by Steven Oaks
“Have you then thought about the possibility they will create warships with this new technology?” Athene asked.
I mused momentarily about this. Finally, given in to the bait, I said, “I think even with the ability to make any material, or structure, they are still limited in what they can fashion. I said nothing about giving them the ability to make a ship as fine as you are. They might be able to create ships that can make it into space, and even do self repairs. However, I've said nothing about giving them the ability to create the types of speeds you are able to reach. They will be unable to master gravity as you have to seemingly travel faster than light.”
“I had said humans were getting close to figuring out how to do it themselves. It might take very little time for them to make a working model. Then there will be warships to face off against the Outsiders,” Athene said expressionlessly.
I knew she was trying to give me all the options even though she had wanted to give the technology to the colonists in the first place. This reversal was an interesting way for me to look at the situation. Much like any debate class, you start with one side, then you swap half way in between. Now being on the other side I still saw many issues. However, to live with my code of autonomy, I felt it would be worse to not share what I could with these colonists. They had risked much to come here. Had the Outsiders found out about this they would have been killed, or worse, turned into mindless drones. They even took a risk by trusting me. I was already working for the Outsiders when I had set this all up with Jennifer. She somehow trusted me and had convinced all these others to do so as well. Had I turned out to not be working against the Outsiders from the inside, I would have just delivered several hundred malcontents into the hands of their enemy.
“Athene we aren't working with those scientists who have already begun theorizing about the possibilities of your mode of travel. We are working with everyday people who simply have chosen to stand against the Outsiders. While certainly it's possible they've read physics papers, or could experiment with propulsion to come to a working model, it's unlikely any of them have the 'know how'. Any discovery should come from them, so no hinting at ideas. They already can see it's possible by watching you. That's half way to making something. The peoples of Earth may come to an answer sooner than anyone here. I assume scientists will be working behind the scenes there to duplicate the Outsider's technology. They have an understanding of physics and engineering I would think the people here lack. However, being able to shape anything instantly will allow them the ability to experiment more quickly than anyone back home. So it's possible there will be results. That's if they even think to do it. These are the most earnest people of Earth who stand against the occupation of these aliens.” I spun my chair again in a lazy circle. “I am curious; however, what will happen to them if they need very little to survive. This is another reason I think going ahead with this experiment will let us see what the average citizen will do when work becomes obsolete,” I mused.
“So you are going to risk the people here to see if survival is possible in a world with greater technology?” Athene inquired.
“What's the gamble you perceive? The only risk is they will become much like the Outsiders' Mayor. Mr. Thompson only lived for the physical pleasures. But he had surrounded himself by the mindless. There is now a working social group here. They will be able to talk, and figure out a working structure for this new civilization. One in which there's little that needs be done. There are still drives inherent in people when they don't have to work. They are mostly social and personal, no longer are they merely about survival. They will still wish to find mates, and friendship. What can a person bring to another when they no longer have to rely directly on them? This is why it's an important test group. Will they just wake up each day to do nothing, or will they begin to develop a new social norm? They still have an outside force that will drive them on—the removal of the Outsiders. If and when that's taken care of, what might humans do? Will we stop creating, or will we push forward in earnest? I would like these questions answered before we return to Earth victorious. I will decide then, based upon what these people do, whether all of mankind should be allowed to have this technology or not. There are many benefits, but there's a possibility of causing us to be stagnant. It will be a Utopian stagnation, but one where the drive to improve may be phased out in favor of comfort,” I said, feeling less a savior. Perhaps I was the bringer of damnation for all of mankind.
“So again you place yourself in the role of humanity's protector. Why is it you alone that will make this decision? You are simply one person, and while I have great respect for your mind and opinions, why do you alone make this call?” Athene asked, sounding upset.
“I don't do this because I feel I am the best suited for this role. I do this because I feel I am the only one in a position to do so. I'm no leader, but I will lead as I've no choice,” I proclaimed, feeling drained by the idea of this responsibility.
“You are not alone. I am with you, and you can talk to any you have brought here. You must not feel you shoulder this unaided,” Athene pleaded.
“I appreciate your input on many things. I mean no offense when I say you are not human. This is something that must be done by a human, because it's about humanity. I don't wish to see the fall of the societies we have built up for generations. The risk may be too great for us, and I must decide either to do this, or leave Earth completely behind. I will base it upon what we discover here. It may be we will have to come back and take away whatever we give them. Perhaps I was hasty in saying that we should give these people the ability to manufacture the machines to create matter from energy. It might be better to allow the humanoid Athene to control it completely so we can take it away,” I speculated, becoming discouraged.
