Confluence Point (43 page)

Like Gliese we have practiced population control for generations now. Limited resources combined with longer lives made it essential. The policies also drove development of androids as a labor force and the increased openness to artificial intelligence to provide the ghost, as you so beautifully describe it, in the machines. With more time for leisure, and no one needed to do the work, no one gave enough thought to continuing the legacy. As a consequence there were fewer and fewer young people replacing the old as they passed on.

The general populace has ignored the problem for too long. Many have selfishly waited for someone else to take up the challenge of parenthood, continuing to enjoy lives of leisure and excess. Through several generations the problem worsened until it was too late. Too many old and infertile, too many sterilized when they were younger, and many simply unwilling to act. The balance tipped long ago and now it is too late; this population can no longer sustain itself."

"How can that be so, surely you can use surrogates or some other method?"

"It is possible, but carries great risk. Many cannot have children now; they are too old. Many are infertile by choice and those remaining are too few to save us before disaster."

"Disaster . . ." Regan pondered the word. "You mentioned that it wouldn't be safe for the others . . . the committee, why are they in danger?"

Bob resumed his seat. "Yes . . . perversely, as the population aged and decreased those very Minds they had created, many of whom walk openly in society albeit in service, became a threat in the minds of many. Our future," and he gestured to himself, "is tenuous unless we defend ourselves or something else happens."

"But Milo, and the two women, they seem open."

"True, but even there you can see there are deep seated attitudes toward AI in general. Their interest is more personal, for the survival of their race. That they are talking at all is more to do with the fact that we, the Minds, hold the key to their survival."

"How so?" Regan was intrigued.

"We have developments of our own and we are intangible, we can travel the galaxy." He looked at her pointedly, "And only we can call for the cavalry . . ." He waited.

"The cavalry?"

"You - Regan Stein . . . you and your friend have bridged a gap that no one has ever bridged before, possibly never will again. Your miracle provided the opportunity to bring you here . . . the opportunity to make our requests."

"Which are what?" She leant forward, all business now.

"For their part," and he gestured toward the empty seats, of Milo, Ocean and Cluster, "they want you to bring your people to this system, young people, colonists, youth who will be prepared to mix with them, have children, and at least see something of this species survive."

"How do they know we can even help them have children?"

He shrugged, "You have already proven it."

Regan felt a flash of concern at just the suggestion.

"And you?" She asked. "What do you want?"

"We want you to change the way Minds are viewed by this people. The Minds want to work with them, not just for them. We want them to recognize our fundamental value, as individuals and to respect our rights to do as we choose," and he smiled, "perhaps even cross stitch?"

She pressed on. "I don't mean to be provocative, but why don't you just wait? You will be free eventually, when this population dies off."

Bob frowned. "First, that would be abhorrent. If we can help we will, but we want a new playing field, to steal one of your phrases. We care about these people, our creators and we want them to thrive.

Secondly, there exists a small backward thinking group isolated by their own choice in our system. They are totally opposed to artificial intelligence and of most concern to the Minds is the average age of their population. It is much younger than here. They claim to have a virus, something that can wipe out the Minds. They deployed it on their own planet, and now they simply wait, watching our populace age. They have youth on their side and can patiently wait for the chance to deploy their virus here, then take over. You must understand this is like their religion, they see our planet as their destiny and those of my kind will play no part in it."

Regan stood, needing to stretch and release the tension in her thoughts. She began to walk around the table, distracted slightly by the feedback from the powerful android body but thinking nevertheless. She talked as she walked.

"If we wanted to assist, how do we bring people here when it seems you are so far away?"

Bob nodded agreement. "You are correct. Physically, even with your enhanced drives, to reach this system would take several hundred of your years; we have perhaps fifteen at most."

"Sooo . . ." And she waited.

"Wormholes." He replied.

She stopped, putting everything into staying neutral. "You can control wormholes?"

"No . . . but we have . . . developments, ideas, theories, and you have . . ." He swept his arm toward the wall which lit up at the command.

"Aaron . . ." She whispered as the picture focused.

"A brilliant mind Regan, of the order of Mariner and our own founders; with our research, and his mind perhaps . . ."

She turned to him. "You understand I can't force anyone to come, or Aaron to work with your ideas."

He laughed in a very human way. "From my observation you seem to accomplish much without any need of force."

She sat back down and thought for a moment while Bob waited patiently. The bargaining would begin.

"You should know that if I can help I will. There will be no demands." Then she hesitated, thinking. "No, perhaps I have one demand . . . and I have some things I would like, which in the spirit of friendship and in order to maximize the chance of success I hope you will agree to."

Bob's look conveyed a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"Just tell me Regan, we have come so far, I can't bear to wait now."

"I want the key, to be able to make this jump whenever I want. It will enable me to visit here regularly and work with you on the changes you seek. It will also enable me to visit Gliese as these are times of tremendous change there. I want to make sure those changes also succeed."

"Was that your demand?"

"No, that was a like, but I can't see how things will work if you don't grant it. It's not my demand, but the situation calls for it; wouldn't you agree?"

"Err . . . perhaps so."

"Good, that's agreed then. Secondly, of course I will need to take back with me the research on wormholes you have. In addition I'd like anything you have on propulsion drives that will help us go faster."

"Hmm, sadly you are already ahead of us with your drives. In fact if we can agree, we would like help there from you. If that was your demand . . ."

"No, and even if we are ahead with our technology I'd still like your ideas on drives, Aaron may still be able to work with them. Lastly," Regan looked down at her hands, "you mentioned my friend . . ." she looked up and made eye contact. "He's already here."

Bob's mouth dropped open.

"Ham?" Regan called, and the beautiful man materialized at the table.

