by Ryk Brown
“I’m sure it could, assuming everything was in proper working order,” Connor replied. “I mean you’ve got the wrong guy. I’ve never made a close-in jump like that. Hell, I’ve never even jumped in at less than ten thousand meters, let alone less than ten.”
“I’m afraid you misunderstood me, Captain,” the general said. “I was not going to ask you to perform the jump. My intention was to ask Mister Hayes.”
“Josh?” Connor’s brow furrowed. “Seriously? I mean, he’s a good pilot… Okay, he’s a great pilot, but…ten meters?”
“He has done it in less,” Jessica assured Connor.
Connor looked at Jessica. “Really?”
Jessica nodded.
Connor shook off his surprise. “But you said you needed me and my ship. If you don’t need me to pilot her, what is it you need me for?”
“Cap’n!” Dalen hollered excitedly as he came jogging around the port engine nacelle. “They’ve got a crew ready to start repairs on our ramp! They’ve got new struts, new braces…the works! They even want to replace the port shield generator for us! With a brand new unit!”
“Actually, we were planning on replacing all three of your shield generators,” General Telles corrected. “It is important that your ship be in top condition for the mission.”
“I haven’t even agreed to the mission, yet,” Connor argued.
“Nevertheless, we would still like to proceed with the repairs,” the general insisted. “It is the least we can do, considering the sacrifices you have made for us all, in the past.”
“Right,” Connor shrugged. He took in a deep breath and sighed. “All right. Sure. Why not. Repair whatever you like, as long as I can still turn you down.”
Dalen jumped for joy, then turned around and headed forward again, disappearing from view.
Connor looked over at Josh and Loki in the distance. His young pilot was usually quite animated, but now he appeared subdued. “You still haven’t told me why you need me on this mission of yours,” Connor reminded the general.
General Telles looked at Jessica. “Perhaps you should explain it to him?”
Jessica nodded. “Walk and talk?” she asked Connor. She noticed his confusion. “Please, Captain. Take a walk with me, while I explain further.”
* * *
Dumar studied the digital map of the Ranni Enterprises Research and Development Lab. “It is an impressive facility,” he admitted. “I can see why Deliza did not want to move the project off-world. The cost would have been astronomical, and I doubt it would have been any more secure.”
“It was a difficult decision for her,” Doran assured him, “as it was going against her promise to Jessica. But she felt it was for the best. Had she spent the bulk of her resources to relocate the project, we would still be years from completion. And had her business dealings gone sour, we might not have been able to afford to continue the process to its end stage.”
“And you are at the end stage now?” Dumar asked.
Doctor Sato sighed, unsure of how to respond. “We expected to go through one more cloning cycle, to be honest. Perhaps even two…just to be sure. This version still has only eighty percent of the genetic adjustments needed to ensure a successful restoration of Captain Scott’s memories and personality.”
“There is also the issue that we would be transferring a consciousness that came from a genetically different host.”
“But he is the same, he is a clone, is he not?”
“The word is often misunderstood,” Doctor Megel explained. “The person we all know as Nathan Scott does not currently exist. At least not as a whole person. His body exists, yes. In fact, the body that knows itself as Connor Tuplo is an exact replica of the body of Nathan Scott, based on the DNA sample taken from him just before his death. That body is what most people understand a clone to be. We, on the other hand, refer to such exact copies as replicas, which is precisely what they are. Physical copies that do not carry the essence of the original. In other words, the original version’s consciousness, or what some people refer to as a soul.”
“But this Connor Tuplo, he looks like Nathan?” Dumar wondered.
“Yes, he looks like Nathan Scott,” Doctor Sato replied. “He even acts like Nathan Scott, or at least, very similar. But he is not Nathan Scott. Not in the true sense.”
“We believe that the personality, the emotions, and the memories are what makes up the human soul,” Doctor Megel explained. “Personality influences emotions, emotions influence memories, memories influence personality…they are all closely intertwined. To be complete, all three must be working together. Besides his physical appearance, Connor Tuplo has Nathan Scott’s personality, and his emotions, but not his memories.”
“And why not?” Dumar asked, trying to follow along.
“Centuries ago, the entire population of Nifelm were simple clones. We were grown to adulthood and awakened, but without the memories of those who had come before us. The personality and the emotions were both largely genetic, with some influence due to life experiences. We were essentially starting over with each cloning cycle. It wasn’t until we discovered a method to transfer our memories from one body to the next that we were able to achieve something akin to immortality.”
“Was that your goal all along?” Dumar wondered.
“For the original research colony that started more than one thousand years ago, yes. But after the bio-digital plague ravaged the core, it became a means of survival. But because we had not yet discovered the means of transferring our memories from replica to replica, our progress was greatly hindered. We were only able to continue based on the notes of our predecessors, without the experience, wisdom, and instinct that they had developed.”
“And how did you achieve this?”