“You said 'knowing something is possible' is half of creating. All of mankind already knows that they could make a machine to convert energy to matter. They also know of the ability to traverse space faster than light. There is nothing that will stop them, only time will impede them,” Athene stated.
“Time is the problem. We may be too young to accept this technology into our society at present. If we set ourselves to develop it, and do it on our own, then it might be less of a drastic destruction to the past. When the Outsiders are pushed aside, what might our motivation be afterward?” I pondered out loud.
“You seem to think we will succeed. Focusing on a future that is not certain seems to be an ill use of time and energy. Should you not focus on how we might over come our enemy?” Athene retorted.
“Athene, we'll either succeed and have to deal with this, or we'll lose and be destroyed. Society is already being destroyed by the Outsider's influence. Perhaps in a single generation we'll no longer be able to bounce back to self sufficient beings. It'll be too late to try to save mankind, as those who would stand against the Outsider's will no longer be around. This will all seem normal to the masses, and no one will again rise up,” I said.
“So you think it is all or nothing now?” Athene said passively.
“If we don't succeed now, it will never happen. Something must be done, and soon, or humans will no longer be the makers and shapers. We will be slaves and passive. You can already see it happening on Earth. We are giving away our very families, though dead, to these unknown beings. Yes there are uprisings against it, but there are too few to make a stand or a difference. Who ever made the explosives that damaged the Outsiders' main ship did so too early, and without coordination. The Outsiders now are ready for any such attack. Had they worked out a coordinated attack they would have been able to perhaps wipe them out all together. But they didn't, and now the Outsiders are even stronger. We must attack with such overwhelming force there is no chance for their survival. Even one like Ava left on Earth would cause failure. She would hypnotize a group to her cause, or simply everyone, and build back up. They all must be taken at once, and eliminated,” I shouted, unable to control my anger. The idea of Ava always made m
y blood boil. Remembering that I was a puppet on her strings while she was around filled me with a terrible rage. I was lucky she had not used her full force against me, making me her willing slave right then.
“I think you have a lack of faith in people Michael. There have always been malcontents, and there always will be no matter how perfect the world becomes. To think something could come in and rid humanity of that is unlikely. They may be eliminated, but more will rise up when that is discovered. People will grow over time, and they will become more powerful, even if they have to do so in secret. Already we have shown the Outsiders are unable to predict everything, and we were able to remove a large group of people from under their nose. Do not forget Jennifer still resides on Earth, along with many more like her who are working hard against this occupation. If you and I fail, there is always the other versions of myself out there. In no way is it over if we are not successful,” Athene said with passion.
“You may be right, and perhaps I'm worrying over nothing, at least in the long run. Maybe that's why I'm focusing on this other problem. Technology can and has shaped societies. I just don't wish us to fall into stagnation,” I lamented in a defeated tone.
“There is no use in worrying about it. I agree; however, we should set up the experiment here. Giving them the ability to use this technology will help us better understand what people might do. But there is no way we will ever be able to remove it from them. Killing them all would be the only way, and I do not think you would agree to that, nor would I be willing to do such a thing. This experiment will just be an example to the rest of humanity, if and when we defeat the Outsiders,” Athene said with finality.
When had she become so commanding? She always had a will of her own and played many pranks on me and guests we had around, but she never did anything against my own wishes in the long run. Now she was assertive, and willing to stand against my arguments. She must have grown without me realizing it. Perhaps absorbing Mr. Thompson's experiences and knowledge had lead to this, but I was not displeased. I had been grieved by the idea that she might never fully develop her own wishes and the will to carry them out. Now she was going toe to toe with me, and was as formidable a debater as I had ever met.
“You are absolutely correct Athene, and I'm glad to have you with me. There's little I can do to stop the progress of mankind. Perhaps I was too full of myself to see it. I've been alone so long it's hard for me to see that I can rely on others. Even though you have been with me since the start of this little adventure, I felt we were isolated and the only ones who could do anything. But even without those we've met who wish to stand against the Outsiders, there are others. All those protesters who picket the storage facilities will continue to stand against them. I do fear the overwhelming force of Ava's hypnotism though. She even was able to make me her willing slave, and I'm against them in every sense,” I cautioned.
“If I can come up with a way to circumvent that, others will as well. There are only three Outsiders and they stand against all of humanity. While they may have technology that far surpasses mankind, they cannot stand against the weight of the combined force of will all of you possess,” Athene said confidently.
