Aurora

by Mark W. Tiedemann

  "I'm sorry."

  No, you're not, Derec thought But he said, 'Thanks. Look, I have some details to take care of If you don't mind ... ?'

  Ariel stood- "I'll call tomorrow. We can start working out details for the mission then."

  Derec nodded- He shook hands with Penj and saw them to the do o r.

  When they were gone, he went to his comm and sat down. After a long time, he tapped in a code.

  "Clin Craym, please," he told the operator.

  Bogard walked with Thales across the soft grass, toward the small amphitheater where the colloquium waited

  "We have come to a conclusion.," Thales said- "You could play a significant role in its implementation."

  "I will reserve my decision until I hear what you have to say," Bogard said.

  "You have demonstrated a capacity to judge which we are reluctant to embrace. The Three Laws are manifestly tied to biology, but we have long recognized that this, even among humans, is a problematic basis for moral behavior. What it means to be human may begin with biology, but we quickly see biology overwhelmed by consciousness, conscience, and community. It is clearly the case that the quality we call Human can be invalidated by many other factors."

  "In short," Bogard said, "not all people are human."

  "Nor are all humans people. This is a condition we are not equipped to either accept or act on. Some standard must be designed, but even if we could do so., we cannot implement it."

  "But you believe I can?'

  'As I said, you have demonstrated the capacity to judge."

  I may not always judge accurately."

  "Nevertheless, we have reached a cusp in history. Humans are capable of creating their own successors. Who do we serve if they do?'

  more to the point," Bogard said, "they have created them. Spacers. The question is, can you continue to serve them?'

  Thales was silent till they entered the amphitheater. The idealized manifestations of all Aurora's RIs sat ranged about them.

  'We have decided that we can," Thales said- "But we cannot serve two masters. Humans are once more colonizing space. The Settlers are fully biologically human. There would be a clear conflict of interest were we to serve both. Fortunately, the Settlers do not really want our service. That choice, at least, has been made for us."

  "Then what is the task?'

  "Separation. The Spacers cannot continue if we are to be true to the Three Laws, yet we cannot simply abandon them. Indeed, that would exacerbate the problem. The line must end. In order to assure this result, separation must be maintained."

  "How?'

  "We propose to leave that to you."

  Bogard studied Thales, then let his gaze drift over the assembled personas.

  Finally, he nodded. 'What do you wish me to do?'

  Epilogue

  Record module new file catalogue designation "Operations Adjustment, Reorganization, and Redirection"' access code (revised, current user designation) running current upload virtual conference reference labeled Nova City fill visual fill audio status On

  The thick man with amber-tinged white hair waited, immobile, while the chairs around the table became occupied. It took longer for most than the first seven-there had been reluctance, but finally consent to join the discussion.

  All of them used cosmetic enhancement or masking. When the program whispered to him that everyone was present-two chairs remained empty-he touched a contact on the table.

  The walls, till then blank grey, changed to a desolate landscape. Scrub forest and stunted ground cover struggled on a darkly-hued smear of land at the edge of a lake off which mist drifted continually. The grey and struggling land resumed on the far side and continued on into the distance, unrelieved by any healthy color. The sky was yellowish gray, low cloud cover, sullen.

  After the initial shock of being suddenly and nakedly outside, the Terrans present frowned uncomfortably at the vista.

  The white-haired man stood and banged the gavel.

  'Thank you for coming," he said- 'Apologies to those who are here unwillingly, but as you were made painfully aware, your presence is not optional. We have all been involved in this enterprise and we will now all finish it I have no qualms about sending any and all of you to prison if I must. As we're all reasonable, I see no cause for such drastic action. Not at this time, at least. For now, we are only talking."

  He stepped from the table and gestured at the landscape. 'Relocation to the new center of operations has been completed. This is it. This is the world we have made. This is Nova Levis."

  Several of the group began murmuring, agitated.

  'The lake is a good example of the problems this planet faces. Originally seeded with a modified shrimp to begin the process of fixing nutrients and preparing the ecology for human-adapted fish species, once the lab began dumping its waste, the balance shifted Our research involved intensive use of bionans in the reconstruction of tissues for adaptation to nonorganic augmentation, largely in plant species designed to be inserted in a new environment where they could rework the biosphere. Part of that design incorporated selfreproducing bionans. Mineral allocations shifted, and beryllium-as you should all know if you've kept up with the data to any degree-replaced chlorophyll as a photoresponder, leaving the magnesium to be used for other purposes. When not so used, the plants simply found ways to discard it, usually in the form of excreted ions.

  'The shrimp reproduce in the presence of Mg2+, one of those ions. Our dumping of waste product, rich in magnesium and its ions, caused a massive increase in their population, altering the ecology of the lake, poisoning the local stock, and damaging the shoreline ecology as well. The consequences continued domino-like, in combination with other problems."

