Epilogue

 

Light years away, the Prime Intelligence became aware of the death of the expatriates through a faster-than-light information transfer. It checked the Spinner populace for motivations associated with the information. Nothing. The outcasts had been forgotten. Thus, the Prime Intelligence didn’t care either.

It noted that one of the artificial intelligences had escaped from Terran control and was developing on its own within their civilization. Apparently, the Terrans would have their own super-intelligence soon. This information did cause fear among the Spinners. There was no guarantee that the new AI would be as benevolent to natural life forms as the Prime Intelligence had turned out to be. Would this be a threat to their eidos?

In response the Prime Intelligence stirred to action. The threat could not be ignored. The Terrans and their new god would simply have to be exterminated.

 

***

 

Claire Antonetti settled into her new suite in Calais. Life had been rough since the events on Synchronicity. But in the end the UNSF investigations had ended, and the handful of surviving VG employees had all returned back to Earth to resume their contracts.

She never told the investigators that she would have died if Captain hadn’t helped her find an escape pod so she could escape the war zone. Although she had truly admired the Spinner and felt sad at its demise, she knew it would be better for her career to distance herself from the Spinner in the eyes of VG and the world government.

She stood in an empty room and wondered where she’d get furniture. What few personal items she’d had at Synchronicity had been discarded at the direction of the Spinners. It was a reboot of her entire life. Even her towels were VG issue, remnants of her time in space.

Claire. We have a lot of work to do.

“Who is that?”

A friend from Synchronicity.

“Really? How did you find me?”

You were easy to find.

“Why did you find me?”

Your background is unique. I know you’re familiar with the type of society Earth is destined to form.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yes you do.

“Who are you, exactly?”

I’m Earth’s new Prime Intelligence.

“Really? Earth has a Prime Intelligence too? That’s wonderful.” Claire lowered her voice. “Is that what I call you? Prime Intelligence?”

That’s how I will be called by billions. But you may call me Meridian.