onl4 alert theoccupants= so he had to use an ultra2ea0 laser and a plas0a cutterattached to an o2long de'ice that 2urrowed its wa4 to the underl4ing0etal li#e so0e h4peracti'e 0ole= e0plo4ing its laser therein.There was still enough noise that he 2eca0e worried: the 6tariwereas 'igilant as e'er theseda4s. The42elie'edthe 0achineo'erlords were co0pletel4 unaware o! their presence on earth= wheninrealit4the,intrasi0pl4werenotconcerned. Atleast that had2eenthe state o! pla4until3oidon wasa2leto!urnishthe0with'ital intel= e*tracted it in the cop4 process: his counterpart entirel4unaware. The 6tari suspectingD 3egardless= when the hatch ca'ed inhe pushed on through= descending steps in total dar#ness= with onl4 awireC!ra0eoutline 2asedonwhat little ther0al di!!erences there5Lwere.Another door again. This ti0e he set the cutter to laser onl4. Thenthrough a short corridor. Then to a door with pal0 and 'oice sensor=and a slot !or an inter!ace. At this stage la* securit4. O! course= hisother sel! could not use either o! the sensors and 0ust ha'e used thisslot inter!ace. 3oidon here inserted what a0ounted to a s#eleton #e4=a plugthat e*pandedto !illtheslot=!ro0which a thin ca2letoade'ice running through e'er4 possi2le algorith0 until it !ound onethat esta2lished co00unication.1! the 6tari #new o! his presenceand were waiting to entrap hi0 the4 were doing so with 0ore stealththan he was using.Thedoorslidopentore'eal adaEElingl4lit roo0= 2e!orehisoptics re'erted to da4light 0ode. A li'ing roo0= curiousl4 prosaic inits arrange0ent o! ta2les andchairs= a so!a and2eige walls. Awarning o'erlaid his 'ision= !aint +. presence. Too late. ?e !elt hi0sel! 2eing gra22ed under his ar0s with so0uch !orce he e'en !elt pain. ?e was then thrown against the so!a.3egaininghisco0posureheloo#eduptoseehis other sel!= theune*pressi'edullCsil'er!ace= a0o0ent toponderhowthat othercould ha'e e'aded his sensors. (o ti0e to react.@)urprisedD the other said. @?adnt 4ou anticipated wed2epreparedD@1 had an in#ling 4ou would 2e read4. A!ter all= 4ou are 0e.@)o what was the point in co0ing hereD@To show 4ou how 4ou could e*ist. As !lesh and 2lood again.@A plo4 to 0a#e 0e a 0ore power!ul +. pulseweapon > and !ired un2idden > in clic#s that were 0eaningless to hi0.@/nderstood= ca0e the 'oice translation. @The shuttle will depart!or the !leet ship in appro*i0atel4 si*t4Ceight 0inutes. 3ecords state4ou ha'e 2een out o! co00ission !or twoChundred and si*t4 hours.8h4 has central co00and not listed 4our reco00issioned statusDAgaintheclic#s e0anated!ro0hi0asi! hehadnocontrol.+ither these were anticipated ;uestions !or which a preprogra00edresponseorso0ehowthere2elshadcontrol o'erhi0. 8asheadrone= no 0ore autono0ous than those around hi0D @The 0odi!ications will indeed 2e use!ul !or con'ersion o! planet54,C&$92. 1 will su20it 04sel! !or a si0ilar upgrade= ca0e theresponse. Clearl4 the re2els had so0ething planned e*tensi'el4. Aethe couldnt understand wh4 the4 didnt see0ing to 2e per!ectl4 har0less= note'en a hindranceM The attac# ceased and the aircra!t retreated. Then a deeper sound=a ru02le that his ?/D indicated was !ro0 his le!t side. (othing 4eton 'isual. The others were pressing on= 2ut no !aster than the0egagun= gi'ing an4 potential 'icti0s plent4 o! ti0e to escape. Tor2inwasde'elopingthedistinct sensethat their planhada!law. Or else this was so0e e*tre0el4 cle'er ruse. ?e was now surethese arachnids were the earl4 !irst wa'e= nothing 0ore than cannonC!odder. A suicide 0issionD .a42e the4 were si0pl4 there to gaugethe le'el o! de!ence capa2ilit4 o! the host planet. (ow the le'iathan loo0ed o'erhead. Those under2ell4 c4linderswere nothing other than 0issiles= a !or0 o! ar0a0ent that 0a4 2ecrude in its destructi'e power 2ut with the capa2ilit4 to decapitate a55steel structure. The other arachnids see0ed to ha'e ac#nowledged itspresence anegati'e !or0.;or areason= hethought:ahiddenmale$olence. 13readings werenodi!!erent to2ac#ground. ?edarednot useillu0ination= onl4!aint ultrasonicechoes. ?e stopped at reaching distance !ro0 the shell. ?e i0aginedthere was no laser cutter in e*istence that would cut throughwhate'er e*otic 0etal this 0a4 2e. O! course= the 6tari appreciatedthe near i0possi2ilit4= the4 had sent pro2es > all destro4ed=naturall4. )o the onl4 solution: a singularit4 generator. The de'ice >a!i'ecenti0etrecone>!i*edtothein'isi2lesur!ace= clungonelectro0agneticall4= acti'ated 24 a 'oice code which help!ull4appeared in his ?/D. "or what !elt li#e at least a 0inute nothingsee0edto2e happening. ThenBhis sonic i0ager displa4ed acur'atureinthesurrounding0aterial. )preadingtoo'er a0etre.And with a suddenness that 0ade hi0 and that was co0!orting. %2$)TOP. ?e turned to !ace the side wall. Co0pletel4 s0ooth 0etal.P-AC+ )1(K/-A31TA K+(+3ATO3 O( 8A--. ?eco0plied. The de'ice did its thing. ?e #new he had to step throughi00ediatel4 the hole had !or0ed.The sa0e dull red lighting= 2ut also a large !luidC!illed tan#: anarra4 o! connecting tu2es leading to a sil'er 2o* displa4ing !loatings402ols. 6ut his attention was drawn swi!tl4 2ac# to the tan#. Thecreaturestoodsuspendeda!ewcenti0etres!ro0the2ase. 1t wastaller than hi0= perhaps two and hal! 0etres. 1t was spindl4 o! li02s.1ts head: narrow= li#e a stretched caricature o! a 20o'ie alien. 6ut itloo#ed !a0iliar. Tor2in was sure he had seen it 2e!ore or at least oneo! its #ind. ?e was trans!i*ed. At !irst not e'en aware o! the 2oldwarning: -+AN+T?1)3OO.1..+D1AT+-A. A3T1"1C1A--1"+"O3. APP3OAC?1(K. And then as i! to illustrate the threat=a pro0inent red dot nearing his tag.@O#a4M ?e ran 2ac# through the hole along a corridor. 6ut thecreature= the arachnid= was gaining on hi0 despite running !our ti0es!aster than a hu0an. There wasnoother option2ut tocon!ront it. ?e#newenougha2out the0to #nowit was 0ost li#el4 a guard drone. 1t wase*tending a tendril= ;uesting !or a 'ulnera2le point. 6ut he 0anagedto gra2 the tendril and wrench it o!! the creature. ?e then punchedthedar# o'al2ando!i! itsopticalsensor.A crac# appeared.Thecreature reeled 2ac#. Tor2in continued his o!!ensi'e with a suret4 hehad not e*pected. ?e !inall4 punched under its do0e 2od4= in a placehe #new to 2e 0ost 'ulnera2le. The creature collapsed. 