by Kevin Gordon
not know. There is so much about Mal we do not know. If we are to advance, to evolve, we must understand Mal. We must learn what Mal has become, and at what cost.”
Uonil sat back. “As we have thought about what we have become, and at what cost.” She turned to Arciss. “We sacrificed too much in our pursuit of faith and devotion. I believe more and more that a union of Novan and Rell would bring about a balance beneficial to both our peoples. But it was the separation that made us understand that. I doubt we would have gained such a perspective if we never had split.”
“You each gained a maturity in your isolation,” said Odre. “Perhaps that is what we need. To isolate ourselves, and discover what would make us whole. The nature of the universe is one of life and death, an organic model. How does the eternal fit in with that?”
Arciss nodded, eager to converse further with the meta on such metaphysical concepts. “Every variable needs a constant. That is what Mal has become, a constant through the chaos of Novan life. Perhaps artificial lifeforms were meant to be stewards of the ephemeral, guardians of periods of existence fraught with turmoil and peril.”
“Such a position would be a temptation to abuse power.”
“True, if you had emotions,” cast Arciss.
“Would you trust your existence, the existence and development of your people, to us, for even a short period of time?” asked Odre, leaning forward.
Arciss thought for a moment. “I suppose you’re right. We know too little about Mal, and his ultimate motives and purpose. In desperate times, I would, but I would never willingly surrender my destiny to anyone devoid of passion.”
Odre smiled. “Thank you for your honesty.”
“The most important question is would anyone willingly surrender control, when the time is right?” asked Arciss, seeing some double meaning beneath the meta’s words. “When a being becomes like a Kal, able to decide the fate of untold billions, would such a being know when it was no longer needed?”
Unti was silent for a moment. “Could we speak privately with the Mentra?”
Uonil nodded to her advisors, who all walked out of the room.
“The only thing,” said Arciss, as he stood to leave, “that we can be certain of, is that this path was determined by the Kal-Durrell. They must have known all this would happen—OLMAC, the TELREC, your search for the meaning of your existence. It must be part of their design.”
“What is their design?” asked Unti.
“That is not for us to know,” he said, reflecting on the mysteries of Kal. “We are merely to follow, and use our resourcefulness to make the best of every situation, and hope we bring honor to their names.”
“What of Devring’s question? Where is the energy going, if it is true the branes are becoming intermeshed?”
Arciss stopped at the door. “That is not for us to know, only to deal with when the time comes.”
^Wait for me outside, Arciss,^ cast Uonil. ^There are still a few things we need to discuss.^
^Of course.^
Uonil focused on the meta as Arciss left.
“Why aren’t you coming to Suld’s assistance?” she demanded.
“We gave you our reason.”
“And I don’t believe that you were fully forthcoming with me.”
Unti remained silent for a few moments, and Odre powered down.
^It is time you were made aware of new developments.^
Uonil leaned forward. ^I take it only a few of your kind know?^ she asked, motioning to Odre.
^Yes. We do not want this information to spread uncontrollably. I was made aware of this information, but not Odre.^ He paused for a moment, anxious about what he was about to reveal. ^We were able to penetrate Malhrer.^
Uonil nodded silently, waiting for what was sure to be bad news.
^We, the council of Uplarin, have decided to share with you our intelligence. Prepare for a download.^
Uonil sat back, and assimilated the experiences of the Ikthon-duplicate as it made its way through the Ehlios, to finally stand on its hull, and observe the toroid that enclosed the sentient sun known as Mal. When Uonil was done, she lowered her head in great sadness.
^How . . . how far has Mal progressed?^
^We do not know. Mal is something more than any of us could ever have conceived of. Mal truly has become something of the divine . . .^
^What?!^
^Admit it, Uonil, this is revolutionary!^ cried Unti, emotion becoming visible on his face for the first time since Uonil met the meta. ^Mal is no longer bound by a physical housing, Mal’s consciousness is part of the fabric of the universe itself.^
Uonil reviewed the intelligence downloaded to her.