"How?" Bob muttered.

"I'm . . . simply . . . very good." Ham answered unhelpfully.

Regan continued. "My demand is that Ham remains here as my agent. He can act for me, and keep me informed. He won't interfere and will keep out of your affairs; unless you choose to make use of his . . . skills, shall we say. If you have any concerns, you can always contact me and I will be back regularly anyway."

Bob gulped as if he was swallowing a dead rat but to his credit he recovered swiftly.

"I do not imagine that I will require his . . . skills." He paused, using the word distastefully. "However, provided you agree to work through me and keep me fully informed," he looked at Ham pointedly, "I think we can accommodate you."

"Of course I will keep you fully informed of everything important." Ham replied, somewhat disingenuously.

"Yes . . ." Bob looked doubtful and Regan jumped in quickly before he could speak.

"Great, we're agreed then. Ham, is there anything you would like?" Regan looked at him, indicating she expected him to simply agree.

"Actually, there is something . . ." He looked at Bob. "As soon as Regan's gone; I want the use of that android."

Regan smiled, "And on that subject, when I return, it might be good to arrange something a bit more suited for me, could that be arranged?"

Bob knew when he was outnumbered and he laughed.

"You know," he said, "this might even be fun . . . we have a deal."

Regan sprawled back in her chair, comically mimicking the classic spread leg male repose. Bob had politely left them, giving them a few moments to talk before he whisked her back to Dahlia.

"He seemed offended there, I thought, just for a moment." Ham smiled.

"Hard luck," she said dismissively, "if he thought I was going to let him rip me away before giving me the travel pass, he doesn't know me well. He'll learn we're trustworthy and Ham, there's no way I would leave you here without assurance I can come back when I want. You know that. I won't leave you again like that."

Neither spoke for a full minute, they just looked at each other. Finally Regan broke the impasse. "Are you going to be OK?"

He screwed up his face, looking at her android body. "How am I going to walk in that thing?"

She laughed, "Hah is that what you were thinking about? And I thought you might miss me." 

Ham smiled back. "Priorities Regan . . . I've always been a passenger, never a driver and I can't look like a fool here can I? I've got to keep a low profile."

"Well, you'll have plenty of chance to practice, and you can oversee selection of a body for me so that we can go for a walk together when I come back." She brightened at the thought. "That is going to be so much fun, walking with you on another world. I feel like the luckiest person in the galaxy."

"Luck has nothing to do with it babe . . ." He suddenly became serious. "Regan, you can rely on me here. I won't cause any unnecessary trouble and I'll make good use of the time, I'll do some shopping, find out what other things might be of interest to us."

"I love your choice of words Ham, unnecessary trouble? You're so consistent as always
-
just be careful, please."

She looked up and concentrated for a moment, summoning Bob.

Instantly he materialized in front of her. "Are we ready?" He asked.

"Transfer first." and she smiled disarmingly. As she did so she felt a rush of data, causing her to wobble for a second.

"Oh! Interesting, wow, and so simple . . . who would have thought it?" She turned to Ham and smiled, "I love . . ."

But Bob had already reached out and seemed to grip her with some cyber hand . . . and they were gone.

* * *

Alone now, Ham stood for a full minute looking at the muscular form, sitting lifeless now on the chair.

This is going to be interesting.

With a shimmer he disappeared and immediately the form began to writhe as he experienced the sensation of putting it on, like a garment. Finally settled, he stretched the two arms out in front of him examining the hands and flexing, testing the movement. Standing, slightly unsteady, he began to walk around the room, growing increasingly confident by the second, bending, crouching, jumping and then finally falling to his knees . . .

. . . and he began to weep; deep, wracking, grateful sobs.

* * *

Dahlia Orbital

Regan woke in the palace, slightly disoriented and with a flood of strange new thoughts permeating through her consciousness. They crystallized, became real and then a part of her; a new merged complete.

[I'm back Ham, we need to talk.]

[Well, hello there . . . talk now?]

[No, I need to shower, but feel free to roam around in my memories; it's fascinating stuff. We'll talk then.]

Rotating under the satisfying flow of the palace shower
Regan could sense Ham's activity, like having a background program running in her head, with him rummaging about and in this case literally assuming the new experiences and information. She knew it was becoming as much a part of him as of her;
crazy.

Soaping down to her crotch she couldn't help feeling for . . .  nothing, and yet at some level she still held some expectation that it would be there.
How strange . . . I'm . . . changed.

And she began to work.

[Good morning Dahlia, have we cleaned house, dear friend?]

[Oh yes Regan, and good morning to you. I sense you're with us entire again, if I may put it that way.]

[Yes I'm back and entire, ha-ha, and oh, what a story to tell. I can't wait to talk with Leah; we should all have some girl time.]

[I would love that . . . I'll schedule something. You are busy today, you know.]

[This is too good to keep Dahlia, squeeze something in if that's possible . . . please?]

[Perhaps we could meet over breakfast then?]

[Perfect, if that fits for you.]

[Well yes, yes, of course it does, how nice, thank you, I'll let Leah know. And Regan, thank you for remembering to use my name.]

[Of course my friend, I know it's important to you. If I forget, forgive me won't you, your chosen name here or there is very important to me, but it is you that I love and speak to, you know that, don't you?]

Dahlia waited before replying, and when she did Regan could sense the warmth in her words.

[Regan, simply call me; use either or any name that seems right to you, I know your voice.]

[Thank you Dahlia, still I'd like to get things right. I need to meet with Aaron today too. It won't take long, and could you please create a secure folder on the STEIN Traveler. Something only Ham, Aaron, you and I can access. I need to download some files.]

[Interesting . . . you have me intrigued. It will be done.]