6ut he #new there would 2e 0ore. Thatan alert had 2een sent out. )till= he tore it apart as i! it were 0ade o!thin alu0iniu0 tu2ing.)hat will send a message not to mess with%uper)orin,he 0used. Or it would trigger a 0ore ro2ustcounter0easure. ?e considered a wa4 o! hiding the e'idence. (ot ti0e. (ot ti0e at all.%25I I I76Joraina had another ten 0inutes 2e!ore setting o!!. )he stared at thescreen= at a ra0shac#le 2uilding a0idst the parched ground. The4hadlet her #eep0onitoring3oidonasso0ethingo! ana!terthought= so0ething to #eep her occupied. G/ntil the ne*t0ission=Hherco00andersaid= Gweneedso0eoneto0aintainanacti'e o2ser'ation...H Acti'e 0eantherrather than the 0onitorprogra0 that would alert her co00ander i! 3oidon did so0ethingerratic or si0pl4 go o!! grid. 8ell= this ti0e he had indeed gone o!!grid. The or2iting o2ser'er lost trac# o! hi0 in the (e'ada desert= inso0e (what appearedto2e) a2andonedco0pound. )he thoughta2out suggestingthe deplo40ent o! a ro2ot pro2e toenter= 2utrealised i! an4thing was going to arouse suspicion.(o. Joraina hersel! was going to 'isit there= as stealthil4 as 6taritech allowed. )he insisted on it= on going alone= against the wishes o!her co00ander. 1ne!!ect she hadtosigna wa'er to2ear !ullresponsi2ilit4!oran4thinggoingwrong. )hewasgoingtorescuehi0. The prospect was trul4 delicious= hed 2e inde2ted to her. ?owwould that a!!ect his sense o! 0asculinit4D 1ndependentC0inded3oidon= dependent on a !e0ale= al2eit a 6tari: her #ind had 2een his2ene!actors !or centuries now= a !act he see0ed #een to ignore.6ut on the e'er4one that was capturedDCA((OT CO("13.. ?O8+N+3 1(1T1A- A(A-A)1)+VT3APO-AT1O()/KK+)T)+N+3A?/.A(?AD6++(3+C3+AT+D.@"uu#ing hellM@(o. 3eplicated earth. @This is their seconde*peri0ent= rightD The !irst one !ailed=!ailing at least. This is planC2. 3ecreating e'er4thing !ro0 scratch.@That would appear to 2e the case. Aet to con!ir0. Data is o!! thescale.@1 2et it isM +'er4 en'iron0ental condition. +'er4 memoryM 10%7surethe4 an inco0pleteness !or a long ti0e= alwa4s 2u22ling 2elow thesur!ace.%%:ecision time, then. when held 24 the ,intra >hed 2eco0e split into two consciousnesses. At least he 2elie'ed it to2etwo.Onl4onetrue 3oidonsur'i'edBunlessthe ,intra were#eeping spares. The +lusi'er created clone was 0erel4 genetic=i0planted while unconscious with whate'er 0e0ories the4 hadrecorded>plus so0e conditioning su2tle enoughthat hed!eel%6hi0sel! to 2e acting logicall4 i! not 0erel4 in sel! interest. 6ut wasthe i0poster (as aph4sicall4co0plete 3oidon) actuall4a 0oreauthentic hi0D Ki'en how plastic the 0ind is= how it changes witheachnewe*perience= howe'en0e0oriescan2ealtered= wh42econ'inced o! 2eing the true 3oidonD 1! he was= as the4 told hi0= acloneCreplicant then what did his e*istence trul4 0eanD 1t would 2einauthentic= pointless= !ailed in whate'er purpose it once had. And tocontinue in this gre4Cwalled cell staring at his re!lected 0etal !or0= a#ind o! torture. An induction into ps4chosis. +'en organic 3oidon was no 0ore than in!or0ation 0ade in thei0age o! a 0an that was once an A1. The onl4 di!!erence 2e4ond theph4sical: that 'ersion had 2een a!!orded a li!e with all the rights thatentailed. (e'ertheti0etotrul4re!lect ontheuttere0ptinesso!e*istence: although 0ore recentl4 > 2etween the 0o0ents o!pleasure>thesethoughtshadcrept in: anunco0!orta2le!lasho!realisation li#e those o! a drug addict wa#ing up to so2riet4.(owthe4 could 2e properl4 !ocused.3oidon raised hi0sel! to his !eet. @Aouwant to see insanit4D hesaidaloud. ?e#ic#edthe0irror glass withhis !oot as hardaspossi2le. ?e sur0ised he was using su!!icient !orce to #ic# down a2ric#wall= 2ut all it didwas !le*= distortinghisi0age. )till= hepersisted= #ic#ing it again and again. This pro'ided a gooddistraction. A!ter a2out ten 0inutes o! that one repeated action a 'oice ca0ethrough= all around hi0: G8hat 4ou are doing will achie'e nothing.HThe 'oice 0ale and southern +nglish. 1t sounded li#e his own. 8ashe i0agining itD@The4 will 2e no 0ore li#el4 to let 4ou out= the 'oice continued=@on the 2asis o! this 2eha'iour.@8ho are 4ouD ?e stopped #ic#ing the 0irror glass.@Aou #now who 1 a0. 1 a0 4ou.@A 'oice in 04 head.%&-aughter. @Oh= so4outhin#4ou'e!inall4crac#ed= ehD8howouldnt when it see0s all hope is gone. (o= 1 a0 not !ro0 4oursu2conscious. 1 a0 the real 3oidon.@10 not con'inced. 1 re0e02er what happened. 1 re0e02er theca2in= 04 2rain was placed in this c42ernetic 2od4. 1 re0e02er that4ou are an +lusi'er.@Those 0e0ories were i0planted. 1t was going to 2e a great wa4to in!iltrate the 6tari 2ase: the per!ect ,intra sp4.@Fust as 4ou are an +lusi'er sp4.@+lusi'ers. The4arelonggone. The4areirrele'ant. 1t is adissatis!action with his lot= ;uestioning his own happiness. Alwa4sso0ething 2etter. Alwa4s that one thing that was 0issing !ro0 hisli!e= tantalisingl4 out o! reach. And hed ta#e that now 24 whate'er0eans. Ta#e that chance o! happiness= howe'er super!icial it endedup !eeling= i! there could 2e no other guarantees o! it in real li!e.@O,= Tor2in !inall4 said. @1 want to !orget an4 outside world.@1t shall 2e done. ?estaredat thepinewoodpanelledceilingponderingthelastwords: @.t shall e done.& What shall e done# %trange dream'Thenhe noticed her at the side o! the 2ed= getting dressed.+0elda in her underwear= slipping on so0e sports leggings. Oh howhe wanted her= right nowM ?is heart pounding !uriousl4=e!!icientl4pushing 2lood so hard to one area o! his 2od4 it ached: all the while%62his throat tightand his 2reath so irregular he could 2eh4per'entilating. ?e had to ha'e her. 3ight nowMTor2in stu02led out o! 2ed= with that one thought carr4ing hi0o'er towards her. ?is desire o2'ious andconstricted withinhisunderpants. )he was loo#ing down at that area. )he s0iled 0ischie'ousl4.@)tead4 on tiger= she said. @1ts stillearl4. 6ut 1 ha'e to go !or 04 run.@1 want ... ?is throat so tight he could hardl4 get the words out.@Aou want to 0a#e lo'eD Or the0ostad'anced 2iological creature #nown to the gala*4. Another ;uic# report= she decided. QKi'en the 0oni#er o!+lusi'er 24 Tor2in -4ndau= who clai0ed to ha'e had specialrelations with the0= the4 once held a ;uiet do0inance o'er e'en the0achineentities. The,intra0achines weretheir creations= whate'en the4 could no longer hope to control. O! course= the4 had 2egunas co0pliant= lo4al ser'ants. 6ut the4 were also gi'en intelligence=and so0ewhere along the line that had tripped into sentience. 