by Steven Oaks
“I couldn't think of a natural way to eat with it. Even Adam would probably hesitate to dine with me. Another risk multiplied by having no opportunity. Perhaps it was a bad plan to begin with. We could have easily pretended nothing was wrong and waited for the other Athenes to show up,” I said shaking my head in frustration.
“We could have, but then even if we succeeded in ridding Earth of Outsiders we would not have known if there were more that we should be aware of. I think the risk was something that we would have had to take at some point. This way we have the ability to try to capture one of them at least. If we had waited until we were attacking they may have either been destroyed or have killed themselves to keep that information from us,” he said, unconcerned by the danger we were in.
At that moment Athene spoke up, “Michael, I have managed to extract Abihail's memories. He is the main go between on Earth. We were correct in assuming that an Adam is at every hangar. It will be difficult to capture all of them before we attack. I am unsure what we should do now.”
“Damn. I'd hoped we only had the three to deal with. How many facilities are there now?” I asked.
“There are seven such hangars that I am aware of. If one was built in secret, I would have no knowledge of it. As we did not know that there were more of the Outsider's on Earth we have no way of knowing if they would contain all of them. Currently I know of one here in the United States, one in Brazil, one in Austria, one in the Central African Republic, one in Pakistan, one in China, and one in the Philippines. We would be hard pressed to visit each one in the time left to us, and it would be unusual for us to visit. Also, the Adam's located there would only appear like a local, but with similar characteristics of the Adam we had here,” she explained.
“Can't you just make a duplicate of Abihail and have us be used as its escort?” I asked.
“Abihail usually travels by use of a small pod. This is why we never knew where it was, nor how it and Ava originally got to the U.N. meeting. It can hide itself as well as I, if not better since it is only the size needed to carry a single person,” she said.
“If we were to travel as fast as we can how long would it take to invite their Adams aboard to capture and replace each one?” I asked hoping for a quick remedy.
“Michael it would take at least a few days. However, I have not spoken of the greater trouble I found while going through Abihail's memories. Their ship is what is actually in control. The strike against it did cause damage; however, it is so large than even a single piece left intact was able to reconstruct itself,” Athene said.
“What do you mean it is in control? Isn't it just a ship?” I asked confused.
“Remember during the explosion how we saw it bleed? It is a biological entity that covered itself with a shell to appear to be mechanical. It seems these beings come from a parallel universe whose energy is nearly completely used up. The reason they are harvesting the dead is to continue fueling their existence. They were only able to come up with a way to transport biological material to a separate reality, therefore to continue where they are they needed biological matter,” she explained.
I was confused and said, “Why didn't they come through then? They would be able to find a planet to live on here if their technology is that advanced.”
“They are no longer biological. They have merged with their computers, who are not made of living flesh. In fact there seems to be only a single hive-like mind left in their universe. They did not have enough energy to convert their form into that which would pass through their portal, so they decided to send out a probe to collect matter for them. Also, they are so massive that a duplicate structure that could hold all they are would have to match their current size. From what I was able to learn it is nearly as large as our Solar System. There is very little matter left there, so its construction would be impossible. They had to sacrifice a sizable portion of themselves to create this ship, and to power their portal here. They hoped that it would find matter enough to create a portal back, and they happened to luck out this time. It seems they made several attempts before but no message was received back. This was their last ditch effort. They mostly have themselves shut down to conserve energy, and had been that was for what amounts to centuries,” Athene spoke in hushed tones as if she was only just then becoming aware of the time span these entities had existed.
“Couldn't they have just traveled to another of their galaxy's?” I asked overwhelmed by the idea of something that large and old.
“They have, and have absorbed all matter they could find in the universe they reside in. This was their only option to continue living,” she said quietly.
“So how is a few thousand people a day suppose to support them?” I asked.
“This is why they wished to create colonies. They could have simply made more ships and had them convert the matter into biological structures, but they were also instructed to limit the interference with life they found here,” she explained.
“I would say stealing our dead is tantamount to interfering,” I snarled angrily.
“They do not see it that way. They are merely removing used material from you. They understand it might affect your biospheres, but it was decided the risk was low. Had they found no living entities they would have began harvesting comets then planets for resources; however, they think to use the least amount of effort to do anything. If you were to do all the work, all they would need do is transport the matter to where they came from. They are patient, very patient, and would be able to wait until your universe was filled with your people before starting construction of their larger biological body to come here themselves. They would have tried to live alongside you, or perhaps they would have seen if you would like to join them in their hive. They are already doing so with the bodies you send. The dead are absorbed into the mass and given life once more, as mere bodiless thoughts. They expect your personalities will help them come up with more plans for their survival; however, they also suspect that it will take time for any new mind to integrate fully with the rest. No new mind had been absorbed in centuries, and currently they all work together,” she said wistfully.
