Contribute (Holo, #2)

by Kristy Acevedo

  Behind me, beeping. Whooshing. Human brains attached to spinal columns float in liquid, tubes and technology blinking and calculating. Half of the liquid columns have gone dark and inert. Biohologram soldiers cut down by us.

  A generic hologram touches a cold device to my forehead to treat me with AM and PM to be more compliant. SIDEKICK still stands idle like a doormat. I’m going to die with the idiotic thing blinking at me.

  Members of the meritocracy materialize one by one, their eyes on their bandwidths, and gather in a far corner near the windows. After all this, I can’t believe they sent holographic versions of themselves. They still can’t even show their real faces to watch my demise live for the planet. Unless . . .

  Do they not actually exist? Are they, like, elite bioholograms? But they say ‘I’ and show emotion. They can’t be . . .

  Keron swoops in. His white robe billows behind him as he graces me with presence. I wish I could get close enough to his robe to rip a piece off and see what he’s made of.

  “Alexandra Lucas,” he says, “or should I say River?”

  His voice is low, deep, captivating as it echoes throughout the area. It shakes inside of me like a death rattle. “We are sorry we had to resort to violence. We are not a society that believes in nor condones violence. However, the meritocracy’s mission is to continue Solbiluna-8 at any cost. I am glad you realized that your contribution is essential to our continued values. Essential to save your people.

  “We recognized long ago that humans are never kind to outsiders. The best way to convince them is not by force but by creating want and necessity. We allow them to contribute to a solution, and we are rewarded with gratitude and compliance. It is our greatest achievement. It is a universal construct. It works to manipulate any culture. The only reason you have suffered is because you resisted what we clearly laid out for you.

  Keron unclasps his hands to swipe on a nearby holoscreen. “Without us, humans throughout time will never become the force of good that they claim to be. We decided we would fix it. Make a human utopia. Most Earths have a system of work and a system of rest. Your planet called it retirement. Over time the system becomes impossible to maintain when technology reaches a threshold, people unwilling to work during youth to fulfill their dying years, technology calling them to play. Wars begin. Earths end. We watched it happen in so many timelines.

  “When our nanoholocom and biohologram programs reached capable limits, we reversed the system. It solved the problem of paying workers. No compensation necessary. There was less pollution, less waste with holographic and printable goods. Yes, we must deplete planets to build and update the nanoholocoms. It is the cost of evolution. A small price.”

  I try to stall, get SIDEKICK’s attention, plan some attempt at survival. SIDEKICK doesn’t move. Keron swipes more on a screen and whispers something to his colleagues. “Why do you even need people to contribute?” I interrupt. “Why not just create holographic programming?”

  “Early holographic workers could not handle problem solving tasks in the same way as sentient forms. We needed sentient intelligence as a template.”

  “Why not just create drone copies of the same hologram? Using one human?”

  “We did. It couldn’t handle highly nuanced, complex tasks. Variety is necessary in science, much like a gene pool. When creating a holographic world with holographic beings, the differences create strengths in programming, problem-solving, processing data, and understanding the finesse of human work, cultures, and language. Even then, the programming eroded at a faster rate than people die or reproduce in a modern world of leisure. The solution, every few generations, was to bring others willingly to Solbiluna-8 to replenish the system and reset the perfect system we created.”

  “Your world is not a utopia. It’s all about lights, sounds, and technology and nothing of substance. You’re not even real, are you?”

  Even his smile is fake. “Solbiluna-8 is the greatest thing that will ever happen to the human race. And you will contribute to it as promised. Do you concur?”

  I swallow. “Yes. As a truce.”

  Keron taps his bandwidth, and a holoscreen appears.

  “Greetings,” he declares to the screen. “Alexandra Lucas, whom many of you regard as the River, is here with members of the meritocracy, to demonstrate her trust and faith in Solbiluna-8, and to contribute as a show of her change of heart. Alex?”

  He flips the holoscreen so it focuses on me. I can see my reflection, see SIDEKICK next to me, and I fidget with my bandwidth. I have to do this. Become what I was never meant to be.