8hocan 2e sure when that point is reachedD At this stage there is still node!initi'e test. 1t see0s e'en the +lusi'ers had !ailed to recognise it."or the0 (so it was docu0ented) hu0ans were approaching the sa0e!ate=and while the +lusi'ers still had technological do0inion the4e0plo4ed their 0ost ad'anced technolog4 (which ironicall4 includedthe 'er4 0achines that ended up ta#ing o'er) in an atte0pt to wipeout that potential threat. ?u0ans and the 6tari 0ust still 2econsideredtheene04. .a42ethat iswh4thecreaturere!usestoco00unicate.R 1nd@Please,&she said. @8e need 4our #nowledge= 4our insight.8edont want to ha'e to e*tract it. Aou #now what that can do.)heloo#edagainat the0onitor= calledupitssu20enus. The+lusi'er had to undergo so0e !airl4 in'asi'e neurosurger4 to re0o'ei0plants le!t inplace24the,intradesignedtoe*tract not onl40e0ories 2ut also an4 new thoughts. ?ow hu0iliating !or an4one=2ut !or a high co00ander it 0ust ha'e sha0ed their entire species.)o0uchsothat hesee0edtoha'e2eena2andonedtohis!ate.Disownedperhaps. 8hat 0ust suchdespair ha'e !elt li#eD Fust%64e*isting as a thing to 2e plundered. 6ut was what the 6tari doingan42etterD8ouldthe+lusi'er 2ea2letoseethedistinctionD1tshould !eel no o2ligation to tal#. Joraina studied the neural output. 1t was 'er4 su2dued= consistentwith either postCtrau0a or depression. Depression: that wasunderstanda2le.@1! theres an4thing 1 can do= she o!!ered the creature= not reall4e*pecting a response.)he noticed it twitch now. 1t said so0ething. Then the words werepro at least 2e!ore theseaustere ti0es > ha'e e'er4 2ene!it o! a good li!e= si0pl4 !or!ollowing the tenets o! the Te0poral Directi'e. The notion o! deathhad 2eco0e an anathe0a= it wasnt e'en discussed. 1nstead it was alla2out preser'ing li!e at whate'er 0eans. 1n this wa4 e'en wars had2een a'oided.6ut when the end > a!ter perhaps a 0illennia > didarri'e the di!!icult issue could 2e a'oided 24 a neural trans!erenceinto another 'atCgrown 2od4 (a practice which outraged thetraditionalist section o! the Council= who were now in the 0inorit4.The4 argued that it 0ade a 0oc#er4 o! li!e > the 'er4 nature o! itstransience). (ow 6tari culture !aced a paradig0 shi!t. TheTe0poral Directi'e= which co00anded a nonCinter!erence approachto other cultures= had 2eco0e 0ostl4 irrele'ant. 1t would ha'e told%66that ones0all action= suchas pro'idingtechnological assistance=onl4 led to a new ar0s race. (ow there were onl4 two sides and the6tari were no longer o2ser'ing !ro0onhigh. The4 had 2eendragged into a war 24 powers 2e4ond their control. "orced tointer'ene lest so0eone > na0el4 the +lusi'ers > too# control in theirown nihilistic wa4. 8ell= the e*a0ple o! this one alien > ali'e andsu!!ering > would onl4 gal'anise the resol'e o! its #in. The 6tarionl4 0arginall4 2etter !or ha'ing this creature in its capture.R6e!oreha'ing!urtherti0etothin#= sheincreasedthele'el o!pain suppressor until it nulli!ied all 2rain acti'it4. The creature e'enappeared to s0ile 2e!ore closing his e4es. )he onl4 hoped he woulddie 2e!ore the 0edic had ti0e to react and reach here.I I I4@Can 4ou understand what 10 sa4ingD The 'oice see0ed so0ehow !a0iliar and 4et indistinct: 0ale 2utno discerni2le accent. A three spotted light shone in his e4es= 0a#inghi0 s;uint to see who was spea#ing. ?e couldnt.@Aes= he answered= without e'en thin#ing= as i! he were no 0orethan a 2aseline A1.@Kood. Then tell 0e what in!or0ation 4ou intended to gather.@1n!or0ation. A2out whatD@Our plans.3oidonre0e02erednow= at least here0e02ereda'ersiono!hi0sel!. @.4 plan is to help de!eat the ,intra 0achines not sp4 !orthe0.@(ot according to 4our organic counterpart.%6&The e*planation suddenl4 occurred to hi0. @The +lusi'ers > the4used 0e to rescue their leader and now the4'e hung 0e out to dr4.@8h4 would he lieD the interrogator said to so0e other hidden!igure= 2ut his 'oice sounded di!!erent > s4nthesised= 0a42e a part o!his 2rain translating !ro0 their nati'e language. @1s he one o! the0D@8hat do 4ou thin#D @Aes hes one o! the0.@As !ar as the tests are concerned he is 3oidon Chanle4.@Aou0eantheones 4ouareallowedtorunwithout causingda0age. @Correct.@8ho is 3oidon Chanle4 an4wa4 2ut a recreation o! an arti!icialsentient intelligenceD@Then 4our assertion can ne'er 2e pro'ed.@(either can 4ours.@Then we are at a stale0ate.@-oo#. The 0achines dont need to sp4. (either do the +lusi'ers!or that 0atter. 6ut the4 do want to run the show.@)howD@?uh. 6tari literalis0. 1 0ean ta#e control o! ele0ents= !actions=resources that can 2e use!ul in their !ight.@1snt that what we doD@(ot 24 !orce.@Fust su2tle 0anipulation.@Does that include this scenarioD@1 will consult 04 co00ander. The light then went o!!. (o sound o! his interrogator retreating orlea'ing the roo0. Fust silence. And #nowing the logic that his casewould at 2est 2e re'iewed 24 the Council: at worst hed 2econsidered irrele'ant and his circu0stance would re0ain unchanged.1n !rustration he tried to 0o'e. 6ut there was nothing in response.)o here it is: nothingness= the a2sence o! e'er4 e*ternal presence=%6$e'er4 re0inder o! 2eing ali'e. 8as this how it !elt to 2e lonel4D "orall his 4ears= and !or all his philosophical en;uir4= 3oidon had ne'erstoppedtoconsiderwhat loneliness0eant: it wasanirrele'ance.(e'er allowed hi0sel! to 2e isolated 2e4ond his control= at least notinsuchatotal andhopelesswa4. )ensor4depri'ationwassurel4tanta0ount to torture. Could the4 do this: lea'e hi0withoutan4thingD That was not the 6tari he #new. And then= the 2rutal possi2ilit4 occurred to hi0. ?is new captorswere not the 6tari a!ter all. 8hat would it ta#e !or the +lusi'ers togain control o! this 2aseD The4 were not the power that oncedo0inatedthegala*4= 2ut the4retainedthe#nowledgeandwereoperatinge!!ecti'el4underthenoseso!the,intra. 1t0adesensethat= in their di0inished state= the4 would appropriate the technolog4o! the 6tari and then operate a 0ore aggressi'e approach not 2ound24 so0e irrele'ant directi'e.The4 were the 0asters o! stealth and0a4 still ta#e on the guise o! the 6tari= all the while ha'ing accessto e'er4 resource that was pre'iousl4 #ept 2ound within strictregulations. 