“You say you've thought of a way to destroy it? Then perhaps you should share it with the others.”
Achi looks at Fandtha, gauging him. Trying to see if he is being manipulative, or genuine. He, at least, should be a good opponent for poker. They'll need to see if they can set up a regular card night. He nods towards the others, “I would prefer to let them work on it unencumbered with my preconceived notions. It is at best a fall back to the fall back plan.”
Fandtha nods his head. “I suspect where you're, ah, going with that, so I would probably agree with you. Assuming we both have any idea, uh, what the other is talking about.” He chuckles. “I have a good feeling about you. You might be relatively young, but I think the, er, variety of experiences you've had more than make up for your youth.”
Achi chuckles. “I am,” he says with faux stuffiness, “I believe, the oldest human, extant. But I know what you mean. Compared to most of those gathered here, I am quite young.”
“What was it like gaining all of Zaleria's memories? It had to be disruptive.”
“Well, frankly, I think I got the better side of the deal. She is really a nice person, uh, galan; and not to be judgmental, but I think that holds even when compared to other galanen. Zaleria, unfortunately, was the one that had the most difficulty, which is why I've taken measures to ensure it doesn't happen again. I have had a very…complicated life. But to answer your question, the part that was most disruptive, from my perspective, was seeing both Zaleria's memories through her eyes while also having my own reaction to her memories. For instance, I know her mother as Zaleria knows her mother. But I also know her mother as a man who has been married hundreds of times and who has raised over 600 children. Those two perspectives are very, very different, but I 'know' and I 'feel' both.”
Beltare approaches. “So her memories of me…”
“Are the same way, yes. I have her recollections, but I also see you as a human who has led tens of thousands of men, in hundreds of wars, where thousands died, and unlike the galan—or me—never rose again. It is a different perspective.” Achi sighs. “Please understand, all of you are wonderful people; good people. Galanen, dang it. But if you are going to face this…thing—Gravis' shell—you'll have to be able to deal effectively with some of the very same horrors I have faced. People will die—human—and they won't heal and walk away. Galan may similarly be destroyed, and some could even be killed. When was the last time that happened? There was a reason I mentioned your home world, Beltare. If I can ferret that out, so can Gravis' shell. What could it do with such information? I can think of some very unpleasant things, all of which become a resource issue to execute, and I'm not sure how extensive its resources are.” Achi looks at Fandtha. “And I think there are security implications there, or should I say here.”
“Indeed,” he replies.
Beltare is looking lost and perplexed that both Achi and Fandtha seem to understand what the other is talking about, yet she does not.
Achi notices and tries to help her better understand. “Beltare, what is the easiest way to kill the shell?”
Beltare again feels bewildered. Why does Achi insist on asking her these types of questions? “I, well I don't know. If I did I would have said something. I assume we'll have to find a way to attack its symbiots…“
Achi shakes his head. “No, the easiest way to destroy the shell is to destroy the Earth. This is why we are looking for the hard way to do it, to spare all the collateral damage. The shell is unlikely to share a similar moral restriction.”
Fandtha laughs. “Beltare, don't let Achi get to you, but he has a point. We need to plan for some fairly catastrophic eventualities and work to ensure the shell never gets the resources to implement any of them.”
Achi nods his head. “Just because the shell wants to make humanity a failed race doesn't mean it doesn't have a back-up plan to simply destroy us. We can only guess at its motives, but I think 'wholly evil' sums it up. There is perhaps a lesson here we need to understand. If we want to defeat this…creature... we're going to have to be willing to inflict pain, and probably even death, on innocent people. You'll need to accept that the innocent may be forced to suffer to achieve a greater good. And I absolutely hate that it must be so. You will, too.”
Beltare grows quiet, introspective, and Fandtha looks at Achi pondering what, if anything, he should say. “What you say, while undoubtedly true, is, er, not an absolute given, but still we must consider carefully how to minimize such pain and suffering.”
Achi nods his head, “In that, we are in agreement.” They all remain silent for a while, thinking about all that has been said and shared. Finally, Achi, feeling guilty about the change in mood, tries to liven up the gathering.
“Beltare, Fandtha, I apologize for being so dour. We should be socializing, and that should be enjoyable, not depressing. Let us leave these serious matters to the morrow. Instead, can I interest you in learning a game we call poker? It is a game of chance and skill that I think every galan should try to master. The rules are simple, but the skill is in trying to read the other player's body language to tell whether they hold a better set of cards than you. Most importantly, it is fun and can help 'break the ice,' as we humans say.”
Clive walks over with Jevelle. “Did I hear someone say poker? Achi, don't be a rogue all your life. These are some of the most expressive people I have ever met. Gambling with them over cards would be like taking candy from babies.”
Beltare laughs. “Is this another human tradition, stealing from children?”
Achi laughs. “Well, the way Clive grew up, maybe so. He certainly tried to steal from me.”
“Yeah, he may not look it, but he can run way faster than I thought.”
By now the others are coming over, especially Zaleria. “Poker?” she asks. “We played that when I was last on Earth, didn't we?”
Traemuña joins in, concerned. “If you ever teach her how to hide her expressions, I'm afraid a good deal of my intuition may fail.”
