Emergence

by David Haskell

  “I’m sorry, but you’re not making sense.”

  She laughed again. “You forget, Ahmis is a part of me now. I have every right to make no sense from time to time.”

  Then she turned serious. “You were selected because I needed to select someone. Someone of your time, of your position, of your location, of your abilities. I selected many others, for various potential purposes. Most will never be activated. They were precautions. In your case, as with Ahmis, it became necessary to call upon you to fulfill your purpose.”

  “And now it’s time to do that,” Alixs said, suddenly filled with inspiration. “Right? That’s why we’re talking like this.”

  “It’s you making the decision. I fear you are too hasty. I believe you need more time.”

  “But something has changed.”

  He didn’t pose it as a question, and deep in his gut he knew it was true.

  “Yes.”

  “And that’s what you’re afraid of?”

  “Yes.” A whisper this time, and she looked sad again.

  Alixs felt it, too, and he wanted to reach out, to comfort her like she comforted him. But at the same time he felt that she was being selfish. She wanted him all to herself, didn’t want to share him with the world. She was afraid of losing him.

  Alixs removed the wrap and gave it back to her, kissing her forehead gently and touching her on the shoulders. He looked into her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for sharing yourself.”

  She nodded, looking away. “I have to go now.”

  “I know.”

  Alixs walked away slowly, sensing that she needed privacy. Although she had shared her transformation into something greater, somehow the reversion was shameful. A burdensome thing. But necessary. He never looked back, but felt the enveloping presence of the Mind begin to surround him again, while behind him the Mindform slipped into memory.

  74.

  Alixs asked the Mind for a briefing on the situation. It was weird, in a sense, communicating with ‘her’ as the entity again, rather than the form. But they both knew there was work to be done, so they strove to ignore the awkwardness.

  There were no reports of skirmishes in the past twelve hours, she informed him. So the xeno forces hadn’t yet overrun the base. That was a bright spot, at least. A few more queries confirmed that no immediate fighting was likely, relative to Liam’s position. Content with the knowledge that he had time, he decided to place one more call before he had to get ready.

  The Mind paused for a full three-tenths of a second when he asked for the connection. Not particularly unusual when emotional or morality questions were posed, but for something as simple as a phone call, it was odd. The answer was even stranger.

  Inadvisable request. She thought to him.

  What is? he thought back.

  What you are considering is inadvisable. All simulations indicate best results through dealing with Representative Tyson. He can make the necessary adjustments. Then the Mind voiced her true concern, sounding almost choked up as she added — you’ll regret it if he’s harmed.

  Alixs realized that she already knew what existed deep in the recesses of his consciousness, even if he’d not mentally voiced such considerations until now.

  I don’t know Tyson, Alixs thought. I need someone I can trust.

  The Mind considered that. She repeated the simulation argument, made a pointed remark about J.Z.’s questionable reliability, and added another inadvisable request comment for good measure.

  I trust him. And you should trust me, Alixs thought, trying to impress upon the Mind his gut instinct. It wasn’t a concept the Mind was particularly comfortable with, but it wasn’t unfamiliar, either. He couldn’t be sure if it was getting through, but the Mind didn’t repeat herself a third time. Alixs saw a vague outline of the Ahmis out there, in the shadows, across the room one moment, miles away the next. He looked worried, shaking his head and calling something out into a soundless void. It struck Alixs that the two of them were behaving like worrisome parents, eager to protect him from the dangers of his own decisions.

  Alixs didn’t invite Ahmis to join them, returning his attention instead to the Mind, and to the person he needed to reach. He squared his shoulders and imagined an invisible string pulling them upwards and back, a technique he used to use when he needed to feel strong and self-confident. The he swallowed, cleared his throat, and formally made the request.

  THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE with resistance leader Tyson was a hard connection to make. Flying under the radar as a member of Tera-Prime leadership, he couldn’t be seen in contact with outsiders, let alone the leader of the free evolution. The fact that he reached out at all, then, was an indication that he had dire news to deliver. This was no social call. Something was wrong, and Liam dreaded what that might be.

  The political situation had taken a turn, as political situations tended to do. Liam had considered the possibility, his instinct being as sharp as his protégée, Alixs, though he had little time to fret over vague concerns. But his source on the inside had demanded an emergency meeting, in person. It sounded important enough to take seriously.

  “I have some disturbing news to deliver.”

  “I thought so,” Liam said, his voice a mixture of caution and concern, his body braced for the bad news, “what is it?”

  “They’re going ahead with the Plan B launch, ahead of schedule.”

  Liam felt a knot begin to grow out of his deep gut. Worst case scenario.

  “Is there anything—”

  “It’s far out of my reach now, commander,” Tyson said, “and even if it weren’t, the situation is too hot to trifle with. They’re in a panic, worried about what you might do if you get anywhere near that rocket.”

  As well they should be, he thought, filling with grim hatred.