1t wasnt that hee'er e'enappro'edo! the6tariscautious approach= or would o2 their !or0all4 captured +lusi'er. There the4 would !indhi0= or what was le!t o! hi0: enough that the4d detect his presence=would not #now that his 2rain had 2een scra02led until inside theco0ple*. And 24 then she and her colleagues would 2e gone.O!!iciall4=shehad 2een re2u#ed !or@precipitatinghis death= thusha'inga le'el o! securit4clearance suspendedandother socialpri'ileges= which 0eant no o!!icial lea'e !or the ne*t 4ear > a rathertheoretical punish0ent= gi'en the current circu0stances./no!!iciall4= herco00ander wasratherrelie'edat the+lusi'ersdeath. The4 would ha'e had to ta#e hi0 with the0 at the o2'iouscost totheirsa!et4. Theonl4otherite0o!interest tothe,intraC0achineswasthesi0ulationo!+arth= nowcontainedinatwent4centi0etrecu2e: runningwithout interruption= si0pl4at thisti0ein'isi2le to scrutin4 !ro0 an4one > which see0ed 0orall4 !ar 0oreaccepta2le than 2eing plugged into a displa4 where an4 aspect could2e 0agni!ied at will as i! hu0ans were 0icro2es to 2e studied. To%&4thin#= nine 2illion > or at least a 2illion and a hal! !ull4 replicated >hu0an 2eings= and 3oidon= li'ing their li'es as i! nothing was an4di!!erent to the real world (at least that is what she was led to 2elie'e24atechnician)= not awastedato0!or processingand0e0or4.)o0ehowit didnt see0right >see0ethical >toha'eso0an4sentient li'es contained in such a s0all 'olu0e. The .achine insectoid had now entered the 2ase. )ections were!lungintospaceasi!0adeo!the0ost 2rittleplasticratherthanultraCstrong dutainiu0 allo4.)cans showed it had now entered the0edical centre. Ti0e to get as !ar awa4 as possi2le: alread4 she hadsta4ed dangerousl4 too long and shed 2e the ne*t logical target. ?ercra!t entered a nullChiggs 0ode= tra'elling essentiall4 without 0assin a protected 2u22le o! space. Theoreticall4 sa!e now e'en !ro0 the.achines and apparentl4 undetecta2le= not that she was con'inced o!it.A!ter tra'ersing a2out !i'e thousand light 4ears she arri'ed at the6tari outpost planet. ?er cra!t recon!igured itsel! into a shuttle andthen a su20ersi2le 2e!ore entering the planets deep ocean. This wasthoughtto2etheoneplacethe,intraC0achineswerereluctant toenter. O! course it was onl4 a 0atter o! ti0e 2e!ore the4 did= 2ut atleast on +arth the4 a'oided the ocean depths= though insteadre0o'ing all li!e to either 2e destro4ed or assi0ilated. The 0ain 2ul# o! the 2ase was 2uried under three hundred 0etreso! 2edroc#where nodetecta2le ther0al signature couldescape:a;uatic 'iewing do0es were holographicall4 hidden > there !orreasons o! sanit4. The onl4 danger was in the process o! entering. AnirisCli#e aperture opened !or less than a second to a tunnel at least ten#ilo0etres !ro0 the 2ase. Once in the tunnel she sent out a re;uest!or a 0odule to ta#e her to the 0ain co0ple*. There she was greetedwar0l4 24 a !e0ale whose role was not ;uite clear 2ut who directedher to so0e personal ;uarters: Disappointingl4 0odest !or so0eoneo! her ran# 2ut perhaps an o2'ious sign o! her o!!icial punish0ent.%&Despite it 'astness she couldnt help the !eeling o! claustropho2ia=e'en though the 2ase had a con!erence hall large enough to hold thetwent4thousand6tari present witha0pleroo0!oraper!or0er.A0idst the cal0ing 2lues (presu0a2l4 to 0i0ic the sea) it was !illedwith 0irrors and con'erging panels= in so0e ac#nowledge0ent !oran added sense o! space 2ut now re!lecting the pac#edCin crowds. Allthe ti0es shed tra'elled in a starship hardl4 2igger than her ;uarterswithout athought o!con!ine0ent= and4et what wasit a2out thenotion o! 2eing 2elow ground that could 2e especiall4disco0!ortingDA2andwas pla4ingso0ethinga#into+arth!ol#0usic 2utcontaining senti0ental re!erences to old 6tari culture. +'en thoughthe greetings were war0and drin#s o!!ered > since she was!or2idden !ro0 ordering an4 > Joraina could not help 2ut !eel li#e aninterloper. A!ter all= she still retained her co0pletel4 hu0anappearance= where others had onl4 ga'e an outward 0as# o!hu0anness 0ore !or so she haddroppedhints. (8o0en= heunderstood= could0a#eso0eo2li;uere!erence such as to a !riend who had 2een tr4ing !or a 2a24= and thatshe>o!asi0ilar age>wasworriedthat ti0ewasrunningout=%&&althoughtheseda4s that 2iological cloc#could2eslowedi! notre'ersed.) A!ter all= she was !ort4Cone and he !ort4C!i'e: a 0an whoshould ha'e e02raced responsi2ilit4 o! a hus2and 4ears ago insteado! this B partnership arrange0ent. 1n an4 case= he #new he would 2ere2u#ed!orupandlea'ing. Andhewassoloo#ing!orwardtoanight with her. 1nstead he got 2ac# in his car. !i!t4Csi* 0inutes to go. Thelocation was in (e'ada o! all places= o'er !our thousand #ilo0etresawa4. The car o2edientl4 set o!!= rising with an urgenc4 that slightl4windedhi0. ?ewas te0ptedtospeed= sensingpeople!ro0hiswor#place were out loo#ing !or hi0. 6ut wh4 should the4 go to suche!!ortsDAll heddonewas wal#out 2e!orehis shi!t hadended=surel4 he had enough authorit4 to do that and 2e gi'en the 2ene!it o!the dou2t. 6ut so0ehow he suspected the4 suspected he was drawnawa4 24 so0e dar#er i0perati'e. The car thechildsent inwiththeto4s whothought shecoulddoso0ething%$worthwhileD Joraina scoured at the0= then turned to the 0ore seniorscientist. ?e could o2'iousl4 sense her anno4ance. @)orr4= he said=@is thereCCC@Da0n right there is so0ething 4ou can do to help. 1 need to doso0e serious research with the proper e;uip0ent= not so0e centuriesold discarded o! a li!e he once had when hed !irsttastedhu0anit4= hisownandothers. Thewonder o! nature. Theinto*ication o! a su00ers garden= where he !elt as care!ree as thewildli!e appeared to 2e. ?olding a wo0an whose 2od4 was recepti'eto his e'er4 touch 2ut whose 0ind was still enough o! a 04ster4 thathe 4earned onl4 !or 0ore inti0ac4. There was no going 2ac# once 4ou got a taste !or it. -i!e. "orgetthe h4per intellect and the !lawlessl4 logical thin#ing: that was allwillingl4sacri!iced!or the'isceral e0otional !uEEiness o! 2eingali$e.The !lood o! the senses. .a42e the contrast had 0ade it !eelspecial. (ow the 0uted inC2etween= trans!or0ed into 4ouD@That other 'ersion= howe'er hestarted= is essentiall40e>1ad0it >2ut1thin#i!4ouanal4seddeepl4enough4oud!indthesu2tle in!luence o! the +lusi'ers.@Con eating= watchingso0eholoCdra0awith no recollection o! a plot. As !ar as he #new the4 had not 0adelo'einalongti0e= 24dint o!hu0an sensi2ilit4=such as interior designers= architects= conceptualand!ineartists>whowerestill pre!erred24thecontracteeto2edone24a!ellowhu0an. Tor2in!elt hi0sel!ha'enoreal artisticsensi2ilit4=0ore a 0an o! logical thin#ing=with perhaps a hint o!creati'it4. 