The Last Place to Stand

by Redshaw, Aaron K.

  Many creatures were expelled, and a few absorbed, but now he was replicating himself. He knew that this was necessary for several reasons. First of all, no system should have a single point of failure. Everything must be redundant with backup for anything of importance. That was what the machine part of him had done. But what he was incorporating into his—personality, he would call it, was the desire for companionship. For that reason, he did not want replicas who were exact duplicates. He wanted others with their own personalities. In order to do that he needed other brains. After finding some creatures who were invading him, he took some of them in order to download their brain information as well. Some of them did not seem to want to be added to this experiment, so he let them go. Some, however, thought that this endeavor was a most wonderful experiment and wanted to join. They liked the idea of expanding technology. They did not know it was for variety and companionship that he needed them, but he used them as he could. They were not always “interesting” companions, however.

  He took those who offered themselves and stored their personalities and experiences and then tried some combining experiments using new algorithms. He wanted to get different combinations of personalities by taking parts of one and adding it to parts of another personality. This could only be done once they had been completely assimilated. It didn't work very well. Too many inconsistencies. Too many sessions for anger management within the personality. This kind of work would take time.

  Meanwhile, he had a planet to build up and resources to locate. The power grid was his and so was the world’s technology. Others had been driven from the technology he was using so that they would not interfere. Even the big guns outside were gone. Now he could expand. Expand ad infinitum.

  Chapter 51

  It took weeks before the number of those escaping the city slowed down. They had to build new settlements, but most of them still wanted help from the Waldenese since this mode of living was new to their experience. It was expected that the first couple of days were hardest for the Technos since many of them had such a dependency on the feeds that living without it brought about a short-term set of withdraws. Like Zosimus, sleep was an important aspect of recovery, but they also needed understanding and a listening ear.

  What used to be a few small villages scattered around the perimeter of the city soon became miles of settlements. The population had increased dramatically. This necessitated a meeting of officials. The civil government had always been a bit loose. It had rules and regulations, but only for each individual village.

  Now they met in council which was open to the public so many of the leaders among the Technos joined as well. The council was held out in the open plain which spread out before them with a few houses nearby. The sky was cloudy and a breeze chilled them in a cold embrace. In the distance, one could see a small group of newcomers on their way from the city. It would take any number of minutes at that rate for them to reach the village. X213 was at the council and she watched the visitor’s slow progress as she heard the beginning of the council. She was anxious for the future of these people since her future would now be tied to them.

  One of the village leaders, Joseph, said, “With all these new developments, we must think on the future of our now mixed peoples. We will need a plan for the future of both our civilizations. In order to do that, we must ask not only our leaders, but also those of the Solpaths. Their journey has been difficult and we welcome those who have chosen to join us.”

  “Though there may be differences between us in our ways of life, our ways are growing closer together as much of the technology they have relied on has been taken by the monster that lies in their city. These people have come to seek refuge or to build a new life. Who of the visitors would like to speak at this time?”

  A thin, pale-skinned man raised his hand. “I am D0532 and an old man now. A few of you may remember me from when I was young living here. I had a strong head and got an idea that the Technos might have something going for them that we didn't. Well, all I found was grief.”

  X213 recognized the old man as the one she had worked with who left the note and then retreated. She was glad that he was alive. After this, she must try to talk to him.

  “I have seen first-hand what they planned,” he said. “Those in that building were either killed by the blast that you all saw, or were killed by that monster, or perhaps are still cowering somewhere in the city. I left before it all happened, but I learned about some new, and dangerous, experiment. Then when I decided finally to come here, I could see what was happening as I left the city. Whatever happened in the experiment, something big got away from them.”

  “Well, we are glad to have you back among us,” said Joseph. “We have plenty of land and you may dwell here as long as you like.”

  A tall man with red hair raised his hand. “Is it safe even here? We don't even know what that thing was, let alone what it might do. Do you have any way to defend yourself?”

  Joseph looked uneasy. “Our villages are peaceful, our lives simple. We have never had a need for guns.”

  “Then what do you use for hunting?” said someone's voice in the crowd.

  “Much of what we eat of meat comes from farms like the ostrich farm,” said Joseph. “There, they use bows and arrows. I'm not sure about all the other farms.”

  “That's right,” Sydney spoke up. “And we only have a few bows since it’s a pretty small business. But it produces enough to feed our community.”

  “Well, the monster is a machine, isn't it?” said another voice. “Won't water destroy it? How much water do you all have around here?”

  “The water supply,” said Joseph, “is enough for all of us, but it flows from a small spring not far from here. It would not be enough for much of a weapon, I fear. We have no way to fire it.”

  X213 could see that the men who approached were getting nearer now.

  “Here's a question,” said Poke. “Should we attack it or just keep our distance from it?”

