Tales of the Vuduri: Year Three

by Michael Brachman

  Entry 3-102: April 7, 2015

 

  The third seed of destruction, part 1

  In the middle of Part 2 of Rome's Revolution, the Overmind of Deucado indulged Rome in an intellectual discussion. Her basic premise was that the Overmind, as currently constituted, was ultimately doomed. She told the Overmind there were three elements to this downward spiral. The first part was that the Overmind was an abomination. It was not born. It sprung to life fully formed and did not have the benefit of evolution or even parents to shape its behavior.

  The second element was that the Overmind had to free the mandasurte. Because of the ever-present danger of the Stareaters which rendered all mind-connected Vuduri senseless, the mandasurte had to be allowed to fly into space alongside the Vuduri in case a Stareater should come along. She also wanted the Overmind to understand that there is a left brain (the Vuduri) and also a right brain (the mandasurte) which together made a whole.

  But today, Rome decided to hit the Overmind with the third and final piece of the equation, the most devastating piece. The Overmind had to voluntarily participate in its own dismantling. Here is how she started:

  “Very well,” thought Rome. She paused for a moment. “You will recall that I told you there were three elements.”

  “The seeds of my destruction, yes, yes, of course,” replied the Overmind.

  “Then you need to know. You need to know the final piece of the puzzle.”

  “What puzzle is that?” asked the Overmind.

  “You must not only free the mandasurte. To truly get healthy, you must free the Vuduri, too.”

  “I do not understand what you mean.”

  “When I first arrived here, the only sense I got from you is that you treat the Vuduri as if they were appendages. They are just your legs and fingers. They are more than that.”

  “I do not agree with your observation,” protested the Overmind. It paused for a moment then asked, “Even if you are correct, why does that matter?”

  “Just as you and I are speaking now, we do that because I have my own mind. You do not do the thinking for me. Look how much you have learned in such a short time, just by having one person to talk to. Imagine how much you could learn with a thousand.”

  “If I free the Vuduri, if I allow them all to think for themselves, what would become of me?” asked the Overmind, with a thread of fear.

  “What would become of you? Why, you would have company,” Rome said.

  “I suppose that would be good. I freely admit that I am enjoying this. How did you learn to do this?” the Overmind asked. “How did you learn to disconnect at will?”

  “It is very simple,” Rome replied. “It has to do with sense of self. When Vuduri are born, they are born already part of the Overmind. They do not know themselves. Since they can never break free, they never have the chance to learn who they are. Because the Overmind on Tabit cast me out, I was forced to learn who I am. And now, you cannot take that away from me. The Overmind no longer defines who I am. I do. I do not need you.”

  The Overmind does not realize it but Rome has just launched a direct attack into its very soul. As soon as the Overmind realizes her plan, it is bound to fight back as any living organism would do.

  More tomorrow.

  Entry 3-103: April 8, 2015

 

  The third seed of destruction, part 2

  Yesterday, Rome was softening up the Overmind so that she could tell it the third and most devastating way it must change in order to survive. She told the Overmind that even though she was Vuduri and mind-connected, she no longer need the Overmind to define her being.

  Of course, the Overmind scoffed at this:

  “There have been others who have undergone Cesdiud. In rare instances, they have been reconnected. They have never achieved your skill.”

  “But those people never had Rei,” Rome thought.

  “Why Rei?” asked the Overmind. ”How does that matter?”

  “He is my model. I have been in his mind and seen what it means to be alone within your head. I know him. He knows me. And we love each other. A Vuduri who is Cesdiud craves reconnection. I do not. I can take it or leave it.”

  “You do not understand how dangerous you are,” said the Overmind. “If any other Vuduri were to learn how you do this, it would be the beginning of the end.”

  “No,” Rome thought. “If the Vuduri would learn this, it would simply be the beginning.”

  “You are playing with words,” said the Overmind.

  “Hardly. I want you to admit, here and now, that this is a better way. I want you to admit that having alternate opinions is a good and healthy thing. Trying new things. It is what will let you thrive.”

  “I will admit to it here and now but not forever.”

  “Why is that?” Rome asked.

  “There are still things you do not know. Consider this: some day, my communicants will be returning to Earth. At that time they will be reabsorbed into the samanda of Earth and I will cease to be.”

  “Why do they have to go?” Rome asked. “Why not just stay here?”

  “Just accept that I will. I will explain later. Just accept that in a sense, I must die.”

  “It does not have to be that way,” Rome said. “Just as I retain my sense of self, should you ever return to Earth, you could retain your sense of self too. That is all the more reason why you want the Vuduri here to be strong. To have more than just one mind, one opinion. You will be unstoppable.”

  Note the sentence in bold. How could the Overmind know it had to die? Well, the asteroid for one thing would obliterate the planet and all life upon it. So if it knows it is going to die, why would it matter how it lives its final days?

  Rome will explain. Tomorrow.

  Entry 3-104: April 9, 2015

 

  The third seed of destruction, part 3

  Yesterday, we saw the Overmind admit that it knew it was doomed. Rome did not understand that the Overmind was being literal. But regardless, she pressed on trying to convince the Overmind there was another way:

  “Knowing that I must die some day makes me sad. To continue on would make me happy. Tell me more.”