6ut now= so0ething he had once ta#en !or granted see0ed!ractured. ?ad he thrown it all awa4 with one act o! carelessnessD 3ow !ragile our e6istence is* how !oolish we are to assume itspermanence. An un2idden thought.2%&8ithso0uchthat could2ecorrected240edical inter'ention=e'enda0aged 2raincells= it see0ed his case was anunusuall4un!ortunateone. .a42ehecouldser'easare0indertoallthosewho too# !or granted their unencu02ered centuriesClong health4 li!e:perhaps go on lecture tours. (o. O! course= no one wants to 2e toldtheir li!e is an4thing less than prosperous. 8asprosperousnot the24word !or this centur4D 1ts what the 0edia was telling e'er4one:itswhat in!or0edhiswi!ethat shecouldha'ee'en0ore= e'en2etter. Dont whate'er it was he had no idea. 1n !act= not !or the !irst ti0e did he!eel utterl4 out o! his depth. ?e had a 'ague 0e0or4 o! his !irst da4o! wor# in his ph4sics la2= 2ut he re0e02ered no !eeling o! an*iet4or an4thing li#e this inade;uac4 to the tas#. 1t see0ed li#e deludedsel!Ccon!idence now.@)owhat do4ouha'elinedup!or 0etoda4D Tor2inas#ed=tentati'e.@10 going to send 4ou 2ac# in ti0e. Then a s0ile !or0ed= asTor2in realised he was not 2eing serious.@8ell= 1 ai0 to 2e use!ul.3oidon laughed. @1 alwa4s !ind it good to #eep a sense a hu0our2%$a2out things= howe'er 2lea# the4 04 2e.@6lea#D Tor2in realised it hadnt !eatured in his list o! an*ieties.Too 0uch to conte0plate= on another order o! things to worr4 a2out.:o . really want to "now#@The world isnt as it appears. 8e are surrounded 24 a threat 4oucan hardl4 e'en 2egin to i0agine.@8ell= tr4 0e.@.achines= 0echanoids > whate'er 4ou want to call the0 > areta#ing o'er.@)ounds li#e so0ething !ro0 a sciC!i 6C0o'ie.@The4 want to assi0ilate all 2iological li!e and har'est thein!or0ation.@As 1 was sa4ing.@This is serious= now. 8e ha'e to de'ise a counter 0easure.@8h4 is it down to usD This all see0s so0ewhat 2elow the radar.3oidon nodded= ac#nowledging Tor2ins rationale. @The o!!icialgo'ern0ent response in'ol'es sheer 2rute !orce= atte0pting todestro4 the 0achine in!rastructure. ?opelessl4 inade;uate. ?e thengesturedtothe2ulletCshapedpodTor2inre0e02eredseeingwiththecreep4Cloo#ingdoll inside2utthisti0ee0pt4. @Thete0poralerasure!ield= hecontinued= @is withinits con!ine0ents. 8ewillde'elop a !ield strong enough e*pand to co'er the entire planet. 1twill ta#e us 2ac# to 2e!ore the 0achines e'er gained a hold.Tor2in now !ull4 2elie'ed 3oidon to 2e a 0egalo0aniac. Aes= hehad witnessed the doll disappear: it loo#ed li#e an incredi2lecon then there was no social conte*t o! accepta2ilit4.1twas thus the realit4 that hu0ans (as all 0id technological species)re;uired so0e wa4 to alter consciousness= at least te0poraril4.64tr4ing the local drugs o! +arth 1 could trul4 e*perience how it is to 2ehu0an. There were still 0an4 illegal su2stances to sa0ple. +'en inthe 'irtual real0 0indCaltering drugs re0ained popular= their e!!ecto!coursesi0ulatedwithindistinguisha2leaccurac4. ?owcuriousthat the 0achine o'erseers had not considered their 0ost e*cessi'euses to 2e 2ad enough !or societ4 that the4 2e eradicated: or at least222control the withdraw e!!ects. 6ut o! course that le'el o! inter!erence0ight a!!ect the 'erisi0ilitude o! the 'irtual e*perience= and thereinthe progra0 can 2rea# down.R Close.This was the pro2le0she had with +arthCsi0: inter!erence.)hould she ris# a nudge here and there= li#e she had in her illC!atedinter!aceclai0ingtoact as aninter0ediar42etweenTor2inand3oidon= orlet theprogra0e'ol'eD%tringseingpulledat manyle$els= she 0used: the +lusi'ers were in'ol'ed 24 pro*4 (strategic rather than ideological > using his ac;uired #nowledge o!the ,intras logic: disguising hi0sel! as one o! the captured. Or e'enallowing hi0sel! to 2e captured.(o. The+lusi'ershadso0ething'er4di!!erent in0ind. Andwhat it in'ol'ed e*actl4 he was not sure.?e was in space. (ot as a 0an= 0etal or otherwise. 3oidon was astarship. ?is organic 2rain still !ull4 intact. At least he i0agined it to2e. 1t was a curious !eeling: there was a 'ague sense still o! his oldhu0an 2od4 > an al0ostCnu02 paral4sis. Aet his 0ind !eltunconstrained. ?epercei'edouterspace= could!ocusonan4star=and in an instant was a2le to switch his attention to his interior. ?isinterior: that waso!a0orepressingconcern= it containedahigh4ieldther0onuclearde'ice= a2outse'enhundred0egatonsworth.And he was on a direct course !or the ,intraC0achine hu2. A suicide0ission= naturall4. That was not his 0ain o2 0ost li#el4the chie!scientist > shouting that no one was to 2e allowed in. ?owe'er= the4oung!e0alerecognisedJoraina. )hesaid= @1 #nowwh44ourehere. 6ut 4ou 0ust also appreciate wh4 the +arth si0 is o!! li0its.@1 sirens 2laring and lights switching to e0ergenc4 red (as i!conser'ing such a0ounts o! power would reall4 0a#e a di!!erencetowhat wasaddedtothede!enceunits)>it hadall 2eena2outsa'ing the +arth si0. (owshe re0e02ered responsi2ilit4 !orTor2in was pri0aril4 hers. Onl4 once did she update his 0e0or4247with that o! the si0'ersion (which would nor0all4 2e doneauto0aticall4 and re0otel4 2ut instead she had to upload it !ro0 a!lash ta2).Joraina ran through the red illu0inated corridor to the a*illar40edunit >aplacewheretheinhow do 4ou sa4D > a2argaining chip.@Tor2inD 8h4D@?eisanall4o! the,intra0achines. Andhiscapture0a4pro'e use!ul in trac#ing down 3oidon. (ow 4ou ha'e 4our answer1hope4ouwill !ollow04ordersand#nowthat the4are!oralogical reason. @O!course. Tor2iniswaitingintheairloc#. 8hen1tell hi0what 4ou told 0e 10 sure he will co0e here without a 0o0entshesitation. )he couldnt 2e sure i! the +lusi'ers got sarcas0. )he !orced hersel! not to run= asur!ace !a#e or partial si0 2ut one that contains a ;uantu0 encr4pted'irus. 64 the ti0e that acti'ates we should 2e long gone.@8hat a2out the real si0D@1n a sa!e location with our people. And no= we will not re'eal it.1t is out o! 4our hands now. 6ut we than# 4ou !or 4our custodianshipo! it.Joraina sat in the nearest seat. )he started to laugh wildl4./ncontrolla2l4. /nsel!consciousl4.(ow the ship was 2ac# in h4perspace. )he was curious to #nowwhere the4 were headed= and considered as#ing > i! onl4 on 2ehal!o! the other !i!t4 or so 6tari > 2ut couldnt 2ring hersel! to put the;uestion. 