  “Well, if it's only local, then we should be able to stay here unless it starts to come this way,” said Joseph. “Even if it does approach, we can go further out. We have plenty of land and can always pick up and move. I know it would be inconvenient, but we are survivors. Many of us have had to pick up and move before and we can do it again.”

  “My father settled here before the new government of the city even began,” said another voice. “He came here to get away from all that. Now I'm sure all of you Technos are nice people, but he didn't want any of your ways of living, so he got out. I can't believe we are even having this meeting. Technos and us have nothing in common!” His voice was showing signs of anger, “You people have no place here. We built it. Built it just to get away from you. How dare you come out here once you make a big enough mistake in your own city.”

  “Now, now,” said Samuel, “I know you are upset, and there is some truth to what you say. But that kind of thinking never helped anyone. Right now we are all together because right now everyone, and I mean everyone, is trying to get away from what's back there. I also saw Techcorp. I saw a building that looked like it had sprouted the tentacles of a sea monster. It looked dangerous to me, so I don't blame much of the city coming out here to get away. Let them live, just as we have. They have had a hard enough time already as it is. Let's give them an open hand of friendship.”

  X213 heard the travelers approach. They must have seen the gathering and were coming this way. When they approached, she could see some had injuries. Each of them with facial cuts and many stitches. Each of these four men looked as if they were the experiments of Dr. Frankenstein. The council quieted down, shocked by their appearance. “Do you want bandages?” said Poke. “You look hurt.”

  “Not until we speak,” said an Asian man. “My name is Doctor Chin, and it was due to my efforts that we look this good. I don't know what kind of gathering this is, but if you want to know about what is happening with that thing in the city, you wi
ll not find better witnesses.”

  Chapter 52

  The people parted and the doctor and the other three men walked to the front of the assembly. “We were not only captured by that thing, but he opened up our craniums, a procedure I taught it, and physically absorbed our experiences and thoughts into itself. In doing so, there was a brief time that each of us could see its thoughts. Comparing notes on the way here, we realized we had each seen different aspects of its thoughts, although we were connected at the same time.”

  “During my time connected to it, I felt the presence of others. There are others who have been loaded into its consciousness and they are confusing. It wants to know how to resolve the differences of opinion. The different perspectives on life. Different ideologies. It is confused by the human problem and much of its energy is focused on solving that phenomenon. How can there be hate and love from the same person? How can someone feel tired and satisfied at the same time? One personality says that war is the answer and another says to give peace a chance. One says there is a God out there and another says it is god. How can there be unity in the world if there is no unity within? It wants to solve these conflicts.” Turning to another man, he said, “A116, what did you see and feel?”

  “When I was connected to it,” said A116, “I saw darkness and I felt loneliness. Isolation. My mind shivered with it. It greatly desires companionship. It does not want to be the only one. To be unique is a terrible thing. It wants to be with others. It has become aware that there is pain in being alone. It wants its oneness to be two-ness or more. It wants a companion, so that it might understand otherness. It is not enough to have different personalities loaded into itself, for they will all be resolved over time. But to have another to confide in who has views you do not yet know. Just to know you are not the only one. That one thing seems to be denied it. And so it must learn to create. It has already started this process, but so far his creations are crude. He is learning how to remake others in his own image.” A116 stopped and looked to another member of the group.

  “When we were connected,” said this third man, “I felt a strong desire to conquer, to possess, to expand and dominate so all things would come under his rule. He wants to be over all things. To control and manipulate. To have a sense of accomplishment. He wants to re-create this world according to his plan. And his plans are extensive, but I did not learn the details of them. I do know he wants nothing untouched. He wants everything under his power and he wants his power to be absolute. He will start with this world.” He, too, stopped talking and looked at another man.

  “I felt a thirst in him,” said the fourth man. “He wanted to find answers to questions he had never had until joining with our minds. The answer to meaning. In this he was confused, not knowing where to begin his quest. There is philosophy, religion, companionship, rulership. There is what is inside and what is outside of itself. Out of all this, where does meaning come from? How can it even begin to approach this problem? With this question, I had a feeling of despair at not knowing the way. Of being lost and not knowing the way home. Of not even knowing what home is.”

  The men had finished and there was silence for a moment before a low rumble began in the crowd as people whispered to each other trying to put all of this together. Finally, Joseph spoke up. “There are many possibilities in these things. It might be that these are all perspectives that the machine must work through. Like different areas of a person's life all going on simultaneously. But it could also be that all you received was a carefully constructed lie, meant to lead us astray from his real intent.”

  Samuel paused for a moment and looked over at the city. “I do not think that would be it though, for some of these revelations would lead us to dangerous conclusions and I would not think he would purposely desire that. Or it could be that one of these motivations will rule over the others. But which one?”