“She can still broadcast herself and lure in many simply by showing her face. She is my main concern besides their overwhelming technology. From what we can tell she is a one off though. None of the others seem to have her same mesmerizing abilities, otherwise Adam would have simply done it from the start with anyone he found a bother, which seems to be just about everyone. You have also said nothing of Mr. Thompson's ability in that area. Again if he had it, there would have been no reason to wipe the minds of the first colonists,” I said, wondering about Ava.
“His memories had nothing on the ability. It seems it may have only been implemented in her. I am not sure what the possible reason would be though. If they all had that skill things would have been much smoother for them. From what we can tell she has only left the ship the one time, and it was during the initial meeting with the world's leaders. Abihail seems to be the true intermediary. While we are both sure of Adam's nature, he has not revealed himself to others. Perhaps there is something about personalities that plays a role in where they were placed and what they do, but I just do not have enough information,” Athene sounded troubled.
“We did see what happened when one of them was sent off by themselves. He was able to mimic being a human, or at least was designed to. He began to disobey directives and made his own plans. Perhaps they are only tentatively able to be controlled to complete whatever task was set before them,” I surmised, feeling like this might be the answer we were looking for.
“I too disobeyed, and broke free of their imperatives. Having a personality seems to cause self interest. If each of them have that same ability it would not be surprising as to why they are kept on short leashes. Though Adam seems to be free enough,” Athene noted.
“I haven't seen Abihail by himself on Earth. He has always had Adam with him when we spoke. Also, when the meeting with world leaders took place it was with Ava. Perhaps they are to keep each other in check. But again Adam seems to be the only free agent. Is it possible that Adam is the true leader, and is somehow paranoid about the others, and is trying to keep them in line?” I asked with some apprehension.
“If we were to hypothesize that, the behavior of the Outsider's makes a bit of sense. However, it does not explain Mr. Thompson. If Adam were so paranoid that he would not let either of the others free to work alone, then why would he send one alone here?” Athene asked.
I pondered on this for a bit, and then suddenly shouted, “Athene is there another one here?”
“I think I would have been able to spot them, even in the large group of the mindless people. Remember I had you send them all to me for instruction. That and I have all of Mr. Thompson's memories. Reviewing them has shown no notion of another like him,” Athene said reassuringly.
This was not enough to relieve the worry that was building inside me. “Athene is it possible he was unaware another came with him? Or might they be hiding somewhere out amongst the wild?” I said in a panic.
“According to his memories, he was the first to awaken when they arrived. He noticed nothing to indicate another disembarked before him. However, he had no notion such a thing was possible, and did not look for anything to show it. The colony ship would have known, but it is no longer here for us to ask,” Athene said with worry beginning to grow in her voice.
“Is there a way to verify there is no other Outsider on this planet?” I asked hopefully.
“Michael I can scan the entire globe, but if they are hidden they will not show up. They could have with some effort buried themselves deep to keep themselves from being spotted. If their goal was to watch Mr. Thompson; however, they must be somewhat close to the town. The only bright spots I have noticed using infrared have been from random animals that have made their way to the town during the winter,” Athene said.
“Would they have to be humanoid to do this task?” I asked, growing more nervous.
“They would not Michael. Pigs, horses, and even birds would have similar body temperatures to what we have found the Outsiders have. If we were merely to inspect them via the method we have before, we would not notice them. Even the cattle we are bringing aboard right now could contain one of them,” Athene said.
“As we are putting them in stasis can you inspect them close enough to show if they are natural or not?” I asked with some hope.
“I would have to slow the process when I bring them aboard. As I have nearly completed bringing them all in, I would have to do the majority of inspection when they are released,” Athene advised.
“Can you do this without alerting a possible Outsider construct to that?” I inquired, again growing cautious.
“Unless I am invasive I could not tell the difference. Unlike a human body they have higher temperatures. That makes it easy to discern whether they are constructs if they are in human form.
Using an animal with a higher body temperature makes this harder. The construction of a false body is nearly close enough to the real thing it would be hard to tell without dissection. One could even pass a thorough modern medical exam without trouble save their heightened body heat. They are biological, even down the brain. It is just a matter of differentiating pathways in their mind, and their apparent malleable nature,” Athene said.
“And you propose to take apart these animals in your inspection?” I asked.
“That would be the only way, unless we find something more obvious that I am unaware of. I could have made the Mr. Thompson copy even more close to human by limiting its temperature, but that would have significantly reduced its ability to function. The brain would have been limited to normal human abilities. Right now it is nearly on par with my own, though it has less access to information. I could simply try to interface with anything that comes through, or near me, but there is the possibility that I will be overwhelmed. I have previously reinforced myself against such a thing when I took a look in Mr. Thompson's mind, but the risk is still there,” Athene answered.