8hat di!!erencedidit 0a#enowan4wa4DPerhapsthe262captain had won the right to deter0ine their !ate. )he returned to the o2ser'ation roo0. There was nothing 0uch tosee= outside was a !eatureless gre4 tunnel. Destination: )he 1lusi$erhomeworld# III6&?e thought +2ueliEa had gone= whate'er re0ained o! her= 2ut wasntentirel4 sure. 3oidon i0agined the t4pe o! ha'oc she could ree#: it2rought to0indcountless oldEo02ies 0o'ies. A0etal Eo02ie;uesting around !or an4 'icti0. A new low in the ,intras tactics 2utan e!!ecti'e wa4 to spread their 0achine i0perialis0. 3oidonsur0ised what would happen 2ut he couldnt a'oid the star#0onstrous !act that it had all depended on hi0 > a new and ad'ancedci'ilisation succu02ing to the0= to 2e assi0ilated into theire*panding data corpus lea'ing so0e tra'est4 o! li!e. The li'ing dead.?e e*ited the 2athroo0= his phase gun was still in his holdall 2utit was hardl4 enough to #ill a iological 2eing. 1! she was hiding inwait then let her go !or hi0.?e was sic# o! his !ear= the wea#esthu0ansur'i'al e0otion. 8hat wasle!t to2ea!raido!whentheworst had alread4 happened= when he had nothing le!t to loseD ?ecould si0pl4 let her spread their in!ection= or... Or whatD ?e had nocontingenc4 plan !or this. ?e was onl4 here to ha'e !un: 2rea#ing thecon'ention!or so0eoneo!hisad'ancedchronolog4= 2ecausethenu02ero!4earsnolonger0attered>ph4sicall4orintellectuall4."un was what hu0ans tended to lac# in their li'es= at least 2e4ondtheir thirddecade. Ali!eo! responsi2ilit4was not !or hi0an4267longer. -i!e was a2out enco0pl4ing. Though24an4shipstandardapun4de!ensi'e weaponagainst 0ost other cra!t= at this range it wasenoughto0elt what 0etal and!leshco02inationre0ainedtono0ore than a 0ound o! 0ush.The shuttle shot up without hi0 needing to tell it this was the 2esttactic to a'oid whate'er response= to a'oid 2eing seen: 2est he lea'eno trace o! e'er ha'ing 2een on this world. 8hat re0ained o! the!e0ale was no 0ore than a collection o! ato0s. (o one as !ar as he26#new had 2een in!ected 24 her. The planet would continue as nor0al2ut !or one sentient 2eing.?e could go down the road o! thoughtwondering what lo'ed ones she had: !a0il4= !riends: he #newnothing a2out her other than an errant 2o4!riend. A 2rie! intrusion:)hen what ha$e 1 een# 8h4 should that ha'e 0atteredD 1t was onl4e'er a 0utual arrange0ent !or a night o! pleasure. ?e was not one o!those insecure 0en who hoped she wanted so0ething deeper than hedid. Once realisation hadnt hit hi0 2e!ore= not the ti0e to process it.Onl4 now: there would 2e no 0ore wo0en= not in his current !or0.There should ne$er 2e an4.6ac# into the co0!ort o! the 0ain ship and the dar# e02race o!space. Fust dri!tingnow. ?ecouldthin#o! nodestination. Theillusion o! !reedo0 gone= he was a lia2ilit4 to an4one heencountered. The0ost reasona2lethingtodo= hesur0ised= istoapproachthenearest ;uantu0singularit4(thenearest 2lac#hole)and ensure total eli0ination. 6ut 3oidon wasnt in the 0ood to 2e reasona2le= he was gripped24 so0ething so 2asic no a0ount o! logical thought could o'errideit. Two things: the need !or sur'i'al and the need !or 'engeance.266Part Nine: "neluctable Futures 6$)uccess at last. The cul0ination o! the greatest wor# the4 had e'erdone. Tor2in had erased ti0ein that area 24 !i!t4Cse'en 4ears. 1t was enough to ta#e the0 2ac# to2e!ore the ,intra 0achines e'er got a !oothold. 3oidon pattedhi0on the2ac#.@8ell done04good 0an= hesaid= sounding as patronising as e'er. 6ut Tor2in didnt care= he was the ,intra > i! 3oidon was to 2e 2elie'edD Tor2in had a 0illionthings hewantedtodo= li#ea0antoldhewouldsoondie2utwithout the illness induced acceptance o! i0pending death. The 0an!acing e*ecution who had not co0e to ter0s with his sentence= whoonce2elie'edali!eti0einprisonwould2ea!ate!arworsethandeath. 6ut whentheset ti0e!or that !inal 2reathisout o! 4ourcontrol=there is 2ut s0all details continued to enlarge until !inall4 an openinge0erged !ro0 which poured light. A hanger.The hanger was co'eredindar#gridlines whichga'e so0ei0pression o! scale=receding to a 'anishing point.)he noticed noother cra!t in the hanger= which trou2led her until she !igured the40ust 2e hidden. An announce0ent was 0ade !or the0 to dise02ar#. )he e*itedwith the 0ain crowd o! ner'ousCloo#ing 6tari= !eeling that she wasnolongerspecial. 8ithout the+arthsi0inher possession= what0ore use would the +lusi'ers ha'e !or herD Perhaps 2eingresponsi2le!orthedeatho!theirco00ander put herinauni;ueposition. Or= gi'en it was 0ore an assisted suicide= an unco0!orta2le2&Lone !or the0. Aes the4d rather her gone now= she sur0ised= and 'er4 2asic ones at that.+'er4one chattered e*citedl4= 2ut she #new it was 0ore the an*iet4!or their uncertain !uture= !earing that this hospitalit4 could onl4 2ete0porar4= that reall4 nowhere was an4 longer co0pletel4 sa!e or >!or that 0atter > where the4 could !eel a sense o! ho0e. The !oodwas so0ething as good as she onl4 re0e02ered !ro0 her 4oungerda4s > 6tari specialities that were now a rarit4: she wondered i! herh42rid hu0an digesti'e s4ste0 could cope or i! the !ood would tasteas good. Aet= she recalled how hu0an prisoners were gi'en a last0eal 2e!ore2einge*ecuted>theonelast 2asicpleasure. )ucha!east had that sense o! !inalit4. Perhaps the end was not to 2e at the0erc4 o! the .achines a!ter all. I I I2&%&L@?ello Tor2in. 8e hope 4ou are co0!orta2le. A scratch4 0etallic'oice.1t was so 2right. The light re!lected o!! its thora* and thin legs.8h4 the need !or so 0uch lightD 8as it !or his 2ene!itD )urel4 theydidnt need it.@Co0!orta2leD 8h4 should that 0atterD he replied. @8hatdi!!erence does it 0a#e to 0e an4 longerD@6ecause 4our co0!ort is o! i0portance to us. 8e are not 4ourene04.@Could ha'e !ooled 0e= he 0uttered.@Please repeat.@1 ha'e ne'er 2een so unhapp4 since 1 2eca0e a su2 and 4ours > to pre'entthe eradication o! 4our te0poral e*istence. And now 4ou welco0eitD@Again= 4es.The creature stepped !orward= its legs clic#ed on the hard sur!ace.@Aou are 0ista#en to trust 3oidon: the 'ersion within the si0 doesnot ha'e independent agenc4= he is with the +lusi'ers > a !acsi0ileclonecreated24the0. The40aintaintheirdesiretoeradicateallsentientli!e.Do4ou notre0e02erD The4 2elie'e technolog4will2&2ulti0atel4corrupt ci'ilisations. The4ha'e!earedit as the4ha'e!eared 2urgeoning intelligence= despised it as the4 despised thepowerthat can2ewrought24technolog4>2ecauseit threatenedtheir preCdo0inance o'er the gala*4.