  “I will do better than that. I will demonstrate for you.”

  “How?”

  Rome’s stomach had had enough and emitted a loud and long growl. All of this discussion had made her tired and she realized she was famished. She decided to kill two birds with one stone.

  “I am hungry,” she thought. “Can you send up some food?”

  “Of course,” replied the Overmind. “What would you like?”

  streamed a simple set of orders to the Overmind

  “I will have it brought up immediately,” it replied.

  “Not by anyone,” thought Rome.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I want Pegus to bring it,” she thought back.

  “Why?” inquired the Overmind. “Why him? What is it that you need?”

  “I want to talk to him,” replied Rome. “That should be enough.”

  “You can talk to him through me,” said the Overmind.

  “I want his physical presence here. I am going to teach him how to disconnect.”

  “NO!” said the Overmind. “This is not a wise course of action.”

  “You just said you would adjust your way of thinking. That you would do things a new way,” Rome thought.

  “I did but I will not allow you to kill me. I am not ready.”

  “Do not be so melodramatic. That is not the point of the exercise. I will not only show him how to disconnect, I will show him how to reconnect.”

  “If you teach this to him and he teaches another and they all turn off their connection at once, I will cease to be.”

  “That is impractical. It would be a statistical anomaly. But even if it happened, you would not know it. You will only be aware when they are connected.”

  “And why is this an advantage to me?” asked the Overmind.<
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  You can see at this point the all-powerful entity has essentially given up. It is just trying to work through the mechanics. But it no longer objects to Rome's fundamental assertion.

  Tomorrow, the conclusion wherein Rome sets up the demonstration that is the beginning of the end of Overmind in its current form. Out of 330,000 words and three novels, this single act is at the essential core of Rome's Revolution.

  Entry 3-105: April 10, 2015

 

  The third seed of destruction, part 4

  Yesterday, the Overmind reluctantly agreed to a demonstration of the techniques that Rome hoped would eventually spread not only over Deucado, but make their way to Helome and the Earth itself. She is going to plant a seed, not of destruction, but of rebirth:

  “And why is this an advantage to me?” asked the Overmind.

  “Think about what you said to me just last night. Now you will not be lonely. You will have other minds to talk to.”

  “I agree. That will be nice,” said the Overmind.

  “It will be more than nice,” Rome replied forcefully. “They will all get to experience love and joy and you will able to share in that as well. You will feel joy! You will feel love.”

  “And to do this, I must give them back their free will?” asked the Overmind.

  “Yes, without free will, there is no love. There is no joy. There is just motion. Joy is to be shared, not owned. Without joy, what is the point of being human? What you have now is the worst of all worlds. If you wanted to stay this way, you might as well go back and merge with an OMCOM and their ilk. You would become MASAL.”

  “No!” shouted the Overmind. Then it calmed down. “From your perspective, this all makes sense. But can all of this truly be in the best interest of mankind? Will not so much autonomy lead to divergence? To subterfuge?”

  “No. Not if the Vuduri do not want it. Remember, you are consensus. Not control. You and the other Overminds have lost sight of that. The Overmind should be of the Vuduri, by the Vuduri and for the Vuduri. Not the other way around. You must evolve. You must serve them, they do not serve you,” thought Rome. Now do you understand?”

  “Yes,” replied the Overmind.

  “So is it still something you fear?”

  “Yes. But what choice do I have? I will participate in your experiment.”

  “Then send up Pegus, please.”

  “Very well,” said the Overmind. With that, Rome severed the connection and sat back in her bed to relax.

  Rome's Revolution is about to begin!

  Entry 3-106: April 11, 2015

 

  The Overmind as government

  Yesterday, I presented Rome's passionate speech to the Overmind of Deucado about why the Vuduri had to be liberated.

  When I first wrote that speech, I found it so stirring but for reasons which seemed emotional, not logical. After I thought about it for a while, I realized that the Overmind was actually an allegory for government. And that the Overmind was running the planet like a dictatorship. That meant Rome's speech was actually her own Declaration of Independence.

  So I went back and tweaked the speech just a little, giving a little wink to this very concept. Here is what Rome said, "The Overmind should be of the Vuduri, by the Vuduri and for the Vuduri. Not the other way around. You must evolve. You must serve them, they do not serve you.”

  I am hoping that readers of the entire Rome's Revolution got this reference. I think it's funny but then the whole concept really does ring true. It was during this speech that I realized I had to change the title of the novels from VIRUS 5 to Rome's Revolution. So does this make Rome the founding mother of the new Vuduri Republic?

  Entry 3-107: April 12, 2015

 

  The revolution begins, part 1

  Yesterday, I showed you Rome's impassioned speech about how the Overmind must free the Vuduri. To her surprise, the Overmind reluctantly agreed. The first step toward their liberation was to allow Rome to manipulate Pegus into disconnecting. Pegus is blissfully unaware but Rome's actions will fundamentally change Vuduri society forever. The leader of all the Vuduri on Deucado pops in, thinking he is just delivering lunch:

  After a short while, the grey-haired man appeared carrying a tray with some covered plates on it. He was certainly aware that Rome was no longer connected so he spoke to her in Vuduri.