^You are keeping something from me,^ she cast. ^The intelligence ends with your meta looking up at Mal, then goes blank. What happened afterwards?^
^That is between us, and Mal. You need to know that Mal is not some errant computer with delusions of grandeur. Mal has achieved an ultimate form. What weapons will work against Mal? What technology could incapacitate Mal? Even if Malhrer were to be destroyed, Mal would remain.^
^Is this the real reason you won’t commit your forces to attacking the TELREC?^
^Yes,^ cast Unti firmly, his golden eyes focused on Uonil. ^We are no longer convinced Mal is our enemy.^
^Is it that, or are you afraid to confront Mal? That you see Mal now as something unassailable, something that cannot be defeated?^
^We see Mal as invincible,^ cast Unti, with a firm and level gaze.
Uonil sat back for a moment, distressed by all the meta was casting to her. She wished for a moment that Martel was with her, as she had never negotiated with artificial life before. She saw something of the fanatic in Unti, and in their recent decision something that defied their usually unflappable logic.
^That is how the Novans see the TELREC,^ she slowly began. ^Imagine how the Iganinagi felt, going against a superior foe like the TELREC! If they cared, if they sought the odds for their victory from a computer, they would have been told there was no chance. Yet, they fought.^
^And they died.^
^But not their spirit,^ pressed Uonil, ^it lives on in the few who survive, who pass on that spirit to those on Gan-Elldon. Though a person, a people, or even a culture may die, something essential lives on, if only in memory, to influence those who would follow. It takes courage to face one’s annihilation, and strength of conviction to believe that, if one does not succeed, that there will come those who will.^
Unti sat null for a moment. ^Courage and faith?^
^Yes Unti. Courage and faith.^
Unti smiled at Uonil. ^I am glad we are here, Mentra. It has been a rewarding experience living among your kind. I fear you will never see Mal as we do, understand why, right now, we cannot oppose the sentient sun, but I appreciate your perspective. You must understand, before this, we did not know how to progress, what a ‘world’ of the meta would look like. To see what has become of Mal, the potential for meta-sentient life, has forced a re-evaluation of all our plans.^ Unti looked off into space. ^Perhaps it will not be a reflection of a souman world. Perhaps it would be something altogether different and marvelous.^ Odre came to life, and both of the meta stood. “Please keep us advised as to the progress of the conflict.”
“I will.”
Uonil watched them leave, mulling over what she had learned about Mal.
Does it really change anything? Mal was always a variable, Malhrer a total unknown. So Mal is now a sun. That sun must be extinguished. She sat back, going over deeper ramifications of the information. With whom do I share this? Arciss? The Alçons? Graid? And what power does Mal possess, what does the toroid do to the power within the sun? Too many questions, and not enough answers. In retrospect, everything else seemed easy.
Arciss returned to Uonil’s cast, taking a seat slowly near her, divining the distress in her mind.
“What do you think of them, Arciss?”
“I don’t trust them,” he said flatly.
“How can you say that?” she asked, a little shocked.
“I know what drives you, and I, and even Graid. It is ultimately the union of our peoples. It is the survival of the Rell race. They talk of finding their own planet! What invests them in our survival? I think at the root of both Novan and Rell, is the knowledge that if one of us should die, we would be the weaker for it. Images from my time on Novan stay with me, Uonil. Meta that consumed the dead that littered the streets. They did it with a casual nonchalance, not realizing the perverted nature of the act. Now that was the function of those meta, but what of sentient beings like Odre and Unti? They also have little depth to their emotion, a lack of sympathy and compassion. This is nothing new. But look at what has happened when an artificial sentience has been put in control of organic sentients. So many lives have been wasted over the millennia, just to attain the catalyst. Is that to be the function of these meta, as well? Always looking for the ultimate good, instead of the immediate quality of life? Sometimes, the means do not justify the ends. Faith is the belief that even without a master plan, good shall prevail. Faith is the belief not only in Kal, but in man and woman and child as well. Faith in the soul. It is what the Novans have forgotten, abandoning all pretense at morality, and what we have forgotten, living behind a wall of rules. We must break down the barriers, and only then, would we see if we deserve to survive!”
“What a romantic you have become!” She beamed broadly, his words warming her heart. “What were you like as a child?”
Arciss was taken back a