  THE MIND SOUGHT OUT and contacted J.Z. Barnes, as requested and without protest, handing the connection over to Alixs so the two could speak in private. The resulting link was shaky at best under Alixs’ unsteady control, but they managed to catch the other well enough after a few moments of awkward static. After going through the requisite oh my God how are you’s and been a long time’s and glad you’re okay’s, Alixs jumped straight to his ask.

  “I need you to do something for me,” he blurted, not entirely sure the request reached J.Z. intact. He thought about adding more, but bit it back and waited for an answer.

  “Anything! What’d you need?” J.Z. sounded enthused, but Alixs wondered if he’d be so quick to agree once he heard the plan.

  Taking his time and allowing his friend to process the matter, Alixs explained the Plan B situation to the human, or at least as much of it as the Mind had become aware of. They were still short on details, as Liam was the only one with full knowledge. The Mind claimed an 87% probability of an accurate assessment, and would probably learn little more until Alixs was able to rejoin his peers. So Alixs delivered the 87% to J.Z. as best he could, then asked him if there were any questions.

  “About a million,” J.Z. answered, “but they can wait. How can I help?”

  “Well, this is the hard part. I need you to convince Liam to change the plan. And then I need the both of you to abandon the group, now, and get out to the Plan B site. And you can’t tell anyone.”

  The silence coming from the other end of the line seemed like a dropped connection, but he knew better.

  “I know it’s a lot to ask,” Alixs continued in a tentative voice. “If there was some other way, I wouldn’t ask.” He steeled himself for some inevitable retort from the Mind itself, telling him that the other way was less dangerous and far preferable, forgetting momentarily that the Mind had left them alone.

  J.Z.’s voice snapped him back to the conversation at hand. He’d missed the first couple of words in his distraction. “...that I’m worried about the danger, I’m just not sure if we can reach it at all.”

  “I know it’s crazy,” Alixs said, “but I need you to try. You’re resourceful. You have to make
Liam understand this is what I need. He won’t want to go. If I could get to him myself, I would, but it’s too dangerous right now.”

  “I don’t understand. Where are you, Alixs? Why can’t you come with me? The two of us could definitely get in there—”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry, it’s complicated. I just can’t. Not yet, anyway. Will you do it?”

  “You can count on me.”

  The lack of hesitation gave Alixs a renewed sense of hope. Then J.Z. added a quick, “I’ll do it!” as though the first part wasn’t clear. Alixs felt relieved, and thoroughly enjoyed the sight of a sheepish grin on the other end of the line. He felt confident he’d made the right call.

  Now it was time to prepare for his next step. The transition would require a long amount of time, time in which he would be unable to interact with the outside world. It seemed like several weeks before he was able to emerge, although time was again a fluid and baffling medium.

  When the transition was complete, the Mind once again protested, insisting that he give the matter more thought. But Alixs sensed the timing had to be just so, or more would die. He had to make his stand now, at the next broadcast, with all the world watching. With a quick but deeply affectionate nod at the Ahmis, he sent a thought to the Mind to send him off. A moment later, he disappeared.

  75.

  Free Evolution Report

  Broadcast Will Commence Momentarily

  0:01

  “My name is Alixs, and I represent free evolution.”

  Now that the time had come, Alixs realized his confidence wasn’t nearly as strong as he’d imagined it would be. In fact, he began to hyperventilate a little, and his vision began tunneling. The light on top of the camera looked as large as the setting sun, and almost as bright. He squinted, took a breath, and pressed on.

  “I speak today to my brothers and sisters, and to our human mothers and fathers, which collectively make up the sentient beings of this tiny blue dot we call home. I speak to protect my people, and to reassure our progenitors. I speak to expose an evil that threatens to destroy the xeno-sapien race, a genocide that promises to kill us all.

  “But first, a promise. To the human race, I give this guarantee — we will never bring you harm. In fact, we, the members of free evolution, intend to leave this world, our birthplace, our home, and never return.”

  This revelation prompted whispered comments and outright gaping stares from the onlookers, but Alixs hushed them with a glance. I’ll explain everything when I’m through, he prompted in his expression. Although the words were not communicated precisely, the emotion behind them was clear, and they fell silent.

  “We seek peace. We have been unfairly depicted by our adversaries and our enemies, those who have used lies and propaganda against us time and again, those who would stop at nothing to destroy us, in order to further their own aims. From our servitude in Tera-Prime, to the sabotaged quantum project launch—”

  Alixs paused as an unfamiliar sensation entered his mind. It felt invasive, but he knew it was merely a set of codes. He had been expecting it, ever since beginning his speech. He also knew what he had to do to thwart it. Taking a breath and closing his eyes, he began the process of disincorporating his physical form, until he was all but invisible. A shadow of Alixs remained up there on the dais, but only just. He heard gasps around him, but didn’t allow that to break his concentration. In order to press on with the speech, he left himself just ever so slightly visible, but impossible to trace. He was, for the first time, untouchable to Rois and his superweapon.

  “As I was saying, the sabotaged quantum project launch, a disaster which many xeno’s were blamed for...”

  “IT’S NOT WORKING, SIR!”

  “What’d you mean, it’s not working? Execute my command!”