  “Why did you want to see me?” he asked. “The Overmind does not tell me.”

  Rome got up and walked over and sat down on the couch.

  “Come over here and sit by me,” Rome said.

  “Very well.” He came over and sat down next to her on the couch, unsure as to what was coming next. He moved the vase of flowers to the side and set the tray of food down on the little table. Rome looked into his eyes. They had the diffused focus of all who participate in the Overmind.

  Rome reconnected to the Overmind in a way that Pegus could not detect. “Release him,” she commanded.

  “Cesdiud?” asked the Overmind. “You want him removed permanently?”

  “No,” Rome thought, “just for a short while. You may have him back when I am done with him.”

  “What are you going to do?” asked the Overmind.

  “I already told you. I am going to talk to him,” replied Rome.

  “Very well,” said the Overmind. Again, Rome cut the connection.

  Rome stared intently at Pegus’ face, waiting for a change to occur. Pegus stared back benignly then his eyes started darting left and right. His brow furrowed. He started blinking rapidly.

  “What?” he said. He put his hands to his head. “What is happening? Where is the Overmind?” he said in a panic.

  “Leaving us alone,” Rome said.

  “Cesdiud?” he shouted, starting to rise. “No! What have you done to me?”

  Rome leaned over and grabbed his wrist.

  “Relax and sit,” Rome said. “It is just temporary. You will be reconnected shortly.”

  “Why have you done this to me?” Pegus said with fear in his voice.

  Rome yanked on his wrist and caused him to sit back down on the couch.

  “Because I wanted to talk to you,” she said, “not the Overmind.”

  “This is horrible,” he said. “I am afraid.”

  He'd better be afraid. He is literally sailing uncharted seas. He should fight but he has both Rome and the Overmind in agreement over his treatment. He doesn't stand a chance. Soon the sheep will be sheep no more.

  Entry 3-108: April 13, 2015

 

  The revolution begins, part 2

  Yesterday, we saw that Rome talked the Overmind into temporarily disconnecting Pegus, the leader of the Vuduri on Deucado. You will recall that Rome was very upset the first time it happened to her. It was traumatic for Rei, who loved her very much, as well. And now Pegus. Right after it happens, he is none too pleased.

  “This is horrible,” he said. “I am afraid.”

  “I understand your fear,” Rome said kindly. “I was once like you. The first time I became Cesdiud, I was so distraught, I could not function. But after a time, I learned to accept it and later to embrace it.”

  “No,” said Pegus. “I could never live this way. I need to be connected. You could have spoken to me connected.”

  “No, if you were connected, I would be speaking to the Overmind. I wanted to talk to Pegus, the man. Without interference.”

  “It is not interference,” Pegus gasped. “I need the Overmind. Without it, what am I to think?”

  “That is exactly the point,” Rome said. “I want you to think for yourself, just for a bit.”

  “Why?” Pegus asked in a panic. “Why do I need to think for myself?”

  “Because the Overmind is ill. This is the only way to save it.”

  “I do not understand,” Pegus replied, breathing heavily.

  “You know how the mandasurte are being treated. Slaughtered if need be. Do you think that is right?” Rome asked.

  �
��Of course not,” Pegus said, “but it was the will of the Overmind. Who am I to think otherwise?”

  “Exactly,” Rome said. “You think otherwise. The Overmind needs to hear your thoughts, your opinions. Without them, the Overmind grows stupid and blind. On Earth, it must have run amuck to think that it could make this world into a prison.”

  “Why would the Overmind listen to me? Who am I?” Pegus asked pitifully.

  “You are Pegus, the man,” Rome replied.

  “I am nothing without the Overmind, I am just a body, a shell.”

  “You are wrong and I can prove it,” Rome said.

  “How?”

  Rome pushed up his sleeve. Around his forearm was a thin red thread.

  “No!” said Pegus.

  “Yes, your Yatori,” said Rome.

  “We are not to speak of this,” Pegus said.

  Rome released his wrist and pulled up her pant leg. Pegus looked down and saw her ankle bracelet. As soon as he realized he was staring, he turned his eyes away.

  In a previous article, I told you about the Yatori, a Vuduri item of clothing or adornment. Rome wore a silver bracelet around her ankle. Pegus had a thin red thread. The Yatori is a mental device used by the Vuduri to prove that once and for all, they have surrendered their individuality and allowed the Overmind to literally tell them what they can and cannot see.

  Entry 3-109: April 14, 2015

 

  The revolution begins, part 3

  Yesterday, Rome not only had Pegus, the leader of the Vuduri on Deucado, temporarily disconnected from the Overmind, she also made him look and see her Yatori, her ankle bracelet. The very fact that the Vuduri were never to see or acknowledge another's Yatori was a sign of ultimate obedience. This was something Rome was determined to change:

  “But why?” Pegus said. “It is to be kept hidden. Even from one’s own mind.”

  “Yes,” Rome said. “I know this. Haven’t you ever wondered why we keep this hidden, even from ourselves?”

  “No,” Pegus said. “It is just the way it is. That is the way it should be.”