  I tap my bandwidth to officially record my decision. “My name is Alexandra Lucas. And I contribute my death to Solbiluna-8.” My bandwidth beeps, and SIDEKICK automatically says, “Thank you. May your contribution lead to freedom.”

  The screen vanishes on Keron’s orders. Members of the meritocracy debate on the other side of the room.

  I know what’s coming next. My contribution and then my death. I’ll be subverted into a hero for their world instead of becoming a martyr for mine.

  “We are mapping out your fate. We need to do this properly. Effectively.”

  “Are you going to kill me?”

  “Yes, when the time is right. We have no reason to stop fighting, nor do we believe that your death alone will stop the rebellion.”

  “You promised.”

  “That is the thing about promises. Once we get what we want, we no longer need to compromise. You are powerless. The sooner you accept that, the better your life will be.”

  A high pitch and continuous beep comes from SIDEKICK. Keron scowls and taps on a screen. The longer time passes, the swifter his tapping movements.

  “No . . .” He races to the wall of windows. Other meritocracy members follow his lead.

  “Brace yourself, Alexandra Lucas,” SIDEKICK says.

  The floors and walls tremble, knocking me off my feet. A fleet of their dart ships fire on us.

  “Eliminate that hologuide program,” Keron commands. “It’s corroding the system and broadcasting our location.”

  The holograms quickly tap on all screens. SIDEKICK stands emotionless as always, unaware of its technological mortality.

  “Not possible,” a hologram says. “The two are locked. Program cannot be shut down unless Alexandra Lucas is eliminated.”

  Keron takes a moment. Another round of weapons from the ships shakes the walls, but this time I maintain my footing.

  I can’t die now. It solves nothing. I was doing this for Benji. For Rita. For Nolan. For Katherine. The rebels will still be under attack, outnumbered and outgunned. And Dominick . . . I’ve already lost so many people I love.

  “There has to be another way,” I say to stall, my hands shaking, my heart freezing.

  Keron smiles. “Thank you for your contribution. I will personally make sure you are part of our holographic forces against the rebels you helped to create. Perhaps we will even model the hologram in your likeness.” He taps and swipes on a screen, and an armed hologram appears in front of me.

  I brace myself. There’s nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. A picture of my parents flashes through my mind. Dominick. Rita. Benji. Marcus. Penelope. Doctor A. Katherine. Everyone I’ve met. Everyone I’ve loved.

  It can’t end like this.

  We can’t stay in this world. We have to make it home to Earth.

  “Please don’t,” I say and my whole body trembles like a child afraid of the dark.

  “We gave you the greatest opportunity available to humankind, freedom, and you tried to destroy us,” Keron says. “Eliminate her.”

  The hologram shoots. A blast of white electric energy heads toward me.

  SIDEKICK instantly reacts and steps between me and the light and reflects it. The beam hits Keron and freezes him on the spot. Other members step back in horror.

  “Your self-righteousness will be the downfall of the entire human species,” Keron says, coming apart at its seams. He evaporates
into molecules of light.

  I am so grateful that I haven’t died that it takes me a few minutes to catch my breath over my pounding heart before I realize what just happened. SIDEKICK grabs hold of the weapon from the hologram and slides it toward me. I fumble to hold it. Without a weapon, the hologram loses its mission and joins the others at the control unit.

  “Did you do that?” I ask SIDEKICK.

  “Yes.”

  Some of the meritocracy kneel before me for mercy. Others flee from the area. The holograms controlling the nanoholocom network continue their work, unconcerned. SIDEKICK takes over one of the holoscreens and clicks and swipes faster than my eyes can follow. The ships outside the station cease fire.

  “SIDEKICK, you saved my life.”

  “Yes. We overrode the system. It was an emergency.”

  “Wait, we overrode the system, or you, SIDEKICK, overroad the system?”

  “We. SIDEKICK.”

  I laugh. “You can do that?”

  “New protocols established.”

  “I think you just like me,” I joke. “Since I’m your only friend.”

  “We do not understand.”

  “That’s okay, you don’t need to. Thanks.”