  “I did! I don’t understand what’s—”

  “Enough excuses. Shut him down. Now!”

  Cain was bouncing in his seat. The tech team was doing everything they could, as was the pilot depressing the kill switch. But the broadcast couldn’t be silenced, and neither could Alixs.

  The first administrator entered the room. He looked annoyed, but not nearly as agitated as his director of security. That is, until he, too, realized his pilot had tried, and failed, to kill the xeno on the screen.

  “What in the hell?” It was the administrator’s turn to panic, and he raced to the side of his director and grabbed his arm. “What are you waiting for?”

  “Damn it, Rois,” Cain snapped, “something’s gone wrong with the device or something. You’ve got to get a damage control team on this.”

  “It won’t do any good.”

  Cain and Rois looked over at the confident voice, hidden behind one of the banks of terminals.

  “Who said that?” Cain demanded.

  A technician stood up, just tall enough to be seen over the monitors. As the director and first administrator were obviously waiting for something more, he moved out from behind his workstation and joined them on the upper level. He still looked confident, though his bearing shrank slightly in their presence.

  “Why won’t it do any good?” Rois asked, his voice low, with a cold anger in it.

  “Because he’s not there,” said the technician.

  Both the leaders looked at him as though the technician were a bug under their feet, one they felt strongly compelled to crush. Cain held back the urge to lash out physically, using his tone instead to bellow, “What in the hell are you—”

  “The readings are all wrong. It’s not the device, or the Loktrs. It’s the target. He’s not there. The readings are all near zero.” The technician cringed as Cain actually reared back like he was going to strike, but he held his ground. “I’m telling you, see for yourself.” He pointed down at the nearest monitor, which included a tactical display and the collected xenos in the room with the speaker. He was right, there were practically no readings at all behind the podium. “See?” the speaker jabbed at the display, regaining some small measure of his confidence. “He might as well be a ghost!”

  Cain fell dangerously quiet, thinking it over in his usual calculating fashion. When he spoke again, it was all but an uncharacteristic whisper.

  “Then start from the back of the room, and target the rest.”

  One by one, sir?” the technician asked. His voice was unsteady.

  “All of them. Do it now.”

  “WITH ME ARE MY FRIENDS, the ones who’ve supported me from the very beginning.” Alixs still felt nervous, to the point of actual sickness. His new form had no prevention for that. Whether from stage fright or simple fear of what was to come, he couldn’t be sure. But at the same time, seeing his friends waiting to come out from the wings lifted his spirits, and he managed a weak smile as he gave them the nod. They filtered out and stood behind him, confident in his protection, forming a wall of support.

  “Behind them, my comrades, faithful members of the free evolution movement, here to offer the xeno-sapiens a means of escape.” More freevos entered the frame.

  Alixs swallowed hard, thinking of the ones that weren’t here. Those who didn’t make it this far, either at the hands of their enemy, or otherwise. The final generation not to know immortality.

  Looking hard into the camera, he soldiered on. “Our escape from tyranny starts now, first administrator. You know what that means, don’t you?” This was it. Time to expose the threat. “You’ll have to do more than kill a few of us. You’ll have to get to all of us, and we’ll fight you, we’ll expose you, and the truth will never be silenced.”

  The freevos applauded and cheered behind him, but he didn’t turn around or make contact. He was too focused on the task. He didn’t even notice the first of the anguished screams ringing out from the back of the room. He just took it to be more sounds of approval. He pressed on, anxious to get to the vital information.

  “Now, to the points at hand. We have in our possession the means to save the xeno-sapien race from annihilation, and we are prepared to o
ffer salvation to any xeno who wishes it. If you’re out there, you must follow the instructions on your screen and proceed with all haste to the designated assembly areas. If you are unable to access one of these areas immediately, send a message to the address listed and we will send help. Don’t pack, don’t take anything with you. You don’t have time, and you won’t need it anyway. Just come, and come as fast as you can, because you are in grave danger.”

  This time, Alixs noticed the screaming, moving closer and gaining volume. He turned back to look, while at the same time finding the wherewithal to cut the transmission. Though the freevos closest to him were protected, it seemed as if their enemy had found their mark in the form of a mass slaughter, a rear assault none had bargained for. Alixs surged forward to attempt to blanket the others with his protective energy, but it was far too late. Freevos were dropping like flies all around him.

  76.

  Protesters flooded into the streets. The xeno capital flipped instantly from the dreadful quiet of a locked down police state, to its chaotic opposite — a city under siege. Screams and battle-cries preceded the stampede of xeno and human, side by side, as they surged through the outskirts and into the city center, picking up locals-in-hiding along the way to add to their already-critical mass.

  Controllers of the Loktr swarms were overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers. Unable to focus and lock on individuals, they were unprepared to wage a battle in such close quarters. Within the crowds, Loktr monitoring devices were used, pointing out speed and direction. Weapons were then easily trained on the ‘bots. They decimated the swarms, leaving the individual machines to float away harmless.

  In the executive residence, armed forces burst into the study where the first administrator was receiving his security briefing.