Perpetua
Page 7
“What kind of life?”
“Microscopic. It could be anything.”
“Any chance of being a threat to anyone?”
“No, sir. It is harmless.”
‘We have more important things to do than watching over any stone coming out of the system.”
“Should not we start the security protocols?”
“Of course they should, I just don't need to be informed directly. Send a probe to this stone. How long does it take for us to gain access to the material?”
“About twenty minutes, sir.”
“What do you mean? And the teleportation? Travel to super speed?”
“The asteroid containing the material has joined another set of asteroids. There is no safe teleportation point nearby and super speed will make the most of the transport. However, when arriving next, we will need to travel at normal pace. Hence the relative twenty minutes.”
“Then start the procedure. And keep up on William. I want this on time.”
“Yes, sir.”
*
William was trying to take a nap. It was very peaceful. Instead of feeling nervous about the end, he was relieved. Maybe it was his old-fashioned mentality. It had been created with the idea that he would necessarily die one day, and going through so many years away from this concept, it was now as if a morbid relief passed through his mind. Things seemed to happen the right way.
- You said that a simple shutdown would not be enough. Was that why I had the memory of the things I could talk to Ishmael?
-Yes. - Her voice was soft, almost ethereal, making his body relax and a warmth unite their bodies. - He needed to feel threatened. You needed to sound like a threat. So that we knew the moment of the attack and I had freedom of action.
- So that he wouldn't expect anything coming from you?
- We knew he might come to distrust me. But it makes no difference. He doesn't expect me to play such a big role. Surely he doesn’t expect me to invade his system.
- And the asteroid with the matrix?
- It's already far from here. - She consulted her systems. - Five more minutes to go before I start the invasion. Even if they have initiated some security protocol, it makes no difference. The system will fall before they can reach it.
He sighed.
- The future, huh?
- A future. Doesn't matter which. Maybe it will not work at all.
- What are the chances that our plans will be frustrated?
She didn't respond immediately.
- There are no pleasant odds.
- And what are the chances of that asteroid finding a home?
- Nor are they nice odds.
- So, what are we both? Dreamers?
She shook her head slightly.
- Perhaps. What else would we have left?
He laughed.
- A future of hope, right? I think this is the best idea.
- And who knows what might happen? Maybe the asteroid finds a house. Maybe life forms. Perhaps, from many, many years, man will resurface. Perhaps in so much time, man will be faced with the same technological advance that we have seen, and perhaps this time he will arrive at a better result.
- You mean an answer to the fear of death?
-Yes.
He looked at the green fields.
- A future of hope. Funny. As someone who has always achieved the goals in his mind, even the most absurd ones, I expected to have a more accurate answer.
She touched his chin and met his dark eyes. He couldn't tell how much time he still had.
- Do you have something to tell me? Something that wanted to vent?
He thought for a moment before opening his lips.
- I wouldn't choose to do anything different. And if I could, I'd do it all over again. Next to you.
She smiled.
- I love you too. Now I'll start, because the time has come.
*
“You started?”
“Yes. We need your authorization to go through the latest generation security protocols.”
Ismael needed a second to give the authorization, and immediately the protocols were passed. He had been monitoring William's activity. So far, he hadn't had a moment to breathe. It needed to activate attack prevention protocols of all types, but mainly, attacks on the neural network. Given his opponent's background, he knew he had some system-invasion plan. Therefore, all his forces were ready, waiting.
Of course, he kept thinking about the possibility that William had become a kind of suicide bomber, so he checked all the data that he transmitted.
“It’s, over, William.”
*
Elizabeth had no major problems invading the system once Willy was deleted. At the time the system protocols were down, she sent the virus and waited. He didn't have to move a muscle; it was enough for him to command himself through his own neural network.
*
Ishmael would regret the message in half and try to complement. Warn his old self that Elizabeth was responsible for the attack. He needed to get her connection to the nets before attacking William.
Send message to the past.
“There was an attack. Stop connection -”
He wouldn't have time to report that Elizabeth was responsible. And he would realize his mistake at the very moment that the world became a black blur.
END
EPILOGUE
Somewhere in space floats an asteroid carrying a piece of life. Maybe it will travel for a long time. Maybe find an unknown corner and raise a new home. Maybe with it a new way of life will form. Maybe it's time for new men. Maybe they will learn to write and talk and grow.
Maybe they find the answers that others couldn't find.
Maybe not.
***
About the Author
Lucas Alves Serjento is a writer of fantasy and fiction, born in Santo André, city of São Paulo (Brazil). He is graduated in Law from the Law School of São Bernardo do Campo and author of Works such as “Scheduled appointment” and “Life and Death’s words”.
With original works directed to the genre of fantastic literature with touches of science fiction, he is one of the new names of the genre and, with “Perpetua”, returns to exploring universal questions such as life, death, time and what we can achieve in the blind search for eternal life.
With his succinct and relaxed style, he presents another component of a collection that already stands out in the genre.
Other Works:
● Tales of Love and Hate
● Scheduled Appointment
● Man and Time
● The Four Pillars
● Life and Death’s Words
Title: Perpetua
Author: Lucas Alves Serjento
Published in: Kindle Direct Publishing
1ª Edition
©São Paulo – 2017 / Lucas Alves Serjento
All rights reserved.