Trans-Human (Post-Human Sequel) Read Free Page B

air, water and food necessary for as long as the people within need it and until they find another habitable planet.”
    “You know damn well there is almost no chance of anyone ever finding a habitable planet in their lifetime! What you’re talking about is the mass suicide of the species!” Gibson spat with vitriol.
    “It’s better than a species-wide holocaust,” Thel yelled back at him.
    “She’s right,” Old-timer concurred. “This is the best alternative.”
    “It’s the only alternative with any chance of survival,” James asserted. He turned to the rest of the Council members. “I’m sorry, there is just no other way.”
    “We can’t possibly evacuate everyone in time,” Gibson said, desperately fighting back.
    “I might be able to buy us slightly more time,” James said.
    “How much time?” Old-timer asked.
    “How?” Gibson demanded.
    “Maybe an hour. Maybe only minutes. But it would mean reassuming the powers of the A.I.”
    “What?” Gibson shouted furiously. “Now I see your game, Keats! This is all some kind of sham cooked up by you to get back into the A.I. and take control of the solar system!”
    “That’s absurd!” Thel responded in James’s defense.
    “Chief Gibson, have you not been listening at all?” asked Councillor Kim. “Have you not seen the evidence for yourself?”
    “I’ve seen data on a computer screen—data that could be faked! Could be faked by him!” Gibson shouted while pointing in James’s direction.
    James ignored the accusations and explained his reasoning to the council members. “If I assume the position of the A.I. again, I’ll be in a position to facilitate the evacuation and to fight the alien’s machine forces. I’ll also be able to help the Purists. ”
    “The Purists? Why are we wasting our time on them?” Gibson retorted.
    James snapped around and shot Gibson an atavistic snarl. “Why am I wasting my time on you?”
    Gibson stepped toward James with his fists threateningly clenched. Old-timer quickly stepped in between them.
    “Hold on, Aldous. The Purists aren’t what they used to be,” Old-timer said.
    “What they used to be?” Thel reacted with surprise.
    “What is that supposed to mean?” Djanet interjected.
    “ ‘Aldous?’ ” Rich said, shocked to hear Old-timer addressing the chief on a first name basis. “You two are old chums or something?”
    “What’s going on, Old-timer?” James asked, finally.
    Old-timer nodded and held his hands up reassuringly against the barrage of questions. “We’ve got history. Look, you have to understand that things between the Purists and us haven’t always been so... civil.”
    “They’re bloodthirsty barbarians!” Gibson yelled, furiously. “Haven’t you told them, Craig? Haven’t you told them what they’ve put us through? What we’ve both lost?”
    “What the hell...?” Rich whispered in an almost breathless surprise. “What is he talking about, Old-timer?”
    Old-timer stood in the middle, James and the others on one side and Gibson on the other, desperately trying to insert reason and balance into the discussion. “In the beginning... there was a lot of blood. A lot of misunderstanding.”
    Gibson snorted and turned away disgustedly. “Putting it rather mildly, aren’t we Craig?”
    “They aren’t the same people, Aldous. I know. I’ve met them. Years have past,” Old-timer asserted to the Chief. “They aren’t the same Luddites you remember.”
    Gibson ignored Old-timer’s arguments, instead turning to the council to make his own argument. “If we need someone to assume the powers of the A.I., then it should be me. I’m the highest ranking member of the Council and I’ll put our resources where they’re needed. Helping our people.”
    “ Don’t let him assume the A.I.’s powers, James, ” the kindly voice whispered in James’s ear again. The voice startled James and his muscles became rigid, alerting Thel.
    “What’s the matter?” she asked