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“Terse, you keep referring to your programmed makeup, and I’ve only been assuming there were incongruities between our languages,” I said. “But now, I’m not certain your words are inaccurate.” I paused, hesitating to plunge into this morass of uncertainty and possible barbarity. Collecting myself, I pressed on. “What exactly is the nature of assimilation, and how do you program a sentient being?”
“During the Great Enlightenment, all sentient beings on the planet were scanned at the molecular and psychological levels. Their data was then translated into one planetary data storage network. The only correlation I can find in your history is what was once called the Internet?” Terse tried to explain. “But that was a very rudimentary process compared to Central Service.” He paused to scan all twelve of us, making sure none were confused.
“The system created an organic replica of the assimilant, only with more efficient internal organs. All the data pertaining to that individual was implanted within it. All their memories, knowledge, thought processes, and everything about them physically became the enlightened citizen.” Terse looked around to ensure we understood, and must have mistaken the horror on our faces for awe.
“During the process, all vestiges of negative or destructive emotions were purged from their being. They still feel joy, hope, and love, but are no longer constrained by such useless emotions as hate, lust, anger, and the like.”
As he spoke, Terse’s voice had gotten softer and lower, until he finished in what was just barely above a whisper. He stood abruptly. “We must leave immediately. We suffer an onslaught of what can only be described as raw hatred. I cannot comprehend its cause or intent, but its source is the twelve of you. It is causing us extreme, acute distress.”
Apologies,” he finished weakly and stepped several feet away to where the other three huddled near the floor. The now familiar sizzle/crackle of teleportation signaled their departure.
We barely notice them leave. All sat looking from one to the other in dumbstruck, abject terror. Our four shipmates were dead. Terse hadn’t mentioned it, but we were all certain their organic bodies had been destroyed or worse, once their data had been extracted. Then we were all on our feet, speaking at once.
“Then how could they ever come back...” Sherry began.
“They’ve murdered Mica...” Yuri growled.
“I’ll never see Sumi again...” Seamus muttered.
I was having similar thoughts about Tracy when I caught a glimpse of motion. Bea was leaving the dining room. “Bea, where are you going?” I called after her retreating form.
Without breaking stride, she called over her shoulder, “I’m going to scan the planet until I’ve determined the location of the Central Service and then I’m going to destroy it,” she replied coldly.
The sizzle/crackle from down the hallway warned us of the arrival of someone from the planet. Abruptly, Bea flew back into the room. Landing on her side, she immediately rolling to her feet. She glanced around, seemingly looking for anything to use as a weapon. Seeing none, I watched as she resolved to attack whatever had thrown her into the room, bare-handed.
Terse strode into the room, followed by four very large Minsans in what appeared to be some form of riot gear. They were all nearly seven feet tall and looked like old images I had seen of professional football linebackers. They carried shields and wore helmets with face protection in place. Terse signaled their halt with an upraised hand.
“It is absolutely the least pleasant function of which I am responsible, but I am also the peacekeeper for the planet. I have not had to deploy these Persuaders for nearly 200 years and had hoped to never do so again.” Hesitating, he seemed unsure where to go from there. “Please, let us discuss your misunderstanding like civilized, sentient beings. The alternative is just too dreadful to contemplate.”
“You took four of our shipmates and killed them without provocation or warning,” Bea snarled. “That act of aggression is considered tantamount to war. I, as the chief security officer, intend to respond appropriately.” As she leapt forward, a magenta beam from the helmet of the foremost Persuader bathed her in a brilliant, coruscating aura for only a second before it disappeared. Bea collapsed on the floor.
Sherry and Sampson were immediately beside her, with Sampson palpating her neck while Sherry scanned her quickly with her medical analyzer for any sign of injury.
“Let me assure you she is unharmed,” Terse said immediately. “The device deployed simply disrupts the neural pathways. It causes complete neurological function to cease, but for only an instant. She may have a slight headache when she awakens but she will be fine,” he assured us.
Sherry looked up at me and nodded. Bea appeared to be only unconscious. I slowly closed the distance between Terse and myself. He signaled the Persuaders to hold as I approached. When I was six inches from his face, I spoke softly.