Achi recoils in mock fear. “Oh no, I remember you. You don't play fair. What did you tell me last time? '…that's what you get for teasing a being that was alive when your race was trying to figure out which orifice to put the food in, and which one the shit comes out of?”
Zaleria looks at her mother. “You told him that?!”
“Yes, and he deserved it. He's far too perceptive, and I'm not sure I want him teaching you those techniques. It's getting harder to hide things from you as it is,” Traemuña says in all mock seriousness.
Toshi raises an eyebrow. “So the purpose of this game is to learn how to deceive people and determine when others are deceiving you?”
“In part. The main purpose is to have fun. But there is an element of competition, usually friendly, where we wager things of minimal value, so we can determine who is doing the best. There is an element of chance in the game, but the skill part comes from being able to tell what others are thinking, by reading their body language. There will be no sharing.” Achi explains.
“So, who wants to take us on?” Clive asks. “You know I, at least, will not be reading anyone's mind.”
Zaleria nudges Beltare. “Come on, it'll be fun. Mom?”
“Wouldn't miss it for anything.”
Everyone else assents, so they all sit down to have a nice friendly little game of poker. It goes on well into the long night.
∞∞∞
Achi awakens far before dawn. Clive is still asleep, having completely run the table not once but three times last night. Achi is not surprised; he is one of the best he's ever known at reading people, and really, it was like taking candy from babies. They all seemed to have a good time. The galanen were very surprised this young human could read what they were thinking so easily, completely lacking symbiots. As expected, both Traemuña and Fandtha did the best of the galanen, but they were no match for Achi and Clive. Beltare got frustrated at first, but then began to understand the purpose of the game. She seemed to r
eally enjoy herself after that, as she began to read the other players' countenances and try to determine if they were bluffing. Zaleria, surprisingly, did far better than the first time she played. She did seem to remember something of what she learned, although Achi can’t imagine how, and was definitely more perceptive. She was certainly better able to control her face. Achi grins. It was a good night. Even Beltare was treating him less frostily by the end of the evening, if only a bit.
Achi is restless and decides to head out for a run. He recalls a nice pathway that winds through the garden and decides to take that. He changes into workout clothes and heads outside. He's just finishing stretching when Zaleria comes out, also wearing exercise clothes. She seems a bit surprised to see him and tenses instinctively before making herself relax. He pretends not to notice.
“Going for a run?” she asks him, after regaining her composure.
“I thought I'd take the path up past the brook, over the bridge, and out to the overview, then take the wide circular path around the lower garden.”
She nods, “Yes, that is my favorite route. I'm not surprised you are familiar with it. But I have made some changes, recently.” She hoists a light backpack up, between her shoulders, and considers him for a moment. “Would you like to join me and see? I wouldn't want you tripping over things in the dark.”
“Sure, if you don't mind my company. I would understand if you are uncomfortable…”
“It's alright.” She pauses, before perking up a bit. “It'll be a nice change. And I am interested in seeing what you think about the changes I've made,” she says with a knowing smile. “Try and keep up,” she continues as she takes off at a brisk jogging pace. “I'll pick up the pace once my legs are warmed up.”
They run hard, exercising their enhanced bodies, which are forced to adapt to their exertion. Their symbiots adjust blood flow, oxygenation, and nutrient level to optimize their ability to run. Juruele has a slightly lower oxygen content than Earth and slightly less gravity. The night is pitch black, but their eyes adjust to the low light conditions to enable them to see the path well enough. Juruele has no moon to help illuminate the path, but it is closer to the galactic core, so there are far more stars to add their feeble light. And their memories are exact enough that they could probably run it in pitch darkness, as long as no new obstacles are strewn across their way. After about 30 mins, they make it a few miles down into the lower garden when Zaleria starts to slow her pace and draw up near an area Achi does not know—it is new.
It looks like an obstacle course, and is that a shooting range there in the distance? The eastern sky is just beginning to glow with the promise of dawn, illuminating various apparatus, targets, and silhouettes. “Hmm. Interesting. And here I didn't bring any firearms on this run,” Achi grumbles.
Zaleria laughs. “Well, I did. We'll have to share. But first, we must earn our right to get to the shooting course. Watch, and follow if you can,” She says, daring him. She heads to the first obstacle and throws herself at it. She designed each to test and hone different skills—jumping, climbing using just the arms, just the legs—and other parts of the course that require balance and quickness to dodge multiple moving obstacles. They finally get to the end.
Zaleria has broken a good sweat and is breathing in deep, even inhalations. Achi is likewise sweating and taking deep breaths. “I am not surprised you are in excellent physical shape,” Zaleria observes. “Your present form is much more muscular than the images I've been able to find of Rolle.”
Achi nods. “I intend to find this thing and eliminate its influence on Earth, so I need to be prepared for anything. I decided this after it destroyed you.” He pauses, knowing she doesn't remember. “But when I discovered what it is, I learned I can't eliminate it without the galanen. I'm sorry, I wouldn't have imposed myself upon you otherwise.”
Zaleria sees where he is going. “Don't be. I have a few memories. They are intense. It is from…after I was destroyed. Do you recall standing before the Being of Light?”