“As I explained, the personality and emotions of a human being are largely genetic, but are shaped by their life experiences, which, of course, are stored as memories. It was a matter of transferring memories from replica to replica. The issue to overcome was the fact that each person’s brain cells were unique. Far more so than anyone imagined. We had to find a way to make them uniform, from person to person, as well as to make them fit a structure compatible with the technology used for the transfer,” Doctor Megel explained. “That is why we have been recloning him. In order to get his body into a genetic state that will give him the best chance of having fully restored memories. To become Nathan Scott once again, and not a mere replica.”
Dumar sighed. “If you knew this to be a problem, why did you even go through with the process to begin with?”
“That is a question you should be asking Jessica,” Doctor Sato said.
“I believe I already know the answer,” Dumar replied.
“Honestly, we did not think the original restoration process would go as poorly as it did,” Doctor Megel said. “We could not have anticipated the problems the Corinairan nanites would cause. That is part of the reason we kept the project here, on Corinair, where nanite expertise was more readily available.”
Dumar thought for a moment. “I do not believe it will be too difficult to get into your lab,” he explained, changing the subject. “However, getting out the clone and all your equipment, which I assume is a rather sizable amount, will be problematic.”
“How are we going to even get a ship large enough down to the surface?” Doran wondered.
“Yes. The moment any ship jumps into the system, the Jung will be all over it,” Dumar agreed. “That is why the ship must jump in low, and into concealment.”
Doran’s eyebrow shot up. “I’m assuming you have such a place in mind?”
“The Crystal Caverns,” Dumar said. “They are not far from here. Perhaps half a day’s journey. They are quite large, and the opening is equally massive.”
“I have been to those caverns,” Doran
said. “They are not as big as you might think.”
“They are big enough,” Dumar insisted. “But that still doesn’t solve the problem of getting the clone, and all the equipment out of the city.”
“Maybe we don’t have to,” Doctor Sato suggested.
* * *
“I know this is probably difficult for you,” Jessica said as they walked away from the Seiiki and toward the hangar office.
“You think?” Connor replied with a hint of sarcasm.
“Tell me something, in all honesty.” Jessica stopped walking and turned to look at him. “Don’t I look at all familiar to you?”
“Are you supposed to?”
Jessica sighed.
“I’m sorry,” Connor said, realizing her disappointment.
“That’s alright. I guess I was just hoping that a part of you would have made the connection by now,” Jessica said.
“The connection?”
“You see, you still have Nathan’s memories locked up inside of you. They’re just blocked off, by some genetic wall, or something. Sato and Megel explained it to me at least a dozen times, but I still don’t completely get it.”
“You think you don’t get it?”
Jessica smiled. “You are so much like him. Except for the beard, of course.” She sighed again. “God, I’ve missed you.”
They continued their stroll toward the hangar in silence. When they reached the door, Connor held it open for her. “Were we close?”
“Yes,” Jessica replied, “at one time, very much so.”
“Wow. Now I’m really sorry I don’t remember you.”
“This is really weird,” Jessica admitted as they entered the office. “Give us the room,” she instructed the people inside. After they left, she sat down. “You know, I’ve thought about this day for seven long years, ever since you surrendered yourself to the Jung.”
“No disrespect to your friend, but why would anyone do that?”
“He… You…were doing so to prevent an all-out war.”
“I know,” Connor said. “I mean, I know the story. I’ve heard people talk about it. I’ve heard Josh talk about it. And talk, and talk about it. But weren’t you already in an all-out war? I mean, if the Jung haven’t been able to do anything until now, doesn’t that prove his surrender was unnecessary?”
“Or it proves that it was,” Jessica countered. “The Jung have a lot of ships, and I mean a lot. When I left the Sol sector, intelligence estimates put their numbers at a minimum of one hundred ships within one hundred light years of Earth. And we strongly suspected they had ventured out deeper into the galaxy as well. For all we knew, there were hundreds more ships out there.”
“But they were all FTL ships, right?” Connor surmised. “Which means it would have taken decades for the Jung to mass them into a coordinated strike on Alliance space.”
“Right on both counts.”
“Again, then, his surrender makes no sense. The result would have likely been the same.”
“Except that millions, possibly billions of people—innocent people, I might add—would already be dead. Nathan knew that. He had no way of knowing if it would work, in the long or the short term. If he had, I’m sure the decision would have been much easier. But regardless of whether he was right or wrong, he did it for the right reasons. You did it for the right reasons.”
“I’m still not convinced I did it. That I’m him,” Connor reminded her.
Jessica thought a moment, studying him. Even through the beard, she could still see Nathan’s face. The eyes, the cheeks, the chin. She had even seen a hint of that same smile that always engendered trust. “They said you might have flashes of memory.”
“Who said?”
“Doctors Sato and Megel.”
Connor’s eyes lit up. “I remember them. They were my doctors at the hospital on Corinair. They were in charge of my recovery after the crash.” A realization hit him. “Are you saying…”
“They were the doctors who cloned you.”