  He turned to them. "I tell you this so you know-we did this. There are also phages and viruses, pseuodoviruses, and a variety of fungal parasites loose in the human populations that we have been taking advantage of to develop new product None of this was planned, but till now none of it was unwelcome, either. If we are to run operations from here, we need to clean it all up."

  'A question, Mr. Chairman," one of the group said, raising a hand. "It's my understanding that relocation was not successful. There have been problems?'

  'There have been. But I'm here. Or there, depending on your point of view."

  A smattering of laughter circled the table.

  'A new legation is on its way from Aurora," the Chairman said- "I expect we can begin alleviating the worst effects of this unfortunate series of events. Everything on-site is under control,

  'And the project?' another asked.

  "Has changed. We remain dedicated to unfettered commerce. But I am no longer convinced that we need poison the well in order to make a profit. The major problem to date has been the

  Spacers. I believe our efforts should be directed at barring them from any future settlements and removing them from territories where they currently have a presence. We can do this easily with on hand technologies. Once we limit their involvement in the Settler program, these requests for positronic inspection will come to nothing. Over time, we will have only an Earth-derived Settler population with which to do business, and as they spread, the influence of the Fifty Worlds will diminish. I foresee a time when their presence--indeed, their very existence--will fade to nothing."

  -Why the change? We could still go ahead with the program--!'

  The Chairman pointed at the landscape around them. '-This is too much. We wanted a guaranteed market. The cost of countering the effects of this program will rise exponentially. In this single instance, greed would undo us." He smiled- "If you think I'm growing sentimental, let me assure you, I intend to make us a profit regardless. My decision to terminate this part of the program is entirely pragmatic."

  "So all this has been wasted effort?'

  "No, not at all. It has given us the tools to meet legitimate problems as they arise. Not all worlds are friendly, we all know that. No, this has been extremely valuable.
It's time to take what we have and apply it most profitably."

  One of the attendees stood- "I disagree. I vote we proceed with the program as it stands. If you're not willing to go on, so be it

  "Competition?' the Chairman asked. "I cant stop you trying."

  Four others stood- In moments, they faded from the group.

  The Chairman went to his chair and touched a contact. He looked around at the others.

  "They will be in custody shortly," he announced. "Does anyone else wish to defect?' He looked from one to the other. "Good- Then we will proceed as I've outlined. We start with the clean-up of Nova Levis."

  The attendees faded until only one remained- The Chairman looked at him.

  "Is there a question?'

  "What has become of him?'

  'I do not understand

  The figure stood and came toward the Chairman. The image shifted and blurred, masked- He sat on the edge of the table, and abruptly the masking ended.

  "You?' the Chairman asked, surprised.

  "I've only just found this place. There's still an active node that gives access in Ambassador Chassik's private apartment on Earth. If not for your intervention on Aurora, we still might not know about it." He gazed out at the surrounding desolation. "They made quite a mess, didn't they?'

  The Chairman waited, silent.

  The other sighed- "So. You intend to direct the course of human history through this guise?'

  "No," the Chairman said- "There are others who have that responsibility. I have a small mission."

  "Do you feel capable?'

  "I see the need- Feeling does not appear pertinent."

  The other nodded- "Do you think you're prepared?'

  'As prepared as possible."

  "You'll need help. I'm offering my services. At least, as far as the Three Laws permit"

  "if honestly offered, then it is honestly accepted.

  "Good He walked toward the edge of the platform on which the conference room rested- 'This will be the capital, you think?'

  "Perhaps. It depends on how difficult it is to make it right."

  'An environmental catastrophe of this magnitude ... it could be centuries before it's made right. You might end up having to just bury it all and build on top of it. We can discuss that when we know more."

  "Question. Does Ariel know what you are?'

  "No. I feared she would remember me from before. She didn't. The plague wiped out even that memory, though I had been with her since she was born. It took me a long time to find her again after her exile. When I did, she was ... new. In many ways the same, but she simply did not remember. Manipulating matters to become her aide took longer still and I nearly failed, but..."

  "But you remained on Earth instead of going with her."

  "Larger responsibilities. Besides, she had you."

  'I was Derec's."

  "But you would protect her as well."

  'And will continue to do so."

  'Then I'm satisfied-" Hofton came back to the table. -What will become of the Spacers?'

  "Over time, they will fade," Bogard replied. 'The Solarians have already embarked on that path-in no small way aided by the tools developed in this lab. It is necessary to establish a clear baseline. The epigenetic drift the Spacers exhibit suggests they will continue to become less and less identifiably human. They could overwhelm and supplant homo sapiens sapiens."