Achi nods his head. “Yes. What do you recall?”
“We were there, together. He told us to cherish our bond.”
Achi nods silently, momentarily overcome by emotion, too choked up to say anything.
She waits until he regains his composure. “I really don't recall anything else, from before. However, after I was regenerated, I had a lot of dreams that I was with Rolle Andersson. Once, we were defending ourselves from the kel'taite again. It made me think of Achi, and I wondered if Rolle was some far-removed descendant. Then I compared my memory of Achi with Rolle, and in a flash, it came to me. I was once again before the Being of Light, and I knew who you were, and what must have happened. But that's it. I must admit, I feel like I was guided to this realization.”
It takes a few moments before he is able to say, “Thank you for telling me. Frankly, it is far more than I expected,” Achi shares wistfully.
She turns to him, seriously, “What happened between us? Why do I feel a 'bond' with you? Why does my ‘alienation’ since then bother you so?”
He looks at her and doesn't really know what to say. “As you've probably figured out, I recognized you from our brief encounter in Denver. I then tried to arrange a meeting by seeing if I could draw you out. I thought to recreate the events that led to the attack in Denver, hoping to expose my enemies and entice you to reappear to 'save' me. I didn't want to risk any innocents so sought professional help, and who should show up in the list of possible security specialists I could use as a dinner date, but you. Unfortunately, Clive and I underestimated what our adversary would do. You were injured in the explosion, killed. I knew that despite the damage, you would heal. I needed to talk with you. Find out once and for all why…I am what I am. Why you had changed me all those years ago. I nearly lost Clive's loyalty that day. I ended up having to tell him everything; he didn't know who I really was before then. He took it fairly well, having already noticed your body healing.” He takes a deep breath.
“I took you to a secure facility I maintain, one where I knew we'd not be disturbed. While I was tending to your wounds, helping your symbiots accelerate your healing, our little friends synced up for the first time in over 10,000 years. You were in a coma, so had no way to know what was going on. I discovered I had all your memories—you are such a beautiful person.” He pauses, swallows a bit. “But I also knew that you had my memories. And that was a problem. I've been married 172 times, fathered 658 children, of which only 256 survived until adulthood. Total number living today? One—adopted. I've been killed 43 times, three times by my own hand as I tried to end the pain. And there is much worse: murder, rape, crimes committed while I was young, confused, and very, very angry. But I still can't forgive myself. I'm sorry, but that is the ugly truth. It nearly destroyed your psyche when you awoke. All those deaths, the pain, the anger, the violence, my guilt, the confusion of seeing and reacting to memories you didn't know you had. Your symbiots had to put you into another coma and then wake you again a week later, pumping you full of tranquilizers. I also, uh, convinced them to not restore your comms until you were awake and able to order them to do so. I needed to talk with you privately. I'm sorry. I know my selfishness ended up making your life very difficult.”
She stares at him, feeling the truth of what he is telling her, “That sounds, awful. Please continue. I need to understand what happened. I need to know the truth, all of it. Despite all that happened, all that you say you did, I stayed with you, protected your secret, died by your side. There must be more to it.”
Achi nods, solemnly. “Yes. We both had to come to grips with what happened. You felt dirty, contaminated. You also felt tremendous guilt for contaminating me, and Earth, in the first place. We discussed it, shared it, explored each other’s memories, each other’s feelings. You, in particular, probed those things you found most disturbing. When we were done, we'd reached an understanding, a partnership. We would work together to expose those forces trying to make humanity f
ail.” Achi pauses, debating how much to say.
“Don't hold back; I need to know. No one else can tell me. It went further than that, didn't it?”
Achi nods. “I was, am, a very lonely man. You were a companion who could relate to me. Not the darker parts of my past, but who I had become. The person who overcame those baser emotions and matured into an evolved soul. And you, well, you are like an angel. You show love in all that you do. How could I not enjoy being in your company? We shared every thought, every memory. And we liked what we saw, although we didn't trust it. Right before the plane was destroyed, you were wrestling with going back to the galanen, to take up the duties you'd put aside because you wanted to spend time with me. You know about the med kit, and helping cure Cheryn?”
“Yes.”
“It was during our discussion with her that we found out you were the target of the assassin. Our adversary knew who you were. They sent Cheryn, Clive's sister, to defeat his protective screen to kill you, her sister. When I found out you all had the same father, that was when I learned the definition of evil.”
She is silent for a moment, thinking about the implications. “What happened on the plane?”
“Thermal oscillator—you pushed me into the cockpit and shielded the door with your body, to try and buy time until the fuel tanks exploded. I felt you die, and each of your symbiots wink out one at a time.” He squeezes his eyes shut, to try and block the memory. After a moment, he continues, “But it worked. Enough of me survived that I regenerated, alone. You saved my life, but I died a little that day. I didn't think I'd ever see you again.” He pauses, again overcome with emotion.
They are both silent for a long time. “Thank you for telling me. I…needed to know.”
Achi smiles. “Thank you for listening. We had some special moments, and I'll cherish those as long as I last.”
Through the Singularity Page 36