  “You are welcome, Mississippi.”

  Something Katherine said tugs at my memory. I left you a present.

  “What did you say?”

  “You are welcome, Mississippi.”

  CHAPTER 30

  DAY 66

  AFTER THE UMBRA rounds up the remaining members of the meritocracy, the QN25 Umbra group, along with the Geotroupes, travel to meet with the United States Secretary of State at SN10 Umbra headquarters to talk terms. SIDEKICK has to come, too, since I still can’t shut her off.

  Before the general meeting, the Secretary of State shakes my hand and thanks me for my sacrifice. He ignores SIDEKICK. I doubt he personally knows anyone who died on Solbiluna-8. His smile doesn’t leave his face.

  We gather in a nearby TriCenter to plan our exit strategy. Since not everyone can fit inside the building, some Umbra members are given special access to a CVBE bandwidth feed of the meeting. I don’t see why they don’t broadcast it to the whole planet since it affects everyone. I pick up another stone from the standard waterfall feature and watch it slip away. The last time I was here, I thought I was helping my allies, and instead I created more enemies.

  The Secretary of State conducts the meeting. Jackson and Professor Marciani are the only QN25 members invited to sit on the head panel. I sit with Dominick, Marcus, Penelope, Doctor A., Beruk, Marie, Kendra, Hannah, Nolan’s grandmother, and SIDEKICK, of course. I just want to go home.

  “Let’s begin,” the Secretary says. “The good news. We’ve taken all 1001 members of the meritocracy into custody.”

  He waits for our applause, and we give it to him.

  “However, during this process, we discovered that the entire meritocracy was made up of bioholograms the whole time, the oldest programs in the nanoholocom network. They were set on an original, outdated mission to continue Solbiluna-8 indefinitely regardless of cost. We have destroyed their programs so they will not repeat the same crimes in any more parallel worlds.”

  I lean forward from the curved stone bench and hug my legs. At least it’s over. They’re gone.

  “We are here to weigh our options and vote,” the Secretary says. “This will not be an easy decision, so please listen carefully.”

  I fidget in my seat, my stomach on high alert. What won’t be an easy decision?

  “It is our recommendation that the entire planet of Solbiluna-8 be destroyed.”

  I swear the entire room stops breathing for a few seconds. To save a world, we must destroy another. We knew this all along.

  “It is also our recommendation that all bioholograms are also destroyed.”

  I glance at SIDEKICK. She blinks, emotionless. They were people, though. People who sacrificed themselves for the greater good. Or so they thought. Isn’t that killing them? When is enough death enough?

  The Secretary continues. “It is my understanding that some of the vances and Earth refugees would like to remain on Solbiluna-8. The problem is the planet only works if the nanoholocom network and the bioholograms are intact. Despite this opposition, the Umbra firmly agrees that the only reassurance this crime will never happen again is if we destroy Solbiluna-8 and all bioholograms.”

  A woman on the panel with a shaved head speaks next. “This decision will not be popular with everyone and will affect life back on Earth. If we destroy Solbiluna-8, the vances have requested asylum on our Earth since theirs will be destroyed.”

  I can feel the change in the audience around me.

  Penelope whispers, “I don’t trust bringing them to our planet, but I don’t trust leaving them here, either.”

  “They’re victims like we were,” Doctor A. says.

  She touches his knee. “You’re such a bleeding heart.”

  Jackson has the floor. “Before we vote, Professor Marciani and I spoke to the Secretary of State about a possible compromise to help assuage the situation. We want our return to Earth to go as smoothly as possible, and we understand many would rather enjoy the luxuries here. What if we promise to bring some of those luxuries to Earth? Professor Marciani?”

  He twists his hair. “As a scientist, it is my recommendation to bring nanoholocom and vertex technology with us. The possibilities are too great to ignore. If this prevents a planetary outcry, even better.”

  The Secretary of State holds up his hand. “It is time to vote on the three issues. First, the resolution to destroy Solbiluna-8 and all bioholograms. Second, to allow asylum to the vances on Earth. And third, to bring some of the nanoholocom technology home with us. All in favor, vote using your bandwidth.”

