The Voyage Home

by D. J. Holmes

  Immediately, Sarah probed her mind using the techniques Alexandra had taught her. Straight away she found the new information. It was tiny compared to the vast structure of her brain. As she accessed the information she lost all awareness of her surroundings. Suddenly, as if she had known it all along, the history of Earth, of her people, came flooding up. Beginning with documentation about ancient human empires and kingdoms, she followed humanity’s history through revolutions, technological progression, wars for greed, land, democracy and freedom, until finally, she got to the space age. She saw her people unite around a common goal. She was filled with pride as she played the visual recordings of the first colony ship being launched towards Alpha Centauri. Then she felt her people’s horror when the Elders first gave Earth their ultimatum. As she relived the Collaboration that had been convened to decide what to do, Sarah sensed the determination of her people. They had wanted to remain free. She learnt of the great shipbuilding endeavor. She watched the first warships leave their shipyards. Then she saw the Elder fleet approach. The Elder ships looked almost identical to the ones she had seen in person. Despite taking a few hits, she watched as they destroyed humanity’s fleet and moved in on Earth.

  After that the details on Earth became sketchy. Instead the story focused on Hope V and the other Hope ships that had fled Earth. Sarah journeyed with them as they looked for safe places to hide. Then, as the centuries passed, they grew in confidence and found permanent homes. They began to study the Elders and make contact with one another. The information she had was up to date, it took her all the way up to just one year before she had arrived on Hope V.

  When she was done processing the information, Sarah opened her eyes. For a moment, she couldn’t quite make out what she was looking at. Her vision was blurry and she felt disorientated. It felt like an age had passed. Almost as if she had walked through every stage of humanity’s history herself.

  In an effort to see clearly, Sarah blinked rapidly. Gradually Simmons and the room she was in came into view. As Hope V’s Director smiled at her, Sarah’s mind was snapped back to reality. Suddenly, she realized her importance. She was part of a line of humans that stretched back millennia. She had a role to play. Without any hesitation, she dived into telling Simmons her story. The Director needed to know about Destiny and Alexandra.

  Chapter 37

  “Amazing,” Simmons said once Sarah had finished her story. “I can’t believe the splicing worked. To be honest, I always had my doubts. I thought we would have to adapt our initial ideas after testing the process. But it worked. It really worked.”

  “Yes,” Sarah said. “It saved my life. And, it means I can imprint with the shipyard’s artificial intelligence.” She had already figured out Simmons’ plan. Earth could only stand against the Elders if they had their own fleet and the Elder shipyard was the best way to produce one.

  “Indeed,” Simmons said with a wry smile. “You can see why you are so important now. Though that is still a few years away. You can imagine, I have more than a few tests I would like to do on you. Then we need to move ahead with our ship building programs. We now have the final piece I’ve been looking for.”

  “How long will that take?” Sarah asked. Though her information on the specifics was vague. What she now knew of Hope V and the other Hope asteroids indicated that they each had some warships for protection. She had thought there were enough of them to move against the Elders.

  “Around twenty years,” Simmons answered. “Before we launch our attack, we need a fleet that can defeat the Elders on Earth and hold off any counter attacks long enough for us to get the Elder shipyard up and running. According to my latest projections, doing so will take another twenty years.”

  “Twenty years,” Sarah said as she tried to take in the information. Part of her was dismayed at having to wait so long. Her whole world had just exploded with possibilities. Yet now she was being told she had to wait. Another part was quietly excited. Before coming to Hope V, she hadn’t really known if taking on the Elders was a real possibility. Now she knew it was. It was just not as close as she wanted.

  “Yes, and I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here until we are ready,” Simmons added.

  “What?” Sarah asked, taken aback.

  “Think about it, about what you are,” Simmons said. “You can’t go back to Earth. If the Elders capture you and find out what you are. They will know we exist. They will destroy Earth and hunt us down. You also can’t continue to go gallivanting about the galaxy. You could be killed or captured. You have to stay hidden and safe. That means you have to stay here until we are ready to move.”

  “I...” Sarah began. She hadn’t thought through what it really meant to be the only person who could interact with Elder artificial intelligences. In Simmons’ eyes, she was now a vital asset, one that needed protecting.

  “Well, at least I can go and get Destiny and Alexandra,” Sarah said. “I’m sure all the technology on the Elder frigate will help your scientists make sense of the datachip I brought with me.” Sarah had already given the chip to Simmons.

  “Out of the question,” Simmons said as she shook her head. “It’s too risky. I don’t intend to let you out of my sight. Plus, it’s too risky bringing Destiny here. We are not ready to reveal ourselves to the Elders. Alexandra may have some hidden protocols within her programming. She could betray us all.”

  “She would never do that,” Sarah protested.

  “Not willingly,” Simmons said. “But Elder artificial intelligence is an area of technology we hardly understand. Anything is possible. It is a risk I am not willing to take.”