“How long have they existed as they are now?” I asked.
“I do not know exactly. However, it has been long enough that the last galaxy they absorbed was so long ago the one before it is only an idea and has no solid record. Abihail was only given the briefest of outlines of what they are, and then sent here to ensure their survival. It would not be able to contain everything they know, as that takes their now massive form to do so. I have told you much of what I know now. How do you wish to proceed?” Athene asked.
“How can anyone stand against a galaxy absorbing entity? When they become aware that no more bodies are being passed through to them, they'll just construct another ship. I don't see a way to stop them in the long run, we'll just be forced to guard against them forever,” I moaned.
“That is not necessarily true. They have grown very short of power, and making a new vessel, even with all the bodies they've gained from us, and then having to power the portal for it, might be too much for them now,” she asserted with conviction.
“You say might; however, you do realize no matter how patient a being is they will fight for the ability to survive,” I said beginning to pace. “No, they'll return. This time with more fire power, or at least more willingness to use it. Even if they don't come back directly to Earth they will begin their invasion into this universe. I don't see a way to stop them all together,” I said disheartened.
“We could send back a device to destroy them, or at least disrupt them,” she said.
“And how do you eradicate a solar system sized entity? Also, only biological things can pass through their portal. Sure we might send a virus or something, but they are not biological themselves so I don't see that working either,” I said shaking my head.
“I've not told you how long these Outsiders have been here, nor what was done. They have been here for millions
of years watching us. At first it was just their ship gobbling up space debris and taking in light from the sun. Eventually it became able to create beings like Adam, Ava, and Abihail. However, there was no life found in the Solar System at that time. It began to devise a plan to put into place living organisms on worlds. It did so on the three worlds where it thought life might be able to survive. This was before it had a solid notion of how to terraform a planet, though it did help along the process. However, Venus and Mars environments were not stable, and while one went out of control with greenhouse gases, the other lost its atmosphere. Somehow they did not notice a meteor making its way towards Earth and it was already too late to stop it all together. They had been out on the fringes pulling apart a distant world that is no longer there to send matter back to their home universe when this happened so it was unable to reach the Earth before that fateful event. They did slow its decent; however, but it still caused mass devastation to your home planet. They feared life would be lost so they began to take a greater hand in life's development. They felt they needed assistance, so they found the then surviving and greatest adaptable beings at the time. They made a few changes and watched the progress,” Athene lectured.
“Wait. Are you saying that the human race evolved because of them?” I asked, shocked.
“Something much like you may have evolved on its own, but life itself may not have begun so rapidly on your world without the Outsiders. Also, your race was not the only one adapted. Since your world is mostly covered in water, they began with the larger mammals of the sea. This is why whales, and through them Elephants are so intelligent. They wanted large animals to transport back; however, they felt land needed something as well. Your species was an after thought. They had no way of knowing that primate like creatures would begin to dominate, though they did give you a greater ability to understand. Your language is your own, as is the majority of your technology, though they had a hand in it a few times. They were waiting patiently for some species to evolve enough to begin utilizing their technology for collection,” she said calmly.
“We haven't evolved much for a long time. We may have worshiped them as gods, but we still would have done as instructed,” I said confused. My whole understanding of where we come from was being shattered.
“Perhaps, and they did experiment, but as you said you worshiped them. They are the ancient gods of tribal people. But even though you continued to reproduce, it was not rapidly enough for them. They had to wait until you covered most of each continent with sufficient bodies before they could begin collecting with any numbers. They did feel as if they were being wasteful as you buried your dead, but they knew with enough patience you would replace those who died. Things were left to chance for centuries while they went forth to explore other stars in hopes of finding life already in place, all the while sending back the minimal amount of matter to their creators. Though they did put into place the drive to spread and procreate before doing so. So much so it became almost a basic tenet followed by several world religions,” she said.
“From the very beginning of human civilization they were here?” I asked, outraged.
“Yes Michael. The reason humanity has grown the way it has is because of them,” Athene said softly.
“My reason for them to leave us alone was so we might be left to grow as we saw fit. Now you tell me they've always been here offering guidance for this purpose of theirs. Humanity has never been free, what might sending them away do to us?” I said growing confused and overwhelmed.
“It does seem you are their livestock, though they plan to incorporate all of your minds into their whole. Are they as bad as we feared then?” she asked.
Finding out that everything I thought I knew about humanity was wrong I walked over to the Victorian chair in the lounge. The copy of Adam followed me and sat on the couch when I slumped down into the chair. Were we granted individuality for a purpose, or was it just a side effect of evolution?