  I hold my bandwidth, and a special ballot appears. My pointer finger shakes above each option. I can’t do it. I close the program.

  The votes are tallied, and all resolutions pass. War has complicated alliances, consequences, and agendas that you never see coming until it’s too late. Once we step through the final vertexes, the remaining Umbra on spaceships will destroy the empty planet and any people, vances or Earth refugees, who refuse to leave.

  Destroy one planet to save an infinite number of universes. No more choices. New rebels wiped out in the process. Bioholograms destroyed. The moral answer. But still a type of genocide. SIDEKICK doesn’t notice as I pull a hair from the back of her head and hold onto it to prepare.

  AFTER ONE LAST time in the PSF, I collect my thoughts for the journey home. SIDEKICK still stares at me.

  “SIDEKICK, I’m grateful for your help, but this is ridiculous. Katherine had to give you an OFF button.”

  SIDEKICKS blinks at me. “She did.”

  “She did? Why you didn’t tell me?”

  “You did not ask.”

  I shake my head and chuckle. “What’s the OFF button?”

  She removes the portable, black nanoholocom unit from her leg.

  “We can turn off now. Mississippi is saved.”

  I can’t tell where Katherine ends and her programming begins. I zip my backpack.

  “SIDEKICK, how do you feel about the Umbra destroying your program?”

  “We have been dead a long time.”

  I sling my backpack onto my shoulder. “I guess this is goodbye. HOLOGUIDE, EXIT.”

  SIDEKICK bows. “May your contribution lead to freedom.”

  As soon as SIDEKICK vanishes, I miss her. She was my last tie to Katherine, one crazy and remarkable lady. I reopen my backpack and place the portable black box inside. Something to remember them by.

  MY NEW AND old friends gather together in the Hub to pass through the vertexes. We must first get HME clearance, undo the sterilization process, and removal of all bandwidths before departure. My naked wrist doesn’t feel like my own.

  “Ready?” Dominick says. “I’m nervous.”

  “Same. I can’t wait to see my parents.” The statem
ent hangs there, full of guilt that I survived and Benji died. What if Dad won’t forgive me and Mom falls apart? What if they’re not even alive after everything we’ve gone through? What if Earth isn’t the place we left it?

  “I can’t wait to take a shower,” Dominick says. “I miss feeling water.”

  “Right?”

  We laugh. It feels wrong to laugh without Rita.

  I grab his hand and squeeze.

  And one by one, we step through for the solo journey back home.

  EPILOGUE

  DAY 71

  BIG BUSINESS HAS INVESTED IN NANOHOLOCOM STOCKS

  NANOHOLOCOMS WILL PROMOTE GREENER LIVING, ENVIRONMENTALIST AGREE

  UNITED NATIONS ACCEPTS NANOHOLOCOM RESEARCH PROPOSALS DESPITE LOCAL OPPOSITION

  NANOHOLOCOMS WILL REVOLUTIONIZE HOW WE LIVE AND INTERACT

  NANOHOLOCOMS WILL PAVE OUR FUTURE

  CONVICTED FELONS MUST REPORT TO JAILS TO FINISH SENTENCES OR FACE SERIOUS PENALTIES

  GRIEVING IS LIKE being trapped in an alternative world and slowly realizing there is no going home.

  Mom and Dad survived a broken Earth. They made it back to our house with the help of Dad’s Boston military friends. Soldiers have memories and bonds civilians do not understand. Mom had buried plastic bins of non-perishables in her garden as a backup plan after our house was ransacked, and they lived off the food. Dad posted a handwritten, cardboard sign in front of our boarded up windows that reads HAVE GUN. WILL USE.

  President Lee called them before I arrived. I couldn’t have told them the news myself. Yesterday, the world attended Benji’s funeral. My parents allowed live media coverage for the ceremony at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. Dad said it would help our nation heal. The military presented Marcus with the folded American flag, and Marcus gave the flag to my dad. I thought Dad was going to collapse. He told Marcus he’ll always be part of our family.