  “Fine,” Sarah said. She wasn’t about to give up on being reunited with Alexandra, but now wasn’t the time for that discussion. “What now? Can I get out of these restraints?”

  “I think so,” Simmons said. Though you will have to be careful. Before the Elders invaded Earth, we had developed nano technology to the point where it was used in medical science. We have perfected the technology. You currently have over four hundred thousand nanites running through your body. They have enhanced most of your physiology. It will take some getting used to.”

  “Oh,” Sarah said. She was filled with a mixture of horror and curiosity. It felt like everyone was messing with her body without her permission. Yet, it normally worked out in her favor.

  “I have sent you a file on nano technology,” Simmons said. “Once you have assessed it, I will release your constraints.

  Sarah sensed the file entering her implant. This time she didn’t hesitate in accessing it. Moments later she knew far more about nano technology than she had ever wanted to. This is far better than reading all the files on scientific theory and technology Alexandra has been giving me, Sarah thought. Though she had to admit, without the background knowledge Alexandra had given her, much of the new information in her head wouldn’t make any sense. “Ok, I’m ready,” she said.

  Simmons nodded. Sarah guessed she sent a command to her restraints through her neural implant, for a moment later they clicked open, seemingly on their own. “Take it slow,” Simmons said.

  Sarah did as she was told. Gently, she stretched out her arms and legs. They felt stiff and sore from being held down. A new thought occurred to her. “How long have I been here?” she asked.

  “Four days,” Simmons answered.

  That explains my arms and legs, Sarah thought. Just as she moved to rub her legs, a strange tingly feeling moved up her arms and then her legs. Sarah held her arms up and looked at the closely. They seemed normal.

  “That is your nanites,” Simmons said. “They are working to take the knots out of your muscles.”

  Within a few seconds the strange feeling disappeared. So too did the stiffness Sarah was feeling. “That’s pretty useful,” Sarah said as she moved her arms about freely.

  “There are many things the nanites are useful for,” Simmons commented. “You can use your neural implant to check on the status of your nanites and to gi
ve them specific orders. Though I would advise you refrain from doing that until you understand more about how human physiology and nanites interact.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Sarah said as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. As she jumped to her feet, she propelled herself into the air and nearly banged into the wall.

  “Careful,” Simmons said as she took half a step back. “Your muscles will be much stronger now. You don’t need to use the same effort to do things you are used to doing.”

  “So I see,” Sarah said as she rested a hand on the wall to steady herself. It felt like she was using someone else’s legs. They didn’t respond to her movements the way she expected.

  “It will likely take you a day or two to get fully used to how your body now works,” Simmons said. “But don’t worry, soon you will think nothing of it.”

  “Just how much stronger am I?” Sarah asked. She was dressed in shorts, and as she looked down at her legs she could tell they were slightly more toned, but not to the extent that she should have been able to jump into the air so easily.

  “Probably on the order of sixty percent,” Simmons said. “Your reactions and other abilities will also have been improved by roughly the same extent.”

  “Amazing,” Sarah said as she held out her arms and looked at her hands. They looked no different, yet as she clenched them, she felt a lot more strength in them. “Is there somewhere I can try out my new abilities? On Destiny, Alexandra had a training bay where I could practice combat techniques and exercise.”

  “You won’t need to practice any hand to hand combat techniques,” Simmons said. “But, there are exercise suites on Hope V. I’m sure you can use one of them later today if you like.”

  “Great,” Sarah smiled. She was still clenching and unclenching her fist.

  “Now,” Simmons said. “I would like to take you on a tour of the asteroid. However, first, we need to make sure you can use your neural implant to communicate with the rest of Hope V’s crew. I had thought it would take you a week or two to get used to your implant, but with your experience with Alexandra, it shouldn’t be too much of a shock for you. I’m sending you another file.”

  Moments later, Sarah knew a great deal about how humans used their neural link to communicate their thoughts to one another. One on one, it wasn’t much different to how she spoke to Alexandra. The idea of an asteroid wide cognizance and a Collaboration were entirely new concepts. They didn’t seem overly appealing.

  “Let’s get you connected to the asteroid cognizance first,” Simmons said. “Then we can hold a brief Collaboration. I think that would be the best way to really introduce you to us, and us to you.”

  “Ok,” Sarah said hesitantly. She didn’t really want to open her mind up to the sixty thousand other humans on Hope V, but it didn’t seem like there was much of a choice.

  “Well, open your connection when you are ready, and remember, you can shut out individuals or even large groups with a single thought. If you want, you can close down your awareness to just me. Or you can entirely block out everyone.”