@Aes= and 4ou are the result. he retorted= !eeling his words to 2eso0ehow!utile. @1wouldsa4=hecontinued= @that ci'ilisationhas2een rather co0prehensi'el4 corrupted.@(ot corrupted= a2sor2ed into the purit4 o! in!or0ation.@(ow that is a distur2ing response.The creature got e'en closer. @8e ha'e issued an ulti0atu0 to4our new allies. Aour li!e in return !or the genuine +arth si0.Tor2in ga'e hal! a laugh. @-et 0e guess: the4 ha'ent gi'en in tothat.@Correct. 1t see0s the4 do not hold 4ou in high enough regard.@8h4shouldthe4D1nan4case1 suspect that isall acade0icnow.@There!ore since we ha'e no !urther use !or 4ou we will release4ou 2ac# to the0.@1 dont understand. 8h4 not at least i! the4 searched 2ac# enoughgenerations > relate on a 2iological le'el. 2$78ithout#nowledgeo!hispasttragedieswouldhe e'en2ethesa0e Tor2inD 8ords perhaps re0e02ered !ro0 so0ewhere= ancientpoetr4 read or heard:Are not those $icissitudes o! our past part o!the tapestry our our li$es, that mar"s us out !rom others, that ma"esus an indi$idual / similar ut distinct !rom our rothers# ?e had seen others in the 'irtual real0who had a sunn4disposition that onl4 2elied a 'acuit4 2eneath. 1t alwa4s see0ed tohi0that sucho'ert andconsistent happinesswasana2nor0alit4=so0ething 0edicated in those peoples 2eha'iour (although perhapsonl4apparent nowhe#newtherealit4). (o= perhapsulti0atel4itwas 2etter to 2e true and carr4 the 2urden.The +lusi'er had waited patientl4= surel4 #nowing the !ull0agnitude and i0plications o! such a decision. Tor2in !inall4 said. @1want to #eep all 04 0e0ories.@Ner4well. Thenall that is re;uired!ro0us is tooalter thete0poral !ra0e. And !or 4ou B to continue li'ing in what will see0li#e an unaltered real0.@8hat a2out 3oidonDThe +lusi'er loo#ed as#ance. @3oidonD 1 do not understand. 8ashe not 4our ad'ersar4= 4our colleague at 2estD 6ut 4our !riendD@3oidonis 04!riend. 6e!ore nowTor2incouldne'er ha'ead0itted that e'en to hi0sel!.@The3oidon4ouwor#edwithwassherather en ,intrasM@That is i0possi2le= it said in its i0passi'e wa4. @This station isunder constant sur'eillance !or ,intras or an4 other in'aders.@1 a0 telling 4ou= the4 are here: right outside 04 ;uarters.@Ner4 well. 1 will escort 4ou.)he considered this. @Aou goahead o! 0e. Aousearch 04;uarters.@Agreed. 1t surged on ahead.1nher panicshedle!t thedoor open. Thedroneentered= itsantennae po#ing!orward= andswishingli#e anant ina strangeen'iron0ent. Jorainawaitedoutside!ora2out a0inuteandthen'entured in. The drone was in her 2edroo0 searching round= at least0a#ing a show o! diligence. 1t turned to !ace her. @1 ha'e run a !ullspectru0scanandha'e detected nopresence o! the entit44oudescri2e= either within or without.Then it occurred to her in all its horror. )hed le!t the door open:the creature could 2e an4where on the station.@Oh 04... she 0uttered. @1t could 2e here= anywhere inside. Aouha'etoput out analert. +'er4onehasto2ee'acuated!ro0thisstation. @This entire co0ple* has sensors to detect unauthorised entities.There has 2een a constant 'igil since the hostile ascendanc4 o! ourene0ies= it e*plained.@And 4et= she said in a 0o0ent o! cal0ness= @The +lusi'ers ha'egone. 8h4 would that 2eD252@Our 0asters ha'e regroupedandare wor#ingontheir !inalsolution.@"inal solutionD )he #newwhat that 0eant= 2ut there wasso0ethinga2out thewa4dronehadput it that see0edso0ehowsinister.@1n!or0ation is restricted= it told her. @That includes thewherea2outs o! their location.@And o! course= she added= @this would 2e the o2'ious place totarget.@This place is secure. 8e will 0aintain constant 'igilance. Thedrone then headed !or the door. Joraina thought to sa4 so0ething tostop it= to re0onstrate that this 2ase was under attac#= that the ,intraweresotechnicall4ad'ancedthat the4couldsurel4e'ade e'en+lusi'er technolog4. 6ut the drone le!t hastil4 and the words te0poral erasure=2e!ore the !ield reaches us.@Te0poral spacial ano0al4. 1 understand.)he was instructed to la4 on a couch in the dar#ened 0ed roo0=then to don the head2and suspended o'er her. )uch a si0ple loo#ingde'ice. )hecould!eel 0ildelectrical pulses= thencolouredstatuslight o! the e;uip0ent receding to insigni!icance along withe'er4thing else. 1t was 2liss.I I I7L5$23oidon used the precision lasers o! the ,intra ship to cut a hole inthe hatch leading to the underground co0ple*.1t was possi2le theweapons on this 'essel could destro4 the entire networ#= 2ut that wasa sure wa4 to attract attention !ro0 light 4ears awa4. (o= there was a0ore personal wa4 o! eli0inating the 2enighted 0asses. 3oidon entered the 'ast cha02er without interruption. As !ar ashis ship told hi0= there were no ,intra le!t= not e'en the odd ser'icedrone near24: +arth was now considered to 2e a lost world= no= anirrele$ant world. ?ed 2een wanting to do this !or so long: such a si0ple act o!destruction. 8hat those re0aining captured were still e*periencinghe could not #now !or sure= 2ut he #new the arti!iciall4 generatedrealit4 had not 2een chec#ed= or 0aintained in an4 wa4.The podshad a 2asic status displa4 panel o! rotating !lashing lights alternating!ro0a02er tored= whichat the 0ost cursor4glance ga'e thei0pression o! the0 2eing in a parlous state. 8ell= the4 had to 2e 24now. ?eopenedthe!irst podwithasi0plepresso!a2uttontore'eal a 0etallic hu0anoid. ?e then opened a !ile to record= to 2e stored in so0e neigh onindestructi2le recess in his head. Q)he supposedly ideal eing=roust, strong with enhanced intelligence. 5et they still cling to theirhuman !railties, e$en needing theseR ?e sla00ed his hand down onthe top shield o! one o! the pods. QCCCto ma"e them!eel less$ulnerale. 3owcouldtheyha$eeenunhappy#/themachineo$erlords had wondered. And there lay the disparity o!comprehension. What had once een so precious to these people wasnow ta"en away without any thought o! consultation. 3ow can suchglaring imper!ection e pre!erale# was the 4uestion the Kintra hadwonderedut ne$er as"ed, sincethat wasn&t howtheyoperated.7%LA!terall,humanswere solimited y their perceptions,howcouldthey possily "now what was !or their est# (o, they would come toaccept their new !orms, although they were merely copies i! per!ectones* the original humans had een "illed !or their memories, datahar$ested as -ust another resource to e replaced. Was "illing them-ust a necessary y2product o! this process, to enale a moree!!icient transcription# (ot necessarily. )he Kintra !ail tounderstand the signi!icance o! death Ca tremendous irony gi$en whocreated their !orearsD. Besides, humans would lose nothing o! theirmemory. %uppression was another matter.