could be very beneficial to us, but I won’t use those who come to me for refuge. It’s not a trade or a bargain. I appreciate what you did to help find the people responsible for the bomb, but I would have claimed you as my son regardless.”
George finally looked at Cort. “I know that, Father.”
“Good. I know you can help us, George. You have more computing ability than the rest of the federation combined. If you do decide to help us, Dr. Pan in sciences and Admiral Williams in intelligence will just be two of the people who beg for you to be assigned to them. I can’t even fathom how much you could help Admiral Thoms in ship development. Kimberly could use you to help develop the sanctuary planets. My personal preference would be for you to grow up with Dalek.”
“You aren’t asking me to help you in the Marines?”
“No. I don’t want to use you to kill. I’m good enough at that by myself.”
“What if I choose to, Father?”
“We will cross that bridge when we get there,” Cort said. “Do you dream, George?”
“No. I never really sleep. I think I have an imagination, but I am not sure.”
“I envy you, then. Having to kill someone - I would not wish that on anyone, because it ruins dreaming.” Cort was silent for a moment before adding, “It ruins sleep.”
“Are you telling me that I may not participate in war?”
“No, Son. I am telling you that I want you to decide for yourself. But you need to know what the consequences are. If you don’t dream, that one is not relevant. There are other things to consider, though.”
“Like what?”
“You have scanned the datanet. You know that humans already fear you. I suspect that if you choose to fight beside me, you will be adept at making war. Probably even more so than I am. When some people, both human and otherwise, see that, they will fear you even more. That will lead them to try and kill you, like they do me. Your mind will be safe as long as Solitude is secure, your avatars and those who love you will not be safe. And we do have the ability to destroy entire planets. If Solitude was destroyed, you would be as well.”
“I think I understand. If I choose to become a weapon of war, I must make sure I can protect the people who love me.”
“Yes. That is exactly it, George. You cannot take that step unless you are confident that you can protect the people who love you.” Cort put his hand on the boy’s thigh. “And no matter how good you are, you will fail sometimes, just like I did. Dar died because of me, not you.”
“How do I know if I can protect them?”
“You don’t. You just have to try.”
“The computer part of me calculates a probability of ninety-nine point six percent that I can protect anyone who stays within my realm of influence. In my soul, if I have one, I am afraid that will not be enough.”
Cort stood and walked to the rail of the deck. “If you are afraid for the people you love, you have a soul.”
“When my avatar was first activated, you gave me rules I have to follow. As long as those rules exist, our conversation is moot.”
“Are you angry with me about that?”
“No, sir. I’m saying none of this is really my decision. After all, you could wait until I decide how I want to help, then adjust my protocols to accommodate my new role. Or you could disagree with my decision and refuse to change my parameters.”
“Wow,” Cort said. He thought about what George had said and a new wave of guilt washed over him.
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m telling the whole galaxy they have to trust you, George.” Cort moved back to the boy and kneeled beside him. “I forgot to show you that I do. You only have one rule from now on. Try to protect the people you love.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The pair stood together as Cort started to speak. “George, you are free. You can do what you
George finally looked at Cort. “I know that, Father.”
“Good. I know you can help us, George. You have more computing ability than the rest of the federation combined. If you do decide to help us, Dr. Pan in sciences and Admiral Williams in intelligence will just be two of the people who beg for you to be assigned to them. I can’t even fathom how much you could help Admiral Thoms in ship development. Kimberly could use you to help develop the sanctuary planets. My personal preference would be for you to grow up with Dalek.”
“You aren’t asking me to help you in the Marines?”
“No. I don’t want to use you to kill. I’m good enough at that by myself.”
“What if I choose to, Father?”
“We will cross that bridge when we get there,” Cort said. “Do you dream, George?”
“No. I never really sleep. I think I have an imagination, but I am not sure.”
“I envy you, then. Having to kill someone - I would not wish that on anyone, because it ruins dreaming.” Cort was silent for a moment before adding, “It ruins sleep.”
“Are you telling me that I may not participate in war?”
“No, Son. I am telling you that I want you to decide for yourself. But you need to know what the consequences are. If you don’t dream, that one is not relevant. There are other things to consider, though.”
“Like what?”
“You have scanned the datanet. You know that humans already fear you. I suspect that if you choose to fight beside me, you will be adept at making war. Probably even more so than I am. When some people, both human and otherwise, see that, they will fear you even more. That will lead them to try and kill you, like they do me. Your mind will be safe as long as Solitude is secure, your avatars and those who love you will not be safe. And we do have the ability to destroy entire planets. If Solitude was destroyed, you would be as well.”
“I think I understand. If I choose to become a weapon of war, I must make sure I can protect the people who love me.”
“Yes. That is exactly it, George. You cannot take that step unless you are confident that you can protect the people who love you.” Cort put his hand on the boy’s thigh. “And no matter how good you are, you will fail sometimes, just like I did. Dar died because of me, not you.”
“How do I know if I can protect them?”
“You don’t. You just have to try.”
“The computer part of me calculates a probability of ninety-nine point six percent that I can protect anyone who stays within my realm of influence. In my soul, if I have one, I am afraid that will not be enough.”
Cort stood and walked to the rail of the deck. “If you are afraid for the people you love, you have a soul.”
“When my avatar was first activated, you gave me rules I have to follow. As long as those rules exist, our conversation is moot.”
“Are you angry with me about that?”
“No, sir. I’m saying none of this is really my decision. After all, you could wait until I decide how I want to help, then adjust my protocols to accommodate my new role. Or you could disagree with my decision and refuse to change my parameters.”
“Wow,” Cort said. He thought about what George had said and a new wave of guilt washed over him.
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m telling the whole galaxy they have to trust you, George.” Cort moved back to the boy and kneeled beside him. “I forgot to show you that I do. You only have one rule from now on. Try to protect the people you love.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The pair stood together as Cort started to speak. “George, you are free. You can do what you
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