“You may be smarter than us and much more technologically advanced. That does not give you the right to board my ship, take my crew and do whatever you have with them; or attack anyone else aboard.” I raised my voice so the remainder of the crew heard. “You have officially declared war on this vessel by all standards of our culture. Unless you intend to assimilate us all right now, I suggest you leave this vessel and never return.”
A thin membrane had nictated across Terse’s eyes as I spoke, and he seemed to shrink in upon himself. “You’re very angry; you all are. By Central Service reckoning, rightfully so. Were it not for the neural filters installed after my last visit, I would be comatose on the floor right now.” He made a motion with his hand and the Persuaders fanned out behind him in a classic defensive maneuver.
“It appears I have seriously mucked things up, according to the analysis. I have been sent to set them right.” Pulling himself erect, he looked up straight in my eyes while pointing at the slowly-reviving form of Bea on the floor. “We have attacked no one. She attacked me. A Persuader attempted to prevent my harm, first by physical means, which is their prime directive. “
“How can you possibly make murdering Mica right?” Yuri screamed the final word.
Terse recoiled at his vehemence. Even the filters apparently had their limits. “I believe I can resolve this right now, if you will allow me a moment. Please?”
He appeared to be suffering from our emotional onslaught. Good, let him suffer, I thought. Terse winced and flinched as he continued to plead for our cooperation. It was as if he was being commanded to do so rather than just wanting it to happen. I was beginning to believe guile was simply not in these people’s makeup. They were analytical and blunt, perhaps even asocial by our standards; but they were not deceptive.
“What do you intend?” I asked.
“I will, should they agree, teleport your four crewmembers back here now, so that you may assure yourselves they have not been harmed,” Terse offered hopefully.
“Oh, sure, let’s see that,” Seamus remarked sarcastically.
––––––––
IN SEVEN SECONDS, THEY were standing before us. They all wore the same formless, flowing gowns which every Minsan we had met wore. Smiling at us warmly, they each went immediately to their recently intended partner. Sumiko placed both her hands on Seamus’ chest and, standing on tiptoe, kissed him softly on the mouth.
Yuri wrapped Mica in his arms and lifted her off the floor, laughing as he spun her about. “You’re alive,” he exclaimed.
“Well, of course I’m alive, silly,” she chided. “What did you think they’d done to us?” The pin-drop silence in the room caused her to pull away from him and turn to the rest of the crew.
“What did you think they’d done to us?” Tracy asked with concern, gazing into my face for understanding. When I had looked into her eyes, the same spark and tease I’d always seen was still there but there was something else; something wiser.
They all began to notice the situation then. Spying the Persuaders and their obvious military-style garb and threatening posture, Tracy looked first from Sari to Jovi to Mica and then back to me. All four started when Bea groaned from the floor behind Sherry and Sampson. The two medics leaned down to help her stand up. It was the only time I had ever seen her not refuse assistance.
“What has happened here?” Sumiko demanded, whirling on Terse.
Jovi had taken Lars’ hand and was holding it uncharacteristically against her bosom. Tracy had shifted to stand beside me and was acting visibly restrained. A multitude of emotions played across her smooth features. Everyone seemed hesitant to speak. Everything I started to say sounded like a recrimination in my head. I finally made an effort to answer her, feeling my way slowly.
“We have had the assimilation process described to us and considered you all dead,” I began, holding my hand up instantly when all four sucked in a breath to deny the finding. “Bea reacted as only she can, and was met by those you see arrayed behind Terse. Apparently, he’s also the Sheriff of this planet, and the goons are called Persuaders. One of them persuaded Bea to fall down and become unconscious.”
I said this with venom in my voice, throwing a hateful glance at Terse. As I did, we all heard the sound of teleportation going off the ship. None of us had even noticed Terse and company moving soundlessly back down the hall.
“Maybe it was a good idea to cut and run before someone really got hurt,” I muttered. Turning back to our four Lazarus crewmembers, I continued my explanation. “We expected to never see any of you again, especially when we were told half of your emotions would be programmed out of you. I hate to tell you this, but the potential exists that you’re not even human anymore.”