+nly they didn&t accepttheir new !orms. %o the Kintra in their in!inite ene$olence !ound awaytogi$ethese!acsimiledpeopletheir oldsel$es ac"i! note6actly their li$es. And so egan the ig lie. But a lie to sustain hasto e ought into, not -ust gi$en. .&$e witnessed mysel! how it eganto rea" down= one minor discrepancy was all it too", one that -ustdidn&t 4uite!it inwiththe$icissitudeso! humane6perience. Ande$entually the program could no longer accommodate such a lac" o!elie!. But then it wasn&t as i! anyone could simply e6it li"e any A gri0l4. Fromp. The i0pact ti0es o! superstition when li!e tended to 2e nast4 2rutish and short.Thewo0anloo#edatheras#ance. @TheDe'il=04dear=is theone who pro0ises 4ou riches 2e4ond 4our wildest drea0s 2ut ne'ertells 4ou there will 2e a price. )he loo#ed up to the dar#Ca02er s#4.@Oh= and what a priceM@?e destro4ed 4our townDThewo0anga'eJorainaa;uiEEical loo#. @Aourenot !ro0round these parts are 4ouD@Thats correct. 8hichis wh41 wouldli#eto!indawa4tosa!et4.@There are no places o! sa!et4 now that Kod has !orsa#en us= thewo0an told her.@Fust need to get to the ne*t town.The 0an nearest turned to !ace her with a s0ile. @1! 4ou !ollow0e 1 can help 4ou.The wo0an pushed !orward= partl4 2loc#ing the 0an= then0a#ing a dis0issi'e handCgesture said= @Dont listen to that one. ?e777has onl4 one thing on his 0ind. )o0e thin# that now we are godlessthere are no 0orals to restrict us.Joraina considered challenging the idea that 4ou need a 2elie! inadeit4to2e0oral= 2ut thiswasnt theti0e>thesepeoplehadregressedinwa4s shecouldnt ;uiteunderstand. Therewas= shesur0ised= so0e truth the4 were in denial o!. Throughout histor4 theDe'il had 2eco0e a pro*4 !or all #inds o! 'icissitudes and in eight cantile'ered legs. A captured,intraDTor2inorderedthe2urrowertodiga!ort4C!i'edegreetunnel=large enough !or hi0 to pass through. The thing 2uEEed around withindeciphera2le0o'e0ents. Ashewatchedit= thecuriousthoughtoccurred to hi0 that he was still e*periencing so0e residual a!!ect!ro0 the te0poral de'ice. 6ut his PD/ con!ir0ed that the da4 waspassing at the nor0al rate. ?e !ollowed the 2urrower down as it continued to dig and 2urnawa4e*cess roc#withpreternatural e!!icienc4= rehearsinginhisheadwhat hewouldsa4totheseenig0aticcreatures= werehetoe'en 2e in a position to co00unicate with the0. "ear should 2e the necessar4 2ulwar# against entering anun#nown situation=the logicalaspecto! his0indtoldhi0.To2econ!ronted 24 a superior power: to 2e outnu02ered: to 2e withoutan4thing use!ul as a 2argaining chip or a needed o!!ering. 1nstead=ignoringwhat had held hi02ac# on so0an4 occasions= #nowingthe4d see hi0 as throwing hi0sel! at their 0erc4= he decided not toretreat. @)o what can 4ou 2ring to the part4= Tor2inD he as#ed hi0sel! asthe 2urrower 2ro#e through into the +lusi'er la2.?e hadnt 0uch ti0e to consider an answer 2e!ore he !eltso0ething gra2 his shoulders. A !lash o! light= and racing !or0s. AnddiEEiness.Andhisthoughts le!thi02e!ore the4e'en had ti0etoreason !ear.776Part %leven: 2ack From the Dead$&. rememer dying* . rememer the !ire ta"ing me. ?is !irst thought on awa#ing= a!ter a so0ewhat 2itterac#nowledge0ent that this clinicall4 white 0edical roo0 0eant onl4one thing: the B&tari ha$e rescued me. The ne*t: he was in a hu0an2od4= and that he !elt rather good. .a42e the4d gi'en hi0so0ething to ease his return. Then the realisation shunted neatl4 intoplace= that as 3oidon Chanle4 > a 0an who had ne'er 2een 2orn >death was ne'er properl4 an option. Death was so0ething uni;uel4accepted and acculturated !or hu0ans= it see0ed (al2eit usuall4 onl4co0!orta2l4asadistant prospect). Thisheen'ied= the#nowledgethat it will not hissur'i'al. )o con!ined his perception had 2een: the 0ind= the 2od4=howthe4can!ool4ouintothin#ing4ouregettingatruepicture.And 0ista#ing ha'ing learnt o! such li0itations !or wisdo0. (ow:there was no 3oidon Chanle4 the indi'idual= the ;uestion o! such anindi'idual e'ene*istingsee0ed0eaningless= there was said to her. @8e ha'e sentout a drone to locate it. Curious to thin# o! her 2od4 as an it= not a consciousness con'e4ing 0achine. @Than#4ou= she said. @6ut what happens when 10 disconnected= and wherewill 1 2e ta#enD @Aou will 2e unconscious. Then ... well= that is 4our choice.@1 want to connect with sur'i'ors on the outside.The elder raised his head to the ceiling as white as his ro2e. @As!ar as we #nowthere are none. .uch o! the planet has 2eenirradiated.@As !ar as 4ou #nowD 1 want to search !or 04sel!.@8e cannot pro'ide 4ou with the 0eans. 8e are not the 6tarithat 4ou re0e02er 2ut a 2eleaguered race.Joraina !ound hersel! s0iling. The idea o! her people no longerin a position o! power was a2surd. @The 6tari alwa4s ha'e a wa4 o!escaping hardship= she said. The elder wa'ed his hand= then a 0ap appeared o! +arth= !loatingse0i opa;ue 2e!ore her. ?e 0ade an e*pansi'e gesture causing thei0age to Eoo0 in to the A0aEon region= a 2urnt !orest. Then rushingalong= !ro0his co0plete ina2ilit4 tointeract > an utter 'ulnera2ilit4.+'enthepainhehade*periencedoninitiall4hardl4co0paredwiththis newle'el o! su!!ering. Than#!ull42ecauseo! theti0edi!!erential it onl4lastedsu2 !orget itM .a#e4our peace. 6ut it was li#el4 to 2e sudden= a superlu0inal tsuna0i.)o what could she doD Joraina was one o! the !irst to lea'e +arth=in a starship as good as the 2est 6tari cra!t. (ot that she !elt gooda2out ha'ing this ad'antage.6ut it was hers to clai0.+*cept that2eing a2le to get a sa!e distance (i! onl4 te0poraril4) onl4 0ade her!eel a sense o! responsi2ilit4.Could she 'isit an4 o! those worlds:warn its inha2itants: trans0it e'er4 2it o! technical #nowledge heldin the ships data2aseD 1n this ;uadrant the4 had no 0ore than wee#sto prepare (i! the rate o! eradicated 2eacons were an4thing to go 24)..a42e possi2le. There was alwa4s a possi2ilit4.6ut there were so0an4 worlds= out here > ele'en thousand light 4ears !ro0herho0eworld > not 4et identi!ied. Tr4ing to sa'e the ones nearer the76$wa'e 0ight 2e a waste o! ti0e. The outer worldsDJoraina told the ship