Connor shook his head in disbelief. “I was under the impression that cloning was frowned upon on Corinair.”
“Actually, they have been cloning human organs and tissue on Corinair and throughout the Pentaurus sector for centuries,” Jessica explained. “Just not complete human beings. The doctors that cloned you were from Nifelm.”
“Never heard of it,” Connor admitted.
“Sol sector. Everyone there are clones.”
“Are Sato and Megel from Nifelm?”
“Yup.”
“Then, they’re…”
“Yup.”
Connor sat for a moment, letting the new knowledge sink in. “So, I was cloned by clones?”
Jessica smiled. It was the first time he had spoken about himself as if he believed her. “Yup.”
Connor noticed her smile. “Slip of the tongue. I still don’t believe it.”
“So, you’re telling me you never have flashes of memories? Memories you don’t recognize? Memories you can’t make sense of?”
Connor sighed. “Yes, I have them. But they’re not the kind you’re thinking of. They’re about my family. My parents, my sisters, my older brother. At least, that’s who I think they are. They could all be neighbors, or kids I went to school with, or actors I saw in a vid-play or something. Nothing about space battles and the like.” Connor looked at her. “And, unfortunately, nothing about you.”
“Or, they could be memories of your real family.”
“Real as in Connor Tuplo’s, or Nathan Scott’s?” Connor said. “I suppose that’s the real question.”
“Well, at least you’re willing to ask it,” Jessica said comfortingly. “That’s a start.”
Connor sat back in his chair, thinking. “Suppose, for argument’s sake, I believe you. Why now? Why not a month ago? Six months ago? Or six years ago?”
“They’ve been working on a way to completely restore your memories.”
“They can do that?” All of sudden, Connor was curious. “I thought clones were just copies. Like empty shells that had to learn everything all over again.”
“Sound familiar?” Jessica asked.
Connor frowned, not liking the comparison. He remembered waking up that day six years ago, with no memory of who he was, or what had happened. It was a terrifying feeling, one he wished he could forget.
“Sorry.”
“So, the Nifelmians can transfer the memories from one clone to another. Then why don’t I have Nathan Scott’s memories?”
“The Nifelmians have been genetically engineered over generations to make it possible to transfer chemically stored memories from one host to another. In this way, they have achieved a type of immortality. They just transfer their memories from clone to clone. Doctor Sato is over three hundred years old. Or, her memories are.”
“That’s hard to imagine,” Connor said. “So, my genetics weren’t right. If that was the case, then why try to clone me?”
“Because they thought they could overcome the problem, and at least give you most of your memories back,” Jessica explained.
“Did anyone think to ask me? I mean, him? Nathan?”
“We did. You said yes. I mean, he said yes.”
“So, now you’re asking me. Is that it?”
“No, we already asked you,” Jessica said. “Six years ago, when you first woke up as a clone. Your memories were tattered. They were there, but they were disconnected, full of holes. The connections kept coming and going. It was driving you mad. You begged us to fix it, but we couldn’t. Finally, Doctor Megel suggested that they wipe your memories and let you believe you were someone else. He offered you the solution, and you took it, but only on the condition that they continue their research on your full restoration.
To make you Nathan Scott again.”
“So, there is no Connor Tuplo, from Rakuen?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“And I never went to flight school?”
“Well, you did, but not on Rakuen. On Earth, at the EDF Academy in North America.”
Connor leaned forward, burying his head in his hands. “This is really a lot to deal with,” he admitted. “And I’m still not sure I believe any of it. Hell, I don’t even know whether or not I want to believe it.”
“Don’t you want to know who you really are?” Jessica asked.
“That’s just it. I don’t. I don’t know. As Connor Tuplo, my life is pretty mundane, but it’s not a bad life. I have my own ship. I get to travel. I’m my own boss.”
“You were stranded on Haven,” Jessica reminded him. “You were probably a few weeks away from eating molo for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“Molo isn’t that bad.”
“Yeah, it is,” Jessica insisted. “It really is.”
“We would have found a way off of that rock, eventually,” Connor argued. “Besides, I’m not sure being this Nathan guy is all that appealing. It sounds as if he’s had a hell of a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders. How do I know I even want to have his memories? They might not be all that good.”
“I’m not going to lie to you,” Jessica said. “I was there with you, every step of the way. And I’ve got a lot of really bad memories that I wish I could forget. Hell, they almost drove me over the edge. Had it not been for the Ghatazhak training, I don’t know what would have become of me. But despite all that, I wouldn’t give up any of it. Because those memories, the good and the bad, are what makes me, me. The Nifelmians are right. Personality, emotions, and memory. All of them make you who you are. Without all three of them, you are incomplete. And I think deep down inside, you know it. You know there is a piece of you missing, Nathan. And until you find it, you won’t be whole. That’s why you made Sato and Megel promise to keep working on a way to unlock your memories.”