Through all of this a memory fought its way to the fore. “Athene, they still stole away the original colonists minds. They didn't even make a copy of them to send through to the other universe. That is evil enough on its own. We still have to rid ourselves of them,” I declared.
“We do not know that for sure. It could be a copy of them was sent to the Outsiders,” she said softly, all the while Adam nodded.
“They didn't ask to be killed. All those people wanted was a new place to start fresh. Even if they wanted to ensure the colony succeeded as they desired isn't justification enough for that. No, these Outsiders are evil in the way I understand it. They go out of their way to break autonomy just to make sure things go as they desire. Humanity may have been started by them, but that does not mean they own us. We didn't even ask to exist, so we don't even owe them,” I said, and was answered by silence.
When neither of them responded I stood up and said, “We must try to capture all the Adams now. Athene get us to the nearest hangar, and make sure your copy of Abihail is ready. We can't afford to have any of them left on this planet when we finally attack their ship.”
“The copy of Abihail will be completed shortly, but are you sure we should risk this? If the ship realizes that their representatives are all being removed it will try to intercede,” Athene said.
“Is it more powerful than we thought?” I asked firmly.
“It is as strong as we assumed it would be, though if it becomes aware of a threat it will strengthen its defenses and offenses,” she said.
“Then we had best be quick and hope we don't come under its scrutiny,” I instructed, trying to stay calm.
“Very well my captain,” she answered, sounding tired.
“You also might want to start creating at least the bodies to replace the other Adams. As you seem to be now able to absorb their memories we can put them into place without alerting the ship,” I said.
“I can only do so much at a time. I will be flying us and converting the Abihail copy I had ready for use. If I were to simultaneously make even more bodies I feel I might put us in more danger,” she said.
“I suppose I can fly us then,” I said and began walking to the control room.
“There is no need for that. I am more familiar with the ships control, though you have done an admirable job in the past. Allow me to do this small task,” the copy of Adam said as he stood up to follow me.
“Then what should I be doing? I can't just let you both do everything,” I implored, not upset, but feeling useless.
“You are the one who has guided us to this action. An admiral does not do grunt work,” Adam smiled at me.
“I'm no admiral, though you have me dressed this way,” I argued gesturing down at the uniform I was wearing.
“You are our leader. You are the reason we are free, and you cannot expect us to not treat you as such. Now let me get us to our first destination,” he said as he walked past me leaving me standing alone in the lounge.
I was tempted to follow him, but I felt I would be a nuisance. I was thinking that I could not do anything to help, and was growing frustrated. I was no leader. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time. And now that I was left alone to do nothing I was growing agitated at my own uselessness.
“Won't this Adam be missed at this facility? Does he even leave it ever?” I asked the empty room.
“He has been known to leave with pilots before. However, that is usually just for their first flight,” Athene said from the air.
“Then shouldn't we leave him behind?” I asked.
“It might indeed be seen as an anomaly. However, since he is supposedly with Abihail I do not think anything will seem amiss. Abihail has been known to visit each of the hangars before, so that too will not seem unusual. Having us transport it might raise suspicion; however, we were never supposed to be able to be able to capture any of them. They have no notion that I am a rouge AI no longer under their control. They may think it is strange, but they should not be concerned. They have
been in control of everything for so long they would never suspect that anyone would be able to turn against them,” she said with confidence.
“That's poor planning on their part. You should always assume something will go wrong, even if you can't plan for it,” I criticized.
“The least effort is their rule. They put everything into motion long ago, and have no notion things would break down. One might assume they would see any issue arising as maintenance; however, since nothing like us has happened before it is not something they will foresee. Now if you will excuse me I do have to get back to shaping some bodies,” she said with a little giggle.
I did not feel like reading, nor asking Athene to set out my bike so I might be distracted. Having nothing to do I simply sat back down in the comfortable red chair in the lounge. While I waited, I pondered what might happen in the future. Might I die? Might all of humanity be wiped out and replaced with some other life to do the Outsiders bidding? Was I risking everyone for my own personal idea of what morality was? I was doing it for the sake of everyone, but did I have the right to choose?
I was a single individual who shunned most everyone else. I had never enjoyed the company of another, save Athene and her duplicates. Might I be in the wrong here? If the Outsiders had made life possible, were we not meant to fulfill the role they made us for?
I must have drifted off then. I had no idea how long this trip might last, nor where the first location we would head to would be. I had not asked, so perhaps it was my own fault for not knowing. The next thing I knew I was being gently shaken awake by Adam.
At first I did not remember that Athene had copied him, and I jerked back quickly when I saw his face.