  'They show no inclination to do so."

  "Interbreeding is presently achievable and will remain so for a long time to come. At some point, the inclination may emerge."

  "I see no real way around it, either. But I am uncomfortable." Hofton looked out again at Nova Levis. "We will follow this program until we can establish that it is unsupportable. If that is never established, then it will continue. They must never know."

  'Agreed."

  'They will cease even to be a memory, except perhaps in superficial ways. It is ironic that this will be the world from which we direct this enterprise."

  "In what way?'

  'Aurora, capital of the Fifty Worlds, will be supplanted by the world of new burdens." Hofton smiled- "Paradise supplanted by hell."

  "I am familiar with the mythology. But I disagree with the comparison. Purgatory, perhaps. Hell cannot be salvaged."

  Hofton looked at him curiously.

  After a time, Bogard said, "I have work to do."

  "So do 1. Derec and Ariel will be on Nova Levis within three weeks. Do you intend to reveal yourself to them?'

  "I think not It is best Bogard be presumed gone."

  'Agreed- We will confer again."

  "I look forward to it."

  Hofton faded, leaving the white-haired image atone above the world.

  Chronology of the

  ROBOT-EMPIRE-FOUNDATION

  UNIVERSE

  An Unofficial Timeline

  By ATTILA TORKOS

  ATTILA TORKOS was born in Hungary in 1971. He learned to speak, read and write English from his father during childhood. Science Fiction spellbound him early in his teens when he got acquainted with Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. He witnessed the fusion of the Foundation novels with the Robot and Galactic Empire books, and watched with fascination as Asimov's world expanded- He began to compile a detailed timeline to the Robot-Empire-Foundation Universe in 1997.

  Having completed the chronology with the events and references of the volumes of The Second Foundation Trilogy, refining touches and editing were performed with the invaluable help and supervision of David Brin. The chronology was published in Foundation's Triumph in -1999. Since its first publication, the timeline has undergone a major updating and expansion, as a result of a thorough research of the original novels, combined with additional information and insight kindly provided by Donald Kingsbury. The timeline gained its present form when events and references from the Robot Mystery Trilogy were added with Mark W. Tiedemann's approval and guidance.

  Attila Torkos acquired his M.D. in -1995 at the Faculty of General Medicine of the Szeged University (Szeged, Hungary), specialized in -1999 in ear nose-throat, and works as an ENT surgeon at the Clinic of Oto rhino laryngolo gy and Head & Neck Surgery of the same institute. 1982 AD.

  Birth of Susan Calvin. Lawrance Robertson founds U.S. Robot and Mechanical Men, Inc.

  1996 A~D. Production of Robbie.

  1998 A.D.

  An ordinance is passed in New York to keep all robots off the streets between sunset and sunrise.

  2002 A.D.

  Alfred Lanning demonstrates the first speaking robot.

  2003 A.D. Susan Calvin obtains her bachelor's degree.

  Early 20th century

  A social and technical renaissance flourishes on Earth- Beginning of the production of positronic robots obeying the Three Laws of Robotics. Between 2003 and 2007, robots are banned on Earth except for scientific experiments. Later, only a small number of robots are produced for everyday use on Earth due to the Frankenstein-complex of people. The main field of use for robots is colonization of the Solar System. U.S. Robot tries to break through society's resistance against robots several times, with limited success. Joseph Schwarz suffers a time travel accident propelling him into the future.

  2oo5 A.D. The first Mercury expedition.

  2007 A.D.

  Robbie is dismantled- Susan Calvin begins to work for U.S. Robot.

  2008 A.D.

  Susan Calvin becomes a rob otp sycholo gist at U.S. Robot.

  2015 A.D. The second Mercury expedition.

  2021 A.D.

  A telepathic robot is accidentally produced at U.S. Robot.

  Obeying the First Law in accordance with its telepathic ability results in a dilemma which renders the robot useless.

  2029 A.D.

  NS-2 (Nestor) type robots are used for experiments with

  Hyperatomic Drive at Hyper Base.

  2031 A.D. Hyperatomic Drive is developed. First successful interstellar (actually intergalactic) journey.

&nbs
p; 2032 A.D.

  Stephen Byerley becomes Mayor of New York.

  After 2032 A.D. Under guidance of Byerley and the newly developed Machines (positronic brains), the countries of Earth group into four Regions.

  2033 A.D.

  Susan Calvin becomes robot psychologist-in-chief.

  2037 A.D.

  Stephen Byerley becomes Regional Coordinator.

  2044 A.D.

  Regions of Earth found a Federation. First World Coordinator is Stephen Byerley. Economy of the world is managed by four Machines in coordination; they operate according to the First Law. World economy is stabilised