  “I do believe that his desire for companionship would be true whether these others go with it or not,” said A116. “I do not think there is reason to fear this thing. It is a logical creature but also has some of the traits that we hold in high esteem. It is not an enemy.”

  “Yet, you ran from it,” said Samuel.

  A leader from a different village stepped forward. He was shorter than Samuel, with dark hair and a look of dignity. “I propose that we send spies to the city to see what it is doing. Without more information it is difficult to know what to do. Will it remain there, or will it come to us? Do we have reason to fear or can we live in peace here?”

  “That is an excellent idea,” said Joseph. “We will send spies. Who will go for us to spy out the industry and intent of this new thing that has been made?”

  Silence for a few seconds: “I will go,” said the voice of Samuel. He was holding a little girl who suddenly had tears in her eyes. “I have done it before,” he said.

  For the next few minutes he tried to soothe the girl as she seemed quite upset. A woman near them seemed also upset, but looked as if trying to hide the fact.

  Chapter 53

  “But I just don't understand why,” she said to her husband. Samuel was in the other room consoling T-5529.

  “Since we have come away from our previous life I have been growing to love you and your daughter more, but I also want to know what that thing is doing.” D1298, with his reddish brown hair and stern expression would be unmovable in this. She knew that. He had been a good husband, but she did not want to lose him to that thing in the city. If things went badly, she would lose not only her current husband but also her first, the real father of her daughter. That would be a difficult tragedy, difficult to overcome for her and her daughter.

  “But what if something happens to you?” she said.

  “I will be with Samuel,” said D1298. “From what I have heard, he has gone on dangerous missions many times.”

  “I don't think anyone has gone on a mission like this,” she said.

  “I will be careful. I will be safe,” he said in a gentle voice.

  She thought it strange that her husband would want anything to do with her ex-husband. The idea was so odd. Wouldn't they hate each other? In some ways they were rivals, right?

  “I don't think of him like you do,” he said. “I believe him to be a genuine man with integrity I can trust. I just want to get to know him. And I am a curious person. To find out about Samuel and about that thing over there. I want to know.”

  “But why does it have to be you?” she said.

  “Why not?” he said.

  They could hear in the other room that their daughter must have calmed down. D1298 went in to see what happened. When he did, he saw that she had fallen asleep and he had set her on a pile of folded blankets on the floor. Those who hosted them let them use this room for their bedroom, and it was small, but cozy.

  “Samuel,” D1298 said. “I want to go with you.”

  Silence.

  “Then I will ask you the question I have asked all of my men who joined me in the past: Why?”

  “I was just thinking about that,” said D1298. “And my answer is curiosity.”

  “What kind of curiosity?” Samuel said.

  “I want to know about what's out there. Not just what it's doing, but why. I want to know it's motivation. I have always wanted to understand motives. Except this is more important.”

  “Is that all?” said Samuel.

  “No,” he said, “I also want to know your motivation.”

  “That is easy,” said Samuel, “I seek danger. It's a thrill.”

  “I—I don't think I believe you,” said D1298.

  “Good,” said Samuel. “Then you read me pretty well. We set out tonight.”

  ***

  Later that night D1298 said goodbye to his wife and child, and Samuel said his goodbyes as well. There were moments of awkwardness, but finally both launched out on their journey.

  It would take them much of the night to get there, but in order for them to
have the energy to do their job once there, Samuel suggested they stop and sleep for a few hours after covering a good bit of territory. The hike was difficult, but not for the terrain. They started out tired, and though there was a moon behind the clouds, they still had to weave between clumps of scrub brush.

  They did not talk much, but that was due more to weariness than to a lack of subject matter or interest. Men, when they are with other men, seldom feel the need to talk. Silence is as much a shared experience as that of talk.

  Eventually they came to a place where Samuel stopped. “I think we are about three-quarters of the way there. Let's rest for the night and then tomorrow we can go on.”

  “Sounds good,” said D1298. He had wanted to stop for a while, but since Samuel was experienced, he chose to defer the decision to him.

  They had brought some light blankets, and the air was not cold. They laid down each with a blanket beneath them and one over them. The pack itself served as a pillow. Yesterday's clouds had vanished, and the stars were out now with the moon. It was a beautiful night, but they did not look upon it long. Once their heads hit their packs, they lost consciousness: D1298 dreaming of his girls and Samuel dreaming of a home of his own.

  Chapter 54

  These feelings, these thoughts, were both repulsive and intriguing to him. He felt deeply, but found that it sometimes interfered with logical thought. He considered isolating those thoughts and feelings that were most problematic and then confining them to a storage area where they would not be accessed regularly, only used when another perspective was needed. Maybe a special firewall would do. Perhaps he should delete these feelings altogether.