  Sarah nodded. Then, after readying herself, she opened up her neural implant to receive signals from nearby sources. Immediately, she was bombarded with thoughts and emotions from every side. For a moment, it felt like there were far too many minds trying to speak to her at once for her to make sense of them all. Then, slowly, she learned to filter them. Some people where just sending her welcoming emotions. She didn’t have to concentrate on them, she could just allow them to simmer at the edge of her consciousness. Others were sending her more formal greetings. Those she could deal with several at a time. It was like walking up to a group of people she already knew in the physical world. As everyone said hello at once, she just needed to smile at them and say one communal hello back. She did the same now, sending a general thank you back to everyone who greeted her.

  Then Sarah felt something different, Simmons was requesting to communicate directly with her. Sarah gave her permission.

  “Now,” Simmons said without opening her mouth. “I think it’s time you experienced a station Collaboration. As I said, I think it will be the best way for everyone to meet you and get to know you. It will also help you to make the final step in trusting us. In a Collaboration, you will get a sense of everyone on Hope V as a group. You will get a taste for our desires, our hopes and our fears.”

  “I’m ready,” Sarah said. She was expecting a Collaboration to be even harder to navigate and as she sensed Simmons sending out a request for a Collaboration, she took a deep breath and prepared herself.

  Sarah was one of the first minds to enter the Collaboration. Even so, there were several others there already. The feeling she got from them was very different to what she had got from simply opening her mind to Hope V’s cognizance. The cognizance only allowed the thoughts and emotions a sender allowed to be shared. The Collaboration shared far more. She could sense the personalities of those around her and it felt like she could peer into their inner thoughts if she wanted to. They were completely open to her. Despite the temptation, Sarah refrained from doing so. One of the first things on the file Simmons had sent her, had been a warning not to force oneself on another, it was tantamount to rape.

  As more and more minds joined the Collaboration, the individuals she had sensed faded into the background. Instead a general atmosphere emerged. It seemed to be emanating from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Sarah could feel it all around her, coming from the thousands of minds that seemed to be pressed in against her own. Yet, when she focused on any one mind, the feeling retreated, instead she was confronted by the individual’s emotions. I guess this is the combined spirit the file was talking about, Sarah thought.

  Simmons’ file said that even after two thousand years of experimentation, no one really understood it. When the neural implants had been invented, no one had envisioned a Collaboration. Yet, when several people had tried to meld their minds together, they had experienced what came to be called a communal spirit. It was the combining of several different views, desires and dreams, into one single goal and drive.

  Humanity had used the Collaboration to drive it towards peace and unity. The Collaboration didn’t force individuals to abandon their own views or dreams, but it did give them an appreciation for the whole of humanity. Since its discovery, scientists had been trying to figure out how it worked. In theory, the neural implants weren’t designed to produce a planetary wide melding of minds, yet they did.

  Sarah guessed Simmons hoped that when Sarah saw just what she and the others on Hope V were working towards, Sarah would get on board. Sarah put up a series of defenses around her mind. They were ones Alexandra had taught her. Despite the assurances Simmons’ file had given her that the Collaboration wouldn’t change her, no one really knew how it worked. She didn’t want to take any chances.

  “We are all here,” Simmons voice said to the Collaboration. “I wanted to introduce you all to Sarah. She has joined Hope V from the outside world. I also wanted to give you some news. She is a hybrid. She has returned to us, and, she has already imprinted with an Elder artificial intelligence. Our theories have proved correct. With Sarah here, we can now begin the final stages of our plan to liberate Earth.”

  Sarah wasn’t ready for the wave of emotion that erupted. It was like a dam breaking open. A flood of elation leapt out of every mind on Hope V. It created a tidal wave of joy and delight that rippled back and forth through the Collaboration. In its wake, a deep-seated anticipation began to grow. Everyone on Hope V now knew that the Elders could be beaten. More than that, they knew Earth could be liberated and protected. Behind the anticipation, Sarah sensed another emotion. An eagerness, not just to confront the Elders or to see Earth free, an eagerness for revenge. Everyone on Hope V had grown up with the images of the Elder invasion haunting them. Almost from birth they had known their purpose, now it was within their grasp.

  Sarah was taken aback. This was all because of her. She h
ad wanted to find her people because she had hoped it would complete her, that she would find what she had been missing all her life. In a way, as she sensed the common purpose coming from the humans around her, the desire for freedom, for a chance of happiness, not just for themselves, but for all of humanity, Sarah realized she had found what she desired. At the same time, she realized she was giving the people of Hope V the same thing. They had just received the thing they had been waiting their whole lives for; the promise of a showdown with the Elders.

  “That will do for now,” Simmons said, interrupting the flow of emotion. “You know your responsibilities. We now have a deadline to meet. Let’s get back to work.”

  As the Collaboration shut down, Sarah removed herself. She opened her eyes to find Simmons looking at her. “So,” Hope V’s Director said out loud. “How was it?”

  “Unbelievable,” Sarah said, “I can’t find the words.” A part of her felt empty now she was out of the Collaboration. At the same time, she felt invigorated. Just knowing that everyone around you was of one mind. That you were all working together for a single purpose. It was unique, Sarah felt like she belonged, like she had a purpose.